Methodist Message: January 2022

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE Vo l 1 2 4 N o 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2

Socia Methodist

l Principle

s:

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 044/11/2021

rch u h C e h t f o The Sphere

Contents Methodist Message needs your help! Do you have a way with words? Can you draw—on paper or in digital media? Can you design? Do you like writing? Do you take photos?

1

Bishop’s Message

2

Events—Coming Up

3

Church Life—Presidents’ Greetings

4

News—ETAC 46th Session

6

News—CAC 46th Session

11

News—TRAC 46th Session

15

Methodist Heritage—Everything you’ve always wanted to know about MCS

19

Church Life—TPMC Have a Meal on Us

20

News—MSM CCW Course 2021

22

News—TRAC WSCS Christmas

24

Reach Out—Welfare Services

26

Reach Out—Missions

28

Relationships—You & Your family

29

Hymns & Songs

30

Opinion—Soundings

32

Poem

33

What does being a Methodist mean to you?

34

Events—Looking Ahead

EDITORIAL BOARD

We’re looking for volunteers!

Writers: to help cover events, write book reviews / poems / any other article contributions Sub-editors: to edit articles Proofreaders: to help check out layouts Photographers: to contribute photos of events they have attended Illustrators: to draw comics / infographics / anything else that might be inspiring If you have these skills, or any others that might make MM a better read, contact us!

newmm@methodist.org.sg

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.

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Tan Chiu Ai

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Communications Executive

@methodist.sg

Jason Woo

Proofreader Tan Sheng Ling

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BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020.

He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013–2020.

The Sphere of the Church? A Sphere of Grace

I

write these words on a date on which C. S. Lewis was born 123 years ago. Lewis, who taught English Literature at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, is said to have walked into a room of religious academic experts who were discussing whether there was anything

unique to the Christian faith. They ruled out the concept of incarnation since other religions had various versions of gods who appeared in human form. Similarly, the resurrection was not considered unique since other faiths also envisaged a return from death.

“What’s the rumpus about?” Lewis asked as he entered the room. His colleagues replied that they were debating if Christianity had any unique contribution among world religions.

Lewis said, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”

We are told that the conferees, after some discussion, agreed that Lewis was right. Most, if not all religions, offer advice on how to earn divine approval—but it is Christianity alone, at least in the consensus of those present that day, that championed the teaching that God’s love is extended with no strings or conditions attached, a concept of pure grace that goes against the almost universal instinct of meritocracy. 1 Whether or not Lewis and those religious academics were fair in their assessment, surely it is correct that the notion of God’s unmerited grace and unmerited love is a prominent, if not the preeminent, emphasis in the Christian Scriptures? And if this is true, then may we who are the Church of Jesus Christ be known, pre-eminently, not as a fraternity of conditions and laws, but as a family of welcoming grace and unconditional love for everybody—regardless of race, language or religion.

May we who are the Church of Jesus Christ always remember and reflect the amazing truth that “from his fulness, we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16).

May the Church be a Sphere of God’s grace.

1

Scott Hoezee, The Riddle of Grace: Applying Grace to the Christian Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 42.

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

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Events ¢ Coming Up

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Church Life ¢

Presidents’ greetings 2022

Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat

Rev Philip Abraham

Rev Stanley Chua

President of the Chinese Annual Conference

President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference

President of Trinity Annual Conference

I believe the pandemic has brought many changes to the rhythm of our lives.

Life may have gotten busier and more stressful, but I also believe that the pandemic has helped us to crystallise what is essential and eternal as we reflect on what we had been doing day in and day out in the past.

May we never forget what we have learnt and always remember that God’s grace is sufficient for us.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

(Luke 2:14 NIV) Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

(Deut 31:8) We praise God for sustaining our Church through a very challenging 2021. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Church to reflect on the sovereignty of God. These tumultuous times have strengthened our trust in our Lord. He remains King and Lord over this world.

2022 will definitely bring new challenges. Will we use these opportunities to draw near to God and sit in His peaceful presence?

For the character of God can never change. May we, the Church, rise up to take our place in spreading His love to our hurting world. Our God is powerful and mighty to save!

I wish all of you a Christ-filled 2022.

Just when we thought we had turned the corner in our fight against COVID-19, we received news that the virus has mutated again. At the point of writing, this news has sent shivers all over the world with noticeable panic-selling in markets across Asia as investors take a wait-and-see approach in the face of emerging information on the Omicron strain of the virus.

What do we do especially for those of us who have already been badly affected and suffered much because of the ravages of this disease? How do we overcome our fear of the future?

I believe the best way is to always remind ourselves of what God’s Word promises us when Jesus says, “and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). And whenever we feel afraid, let us also be reminded of what the Psalmist says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Ps 56:3). And so, as we go into this new year, let us hold on to these two Scripture verses and pray to our Lord to keep us strong and hopeful.

To God be the glory! Here’s wishing everyone a blessed new year.

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

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News ¢ Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference 46th Session Jason Woo is Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Screenshots courtesy of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC)

Praying for and seeking workers for the harvest

Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon delivering the sermon at the closing service

O

(top right) Bishop Dr Gordon Wong delivering the sermon at the opening service

riginally planned as a physical conference to be held at Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church, the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) 46th

Session took place online over Zoom in the interest of the delegates’ well-being and safety.

Over two days between 12 and 13 Nov 2021, the Session was the first in the new 12th quadrennium (2021–24) which Rev Philip Abraham helmed as President. Rev Philip Abraham was elected into office after the General Conference session in 2020.

Holding on and holding out In his sermon to all three Annual Conferences, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong preached from Philippians 2:14–16: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation’. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.”

Highlighting Paul’s reference to the “warped and crooked generation” of his time, Bishop Dr Wong drew a parallel to today’s world, which is in the throes of the COVID-19 global pandemic. “How then should Christians ‘shine like stars in the [dark] sky’?” challenged Bishop Dr Wong. He offered two ways.

The first is not to grumble or argue. Bishop Dr Wong explained that the “grumbling” to which Paul referred 4

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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

(bottom left) ETAC President Rev Philip Abraham presenting the President’s Review

is actually “malicious talk” or rumour-mongering that exacerbates ill-will and bitterness. “A grumbling spirit is a very serious problem. When we grumble, we hear our own frustrations and fail to hear what others are saying. When we grumble, other people avoid us, and are afraid to tell us what they think,” warned Bishop Dr Wong.

The other way is to “hold firmly to the word of life” (Phil 2:16). The Greek verb for “hold firmly”, Bishop Dr Wong explained, can mean both holding on or holding out, as seen in some Bible translations. “So did Paul mean for us to ‘hold on’ firmly to God’s wonderful Word of life? Or did he mean that we should ‘hold out’, hold forth God’s Word of life for other people to receive? We can’t be sure,” said Bishop Dr Wong. He added, “Both translations make good sense.”

“So maybe we should learn from both translations. We hold on firmly to God’s Word and this will enable us to hold out or hold forth God’s wonderful Words of life for others to taste and see,” concluded Bishop Dr Wong.

A new quadrennium, a new vision Upon assuming office as ETAC President at the start of 2021, Rev Philip Abraham made sure to hit the ground running.

In his President’s Review presented on the second day of the Conference Session, Rev Philip Abraham outlined his plans for ETAC to focus on the harvest of souls for Christ during his term of office until 2024. He likened the current quadrennium to that of an agricultural cycle where ETAC will “Pray, Seek, Sow and Reap”.

2021 was the year when ETAC prayed along the lines of Matthew 9:38: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

For 2022, ETAC will be engaged in the “Seek” part of the overall vision. “Seek” is inspired by Jesus’ words in John 4:35, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!

They are ripe for harvest.” This no doubt creates a sense for urgency for ETAC to redouble its efforts to find workers to reap the harvest. Rev Philip Abraham outlined one of the chief challenges for ETAC in the coming year in order to see its vision come to fruition—to attract and retain a critical mass of youth members within its church ranks. ETAC also announced that it will be actively looking to employ a youth worker to support the youth ministry.

“Some of the local Methodist Youth Fellowships (MYFs) are finding difficulties in getting leaders to lead their Youth Ministry. Due to this difficulty, some chapters have adopted the ‘Youth Coordinator’ setting. For a more sustainable ministry, there is a need to conduct in-depth study to understand the challenges of youth leadership,” revealed Rev Philip Abraham. As a follow-up, he will be initiating a meeting with the ETAC MYF leadership in early 2022.

PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2022 Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev R Prabhu

Jurong Tamil Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Philip S Abraham Part-time Approved Supply Pastor Mr Jesudoss Charles

In addition to giving a run-down of the events, projects and initiatives over the year, Rev Philip Abraham announced the re-engagement of Rev R Prabhu to serve as a pastor this year.

Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church

God is always in control

Seletar Tamil Methodist Church

Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon preached during the closing service of the ETAC 46th Session. His message was based on Exodus 4:1–9, which describes Moses’ encounter with God in a burning bush. God told Moses then of His plan to liberate the Jews from Egypt and use Moses as His instrument for the mission. However, Moses tried to evade God’s call even as God showed him three, in the words of Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon, “private miracles”.

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Philip S Abraham

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Nagulan James

Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev C Saravana Kumar

Short Street Tamil Methodist Church These miracles were the transforming of Moses’ shepherd staff into a snake, the healing of Moses’ leprous hand and the promise to turn the water of the Nile into blood.

Likening the call of Moses by God to free his people from the land of Egypt to the work in which missionaries and clergy are always engaged, Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon hoped that the Scripture passage would serve as a reminder that God is in control over all the churches’ various ministries.

The staff that was turned into a snake represents the gifts and experiences that we often pride ourselves over. However, if not consecrated by God—as seen with Moses where God personally transformed the staff—the ministry will not be fruitful.

