Ramadan-Vesak Day Promotion (7 May 2020)

We are hoping to distribute Festive Care Packs to the factory-converted dormitories that Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA) and Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO)—a movement of HIA—are supporting during this period of circuit breaker. In the festive care packs, we are hoping to include food items that may consist of some local delights (eg. dates, muruku etc) that our migrant workers will appreciate.
We hope to put the following items into the Festive Care Packs.

1. Food Items
- Biscuits (Digestive or Peanut Butter or Cashew nut cookies)
- Cereal
- Coffee/Tea/3 in 1 sachets
- Dried fruits (eg. Dates, dried mango)
- Fresh fruits (Cartons of fruits for donations are preferred than loose quantity.)
- Milo
- Muruku
- Peanuts or nut pack

2. Medical Kits
- Hand sanitiser
- Surgical masks
- Vitamin C supplements

3. Hygiene Products
- Antibacterial wipes
- Bars of soap
- Dettol
- Hand wash
- Rolls of Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Shaving blade
- Shaving foam
- Toothpaste, Toothbrush set
- Towels

Items Required:
We need cardboard boxes to store the items for distribution. Boxes of the same size preferred.
Quantity required: 200 – 300 boxes.

Distribution Information
Event date: 7 May 2020
Time: 2-4pm
Distribution venues: @TSL Building and @Bible House
No of dorms targeted for distribution*= 260
*Est no of migrant workers receiving festive care packs*=12,000

How you can support our distribution on 7 May
1. To donate in kind for the items we hope to purchase for the Festive Care Packs.
Visit https://www.giving.sg/hope-initiative-alliance/guestworkers to donate.
2. To sponsor any of the items above. However, we will be only accepting items in bulk (at least >10 packs). Items to be delivered to our distribution centre.

Please fill up this online form for donation of goods/items. The last submission for donation of items via the online form will be on 3 May, Sun, 1159hrs.

Select which day you will be dropping off the items.
Drop off point is at 101 Eunos Ave 3, TSL Building, S409835 loading bay.
30Apr, Thur, 9am-6pm
1May, Fri, 10am-3pm
2May, Sat, 10am-3pm
4May, Mon, 10am-3pm

Please indicate your preferred drop off timing at TSL building. Do note our volunteer will confirm the timing with you again.

For more information, please contact us at info@hia.sg or our hotline at 6304 3486.

 

Photo by © AGWO Care Meals Volunteers/ Partners


Feature Article: Advocating For The Poor And Needy – Addressing Poverty in Singapore

This article was originally posted in our March 2020 Word@Work.

Feature Article: Advocating For The Poor And Needy

— Addressing Poverty in Singapore —

“Put your life into Christ’s hands, then ask Him to use you to help others overcome
both their material and spiritual poverty.”— Billy Graham

Aside from ministering His Word to the people, Jesus’ ministry also focused on rendering aid to the poor and needy. Christians have also been tasked to continue in His footsteps to reach out to the least among us (Luke 14:13–14).
How then can we become more cognisant of poverty in today’s context?

In July 2019, a panel on the topic of privilege was organised by The Straits Times, with the aim of developing actionable ideas to encourage giving. One of the poverty myths addressed at the panel was the misconception that the poor in Singapore “aren’t actually that poor”. Contrary to this belief, the Lien Centre for Social Innovation found that one in five low-income households in Singapore grapple with severe food insecurity. One of the reasons for this misconception is an inability to fully understand the experiences and stories of the underprivileged.

Dr Roland Chia, Professor at Trinity Theological College also echoes this view, “Justice to the poor… is about ensuring that they are not forgotten, that their conditions are improved.”

Poverty is not only detrimental to one’s physical well-being but can also affect one’s spiritual health. In an interview with the United Bible Societies, Preacher Qian from Shandong, China, shared a real-life example of how poverty affects spirituality in their community—“When financial stress arises due to family needs like children’s education or emergencies, people tend to focus more on earning money instead of coming for worship.”

As a body of believers, how then may we take the first step to walk alongside those who are in need of help?

