Faithlink (April 2021)

THE MAGAZINE OF FAITH METHODIST CHURCH | APRIL 2021

MCI (P) 046/02/2021

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SPOTLIGHT ON OUR NEW PASTORS!

Rev Reuben Ng & Rev Chan Mei Ming

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CONVERSATIONS@ FAITH

Dealing With Mental Health

40

TRUSTING GOD IN TOUGH TIMES

Experiencing God’s Goodness

Hope Arise

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CONTENTS THE MAGAZINE OF FAITH METHODIST CHURCH

APRIL 2021

01 02

Editor’s Note Pastor’s Letter

DEEPER IN CHRIST

04

Private & Public Worship (Part 2): Sacred Meeting for the Sacrament

SPECIAL FEATURE

07 10

Rev Reuben Ng: Imitating Christ In Love Getting To Know Rev Chan Mei Ming

HEARTBEAT

14 16 20 22

24 28 31 35 36 38 40 42 43

One Mission Small Group Conference Conversations@Faith: Mental Health The Importance Of Fatherhood The World Needs A Father Deep Dive Series: Overcoming Porn Everlasting Blessings and Peace Serving with Love A Different Christmas Celebration Bringing CNY Cheer to our Mission Workers SUN JAM Playshop A Father’s Heart’s Cry Trusting God In Tough Times Regathering For Worship Back to Worshipping Onsite and Listening to the Word of God

PEOPLE OF FAITH

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KidsLEAP Children’s Programme

SPOTTED AT FAITH

48 50 51 52 53

First Hybrid 11.15am Service Small Group Leaders’ Dedication Service Corporate House of Prayer TRAC Seniors Ministry Night of Worship

MARKETPLACE

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Impacting Lives Beyond The Classroom

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48 EDITORIAL Pastor-in-Charge Rev Reuben Ng Editors Glynisia Yeo Audrey Mok Sub-Editor Rachel Tham Contributing Pastors Rev Eddie Ho

Writers / Contributors Ara Teo Brenda Tang Claire Yeh Esther Ong Godiva Ysip Janice Lim Janice Ong

Jimaia Wong John Woon Khoo Tse Horng Lionel Lau Mark Tan Monica Tan Stella Seah

Photographers Althea Chan Jimmy Png Joash Lee

Jonathan Lau Leong Kwok Seng Richmond Tan

For contributions, please send them to faithlink@faithmc.sg.

Faithlink is published three times a year by Faith Methodist Church (Singapore) for internal circulation to the congregation of Faith Methodist Church and their friends. Views expressed in Faithlink are the contributors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Church and the Editorial Board.

Copyright © 2021 by Faith Methodist Church All right reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

EDITOR’S NOTE

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LOVE = GOING THE EXTRA MILE

W

hen was the last time you went the extra mile for someone?

In his book The First Mile, author Derek Prince wrote that in the context of Matthew 5:41, “Jesus here depicts a situation in which law, or social custom, gives a man the right to compel another to walk a mile together with him.” Jesus then challenged His disciples to not just walk the first mile but to go on with the second mile.

The author then explains, “We may say that the first mile represents duty, the extra mile represents love. Love freely does twice as much as duty can demand.”

In this hectic society we live in, many decisions are centred around self-serving causes, in order to benefit the self. This is why we often find it heartwarming to read of a Good Samaritan or an individual who went out of his or her way to help another human being; and who went the extra mile for someone else, even a total stranger.

When love becomes the compass of our lives, it will influence our decisions in a way that brings positive change around us. Likewise, God demonstrated His love for us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth (John 3:16). That one act of redemption changed the course of humanity and paved the way for mankind to be reconciled back to God! Today as we commemorate Resurrection Sunday and remember this Great Love from heaven, will you now go the extra mile for someone and love them with the love of Christ?

In Christ,

Glynisia Yeo Editor

@FaithMethodistChurch

@faithmcsg

FaithMC News

faithmcsg

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PASTOR’S LETTER

UNDERCURRENTS I recently came across an article by Channel News Asia (CNA). It focused on the dangers of swimming in the open sea. If you’re wondering why CNA would focus on a topic better suited to training material found in a sea sports club, it was written in view of an unfortunate incident that occurred in 2020 — the sad drowning of a boy off Changi Beach.

Among other things mentioned in the article, one potential danger raised that swimmers ought to be wary of, are undercurrents.

And what exactly are undercurrents? Doing some mini research revealed to me that they are currents of water that flow under the surface of another larger body of water.

What is interesting is that while the undercurrent may be intense and strong, the surface of the water will more likely than not, be still or have only small gentle waves. By now, I am sure we

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Once we jump into such waters, what looks to be a nice easy swim in still gentle waters, can very quickly become an intense struggle against currents that forcibly pull and drag us into danger. can appreciate the danger of undercurrents. Once we jump into such waters, what looks to be a nice easy swim in still gentle waters, can very quickly become an intense struggle against currents that forcibly pull and drag us into danger.

Undercurrents.

They may not look dangerous, but they certainly can be… which brought me to reflect further on “undercurrents” in terms of relationships.

Whether husband and wife, child and parent, fellow work colleagues, siblings or even between church members/ worshippers, there are times when undercurrents exist. Perhaps it was a past action or deed, a careless word spoken, a difference in opinions that brought about disagreements, etc.

Whatever it may have been, it caused some strong, intense emotional “currents”

to flow. When viewed from the surface, everything might look “gentle” or even “still”.

But it is just an appearance; what is underneath is a totally different thing.

I do not believe we, as Christians, are called to live with undercurrents. If so, God would not have placed in Scripture, verses like, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you,” (Eph. 4:32, NKJV). This verse seems to tell us not to live with the appearance that all is “gentle” and “still”, but to deal with the undercurrents itself.

How do we do that? By releasing the cause of those strong “emotional currents”, forgiving one another so that the currents have no reason to exist.

It is certainly not by being hardhearted and stubborn about it but by being

tenderhearted. In so doing, we practice the biblical call to “be kind to one another” in a very practical way.

But why can’t we just live with the appearance of “stillness” while nursing the undercurrents? Because that is not what God did with us. He dealt with the “undercurrents” we had with Him when He forgave us. And now, He calls us to do likewise, so that the gentleness and stillness are not just on the surface, but also underneath in our hearts.

May we as followers of Christ be people who do not live with the danger of undercurrents.

Shalom!

Rev Reuben Ng Pastor-in-Charge

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DEEPER IN CHRIST

PRIVATE & PUBLIC WORSHIP (PART 2):

SACRED MEETING FOR THE SACRAMENT

By Rev Eddie Ho

In my previous Faithlink article (Jan 2021), I shared three apparent reasons why public worship is important: (i) worship is not about you; (ii) worship is about God and His Church; and (iii) we ought to yearn for public worship working towards the ultimate worship in eternity. That is why not only is physical public worship irreplaceable; it is a sacred meeting to look forward to.

In this article, I would like to talk about the sacramental reason why we gather physically and regularly to worship and partake Holy Communion together as a congregation, whenever public health conditions allow.

What is a Sacrament?

Our God is a God of grace. This means that He blesses us with gifts we do not deserve (“unmerited favour”). How do we receive His gifts of blessing? We receive them via channels (or vehicles) that deliver His grace or gift to us.

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These channels are called “means of grace,” and there are many types and forms of means. It can be as simple as the meals we are provided with and therefore we say “grace” with every meal; or the Word that we read (“for man shall not live on bread alone,” Matthew 4:4); or the preaching that we listen to (“for faith comes from hearing,” Romans 10:17).

And among the many means of grace at God’s disposal to bless us, there are two which are personally ordained and instituted by Jesus Himself: Water Baptism and Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper and the Eucharist. We call them Sacraments.

Baptism is a sacrament we do only once in our life time, while Holy Communion is a sacrament we partake as often as we can. Although there is no biblical requirement, we know the Early Church took it frequently (Acts 2:42-48), and specifically the Church

in Corinth met regularly for the purpose of Communion (1 Corinthians 11:18).

Not More than it is Holy Communion is a sign of the presence of Christ among the people of God and their unity in Him. When we partake the wine or juice (blood), we remember Jesus as the giver of new Life and the New Covenant.

When we partake the bread or wafer (body), we are reminded we are all one Body with Him and with one another (1 Corinthians 10.16-18).

Holy Communion is an outward sign of God’s inward grace to us. But it is a sign, no matter how sacred, so we ought not make it more than what it is.

Firstly, because it is our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us, not the act of eating His body and drinking His blood.

Besides, the bread and the wine are not the actual body and blood of Jesus

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Holy Communion is an outward sign of God’s inward grace to us. But it is a sign, no matter how sacred, so we ought not make it more than what it is.

