GCF Sectional Groups & Ministries

Take a look at our various Sectional Groups and Ministries:  

SECTIONAL GROUPS

1. Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship (CMDF)

2. Fellowship of Christian Care Professionals (FCCP)

3. Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF)

4. Teachers' Christian Fellowship (TCF)

5. Engineering and Science Christian Fellowship (ESCF)

MINISTRIES

6. Christian Conciliation & Arbitration Ministry (CCAM)

7. Marketplace Christian Network (MCN)

8. Origins Interest Group (OIG)/
    Comparative Religions Interest Group (CRIG)

9. Indonesian Graduates' Christian Fellowship (IGCF)

10. UK Returnees (Chinese Overseas Christian Mission) - (COCM)

11. OCF Alumni Singapore

12. GCF Kairos

ASSOCIATE MINISTRIES

13. St Luke's Hospital

 

Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship

                      
                            (pictures from http://www.cmdf.org.sg))


Introduction
The Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship (CMDF) Singapore is a sectional group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF). Started in 1966, it is an inter-denominational, evangelical fellowship of Christian doctors and dentists. It seeks to bring together Christian medical and dental professionals for fellowship and mutual encouragement, sharpening each other in our faith and walk, and optimising our professional gifts and resources for His glory.

Theme Verse
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)

Vision and Mission
We exist to serve the local fraternity of Christian medical and dental professionals to be all that God has designed and called us to be, generally as a unified evangelical Christian body; and specifically for each in our individual callings and roles. This is a ministry by Christian doctors and dental surgeons for Christian doctors and dental surgeons.

    
(pictures from http://www.cmdf.org.sg)

Aims
* To encourage members in the Christian faith
* To be a witness to Christ amongst our colleagues
* To support Christian students in the medical faculty
* To spread the gospel throughout the world and support missions

Ministry Focus
The focus and ministry of CMDF are in the following areas:

Missions
Working alongside mission agencies to send forth our doctors to the mission field for both long-term ministries and short-term mission trips. Serving as a channel of medical support for other missionaries. Locally, supporting St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly in finance and expertise.

Mercy Ministries
Sending forth our doctors for humanitarian missions, working alongside various relief organisations such as Crisis Relief Network, Ops Blessings and CREST.

Marketplace
Developing strategies that help integrate faith and practice, and equipping health professionals to reach their spheres of influence for Christ.

Medical and Dental Students
Nurturing medical and dental students for discipleship and witness on campus. Facilitating medical electives with mission hospitals and mission organisations.

Mentoring
Mutual encouragement and sharpening, both peer-to-peer and between seniors and juniors. One such forum has been the Meet the Housemen sessions, where senior Christian doctors reassure and encourage fresh graduates just before they embark on the Housemanship.

Medical Ethics
Acting as a national voice for Christian ethics in healthcare policy. Organising seminars to address issues that pose challenges to Christian witness in the profession, such as Psychiatry and the Occult, In-Vitro Fertilisation, and Cost of Medical Care.

              
(pictures from http://www.cmdf.org.sg))

Brief History
The roots of the CMDF can be found in the formation of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) in 1952 by a group of final-year medical students, in the then University of Malaya in Singapore. This began mainly as an evangelical response to the liberal theology prevalent at the time, which openly discounted the Bible to be the Word of God. The VCF eventually led to the formation of the GCF in 1955. It sought to bring into Christian fellowship graduates from the VCF as well as other campuses both locally and abroad.

As the number of doctors grew in the GCF, some members felt a need to have a grouping as a medical fellowship within the GCF. The reasoning was that there should be an identifiable group of Christian doctors to be a witness to colleagues, patients and the community. It sought to encourage members growth in the Faith, and the practice of the ideals of medicine, as exemplified by the Lord in His ministry to the sick. Christ came not be served but to serve; this was to be the ideal for the Christian doctor. At a meeting held in April 1966 at King Edward VII Hall, the Christian Medical Fellowship was formed. It became affiliated to the Graduates Christian Fellowship in June 1973. In 1980, a formal move made to include dental surgeons resulted in the Fellowship being renamed the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship.

A milestone for the Fellowship was when it hosted the 5th International Congress of Christian Physicians (ICCP) in Singapore in November 1975. At about that time, CMDF became a member of the ICCP, now known as the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA).

