Methodist Message: March 2018

Vol 120 No 3 • MAR 2018

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ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 019/11/2017

Unity in Spirit Week of Prayer for Christian Unity page 8

message.methodist.org.sg

MCS focus: GC WSCS Living in a ‘selfie’ world?

Film review On Wings of Eagles

pages 10-11

page 17

HOME

Changi MC has ‘landed’ in Punggol!

Jennifer Joy Goh is a Lay Ministry Staff of Punggol Preaching Point under Changi Methodist Church.

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even years ago, Changi Methodist Church (Changi MC) sensed God’s call to plant a preaching point in Punggol. Although we did not then have a location, we responded in faith, and the years since have been spent ‘tilling the field’ in Punggol – persevering service by members of the Punggol Preaching Point (PPP) Committee, volunteers from various Chinese Annual Conference churches, pastors (past and present), members and friends of Changi MC. The miraculous way in which doors began to open for us in a school in Punggol seemed a confirmation of God’s call.

Finally, we have seen God’s work bear fruit!

Through the kindness of Gospel Light Christian Church (GLCC), Changi MC and our PPP began a 4 p.m. worship service in Punggol on 4 Feb 2018, at GLCC’s brand-new church building at 39 Punggol Field Walk. It was a milestone and a prayer answered for all of us!

Is the work done? Far from it! Punggol is set to be the largest town in Singapore, and plans were recently announced to develop Punggol into the likes of Silicon Valley, potentially generating 28,000 jobs. This is exciting news for those of us trying to establish a Methodist presence in Punggol. Many young workers and young families, together with their older parents and grandparents, will likely be drawn to Punggol. We will need many more hands to come alongside us in this burgeoning ministry.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Join us as volunteers to mentor the children and youths in our Boys’ Brigade (BB) and Girls’ Brigade (GB) companies, and also to reach out to disadvantaged and distressed residents in Punggol. ◆ BB and GB companies in Greendale Primary School: We need adult mentors to befriend and provide character guidance to these primary school children. CCA meetings are held on Fridays, 2-4 p.m. ◆ Changi MC has partnered Methodist Welfare Services to set up Community Services in Punggol (CSP) to provide niche services to single-parent families in Punggol, as well as for the larger community of Singapore. CSP provides support to children from single-parent families through the Rainbows programme. ◆ Building of Punggol Volunteer Corps (PVC) to promote active citizenry through social action and responsibility, caring for the disadvantaged and distressed in the community. Volunteers are

Members organised a Mid-Autumn event for BB and GB in Greendale Primary School.

recruited through the BB and GB, schools, residents and nonresidents of Punggol, the wider Punggol community, and members of Methodist churches.

Advocate for us – share our work with friends and church members, and invite those who stay in Punggol to attend our worship service.

Donate to PPP funds – write your cheque to “Changi Methodist Church PPP”, and mail it to “Changi Methodist Church, Sengkang Central Post Office, P.O. Box 865, Singapore 915408”. n UPCOMING EVENTS Open House on 11 March 2018 4 p.m. Worship Service and Punggol Ministries Showcase 39 Punggol Field Walk, S(828753), Level 3, Light 2 Auditorium Punggol Preaching Point Fundraising Dinner 28 April 2018, 7.30 p.m.

Ban Heng Pavilion Restaurant at Harbourfront Centre Contact Ms June Tan at changimc1@gmail.com for details.

Photo by Hon Chee Seng

COMING UP

Risen Above: A festival on the 40th day of Easter Judith Mosomos is Director of Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

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ifty days has Easter: the 40th day of Easter is called Ascension Day, and the 50th day is Pentecost.

Although replete with theological significance, Ascension Day is often overlooked in the church calendar.

The Book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke both narrate Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

In Jesus’ final moments on earth, “He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:7-9, NIV) The Gospel of Luke tells us: “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they

stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:50-53, NIV) The Book of Acts highlights Jesus’ promise to His disciples of the power of the Holy Spirit they would receive. The Gospel of Luke focuses on the joy that filled the disciples after witnessing Jesus being taken up to heaven.

What is the significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and of the joy that overwhelmed the disciples? Why is Ascension Day important, and why do we have to celebrate it?

The Methodist Festival Choir invites you to ‘Risen Above: A Festival on the 40th Day of Easter’.

Come, listen to the story of the Ascension, sing, and pray with us. Together we will discover the profound meaning of Jesus’ ascension, and reflect on how it may have an impact on our Christian discipleship. n Jesus ascended in triumph to his heavenly throne.

There he hears our prayers, pleads our cause before the Father, and rules the world.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

– Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, © 2004, CRC Publications.

The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated.

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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

Risen Above: A Festival on the 40th Day of Easter 10 May 2018 (Thursday), 8 p.m.

Wesley Methodist Church, 5 Fort Canning Road, S(179493) Admission is free and all are welcome.

For more information, visit www.msmusic.edu.sg, email msm@msmusic.edu.sg, or call 6767-5258.

Image courtesy of the Methodist School of Music

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

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

CORRECTIONS We apologise for two errors in MM Feb 2018.

• P8 ‘Fraternity connections with Malaysian Methodists’ – The second-last paragraph should begin: “Although TRAC Malaysia may be smaller than TRAC Singapore…”

• P10 ‘Welcoming our new Methodist school Principals’ – The last line should read: “[Mr Loo Ming Yaw] attends and serves at Aldersgate Methodist Church with his wife, Yuet Sim, and son, Samuel.”

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

Why must Jesus suffer?

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

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished

by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

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s we reflect on the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion during the season of Lent, we may wonder: Why was it necessary for Jesus to suffer? Was there no other way except for Him to go through such cruelty as He experienced?