(which Roman Catholics call “Transubstantiation”).

Secondly, while Holy Communion may be a sacrament, it is not a mandatory commandment but an exhortation. It is a means (of grace) to strengthen our faith, not an end in itself. So, if situation demands it – such as during a pandemic where minimal physical contact is called for to reduce the community spread of the virus – it is alright and our social responsibility to fast from the Lord’s Supper.

In fact, fasting from Holy Communion is not a new thing, it had been observed and practiced throughout the history of the church. One example in the history of Methodism was in the 1700s when pastors looked after several parishes in different places and were on a circuit travelling around the country throughout the year. This means that these pastors could not be in every church on every Sunday.

Hence, some congregations in their circuit might be served Holy Communion only once a month, or every two months, and others maybe three to four times a year. The parishioners were on a communion fast until they could partake it; but when they could, they communed together.

This practice has stuck with us and that is why in pre-COVID days, most (not all) Methodist churches celebrated the Eucharist once a month.

Not Lesser than it Should Be Even so, we must also not make Holy Communion lesser than what it is, which is a tendency of modern people like us. The Church in Corinth faced the same problem and thus Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 instructs us to treat it seriously – that is, not to do it as if we were consuming our own meals separately in

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DEEPER IN CHRIST

If our Worship Service is like a dress rehearsal of the Ultimate Worship, then Holy Communion is like the “appetizer” of the Great Banquet. our own homes, but to wait for each other and partake it together as a community.

If you like, you may see the Lord’s Supper like a “reunion dinner” where every member of the family waits for each other to fellowship with one another over the table.

It would not be a “reunion” per se if everyone were to take it on their own over a played video on screen or not physically present. The Patriarch or the Matriarch of the family would not exactly be satisfied, would they?

In our Methodist tradition, we take it seriously. An ordained Elder (Pastor) plays “host” and

consecrates the elements at the table as if it is one loaf and one cup (which have since been modified to two-in-one packs due to personal hygiene and public health reasons). The two-inone pack is distributed to the congregation, who then eat the bread from the batch of “one loaf”, and drink from the “one cup” together because we are one Body.

A Rehearsal for the Ultimate Brothers and sisters in Christ, Holy Communion is a blessed practice and a holy sign of our union with Christ. If our Worship Service

is like a dress rehearsal of the Ultimate Worship, then Holy Communion is like the “appetizer” of the Great Banquet.

When we gather together for the Lord’s Supper, we look forward with expectation and eager anticipation to the Great Banquet on Resurrection Day, where we will finally and wholly be united with our Lord Jesus Christ, eating and drinking with him and communing with one another in the Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25).

That is the day to behold!

Hallelujah, Amen!

From 1 May 2021, Rev Eddie Ho will be in-charge of the “Celebration” pillar comprising Sunday Services and Hospitality. He will oversee ministries including Worship & Music, Children, Youth, Mandarin, and the Filipino and Indonesian Fellowships.

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DEEPER IN CHRIST: SPECIAL FEATURE

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REV REUBEN NG:

IMITATING CHRIST IN LOVE In November 2020, the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) appointed Rev Reuben Ng as Pastor-in-Charge of Faith.

Faithlink chats with our new PIC and discovered more about his life and the motivation behind his values.

By Lionel Lau

Who is Reverend Reuben Ng? A pastor who is in the world, but not of the world.

A pastor who is clear about goal setting, yet has the heart of a shepherd.

Born to Methodist parents, Rev Reuben Ng was baptised in Paya Lebar Methodist Church. He grew up in Toa Payoh Methodist Church and Anglo-Chinese School, so it can be said he is a trueblue Methodist.

But an inner transformation took place one day in primary school. During the Religious Emphasis Week, he watched a skit that portrayed the crucifixion of Christ and the scene opened his heart to the reality of God’s love and sacrifice in a profound way.

That personal encounter became a defining moment which has left an indelible mark on his life to this day.

The Call Pastor Reuben’s journey into full-time ministry reflected a sense of responsibility for his worldly sojourn and his eternal place in the Kingdom of God.

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DEEPER IN CHRIST: SPECIAL FEATURE

daughters! The movie buff named his daughters after favourite movie characters, combining them with names reflecting God’s faithfulness and grace in his life. His daughters are now 19 and 17 years old respectively and share a close relationship with their father.

Equipped for Ministry

First hearing God’s call to fulltime ministry in his final year of studies at the Singapore Institute of Commerce, his parents assured him that God would provide and put bread on the table. However, wanting to give his family a higher standard of living, he carved out a successful and enriching career as a forex trader in a bank, then saying, “Why settle for bread when

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you can have mantou and chill crab?”

Seven years into his trading career, amidst the 9/11 crisis, God’s call came again. This time, Pastor Reuben and his wife, Angela, both left their jobs and joined Rhema Bible Training Centre (RBTC).

During his diploma studies there, the family was also blessed with their two

Joining the Methodist Church came after another four years of “training his mind” at Trinity Theological College (TTC), but not without God’s lessons in humility, grace and love.

In 2007, Reverend Reuben Ng became a Methodist Pastor and has not looked back since. Acknowledging the call of God in his life, Pastor Reuben shares that even the Pastor-in-charge is placed in a local church by the grace of God.

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Reflecting on his own life and ministry, he remembers often failing God and His demands of holiness, God’s grace and love picking him up in every instance to continue being an instrument for Him. Reflecting on his own life and ministry, he remembers often failing God and His demands of holiness, God’s grace and love picking him up in every instance to continue being an instrument for Him. Likewise at Faith, he recognises that each member in the church should be the hands and feet of God and hopes to see members grow in their gifts of healing, preaching, planning, and organising events for the community.

He wants to make disciples of all men and women in church and who love the community around, whatever their backgrounds, religion, race or culture.

Staying Connected To God In the midst of a hectic schedule, he makes effort to balance his time between work, recreation and family.

While his weekends may be

the busiest, Pastor Reuben reserves his Sunday evenings for dinner with his family, and spends time with them wherever possible.

He exercises regularly and enjoys a good movie as a way to rest and recharge.

From intense westerns to Bollywood comedies, we discovered that Schindler’s List ranks top of his favourite movies. He recalled how he and a friend left the cinema in tears after watching its scenes of carnage and sacrifice, and oppression of the marginalized.

uses these moments to pray and entrust his day into God’s hands, knowing ultimately that God is the one who is in charge of the church.

Love Is The Key Love is the heart of Pastor Reuben’s vision for Faith.

He aims to lead our church in reaching out to the community, each member moving in love as God’s hands and feet. He shared that goals and key performance indicators might give purpose and direction to Faith’s many successful events and activities, but these would be nothing if we have not love (1 Corinthians 13).

Pastor Reuben is not only the Pastor-in-charge of Faith; he is also the District Superintendent for District Two of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC).

These roles entail many meetings with people, but he always remembers to stay connected to God daily.

He also hopes that the community will notice the love our members have for each other and the people around us, and that if Faith is suddenly removed from her location, that people would miss experiencing that love in community. And within our church family, he hopes for us to develop a lifestyle of love and outreach, regardless of how that love is reciprocated.

In between visits, or when driving to appointments, he

“This would be the real litmus test,” he emphasised.

Lionel is a volunteer writer on the Faith Communications team. Thirty years a student, twenty years an educator, and a lifetime of learning... from the Master Teacher.

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DEEPER IN CHRIST

GETTING TO KNOW REV CHAN MEI MING Our New Pastor At Faith. By Esther Teo

Faith welcomed two new pastors in January 2021, one of whom was Rev Chan Mei Ming, who has served in full-time ministry for nearly 20 years.

Faithlink caught up with her to find out more about her life and influences.

Q A

Tell us about your call to full-time ministry.

Back then, if someone had told me I would become a pastor, I would have told them they were barking up the wrong tree! [laughs] Actually, I am a nurse, by training, and was bonded to and working at the Singapore General Hospital. During this time, I was accorded no-pay-leave to study for my nursing degree in Australia. It was during the time in Australia that I sensed the Lord’s call to fulltime ministry.

Eager to fulfil the call and feeling led to be a missionary, I contemplated breaking my bond with SGH. However, the Lord impressed upon me to complete my bond with SGH, teaching me that a person’s word is his honour. Slightly dampened but not discouraged, I submitted to His plan and more than completed my bond as a nurse.

Now, bond-free, I thought the time had come to begin serving as a missionary! However, the Lord next impressed upon me to go for theological studies. Even though I thought I did not need a theological degree to do mission work, the time in Seminary was meant to be quality time spent with Him. Reluctantly, I obeyed.

