Vol 118 No 6 • JUN 2016
inside
this issue...
ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 156/11/2015
Book Review Adoption: A call to the Church pages 6-7
Harmony Games 2016 Sharing food, heritage and space
message.methodist.org.sg
In Memoriam Mr Tan Boon Chiang page 19
page 15
HOME
Christianity in the public square Chia Hui Jun is Editorial Executive at Methodist Message and worships at Foochow Methodist Church.
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inister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Anglican Bishop Rennis Ponniah discussed the role of the Christian community in our multi-religious society at the ETHOS Conversation, held at Providence Presbyterian Church on 22 March. Almost 200 Christians from different denominations and churches were present. A responsible church speaks up about contentious issues without monopolising the discussion, respects policies decided on, keeps communication channels open and cares for its neighbours in practical ways, said Bishop Ponniah. He was relating the example of Christians on the casino regulatory board who displayed responsibility by working hard to encourage foreign workers to exercise self-exclusion in the casinos. In a secular state, the government accepts religious views into public discourse, but is committed to the common good without bias towards any religion, added Bishop Ponniah.
Dealing with the question of whether religious voices should be heard if they are related to certain issues, or if they should be excluded from public debate, Minister Tan expressed that leaders’ responsibility to exercise judgment necessitates drawing as much feedback as possible. Public discourse also needs to evolve to create a safe, common space where different conversations and views can co-exist. While social media can be polarised quickly with the central space occupied by a vocal minority, its dynamics are changing with more people speaking up and moderating that space, said Minister Tan. Bishop Ponniah underlined the importance of intermediate organisations articulating alternative views, even though “the spirit of our Lord is not to raise our voice”. By speaking up, we take ownership of public space and simultaneously, “safeguard democracy for the individual” as sometimes, individuals may inadvertently feel alienated and cut off from the system. Continued on page 21...
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COMING UP
Human Sexuality, Marriage and the Church
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ne of the most important issues in contemporary society is that of human sexuality and marriage. In recent decades, significant shifts in society’s views on marriage and family have resulted in the introduction of unprecedented changes to its oldest institution. How should Christians respond to these changes? What does the Bible and Christian tradition have to say about sexuality, marriage and family? Should the Christian understanding be subjected to revision amidst this sea change in society? An upcoming conference by the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity, co-organised by seven seminaries, aims to address these questions. The following will be covered: Gay Science and Gay Politics Is homosexuality innate or acquired? Are there grounds to conclude that there is a genetic or neurological basis for homosexual orientation? In this talk, Dr Roland Chia (Trinity Theological College) will discuss the scientific research on homosexuality conducted by Bailey, Pillard, Hamer, King, McDonald, Kinsey, and LaVey and analyse their findings and conclusions. He will also examine the role that gay activists have played in radically changing public perceptions of homosexuality.
Marriage and Family What is a family? The word “family” used to enjoy a stable and definite meaning, i.e. a married man and woman with or without their children. It is nevertheless faced with a grave challenge in the contemporary world as there is heightened pressure to extend the definition to include any formation of males or females, living together under one roof. Hence, what are the repercussions of this idea of family, or open families? In his lecture, Dr Clement Chia (Singapore Bible College) will touch on the biblical and theological foundation of family in accordance to the Creation account, and give a historical survey of the family law, which is shaped by the Canon Law in the Medieval Christendom. Bible and Homosexuality “So what does the Bible really say about homosexuality?” Opposing answers have been given to this question, with proponents on both sides accusing the other of doing violence to the text. What has come under increasing dispute – even among Christians – are the related questions: “What kind of homosexual activity?” and “What does that mean for a Christian ethic for human sexuality today?” This session by Mr Quek TzeMing (Biblical Graduate School of Theology) is an introduction to these interpretive questions over texts
6 July 2016 (Wednesday), 9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. St Andrew’s Cathedral, New Sanctuary 11 St Andrew’s Road, S178959 (Next to City Hall MRT) Entry by registration only – visit ethosinstitute.sg/events/conference2016/. FREE ADMISSION, though a love offering will be collected. For more info, visit www.ethosinstitute.sg, call 6304-3765 or email info@ethosinstitute.sg such as Genesis 19:1–9, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Romans 1:26–27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, and 1 Timothy 1:10. He will attempt to do so by honouring the authority of Scripture, obeying the call to love people, and humbly depending on the Spirit. Pastoral Concerns Amid heated debates about homosexuality, a pastoral response would focus on homosexuals as persons. This discussion by Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon (Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000-2012) will focus on those who seek or are open to pastoral care from the church. In providing care, the church must clarify its understanding of issues such as identity, desire and actions, and of what the Bible says about our inherent sinfulness and the grace of God that operates in our lives. Often, the issues connected with providing pastoral care to homosexuals would be similar to that provided for others in the church. Dr Solomon will examine the issues by reflecting on healing, reconciliation, sustenance and guidance, and explore questions that may arise. n
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BISHOP’S MESSAGE
If it is not of God Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2012. He has been a Methodist pastor for more than 30 years.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:14-17 (ESV)
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s Methodists we remember our genesis as a movement that posed a challenge to the religious establishment, its theology and practices. Wesley was accused of being an “enthusiast”(one who promoted emotionalism). At some of his meetings, people fainted, cried out, and leapt for joy. He preached in open air, something frowned upon by the church. He insisted on “experimental religion”, where personal faith was necessary for salvation, as opposed to the formality of church ritualism. These accusations, among others, seem so tame to us now. But in the context of 18th century England, they were controversial. In due time, Wesley responded to these accusations. He also gave his views on other occurrences which he recorded in his journal and letters, such as angelic visitations, miracles, dreams and what we today might call “signs and wonders”. It would appear that Wesley adopted a Gamalielian cautiousness in his approach to such experiences. He did not just study them from afar. For example, having heard of them, Wesley met with the “French Prophets”1 and on another occasion with a certain George Newans,2 who was called the Shropshire Prophet, to test whether what they said were of God. He concluded that they were not sent by God. But that he went to meet them suggests that he was at least open to the possibility that they could have been authentic. He had more positive views with regard to miracles. Wesley did not believe miracles were limited to the apostolic age.3
Furthermore, he counselled that we be careful not to ignore nor discredit them4, even as he himself admitted to not having these supernatural gifts.5 Perhaps Wesley, recognising that the Methodists could have been viewed by some as belonging together with these “outlier Christians”, took effort to check on their authenticity. It was only after having done so could he give counsel to others and respond to his critics. Being concerned that many in his day were seeking God’s will through some sort of sign or miracle, Wesley wrote: “Trust not in visions or dreams; in sudden impressions, or strong impulses of any kind. Remember, it is not by these you are to know what is the will of God on any particular occasion; but by applying the plain scripture rule, with the help of experience and reason, and the ordinary assistance of the Spirit of God.”6 With these words, Wesley stood together with Paul, whose counsel to Timothy was to continue in what he had learned since childhood in the sacred writings and had firmly believed, for “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17, ESV). By the way, Timothy was acquainted with the church at Corinth, with all its misunderstanding regarding the gifts of the Spirit, having visited it (1 Corinthians 16:10), perhaps bearing Paul’s letter to them. We were once outliers. Now we are mainstream. We should therefore be mindful of that and hence circumspect when we are faced with any new movement. A first step is to find out if it is of God or not. To do so may require us to know what they are saying, teaching and doing. Then let us follow the attitude of the Bereans, who having heard the new teachers in town, checked with Scriptures (Acts 17:11) before deciding to believe them. Accept what they bring if they are from God. If not, then let us not waste our time with them but hold on to what we have been taught. n Picture by Novic/Bigstock.com
e Works of John Wesley, (WJW), vol 4, an entry in his journal on 3 April Th 1786; vol 13, A Letter To Mr. T. H., alias Philodemas, alias Somebody, alias Stephen Church, alias R. W., Question 14 2 WJW, vol 1, 1 Sep 1744 3 WJW, vol 8, The Principles Of A Methodist Farther Explained, 5:5 4 WJW, vol 2:11, 25 Nov 1759 5 WJW, vol 9, A Letter To The Lord Bishop Of Gloucester, Occasioned By His Tract “On The Office And Operations Of The Holy Spirit”, Sec. 1:1 6 WJW, vol 5, Sermon 37 on Acts 26:24, The Nature Of Enthusiasm, Sec. 38 1
METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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YOU & YOUR FAMILY
Who do you go to bed with each night? 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.
