Methodist Message: July 2017 Issue by Methodist Message

Vol 119 No 7 • JUL 2017

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ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 117/11/2016

Aldersgate SG 2017 ‘Catching the Flame’ of holiness pages 8-10

MCS Focus: MMS Amidst change, a mission unchanged pages 12-13

message.methodist.org.sg

PFS Chaplains Providing hope and comfort page 15

ETHOS CONVERSATION 2017

Looking forward to build racial and religious harmony Dean Koh is a member of Christalite Methodist Chapel. He is a writer/journalist by occupation and enjoys taking photographs.

ace and religion in Singapore took centre stage at the annual Conversation dialogue organised by the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity on 4 April 2017. The dialogue panel consisted of Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC); Dr Matthew Matthews, Senior Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); and Dr Roland Chia, the ETHOS Institute Steering Committee’s Theological and Research Advisor and Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College. Dr Chia, the panel moderator, kicked off the dialogue by asking Dr Matthews to share some significant findings from his extensive research on race and inter-faith relations in Singapore. Dr Matthews said that Singapore started off well. In an IPS survey some years ago, less than 10 per cent of those from the minority races felt that they received any worse service from the public sector because of their ethnicity. Ideologically, it has also been generally accepted that a multi-cultural society is good. While Singapore has made much progress in inter-racial relations since the 1960s, Dr Chia brought up a finding in a recent IPS survey that 40 per cent of the respondents felt that racial tensions had not gone away. Furthermore, 30 per cent shared that they had encountered an unpleasant experience with someone of

a different ethnic group. Dr Chia asked: What are the fault lines and contentious elements still plaguing inter-racial harmony in Singapore? Dr Matthews responded that the reality is fault lines do exist, not just in minority-majority relations but also with regard to perceived discrimination. Whether real or perceived, discrimination is real to the person who experiences it. He Continued on page 17...

COMING UP

The TRINITY Lectures 2017: Job and the question of unjust suffering By the Faculty Publicity Team, Trinity Theological College

t is a common adage that sooner or later, suffering will come knocking on our doors. The ‘appointment’ becomes exponentially much harder to bear when we believe that such pain has come to us unjustly or through no fault of our own. The question of unjust suffering has long troubled human civilisations and tested their brightest and best minds. But it remains the proverbial nut that refuses to be cracked by human wisdom. Indeed, the question becomes sharper when we believe in the God of the Bible. How can this God allow unjust suffering when He has the will and all the power to stop it? Does Scripture offer any solution to this enigma? If it is too much to ask for a resolution this side of heaven, can we nevertheless find resources in Scripture to continue living in faith, hope, and charity? The TRINITY Lectures of 2017 attempts to tackle this important topic. Using the Book of Job as the focus, the lectures will map out the key themes and explain how they have elicited different responses over the years. We may then discover what has been attempted before and gain fresh perspectives on how we may frame responses for our times. The invited speaker is Professor Seow Choon Leong (pic above right), the Distinguished Professor of Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt University located in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Professor Seow is the leading scholar in studies

relating to Job, and he happens to have been born and bred in Singapore. Perhaps this is a further reason why this year’s lectures are so significant. Much effort and expense has gone into organising these lectures by Trinity Theological College (TTC). And why, you may ask? It is TTC’s belief that we must offer our very best to help everyone, especially Christians, to make sense of the world today and to minister in it. In this regard, the TRINITY Lectures seek to bring cutting-edge Christian scholarship to Singapore, so that we may be encouraged and equipped to engage critically with the important issues of our generation. The lectures will be presented over four nights, from 24 July to 27 July (both dates inclusive), at TTC chapel. Mark the dates and come to the lectures to garner wisdom, if not for yourselves, at least for those you love or are ministering to. Admission is free. n TRINITY Lectures 2017 24-27 July 2017 (Monday-Thursday), 8-9.30 p.m. Trinity Theological College Chapel, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Level 4 Register online at www.ttc.edu.sg

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Let us have your views

Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Sze Chern, Chairperson, Council on Communications Editor Ms Grace Toh Sub-editor Ms Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Mr Jason Woo

Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg and if appropriate, your contribution could be published.

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

A holistic view of missions and evangelism Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference for two quadrennia from 2008 to 2016.

issions and evangelism are important subjects in Ecclesiology – the study of the Christian Church, its origins, roles, and relationship with God. Acts chapter two described the beginning of the Church, which was marked by the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. The Apostles then started preaching to the Jews from many other nations who had gathered in Jerusalem at that time. In the subsequent chapters of Acts we read of the Apostles – Peter, John, Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Mark – journeying to many different places to preach the Gospel, especially Paul who made three missionary journeys by land and sea to preach to the Gentiles, opening the way for the Gospel to reach the West. In Methodism, the purpose of the Church’s missionary work is to make disciples of Christ of all nations. Making disciples is more than saving souls. It is to have persons become Christ-like after knowing Jesus, and live in community manifesting His qualities in their lives, qualities such as kindness, righteousness, humility, love, holiness, and forgiveness. Methodism holds that God uses our Church to save persons, heal relationships, transform social structures, and spread scriptural holiness, thereby changing the world. Our missionary goal, therefore, is not merely to draw people to believe in Jesus and receive eternal life – the the salvation plan that God has prepared for mankind and the Gospel we are to preach. It is more than that. We are to make them disciples of Christ so that they will live a disciple’s life of goodness and kindness. When Christ instructed His disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations, He told them earnestly to “[teach] them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). It is clear that preaching the Gospel is more than telling people to “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). It

should also include all that Jesus has taught His disciples about the characteristics of a disciple. The role of missionaries, therefore, is to exemplify the Gospel in their lives and not simply to preach with their mouths. As they live and work among the communities in their missionary district, their life testimonies should demonstrate the essence of the Gospel and allow people to see Jesus in their lives. A distinguishing feature of Methodist ministry, simply put, is that we view the world as our parish and we strive to preach the Gospel in nations and cities. At the same time the Methodist Church also fulfils its social obligations through its social welfare ministry “because of its desire to be obedient to Christ in bringing the whole of life with its activities, possession, relationships and environment into conformity with the will of God”, as stated in its Social Principles, under ¶81 of The Book of Discipline. Our missionary ministry therefore, must not be solely concerned with preaching the Gospel while ignoring the holistic rebuilding of lives. It is thus necessary for the missionary work of local churches to be closely linked with the Methodist Missions Society at General Conference level, and for resources to be shared at the Annual Conference and local church levels, so that the entire missions and evangelism ministry of the Methodist Church will be able to function effectively. n

Picture by ryelo357/Bigstock.com

METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

CHURCH PROFILE

Paya Lebar Chinese MC:

A close-knit family church The Rev Wilfred Leow is Pastor-in-Charge of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church.

he humble beginnings of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church (PLCMC) can be traced back to amongst the remote attap villages located at Hougang in 1937. Today, 80 years on, God has blessed PLCMC with eight congregations across four languages (Mandarin, Hokkien, English, and Teochew). The church currently has a worship attendance of about 900. Two of our congregations are at our preaching point. As PLCMC first started with the Hokkien service, and subsequently added the Mandarin, English and Teochew services, we are very much a family church with some having three to four generations still worshipping with us. It is not unusual to see grandparents attending the Hokkien service, the parents at the Mandarin service and the children or even greatgrandchildren at the English or bilingual service(s). I myself am a 3rd-generation member of PLCMC and my children are the 4th. Our multi-generational aspect means that PLCMC is so much more than just a church – it is a community of families. As many of our worshippers grew up in the church, members are often related in one way or another to each other. At the same time, due to our different services, PLCMC is also a multi-lingual church. With this comes obvious multi-social differences. However, despite being a melting pot of cultures, I thank God for there is peace and harmony across our congregations. This harmony also extends across the clergy and leaders.

