We started like this...

As early as 1958, Christian nurses met in small groups in Outram Road General Hospital (the present Singapore General Hospital) to share in fellowship. They were identified by their denominations – Anglican, Brethrens, Methodists etc. In March 1959, a pro-tem committee was set up under the chairmanship of Dr Khoo Onn Teik. Later, realizing how much effective a combined witness would be, steps were taken to form an inter-denominational group working under a central committee. So in October 1960, the Singapore Nurses’ Christian Fellowship (SNCF) came into being (after registration with the Registry of Societies was approved) with the motto "One in Christ". Mrs Eileen J. Kuhn became the first President and Miss Ina Tebbs, the first staffworker.

What happened during this 40 years?

Since 1958, Christian nurses of different denominations has met in small groups in Outram Road General Hospital for fellowship. They were led to form the Singapore Nurses Christian fellowship, an interdenominational organisation existing to strenthen Christian life and witness within the Nursing profession.

On 18th October 1960, S.N.C.F. was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies.

In 1998, S.NC.F. mission was finally revised to :
"SNCF seeks to bring Jesus Christ to nurses and nursing, helping them to find meaning and purpose in their work, and to see their workplace as a mission field."

The leaders were led to this mission statement as they reflect on what he LORD had led us to do over the years.

Past activities planned, be it in small groups in the local hospitals or centralised at the workplace, were mainly to gather nurses together, to pray, to study His Word that it may shape our values in nursing. Regular "Spiritual Care Seminars", topics relating to our nursing profession, and studies on how to meet patients’ spiritual need, were held to equip us to be a Christian disciple in nursing. Annual conferences held often reflect on the above theme.

Outreach to other nurses, is a regular feature in our activities. As the LORD has provided the opportunities, He has also sent His workers.

Since, nursing training were started in Nanyang Polytechnic in 1992, leaders has met up with Fellowship of Evangelical students to network with them in reaching out to the students.

Initially a small group of students, met in SNCF work base, but now they are meeting in the campus. with very little contact with SNCF. This group of students had chosen to be affiliated with FES. Meeting held to prepare graduate nurses to start work as a train staff entitled "Ready to Jump" seminars were met with poor response.

Nurses Day Dedication service was held for a number years annually for nurses to remind them of their calling as Christian Nurses.

Annual Christmas meeting were held in mid December with the theme of Thanksgiving, evangelistic or welcoming of new nurses.

The Committee continue to keep in contact with members who serve in foreign mission fields. Financial support was minimal.

In recent years, members has responded to request for help in medical relief work to help the earthquake victims in Turkey, the East Timorese following civil war and to the evacuees following the volcano eruptions at Mount Mayon in Phillipines.

Members also joined medical teams to third world countries to share on total patient care. Funds were also raised to finance a full time student to send her on these trips

Beside being one of the foundation member of St Luke’s Hospital for the Elderly, members were also involved in the planning of the pilot project for the Home Nursing service for patients within 5 km always from St Luke’s hospital.

S.N.C.F. also has the privilege of providing Professional imput for Yong-En Care Centre in their health care and home help service since 1998.

As a member of N.C.F. International, SNCF leaders has participated in ther quadriennial international conferences since 1984 in New Dehli. The most recent meeting was in Scotland in year 2000.

We also participated regionally as a member of Pacific and East Asia region [PACEA].

We have hosted the 1st regional conference in1975 and again in the 1986. Miss Goh Swee Eng, our President has served as PACEA Chairman for a term of 4 years in1994 and recently appointed again in year 2000 for 2 years term.

We were also visited and blessed by the ex and present president of NC.F. Internationl and leaders of PACEA.

There were also combined conferences with Malaysia NCF, the last was in 1995.

Being linked internationally and regionally to NCF groups open us to resource worldwide, and awareness of of what is happening to nurses and nursing around the world. We were encourage to join the global family to set aside the !st Day of the month to pray for nurses and nursing. Annually, one of our prayer meeting was set aside to pray for NCF international.

Our membership remain small in number. To-date there are 158 members, compared to 12,000 nurses in Singapore and a big percentage are Chistians.

May the LORD of the Harvest bring together His children in Nursing together to fulfill his plans and purpose for nurses and nursing.