About Us

God’s Kind of Church…
“In the beginning, God…” Genesis 1:1

God figures first and foremost in all of life at Bethany.  We seek to know Him, to love Him, and to walk in His ways.
Because God reveals Himself through His Word, we study it, live by it, and in this way, build God’s kind of church.

 

Where God is touching lives…
“That you may know what is the hope of His calling…” Ephesians 1:18

The hallmark of God’s Presence in our midst is lives that are touched and changed through walking with Him in a real and personal relationship, a deepening trust in Him, and a growing knowledge of Him.

 

Where people care for people.
“…love one another, as I have loved you.” John 13:34

At Bethany, we have been abundantly blessed, cared for, and loved.  We seek to grow deeper in this love for God and for one another as a community of faith.

Our Faith

  1. We believe in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and as the Word of God, the final authority in faith and life.

  2. We believe in one God existing in three co-equal and co-eternal persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

  3. We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, is truly God and truly man.

  4. We believe that Man was created in the image of God, but sinned through the fall of Adam, and therefore all human beings are born sinful and become sinners in thought, word and deed.

  5. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, His ascension to heaven, His exaltation on high and that He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

  6. We believe in the visible and premillennial return of Jesus Christ to judge this world and to bring peace to the nations.

  7. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, and all who are saved are born again by the Holy Spirit and have become the children of God.

  8. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ and to convict, regenerate, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.

  9. We believe in the practice of the Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

  10. We believe in the eternal security, bodily resurrection and eternal blessedness of the saved.

  11. We believe in faithfully maintaining the purity of the Church in doctrine and life according to the Word of God.

Our Heritage

Bethany 1

1973 - 1992


The day of small things
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” Zechariah 4:6

Bethany began in 1973 in a single-storey terrace house at 20 Jalan Lakum, Seletar Hills, having grown from a neighbourhood Sunday School ministry.

Our development was modeled after that of the early Church in the Book of Acts in the Bible.

The Word of God and Prayer were our pillars of faith.

We focused on developing a dynamic faith-relationship with God and cultivating oneness with each other.

We sought to fulfill the Great Commission by being involved in making disciples and soul-saving work.

These principles were demonstrated in the establishment of the Pulpit ministry, Sunday Schools, camp ministries, fellowship groups, Bible studies, and music ministries.

Even as God added to the church, we ventured into overseas missions work.

1974

Sunday School Ministry

1974

Formation of Young People’s Group

1975

Formation of Bethany’s first choir

1977

Differentiation of Sunday School Ministry into Junior and Senior Sunday School

1981

Addition of Intermediate Sunday School

1981

First Junior Camp

1982

Commencement of Junior Fellowship

1983

Addition of Beginner Sunday School

1983

2 worship services

1983

Wednesday Bible Study for young people

1984

First Intermediate Camp (the precursor to Teens’ Camp)

1984

First Christmas Concert

1984

Formation of Older Adults’ Group

1987

Formation of Single Adults’ Ministry

1989

First discussion of building of Bethany 2

1989

Commencement of overseas missions (IPC India)

1991

The first student pastor

1991

Dedication of new church grounds

Bethany 2

1992 - 2003

The new and bigger premises allowed us to explore many new ministries, including camp ministries and overseas missions.

We became a small IPC Family, bearing witness for the Lord in India, Perth and Myanmar.

1992

Bethany 2 Dedication Service

1994

Establishment of IPC Perth, Australia (Bethel)

1994

First Youth Conference (including overseas brethren)

1995

Establishment of Bethany Theological Seminary, Singapore

1995

Establishment of IPC Myanmar

1997

Establishment of Bethany Theological Seminary (Yangon)

1998

First IPC Conference

2000

Bethany web ministry begins

2000

Establishment of Bethany Orphanage, now Bethany Children Development Center

2000

Ordination of Pastors Mark Tan and Mitchell Tan

2001

Pastor Charles starts writing Daily Devotions

2001

Commencement of Young Adults’ Group

2001 - 2002

Transition period – at Ah Hood Road

Bethany 3

2003 - 2016

It was necessary to expand our premises to accommodate growing ministries. With Bethany 3, we focused on training and equipping many more, locally and overseas, both lay and full-time ministers, to love God’s Word, to defend our faith, and to reach out with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.