We continue our series of profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, we may discover more opportunities to forge cross-church partnerships and collaborations.

God-effected renewals Sometimes it may be tempting to think that dialect ministries have lost their relevance. That cannot be further from the truth! In fact, God moves in mysterious ways to cause a spiritual renewal. For example, our Hokkien service recently witnessed a child baptism, despite the fact that many of its worshippers are 70 years of age and older! We have seen parents who may actually be more proficient in Mandarin and English, but are drawn by the sheer camaraderie experienced amongst the Hokkien members. We also had young adults (in our Hokkien service, “young adults” refers to those around 50 to 60 years of age) succeed the previous leaders and they have given a new breath of life to the ministry. In fact, some of our ‘young adult’ Hokkien members are leading our ‘Praise Dance’ (see pic below right). Also, when it comes to singing the hymns, the Hokkien service actually provides the lyrics in both Hokkien and English. Spreading God’s love in various communities By the grace of God, PLCMC has developed strong roots in serving God over the years. We have nurtured a number of Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) pastors while also having successful social outreach ministries. Our leaders also serve in many Methodist Church and CAC ministries even though we may be only about 900 strong. Despite our various victories, there are still some challenges that the church will need to overcome. We are facing an aging population in Singapore. As such, there is an urgent

Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church (Chinese Annual Conference) 299 Upper Paya Lebar Rd, Singapore 534932 Sunday Services: 8.45 a.m. Mandarin (Lvl 4 Sanctuary) 10.15 a.m. Hokkien (Lvl 4 Sanctuary) 11.15 a.m. English Contemporary (Lvl 2 Sanctuary), 11.45 a.m. English Liturgical (Lvl 4 Sanctuary) 2.00 p.m. Teochew (Lvl 2 Sanctuary) Contact us: plcmc.org.sg or 6286-7243

need to grow the younger segment of our worshippers. With that in mind, PLCMC is in the midst of finalising our alteration and addition plans for our church building to create a more conducive and prayerful environment for our worshippers – young and old, new or otherwise. With all said and done, a church is nothing if it is not God-centred. It is therefore with faith that we take our steps forward in our work and ministries. Just as God has been with us thus far, we will labour on in the assurance that God will continue to be with us in His love and faithfulness. To God be the glory. n

Photos courtesy of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church

SAYS THE CAC PRESIDENT

Great Commission community The Rev Dr Gregory Goh was elected President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) in 2016 for the quadrennium. He joined the CAC in 1992 and has since served for 24 years. He is married to Irene Lim, a full-time teacher, and they have two daughters and a son.

Community that fulfils the Great Commission

hese days, churches cast their own vision and mission statements, which I believe is a good thing as each church has its own local conditions, history and culture. But no vision or mission statement can deviate far from a church’s most basic calling, which is to bring the Gospel to every corner of the world, that all peoples may become disciples of the Lord, and to pass on this faith to the future generations. The church, in essence, is thus a Great Commission community. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commanded us to “Go!” This is a command, a charge to take action. We are to be proactive and determined in bringing the gospel to all mankind. How do we go about doing that? We have many channels, such as Gospel Sundays, Chinese New Year or Mid-Autumn or Christmas Evangelistic Rallies, Alpha Course, and D2B (from Doubting to Believing) programme. We also try to be the light and salt in the world for Christ through various social services. But what is really behind all these channels? It is the disciple’s life. Not about programmes or events, but disciples’ lives The majority of outreach and evangelism ministry in churches is community-centred. Take for example evangelistic meetings – Gospel Sundays, Alpha Course, Gospel Tea Fellowships are either whole-church events or group evangelism. We tend to think that just by participating or inviting nonbeliever friends, we are indeed doing evangelism. Sometimes, church-organised evangelistic events unintentionally allow us to develop an attitude of dependence in doing evangelism. I am convinced that evangelism is not just an activity that disciples participate in, but rather evangelism should be a disciple’s life – an evangelist’s life. An evangelist, no matter where or when, never forgets to lead someone to Christ – whether it is an old classmate one bumps into on the MRT, or

a stranger asking for directions along the road, or the stallholder you meet frequently at the hawker centre. Every now and then, a high school friend would meet me for a meal, and we would catch up on the latest news about our families, and views on various current issues. A few weeks ago, he suddenly told me that next year when he turns 55 years of age, he plans to be baptised, and asked if I could baptise him. I was overcome with thankfulness for I knew his wife had been praying for him with great perseverance for many years. Keeping the fire of evangelism burning in our lives A disciple who lives out the life of an evangelist does not wait for the church to arrange or plan activities, but is one who multiplies disciples within his own circles. I know a brother who indeed lives out such a life. He started a football team and invited a few non-believer youths that he knew to come and play football with some youths from the church, thus providing opportunities for sharing the Gospel. Another brother who travels often always takes the opportunity to share his faith with others, no matter where he goes. Once, when he was on a flight, he shared his testimony with the stranger sitting next to him, and led him to accept Jesus Christ. Whenever you talk to him, you can sense his enthusiasm and joy in evangelism. Not long ago, we commemorated Methodism’s founder John Wesley’s revival on 24 May. He once said, “The world is my parish.” May the Methodist Church be an evangelistic community, fervent in testifying for Christ and bringing people to Christ. n Picture by georgemuresan/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

YOU & YOUR FAMILY

Be serious but not anxious 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 in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

t would be fair to say that most of us want to be good at what we do. The employee handing in a report he had been slaving over for days and nights will wait anxiously for his boss’ response. A young child who brings to his mother a new ‘toy’ he has fashioned waits expectantly for her praise. The wife who asks her husband about how she looks does not want to know if her dress fits, but if she looks good in it. Yet, there are people who seem not to care. They produce sloppy work, make no attempt to put their best foot forward, or even try to present the best of themselves to others. With these individuals, there may be a history of failure and disappointment. Often, it began with failing to win their parents’ acknowledgement and acceptance. When individuals feel that they cannot meet the expectations of others, some try harder while others simply give up. Those who are despondent may have internalised an image of themselves as failures, a reflection of the rejection they experienced from time to time. So, knowing just how important and devastating our responses can be, we should exercise care in what we say when responding to others. For instance, I try to pay careful attention and make sure my feedback to the students and counsellors that I coach is accurate and constructive. The training of these professionals in a field that is very demanding requires their commitment to continuing development. This is a vocation that demands that one deals with many unknowns. Yet in the face of such uncertainties comes the heavy responsibility of caring for the vulnerable and the weak. The combination of high expectations and heavy responsibility has caused many helping professionals to suffer high stress and compassion fatigue. It is no surprise that high burnout rate and job turnover are sadly common features in this line. How does one combat this?