The healing of Moses’ hand in an instant shows that God alone has control over our earthly bodies. Only by allowing God to work through our mortal shells and sanctify our hearts can we see revival in our ministries.

The third private miracle or promise, which came to pass as one of Egypt’s 10 plagues, shows God’s power and His control over any land He sends us to.

This includes times when missionaries and clergy might find themselves in unsettling environments that are inhospitable and fraught with challenges. It is in times like these that they should take a step back and see that it is not who they are but Who is with them.

“As Christ Himself has said, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, He has overcome the world,” concluded Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon.

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Albert Vijay Joseph Associate Minister Rev Anil Kumar Samuel

Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev C Saravana Kumar Part-time Approved Supply Pastor Mr Stephen Shadrak

Telugu Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Anil Kumar Samuel

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2022 District Superintendent Rev Nagulan James Methodist Homes Coordinator Rev Anil Kumar Samuel Information is correct at time of printing.

News ¢ Chinese Annual Conference 46th Session Jason Woo is Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC)

Nothing to do but to save souls

Deacon Ordination

T

Elder Ordination

he rousing outro of “Give Us a Vision” faded away, which signalled the start of the 46th Session of

the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) held at Hakka Methodist Church from 15 to 18 Nov 2021. 2021 also marked the start of Rev Dr Gregory Goh’s second term as the CAC President. His inaugural term in the last quadrennium saw significant progress for CAC, especially in sharing resources and increasing cooperation amongst its local churches with the implementation of Central Pooling.

Giving an account of 2021 along with a forecast of what is to be done in 2022 and beyond in his President’s Address, Rev Dr Goh quickly made it clear that the focus for CAC would be disciple-making. He quoted John Wesley, who said, “You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore, spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most.”

Rev Dr Goh started off with an introspective question on the role of the Church after two years of a pandemic that has necessitated changes in how people gather to worship God. He asked the delegates present to think about how the changes thus far have impacted the ways ministries are run and if the Church will emerge stronger from the pandemic.

“When many ministries and activities that we used to hold in church cannot be carried out as planned, we start to question how we can continue to live out our faith. How can we be His disciples? Have I done what Jesus has commanded? Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?” challenged Rev Dr Goh.

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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

Using those questions as a springboard, Rev Dr Goh reiterated that even amidst such a disruptive global situation, the Church is about being Christ’s disciples.

“Our identity is not our church membership, not about our serving in church ministries such as Sunday School teachers, cell group leaders, LCEC members, lay leaders or clergy. Who are we? We are disciples of Jesus Christ.

That is our identity when we stand before our Lord Jesus Christ,” reminded Rev Dr Goh.

A disciple-making Conference With that point made, Rev Dr Goh announced that a Disciple Making Conference Task Force (DMCTF) had been established in October 2021 with the goal to focus on and consolidate the various disciple-making models of the local churches so that a consistent disciple-making pathway can be created for all CAC churches to take reference from and follow. Rev Dr Goh stressed that this is especially crucial in the itinerant appointment and connectional system that is the bedrock of the Methodist Church.

Rev Dr Goh further elaborated that the DMCTF is made up of two working teams each looking into a specific area namely: Disciple Making Pathway (DMP) and Disciple Making Pastors and Leaders (DMP/L). These teams will be led by Dr Stephen Yeo and Khoo Hock Yun respectively.

The DMCTF is scheduled to meet quarterly beginning in 2022, whilst the two work groups will meet separately and report to the DMCTF on a regular basis.

Localising the Sunday School curriculum Rev Dr Goh also raised the pressing need to localise the current Sunday School materials, which are produced in Hong Kong or Taiwan, where Chinese is the primary language and the different local contexts influence the curriculum development.

He highlighted a recent forum that was initiated by Four Denominations Council of Chinese Churches, where it was identified that suitable Sunday School materials need to be developed for children for whom Mandarin is a second language. Rev Dr Goh sounded a call to action for CAC churches to collaborate and mobilise efforts to kick off the Explore the Bible in Chinese (EBIC) project.

“This is a ground-breaking initiative aimed to support Chinese churches and congregations to develop Sunday School materials in Chinese as a second language. This project is headed by Rev Dr Lim Teck Peng from Trinity Theological College. The project has started and will cover the curriculum for pre-school to Secondary 4,” announced Rev Dr Goh. “There are plans to launch the Kindergarten 1, Primary 3 and Secondary 1 teaching materials in the second half of 2022.” To assist churches with forward planning, the EBIC team has organised an online introductory session on 30 Oct. “Let us pray for the teams as they look into the pedagogy, design, contents, editorial, training and many more aspects of this project. May God use this project to bless our future generations.”

Be ashamed of nothing but sin In his sermon during the Closing and Ordination Service, Rev Dr Goh spoke on the Biblical call for humility, which he felt is not often preached about in churches.

“Many a times in our service and work…we may encounter times when we feel ashamed to do something, or feel that we are of too high of a status to do them,” observed Rev Dr Goh. “We often emphasise our individual worth, or the potential to live out our dreams. In this society, we put too much weight on individualistic achievements and self-actualisation.”

Sharing his honest self-reflection, Rev Dr Goh described his personal journey in humility since serving as CAC President for several years. “As I come to experience more, lead more meetings, manage more matters, I’m finding myself less and less humble. If humility is a measure of the progress of my spiritual life, then I have made no progress,” admitted Rev Dr Goh.

Bishop sermon

Rev Dr Goh emphasised that only by having Christ-like humility can the Church enjoy true unity, for Christ came not only to redeem humankind but also to restore the God-like humility lost when sin entered the world.

“Christ’s humility in His service to man and also before the Father is frequently displayed to us in the Scriptures.

Multiple times in the holy Scriptures, Jesus shares that He did not come to earth to accomplish His will, but the will of the Father who sent Him. In humility, He would always give all glory to His Father in Heaven.

“Indeed, we require more of God’s help and grace in the school of humility,” said Rev Dr Goh who reminded the congregation, especially the new elders and deacons about to be ordained, that John Wesley once said that he would gladly have 100 preachers who feared nothing but sin and desired nothing but God while also exemplifying Christ-like humility.

“Do not misunderstand humility for weakness. People with true humility are courageous people. A person who is truly humble before God fears only sin and nothing else. Such a person would be willing to do anything for God,” elaborated Rev Dr Goh. “I want to encourage you who have just stepped into the school of humility. Be ashamed of nothing but sin. Be afraid of nothing but sin. Desire nothing but God.”

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

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News ¢ Chinese Annual Conference 46th Session

PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2022

卫理公会华人年议会2022委任 District 1 第一教区

District 2 第二教区

District 3 第三教区

District Superintendent 教区长

District Superintendent 教区长

District Superintendent 教区长

Geylang Chinese Methodist Church 芽笼堂

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church / TA2 直落亚逸堂／直落亚逸第二礼拜堂

Foochow Methodist Church 福灵堂

Rev Lek Yong Teck 陸永德牧师

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师

Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Wilfred Leow 廖惠安牧师

Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church/ 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 Ah Chye 许亚才牧师（博士） Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Ng Beng Keow 黄明娇牧师 Rev Boey Kok Yeow 梅国耀牧师 Rev Peter Pan Seng Tai 宾升泰牧师 Re-engagement Pastor (Part-time) 重聘牧师(部分时间）

Rev Seet Keng Tat 薛庆达牧师 Rev Poh Heow Lee 傅後利牧师

Changi Methodist Church /Punggol Preaching Point 樟宜堂 / 榜鹅宣教站事工

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Simon Cheo Hsun Shen 石训深牧师

Charis Methodist Church 颂恩堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Lui Yuan Tze 雷远智牧师

Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Peace Choi Pyong Hwa 崔平和牧师 Rev Dr Alex Chng Peng Lian 庄炳亮牧师（博士） (Part-time)

Sengkang Methodist Church 盛港堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey 严家慧牧师（博士） Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan 陈杨丽旋牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Dr Nathanael Goh Jun Chuen 吴俊强牧师（博士）

Preacher 传道 Pr Michael Lee Swee Yan 李瑞缘传道 Attachment 隶属 Rev Lisa Yu Li Hsin 俞丽鑫牧师

Rev Helen Hoe Chiew Ngin 何秋吟牧师

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chua Ooi Suah 蔡伟山牧师

Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng 许立欣牧师 Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie 吴钧杰牧师 Assistant Pastors 助理 Rev Lin Ming Zhong 林明忠牧师 Rev Patrick Lim Kok Chu 林国柱牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Sharon Lee Li Ping 李丽萍传道

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 Erick Tan Eng Ghee 陈英意牧师 Rev Christopher Louis Kong Chung Dai

Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey 严家慧牧师（博士）

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Andy Goh Yik Wah 吴毅华牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Lau Chong Yaw 刘昌耀牧师 Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah 曾国华牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Ong Bee Keow 王美娇传道

Hinghwa Methodist Church 天道堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chu Vee Ping 周伟平牧师

Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Anne Lim Ai Lei 林爱莉牧师 Rev Peter Soh Kee Lie 苏圻利牧师

Kum Yan Methodist Church 感恩堂

江宗大牧师

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Philip Lim Kian Leong 林建隆牧师

Preacher 传道 Pr Teh You Siong 郑有祥传道

Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Herman Kan Man Shek 简文石牧师

Attachment 隶属 Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian

Preacher 传道 Pr Joseph Tan Yong Chiang 陈勇畅传道

白瑞健牧师（博士）

Grace Methodist Church 恩典堂

Hakka Methodist Church 天恩堂

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern 尤永深牧师（博士）

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Irman Halim 林恩信牧师

Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Eric Soh Wai Foon 苏伟峰牧师

Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Nathanael Chew Eng Pin 周永斌牧师

