The City
Annual Report 2024
Lead Pastor’s Address
BECOMING A CONSECRATED COMMUNITY
Dear Church,
As we look back on the past year, it is natural to take stock: to reflect on initiatives launched, programmes run, attendance figures, and finances. These things have their place. They serve as indicators of activity and, to some extent, growth. But they are not the full picture.
Over the course of this past year, I have found myself returning to a more fundamental question:
What is our metric for success?
Is it how much we accomplish or how much we are becoming?
Is it how moved people are in the moment or how transformed they are in the long run?
Is it how excellent our production is or how yielded our posture is before God?
We are living in a time when many of the familiar markers of success — both in the world and in the Church — are being called into question. We are more connected, yet more isolated. More resourced, yet more restless. We have access to more content, more community models, more platforms than ever before. Yet beneath the surface, there is a quiet ache, a spiritual fatigue, a longing for something real.
Psychologists have a term for the moment that ache becomes unignorable: the crystallisation of discontent. It is when vague unease solidifies into clarity. Something is wrong, and it cannot stay this way.
The Asbury Outpouring in 2023 captured this tension. What began as an ordinary chapel service became a sustained move of God, marked not by lights, production, or celebrity, but by repentance, hunger, and simplicity. Students lingered in worship. Confession became normal. There were no big names, only surrendered hearts.
At the heart of that movement was something they called the Consecration Room — a space behind the stage where leaders would go to pray and be ministered to before leading worship. If their hearts were not ready, they did not lead. Sometimes worship paused for an hour or more simply because no one was ready to step forward. And yet, God met them.
In contrast to our culture of image and immediacy, Asbury bore witness to something slower, deeper, and more costly. It gave language to something many of us feel but struggle to express: a yearning for the presence of God in a way that is not curated, not manufactured, but holy.
In a culture driven by production, visibility, and metrics, it is easy — even in the Church — to confuse busyness for fruitfulness and activity for transformation. But the true work of the Church is not simply to expand or impress. It is to become a holy people, consecrated, set apart, and responsive to the Spirit of God.
The word consecration may sound weighty, perhaps even old-fashioned. But I believe it is a word we must recapture. To be consecrated means to be devoted — deliberately oriented around what is sacred. It is not primarily about what we do, but who we are before God. It is about our posture, our hidden life, and our willingness to be interruptible, formable, and yielded.
So as we reflect on 2024, I believe the deeper work God has been doing in us is not easily measured. It may not appear in charts or summaries. But I see it—in the quiet confessions, the growing hunger, and the desire among many of you to slow down and be formed. I believe God is preparing something — not first around us, but within us.
As we step into 2025, I am not interested in overextending ourselves with more plans or noise. My hope is simpler, though perhaps more demanding: that we would become a people God can rest upon. A consecrated community. The aim is not to become more impressive, but to become more trustworthy with His presence.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. Thank you for persevering when it has been difficult, and for embracing the unseen work of formation that often goes unnoticed but never goes unfelt by heaven. I am deeply grateful for each of you. And I believe, with all my heart, that the deepest and most lasting work God is doing in us has only just begun.
With gratitude,
Andre Tan
Lead Pastor
Next-Gen Ministries
GUSH CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." — Isaiah 61:3
Two years ago, I shared a vision God placed on my heart for the children of our church: “From Acorns to Oaks.” Though they may seem small and delicate now like tiny acorns. Through our love, prayers, and the power of the Holy Spirit, they are growing. Rooted in Christ, they are becoming oaks of righteousness. Strong. Steadfast. Living to glorify God.
Today, that vision is taking root before our eyes.
Children are encountering God in personal, transformative ways.
They are growing in love for His Word, in character, and in love and care for one another.
Some of our GUSH graduates are now stepping up to serve in church.
We have even seen sparks of revival among them.
God is expanding this vision. He is calling us to dream bigger, to see GUSH not just as a children’s ministry, but as a place of activation. A place where children are equipped to boldly share their faith, invite their friends, and introduce others to Jesus. "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few." — Luke 10:2. The harvest is here. In Singapore. In our very own church.
