Remembering Bugis: Giving Thanks for a Season

As our Cornerstone Bugis congregation transitions to a new home in Orchard Towers, we give thanks for what God has done over the last seven years since the congregation was established in January 2019.

Rekha (Faithworks)

Our Bugis volunteers share with us their fondest memories and what they are thankful for:

I’ll remember the warm atmosphere of people mingling together before and after services at Bugis, the smell of coffee, as well as the conversations that often began with “What’s this book about?” or “Is there a sale today?” I thank God for a space for the Bugis community to gather, and how He has grown us through the years, leading, guiding, and strengthening us to this day. As we move to Orchard, I look forward to seeing more people encountering Jesus and receiving Him while they are out shopping!

Zhi yang & Suzanne (Ushers)

Through this season, God brought new faces we didn’t see back in Katong, and even after we moved from Joyden Hall, we found our way to Golden Village – still together, still serving. We’re deeply thankful for the Bugis usher community, who have shown what joyful service and genuine care look like. One unforgettable memory was when we heard from our Service Coordinator that a church member wanted to bless the volunteers with breakfast on a random Sunday! What began as a simple gesture soon became a beautiful tradition of congregants buying breakfast for volunteers. This reflected how much the community has grown, not just in size, but in heart. As we move to Orchard, I’m praying that we’ll build good relationships with the tenants there, see a new wave of people come to know Christ, and even witness the reputation of Orchard Towers transformed by His presence.

Benjamin (Next Steps Lounge)

I thank God for the opportunity to serve the Lord in Cornerstone Bugis. As a new member of Cornerstone, I’m glad to have had the chance to engage with other new visitors at the Next Steps Lounge and connect them with a community. With God’s help, I also had the privilege of blessing them with a word of encouragement sometimes.

Some of my most unforgettable times in Cornerstone Bugis include receiving prayer for the salvation of my grandfather. During that time, he was in critical condition, and it was a difficult time for my family. Thankfully, he decided to receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour before he passed on.

I’m praying that our time in Orchard will be one that is extremely fruitful and illuminating. Jesus be magnified

through us!

Wen Yang (Service Team)

I thank God for the opportunity to serve in His house and to contribute to building our chapter in Bugis. I believe lives were touched and changed by their encounters with God here, and it has been a privilege to play a part in facilitating such moments. Especially when we started, there was such a sense of excitement and anticipation as we figured out the best way to run the service at Bugis. There was a lot of “trial-and-error” and tweaking along the way in terms of processes, but it was this pioneering streak that made it memorable. I’m looking forward to building the work at Cornerstone Orchard, and I pray that God establishes us so that we can be a light in the darkness, right in the centre of the city.

Nicholas (Worship Team)

I thank God for the commitment of the Bugis team. I think it has been amazing to see how the team worked together to set up and tear down the venue week in week out. On some weeks, they even had to do it without lights, air-conditioning or a functional service lift. Despite all these circumstances, we always felt a sense of joy and camaraderie among those serving. I think Cornerstone Bugis is a testament to God’s providence. The journey feels a little like the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, and how God provided every step of the way. It has taught me much about prayer, trusting God, and simply waiting on Him. I’m looking forward to worshipping in the beautiful new auditorium and praying for more people to join the various ministries so that they can experience the joy of serving in God’s house.

Susan (Children's Church)

One of the times we’ll fondly remember is when we just started Children’s Church services in the cinema halls at Filmgarde Cineplex, Bugis+. The halls were very dim, and our little ones had to be walked down to the front. Every week, we would set up four spotlights in each hall to brighten up the place. It was a memorable bonding time for our team as we turned each screw. I really thank God for all that He has done, and I love the teams serving together in Bugis. Despite our age differences (i.e. many are my daughters’ age) and all of us coming from different walks of life, we are a close-knit community. We don’t just serve and go home. Friendships and relationships are forged as we serve together with joy and witness our children growing in the Lord. As we step into a new season, we are praying for a mighty move of God in both the adult and children’s services!