Preacher 传道

Attachment 隶属 Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat

Pr Gareth Yeo Yong Tai 杨泳泰传道

Holy Covenant Methodist Church 恩约堂 Supply Pastor 代理 Rev Florence Ngu Siew Ning 吴晓宁牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Timothy Ang Pei-Zheng 洪培正牧师

何威达牧师（博士）

Yishun Methodist Mission 义顺北宣堂

Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay 周美丽牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Bernard Chng Chun Yong 庄俊勇牧师

2022 CAC PASTORS’ SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS BY BISHOP 2022年会督特别委任本年议会教牧 District 4 第四教区 District Superintendent 教区长

Rev Chua Ooi Suah 蔡伟山牧师

Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church 女皇镇堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Ling Tieng Ngung 林天源牧师

Missionaries with MMS 卫理宣教会宣教士

庄炳亮牧师（博士） Rev Dr Alex Chng Peng Lian ( 部分时间 Part-time) 李文英牧师 Rev Cassandra Lee

Director of DISCIPLE Agency 门徒机构主任 俞丽鑫牧师 Rev Lisa Yu Li Hsin

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 Rev Lek Yong Teck 陆永德牧师

Rev Cynthia Choo 周美丽牧师

Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee 陈英意牧师

Rev Boey Kok Yeow 梅国耀牧师

Rev Christopher Kong 江宗大牧师

Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师

Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Joshua Ong 王志翔牧师

Rev Shawn Koh Shin Jan 许巽然牧师

Rev Wilfred Leow 廖惠安牧师

Rev Dr Alex Chng 庄炳亮牧师 （博士）

Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie 吴钧杰牧师

Re-engagement Pastor (Part-time)

Rev Irman Halim 林恩信牧师

Rev Ong Bee Keow 王美娇牧师

Rev Simon Cheo 石训深牧师

Rev Joshua Ong 王志翔牧师

Rev Glenn Tan Tze Meng 陈书铭牧师

Rev Peace Choi Pyong Hwa 崔平和牧师

Pr Gareth Yeo Yong Tai 杨泳泰传道

Rev Koh Lik Hng Edmund 许立欣牧师

Pr Joseph Chen 陈勇畅传道

Rev Timothy Ang 洪培正牧师

Rev Bernard Chng 庄俊勇牧师

Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan 陈杨丽旋牧师

Rev David Koh Ah Chye 许亚才牧师（博士）

Rev Peter Pan Seng Tai 宾升泰牧师

Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah 曾国华牧师

Pr Teh You Siong 郑有祥传道

Rev Lui Yuan Tze 雷远智牧师

Pr Michael Lee Swee Yen 李瑞缘传道

Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Tack Ng Lai Chun 吴丽真牧师 Rev Jacqueline Ho Sow Fong 何秀芳牧师

重聘牧师(部分时间）

Rev Goh Aik Hiang 吴奕贤牧师

Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church 宏茂桥堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Helen Hoe Chiew Ngin 何秋吟牧师 Assistant Pastors 助理 Rev Wang Hai Bin 王海斌牧师 Rev Shawn Koh Shin Jan 许巽然牧师

Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church 大巴窑堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chin Yan Chong 陈元昌牧师

Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Dr Joshua Tan Sin Kian 陈新坚牧师（博士） Rev Glenn Tan Tze Meng 陈书铭牧师

2022 SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

BY PRESIDENT 2022年会长特别委任 Trinity Theological College, Principal & Lecturer 三一神学院院长及讲师 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 白瑞健牧师（博士） Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian

Principal, Institute of Elders 四宗乐龄学院院长w 邱仁发牧师（义务） Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot (Honorary)

Supernumerary 额外牧师

张建温牧师 Rev Daniel Teoh Kean Oon

Sabbatical Leave（1 year） 安息年及进修（一年） 许就凯牧师 Rev Koh Chew Hai

沈圣奇牧师 Rev Jasper Sim Shenq Chyi

Information is correct at time of printing.

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2022 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round 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).

61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides

• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an allround holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher 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

Achievements include

Mr Gavin Kinch Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice-Principal

• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 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 value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu.

What the parents say…

Mr Christopher Hayward Vice-Principal

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice-Principal

For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning.

The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.”

Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.”

Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man.

We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.”

Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more.

Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).”

Steven and Pau Kim Kan

News ¢ Trinity Annual Conference 46th Session Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie

Remember who we are The TRAC 46th session was held on-site at AMKMC as well as online

Bishop Dr Gordon Wong preaching at the opening service

Retiring pastors recognised: (from left to right)）： Rev Dr Peter Wong, Rev Dr Lorna Khoo, Rev Paul Nga

“Lord, what happened to all these churches? How in the world did they end up losing their passion for you?”

It was 2001, and Rev Stanley Chua was on a study trip with a team of Methodist pastors led by Rev Dr Isaac Lim, then President of the Trinity Annual Conference Elders being ordained: (TRAC), to observe and understand first-hand (from left to right) Revthe work Timothy Yong, Rev of the Methodist churches in the UK. Rev Stanley Chua, who is now TRAC President, recounted how he felt in his President’s Address during TRAC’s 46th session held at Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (AMKMC) and online from 22 to 25 Nov 2021. He recalled how deeply shocked and saddened he was during his church visits in the London, Guildford and Manchester areas to see that the majority of the Methodist churches were struggling to survive. After all, the UK is the home country of John Wesley, who founded the Methodist movement and set the nation on fire for God.

Doctrines, spirit and discipline One reason, Rev Chua believes, the Methodist churches in the UK, and also in the US, are experiencing declining membership is that they have largely forgotten the prophetic words of John Wesley to hold fast to their doctrines, spirit and discipline: “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America.

But I am afraid lest they should exist as a dead sect,

Elders being ordained: (from left to right) Rev Timothy Yong, Rev Jacob Lim, Rev Collin See, Rev Anthony Phua

having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” 1 “But what about our Singapore Methodists?” Rev Chua continued. “It appears to me that many are ignorant about the background and reasons as to why Methodist are known to be methodical. Neither can they articulate the significance of John Wesley’s “strangely warmed” experience at Aldersgate, as they have no idea of what this means in our Methodist doctrine or what significance it might hold for their own experience.”

The membership of churches under TRAC have only grown at an average of 1.68 per cent annually over the last 10 years. In 2019, 12 churches registered a decrease in baptism numbers for youths and adults; many youths and young adults have gone over to younger churches.

Furthermore, there are many “missing members”, i.e. those who are registered church members but do not attend church. This will result in an extrapolated shortage of pastors in 10 years’ time, because the pastors joining the ministry are fewer than ones who are retiring.

Our Singaporean society is becoming more polarised along age lines, as the younger people in Singapore— including those in the Church—are developing more liberal views on sex and gender issues. These issues could potentially divide the church, like what has happened to the American and British Churches.

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Trinity Annual Conference 46th Session

“If we remain complacent and do nothing about these challenges and looming threats, I’m afraid our Methodist Church in Singapore may not exist 100 years from now,” said Rev Chua. “I don’t claim to have a grand solution to all these challenges […] but I feel a good step forward is by going back to our basics. We do this by going back to recover our Methodist heritage and our founder’s teachings. Perhaps, by relearning our past, it can tell us what to do in the present.”

Back to basics Rev Chua proposed that the theme for TRAC for the next three years should be: “Remember Who We Are: Rediscovering our Methodist Heritage of Spirit, Doctrine and Discipline”. To that end, he invited all delegates to recover our understanding of our Methodist history, doctrine, spirit and discipline with him, starting with a weekly two-hour study of The Burning Heart by Arthur Skevington Wood. This will run from May to June 2022, and later to reflect and draw practical lessons to implement in our churches in their respective districts with their District Superintendents from July to Aug 2022.

The three-year strategy will cover the following topics: •

2022—Recovering our Spirit (Heritage) Study of our historical roots

•

2023—Recovering our Doctrines Studies in the essential doctrines of Methodism

•

2024—Recovering our Disciplines Studies in the disciplines of the early Methodists (prayer, searching Scriptures, the Lord’s Supper, fasting, Christian conferencing [classes and bands])

Church growth and sustainability Over the four days of the TRAC 46th session, pastors and lay leaders discussed the issues their churches were facing, and prayed for one another’s needs. The General Conference Councils and the TRAC Boards also presented their yearly reports to the Conference members.

Notably, the Church Growth and Sustainability Task Force, which was formed to guide local churches who wished to apply for support from the TRAC Lease Renewal Fund, emphasised the need for the accountability of churches as well as good stewardship. Of the 21 TRAC churches, a third have fewer than 500 attending their weekly services. The task force recommended that the minimum optimal weekly attendance for Churches that are affected by the land lease renewals should be 500 for best sustainability.

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The TRAC Building Projects Committee has been approved to administer the application of the TRAC Lease Renewal Fund. The Conference was assured that churches that apply for the TRAC Lease Renewal Fund will be judiciously and prayerfully processed by the TRAC Building Projects Committee.

Also, as we have learnt over the last two years, the digital space offers a valuable place to grow the Christian ministry, and churches should continue to explore how we can grow and more fully utilise online platforms.

A heart after God’s heart The opening and closing services were live-streamed, with on-site participants at AMKMC limited due to COVID-19 safe management measures. During the opening service, new local preachers received their preaching licences while the retirements of Rev Dr Lorna Khoo, Rev Paul Nga and Rev Dr Peter Wong were recognised.

At the closing service, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong presided over the ordination of the following Deacons: Pastor Emanuel Goh, Pastor Jeremy Yap and Pastor Tay Li Ping.

Rev Anthony Phua, Rev Collin See, Rev Jacob Lim and Rev Timothy Yong were ordained as Elders. The appointments of Pastors and District Superintendents were read out and will take effect from 1 Jan 2022.

