0129-6868MCI MCI (P) ISSNISSN 0129-6868 (P)019/11/2017 019/11/2017
Vol 120 No 7 • JUL 2018
inside
this issue...
message.methodist.org.sg message.methodist.org.sg
Littworld Satisfying global hunger for the written word
MCS Focus: The Archives and History Library Preserving our local Methodist heritage
You and Your Family Good salt
pages 8–9
pages 12–13
page 21
HOME Chye Shu Yi is a member of Methodist Church of the Incarnation.
ALDERSGATE SG 2018
JUST AS WE ARE: GOD’S CALL FOR FAMILIES A
s the yearly keynote event of The Methodist Church in Singapore, Aldersgate SG regularly brings the Methodist family together to celebrate the values of compassion and discipline in our rich Wesleyan heritage, and to inspire us anew to serve God through social action, evangelism, and discipleship wherever we are. This year’s Aldersgate SG, comprising a worship celebration on Sunday 20 May, and a lecture and panel discussion in the evening of Thursday 24 May at Paya Lebar Methodist Church, was true to these purposes with its focus on family, a topic close to our hearts and central to our lives.
Just As We Are Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup and Ms Denise Phua brought up key societal changes that are shaping our world today, such as the increasing elderly population in Singapore, rise of automation and technology, pressures arising from modern living, activism of groups seeking to redefine the family, and other threats to the state of family. In his insightful lecture on Thursday titled “Just As We Are: God’s Call for Families”, Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup highlighted that every generation faces unique Continued on page 15... Photo courtesy of the Paya Lebar Methodist Church Photography Team
COMING UP Jondave Ong is Executive, Leadership Programs at Eagles Communications.
FIRE UP PREACHING WITH HELP FROM EAGLES
B
e the best preacher you can be for the Lord and your congregation! Be further equipped, enabled, empowered, and encouraged at Eagles Communications’ 3rd Preaching Conference – Fire in Your Bones: The Dynamics of Preaching – on 20 and 21 July 2018 at Faith Methodist Church. Hear the Rev Canon J. John (known as “the UK’s Billy Graham”), the Rev Dr Bryan Wilkerson (Senior Pastor of Grace Chapel Lexington), the Rev Dr James Choung (Vice President of InterVarsity USA), the Rev Dr Chris Chia (Senior Pastor of Adam Road Presbyterian Church), and other adept preachers at inspiring plenaries and insightful workshops on issues and challenges in preaching today. Intensive workshops cover practical topics. These include: preaching to millennials and beyond, preaching Christ in a secular culture, preaching the gospel, captivating attention, engaging the mind and moving the heart, crafting application-based sermons, and preaching apologetics. This conference will motivate preachers to excel in the ministry of the Word and enhance the skills of emerging preachers. Eagles Conference alumni will enjoy a special discount – email eppi@eagles.org.sg for the Alumni Code. Register today at www.eagles.org.sg/eppi. n
Event visuals courtesy of Eagles Communications
EPPI Conference 2018 – Fire in Your Bones: The Dynamics of Preaching 20-21 July 2018 (Friday-Saturday), 8 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Faith Methodist Church, 400 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604) Register at www.eagles.org.sg/eppi
Event graphics courtesy of CAC Board of Worship and Music The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the Dr Anthony Goh Sze Chern, Chairperson, official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is Council on Communications based on the English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated. Guest Editor
The Rev Dr Andrew Peh
Our address
Design & Production SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd Printer A&D Printhub Pte Ltd
Methodist Message • #06-04, 70 Barker Road, Singapore 309936 Tel: 6478-4793 • Fax: 6478-4794 Email: newmm@methodist.org.sg MM website: message.methodist.org.sg Church website: www.methodist.org.sg
Let us have your views
Editor Sheri Goh 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.
CORRECTIONS We apologise for an error in MM May 2018.
• P9 ‘In Memoriam: Pastor John Lim Thuan Woon’ – The date of Pastor Lim’s passing should be 28 March 2018.
BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference for two quadrennial from 2008 to 2016.
A FAITH WELL THOUGHT THROUGH “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Tim 4:3-4, NIV)
E
ach time we proclaim the Apostles’ Creed (the earliest form of which appeared C. 130-200) or the Nicene Creed (C. 325), it is to once again declare to the world that the Christian faith is one that has been through serious thinking and reflection. The creeds encompass our belief in the Triune God (Holy Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), Creation, the Incarnation of the Word, Christ’s Salvation, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, and other core aspects of the Christian faith. These creeds were carefully crafted and formulated, after much deliberation by apostolic fathers and theologians at church conferences, to prevent the spread of heresy within the Church that could cause confusion among the disciples. Through the ages, these articles of faith have served as important criteria by which the Church differentiated Biblical and non-Biblical teaching. However, heresy is pervasive and ever-present. Heretic beliefs, with their beguiling and delusive content, can often appear as the truth. Such falsehoods were what Jesus referred to as ravenous wolves disguised in sheep’s clothing. Paul warned the church against “the alternative gospel”. The Church therefore has to continually teach and guide believers to know the Bible well and to be clear about its teaching. Today, we are facing the spread of a different
gospel among us – prosperity theology, cheap or hypergrace, over-emphasis on amazing miracles, eschatology that is non-Biblical, and others. How will the Church prevent believers from being confused and the core gospel truths from being muddled by these false teachings? The best response is for all church pastors to hold fast to the faith of our Church and be conscientious in teaching and preaching the truth. Believers must be ever discerning and discriminating when attending talks and seminars not organised by the Church. Our exertive response is to launch, with greater vigour, discipleship training and Bible study courses, and to encourage all believers to be equipped with God’s word. Teachers of these courses must be fully prepared, conscientious in their teaching, and faithful to the truth as taught in the Bible. Let those of us who are instructors, teachers, and pastors give attention to Paul’s counsel, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15, NIV). n Picture by MIA Studio/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
|3
CHURCH PROFILE The Rev Malcolm Tan is Pastor-in-Charge of Covenant Community Methodist Church.
