Pray for Singapore

Considered the cleanest and greenest city in Asia, Singapore is a small island located just north of the equator in Southeast Asia. Its tropical landscape has turned urban, full of innovative, modern architecture and gorgeous greenery. Ambition and competitiveness dominate the country and have propelled it into prosperity. It is known as one of Asia’s four economic “tigers” because of its rapid industrialization and economic growth during the late twentieth century. Its large, free port is among the busiest in the world and contributes significantly to Singapore’s position as one of the greatest commercial centers in the world. Family is a central cultural value, and the government actively promotes marriage, childbearing, and family life.

Due to its booming economy, the nation is becoming increasingly materialistic. The “Five Cs” are a well-known expression in Singapore: cash, car, credit card, condominium, and country club. Greed and selfish ambition plague the nation. The government is run by a parliamentary political system, dominated by one party. Opposition parties face legal, regulatory, media, and political constraints. The government tightly restricts freedom of expression and assembly. The nation also faces geographical concerns. Its small surface area is unable to produce crops, so most of its food is imported, which leads to inflated food prices, and lack of mountains or fast-flowing rivers limits water availability. The nation is working to create water treatment facilities and reservoirs, import water, and remove salt from saltwater.

Singapore is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, and the government prioritizes tolerance and harmony. Although around 80 percent of the population identifies with a religion, there is not one predominant religion. Religious identity is spread across Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism. The largest unreached group is the indigenous Malay people. They are predominantly Muslim and represent about 15 percent of the population, dispersed all over the country. Christians make up 19 percent of the population, but the Church struggles to maintain spiritual fervor in the highly materialistic, competitive, and achievement-oriented culture. Associated with these is an underlying sense of insecurity, which also affects the Church. Many Christians struggle to prioritize spiritual riches and development over worldly riches and personal achievement. Believers often struggle with pride and selfish ambition, seeking to glorify themselves instead of God.