Discover
The identity of the nation
Singapore is a tiny city-state, smaller than the city of Sao Paulo, yet it occupies an enormous place on the map of Asia’s trade and ideas. Made up of Chinese, Malay, Indian people and a large population of foreign workers, the island functions as a meeting point for languages, foods and religions that, elsewhere in the world, would hardly share the same city block. This mixture, held together under strict laws of coexistence, makes Singapore a miniature portrait of all of Asia.
The Christian church in Singapore is small in percentage but strong in resources and organization. In the 1970s and 1980s, the country experienced a period of revival (a strong wave of spiritual growth and conversions) that gave rise to several megachurches and a generation of local Christian leaders. Today, many of these churches use the city’s strategic position, at the crossroads of Asia’s air and sea routes, as a base to support Christian work in other countries in the region.
At the same time, the government keeps tight control over religious life in the name of “harmony” among communities. Openly announcing the gospel to the Malay community, which is almost entirely Muslim, is seen as a risk to public order and is discouraged by law. This makes genuine friendship and the testimony of a life, more than public preaching, the most natural way to share the faith with Malay neighbors.
Behind the city’s wealth and spotless cleanliness there is also a largely unseen multitude: millions of migrant workers from India, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Myanmar, who build the buildings, care for the homes and keep the city running. Many of these peoples, along with a good part of the ethnic Chinese majority still tied to Buddhism and ancestor worship, remain without any real contact with the gospel, despite living side by side with Christians every day.
Singapore has everything it takes to be a bridge of blessing to the nations around it: resources, languages, hospitality and a church capable of organizing and sending. The challenge is that this same prosperity must not smother the spiritual thirst of its own people, and that the city must also turn its eyes inward, toward those who live and work in its midst without knowing Christ.
- 1819 A British colonial administrator founds a trading post on the island, launching the modern settlement of the region
- 1826 Singapore becomes part of the Straits Settlements, together with Penang and Malacca, under British rule
- 19th century A great wave of Chinese, Indian and Malay immigration turns the island into a multiethnic port
- 1867 Singapore becomes a British Crown colony, administered directly from London
- 1942-1945 The island is occupied by Japan during the Second World War, a period of great suffering for the population
- 1959 Singapore gains internal self-government, still as part of the British Empire
- 1963 The territory joins the newly formed Federation of Malaysia
- 1965 Singapore separates from Malaysia and becomes an independent republic, on August 9
- 1970-1990 Rapid industrialization turns the country into one of the so-called “Asian Tigers,” with strong economic growth
- 1972-1980 A period of evangelical revival marks church growth and the rise of megachurches in the country
- Today Singapore is one of the world's largest financial and shipping hubs, with a high quality of life and an active urban Christian presence
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Englishthe government, business and education working language, spoken by nearly the whole population
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Malaythe symbolic national language, used in the anthem and the country's official symbols
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Mandarinthe language of the largest ethnic community, the Chinese Singaporeans
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Tamilthe official language of the Indian community, mostly from the Tamil Nadu region of India
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Hokkien, Teochew and CantoneseChinese dialects still spoken, mainly by older generations
Singapore is a city-state made up of a main island and about 60 smaller islands, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia. With just over 700 square kilometers of area, a territory smaller than the city of Sao Paulo, the country has gained space by reclaiming land from the sea over the years. Its position along the Strait of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, has turned the island into one of the largest ports on the planet.
