Learning about God’s Grace at PFS
By Alethea Lee
Alethea is a Digital Media and Communications diploma student from Singapore Polytechnic, currently interning with Prison Fellowship Singapore. As a creative with a heart for the social service sector, she integrates her skills and passion to use media for purpose-driven impact. As a follower of Christ, serving in Thailand is her "Roman Empire" (she literally thinks about it 24/7). She values building meaningful relationships, cherishing time with her family, and going on solo matcha dates.
As a Christian youth living in Singapore, I would say that GRACE is one of the hardest concepts to grasp fully.
GRACE, in the Christian faith, is defined as the free and unmerited favour of God, manifested through the salvation of sinners and the blessings He bestows upon us. Yet in a society where success is often measured by effort and achievement, grace can feel almost counterintuitive. From a young age, many of us are taught that rewards come through hard work. We study to earn good grades, work to earn promotions, and strive to earn recognition. We are accustomed to receiving what we deserve.
Perhaps it is pride. Perhaps it is self-reliance. Whatever the reason, grace often felt like something I had to earn rather than something I could simply receive.
Coming into PFS, I was eager to learn as much as I could about Prison Ministry. Over the past three months at Prison Fellowship Singapore (PFS), God has gently reshaped my understanding of what grace truly looks like. I’m witnessing firsthand how God's grace can transform lives in ways that are both humbling and profound. Through conversations and daily encounters, I have the privilege to hear stories of restoration that challenged my understanding and deepened my faith.
Luke 15:3-7: “Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
An encounter that left a lasting impression on me was Amy* (name changed for privacy). She was an ex-offender I met at the start of my internship, who struggled with drug addiction for many years. She worked part-time as a cleaner at PFS, earning a modest income while seeking stability in her life.
Whenever I saw Amy around the office, something about her touched my heart. Beneath her quiet demeanor, I saw someone searching for safety and belonging that only God can provide. Her story reminded me of The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7). It tells of a shepherd who leaves his flock of ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that wandered away. When he finds the lost sheep, he carries it home joyfully and celebrates Jesus used this parable to illustrate God's love and grace. Like Amy, the lost sheep in the parable was precious to the Shepherd, not simply because it had wandered away, but because it was deeply loved and worth pursuing.
One day, I noticed that Amy stopped coming to the office. When I asked about her, I learnt that she suffered a relapsed and was undergoing rehabilitation. My heart sank. I could only imagine how difficult the journey was.
PFS Staff members, Lee Leng (L) & Veron (R), learning the art of leathercraft at an in-house workshop. With what they learn, they equip the beneficiaries involved in SIP with the same skillset.
As I reflected on her situation, I was reminded that God's grace was never absent from her story. Grace is not only present in moments of victory; it is present in moments of weakness too. It does not wait for us to have everything together before embracing us. Instead, it meets us where we are and gently calls us towards him, even when we stumble.
A month later, Amy returned to assist with work related to Social Impact Projects (SIP). Seeing her again filled me with unexpected joy. Perhaps it was similar to the same joy the Shepherd felt when he found the lost sheep.
Watching Amy's journey helped me realize how much I misunderstood the concept of “grace”. As a person, I tend to view setbacks as signs of failure and believe that I need to prove myself “worthy” to receive acceptance. But God’s grace operates differently. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The stories I have heard at PFS reveal a God who pursues people even when they wander. A God who welcomes people back, whose love is not dependent on performance, but rooted in His unchanging character. As I learn to accept this gift of grace in my life, I would also like to invite you to accept this gift that has been freely given to us by our good Shepherd.