Imagine this: A generation of children from GUSH growing into oaks of righteousness. Becoming missionaries, doctors, teachers, engineers, and so on. They will be lights in every sphere of society, glorifying God wherever they go.
They say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The City is our village. These children are not just the future of the church, they are part of the church. And as Jesus welcomed the little children, so must we. So let us love them. Let us pray for them. Let us walk alongside them. Together, let us raise them. From acorns to oaks. For His glory.
———— Phoebe Wu, Children’s Pastor
LEGACY YOUTH & TERTIARY MINISTRY
2024 marked a renewal of vision and direction for the youth ministry — to raise a generation of young people who are challenged and nurtured to become mature sons and daughters, committed to their Father’s business. This vision resonated deeply within our community, prompting many to invest in the next generation with their time, gifts, and resources.
We witnessed the formation of a dedicated team of Tertiary Leaders, from married couples to working professionals, who gave their time to walk alongside our tertiary-aged youths (19–24 years old). Through shared meals and countless conversations, they helped these young adults integrate their faith with the rapidly changing seasons and decisions of life.
Some were invited to become mentors — older figures who committed to journeying with our youth through life’s highs and lows, engaging them in their discipleship to Jesus, and keeping them accountable, encouraged, and challenged.
We launched our long-awaited monthly youth service and held our camp, “Good News,” where we saw young people ministering to God as the priests He has made them to be. They learned to hear His voice and to serve one another with spiritual gifts.
This year, we also welcomed two new youths who made the life-changing decision to surrender their lives to Jesus and join our ministry!
———— Timothy Seow, Youth Director
Evangelism
ALPHA COURSE
From July to September 2024, we ran the Alpha course for friends in and around our community who were seeking a safe space to explore the Christian faith through honest conversations.
We welcomed 12 guests who quickly formed a close-knit community with our Alpha volunteers and engaged in meaningful discussions about faith over shared meals.
A highlight of the journey was our Alpha Weekend, where we had the privilege of worshiping together and ministering to our guests through the exercise of spiritual gifts. We are thankful that several guests have continued their journey in Christian community by joining our LifeGroups and weekend services!
LOVE OUR CITY
Over the Good Friday weekend, in the spirit of Lent, we called for The City family to practice generosity by caring for those in need with Christlike love.
More than 120 volunteers, including children and youths, responded to serve across five different organisations. These included engaging dementia patients in meaningful activities at Ng Teng Fong Hospital, gardening and weeding efforts at Ling Kwang Home, leading seniors in crafts and singing at CareElderly@Circuit Road and Thye Hwa Kwan Nursing Home, and delivering grocery packs to more than 500 rental households in the MacPherson estate.
In December, our volunteers brought the Christmas cheer to CareElderly@Ginger and Thye Hwa Kwan Nursing Home. A group of volunteers also took on the creative task to share the Christmas story with children from the Singapore Christian Home. It was a multi-sensory as the volunteers brought props of different textures, sounds and smells to engage the children.
For many participants, it was the first time they participated in a Love Our City outreach and they were deeply impacted by the opportunity to serve the forgotten and the unseen, and also to serve together as a church family.
MISSIONS REPORT
This year the church organised three missions trips to Ilo Ilo as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen our partnership on the ground, mobilise the church to global missions and to serve communities in need. It’s our desire to also integrate missions as part of the discipleship pathway and each trip was a meaningful opportunity for team members to grow in faith, experience cross-cultural ministry, and put into practice on the ground what they have learned.
April 2024: Young Adults Trip
A team of young adults embarked on a recce trip to explore potential areas for deeper involvement. The focus was on assessing the viability of a child sponsorship programme and witnessing the ongoing mission work among tribal communities in the hills. This trip laid an important foundation for future missions engagement and helped build vision and understanding for a deeper partnership.
June 2024: Family Missions Trip
A group of families served at the Sonshine Centre, assisting in ongoing programmes for children. The team also had the opportunity to minister to local leaders and children, offering encouragement, prayer, and support. The trip created a space for families to serve together and for children to witness and participate in missions firsthand.
December 2024: Family Christmas Missions Trip
Another team of families returned in December to assist with Christmas programmes at the Sonshine Centre. This included supporting festive outreach efforts, teaching, and blessing the children and leaders with the message of hope during the holiday season. The trip strengthened the relationships built earlier in the year and brought joy to the community through the celebration of Christ’s birth.