Nearing the end of my 3-year Master of Divinity studies, I thought the time must finally have

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11 come for mission work to begin! But as I prayed about it, I sensed the Lord directing me to stay on at the International Baptist Church Singapore (IBCS) and understudy the pastor to learn about pastoral ministry.

Frustrated, I learned from the Lord that the first call God places on the life of a person is the call to be His child; and the second is to go wherever He appoints. After graduating from the Baptist Theological Seminary, the opportunity arose for me to become the Minister of Cell Groups at IBCS, where I had worshipped and served for years.

Q A

Why the switch from Baptist to Methodist? [laughs] Everyone seems so curious about this! I feel that some distinctives of the Methodist Church are helpful in church ministry, and also resonate with me on a personal level.

Connectionalism, for example, where Methodists are interconnected and these connections are built into the church structure at the various levels.

Baptist churches very much function independently, with their highest point of authority being their Senior/ Lead Pastor and Board/ Council. Connection with other Baptist churches is voluntary, and each local church is self-governing.

I believe that as much as churches should function

autonomously on a dayto-day basis, there should also be connectedness and camaraderie in ministry for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom.

I eventually applied for a “transfer of ordination”, whilst serving at Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church as Pastoral Team Member.

The Methodist Church in Singapore recognized my Baptist Ordination Credentials as of 1 August 2020.

I are God’s beloved, let’s be secure in that!

Q A

Q A

Who is God to you?

That is a good question! God is not just a transcendent and immanent being who lives out there, but He is my Heavenly Father, and my identity is found in the fact that I am His child. We all say we know that we are God’s children, but often this may not go beyond head-knowledge.

I discovered in the reading of The Return Of The Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen that I am not only God’s child, but also His beloved; He loves me as much as He loves His Son, Jesus. That realization was life-changing for me, and allowed me to rest securely in Him, having “nothing to prove, nothing to lose, and nothing to hide”.

When we know, experientially and personally we are God’s beloved, we can rest securely in our Heavenly Father’s love no matter what happens, and seek God’s approval and not the approval of man. You and

Share with us the strong influences in your life and ministry.

Pastor Edmund Chan and his wife, Pastor Anne Chan, whose mentoring group I have been in for over 14 years, have been major influences in my life. One of the things I learnt from Pastor Edmund is this – “Discover the truth; Apply the truth; Reap the benefits; and Pass it on”.

Too often we discover the truth then immediately pass it on, failing to first apply it to our own lives. Not having experienced the benefits when we obey God’s Word, it takes away from our authenticity as Christians and in discipling others.

I am also a big advocate of literary mentors! Authors like Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and Bishop Rueben Job have ministered to me deeply through their books. For those who would like to be mentored by Jesus, I seriously recommend you read the Four Gospels – Jesus’ words, life, and ministry are recorded in its pages!

Rev Chan Mei Ming is in the third year of her Minister-On-Trial (MOT) journey. Let’s pray for God’s strength and guidance as she continues to minister to our Faith family and those around her!

Esther is the youngest volunteer writer in the Faith Comms team. She loves to read and is a bright star in the making!

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DEEPER IN CHRIST

QUOTABLE QUOTES BY

g n i M i e M n a Rev Ch The first call of a person’s life is to be a child of God; and the second is to go wherever He appoints. ~ On her calling into full-time ministry

As much as churches should be adaptive to the spaces where they serve, there should also be collectiveness and connectedness with everyone, a communal support in the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. ~ On becoming a Methodist Pastor

God is not just some transcendent imminent being that lives out there, but my Father, and my identity is found in the fact that I am His child. ~ On her identity in God

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FA I T H M C . S G / CA M P

ONE MISSION CHURCH CAMP 2021

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12-13 JUNE ONLINE & IN-PERSON R E G I S T R AT I O N OPENS 18 APRIL FAITHLINK . APRIL 2021

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HEARTBEAT: SMALL GROUPS

ONE MISSION SMALL GROUP CONFERENCE

By Godiva Ysip

The One Mission Small Group Conference (OMSGC) was originally scheduled in July 2020 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed indefinitely.

However, our church life continued even in the midst of this pandemic. After six months of waiting, our One Mission Small Group Conference was held on Friday and Saturday, 22 and 23 January 2021.

The English Plenary was livestreamed via Faith’s YouTube channel on Friday evening. Our Pastor-incharge, Rev Reuben Ng,

and our Small Group Pastor, Rev Peter Koh, shared about discovering and embracing our One Mission. The eight English breakout sessions were conducted on Saturday, and held concurrently with the Mandarin plenary and breakout sessions.

The OMSGC 2021 team of Pastors, Parish Leaders, and Small Group (SG) Committee Members, thanks all participants and volunteers who attended or served at the conference. We are also deeply appreciative to the team of speakers who helmed the various sessions:

Chan Siew Leong, Rev Cheng Kim Leong, Jiamin ChooFong, Wilson Lau, Ruth Lew, Esther Ong, Janice Poh, Anna Tan, Pearly Sim, The Tacklebox (TTB) Youth Leaders: Christiana Chan, Adele Tan, Chloe Ting and Joseph Wong, and Small Groups, Heritage 1 & 2 and River of Life.

Let us continue to partner God as He accomplishes His work through us – His Church – and to those He has placed among us, just around the corner, along the street, and across the regions beyond our borders!

Godiva is a Pastoral Team Member for Small Groups and also oversees Baptism and Membership at Faith.

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New post-OMSGC equipping resources under Small Groups are now available at our church website https://www.faithmc.sg/portal/.

Contact your Parish Leader should you need notes and/or an in-depth equipping session for your Small Group!

Other OMSGC 2021 conference details are available here: https://faithmc.sg/faithlink.

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HEARTBEAT : DISCIPLESHIP & NURTURE

CONVERSATIONS@FAITH:

MENTAL HEALTH

By Khoo Tse Horng

The Discipleship and Nurture Committee (D&N) conducted its second session of the Conversations@Faith* (C@F) series on 29 August 2020.

The focus for the second session was on Mental Health and featured an impressive line-up of speakers who covered a wide range of related topics. Pastor Chua Seng Lee, Deputy Senior Pastor of Bethesda BedokTampines Church, was the plenary speaker.

The workshop speakers included Associate

Professor Leslie Lim who spoke on Mood Disorders, Dr Ken Ung on Creating a Safe Environment, Ms Audrey Yeo on Suicide, Mr Chong Ee Jay on Addiction, and our resident counsellor, Ms Chong Mingli who conducted the Youth workshop.

Below is a conversation between Khoo Tse Horng, Chairman of D&N at Faith and Tammy Ang, Pastoral Team Member (D&N) on the urgency for the topic of mental health for our church.

Tse Horng (TH): Tammy, what were the reasons for having Mental Health as the focus of the second Conversations@Faith series?

people experienced some form of mental disorders (mood, anxiety, addiction, etc) [2].

One in 11 youths is affected by depression.

Tammy Ang (TA): According to statistics, the suicide rate among our youths and elderly is a great concern. There were 400 reported suicide cases in 2019, of which 71 were in their twenties [1]. Based on a study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), one in seven

On top of the common addiction to substances and pornography, there is a rise in cases of cyber addiction. Looking at these statistics, we are aware that there are fellow brothers and sisters at Faith who also struggle with mental health issues. We are called to

[1] [2]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/suicide-sos-samaritans-singapore-youths-aged-20s-12985146 https://www.imh.com.sg/uploadedFiles/Newsroom/News_Releases/SMHS%202016_Media%20Release_FINAL_web%20upload.pdf

Conversations@Faith is a series of talks organised by the Discipleship & Nurture ministry. The aim is to address topics of interest etc… [description will be updated] APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

17 love one another just as our Lord has loved us (John 13:34) and the church should be a safe space for them to talk about it without stigma.

It is therefore imperative that we help to create a safe environment within the church for our members to open up and feel loved and accepted. This allows them to receive healing.

TH: The statistics are indeed a concern. Behind these numbers are individuals suffering, and sadly, many times they remain alone and misunderstood. Furthermore, these individuals have families and loved ones who need the necessary support in knowing how to provide care. So, for our church to be an environment that is safe for everyone, it has to start with us. We need to be a safe space for those who are struggling, and for those who need to feel safe when they are vulnerable.

What was one thing at this C@F session on Mental Health that resonated with you?

TA: Pastor Seng Lee emphasised that “our mental illness doesn’t define us; God defines us”. It was extremely liberating and comforting to be reminded that not even our mental state should define who we are. Our identities rest in God alone!

The other point that was comforting was the emphasis on those who were journeying with persons struggling with mental illness,

that they not to be sinfocused, or think of it as a spiritual/moral failure. Instead, it should be person-focused, helping the person to see God’s grace and hope. This is more than just telling them that you would pray for them or simply quote Bible verses.