There are different forms of suffering. Suffering may be physical, such as that brought about by illnesses like cancer, or by injury. Alternatively, suffering may be on the emotional level, as in a broken relationship, bringing unbearable bitterness, vengefulness, or jealousy. At times, suffering could be caused by a spiritual blow or dilemma, so that one loses trust and hope in God and people, resulting – Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV) in overwhelming feelings of loneliness and helplessness.

To answer our question of why Jesus must suffer, the first consideration is Man’s sinfulness. Among all of God’s creations, only Man is created with absolute free will, which gives us the freedom to choose to obey God, or to rebel against Him. When we choose the freedom to rebel, we must be ready to bear the consequences – that is the suffering that comes from choosing evil over good. Evil originated from Satan; God allowed it to exist; man brought it into the universe. What is astounding is not that there is so much suffering in our lives, but that we are not facing even more terrible suffering.

Suffering fills the whole sequence of events by which Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the whole world: betrayal, arrest, insult and humiliation, interrogation, whipping, dragging the heavy cross to the place of execution, being nailed to the cross, and hanging there until the last excruciating breath. On His journey to Calvary, Jesus suffered terribly on all three levels – physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as the crucifixion marked Him a lost and condemned man.

This process also exposed the extreme depravity and the horror of man’s sin – Judas’ ruthless selfishness, the high priest’s denial and rejection of Jesus, the religious leaders’ poisonous lies, the crowds who could not tell right from wrong, Pilate who washed his hands of Jesus’ fate, the avarice of the soldiers who

nailed Jesus to the cross, the disciples who basely abandoned their Teacher, the condemned thief hanging beside Jesus who refused to repent, and many others who represent the corrupt and sinful nature of Man. The second consideration is the Law as laid down by Moses. Traditionally, on the Day of Atonement, the penance for sin required the killing of animals and the spilling of blood, for “it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Lev 17:11, NIV), and “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). The animals took the place of the sinner – and were sacrificed for the sins of the people. When Jesus took on the sins of the world, He bled and died as the sacrificial Lamb.

There was no other way but for Jesus to go through such tortuous suffering. It seems as if the greater the sins of Man, the greater the suffering that Jesus had to endure. Correspondingly, the more that Jesus had to endure, the more we realise how great the merciful love of God is, and how great His determination to save the world.

In the final analysis, we may not always understand the purpose that God intends when He allows suffering to come our way, but we can look forward to sharing in Christ’s glory. As Paul wrote in Romans 8:17-18, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” n

Picture by MIA Studio/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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CHURCH PROFILE

Toa Payoh Tamil MC:

Growing ‘Agents of Transformation’ Rasanya Gnasegaran is a member of Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church.

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o know Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church (TPTMC) is to know love, joy, and hospitality. One might say that we are well-known amongst the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) churches for our homely and welcoming character. With our modest and close-knit congregation, TPTMC has come to be a small but persistently bright light in the heart of Toa Payoh.

The church was constituted as a product of an active evangelistic ministry started by several members of Tamil Methodist Church at Short Street in 1979. Mr and Mrs E. Rajaiah conducted Bible studies and started the Sunday School ministry for children in the Toa Payoh area. The Rev R. Prabhu Das then began regular services in a room at Toa Payoh Methodist Church (TPMC) premises.

TPTMC is thankful that TPMC has honoured this partnership faithfully through the years.

With a congregation size of 30, we aim to be salt and light to the community around us as we seek to bring more people into our fold.

By God’s grace, we have been seeing

a steady increase in Sunday service attendance, consisting mainly of prebelievers. We are praying ceaselessly for more to join us permanently.

Our biggest challenge being membership, we conduct weekly evangelistic home visits throughout the year, culminating in an annual Evangelistic Christmas Party in December.

We spend many weeks in preparation, hand-delivering invitation cards to Indian people in the surrounding neighbourhoods, and putting together a programme that sows the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of attendees.

The Lord has truly empowered our leaders to put in 110 per cent of their effort into the various church ministries, and grooming the youth to take on future leadership roles.

A small congregation means an even smaller leadership team, resulting in members ‘wearing multiple hats’ and striving hard to ensure the smooth running of our church.

Truth be told, serving in church can be rather challenging. The lack of manpower alone is enough to cause worry and struggles when it comes

Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) 480 Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, #03-03 Worship Hall 3, Singapore 319641 Sunday Service: 5.00 p.m. Tamil Contact us: Website: www.tptmc.org Email: tptmc.sg@gmail.com

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. to weekly operations and monthly programmes.

The load is lightened, however, by the warm and benevolent nature of our congregation, as well as the knowledge that God is ultimately in control of the building of His kingdom. Our Pastor-in-Charge, the Rev Albert Vijay Joseph, and the leadership team are always quick to remind one another that serving is a privilege bestowed upon us by the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.

The Lord’s hand is at work in our church.

While celebrating our 35th anniversary last year, we looked back and reflected on how much we had grown over the past five years. We press on with the conviction that God has placed us where we are for a clear purpose: to be a beacon of Christ’s light and love.

As we step up our engagement efforts, we hope to put on the likeness of Christ and spread God’s love, as we embody our theme for this quadrennium and become ‘Agents of Transformation’ in our community. n Photos courtesy of Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church

ONE MCS – ETAC HIGHLIGHT

ETAC Thanksgiving 2018: Call, Consecration, Commission Raymond Gabriel Jeyaraj is Chairman of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference Board of Worship and Music.

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n 27 Jan 2018, 300 members from the eight churches of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) gathered at Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church (PPTMC) for the annual ETAC Thanksgiving Service. It was truly a jubilant evening that celebrated God’s faithfulness to our Annual Conference and our churches.

The start of the service was heralded by a procession bearing a cross, a Bible, the Conference banners, and banners of local churches carried by their Lay Leaders, in order according to the church’s age (top right pic). They were followed by the clergy in their robes.