The challenge for CMDF members in nearly 40 years of our existence is different now from then. It is therefore necessary for our present leadership and members to seek afresh God's will for our generation, and in completing the task, to bring Him all the glory.

Website : http://www.cmdf.org.sg

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Fellowship of Christian Care Professionals

Introduction
The Fellowship of Christian Care Professionals (FCCP) is a sectional group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF). It comprises members who are mental health professionals (social workers, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists); professionals or lay appointed counsellors; and pastors and theologians with a special interest in the field of counselling.

Aims
*  To encourage each other to maintain spiritual vitality and Christian witness in our work
*  To be salt and light to our society
*  To be of help to Christian students and trainees preparing themselves to become members of the caring professions

Ministry Focus
FCCP achieves its aims through mutual support, informal networking, regular small group discussions and occasional large-scale meetings. An important aspect of these activities involves the integration of our professional experiences and Christian convictions in order to be salt and light to our society and to be of help to potential Christian care professionals.

Some recent activities organised included the following talks:
*  "Postmodernism and New Spiritualities-Impacting and Connecting with the Younger Generation" by Dr Gary Collins, a world renowned Christian author and speaker
*  "Sex - What Has Love Got to do with It?" by Associate Professor, Dr Calvin Fones, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chief of Physiological Medicine at the National University of Singapore.

Brief History
In 1991, a small group of Christian care professionals who felt it would be useful to network and share resources to tackle issues which they faced, started meeting together at the FES Graduate Centre (new name of City Centre). Two years later, at the GCF annual general meeting in June 1993, the FCCP was accepted as a sectional group.

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Lawyers' Christian Fellowship

Introduction
The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (LCF) is a sectional group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF). The LCF was formed in November 1978 with the hope of enhancing Christian witness amongst members of the profession and bringing to bear the ethical teachings of Christ in the day-to-day operations of lawyers. Membership is open to all Christian lawyers who are qualified persons within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act and such other persons who have legal training or qualifications.

Aims
*  Fellowship: To encourage Christian lawyers to study the Word of God, have fellowship with one another, grow in their personal spiritual lives and relate the practice of their faith to the practice of their profession.
*  Witness: To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fellowmen, especially those in the legal profession.
*  Service: To serve the Church and the community at large through the pool of Christians, legal expertise and other gifts of its members

Ministry Focus
Since its formation, LCF members have been active in various areas, one of which has been in GCF study groups, particularly those involved in examining impending legislation and making representations to Parliamentary Select Committees. One such example was GCF's representations on the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Bill. In 2003, on behalf of the GCF,  LCF provided inputs to the National Council of Churches of Singapore committee formed to discuss and give feedback to the government on the proposed religious code. Through the years, various seminars and public lectures, which deal with law, both Biblical and secular, and legal perspectives on various issues, have been organised.

The Annual Dedication Service is held in conjunction with the official opening of the legal year. Members of the Bar and Bench take the opportunity to come before the Lord and dedicate and consecrate themselves to serving Him in the profession.

LCF members meet once a month at a law firm to pray for one another as well as needs in the legal profession.

In recent years, the LCF has organised the following activities and programmes:

*  Social gatherings/dinners with Christian Pupils and newly called lawyers;
*  Christian Conciliation & Arbitration Ministry-LCF Christian Mediation Workshop;
*  A Career Guidance Seminar for the National University of Singapore Law undergraduates;
*  Combined Prayer Leaders Meetings (for prayer leaders of different law firms);
*  Special services with guest speakers;
*  Prayer and Praise Meeting for the profession

Brief History
The LCF had its beginnings in the second half of the 1960s when some fresh law graduates from Singapore and England shared a wish that there could be a Lawyers Christian Fellowship in which they could learn and share and through which they could witness to the profession. However, some senior Christian legal professionals thought it was a bit premature as there were too few Christian lawyers to form a fellowship.

In 1978, the scene has changed and there were more lawyers had joined GCF. At that time too, the legal profession had began to experience adverse publicity for various reasons, so the idea of forming the fellowship was revived. The LCF was officially formed and affiliated as a sectional group to GCF on 1 November 1978 although it was inaugurated only on 3 February 1979 at the Shangri-la Hotel.

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Teachers' Christian Fellowship

Introduction
The Teachers' Christian Fellowship is a sectional group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF). It was started in 2 November 1968 by a group of teachers who felt the importance of a continuing witness to Christ after graduation.