Being person-focused means investing lots of time for them to be assured of our care, our presence and our attention.

Knowing they are being prayed for and receiving Bible verses are encouraging but only when it is being shared in the context of a caring and authentic relationship.

TH: Indeed, while we all have good intentions, we need to be sensitive in how we journey with someone who is hurting. One disturbing point I learnt was that even pastors don’t feel safe sharing their mental health struggles.

It indicates that the church is really not a very safe environment to be vulnerable for church leaders.

In one study by a Christian group, only 65% of church leaders surveyed felt that the church was a safe place to talk about mental health issues. Even more concerning is that only 28% of church staff felt equipped to help someone with mental health issues.

Tammy, I understand you had experienced depression before. Would you like to share with us your experience?

TA: Unknown to many, I had depression since I was

young. I have not known life without depression until the last few years. I hide it very well, as many who struggle with mental health issues often do. Most would not suspect I was depressive unless they were closer to me since I generally function well at work. “Difficult” is an understatement to describe that period of my life. It was not easy to open up about my depression in church. I have been on the receiving end of clichéd responses such as “I will pray for you,” “you need to trust God more,” or “don’t let the devil take away your joy.” They were well-meaning, but these responses actually shut me up.

Being a church staff made it tougher as there was apprehension and anxiety over my colleagues, leaders and pastors’ response, not to mention how the members would think. Should someone with mental health issues work in the church? I was and still am every bit as competent as anyone of them and would not want them to give me concession on their expectations on my work. I did not want to be made to feel like a liability because they thought I was “siao” (insane) or that I was using it as an excuse. I have felt very misunderstood and decided to hide it even more.

Suppressing it definitely did not help the condition.

TH: Thanks for opening up and being vulnerable, Tammy. I must confess that being a co-labourer with you

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HEARTBEAT : DISCIPLESHIP & NURTURE

in D&N for so many years, I did not have any clue that you had depression or even asked enough about your state of mental wellbeing. It is so important that we take time to do that for one another, since, as a church, we are called to love one another. I truly believe that loving one another requires not just goodwill but knowledge, skill, and time.

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Could you share with us how we can better love and care for those among us with mental health issues? What would be useful for members in the Small Groups to take note of?

TA: The culture of capitalistic productivity has influenced the church so greatly that we compromise on human relationships, even in church sometimes. When someone gets physically wounded, we would not tell the person to ignore the pain and not think about it., would we? So why would we tell someone who is struggling with emotional pain to ignore the pain and expect that they would feel better by just not thinking about it?

Here are some suggestions (from personal and others’ experiences) that would be helpful: •

Listen with your heart.

When someone shares deeply and openly, it means that the person is trying to trust you.

Listening with your heart means listening in order to understand their emotions, worries, and beliefs.

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Accept them as they are, connect with the person, and feel the pain with the person. When the person feels you are there, it really helps the person to carry the “load”. By feeling their pain, trust is built and when the time is right, the person would be more receptive to seeking help.

Phrases such as “I understand” are not helpful because one will not be able to fully understand what the other person is going through; and that is ok.

So try to avoid using this phrase.

Do not be in a hurry to offer solutions, quote Bible verses, or try to fix the person. You may not be able to do anything practical for the person in that moment.

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Never put ourselves on a pedestal – as if we know everything.

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Do not trivialise their experiences by saying statements like “never mind, everyone goes through it,” “it will be okay,” “just pray la” or “all families are dysfunctional.” While it may be helpful to normalise the situation, such statements mostly trivialise the experiences of the one suffering from depression.

It is perfectly fine to let the person know you have no words to offer, or to

listen in silence. We have to resist offering answers, comments, or our thoughts.

All we should attempt to do is to empathize with the person, and acknowledge the agonising pain that they are experiencing.

What would be very helpful is to offer an open channel and just be with them. Educate yourself. Learn all you can about the person’s condition.

Sign up for a course. Learn basic listening skills.

TH: These are indeed very useful tips and reminders. I do believe the sense of purpose or mission is important for a person. Our purpose energises us. In your opinion, can a person with mental health issues still serve God? TA: Definitely! I believe all of us can serve unless the person’s condition is debilitating or unstable.

Otherwise, allowing the person (if the person is willing and able) to serve, can facilitate the healing process.

But each person will differ in the capacity or the roles they serve in. The church should recognise that these persons with mental health issues, are serving even in their brokenness. Yet despite their challenging state, they can still offer their gifts and strengths to bless the church and others.

There is a need for honest conversations and patience to journey with the person who is struggling and who has already expressed an

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interest to serve. It may help to ask the person if the work or ministry is within their capacity to manage.

Ministry leaders should not decide for that person unilaterally. Honesty and authenticity builds trust. Open conversations on how we could support each other while serving together will help each person grow and gain confidence. We need to be sensitive when serving alongside persons with mental health issues. Look out for signs and understand when they need time out.

TH: That is very assuring. I remember reading the late Henri Nouwen, who had been through depression, who wrote, “The main question is not how can we hide our wounds… but how can we put our woundedness in service to others”. Could you give a shoutout to those who are struggling with mental health issues?

TA: To my fellow brothers and sisters, there is hope in the condition and in the struggle you face. Even when healing is not complete or does not come quickly, the Lord will find ways to bring comfort and healing to us. Take the first step to talk to someone you trust, and seek help; there is no shame in that!

More importantly, do not journey alone. Ask God to lead you to the right person if the first person you reached out to is not receptive. This may be the thorn that we need to live with but God’s presence is with us, and our Hope is in the God who cares for us. Recognise that the journey for each one of us is different, but don’t give up as we make sense of our situation.

TH: Thanks, Tammy. That is encouraging. How about a shoutout to those who are journeying with their loved ones and friends?

TA: Yes, certainly. To those who are helping a loved one, it is a tough journey. Do not give up, even if it may feel like three steps forward and two steps back at times. You are important to them. But please protect and take care of yourself by not doing this alone as well. It is important to be aware of your own state of wellbeing. Seek support in your journey.

TH: Thank you, Tammy!

To the rest of our Faith family, D&N will continue to provide conversations and equipping opportunities to help us be faithful disciples of Christ, in loving and caring for each other.

With a strong culture of care and trust, we will be more able to help one another grow in Christ. You are welcome to write to me (tsehorng@gmail.com) with ideas!

Tse Horng has been blessed by the ministry of Faith’s people and his Small Group, Barnabas, since 1982. He attends the 11.15am service with his wife, Bee Leng, and his children are in the church’s children and youth ministries. He is a Principal of a mission school and serves as the Chairman of Nurture and Discipleship at Faith. He hopes to receive comments at tsehorng@gmail.com.

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HEARTBEAT : FAMILY LIFE

THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERHOOD Family Life reports on The World Needs a Father which was conducted online. By John Woon In November 2020, 15 fathers from Faith Methodist Church attended the TWNAF (The World Needs A Father) online course. The sessions were led

by Cassie Carsten and was held over four consecutive weeks.

There were a total of 330 participants from 14 countries.

The World Needs A Father is a worldwide movement to help fathers bring heaven into their homes. We covered fourteen modules in total on topics such as, fatherlessness and the cry of the children, every season counts, and the father’s wound.

A FATHER’S WOUNDS • How successful we father our children depends on how successful we manage to nurse our wounds.

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Fatherlessness And The Cry Of Our Children Most people may assume that the role of a father is not that difficult a task: He is required to work hard to provide funds for the family, strengthen bonding by going for tours as a family during school holidays, nurture children’s spirituality by sending them to Sunday School classes, and support their learning by signing up for enrichment classes.

This was what most participants thought until

heaven home to our families.

• The sins of our parents sowed years ago may have created predispositions, but it need not create our destination.

• Whatever the wound is, we must own it, and we must forgive that person, and we

we were presented with a thought-provoking view: In fulfilling those aforementioned responsibilities, we were not building a Christian home which focuses on worship and prayer as a family; we were instead building a “secular” home that focuses on studies and successes, and in where Christians live.

Upon reflection, we had indeed “outsourced” the spiritual development of our children to the church.

We had failed to be spiritual fathers in our family, and this results in the cry of many of our children today.

Transforming the Home The good news is that the Bible has the power to transform our homes. We can bring heaven home, but unless we (fathers) change, nothing will change. We cannot transform a secular home to a Christian home

must step into inner victory.

(Matthew 18:22) Nursing a wound is not easy and fathers often fail to address their wounds because they are fighting alone.

Therefore, it is important to be accountable in a community of like-minded fathers because we need to practise biblical principles together.

HEARTBEAT : FAMILY LIFE

unless we are transformed by the Holy Spirit first.