The rest of the congregation filled the sanctuary with beautiful colours that accentuated the rich cultures and traditions of the ETAC churches, with each church having their theme colours on full display.

The Emmanuel Praise choir began the service with a classical Tamil introit, followed by each church presenting their song on the theme of Thanksgiving. Each congregation had a story to tell of God’s goodness, through the songs rendered. These songs were weaved into the order of service and liturgy seamlessly, underlining the spirit of unity prevalent in our ETAC churches. The pastors and their spouses then blessed the combined congregation with a song of Benediction (pic below).

ETAC President Rev James Nagulan encouraged the churches with God’s Word from Psalm 133, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) He invited them to take the opportunity to fellowship and engage with one another, and to build strong bonds within the Annual Conference. He also urged them to respond to God’s ‘Call to unity’, ‘Consecration’, and ‘Commission to serve’. It was a great opportunity for the President to share the direction of the Annual Conference with the local churches.

Of course, no Methodist gathering ends without an opportunity for fellowship around the table! The evening was roundly concluded with a joyous time of fellowship over a sumptuous dinner. It was indeed a blessed time, and a great start for 2018! n Photos by Daniel Lie

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YOU & YOUR FAMILY

Making tough choices 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 sat there looking very serious and angry.

Across from her was her husband, who had a jocular air about him. He spoke in a casual manner about his infidelity and brushed it off as a mistake made when he was drunk. This explanation was clearly inadequate as it was not a one-time “mistake”, but an affair that lasted over a year with a trusted family friend. When questioned further about what he was thinking when he betrayed his wife’s trust in him, he blamed it on his not taking life seriously, that he often “played the fool” in life.

The above exchange happened more than six months ago. Our recent conversation was very different. Gone was his dismissive attitude towards her questions. He tried his best to answer each one, taking time to address them carefully. The questions were not easy ones. She asked him if he had thought of the family and her feelings when he strayed time and time again. Did her feelings matter to him?

There were times he struggled to find words to explain himself and his actions. At times, he simply stated that he now accepted he was wrong and his behaviour was awful. Significantly, these admissions were not said in a flippant or resigned fashion.

They were spoken in the manner of one attempting to take ownership of past misdeeds, and in so doing, also to accept the consequences.

Why, you might ask, would a person subject oneself to this kind of inquiry – or inquisition, as others might say? A similar question might be directed to his wife. After hearing his responses, she had the arduous task of deciding what to do – or more specifically, what to do with her philandering husband. I suggested that she might want to give herself some time to think about her response, as it was not an easy decision to make, especially since this was his second episode of betrayal. Having said this, I somehow thought in my heart that she would give him another chance.

Why might she want to continue with him?

Unlike some wives with little option but to put up with their husbands’ waywardness, she is welleducated and financially independent, having

worked successfully in the business world for several years. Moreover, she knows full well that a decision to stay in the marriage would mean having to confront the possibility of being hurt again. She would have to face her doubts and rebuild her trust in this man.

As I ponder the tough choice confronting this couple, I realise too that each decision they make, though monumental, is only just the beginning.

What follows is a long and oftentimes demanding journey ahead. Why then, I wonder, would they subject themselves to such a challenge? Why take the difficult path? Why not take the easier route and just walk away?

For those who may be confronted with a similar choice, the answer will vary from person to person. For some, they may say it is because of love; others, because their faith dictates these choices; still others, because it is the ‘right’ decision, and so on. Whatever the reason may be, it reflects something of our values and worldview, and says something about our inner person.

What hard decisions have you had to make recently? What sacrifices did it entail? Each choice may also come with a denial. What have you denied yourself of? What do these choices say about you, and about what is important to you?

During this season of Lent, it is an apt time to reflect on these questions, especially when we remember our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice for us. n

Picture by elwynn/Bigstock.com

WELFARE SERVICES

New SAC supports MWS’ continuum of eldercare By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team

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t was a morning of exuberant song and dance on 9 Feb 2018, when nearly 200 seniors, volunteers, grassroots leaders, government agency representatives, and members of the community celebrated the official opening of MWS Senior Activity Centre (SAC) – Teck Ghee Vista.

A lion dance troupe greeted the guest-of-honour, Dr Koh Poh Koon (right, trying out senior-friendly gym equipment), Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The Rev Melvin Huang dedicated the centre as Pastor-in-Charge of Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (AMKMC), which is the centre’s partner church. This was followed by several heartfelt singing and dancing performances by the centre’s members, volunteers, and staff.

Located in Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, the centre is the latest SAC among a total of seven opened by MWS, to ramp up its continuum of eldercare services as a response to Singapore’s fast-ageing demographics.

It is MWS’ vision that seniors who come through its doors can be holistically and seamlessly served as they advance in age and experience changing needs. In addition to MWS SACs, MWS’ full spectrum of eldercare services encompasses assisted living, residential nursing and rehabilitative care, and home hospice services.

Over the past two years, MWS rapidly expanded its services in the eldercare sector and put its focus on seniors living in non-rental flats. To date, out of MWS’ 20 centres and programmes, 12 are in the eldercare sector.

Said Dr Koh, “The government welcomes the partnership of non-profit organisations like MWS in meeting the critical needs of the ageing population.

The MWS Senior Activity Centre is serving the growing group of middle- and lower-income seniors in HDB heartlands. It is notable that MWS is providing a continuum of eldercare services to cater to seniors in different stages of their ageing needs.”

MWS SAC – Teck Ghee Vista reaches out to older persons aged 55 and above, and from low- to middle-income groups. It engages mainly residents of studio apartments in Block 307C Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, of which over 70 per cent are 65 years old and above. Almost six in ten of these elderly live alone.