We thank God for His faithfulness and protection over every team, and we’re grateful to all who prayed, gave, and went. We look forward to building on these experiences in 2025 as we continue to follow God's heart for the nations.
Prayer
SEEK FIRST PRAYER MINISTRY
In our fourth year of sowing as the prayer ministry of The City, 2024 marked significant growth — both in spiritual depth and in members catching the heart of prayer.
We witnessed a tangible shift in the posture and maturity of our praying community. No longer gathering in pursuit of a personal ‘spiritual high,’ we found a growing unity of heart — coming together to minister to God, to respond to Him collectively, and to intercede for His will to be done in our church and beyond.
This deepening shift was accompanied by growth in our weekly group of faithful intercessors, who continue to sow in songs, tears, and supplication for all that God desires to do in and through us.
WOMEN’S PRAYER
In 2017, God called a few women in our church to start a prayer group. He gave us the name Wonder Women. The name reminds us that it is not about our own strength, but about standing in awe of God's love, power, and wonder.
Over the past eight years, more than 20 women have joined us in different seasons. Together, we behold the beauty of Jesus, seek God's heart, intercede in prayer, and encourage one another in our walk with Christ.
We are grateful for the sisterhood, the answered prayers, and above all, God’s unwavering faithfulness.
"Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." — Psalm 40:5
GUSH MONTHLY PRAYER
This year, a few parents came together to start a monthly prayer meeting, interceding for the next generation. Once a month, we gather on Zoom to pray for orphans, children and families, both within our church and beyond.
We are learning to partner with God in prayer, and He has been faithfully leading us. One of our constant cries is, “Come, Holy Spirit” as we ask for His presence to move among us.
Prayer is the foundation of this ministry, and we are beginning to see its fruit. Children are starting to hear God, grow in their faith, and families are being transformed.
We thank God for what He has started, and we look forward with hope and expectation for even more of His work in the lives of our children and families. Hallelujah!
Community
HOLY WEEK
As we entered into Holy Week, our church community came together through a series of events thoughtfully curated to create a meaningful journey toward the cross and the resurrection. Each gathering and activity was designed to help us reflect deeply on Christ’s sacrifice and celebrate the hope we have in His resurrection.
On Maundy Thursday, our Seek First prayer team hosted a special prayer meeting. It was a sacred time of intercession and worship, where we remembered Jesus’ last supper with His disciples and His call to servanthood and love.
For Good Friday, a specially prepared reflection guide was made available for all LifeGroups. This guide helped facilitate a time of quiet contemplation and meaningful discussion, allowing members to thoughtfully recount and respond to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
In the spirit of Christ’s servant-hearted love, over 120 church members, including children and youths, were mobilised to serve across five different organisations. These included engaging dementia patients in meaningful activities at Ng Teng Fong Hospital, gardening and weeding efforts at Ling Kwang Home, and delivering grocery packs to more than 500 rental households in MacPherson estate. These acts of service were not just outreach; they were living testimonies of God’s love in action.
Resurrection Sunday began in a special and powerful way this year. We held a Sunrise Service at East Coast Beach, gathering the church before dawn to celebrate the risen King. As people arrived, they were guided through a printed devotional to frame our hearts and minds for worship. As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, we stood together in awe and praise. Pastor Andre shared a heartfelt word about the power of the resurrection and the hope it brings. It was a beautiful moment of unity, joy, and gratitude as we sang and worshipped, watching the sun rise on Resurrection morning.
Holy Week reminded us again of the depth of Jesus’ love and the power of His resurrection. May we continue to carry the message of the cross and the power of the empty tomb in our lives daily.
COMMISSIONING OF ELDERS
July 2024 marked a historic milestone in the life of our church as we joyfully introduced Jonathan Tong, Wu Xian Yi, and David Tan as the first cohort of our eldership team. This moment represented the fulfilment of years of prayer, discernment, and spiritual formation, and it signalled a new season of maturity and spiritual leadership for The City.
