Festival of Celebration

August 2001, Singapore Indoor Stadium

Official Report as published in the Magazine "New Life"

Darin leads worship at FOC2001

The island nation of Singapore saw a tremendous outpouring of God's blessing as the Festival of Celebration 2001 exploded into life on August 24-26. The Singapore Indoor Stadium, the largest enclosed venue in the country, was filled with hungry hearts ready to listen to the powerful preaching of Australia's Bill Newman.

Bill Newman preaching with power

Churches from across the city worshipped together with the FOC band and choir, which numbered over 100 members. Australian Darin Browne led the worship, and shared items which touched the hearts of many, opening them to powerful messages which challenged both the unsaved and believers.

Youth night at appeal time

With crowds of up to 6,000, and hearts that were ready to listen and receive God's word, many hundreds of people responded to the call, filling the area in front of the stage and often stretching back up the isles of the cavernous auditorium. Tears and hugs were frequently seen as people shared and worshipped together, as many souls were welcomed into the Kingdom.

Bill and Darin embrace overlooking the excellent appeal response at FOC2001

"Looking out across a sea of Asian faces in that massive auditorium is an unforgettable experience," said Darin, "What keeps us going? There must be thousands of reasons standing in front of that stage, all pledging themselves to Jesus!"

Darin rocks the SIS

Church leaders were overjoyed with the response on all nights, but especially Youth night where, after challenging music from Darin and local Campus Crusade band "Forerunner", Bill Newman preached on Youth set on fire for God, and many hundreds responded to the call.

"Forerunner" and Darin after Youth Night

The spirit of unity, evident so graphically in Darin's leading of his own composition, "One in the Arms of the Lord", had to be experienced to be believed.

Full band, 10 singers, 100 voice choir... Darin's happy!

Bill Newman believes that God is raising up this small but highly influential nation to become one of the most strategic missionary nation on earth, and FOC 2001 showed that "where brothers dwell together in unity, there the Lord bestows a blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalm 133)

Lives changed. The fruit of FOC2001 as seen in this award winning photograph.