Such seniors are at a stage when they stop working, become empty-nesters, or find that their social networks are falling away. Some of them also have mobility issues.

They are at a higher risk of being socially isolated or lonely, which can lead to depression and other mental or emotional problems.

MWS Group Executive Director Mrs Jenny Bong said, “MWS Senior Activity Centre – Teck Ghee Vista supports seniors in the community, enabling them to remain healthy, active and happy. We do not see seniors as simply consumers of services or programmes, but also as active contributors to their own well-being and the community.”

Designed as an inviting communal space, the centre operates Mondays to Fridays. Facilities include a state-of-the-art gym, a kitchen, a karaoke room, a social space, and an outdoor exercise area.

The centre is also equipped with an alert alarm system that offers timely help to senior folks living in the HDB block of studio apartments next door.

Programmes range from daily morning exercises and line-dancing, to sing-along sessions and mentally-stimulating table games, to craft and cooking lessons. The centre holds ad-hoc health talks, wellness screenings, and excursions. There are also opportunities for seniors to volunteer in conducting classes or running programmes.

Every day, the centre also receives the help of regular volunteers from AMKMC, which has supported MWS in setting up the centre’s operations, funding it, and continuing to be involved in its programmes. n

Find out more about how you or your church can be involved in volunteering activities at MWS centres – visit www.mws.sg or email volunteer@mws.sg.

Support our efforts to help the poor, lonely and in-need – please donate at give.mws.sg.

Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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HOME

Keeping the ecumenical spirit strong Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he indulges in table-top games or whiles away time watching Internet cat videos.

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rganised by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue, the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity took place at five host churches from 18 to 25 Jan 2018, strengthening the ecumenical ties between Protestant and Catholic brethren.

The week-long event kicked off with an evening service at Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC) on 18 Jan. The church’s pews were filled to capacity with lay people and clergy from various agencies and churches coming together in prayer and praise.

Speaking to the congregation on the freedom that God offers was the Rev Ian Lee of CCMC. The Rev Lee focused on Mark 5:25-34, which describes Jesus’ encounter with the woman who was healed of her chronic medical condition the moment she touched the Messiah’s robe.

In his closing, the Rev Lee emphasised that when God bestows freedom, as exemplified by Jesus’ complete healing of the woman, it is and always will be a total and all-encompassing experience that liberates the believer from bondage: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV)

Materials for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by Caribbean churches – an ironical product of the brutal subjugation inflicted by foreign colonisers upon the locals – demonstrating how God can turn even the darkest moments into ones that speak of hope, strength, and love. n Photos courtesy of CATHOLIC NEWS, Singapore

MISSIONS

Raising female Cambodian leaders through 1st Phnom Penh GB Company Serene Lee and Chen Qiuluan are members of Covenant Evangelical Free Church and Aldersgate Methodist Church respectively. Both are Methodist Missions Society missionaries serving in Cambodia.

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cool breeze brought an air of excitement amongst the students and officers, as we celebrated our 2nd Combined Enrolment Parade and Service of the 1st Phnom Penh Girls’ Brigade (GB) Company and the st 1 Phnom Penh Boys’ Brigade (BB) Company, on 3 Feb 2018 at the Methodist School of Cambodia (MSC).

Two significant events took place during this parade. Firstly, the Parade Commander, home-grown Warrant Officer (WO) Soksan Pisina, was promoted during the parade. Secondly, it was during the parade that Ms Chen Qiuluan, a Singaporean missionary from the Methodist Missions Society, handed over the role of Captain of the 1st Phnom Penh GB Company to Ms Chhom Darareaksemy.

Ms Darareaksemy is a graduate of Community Outreach Services Immanuel (COSI) and the MSC. After completing her studies, she is presently employed as an Administrator at our Methodist Centre. Her growth and development as a leader exemplifies the fulfilment of our vision and ministry amongst the young girls in Cambodia – to help them grow and develop as leaders with godly values.

To see someone rising through our system and now serving the Lord is a great encouragement not only to our missionaries, but also to all our supporters and donors from our Methodist churches in Singapore.

The 1st Phnom Penh GB Company has come a long way since its nascent beginnings in 2008. In the early years, officers and leaders of the GB in Singapore came to train MSC teachers on how to lead in Bible study. Together with our missionaries, they organised the local teachers and taught them skills like crossstitch and craft work. Over the years, the GB in MSC continued to persevere in spite of limited funding and other challenges.

In 2016, we had the privilege, in consultation with our students, to design the Cambodian GB uniform. In the same year, the group was officially recognised as the 1st Phnom Penh GB Company. That gave us a greater sense of identity and presence.

Today, the GB in MSC is an effective platform where discipleship and modelling of godly principles in servant leadership are carried out weekly.

We are greatly encouraged by the girls’ commitment and growth as we journey with them from Grade 7 to 11 (akin to secondary education in Singapore). We are also thankful for dedicated volunteers – female teachers in MSC, ex-students, and others – who invest their precious time in the lives of these girls.

As we (Serene and Qiuluan) talked and prayed about our work in the GB, we were intentional that the GB would not just be a programme, but a platform for us to share the Gospel to the students. At the end of the Spiritual badgework course last year, one of the Grade 11 girls who had backslidden chose to recommit her life to God, and has started attending church again.

Meanwhile, at our Annual Leadership Camp in August 2017, we prayed for the salvation of our girls, and one girl gave her life to Jesus. She even renounced her previous beliefs by removing her items related to superstitions, and allowed

us to pray over her for her deliverance. We also had many more who responded and are seeking to know more about Jesus.

We pray that the GB in MSC will continue to be relevant and effective in training Cambodian girls to be followers of Jesus Christ, and that they will grow to become women who will make a difference in this nation.