COVENANT COMMUNITY MC:
KNOWING GOD DEEPLY MAKING HIM WIDELY KNOWN AND
A
year after Methodist Girls’ School (MGS) moved from Mount Sophia to Blackmore Drive in 1992, the Principal, Mrs Anna Tham, invited The Methodist Church in Singapore to start a preaching point there. Pastors and members from Barker Road Methodist Church and Wesley Methodist Church began to work together to raise a congregation. Many volunteers responded to the call in May 1993. Within five months, the first worship service was conducted in the MGS Chapel on 10 Oct – sowing the seeds for the birth of Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC). Praying fervently for direction, our founding members were led to the name ‘Covenant Community’. Based on Ephesians 2:19-22, it emphasises our ‘community in covenant with God and each other’.
On 11 Sep 1994, CCMC became the 16th Local Conference in the Trinity Annual Conference. That day saw 75 pioneer members being received – 28 by baptism and confirmation, and 47 others through membership transfer. The congregation expanded exponentially and a second worship service at 11 a.m. was added in January 1996. By 1999, the 9 a.m. service had outgrown the Chapel and moved to the Auditorium starting with the 5th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service.
CCMC now has over 800 members, with almost 500 in 35 small groups. Today, even as CCMC is a Gospel Lighthouse, ‘a Beacon of Truth and Light’, our commitment to MGS remains the same. Beyond that, we long to be a church welcoming our surrounding communities to come and worship God with us. We are also working to kickstart small groups in the housing estates around the vicinity of the school. By God’s grace, we recently launched our Korean and Japanese ministries to reach out to our international neighbours. CCMC is a church that goes to the needy and to the nations. Our church serves needy families in Sembawang through our Sembawang Family Service Centre. We also participate in missions through The Methodist Mission Society in China, Nepal, Cambodia; the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in Thailand; and with the Sarawak Iban Annual Conference. CCMC is committed to winning the generations for Christ and fully embodying the church’s vision ‘To Know God Deeply and Make Him Known Widely’. Hence, CCMC’s ministries and community cover all generational levels, from children, youth, young adults, men, women, to seniors. We want to reach the nations and generations for Christ. All are welcome to come and serve God with us! n
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.
Covenant Community Methodist Church (Trinity Annual Conference) 11 Blackmore Dr Singapore 599986 Sunday Services: Contemporary Worship: 9.00 a.m. (Auditorium, Level 1, MGS) Traditional Worship: 11.00 a.m. (Chapel, Level 3, MGS) Youth Worship: 9.00 a.m. (Wesley Hall [the former Youth Hall], Level 4) Junior Worship and Covenant Kids (CK): 9.00 a.m. / 11.00 a.m. Contact us: Website: www.ccmc.org.sg Tel: 6466-9652
Photos courtesy of Covenant Community Methodist Church
ONE MCS – TRAC HIGHLIGHTS The Rev Dr Gordon Wong was re-elected President of Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in 2016 for a second quadrennial term, but is primarily grateful to God for the gift of his wife Lai Foon and two children Deborah and Jeremy.
REASONABLE ENTHUSIASTS
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11, NIV)
S
ome people think that faith has nothing to do with careful thought and examination. They assume that faith is something you feel, or something you simply choose without critical examination or careful thought. One could, of course, choose to define faith in such a way. However, the type of faith that the Bible encourages is not at all incompatible with critical examination and careful thought. Take the example provided by the Bereans in Acts 17:11. We are told that they examined the Scriptures every day to see if the message that Paul was presenting was true or not! The Greek word translated as “examined” in that verse is related to our modern-day usage for “exercising critical judgment”. Thus, the Bereans exercised critical, careful thought when assessing whether what Paul said was consistent with the truth of Scripture. Some may exclaim, “What? How audacious of them to judge critically the great apostle Paul’s teaching? Shouldn’t they have just humbly and submissively accepted the authority of the apostle’s teaching without question or thought?”
Whilst some might be hesitant to affirm such critical examination, the inspired biblical writer St Luke positively encourages it. He describes the Berean Jews as being of “more noble character” precisely because, unlike some others, they were diligent in exercising careful thought and critical examination. Theirs was a true faith that was inspired and nurtured through careful thought and examination. Many people assume that critical thinking is synonymous with a dry and boring discourse or demeanour. But this cannot be said of these “noble” Bereans. We are told that they combined their critical examination of Paul’s message with a “great eagerness” of spirit. They were both reasonable and enthusiastic in their faith – similar to how John Wesley is described by Henry D. Rack, a historian of Methodism, in his book, Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism. Would that Methodists today might also be described, like the noble Bereans and John Wesley, as “reasonable enthusiasts”. n Picture by crazymedia007/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
|5
MISSIONS Rev Henry Yeo is the MMS Country Director for Thailand.
NEW LEADERS FOR A NEW SEASON T
hailand was one of the earliest mission fields for the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). Starting in 1995, the ministry in Thailand has grown from strength to strength. We now have 28 churches and preaching points. Our major focus has been in church planting through our community development programmes. One major success is the Vineyard Methodist School, which provides sound education and imbues the children with Christian values.