Aims
*  To encourage Christian teachers in their witness in schools, colleges and other institutions;
*  To enable them to relate their faith to education and
*  To build fellowship among them
*  To encourage Christians to formulate a Biblical perspective towards educational issues

Ministry Focus
Occasional workshops, seminars and social gatherings are organised to address the needs of the teaching profession and to stimulate educational issues. Examples of such issues discussed have been pastoral care, and Christian concepts of discipline, administration and education

Publication
TCF's main communication is through its newsletter which is distributed free to anyone on its mailing list. TCF has produced a monograph "Called to be a Teacher" and a Bible study guide "The Beginning Teacher " for new graduates.

Annual Dedication Service
The Annual Dedication Service is to welcome Christian teachers who are new to the fellowship, as well as to challenge and consecrate each one in the teaching profession for Gods glorious service.The first Dedication Service was held on 8 January 1983 at the St Andrew's Cathedral.

TCF and NIECF
TCF maintains strong links with the National Institute of Education Christian Fellowship (NIECF). NIECF is part of the Nanyang Technological University's Christian Fellowship under the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES). The first joint Dedication Service was held in 1995. Instead of holding it in January, the joint service is held in May beginning in 2002, to make it more relevant for graduates posted to schools in July.

Brief History
As early as the mid-1950s, Christian students of the then Teachers College met to have weekly fellowship. This practice continued into the 1960s and was known as the Teachers College Christian Fellowship. During 1961-62, the GCF focussed its attention on two areas : Christian witness and literature work. A group of graduate teachers from the GCF formed the Teachers Committee, and together with the Teachers College Christian Fellowship, helped to start the Teachers Conference. The first Teachers Conference was held in December 1962 at Tanah Merah, Singapore.

Six years later, the graduate teachers within GCF gathered sufficient manpower to structure themselves into the Teachers' Christian Fellowship (TCF). TCF was inaugurated on 2 November 1968 and was affiliated as a sectional group to GCF in 1969. It then restructured and came under the Fellowship of Evangelical Students in 1971. TCF rejoined GCF in 1981.

Website : http://www.gcf.org.sg/tcf/index.html

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Engineering and Science Christian Fellowship (ESCF)

Introduction

The Engineering and Science Christian Fellowship (ESCF), a Sectional Group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF) has been officially endorsed as part of the GCF at its AGM in July 2008.

The ESCF was formed to meet the need and the challenges facing the science and engineering world today.

Science and engineering constitute the profession/vocation of a major segment of Christians in the world of work. Christian professionals working from fields of research to engineering to technology applications, contribute to the main engine of economic growth in the global economy. Engineering and science graduates constitute about 40 to 50 per cent of total graduates from universities around the world. With the industrialisation of the late 19th and early 20th century, we now live in a world that is saturated with science, engineering and technology.

With the proliferation of science and engineering also comes a whole host of ethical and environmental challenges. The earth has limited resources. How can Christian scientists and engineers redeem and be obedient to the Creation Commission in Genesis where we are first commissioned as humankind to "have dominion over the created order"? How are Christian scientists and engineers, who are redeemed and called to redeem creation, practise and do our work, which is in congruence with the Word of God? Are Christian scientists and engineers creating technology and designing products that benefit humankind and glorify our Heavenly Father?

There is also a great imbalance in the technology gap, translated to economic gap. Those without technology know-how, are significantly disadvantaged. What are some of the foreign missions initiatives and poverty alleviation projects, which Christian scientists and engineers can be involved in to bridge the gap, in the meantime witnessing the love of God and the hope of Jesus?

This is particularly important as many two-third-world countries will be greatly urbanised. There is also a great need as many previously predominantly Christian nations are now foreign missions fields and in need of highly skilled engineering and science professionals to work in their midst.

There are many such challenges ahead for Christian engineers and scientists. Hence, the creation of the new sectional group Engineering and Science Christian Fellowship (ESCF) under GCF to bring the Christian engineers/scientists under one umbrella to have fellowship and to equip themselves to meet the challenges in this material world.

