Retrace the steps of Jesus Christ and experience the Bible come alive in this spiritual journey to the holy land. Visit biblical sites commemorating the Bible stories of Christ – from His birth and ministry to His death and resurrection.
You will view the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in Qumran* and experience floating at the Dead Sea with its therapeutic benefits. Travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David. See the Church of Nativity, one of the oldest surviving Christian churches in the world and visit Shepherd’s Field where the angel of the Lord visited the shepherds with the news of Jesus birth.
Sit and reflect on Jesus teaching in Capernaum and stop by the Church of St Peter’s Primacy which commemorates the reinstatement of Peter by Jesus. Visit Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Explore Megiddo*, a fortress city mentioned in the Old Testament to see the excavation of the city ruins, including the water system and Ahab’s tunnel. We will also visit Caesarea Maritima* which was once an ancient Roman city and port built by King Herod.
See the Dome of the Rock located on Temple Mount*, spend some time praying at the Western Wall, one of the holiest place of Judaism. Take an adventurous walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel* to the Pool of Siloam where Jesus cured a blind man with a mud mixture.
Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives, see the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed, walk on Via Dolorosa* believed to be the path that Jesus would have walked on his way to cruxification and stop by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage journey not to be missed. Come tour with us and we will show you an experience of a lifetime!
Spiritual Director
Dr Peter Ho
Peter graduated with an M.Div in Biblical Studies from the Singapore Bible College in 2012 and pastored a small English congregation for about three years before leaving for the United Kingdom to pursue his PhD. Peter’s primary research area is the Book of Psalms. Peter is currently an Assistant Professor of Old Testament at the Singapore Bible College. He is married to Wendy and they are blessed with four young children.
Tour Highlights:
ISRAEL
Qumran*, En Gedi*, Bethlehem, Nazareth Village*, Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee (Boat Ride), Caesarea Maritima, Temple Mount*, Western Wall, Old City of Jerusalem, City of David (Hezekiah’s Tunnel)*, Mount Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa*, Garden Tomb.
*Indicates that the site has uneven or steep path(s) that may be challenging for elderly and people with walking difficulties. For such participants, you are advised to use a walking stick.
Tour Information
Date: 26 Dec 2019 – 5 Jan 2020
Price: ≥25pax: SGD$4,950*
≥35pax: SGD$4,650*
NO HIDDEN COST
*Terms and Conditions
– Tour cost includes airfare, airport & fuel taxes (Est SGD$620 as at 1 Jan 2019) and land package as in itinerary.
– Tour cost is based on ≥25pax and ≥35pax respectively. Package cost will increase should there be fewer participants.
– Excludes any increase in taxes.
Note:
-The itinerary and flight schedules are subject to change without prior notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
– Hotel confirmations will be given 2 weeks before departure.
One can start well in a race, but things can go wrong along the way, so much so that he may not even end the race. Or he may end badly.
It was perhaps with this in mind that renowned Bible teacher Dr Harry Ironside was once heard praying, “Lord, keep me from turning out to be a mean old man.” Ironside was evidently aware of how the difficulties and complexities of ageing could make one deteriorate into irritability and meanness.
God obviously answered Ironside’s prayer because not only was he a kind and gracious man, he steadily remained so as he advanced in years. Instead of prickliness, he was noted for his love and gentleness even as he grew old.
We can start well, with lots of zeal and enthusiasm. But as we age, we can lose much of that early zeal for various reasons. I am not here referring to loss of physical vigour and a slowing down that come with age. Rather what I have in mind is spiritual zeal, commitment and faithfulness.
There are many lessons from Scripture with regard to such sad loss and deterioration in old age. For example, we could look carefully at the biographies of the kings of Judah. While all the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel were judged to be wicked and unfaithful, the southern kingdom of Judah was blessed with a number of good kings. Of the 20 Judean kings, 8 were considered faithful to God.
All of them—Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah and Josiah—were commended at the beginning of their reigns for doing “what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 14:2). Well and good, and they should be commended for being good kings. However, all of them were like this only in their earlier years (16:1–9), or when their spiritual mentors were still around (24:2).