Rev Ezekiel Tan, CEO of SowCare— a charity arm of The Bible Society of Singapore—provides us with some practical tips. With a heart for the vulnerable and marginalised in society, he hopes to create a platform where different partners may pool their resources, and come together to empower the poor and needy in Singapore.

“Just as Jesus actively ministered to the poor and needy in society, SowCare also hopes to foster the same spirit of charity within the Christian community in Singapore. We want to extend a helping hand to the often-neglected facets of society, such as the guest workers, foreign domestic workers as well as the rough sleepers in Singapore.

The first step to reaching out to these individuals is first to gain a better understanding of their stories and experiences walking alongside them. Only by making an effort to know them we can provide meaningful assistance to them.”

What are some of the ways in which Christians can extend a helping hand to the poor and needy?

“It is our call to go beyond, as a Christian community, to provide a shelter for the homeless, as mandated in Isaiah 58:7. The local Church can become journey-makers by providing them with holistic care, empowering them while connecting them to necessary service that will meet their immediate needs. If we pool our resources and expertise together, I believe that as a united Body of Christ we will be able to make a difference in their lives.”

Sowing Care for the Homeless Amidst COVID-19

In order to care for the homeless amidst the COVID-19 situation, SowCare—the charity arm of The Bible Society of Singapore—has been working closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) in setting up Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P).

SowCare has set up temporary shelters for the homeless at S3P@7 Armenian Street and is working towards setting up another transient shelter at MacPherson.

Click the button below to find out more about this initiative and how you can support.

Find out more

Mongolia Bible Mission Trip

Want to touch the lives of people living in different parts of the globe? Join us on a short-term mission programme to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to catch God's heartbeat for the world, experience the local Christian setting and to support the local ministry. Demonstrate the abundant love of Jesus, and see precious lives impacted and transformed by His grace!

On this trip, you will be:

  • Involved in Bible distribution and other resources
  • Visit the local church and/or orphanage and conduct activities for them
  • Visit the local Bible Society to learn more about their works
  • Opportunity to sight-see

Together, we are empowered to touch hearts and transform lives on a larger scale. Let His heartbeat be the fuel that fans your flame for missions.

 

ABOUT Mongolia

Blue Mongolia. This ancient name for Mongolia was inspired by the vast blue sky hung over the endless steppe. Due to their nomadic culture, Mongolians maintain a deep respect and reverence for nature. As well as the famous steppe, Mongolia is a land of mountains, taiga forests, beautiful lakes and the rocky Gobi Desert. To this day, Mongolia is largely overlooked by Christian missions and about 86 percent of the country remains unreached with the gospel. However the mission filed is full of promise. From the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, the gospel is gaining momentum and is starting to reach across the rural countryside.

Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Capital:Ulaanbaatar
Area: 1,566,000 square kilometres
Population: 3,278,290
Languages: Mongolian (90%), Turkic, Russian (Khalkha dialect is predominant)
Religions: Buddhism 53%, Non-religious 38.6%, Islam 3%, Shamanism 2.9%, Christianity 2.2% and Others 0.4%

 

Itinerary
Day 1: 13 Oct 2020 (Tue)
Depart Singapore
Suggested flight on Cathay Pacific
Departure flight: CX650 SIN-HKG 0635-1040

Transit in Hong Kong to Ulaanbaatar

Flight on Miat Mongolian Airlines

Departure flight: OM298 HKG-ULN 1205-1645

Check in to guesthouse to rest for the night. (D)

 

 

Day 2: 14 Oct 2020 (Wed)
- Travel to local province (TBC)
Meals: B/L/D
Accommodation: Local Province

 

Day 3: 15 Oct 2020 (Thu)
- Bible distribution at local church (TBC)
Meals: B/L/D
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Local Province

 

 

Day 4: 16 Oct 2020 (Fri)
- Bible distribution at local church (TBC)
Meals: B/L/D
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Local Province

 

 

 

Day 5: 17 Oct 2020 (Sat)
- Travel back t0 Ulaanbaatar
Meals: B/L/D
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar

 

 

Day 6: 18 Oct 2020 (Sun)
- Visit local church
- Visit local orphanage (TBC)
Meals: B/L/D
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar

 

 

Day 7: 19 Oct 2020 (Mon)
- Visit Bible Society
- Sight-seeing
Meals: B/L/D
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Ulaanbaatar

 

 

 

Day 8: 20 Oct 2020 (Tue)
- Depart for airport
Flight on Air China

Departure flight to Beijing: CA602 ULN-PEK 1150-1355
Transit in Beijing

Departure flight to Singapore: CA696 PEK-SIN 1535-2155
B

 

 

 

Day 9: 21 Oct 2020 (Wed)
Arrive in Singapore at 2155

 

 

 

Date: 13-21 Oct 2020
Land Cost: ≥S$1400*

Flight: Estimate S$1400 (MIAT Mongolian Airlines)
Registration Closes: 31 Aug 2020

Note*:
1Trip cost includes 7 nights accommodation based on twin-sharing, meals, land transport and entrance fees to sites. Excludes airfare.
2Trip cost is based on ≥4pax.
3Participants are required to purchase their own flights. Estimate flight cost is $1400.

For more details, please email us at info@ibex.sg or contact us at 6304 3762.

Please read the terms and conditions or download a copy here. 

i. Customers are deemed to have read, understood and accepted the following terms and conditions. For the purpose of clarity, “International Bible Experiences Pte Ltd” shall be referred to as “the Company” hereinafter.

ii. When the customer (You) purchase any tours or goods online from the Company, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

iii. The Company may change these terms and conditions at any time. Any such changes will take immediate effect when posted on the website, and it is your responsibility to read these terms and conditions on each occasion you use this website.

1 BOOKING & DEPOSIT
1.1 Bookings will be accepted upon the payment of deposit as stated in the itinerary. The deposit made forms part of the final payment. However, please note that the deposit does not constitute confirmation of the tour. Confirmation of the tour is subjected to the minimum group size (as determined by the Company), in order for the confirmation to be effected and for the departure to be finalised.

2 PAYMENT
2.1 Payments must be strictly in cash or cheque. Full payment for any product and/or service is required to be paid by the due date stipulated in the online registration form.

2.2 In the event that the Company does not receive any payment when due for whatever reason, the Company reserves the right to cancel the participant’s booking immediately, in which case the participant shall pay the relevant cancellation fees accordingly.

3 CANCELLATION BY PARTICIPANT
3.1 In the event of a cancellation of the tour, the participant is required to give prior notice in writing or by email to the Company. A cancellation fee is applicable and is based on the following calculation. The Company shall not be held liable for any contingent costs incurred by the participant arising from the cancellation.

CANCELLATION FEE
Timeline Amount Forfeited
Once tour confirmation email is sent Deposit Forfeited
39 to 35 days before departure date 75% of Tour Package Price
34 to 0 days and no show 100% of Tour Package Price

4 AMENDMENT TO BOOKINGS
4.1 Any amendment requested by the participant to any existing booking will incur an administrative charge of $50 and additional charges levied by the airlines, hotels, or service providers concerned. Any amendment request will be subjected to airlines’, hotels’, and service providers’ approval and conditions.

5 TRAVEL INSURANCE
5.1 All participants are strongly recommended to purchase a travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances such as trip cancellation, personal baggage loss, personal accident, injury or illness. The purchase of travel insurance is an additional cost and is to be borne by the participant. Under no circumstances is the Company responsible for expenses of uninsured participants. Under no circumstances is the Company to be construed of as being a carrier under contract for the safe carriage of any passenger and/or his/her baggage and belongings.

6 VISA
6.1 Different embassies and consulates require varying lengths of time to process visa applications. The Company renders assistance in visa application wherever possible. The Company cannot, however, guarantee the approval of such visa application. This service is subject to (auxiliary) charges.

6.2 If, for any reason, application for a visa or exit permit is rejected, the relevant cancellation fee as stated under the section “Cancellation by Participant”, and/or in the addendums to the terms and conditions, if any, will apply.