It is also our hope that many of the girls who graduate from MSC will come back to serve with us. May God enable the local Cambodian churches to catch the vision of our work in the GB, and to reach out to and empower young women in Cambodia for His Kingdom. n

Prayer Requests: u PRAY for Ms Chhom Darareaksemy to have wisdom, courage, and leadership as the Captain of the 1st Phnom Penh GB Company. u PRAY for unity of the current team of teachers and volunteers, and that they will be refreshed and encouraged to further their good work in the GB. u PRAY for wisdom in planning programmes and badge-work that will be relevant and effective in reaching out and training girls for the Kingdom of God. u PRAY for a sponsoring church from Singapore. u PRAY for financial support for the provision of uniforms and badges, and the programmes of the 1st Phnom Penh GB Company. u PRAY for volunteers who can commit a month or two to conduct orienteering or outdoor camping programmes for the girls, or teach a specific life skill like ‘Time Management’ or ‘Money and Stewardship’.

Photo courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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MCS FOCUS: WSCS

Living in a ‘selfie’ world?

Dr Lee Li Bee and Eunice Yeo are the President and the Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator respectively of the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service.

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he taking of ‘selfies’, and the subsequent display of our beaming faces on social media, has taken the world by storm in recent years. We unabashedly pose, often with cheerful smiles, even if we do not feel cheerful at the moment. When reviewing the photos taken, we invariably focus first on how we look, sometimes requesting a ‘retake’ if we are dissatisfied with how we are portrayed.

There is nothing wrong with taking selfies, but when our focus is on our outer presentation, we may develop a dangerous habit of self-promotion, and adopt an attitude of self-fulfillment rather than self-denial. Living in a ‘selfie’ world is not confined only to taking photographs, but refers also to living with the attitude that we are ‘number one’ – an attitude which started way back with Man’s Fall in the Garden of Eden. Generations of believers find it challenging to practise self-denial, and often succumb to rationalising our ‘wants’ as our needs.

In this season of Lent, let us remember Christ’s exhortation in Luke 9:23 to follow Him as His disciples, and deny ourselves to the point of losing our lives.

The concept of self-denial has been an annual practice for Methodist women of the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) since 1887.

The Week of Prayer and Self-Denial (PSD) calls

them to spiritual growth, awareness, and action. Through it, women are challenged to engage in prayer and to reflect on stewardship, as they respond to others’ needs in the home, church, community, and the world beyond.

The WSCS has 37 chapters across the three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

During PSD Week, we reflect in prayer and meditation using devotional booklets prepared by fellow WSCS members.

In addition, we deny ourselves of luxuries or time usually spent on ourselves, redirecting such resources sacrificially to ministry work in mission fields. Through such activities, WSCS has continued to intentionally encourage women to know Christ deeply, and to support one another to grow in Christ and make Him known.

Many erroneously think PSD Week is a fund-raising exercise.

Rather, the practice of self-denial involves putting aside what we normally spend on ourselves for the good of others.

BLESSING BEYOND OURSELVES

For example, some make time to cook for food sales, while others switch to lower cost supermarket deals, or sacrifice holidays and costly dinners.

Women in Holland Village Methodist Church have included their families in the exercise by designating a recycled glass jar per family to collect the money saved (pic below, and bottom right). Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church’s WSCS distributed drawstring pouches with information on the reasons for observing PSD Week.

These simple acts are practical reminders of how we can do more for others. The focus is not on frugality, but on thinking beyond ourselves to give our funds as well as our time and talents.

Funds collected are consolidated at the Annual Conference levels, and subsequently distributed to the causes approved by the Finance and the Executive Committees at the respective Conference levels (see box on right).

These small steps spark awareness of the need for self-denial. While we may not yet be ready to die for others, we are moving away from a stance of self-fulfillment as a priority, towards self-denial and loving others in a prayerful and sacrificial way.

We are learning to proclaim Christ through acts of giving and blessing beyond ourselves. If you ever catch us taking a selfie in the mission field, it is not for you to see us, but so that all will see the great needs to be met in the field. n

At the level of the General Conference (GC) WSCS, funds collected are channelled to Tana River Life Foundation Education Bursary Fund (pic bottom left), VisionTrust Asia Ltd, SIM East Asia Ltd, and the Methodist Missions Society.

One recipient is a missionary from SIM. Describing the poverty of the people where she is based, she wrote: “God is at work in South Sudan even though the situation seems more difficult especially in security aspects… We need someone to walk with because it is not safe anymore so it’s kind of difficult.”

“But God never leaves us in the lurch. He protects and sustains us to keep us moving forward, and we need to put our trust in Him. He is also doing some amazing things among His people here. Churches continue to unite together in prayer and fasting for peace and reconciliation. It fills us with so much joy and praise to see more believers in the refugee camp baptised and joining the church.”

Both GC WSCS and Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) WSCS have given generously to causes that benefit children such as Oikos Helping Hand, a non-governmental organisation incorporated in the Philippines 11 years ago. They minister to the poorest of the poor, many of whom are young children scrambling to make a living in the infamous ‘Smokey Mountain’ rubbish dump (now relocated to ‘Aroma’ dump), scavenging for recyclables and earning as little as S$5 a day for 10 hours of work.

TRAC WSCS organises regular mission trips to visit Oikos and follow up on the use of funds. They are not only challenged by poverty but also diseases, illiteracy, and damage from natural disasters such as typhoons.

Donations have been used to repair office buildings, replace water pipes, and improve the scant school facilities they have.

Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) WSCS donates to churches and schools in India and Medan, and water supply projects.

They have also made regular mission trips. In 2017, they were able to minister to war widows and their children in Sri Lanka (pic far left facing).

The Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) WSCS ladies have channelled donations to the Taiwan Earthquake Relief Fund, and the Overseas Emergency Relief Fund.