More importantly, MMS has been investing in discipleship and leadership training for the local pastors and laity as a key strategy for the sustainability of our ministry in Thailand. In line with this, the 13th Annual Meeting of the Mettakij Church Association (MCA) in Thailand focused on the training, equipping, and preparation of future church leaders. Held on 13 March 2018 at Shineforth Methodist Church in Chiang Mai, the Annual Meeting was significant and historic as the fruits of our ministry became evident. The MCA meeting saw several “firsts”: 1. Six Deacons and two Elders were ordained at the same service. They will be mentored by the senior Elders and assigned to the various churches and preaching points. 2. It was also the first time in MCA history that women were ordained as clergy – not just one but three! And all of them are graduates of the Bangkok Bible Seminary. They are now serving in our churches. 3. The first retirement service was conducted – the Rev Prasert Pornkiratikul retired at the age of 65. He served MCA faithfully even before its official establishment. He was a member of the Board of Directors before joining MCA as a full-time minister in 2004 and took over as the Pastor-in-Charge of Rangsit Methodist Church. Upon his retirement, we wish him well in the next season of his ministry.
We are also thankful to God for an overall increase in church membership. There are now 34 pastoral staff members serving in our 28 churches and preaching points throughout Thailand. We also have two Christian ministry workers serving at Vineyard Methodist School to nurture our students’ spiritual development. On a sad note, the 13th Annual Meeting was to be the last for our beloved Pastor John Lim, who was called home to be with His Master just two weeks later. The late Pastor Lim was instrumental in setting up several preaching points, travelling and working tirelessly to minister to the people he loved. Even as we mourn the loss of this faithful servant, we remain confident in God’s provision and faithfulness, to provide committed young pastors and leaders to continue his work. Without the commitment of MMS missionaries serving in Thailand, MCA would not have grown both in numbers as well as in developing a younger core group of pastors and leaders. The team of senior national pastors and leaders will now assume added responsibilities of coaching and mentoring the younger team that is in place. With God’s help, we look forward to becoming a full Annual Conference within the next few years. n
Please pray for: 1. The new Deacons and Elders to • grow spiritually • discharge their duties faithfully 2. Deeper discipleship and spiritual growth among the church members and for them to be willing to step forward to serve and give 3. Wisdom and strength for our Country Director and District Superintendent as they provide leadership for MCA Picture by marchmeena/Bigstock.com
WELFARE SERVICES
GALVANISING METHODISTS IN AID OF SOCIAL CONCERNS
By The Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team
O
ver 4,000 individuals participated in the recently concluded The Giving Methodist campaign, which was jointly spearheaded by The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) and Methodist Welfare Services (MWS). Over 1,000 people volunteered their time; nearly 3,000 gave their voice; and over 380 donors contributed over $260,000 to help the poor and those in need. The enthusiastic response is encouraging to MWS, which, as the Social Concerns arm of MCS, has been partnering with Methodist churches to run and fund some of our centres for over 30 years. Since the beginning of our partnership with Paya Lebar Methodist Church (PLMC) to co-manage MWS Covenant Family Service Centre – Hougang in 1987, MWS has expanded its church collaboration to 12 other churches. In recent years, MWS has been ramping up efforts to engage the Methodist community. Our push began in May 2015 with the launch of the MWS Ambassadors initiative, which invites social concerns committee members from local Methodist churches to serve as a bridge between their church and MWS. Their role is to inform the church about MWS’ latest campaigns, and encourage the congregation to give and serve as volunteers. One of our key campaigns is the Creating Change Campaign (CCC). To ensure a continued stream of funds to sustainably support over 9,000 beneficiaries, potential and current donors are encouraged to commit themselves as regular donors at $1 a day. Currently, fewer than 200 monthly donors have signed up through CCC. We hope that more Methodists will choose to make an impact on lives by giving monthly support to MWS’s 19 centres and programmes.
MWS has also developed programmes to enhance engagement with beneficiaries. Our Befriender Programme connects Methodists to our work on the ground by training and inducting them as volunteers at our centres. Methodist churches and organisations have also been invited to participate in the Poverty Simulation Exercise (PSE), during which participants can walk in the footsteps of the poor through the re-enactment of their circumstances. Past participants of these initiatives said that they were better able to empathise with the less fortunate, better equipped to serve them better, and more inclined to help others in the future. On the youth engagement front, our annual Impacting Lives Challenge has so far seen encouraging participation for two editions – a fundraising running event, and a photography challenge. We have also received strong volunteering involvement from Methodist schools for their Values in Action projects. In the year ahead, MWS aims to deepen engagement and strengthen relationships with partnering Methodist churches through more unique events and campaigns. The planning of a second edition of The Giving Methodist campaign in 2019, for example, is currently underway. n If you are interested to be an MWS Ambassador for your church, or would like to find out more about engaging with beneficiaries under the care of MWS, please write to volunteer@mws.sg. Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
|7
MISSIONS HOME Emily Lim-Leh is a member of the Littworld 2018 Host Committee. She worships at Barker Road Methodist Church.
