“God of the Nations” is LoveSingapore‘s rallying call for the local church’s consecration and Antioch calling (Chinese version here!)

Written and performed by one worship team made up of many different churches, we speak to its songwriters for the heart behind the lyrics and the hope beneath the music:

  • Matthew L. Tan (Church Of Our Saviour)
  • Ian Chew (The City Church)
  • Alarice Hong (Every Nation Church Singapore)
  • Samantha Leck (HOPE Singapore)

1. What does “God of the Nations” mean to you?

MATTHEW L. TAN: “God of the Nations (万国的神)” is not just a worship song, it’s a prayerful cry and prophetic declaration. It captures the longing of the Church in Singapore to return to the altar, to be made one in the Spirit, and to be sent out for His glory.

It draws from Malachi 1:11, Acts, and Romans, all pointing to a Church that exists not for performance or comfort, but for God’s pleasure and global purpose.

It brings to mind Jerusalem during Solomon’s early reign – a city that pleased both God and man, filled with worship, governed by wisdom, and admired by the nations. That’s the kind of Church this song envisions: pure, prayerful, united and missional.

IAN CHEW: It’s a personal prayer for the nation that’s reflected in Malachi 1. While God desires His name to be exalted as great among the nations and for incense to arise in every place, He has no qualms about shutting down a church that has defiled their worship. God’s heart is global missions, but He first desires a covenant people who are consecrated unto Him.

Before we go “all in” into the harvest field, we need to go “all in” to build a house God delights to dwell in – and from that place God will have His way in the nations.

God’s heart is global missions, but He first desires a covenant people who are consecrated unto Him.

ALARICE HONG: We wanted to write a worship song for Singapore that would capture our prophetic destiny as Antioch in Acts 13.

As much as Antioch is about the sending out for missions, the context of Antioch was a hub of worship, prayer and fasting. Hence we wanted to write a song about the Church being a House of Prayer; from this place, God will send us out by His Spirit to bring His Gospel and build His Kingdom in the nations around us.

The song is an invitation for us as a church to consecrate our hearts and lives first in a surrendered life of prayer and worship and then to trust the Lord to do great and mighty exploits through us.

SAMANTHA LECK: “God of the Nations” is a rally call for the people of God to unite as one in prayer, and to consecrate ourselves once again for the Great Commission.

2. What was it like to be part of the project?

MATTHEW L. TAN: I knew from the start this song should carry the heartbeat of the worshipers in Singapore. Deep in my heart, I have always desired a gathering of Levites – songwriters and worshipers coming together in unity to seek the Lord and release a collective sound from the Church.

I’m grateful to have written “God of the Nations” with Ian, Alarice and Samantha. Ian carried much of the songwriting, and I supported the process by co-writing, guiding the spiritual direction and helping to shape the theological and worship language.

Every session felt more like intercession than production and what emerged wasn’t just a song, but something birthed in prayer, formed in unity and anchored in mission.

“I was so angry with my father that I told God, ‘Don’t waste your blood on him’”: The policeman who had to arrest his drug-addict father – twice

IAN CHEW: It’s a weighty assignment knowing you’re writing a song that the nation is going to collectively declare in a season of prayer and fasting, in the context of a nation-wide unity movement like LoveSingapore, so it was certainly a humbling experience.

At the same time, I felt the holy invitation to write something that was close to our hearts, and something we believe Singapore must step into. And it’s a joy that I got to do it with friends from different churches!

ALARICE HONG: It was awesome! Unity always blesses the Lord’s heart and commands a blessing. There’s always something special about different worship leaders and songwriters coming together from different churches to intentionally meditate on the Word and share revelation on what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to us.

As we create and craft the message together, we don’t just sing the message, we become the message. I’ve always believed cross-church songwriting is a wonderful way to cultivate unity in the Body of Christ.

Day 21: All in for the Marketplace

SAMANTHA LECK: It was a joy to be able to intercede for the Church even as we were writing this song. We had conversations in the studio about what it would look like for every church in Singapore to live out this song, and to be the Antioch of Antiochs.

I am also extremely thankful for all the volunteers who sowed into this project – they caught the vision, got behind it, and availed themselves to serve. The music video recording saw volunteers from various churches and denominations contributing in various roles. It truly felt like a big family project!

3. What are your hopes for Singapore and the local church?

MATTHEW L. TAN: My prayer is that Singapore will truly walk in her Antioch calling, not just as a slogan from past decades, but as a living identity for this generation and the next.

I pray that our churches would be like Solomon’s Jerusalem – a city that delight the heart of God, marked by worship, wisdom and a witness that draws the nations.

“God of the Nations” calls us back to the altar, to unity, purity and surrender. It’s a song that pleads: “Make us one. Make us Your offering. Send us out.”

May it awaken the Church in Singapore, across all languages and generations, to worship deeply, pray fervently and go courageously. Because our God is not just the God of Singapore, He is the God of the Nations. And we, His Church, are His messengers.

“When we have Him, we have everything we need”: Awaken Generation’s Ian Chew on true provision

IAN CHEW: As Singapore celebrates 60 years of nationhood, my prayer is for us to come into the prophetic alignment of Isaiah 60. I pray that as the glory of the Lord rises on Singapore, nations will come to her light – that as the Lord causes talent and wealth to flow into our nation, we will fulfil the call to be an Antioch nation to bear witness to His name. And that God Himself is pleased to be our everlasting presence and light.

ALARICE HONG: My prayer is that the Church of Singapore would walk in the fullness of the destiny God has for us. This can’t be done in our own strength – it’s impossible. But if we choose to abide and value His Presence and love and obey Him above all things I trust that we will witness a great missions movement emerge from our city nation founded upon this truth – “not by power, not by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6)

SAMANTHA LECK: An audacious faith to see revival in our land again and again. A spiritual awakening to the move of the Holy Spirit. An urgency to win souls!

“God of the Nations” will be played live at Day of His Power, so be among the first in the country to listen to the song here (premieres July 21, 8pm) and familiarise yourself with how it goes!

Finally, look out for the second song, “Do It Again (再次降临这地)”, which is releasing soon on LoveSingapore platforms! You won’t want to miss this rallying anthem that declares revival over our land and calls the Church to spiritual battle.