More behind Pastures
This is not a story about me.
It is a bit more background on how God has equipped me, placed me in community, and entrusted me with the work of building Pastures.
Why write this?
A little more context behind Pastures.
If you use Pastures, it is reasonable to ask who is building it, what has shaped me, and whether anyone knows me well enough to speak honestly into the work. This page is here for that kind of curiosity.
A fuller account
For more of the thinking, uncertainty, and hope that went into building Pastures, read this article Thir.st.
The posture behind the work
I am simply a steward.
Pastures is not my attempt to manufacture spiritual growth or to take the place of the local church. I believe God is the one who changes people. My part is to be faithful with the skills, opportunities, relationships, and resources He has placed in front of me.
That means building carefully, listening to users, welcoming correction, and being honest about what Pastures can and cannot do. The app is a tool. The work of formation belongs to God, in the context of Scripture, the church, and ordinary obedience.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth."
1 Corinthians 3:6
Skills and stewardship
God has equipped me to build this carefully.
I mean the practical skills, knowledge, opportunities, and experiences God has placed in my hands (and the responsibility to use them faithfully for this work).
Engineering and systems
I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering (dropped out of Business Administration, was previously pursuing a double-degree) at NUS. For more than three years, I have been building Pastures from the ground up: not just the frontend that users interact with, but also the backend, data infrastructure, AI integrations, and systems that support it. I have tried to make that foundation robust and dependable, because much of this work is invisible but still matters when a product is entrusted with something as personal as a person's reflections.
Time in Silicon Valley
Through NUS's NOC Silicon Valley programme, I spent a interning at a tech firm while studying at Stanford University while immersing myself in the vibrant startup scene. I worked on AI-led workflows, partner integrations, and technical enablement, and saw up close how serious teams think about systems, reliability, and serving real users.
Product, people, and communication
God has also given me experience across product, partnerships, business, creative work, and church ministry. Those experiences help me think about both sides of Pastures: whether the system is being built carefully, and whether it is actually serving the person on the other side of it.
Want the public professional context?
My LinkedIn is available for anyone who wants to verify the work and experience behind the builder.
Church roots
Formed in a body, not alone.
Pastures comes from a life that is still being formed in the ordinary, sometimes unglamorous but beautiful life of the local church. I have served at Mount Carmel Bible-Presbyterian Church across youth, cell group, young adults, camps, Vacation Bible School, and creative programmes such as musicals, plays, and skits.
These roles are not for me to boast about myself. They have simply given me more opportunities to learn that ministry is carried by dependence on God, and brothers & sisters in Christ. Much of the thinking and inspiration behind features in Pastures come from experiences, conversations and learnings I've had over the years in my church.
2015-2022
Youth Committee
Served first with the media subcommittee, then with the discipleship and leadership subcommittee.
2018-2022
Youth small group
Led a youth small group and learned that spiritual leadership begins with listening, patience, and showing up consistently.
2021-2026
Church camp planning
Helped with church camp planning in these years, except for 2025 while overseas.
2023-present
Cell group core team
I currently serve with the core team of my cell group.
2025-present
Young adults ministry
I currently serve with the core team of the young adults ministry.
2026-present
Next Chapter
I am taking part in Mount Carmel Bible-Presbyterian Church's Next Chapter programme for developing leaders who love God and His people.
Learn about Next ChapterBefore God, and with others
The first person I am accountable to is God.
Pastures is a work I will answer to God for. I take my walk with Him seriously - not because I think I am mature or beyond failure, but because He is holy, faithful, and knows me completely. I am fallible. God is not. When I am weak, confused, proud, or afraid, my hope is not in my own consistency, but in His grace to correct me and hold me close, and His promise to finish the work He has begun in me.
I have older believers and mentors I go to for spiritual feeding, honest conversations, and prayer. I am also part of a same-age guys' accountability group, and I actively speak with Christian and ministry leaders in parachurch organisations, the marketplace, and other churches. They are part of God's provision for keeping me accountable in my walk.
Questions people may reasonably ask.
Are you hoping to make money out of this?+
I do hope for Pastures to become sustainable, but whether it can become self-sustaining is another question. I am honestly still unsure at this stage what the right path forward is. There are real operational and backend costs, and I am dedicating my full-time efforts to this work rather than entering the marketplace. At the moment, I am receiving no income, and the Premium subscriptions so far are still far from enough to support the work.
At the same time, I want Pastures’ core features to remain free forever, so that as many people as possible can receive meaningful value from the app even if they never pay. I do hope that more people will see the value in Pastures and choose to subscribe out of their own willing and generous hearts, so that the work can reach and equip more believers.
I do not know whether I will raise support from investors, donors, or other sources in the future. For now, I will continue trusting that the Lord will provide. I do pray that Pastures becomes sustainable, so that I can keep giving my full-time efforts to it and, eventually, build a dedicated team of people who share the vision: to help users grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, and to follow the Good Shepherd’s leading in everyday life.
Ultimately, what I know is that I am called to be obedient with the part God has entrusted to me: to keep improving the app faithfully, so that people can receive real value from it and, above all, so that the work glorifies Him. I believe God will do what only He can do. He will work all things together according to His purposes; I simply need to do my part faithfully and leave the outcome in His hands.
A clear boundary
Pastures is a tool.
It cannot replace Scripture, Christian community, pastoral care, wise counsel, or the presence of God. If Pastures helps, I hope it helps you return to those things with greater attention - not away from them.
If you are curious about the work