Vision

Kingdom Innovations and Designs

Aims

As we see our vocation as a calling and ministry from our loving Father, we hold regular fellowship meetings to:

" Keep accountable to the highest ethical standards in performing our daily work, when necessary, even over and above what is industrial norm or legally mandated " Seek the interest of the common good for humanity and environment through our work as much as possible, in particular for the poor, needy, orphaned and widowed " Help our fellow Christian colleague to clarify his/her calling though vocational counselling " Sharpen our skills and ability in and through our daily work through so as to present work of excellence before the Lord " Integrate our faith and work through the corporate study of Scriptures and contemplating on its application within the vocational, personal, cultural, political and social context " Challenge each other to be witnesses, in words and deeds and living out the rule of Christ in every sphere of our lives, including our vocation.

Ministry Focus

The ESCF is for the following professionals:

" Graduates from engineering, science and technology faculties " Researchers or professionals in science and technology " Engineers in any related field " Professionals from manufacturing and process industries " Technical sales, marketing, support and quality professionals

Its activities include the following: " Bible studies and case studies to integrate faith and work " Updates on significant technology and research breakthrough, Christian worldviews and implications " Mentoring of students/young graduates and vocational guidance " Conduct training and projects for foreign missions initiatives " Training on marketplace ministry and missions

Brief History:

The ESCF was "launched" on 24 October 2007 with LT Jeyachandran speaking on "God and Technology" with about 40 people attending. On 28 February 2008, Timothy Liu spoke on "A Matter of the Spirit and Matter" while on 22 May 2008, LT Jeyachandran gave a talk on "Theology of Science".

ESCF plans to form a core team and core group of members this year (year 1) and to grow its membership in year 2 and 3. In year 4, it plans to start sub-groups, which will be based on industries and sectors if there are sufficient interest and numbers. The ESCF also plans to collaborate with the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) to be on campus to work and perhaps hold some seminars for students in the science and engineering faculties.

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INTEREST GROUPS & MINISTRIES

OCF Alumni Singapore

Introduction
Throughout Singapore, there are thousands of OCF returnees from Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, who are making a difference for Christ. As a ministry of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship, the OCF Alumni (Singapore) seeks to reach out to such Christian returnees to help them integrate back to their country, church and marketplace, and to rekindle their passion for the gospel.

Theme Verse
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28: 18-20)

Vision and Mission
To "Re-integrate" and to "Re-kindle"

Aims
Seek to reach approximately 2,500 Singaporean alumni in addition to 3,500 in Malaysia and 1,000 in other countries Encourage alumni to be active GCF members and promote participation in GCF's various professional groups

Ministry Focus
Returnees Gathering - It is a time of fellowship, updates and networking with fellow Returnees, current students and friends of OCF (for example, Aunty Merrilyn)

Crossings Training with Marketplace Christian Network - For some, re-entry into our own culture can be a major transition. Come and walk together in this journey both the transition back to Singapore and also into the workplace

Brief History
The OCF Alumni (Singapore) was accepted as a new ministry by the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF) Council at its meeting on 12 February 2007.

OCF Australia, which was formed in 1958, is the oldest international student fellowship in Australia. It remains the only student-run, inter-denominational, multi-university Christian fellowship in Australia, supported by local churches. Today, it operates on 22 campuses across Australia, and has branches in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

In partnership with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students and many other Christian groups on campuses, OCF jointly reaches out to the growing international student population, estimated at 250,000 onshore students. Some 10,000 come from Singapore.

In partnership with the GCF in Singapore, the OCF Alumni (Singapore) was set up to encourage and support returning Christian graduates in their professional and personal lives to be salt and light in society.

Christian Conciliation & Arbitration Ministry

The Christian Conciliation and Arbitration Ministry is a ministry of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF). It was set up to help in the negotiation and settlement of legal disputes among Christian parties such as individuals, churches and para-church organisations. In the past, GCF members have helped to successfully resolve several legal disputes among Christian parties.

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Marketplace Christian Network

Introduction
The Marketplace Christian Network (MCN) in Singapore is a ministry of the Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (GCF). Internationally, the MCN is a group of Christians worldwide, joined together as a non-profit organisation. It is an inter-denominational, evangelical ministry.

