THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE
ISSN 0129-6868 MCI(P) 027/11/2019
Vo l 1 2 6 N o 1 0 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0
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Events
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Annual Conference Reports MCS 135 Christian Living
EDITORIAL BOARD
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Contents 1
Bishop’s New Year Message
2
Coming Up
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Presidents’ Greetings 2020
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Emmanual Tamil Annual Conference
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Chinese Annual Conference
12
Trinity Annual Conference
16
William Oldham:
Architect of Methodism in Singapore
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Sharing Meals, Touching Lives
21
Freedom in Christ
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Methodists and the Poor
25
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
28
Hymns & Songs
29
You & Your Family
30
Looking Ahead
The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church.
Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications
Editor Sheri Goh
Sub-editor
All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. 70 Barker Road #06-04 Singapore 309936 6478 4793 | 6478 4763 6478 4794 message.methodist.org.sg | www.methodist.org.sg
Tan Chiu Ai
newmm@methodist.org.sg
Editorial Executive
fb.com/Methodist.SG
Jason Woo
@methodist.sg Design & Production by Londonbob Design Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd
Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg and, if appropriate, your contribution could be published.
BISHOP’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference from 2008 to 2016.
135 years on, God is still not done with us
A
blessed New Year! This year, we celebrate the 135th anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore (1885–2020).
Together with all Singapore’s citizens and residents, we build our nation with one heart and with all that we have, regardless of race, language or religion.
The first local Methodist Church in Singapore was constituted on 23 Feb 1885, a little more than two weeks after Bishop Thoburn, the Rev Oldham and their party arrived in Singapore on 7 Feb. For 15 consecutive evenings from 8 Feb 1885 until 22 Feb, they held evangelistic meetings at the Singapore Town Hall. Three British Wesleyans, 22 probationers and the Rev Oldham made up the 26 persons who attended the inaugural meeting to form the first Methodist Episcopal Church (later re-named Wesley Methodist Church). This marked the start of 135 years of Wesleyan heritage in Singapore.
Each time MCS celebrates an anniversary, it is also a time for us to reaffirm our desire to be a good neighbour in every way possible. As we celebrate, we also want to invite our neighbours to be our special guests.
Singapore has just celebrated its Bicentennial. MCS’s 135 years makes up a substantial part of that history. Our educational mission, social concerns, medical care and other services have histories just as long.
Another event is the Heritage Day and Exhibition at Wesley Methodist Church. The Guest of Honour is the President of Singapore, Her Excellency Mdm Halimah Yacob. Other important guests include the heads of other Christian denominations as well as representatives of other faiths.
The records show there were 137,722 persons in Singapore—Chinese, Malays, Indians and other races— in 1881. For 135 years, God has blessed and put the Methodist Church into our multi-racial community as their neighbour. The Church must uphold the key biblical precepts: to love God with all our hearts and minds, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
In the series of events planned for the year, there are two events we will celebrate together with our neighbours. The first is the Family Carnival on 30 May at the Geylang Methodist Schools (Primary and Secondary). We warmly welcome all members of MCS to join in and also invite all residents of Geylang to come celebrate with us.
Just as for our 125th and 130th Anniversaries, we will work closely with the Methodist Welfare Services to bless low income or needy families. Our target of $1.35m will need of every Methodist member to give generously. Let me sincerely wish you a much blessed and richly meaningful 2020!
Being a neighbour is our honour and also our blessing.
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
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Coming Up
WHAT JESUS SAID
TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY WORSHIP SERVICES 2020
AWE & INTIMACY WITH GOD
TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY PRAYER SERVICES 2020 2
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METHODIST MESSAGE — January 2020
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PRESIDENTS’ GREETINGS 2020
Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat
Rev James Nagulan
Rev Dr Gordon Wong
President of the Chinese Annual Conference
President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference
President of Trinity Annual Conference
It’s the year 2020! What a beautiful number. 2019 was marked with much turbulence, as it has been for much of decade, from the US–China trade war to the most unexpected violent demonstrations in Hong Kong. The impacts of these events are still unfolding and we have to be prepared to cope with them.
“You crown the year with
“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you […] Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.”
a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” (Ps 65:11)
Let the year begin with God’s promise for a bright New Year. May the Lord open our senses to witness what the Lord is doing in
Regardless of our circumstances, we need to heed Paul’s words:
our journeys in the year ahead.
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
we experience God’s goodness
(Phil 3:13–14)
Let us continue to press on for 2020. May this be a year we experience God’s goodness and transformation in our lives, families and ministries. Blessed New Year!
As the Psalmist declares, may even as we may have to walk on hard pathways. I pray that, as we step into a fresh new year, our lives will be filled with testimonies of God’s work in and through our lives.
(1 Th 4:9–12, NIV)
This year, MCS celebrates 135 years of God’s kindness in allowing The Methodist Church to exist as a channel of God’s love and hope. May the prayer of the apostle Paul for the church in Thessalonica be our prayer for MCS: that we not only celebrate the love shown to our communities in the past 135 years, but that we will “do so more and more”. I pray this for my family, and yours, that together we may “make it (our) ambition to lead a quiet life” of showing “more and more” the love of God to all whom we live and work amongst each day. Amen.
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Emmanual Tamil Annual Conference
Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie
CALL FOR REBUILDING
The Rev James Nagulan addresses the attendees of the ETAC 44th Session
O n 8 a n d 9 N o v 2 0 1 9, E TA C m e t a t Ta m i l M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h f o r i t s 4 4 t h A n n u a l
O
n 8 and 9 Nov 2019, the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) gathered at Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street for its 44th Annual Conference session. The session reviewed accomplishments over the year as well as deliberated on its direction for 2020, which is the fourth year of the 11th quadrennium. To chart ETAC’s course, ETAC President the Rev James Nagulan had previously set four tasks—“Renew”, “Revive”, “Reorganise” and “Rebuild”—one for each year of the current quadrennium. 2020 will focus on “Rebuild”. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, who spoke at all the Annual Conference opening services and delivered the same message, called for the churches to get past the different labels used for Christians, e.g.
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“follower”, “believer”, “church member”, “children of God”. We should, instead, get to the root of what God would have us be and as described by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:23–29—ministers (or servants) of His Gospel and, by extension, ministers of the Church.
The need to Rebuild God’s hand is upon us
membership records and remove those who had left. But he noted that despite the reduced membership, the total attendance at weekly Sunday church services rose steadily from 655 in 2008 to 800 in 2018. This indicates that members of the local churches appear committed to staying in their parishes. As a result, the total revenue of the local churches has also almost doubled.
and He shall strengthen our hands. In the President’s address, the Rev James talked about the downward trend in church membership over the past decade. The Rev James said that the reduction in number could partly be explained by the local churches’ efforts to clean up
He also highlighted that youth and children make up a significant number of 340. These children and youth will soon be confirmed and become part of the church. He called for increased funding to support youth outreach and discipleship ministries and a renewed effort on the part of the pastors to engage the young as they represent the future of ETAC.
The Rev James acknowledged that the greatest challenges facing the ETAC churches include membership retention and discipleship, leadership renewal, pastoral supply, and church building maintenance. The Rev James urged the Conference delegates to consider if ETAC’s current setup of eight churches led by six pastors for 800-plus members is sustainable, and how best to achieve a more focused and effective pastoral care ministry. He then put forth three proposals.