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he late Anthony Yeo, often acknowledged as the Father of Counselling in Singapore, once gave this advice: the television (TV) should be banished from the bedroom. He felt its presence would put an end to conversations in the bedroom, not to mention other more intimate couple interactions. Instead of following his advice, my wife and I had a TV firmly emplaced in our bedroom from Day One and to this day, it has remained. This was partly due to our starting marital life in a rented room while waiting for our flat – our room had to be bedroom, study and living room all rolled into one. Instead of the TV intruding into our lives, it drew us closer through our newfound shared love for movies and detective serials. When our child came, she too was inducted into our viewing habits. We would snuggle into bed to catch the weekly series of the X-Files; when the scenes got too tense, the three of us would dive under the sheets.
These days, though, TV viewing is less of a unifying activity. We now watch different programmes, my interest being more in documentaries and food channels while my wife’s is in hardboiled European crime thrillers. In addition, we are each guilty of bringing in new bedfellows. I have taken to going through postings on Facebook and YouTube. My wife has word and quiz games she faithfully attends to on her smartphone. These divergent interests and activities have led to less connection and interaction. Alas, the danger that Anthony warned against seems to be in danger of coming true. So who, might I ask, are you taking to bed with you nightly? In the past, some may have tucked themselves in with a good book. These days, it is more likely to be an e-book reader, iPad or smartphone. These devices can be all-consuming as they demand our full attention. It is ironic that with so much connectivity at our fingertips, we actually feel less connected to the person next to us. Besides being conversation killers, it is also worth considering the effect of these activities occupying our last waking thoughts. Do they aid us in getting a good night’s rest or do they leave us with a disturbing idea or an anxious state of mind? The Bible tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger (Eph 4:26) for this very reason. Going to bed still angry with the person sleeping next to us means sleeping with angry or even hateful thoughts. A mind filled with anxiety also does not make for restful sleep. Finally, do our bedtime activities rob us of precious rest and sleep? Most of us have a routine before falling asleep. If the routine puts our mind and body in a restful state, then we are well prepared for the sleep to come. Which is why the hymn writer Joseph M. Scriven reminded us, “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear? All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.” It was reported in 2014 by Jawbone – which produces wearable devices that help users track how well they sleep, move and eat – that people in Singapore average six and a half hours of sleep nightly, making us the third most sleep-deprived amongst the 43 cities surveyed. Being sleep-deprived means not getting enough rest and recuperation for our minds and bodies. If the seeds of how we perform today are planted in how we rested last night, perhaps we should be more mindful of how we are getting our much-needed rest. So spare a thought about how and with whom you go to bed each night. n
Picture by gnohz/Bigstock.com
SAYS THE CAC PRESIDENT
Doing good despite... The Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung was re-elected President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) in 2012 for the quadrennium. He has been a Methodist pastor for 30 years and a guest lecturer at Trinity Theological College since 1996.
“Let not grow weary while doing good… Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
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mong the New Testament books, the Epistle of James has one distinct feature: the precept of “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, NKJV). It is not meant to contend with the traditional doctrine of “justification by faith”. Instead the author’s intention is to encourage believers who have been saved by grace to bear the fruit of good deeds so that they would be worthy of the calling to which they were called. No one can claim salvation through good works, but a person who has been saved by grace will be able to bear fruits of a new and transformed life. In the New Testament there are many references to the need for believers to do good. Paul states in Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV), “Let us not grow weary while doing good… Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Likewise in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV), “do not grow weary in doing good”. It appears that doing good may
Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)
not always get us returns of appreciation, encouragement and affirmation. Sometimes our goodwill and deeds may even be taken advantage of and we are deceived in the process, or the recipients may not be grateful. Hence, Paul exhorts believers not to grow weary in doing good despite all this. I once received a video clip about a cat which had fallen into a pit and was unable to get out. Its playmate, Doggie, heard the cat’s call for help and dashed to the edge of the pit. On seeing the helpless cat, the dog ran off and returned with a thin branch which it dropped into the pit, but it was no use. Soon, the dog found a rope and pushed one end of it into the pit while it clenched the other with its teeth. With the cat grabbing hold of the rope, the dog strained away from the edge of the pit and after a couple of attempts, succeeded in bringing the cat up. Once reunited, the playmates ran off to play in the field again. I was touched by the video, and was especially moved to see the dog pulling the rope to haul the cat up. We are shown that even God’s creatures in the animal kingdom are able to help each other. For us humans, therefore, if we still hesitate in doing good, or do not do it even when we know we should, then it is sin (James 4:17). Many are willing to do good today and, regardless of their motives, their good works will bring immeasurable warmth to the needy and give them the courage to live on. It is all the more admirable when, in fact, many who do good do not care if they will ever be rewarded for their kind deeds. The world today is ravaged by evil powers and man’s savagery and brutality. What it desperately needs is for many, many more to be willing to work in different ways to fill it with goodness. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV), “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” n
Picture by zurijeta/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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BOOK REVIEW
Adoption: What Jo About This Counter Rosaria Butterfield is a former tenured professor of English at Syracuse University and author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert (Crown & Covenant, 2012) and Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ (Crown & Covenant, 2015).
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“When we adopt — and when we encourage a culture of adoption in our churches and communities — we’re picturing something that’s true about our God. We, like Jesus, see what our Father is doing and do likewise (John 5:19). And what our father is doing, it turns out, is fighting for orphans, making them sons and daughters.”