LITTWORLD:
SATISFYING GLOBAL HUNGER FOR THE WRITTEN WORD
“I
compare the Littworld conference to a big family Christmas dinner with family members attending from around the world. I met people from many countries who are now friends.” Thus shared Nigerian author Pusonnam Yiri at Littworld 2015, where he also served as a workshop trainer. Pusonnam would leave Littworld 2015 having his dream of publishing a book on “thinking locally, writing globally” realised. “God willing, people will produce more locally authored content after reading the book,” said Pusonnam. The father of three has established a local publishing house and focuses on training believers to write books. “The more I write and the more I train others, the more I see the publishing needs… Africa needs publishing houses more than oil refineries,” added Pusonnam, who is based in an area of violent extremism in Northern Nigeria. There’s something profoundly energising about joining a global family serving Christ through the published word. Mary*, who attended an earlier Littworld in Philippines, caught the vision for publishing local writers’ work and expanding their capabilities beyond just translating English books. She wondered about publishing original material – stories and testimonies by Vietnamese writers, rooted in the local culture. Media Associates International (MAI), the Christian training agency that organises Littworld, followed up to equip Mary and her team of volunteers through a writer’s workshop. Out of that, they started a women’s magazine Hat Muoi (which means grain of salt). Their inaugural issue sold 2,000 copies. By their fourth issue, sales had quadrupled to 8,000. Hat Muoi’s first-person testimonies attracted a lot of interest, with readers commenting that the magazine was a “healing product in a chaotic society”. An idea was mooted to gather some of the testimonies into a book. Although Christian publishing is still in its infancy in Vietnam, the Hat Muoi team took up the challenge and released a compilation of women’s testimonies in Vietnamese – Viec Chua Lam (or God at Work). To reach a wider audience, Graceworks in Singapore published the English version of the book, retitled Out of the Dark Night. “Our brothers and sisters in Vietnam have much to teach those of us who follow Christ in freer societies,” said Graceworks publisher Tan Soo-Inn. Through Littworld’s triennial conference, MAI has seen publishing houses born, new books conceived, and skills
refined for effective publishing. Men and women from 94 countries have participated since the conference began in 1986. Singapore hosted Littworld for the first time in 2015 and will host it for a second time this year. Littworld 2018’s line-up of over 40 international speakers and workshop leaders includes: Robert M. Solomon Bishop Emeritus, The Methodist Church in Singapore Ramez Atallah Author and General Secretary, Bible Society of Egypt Sam Richardson Chief Executive of SPCK, Britain’s oldest Christian publisher, which won Christian Publisher of the Year Participants will be able to meet and network with others from 50 nations, engage in thought-provoking discussions, broaden global perspectives, and further integrate faith and work. Besides plenary sessions, participants can choose from 40 workshops in eight tracks: publishing leadership and finance, editorial, writing, graphic design and illustration, magazine publishing, marketing and sales, social media and new technologies, and personal and professional development. Littworld 2018 runs from 28 Oct to 2 Nov at Singapore’s Village Hotel Changi. Registration closes on 15 Aug 2018. Find out more about how you can support financiallystrapped scholarship applicants or register as a participant at www.littworld.org. n *name changed for privacy reasons
Conference fee includes registration and materials, five nights lodging, all meals and coffee breaks from Sunday dinner through Friday breakfast, and a half-day outing. Travel to and from Singapore is not included. Double room: US$895 Single room (limited availability): US$1,275 Non-residential (only for Singapore residents) rate: US$510 [includes all of the above except five nights lodging and breakfasts] Photos courtesy of Littworld 2018 Host Committee METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
|9
SOUNDINGS 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).
DEFENDING THE FAITH
Photo courtesy of Tamil Methodist 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.
I
n the second century, pagans in the Greco-Roman world accused Christians of atheism, cannibalism, and incest. Christians were accused of atheism partly because they refused to worship the Roman gods, and partly because they had no shrines or temples, and no altars or images. Christians were accused of cannibalism because the pagans thought that they ate human flesh and drank human blood in secret rituals. And they were accused of incest because they appeared to marry their own siblings, since they called one another brothers and sisters. During this period, a group of early Christian theologians and writers whose work was mainly directed at addressing these accusations and defending the Christian faith, came onto the scene. These authors were called apologists, a term that is derived from the Greek word apologia, which means ‘speaking in defence’. Aristides was one of these apologists. He, in several works, defended the Christian faith against the baseless accusations of the pagan philosophers. For example, in response to the accusation that Christians are atheists, Aristides argued that the God that Christians worship is the sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth. Unlike the gods of the Greeks, who commit adultery and are perpetrators of all sorts of evil, the Christian God is holy and just, Aristides added.
And in Jude, we read this admonishment: “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The early Christian apologists were learned men steeped in the most influential philosophical systems of their day, such as Platonism and Stoicism. Some of them – most eminently, Justin Martyr – were philosophers in their own right before their conversion to the Christian faith. In presenting an apology for Christianity, these early writers displayed remarkable erudition. For example, in his treatise, Plea for the Christians, Athenagoras quoted a long list of Greek poets and philosophers. The modern Christian apologist must similarly not only be steeped in the Bible and the tradition of the Church. He or she must also have a penetrating knowledge of the prevailing cultural sensibilities and worldview(s). But most significantly, the Christian apologist must be well versed in philosophy and adept in philosophical reasoning.
As the rational defence of the Christian faith against its cultural and intellectual despisers, apologetics is as much needed today as it was in the early history of the Church. Like the early Christians, believers today are confronted with numerous challenges posed by secularists in our society. Recent decades have witnessed the appearance of a number of atheist writers whose mission is to attack and discredit religion, especially that of Christianity. Examples include Richard Dawkins (who insisted that the God of the Bible is a monster) and Bart Ehrman (who challenged the reliability of the Scriptures). The Bible exhorts believers to be ready to offer an explanation of their faith to those who enquire. Writing to Christians scattered across Asia Minor, Peter exhorted them to be always “prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
As Douglas Groothius explains in his fine book Christian Apologetics: “A Christian-qua-apologist… must be a good philosopher (even if he is not a professional philosopher). This is non-negotiable and indispensable. As a logical and persuasive discipline, the connection of apologetics to philosophy is vital.” Apologetics must also be seen as an integral part of evangelism. Apologetics has a critical role to play in evangelism because, as J. Gresham Machen has perceptively pointed out, false ideas can be impediments to the reception of the gospel. “We may preach with all the fervour of the Reformer,” Machen writes, “and yet succeed only in winning a straggler here and there, if we permit the whole collective thought of the nation or of the world to be controlled by ideas which, by the restless force of logic, prevent Christianity from being regarded as anything more than a harmless delusion.” The early apologists of the Church understood this very well. For them, apologetics can remove the fog of confusion and misinformation regarding Christianity so that the compelling beauty of the Gospel may shine forth. n
Picture by ijeab/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 11
MCS FOCUS: THE METHODIST ARCHIVES AND HISTORY LIBRARY Serah Soon is the Archives Executive of the Methodist Archives and History Library.