Aims/Vision
To encourage all Christians to see themselves as full-time ministers of God and to adopt the marketplace as their mission field

Ministry Focus
What we mean by:

1. Full-time Minister of God
*  We see our vocation as an integral part of our faith in Christ; it is not just a job
*  We are called as Christians to be ambassadors and full-time missionaries of God in His work of reconciliation
*  We are to serve as priests in our home and community of Christians to administer God’s grace and love

2. The Marketplace
*  People we come into contact with from day to day
*  People we spend time with. They include our family, colleagues, friends, neighbours and community

3. The Mission field
* Where non-Christians are

Our Mission
Networking individuals, marketplace groups, Christian organisations and churches so as to fulfill their call as full-time ministers and the Great Commission

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The church
Local churches and para-church organisations, immersed in the world through intentional ministry. We see the world as the Christian community scattered in ministry.

Marketplace groups/ministry
* Returning to the church, the Christian community gathers for worship, equips itself and is a group from which resources can be tapped.

In practice, this means:
* Helping Christians to realise their call in the marketplace, equipping them to actualise that call and to provide continued support to fulfill that call
* Providing groups involved in marketplace or workplace ministry with resources, training, seminars and forums to be equipped, to be encouraged and to encourage others. These are missionary teams planted in their respective mission fields
* Encouraging churches to have a focus and providing resources for marketplace ministry within and outside their congregations. MCN comes alongside church staff to support them on marketplace issues
*Collaborating with Christian organisations to provide the training and resources needed in order to help Christians, groups and churches in achieving our vision

Brief History
MCN was started in 2001 in Singapore. Subsequently, MCN joined GCF as a ministry in 2002 because of the common vision we share for the marketplace. It is a ministry run by volunteers who also serve as ministers in their respective occupations. In 2003, we started our alternate monthly public meetings. These meetings are used as a platform to build a fellowship of marketplace practitioners through worship, talks and discussion forums on issues encountered at the workplace. MCN is also building a resource team as well as a team of marketplace ministry consultants. These consultants will assist groups and churches to integrate marketplace ministry into their overall ministry, based on their calling and gifts.

How can MCN  help You and Your Church?
Sign up as a Ministry Partner

As a Ministry Partner, you will receive regular updates on our alternate monthly meetings, seminars, forums via email. You can also access our website for regular updates of articles, recommended books, web-site reviews, and other resources related to marketplace issues. You will have to commit yourself to be a full-time minister of God and adopt your marketplace as your mission field.

*  Join our fellowship and meetings
*   Serve your church as a champion for the marketplace
*  Get your church to contact us for speaking engagements, workshops, consultations and resources

Website: http://www.marketplacechristian.net/

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Origins Interest Group

Introduction
The Origins Interest Group (OIG) is an interest group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF).

We are living in an age of technology and rapid scientific advancement where scientism and scientific naturalism are the prevailing paradigms. Biological macro- evolution of species and cosmological evolution of the universe based on the Big Bang theory are accepted as scientific facts which cannot be questioned. Thus, the media (from the newspapers to television ), science centres and academia regularly disseminate the so-called "facts" of evolution.

In the book entitled "The Meaning of Evolution", Simpson states "There is neither need nor excuse for postulation of non-material intervention in the origin of life, the rise of man or any other part of the long history of the material cosmo".

Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University has stronger views when he states that anyone who does not accept evolution as a fact is either stupid, ignorant or insane or perhaps wicked! It is interesting or disconcerting to note that in spite of the fact that an increasing number of non-Christian scientists (albeit relatively small) have recently started to question the validity of Darwinian and other forms of evolution, there is still a fair number of evangelical scientists, especially in the United States, Britain and Australia, who believe that evolution is a fact and that God has chosen to use this process.

Aims
*  To create an interest in and awareness of evolution and the origin of life among members of GCF and the general Christian body
*  To have its own group of highly qualified Christian scientists and engineers who, apart from their secular vocation, would be willing to utilise their scientific knowledge in this area so that we need not rely solely on the  efforts of our mainly Western brethren.

Ministry Focus
To achieve these aims, the OIG organises talks and seminars, and publicises its lectures and resource materials through publications (both print and electronic).

To date , the OIG has organised several dinners and meetings with speakers who have doctorates in fields such as astrophysics and paleontology. These include:
*  "Does the human soul exist?" by Professor K. O. Lee, Head of the Department of Endocrinology, National University of Singapore
*  "Man: Fossilized or Created?" by Dr Kurt Wise, Associate Professor of Science and Director of Origins Research at Bryan College based at Tennessee, USA

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Comparative Religion Interest Group

The Comparative Religions Interest Group (CRIG) is an interest group of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship. It seeks to understand comparative religions and come up with a Biblically-based response.