“Nehemiah 2:17–20 is a reminder of what God can do in and through us when we are stand united and serve together,” emphasised the Rev James. “It is time for ETAC to recognise structural challenges within ETAC and be willing to make the changes and reorganise ourselves and build the churches. God’s hand is upon us and He shall strengthen our hands to arise and build His church.”
Nehemiah 2:17–20 is a reminder of what God can do in and through us when we stand united and serve together.
After much deliberation, the delegates chose the proposal to preserve the current setup but with the caveat that by 2024, the smaller churches (below 120 members) must reach the minimum of 120 members each, as stipulated in the 2017 edition of The Book of Discipline (¶146), for a local conference. The proposal also called for more pastors to be employed by 2020, which would involve identifying prospective candidates wishing to enter full-time ministry. In his closing sermon, the Rev James drew parallels between the rebuilding of Jerusalem, described in the second chapter of Nehemiah, and the current drive to rebuild ETAC.
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung delivers the sermon at the opening holy communion service in English, which was translated into Tamil by the Rev James Nagulan
The Emmanuel Praise Choir and the accompanying musicians
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Emmanual Tamil Annual Conference
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2020 Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church
Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church
Pastor In Charge Rev Philip Abraham
Pastor In Charge Rev Albert Vijay Joseph
Jurong Tamil Methodist Church
Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street
Pastor In Charge Rev R Prabhu
Pastor In Charge Rev James Nagulan
Part Time Approved Supply Pastor Pastor Stephen Shadrak
Associate Pastor Rev Anil Kumar Samuel
Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church
Assistant Pastor Ps Jeremy James
Pastor In Charge Rev R Prabhu
Singapore Telugu Methodist Church Pastor In Charge Rev Anil Kumar Samuel
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church and Bedok Preaching Point
Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church Pastor In Charge
Pastor In Charge Rev C Saravanan Kumar
Rev Albert Vijay Joseph
ETAC 44th session delegates and visitors
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2020 District Superintendent Rev Philip S Abraham
OM, Canada Rev George Barathan
Ministry at Christalite Home Rev C Saravanan Kumar
Navigators, Canada Rev Rajaspuran Mannar
Ministry at Bethany Home Rev C Saravanan Kumar
Theological Centre for Asia Rev Dr Babu Immanuel
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Director for Youth Work Mr Thangaraju Moses
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Chinese Annual Conference
Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. / Photos courtesy of Chinese Annual Conference
TO BE RENEWED
IN THE RACE FOR CHRIST
With CAC’s newly minted Deacons. From left: Pr Jacqueline Ho Sow Fong, Pr Glenn Tan Tze Meng and Pr Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie
Bukit Panjang Methodist Church hosted the Chinese Annual Conference’s 44th session between 11 and 14 Nov 2019.
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etween 11 and 14 Nov 2019, delegates representing agencies and local churches under the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) gathered at Bukit Panjang Methodist Church for its 44th Session. Addressing the delegates in his President’s Report at the opening session, the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat looked back on CAC’s work in 2019 and laid out its plans for 2020. The Rev Dr Goh touched on the benefits of Central Pooling as well as the need to nurture young pastors and leaders and to proactively seek out new roles for local preachers. He also took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of the Conference to constantly be in the modes
of self-reflection and renewal. This is so that it can face the challenges of the world and remain relevant while holding fast to Christ’s teachings and correctly ascertaining the will of God.
different local churches and agencies. With Central Pooling, the appointment system can be more effective in allocation and allow us to better utilise resources,” said the Rev Dr Goh.
Central Pooling: One year on and the need for new blood A key development from the 43rd CAC Session was the decision to implement the central pooling of resources from which CAC local churches can draw to enable smoother operations of various pastoral ministries. Central Pooling came into effect on 1 Aug 2019.
The Rev Dr Goh went on to note that with new sub-cultures emerging every four to five years, a good way for CAC churches to renew themselves continually was through recruiting and nurturing young pastors and leaders who are able to make the gospel relevant and help the Church reach out, minister and engage the next generation, the Rev Dr Goh noted.
“The Methodist Church is a connectional Church. Ministers are on an itinerant system and are appointed to serve in
“Our young people grew up in a different environment. Their mindsets and working styles wholly differ from that of the older
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Chinese Annual Conference
CAC President, the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat, urging the congregation to race for Christ
generation,” said the Rev Dr Goh. “From my observation, our Conference plays a pivotal role in developing our pastors and lay leaders, offering them opportunities to learn and exercise their spiritual gifts, and to take up leadership positions.” The Rev Dr Goh also called for a rethink on the roles of local preachers, who currently support the itinerant ministers in their churches. However, if the local preacher is to remain one of the hallmarks of Methodism, such a role must be reviewed and updated as needed, he said. This is especially so when a church has enough itinerant ministers, which would reduce the demand for local preachers and the opportunities for them to preach. The Rev Dr Goh offered some possibilities for the Conference to consider: “Our local preachers can be bi-vocational preachers—active in evangelistic work in their workplace, sharing God’s words, being the bridge that connects the church into various marketplaces or harvest fields. Churches can run marketplace ministry through them. If we were to redefine their roles as such, the way we recruit and train our local preachers will also need to be modified.”
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Beginning their next step in ministry as Elders. From left: The Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay, the Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern and the Rev Peter Soh Kee Lie
The Church, like Paul, must be constantly racing ahead for Christ, our eyes on the prize.
Pressing on towards the goal In his closing sermon, the Rev Dr Goh likened the Christian journey to a race. He expounded on the Apostle Paul’s exhortation: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13–14 NIV) The Rev Dr Goh highlighted that even though Paul often used the imagery of a runner, his epistle to the Philippians was written while in prison. His physical incarceration did not stop Paul from running the race spiritually as he still hungered for more to hear the Good News of Christ. Paul, the Rev Dr Goh said,
had in him a “holy unrest”—he was fully aware that the status quo was never going to be enough. And just as Paul was so, so must the Church be—constantly racing ahead for Christ, our eyes on the prize, the Rev Dr Goh added. “John Wesley famously said, ‘Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.’ I would also add, ‘save as many souls as you can’. This is the core business of the Church. We must never tire of winning souls for God.” It is thus the duty of every Christian to ensure that they are good witnesses for Christ so that the Gospel can be preached further, wider and deeper.
