OPEN HOUSE

Ms. Lim is one of 14 investigators who decided to participate in the missionary discussions immediately following the Open House.  Approximately 1,500 visitors attended the Open House on June 25, 2011. Of these visitors, it was estimated around 500 non-members came and viewed our displays.  These visitors were mostly from the neighboring residence. Amongst the visitors were Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Member of Parliament Gan Tiam Poh, leaders from neighboring residential buildings, local prominent leaders, and religious leaders. DPM Teo and MP Gan showed much interest in the programs that our Church has to offer. An intended short visit turned out to be a wonderful 90-minute visit for them. Sister Pongkodi Rajikannu reported what went on at the Family Home Evening station: “Our most anticipated time of joy was when DPM Teo Chee Hean along with Mr Gan Thiam Poh, our Sengkang MP visited our station… (We were told) that the VIPs would only pop in for a few minutes and therefore would not stay for the complete presentation. But instead, they came and enjoyed the entire program presented by Arunmozhi Rajikannu. In fact, both of them nodded their heads in approval several times listening to Arun.  At one point, DPM Teo took the FHE Enrichment booklet and flipped thru the pages.”

All visitors had the opportunity to tour the entire building and listened to the presentations hosted and organized mainly by the Ang Mo Kio and Bedok Ward members. With the theme of this Open House, “Families Can Be Together Forever”, each booth or station in the building was nicely set up and each display was organized to convey some key scriptural foundation messages as introductions to the visitors in several areas of our Church programs. Among the highlighted displays were from the Relief Society, Emergency Preparedness, Missionary Work, Primary, Young Men and Young Women Programs, Church Educational System, Family Home Evening, and Family History Center. The youth from these two wards cheerfully hosted the Young Men and Young Women stations. Sister Joy Chew, Bedok Ward Young Women President, in speaking of the Young Women station proudly reported: “I saw the youth rose up to the occasion. It was wonderful to see how they openly and bravely shared their testimonies with the visitors about how the Church has helped them become better people and helped them cope with their many life challenges. I [also] heard many visitors saying that they were impressed by the Church and how organized it was.”

Sister Joy Chew, along with many members from Ang Mo Kio and Bedok wards were part of the steering committee led by Brother Michael Ang of Ang Mo Kio Ward. Since the conception of the Open House committee, many leaders and members from these two wards spent countless hours in planning and execution. The stake youth and members from all the wards contributed to the success of this Open House by inviting their friends to the Open House, and displaying their musical and dance talents. All and all, the Open House committee deserves a standing ovation for the work well done. On that day, no one left the Open House without first being fed well with delicious food, planned and arranged beautifully by Bishop David Lee of Ang Mo Kio Ward. It was indeed a beautiful sight to see parents and children walking out of the Open House with smiles on their faces – while the young children holding tightly their balloons with cartoon prints of a model family depicting Family Can Be Together Forever.

The Open House concluded with a finale VIP Program in the evening for the prominent local and religious leaders. The excitement of the evening was accompanied by the stake youth – displaying their talents with a superb musical performance – a compressed version of “When A Prophet Speaks”.  It was followed by members from the Singapore Third Ward who thrilled the audience with beautiful folk dances and songs from the Philippines. The main highlight of this VIP program is the handing over of 40 wheelchairs by Elder Perkins to Mr. H. M. Saleem of Jamiyah Singapore as a token of our mutual friendship and support for each other. 

Satisfied with the outcome and overwhelmed with thankful heart to those who contributed to the Open House, Brother Michael Ang, the chairman of this Open House committee commented: “[The visitors from the community] were the “stars” of this Open House. They came enthusiastically and embraced us warmly. We are blessed by their acceptance and presence…Every member of the committee and both wards’ members involved with the Open House gave unreserved support and commitment. I cannot thank them enough. Every station has followed up programs for non-member guests. Some workshops have been conducted while many others are scheduled”.

JUST THE BEGINNING

Many of the non–member visitors continued to show their interests and began attending Church services the following Sundays. Ward and Stake sponsored activities held in this building are now consistently attended by visitors from surrounding residences. Sister Jemmie Goh, Ang Mo Kio Ward Relief Society President, commented: “[We] called up 29 non-members who signed up for the No Bake Cheesecake workshop on 8 July.  Some picked up our calls, and for those who did not, we sent SMS to remind them. 13 out of 29 turned up. Some who did not sign up showed up too as they took our activities schedule during the Open House.” William and Connie Woo, Clementi Ward, who set up and manned the 72-hour emergency kit station, shared their feelings: “This is an added testimony of how the Church programs can bless the lives of all people – members and non-members.  We have much to offer to the community.”

Bishop David Lee and Bishop Keisuke Sakamoto are committed to intensify their missionary efforts. Plans are already geared for a combined Christmas Party to focus more on missionary work purpose.  May we all realize the privilege we have been given to participate in the building of His Kingdom here in Singapore. 
And this is just the beginning…

Article by Brother Sadikin Budiman
Photos courtesy of Brother Andrew Tan and Brother Mark Matig-a