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Indonesian Graduates' Christian Fellowship

Introduction
The Indonesian Graduates' Christian Fellowship (IGCF) is a ministry of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF) and also partners with the Fellowship of Evangelical Students Indonesian Ministry (FESIM) in doing the graduates' ministry.

 Aim/Vision
Calling all Indonesian Christian graduates to play a strategic leadership role as salt and light in churches, society, nation-building, in particular Indonesia, for God's glory. 

Ministry Focus 

Final Year Ministry 
*  Reaching out to the final year students in tertiary institutions

New Graduates Ministry 
* Reaching out to new graduates to live out the vision and calling in the transition period.

 Five Interest Groups: Society, Education, Church, Nation-Building and Mission 

Brief History 
In April 2001, a group of Indonesians in Singapore were concerned about the spiritual situation of  the significant number of Indonesian students and graduates in Singapore. They felt that it would be very strategic to reach out to them for God's kingdom and so got together to form the group.

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UK Returnees (Chinese Overseas Christian Mission) - (COCM)

Introduction
The UK Returnees (Chinese Overseas Christian Mission or COCM) is an interest group of the Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (GCF). 


Aims
1. To provide fellowship for the new returnees and programmes to help them adjust to life and the work environment in Singapore

2. To help the young graduates to assimilate with the rest of the fellowship eventually

3. To encourage and support any future full-time Singaporean/Malaysian staff workers in the United Kingdom (UK). 

Ministry Focus
To achieve the above aims, the COCM organises a monthly prayer meeting on the second Wednesday of every month. All  eligible  returnees from the UK especially those who have yet to return will be encouraged to join this GCF interest group.

Brief History

The COCM was founded in 1953 by the late Rev Stephen Wang, who had left China a few years earlier for postgraduate studies in the UK. The original purpose of the mission was to minister to and evangelise Chinese restaurant workers  and overseas Chinese students in UK. This work has now been expanded to include  Eastern and Western Europe. There are now more than 100 Chinese churches through out the UK and Europe. A few non-Chinese Singaporean and Malaysian students are also attending such churches. 

The COCM’s  headquarters is in Milton Keynes, UK which also houses the Bible school for Chinese-speaking workers. One of  COCM’s long-term goals is to evangelise the Europeans (as Europe and the UK have become a spiritually dark continent). Work has commenced among the British-born Chinese, who do not speak Chinese and who are virtually indistinguishable from the Caucasian British. 

About 100 to 200 graduates in Singapore including three past GCF presidents and some current members were either converted through the COCM or have been actively associated with it during their studies in the UK.
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St Luke's Hospital

Introduction
The Graduates' Christian Fellowship (GCF) is a founding member of the St Luke's Hospital Limited.  Although the St Luke's Hospital Limited operates independently, a GCF representative sits on its Board of Directors as Chairman. Many GCF members support this ministry as professionals, volunteers, financial supporters and fund-raisers. The other seven founding members are Singapore Nurses' Christian Fellowship, Bartley Christian Church, Bethesda Frankel Estate Church, Bethesda Katong Church, Church of Singapore, Presbyterian Community Services and Wesley Methodist Church. 

St Luke's Hospital Limited is located at 2 Bukit Batok Street 11 in Singapore. 

Aim/Ministry Focus
We are a Christian Community Hospital committed to providing holistic care to the elderly sick

Brief History
In July 1989, the Graduates' Christian Fellowship, Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship and Nurses' Christian Fellowship firmed a study group to examine the feasibility of setting up a home for the elderly sick. Taking note of the findings and recommendations outlined in the "Report of the Advisory Council on the Aged", the group had discussions with relevant authorities and consulted church leaders.  

The proposed Home was to provide a level of medical services that would be higher than currently available in other nursing homes and would minister to the whole person as well as touch the lives of patients and other relatives. The Home would also provide an avenue for church people to give themselves in service to the community and a powerful testimony concerning inter-church unity. After two-and-a-half years of study and discussion with various people and authorities, St Luke's Home for the Elderly Sick was registered and gazetted with seven foundation members. The Management Council was formed and the first General Meeting was held on 5 December 1991. At the first Annual General Meeting on 8 May 1992, the name was changed to St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly. The eighth Foundation Member joined and a full-time Project Director was appointed.