In his sermon at the closing service, Rev Stanley Chua preached a sermon based on 1 Samuel 16:1–13 entitled “A Heart after God’s Heart”. He reminded the Annual Conference about God’s tremendous love for us, as shown in the way God displayed his love for the shepherd (and later king) David from the Bible.

“I believe with all my heart that God is still looking for a David and a people like John Wesley and the early Methodists—men and women after His own heart in our generation.

“I believe when God finds such people after His own heart, He can do it again like what he had done through John Wesley and the early Methodists,” Rev Chua said, encouraging TRAC to continue the legacy of spreading scriptural holiness, like John Wesley did during his lifetime.

“The hope of Methodism,” said Rev Chua, “lies with our generation.”

1

John Wesley, “Thoughts Upon Methodism”.

Trinity Annual Conference 46th Session

PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2022

District 1

District 2

District 3

District Superintendent

District Superintendent

District Superintendent

Rev Dr Jonathan Seet

Rev Reuben Ng

Rev Alvin Chan

Barker Road Methodist Church

Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church

Agape Methodist Church

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Wendy Watson

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Anthony Lee

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li

Pastors Rev Dr Daniel Koh Rev Lawrence Chua Rev Lai Kai Ming Rev Benjamin Fong

Pastors Rev Lee Yam Kai Rev Nga Mee Hee

Pastor Rev Jason Phua

Assistant Pastor Rev Emanuel Goh

Cairnhill Methodist Church

Assistant Pastor Pastor Gilbert Lok

Living Hope Methodist Church

Bedok Methodist Church

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Joel Yang

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Aaron Tay Pastors Rev David Gwee Rev Timothy Yong

Christ Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Edwin Wong Pastors Rev Dianna Khoo Rev Barnabas Chong Rev Daniel C Tan

Christalite Methodist Chapel Pastor-in-Charge Rev Shaun Chong Assistant Pastor Rev Tay Li Ping

Kampong Kapor Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Kenneth Huang Pastors Rev Tay Kay Leong Rev Anthony Phua

Pastor Rev Joshua Loo

Methodist Church of the Incarnation Pastor-in-Charge Rev Edmund Koh Assistant Pastor Rev Allan Lee

Paya Lebar Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming Pastors Rev Vincent Goh Rev Christopher Chin Rev Jacob Lim Assistant Pastor Rev Joey Chen

Pentecost Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Jonathan Seet Pastor Rev Collin See Assistant Pastor Pastor Isaac Tan

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr William Sam Pastor Rev Ling Kin Yew

Fairfield Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Wendy Tay Assistant Pastor Pastor Reginald Chan

Toa Payoh Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Benjamin Lee Pastors Rev Ming Feong Ching Rev Poh Zhi-Hui

Wesley Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Raymond Fong Pastors Rev Lim Jen Huat Rev Michael Tan Rev Lilian Ang Rev Chia Chin Nam Rev Gladwin Lee Rev Adrian Ng Rev David Ho Seng Hian Assistant Pastors Rev Benjamin Lau Pastor Clement Ong

Trinity Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Alvin Chan Pastors Rev Paul Nga Rev Sng Chong Hui Rev Byron Teo

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News ¢ Trinity Annual Conference 46th Session

District 4

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2022

District Superintendent

Rev Dr Edwin Wong

Director, Truthmin

Rev Byron Teo

Aldersgate Methodist Church

Assistant Directors, Youth Ministry

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Lynette Sathiasingam

Rev Benjamin Fong Rev Timothy Yong (Schools) Rev Allan Lee (Trackers)

Assistant Pastor Rev Jeremy Yap

Director of Young Adults Ministry

Covenant Community Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Malcolm Tan Pastors Rev Daniel Terence Yeo Rev David Ho Gim Pin

Rev Adrian Ng Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)

Rev Ming Feong Ching Assistant Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)

Rev Ling Kin Yew

Faith Methodist Church

Director, Seniors’ Ministry

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Reuben Ng

Rev Irene Thung

Pastors Rev John Benedict Foo Rev Peter Koh Rev Eddie Ho

TRAC Crisis Relief Coordinator

Rev Jason Phua TRAC Chaplains to TRAC TTC Students

Assistant Pastor Rev Chan Mei Ming

Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun Rev Dr Bernard Chao Rev Wendy Tay

Holland Village Methodist Church

Lecturer, Trinity Theological College

Pastor-in-charge Rev Jeremy Ong Pastor Rev Loretta Lim

Living Waters Methodist Church

Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun Rev Dr Bernard Chao On Sabbatical Leave

Rev Gabriel Liew

Pastor-in-Charge Rev Khoo Kay Huat

On Short-Term Sabbatical Leave 1 Jan 2022 – 30 Jun 2022

Assistant Pastor Rev Alex Chew

Study Leave

Rev Ivan Tan Rev Chan Siew Chye Rev Ian Lee Coordinator Peranakan/Indonesian Ministry

Rev Jimmy Wong Coordinator Peranakan Ministry/Indonesian Ministry

Rev Christopher Chin

METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY 2022

APPOINTMENTS MADE THROUGH THE BISHOP’S OFFICE

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) Rev Teresa Wilborn Missionary Pastor (Timor-Leste) Rev See Swee Fang

Director, Ministry in Schools

Executive Director

Rev Dr Aaron Tay Associate Director, Ministry in Schools

Rev Dr William Sam Rev Anthony Lee

Information is correct at time of printing.

Methodist Heritage ¢ Dr Anthony Goh is Chairperson of the Council on Communications, and a member of Bedok Methodist Church. He and his wife, Hui Ling, are passionate about Marriage Enrichment and Preparation Courses, and enjoy ballroom dancing. / Photos courtesy of MCS Comms

EVERYTHING

you’ve always wanted to know about The Methodist Church in Singapore (but were afraid to ask) General Conference

WSCS

MMS

MWS

(Bishop)

Schools

Other Agencies

ANNUAL CONFERENCES

CAC

ETAC

(President)

TRAC

(President)

(President)

46 LOCAL CHURCHES (Pastors)

W

e sometimes forget that we are not a loose association of independent churches, but part of The Methodist Church in Singapore

(MCS), which comprises not only of 46 churches but also schools and various agencies such as the Methodist Missions Society, Disciple Agency and the Methodist Welfare Society.

We are much larger than most realise, and serve the community in and outside of the church in many ways.

The Malay M

The Annual Conferences

ission in 1902

After Oldham founded the church mission in Malaya in 1885, we became the Malaya Annual Conference in 1902. In 1976, we became The Methodist Church in Singapore. We are autonomous; we are affiliated with but do not report to nor come under other worldwide Methodist churches in the World Methodist Council.

Rev William F Old ha

m

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EVERYTHING

you’ve always wanted to know about The Methodist Church in Singapore As a local church, you would fall under the oversight of one of our three Annual Conferences (called Annual because they meet every year): namely the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC); Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC); and the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC). Within each Conference, churches are grouped into Districts, and report to a District Superintendent (DS) who is an Elder of the Church.

The Annual Conferences were initially organised along language lines, but these distinctions have been blurred over time and local churches now conduct services and meetings in various languages.

The Council of Presidents of MCS for 2021–24: (from left to right) Rev Stanley Chua (TRAC), Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat (CAC), Rev Philip Abraham (ETAC)

Each Annual Conference has an elected President and four years in each quadrennium. This four-year period is

The General Conference, Agencies and Social Principles

because the highest governing body of MCS, the General

The General Conference oversees the three Annual

Conference (GC), meets once every four years. At these

Conferences and their churches (a local church is called

quadrennial meetings, a new Bishop of the General

a Local Conference) as well as various schools and

Conference is elected, as well as Annual Conference

agencies. Many members have attended the Disciple

Presidents and other office-bearers of the Church.

Bible Study, which is administered by the Disciple

Vice-President who hold the responsibility for a term of

Agency (DA) and serves as a common Christian education The Bishop guides and represents MCS as well as

curriculum

represents her in various non-Methodist organisations

commemorated 30 years of ministry in Singapore with a

and meetings. He or she is also concurrently the

Thanksgiving Service at Faith Methodist Church. 1

for

MCS.

The

Disciple

Agency

recently

overseeing Bishop for some regional countries. (He oversees the overseas!)

The Disciple Bible Study series

Another Agency you may have interacted with is the Methodist Missions Society (MMS), which looks after all our missionaries sent out by Methodist churches here. Appointment, training, safety and ministry of the missionaries is coordinated, deliberated and prayedover, and medium- to long-term planning is done for our Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was consecrated as the Bishop for the 12th quadrennium of MCS in December 2020

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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

various mission fields here. We in Singapore are the fruit of missionary work by Methodist missionaries.

Our Social Holiness is served by the Methodist Welfare

For early childhood education, the Methodist Preschools

Services (MWS), which runs nursing homes, a hospice,

(MPS) manages several kindergartens in church premises

family service centres, active ageing centres, senior

and seeks to provide holistic preschool education and care

activity centres, student care, a girls’ residence, as well

whilst constantly maintaining high standards through

as home care services. You may have participated in their

review, training and upgrade of staff and facilities.

many initiatives, such as Get Out of Debt (GOOD).

…and more You would also be familiar with the Social Principles which

We also have a Christian Columbarium at the Garden of

have been updated and adopted by the General Conference.

Remembrance at Choa Chu Kang, where our ashes may

Methodist Schools and Preschools

be interred, or meetings and retreats held in beautiful meeting rooms amidst the serenity of the venue.

To develop the skills and liturgical knowledge of how to use music in churches, the Methodist School of Music (MSM) runs courses for musicians, dancers, worship leaders and pastors, choirs, as well as audio-visual team members. It is co-sited with the Trinity Theological College premises at the John Wesley Centre in Bukit Timah.