PRESERVING AND SAFEGUARDING OUR LOCAL METHODIST HERITAGE “In books lies the soul of the whole Past Time; the articulate audible voice of the Past, when the body and the material substance of it has altogether vanished like a dream. […] All that mankind has done, thought, gained or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books.” Thomas Carlyle, The Hero as a Man of Letters
T
o those of us living with the technological advancements of the 21st century, Carlyle’s noble sentiments might seem rather archaic. But despite the medium in which history is preserved – whether in books, artefacts, or in the virtual space – one cannot deny that safeguarding our history is still imperative. The identity of humanity in the present is tied to its heritage, which is what the Archives seeks to safeguard. Keeping an Archive is actually a requirement of church teaching dating back to Catholic Canon Law. Pope John Paul II described archives as places of memory of the Christian community as well as storehouses of culture for the new evangelisation. He emphasised the preservation of both ancient and current records. The Church has a duty to protect and grow these records, passing them on to generations to come. Paragraph 331 of our own Methodist Book of Discipline says that we are to maintain “an archive in which to preserve the historical records and materials of every kind related to The Methodist Church”. There are also very practical reasons for maintaining an archive. Religious organisations are also administrative and corporate entities. They are employers, run schools, own property, oversee development projects, raise funds, and administer legal and financial affairs. Archives are integral to the proper functioning of these administrations. Without archival recall and proper records, it is possible to
fall victim to conjecture or distortions, as human memory is often inaccurate. There would be no means of proving entitlements or ownership, or of defending oneself against allegations of improper actions. The Archives are thus an integral part of our historical identity as a Church. It functions as a tool of understanding, providing evidence of our historical development, the evolution of our ministry, and our contribution to the wider community. Archives can capture lives, stories, and what people meant to others – and preserve them long after memory has faded. A Brief History of The Methodist Archives Although Methodism in Singapore started in February 1885, it was not until 1949 that the church passed a resolution to form a “Historical Society”, and appointed the late Rev Ho Seng Ong as Chairman. In 1968, after the church became autonomous, it became known as the Singapore-Malaya Annual Conference’s Board of Archives and History,. Following the separation of the two Methodist Churches in 1976, the Council on Archives and History was formed in accordance with paragraph ¶1125 of The 1976 Book of Discipline of The Methodist Church in Singapore. The late Rev Ong Chaik Ghee was appointed the first Chairman of
Singapore. Another loss took place, this time with the postwar materials, when vast quantities of so-called “old and useless” files and records were consigned to the incinerator prior to the move of the Methodist HQ at Coleman Street to Mt Sophia. For slightly over two years, from August 2000 to December 2002, the Archives was housed in a temporary location at the OMF Building at Cluny Road, along with the other Methodist HQ departments. In January 2003, the Archives moved to its present location at the fourth level of the Methodist Centre. It was then renamed the Archives and History Library by Mr Lau, in tandem with the name of the Council, to better reflect its role and focus. Today, the Archives, a valuable source of information about our past, houses over 10,000 different materials, ranging from books to CDs to photographs and microfilms. n
the Council, while also serving as Chairman of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) Board of Archives and History. In the early years, the Archives started as a collection of documents, past copies of the Malaysia Message, and the Conference Journals of the pre-war Malaya Annual Conference. These were kept by the Mission Treasurer in his offices at the Fort Canning premises of Wesley Church. Between 1949 and 1981, materials continued to be accumulated through the effort of the then bishops, missionaries and others, and also through donations from the families of some of the missionaries who had served in the past. 1983 saw a significant growth in the collection of materials by the late Bishop Emeritus Doraisamy, who became the Archivist in 1981. An extensive research for the preparation of a historical account of the centenary celebrations in 1985 by Bishop Doraisamy led to the opening of an Archives Resource Centre at the basement of the Methodist Centre on Mount Sophia, which was officially dedicated on 16 February 1984. The late Mr Earnest Lau took over as Archivist in 1993. Bishop Doraisamy had told him that the pre-war materials housed at the Methodist Mission office at the Wesley Church premises were looted when the Japanese occupied
The Archives & History Library (AHL) of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) is currently undergoing renovations, but will be open again from August 2018. We can be contacted via the following for more information: Tel: 6478-4775, 6478-4776 Email: archive.history@methodist.org.sg Website: archives.methodist.org.sg The AHL acquires, processes and maintains historical and archival material relevant to the MCS, and welcomes interested persons who wish to understand how Methodist work began, expanded and evolved through the years 1885 to present. (Visits by appointment only – please contact library staff regarding your requests.) Some important reference materials held by the AHL include original documents, microfilms, audio-visual media, photographs, and valuable books. These, together with a growing number of Methodist publications, a collection of John Wesley’s writings, and books on Methodist History on South East Asia, General Church History and Methodist doctrines and theology, will provide researchers plenty of scope for their work. The AHL’s latest book Days of Darkness, Days of Light, about the Singapore Methodist Community’s experience during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore from February 1942 to September 1945, is also available for purchase at $20 per copy. Photos courtesy of The Archives and History Library METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 13
ADMISSIONS for 2019 Now Open
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides
ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an allround English-based education for students aged 12 - 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP).