This question brings to mind my recent coaching session with a fairly new counsellor. She was obviously grappling with wanting to do well, to get the approval of her supervisor and her clients, and perhaps even me. At the same time, her lack of experience and knowledge was beginning to show and this was another source of discouragement. As we talked, I impressed upon her that we had to be “serious” about our work. This statement troubled her even more. Then, knowing that she is a fellow believer, I said that we “don’t have to be anxious about our work”, appearing to contradict what I had said earlier. I hastened to explain that work, when surrendered to God, becomes His work. If it is the Lord’s work, He will give us His wisdom and strength. Who amongst us does not want to have the guidance of the Counsellor of counsellors? With such infinite guidance, nothing can go amiss. If it is the Lord’s work, then we need not worry about the outcome. All that is required of us is that we faithfully avail ourselves for His use, do our best and leave the rest to Him. It also helps to remember that our Lord pays as much attention to our efforts as to the outcomes. When we remember to work faithfully with however much or little He has given us, we can be assured of His approval. n

The combination of high expectations and heavy responsibility has caused many helping professionals to suffer high stress and compassion fatigue.

Picture by Kurhan/Bigstock.com

WELFARE SERVICES

Man with one wish By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team

he eyesight of 74-year-old Mr Ler Eng Leong is so poor that he can only see and count fingers held directly in front of his face. His entire world is a blur. He can only discern vague shapes in his immediate environment, from the furniture and objects in his home, to the roads and trees outside. Yet, the former carpenter chooses to live alone in a tworoom rental flat in MacPherson, which has been his home for more than 10 years. At his advanced age with no family and few material possessions, he prizes his freedom and normal routine above everything else. He enjoys sunshine, fresh air, walking to the neighbourhood hawker centre for his meals, and meeting his friends. “I like going out for strolls because time passes faster that way. I don’t want to be cooped up indoors,” he says. If it were not for MWS HomeJoy’s timely intervention last year, Eng Leong would not have been able to continue leading this carefree lifestyle. In early 2016, he suffered a spinal fracture sustained from a fall and was treated at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. As he had no family to take care of his recuperation, the hospital referred him to MWS Homejoy’s Home Nursing service, which began to visit him in August. Over the next few months, Eng Leong’s vision continued to deteriorate, and in late 2016, he underwent eye surgery that turned out to be unsuccessful. As all his hospital appointments had ceased by then, MWS HomeJoy took up the role of his primary care physician through its Home Medical service.

A doctor started visiting him once every three months to monitor his existing medical conditions, which include low blood pressure, and to ensure that his history of gastric ulcers, anaemia, malnutrition, and dehydration was kept at bay. With his severely impaired vision, Eng Leong was not confident about making his own way to the polyclinic to fill his prescriptions anymore. He also occasionally forgot to take his medications. To address this need, MWS HomeJoy began helping him fill his prescription at the polyclinic through its Home Personal Care service since January 2017. Now, a nurse also visits him to conduct basic health checks, deliver his medications and supplements, and pack them into the required dosages. Today, Eng Leong is a healthier and happier version of his old self. He has resumed his cherished daily strolls around the estate, living his one wish to be at home, in his neighbourhood. n MWS HomeJoy provides a full suite of home-based medical, nursing, therapy and personal care services to frail, homebound seniors like Eng Leong. Its service boundary covers Eunos, Geylang, Kallang, Circuit Road, North Bridge Road, Dakota and Choa Chu Kang, where there is a higher density of needy and cchronicallyill seniors living in their own homes. This number is expected to increase in number in view of Singapore’s rapidly ageing population. Help MWS HomeJoy continue its work of serving frail, lowincome homebound seniors by making a donation at give. mws.sg. For enquiries on its range of services, drop us an email at ce@mws.sg.

Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

HOME

‘Catching the Flame’ of holiness at Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his three cats along with a good book.

The legacy of a ‘strange’ warmth

he shofar’s hum on the evening of 21 May signalled the start of the Aldersgate SG 2017 Sunday Celebration at Paya Lebar Methodist Church (PLMC) amidst a heavy downpour. However, the deluge could not keep away the crowd that numbered about 1,000 who quickly filled PLMC’s sanctuary. For 15 years, the Singaporean Methodist community has gathered at the annual Aldersgate service to commemorate the day when Methodism’s founder John Wesley experienced a personal revival, a “strangely warmed” feeling in his heart that assured him of God’s grace and redemption. With his faith in Christ renewed and bolstered, John, together with his younger brother Charles, kick-started Methodism in England more than 250 years ago in 1738 – a movement that would spread across the six continents and touch the lives of a multitude of people today. Catching the flames of Holiness This year’s Aldersgate SG events were centred upon the tagline “Catch the Flame: The Wesleyan Pursuit of Holiness”, a theme that proved relevant in this day and age of uncertainty and undesirable influences that seek to draw our focus away from God, who is holy. Only by abiding in Him and living a life of holiness can we find joy and satisfaction. In his opening message titled “The Joy of Holiness”, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung placed firm emphasis on the importance of holiness in the lives of not just Methodists, but also disciples of Christ. “John Wesley’s methods of evangelism were not pompous or loud; he was not one who fancied empty slogans or highbrow messages. In fact, John Wesley’s brand of theology espoused practicality and exhorted holiness as an important virtue of the faithful. When he wrote his explanatory notes on Psalm

24, he defined holiness as part of a person’s lifestyle as one lives out the Christian faith,” said Bishop Dr Chong, who gave his message in Mandarin which the Rev Jasper Sim translated simultaneously in English (see inset pic below by PLMC Comms). The Bishop continued, “Holiness is not just about our behaviour in the sanctuary, but more of how we live a godly life, and how seriously we regard godliness. Outward and inward holiness are inextricably linked, as the heart is the source of all our actions and thoughts. If our hearts are pure, it will be reflected in our daily lives. A pure heart is a pre-requisite to living a holy life.” His sermon was drawn from Psalm 24, which reading was accompanied by a dance interpretation. The service also saw vibrant participation from the Methodist Festival Choir, the Methodist Festival Orchestra, and Filipino, Indonesian, and Tamil groups.

Aldersgate SG 2017 Ms Debra Yap of PLMC, a first-time attendee at the Aldersgate SG celebrations, said: “I praise God for the fact that despite coming from different churches, we are able to gather this evening to pray and worship in unity. It is indeed a blessing to see members of all three Annual Conferences in the same hall, singing the same songs of worship, and showing the true meaning of being in the Body of Christ. The entire service left me feeling blessed and on fire at the same time – it was an experience that will not be easily forgotten.” The evening also saw three pastors – the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat, the Rev Dr Jonathan Seet, and the Rev Lim Jen Huat – receiving their 25-year Long Service Awards. A moving moment was when the whole congregation rose and, with flickering LED candles in hand, read together the Aldersgate SG Prayer of Commitment. The prayer had earlier been distributed to all Methodist churches so the entire 43,000-strong Methodist family could read it in solidarity during their worship services that very same day. The Sunday service was a precursor to two nights of lectures given by keynote speaker Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon, who spoke on “The Face of Holiness” and “The Power for Holiness”. Throughout both his lectures on 23 and 24 May, Dr Solomon adroitly weaved in several relevant Wesleyan hymns as well as John Wesley’s own sermons and writings to lend weight to his points. The hymns not only kept the sessions engaging, but also bore witness to the songwriting talents of Charles Wesley, who was able to incorporate and summarise important Christian ideas on holiness in these memorable forms. The lectures, which saw more than 800 attendees per night, also featured Q&A sessions where Dr Solomon fielded questions from attendees (see selected questions in sidebar). The Face of Holiness Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon began his first lecture with one of John Wesley’s most famous quotes, “The first priority of my life is to be holy, and the second goal of my life is to be a scholar.” Wesley, the founder of Methodism, distinguished himself from the theologians of his day by being especially interested in the concept of holiness and how we can incorporate it in daily living. Wesley defined holiness as ‘Christ-likeness’, for Jesus is the perfect face of holiness. He emphasised that as believers, our eyes are to be kept on Jesus so to grow into holiness as we imitate Him. However, we cannot express ‘Christ-like’ holiness without first undergoing the process of Christian salvation. Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon outlined the salvation process as one that begins from justification (what God does for us in forgiving our sins), continues in sanctification (renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Spirit, received through faith in Jesus Christ), and ends with glorification (the display of perfect Christian love that is wholly Christ-like).In all the stages, grace – the undeserved favour of God, and God’s enabling power – is needed. Dr Solomon rounded up the first lecture saying, “If we are serious about growing into Christ-likeness, we must expect suffering and setbacks, allowed by God not to punish us but to shape and strengthen us, to mould our character into permanent shape.” “Thus, when we pray, it is more important not to ask for our uncomfortable circumstances to change, but for God to shape our character. Hebrews 12:10 tells us that ‘…He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness’, but for this to even happen, we need the Holy Spirit.”