Their stories were examples of sad and disappointing endings, for all of them declined spiritually in their senior years. As they grew old, they faltered and lost their original passion; they backslided (2 Chronicles 16; 20:31–37; 24:17–25; 25:14–28; 26:16–21; 32:24–31). In some cases, the decline was in imperceptible little stages, but eventually real and tragic.
In most of them, as they grew powerful, pride replaced the humility and faith that once characterised their lives. The story of Uzziah is most telling and representative: “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (26:16).
These kings lost their original passion as zealous reformers when they grew arrogant and started trusting in their own power, strategies, and alliances. Such a deterioration of faith and loyalty to God can happen not only to reforming kings but also in a revival. John Wesley noted this as he led the Methodist revival in the 18th century. He was concerned about the future of the revival movement and so studied the history of revivals. He noted that all revivals lasted only for brief moments in history. The reason was the decline of faith, fervour and faithfulness.
Wesley saw that Methodists, many of whom came from the working classes, were prospering due to their discipline and pious practices. But he saw imminent danger even amid spiritual success. He wrote in 1786 in Thoughts on Methodism: “The Methodists in every place grow diligent and frugal; consequently they increase in goods. Hence, they proportionately increase in pride, in anger, in the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life. So, although the form of religion remains, the spirit is swiftly vanishing away.”
Our churches have many members from the wealthy and middles classes. Many have seen originally poverty-marked lives transformed into comfortable ones, amply supplied by resources that are used for personal pleasure (like holiday trips and cruises) and to buy and consume luxuries and entertainment. It is important to think more deeply of the dangers of starting out well but ending disastrously, of beginning the Christian journey with a spiritual roar but ending it with a tame whimper.
It is good to be aware of the “vices of aging” (as Paul Stephens has pointed out in his book Aging Matters) and how old sins can reappear in new forms in our later years. The ancient kings of Judah became proud as they tasted power, privilege and possessions. Pride following successful accumulation of wealth and influence can become a millstone around the neck of an aging Christian. Other deadly sins, such as greed, rage, and lust may return with a vengeance.
When we read Paul’s command to Timothy to “flee the evil desires of youth” (2 Timothy 2:22), we may think that it is something that young Christians need to take note of. Indeed, but it can also equally apply to aging Christians who may suffer from new seasons of old desires threatening their spiritual health and progress.
We must be careful not to lose our spiritual passion as we age; it is so easy for that to happen. What Jesus told the church in Ephesus — “You have forsaken the love you had at first”— continues to challenge us (Revelation 2:4). We are reminded that true spiritual passion has to do with our love for the Lord. Old age should not see this love decreasing. Our physical energies may diminish, but we must never equate decreasing energy with decreasing zeal for the Lord.
Paul’s pastoral advice is most important in old age: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). We must do so right to the end. Perhaps spiritual writer James Houston was right in saying that retirement is “not in the language of the Christian”. Though we may be retired from gainful employment, we never really retire from walking with Christ and serving in His name—which we must do with undiminished passion. We would do well to remember that we do not retire from life but as Jane Marie Thibault and Richard Morgan indicate, “re-fire into new life.”
Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon served as Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000-2012. He had served previously as a medical doctor, church pastor, principal of Trinity Theological College and president of the National Council of Churches of Singapore. He now has an active itinerant ministry of preaching and teaching in Singapore and abroad.
Widely celebrated festive seasons, such as Christmas, are especially meaningful because they bring families and loved ones together over shared meals and traditions. However, these occasions can often exacerbate feelings of loneliness among vulnerable communities in society, who may not be able to celebrate with their families. These feelings may also be especially pronounced among guest workers, such as construction workers and Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Singapore, who frequently experience homesickness from being separated from their families.
In an effort to alleviate the emotional struggles of the guest worker community, Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA) teamed up with partners such as SowCare – the charity arm of the Bible Society of Singapore – to share the joy and cause for the Christmas season with guest workers through Feasts of Appreciation (FoA), which were themed Christmas with the Nations.
