FAQs

We desire for RHC to be a place where each of us grows to love God and become connected to his people in a greater way. We want to be a church that knows one another. Because Jesus has saved us, we are "no longer strangers and aliens," but have been given a new identity, and placed into a family where we are "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God". (Eph 2:19). We are therefore now the body of Christ and individual members of it! Practically, we believe congregations are a way for us to be cared for by the leaders and to know others in our local church in a smaller setting to be able to sow into each others’ lives more consistently. We desire for our members to belong to and actively participate in a congregation, rather than viewing church as a service to attend. As a family in Christ, we have a stake in one another’s lives; we also are on a mission to bring the gospel to the world. The stakes are high because, through this family, Christ will be magnified and the gospel put on display!

• We encourage you to choose the congregation that you want to be a part of, where you can have deep meaningful relationships! We understand that timing of the service is a practical factor, especially in certain seasons of life. This is absolutely okay! We encourage you to feel the freedom to choose the congregation that suits your needs, and we ask that you do so thoughtfully and prayerfully. If you’d like to chat more with one of our elders, drop us a note at events@rhc.org.sg.

• Yes, all are welcome! Find out more about why we value membership in our Why Membership resource.

• We want to help you! We are committed to making sure that cost is not a barrier to attending. You may reach out to us via email at events@rhc.org.sg and the retreat committee will be in touch with you.

• Thank you for your generosity! You may reach out to us via email at events@rhc.org.sg and the retreat committee will be in touch with you.

• Please email events@rhc.org.sg in order to start the process of your cancellation request.

• Registration fee refunds would be subjected to the following criteria in order to determine the eligibility and amount:

  • Cancellations made before 21 January 2025: 100% Refund (less Eventbrite Processing Fees incurred: (4% + $1.00)

  • Cancellations made before 7 February: 50% Refund (less Eventbrite Processing Fees incurred: (4% + $1.00)

  • Cancellations made from 7 February 2025: No Refunds

• The church absorbs the Eventbrite processing fees (4% + $1.00) for registrations. However, in the event of a cancellation, the Eventbrite processing fees will be passed on to you.

• The total amount received would be the eligible refund payable, with Eventbrite processing fees subtracted from it.

• Please note that the refunds received will be through the reversal of the amount with the credit/debit card used for your registration. There will not be refunds provided in cash, or in any other forms.

• Refund transactions will require about 3 to 7 business days for credit cards, and about 7 to 10 business days for debit cards, depending on the bank issuing the refund. Thereafter, please check on your credit/debit card statements to ensure the refunds have been received.

• Cancellations made before 26 March, 12.00pm: 100% Refund (less Eventbrite Processing Fees incurred: (4% + $1.00)

• Cancellations made after 26 March, 12.00pm: No Refunds

You would be required to provide formal medical proof to get a refund should you be unwell due to COVID-19 or MPox. Please reach out to us at events@rhc.org.sg if you need any assistance.

• It is possible but priority will be given to anyone on the waitlist first. Please write to events@rhc.org.sg by 21 February 2025 as we need to finalise the details with various external parties. If there are any changes to roomings, it may incur additional costs and your friend would need to cover the difference.

• Unfortunately, we would not be able to extend requests for connecting rooms or an extra bed to those not registering as a family due to limited quantity.

• Connecting rooms and extra beds made available to us will be extended to families in order to better support and care for the children in our congregation.

• No. However, you’d be required to indicate in your registration if you have a roommate and his/her name, if you are registering under the ‘Adult - Double Occupancy (Sharing)’ ticket. Only same-gender rooming arrangements are allowed for singles.

• The retreat committee will assign a roommate of the same gender for you at their discretion.

• We appreciate your understanding that requests for any changes after registration are subjected to the discretion of the retreat committee.

• In the event your roommate pulls out for the retreat, you will be reassigned to another roommate of the same gender by the retreat committee. This reassignment is also applicable to your roommate should you pull out.

• Unfortunately, no. We understand that you would like to, and we would be happy to discuss this with you. 

• Due to the backend administrative planning and liaison with the ferry companies and hotels, we are currently unable to extend the registration deadline.

• In the event your roommate missed the registration deadline, you will be reassigned to another roommate of the same gender by the retreat committee. This arrangement is also applicable to your roommate should you miss the deadline.

• Passport, with minimum 6 months validity from date of entry

Other documents (covered by Retreat Committee):

• Ferry Boarding Pass

• Visa on Arrival - Batam (if applicable)

• Passport, with minimum 6 months validity from date of entry

• SG Arrival Card (PDF download)

• Find out more about Singapore Immigration Clearance.

Other documents (covered by Retreat Committee):

• Ferry Boarding Pass

• Please click here to find the list of countries that may enter into Batam visa-free.

• To find out if the Visa on Arrival requirement applies to you, please click here.

  • If you are unable to locate the country of your citizenship, in this list, you are likely required to apply for a visa through your own country’s embassy.  

• Singapore Permanent Residents with citizenship outside the “visa-free countries” listed above are allowed to enter Batam Visa-free for a 4-day period (Link)

  • You will be required to bring along the physical card when visiting

• Yes. A visa is required for each person, including children and infants, to enter Batam, Indonesia.

• It is available as an add-on at the bottom of the ticket selection page - you would just need to add it to cart, together with your ticket.

• The church has partially subsidised the cost for Visa on Arrival per pax to make the Congre Retreats more accessible for expats and families.

For Hand-Carried items allowed through Departure Gate:

• Maximum 10kg per person

• Maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm

Free Baggage Check-in Allowance:

• Maximum 20kg per Boarding Pass

• Not transferable nor for use together with other Boarding Pass

Yes, if you would like to go to Batam earlier or depart later outside the Congre Retreat dates, you can either indicate it in the registration form or email us at events@rhc.org.sg. Please do so by 28 February 2025. If done by 28 February,

• You will need to cover the accommodations at your own cost and this can be handled directly with the hotel when you arrive in Batam.

• There will not be any additional cost for the ferry booking. 

• If we inform the hotel on your behalf, you would get to enjoy the corporate rate which includes accommodations and breakfast but if you would like to make your own booking online, you are welcome to do so.

Yes, it will likely be crowded at both Singapore and Batam customs, especially since we're travelling during a public holiday. We appreciate your patience, as this is beyond our control. While not all congregations will use the same terminal in Batam, Batam Centre Ferry Terminal has made upgrades, including automation, to ease the process. We are also working with the terminal to prioritise families and new policies have been introduced to limit ferry departures, which should help manage the crowds.

You may book the next available ferry from Singapore to Batam, unfortunately, it will be at your own cost and you will need to arrange your own transportation to the hotel.

We will be departing from Singapore on the morning of Saturday, 29 March, and departing from Indonesia in the afternoon of Monday, 31 March. If you are not able to join the main group for their set departure timings, please write to events@rhc.org.sg, and we will be happy to help you. 
If you need to make any amendments, please do so by 28 February 2025 without any additional cost. If there are any amendments from 1 March 2025, additional costs for the ferry will be incurred.

No, please do not drink the tap water in Batam

• Yes, you may do so at your own expense. Popular food delivery apps in Batam include GrabFood and Gojek. 

• All meals will be provided, including snacks and tea breaks during the Main Sessions.