2003

Bethany 3 Dedication Service

2004

Bethany Kindergarten is established

2005

First YAG retreat

2007

Commencement of discipleship classes

2013

Poetry Ministry begins (weekly bulletin, poetry books, greeting cards, eCards, comfortingwords.com)

2014

Bethany Kids’ Club

Bethany 4

2017-present

As the congregation and ministries continued to grow, it was necessary to expand our physical premises in tandem. We embarked on Additions and Alterations work from 2015-2017 to have what is Bethany 4 today.  With an additional floor, a bigger sanctuary and additional auditoriums and spaces, ministries grew and new ones developed.

2017

Dedication Service 18 March 2017

2017

Special Needs Ministry begins

Our Leaders

Pastors

Missions work

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:20

About Missions

In line with the Great Commission, Bethany has been involved in making disciples, training servants of God, and planting churches overseas since 1989. We studied how the church at Antioch sent and supported Paul on his missionary journeys, so that we may do the same for our missionaries.

Our IPC Family now includes churches in India, Australia and Myanmar.  Pastor Charles Tan has been God’s special servant in the mission field, preaching the Word, training pastors, teachers and leaders, and providing leadership and guidance to the IPC Family.

Able young men who have proven themselves in ministry and theological studies are given the opportunity to further their training at Bethany Theological Seminary (Singapore). Short-term attachments are also available at the seminary.

India

We answered the Macedonian call to minister in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in 1989.  Sathiyam IPC was established in 1989 under the care of Pastor Baskaran.  (indsathiyam, Indbaskaran) Jayam IPC followed in 1991 (indjayam) and Visuvasam in 1994, located in the growing education hub of Trichy in Tamil Nadu (indvisuvasam).  In 2004, Kirubai IPC was established in the rural village of Ramagiri, Andhra Pradesh. (indkirubai) (indkirubai1) In 2014, we started building another church in Trichy, as well as a study centre in Chennai.

Each year, Bethany’s pastoral team visits India to minister to the IPC Family there. The pastoral team meets with church leaders and teaches at camps, conferences, and anniversary celebrations. We thank God for the faithful Indian pastors who keep in touch with Pastor Charles about the growth of the churches and their various ministry developments.

Sathiyam IPC
Sathiyam IPC

Australia

Bethel IPC began in 1994 as a few families meeting in rented premises each Sunday. Through Pastor Charles, Bethany provided the means and vision to develop the church ministry in a small church on Mint Street in Perth, Western Australia (Bethel I).

In 2005, Bethel moved into their current premises on Milford Street (Bethel II). The relationship between Bethel and Bethany has grown over the years.  Bethel models itself closely after Bethany, just as Bethany has sought to follow the biblical model of the Church.

Myanmar

IPC Myanmar was established in 1995.  Bethany’s engagement in Myanmar has primarily been in the training of pastors, teachers and missionaries, and in a Children’s Development Centre.

Our Ministries

Camps and Retreats

Camps and retreats are highlights in the church calendar. The time set aside for the intensive study and meditation of God’s Word is rewarded with enlightenment, renewal, and a closer walk with God.

Family Camp (yearly, March school holidays)

Every year, we gather at a hotel resort in Johor for a week of studying God’s Word and strengthening bonds of fellowship. Different programmes cater to the diverse needs of our members, even as we come together as one. Pastors and members from our IPC Family would also join us at Family Camp.

Junior Camp (yearly, June school holidays)

Through a meaningful week of games and activities, we seek to reach out to children with God’s love. The Junior Camp is also an opportunity for the Camp Committee to grow in their service.

Youth Conference (yearly, December school holidays)

The Youth Conference is where young people learn the relevance of faith. Here they discover the reality of God to help them face the challenges of an increasingly treacherous path towards adulthood. Young people from Australia and Korea also join us for this.

YAG Retreats

The YAG retreats take place biannually. These retreats offer short periods of focused instruction, with themes targeted at Christian workers and servants of God.

Children’s Ministry

Children are a precious gift from God. From an early age, we seek to help them come to faith in God, showing them His love and teaching them His ways. We strive to relate to them so that they may grow to love God and His family. Eventually, they may even take their place to serve Him in later years.

The Junior Sunday School and Children’s Worship work together in this very important ministry.

Custodial Ministry

Bethany does not hire caretakers to clean the church. Instead, our young people learn to care for the church of God. Every Sunday, teams of young people wash, wipe, mop and vacuum after morning and evening worship services. Many also help to clean up the kitchen after fellowship lunch and dinner.