When we are immersed in the Holy Spirit, we will then begin to realise God in us, and progressively God with us, and eventually us in God. Only then can we release the Spirit of God in us to our family and to the world. In this way, we become the light of the world, a city that is not hidden, giving light to everyone in the house (Matthew 5:14).

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EVERY SEASON COUNTS Did you know that there is actually an “SOP” in fathering a child? Here’s what participants learnt during one session:

During this session, a participant from Faith commented that he wished someone had told him this earlier because his child had already grown up and he (1) Making a mother happy had missed many windows during conception of opportunity. However, phase promotes faster participants also realised growth of the baby. that there are teachable moments at every stage of our (2) The first thousand days children’s lives. When these of a baby’s life is key to opportunities present developing his or her themselves, fathers must brain potential. be prepared to provide good support to their (3) Preschool days is the children because they phase where a child are the key develops either to laying autonomy or a strong uncertainty. foundation in them.

(4) Children explore their identity and sexuality when they are in primary school.

John is a member of the Family Life Committee at Faith Methodist Church.

MOVING AHEAD: THE DEEP DIVE SESSIONS Indeed, two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV)

A group of 13 Faith Methodist Church fathers have committed to gather every fourth Saturday of the month in 2021 to help conduct The World Needs a Father Deep Dive Series. We are privileged and thankful to partner with Pasir Ris Mission Church which will be leading this programme. The purpose for this monthly gathering is to journey together in a fathers’ community and to encourage one another to apply the truths we have learnt into our daily lives.

We invite you to join us as we aspire to bring heaven into our homes.

For more info on Family Life ministry, contact Wendy Voon at 6471-9420.

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THE WORLD NEEDS A FATHER DEEP DIVE SERIES: OVERCOMING PORN

By John Woon

What can fathers do to confront the negative impacts of fatherlessness caused by negative impact of the porn pandemic?

What safeguards can we have in the home?

These were some of the questions being discussed during our Zoom focus group discussion on 27 February as part of The World Needs a Father Deep Dive Series.

Pornography addiction can seriously damage relationships and take precedence over important functions and responsibilities in our lives. If we have a porn

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addiction, the behaviour is compulsive. With porn addiction, we spend an inordinate amount of time watching porn instead of interacting with others or completing important tasks.

The consequence is failure and guilt.

How do we know that we are addicted to pornography?

Here are some signs: • Craving to watch porn • Failed attempt to cut down or control watching porn • Failure to complete major tasks at work, church, school, home • Having social problems because of porn

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The Lure of Porn

Why is pornography addictive? Pornography is incognito and it offers us a desirable fantasy world where we can be worshipped like God, with sexual relationships that do not reject us. Instead, it gives an illusion of perfect intimacy. Porn offers us an escape away from a world of failure and into a world where no judgement exists.

During the focus group discussion, we attempted to answer two related questions: How should we respond to porn addiction as a church, and secondly, what safeguards can we put in place for our children to protect them against porn?

One of the safeguards that we can set up in our home is for fathers [and mothers] to set a godly example. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for adults to do nothing. We believe that there is no easy solution, it takes a lot of accountability, and if we are willing to submit to God, we believe the Holy Spirit will work in us. And if we are willing to be open to our spouse, we believe our spouse will go through this together with us. Remember, no wound is so deep as to be out of the reach of Christ’s redeeming grace.

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Battling Porn

Colossians 3:5 (NLT) So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

The following are some suggested solutions that we can introduce in our homes to protect our children and help them overcome the addiction of porn.

Here is a systematic approach: First, we should recognise the triggers, and

set in place a system of accountability. Second, we can replace the time-alone moments where porn might be watched, and replace it with some other positive habits. And finally, we should educate our children (and us) to run from unhelpful situations, and remove all things that might trap us.

(Refer to the chart above for more information.)

In closing, I find this song “We Fall Down” by Bob Carlisle, especially meaningful as I remember the families who are tackling this challenging issue in their homes and in our journey of faith:

Cursing every step of the way, he bore a heavy load To the market ten miles away, the journey took its toll And every day he passed a monastery’s high cathedral walls And it made his life seem meaningless and small And he wondered how it would be to live in such a place To be warm, well fed and at peace, to shut the world away

So when he saw a priest who walked, for once, beyond the iron gate He said, “tell me of your life inside the place” And the priest replied We fall down, we get up We fall down, we get up We fall down, we get up And the saints are just the sinners Who fall down and get up Disappointment followed him home, he’d hoped for so much more But he saw himself in a light he had never seen before

‘Cause if the priest who fell could find the Grace of God to be enough Then there must be some hope for the rest of us There must be some hope left for us We fall down, we get up We fall down, we get up We fall down, we get up And the saints are just the sinners Who fall down and get up

If you are trying to overcome addiction to porn or you need some help with your child, we invite you to contact Lionel Chan from Family Life at 9642-2512.

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HEARTBEAT : MANDARIN MINISTRY

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EVERLASTING BLESSINGS AND PEACE Our Mandarin Ministry celebrates the Lunar New Year with an evangelistic Service.

By Claire Yeh

Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is undoubtedly the most important event in the Chinese calendar, and is traditionally celebrated by Chinese all over the world.

Chinese New Year in 2021 was very different for those celebrating in Singapore due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There were many restrictive measures like social distancing

and limitation of people allowed in gatherings.

Despite these restrictions, our Mandarin Ministry Committee prayed and decided to continue with our annual Chinese New Year Harvest Service on Sunday, 14 February 2021.

was successful. We had a total of 158 attendees, including volunteers who served at the event. Our invited speaker, Reverend Sophia Tan preached powerfully on “Everlasting Blessings and Peace” based on Job 22:21.

All glory be to God, our application to hold the event with a maximum capacity of 250 attendees

We rejoice and give all glory to our Lord Jesus for one salvation case. To Him be all glory and praise!

Claire is the Assistant Pastoral Team Member for the Mandarin Ministry and Outreach and Social Concerns Ministry.

年年纳福，岁岁平安 供稿人：叶冯清颜

华人新年，又称春节，无疑是 农历中最重要的日子，是全球 华人普天同庆的传统节日。 由于冠状病毒大流行，2021 年的农历新年与往年大不相 同。我国实施了各种安全措 施，如安全社交距离与限制 聚会人数。

尽管如此，我们的华语事工委 员会在祷告后，决定在2021年 2月14日按原定计划举行我们 的年度农历新年布道会。

我们的特邀讲者，陈鸾卿牧 师，以约伯记22:21和主题「 年年纳福，岁岁平安」，有力 地证道。

我们成功申请到举办250人的 活动许可，荣耀归于上帝。我 们为当天出席的158名会众与 志工感谢上帝。

我们为一位朋友得救恩欢喜， 一切荣耀归于我们的主耶稣！ 清颜是华语/外展与社区关怀事工的助理教牧同工。 愿一切荣耀和赞美归于祂！

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HEARTBEAT : MISSIONS

SERVING WITH L VE A Digital Mission Trip to Shwepyithar, Myanmar. By Janice Lim

Serving with Love”, as well as home visitations.

Planning a Virtual Mission Trip

For most of us, the year 2020 has been a year like no other.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about massive changes to the way we live, work, study, socialise, attend church and travel. However, even though it brought numerous businesses and activities to a standstill, our Sovereign God has continually shown that He reigns, His work never stops and His Word is not chained.

It is indeed by God’s generous provision that we, together with our partners in Myanmar,

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were able to conduct our first ever Virtual Mission Trip for the children’s home in Shwepyithar, Myanmar via Zoom on 26-27 December 2020. COVID-19 may have hindered us from travelling to meet our Myanmar friends in person for the year, but God gave us the technology, manpower, expertise and equipment to share His Word and love with the children and youths in the various homes.

In keeping up with our previous Acts 1:8 trips, this virtual trip included a Bible camp with the theme, “Meeting God Face to Face –

In early October, the team leaders and our missions ministry volunteers met over Zoom to plan the programme, with much thought being given to how we could overcome the constraints posed by a virtual setting. Hence, we planned the programmes such that they were creative, could promote engagement and interaction over Zoom, and prepared Bible lessons that our young Myanmarese friends could relate to.

We were also mindful of logistical challenges, including the observance of safe distancing measures in both Singapore and Myanmar. We had to ensure that the five orphanages had Wifi network connection with sufficient

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bandwidth and adequate IT equipment to provide optimal participation for over 100 children and youths. We also made contingency plans in case of power outage (which is not uncommon) at the orphanages.

Finally, we arranged to have IT enablers and translators who could provide support before and during the 2-day event.

With the above considerations in mind, the team decided to pre-record various segments of the Bible camp: Bible lessons, worship, and skits. We played the recorded videos that came with simultaneous translation during the event itself. This meant more systematic preparatory work was required of the organisers, orphanage home leaders and volunteers from both countries.