On 15 December 2019, 300 Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) were invited to attend a FoA at Bible House. This was one of the 24 FoAs launched nationwide in October 2020. The event for FDWs featured performances by various ethnic groups and a mini-bazaar, including photobooth and manicure stations. Each of the FDWs also left with a goodie bag that had been kindly sponsored by SowCare and the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM).
Visibly touched by the generous display of warmth, many FDWs who were present shared their appreciation for the organisers of the feast, as the event drew to a close. Pah-Sang, a North Indian FDW from Darjeeling, shared, “This is my first time being at an event like this. I feel very blessed. I love the people here. They were so nice and kind. Of course, I still miss my family but this makes me remember we have a family in Christ here, and so we can be happy.”
Reiterating the importance of being cognisant of the sacrifices many of these FDWs have made for our society, Rev Ezekiel Tan, President of HIA, addressed them at the event. “While guest workers serve in public industrial sectors, your contributions as FDWs are close to home and to the heart. Your role as a caretaker in our homes is a very personal one, and this feast is our way of wholeheartedly thanking you for the sacrifices you have made and continue to make every day.”
Sharing his vision and ethos behind the FoA movement, Rev Samuel Gift Stephen, Chairman of the AGWO, reminded the staff and volunteers present at the events that, “In a country where food is such an important part of our culture, sharing a meal with these guest workers goes a long way in showing them our hospitality and appreciation for the part they play in our society.”
On 8 December 2019, SowCare joined arms with the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach and TSL Holdings Group to hold a Feast of Appreciation for over 350 guest worker employees at the latter’s company headquarters. This was one of the 24 Feasts of Appreciation launched nationwide in October 2020. In the spirit of Christmas, carols were sung and guest worker employees were gifted with wonderful presents as well.
Mr Tan Swee Lim, President of TSL Holdings, expressed his gratitude to the workers in his opening address. Thanking them for their contributions over the years, Mr Tan said, “This special feast is especially for all of you, who have worked hard to contribute to the success of not only my group of companies, but our nation. Your contributions have included laborious work and long hours, and we are truly thankful for the role you have played.”
Despite Jesus’ divinity, a good part of his teachings are about earthly matters, shown through his parables about coins and farming activity, which were pertinent issues then.
In today’s context, Christians still face earthly anxieties—matters related to money, business and technology. While we can take comfort in knowing that God is present in the marketplace, how should we discuss such issues today in a Biblical manner?
In this session, Dr Lee Soo Ann will expound upon how God is present amidst our day-to-day affairs, and show the link between Biblical truths and marketplace issues of today.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr Lee Soo Ann is an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore. He is the author of Singapore: From Place to Nation, as well as other books on development and economic history. He has also written teaching material for the university’s economics course. He is currently serving as President of The Bible Society of Singapore, after serving as General Secretary from 1990 to 2003.
He is also an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Singapore, and serves as adviser to Presbyterian Community Services. He attained his Ph.D. from the National University in Singapore, and also has a Master’s Degree in Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, Canada.
Many years ago, I met a group of Chinese Christians who do not believe in celebrating the Lunar New Year. The festival, in their view, has its roots in a pagan (Chinese) culture and is inextricably bound to the superstitions associated with it.
But does being a Christian mean that one should abandon one’s culture and the customs associated with it? What is the relationship between faith and culture?
In recent decades, some theologians have coined the neologism “inculturation” to explore the long and complex relationship between faith and culture. The former superior general of the Jesuits, Pedro Arrupe, defines this as “the incarnation of the Christian life and of the Christian message in a particular cultural context, in such a way that this experience not only finds expression through elements proper to the culture in question, but becomes the principle that animates, directs and unifies the culture, transforming and remaking it as to bring about a ‘new creation’.”
It is obviously impossible for me to unpack this dense statement in this short article. What I propose to do, instead, is to briefly offer some theological handles that would guide our reflections on the relationship between faith and culture.
Firstly, the foundation for a theology of inculturation is the incarnation of the eternal Word of God. In the Incarnation, we learn that God did not reject the fallen world but has chosen instead to inhabit it so that He might redeem it.
