The Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade ministries in City Harvest Church mark their 2011 enrolment with a service.
Contributed By Fong Ching Hui
Mentoring young ones in the ways of God is the aim of the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade. PHOTO COURTESY OF YAO GRACE EUODIAS .
The Boys’ Brigade, an interdenominational Christian youth organization, conceived by William Alexander Smith in 1883, is the oldest uniformed group in the world.
Founded to combine drill and wholesome fun activities with Christian values, the BB was founded in Glasgow, Scotland, and quickly spread across the UK and the world by the early 1890s. The BB’s success led to the inception of other uniformed groups, including the Girls’ Brigade and the Girl Guides.
Since it started over 80 years ago in Singapore, the BB and the GB have achieved presence in over 120 schools, as a Ministry of Education-recognized co-curricular activity. Both organizations have as their chief aim, the development of the spiritual, physical, educational and social aspects of their young members, founded on the Word of God.
Various local churches partner with these schools to ensure an ongoing spiritual mentorship over this Christian youth organization, and City Harvest Church is one of them, looking after West Grove Primary School, Fu Hua Primary School, Tao Nan School, and Radin Mas Primary School.
On July 23, CHC held its inaugural enrolment service for the Boys’ Brigade Ministry and Girls’ Brigade Ministry at Suntec Singapore. About 250 people, consisting of students, their parents, and officers from the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade in Singapore, attended the ceremony.
The program started off with praise and worship followed by a testimony by Alvin Leong, father of Isaiah Leong of the 41st J Singapore Company at Tao Nan School. Leong told of how the whole family became closer after their son joined the BB. Following his sharing was a short presentation to showcase the various activities and programs in the four schools.
The chaplain of the BB ministry, CHC pastor Joseph Ang, and Lee Yi Lun, a zone supervisor in CHC and the chaplain of the GB, presented awards to recognize the boys and girls who had performed exceptionally well in the BB and the GB over the past year. The session continued with the new recruits declaring their commitment in front of their peers, seniors and parents, while the officers renewed their dedication to the youth in their care.
Isaiah Leong, 10, who is in his second year in the BB, said, “I enjoy BB activities tremendously and have not regretted choosing this as my CCA.”
Parents of the young BB and GB boys and girls were clearly as enamored of the organizations as their children. Mrs. Ho, mother of a Primary 3 GB recruit, Anya Tay, said, “I hope that young Anya will be exposed to teamwork and learn how to share in the team. This is a good opportunity for her to be in touch with godly Christian principles, even in a non-Christian educational environment.”
Another parent, Lynn Yip, said, “GB can help my 9-year-old daughter to develop social and leadership skills, and I am open to her learning Christian values.” Her daughter, Jaime Ng, added that she had been “attracted to GB” during her school’s open house, and now she has much fun at GB events and outings. Her peers Clement Sy, Leon Lee and Casper Ng, unanimously announced, “We enjoy BB activities very much and we also like the times when we have Bible study as well.”
For Florence Tan, whose 9-year-old daughter is in GB, each GB meeting presents the opportunity for her to interact with organizers, network with other parents, as well as get to know her daughter’s friends. But more importantly, she cherishes the Christian values that are taught and imparted to her child. “I am glad that my daughter is able to remind me of godly principles through GB,” she said.
If you are keen to join the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade Ministries, sign up online at www.chc.org.sg.
