Cru Singapore’s 50th Anniversary – His Story, His Glory

Posted by eeyuing on Friday, September 30, 2022 · Leave a Comment

L-R: Mr Goh Hock Chye, Rev Tony Yeo, Rev Lam Kok Hiang, Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok
Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok, EAST President (L) and Mr Richard Hoon, Cru Asia Limited Board Chairman (R)
Cru Singapore National Director Mr Goh Hock Chye giving a challenge.
Rev Tony Yeo, Senior Pastor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church giving an encouraging message.
Mr Mark Suredhran, EAST Alumnus and Head of Crea Ministry at Cru Singapore leading worship.
Rev Tony Yeo (L) with Dr Victor Koh, 1st Cru Singapore National Director & 1st EAST President (R)
L-R: Cindy Yong, Koh Aitee, Boon, Jacky Tan (after a prayer session)
Prayer session during the event.
Mrs Margaret Chan (L), EAST Partners-in-Ministry Director and and Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok (R), EAST President
Mr Yong Chee Yee (L), Chief of Staff (Cru Singapore) and Mrs Jodi Yong, Team Lead of Wow Mom (Women of Worth. Moms on Mission), a ministry under Cru Singapore (Both are EAST Alumni)
L-R: Dr Jeannette Shubert, Mrs Barbara Winkler, Thomas Frank, Hannah Frank
EAST Community celebrating at Cru Singapore's 50th Anniversary on 17 September 2022.

2022 is a milestone year for both Cru Singapore and EAST. On 17 September, Cru Singapore held a celebratory event at Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church to mark her 50th anniversary celebrations and saw about 400 people gathering together for a time of worship, prayer, message, photo-taking at a photo-booth, and food (snack boxes were distributed and coffees made available to go with the pastries). Guests who arrived were treated to a keepsake coffee table book of over 50 stories titled “His Story, His Glory”. It is a collection of stories from the lives of Cru Singapore staff, disciples and volunteers from the pioneers, the present and even the past (one specially penned by Chan Chong Hiok on behalf of Chen Hui Lin, leader of Media Ministry for many years, who has gone back to the Lord).

Below are thoughts from an EAST staff, a faculty spouse and an alumnus who were present at the event. May their sharing give you a glimpse of the day’s festivities.

“So thankful to be at Cru50 celebration. It brought to us its history in videos, pictures and live testimonies. Most thankful for the opportunity to participate by praying for the ministry staff. They were called to randomly walk down the aisle to be prayed for by the guests. Boon and I had the privilege to pray for Jacky Tan and Cindy Yong, both EAST alumni. I am blessed by Pastor Tony Yeo’s sharing of four foundational imperatives: Be Disciples, Make Disciples, Multiply Disciples and Mobilise Disciples. It inspires me to go “Make disciples everywhere”; to impact and transform lives, for God’s glorious stories.”

— Koh Aitee, EAST Immigration Liaison Officer and Sectional Leader, Trinity Christian Centre

“So fun to celebrate the big birthday (50 years) with Cru Singapore!

I especially enjoyed hearing Cru Singapore’s new National Director, Goh Hock Chye, speak as he clearly communicated the needs, yet kept us laughing! Then we had a chance to pray for God’s continuing favour and blessing upon the staff of Cru Singapore.

When I see the faces of the staff (many are EAST grads), I remember God’s faithfulness, kindness, and provision to the ministry. How beautiful are the feet (and faces) of those who bring good news.

May we always remember the Great Commission and our calling to take the gospel to the unreached people of the world. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Let us obey the call of Christ to pray for more workers for the harvest!

Thanks, Cru Singapore, for inviting us to remember and celebrate such a significant milestone. God is good!

— Barbara Winkler, wife of Rev Dr Lewis Winkler, EAST resident faculty and Chairperson, Christian Connection (American Women’s Association)

“My heart is filled with thanksgiving that God is honoured and glorified in our Cru50 celebration. Those in attendance were encouraged by the stories, the message and stayed engaged with our activities. The most memorable segment was to invite our guests to pray for our staff to be faithful in our calling. I had the privilege to have Ps Norman from 3:16 Church to pray for me. I also prayed with him that the Lord will bless his church and we can work together to reach the next generation. What a moving scene it was to see how we are connected and need each other to fulfil the Great Commission together!

I am also thankful to God for EAST for her role in equipping me to be the kind of spiritual leader God has shaped me. In those four years of equipping, I had time to reflect and evaluate who I was as a servant leader. I appreciated the authenticity of my professors, how they lived out their lives in the midst of challenges yet remained steadfast and hopeful in God. The exposure and experience in EAST has strengthened my spiritual foundation and character growth as a person.

Looking ahead, the world is continuing to be volatile and uncertain, people can be hardened towards the gospel. However, in my recent devotional time with the Lord in Deut. 31:6, Moses exhorted the Israelites, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” God reminded me that I need not be fearful, instead I need to go in faith because God is always with me.

As we celebrate Cru Singapore’s 50^th and EAST 30^th anniversaries, we are thankful to God for His faithfulness and goodness. We can go forth to break new grounds because God is always with us to guide and overcome the difficulties ahead – His Story, His Glory!”

— Yong Chee Yee, EAST Alumnus and Chief of Staff, Cru Singapore

Just a heads up that in November and next February, EAST will be holding a series of events for our 30th anniversary celebrations:

11 Nov 2022, Friday – Earnest & Mingli in Concert
12 Nov 2022, Saturday – Thanksgiving Celebration for Ministry Partners (email advancement@east.edu.sg if you are interested to attend)
18 Nov 2022, Friday – Homecoming Reunion for EAST Community & Alumni (email advancement@east.edu.sg for more information)
18 Feb 2023, Saturday – eOpen House 2023 (look out for more information on EAST website)