After 10 months of preparation, a 9-member Serve Asia team from Singapore’s Antioch Chapel went on a week-long trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. This short-term missions exposure trip is not a typical one as the team had the opportunity to visit three local prisons, a half-way house and a local childcare centre.
Origins
Pastor Bob Chia, one of the team members, explained that Antioch Chapel was formed about 20 years ago and the leadership at that time felt led to serve in the prison ministry:
“The initial four founders of the church (including me) went into the local prison weekly to share the Gospel and counsel with brothers and inmates and till today we’re still involved in this ministry.”
Three of the Serve Asia team members, Simon Ho (team leader), Brandon Neo (assistant team leader) and Charlie Chua are former prison inmates and have been serving as deacons at Antioch Chapel for the past few years.
The idea for this trip came about as Antioch Chapel has been supporting overseas missionaries, such as OMF missionaries Michael and Ruth from Singapore who are serving in Taiwan.
“Michael was also a former prison inmate and he heeded the call to serve the marginalised community in Taiwan. Many years ago, when he approached the church (for help), we took up his request and supported him financially. In the years that passed, we did not have the chance to see first-hand for ourselves, the good work that had been done. When we decided on this short-term trip, we also wanted to bring a team to see what Michael and Ruth have been working on in recent years,” said May Lee, one of the team members.
Preparation and Sacrifice
Claudia Chia, one of the younger team members elaborated on the extensive preparation and some of the sacrifices they had to make for the trip:
“We had to practice our songs because in Taiwan, the people speak Hokkien and coming from Singapore, we are mainly an English-speaking (church) congregation, the younger generation lah. (laughs) Thankfully, at Antioch we sing Mandarin and Hokkien songs (during church service). We also had to prepare a list of songs we could share with the people there in a language they will understand, because that’s ultimately the group we are trying to reach out to.
We also had to prepare our skit and testimony sharing as we were going into prisons. We had to prepare a lot of logistics also because we were there to bless the kids at the child care centre with gifts etc. These are the administrative matters.
Some of my team members are gig workers – they usually work as private hire drivers and because they said yes to joining the trip, it will also mean a loss of income during the period of the trip. During the months leading up to the trip, they also worked longer hours and took up more shifts to save up more money. This is a form of preparation that most people don’t see. We also had to prepare our hearts, pray and support one another.”
Experiences and encouragement
As former prison inmates in Singapore, this trip and opportunity to visit local prisons in Taiwan felt special to Simon, Brandon and Charlie.
“I was surprised by how open the prisons in Taiwan were and how warmly they welcomed us, as access to prisons back home in Singapore was more controlled and stricter. I was thankful to be able to see the difference between Taiwan’s and Singapore’s prisons. In Singapore, we visit the prison once a month and interact with 20-30 inmates in a classroom while in Taiwan, I was a bit surprised to see a hall of 70-80 inmates!
It was such a big crowd I almost did not know how to share my testimony,” said Simon (in Mandarin).
Brandon recalled that he was encouraged by a local church elder they met in Taiwan who hosted the Antioch Chapel team well and he felt like a big brother taking care of the team.
“His hospitality touched our hearts – his passionate heart and love for people encouraged us deeply. This gave me greater confidence (back home) as I am also a volunteer with Singapore Prison Fellowship and we visit the local prison once or twice a month. After this trip, I am reminded of this verse – “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brother.” (Luke 22:32b). As a former inmate myself, who believed in the Lord when I was in prison – I have now been free for the past 9 years and I see it as my mission to encourage the inmates,” Brandon reflected (in Mandarin).
The visit to the half-way house also left a deep impression on Charlie – he said, “I remembered what the director said, whatever they use at the halfway house are items that were unwanted or discarded. It reminded me of my past life, people viewed it as useless or trash, but the Lord picked me up and allowed me to be an encourager to those who had a similar past to mine.”
Charlie was also deeply moved after meeting Michael and Ruth in Taiwan during the trip, especially hearing their story and learning about their obedience to follow God’s call to serve the marginalised communities there.
“(In Mandarin) They just got married at that time and renovated their new home. Then Ruth said it’s time to go to the mission field and Michael followed. What I learnt was that in life we build up many things for ourselves, such as having a nice renovation for our house, but if God calls you to serve (overseas in the field), are you willing to lay it down and heed His call?
We may build up many things in our life but when God calls you, will you hesitate?”
You can check out OMF’s opportunities to serve in Taiwan here.
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