Our well-known schools come under the Ministry of Education, but we maintain a church in each school’s premises, and have at least one chaplain for each school.

These chaplains are augmented by the Christian Ministry Staff (CMS) who work with the students in character, emotional and spiritual development. Religious Emphasis Week, Prayer Meetings and other nurturing activities are organised for students, staff and parents and are the unique characteristic of our Mission schools.

The Methodist Schools Foundation (MSF) helps in to

The Garden of Remembrance

raise and administer funds to maintain the facilities and infrastructure of our schools, as well as provides

There are also ministries organised at the Annual

bursaries, teaching equipment and other teaching aids to

Conference (AC) levels; ETAC and TRAC have AC-wide

supplement our schools.

Youth Ministries. ETAC Methodist Youth Fellowship conducts a service for all youth on every third Sunday of the month at Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church. Apart from organising retreats, it seeks to develop youth into leaders of tomorrow within the church as well as in the community. Each local church in ETAC has its own MYF committee and regular fellowship gatherings. TRAC has TRUTHMIN, which is known for its three-month-long TRACkers Youth Discipleship Programme and the annual Fusion Conference. These have been instrumental in setting the hearts of participants on fire for the Lord.

MMS celebrating its 30th anniversary in Nov 2021

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EVERYTHING

you’ve always wanted to know about The Methodist Church in Singapore The seniors are not left out, and CAC Seniors’ Ministry conducts weekly bible study and fellowship for seniors at both AC and local church level. Glowing Years Ministry (GYM) by TRAC also organises gatherings, worship and activities such as karaoke and outings to encourage fellowship and Christian growth for self, socially, spiritually.

All Methodist women are automatically members of the Women’s Society for Christian Service (WSCS), which is organised from the GC level down through the AC and the local churches. It has various programmes and activities across the three conference levels for women to be equipped in the areas of leadership and

If you would like to find out more about the history

servanthood for the general ministry of the church.

of MCS, we have a rich collection in the Archives and History Library with materials and objects of historical

Methodist Message is a publication of the General

significance in the Methodist Centre at Barker Road.

Conference, and produced monthly in both hardcopy and web-based media to keep all Methodists abreast

Methodists are also represented in the National Council

of development and plans in the body. Our website and

of Churches (Singapore), the Trinity Theological College,

social media presence on Facebook and Instagram are

the Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore, and various

also managed, in parallel to those of the local churches,

inter-denomination and inter-faith associations.

ACs and other ministries.

Together with the work of the local church such as Social Did you know that the annual Aldersgate SG event at

Concerns and Evangelism, Family Life, and what most

the end of May is one of the highlights of the General

readers would be more familiar with, MCS as a whole

Conference? It is open to all, especially Methodists. Guest

seeks to be the salt and light of the world. It is good to

preachers and speakers are invited to speak, and the event

know that we do not operate independently in a silo, but

culminates in a celebration service in which all the local

are part of a greater connexion in God’s kingdom.

churches from the three Annual Conferences participate.

For more information about The Methodist Church in Singapore, visit us at

www.methodist.org.sg fb.com/Methodist.SG @methodist.sg https://www.youtube.com/c/MethodistSG

TO SUBSCRIBE to our WhatsApp broadcast channel for updates, information and prayers, save +65 6478 4786 in your phone contacts as “MCS”. (Please note that you will not be able to receive broadcast messages without saving the number.) Then complete the form at The Methodist Festival Choir and Orchestra at Aldersgate SG 2019, the last time the event was held in person and without restrictions before the COVID-19 pandemic struck

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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

tinyurl.com/mcswhatsapp 1 Methodist Message, December 2021, https://message.methodist.org.sg/disciplecelebrates-30-years-of-gods-faithfulness

Church Life ¢ Audrey Ong is a Pastoral Staff member of Toa Payoh Methodist Church (TPMC). / Photos courtesy of TPMC

Presenting HAMOU vouchers to SBS TransitLink

Some of the participating stalls displaying HAMOUR posters

Have a meal on us TPMC Gives

W

hat happens when Toa Payoh Methodist Church (TPMC) worshippers exhibit one of our core values—that of generosity? We get an overwhelming response from our worshippers who gave so that we can bless the food business operators, low-income families and bus captains who operate and live in Toa Payoh.

Have A Meal On Us, or HAMOU, is one of the many TPMC Gives initiatives in which we serve and are a blessing to the community around Toa Payoh. Every year, as part of our church anniversary celebrations, we look for ways to bless our neighbours. These are organisations that serve the Toa Payoh community—for example, the healthcare organisations, schools, transport workers and food business operators.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have heard of how food and beverage (F&B) businesses were affected.

F&B operators at the coffeeshops around Toa Payoh Central shared that revenue was down, with some months going as low as 30 per cent since the pandemic started. So in 2020 and 2021, our anniversary projects were to bless the operators in these coffeeshops.

This year, we began with an initial plan to bless the stallholders by pre-paying at least 100 meals at each stall. These meals were served to low-income families supported by Care Corner Family Service Centre, Toa Payoh. The beneficiaries could redeem a meal at the participating stalls by presenting HAMOU vouchers from Aug to Dec 2021.

We were able to enlist 48 hawkers to join us in serving up at least 100 meals each to 50 beneficiaries. TPMC worshippers were challenged to give towards this cause, because we want to be a blessing in the midst of the pandemic.

What warmed our hearts was the generosity of TPMC worshippers who gave beyond what we targeted. With the excess funds received, we were able to do more.

Around the same time, news broke of the COVID-19 cluster at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange. Staff at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, especially the bus captains, had to put in extra effort and time at work. Business at the eateries at the bus interchange was also affected as there was generally less foot fall in the area.

To encourage our neighbours, the bus captains and the food operators at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, TPMC extended HAMOU to the Interchange. We pre-paid 2,500 meals at the bus interchange eateries and SBS TransitLink staff could redeem these meals using the specially-printed HAMOU vouchers in the months of Oct and Nov 2021.

In total, we were able to bless at least 100 low-income beneficiaries and 400 bus captains with 7,600 meals. One participating hawker shared with us through a simple text message: “I thank your church for the light shone to us during these difficult times.”

We thank God for those who contributed to HAMOU and for being a blessing to those in our Toa Payoh community. May TPMC be a blessing and enable others to encounter God’s love.

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News ¢ Amelia Leo is a Programmes Executive at the Methodist School of Music (MSM) Worship & Church Music Department. / Screenshots courtesy of MSM

Certificate in Christian Worship (CCW) Course 2021

CCW class of 2021

E

very year, the Methodist School of Music (MSM) runs a six-module course on Christian worship called CCW. At MSM, we believe that worship leaders cannot merely be skillful in singing or playing an instrument. They must be grounded in the biblical, theological and historical foundations of worship, in addition to being skilled in their service. They must also be acutely aware of the impact that worship has on the congregation’s spiritual formation, and the pastoral aspect of being a leader in the worship ministry.

The course is conducted over six months, with one lecture series and one practicum session per module. This year, MSM plans to launch an Intermediate Level of the course for those who have attended CCW previously and would like to pursue worship studies at a deeper level.

Here are what some of last year’s participants have to say about the course:

Timothy Goh, Wesley Methodist Church, CCW class of 2021 (English), Worship Leaders’ Track As someone relatively new to the worship ministry, I took up this course in hopes of learning more about worship—its heart, significance and forms. However, through the course, I have come to discover so much more, broadening my understanding of praise and worship: in learning about the relational habits embedded in songs; history and trends of worship; different types of services (i.e. thematic, liturgical, experiential); and discipleship through music.

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Particularly, two lessons from the various lectures and practicums resonated with me. Firstly, I learnt that worship is a significant discipleship tool that shapes the congregation towards Christlikeness.

Previously, I had only thought of worship merely as an “appetiser” to the sermon, preparing the hearts of the church to receive and listen to the message.

However, through the course, my perspective has shifted. Realising that worship songs themselves are imbued with theology, I have now come to see the worship set as an extension of the sermon, helping the congregation remember scriptural messages, God’s character, story and calling for us.

Beyond this, I have also gained clarity into the differences between a performer and worship musician.

While both seek the attention of the audience, the worshipper redirects this attention towards God and His word instead of the self. Working towards excellence, the worshipper also seeks to bring their best offering to the Lord; but in humility, does not seek to manipulate the congregation into a response but recognises that God is ultimately the one who convicts and moves hearts. These lessons have transformed me, helping me be more aware and intentional in my personal worship and ministry.

This course was really insightful and useful. I would definitely recommend it to those serving in the worship ministry. Whether one is an experienced leader or new like me, the course is rich in content and there are takeaways from which everyone can benefit.

Jasmine Loh , Charis Methodist Church, CCW class of 2021 (Chinese), Worship Leaders’ Track

made my spiritual journey sweet again in the midst of all this bitterness.

Through the six modules of study, as well as through attending MSM’s first episode of Conversations, titled “Online Worship: Reflections & Insights”, I discovered that we can only learn to worship through worship.

The six modules of CCW equipped me well and expanded my understanding of worship more. Since I came from a Baptist background, we normally give importance to the sermon alone. After attending this course, I realised that the entire worship order is equally important: gathering; word; table; and sending.

The most enjoyable part of the course was the morning worship services, as this was where I experienced firsthand the sacredness of worship, and witnessed what a smooth flow of worship looked like.

My favourite module was “Worship and Spiritual Formation”. How can the congregation’s spiritual life be nurtured and cared for in corporate worship?

It is through reading Scripture and understanding God’s Grand Story, as well as through remembering what God did in the past, what He is doing in the present, and what He will do in the future. Now when I worship on Sundays, it is as if I had an extra pair of eyes and ears to listen to what God is saying to me, as well as what He is saying to the congregation. I now experience personal worship and corporate worship in a different way.