Spreading God’s Love By the grace of our generous God, this virtual mission trip is

now our testimony that with God, all things are possible!

understanding of loving God through their actions.

After weeks of meetings, preparation, synchronized prayer sessions and rehearsals, the big day finally arrived. Besides the participants from the five homes, we had 21 volunteers (20 in Singapore and 1 from Canada) calling in on Zoom with much anticipation. The program started promptly at 10am Singapore time (8:30am in Myanmar).

“Visiting” Singapore from Myanmar

What followed was a full day of Bible lessons on the theme of God’s Love, shared by several Singapore volunteers via video or Zoom. The Myanmese children also recapped their learning points and shared with us their takeaways. It was heartening to hear many of them share about their deeper

The highlight on the second day of the virtual trip was a video called “All About Singapore”, a compilation of short videos contributed by our Singapore volunteers and slickly stitched together by one of our ministry volunteers, Zhimin. This 10-minute video was meant to bring the Myanmese children on a virtual trip to Singapore and see what our day-to-day life is like.

The children had the chance to view Singapore’s places of interest, schools, wet markets, hawker centres, parks, Faith Methodist Church, how we commute, where we exercise and pursue our hobbies. The

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HEARTBEAT : MISSIONS

media team also worked really hard to put together a summary video of the activities from Day 1, showcasing the children’s happy faces and their craft works.

We are indeed thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve with love and to connect with our Myanmese field partners despite the challenges of 2020!

Here are some reflections from the participants of the two-day virtual trip:

After watching the videos, we proceeded to our virtual home visitations by going into breakout groups with the five orphanages. During the breakout sessions, we managed to improvise familiar activities which we would usually conduct during our actual trips, such as, song performances by the children and games. We also had a dialogue session where the children shared their reflections, testimonies and thanksgiving.

I have found this year’s Bible lesson, craftwork and home visit held over Zoom really helpful.

The children could experience and apply the lessons learnt in practical and spiritual ways.

Reaping in Joy

Cherry, 14-year-old girl from Makarios Home

It was a joy hearing so many thanking God for His protection and granting them the opportunity to delve deeper into His Word or spend time with their families during the lockdown. On the other hand, some also shared how they felt isolated and bored when schools were closed for most of 2020.

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Pastor Kyaw San, Orphanage leader of FCC

The most important lesson God has taught me is to love God with all my heart.

I learnt to love others even though we are not physically present with them.

The most important lesson God has taught me is, if we have the skills and knowledge to help others, it is useless without love. So even if we have no wealth, we still have the strength to act on the basis of love to help others.

Cherry, 16-year-old girl from FCC

Be intentional in serving God when doors open for us to serve, especially giving away our time.

Jessie, regular Acts 1:8 tripper

Lee Lian, regular Acts 1:8 tripper Janice is a regular Acts 1:8 tripper to Shwepyithar, Myanmar. She is part of Grace Vision Small Group and enjoys travelling and reading.

HEARTBEAT : MISSIONS

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A DIFFERENT Christmas Celebration

By Brenda Tang

With the sudden uncertainty of life in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, online missions became the new way of outreach. With borders shut and leisure air travel coming to a halt, we had to adapt to the situation and find creative solutions to continue to reach out to and minster to the children in Nujiang village, Myanmar. However, challenges arose with the limited network infrastructure in the Nujiang village.

Each December over the past few years, the Tacklebox (TTB) ministry has been spreading the Christmas joy and reaching out to the children through activities such as carolling and a concert for the village children. Despite the physical restrictions, different resources were tapped on last year to continue spreading the Christmas joy and message to the children.

The 2020 Tacklebox Year 4 leaders came together to record a Christmas message through video on Zoom. The message of God’s love and encouragement for the children to continue being the salt and light of the world was sent in parts via Facebook Messenger to the teaching leaders in the centre.

In addition, gift packs containing notebooks filled with written words of encouragement to each child were couriered to one of the teaching leader’s house in Lashio. The teaching leaders then brought the video to the children’s houses to reach out to the families while waiting for the gifts to arrive in Lashio.

The COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure challenges did not stop the youths from reaching out to the children in Nujiang.

Even more with the ongoing pandemic, we wanted to spread the festive cheer to the children. Even though we could not celebrate the festive season in person, we connected in spirit.

We thank the Lord for the opportunity to continue reaching out and connecting with the children in Nujiang.

Brenda is part of Echadh Small Group and serves in the Missions Committee. She enjoys engaging the youth to explore mission fields locally and globally.

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A DIFFERENT

Christmas Celebration

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BRINGING CNY CHEER TO OUR MISSION WORKERS

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By Jimaia Wong

Every year, the Missions Committee would visit our local and overseas mission workers (those who are back from the fields) during the Chinese New Year period. It is a good opportunity to catch up with them and also with their families.

In 2021, despite the COVID-19 restrictions, we went ahead with the visits. Instead of home visits, we changed it to “gate-stop” visits. The committee members had a chance to chit-chat with the mission workers at their gate and also to pray a prayer of blessing for them and their families. Here are some the photos of the visits…

Jimaia is the pastoral team member for missions. She is part of Agape Amigos Small Group and she enjoys drinking strong coffee and hearing stories from the mission fields.

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ONE JAM CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

SUN JAM PLAYSHOP On 15 and 16 March, our young children from Faith Methodist Preschool and SUN JAM learnt what it means to be a superhero! Through the story of David and Goliath, they discovered that God gives all of us the power to be strong and courageous. With God on our side, we can all be brave heroes for Him!

By Cindy Ho-Caperig Cindy Ho is the Assistant Pastoral Team Member for ONE JAM, Faith’s ministry to children.

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HEARTBEAT : PRAYER

A Father’s Heart’s Cry

By Janice Ong

Where are you, My daughter?

Where are you, My son?

I have so much to tell you… about YOU! I knew you before you were born I ordained all the days of your life For your best welfare and not for any harm I love you and you are so very precious to Me I am always with you and truly all that I have is yours There are so many more promises I have for you Would you listen please?

Where are you, My daughter?

Where are you, My son?

I have so much to tell you… about what you CARE ABOUT! I care about what concerns you I care about what affects you Simply because you are Mine!

Do you believe that I care for you?

Do you believe that I can and will provide all your needs?

Would you believe that I have so much more to give to you – beyond what you see?

Would you pause and listen to Me, please?

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Let us gather together physically to hear and pray our Father’s Heart at

CORPORATE HOUSE OF PRAYER! Where are you, My daughter?

Where are you, My son?

I have so much to tell you about Me! I am the Sovereign Almighty God And I am your perfect loving Abba Father in Christ Jesus, your Saviour King Would you behold Me so, My dear children, whom I long to gather under my Wing?

I miss your presence I miss your smile I am yearning for your heart Would you please come to Me?

Where are you, My sons and daughters?

Where are you, My dearly beloved children?

I have so much to tell you a bout what I care about!

Join us at 7.30pm in the Worship Hall, Level 4 on these dates:

28 April 30 June 25 August

29 September 24 November

Pre-arrange to sit with friends in the SAME ZONE. Note: All precautionary measures established by relevant authorities regarding the pandemic will be complied.

I care about My Creation – the world and all who live in it I long for people to believe in Jesus, My only begotten Son My heart aches in grief when they turn away and run Would you care for what I care about?

I am looking to and fro For those who would love Me and honour Me so Would you please come?

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TRUSTING GOD IN TOUGH TIMES A testimony of God’s goodness in the midst of a raging pandemic.

By Mark Tan

During the circuit breaker which started on 7 April 2020 until the end of June 2020, I was enjoying my life because I had a job to go back to after the circuit breaker. I was confident that I would not be out of job because of my good performance at my workplace.

I did not know the seriousness of COVID-19 that hit Singapore and the whole world, and hence, I was unfazed by talks about retrenchment until … I was removed from my work group chat on 15 July 2020 at midnight! It had been two weeks since I returned to work.

I realized something was wrong and could not sleep that night. Philippians 4:5-7 came to me and I decided to pray as I was indeed worried.

Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV)

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by

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prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Facing Retrenchment On 15 July 2020 I went to work feeling uneasy. My fears were founded – I was retrenched. I was shocked.

I could not accept the news. But God already knew about my retrenchment and ministered to me that night through Ecclesiastes 8:17 and Proverbs 3:5-6.