Audience Q&A with Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon Here are some questions that were posed to Dr Solomon after his two lectures on holiness. Q: How can we as individual Methodists and as a Methodist church love God more perfectly? A: The love for God comes from knowing God, because knowledge of God and the love for God are closely connected. One of the reasons why we do not love God is because we do not know God that well. We also need to overcome our own sinful tendencies to love ourselves more than God. In a sense, we need a spiritual Copernican Revolution where we will see Christ as the centre of our universe. So the more we recognise this, the more we can come to love Him. Q: How can we increase in holiness as a Church? A: I think the biblical answer lies in the phrase, “the fear of the Lord”. As we all know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Acts 2:42 described four things that the early Church did – attending the Apostles’ teachings, prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread – but immediately after that we read about there being a great awe amongst the believers. The word “awe” is not like how we define it in modern terms; rather it comes from the Greek word phobos which meant “fear”. And there was much fear and trembling in the early Church. I think that contributed to their holiness. Q: How does a father lead his family in holiness? A: In Deuteronomy 6, there is a lot of guidance on how parents should bring up their kids in the fear of God, and in that book there is something we ought to notice – a quote that says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” (Deut 6:4-6, NIV). God must already be in the hearts of the parents before everything else. So I think the best way a father can lead his family in holiness is to be holy himself.

Continued on page 10... Photos by Leo Celino and team unless otherwise specified METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

HOME ...continued from page 9

The Power for Holiness What exactly drives us to be holy? Although God has called us to be holy (see 1 Pet 1:16), it is still an intrinsic and personal choice that must be driven by a desire or a force. “The character of Christ cannot be manufactured by self-effort,” said Dr Solomon. “Holiness is achieved by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.” Quoting John Wesley, Dr Solomon said, “The Holy Spirit is the cause of all holiness in us; enlightening our understandings, rectifying our wills and affections, renewing our natures, uniting our persons to Christ, assuring us of the adoption of sons, leading us in our actions; purifying and sanctifying our souls and bodies, to a full and eternal enjoyment of God.” Revealing Christ in our lives Dr Solomon listed three visible ways that we manifest Christ in our daily lives – surrender, obedience, and the bearing of spiritual fruit. Christian maturity does not come with self-effort, but by continuing surrender to the rule of Christ and the work of the Spirit within us. However, our sinful nature (the flesh) will sabotage such attempts. Not only is it active when one is openly sinning, but it is dangerously and subversively active when we try to be religious. We are to ‘live by the Spirit’ – which we can do so if we submit to the rule of Christ by dying to the sinful self. self (Gal 5:24). We show obedience when we exhibit the disciplines of waiting and patience which are important in the Christian life, especially in our increasingly impatient, ‘quick-fix’, and restlessly activist modern culture.

Obedience can also be seen when we engage in good works in tandem with our faith. We are not to give up doing good, but continue to do good unto all people (Gal 6:9-10). It is important that we do not end up trusting in our good works as a basis for our salvation. After all, we are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works. Bearing spiritual fruit is the natural consequence of being in submission to the rule of Christ and being obedient to His will. “Ultimately,” said Dr Solomon, “how we bear spiritual fruit will come from how much we are living in Christ; maintaining a firm relationship with Him, and being wholly Christ-centred. Imagine a solar system where the planets revolve around the sun – so shall we do the same with Christ being in the centre of our lives.” n

HYMNS & SONGS

Let’s join God’s rescue mission Dr Yeo Teck Beng is Principal of the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.

visit to the New York City’s Bowery Mission one night in 1869 provided Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) with the inspiration for one of her finest hymns. The Bowery Mission is a rescue mission that in the present day still provides food, medical services, and employment assistance to the working poor and homeless men, women, and children. ‘Rescue the Perishing’ was written soon after Fanny’s encounter with a young man at the Bowery Mission.1 Recounting her personal experience, Fanny wrote, “I was addressing a large company of working men one hot summer evening, when the thought kept forcing itself on my mind that some mother’s boy must be rescued that night or he might be eternally lost. So I made a pressing plea that if there was a boy present who had wandered from his mother’s home and teaching, he should come to me at the end of the service.”2 An 18-year-old young man came forward and said, “Did you mean me, Miss Crosby? I promised my mother to meet her in heaven, but as I am now living, that will be impossible.” They prayed and he rose from his knees with a new light in his eyes, and said, “Now I can meet my mother in heaven for I have found her God.”3 Jesus said, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:3, NIV). Many are drowning in the sea of iniquity and they will perish unless we reach out and rescue them with the Gospel lifeline to Jesus who is mighty to save (stanza 1). Sinful men may knowingly and willingly reject the Saviour, but Christ still patiently pleads (stanza 2) and reaches out to them with His nailpierced hands. In the final stanza of this inspiring hymn, the ‘Queen of gospel music’, as Fanny was often called, wrote that it is our duty to rescue the perishing. Jesus has given us the Great Commission and we are to labour patiently, trusting God will lead them back to the ‘narrow way’. Let us pray that God will use us to rescue the perishing! n

rnest K. Emurian, Living Stories of Famous Hymns (Grand Rapids, MI: E Baker Book House, 1955), 107.

enneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily K Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications, 1990), 285.

rnest K. Emurian, Living Stories of Famous Hymns (Grand Rapids, MI: E Baker Book House, 1955), 107.

Rescue the Perishing

(United Methodist Hymnal, #591) Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Refrain Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive; plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently. He will forgive if they only believe. [Refrain] Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will vibrate once more. [Refrain] Rescue the perishing, duty demands it. Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; back to the narrow way patiently win them, tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. [Refrain] Words: Fanny Crosby, 1869 Winkworth, 1858 Music: William H. Doane, 1870

Picture by jgroup/Bigstock.com

METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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MCS FOCUS: THE METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY

Amidst change, a mission unchange Noel Tam is the Methodist Missions Society’s Home Director and the Country Coordinating Officer for Nepal. He worships at Pentecost Methodist Church.

“Your faithfulness endures to all generations” Psalm 119:90

n every aspect of our lives, change is inevitable. The same can be said of missions. People will change and how we do things to achieve our missional objectives may change due to context and circumstances. But what never changes is the message of salvation, God’s faithfulness and love for each of us, and the blessings He desires to bestow on us. Throughout the Old Testament from the time of Abraham, God promised to bless every nation because we belong to Him, the Maker of heaven and earth. This same Gospel message continues through the New Testament with Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer, giving us the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”. This is the message of God’s redeeming love and faithfulness and His abundant grace; a message for all nations! His desire is for us to worship Him and give all glory and honour to Him, and in the process, be blessed by Him. The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), recognising the need for an agency to spearhead missions, established the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) as its missions agency on 30 Sep 1991. MMS was given the mandate to fulfil the Great Commission, to bring the Gospel to the unreached, and to establish disciple-making/ multiplying indigenous churches in our designated mission fields.

