Church of Singapore (COS) was established in 1963 as an independent charismatic local church. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Over the years, God has blessed us greatly. We presently have over 4,000 members worshipping in 15 different weekly Services. As a family church, our congregation is a diverse mix of young people and elderly folk from all walks of walks of life.
We thank God for graciously guiding us peacefully through the year 2023, and ushering us into the new year, 2024!
In the past year, we celebrated our 60th anniversary of founding our church! Over the course of 60 years, God has faithfully led and provided for us. His faithful guidance has enabled the church not only to establish four local branches but also to extend its reach with the establishment of thirty churches, meeting points, and mission points in China, India, and Southeast Asia. In terms of our total attendance, it has seen a significant increase, surpassing a hundredfold!
Even amid the challenges of the pandemic, our church has grown and become a stronger family church. Following the pandemic, the church gradually resumed physical worship services, with average attendance gradually approaching seventy percent of pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, the church has resumed overseas missions trips sequentially, and we actively engage in sharing the gospel with foreigners living and working in Singapore, leading them to know and believe in Christ, and equipping them for ministry. Aside from that, we have also been actively involved in local community service.
Under God’s guidance, our church became stronger, enabling us to fulfill the Lord’s commission in these last days!
Since July last year, the leaders sought God’s guidance while deliberating on the new year theme and direction. During the Leaders’ Planning Camp held in October 2023, the direction and focus for 2024/2025 were determined. Our church’s overarching goal is to lead people to Christ, evangelize, and bear witness for Him! After much prayer and seeking the Lord, the theme and focus for 2024/2025 are as follows: –
It’s Harvest Time! Let’s Go!
Catch the Vision, Stand in the Gap, Make a Change!
In Matthew 9:35-38, we witness Jesus Christ preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all the villages and cities, healing every disease and affliction. Upon seeing the crowds, he had compassion for them as they were harassed and helpless; they were like sheep without a shepherd. He then said to his disciples, “There is a plentiful harvest, but few laborers; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.”
In Matthew 24:3-9, Jesus spoke of the signs leading up to His return – wars, rumors of wars, nations against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms, and there would be famines and earthquakes everywhere. Echoed by the Apostle Paul in 2 Tim 3:1-6, there will be times of difficulty coming in the last days.
Looking at the events and natural disasters happening around the world today, these are signs that we are living in the end times. The Lord implores us to lift our heads, observe the prevailing deception, and recognize the need for God’s mercy and His salvation. Let us therefore lift our heads and see that it is indeed harvest time; let us catch this vision!
When Jesus saw the needs of His people, He went throughout all cities and villages, providing help and healing. As followers of Christ, let us stand in the gap, pray for the people of the world, bear witness, share the gospel, and inspire others to receive the Lord’s gracious redemption and love!
When Adam and Eve sinned, man was bound by sin, directionless in life, blinded by the devil, and dwelled in darkness. Only the Lord’s gracious redemption can cleanse, enabling reconciliation with God, receiving a new life, and living victoriously. Let us respond to the Lord’s call to make a life-changing difference in their lives. Let’s make a difference together!
This year, the church will hold a Theme Seminar, sharing the theme and its focus will be shared from the pulpit. Additionally, in our Life Groups (LGs), we will delve into how the Lord shared the gospel, healed the sick, and met the needs of the people!
Church theme: It’s Harvest Time, Let’s Go!
Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:35-38
In a world marked by wars, pandemics, and the escalation of natural disasters, the need to win souls to Christ has never been more urgent.
Now, more than ever, we are to go into the harvest field with a sense of urgency.
As we embrace the church theme, “It’s Harvest Time, Let’s Go!”, some questions may arise:
• What is my harvest field, and to whom am I called to harvest?
• Is my harvest field truly “ripe” for harvest at this moment?
• Do I have to go now, and do I have to go alone?
The theme banner serves as a crucial visual representation, aiming to:
1. Communicate the URGENCY of going into the harvest field to win souls, emphasizing the importance without instilling fear or intimidation.