Ecclesiastes 8:17 (ICB)

I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can understand what God does here on earth. No matter how hard a person tries to understand it, he cannot. Even if a wise man says he understands, he really cannot. No one at all can really understand it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Through these Scripture verses, God was assuring me that He was in control over my retrenchment and that He had all the answers to the situation, including the timing of His plans. God was also convicting me that I would never find the answers I wanted by trying to figure things out on my own. Hence, I simply needed to trust God to lead me according to His plan and timing. He also encouraged me through two Christians songs, “Trust His Heart” by Babbie Manson and “God Makes No Mistakes” by The Wilds.

Knowing God and being convicted by His Word is one thing. Living out God’s Word by fully trusting Him is another! I found myself

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discouraged and disappointed from the slow or no replies from the various companies I sent my job applications to. I thus attempted to sign up for courses and considered being a volunteer in social work for a possible switch in career, but there were no openings.

A Job Offer!

Although I wavered in my trust in God despite my prior conviction that He is in control and holds the answer to my situation, God was so gracious and faithful towards me! He patiently guided me to grasp that only He could fight this battle for me – if I was willing to surrender my battle to Him. It was a difficult decision to make because it meant giving God full control, and I am to let go of all control when my desire to be in control remained very strong.

So, on 23 August 2020, I gave all my control to God on my way to a job interview which I was not completely prepared for. I prayed to God saying, “I am tired of fighting this battle alone. Will You be with me to fight this battle? Will You help me in this interview by helping me reply with the right answers and granting me Your peace?” After the interview I felt a sense of satisfaction and assurance that whatever the outcome was, God was in full control.

On 28 August 2020, I received the job offer to start work on 1 September 2020 which was very surprising because it was not easy to get a job that was related to my industry. God truly provides according to His plan and timing, and it is for me to learn to trust and depend on Him. In fact, God provided for me more than I could have imagined!

Although it was a part-time job, the work hours and income were stable and sufficient enough for me to sustain my daily needs.

I now know first-hand and personally, that as I surrender my struggles or circumstances to God wholeheartedly, God will give His peace and assurance that He is with me, and He will carry me through the storm.

Mark is a young adult in his 20s and works in the tourism industry. He is a member of Wombats SG.

In God’s Perfect Timing During this one month, I have learnt that I have no control over my job and my career but God knows what is best for me and will provide according to His plan and timing – not mine. Hence, I must have the faith to see how God works by praying and meditating on His Word, and by putting into action His Word in my circumstances.

I am thankful that through this experience, although it is one that no one wishes to go through, I have come to realize how important it is to read the Word of God every day and to memorise Scripture.

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HEARTBEAT : LANGUAGE MINISTRIES

REGATHERING FOR WORSHIP

By Esther Ong

Since the Circuit Breaker in April 2020, the Faith Indonesian Ministry has had to move its ministry gathering online every Sunday evening.

During Phase 2, a few of us started meeting informally at a food court and we prayed about when we could restart our meetings in church.

Finally, with the support of the church, and in compliance with safety measures, our Indonesian ministry resumed onsite meetings in January 2021.

Today, the Indonesian fellowship meets on site every second and fourth Sunday of the month.

We have also decided to keep the online fellowship meetings at 9pm every first and third Sunday of the month, so that those who have gone back to Indonesia, can still join us for discipleship and prayer support.

Hear some comments from our members who have regathered to worship…

After a long break due to the pandemic, I am so glad to be able to worship with my Indonesian friends in church physically. It is a relief as worshipping alone at home is a totally different experience. ~ Elizabeth Chia, Volunteer Mentor

Even though now we have to register beforehand, wear our masks, keep our distance from one another, and have limited time together, I feel happy to gather once again with our mentors and friends in Christ! ~ Yorika, Indonesian SG Leader

For more information about the Faith Indonesian ministry, kindly contact Esther at estherong11@gmail.com.

Esther is the Chairperson of the Indonesian Ministry at Faith Methodist Church.

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HEARTBEAT : LANGUAGE MINISTRIES

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BACK TO WORSHIPPING ONSITE AND LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD

By Ara Teo

On 17 January 2021, the Filipino Fellowship resumed their Sunday gatherings back in Faith Methodist Church after 10 long months. Complying with restrictions imposed by the local authorities, a small and vibrant group of 12 to 25 Filipino members come each week to worship the Lord and hear the Word of God. Right now, one of our Faith pastors will preach the Word on the first Sunday of the month, with subsequent Sundays being given to reading and further reflection of the Scriptures; led by one member each time.

We asked some of our members to share their thoughts after coming back to church...

It’s a BIG difference to worship in church!

Coming to church lifts me up and I am always so hungry to listen to the sermon. I am grateful that I am able to worship together with friends again because I miss leading worship and my Usher duties in the English service. I also miss giving hugs to my friends when they are down because I want to make them feel better.” ~ Jerry Lyn Bulahan What I miss the most is serving as an Usher to God’s people, the praise and worship, and singing together with other believers in the Filipino Ministry.” ~ Marilyn Gomez Baquiran

I’m so delighted that we are able to fellowship with one another again!

What I missed the most is leading God’s people in praising and worshipping Him.” ~ Elvie Rivad Well pleased and joyful to be back! I miss the live onsite praise and worship and seeing one another and the genuine laughter I share with my friends.” ~ Jocelyn Lovedioro I am so glad to be back for physical worship of our Almighty God in Faith Methodist Church! We can dance with the melody of the worship songs, which is so different from a livestream service. This is because the presence of God is in the midst of us.” ~ Joena Oculam Ponce Ara is the Chairperson of the Filipino Fellowship.

She is devoted in loving the Lord and serving Him at Faith’s Filipino Fellowship.

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2022 PEOPLE OF FAITH : FAITHACTS

Admissions Registration now open

Categories

Registration Opens

Children whose older siblings are presently or previously in Methodist Preschools.

Mon 1 March 2021

Children whose parents are members of Methodist churches.

Tue 2 March 2021

Public / Others

Wed 3 March 2021

Pre-Nursery Nursery Kindergarten One Kindergarten Two

– – – –

Children born in 2019 Children born in 2018 Children born in 2017 Children born in 2016

PLEASE REGISTER before the public phase starts as vacancies are limited especially for the 1st session in the morning.

Register Now! Bedok Methodist Preschool 64458048 Enquiry.bmp@methodistpreschools.org 86 Bedok Road, Singapore 469371

Foochow Methodist Preschool 62942516 Enquiry.fcmp@methodistpreschools.org 90 Race Course Road, Singapore 218577

Toa Payoh Methodist Preschool 63532651 Enquiry.tpmp@methodistpreschools.org 480 Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319641

Faith Methodist Preschool 64795409 Enquiry.fmp@methodistpreschools.org 400 Commonwealth Drive, Level 2, Singapore 149604

Sengkang Methodist Preschool 63853041 Enquiry.skmp@methodistpreschools.org 31 Anchorvale Road, Singapore 545056

Methodist Preschools

...where your child grows.

APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

PEOPLE OF FAITH : FAITHACTS

KidsLEAP CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME

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By Stella Seah

Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6 The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transformation of our training from physical to online platforms. We are privileged to be featured in the National Council of Social Services (2nd Edition) of “Beyond Covid-19 Guide for Social Service Agencies Singapore (SSAs)”.

Below is the extract from Chapter 5: Engaging Service Users.

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PEOPLE OF FAITH : FAITHACTS

A WORD FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS Now that we are in Phase 3, we are slowly incorporating face-to-face teaching in the programme. We are thankful to all our volunteers who coach our kids in the KidsLEAP Programme and are glad to share their experiences with us.

KidsLEAP Volunteer: CHENG “I have been a volunteer with FaithActs since late 2019. Previously I was volunteering at another programme called Early Learning Programme Plus (ELP+) before switching to the Reading Programme in early 2020. During COVID-19, the programme had to take a break but I’m really glad that for 2021, we are able to return to have the session with the children.

“The sessions are always enjoyable and to me, it’s a time well spent knowing that I’m helping the children in what they need help in. We would go through some reading and writing with the children and it’s really relaxed since the structure is quite flexible. The child assigned to me is very energetic and while I talk to him, I try to see where he might need help in reading, for example, understanding the plot of the story, or words that he has trouble pronouncing and their meaning.

There are even times when we digress and do some mathematics. Basically, I try to help whenever I can.

“Besides doing some reading with my assigned child, I try to see what he is learning in school to engage him and talk to him.

From there I get to hear all the stories that he would like to share with me and you can see his confidence beyond his writing abilities. It brings me such joy to hear from the children and sometimes their stories can really be quite funny!

“Volunteering at KidsLEAP Reading has been very meaningful to me. The lessons are now on a one-to-one basis so we have much better interaction with the children and it allows us to know their individual strengths and weaknesses. After weeks of engagement and seeing that the child is making effort to improve, it really gives me a sense of satisfaction.