Major cities
- Chinatownhistoric neighborhood of the Chinese community, with temples, markets and street food
- Little IndiaIndian neighborhood, with Hindu temples and streets full of spices and color
- Kampong Glamheart of the Malay-Muslim community, around the Sultan Mosque
- Marina Bayfinancial and tourist center, a symbol of modern, vertical Singapore
- Jurongindustrial and residential area in the west of the island
- Sentosaan island of resorts, beaches and leisure south of the main island
Climate and temperature
Hainanese chicken rice
considered the country's signature dish, steamed chicken served with rice cooked in the bird's own broth
Laksa
noodle soup with coconut milk and chili paste, usually with shrimp and tofu
Satay
skewers of grilled meat served with peanut sauce
Chilli crab
crab prepared in a sweet and spicy tomato and chili based sauce
Nasi lemak
rice cooked in coconut milk, served with fried anchovies, peanuts and egg
Bak kut teh
pork rib soup cooked with herbs, a heritage of the Hokkien Chinese community
Ais kacang
sweet shaved ice dessert with syrups, sweet beans and corn
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Multiculturalism
Chinese, Malay, Indian and other peoples live side by side, each group keeping its own language, food and temples
Hawker centres (popular street food centers)
food courts where dishes from many cultures are sold at low prices, recognized by UNESCO as cultural heritage
Kiasu
an expression from the Hokkien dialect describing the fear of falling behind, present in the local competitive mindset
Multireligious holidays
the country officially celebrates festivals from several religions, from Chinese New Year to Hindu Deepavali and Muslim Hari Raya
Garden city
buildings covered in plants and parks woven into the urban area, part of the project to make Singapore a “city within a garden”
Respect for elders
Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions share the value of honoring the elderly and the extended family
Meritocracy
society places strong value on personal effort and academic performance as the path to success
- Openly criticizing the government strict laws on public speech make open criticism risky for residents and visitors
- Chewing gum the sale of the product has been banned since 1992; while chewing it isn't a crime, it's best to respect the local custom
- Littering or spitting in the street heavy fines and strict enforcement are part of the city's culture of cleanliness
- Preaching insistently to Malay Muslims the topic is sensitive and regulated by law; faith is better shared through friendship and the example of a life
- Eating or drinking on public transport it is prohibited by law and can result in a fine
- Smoking outside designated areas the law restricts smoking to a few marked spaces, with fines for those who don't comply
- Discussing religion or ethnicity heatedly in public the topic is sensitive in a multiethnic society that values social harmony
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
financial success and social status have become a measure of personal worth in one of the richest cities in the world
a culture of hard work and competition leaves little room for rest and spiritual seeking
shape the religious life of most of the population of Chinese descent
a faith deeply tied to the ethnic identity of the Malay community
a growing number of people with no religion, especially among more educated young people
it is common to mix rituals from more than one tradition without a single commitment to one faith
life in a dense metropolis favors isolation and weakens community ties
high levels of stress and academic pressure from childhood
foreign workers live on the margins of society, with little access to spiritual care
a strong ethnic identity that, for many, mixes pride in tradition with resistance to the Christian faith
In Singapore, Christians can gather, build churches and practice their faith freely most of the time. The pressure that exists is not one of violence, but of legal oversight: a law called the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act allows the government to restrict any religious leader, of any faith, whose words are seen as a threat to harmony among communities.
The most sensitive point is the announcement of the gospel to the Malay community, which is almost entirely Muslim. Since Malay identity is deeply tied to Islam, trying to lead someone from that community to change their faith can be interpreted as an offense against public order. In 2009, for example, a Christian couple in Singapore was convicted for distributing material that criticized Islam among Muslims.
Outside of this legal context, most of the pressure on those who convert comes from within their own family, especially in Chinese households tied to Buddhism or traditional religion, when a son, daughter or grandchild decides to follow Christ and stops taking part in ancestor worship rituals.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Joshua Project catalogs 40 ethnic groups in Singapore, of which 17 (42.5%) are still considered unreached by the gospel. Most of these groups are subdivisions of the Chinese people (speakers of Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka), who mostly follow Buddhism or traditional Chinese religion. Also among them are Malay and Indonesian Muslim communities, as well as large numbers of migrant workers from South and Southeast Asia. Even though the city is home to an active and well-organized evangelical church, much of the ethnic Chinese majority and the foreign workers remain far from any real contact with the gospel.
- 1M Unreached 17,5%
- 94K Minimally reached 1,6%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 3.2M Partially reached 54,4%
- 1.5M Significantly reached 26,5%
- 17 Unreached 42,5%
- 2 Minimally reached 5%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 17 Partially reached 42,5%
- 4 Significantly reached 10%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Japonês
Sindhi Frontier
Hui Frontier
Thai central
Árabe Egípcio Muçulmano
Bawean
Birmanês
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
the cheapest option and a central part of local food culture
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Hot and humid climate year round: pack light clothing, but some indoor spaces have strong air conditioning.
- Language: English is understood by nearly everyone, which makes communication much easier.
- Efficient public transport: the subway (MRT) and buses cover nearly the whole island.
- Strict laws: follow local rules on cleanliness and public behavior carefully.
- Multiculturalism: it's worth exploring the different ethnic neighborhoods, each with its own cultural life.
- Regional hub: thanks to its central location, Singapore often serves as a connecting point for trips to other Southeast Asian countries.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.