Congregants coming to the Lord’s table for Communion
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2020
卫理公会华人年议会2020委任 District 1 第一教区
District 2 第二教区
District Superintendent 教区长
District Superintendent 教区长
Rev Lek Yong Teck 陸永德牧师
Rev Philip Lim Kian Leong 林建隆牧师
Geylang Chinese Methodist Church 芽笼堂
Telok Ayer CMC / TA2 直落亚逸堂／直落亚逸第二礼拜堂
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chua Ooi Suah 蔡伟山牧师
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Wilfred Leow 廖惠安牧师
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Joshua Tan Sin Kian 陈新坚牧师
Paya Lebar CMC/ Paya Lebar Methodist Mission 巴耶黎峇堂／巴耶礼峇美以美宣教站 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Dr David Koh 许亚才牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Patrick Chen 曾国华牧师 Rev Boey Kok Yeow 梅国耀牧师 Rev Jasper Sim 沈圣奇牧师
Changi MC/ Punggol Preaching Point 樟宜堂 / 榜鹅宣教站事工 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Simon Cheo 石训深牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Patrick Lim Kok Chu 林国柱传道
Charis Methodist Church 颂恩堂
Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie 吴钧杰牧师 Preachers 传道 Pr Bernard Chng 庄俊勇传道 Pr Lin Ming Zhong 林明忠传道 Pr Timothy Ang 洪培正传道
Bukit Panjang Methodist Church 武吉班让堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Lek Yong Teck 陸永德牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Yeung Hin Fai 杨显辉牧师 Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee 陈英意牧师 Rev Christopher Louis Kong 江宗大牧师
Grace Methodist Church 恩典堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Andy Goh Yik Wah 吴毅华牧师
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Lui Yuan Tze 雷远智牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Daniel Teoh 张建温牧师 Rev Peace Choi 崔平和牧师
Holy Covenant Methodist Church 恩约堂
Sengkang Methodist Church 盛港堂
District Superintendent 教区长
Rev Goh Aik Hiang 吴奕贤牧师 Foochow Methodist Church 福灵堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Poh Heow Lee 傅後利牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Anne Lim Ai Lei 林爱莉牧师 Re-engagement of Retired Pastor 重聘退休牧师(部分时间）
Rev Seet Keng Tat 薛庆达牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Ong Bee Keow 王美娇传道 Attachment 隶属
Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Eric Soh Wai Foon 苏伟峰牧师 Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern 尤永深牧师
Attachment 隶属 Rev Dr Andrew Peh 白瑞健牧师
District 3 第二教区
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng 许立欣牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Florence Ngu Siew Ning 吴晓宁传道
Rev Dr Wilfred Ho 何威达牧师（博士）
Hinghwa Methodist Church 天道堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chin Yan Chong 陈元昌牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Chu Vee Ping 周伟平牧师 Rev Peter Soh Kee Lie 苏圻利牧师
Kum Yan MC / Kum Yan MC (Woodlands) 感恩堂／感恩堂（兀兰） Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Philip Lim 林建隆牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Herman Kan 简文石牧师
Hakka Methodist Church 天恩堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Irman Halim 林恩信牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Nathanael Chew 周永斌牧师
Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey 严家慧牧师（博士）
Yishun Methodist Mission 义顺北宣堂
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Peter Pan Seng Tai 宾升泰牧师
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan 陈杨丽旋牧师
Preachers 传道 Pr Nathanael Goh 吴俊强传道 Pr Wang Hai Bin 王海斌传道
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Lau Chong Yaw 刘昌耀牧师
Pastor-in-charge 主理
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Chinese Annual Conference
District 4 第四教区 District Superintendent 教区长
2020 CAC PASTORS’ SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS BY BISHOP 2020年会督特别委任本年议会教牧
Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey 严家慧牧师（博士） Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church 女皇镇堂
Missionaries with MMS 宣教士
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Lisa Yu Li Hsin 俞丽馨牧师
李文英牧师 Rev Cassandra Lee
Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Goh Aik Hiang 吴奕贤牧师 Rev Tack Ng Lai Chun 吴丽真牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Jacqueline Ho 何秀芳牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Joshua Ong 王志翔传道
Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church 宏茂桥堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Helen Hoe 何秋吟牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Cynthia Choo 周美丽牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Shawn Koh Shin Jan 许巽然传道
Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church 大巴窑堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Ling Tieng Ngung 林天源牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Koh Chew Hai 许就凯牧师 Rev Glenn Tan Tze Meng 陈书铭牧师
庄炳亮牧师（博士） Rev Dr Alex Chng Peng Lian
Director of DISCIPLE Agency‘门徒机构’主任 严家慧牧师（博士）（义务） Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey (Honorary)
Associate Directors of DISCIPLE Agency ‘门徒机构’副主任 江宗大牧师（义务） Rev Christopher Louis Kong Chung Dai (Honorary) 周美丽牧师（义务） Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay (Honorary)
Field Board of Ministry – CAC Representative 卫理宣教会宣教区牧职部部员–华人年议会代表 程文喜牧师 Rev Paul Thian Moon Hee
Associate Director of Christian Ministry in Schools 学校圣工副主任 许立欣牧师 Rev Edmund Koh
Methodist School Chaplains 卫理学校校牧 陆永德牧师 Rev Lek Yong Teck
崔平和牧师 Rev Peace Choi
陈杨丽旋牧师 Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan
尤永深牧师（博士） Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern
梅国耀牧师 Rev Boey Kok Yeow
吴钧杰牧师 Rev Jasper Ngoh
许亚才牧师（博士） Rev Dr David Koh
陈书铭牧师 Rev Glenn Tan
杨显辉牧师 Rev Yeung Hin Fai
廖惠安牧师 Rev Wilfred Leow
陈英意牧师 Rev Erick Tan
吴俊强传道 Pr. Nathanael Goh
程文喜牧师 Rev Paul Thian
林国柱传道 Pr Patrick Lim
许立欣牧师 Rev Edmund Koh
王志翔传道 Pr Joshua Ong
林恩信牧师 Rev Irman Halim
庄俊勇传道 Pr Bernard Chng
石训深牧师 Rev Simon Cheo
许巽然传道 Pr Shawn Koh
雷远智牧师 Rev Lui Yuan Tze
王美娇传道 Pr Ong Bee Keow
曾国华牧师 Rev Patrick Chen
洪培正传道 Pr Timothy Ang
周美丽牧师 Rev Cynthia Choo
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CAC clergy and local church delegates gather for a photo before the Session
2020 SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS BY PRESIDENT 2020年会长特别委任 Trinity Theological College Vice-Principal, Acting Principal (Jan to Mar) & Lecturer 三一神学院代院长及讲师 郑益民牧师（博士） Rev Dr Edwin Tay Ed Min
Lecturers at Trinity Theological College & Chaplains to CAC Students at Trinity Theological College 三一神学院讲师及华人年议会三一神学生院牧 何威达牧师（博士） Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat 隶属 Local Church Attachment : 福灵堂 Foochow MC 白瑞健牧师（博士） Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian 隶属 Local Church Attachment : 颂恩堂 Charis MC
Principal, Institute of Elders 四宗乐龄学院院长
The 44th CAC Session was also a platform to announce the retirement of the Rev Seet Keng Tat (left) and the Rev Chan Kok Chuon (right). We thank them for their years of service to the Lord
邱仁发牧师（义务） Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot (Honorary)
Supernumerary Leave（1 year） 额外牧师（一年） 黄明娇牧师 Rev Ng Beng Keow
Medical Leave 病假 蔡尚志牧师 Rev Louis Chai Shung Chee
Soon Hong Kee Scholarship Trust Fund Representative 孙鸿岐奖学金信托基金代表 韩海光先生 Mr Han Hai Kwang 蔡伟山牧师 Rev Chua Ooi Suah
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Trinity Annual Conference
Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie
A UNIVERSAL CHURCH
The ordinands at the closing service
TRAC met for its 43rd session from 18 to 21 Nov 2019 at Trinity Methodist Church.
“Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, that Jesus Christ is born,” sang the children of the Hope Voices Choir from Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home at the opening holy communion service that marked the start of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) 43rd session, which was held from 18 to 21 Nov at Trinity Methodist Church. The ministerial and lay delegates from the 21 Englishspeaking Methodist churches later joined the children in the rousing song. The song was a timely reminder of the W in “Worship”, TRAC’s theme for the coming year. TRAC’s logo carries five W’s: “Word”, “Worship”, “Welcome”, “Witness” and “Wonder”. TRAC President, the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, pointed out that in the 2013 session, TRAC began with a focus on the “Word”. The theme for each subsequent year 12
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followed the sequence of the five W’s.
Wesley and Worship In the President’s Address on 19 Nov, the Rev Dr Wong covered “Wesley and Worship Participation” in the first section of his address. He encouraged the delegates to continue worshipping God in song and prayer. He described how congregational singing was not practised in churches before the 18th century. The Anglican priests recited or sang musical changes and choirs would perform, while the congregation respectfully listened. But John Wesley, inspired by the Moravian Christians, promoted congregational singing, a legacy that lasts to this day. The Rev Dr Wong also encouraged the delegates to pray with one another as a Conference. In “Wesley and Worship Wars”, the second part of the Rev Dr Wong’s
address, he advised the delegates that if they disagreed with how other Christians worshipped, they should do so in a “charitable and respectful manner”. One of Wesley’s more famous sermons was entitled “The Catholic Spirit”, where he used the word “catholic” in the sense of “universal”. In the Rev Dr Wong’s words, “a big, large, wide-hearted spirit, a catholic spirit of universal love”. For contentious issues—such as infant baptism as a holy sacrament, singing in tongues, withholding Holy Communion from those who have not yet been baptised, or matters to do with divorce— the Rev Dr Wong said, “By all means, let us try to persuade each other as to what we believe is the Bible’s clear teaching, but let the manner of our persuasion and debate be marked by a catholic, charitable spirit.”
The Methodist Festival Choir and Methodist Festival Orchestra perform
Conferring and Worshipping Together Over the next few days, the delegates focused on worship as the boards and councils gave their reports. They conferred together and approved policies on pressing issues of the day, particularly with regard to loving homosexual persons in the church. At the opening service, nine local preachers were recognised. At the closing service, Mr Robert Kee was ordained as Diaconal Minister; Pastors Jacob Lim, Anthony Phua and Collin See were ordained as Deacons; and the Rev Benjamin Fong and the Rev David Ho were ordained as Elders. The Rev Fred Tan, the Rev Sng Chong Hui, the Rev Irene Thung and Christian Ministry staff Mrs Agnes John are retiring and were thanked for their years of service. The latter three will be re-engaged or reemployed by TRAC.
Let us draw near with faith. Let us hold unswervingly to hope. Let us consider how to love. (Heb 10:22–25)
In his sermon at the closing service, the Rev Dr Wong preached from the New International version (NIV) of Hebrews 10:22–25. The NIV, he said, has managed to preserve the three-
fold repetition of the Greek phrase that translates to the English “let us”. He reminded the leaders of the TRAC churches, especially the newlyappointed deacons and elders, to draw near to God with faith (v22), hold unswervingly to hope (v23), and consider how to love (v24)—together. Church leaders, he said, should not be so busy running the church that they forget how to be the Church. He admitted, “Pastors struggle. We struggle to remember what God has called us as pastors to be, and to do.”
TRAC President the Rev Dr Gordon Wong addresses the delegates
“But please,” he implored the ordinands and the pastors in attendance, “do not give up… Let us encourage each other, and stir up each other…to words of love, and acts of love even to those we regard as enemies. Because in Christ, we are family.” The Church, he said, “is a congregation of people who are learning how to worship together, helping each other to draw near to God in personal communion, helping each other hold on with hope when life’s trials push us towards despair, and inspiring each other to thoughtful acts of love and good deeds to our neighbours everywhere.”
Lay leader Mr Kim Seah recognises the local preachers
The Rev Dr Wong reiterated the wellknown Christian trilogy of “faith, hope and love” he had mentioned in the previous year’s conference—that in the Church, the greatest of these is love.
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
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ONE MCS ¢
Trinity Annual Conference
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2020 District 1
District 2
District 3
District Superintendent
District Superintendent
District Superintendent
Rev Alvin Chan
Rev Dr Edwin Wong
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun
Barker Road Methodist Church
Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church
Agape Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Anthony Lee
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Nga Mee Hee
Pastors Rev Dr Daniel Koh Rev Lawence Chua Rev Wendy Watson Rev Jeremy Ong Rev Benjamin Fong
Pastor Rev Lee Yam Kai
Pastor Rev Lim Jen Huat
Assistant Pastor Pastor Emanuel Goh
Cairnhill Methodist Church
Bedok Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Khoo Kay Huat Pastors Rev David Swee Rev Timothy Yong
Christ Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Edwin Wong Pastors Rev Dianna Khoo Rev David Ho Gim Pin Pastor Benjamin Lau Pastor Tay Li Ping
Christalite Methodist Chapel Pastor-in-Charge Rev Shaun Chong
Living Hope Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Ivan Tan
Assistant Pastor Pastor Allan Lee
Pastor Rev Joshua Loo
Fairfield Methodist Church
Methodist Church of the Incarnation Pastor-in-Charge Rev Edmund Koh Assistant Pastor Pastor Joey Chen
Paya Lebar Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming Pastors Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup Rev Christopher Chin Rev Wendy Tay
Pastor Pastor Reginald Chan
Assistant Pastors Rev Jacob Lim Pastor Alex Chew
Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
Pentecost Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Kenneth Huang Pastors Rev Gabriel Liu Rev Tay Kay Leong
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Jonathan Seet Pastor Rev Jason Phua Assistant Pastor Rev Collin See
Trinity Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Alvin Chan Pastors Rev Paul Nga Rev Sng Chong Hui Assistant Pastor Rev Byron Teo
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr William Sam
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Daniel Cornilius Tan Pastor Rev Ling Kin Yew
Toa Payoh Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Reuben Ng Pastor Rev Ming Feong Ching Assistant Pastor Rev Poh Zhi-Hui
Wesley Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Stanley Chua Pastors Rev Edmund de Souza Rev Philip Lim Rev Michael Tan Rev Lilian Ang Rev Chia Chin Nam Rev Benjamin Lee Rev Gladwin Lee Rev Adrian Ng Rev David Ho Seng Hian
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2020 District 4 District Superintendent
Rev Stanley Chua Aldersgate Methodist Church
Director, Truthmin
Rev Ian Lee Assistant Directors, Youth Ministry
Rev Shaun Chong Re Gladwin Lee Rev Byron Teo
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Lynette Sathiasingam
Director of Young Adults Ministry
Assistant Pastor Pastor Jeremy Yap
Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)
Covenant Community Methodist Church
Rev Ivan Tan Rev Ming Feong Ching Assistant Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Malcolm Tan
Rev Ling Kin Yew
Pastors Rev Daniel Terence Yeo Rev Ian Lee
Rev Irene Thung
Faith Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Raymond Fong Pastors Rev John Benedict Foo Rev Peter Koh Assistant Pastors Rev Eddie Ho Rev Anthony Phua
Holland Village Methodist Church Pastor-in-charge Rev Joel Yong
Director, Seniors’ Ministry TRAC Crisis Relief Coordinator
Rev Jason Phua TRAC Chaplains to TRAC TTC Students
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun Rev Bernard Chao Rev Wendy Tay Lecturer, Trinity Theological College
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun Rev Bernard Chao On Sabbatical Leave Rev Dr Peter Wong On Sabbatical Leave (1 Jan–30 Jun 2020)
Rev Vincent Goh
Pastors Rev Dr Lorna Khoo Rev Loretta Lim
Study Leave
Living Waters Methodist Church
Coordinator Peranakan/Indonesian Ministry
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Aaron Tay
Rev Jimmy Wong
Pastor Rev Chan Siew Chye
METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY 2020 Executive Director Rev Derrick Lau Missionary Pastor (East Asia) Rev Tan Cheok Kian Missionary Pastor (Thailand) Rev Clarence Lee Missionary Pastor (Vietnam) Rev Leslie Lim Area Director (Timor-Leste & Laos) Rev Teresa Wilborn Missionary Pastor (Timor-Leste) Rev See Swee Fang
Rev Barnabas Chong Rev Lai Kai Ming
Coordinator Peranakan Ministry
Rev Christopher Chin
APPOINTMENTS MADE THROUGH THE BISHOP’S OFFICE Director, Ministry in Schools
Rev Dr Aaron Tay Associate Director, Ministry in Schools
Rev Dr William Sam Rev Anthony Lee METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
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MCS 135 ¢ Rev Malcolm Tan is a member of the Council on Archives and History. / Photos courtesy of the MCS Archives and History Library
William Oldham:
ARCHITECT OF METHODISM IN SINGAPORE
The Rev (and later Bishop) William Oldham (1854–1937)
Malaysia Mission, circa 1889
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory!”
