History of the ISCF Movement
From God's leading in the past to a renewed call for today.
God's hand in the beginning. Paul Contento, an Italian-American, and his wife Maida, a Scot, served as missionaries with the China Inland Mission. They married in 1933 in Tientsin. Among their co-workers was Rev. Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner whose story was told in Chariots of Fire.
From China to Singapore. When the Communists rose to power in 1949, the Contentos and other missionaries left China. They were deployed as some of the first OMF missionaries from the new base at 2 Cluny Road, Singapore, a nation then only about 3% Christian.
ISCF is started in Singapore. Rev. Paul Contento started the Inter-School Christian Fellowship while serving in theological education alongside Dr. Calvin Chao. ISCF was first placed under the Inter-Varsity Fellowship / Fellowship of Evangelical Students.
ISCF comes under Scripture Union. In 1965, Inter-Varsity Fellowship transferred ISCF to Scripture Union Singapore. Through ISCF and IVF, many Christian leaders were raised up to serve churches and para-church organisations.
Growth of the movement. English-speaking ISCF expanded to about 60 groups; Chinese ISCF grew to about 25 groups within three years and kept expanding. Scripture Union reading notes played an important role in the spiritual formation of students.
Camps that changed lives. In 1972, the first SU campsite was dedicated at Wing Long Road, Changi. In 1978, SU obtained a 30-year lease for a campsite on Sentosa Island. Through camps and partnership with educators, thousands of young lives were impacted and many came to faith in Christ.
Policy changes and decline. In 1989, changes in education policy meant Religious Knowledge was no longer an examinable subject, and ISCF meetings could no longer be held in schools. With Christian teachers restricted and the movement unable to pivot in time, ISCF gradually diminished in influence.
A remnant rekindles the fire. In 2025, the Lord brought together a remnant of volunteers who had been impacted by ISCF. The renewed vision is to activate, commission, and empower students to lead students — in partnership with churches, parents, educators, and mentors. Fan Into Flame sets this renewed movement in motion.