Fellowship Groups

Strong bonds of Christian friendship and fellowship are forged between people in fellowship groups. These grow out of a common love for God and from camaraderie in the journey of faith, through discovery, growth and service.

Young People’s Group Saturday 3pm

Young Adults’ Group Saturday 3pm

Adults’ Ministry (AM Bethany) Saturday 5pm

Hospital/Funeral

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.” Psalm 23:4

The last lap of our journey on earth can be painful, fraught with illness and suffering. However, it can also be a period of great character moulding as we seek to end the journey well and prepare for eternity.

One way we express our love for others is through walking with them in their last lap of life, supporting them physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is truly a privilege to help them to know the God of all comfort before they are finally ushered into His presence.

Kitchen

Fellowship is greatly enhanced over meals. At Bethany, the love for God and His people is evident in the extensive spread carefully and lovingly prepared on various occasions. The team prepares these meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Sundays, as well as for camps, post-concert suppers, and funerals.

Literature

Our online devotionals, written by Pastor Charles, form a valuable Bible study resource. It is being added to regularly and we call it our Heritage Library.

These series are printed in book form yearly and distributed free of charge during special occasions such as Easter and Christmas. They are also sent to churches in our IPC Family.

Multimedia

The multimedia ministry plays an important supportive role to ensure that every worshipper can participate unhindered in worship. They make sure that the Word preached effectively reaches its intended recipients, and that the worship is enhanced in all of its different forms and channels.

The multimedia ministry encompasses the teams operating and maintaining the audiovisual systems, those developing visual aids and videos to enhance worship, those looking after the information technology systems in the church, as well as the web ministry.

Music

Praising God is integral to Christian life. As King David said in Psalm 103, “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!”; we also lift our hearts in praise and adoration to God for all His wondrous works.

Our choirs perform regularly as part of worship. Easter and Christmas musicals are outreach opportunities when we invite friends and family to come discover God and find out more about church.

Our choirs:
Youth Choir
One Voice – young adults
Evergreens – older adults
Kaki’s – men who just want to get together to sing praise to God
Handbells Choir and Chimes

Small groups are a source of special blessings:
Crossroads
Remnants – made up of a few young men – the name being derived from Isaiah 10:22 (Romans 9:27) “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved.”
New songs group – a group of young people tasked to introduce new songs to the congregation and to share how these songs are meaningful to them.

Poetry Ministry

The poetry ministry grew out of a desire to communicate important truths from God’s Word with biblically-inspired poetry.

These poems are distributed in the weekly bulletin, complementing the pulpit ministry. They also form part of the Wall Ministry where the walls of the church are transformed into billboards, displaying artwork, testimonies and poems. The pulpit theme is also further communicated and illustrated through these means.

The poems are also made into greeting cards and eCards, for those who wish to send a word of encouragement.

Read poems online

Sunday School

The Sunday School Ministry forms the bedrock of Christian education at Bethany. From the youngest child to the most mature Christian, we seek to establish all in the faith and equip all for effective service and ministry.

Classes follow a curriculum under the oversight of the pastoral team:

Crèche Pre-school (during morning worship)

Beginner Sunday School Nursery School & Kindergarten

Junior Sunday School 1 7-9 years old

Junior Sunday School 2 10-12 years old

Intermediate Sunday School 13-16 years old

Senior Sunday School 1 Pre-University & University students

Senior Sunday School 2 Young adults, married couples, retirees

Senior Sunday School 3 Foreign domestic workers

Senior Sunday School 4 Mature Christians

Ushers and carpark marshals

The church gets pretty crowded on weekends. Ushers and carpark marshals help to ensure the smooth movement of people and cars so that worship is not hindered.

Van

The MRT station and the bus stop across the road can be challenging to walk to, especially for some of our older worshippers. To help them each Sunday, the van travels between the bus stop, MRT station, and church, ferrying worshippers before and after worship.

Worship

The preaching of the Word of God is foundational to all ministries in Bethany. The pulpit theme and messages are carefully developed in prayer. They form the basis for the bulletin articles, the worship programmes and the various ministries and activities in the church.

Children’s worship 10.30am

Morning worship 10.30am

Evening worship 5.00pm

Bilingual worship 5.00pm