During the service, Ps. Andre gave a timely exhortation on rediscovering spiritual leadership in our cultural moment where many high-profile leadership failures have left widespread disillusionment in the church. He reminded us of God’s original design for leadership: not as a pursuit of influence or power, but as a sacred calling to care for the flock with humility, faithfulness, and Christlike character.
The service culminated in the long-awaited commissioning of the elders, where they publicly declared their commitment to shepherd the church, guard its unity, and serve God’s house with joy. Our community then responded with prayer, support, and spiritual covering, commissioning them into their roles with deep gratitude and anticipation.
This commissioning marked a significant step in the development of our church’s leadership structure, aligning us more fully with the biblical pattern of governance. We are deeply thankful for Jonathan, Xian Yi, and David for their obedience, humility, and willingness to step into this responsibility, and we continue to pray for God’s wisdom and grace to lead them as they serve His people.
FAMILY FUN DAY
In lieu of church camp this year, we held a Family Fun Day at the sports halls in Nexus. It was a carnival theme with huge inflatables, on-site games and food stalls. The City family showed up in force with family and friends.
At the activity hall, there was a sticky wall where people could wear velcro suits and throw themselves onto the wall, soliciting much laughter as they tried to peel themselves out of it. There were a variety of arcade games like Mario Kart, machine games like the popular digital basketball, ball pits for young kids, and other carnival games scattered through the hall.
We held a dodgeball competition where teams had to outlast each other as the opponent team sought to tag them out with a ball. The kids also had their own share of competition with the inflatable foosball, garnering screams of support from their parents and friends. Over at the other hall, we housed a few food carts and seating area for people to chill and catch up amidst the bustle.
Overall, it was a Sunday that brought a fresh wind of connection and fun to our church family.
MISSIONAL GROUPS & LEARNING JOURNEYS
As part of The City’s rhythm, the year-end focus of the church was on the “doing the works of Jesus in out city” from our Passion Statement. To highlight this, we planned a sermon series — Caught Up In God’s Story, where we featured speakers from different walks of life and experiences to share their stories of how they stepped into God’s calling for their lives.
Alongside the sermon series, we opened up registrations for people who work in the same field and/or passion to form Missional Groups. The aim of these groups are to share experiences and challenges concerning living out the Christian faith in their spheres. 12 groups with over 100 members were formed with representations from industries like Corporate Accounts, and passions like Pastoring Neighbourhood Kids.
We also hosted 3 Learning Journeys with churches who are actively walking in their missional calling. We were invited to visit the churches at their services, followed by a session with their team who shared aspects of their community works and efforts in stewarding their church buildings beyond weekend services.
COME & SEE
JESUS: IN SCRIPTURE & SONG
We gathered on 22nd December for our annual Christmas Service, Jesus in Scripture and Song. The theme for the year was “Come and See”, an invitation to come and behold the Saviour for who He is, as we journey through various individuals’ experiences surrounding the birth of Jesus.
The theme was especially meaningful as it contrasted the theme of the Advent Series, “Missing Jesus”. Throughout Advent we were exhorted to not miss encountering God for who He is because of our own fear, control, religiosity and overfamiliarity, eventually culminating in seeing the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ at the conclusion of the Christmas Service.
Alongside Illuminate Productions, we harnessed light effects, stage design, video, song and visual aids to bring the church into an immersive walk-through of the Christmas story, to bring the focus back onto Jesus in the midst of the festive distractions.
The service started with the “Spoken Word”, calling us to step out of the rush and noise, and into the wonder of the Christmas story. This was followed by 4 movements depicting the experiences of “The Shepherds”, “Simeon and Anna”, “The Magi”, and “Mary and Joseph”. Each segment was followed by a time of worship in song. Reading what Scripture says about the experiences of each group of people and following it with worship in song gave us a deeper appreciation of the emotions and wonder surrounding the birth of the Messiah.
Everyone also received a stone and a candle prior to the start of the service. As we heard and sang about the Saviour who is worthy of our worship, we laid down the stone in our hands as a symbol of laying our burdens or simply our lives before the Lord. The unlit candles in our hands reminded us of the yearning and longing that Israel felt as they awaited the coming of their Messiah. As the candles were lit, it declared that the King has come, the Light has come, no darkness, burden, sin, or despair—is too great for the light of Christ to overcome. A call was given to receive the salvation that the Lord provides and the service ended with a time of worship and praise.