“Seeing the children getting comfortable and opening up to me in the process is really quite heartening for me as well. I remember there was a girl who was really quiet and she seemed quite unhappy from my first impression of her. But after a few sessions, we saw her smile and it was so rewarding.

It made me realize that sometimes these children just need a bit of encouragement and they can blossom slowly.

“Personally, beyond the interaction with the children, I have enjoyed interacting with the other volunteers in the programme as we have so much fun with each other. Even though we only see each other for a short period before and after the programme, we bond well. The staff has been really friendly and involved as well and they always keep us updated on what the other children and volunteers have done in their sessions. The overall atmosphere is really friendly and it makes coming down each week more enjoyable. It’s all fun and no stress!

“Volunteering to me is a positive thing, not only for the child but for myself. Knowing that I’m helping a child who may not have such support at home to guide or read to them, and then seeing them ultimately gain more confidence in their written and spoken English, really makes it all worth it. As long as you can read and write and are willing to put aside your time to guide a child, I believe anyone can be a volunteer.”

APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

PEOPLE OF FAITH : FAITHACTS

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While we are not aware of their progress in school, we trust that the seeds we have sown would have helped them in their life journey. and affirming. One of them brings a weekly carefully chosen treat for the children which they really enjoy! FaithActs has excellent supervisors who feel the pulse of the organisation and give immediate feedback. They also keep us posted about any upcoming school holidays so that we can plan time for a break.

KidsLEAP Volunteer: MARY “Volunteering at FaithActs has been a great experience for me. It was disappointing when the sessions were initially suspended due to COVID-19. Coming back after that, we had to change the format of the sessions. We used to have a large group reading and one of the other volunteers had wonderful picture books from her home library that we used to read to the children.

“Now with individual sessions, those group dynamics, which is special, are really missed.

On the other hand, with the individual sessions, we have the opportunity to identify areas where the child is weaker. We can then concentrate more on these areas and help them to improve.

“Through reading, they are enabled to widen their world view as some stories are set in places they may not have visited yet. Beyond that, we also try to teach the children some basic courtesy habits, such as, greeting the volunteers or thanking them.

“Through this programme, I have met a lovely team of ladies who are so supportive

“When ex-students greet you with a smile, you say it’s worthwhile getting out at 2.30pm in the afternoon in the heat of the afternoon.

Working with the young students, despite the frustrations, is for me a joy. While we are not aware of their progress in school, we trust that the seeds we have sown would have helped them in their life journey. I personally feel that it’s a faith obligation to serve and if you have time on your hands, helping these young students is such a privilege.”

Stella Seah is the Programme Assistant for Youth Services at FaithActs.

If you are interested in volunteering to impact a child, do contact our FaithActs staff at 6339-7611 or email info@faithacts.org.sg.

FaithActs Children & Youth Services • Early Learning Programme Plus (ELP+) • Experiential Learning Journey • Girls’ Empowered (Gem) • Group Work, Talks & Workshops • Junior Chef • KidsLeap • Sports, Adventure & Outing • The Learning Hub • Tuition – Mentoring

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SPOTTED AT FAITH : FIRST HYBRID 11.15AM SERVICE

SPOTTED AT FAITH We bring you snapshots of past events held at Faith Methodist Church.

FIRST HYBRID 11.15AM SERVICE (ONSITE + LIVESTREAM) 10 JANUARY 2021

APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

SPOTTED AT FAITH : FIRST HYBRID 11.15AM SERVICE

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To attend our Sunday Services in-person, register at faithmc.sg/attend every Monday from 9am.

FAITHLINK . APRIL 2021

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SPOTTED AT FAITH : SGL DEDICATION SERVICE

SMALL GROUP LEADERS’ DEDICATION SERVICE 23 JANUARY 2021

APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

SPOTTED AT FAITH : CORPORATE HOUSE OF PRAYER

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CORPORATE HOUSE OF PRAYER 27 JANUARY 2021 Faith resumed its corporate Prayer Service onsite in January this year, and abided by safety measures.

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SPOTTED AT FAITH : TRAC SENIORS MINISTY

TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY 3 FEBRUARY 2021

APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

SPOTTED AT FAITH : NIGHT OF WORSHIP

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NIGHT OF WORSHIP 24 FEBRUARY 2021

Night of Worship 2021 - 18 May, 28 July, 27 October Join us on these dates for our Night Of Worship and be refreshed in God’s presence.

FAITHLINK . APRIL 2021

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MARKETPLACE

IMPACTING LIVES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

By Monica Tan

“1,2,3 Jesus loves me!

“1, 2, Jesus loves you!

“2,3,4, He loves you more, more than…”

I would say “1,2,3” and the boys would stand and sing the rest of the song as they marched themselves to the front of the classroom. These are fond

memories I have as a teacher!

God definitely had it all planned for me, from being a school teacher, to being posted to an all-boys Christian school, to now a free-lance teacher.

“Teaching is a calling,” my mentor once told me.

Jesus said, “Let the little

MARKETPLACE

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Teaching teachers during a mission trip to Surabaya in 2019

In recent years, God has connected a few of them with me and I am grateful to God for giving me the privilege to be involved in the early Christian nurturing process. children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

THE CALL OF A TEACHER When I first became a teacher, I resolved in my heart that I would not hinder any young ones from encountering Jesus whenever there was an opportunity. This inspiration came from my Primary 4 teacher who was not only passionate about teaching, but

was also devoted to reaching little children for Jesus.

On hindsight, I believe God sent her to gently expose me to His Good News, as she was my first close contact with a Christian.

Whether teaching in school then or teaching at home now, I do my best to bring God into the classroom. Since stories capture hearts, I would share encounters about my life, the good and the bad, and how things would have been very different for me if God had not been there. To illustrate my

lessons, I would quote verses from the Bible. If a passage is about leprosy, I would tell the biblical story of the 10 lepers or about lepers being outcast in Jesus’ time and how Jesus would still heal them.

I thank the Holy Spirit for bringing related stories to mind. It is my prayer that these stories will be like seeds lodged in the little hearts that would one day bloom.

SHARING GOD’S LOVE Over the years, God has opened doors for me to minister to children who were from estranged families.

Coming from the same family background has helped me to empathise with them and speak into their lives firmly yet

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MARKETPLACE

Monica with her family at Faith Methodist Church

lovingly. God has also opened doors for me to be a listening ear to parents.

There are many stories to tell about these experiences and I find it such a privilege to be part of these children’s lives.

There was this student I knew who was going through a family breakup at the age of 9. She was heartbroken and her studies were badly affected. During my sessions with her, she would share her heart’s cry and we would pray together. Five years ago, I met up with her again and I was so happy to find out that although she did not continue with the usual education path, she is now free-lancing in her area of interest and doing it

I thank the Holy Spirit for bringing related stories to mind. It is my prayer that these stories will be like seeds lodged in the little hearts that would one day bloom. very well. She even shared pictures of her artistic works that were used in her church.

I felt such joy for her!

BLESSING IT FORWARD My prayer is that she will continue to grow in the Lord steadily because I know that God will not waste any tears. My heartache as a child growing up in an estranged family gave me the understanding to minister to her. Likewise, I am believing God that through her own personal situation today,

she would one day bless someone else.

It is every Christian teacher’s joy to see their “sheep” find God for themselves. In recent years, God has connected a few of them with me and I am grateful to God for giving me the privilege to be involved in the early Christian nurturing process. Today, some of them are actively involved in the church, serving in various ways, others as pastors and yet others as missionaries.

All glory to God!

Monica is the Chairperson for Small Groups at Faith Methodist Church.

APRIL 2021 . FAITHLINK

Faith Methodist Church is a church of Small Groups!

Small Groups are the key to experiencing church life. It is more than a Bible study or fellowship group; it is the primary place of care and ministry, where group members experience community and love, build one another up, and are equipped to serve others.

Why not join a Small Group today?

Visit faithmc.sg/small-groups or call our church office during office hours.

Find FAITH at 6471-9420

mail@faithmc.sg

faithmc.sg

faithmethodistchurch

faithmcsg

ENGLISH CONGREGATION @ 400 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE 8AM Service at *Sanctuary (Onsite) 11.15AM Service at *Worship Hall (Onsite) Plus online on Youtube * If you wish to attend either Service in person, please register for your ticket every Monday from 9am at faithmc.sg/attend.

MANDARIN CONGREGATION @ ANGLO CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 10.15AM Service at ^ACJC School Hall Plus online on Youtube ^ To attend the Mandarin Service on site, please contact Claire Bang at clairebang@faithmc.sg.

For more info on our church services, please call our church office during office hours, or visit our website at faithmc.sg.

Find FAITH at 6471-9420

mail@faithmc.sg

faithmc.sg

faithmethodistchurch

faithmcsg