General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service Website: wscs.methodist.org.sg Email: wscs@methodist.org.sg Phone: 6478-4760 / 6478-4822

Photos courtesy of the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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OPEN HOUSE

Saturday 24 March 2018

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

Achievements Include

• 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

• 19 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past eight years

• 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

• 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

• Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal

• Top students have achieved perfect IB scores of 45 points

• 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

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal

INFORMATION SESSIONS 9:00am

Principal’s Address

9:30am – 12:00pm

School tours & presentations by staff & students

Oldham Chapel, ACS (International) 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

For more information, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg

ACS (International) - Building Through Belief"

HYMNS & SONGS

It was for me Wounded for Me

(The Cyber Hymnal, #7640) Wounded for me, wounded for me, There on the cross He was wounded for me; Gone my transgressions, and now I am free, All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Dying for me, dying for me, There on the cross He was dying for me; Now in His death my redemption I see, All because Jesus was dying for me.

Risen for me, risen for me, Up from the grave He has risen for me; Now evermore from death’s sting I am free, All because Jesus has risen for me.

Living for me, living for me, Up in the skies He is living for me; Daily He’s pleading and praying for me, All because Jesus is living for me.

Coming for me, coming for me, One day to earth He is coming for me; Then with what joy His dear face I shall see, O how I praise Him — He’s coming for me!

Words: William G. Ovens (1869-1945) & Gladys W. Roberts (1888-1983), stanzas 2-5 Music: William G. J. Ovens

Dr Yeo Teck Beng is a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.

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t has been said that there is no greater education than matriculating through the ‘University of Hard Knocks’. But nobody welcomes suffering or pain – whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological – with open arms. We try to avoid it if we can. However, whether by accident or inevitability, when we are in the midst of suffering, we tend to hide our grief and pain from our loved ones so that they do not see us cry.

There is, however, One whose wounds and suffering were displayed publicly, as His agony on the cross was witnessed by those who loved Him as well as those who did not. Our Lord Jesus Christ accepted the publicity of His suffering as part of His submission to His Father’s will. All through His life, Jesus reflected God’s immense love for His people by the mercy and kindness He showed them, even to the end.

As I pondered on the image of Jesus on the cross, I asked, “Why? Why, You, Lord? What did You do to deserve such a cruel death?” Deep in my heart, I knew it was my place on the cross that Jesus took. It was my suffering that He bore. It was my cross that He carried.

In this season of Lent, an appropriate hymn to sing and to reflect on is William G. Ovens’ ‘Wounded For Me’. Ovens wrote the first stanza when, after the First World War, he saw a wounded veteran limping past him on the street, and thought: “He was wounded for me.”1 Stanzas 2 to 5 were written by Gladys W. Roberts.

The five stanzas of this thoughtful hymn cover the whole story of redemption, from the Saviour’s suffering to His Second Coming.2 It is not enough simply to know about Christ’s suffering and death; we must personally appropriate this for our own lives.

It was for me that Christ was wounded (stanza 1), died (2), rose (3), lives (4), and will soon be coming for me (5).

These actions depict the significant points of theology related to God’s redemptive work. Christ’s suffering and death was substitutionary; He died as our substitute under the wrath of God and bore the penalty of sin for us. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV) Let us allow the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts, so that having experienced His redemptive work in our lives, we may humbly, lovingly, and thoughtfully ‘follow in our Lord’s footsteps’, and seek to restore others. n ‘ Wounded For Me’. Available from: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/w/ o/u/wounded4.htm (accessed 12 Jan 2018) 2 Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications, 1990), 104.

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Picture by Photosebia/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013

SOUNDINGS

Via dolorosa

(the way of sorrow) 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).

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n February 2015, Gay Byrne, host of the Irish religious television programme The Meaning of Life, asked militant atheist Stephen Fry what he would say to God if he found himself standing before Him at the Pearly Gates.

Fry replied with his characteristic sting: “Bone cancer in children: what’s that about?” He then proceeded with a lengthy diatribe on how evil must be the God who would so cruelly inflict such terrible suffering on little innocent children.

There is a sense in which Fry may be forgiven for working with that particular understanding of divine agency that informed his view of God. There are, after all, Christian writers who have postulated this concept of divine sovereignty and providence, and have – for example – attributed the tragedy of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to the direct expression of the divine will.

The Orthodox theologian Bentley Hart rightly rejects such views as serious distortions of the biblical portrait of God. “Such a God,” writes Bentley perceptively in The Doors of the Sea, “at the end of the day, is nothing but will, and so nothing but an infinite brute event; and the only adoration that such a God can evoke is an almost perfect coincidence of faith and nihilism.”

Such an incoherent view of God, Hart points out, only provides ammunition for critics of the Christian faith (like Fry).

The God whose very nature is love cannot be the direct cause of suffering and evil. Their presence point to the fact that we inhabit a world that has come under the divine curse because of human rebellion and sin – a world that is sorely in need of redemption.

Although God cannot be said to be the author of suffering, He can use the trials and difficulties that we experience to fulfil His own purposes for us (and for the world). This is especially true for the Christian who trusts in God in the midst of the tribulations of life.

In the hands of the sovereign God, suffering can be a pruning tool to excise that which is unholy in our lives – the darkness in our souls that stunts our spiritual growth. In the mysterious outworking of divine grace, suffering removes our reticence and causes us to draw closer to God. As Pope John Paul II put it in his apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris (Salvific Suffering), for the Christian, “suffering must serve for conversion, that is, for the rebuilding of goodness in the subject, who can recognise the divine mercy in this call to repentance.”

“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.