y husband and I adopted all four of our children. Our family’s racial profile checks off almost every “affirmative action” category. We have so many gene pools under one roof that we perplex even ourselves. Daily I homeschool one child with right-brain learning strengths and another with left-brain learning strengths. This means that by the end of the school day, I have no brain. God gave us two children when they were infants and two when they were 15 and 16 years old (and placed in our home five years apart). One son stood a foot taller than me when together we took our place before the judge to complete his adoption eight months after his 17th birthday. When we adopted teenagers out of the welfare state’s foster care programme, one woman in my church community feared for the safety of my youngest children. I told her our adoption of older teenagers allows our younger children to know that had we met them in foster care at 16, we too, with the Lord’s help, would have recognised them as our covenant children. Nothing preserves safety like knowing who your parents are — and knowing they recognise you across race, culture, and age. For my husband and me, adoption is not some consolation prize for my infertility; it is our Christian calling. Liberals think I’m just another social justice advocate, adopting children to show my support of the welfare state. Quiverfulls sometimes pity me because I couldn’t be a “real” mother to a child I carried in my womb. Darwinian evolutionists think working with all the bureaucracies to adopt children renders me nothing more than a glorified nanny to a group of kids doomed by biology and uncorrectable by environment. And at least one advocate of the Christian homeschool movement cautioned us against adopting older teens by declaring: “If you can’t spank them and can’t homeschool them, you can’t lead them to Jesus!” Let’s face it. There’s simply no “Mom’s Club” for me. That is, until 2010 when I read Russell Moore’s book Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches (Crossway, 2009). Joseph-Shaped Clarion Call And now, Moore has revised a key section of this book and published it as a stand-alone booklet titled Adoption: What Joseph of Nazareth Can Teach Us About This Countercultural Choice (Crossway, 2015). It is a pastoral clarion call for what every fiber in my soul knows: adoption is neither social justice nor Christian charity. Adoption is Christian calling that puts spiritual warfare in full throttle.
oseph of Nazareth Can Teach Us rcultural Choice Theologically, adoption is a non-negotiable gospel principle, for no one comes to the Father as a natural-born child. Practically, adoption is the most despised gospel principle, because in our prideful self-aggrandisement we feel entitled to gospel grace. Somewhere in the crossfire of this are orphans, image-bearers of a holy God, waiting for the people of God to show up. Adoption is organised into three sections: (1) Adoption and Spiritual Warfare; (2) Adoption and the Image of God; and (3) Adoption and the Walk of Faith. Shaping all three principles is the person of Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus. Joseph’s Faithful Fatherhood First, Moore asks us to ponder Joseph, asking whether he’s the legitimate father of Jesus or just a shepherding usher who functions as a literary foil or place-keeper for the more important story to unfold. Moore walks us through these questions carefully, reminding us that by faith Joseph receives his pregnant fiancée as she is and believes she carries the Christ child in her womb. It might behoove us here to think through how radical and risky this really was. The ancients may not have known about germ theory, but they all knew how babies were born. Joseph acted in faith and against the chagrin and criticism of his peers. Joseph is recorded in the annals of history and of the Bible as a real earthly father, as recorded in Luke 2:41 and 2:48. The real-ness of Joseph’s fatherhood of Jesus isn’t contained in a mere Christmas story about a poor baby born on a cold night in Bethlehem and placed in an animal’s food trough. As Moore points out, your salvation and mine depend on Joseph as a real father: “If Joseph is not ‘really’ the father of Jesus, you and I are going to hell. Jesus’s identity as the Christ, after all, is tied to his identity as the descendant of David, the legitimate heir to David’s throne.” (P28) Satan’s War, Joseph’s Resolve, Our Mission In the “Adoption and Spiritual Warfare” section, Moore makes clear there is — and has always been — a war against children, and Satan is leading the brigade and enlisting unwitting Christians to do his bidding. He writes, “There seems to be an orphan-making urge among us, whether we see it in the slave culture of centuries past or the divorce culture of today” (P15). Moore goes on to demonstrate that Satan’s war against babies and children is consistent throughout biblical and world history. Citing both Herod’s and Pharaoh’s calls for genocide to protect their respective empires, Moore shows the ominous roots of Planned Parenthood and other leaders of the contemporary pragmatic movement who render children as mere inconveniences. In addition, Joseph embodies the image of God by “rolling back the curse of fatherlessness” (P32). In taking us through Joseph’s real and eponymous place in Jesus’ life (and yours and mine), Moore reveals that the Bible’s understanding of patriarchy has nothing to do with an abuse of power and everything to do with aiding and abetting the “least of these”. This point subtly and
powerfully shows that children need both moms and dads; that gender is neither negotiable nor disposable; that fatherhood and motherhood are cosmically and practically sacrificial in genderdistinct ways; and that you cannot extract ideas of fidelity and fatherhood — ideas which protect children from orphanhood — from the biblical marriage of one man and one woman. The weaving of biblical history into our own is one of the most significant things about Adoption. It teaches people how to think like Christians, and therefore how to think counter-culturally about the norms and nuances of our daily life. Moore concludes: “When we adopt — and when we encourage a culture of adoption in our churches and communities — we’re picturing something that’s true about our God. We, like Jesus, see what our Father is doing and do likewise (John 5:19). And what our Father is doing, it turns out, is fighting for orphans, making them sons and daughters.” (P39) But adoption is not only a calling. Adoption is not only spiritual war. Adoption is missional: “Because genuine faith is orphan protecting, a culture of adoption and a culture of evangelism coexist together.” (P45) Moore knows the physical adoption of children isn’t for everybody. But he shows how an adoption culture is built into the gospel itself and therefore should be evident in every church community. The culture of adoption — where all are working in different ways to protect children and advocate for their adoption into biblical homes — is a credibility test for evangelism. And this credibility test is needed both for the church and for those who despise us. If churches were known as solid support systems for believing families who adopted all kinds of children (with all kinds of problems and issues) — if our churches were places where unwanted children became sons and daughters, and where both “unwanted” babies and the desperate women who carry them were claimed by us — then I’m certain the mouths of the lions would be supernaturally shut. Following Joseph’s Footsteps Adoption shows all believers how they have a vital role in a culture of adoption, because adopting children — and supporting those who do — is not about checking through a list of righteous deeds. It’s about knowing whose we are, and therefore, who we are. Seeing our place in the cosmological footsteps of Joseph and building from within the ranks of the church, a culture of adoption offers a “model for a new generation of Christians” (P59). We desperately need this. As the church today faces increasing hostility, we need to pursue peace and forgiveness, and to exercise spiritual gifts. And we need to be courageous and risk-taking in practising before a watching world what pure and unadulterated religion really advocates (James 1:27). n This review was first published on The Gospel Coalition website (www.thegospelcoalition.org) on 17 July 2015. Reprinted with permission.
METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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MISSIONS
Hearing His Voice Noel Tam is a home-based missionary with Methodist Missions Society and the Country Coordinating Officer for Nepal and Timor-Leste. He worships at Pentecost Methodist Church.
“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
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Mark 4:23-25
s part of our training and equipping of our Nepali pastors and laity with emphasis on our Wesleyan disciplines of Social and Personal Holiness, the Methodist Missions Society arranged for Ms Brenda Goh to conduct a two-anda-half-day seminar on “Hearing the Voice of God”. Thirty participants were given insight and understanding on receiving revelation through hearing. Hearing God’s voice gives us direct Kingdom access and through our constant doing of God’s will, His Kingdom rule is promoted. The understanding of His voice gives substance to our relationship with Him and we live and serve out of an inward reality that proceeds from Him. The participants were spiritually enriched by the experience and it is our prayer that they will continue to know and experience our loving God through knowing His voice and exercising this discipline in their daily lives and ministries. n “I learned one important thing, that it is important to hear the voice of God. Through this training, I discovered that God has given me a gift of healing and praying for the needy. In our church, many people come with physical and spiritual sicknesses and needs. God wants to set them free. I do not have words to express my gratitude to God for entrusting His most valuable gifts to me, a weak person but one who loves Him! Thank God for His gifts.” Ms Sarita Pandey, Wesley Bardan MC
PRAY
u for for the participants to continue to practise the discipline of
hearing the voice of God and to be obedient to His calling. u for the participants to share their experience, that many more will have the joy of hearing His voice.