As the first home-grown missionary sending agency, MMS is required to “work with local churches as its partners to promote the service opportunities and needs of mission fields selected by the Society” (The Book of Discipline, ¶371.3). Over the last 25 years, MMS’ objectives have been achieved in part through committed and able leadership, both in the Home Office and the mission fields. Partnership with our local churches has also contributed significantly to MMS’ integrated approach in church planting and community development. Today, MMS is present in seven mission fields, with 31 missionaries and three associate missionaries. There is a positive trend of younger missionaries with families joining MMS and are now working in our mission fields in Timor-Leste (pic above right), Cambodia, Thailand (above), and Nepal. The work of MMS in the mission fields is about transforming lives and the communities through Christ. MMS missionaries focus on building their personal and spiritual character, living Christ-centred lives, and mentoring and building life-long relationships with new believers. The Singapore Mission School in Laos.

ed Ministry in East Asia.

We celebrate and give thanks to God for His faithfulness as lives are being transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit. This generation of believers will contribute significantly to their communities and societies and become effective witnesses for Christ. As a new season dawns upon MMS, there will be challenges that come along the way. LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND RENEWAL With the commencement of the new quadrennium (2017-2020), MMS has a new Executive Committee and Chairman. Now attention must turn to developing an effective succession plan to replace the Executive Director and Area Directors who will be leaving MMS in the next two to three years. Equally challenging is the need to identify and prepare new Country Directors for leadership in our mission fields. MMS is confident that God is faithful and He will provide, but we will exercise due diligence to prepare for this. NEW COMPLEXION OF OUR MISSION FIELDS The rapidly-changing political and economic situations in our mission fields will require MMS to review our approach and strategies in each country. This process is underway to ensure that our ministries are relevant, effective, and financially sustainable. BUILDING A COHESIVE AND CHRIST-CENTRED TEAM OF MISSIONARIES MMS will be focusing on developing our present pool of missionaries as well as recruiting new ones. As they seek to become imitators of Christ, and work together to witness in local communities, they will reflect and embody the Wesleyan Principles of Social and Personal Holiness. ENGAGING OUR METHODIST COMMUNITY MMS is fortunate to have some of our Methodist churches partner and support our ministries in the mission fields. But many more are needed as the Lord leads us into new ministries and new mission fields. MMS will focus on working with Methodist churches to promote the service opportunities and needs of the mission fields. We pray for more local churches to partner and support MMS. Whilst people and methods may change, God’s redeeming love remains unconditional and unchanged. As lives are touched and transformed, we pray that they will bear greater fruits in their local environment and even beyond as they witness for Christ. We are assured of God’s faithfulness, and His unchanging love and grace from everlasting to everlasting. That is the message that we bring to our mission fields. To God be the glory! n

LIVES TOUCHED IN THE MISSION FIELDS In Cambodia, Helen Sakhan benefitted from the excellent education she received in our Methodist School of Cambodia. She learnt about the importance of developing good character and values. More importantly, she now knows God in a personal and intimate way. After she graduated from school, she started to work in a Non-Governmental Organisation where she is giving back to society and helping the poor and destitute. In Nepal, Rojina was only nine years old when she moved to Sophia’s Home where she grew up in a Christian environment, learning about God’s love whilst receiving her education. After completing her education she worked as a pre-school teacher. She is now married to a young Pastor serving in the Methodist Church in Nepal and has a four-year-old son. Both she and her husband are serving in the church and the community, where they share God’s love and faithfulness to the people around them In Thailand, Jack Resachai Yoseh was in the first batch of boarders who came to our Mettakij Hostel in 2004 to seek shelter and a chance to continue his secondary school education. After his graduation, he returned to serve as an Administrative Assistant in our Vineyard Methodist School. He is married to a teacher and they have a son. In Timor-Leste, Olinda Madeira joined Sundermeier Home in 2016 and will be graduating from high school soon. She intends to continue her studies in the university, so that she can contribute to her family and community. She is developing well in a Christian environment, mentored by loving house-parents. She, like other hostelites, appreciates the opportunities provided during her stay in the Home and looks forward to be of service to the community.

Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides: * Excep(onal examina(on results; very strong value added achievement; and an all-round holis(c educa(on * 50:50 mix of local and interna(onal teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage * Small class sizes with overall student : teacher ra(o of 8.7 : 1 * 40 diﬀerent CCAs – 16 Spor(ng; 12 Visual and Performing Arts; 12 Special Interest Groups * 25+ overseas trips per year * Over 200 formal student leadership posi(ons * Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme

For more informa+on, please contact Joseph Ng or Stephanie Hanrahan at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinterna+onal.edu.sg

What the Parents say …

“We value the school’s deep heritage and strong values … their holistic approach provides an encouraging learning environment.”

ACS (Interna(onal) Singapore Mr Rob Burrough Principal is a dis(nc(ve interna(onal secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other na(onali(es, oﬀering an all-round Mrs Tan Siew Hoon English-based educa(on for Vice Principal students aged 12 - 18 years leading to the Interna(onal General Cer(ﬁcate of Secondary Educa(on (IGCSE) and the Interna(onal Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP).

Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal

Achievements include: •  Top students achieved 45 / 45 perfect score in IB Diploma in each of the past two years. – Winnie Cruz-Ding

“Our daughter has become a person that we feel is ready for the world.”

•  19 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examina(ons over each of the past eight years •  Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universi(es for the past eight years

– Keith and Nancy Tan

•  Admissions to top universi(es in the UK, US, Australia “The different teaching methods, the high quality of teaching, and Singapore

the promotion of individual character and personality, and the obvious enjoyment of school … made our daughter’s transfer most worthwhile.” – Vincent and Germaine Leong

“We love the smaller class sizes … and the many approachable, friendly, passionate, and dedicated teachers.” – Cecilia Chau

•  PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ level students achieve outstanding value-added examina(on results for the IB Diploma with improved pathways to good universi(es •  Successes at na(onal level this past year in Archery; Touch Rugby; Cycling; Swimming; Chinese Drama; Deba(ng; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Taekwondo; Volleyball; Wushu.

HOME

Providing hope and comfort to prisoners Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his three cats along with a good book.

“And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ ” Luke 23:42-43

rison ministry does not usually come up when people talk about the works of the church for the socially outcast. Despite being understated, it is a ministry that can bring significant changes in the lives of prison inmates, lives that are often deemed to have no hope, no worth, and no meaning. Only God can transform their lives – just as Jesus Himself did for one of the thieves being crucified beside Him. In His final act of ministry, Jesus gave the dying man hope. That same hope is being echoed by prison chaplains in jails all around the world today. At the Prison Fellowship Singapore (PFS) Commissioning and Dedication Service on 28 April 2017, seven men and women were commissioned as PFS Chaplains. In his sermon during the service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Bishop Rennis Ponniah, President of the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS), said: “As Chaplains, you are to possess inspired listening, be a source of instructive teaching, and have the capacity to impart hope, hope that has the power to transform and the knowledge that such a power comes only from above.” Prison chaplains are often the very first and last lines of support for the inmates during their times of pain and fear. The chaplains help to still hearts and strengthen resolves as the prisoners serve their sentences or for some, their final days on death row. As such, they have an important role in extending God’s love, grace, and care. Prison chaplains also have to ensure that theological standards are upheld within their ministry as well as provide pastoral leadership and care to both staff and volunteers. The recently-commissioned PFS Chaplains hail from various denominations across Singapore. They will serve in PFS for four years. Two of the seven are Methodist pastors – the Rev Dr Lorna Khoo and the Rev Chng Siew Sin. The Rev Dr Khoo will be involved chiefly in strategic planning. The Rev Chng will be working with the ThroughCare ministry, which ministers in prison and in aftercare support groups. Both have been actively involved with prison ministry for years – the Rev Dr Khoo since 2002 and the Rev Chng since 1984.

