1 . Rocky Beginnings
We did not feel like we had a word from God about reaching out to Geylang , even though we had been based there since 1997 . It was only in 2007 that the mercy ministries began to take form , when one of our YWAMers asked if we could reach out to the street workers she often saw out on the streets . We thought , why not ? Through the work , one of the ladies even received Christ . Hoping to pull her off the streets , our YWAMer asked if we could house her . The leadership agreed .
But when we found out that she had overstayed her visa , we had to ask her to leave . This incident greatly shook us , and it was by no means the last to do so . New challenges cropped up every other week , to the point where we said , “ We cannot touch this — it ’ s way too messy . It ’ s too complicated , too tough .” The 3rd pillar was more difficult to build than we had envisioned . So our mercy ministries were put on the backburner for another few years .
2 . A Vision Comes To Life
In 2012 , God started speaking to us about setting up a Mercy Centre . When I took over as YWAMSG ’ s National Director that year , the various ministries that would form Mercy Centre were starting to take shape and gain momentum . There was Tamar Village ( for the street ladies ), Trolley ( for the homeless ) and Born2Be ( for the young offenders ). We later birthed our Medical Ships and Rescue & Relief International ministries .
By 2013 , we registered Mercy Centre Limited as a charity . Now that it is a legal entity , we can intentionally tackle the social issues of our Nation . But as I look back now , it is evident how God has also used Geylang to disciple YWAMSG , and through us , the Church in Singapore .
YWAMSG ’ s obedience to God to build up our mercy ministries has provoked the churches in Singapore to look into issues such as social justice and mercy , and become more aligned with God ’ s heart for the poor and marginalised . We have modelled a new way of bringing the living Gospel to the destitute .
TAMAR VILLAGE
Walking With Outcasts
Devastated from witnessing women sell their bodies to feed themselves and their families , Shih Shu Hui and Lois Loh spent a year seeking God on how they could help . He led them to start Tamar Village in 2010 , a ministry that reaches out to the street workers , pimps , and their family members in Singapore ’ s red light district , Geylang .
“ It exists to restore family units and have them housed , improve beneficiaries ’ employability , and ensure that the children of these street workers receive proper education ,” says Mercy Ho , who used to lead Tamar Village . But it is not just about patching up the practical matters . The most important — and possibly most difficult — goal of the ministry is to disciple both the sex trade workers , and the volunteers that work with them .
“ It takes relationship , tenacity and commitment to value an individual no matter how undeserving , how much of an outcast , and how many mistakes they make . It is being willing to walk with them at their pace , and to see them through God ’ s lens and not our own lenses ,” Mercy explains . The willingness to walk with the brother or sister does not last for just a month or a year . It is 10 , 20 , or , she imagines , even 30 years . And the truth is , some will drop out of the race , and others may never change .
The bottom line to letting this ministry thrive and grow is to lay down one ’ s expectations , and let the Lord do His work . “[ When ] we do mercy ministry work , we get consumed by a need ,” Mercy admits . “ But the truth of the matter is , God never needed us .” Seeing the ministry through the lens of God ’ s sovereignty has humbled both Mercy and Rachel to embrace the second , unexpected , purpose of the ministry . “ An equally important [ reason ] is to disciple us ,” says Mercy . “ And to expose heart and hard issues that are within us .”
Often , the sinful heart is quick to judge those who have done wrong . But Mercy and Rachel are learning how to extend compassion and justice to the ones they reach out to . They have had to make some tough choices — like banning a brother from their premises due to his alcoholism . His violent tendencies left the staff in fear for his girlfriend and their son ’ s safety . “ Our heart attitude wasn ’ t ‘ wow you ’ re so bad , I want to suspend you ,’ but more like ‘ you are eventually going to harm your loved ones , so we better stop you first ’,” Mercy says . Yet , the staff made sure they did not cut him off . They have kept him in their prayers , and still maintain contact with him today .
As for what the future holds for Tamar Village , Rachel , who took over as the ministry ’ s leader in September 2020 , hopes to create a more structured approach in embracing the beneficiaries , as well as to invest in a team that is “ committed not just to the brothers and sisters , but also to each other ”.
37