Website: http://www.slh.org.sg/

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GCF Kairos  

Introduction
We are Christians who believe that for Christians there is no room for apathy. Our faith should be all embracing and not limited only to the “sacred” but extending to the “secular” as well. Our God is concerned not just for His covenant people, but also for all people. This concern is reflected throughout the gospels in the life of Christ.

Christ’s example for us is one of empathy and compassion for people. If we profess Christ therefore, we must begin with genuine concern for the poor, helpless and destitute.

“Too many of us evangelicals either have been, or maybe still are, irresponsible escapists. Fellowship with each other in the church is more congenial than service in an apathetic and even hostile environment outside....Instead of seeking to evade our social responsibility, we need to open our ears and listen to the voice of Him who calls His people in every age to go out into the lost and lonely world (as he did), in order to live and love, to witness and serve.”

From "Issues Facing Christians Today” by John Stott

Theme Verse
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a Shepherd. Then He said to the disciples. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send workers into His harvest field.” ” (Matthew 9:35-37)
 

Vision and Mission
In support of Christian work, our vision is for sustainable development of communities through business enterprise with the goal of poverty alleviation.

Ministry Focus
Identify and Evaluate

Qualifying projects have the objective of creating sustainable development for poverty alleviation through business enterprise. Because GCF Kairos is a Christian organisation, projects must be in support of Christian work. Finally, projects must be feasible as long-term ventures with reasonable prospects of poverty alleviation and for modest returns on capital.

Investment/Loan Structure
Investment or funding can take many forms. Example of project types:
1. Direct Community Support -These projects involve direct funding to communities and would typically include goat-rearing projects, Agri-ventures and cottage industries.
2. Development Platforms – These projects involve establishing a platform to support a
community. For example investment in a training school or self- reliant farms.  

Acceptance and Funding
There is considerable flexibility in investment/loan structures but guidelines for micro-enterprise investments or micro-loans will include the following:
1. Supervision by a trusted sponsor
2. Shared commitment of the community to repay loans or to develop shared investments 

3. Maximum caps on funding
4. Guidelines as to repayment
5. Reporting requirements
 

Repayment and Support

In most cases, we would require month repayment of loans. Every quarter, a detailed report on the project is also required. The project will be supervised by a volunteer, who will also look into providing expertise and support from other volunteers.

Financial Gifts and Governance
GCF Kairos aims to raise 3 million Singapore dollars in committed funds to the work by the end of its third year as an established non-government organisation (NGO). However, we will not accept financial gifts until we can be sure that processes for safeguarding gifts and executing our objectives are in place. We hope to be able to accept your gifts by the end of 2008.

The funds committed to GCF Kairos will be managed by Trustees appointed by the Council of the GCF under a trust deed that limits the use of trust funds to the objectives of GCF Kairos. Currently, the three appointed Trustees are all professionals, a lawyer, a doctor and an accountant, who are current members of the GCF Council.

GCF Kairos in not an investment fund so all gifts to the work will not be repaid and any profit from micro-enterprise projects will not be disbursed but will be invested in other projects.                           

Prayer
Please remember us in your prayers. We are still a start-up ministry and need prayer in the following areas:
* We are looking at three projects presently in Thailand, Myanmar and India but communication has been difficult.
* The legal and organisation structure for GCF Kairos is progressing but more needs to be done and we need good advisers.
* We have assembled a group of supporters and have commitment of start-up funds but we need to bring people together.

Volunteer
We need people with skills and a heart for helping the poor. Whether it is teaching English in Indonesia, helping set up a farm in Sabah or teaching elementary book keeping to villager in India, we need committed women and men who are willing to make a difference by helping others.
We will, in most cases, expect you to carry your own expenses because the trust funds allocated to the ministry is intend for the work. But in return, the hope is that you will gain a sense of our Lord in the faces of the poor that we help.

Brief History  

GCF Kairos is a micro-enterprise ministry initiated by the Graduates’ Christian Fellowship as the GCF Council believed that the GCF is uniquely positioned to provide a platform to support missionary work in Asia through the development of micro-enterprises.. The GCF Council officially approved the formation of GCF Kairos as a ministry in May 2007. The first governing committee of GCF Kairos are Timothy Goh, Peng Chung Mein and Seah Yen Goon.  

Website: http://www.gcfkairos.com

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We invite you to view our website, attend our events or contact us. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the organisation and how you can join the Graduates' Christian Fellowship.