Though I am not from the liturgical tradition, now I am starting to understand how all these worship styles can be blended: liturgical worship; thematic worship; and experiential worship. Liturgy brings worship into daily life as the work of the people in the service of God. Worship can shape us, transform us and make us disciples. We Baptists do not observe the liturgical year; however, I have come to understand how it helps us recall and celebrate the mysteries of Christ—His life, death, resurrection, ascension and impending return.

As a musician, I have learnt that we must first worship God personally before we lead others to worship. Even preparing for the worship must be the actual, personal worship, and not just technical preparation. The song choices we make must magnify who He is, what He has done and how we can respond to Him. Sacred musicians focus not on themselves but totally on God. Like Ethan and Heman of King David’s time, we must have a worship life, the attitude of training ourselves daily and training fellow musicians in order to produce excellent sound in worship. The most important thing is to let God speak through us (e.g. how Psalm 88 and 89 were composed by Ethan and Heman).

CCW class of 2021

Salai Nay Lynn Htun, Chin Baptist Church (Yangon, Myanmar), CCW Class of 2021 (English), Church Musicians’ Track

In spite of the importance of worship elements and excellent music, the heart of worship is the most important. I have come this far not only because of the lecturers have taught us, but also what we, as participants, have learnt from each other.

The year 2021 did not start well for me and my country.

As you all know, the COVID-19 virus still threatens us and the military coup has hurt us physically, mentally and spiritually. Questions have been raised among the Christians: Where are you, Lord? Are You not working?

Does God still exist? Does prayer work?

We are like the Israelites when they were in the place of Marah. Everything seems bitter for us. But as the tree made the water sweet, the CCW is the tree that

Module 5 Worship

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

| 21

News ¢ Text and photos courtesy of TRAC WSCS

God rest ye merry gentlewomen “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bone” (Prov 17:22 NKJV)

T

his was an especially appropriate verse chosen

by TRAC WSCS base their Christmas celebrations on in the midst of a long-drawn pandemic.

“Power of a Merry Heart” was held on the afternoon of 11 Dec 2021 (Saturday), with more than 200 ladies in attendance, eager to hear the message of joy and hope. In addition from individuals who had signed in to the online programme, there were two groups from the Oikos Helping Hand in the Philippines.

The time of worship began with two young ladies from Bedok Methodist Church (MC) who sang two lovely songs: “Great is the Measure of Our Father’s Love” and “So You Would Come”.

A group joining the TRAC WSCS Christmas celebrations from the Philippines

This was followed by Jemima Ooi’s sharing about “Joy in the Mission Field”. She testified of joy in the midst of abject poverty and suffering in a refugee camp in East Africa where she has spent eight years. Many families who had escaped war lived in squalid tents. While visiting a family, she was badly bitten by fleas and through her discomfort, God spoke to her of His compassion for those who had suffered so much more than flea bites. Their needs were so basic—merely blankets and walls to keep out the chill.

Jemima helped build a simple house and with the support of Singapore friends, more than 250 such homes were built. This is what joy is—He is with us, no matter how horrendous our circumstances!

THE LORD. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4). Our unchanging Lord Jesus, who is ever-present, promises that on His return, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. God knows what pains and trials we face. But there is hope, for Emmanuel, God with us, has come. This is not head knowledge but a reality He gives to our hearts.

Jemima Ooi sharing about her refugee work in East Africa

Rev Wendy Tay

Pastor Wendy shared a well-known photo of a horrifying scene during the Vietnam War in 1972. A young girl, naked and screaming after a napalm attack in her village, is seen running down the road in a Pulitzer Prize-winning image captured by a photographer. The girl, Phan Th Kim Phúc, survived but was physically and mentally scarred.

She was bitter and enraged by the unfairness of life that left her in pain.

Original refugee shelter

New home for refugee family

As we prepared our hearts for God’s message, we were serenaded by a team of young musicians from Bedok MC. This was followed by a word game, enjoyed by the ladies as they typed fast and furiously to be the first to answer.

Rev Wendy Tay, Pastor-in-Charge of Fairfield MC, shared God’s Word based on Proverbs 17:22. Joy, gladness and a merry heart is the medicine to heal our physical, mental and spiritual wounds. In contrast, a broken spirit wounds, afflicts and saps our strength. What determines or limits our joy? Are the concerns about family, health, jobs and the future eating us up?

In 1982, Kim Phúc read about Jesus. God, who took on human flesh, was mocked, tortured and killed. He understood her pain. As she invited Christ into her life, her inner anguish was released. She learnt to forgive. Her heart was healed. Though she still bears the scars, she experienced peace and now actively advocates for children who are victims of war.

Similarly, God offers us healing. Our dry bones can be replaced by a merry heart. Such joy and gladness cannot be taken away, for the power of the Resurrected Christ is the key to a merry heart. Pastor Wendy invited those who have yet to put their trust in Jesus to commit their lives to Him. With the words of encouragement and gladness ringing in our ears, TRAC WSCS President Neo Lay Tin closed the session, thanking all who attended.

Remember, Christ, our Saviour Was born on Christmas day…

O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

“Jemina Ooi’s sharing on her mission in East Africa surely must have touched many hearts.”

—Pauline Yeo, Paya Lebar MC

God tells us that we need not live in such a joy-less state. Some may try putting away negative thoughts but the failure to do so will only cause guilt. We may find temporary happiness in possessions, people or good health. However, the only lasting source of joy is IN

“This virtual event is honestly one of the best I’ve attended because I could see that it was specially crafted with so much joy, fun and God’s presence!”

—Theodora Ho, Bedok MC METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

| 23

Reach Out ¢ Welfare Services By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photos and visuals courtesy of MWS

LIFE STORY : MWS 40TH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SHOW

A CELEBRATION

of positive change, transformation and hope

I

n what was the culmination of a year-long celebration of Methodist Welfare Services’ (MWS) establishment 40 years ago, MWS held a virtual thanksgiving show

on 3 Dec 2021 that showcased some of the classiest acts in Asia to raise funds for MWS’ critical services.

LIFE STORY was a celebration of MWS’ Life Story of empowering people to have life to the full, and the many stories of positive change, transformation and hope witnessed through the hundreds and thousands of lives MWS has cared for.

Deborah Koh, caregiver to her late husband, a former patient of MWS Home Care & Home Hospice

Veteran powerhouse performer Frances Yip

More than 300 in the audience witnessed captivating

Methodist Festival Choir

performances by Kit Chan, one of Singapore’s most established and beloved artistes, and a rare appearance by veteran powerhouse Frances Yip, both of whom specially recorded their performances for MWS. In particular, Kit Chan shared how she learnt to “let go and let God”, and among several songs,

Kit Chan, one of Singapore’s most beloved artistes

performed one entitled “A Time for Everything”, which was inspired by Ecclesiastes 3:1–8.

Other performers included the Methodist Festival Choir, the non-profit arts group The TENG Ensemble, and Loaves & Fishes, a quartet comprising mother and son duo Imelda Teo and Joshua Low, and their good friends Chan Xingwei and Michelle Yap.

Loaves & Fishes

Auction of artworks co-created by MWS CEO Junie Foo, staff and beneficiaries

If the music was a balm for the soul, the beneficiaries’

Special guests who graced the event included Rev

life stories were faith-affirming. Especially powerful

Dr Gordon Wong, Bishop of The Methodist Church in

was the story of 64-year-old Mdm Deborah Koh,

Singapore; Mr Tan Kwang Cheak , CEO of the Agency for

who was caregiver to her late husband, a former

Integrated Care; and Mrs Fong Loo Fern, Chairperson of

patient of MWS Home Care & Home Hospice (MWS

MWS Board of Governance.

HCHH). Her story of overcoming fear and doubts, reconciliation in a broken marriage and a life set

40 years ago, a few Methodist volunteers were moved

free in Christ is testament to the power of MWS’

by the growing needs of the sick and poor in Singapore.

holistic care and commitment to our mission.

That seeded the establishment of MWS’ first centre—the

1

Methodist Home for the Aged Sick—that admitted its first To help raise funds, staff and beneficiaries from seven

six elderly sick in 1983. 40 years on, even with 21 centres

MWS centres and programmes co-created unique art

and programmes and over 8,000 beneficiaries, what has

pieces that were put up for auction. In addition, MWS

not changed is the mission to keep empowering those in

CEO Ms Junie Foo, whose art is treasured by collectors

need so that they may find life to the full.

in different continents, contributed six artworks specially created for this event. Audience could also

Truth be told, every life empowered translates to

donate for Thanksgiving Packages that comprise

improved circumstances for a whole family, a whole

curated culinary delights from the celebrated kitchens

community and potentially a whole generation. By God’s

of Les Amis Group restaurants, gifts from social

grace, may MWS continue to make lasting impact for the

enterprise partners, and donor acknowledgement.

next 40 years and more.

1

Read Mdm Koh’s story at https://mws.sg/mws40th-40-stories.

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

| 25

Missions ¢ Rev Derrick Lau is the Executive Director of the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). / Photos courtesy of MMS

Reflection on the

Missiology Landscape in the new year, 2022

Digital missions trip held between Gen4C, the Youth ministry at LHMC, and Song Roi Phee Preaching Point@Thailand Group photo of COSY hostelites

P

raise God for the dawning of a new year. 2022

Faith of our fathers! living still

offers

In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;

new

challenges

and

possibilities

for

the Missio Dei.

O how our hearts beat high with joy.

Whenever we hear that glorious word!

The early disciples, filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, spread the Message of redemption, reconciliation and restoration in Christ across vast lands and stormy seas

in

an

almost

insatiable

manner.

