Vol 121 No 5 • MAY 2019
0129-6868MCI MCI (P) ISSNISSN 0129-6868 (P)019/11/2017 057/11/2018
Paya Lebar Methodist Church 5 Boundary Road, S(549954)
message.methodist.org.sg message.methodist.org.sg
COMING UP
WHAT DOES HOPE MEAN TO YOU?
As believers, we know the hope we celebrate: The love of the Father. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And our fellowship with the Holy Spirit. But what about those around us who haven’t discovered the joy of knowing Jesus?
THAT’S WHAT THE CELEBRATION OF HOPE IS ABOUT.
From 17 to 19 May 2019, churches across Singapore will unite in personal evangelism on a mass scale, inviting our loved ones—no matter their age, nationality or language spoken—to the National Stadium to hear the Good News of Jesus. Rallies will be held in English, Chinese and Tamil, and for families with children. FRIDAY, 17 MAY 2019 7.30PM ENGLISH NATIONAL STADIUM
SATURDAY, 18 MAY 2019 10.30AM ENGLISH (CHILDREN & FAMILIES) NATIONAL STADIUM
SUNDAY, 19 MAY 2019 10.30AM FILIPINO/ ENGLISH NATIONAL STADIUM
7.30PM CHINESE NATIONAL STADIUM
7.30PM ENGLISH NATIONAL STADIUM
7.30PM TAMIL OCBC ARENA Admission is free, but by tickets only. For reservation of tickets, visit celebrationofhope.sg/tickets @celebrationofhope.sg
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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Dr Anthony Goh, Chairperson Council on Communications Editor Sheri Goh Sub-editor Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Jason Woo
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inside
this issue...
You & Your Family When quarrelling is good
Welfare Services New and renewed services and centres
AldersgateSG 2019 Our Aldersgate Heritage
page 6
page 7
pages 12–13
BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference for two quadrennial from 2008 to 2016.
TOGETHER IN GOD’S MISSION
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RAC President the Rev Dr Gordon Wong and I have just returned from the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) Conference of The United Methodist Church, where they celebrated the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Missionary Society. In his address, Dr David W. Scott, Director of Mission Theology at GBGM, urged all to revisit the mission that God gave to the Church, and to re-examine the meaning of Church mission, which is more than creating the impression that the Church is all about showing love and helping those in need. Indeed, the Church needs to build a variety of channels for two-way conversations, to communicate the good news that God has for the world to people from all walks of life. Such a Church mission can be demonstrated by our words and actions, such as through evangelism, discipleship, ministry, peace-making and reconciliation, seeking justice, and protecting our environment. These different aspects are to be deeply entrenched in all Christians, so as to become an inextricable part of their lives. This is an extension of what John Wesley said was the purpose for the Church’s existence: to lead people to salvation from their sin, that they may flee from God’s wrath, find the substance of their faith, experience renewal by the Holy Spirit, receive baptism and enter into membership of the church, listen to the preaching of God’s Word, partake in the holy communion in remembering the Lord and be sent as witnesses to other communities. Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth. In response, John Wesley set out five practical pointers for all believers: 1. Live in the world. 2. Strive for Christian holy living among the community. 3. Be actively engaged as stewards of God’s grace. 4. Do not be easily interrupted unnecessarily, even for food consumption. 5. Open up the extent of our good works: feed the hungry, clothe the naked.
When John Wesley discussed the mission of the Church, he saw a synergistic relationship between the Church and society. To be a disciple of Christ is to be God’s co-worker. This means dwelling alongside others in society, where we live out our Christian character, where we may lead others to the Kingdom of God, where Christians may show forth the glory of the Lord. Many Christians do good works remembering what Jesus said in Matthew 25:34–40 (NIV): “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” We must remember too that Jesus also said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13–14). Let us not give one, water for the body, without the other, water for the soul. In this way, the ultimate purpose of doing good unto others is so that those who personally witness such deeds may ascribe all glory to our heavenly Father God. At AldersgateSG 2019, we revisit this familiar theme: A Task Unfinished: Together in God’s Mission. I believe that through our speakers, Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung and Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon, it will be a heartwarming experience for all. Don’t miss AldersgateSG 2019! n
METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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CHURCH PROFILE The Rev Benjamin Fong is an Assistant Pastor at Barker Road Methodist Church.