Secondly, Christians of every stripe believe that in this sin-marred world there can still be found traces of the true, the good and the beautiful—however faint. Christians must therefore affirm these aspects of human culture as manifestations of God’s common grace (Phil 4:8).
Thirdly, although Christianity is not tied to a particular culture, it has the capacity to accommodate the cultural forms and sensibilities of the people who embrace it. As the renowned missiologist David Bosch has pointed out: “The Christian faith never exists except as ‘translated into culture’. Scripture itself—and every translation of it—are examples of inculturation.”
And finally, inculturation does not mean that Christians should simply and uncritically assimilate every cultural form, custom or practice to their faith. Some cultural practices obviously must be rejected because they are antithetical to the Word of God (see Deut 18:9). And, as Auppe’s statement makes clear, even the cultural elements that are embraced must be transformed by the Word of God and sanctified by His Holy Spirit.
The theologian Andrew Walls has helpfully suggested that in the process of inculturation, two principles are at work. The “indigenising principle” maintains that the Gospel is at home in every culture and vice versa, while the “pilgrim principle” underscores the fact that the Gospel is in many ways also counter-cultural.
Based on this understanding of inculturation, Chinese Christians need not totally abandon the celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Without embracing or condoning certain elements associated with the festivity such as its astrological and horoscopic aspects as well as the conventions and rituals associated with ancestor worship, Christians can surely celebrate Chinese New Year purely as a cultural event. This would include traditional practices like the reunion dinner, the visitation of family members, and even the giving of hongbao or red packets (not as a way of dispensing good luck, but as a genuine act of mutual gift-giving).
Christians can use this happy occasion to emphasise the importance of family, friends and community, and the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. They can take advantage of this celebration to strengthen relationships and ties, and wish each other: “愿耶和华的恩典与平安伴随着你 (May God’s grace and peace be with you through the year).”
To provide guest workers with an avenue for recreation, the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach – a movement of Hope Initiative Alliance – organised a cricket tournament on 28 October 2019 at the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) Recreation Centre. Cricket is a popular sport among South Asians, with almost 900 million fans in India alone. Through this tournament, we aimed to alleviate guest workers’ feelings of homesickness and encourage fellowship with one another over a meal.
Involving nearly 3,000 guest workers, the Cricket Tournament was a resounding success.
Underscoring the objective behind events such as this, Rev. Samuel Gift Stephen, Chairman of AGWO, emphasised the need for a collective effort to care for this marginalised community. He shared that, “With guest workers forming nearly one-third of our population, it is our responsibility to cultivate an environment that protects and holistically cares for their well-being. More than isolated efforts, it is vital that we work collaboratively to pool together resources and services, so that we may effectively meet their needs.”
ETHOS Annual Seminaries Conference Dei Verbum: The Bible in Church and Society
Topic: Scripture as God’s Word (Part 2) Speaker: Dr Lee Chee Chiew
The Bible has shaped society for centuries—influencing language, art and culture across nations. The Word also remains as the only inerrant and infallible source of authority in the Church.
In partnership with eight seminaries and Bible Colleges, the ETHOS 4th Annual Seminaries Conference will discuss the role and relevance of the Bible in Church and society.
Join our speakers as they explore topics such as Scripture as God’s Word, Scripture and Tradition, Scripture and Worship and Scripture and Society. Papers presented in this conference will also be published in the ETHOS Engagement Series.
ETHOS Annual Seminaries Conference Dei Verbum: The Bible in Church and Society
Topic: Scripture as God’s Word (Part 1) Speaker: Dr Lee Chee Chiew
The Bible has shaped society for centuries—influencing language, art and culture across nations. The Word also remains as the only inerrant and infallible source of authority in the Church.
In partnership with eight seminaries and Bible Colleges, the ETHOS 4th Annual Seminaries Conference will discuss the role and relevance of the Bible in Church and society.
Join our speakers as they explore topics such as Scripture as God’s Word, Scripture and Tradition, Scripture and Worship and Scripture and Society. Papers presented in this conference will also be published in the ETHOS Engagement Series.