B
ishop Dr James Thoburn and the Rev William Oldham, the first Methodist missionaries to land in Singapore, arrived on 7 Feb 1885. After fervent evangelistic meetings at the Town Hall (now Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall) brought in the earliest converts, a congregation was quickly organised about two weeks later.
it was called The English Church. The church was made up of British soldiers, civil servants, businessmen and English-speaking Eurasians. The church grew and moved in Dec 1886 to the first Methodist Sanctuary built at Coleman Street. In 1908, it shifted once more—to Fort Canning—and was renamed Wesley Church.
It was Bishop Dr Thoburn who initiated Methodist expansion from India to Burma (Myanmar) and then to Singapore. He hoped that Methodism would then spread north to Malaya, south to Java and Sumatra, and extend towards the Philippines. For Singapore to be the base for this great missionary push, Methodism had to succeed first on the island. In this, the first missionary-pastor, the Rev Oldham, was instrumental.
In March 1886, the Rev Oldham founded The Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) at Amoy Street with boys from the wealthy Chinese business community. The school quickly became very popular, expanding and moving to Coleman Street in 1887, next to the church building. The school’s success provided financial support and raised the profile of the mission. It also produced many converts for the church over the years.
The earliest congregation met in the Christian Institute building at Middle Road. As its services were in English,
The Rev Oldham was a Tamil speaker and engaged the Tamil community, which included businessmen and convicts. With
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
(Ps 115:1 NJV)
the help of G. W. Underwood from Ceylon, a Tamil congregation was started in 1887 at Short Street. Another congregation was started by Dr Benjamin West, a medical doctor, Methodist missionary and teacher at ACS, who arrived in 1888. He also opened a medical dispensary in his Chinatown home for the Chinesespeaking community. Soon, a Chinese ministry was started in 1889 with the help of two other Chinese preachers. This ministry became Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church in 1891. After the founding of ACS, the Rev Oldham envisioned a school for the sisters of ACS boys. Miss Sophia Blackmore answered the call and arrived in July 1887. She started the Tamil Girls’ School in August 1887 in a Short Street shophouse. In 1894, this school was renamed Methodist Girls’ School when it welcomed students of all races.
pal Church dist Episco o th e M e th ater ACS) Interior of n Street (l at Colema
Blackmore also visited the homes of businessmen in Chinatown to persuade them to allow their daughters to go to school. Soon, the Chinese Girls’ School was founded at Telok Ayer. It was renamed Fairfield Girls’ School in 1912. Methodism in Singapore had a strong social conscience. In the 1895 Report on Public Morals, the Methodist Conference, under the Rev Oldham’s leadership, identified alcoholism, opium, gambling and prostitution as great social evils of the day. Blackmore found herself involved with poor, underprivileged young girls, who were vulnerable to the flesh trade. She gave them safe refuge, housing them in the Deaconess Home at Sophia Road with lady missionaries of the Methodist Mission.
ACS teachers and students at chapel (circa 1895)
Bishop Dr James Thoburn (1836–1922)
Sophia Blackmore (1857–1945), an Australian missionary who founded the schools that are now MGS and the Fairfield Methodist Schools
Today, The Methodist Church in Singapore is made up of three language-based Annual Conferences with a total of 46 Churches and over 44,000 members. The Gospel is faithfully proclaimed in Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Foochow, Hakka, Hinghwa, Teochew and Cantonese, as well as English, Mandarin, Tamil, Peranakan Malay, Indonesian, Tagalog and Korean. Our commitment to education continues through our 15 Methodist schools which have more than 21,000 students at any one time. Prevailing social concerns of the day are met through the work of the Methodist Welfare Services, which extends the love, grace and life-giving message of the Lord to the last, least and lost.
Besides the churches for English, Tamil and Chinese speakers, the Rev Oldham also organised street preaching to the Malays in 1888. A British army officer, William Shellabear, who knew Malay, participated and even left the Army to become a preacher and missionary printer. Shellabear later became a scholar of the Malay language and translated the Bible.
After 135 years, Methodism Singaporestyle, still exhibits Oldham’s abiding influence: with a strong emphasis on evangelism, education and constantly working to uplift the poor and needy in the name of Christ.
A Malay Church was established in 1894 at the Christian Institute Building in Middle Road with Shellabear as pastor. However, as this church did not have many Malay converts, it eventually became a church for Malay-speaking Peranakan Chinese instead. In 1930, it shifted to the Kampong Kapor area where it was eventually renamed Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
only the founder of
William Oldham was not Methodism in Singapore. He was also its architect, shaping its development in the country’s formative years.
In 1889, the Rev Oldham was reassigned to America where he was later elected a Bishop. He then returned to Singapore to serve as Bishop from 1904 to 1912. Bishop William Oldham was therefore not only the founder of Methodism in Singapore. He was also its architect, shaping its development in the country’s formative years.
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OPEN HOUSE
Saturday 28 March 2020
ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an allround English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides
Achievements Include
• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an all-round holistic education
• Students with perfect score of 45 points
• 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall studentteacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
• 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding valueadded examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level this year in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming and Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
INFORMATION SESSIONS 9:00am
Principal’s Address
9:30am – 12:00pm
School tours & presentations by staff & students
Oldham Chapel, ACS (International) 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475
For more information, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg
ACS (International) - Building Through Belief
WELFARE SERVICES ¢ By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services
EAT SHARE CONNECT
Sharing Meals, Touching Lives
W
hen Mr Tan Wei Meng* found himself homeless and had nowhere to go, he took to living in the delivery van that he uses for his work as a courier. Over time, the unconducive living conditions and his inability to get a good night’s sleep affected his work. Eventually, Mr Tan was referred to MWS Covenant Family Service Centre – Hougang. With the support of an MWS social worker, Mr Tan was better able to handle difficult decisions and work towards securing himself a home. Mr Tan has been sleeping in his delivery van and is working with his social worker to secure a home
There are those among us like Mr Tan who may not have homes to return to after a hard day’s work, or the love and warmth of families to support them. Others are simply too stressed or do not have the means to have nutritious, sit-down meals. This year, why not make a conscious effort to get to know those from different backgrounds, understand their struggles and strengths, and be a blessing to them? You will also be surprised how much you can learn from their resilience and courage in handling the immense challenges in their lives.