TRANSFORMED BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST
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arker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) is unique among churches in Singapore—it originated in a school music room, where 12 boys from The AngloChinese School (ACS) started worshipping together regularly. This youth church, Barker Road Chapel, began to attract more students from ACS and within a year, in 1957, it was officially recognised as a Methodist church.
Children from the Church School, which is part of the Future Generation Network.
Today, BRMC has a membership of about 2800 members worshipping across 10 services. In keeping with our Wesleyan heritage, each member is encouraged to join one of our 78 small groups. In this season, the vision of the church is to be “Transformed by the Love of Christ”—a vision that emphasises being in a relationship with Jesus, rather than just doing things in His name. Some distinctive ways BRMC contributes to the larger body include Oldham Hall, Prisons ministry, and the Future Generation Network (FGN). ACS Oldham Hall is a boarding school that houses students from nations around the region. BRMC partners with Oldham Hall to witness to God’s love and extend pastoral care to its boarders. In addition to serving through Prison Fellowship Singapore, our Prisons ministry also works among detainees in the SAF Detention Barracks. Finally, the FGN was conceived with the goal of connecting our young to the church vision, and to instil in them a sense of belonging to BRMC. The FGN brings together the various stakeholders involved in ministry to our young— the Children’s and Youth Church School, ACS Christian Ministry, Young Adults Ministry, small groups and a worship service.
Boarders from Oldham Hall.
It is timely then that God has been leading us to think deeper about what it means to build a rhythm of Christian living among our congregation. To be transformed by the love of Christ is to pause in the midst of busyness to behold and encounter the love of Jesus that prunes and shapes us towards perfection. Our sensing has thus been to increasingly create space for our people to meet with Jesus. n
BRMC faces challenges similar to those of many churches in Singapore—in a world that inundates us with increasingly demanding commitments, it has been tough to encourage more among the congregation to serve in the many areas of ministry in the church.
Photos courtesy of Barker Road Methodist Church
ONE MCS—TRAC HIGHLIGHTS The Rev Dr Gordon Wong was re-elected President of Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in 2016 for a second quadrennial term, but is primarily grateful to God for the gift of his wife Lai Foon and two children Deborah and Jeremy.
MUCH ADO ABOUT MISSION STATEMENTS
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t has become fashionable for companies, and even individuals, to have mission statements. These mission statements try to make clear what is the deepest or ultimate goal and mission in the life of the company or individual. Did you know that Starbucks has a mission statement? It goes: “To inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time”. I’m not sure how each cup of Starbucks coffee I drink inspires the human spirit, but it’s a nice sounding statement. The tee-shirt company, Life is Good, also has a mission statement: “To spread the power of optimism”. I’m also unsure how selling (and buying) tee-shirts helps spread optimism; perhaps it is through some of their tee shirt slogans like “Forecast: Mostly Sunny”. The apostle Paul perhaps also had a personal mission statement. Acts 20:24 (NIV) sounds a bit like one: “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
It’s easy to see how Paul’s life (known mainly through his writings in the Bible) corresponds with his mission statement. One of his best-known statements is “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith” (Eph 2:8 NIV). And even in Acts 20, just after sharing his mission statement about testifying to God’s grace in verse 24, he practises what he has just preached. “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 NIV) The Church could do a lot worse than to adopt Paul’s mission statement for herself. The congruence and consistency between Paul’s mission statement and his life is clear. Hopefully, the watching world will see congruence and consistency in the statements and life of a Church that claims that her mission is to testify to God’s grace. How sad for the world, if the Church’s testimony to the wrath and judgment of God drowns out the good news of God’s grace. n
Paul summarised the primary goal of his life in terms of completing the task, or mission, given to him by the Lord Jesus. And Paul expresses that mission as “testifying to the good news of God’s grace”. Picture by Olivier Le Moal/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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YOU & YOUR FAMILY Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
STILL QUARRELLING? IT IS A GOOD SIGN I
opened the counselling session with one of my usual questions to the couple: “How have things been?”