“I have been in ministry since 2004. At times, I felt confused in my prayer life. It was a challenge to hear His voice. While I was translating Brenda’s notes, I thought that prayer seemed like meditation. However, during our practical sessions, I discovered that it is about knowing God our Father, to be able to recognise and hear His voice. Many of us saw visions, heard God’s voice and found verses that related to our lives. Praise the Lord for this new insight. It’s amazing that by faith, I am able to hear His voice and have rediscovered the meaning of prayer. I am sharing this wonderful experience in my church and pray that they too will learn to hear our Father’s voice.” The Rev Singa Tamang, Pastor, Abhisek Methodist Fellowship
“My wife and I have been living our lives without truly hearing His voice, having one-way conversations in prayer. Hearing the voice of our Master is essential for all who love Him. We need to discern His voice against the noise of the world we live in. To hear His voice, we must adopt the posture of Solitude, Silence and Stillness. From the practical sessions, we were able to see visions, hear His words and connect with others to see the big picture that God has given to us. We now pray with confidence, knowing that we can hear His voice. Our prayer is for us to be obedient to His call, trusting in Him for His faithfulness!” KP and Pradipa Adhikari, Wesley Bardan MC Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society
WELFARE SERVICES
35 years of serving the last, lost and least By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team
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ormer delivery-man, 75-year-old Chong Man, lost his wife unexpectedly. Just before his wife passed away, they had both joined Charis ACE, an activity centre for seniors run by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS). Chong Man received the timely support of a new network of friends. Having a sense of belonging gave him much comfort. Charis ACE stands out from the typical senior activity centre which serves elderly people living in rental blocks. Besides its homely and club-like ambience, it reaches out to seniors who own HDB flats that they live in, but still face the risk of social isolation as their social networks fall away. It is the latest ministry that epitomises MWS’ focus, since it started in 1981, on reaching out to the under-served and vulnerable who fall through the cracks. A few years earlier, another first-of-itskind centre, Residence @ St. George’s, was opened to offer residential rehabilitation to young female offenders serving probation. It is an option for court judgments that decide to give at-risk girls, who would otherwise face incarceration, a second chance. Over the years, programmes and centres added to this list included FamilyWorks Community Services which caters to children of single-parent families through school-based programmes, the Walk with the Poor Programme, and Agape Methodist Hospice, one of the first home-based palliative care providers for terminally-ill patients who wish to spend their last days at home. Carrying on our commitment to the vulnerable and forgotten, MWS will be launching more services this year as we mark our 35th anniversary. These include three new senior activity centres serving residents living in studio apartments, and an integrated Family Development Programme to tackle diverse financial needs stemming from children’s education, nutrition, daily living expenses, debts, and building funds for rainy days. MWS Group Executive Director Mrs Jenny Bong said: “Singapore has a relatively comprehensive social service net for the disadvantaged. However, there will inevitably be people who fall through the cracks. This may happen when they don’t meet eligibility criteria of programmes or there are inadequate programmes to take care of the complexities and changing needs. “MWS’ position as a multi-service agency allows us to look into serving diverse needs in
Come and mark MWS’ 35th year of existence at “I Run for 12,000” Impacting Lives Challenge! an integrated way. Our set-up is also nimble in responding to shifting trends and taking up causes that are not necessarily funded by the authorities.” At the cusp of reaching our 35-year milestone, MWS would like to thank everyone who has supported us with your donations, faithful service and prayers. We will continue to press on in serving the last, lost and least, exemplifying God’s love for each and every one of them. n
CONTACT US u via email at ce@mws.sg or visit our website at www.mws.sg
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CHURCH PROFILE
Geylang Chinese Methodist Church The Rev Paul Thian is Pastor-in-Charge (PIC) of Geylang Chinese Methodist Church.
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eylang Chinese Methodist Church (GCMC) was started in 1905 with four members and 14 seekers, and began its first church service in 1914 at its first purchased site at the junction of Aljunied and Geylang Road. There were members from four local conferences – Christ MC, Pentecost MC, Changi MC and Charis MC – and two schools, Geylang Methodist School (Primary) and (Secondary), in the past 111 years. Through God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, GCMC now has 562 members in three worship services – Hokkien, Mandarin, and English. With a vision to be a community of discipled servants who serve the people whom the Lord seeks sacrificially, we formed the School Ministry Committee in 2010 for our partnership with Geylang Methodist School (Secondary). We employ initiatives such as Group interactive sessions with students who join this programme voluntarily, and work with the school to provide assistance to those in need, be it financially or otherwise. Our team of six local ministry staff and two interns also provide ministry support to the two Christian Ministry staff there. GCMC exists to make disciples that will present the Kingdom of God to the world through disciple-making, being living testimonies as individuals and as a body of Christ, and missional acts. GCMC’s outreach to the community includes our English Class for PRC youths and adults, which has blessed more than 500 students since 2010. Through the faithful service of dedicated members, this ministry has borne much fruit, extending Christ’s love and care to every student in a familial environment. Every Christmas, the students organise a celebratory event where many pre-believers are invited and the gospel is shared in the midst of a variety of cultural performances to mark Christ’s birth. Within the church, God has seen the cell group ministry grow from three groups when it started in 1998 to 32 groups today. This ministry spans all age groups above the age of 12, with 72 cell group leaders and 410 members in six zones according to age group. One of the challenges we face is getting enough mentors to guide potential leaders who have shown godly character and a servant’s heart, who have been increasing in number over the last two years. The second challenge is nurturing and equipping more cell group leaders and Bible teachers who must be well-grounded in God’s Word and possess the gift of teaching. GCMC is my home church where I was nurtured in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, baptised, married, served as a local preacher and steward, and eventually as a full-time ministry staff before the calling of the Lord came. I served as a pastor before being appointed Pastor-in-Charge in 2013. What I sense to be God’s heart for GCMC is for our worshippers to remember the church’s roots in Geylang and not to forget the lost in this infamous area. Also, GCMC’s existence is linked directly to its faithfulness in
The English class' Christmas celebration in 2015.
Geylang Chinese Methodist Church (Chinese Annual Conference) 52 Aljunied Road, Singapore 389820 Sunday Services: 9 a.m. Mandarin Service at church sanctuary 9 a.m. English Service, Geylang Methodist School (Secondary), Living Stones Chapel 11 a.m. Hokkien Service at church sanctuary. Contact: gcmc-admin@gcmc.org.sg, www.facebook.com/geylang.cmc, or 6748-5413
GCMC's ministry in Geylang Methodist School (Secondary)
evangelising to the lost in the Geylang-Aljunied community. Lastly, GCMC must also commit to nurturing every Christian who worships at this church to become a faithful disciple of Christ. 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. Photos courtesy of Geylang Chinese Methodist Church.
SOUNDINGS
Religion, public discourse and the common good 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/).