•
As a group, organise Eat Share Connect on your premises, at an MWS Centre or a public venue such as the community clubs in the heartlands.
What happens during Eat Share Connect? •
To commemorate the 135th anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore, MWS will be rolling out the Eat Share Connect programme, a communal dining outreach to bless those like Mr Tan.
Conduct a cooking demonstration of easy recipes from the Simply Good: Healthy Family Meals, a recipe book compiled by the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service to commemorate MCS 135.
•
Prepare the ingredients, cook together.
•
Eat, share and connect!
What is Eat Share Connect?
Beyond MCS 135
It is a platform to connect with low-income families or individuals over a meal around a dining table — a place for gatherings, connections, blessing, giving and celebrations, as well as for sharing the brokenness and struggles in our lives.
MWS hopes to raise $1.35m to bless 1,000 families who are struggling with costs of daily living. Each family will be gifted with $1,350. We need befrienders to continue to Eat Share Connect with low-income families for one year from June 2020 to May 2021.
The Giving Methodist 2020 invites you to Eat Share Connect
How Does Eat Share Connect work? This activity can be run in several ways. Between 26 Feb and 30 May 2020, • Open your home to low-income families and connect with them over a meal.
*Not his real name
Partner us in blessing the community during the 135th anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore. If you would like to organise an Eat Share Connect activity or volunteer as a befriender, please email tgm@mws.sg . Visit https://thegivingmethodist.sg or scan the QR code from midJanuary 2020 for more details on Eat Share Connect and to find out how to give. MWS will be putting up a schedule of venues where Eat Share Connect will be taking place. METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
MISSIONS ¢ Richard Lepcha worships in Wesley Bardan Methodist Church, Kathmandu, where he leads the worship team and his cell group. He is in his second year of BA studies at the local university. / Photo courtesy of Richard Lepcha
FREEDOM IN CHRIST
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor 3:17)
The youths at the Wesley Bardan Methodist Church Youth Camp in October 2019
W
e are thankful for the mission teams from Singapore that have helped organise and conduct annual youth camps that have brought together the youths in the Methodist Church in Nepal (MCN) to fellowship, study Scripture and pray. We learnt much from them and have established wonderful relationships. As part of empowering our youths, Wesley Bardan Methodist Church (WBMC) tasked my cell group and me to plan, organise and conduct the Youth Camp last October. We were excited to be given this opportunity and wanted to do something different to help our youths in their spiritual walk as well as bring the gospel to other unreached youths. We realised from the onset that we should not focus on what we wanted to achieve, nor on our own might and power, but on the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6). For two months, we met on Friday nights to fast and do overnight prayer vigils. We sought God’s direction and the revealing
of His plans, and received His word from 2 Corinthians 3:17, which established our theme for the camp: “Freedom in Christ”. We realised that there is a need for the youths in our predominantly Hindu environment to understand and live their lives knowing that they have freedom in Christ, and not the worldly freedom that they are used to—that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The Youth Camp ministered to 80 youths, from our MCN churches as well as prebelievers. It was more than our target of 60, affirming that God is the Lord of the harvest. A pre-believer who attended the Youth Camp was very reserved at first. Through his participation in the various activities, which included prayer and spontaneous worship sessions, he experienced the love of God and is now attending our church and my cell group regularly. Together, we are following up with the pre-believing youths from the camp. We pray that God will continue to touch their lives and those of their families.
“I witnessed many young people who cried, confessed and rededicated their lives to the Lord. I thank God for this great spiritual revival of our youths in WBMC and MCN.” —The Rev Sabashtain Lepcha, PIC of WBMC
PLEASE
PRAY
that the youth leaders in WBMC and MCN churches will be used mightily to reach out to the pre-believing youths and their families. for courage, strength and for God’s protection as they reach out in their ministry
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
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Opportunity to Serve God
in Overseas Education Ministry ! The Methodist Missions Society (MMS)
is urgently
seeking a missionary/volunteer to serve as School Manager at the Singapore Missions School (SMS) located in Vientiane, Laos. Prior leadership experience in a Singapore school is preferred, but not mandatory. SMS is a licensed, primary school presently serving about 70 students in kindergarten through grade 5. There are 13 teachers (5 expats and eight locals) and four non-teaching staff. Responsibilities include providing oversight for all management and operational processes, including financial and human resources. Do you believe God is calling you to serve in missions? Do you have a heart for sharing the good news through education ministry?
CONTACT
david.khew@methodist.org.sg
6769-4801
Registration at our Columbarium OďŹƒce (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg
SOUNDINGS ¢ Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg).
METHODISTS AND THE POOR “Soundings” is a series of essays that, like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the Gospel and Christian understanding.
I
n “Social Action is Integral to Methodism”, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung emphasised that it is not enough for the Methodist to be committed to spiritual disciplines such as Bible study and corporate worship. The Methodist must also obey the command of the Lord Jesus to love their neighbour (Mark 12:28–34).1
Bishop Dr Chong reminds his readers that this is also the requirement of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who tirelessly stressed that our love of God must be “incarnated” (enfleshed) in our loving acts for our neighbour. Wesley, writes Bishop Dr Chong, “asserted that one who loves God would bear practical fruit in his or her life, i.e., loving one’s neighbours.” As The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) looks back at 135 years of its history, it can certainly be thankful to the Lord for the contributions it has been able to make to society and nation-building. It has established no less than 15 educational institutions and numerous social and humanitarian services such as the Methodist Welfare Services, hospices, family service centres, free medical services and services for foreign workers. Reaching out to the poor, the underprivileged and the disenfranchised may be said to be part of the DNA of the people called Methodists.
Since his student days at the University of Oxford, Wesley had made it his regular practice to visit the sick, the poor and those in prison, and repeatedly encouraged his followers to “frequently, nay, constantly to visit the poor, the widow, the sick, the fatherless, in their affliction.”2 One of the prevalent misconceptions about the poor in Wesley’s day is that the poor only have themselves to blame for their predicament. But Wesley strenuously rejected such prejudiced and contemptuous stereotyping: “So wickedly, devilishly false is that common objection, ‘They are poor, only because they are idle’.”3 However, Wesley also knew that ministry to the poor and underprivileged can only be sustained if undergirded by a robust theology that is firmly grounded in Scripture, tradition, reason and experience. Based on his profound understanding of the Scriptures and the writings of the early fathers of the Church, Wesley was able to offer new insights to familiar theological themes, which we will look at briefly. Firstly, Wesley emphasised the relational aspect of holiness by wedding—indeed, by interpreting—it as love. “What is holiness? Is it not, essentially love? The love of God and of all mankind?” 4 Holiness, for Wesley, has to do, not just with personal piety,
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, “Social Action is Integral to Methodism,” Methodist Message, 31 July 2017. John Wesley, The Works of John Wesley (Nashville, TN: Abingdon), 12:302. 3 Ibid, 2:280. 4 Ibid, 12:277. 5 Bishop Dr Chong, “Social Action is Integral to Methodism.”