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
• Exceptional examination results; very strong value added achievement; and an all-round 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 • 25+ overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
Achievements Include
• Top students have achieved perfect IB scores of 45 points • 19 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past eight years
• Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ level students achieve outstanding valueadded examination results for the IB Diploma with improved pathways to good universities
• Successes at national level this past year in Archery; Touch Rugby; Cycling; Swimming; Chinese Drama; Debating; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Taekwondo; Volleyball; Wushu.
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
For more information, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
ACS (International) - Building Through Belief"
HOME ALDERSGATE SG 2018
JUST AS WE ARE: GOD’S CALL FOR FAMILIES
challenges to the family, and that it is important for us to resolve challenges in the family in a proper biblical manner. Through the Methodist perspective of John Wesley’s unhappy marriage and family, he showed that just as John Wesley had a thriving ministry notwithstanding this negative aspect of his life, we too may not be perfect in our family roles but can still be outstanding in our service to God and others. He also reminded us that God calls us to come to Him just as we are, and though we all have different family experiences, these do not stop God from showing us His glory in His perfect timing and plan. Ms Denise Phua also shared meaningful personal experiences along her journey of faith in her heartfelt lecture on Thursday titled “Secret Weapons of a Working Mother in a Busy World”, on the three main themes of keeping Christ at the centre of our lives, responding to God’s calling to obey Him, and supporting each other in the community of the spiritual family of believers. God’s Call For Families In his powerful sermon on Sunday titled “Biblically Strong Families are the Foundation of a Strong Church”, Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup explained that all those redeemed by faith through Jesus Christ are children of God and form one spiritual family. He emphasised the importance for us to live in a Christlike way, which shows selfless agape love the way God our Father loves us, not by our own strength but through a dependence on and experience of the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
... continued from page 1
He quoted John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” – and taught that the love which Christians display is not abstract, but real and practical, and that this love is one of the strongest testimonies of faith to the world when we show this love within our immediate family and in the spiritual family of the Church among believers. Mr Jason Wong, in his engaging lecture on Thursday titled “Strong Fathers are Key to Strong Families”, called fathers to rise up as the heads of their households to lead and build strong families, and for churches to rethink whether they are truly “family-friendly” or if their approaches (for example, separate activities tailored for “fathers”, “mothers”, “children” etc.) end up taking family members away from each other. Aldersgate SG 2018 was not just a thought-provoking discussion about love, calling and family in abstract, but also a time to experience being part of a spiritual family first-hand. It was heart-warming to see participants and volunteers demonstrating genuine love to each other through humble service and sincere fellowship over the evening meal, both towards their own family members and, also, old and new friends. It was a reminder that the family needs the support and love of the spiritual family in order for to respond to God’s call to us just as we are, and likewise the spiritual family (made up of many different families) must nurture and build up these families in order to be an effective witnesses for God’s glory. n Photos courtesy of the Paya Lebar Methodist Church Photography Team METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 15
14
METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
HOME Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his cats along with a good book.
A CHAT WITH DR SEAN MCDOWELL
D
r Sean McDowell is a household name in Christian apologetics. Together with his father, Josh McDowell, he spoke at the Reasonable Faith Conference (covered in the June issue of Methodist Message). Methodist Message had the pleasure of chatting briefly with Dr Sean about apologetics and its significance.
MM: What is the most difficult theological question you have had to answer?
Methodist Message (MM): Christian apologetics is more often geared towards adults than young children. How do you convey the Christian message in a kid-friendly way?
I think of all the worldviews, Christianity offers the most emotionally and satisfying response to the problem of evil even if we do not always understand why God does not heal somebody or why bad things happen. That is where faith comes in after we thoroughly examine the Christian message. It therefore takes not blind faith but a convinced mind to say that what we see is but one small piece whereas God sees the whole picture and we have to trust God even if we do not have all the answers.
Sean McDowell (SM): I think this is where creativity, and sometimes thoughtfulness, comes in to make things more understandable to kids. For example, how I broached the idea of ‘intelligent design’ with my son when he was probably seven or eight was through a set dining table with the plates, cups, and cutlery in their right places. I asked him whether the arrangement happened by chance or was organised by someone. When he said it was organised, I asked how he knew that for sure. He replied that there was a certain kind of pattern to the layout as opposed to random placement like the plates in the sink. I then advanced the idea to the outside environment. I told him that, like the set table, there are certain set designs such as our distance to the sun and the water cycle that point to a designer.
SM: I think the hardest one hands down is the problem of evil – why God allows evil and suffering. It is not so much intellectually hard but rather, emotionally difficult.
MM: If there is such overwhelming evidence that points to the existence of the Christian God, why is it that not more people believe? SM: Humans are not robots. You do not just input evidence and out comes belief. We have free will and there can be many reasons why people will still refuse to believe. Firstly, they may refuse to live in the moral ways of Christianity. Secondly, there can also be volitional factors as echoed in the lyrics of the Bon Jovi song, ‘It’s My Life’. The third reason is emotional as some individuals may have been hurt by Christians or they view Christianity as bigoted or intolerant and want no part in it. n Photo courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 17
16
METHODIST MESSAGE, AuGuST 2013
HYMNS & SONGS Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
FORTH IN THY NAME, O LORD, I GO ‘B
efore Work’ was the title of this six-stanza hymn when it was first published in 1749 in Hymns and Sacred Poems. In 1989, it was included in The United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) under the title ‘Forth in thy Name’.
Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go (The United Methodist Hymnal, #438)
In this hymn, Charles Wesley encourages us to work with delight and know that by God’s grace we are enabled to complete the day’s tasks.
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, my daily labour to pursue; thee, only thee, resolved to know in all I think or speak or do.
In the 1989 UMH, the original stanzas 3 and 5 were omitted. However, Carlton Young, the UMH editor, incorporated them in his discussion in the Companion to the United Methodist Hymnal. He described stanza 3 as “the poet’s warning against busyness for its own sake” while in stanza 5, Young highlighted the “duty and delight of the faithful as they journey toward that eternal glorious day.”1
The task thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me cheerfully fulfill; in all my works thy presence find, and prove thy good and perfect will. Thee may I set at my right hand,
The four stanzas in The United Methodist Hymnal are ascribed to several scripture passages.2 Stanza 1 speaks of confidence in the Lord – that in Him, the singer finds strength (2 Cor. 3:5-6). Stanza 2 reminds us not to be selfcentred, but instead do our best in all we do for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Stanza 3 may be ascribed to Colossians 3:23 where Paul wrote, “Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters.” Stanza 4 points us to Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). ‘Forth in Thy Name’ is a hymn we can sing or say as a prayer before leaving home for work. We may not be in the best of shape. We may not see or control circumstances ahead. Nevertheless, we press on believing that God is with us. The hymn ends with the hope that in performing our work with joy, we will experience a closer walk with God. n
whose eyes mine in-most substance see, and labour on at thy command, and offer all my works to thee. For thee delightfully employ what e'er thy bounteous grace hath given; and run my course with even joy, and closely walk with thee to heaven. Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788 Music: John Hatton Tune: DUKE STREET, Meter: LM arlton Young, Companion to the United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville, TN: C Abingdon Press, 1993), 348. 2 See www.hymnary.org. 1
Picture by denbelitsky/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 19
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 in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
GOOD SALT
W
hile holidaying in Strunjen, Slovenia, I saw salt pans where salt has been extracted for seven centuries. In its heyday, demand was so high that the sea salt was called ‘white gold’. I could not help but think that salt is now so widely available that we take it for granted. We notice it only when it is absent. Besides making food tastier, salt has minerals that are essential for nerve and muscle health. Yet, consuming too much salt can be detrimental. My musings about salt brought to my mind Jesus’ call to His followers to be the ‘salt of the earth’. Meanwhile, we will also do well to heed His warning that salt which loses its saltiness is good only for throwing out and being trampled underfoot (Matt: 5:13).
What, then, is good salt? Today, being good is an underrated personal quality. Qualities such as drive, ambition, and tenacity appear to be valued more than honesty, integrity, and compassion. We measure ourselves by our qualifications, our jobs, our material possessions, etc. We work hard at being good at performance rather than in character. In my counselling work, many come for help at a point of moral crisis. Some are couples where one party has gone astray. Others have lost their sense of perspective or direction in life. Instead of doing what was right, they chose to do what was convenient. Often, their challenge is not so much in not knowing what is right, but having the courage or discipline to do it.
While being good in character is under-appreciated, its absence – like salt – will be noticed. If goodness is absent in our world, where would we be? History has many examples of great civilisations collapsing when moral decay was rife and evil thrived. Even today, countries with good governments are better off than those without upright leaders. There are consequences for failing to do what is right and good. When we cease to be good salt, we may – like salt that has lost its taste – find ourselves fit only to be discarded and trampled under people’s feet. To be the ‘salt of the earth’, we have to seek to do good and bring value to our own lives and the lives of others. n
Picture by VLADIMIRVK/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 21
POEMS Dr Anthony Goh Sze Chern is Chairperson of the Council on Communications, and a member of Bedok Methodist Church. He and his wife, Hui Ling, conduct Marriage Enrichment and Preparation Courses, and enjoy ballroom dancing.
LORD, GRANT ME A SIMPLE FAITH Lord, grant me a simple faith Unfettered by my wandr’ing mind A faith that shines with burning light That men, through me, might You they find
Lord, grant me a simple faith As I lead others in the race To hear Your voice soft in my heart That I may in You set my pace
Lord, grant me a simple faith That stands against my questioning soul To heal the brokenness inside So I might once more be made whole
Lord, grant me a simple faith That pleases You and Spirit, too So I be found on that Great Day a faithful servant, brave and true
Lord, grant me a simple faith That does not fall for feel nor fad A simple trust in what You say A trust that is not easily snared
Lord, grant me a simple faith
Lord, grant me a simple faith Give me Your love and perfect peace That I may stand upon the Rock Unfazed by storms and squalls and seas Lord, grant me a simple faith In confidence surrender all Not to cling to my own strength Always trusting, lest I fall
Picture by paul shuang/Bigstock.com
METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 22
July IS THE MONTH FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
9, 16, 23, 30 Jul, 6, 13, 20, 27 Aug 2018 (eight Monday evenings), 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. 5 Fort Canning Rd, Wesley Methodist Church, S(179493) Level 1, Plaza Hall (take lift beside info counter)
Scan here to see events online!
