The Singapore Church of the Nazarene held a special Sunday service on 3 November 2024 with a Global Missions emphasis, collecting an Alabaster offering for the first time. Each child brought his or her family’s Alabaster bank to the front to present it for collection. 

With the encouragement of their Nazarene Missions International president, Kelvin Chin, the church kicked off the month of September by challenging families to construct their own Alabaster offering bank. In October, children and their parents were encouraged to contribute something to their bank regularly.

The goal was not to raise a particular amount of money but to encourage everyone to participate however they could. Some emptied their pockets of spare change periodically; others put specific amounts in at designated times, and some committed to putting as much into their Alabaster bank as they spent on coffee each week of that month! 

When the banks were opened, and offerings counted, everyone was amazed to realize this church had collected over SG$500 (US$377). 

“It was encouraging to have the kids and parents participate in saving and contributing to the building of God’s Kingdom,” Chin said. “We pray that God will use this offering to grow his Church and make Christlike disciples in all nations.”

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region