Daryl Chew of True Way Presbyterian Church, a 19-year-old church youth leader, along with his co-worker, Charles, championed the plight of needy children and found sponsors for 27 needy children in just one week!

World Vision talks to Daryl as he shares his journey of personal faith and compassion for the underprivileged children around the world.

World Vision:
Tell us your story. What defining events in your life inspired your heart to care for and help children living in poverty?

Daryl Chew:
I first started out as a Child Sponsor back in 2006. I had just come back from a month-long mission stint in Philippines organised by (a mission agency called) Operation Mobilisation. The trip was a real eye-opener for me, and the one thing that I just could not grasp was how the children could be happy living under that sort of filthy conditions in the slums. There were no proper toilet facilities to speak of and the area was infested with flies and rubbish. The stench was horrendous as well, given that they had to defecate at an open area outside the slums.

When I came back, it was the festive season and I happened to spot a World Vision booth along Orchard Road. I don’t know what prompted me, but I believe God led me into that very booth where He touched my heart to share the little I have with the less privileged. It was that day that I sponsored a five-year-old Filipino boy.

World Vision:
What led you to contact World Vision and share Child Sponsorship with the youth ministry in your church?

Daryl Chew:
The idea to get every single Discipleship Group (DG) within our Youth Zone to sponsor a child actually originated from a brother, Charles, who is very passionate and fervent about God.

Charles suggested it to our youth pastor, and it was subsequently brought up in the core group meetings. The theme that we had the previous year was “Plug In, Plunge Out” which focused on being plugged into God and plunging out into the world. The core group decided that it was a good initiative for the youths to “plunge out”. Since I was a Child Sponsor, I took up this project alongside Charles.

World Vision:
How did you inspire 27 church members to sponsor children in one short week?

Daryl Chew:
Honestly speaking, I have no idea! During the presentation, we played a video and Charles shared about what World Vision does while I shared about my experiences in Philippines.

The DGs were given time to consider and pray. At the end of the session, a total of 16 DGs and nine individuals pledged a monthly sum of $45 to children from 14 countries. God touched the hearts of everyone and it was really amazing. Praise the Lord!

World Vision:
What fuels you to continue and persevere in the cause of advocating and creating a voice for the voiceless, vulnerable and helpless?

Daryl Chew:
The three mission trips that God has given me the opportunities to participate in have had a great bearing in my life. One really comes to see the social disparity and realise how blessed we are.

It sounds clichéd but you ultimately realise how much God has blessed us with in Singapore, and stop taking basic things such as food, water and shelter for granted. I believe that it is only right that we share our blessings with the less privileged. Show a child God’s love and care for him, and he’ll become a mighty servant for Him when he grows up.

World Vision:
What advice would you give to someone reading this who is considering sharing with groups of friends from church or work to lift more children out of poverty?

Daryl Chew:
I think the starting step would be to first realise how blessed we are with relative to other people. Only then do we understand the fundamental divergence and can truly share from our hearts.

World Vision Singapore thanks Daryl, Charles, the youth ministry team and leaders at True Way Presbyterian church for caring about the needy children and sharing their love and blessings with them.

To learn more about how your church can partner with World Vision Singapore to bring hope and light to underprivileged children around the world, please contact deborah@worldvision.org.sg or call (65) 6511 7699.