The Christmas Service was a unique departure from the usual busyness, hurried faces and long queues of the festive season. Its meaning can be lost at times as we go through the routine of Christmas. Remembering the birth of Jesus through Scripture and Song helped us anchor our celebration in the deep wonder, significance and meaning of Christmas, the birth of the One who will bring light in the darkness.
YEAR-END RETREAT TESTIMONY
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
– Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NIV)
As a participant and first-time silent retreatant, I had no idea what to expect from the sessions. I just knew I needed exactly what the retreat promised — solitude, reflection, and prayer — as I marked the end of a pivotal year and prepared for the one ahead.
Rooted in Love is a three-day silent retreat designed to help us intentionally set aside time to encounter God, experience His grace, and explore what it means to be secure in His love. Through guided solitude, personal reflection, communal prayer, and optional sessions with a spiritual director, we were invited into a carefully curated rhythm of slowing down and seeking God.
My experience was unlike anything I had ever encountered. I found God most profoundly in practices that seem frowned upon by today’s society. I found Him in rest, in stillness, in doing nothing. I am a person who is always on the go, but the very first order of business was God telling me to rest. I could not start on any of the retreat activities until I was well-rested. It was refreshing to slow down and simply be in His presence.
There were many moments throughout the retreat when I felt the Holy Spirit stir my heart — when I turned to my Bible and read age-old verses with fresh perspective, appreciation, and understanding. I returned to practices I had not done in years, such as visual expressions of worship through drawings and crafts, and lectio divina (the slow, contemplative reading of Scripture), to connect more deeply with God.
I wept. I felt conviction. I experienced healing.
Just as my water baptism earlier in 2024 was the most exhilarating moment I have had as a Christian, this year-end retreat marked the moment I was most surrendered to God. It was the beginning of an incredible journey — of letting go of everything and clinging to Him — one I am still on today.
The retreat allowed me to reflect on the year that was, and that is always important. It was powerful to see how far I’ve grown spiritually and how much further there is to go. More than just the gift of hindsight, the retreat offered me an anchor point, a safe harbour; an experience I can return to, draw strength from, and be encouraged by.
This kind of retreat is not just for those going through a major life transition like I was. It is for anyone who desires to draw closer to God. Whether you are just beginning your faith journey or have been walking with the Lord for decades, the invitation is the same: to slow down, listen, and be reminded of who He is. In the quiet, we are given space to hear His voice again — or maybe for the very first time — and rediscover the deep, abiding love He has for us.
No matter your season of life, God will meet you where you are. He honours every heart that turns toward Him. Through silence, solitude, and reflection, this retreat can become a sacred space to rekindle and deepen your relationship with Him. He is always near, always faithful, and always ready to reveal more of Himself to those who seek Him.
I was just one of 17 participants in the Year-End Retreat, and each of us undoubtedly walked away with unique experiences and one undeniable truth: we have all been profoundly changed.
———— Marie Adeline “Addie” Elicanò
At A Glance
226
Main Service + GUSH Kids
Sunday Average
80
GUSH Kids
30
Legacy Youths
10
Tertiary Young Adults
15
LifeGroups
34
Sent Out To Mission Trips
8
Water Baptised
9
Children Dedicated
123
Love Our City Volunteers Mobilised
Closing
We closed the year with hearts full of wonder, gratitude, and renewed devotion, we are reminded that every story, every outreach, every gathering — whether grand or quiet — is part of a greater narrative: the story of God making His dwelling among us.
Looking ahead to 2025, we sense the Spirit continuing to draw us into deeper consecration, community, and commission. We believe He is preparing The City not just for more activity, but for greater intimacy with Him and greater impact through Him. This will require courage, clarity, and a collective willingness to say yes — not to busyness, but to obedience; not to performance, but to presence.
Let us remain a people who stay hungry for God, tender before Him, and faithful in the small and hidden things. May we continue to raise the next generation with vision, serve the city with compassion, minister to the nations with humility, and worship Jesus with undivided hearts.
The journey continues. Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit.