Best Invest

What's the best investment you've ever made? Not the most successful campaign or the highest ROI—let me explain. I visited a mega church in Singapore whose front row had more people than my entire congregation thirty years ago. Their band and supporting crew (and they had several teams) outnumbered my entire leadership team. In the park afterward, pouring my heart out to the Lord, He told me to "watch" what would happen next.

In the following season, we experienced an extraordinary surge of interest from Filipino overseas domestic workers who attended our seminars, network events, and block parties. This became the genesis of our work with "invisible workers"—both in our homes and later with the sex workers in Geylang's back lanes and alleyways.

Sometimes we don't realise what we're doing in the moment, unaware of how the Lord engineers His plans—often despite ourselves. We are indeed the blind leading the blind, but thankfully, even when we seem wrong, we're right. So I ask you: what was your best investment decision that truly reflects your financial wisdom? What fills you with pride?

At Oikos, we've observed that Singapore excels at organization and structure but sometimes struggles with creative expressions like music and dance. While we're skilled with spreadsheets and systems, our scarcity mindset occasionally prevents exponential growth. We tend to invest only in what we can see rather than walking in the light we cannot see.

This brings us to next week's elections, where Singaporeans will vote to re-elect a government that has transformed our nation into a land of prosperity—a Galilee-among-nations and a rose of Sharon flourishing amidst less fortunate regions.

I've set my DBS account password as "catubigxx," which serves as a reminder every time I check my balance. That initial investment from over 20 years ago continues to yield dividends, benefits, and immense joy whenever I reflect on those prophetic words that became our duty of care to the nations:

“You are privileged to have received a Macedonian call in reverse, mirroring Singapore's unique context as a beacon among nations. Historically, Singapore has welcomed international students, foreign talent, nurses, and construction workers who contribute to nation-building. Your ministry unfolds in four phases:

1.⁠ ⁠Contact Phase: Initial touchpoints and encounters where new joiners focus on their duty of care, embodying the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-19) in their 14-word life impact statement.

2.⁠ ⁠Candidacy Phase: A 5-year seminary journey preparing the dads and brothers for effective ministry back in the country of origin. This educational path combines theology, family literacy, and human formation (Rom 12:6-8).

3.⁠ ⁠Concentration Phase: Hands-on learning under senior leadership's guidance, where you blaze new trails, raise the bar, and build on strengths (Eph 4:11).

4.⁠ ⁠Collaboration Phase: As a key pastor of influence, you develop online capabilities to reach wider audiences while building your team's leadership capacities, ultimately working yourself out of a job.” (prophecy of 1996)

We've distilled this into our duty of care commitment and applied it more generally to all trauma victims, including our sisters in street and brothel communities: "We help gifted individuals discover genius through modalities" with clarity, not charity.

Like the Garden of Eden story where taking shortcuts led to consequences, pursuing wealth through quick fixes rather than ethical means often leads to both financial and spiritual losses. True prosperity comes from patience, wisdom, and cultivating godly principles.

As we approach GE2025, I find myself contemplating and posing two profound and essential questions to all candidates who seek to serve, regardless of their domain or mountain of influence in our society. These questions cut to the heart of leadership and vision.

First, "What makes life worth living?" - a deeply personal yet universally relevant inquiry that challenges candidates to articulate their understanding of human dignity, purpose, and flourishing.

Second, "Why will tomorrow be better than yesterday?" - an invitation for candidates to share their vision of progress, hope, and tangible positive change that they believe they can help bring about through their leadership and service to the community.

While I have my preferred candidates, I maintain faith in the Almighty's guidance, regardless of who wins—whether through human choice or God's slow-grinding mills. The essence of this election remains the commissioning of public servants to execute the people's will. We shall appoint officers who serve our interests and earn their rewards through wise counsel, direction, and mature leadership.