The Rev Chng shared about his PFS ministry with Methodist Message. He said: “I have been involved in Prison Ministry since 1984 when I was appointed by the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) to be a full-time PFS prison chaplain for a year. The Rev Khoo Siaw Hwa had retired then and I was asked to help the Mandarin side as the Rev Henry Khoo, his son and successor, was not fluent in Mandarin.” “During that time, I headed the Sunday chapel services. During the weekdays, I would visit and counsel prisoners, including those on death row, with the Rev Henry Khoo. Sometime around 2011, I returned to PFS as an honorary chaplain. And here I am now with the new chaplaincy team, ministering to long-term prisoners.” Elaborating on her role, the Rev Dr Khoo explained: “I was asked to be the Lead Chaplain of the team and that entailed reestablishing the chaplaincy team, leading and chairing the various meetings that will come up. So instead of hands-on, frontline ministry within the prison, PFS has tasked me to be one of two ‘strategic planning’ chaplains out of our new group of seven.” “For my role, I will be involved in drafting theological guidelines and good governance practices for the PFS volunteers who come from different denominations and hold varying Biblical orientations. Besides that, I help develop devotional messages and provide spiritual support for the PFS staff.” n

Photos courtesy of Prison Fellowship Singapore METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013

Photos courtesy of Faith Kindergarten

ETHOS CONVERSATION 2017 ...continued from page 1

elaborated that the same IPS survey revealed at least a quarter of the minorities felt discriminated against in their jobs and some said they had to work a lot harder. While racial stereotypes persist, Dr Matthews voiced optimism as he observed some younger people fighting against such stereotyping, and engaging in conversations about how to change things and move forward. In addition, compared to the older generations, younger Singaporeans tend to be more multiracial in their friendships. Minister Chan noted that people may not be entirely logical in how they view other races. He went on to say that more intercultural marriages – not just between different races within Singapore but also across national boundaries – has led to a more diverse society than in the past. Adding that many young Singaporeans (aged between 18 and 25 years) appeared to feel we are already “one country, one people, one Singapore”, Minister Chan voiced concern that they assume there is no need to think about issues of race and religion. He said that many things the majority takes for granted may not be so easily accepted. He expressed his belief that it is the majority’s responsibility to lean forward, go the extra mile and be sensitive to the minority’s needs and sentiments. Underscoring the difference between optimism and complacency, he said while he is optimistic, he hopes that Singaporeans do not become complacent. Dr Chia highlighted that in the recent IPS survey, 70 per cent of the respondents agreed that the government is responsible for racial and religious harmony in Singapore. While the government has done much to foster social cohesion, another perspective – which may cause some alarm – is that it may signal an overreliance on the government, when social harmony is not just the responsibility of the government but of each and every individual. Minister Chan’s response was that the government will always have a role in building a multi-racial and multi-religious society. Based on his experience with civil society in Singapore, he

observed the general trend is that people are now stepping up and adopting a more proactive role. The roles of the government and civil society are not mutually exclusive since both parties should work closely to complement each other. Dr Chia went on to pose a question about the Singaporean identity. He mentioned that Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew had emphasised the importance of Singapore’s unity as a nation – one united people regardless of race, language or religion. One way to do this is to think of oneself as Singaporean first, e.g. Singaporean Chinese rather than Chinese Singaporean. Dr Chia asked whether being Singaporean first is intuitive or if we still had a long way to go. “The frank answer is today we are better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today, I am confident of that. But are we there yet? Probably not,” replied Minister Chan. He said that the Singaporean identity is both the nation’s strength and challenge. He explained that historically and anthropologically, nation-states tended to form along the lines of geography, race and religion. For many societies, their sense of identity is based on ‘looking backward’ in that their people have usually come from a common stock with similar language and ethnic backgrounds. Minister Chan’s view is that Singapore is in a unique position – it cannot look back to the past to draw strength from a commonality, so it makes sense to look forward with a vision and develop a shared ethos and set of ideals. Singapore can build on the very powerful concept of offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of race, language and religion. Wrapping up the dialogue, Minister Chan emphasised the need for Singaporeans to work together to come up with better answers for building Singapore as a harmonious multi-racial, multi-religious society. He urged the audience to consider the challenging task of achieving Singapore’s aspiration to build a united nation, which seems to run contrary to the global tide of drawing lines along racial and religious differences. n

Photos courtesy of the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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METHODIST MESSAGE, AuGuST 2013

SOUNDINGS

Worship and witness Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor for the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg/).

n his first epistle to the Christians of the disapora scattered throughout Asia Minor, the apostle Peter used vivid and powerful imagery drawn from the Old Testament to describe the Church. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9), he wrote. But the set-apart status of the Church cannot be divorced from its awesome responsibility to be the witness of the electing God. Thus Peter added, “… that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV). The Church’s doxology – her praises of the One who brought her into being – is inseparable from her witness, that is, her work of mission and evangelism. Peter’s simple yet profound statement rejects the dichotomy, so endemic in the sensibilities of some modern Christians, between worship and witness. As a worshipping community, the Church is always also a missional community. The Dutch theologian J. C. Hoekendijk stressed this vital point more than 50 years ago. “The ‘Church’, he wrote, “exists only in actu, in the execution of the apostolate, i.e., in

“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.

the proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom to the world”. He added, “A church that knows that she is a function of the apostolate and that her very ground of existence lies in the proclamation of the Kingdom to the world, does not engage in missions, but she herself becomes mission, she becomes the living outreach of God to the world. That is why a church without mission is an absurdity.” To gather as a body of believers to worship the sovereign God, whose cruciform love is revealed at Calvary, is to bear radical (and sometimes costly) witness to Him. Think of the courageous Catholics in Krakow when Poland was languishing in the suffocating grip of the communists, who faithfully marked the solemnity of Corpus Christi by a public procession, despite attendant dangers. By simply being true to its calling, and by courageously conducting worship in the face of opposition, the Polish Church bore prophetic witness to Christ in the dark decades of communist dominance between 1945 and 1989.