Alongside

the kergma [i.e. proclamation], the converts were taught the Word of God [didache] through the process of contextualisation that made the Message relevant to the prevailing culture and heritage.

While the disciples’ missiological endeavours conquered old mindsets and brought about a new and fresh understanding of the Kingdom of God, they also faced fierce opposition and hostile resistance. Through the ages, the pages of missiological enterprise in places and communities unfavourable towards the Gospel revealed sadly the price of propagating one’s faith, including the messengers’ martyrdom, e.g. Stephen, Peter and Paul, to name just a few. Notwithstanding that, the spirit of mission continued unabated.

The hymn writer Frederick W. Faber (1814–63) penned the spirit of those who remained faithful and persisted through fiery trials: 26

|

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

Faith of our fathers; holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death.

Today, the Gospel has penetrated every conceivable nation on this planet. We praise God for missionaries, pastors, preachers, tent makers, churches and mission organisations that relentlessly spread the Good News.

The Methodist Missions Society (MMS) continues to play her role in mobilising the Methodist community to collaborate and support the twin strategy of church planting and community development in this region with a single focus on lives being impacted by the love of Christ and their transformation serving to lead their families, communities and nations to the Lord too!

Our Lord Jesus proclaimed: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Matt 9:38). According to the Joshua Project, out of a world population of 7.84 billion, 41.8 per cent remain unreached. 1 And a significant percentage is found in our region! Will you pray about God’s call to go and share the Good News? Will you commit resources to advance the Kingdom of Christ to the least, lost and last?

QCMC session with COSY youth@Cambodia

Also,

a

first

MMS

Training

Committee

facilitated

interactions between Queenstown Chinese Methodist A game the COSY hostelites played to select who should be the next to share during the session

Church (QCMC) Missions and Young Adult leaders as well as the COSY youth@Cambodia. The online befriending programme spanning eight weeks in nine small groups

Will you prepare yourself to act decisively in response to

of four or five (COSY youths between Grades 10 to 12

God’s invitation to “tell it to the nations”?

and QCMC young adults) for an hour each week produced benefits far beyond our imagination.

Practically speaking, due to travel restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, it might not be feasible to

We thank God for His amazing grace and the diligent

visit the fields that we are fairly used to. Nevertheless, we

efforts of QCMC Young adults who were highly creative in

can provide resources for churches to do digital missions.

engaging and building relationships with the Cambodian youths through games, music, quizzes and more. While

For example, in partnership with Living Hope Methodist

they learnt about Cambodian culture, they empowered

Church (LHMC), a digital missions trip was held between

varied aspects of learning with different talking points

Gen4C, the Youth ministry at LHMC, and Song Roi Phee

each week. The COSY youths gave positive feedback on

Preaching Point@Thailand. The objective of the digital

how they learnt to be courageous and overcome fear

missions trip was to simulate a missions trip which

in sharing; to be honest and become more self-aware;

included cultural exchange, exposure and meeting a

to trust, respect and value others as well as to forgive,

need in the community.

exercise self-control, make decisions and be a leader.

The Gen4C youth and the youth at Song Roi Phee had

In other words, while doors are closed in the traditional

a wonderful time of fellowship and games, sharing

ways of doing missions, new doors have opened for the

stories of their culture and learning from one another

people of God.

despite the language barrier. The Gen4C youth took English

As MMS celebrates her 30th anniversary, we are reminded

lessons and hosting the session. We thank Ps Watit, the

of God’s faithfulness in leading us through the seasons

Pastor-in-Charge of the Preaching Point, and his wife

of growth and maturity. I challenge you to seek God’s

for helping with the translation and sharing a devotion

heartbeat for the world and welcome you to come

during this digital mission trip.

alongside in developing new and creative avenues to

ownership

in

leading

games,

conducting

reach the vast unreached peoples for Christ!

This trip’s takeaway is that missions is still possible even with the pandemic going on in the field. There are

Be connected with MMS

www.mms.org.sg/sign-up

still possibilities to explore in this digitalised world to continue touching lives and advancing the Gospel.

1

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/statistics METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

| 27

Relationships ¢ 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.

Belonging to a community “I don’t mind the Christian God, it’s the Christians that I

many believers seem to adopt a similar view of their

have a problem with!” A statement like this is unfortunate,

being in a church.

since Christ’s followers are supposed to be the earthly expression of God’s compassion and His presence. Clearly,

Service in one’s community arises out of a natural

many of us are not doing a good job of it.

extension of being served by it. Membership in a spiritual family implies being prepared to serve as well as being

Not only do some Christians turn people off from the

served. Such service can take many forms. Some are more

faith, we sometimes find the company of some believers

public, such as in teaching or ushering, while others are

so disagreeable that we remove ourselves from their

more private, such as showing concern to a member who

presence. Some believers leave one church for another,

looks downcast. And as we find our niche and serve, this

hoping to find it more welcoming and supportive. Some

becomes another reason for staying on in that community.

hop from one church to another when their favourite pastor leaves or is reassigned.

Being part of and serving in a community often calls for getting along with people who are easy to be with as

A commonly-held notion is that the community we join

well as with others who are challenging. Service does not

should meet our needs. Yet such expectations cannot

confer immunity from negative experiences in relating

always be satisfied. After becoming a parent, I felt that the

with others. Service may even open up areas of conflict—

Sunday School ministry in the church we were attending

some may challenge your teaching or wonder if your

was lacking and we then looked for a church that could

service is a declaration that you are holier than others.

cater to the needs of both adults and children.

I sometimes wonder why God, knowing that it can at Yet, a “consumeristic” view of church-going—to be

times be disappointing and painful, wants us to remain

spiritually fed, to get the weekly pick-me-up from a

in community. Is it a training ground so that when we

rousing worship service, or to have social needs met

get to Heaven we are better able to live with others for

by a community of caring like-minded folks—falls short

eternity? Or is it a lesson for us that unlike us, His love and

of what it means to be in a community. Belonging to a

acceptance of us is unconditional. Even when we complain,

community is also about sharing in its mission, work and

protest or even rebel, He never withdraws His love.

responsibilities.

So, the next time we are upset with a fellow member It is like being in a family. If a family is only about what

or find ourselves losing patience with another, just

it does for me, then during hard times, do I opt to be

remind ourselves quietly that God has a plan for us in

adopted by another family? Or if I have a falling out with

our community. His plan is for our good, no matter how

a sibling, do I quit my family and move to another? Yet

challenging it may feel.

28

|

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

Hymns & Songs ¢ Amelia Leo is a programmes executive at the Methodist School of Music, Worship & Church Music Department.

Build Your Kingdom Here

T

ake a look around your neighbourhood’s hawker centres, and you will realise something—more stalls are operating for shorter hours and for fewer days each week than compared to pre-pandemic times. At one level, this may seem unsurprising given the extent to which COVID-19 has affected businesses as a whole.

But at a deeper level, this trend—coupled with another trend of increasing resignations at the workplace—could be a manifestation of the “existential crisis” that has hit many during these times. More people are asking themselves: Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Is it just to work hard and get rich, or is there something more?

This “existential crisis” has not spared the Church. With congregants forced to adopt online church and avoid almost all manner of church-related physical gatherings since early 2020, many may be getting accustomed to living insular lives, with the “out-of-sight” Church community slowly becoming “out-of-mind”. This has caused many Christians to ask themselves: Who is the Church, and what is the Church for? What is the point of the Church, especially if I can worship God at home?

To address these questions, songs about the Church’s identity and mission need to be sung regularly. All of us need to be reminded that our calling as Christians is not merely to be individual followers of Jesus, but to collectively be the body of Christ—the Church. Furthermore, God’s plan is not just for the Church to have sweet communion with God through Christ. His plan also has a far-reaching, “horizontal” dimension, i.e. that of building His kingdom on earth, of renewing and restoring whatever is broken in this world.

The song “Build Your Kingdom Here” by the Northern Irish band Rend Collective brings across this point for us, and serves as a prayer asking God to empower His Church to fulfill its calling. In the first verse, the song starts off by asking the Holy Spirit to revive each of our hearts, so that our lives can collectively be used for heaven’s cause of reviving this earth (verse 2).

Gareth Gilkeson, the leader of the band, had this to say: “This is such an important song for us because we are asking God to build His kingdom here—which isn’t somewhere else…it’s in our hearts, but it’s also in our churches and in our community, and in our families.”* Many worship services may have gone online, and gatherings limited to small groups, but the Church’s identity and mission have not changed.

Whether gathered or scattered, we are the body of Christ, tasked and empowered to be like Christ in the world.

*emphasis added

The Methodist School of Music (MSM) equips and edifies both the individual and the church through music and the performing arts.

Find out more at msmusic.edu.sg.

Build Your Kingdom Here Come set Your rule and reign In our hearts again Increase in us we pray Unveil why we’re made Come set our hearts ablaze with hope Like wildfire in our very souls Holy Spirit come invade us now We are Your church We need Your pow’r in us We seek Your kingdom first We hunger and we thirst Refuse to waste our lives For You’re our joy and prize To see the captives’ hearts released The hurt the sick the poor at peace We lay down our lives for heaven’s cause We are Your church We pray revive this earth Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here we pray Unleash Your kingdom’s pow’r Reaching the near and far No force of hell can stop Your beauty changing hearts You made us for much more than this Awake the kingdom seed in us Fill us with the strength and love of Christ We are Your church We are the hope on earth Words & Music: Chris Llewellyn, Gareth Gilkeson, William Herron (Rend Collective © 2011 Thankyou Music) Listen at https://youtu.be/sbdJXKqVgtg or scan the QR code >> METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

| 29

Opinion ¢ 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). / Photos courtesy of Benjamin Lee

Wesley

on the Church “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.