2. Convey the UNITY of our church as ONE body of Christ, going into the harvest field. This aligns with our previous sub-theme, reminding and emphasizing the unity across generations within our church family.
3. Call upon our members to envision, and most importantly, UNDERSTAND what the harvest field represents and to stir up their passion for the Great Commission.
Church Theme Banner explanation:
1) The COS building serves as a starting point – a place where members go out into the harvest field.
2) The harvest field encompasses individuals in need and the good Samaritans, counselors, helpers — This imagery clarifies our mission and the people we are called to reach.
3) As a church, our mandate is clear: we are united in our call to go out to the harvest field. Picture the diverse members of our congregation, representing all generations and conditions, standing at the forefront. This unity is not merely symbolic; it is a rallying cry for everyone to actively engage in the mission.
4) Recognizing that the harvest field is not a onetime destination but an ongoing fulfillment of the Lord’s commission, we depict a path with a select group of members. These individuals embody the continuity of our collective journey, emphasizing that our commitment to reaching the harvest is a sustained effort.
In essence, “It’s Harvest Time, Let’s Go!” is a call to action, urging our entire church family to step out into the world, demonstrating compassion, spreading the gospel, and fulfilling the Lord’s Commission with unwavering unity and dedication.
It is our mission to equip each other, all brothers and sisters, for effective evangelism. Together, let us share the gospel and bear witness to the Lord, and lead them to Christ!
May our brothers and sisters catch the vision, reap the harvest, and usher souls into God’s kingdom, joining a vibrant community within God’s family church!
On behalf of Elder Board,
Bro Chao Tian Kong
Church Elder
01.01.2024
By 2007, our congregation size has grown to over 3,000 members. And in 2013, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with a series of celebratory events – an Open House, a Combined Church Camp, High Praise and a Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner. As we continue to grow and expand, construction works started for the building of a new hall, Zion Hall, and it was completed in 2019.
2007 - PRESENT
1996 - 2006
By the late 1980s, the church membership has grown to approximately 1,000. Our leaders started engaging the owners of 145 Marine Parade Road to purchase the property. In 1987, the owner finally agreed to sell the freehold property to us. Praise the Lord!
In 1989, the old building was demolished and construction of the new building began. During this time, our services were held in Odeon Katong Theatre and 41 Koon Seng Road. The new building was finally completed in 1992.
To better serve our community, we joined hands with three other churches and para-church organisations to found St Luke’s Hospital in 1991. Tung Ling Student Care Centre was also set up in 1995.
1985 - 1995
As the church grew, there was a pressing need for more space. In 1977, the chief tenant offered us the chief tenancy of 145 Marine Parade Road on the condition that we continued to operate a school under the name “Tung Ling”. With that, “Tung Ling Bible School” was established in 1978.
We also branched out into Church of Singapore (Balestier) in 1979, Church of Singapore (Bukit Timah) in 1981, Church of Singapore (Woodlands) in 1987 and eventually, Church of Singapore (Harvest) in 1996.
Apart from branching out, we also sent our first missionaries for church planting work in 1977.
1974 - 1984
Our first meeting place was under a canvas roof at 8 Siglap Plain. As the number of believers increased, a new meeting place was urgently needed and we started meeting in an old bungalow at Mt Sophia that was due for demolition. At this time, the number of English-speaking members increased and the service language was changed to English and Mandarin.
In 1965, a church member learnt that the rooftop of a pre-war control building was available for rental. After successful negotiations, we moved into 145 Marine Parade Road.
1963 - 1973
Church of Singapore was founded by the late Bro Goh Ewe Kheng, the late Bro Cheng Kai Ho, and the late Bro Huang Jen Shen. In 1963, there was a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Singapore and Malaysia. Many Christians, including our 3 founding elders, were baptised in the Holy Spirit. Church of Singapore was founded in December 1963 to take care of these newly Spirit-filled Christians who were hungry for the Word of God and knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
DECEMBER 1963