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 coverage of each of the areas of doctrine will be grounded in Holy Scripture, guided by the Church tradition(s), and geared towards engaging contemporary issues and challenges. The aim of the course is to give students a broad overview of the Christian faith and to appreciate the importance of Christian doctrines for understanding our identity, in turn spurring our practical living. Organised by Trinity Theological College. Fees: $100.00 ($80.00 for returning students, if the last CDCM course was within one year). Free for TTC alumni and TTC students – registration required).
jul
9
To register please log on to: https://www.ttc.edu.sg/academics/centres/cdcm/evening-courses/cdcm-course-registration/
FELLOWSHIP ON THE GREENS
11 Jul 2018 (Wednesday), morning flight registration opens at 6.45 a.m., afternoon flight registration opens at 11 a.m. 1 Orchid Club Road, Orchid Country Club, S(769162)
Come celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Charity Golf Tournament. Its original intention – of gathering Methodist golfing enthusiasts and their friends on the greens, in benefit of people in need – carries on today. MWS is honoured to have Trinity Methodist Church convening this milestone event. In addition to familiar activities, the Committee is planning a few surprises. Don’t miss the opportunity to help raise funds that will be channelled to create change in the lives of more than 9,000 beneficiaries served by MWS. Let’s empower them to live life to the full. Organised by the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS).
jul
11
For more information on how to donate, sponsor, or participate as a golfer, please contact Ms Ruth Ng at 6478-4717/6478-4700, ruthnggy@mws.sg, or visit www.mws.sg/events/fellowship-greens-2018. Dinner tables are also available for sale at $100 per seat or $1,000 per table for 10 pax. Dinner programme will start at 7 p.m.
RECONNECTING THE CHURCH WITH THE HOME
28 – 29 Jul 2018 (Fri – Sat), 9.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. 5 Boundary Road, Paya Lebar Methodist Church, S(549954)
It’s about the future. The goal of the D6 Family Conference is to come up with the best methods in passing on a spiritual legacy to future generations. Come and meet with fellow believers to understand how we can best apply the principles of Deuteronomy 6 in our ministries to our churches, communities, and our homes. Organised by Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship. Supported by TRAC Board of Children’s Ministry (BOCM) and hosted by Paya Lebar Methodist Church. Register before 14 July 2018 to enjoy the early bird fee of $500 for a group of five or $110 per head. Conference fee includes two-day admission, conference booklet, event pack, and all meals and tea breaks.
jul
28
For more info, please visit www.d6family.sg, or call 6304-3784.
LOOKING INTO NEW STRATEGIES IN CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING
28 Oct – 2 Nov 2018 (Sunday – Friday) 1 Netheravon Road, Village Hotel Changi, S(508502)
The world of publishing is changing, but the one constant is the need for excellent content. At LittWorld 2018, global publishers and writers will look at fresh new ways to help today’s readers see and apply the power of the Bible in their everyday lives, and to know the Word made flesh. LittWorld is the only international stay-in conference of its kind, providing intensive training on strategic, publishing-related topics. More than 40 international publishing professionals will lead plenary sessions, small group workshops, devotionals and one-on-one consultations giving fresh vision and skills for heightened effectiveness. Organised by Media Associates International (MAI).
oct
28
Non-residential fees: US$450 (early bird rate till 15 June 2018). US$510 (after 15 June 2018).
METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2018
| 23
THINK By Daisy W. Rowley
FAITH THAT RIPPLES THROUGH TIME I
n 1880, a Chinese boy, Charlie Soong, arrived at Wilmington, N.C., on the United States cutter, Colfax. The captain of the Colfax, Charles Jones, became very much interested in the Chinese youth. Captain Jones later found the boy a home with some Christian friends. There, the young Soong became a Christian. Subsequently, a Methodist minister piqued the interest of philanthropist General Julian S. Carr of Durham, N.C., in Charlie Soong. General Carr took in the boy and became very much attached to him. The man sent young Charlie to study theology at Vanderbilt University. Soong was fortunate to have received the education he did. By 1938, only one out of every nine adults in China could read, and about 50 million Chinese children of school age did not attend school. Armed with a Western education and knowledge of American business, Charlie Soong returned to China, where he became a teacher of English and theology, a Southern Methodist missionary, a Y.M.C.A. organiser, and a printer of Bibles.
Charlie also engaged in many businesses from which he amassed a fortune and became one of China's wealthiest men. He married and had three daughters, Ching-ling, E-ling, and Mei-ling. Although they were born in a Christian Chinese home, they were not considered “worthless girl babies”. Little did he know that they would go down in history. Ching-ling, the eldest, after graduating from the Wesleyan College (where the three sisters studied), returned to China and married Dr Sun Yat-sen, who became the first President of the Republic of China. E-ling, the second daughter, would later marry Dr Kung, Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Chinese government. Lastly, Mei-ling, the youngest, married General Chiang Kai-shek, who led China's defence against Imperial Japan before and during World War II. When Dr W. N. Ainsworth, former president of the Wesleyan College, was ordained Bishop in the Southern Methodist Conference, he was sent to China.
He visited Mei-ling and President Chiang Kai-shek at their summer home. At the end of his stay with them, he told Mei-ling how glad he was to see her so happily married. She replied, “Only one thing, Bishop, is needed to complete my happiness. I am praying that my husband will become a Christian.” Her prayer was eventually answered – on 23 Oct 1930, Chiang Kai-shek, the President of China, became a Christian and was baptised at the Southern Methodist Church in Shanghai. The message to Bishop Ainsworth was that under the influence of his Christian wife, Chiang had “come to feel the need of a God such as Jesus Christ”. Who would have thought that a simple action on the part of General Carr to a young Charlie Soong would have brought forth three Christian Chinese women who were instrumental in shaping the destiny of nearly 500,000,000 persons in China? Adapted and reproduced from The Malaysian Message, Vol. 48 No. 6, June 1938. n
Picture by plrang/Bigstock.com