F

or many Methodists, John Wesley is a theologian of

Church. For Wesley, the Christian life cannot be properly

the Christian life par excellence. Wesley’s entire

understood if it is not set within the context of the

teaching and writing ministry may arguably be said to

ecclesial community, the Church.

be focused on answering the question “What does it mean to be a Christian?” or, to put it differently, “What makes a

Wesley developed his understanding of the nature and

‘life’ Christian?”

mission of the Church throughout his adult life and ministry. As a number of scholars have noted, Wesley’s

What is often missed is the enormous contribution that

ecclesiology is rich and complex because it was shaped by

Wesley has made to ecclesiology or the doctrine of the

a variety of theological and spiritual traditions.

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The main source which informed Wesley’s conception

Besides these traditional characterisations of the Church,

of the Church is the Catholic tradition, but filtered and

there are several other distinguishing features in Wesley’s

mediated through the Anglicanism of his day. In addition,

ecclesiology that deserve our attention.

there was the believers’ church tradition (typified by the con-conformist Christian communities)—especially in the

For Wesley, the Church must be both evangelistic and

way it was instantiated by the Moravian Brethren, whose

prophetic. By “prophetic”, Wesley has in mind concrete

influence on Wesley is undeniable.

displays of unconditional love (agape) for the neighbour, a profound concern for the common good.

Finally, Wesley’s concept of the Church, especially with respect to church order, was also profoundly shaped by

Thus, the Church must not only proclaim the Gospel to

the writings of the early fathers of the Church, of which

the world. As part of her prophetic witness, she must

he was a lifelong student.

also serve society by reaching out to its most vulnerable members and by standing fast against all injustices. For

Wesley’s clearest definitions of the Church are found in

Wesley firmly believed that “the making of an open stand

his Explanatory Notes on the New Testament, which he

against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness which

started in 1743 and completed in 1754. Commenting on

overspread our land as a flood, is one of the noblest ways

relevant New Testament passages, Wesley described the

of confessing Christ in the face of His enemies”. 3

Church variously as “the believers in Christ”, “the whole body of Christian believers”, “the whole body of true believers, whether on earth or in paradise”.

1

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Wesley’s biblical conception of the Church is perfectly

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real and efficacious.2

O nly one life,grace a few years, “Baptism and Eucharist, taken together, refer us beyond body of Christian believers”—is by the of brief God at with its burdens, hopes, fears;ritual…to the much deeper sacramental theand Sunday once one, holy, catholic and Each apostolic.

Each with its days, I must fulfill, movement of life. For it is a movement of abiding more living for self or in His will; deeply (Baptism) in the divine life (communion)”.

Wesley’s interpretation of these traditional marks of the Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Church reflects the influence of the diverse theological Only what’s done for Christ will last. and spiritual traditions that have informed his ecclesiology.

Albert Outler has provided this helpful summary: •

•

This is certainly the emphasis of John Wesley’s sacramental - C.T. Studd ecclesiology.

The unity of the Church is based upon Christian

As the means of divine grace, the sacraments enable

fellowship (koinonia) in the Holy Spirit.

Christians to live the ecclesial life, which is established

The holiness of the Church is grounded in the discipline of grace which guides the Christian and brings him

in Christ and energised by the Spirit—a life lived for the glory of God.

to maturity from justifying faith to the fullness of sanctification.

•

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

The catholicity of the Church is defined the its universal Eachby with days, I must fulfill, 1 John Wesley, Explanatory Notes on the New Testament (London: Epworth reach of God’s salvation and the essential community living for self or in His will; Press, 1958), 680 (Galatians 1:13), 430 (Acts 9:31), 850 (Hebrews 12:23). of all true believers.

•

O nly one life, a few brief years,

Cited in be Howard Snyder, Signs of the Spirit: How God Reshapes the Church Only one life, ‘twill soon past, (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1997), 211–12.

Only what’s done Wesley, for Christ will last.

Explanatory Notes on the New Testament; notes on Matthew 11:5

The apostolicity of the Church is determined by the

succession of the teachings of the apostles in those who have been faithful to their witness.2

2

3

and Luke 7:22.

- C.T. Studd

Robert K. Martin, “Toward a Wesleyan Sacramental Ecclesiology”, Ecclesiology 9 (2013), 33.

4

METHODIST MESSAGE January 2022

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Poems ¢ Leong Kwok Thye is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and has been involved in the ministries of Scripture Union, the Bible Study Fellowship and the pastoral care programme of Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) and Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).

God is Our Refuge

The psalm is a prophecy of God’s response to turmoil that will occur.

Psalm 46

Mountains may shake with fury.

Nations rage, kingdoms will fall.

He makes wars to end that the earth may have peace.

Be still as God is in control.

God is our strength and refuge, Amidst the earth’s deluge.

Though turbulent waters roar, And the earth is no more.

Nations of the earth fall, God is aware of all.

He makes wars to cease, To give the world peace.

There need be no alarm, God saves the world from harm.

He will act and address The world’s awful mess.

Nations need to just behold, The Lord is in control.

Be still and know he is God. He is the Almighty Lord.

MCS Careers ¢ Join our team

The MCS Communications department

is looking for a DIGITAL

MEDIA STRATEGIST



Do you love connecting with people, have lots of creative ideas, and want to help to tell stories of Methodists and Christians in Singapore?

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Can you plan and create digital content for a wide audience?

Are you able to help Methodist Message go digital?

Can you create videos and podcasts?

Are you familiar with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?

Check out details for this job opportunity at https://tinyurl.com/dmsatmcs or scan the QR code >> ABOUT MCS The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) is a connectional church comprising the General Conference, three Annual Conferences, local churches, and various agencies and organisations. The General Conference (GC) is the highest body of the MCS, responsible for legislation, policy, and the overseeing of its various agencies, including the programme agencies responsible for education, missions, and welfare services .

www.methodist.org.sg

People ¢ Joshua Khoo is a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.

What does being a Methodist mean to you?

I

am blessed to have grown up in a family of Methodists. But being raised and rooted in a Methodist community does not make me the most “Methodist” person out there. I do not regard Methodism as a denominational difference but rather, it is about growing the one Kingdom of God. What matters most to me as a millennial is having a supportive community of people who are accountable to each other, where real relationships can flourish, and we can grow to be more Christ-like.

To me, being a Methodist means I am part of a large and exciting movement that believes we are the salt and light to the nations. This brings meaning to what John Wesley said: “Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” My life revolves around the Christian community, being a faithful disciple of Christ and the values I portrait as a Child of God. I am blessed to be equipped with spiritual gifts to be able to serve in various capacities in church. It has given me an opportunity to grow and enjoy the connectional relationship within our Methodist family. It is a great honour to serve as a photographer at MCS or CAC events, and a reminder that I am Methodist not just within my local church.

That’s why I feel that Aldersgate SG is an important event in the MCS calendar, as it is an annual keynote event that celebrates our heritage and sets our hearts on fire. Through the event, I have come to recognise how it is heart-warming to be in the presence of God, and the privilege of being able to worship Him in different languages. It is one Church coming together to celebrate and testify to the greatness of our Lord Who has blessed us with a rich history and heritage.

February

Looking Ahead ¢

Scan to see events online!

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE (EQUIP COURSE) 6, 12, 20, 27 Jan / 3, 10, 17 Feb 2022 (Thursday evenings), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Online via Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ytw4cpdh $100 per head. Fees waived for TTC Alumni (registration required).

Christian doctrine is an articulation of our beliefs that shape and characterise us as the people of God. It is our collection of shared beliefs that enable us to say “This is us!” The lectures will cover the following doctrines: i) Revelation and Scripture; ii) Creation and Covenant; iii) the Trinity; iv) the Person and Work of Christ; v) Salvation; vi) the Last Things and Christian Hope; and vii) the Church.

The coverage of these doctrines will be grounded in Holy Scripture, guided by Church tradition(s), and geared towards engaging contemporary issues and challenges. Students will gain a broad overview of the Christian faith and appreciate the importance of Christian doctrines for understanding our identity and spurring our practical living.

February

Organised by EQUIP

DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD THROUGH THE PSALMS 8, 15, 22, 29 Jan / 12, 19, 26 Feb 2022 (Saturdays), 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Online via videos published on above dates. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5emn8744.

(The link to access the videos will be under the “Additional Information” section of your registration confirmation email.)

Believers have been drawn to the Psalms because the Psalms express their feelings—both positive ones like joy and hope as well as negative ones, like despair and fear. But the Psalms cover more than emotions. They may be inspired by personal experience but they contain important teachings about God and how to lead a godly life.

The course will include the first three psalms as they lay the foundation for understanding the whole book of Psalms. Some favourite psalms will also be appreciated in a new light. For example, Psalm 23 as the “filling” of the “psalm sandwich” comprising Psalms 22, 23 and 24. These and other psalms have been selected to stretch our minds, stir our hearts and draw us closer to God in praise.

January

Organised by Eagles Communications

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION (VIA ZOOM) 19 Jan 2022 (Wednesday), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Online via Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/BOSMPS-0119-Reg Whatsapp Priscilla at 9220 8954

Find out how to declare God’s work from generation to generation as Mrs Lai Kheng Pousson shares from Psalm 145:4-7.

July

Organised by TRAC Seniors Ministry

D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE 2022: RECALIBRATE 29 and 30 Jul 2022 (Friday and Saturday), 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Online via Zoom. Register at d6family.sg Early bird price at $50 per head (until 13 Jun 2022). Thereafter $60 per head. Registration closes 17 Jul 2022.

Join this year’s line-up of speakers as they share D6 principles, strategies and best practices on generational discipleship and Family Ministry. Embark on a journey where you will learn to identify and establish healthy practices, and to honour God in the way you lead the families in your church.

Organised by SOWER Institute for Biblical Discipleship