W
ithout doubt, one of the most important – if highly contentious – ideas in political and social philosophy today is that of the common good. Although the idea is once again in vogue in recent public and academic discourse, its origins can be traced to Aristotle, who refused to designate a government just if it neglected to pursue the common good. As the Greek philosopher and scientist put it in his famous work Politics: “The good is justice, in other words, the common interest.” It should be emphasised that the envisioning and quest for the common good is the responsibility of every member of society, not just that of the government. Participation is key. As The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church states: “Participation is a duty to be fulfilled by all, with responsibility and a view to the common good.” This is especially the case in modern democratic societies. In our postmodern and culturally pluralistic societies, it is sometimes difficult to arrive at a notion of the good that can be truly described as common, shared by communities with very different cultural sensibilities and habits. However, it is important not to exaggerate the incommensurability of the different cultures. As the Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon has perceptively pointed out – against the instincts of some postmodern fundamentalists – “Where basic human values are concerned, cultural diversity has been exaggerated.” Be that as it may, cultural differences can sometimes become an impediment to social life by obfuscating important issues and
should therefore be taken seriously. That is why in the quest for a shared vision of the good, the participation of every member of society in the deliberative process is extremely important. “In a society where everyone has a share in government,” writes Robin Lovin, “the deliberative process cannot be irrelevant to the search for the common good.” Does religion have a role in this deliberative process? Many secularists – even those of a benign variety – question the legitimacy of religion’s contribution to debates about the political and economic wellbeing of society. Procedural secularists – namely, those who do not oppose religion per se, but insist that public debates should be kept secular – assume that religion and politics simply do not mix, and that the former’s participation in public debate would result in confusion instead of clarity. Such misgivings, however, are unfounded. Not many people would doubt the sterling achievement of the United Nations in promulgating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, in the aftermath of the atrocities of World War II. But what is sometimes missed is that this document was put together not only with the input of diplomats from different countries, but also that of scholars and intellectuals from different faith communities. The Declaration shows that it is quite possible for people shaped by different philosophical and religious traditions and who belong to divergent political and economic systems to have common convictions about what it means to speak of the rights of a human being. But there is another reason why religion – especially Christianity – should not be excluded from the ongoing effort to envision the common good. Its presence can in some important sense challenge our idolatries, the myriad of “isms” to which we give our unquestioning allegiance.
To say this is not to naively suggest that religions are somehow immunised from perversions. Indeed, some of the most sinister idolatries can parade under the banner of religion. It is to recognise that religion can encourage certain important ways of seeing and of thinking about what it means to be human or what it means to be a community that is forgotten, obscured or simply absent in secular accounts. Even a secular philosopher like Jürgen Habermas recognises this. In his famous 2005 essay “Religion in the Public Sphere”, Habermas notes that “Religious traditions have a special power to articulate moral intuitions, especially with regard to vulnerable forms of communal life.” Against the oft-repeated refrain about the divisiveness of religion, religious traditions like Christianity – with its emphasis on equality and justice – can in fact help society achieve a clearer vision of the common good by exposing and correcting veiled intolerances and fanaticisms. n
“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. Picture by igor stevanovic/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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HOME FOR GOOD-SG
A home for every child w Vivienne Ng is Chief Psychologist in the Ministry of Social and Family Development. She co-wrote this article with Audrey Koh, Art Producer at Beautiful/Banal and fellow volunteer with Home for Good-SG.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:5-6a
Dr Viv Thomas, Associate International Director of OM International, sharing about his experiences as a foster child.
F A special consultation with Dr Krish Kandiah, President of the London School of Theology and Founder and Director of Home for Good UK.
A sharing session by Ms Alexandra Jagelman who has lived in Southwest China since 1998, started a home for abandoned children with disabilities, and ministers to children who have been abused.
oster parents Li Ping and Joseph from Aldersgate Methodist Church recently welcomed an eight-year-old boy, L, into their home. “I believe our foster son has flourished because he knows that every day he has a family to come home to, one that loves and accepts him. Early on, it broke my heart to learn how much L cherished eating together with us as a family – something so mundane that most of us take for granted, but for L was what he had desired for a long time,” said Li Ping. She continued, “God uses ordinary, fallible families to do His divine work of healing in the lives of these vulnerable children. In fact, it can be in our failures that He does His work of deepest healing. I have lost my temper and behaved less than loving many times towards L. Each time, by God’s grace, I have worked to repair the relationship and to continue loving L. I believe that this is a powerful testimony to L of how a normal, healthy family functions. We fail each other, but by God’s grace we pick ourselves up, make amends and carry on loving and being there for each other.” Li Ping and Joseph belong to Home for Good-SG, an informal Christian network that believes every child deserves a loving home. In Singapore, about 800 children receive protection and shelter in 22 Voluntary Children’s Homes (VCHs). These children have been abused or neglected, or their families are undergoing a crisis (e.g. a single parent in prison). Ms Lim Hui Min, a former magistrate, reflected in an article in The Straits Times (25 Feb 2014) that her posting in the Family and Juvenile Court brought her into close contact with a “different world”; she recounted cases where an eight-year-old was still wearing diapers, a six-year-old was sexually abused by his own father, and a 15-year-old was covered with bruise marks, burns and scars. She observed that “Often, what determined whether [the child] was a juvenile arrest case [or] a care and protection case ... would be a question of timing” (emphasis added). When children desperate for a defender, a safe dwelling, or a loving family are turned away by the community, they may give up on themselves and on society, perpetuating a vicious circle. Hence the need for the disruptive measure of separating them from their birth families and placing them in another’s care. In line with studies showing that it is in the best interests of low-risk children-in-need to be in family-based care options rather than institutional ones, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has stepped up efforts to recruit more foster families.
who needs one Home for Good-SG believes that the Church is well-placed, and is called, to meet this urgent need. It was conceived in August 2013, when several foster families came together to support one another and to pray for God’s equipping of the ministry. It has since grown ten-fold, from four families to more than 40 families and individuals. Presently, almost half the families in the network are actively fostering children through the MSF, with a handful fostering babies via Dayspring New Life Centre or providing informal fostering for older children through links with churches. A number of families are waiting for approval to foster, or for placements. Also within the network are non-fostering families who provide respite care (temporary care for children whose foster parents are away or need a break), support foster families (e.g. through running errands), befriend children in VCHs or champion the cause in their spheres of influence. Although passionate about fostering, Home for Good-SG’s primary interest is that of the child. Whenever possible, we hope foster children can be reunited with their birth families. Hence, we intend to develop a group of befrienders who can wrap around birth families, so that more children can return home or fewer children need to be removed from their birth families in the first place. There are currently about 370 children in 370 foster families in Singapore. There is great need, with 800 children still living in VCHs. And while every new foster family may be able to take in only one child, it will make a world of difference to the foster child. Our vision is to raise up 500 Christian foster families. If every church in Singapore would foster just one child, we can do it! n
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ...” James 1:27a
Home for Good-SG Our vision: • Making fostering and adoption a core ministry of our local churches by: being a support and resource group for Christian foster parents praying for the needs of our foster children being “champions” for fostering and adoption in our own churches and other churches in Singapore • Raising up a pool of 500 foster parents to meet the needs of vulnerable children • Providing support to families so that children in out-ofhome care can be reunited with their families. To find out more: • Visit www.homeforgood.sg for testimonies and FAQs on fostering, and our Facebook page “Home for Good-SG” for news • Join our introduction tea sessions, when foster families share experiences, happening four to six times a year • Email info@homeforgood.sg Photos courtesy of Home for Good-SG METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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ACS International A Methodist Institution
Oxford Bound Risa Tan
ACS (Interna,onal) Singapore is a dis,nc,ve interna,onal secondary school open to all na,onali,es (including Singaporeans), offering an all-round English-based educa,on for 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).