but must be understood as love for God and our fellow human beings. This is the basis for the Wesleyan concept of “social holiness”, a term that expresses well Wesley’s understanding of the relational dimension of holiness in contradistinction to the “solitary religion” of the “mystic divines”. Secondly, Wesley refused to secularise the Christian’s “works of mercy” but always regards them as spiritual work and even as a sacrament, a “means of grace”. The sacramental understanding of the Christian’s ministry to the poor is important because it underscores the presence of the Holy Spirit who, through the humble work of human hands, enables those in need to truly experience divine love, mercy and grace. Although MCS has done much to reach out to the poor and needy in society, much more can (and must) be done, as Bishop Dr Chong reminds us. “Despite all that has been done,” he writes, “more concerted effort is still needed in many areas… Many in our society have been unable to keep pace with Singapore’s accelerated growth and development, and have fallen behind.”5 So, let us put our hands on the plough and let us serve our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, by serving our fellow human beings!
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和散那治丧服务
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For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Hosanna Bereavement Services Pte Ltd
(A Subsidiary of the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd)
Block 4 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Industrial Park #01-1333 Singapore 319056 Tel: 6259-4560 Fax: 6259-4095 Email: hosannab@singnet.com.sg Web: www.hosannabereavement.com.sg
24-Hour Helpline:
Contact Ricky Guok @ 6352-7797
NEWS ¢ Christopher Ng is the founder of a digital consulting agency. He worships at Cornerstone Community Church. / Photos courtesy of The Garden of Remembrance
THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD A new permanent exhibition opens at The Garden of Remembrance.
Stations two and 10, which were the most difficult stations for the writer to write
I
was really excited when Wendy [Heng, the general manager of The Garden of Remembrance, and also my wife] told me that she had been tasked to establish The Way of the Cross, a new permanent installation of 14 sculptures at The Garden of Remembrance, and asked for my help with the writing for the plaques that were to accompany the sculptures. The 14 Stations of the Cross, which commemorate Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man, has always been a common feature in the Catholic churches, but not so within the Protestant churches. That is unfortunate because Jesus Christ’s final moments on Earth is, without question, the most significant event in all of humanity’s history. It is through this very last journey Jesus took that
all of humanity could receive God’s salvation. While I was familiar with the events that led to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and eventual resurrection, the biggest fear I had while writing for this project was that I might dilute the message of His love. I went to the Lord in prayer numerous times, seeking Him and asking Him for direction as I worked on the project, and it was in one of these prayers that God led me to the idea of writing all 14 stations as a seamless story that could be read with or without the support of the sculptures. The Way of the Cross was written in a manner serves to remind all believers of Jesus’ extreme sacrifice and how much God loves us all. It also serves
Bishop Dr Chong at the dedication of the Way of the Cross on 2 Nov 2019
to tell the story of God’s love to prebelievers as they walk through the stations. The columbarium has a lovely chapel and beautiful memorial rooms that are used for wakes and funeral services, which inevitably bring together friends and families of the departed who may be pre-believers. Establishing the exhibit at The Garden of Remembrance makes it permanently available to everyone.
Painful truths In the course of my research, God led me to Jim Bishop’s The Day Christ Died, which covers the last 22 hours of Jesus Christ’s life on Earth. 1 The book helped me gain a better understanding of what possibly transpired on that day, as well as of the suffering and humiliation that our Lord had to experience.
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NEWS ¢
I was also led to Dr C. Truman Davis’ article, which provides a detailed medical description of the process of crucifixion: the pain the victim experiences, and how the body breaks down in the most horrific of ways in response to that extreme pain.2 I was reduced to tears by the heart breaking revelation of the extreme suffering that Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to bear in order to provide a path to salvation for us all. Station two, “Jesus carries His cross”, and station 10, “Jesus is nailed to the cross”, were thus the hardest to write. Leaving out the gory details of scouring and crucifixion would have been a gross injustice to the suffering and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, but including these details meant I had to mentally visit and revisit His detailed torture. I wept a lot as I wrote these two stations, but it wasn’t because of the pain of Jesus’ suffering—it was God’s overwhelming love that I felt over and over again. The day our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified was a very dark day. But from that darkness rose the most beautiful and amazing love story ever told— that of the God who created the heavens and the earth, who is all powerful, yet chose to send His one and only Son to suffer and die in the most gruesome manner so that all His people could receive salvation.
The Way of the Cross, a new permanent exhibition at The Garden of Remembrance
The idea of THE WAY OF THE CROSS was mooted to us by Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, who felt it was important to set up The Way of the Cross within the Protestant community as there aren’t any such permanent installations in Protestant churches in Singapore.
The level of intimacy I experienced with God over the two-week project is one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I spent much time in prayer—just before the start of any writing session, numerous times in between, and whenever the writing of a plaque was completed.
Bishop Dr Chong asked the Rev Niam Kai Huey for her help with the project. Chris wrote the text on the plaques, with the Rev Niam checking their accuracy. A designer was hired to design the plaque and signage. Angela Chua, admin manager of Sengkang MC, found us a translator for the Chinese version text. The sculptures were hand-made in Belgium. The Garden of Remembrance was established to remember our loved ones who have passed and celebrate the promise of eternal life. With this permanent installation, we are commemorating the most important death of all—that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I know the words that were written could not have come from me, as I am neither theologically trained nor write as a professional.
The installation is at its most lovely between 8 and 9 in the morning when the sun rays illuminate the resurrection station, reminding us yet again that Christ is risen! —Wendy Heng
I pray and hope that everyone who visits The Way of the Cross will experience the richness of God’s love as I did.
THE WAY OF THE CROSS
Blessed in return
1
Jim Bishop, The Day Christ Died (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1980).
2 C. Truman Davis, “A Physician’s View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ,” The Christian Broadcasting Network, https://www1.cbn.com/medicalview-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-christ.
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
East Wing of The Garden of Remembrance, 920 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, S(699815) 6795 8978 Open all year round from 7am to 7pm. Admission is free.
HYMNS & SONGS ¢ Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
JESUS’ HANDS WERE KIND HANDS
W
e enter a new year, and a world that is getting more challenging to live in. Climate change is causing more extreme weather; the rapid development of technology is affecting our lifestyles; racism is becoming more pronounced; and social pressures are increasing. Will having a set of kind hands serve as a good response?
Perhaps we can find the answer through the hymn, “Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands”, found under the Life and Teaching section of the United Methodist Hymnal (UMH). Written in 1926, it was originally included in the children’s hymnal. It was set to the tune of an old French melody, “AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE”, which is simple; the lyrics, however, may be have meaning more complex than they appear. While originally a hymn for children, we know that Jesus wants us adults to have kind hands too. The theme of this hymn—kindness— points us to the gospels, where we hear Jesus teaching the people to do good always. The hymn begins with Jesus’ “kind hands” as a metaphor for His ministry. Jesus healed the sick, embraced the children and encouraged the weak, teaching us to be good to all. Then comes a prayer in the second stanza asking Jesus to mould us in his likeness—a prayer for our hands to be kind and strong yet gentle; for our eyes to see and know how He was as a human being. “Let me watch you, Jesus” is a call to do that which we ought to be doing more earnestly. It is in knowing him more and more through our prayers, Bible study and participation in worship that our hands may be moulded to be “kind hands”. May we have humble hearts to know and willing hands to serve Jesus as we go through another year with Him in our lives.
Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands (UMH 273)
Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all, healing pain and sickness, blessing children small, washing tired feet, and saving those who fall; Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all. Take my hands, Lord Jesus, let them work for you; make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do. Let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too, till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you. Words: Margaret Cropper, 1975 Music: AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE, Old French melody; harm. by Carlton Young, 1988
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
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YOU & YOUR FAMILY ¢ Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
IN HIS GOOD TIME
A
s the elderly nursing home resident’s trust in the counselling intern grew, she candidly talked about wanting to die. She felt that having outlived her husband by almost half her life, she had no reason to go on living. She had lived a hard life and worked as a domestic servant to support her children. Now, unable to work, she felt useless and saw herself as a burden to others. Unsure of how best to deal with the old lady’s wish to die, the intern requested a consultation.
in fear and indecision. Even when she could count on the support of family and friends and even from the law, she remained emotionally and psychologically ambivalent. I remember her saying, “You must be tired of me (being so indecisive)? I feel so stuck!” “Not so,” I replied. “In fact, I see you changing slowly but surely. In time, you will decide.” “How do you know?”
On learning that the elderly woman was a believer, I suggested to the intern that if she did choose to die by her own hand, it might upset God. Tongue in cheek, I said the Lord might ask her, “What are you doing here? Your time is not up yet!” I continued, that for someone so used to a life of service and respect for authority, it would not be right for her now to take control of her destiny and life in this way. This encounter reminded me of other where the issue of timing had come up again and again. There was the client who had struggled for years with standing up to an abusive husband. She certainly did not want things to carry on but seemed rooted
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2020
My reply came spontaneously and caught me by surprise. I said, “You will know, when you know.” I half expected her to query this rather cryptic statement and was a little anxious if she did as I too was unsure what it meant. But she did not. Over the years, I understand more and more what it can mean. As we listen to ourselves and our internal dialogue, through all the “mental and emotional noise” and confusion, sometimes from our innermost being, comes a realisation. This awareness may need time to grow stronger before taking some definite shape and form.
How long, you may ask? I do not know. Only that I remember this one mother, who after seven years finally decided to leave an abusive husband with her two children in tow. It took this long to give her husband ample opportunity to change and give her children the stability of an intact family and home. But after seven years, and after talking through her thoughts with me, she decided to act, and act resolutely she did. I wonder how this topic of time features in your lives. Are you just biding your time here on earth? Are you anxiously waiting for something to develop? Or are you always rushing about finding that you do not have enough time to do all the things you want? Perhaps we can go to our Lord the Creator and Giver of Time for some answers. He is always punctual and on time. At His appointed time, He allows things to happen. What we need to do then is trust in His care and listen to His prompting. This is what Henri Nouwen called “Radical Waiting”: waiting with trust and openness to what God will do. And know that even as we wait in faith, He is already at work within us.
LOOKING AHEAD ¢ JAN—FEB
Scan to see events online!
THE DRAMA OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY
9, 16, 23 Jan / 6, 13, 20, 27 Feb (Thursdays), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Trinity Theological College, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Level 3, Lecture Room 2, S(678093)
https://ttc.edu.sg/english/equip-evening-courses/the-drama-of-christian-history/
$120 ($100 for returning students, if the last night class was taken within the past one year)
The Christian faith has a history of about 2000 years (much more if we take into account the Old Testament era). This is a period of time so long that most of us have difficulty comprehending its full extent.
JAN
What are some significant happenings in these 2000 years? How differently did Christians in the past understand and practise their faith? What are some lessons we can learn from the rich history of Christianity? This course will seek to answer these questions through a brief survey of the history of Christianity.
TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE OPEN HOUSE 2020
22 Jan 2020 (Wednesday), 8.15 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Trinity Theological College, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S(678093)
6767-6677 info@ttc.edu.sg
Admission is free
FEB
Come explore TTC at its Open House where you can find out more on programmes that sharpen the mind, shape the heart and strengthen the hands to serve God in church and world. Together with other members of the TTC community, you will be inspired and encouraged to grow in faith, and discern God’s voice and will for your life.
CHINESE NEW YEAR CONCERT 2020
15 Feb 2020 (Saturday), 2.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. / 16 Feb 2020 (Sunday), 2.30 p.m.
Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, S(397691)
www.facebook.com/CNYconcertSG admin@cnyconcert.com
9628-1596 (Amy)
Tickets required. To get your tickets or for more information, please go to website for more details, email or call.
The annual Chinese New Year Concert began in 1995 and is jointly organised by various local major denominational and independent churches.
SATURDAYS
Highlights of this evangelistic event includes performances by Christian artists and invited guests, gospel and testimony sharing.
THE HEALING PLACE
Every Saturday (except public holidays), 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.
Christ Methodist Church, 597 East Coast Road, S(429082)
“Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.” (James 5:14) We are a ministry team of the Healing Place of Christ Methodist Church who have been praying for the sick since 2008. All information about individuals who are coming for healing is kept confidential.
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We hope that you and your family will join us at these exciting events celebrating 135 years of Methodism in Singapore 2020.
16 FEBRUARY
24 MAY
MCS 135 LAUNCH
ALDERSGATE CELEBRATION SERVICE
Hear Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung share what it means to love God and serve together at Wesley Methodist Church. A video recording of his sermon will be shown at all services at all Methodist Churches on the same day.
This annual keynote event of The Methodist Church in Singapore celebrates our Wesleyan heritage. Join us from 4 to 6 pm at Paya Lebar Methodist Church, where Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung will bring us God’s message. Dinner will
5 MARCH – 2 APRIL
be provided.
LENT PRAYER AND WORD
30 MAY
Recall, reflect and realign our hearts to God on consecutive Thursdays from 8 to 9.15 p.m. at our oldest churches. The Rev Dr Gordon Wong will bring us God’s Word. 5 Mar : Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street) 12 Mar : Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street) 19 Mar : Foochow Methodist Church 26 Mar : Geylang Chinese Methodist Church 2 Apr :
Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
10 APRIL – 29 MAY EAT SHARE CONNECT Open your hearts and share a meal with the underprivileged, or reconnect with family and friends over a simple meal. This initiative by the Methodist Welfare Services is an opportunity for us to serve together through cooking, eating and sharing! For more information, visit www.mws.sg
MCS 135 FAMILY CARNIVAL Enjoy a day out at the Family Carnival at Geylang Methodist Primary & Secondary School. This event is a culmination of the fund-raising effort to raise $1.35m for the underprivileged.
11 JULY MCS 135 HERITAGE EXHIBITION LAUNCH This exhibition at Wesley Methodist Church commemorates 135 years of Methodist History in Singapore. Look out for the exhibition panels that will be displayed throughout our Methodist churches after the event.
5 SEPTEMBER YOUTH FESTIVAL OF PRAISE This inaugural event at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), Lee Kong Chian Auditorium brings together the youth from CAC, ETAC and TRAC in praise and worship. Be there or be square!