Christian pilgrims carrying crosses along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

I should clarify at this point that suffering in and by itself is never virtuous. Neither is it a sign of holiness and/or means by which we attain greater intimacy with God. As we have seen, suffering, and the evil that gives rise to it, is an antithesis to the purposes of God. Lent summons us to grateful contemplation of the suffering and death of the Son of God on the cursed tree, for the salvation of sinful humanity and the restoration of the fallen creation, showing that the evil and suffering that plague this world was never part of God’s original intention.

But the Passion of Christ has not only brought redemption to this fallen world, it has also translated all human suffering into a new situation. “In the Cross of Christ not only is the Redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed”, wrote the late pontiff.

This means that for the Christian, the death and resurrection of our Lord throw salvific light on human suffering in the most penetrating way. Although suffering is an evil that must be resisted, the Christian knows that God can use it to accomplish the good (Romans 8:28).

The resurrection of Christ demonstrates that evil and suffering do not have the last word. For a day will come when suffering will be totally eradicated, when “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Revelation 21:4).

Those who live with this hope can declare together with the Apostle Paul that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

Thus, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, the Christian can walk the via dolorosa (the way of sorrow) with faith, courage, and hope. n Picture by kobby_dagan/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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METHODIST MESSAGE, AuGuST 2013

FILM REVIEW

On Wings of Eagles: Eric Liddell’s ‘second wind’ Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his three cats along with a good book.

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ast seen as a reformed Roman legionnaire who encountered Jesus in Risen (2016), Joseph Fiennes is back for yet another faith-based outing as famed Olympian and Christian missionary Eric Liddell – the very same athlete who was the focus of the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.

The film On Wings of Eagles outlines the years after Eric’s Olympic triumph, and serves as an unofficial sequel to Chariots of Fire – his ‘second wind’, as one might say. Told through the voice of Eric’s Chinese personal chauffeur, Xu Niu, On Wings of Eagles begins in the late 1930s, with Eric in China where he served as a missionary teaching English to children in the countryside.

Eric soon found himself caught up in the chaos of the Second World War when China was invaded by Imperial Japan. Faced with a choice to escape from the country with the rest of the Western community, he sent his own family away instead, while he chose to stay behind to continue his ministry.

The rest of the movie revolves around his days in Weihsien Internment Camp, a facility for Westerners rounded up by the Japanese Army. There, Eric gave the rest of the internees hope and strength through his selflessness, character, and unshakeable faith in God. The film deftly weaves in sequences through which viewers can see his utmost dedication and love for the Chinese people. In a particular scene where Eric was eating with Xu Niu and his family, he candidly declared that despite his physical appearance, his heart was Chinese. After all, he had been born in China – a fact that is relatively less well-known.

Eric’s sense of humanity and self-sacrifice can also be seen in another key moment in the film. The Japanese camp commander had recognised him as a famous Olympian, and challenged him to a race, issuing him a gourmet spread to make it a fair race. Eric instead chose to share his food with the other internees and the children, so that they might fill their stomachs.

He would ultimately pass away from a brain tumour in the camp, five months before China was liberated in 1945.

Eric Liddell’s character in On Wings of Eagles is well fleshed out – no surprise as there are numerous historical sources to draw from, such as other films and literature about him. However, the same cannot be said for other characters in this film. They lack depth and sufficient character development, being reduced to mere caricatures: the foreigners being the oppressed victims and the Japanese troops being two-dimensional villains, with the exception of a couple of foot soldiers towards the end of the film.

Instances of Eric actually practising his faith are also lacking in the movie, but may be understandable as the film was released in China where censorship of overt religious symbolism and behaviour is common. Where possible, though, the film does illustrate Eric’s staunch Christian beliefs, for example when he bravely stood up to a Japanese commander and quoted from Scripture.

Despite these shortcomings, compounded by a plot tending towards the simplistic, the film is carried very well by Fiennes. The actor has breathed life into the character of Eric Liddell who, though a figure of the early 20th century, stood for values and faith that are timeless. n

Screenings of On Wings of Eagles are only available through private group bookings with Cru Singapore’s Media Ministry. Contact Mr Victor Ng at victorng@cru.org.sg or 6589-9640 for more information.

Artwork and movie stills courtesy of Shaw Organisation, used with permission METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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POEMS

Amidst the Waves Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

She prays for God’s strength to press on in His call amidst life’s challenges.

I felt it ere I saw it come; A gradual dip, a sinking slump – Then towering up before my eyes, Tall tidal waves of tasks arise!

I row and row, to no avail, For here they come! And lo, I flail: Pulled under, tossed up, gasping air, My heart a-thunder, wild-swept hair.

Somehow I clamber back aboard, Secure myself with stouter cord, And brace. Behold! New waves approach; With gaining speed they do encroach.

Exhaustion streaming down my face, Yet still I stand, and still I brace, “Press on, press on!” I mutter low; “Press on, press on!” On I must go.

“Why suffer so?” you frown in care, “Why not just stop? Why hang in there?”

But then, I never have been one To give up, head home, turn tail, run.

“Press on, press on!” my battle cry; “Press on!” despite work piling high.

What I need: Time to sit and think.

I don’t have: Time for anything.

But sometimes, maybe that’s a boon; P’raps thinking, I’d give up too soon, Or count the cost, and walk away, Decide to fight another day.

Yet time and tide wait for no man – I’ll take my shot, and take my stand; Cast my lot while the stakes are high; Face trials with unflinching eye.

For Who is this who steps serene Across tumultuous, stormy green?

“Press on, press on!” in echoes clear, “Press on, My child! You need not fear.”

‘Tis He! ‘Tis Christ! My Master calls; ‘Tis He for whom I rise and fall, For whom I strive, for whom I rest, For whom I ever give my best.

So press on I, vigour renewed, My duties’ clamour rendered mute; Still wave-tossed, but I will not sway – My utmost for Him, every day.

