Thirteen members of the Hinsdale Church Men's Chorus and their families traveled to Singapore and Thailand in October to assist with evangelistic efforts of the Singapore Adventist Mission and Southeast Asia Union Mission (SAUM).

SAUM's largely non-Christian territory is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Among the Union's challenges are varied political and economic settings against a backdrop of differing cultures. While Islam is dominant in Malaysia and Brunei, Buddhism is the major religion in Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. Animism is strong in the tribal areas of northern Thailand and much of north Borneo, but a large Hindu minority can be found in West Malaysia. There is freedom of religious expression in this Union except in Laos and Vietnam, which have Communist governments that restrict religious activity.

In Singapore, the Men's Chorus contingent held health screenings at the Toa Payoh bus and rail terminal, a modern transportation hub. Members handed out fliers for free blood pressure and body mass index screenings. Interest was very high, and long lines soon formed. Large posters surrounded the screening areas and displayed health-oriented messages pertaining to stopping smoking, getting enough rest, and recognizing skin cancer.

When the people saw who sponsored the event, they often remarked, "Oh, the God church!" They may have not known much about denominational distinctions, but recognized Christianity. At the last screening step, individuals discussed eternal matters with a pastor. In cultures steeped in Buddhism and atheism, people were very interested not only in their health, but in spiritual matters as well.

The Men's Chorus also assisted with spiritual evangelism. Tenor Richard Latané presented the Sabbath morning sermon at a beautiful convention center where the Men's Chorus took part in a full-day musical program.

Later in the week, the Men's Chorus participated in the 50-year anniversary of the Thomson Road Seventh-day Adventist Church where the Men's Chorus director Arnold Hutabarat and tenor Francis Tham were members in their youth. There, chorus members raised funds for community education and assisted with health screenings, evangelistic sermons, health-related talks and cooking classes to strengthen community awareness.

From Singapore, the group traveled to Bangkok Adventist Hospital and Mission College to provide a musical vespers and worship services. College personnel took the group into its "mission field" and showed them a rural branch Sabbath school.

In the affluent, hurried Singapore lifestyle, we were glad to see people respond to invitations for better health. In the fertile kingdom of Thailand, we saw God's hand at work at the college and the hospital's nursing program, both of which had more Buddhist students than Christian.

Although few of the men had ever been on a mission trip or to Southeast Asia, we all strongly noticed how, unlike in the United States, little is known about Christianity. Pray for God's servants around the world as they tell the story of Jesus and how He died for all.

Christian Prohaska is a member of the Hinsdale Church Men's Chorus.

The Men's Chorus, which began in the early 1980s, has recently produced its second recording, a CD entitled "Christ Is the Rock." To inquire about the CD or to schedule the Hinsdale Church Men's Chorus in your church, contact Arnold Hutabarat at HinsdaleMen@hotmail.com.