Just as the worship of the Church is inseparable from its public witness, so the Church’s engagement in the public arena must also be seen as an expression of its worship. Think of the Barmen Declaration of 1934, composed by the Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth, which declared the unrivalled supremacy of Jesus Christ when Germany was under the sinister shadow of the Third Reich. Barmen states categorically and without compromise that “Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death”. In making this claim, Barmen rejects any political figure who masquerades as a god, and exposes as false the sacralising of any political ideology or programme. “We reject the false doctrine, as though the church could and would have to acknowledge as a source of its proclamation, apart from and besides this one Word of God, still other events and powers, figures and truths, as God’s revelation.” In witnessing to Jesus Christ, Barmen dismantles and destroys the idols conjured by the prevailing zeitgeist, and points to the true God who alone must be worshipped and honoured. In the same epistle, Peter urges his readers to be prepared to explain the rationality of their faith and hope, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). The Greek word for ‘answer’ is apologia, which in this context means to commend the faith to the wider public and to defend it against its despisers. The fundamental theological assumption behind this injunction is the belief that the Gospel is public truth. As Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon explained, “Our claim is not that this tradition will make sense to anyone or will enable the world to run more smoothly. Our claim is that it just happens to be true. This really is the way God is. This really is the way God’s world is.” Christian witness can therefore be described as the kind of truth-telling that brings God’s truth not just in the sanctuary but also in the public square. n Picture by georgemuresan/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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HOME

Becoming contagiously Christian – naturally Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (KKMC). Excerpts of this article were drawn from an article in KKMC’s newsletter KK Focus, March-May 2017 edition, P10-11.

“I

thought evangelists were Billy Graham or door-knockers, and that was not me! ... But there’s a part of my heart that is awake and alive to people that don’t know who Jesus Christ is.” Sitting in a darkened room several years ago, I nodded vigorously in agreement with this statement made by a young woman in the Becoming a Contagious Christian video my cell group was watching. Evangelism seemed to be a scary minefield littered with traps at every turn, only to be ventured into by the very brave after being well-armoured with apologetics and Bible knowledge. Yet, I felt a sense of duty to venture into it, knowing that the peace and joy I experienced in Christ was not to be hoarded but shared with others. It was a great relief to me, therefore, when I discovered that evangelism did not have to look like my image of intrepid warriors clashing swords and fencing words in endless debates. Instead, I learnt that there were several ‘styles’ of evangelism, drawn from the Bible itself, of which one or two were so natural to me that I was probably doing it already. My epiphany came through using the Becoming a Contagious Christian (BACC) material developed by Bill Hybels, Lee Strobel, and Mark Mittelberg, a practical course for helping Christians learn to share Christ in ways they had been uniquely created to by God. Bill Hybels is well-known as the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in the USA, and Chairman of the Board for the Willow Creek Association (WCA), which runs the annual Global Leadership Summit broadcast in 125 countries. Lee Strobel is best known for his conversion from atheism and his resulting books The Case for Faith, The Case for Christ, and The Case for a Creator. Mark Mittelberg is an author, speaker, and evangelism strategist who previously served as evangelism leader for the WCA. Perhaps you might be thinking: “Can such material developed by Christians in different cultural contexts be relevant to situations we face here in Singapore?” Well, apart from a couple of

culturally-specific examples or situational re-enactments, I found the principles to be sound and translatable across a variety of circumstances – which indeed they were intended to be. The course does not aim to prescribe scripted “lines”, but rather to encourage Christians to explore responses that would be natural for situations they commonly face. Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (KKMC) recently ran a BACC training for 80 of its members over two Saturday mornings in March 2017. Ms Eunice Kng told KKMC’s newsletter, KK Focus: “After attending the BACC training, I realised that sharing the Gospel isn’t that difficult after all.” Ms Christine Tan also shared: “The BACC training was great! Every Christian would benefit greatly from attending this training, as it equips one with the tools to share the Gospel in a natural way. I’ve always feared sharing the Gospel, because I didn’t know how to! Through this training, I learnt that relationship-building is important before we share the Gospel. When we care for our friends and get involved in their lives, we know more about them and their needs.” “As I talk with them, I can incorporate sharing about God in the conversation, telling my story of coming to Christ in a natural way that fits me and the person I’m sharing with. And if there are areas I’m not confident in, I learnt that I can bring in other believers to help share the Gospel, whose style or personality will be a better fit for the listener.” n Learn more about the BACC material at zondervan.com/becoming-acontagious-christian Have you found courses or materials that are helpful for your spiritual growth and development? “Good things must share” – write in to us at newmm@methodist.org.sg, and you could help other Methodist members or churches grow in their faith. Let’s grow “Together as one in spirit and purpose”!

Picture by Rawpixel.com/Bigstock.com

BOOK REVIEW

How churches and missions agencies can work together Jeremy Choo is the Personnel and Missionary Care Executive as well as the Country Coordinating Officer for Cambodia with the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). Prior to joining MMS in April 2014, he served as a missionary to Vietnam with Hope Church Singapore, where he worships.

he Church has had a long history of missions – beginning from the book of Acts where Paul and Barnabas started the first missionary band to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, to the Monastic movement in the 5th century, the Moravian Missions in 1732, and to the modern missions movement we have today. While there are some who question its legitimacy, missions societies and agencies have contributed much of the missionary effort in the modern missions movement. Churches and missions agencies together (CMAT): A relational model for partnership practice, edited by the Rev Dr Ivan Liew, is a product of collaboration between several churches and missions agencies in Singapore. The Rev Dr Liew is the missions pastor at Covenant Evangelical Free Church (Woodlands), and embarked on the topic of church-agency partnerships as part of his Doctorate of Ministry. He and his team of contributors begin by establishing the dual legitimacy of efforts by both the Church and missions agencies in accomplishing the Great Commission (Matt 28:1920). They discuss on the history of missions in the Church as well as the impact of missions societies and agencies in the same timeline. A model, based on the findings of the Rev Dr Liew’s research, was then presented with several... guiding principles and theological underpinnings for churches and missions agencies to work together for the good of the missionary. Church-agency partnerships can often be hard to manage and are frequently impermanent. Oftentimes, when a church sends their missionary through a missions agency, there is a lack of clarity in terms of work scopes and responsibilities. This can be due to several factors, including a lack of knowledge, expertise or resources, and differing points of view towards missions. This often causes confusion and distress to the missionary who has to work with both their home church and the missions agency. It is akin to having two heads telling a hand to do different things.

The model presented from this book breaks down several areas of importance regarding church-agency partnerships and, along with its guiding principles, provides clarity on the roles and responsibilities of both parties from the perspective of the missionary. An example would be that while missionaries might appreciate knowing that they were prayed for by the agency, they do find it especially meaningful when their own church and families are involved in praying for them. The home churches would also be in a better position to connect with their family members in Singapore than the agencies. These findings would help to direct resources more effectively in both churches and agencies when it comes to caring for their missionaries. The information and findings of the Rev Dr Liew’s research and case study are immensely helpful for both mission directors in the church and mission agencies to consider. The model also acts as a framework to facilitate discussion to reach a common understanding and to provide better member care for their missionaries. Both the Church and the mission agencies have their role in the Great Commission. This book, therefore, is timely in helping the Church and the various agencies to partner better in order to be more effective in their individual responsibilities. n Special CMAT review offer! Present this article at Cru Singapore’s Media Ministry showroom (18 Verdun Road, #02-01) and you will receive a 30% discount off this title, which usually retails at $26.65 (including GST).

METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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POEMS

Contrasts Chye Shu Yi is a member of Methodist Church of the Incarnation.

That is why I can reminisce on my past, not being ashamed or guilty, but in quiet humility and understanding the process of maturity; because only when I see the contrast I understand the transforming nature of Christ no matter how far I had run and fallen, He redeems. That is why I can bear the scars of hurt, not from some personal victory, but in complete surrender and finding refuge under the wings of the Almighty; because only when I see the contrast I understand the transforming nature of Christ no matter how broken the offering, He heals. That is why I gladly rejoice in my weaknesses, not in fear or self-pity, but in putting aside my pride and knowing that His grace is sufficient for me; because only when I see the contrast I understand the transforming nature of Christ beyond the limits of my own strength, He empowers. That is why I boldly approach the throne of grace, not of being myself â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;holyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but in growing dependence and recognising who He has called me to be; because only when I see the contrast I understand the transforming nature of Christ: He redeems those who had fallen He heals those who were broken He empowers those who are weak In order to then send them out to those in need.