Background picture by Willyam Bradberry/Bigstockcom

March IS THE MONTH FOR DISCOVERING GOD AT THE REASONABLE FAITH CONFERENCE

16 – 17 Mar 2018, 1 – 4.30 p.m.

Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church, 300 Bedok North Ave 3, S(469717) The Reasonable Faith Conference aims to help believers be always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

Scan here to see events online!

Skeptics often ask for evidence in support of the beliefs that Christians hold. This year, join Josh and Sean McDowell as they look at ‘Evidence that Demands a Verdict’. This conference will equip you with the tools and answers to respond to and defend our faith against the harshest critics and skeptics.

Organised by Reasonable Faith Singapore.

Tickets: Adult – $40, Student/NSF – $20.

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Register and get your tickets at reasonablefaithconference2018.peatix.com today!

For more info, visit reasonablefaithsingapore.org/conference#about.

EXAMINING THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

27 Mar – 22 May 2018 (Tuesdays evenings, no class on 1 May), 7.30 – 9.30 p.m.

490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Trinity Theological College, Lecture Room 2, Level 3 S(678093)

This course explores the development of Christian theology in the first 500 years of the history of the Church, and examines the contributions of significant theologians like Athanasius and Augustine. Important theological questions that confront the early Church will also be discussed.

Focus will be placed on the great controversies surrounding the doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity, and the course will examine how theologians and bishops dealt with them, and what lessons the modern Church can learn.

Organised by Centre for the Development of Christian Ministry, Trinity Theological College (TTC).

Fees: $100 ($80 for returning students, if within one year of the last CDCM course attended). Free for TTC alumni and TTC full-time students, but registration is required.

To register, visit www.ttc.edu.sg/academics/centres/cdcm/evening-courses/cdcm-course-registration.

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For more info, visit www.ttc.edu.sg, email info@ttc.edu.sg, or call 6767-6677.

THRIVING IN A ‘VUCA’ WORLD

21 Apr 2018 (Saturday), 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

480 Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, Toa Payoh Methodist Church, S(319641) Come and be inspired by working women sharing how they rise above the challenges of a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world – and thrive to live a transformed life! Speakers for this year’s Conference will share their testimonies on how God has led them in their personal journeys despite disruptions, and how He remains in control even as they find their footing in this volatile modern world.

Organised by Trinity Annual Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS).

Fee: $15 nett per person. Fees include breakfast, lunch, and tea break. Participants will be given conferencerelated materials, including a VUCA booklet with testimonies of the speakers, a book Uncovering The Truth – An Attempt to Disprove Christianity written by speaker Jaime Wong, and a Gideon New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs Bible.

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Registration begins on 4 Mar 2018 and closes on 8 Apr 2018. For more details and to register, please write to wscstrac@gmail.com or call 6100-9727.

CELEBRATING MSM’S 21ST ANNIVERSARY

28 Apr 2018 (Saturday), 5 p.m.

490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Trinity Theological College, Chapel, S(678093) Come be a part of the Methodist School of Music’s (MSM) 21st anniversary celebrations, as we come together in a thanksgiving and dedication service, themed ‘The Work of Our Days’. Our Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung will be speaking at the event.

Organised by the Methodist School of Music. Admission is free.

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For more details and to register your attendance, please contact the MSM office at 6767-5258. You may also email MSM at msm@msmusic.edu.sg.

METHODIST MESSAGE • MAR 2018

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How do working parents cope?

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ldersgate SG 2018 will see an active social advocate step up to share an intimate glimpse into her “secret weapons” for coping as a working mother in a busy world.

Ms Denise Phua is no stranger to many Singaporeans, being a Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency, and Mayor, Central Singapore District. But she is best known for her advocacy and volunteerism, particularly in the area of special needs.

Ms Phua supervises two charities — Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) and Autism Association (Singapore), and two special schools — Pathlight School (which she co-founded) and Eden School. She helped start The Purple Parade, an annual parade to support inclusion and showcase abilities of persons with special needs; and The Purple Symphony, an inclusive orchestra.

Prior to her current portfolio, she acquired more than 20 years of local and overseas corporate management experience with Hewlett-Packard and the Wuthelam Group, as well as founded the Centre for Effective Leadership (Asia).

She gave up her corporate career in 2005 to become a full-time special needs volunteer, before being approached to join politics in 2006.

Methodist Message asked Ms Phua to give us a hint of what she will be sharing as one of three keynote speakers at the Aldersgate Lecture and Panel Discussion on 24 May 2018.

Ms Denise Phua: “As a parent of a special-needs son, wife, parliamentarian, and disability advocate, I learnt very early on that it is grossly insufficient to rely on sheer human grit and strength to juggle my different roles. The open secret to my ability to survive – and sometimes thrive – in what I do is my relationship with God.” “At the Aldersgate Lecture, I will be sharing the highlights of my faith journey, from my corporate days to serving in the special-needs sector, and my initially reluctant but eventual move to politics. I will also share some practical tips from my toolkit of life that I have assembled, especially through the challenges and moments of doubt I confronted.”

“The Lord has wonderfully made every one of us, and each of us is precious in the sight of God, regardless of our ability, form, and background. He knows exactly which ‘button’ to push, to fulfil the potential He has granted to each of us.”

“I believe God wants us not only to survive or succeed in this world – He wants us to be significant in His Kingdom, in whatever role we might play in life.”

“See you at Aldersgate SG 2018!” n

Ms Denise Phua

ALDERSGATE SUNDAY CELEBRATION 20 May 2018 | 5.00 P.M. Speaker: Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup

ALDERSGATE LECTURE & PANEL DISCUSSION 24 May 2018 | 7.45 P.M. Speakers: Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup, Ms Denise Phua, Mr Jason Wong

Registration opens later this month – stay tuned for details in MM Apr 2018!