2015 IB Graduate with 44 points
This school of choice provides:
• Above average 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 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
45 Pointer Ariane Ruppli
Top 2015 IB Graduate
• 25+ overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership posi,ons • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme
Achievements include:
• 13 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examina,ons over each of the past six years • 98.7% pass rate in 2015 IB Diploma examina,on and first perfect 45 point score • O Level High Value Added: All 7 students with raw scores of 18+ passed the 2015 IB Diploma with average of 34.5 points • Outstanding ‘value added’ examina,ons results from PSLE to IB graduates • Four students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universi,es for 2015 / 2016
SEA Games Silver Medal Aloysius Low
Current IB Student
• Top university admissions in the UK, US and Singapore • Successes at na,onal level this past year in Archery; Touch; Cycling; Swimming; Chinese Drama; Deba,ng; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Taekwondo; Volleyball; Cheerleading
Saturday 30 July
9.00am
Principal’s Address
9.30 - 11.30am
School tours & presenta<ons by staff & students
Oldham Chapel, ACS (Interna9onal) 61 Jalan Hitam Manis.
(Opp. Holland Village Shopping Centre)
For more informa<on, please contact Joseph Ng or Stephanie Hanrahan at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinterna<onal.com.sg What the Parents and Students Say… "First and foremost, we do value the school’s deep heritage and strong values. This is a school where we, as parents, could really partner with the teachers and school leadership in developing and educa<ng our son who, in turn, values the small class sizes and the camaraderie not just among students but also with his teachers. Their holis<c approach provides an encouraging learning environment and we wanted to expose our son to an interna<onal setup in prepara<on for the real and increasingly globalized world.” Winnie Cruz-Ding “The school has changed our daughter. She’s become more confident, self-mo<vated, self-disciplined, resilient, driven, ar<culate, analy<cal and absolutely loves to go to school. She is now in Year 3 doing a double science combina<on, taking on leadership posi<ons and in just 3 years, has become a very different person. She’s become a person that we feel is ready for the world – socially, emo<onally, intellectually and spiritually. Of course, enjoying being in school also means that her grades have – WITHOUT TUITION, risen to the upper percen<les of performance markers.
We sat down to calculate what we spent for tui<on during her PSLE year and were delighted to find that the fees at ACS Interna<onal worked out to be about $500 less per month! So if asked whether an educa<on at ACS Interna<onal is worth considering? We’d say a resounding YES! It’s worth every penny.” Keith and Nancy Tan “Having witnessed the posi<ve transforma<on in our younger daughter at ACS (Interna<onal), we decided to also transfer our older daughter in Sec 3 from a top class in an elite and pres<gious girls’ school to ACS (Interna<onal). The different teaching methods, the high quality of teaching, the promo<on of individual character and personality, and the obvious enjoyment of school at ACS (Interna<onal) made the transfer most worthwhile. Her first equal academic placing in IGCSE last year was wonderful confirma<on of the move.” Vincent and Germaine Leong "We love the smaller class sizes, the wide array of CCAs and the many approachable, friendly, passionate and dedicated teachers in the school which makes the whole experience a great one for our boys.” Cecilia Chau
HOME
Sharing food, heritage and space at Harmony Games 2016 Grace Toh is Assistant Editor of Methodist Message and has been a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church for most of her life.
METHODIST MESSAGE â&#x20AC;˘ JUN 2016
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FAQ ON FAMILY
Focus on the Family Singapore answers frequently-asked questions from their database.
Q: My teen is quiet by nature. She recently expressed her concern that she isn’t part of the “in” crowd in school and started obsessing over her popularity. How do I reassure her? A: At this age, adolescents face social volatility alongside physical and emotional upheavals. There is an intense need for acceptance by peers, an equally intense concern about not looking dumb or clumsy or different, and an ongoing struggle with self-confidence or feelings of inferiority (even among those who are attractive and talented). As a parent, you can build your teen’s esteem and security and help her discover her sense of significance. Assisting your teen in forging a strong, positive identity is one way to help her form convictions based on truth, and stand firm in them regardless of what everyone else does. First and foremost, encourage self-discovery. Until she is comfortable and secure in who she is, she will be like a chameleon, conforming to whatever situation or whoever she is with. Affirm and acknowledge her traits, abilities and strengths. Be her cheerleader. Encourage her to forge true friendships by asking what she looks for in friends, and what matters to her with longstanding friends. Everyone has a need for close relationships, but everyone is also fearful of rejection. Help her see the value in taking the initiative to reach out to those who are lonely by asking questions, being friendly and practicing patience. n © 2016 Focus on the Family Singapore Ltd.
HYMNS & SONGS
Singing in suffering Dr Yeo Teck Beng is Principal of the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
“W
hy should this happen to me, of all people, why me Lord, why?” This is a very natural response for someone who has met with a terrible tragedy and is experiencing a time of great sorrow. This was the reaction of Elizabeth P. Prentiss when she and her husband, the Rev George L. Prentiss, lost their children one after another in a short span of time. For weeks Elizabeth was inconsolable. In her diary, she wrote that she had “empty hands, a worn-out, exhausted body, and unutterable longings to flee from a world that has so many sharp experiences.” 1 Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of a devout clergyman Dr Edward Payson, and lived almost as an invalid who was tormented with constant pain throughout her life. But despite her physical misery, Elizabeth was known among her friends as “a very bright-eyed woman with a keen sense of humour. 2 After 11 years of their marriage, in 1856, tragedy struck and took away the precious ones from the family circle. Elizabeth confided in her husband, “What are we to do now? Just sit silently, passively by while our home is broken up, our lives wrecked, our hopes shattered, our dreams dissolved?” Her husband replied, “It is in times like these that God loves us all the more, just as we love our own children more when they are sick or troubled or in distress.” Holding his wife in his arms, the Presbyterian pastor added, “The more we love God as we know Him in Jesus, the more His healing miracle takes place in our hearts. The less we love Him, the less chance there is that we will be able to stand the agony and pain of our loss.” 3 So instead of wallowing in her sorrows, Elizabeth began to meditate on the life of Jacob and how God met him in a very special way during his moments of sorrow and deepest needs. After meditating on the Genesis narrative together with Sarah Adams’ hymn, ‘Nearer, my God, to Thee’, Elizabeth wrote all four stanzas of the hymn ‘More Love to Thee, O Christ’ on that same evening. Elizabeth did not think highly of her work and did not show it to anyone, not even her husband, until 13 years later. The hymn was first printed in leaflet form in 1869, and in a hymnal the following year, 1870. The words of this hymn provide us with a sense of intimacy with Christ by the 13 repetitions of the phrase: “More love to Thee.” Stanza 3 clearly depicts the painful experience from which this hymn was birthed. n
enneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily K Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications, 1990), 56 2 Ibid., 56. 3 Ernest K. Emurian, Living Stories of Famous Hymns (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1955), 87.
More Love to Thee, O Christ
(The United Methodist Hymnal, #453) More love to Thee, O Lord, More love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make On bended knee; This is my earnest plea: More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! Once earthly joy I craved, Sought peace and rest; Now Thee alone I seek, Give what is best; This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! Let sorrow do its work, Send grief and pain; Sweet are Thy messengers, Sweet their refrain, When they can sing with me, More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee! Then shall my latest breath Whisper Thy praise; This be the parting cry My heart shall raise; This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Lord, to Thee, More love to Thee, More love to Thee!