Background picture by ccaetano/Bigstock.com

July IS THE MONTH FOR

REGISTERING FOR THE D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE

28-29 July (Friday & Saturday), 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Paya Lebar Methodist Church, 5 Boundary Rd, Singapore 549954

The D6 Family Conference touches on the topic of Generational Discipleship. Scan here to see According to Deuteronomy 6 (D6), the family is to be the centre of spiritual events online! formation. The event aims to help churches, ministry leaders and parents develop and sustain an integrated discipleship strategy that combines the relationship and influence of the church and the home. Organised by the Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship and The Bible Society® of Singapore. For more info and registration, visit www.D6family.sg

jul

Invite your Chinese-speaking friends and congregation to the Chinese D6 Family Conference! Visit chinese.D6family.sg for details.

FINDING OUT THE MEANING OF GOING FROM LIFE TO DEATH AND DEATH TO LIFE

30 July (Sunday), 11 a.m.

TA 2 Sanctuary, 61 Wishart Road (Off Telok Blangah Road), Singapore 098716 Rev Samuel Sia will preach on the topic, From Life to Death, from Death to Life! Come and listen to the Gospel preached in Hokkien. All are welcome! Organised by Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.

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For more information, email admin@tacmc.org.sg or call 6278-1323 or 6324-4001 today.

RECOGNISING YOUR DAILY WORK AS A FORM OF DEVOTION

24 Aug, 7.30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

7 Armenian Street, Bible House Level 4 Seminar Room, Singapore 179932 Where is God in our day-to-day work? Is God with us when we are at work? Do we work to honour God? In his new book, Dr Robert Banks explores how our daily work can also reflect God’s ongoing work in the world; and why our everyday occupations and activities are a vital channel through which He works to fulfil His present and future purposes. Come and learn how you can: • Take a fresh look at Biblical instructions about work • Consider the views of some leading Christian theologians who connect God’s work with ours • Trace important historical and contemporary developments on work as vocation • Provide practical steps to help readers discern how their work aligns with God’s plans for their lives Organised by ETHOS InstituteTM for Public Christianity. Register by 17 Aug 2017 at ethosinstitute.sg/events/dailywork. Admission is free.

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For more information, email info@ethosinstitute.sg or call Ms Florence Kang at 6304-3765.

UNDERSTANDING THE BEATITUDES – JESUS’ TEACHINGS ON TRUE HAPPINESS

25-26 Aug (Friday-Saturday), Friday 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 11 St Andrew’s Road, Cathedral New Sanctuary, Singapore 178959 Jesus’ Beatitudes have fascinated readers of all stripes and colours, with faith or no. What makes these teachings more mind-blowing is that they are not the run-of-the-mill principles found in motivational bestsellers in bookstores today published to make a quick buck; the Beatitudes are revolutionary, surprising, and freely available to all. The sessions will focus on the famous set of teachings by Jesus as recorded in Matthew. The context against which they were first taught will be explored so as to grasp the true intent and meaning behind them while at the same time setting them up against the backdrop of modern society today. Attendees can expect to discover meaningful applications for their lives in this day and age. Organised by St Andrew’s Cathedral.

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METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2017

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THINK

Matteo Ricci: A model for modern, culturally sensitive, holistic missions? Dr Marcus Ong serves as Associate Lay Leader with his church, the Methodist Church of the Incarnation.

atteo Ricci (Matthew Ricci, Pinyin ‘Limadou’) was born in Macerata, central Italy, 1552. He entered the Jesuit Roman College where, in addition to philosophy and theology, he also studied mathematics, cosmology, and astronomy under Father Christopher Clavius, a renowned mathematician and astronomer. It was this education in mathematics and science that would be used very effectively in his ministry in China. In 1577, he applied for a missionary expedition to the Far East and was sent to the Portuguese port of Macao. Up till that point, Christian missionaries had been restricted to Macao, and they were not allowed into China proper. The Chinese government was suspicious of foreigners, and wary of their efforts at evangelisation. However, when word reached the governor of Zhaoqing (Guangdong/ Guangxi) of Ricci’s expertise in mathematics, science, and geography, he invited Ricci to come and live in his province. Ricci brought with him his books, as well as a supply of clocks, astronomical devices, maps, paintings, and other mechanical gadgets. This turned out to be brilliant foresight, as word of his presence spread and his house was always filled with curious visitors, among them the top scholars and officials. Ricci was a brilliant linguist as well as talented mathematician and scientist. He was able to master the Chinese language and effectively translate scientific works into Chinese. He also had a keen interest in Chinese culture and Chinese

classics, and this enabled him to connect with, and have deep discussions with the scholars of the day. He also wrote a Portuguese–Chinese dictionary with Ruggieri, the first in any European language, and translated various other Chinese works. In this way, Ricci helped open up China to the world, and the world to China. In 1601, Ricci was invited to become adviser to the imperial court, in view of his expertise in astronomy and science. He was the first European to be invited into the Forbidden City. The story is told that the Emperor summoned Ricci to fix a ringing clock that had been presented to him by the Jesuits. None of the court officials had been able to fix it. Thus Ricci and his fellow priests became the official clock-winders of the imperial court, and when enemies tried to expel the Jesuits, the palace eunuchs ensured this would not happen, as they were afraid they could not maintain the clock on their own! Ricci wrote, “It is a miracle of the omnipotent hand of the Most High; the miracle appears all the greater in that not only do we dwell in Peking, but we enjoy here an incontestable authority.” Ricci was given free access to the Forbidden City and even a stipend from the Emperor. Once established in Beijing, Ricci was able to meet officials, scholars, and leading members of society and converted a number of them to Christianity. In 1595, Ricci wrote On Friendship, his first book in Chinese. This was really a manifesto for Ricci’s methods, based on friendship evangelism. He developed close friendship and collaboration with Chinese scholars such as Paul Xu, Li Zhizao, Qu Taisu, and Feng Yingjing. He also left behind a lasting impact on his disciples, friends and converts. For example, one of his most famous converts was Paul Xu Guangqi, a leading scholar-bureaucrat, agricultural scientist, astronomer, and mathematician in his own right. Xu passed his faith to his children who kept it alive for generations. His grand-daughter Candida Xu devoted her time to training ‘Bible women’, who would take the Gospel into the villages through

story-telling. Two of his famous descendants were Madame Sun Yat Sen and Madame Chiang Kai Shek (the Soong sisters), who were both noted for their political influence and their Christian faith. Matteo Ricci’s holistic approach to missions was way ahead of his time. In this day and age, there is an even greater urgency for talented men and women to use their God-given expertise in various secular fields to bring a strategic approach to missions, and even open doors in limited access countries. We would do well to learn from some of the innovative and inspiring examples of Ricci and his colleagues. n

References: Hsia, R. Po-chia. A Jesuit in the Forbidden City: Matteo Ricci 1552-1610. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Liu, Yu. Harmonious Disagreement: Matteo Ricci and His Closest Chinese Friends (Asian Thought and Culture). New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2015. Tucker, Ruth A. From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1983.

Public domain picture found at https://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/tag/st-matteo-ricci/