Hebrews 6:19 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul …”
In 1883, a man named William Alexander Smith was concerned that many of the youths in his time were living their lives without hope. This resulted in many picking up bad habits and being influenced by bad company.
As a Sunday School teacher in his church, William Alexander Smith wanted to bring hope to these youths and so he started a program to reach out, encourage and develop these teenagers through activities like outdoor camping, foot drills and physical training.
In the process, he slowly built up their confidence and instil in them character traits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline and Self-Respect. His work slowly became what we know today as The Boys’ Brigade (BB). As he continued with his work and was thinking about a motto for the Boys’ Brigade, he was encouraged by the Bible verse in Hebrews 6:19 (KJV) which say, “We have this (hope) as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”
The verse reminded him that those who are discouraged or feeling hopeless can find their hope in Jesus Christ. He thought about the youths he was working with and the words “Sure and Steadfast” (retaining the older spelling of the word) became the motto for the Boys Brigade since then.
Similar to BB, the Girls Brigade (GB) was formed with the purpose of reaching out to troubled girls and their varied activities and programs were aimed at helping girls to become mature Christian women. The GB program follows four themes: Spiritual, Physical, Educational and Service. These words spell SPES which is Latin for Hope. “Seek, Serve and Follow Christ” became the motto for the Girls’ Brigade later on.
It is encouraging to note that both BB and GB movement have their roots in the Christian Church. Both began as an outreach ministry to troubled youths pointing them to the hope they can find in Jesus Christ.
In Singapore, BB and GB are recognized internationally as uniformed youth organisations and recognised by the Ministry of Education of Singapore as a Co-Curricular Activity in the schools.
To continue their spiritual links with the church, every BB and GB Company has a sponsoring Church that cares and provides:
- spiritual care & nurture through her Christian Education/ Character programs
- support for the ministry & activities of the BB or GB Company – both financially and help through volunteers from the church
Since its humble beginnings, we give praise to God that both BB and GB are still actively involved in the transformation of young lives till today.
Having previously served as a BB Officer and Chaplain in another BB Company, I am most encouraged to see the lives of many boys being transformed during their time with BB. Some of the boys who were deemed hopeless in school would somehow choose BB as their CCA. Perhaps they thought that BB meant “Bad Boys” and it only made sense for them to be part of this group.
And while the BB Officers, volunteers and teachers do struggle initially with some of these so called ‘bad boys’, many of them turned out ok and went on to do well in life. I would always tell my BB boys that I am first their friend, and then their officer. I would share my life stories with them – my days as a bad boy in school, my painful family background and how the Lord saved me and gave me hope. And I would encourage them that they too can find hope in God in their life journey.
By God’s grace, some would come to trust in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus and join the community of the sponsoring church. Others in God’s good plans would later go on to serve together with me as fellow pastors, elders and deacons in the church. Undoubtedly, the boys would have had many opportunities to hear the gospel and experience God’s love during their time with BB. We pray that in God’s good time, the seeds planted will grow and bear fruit.
A few days ago, Eld Chung Horn recently shared with me an old edition of True Way’s newsletter – Together which featured a write up of our ministry with the 94th BB Company in 2010!
In it, Lim Kwang Yang who was a BB Boy and serving with 94th as an BB Officer since True Way adopted the BB ministry shared this: “My involvement has given me a beautiful new opportunity to share my life with the boys.”
Indeed, this ministry in BB is about sharing our lives – our new life that was transformed when we found our hope and anchor in Jesus.
There is a common joke among those in the BB that if we injured ourselves and bleed, our blood will be blue – blue because of the big influence and impact that BB has in our lives.
Since 2010, True Way has had the wonderful privilege of sponsoring the Boys’ Brigade 94th Singapore Company in Nan Hua High School. There is certainly much we must give thanks to God for as we experience his faithfulness to our BB 94th Coy and the close relationship BB 94th Coy shares with the church.
Over the years, 94th BB Coy has been commended by BB HQ as well as Nan Hua High for the many awards and competitions we have excelled in. More importantly by God’s grace, when we look around True Way, we see boys who were from the 94th BB Coy. Some are still actively involved with BB while others are faithfully serving in various ministries of our church.
We have much to thank God for these individuals and how as they come through BB as youths, they have now matured to being faithful servants of the Lord. Indeed, BB is such a wonderful ministry that God has given to befriend youths, be a guide or mentor to them and ultimately to share His endless love with them.
Come this 19 March, the 94th BB Coy will be having their annual Enrolment and Dedication Service once again onsite at True Way. This is after a hiatus of past few years due to Covid.
During this special service for both the Company and the sponsoring church, the new recruits will be enrolled, awards and promotions will be given out, and our Chaplain, Rev Edwin Wong will dedicate the boys and the Company into God’s good care. As part of their enrolment, some of the boys will also present a special item as well.
As our Boys together with their families will be joining us for this service, do take this wonderful opportunity to show our Christian love to our “guests”. Help to make them feel welcome in True Way in small ways like greeting them with a smile and making them feel at home.
Let us pray for the Enrolment Service and ask God to warm the hearts of all who are coming and to warm our own hearts towards reaching out to them. And as we sing our praises to God, as His Word is shared, as we interact with the Boys and their families, may they see the sure and steadfast hope we have in Jesus Christ our Lord.