1
Words: Elizabeth P. Prentiss, 1869 Music: William H. Doane, 1870
Picture by Nikki Zalewski/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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IN MEMORIAM
Tan Boon Chiang
(4 June 1923 – 28 December 2015) Jonathan Huang is from Wesley Methodist Church and graduated from Trinity Theological College in May 2016 with a Master of Divinity degree. His passions include music and young adults’ ministry, and he will be working as a Pastoral Team Member in Wesley MC.
Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me
M
r Tan Boon Chiang passed away on 28 Dec 2015 at the age of 92. He had epitomised a heart for service – quite literally, having been founding Chairperson of the Singapore National Heart Association (now the Singapore Heart Foundation) – and The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) remembers him for his contributions to the Church as well as to the larger society in his professional and personal capacities. Born in Singapore on 4 June 1923, Mr Tan spent his early days in Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) and in The Boys’ Brigade (BB) in Singapore, where the teachings of Christ influenced his life significantly. He later became President of the ACS Old Boys’ Association (1961-1963) and Honorary President of the BB (1967-2012), where the “Tan Boon Chiang Medal” is awarded to the “Best Boy” in the Juniors and Seniors programmes. Mr Tan had a distinguished professional career, serving in the Attorney-General’s Chambers as Crown Counsel and Deputy Public Prosecutor, and as Assistant Commissioner of Labour. He was then appointed as President of the Singapore Industrial Arbitration Court in 1964, a position he held until 1988. At the NTUC’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, he was cited as one who “set the tone for fair, fast and inexpensive settlement of disputes”. His contributions to the MCS were significant. He was among the lay delegates appointed to the First General Conference of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore in 1968. He served as Lay Leader and Board Chairperson for Laity for Trinity Annual Conference from 1985 to 1992. Mr Tan and his wife were also members of Wesley Methodist Church for more than 50 years, where he served in various capacities as honorary Lay Leader and steward in the Local Church Executive Committee, worship leader and communion steward, among others. Mr Tan served the community with passion throughout his lifetime. In his eulogy, his son Daniel affirmed that his father was “a social worker at heart”. He was the Chairman of the Management Committee of Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home and later its patron. He also served on the council of the Singapore Cancer Society, was Chairman of the Hospital
Medifund Committee of the National Neuroscience Institute, VicePresident of St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital, and served in various capacities in the Rotary Club, St John’s Home for the Aged, Swiss Cottage Secondary School and numerous other organisations. The nation also recognised his contributions. Mr Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1963, the Public Service Star in 1981 and the Public Service Star (Bar) in 1999. Mr Tan is survived by his wife, Pui Yong, and sons Daniel and Donald and their families. Mrs Tan recalled that Mr Tan used to sing fondly the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth”. By all accounts, Mr Tan took the lyrics “Let peace begin with me” to heart, and lived them out in full. May his life be an encouragement to all of us. n Photo courtesy of ACS Echo
METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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WORLD METHODISM
World Baptist-Methodist dialogue holds 3rd meeting in Germany
T
he third round of conversations of the international dialogue between Baptists and Methodists centred on “Making Disciples: Baptism and Christian Initiation”. It took place from 3-10 Feb 2016 at the Elstal Theological Seminary near Berlin, Germany. Participants (right, with German friends) discussed two Bible studies by distinguished New Testament scholars: Matthew 28 led by Walter Klaiber, Methodist Bishop Emeritus, and Romans 6 by Carsten Claussen, of the Baptist School of Theology at Elstal. The dialogue reflected on historical, theological, liturgical, and ecumenical perspectives on
baptism and the process of Christian initiation, as well as received reports on baptismal practice among Methodists and Baptists in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Dialogue members also had the opportunity to travel to Wittenberg, where preparations for next year’s 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation are taking place. In Wittenberg, they visited the Reformation museum and the Castle Church where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses. The Rev Malcolm Tan, Pastorin-Charge of Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC), was part
of the six-member Methodist delegation. Last year’s round of conversations had been held in Singapore at CCMC (see MM April 2015, P21). The overall theme of the five-year dialogue between the Baptist World Alliance and the World Methodist Council is “faith working through love”. The next session of conversations will take up the theme of “The Call to Discipleship” and will be held in Kingston, Jamaica. n For the official communique, see http:// firstfridayletter.worldmethodistcouncil.org/2016/03/ the-baptist-world-alliance-world-methodist-councilbilateral-dialogue/
HOME
Christianity in the public square ... continued from page 1
Minister Tan noted that expressing one’s views is reasonable, but using the pulpit to mobilise people to take certain positions could be problematic. Christians differ in views as to what is acceptable, and some may encroach into common space in an unconstructive manner, creating a pushback. While defining out-of-bounds markers can be divisive and is not always possible, we can draw broader boundaries and allow space for discretion and judgment. Dr Roland Chia, who was moderating the discussion, pointed out that the ambiguity of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act – which defines the relationship between religion and politics – could easily lead to Christian witness being viewed as politicising. Minister Tan said that dialogue, promoting mutual understanding, and building bonds and trust across religious communities play a part in
keeping society safe and in addressing sectarian ideology that could put a strain on our social fabric. Drawing on his experience in running leadership courses in the Army, Minister Tan said that our internal framework – be it as a church, a body of Christ, or a nation – guides us in understanding, contextualising and discussing events and issues we are passionate about, and how each interplays in the larger scheme of things. Acknowledging Christians’ contributions to nation-building in education, social services and healthcare, he said that “we are setting reference points as a society by contributing these values” and serving others. Another question was posed about retaining our Christian witness in the aftermath of misdeeds by high-profile Christians. Bishop Ponniah responded: “We should pray that when Christian leaders fail and have been found guilty of wrongdoing, we have the grace to accept it, and to take corrective action and to bring home the reality that we are not in a class above others. This is a great challenge on our discipleship because our witness is tied to the credibility of our lives. “How we respond to these failings may become a bridge to the rest of society and be an example of how we recover from failure – and it can be a testament to the gospel how we fail, repent, and see God’s grace,” he continued. Minister Tan encouraged us to examine our Christian witness daily, as that makes a greater impact in shaping others’ views of Christians and their salvation. Each person has no control over his church or the society, but a useful perspective is to think about the quality of our lives, the way we carry ourselves – for example, how we treat domestic help. In closing, Bishop Ponniah encouraged “a humble tenacity” in bringing out God’s goodness and ways gently, understanding that we are in a secular state and need to handle our dual citizenship in the Kingdom and in our nation with the right weightage. n Photo courtesy of The Bible Society® of Singapore
Join us as PASTORAL STAFF (YOUTH) Toa Payoh Methodist Church (TPMC) invites suitable individuals to join us on the Pastoral Staff team overseeing our Youth Ministry. YOUTH FUSION, TPMC’s 70-strong Youth Ministry, is a gleeful, vibrant and dynamic group of young people 13 to 24 years of age, who are always desiring more of God. As we seek fun and authentic relationships in fellowship, we want to experience God powerfully in His presence – becoming a generation that is pure and blameless, to be used by God to fulll His great plans and desires. Qualiications: 1. Diploma or equivalent in theological training. 2. Possesses good organizational skills with ability to multi-task. playe 3. Able to work independently and a good team player. 4. Able to work during evenings and weekends. 5. Minimum 'O' levels (with good pass in English) or GCE 'A' levels. Please submit your detailed resume, including current and expected salary as well as a recent photo of yourself to hr@tpmc.org.sg. Only Singaporeans and PRs need apply. Only shortlisted applicants will be notiied.