6.3 The Company will not be responsible for any expense, reimbursement or refund of the trip fare if the participant is deported or refused entry by immigration authorities on the trip for whatever reasons, including improper travel documents, quarantine, custom regulations, and possession of unlawful items or irregularities that may cause harm/damage to person or property.

7 EXTENSION OF STAY OR DEVIATION
7.1 Any extension or deviation of stay may be permitted at the end of the tour. This is subjected to the maximum validity and restrictions of air tickets, seat confirmation and availability of hotel prior to commencement of tour. It is the participant’s responsibility to hold firm confirmation for their return flight.

7.2 When extension or deviation cannot be confirmed three weeks prior to group departure date, the participant is deemed to remain with the original tour schedules.
7.3 Extension of stay or deviation will be at the participant’s own expense and transfers to or from the airport will not be provided.

8 RESPONSIBILITIES
8.1 Where the Company has not been negligent nor in breach of any duty, it assumes no responsibility for injury, damage, accident, loss, delay or irregularities that may be caused to person or property where such occur as a result of circumstances beyond its control.

8.2 The Company does not accept any liability, whether negligent or otherwise, of those service providers for and during the trip but will render assistance wherever possible. The Company will also not be responsible or liable (for damages, refunds or otherwise) for: mechanical breakdown, government actions, weather, acts of God, strikes, compulsory quarantine, or other circumstances beyond its control.

8.3 The Company reserves rights to alter routes, timetables, itineraries, and accommodation reserved if this is so necessary or in the case of force majeure and to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason including insufficient number of passengers.

8.4 The Company will as far as possible try to notify the client 14 days prior to departure in the case of cancellation due to insufficient numbers or as early as possible if cancellation is due to other factors.

9 RIGHT TO REJECT
9.1 The Company reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any bookings made for a participant or decline to accept or retain any person as a Participant of the trip due to the following circumstances.
a. Failure of participant to obtain required documentation (e.g. Health certifications, visas, passports, etc.)
b. Failure of participant to follow reasonable instructions including but not limited to check-in and check-out places and times.
c. When it appears to the Company, the participant is likely to endanger the health or safety of the rest of the Participants.

9.2 In any of the foregoing events, the Company’s sole liability shall be to refund to the client any monies paid less the amounts for service utilized, administration and cancellation fees.

10 DATA PROTECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL DATA
10.1 The Company respects your privacy and will make the necessary security arrangements to safeguard your personal information. It is the Company’s practice not to ask for information unless the Company needs and/or intends to use it. The primary purpose for collecting your personal information is to provide and deliver our products and services to you; improving our service and to conduct research and analysis and advertising and marketing our products and services (“the purposes”).

10.2 The type of personal information that the Company collects includes but is not limited to; your name, home and email addresses, home/office and mobile numbers; date of birth; gender, passport number and details, marital status, occupation, nationality, and other information necessary to fulfil specific travel and tour related purposes (such as booking air tickets and accommodations, visa application, emergency contact purposes etc.)

10.3 When you provide the Company with personal information for the purpose of receiving any form of assistance from the Company, the Company will collect, use and/or disclose such personal information solely to facilitate providing such assistance. Personal data collected will not be given to third parties unless it is necessary to fulfil the purposes set out herein (e.g. to share your information with vendors like hotels, airlines, land operators etc.) The Company will within its means to ensure that these third parties are also under similar obligations to protect your personal information.

10.4 The Company may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time. This Privacy Policy is not intended to, nor does it create, any contractual rights whatsoever or any other legal rights, nor does it create any obligations on the Company in respect of any other party or on behalf of any party.

11 MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 The Company will only conduct water baptism upon request by the Pastor or Ministry leader who is leading the tour group for their church.

11.2 The Company will not accept any registration for twin sharing if the couple is unmarried.

11.3 All claims against The Company must be made in writing within 14 days from the date of return to Singapore for the company’s investigation. No responsibility is accepted in respect of any complaint and/or claim not so made.

11.4 The Company reserves the right to change, amend, insert, or delete any of the Terms and Conditions, or polices contained in this document, as the case may be, without prior notice.

11.5 These terms and conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with Singapore law, and each of the parties submits itself to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of Singapore.

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