POEMS
God Is Our Refuge He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty… Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you… For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways… He shall call upon Me… I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, And show him My salvation. (Psalm 91, NKJV)
Leong Kwok Thye is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and has been involved in the ministries of Scripture Union, the Bible Study Fellowship and the pastoral care programme of Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) and Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).
The Most High God is our shelter; From fear, harm and danger; In the shadow of the Almighty, There is comfort and security. The Lord saves those unaware, From the evil trapper’s snare. His truth is guarantee, Of their absolute security. Multitudes will fall by the way, But all who call on Him will stay; For His angels protect from harm, Those under His mighty arm. Shelter us from storms of life, Free us from the tyranny of strife, Grant us peace and serenity, Under Your shadow, Lord Almighty.
Background picture by MagMac83/Bigstock.com
天 父
2016
华人年议会
宣教 大会 16-18 June
业
的
MY FATHER’S BUSINESS
CAC MISSIONS CONFERENCE
June IS THE MONTH FOR
感恩堂 Kum Yan Methodist Church 地铁站MRT: CC2 Exit A
讲员 Speaker
节目 Program
论坛 • 专题 • 宣教士分享 • 工作坊 Forum • Theme Talk • Missionary Sharing 16 Jun | 2.30pm-9.30pm 17 Jun | 8.30am-9.30pm 18 Jun | 8.30am-5.30pm
报名／询问 Registration/enquiries
吴端仪 Goh Tuan Gee
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费用 Fees
戴继宗牧师
Rev James H Taylor IV
$20 包括两个午餐 Include 2 lunch
• Workshops
9828 6658
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新加坡卫理公会华人年议会 tuangee.goh@methodist.org.sg
Chinese Annual Conference The Methodist Church in Singapore
宣教部 Board of Missions
REGISTERING FOR CAC’S “MY FATHER’S BUSINESS” MISSIONS CONFERENCE
16 Jun (Thursday), 2.30 p.m. – 9 p.m. 17 Jun (Friday), 8.30 a.m. - 9.30 p.m. 18 Jun (Saturday), 8.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Kum Yan Methodist Church, 1 Queen Street
Be updated on the latest strategic initiatives in global missions with our illustrious panel of workshop speakers addressing topics ranging from missional businesses, urban missions, migrant ministries, and even outreach in the media industry. The speaker Rev James Hudson Taylor IV will be ministering bilingually. Organised by Board of Missions, Chinese Annual Conference. Fee: $20 per person (including two lunches).
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For more info, visit http://www.cac-singapore.org.sg or email tuangee.goh@methodist.org.sg
REGISTERING FOR MWS IMPACTING LIVES CHALLENGE (ILC)
16 Jul (Saturday), 4 p.m. The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Gather a relay team of four and run a half or full marathon at Mizuno Ekiden Singapore and set up a personal crowdfunding campaign at GIVE.asia to impact the lives of over 12,000 beneficiaries from Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) centres and programmes. Crowdfunders who raise at least $100 each will receive an ILC sponsored pack. Top three fundraisers will also receive additional mystery gifts. Organised by Methodist Welfare Services. Register by 10 June.
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For more info, visit www.mws.sg/events/ilc or call Ms Jamie Aw at 6478-4713 or Ms Ruth Ng at 6478-4717.
REGISTERING FOR TTC’S CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA (CSCA) LECTURES
19 – 21 Jul (Tuesday - Thursday), 7.45 p.m.
Trinity Theological College, Chapel, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road Learn from CSCA’s lectures how the Church’s engagement with social issues develops out of the liturgy and why the modern church needs to practise a theologically sound liturgy. Organised by Trinity Theological College. Free admission.
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For more info, visit www.ttc.edu.sg, or email csca@ttc.edu.sg
PARTICIPATING IN ERCO SONG-WRITING INITIATIVE
Closing Date: 31 Aug (Wednesday)
Inspired by Luke 19:40, Even The Rocks Cry Out (ERCO) is a song-writing initiative by TRAC Youth Ministries (Truthmin), encouraging our youth to express themselves through music and song-writing to praise our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you are between 13 to 30 years old and have written a worship song, send it in and you could stand a chance to win up to $1,000 worth of prizes. Organised by Trinity Annual Conference Youth Ministries (Truthmin).
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For more info, visit http://truthmin.com/even-the-rocks-cry-out
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METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2016
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THINK
Rethinking the Methodist Church in Singapore Tan Gee Paw is Chairman of the Public Utilities Board and Chairman of the International Advisory Panel, Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He is a member of Barker Road Methodist Church.
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he socio-economic changes that have taken place in Singapore over the last few decades have truly been remarkable. However, future changes over the next few decades will be more farreaching in terms of their depth and impact upon family and society. The prayerful Christian who spends time contemplating the future will soon realise that in the history of the church, rapid socio-economic changes have always required a fresh direction for the church to avoid its becoming fossilised. In some parts of the West, empty churches stand testament to those who could not find their relevance to a new socio-economic order. There is a need for us to seriously and prayerfully rethink the role of the Methodist Church in a future Singapore. A church in a settled environment with little change will always focus on its expansion programme: how to evangelise and bring in more members, how to launch new and more spiritual growth programmes to keep the members active, and how to keep the young generation interested in the church. These are important programmes and they seem to consume the energy of the church leadership every year.
But in a rapidly-changing socio-economic environment like what we expect in the future, such activity-based programmes alone – targeted at growing the church numerically and raising its level of biblical literacy, or at least maintaining its membership roll – will eventually lead to an irrelevant church with empty pews, an outcome such activities were aimed at avoiding in the first place. The current practice of doing more of what was done last year with larger budgets, so that reports can be submitted at annual meetings, cannot be the agenda for our leadership meetings any more. In times of rapid change, the Methodist Church must reach back into its rich tradition and learn lessons from similar periods of rapid change in the past. It must draw from its unique origin or risk losing its bearings and receding into irrelevance. Methodism began as a holiness movement founded by John Wesley during the Industrial Revolution in England, a time of unprecedented changes during that era. The changes for them would have been as far-reaching as today’s changes are for our era. This is food for thought and cause for much prayer. The Methodist Church cannot be just another church denomination in a nation that already has many other Christian denominations. It has a special role to play in the midst of rapid changes, and that role is a unique emphasis on “scriptural holiness” that is both disciplined and accountable. It is disciplined in terms of its personal practice and accountable in terms of its social action. Note that Methodism was a movement, not an institution. The Methodist Church as an institution grew out of a holiness movement. In times of rapid changes, institutional churches will struggle to adapt, or worse still, some will retreat behind closed doors to preserve the institution. I would call that the closing of the Christian mind. On the other hand, movements are able to spread rapidly and adapt to new situations. Whereas it would be unwise to totally abandon our institutional organisation, there is a real need for us as the Methodist Church to recalibrate the balance between an institution and a movement. Today, I would suggest, we are too much an institution and too little a movement. It has even become a challenge today for us to change as we are so institutionalised. Man has a tendency to cling on to institutions that give him a sense of permanence in times of rapid change. We must overcome this. Whereas this tendency to cling to the established would be necessary in the area of basic Biblical doctrines, it would be fatal in the area of organisational approach. I sense very much that today the Methodist Church in Singapore is at a crossroads. In terms of its mission, we cannot be just another denomination but we have a special mission for a rapidly-changing era. In terms of our organisational structure, we need to de-institutionalise more and become more of a movement. May the Lord grant us wisdom as we prayerfully ponder this critical matter. n
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