The wife did not answer first; she wanted to see how her husband would respond. He paused and thoughtfully said, “Overall, things are better. We are improving, but we are still quarrelling.” To appreciate his response, we need to see what brought them for counselling. They had come for help because of an extra-marital relationship on the husband’s part. Remorseful, he had sought forgiveness and asked for another chance. His wife wanted to be able to trust he could be faithful again and to heal from the profound hurt. With respect to these desired outcomes, they were making reasonable progress—the wife felt more secure when her husband had to stay back late for work and they quarrelled less around rehashing the why’s and wherefore’s of his affair. Their current quarrels had to do more with patterns in their marriage that preceded the affair. As the main breadwinner, the husband expected to have the major say in matters of the family and home even though he was less in touch with their children’s schooling and well-being. His “involvement” unfortunately tended to be expressed in impatient criticisms of his wife’s role as a mother. In addition, the husband did not welcome any comments about his work. Although both work in the same industry, he, being in a more senior role, would snap at her when questioned about his work practices, such as frequent socialising after work. His retort took the form of challenging her intelligence and understanding about the “ways of the world”.
The husband’s response to the persistence of these robust discussions was rather positive. He engaged to explain that his brash responses were rooted in his impulsive character and his family’s style of communicating. Moreover, they were reinforced by work practices that required him to bark orders. They were not expressions of his disregard for his wife’s views or feelings. His clear explanations were met with an equally clear reply: “But I let you know I would not put up with this anymore.” She made a stand about not having her opinion swept aside without any due consideration. At this point, I quickly weighed in with two points. Firstly, the frankness and clarity of their exchange, done in a respectful fashion, was a positive development. Moving forward, this ability and commitment to discuss differences openly would help keep their relationship strong. Secondly, this topic, though different from the infidelity, is also related. The husband’s past disregard for his wife’s feelings showed he felt entitled to focus exclusively on his feelings and needs. His sense of importance and entitlement opened a door for his transgressions to slip through. With this understanding, their marriage must no longer be based on who is better, smarter or earns more, and can therefore dominate over the other. Instead it has to be based on mutual respect. Although this couple will still have prickly conversations from time to time, I am confident that they are on the right track. Their willingness and ability to work through differences will build the foundation for a stronger marriage. n
Picture by junce/Bigstock.com
WELFARE SERVICES By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team
DOING MORE WITH YOUR GIFT
Artist’s impression of the ward in the re-modelled MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang.
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e have been incredibly blessed by our faithful and generous supporters, many of whom are from Methodist churches. Without them, we would not be able to serve our 11,000 beneficiaries. Half of our services fill gaps in the community but do not receive government funding. These include five MWS Senior Activity Centres and the MWS Family Development Programme. Upcoming enhancements to MWS’ centres and programmes We are constantly working on improving our centres and programmes to serve our beneficiaries better. Our upcoming plans include: 1) Transforming the nursing home experience Since 2018, MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang has embarked on a Care Re-modelling programme that is expected to be completed in 2020. The project aims to provide a family- and home-like environment for residents, enhancing their autonomy and helping them live with greater dignity. 2) Starting a new avenue of help for families in Buangkok Our Family Service Centre network is expanding with the opening of a new branch in Buangkok in April 2019. New staff and facilities will be required for the centre to
function effectively and serve the families in this growing community. A deficit of $3m is estimated for past two financial years. With the plans in the pipeline, the steadfast support of all Methodists is more important than ever. We look forward to your support and partnership in impacting lives! “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” (Mark 4:30–32) Double the impact of your gift and enable us to make a greater difference to the community. This financial year (ending March 2020), the Government will match your donation dollar-to-dollar (up to $400,000 per charity) through the Bicentennial Community Fund announced during Budget 2019. n To donate and bless our beneficiaries, please scan the QR code or visit giving.sg/ methodist-welfare-services/doing-morewith-your-gift Thank you on behalf of those we serve! Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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NEWS Marcia Vanderstraaten is general pen-pusher at both the Methodist Schools’ Foundation (MSF) and the MCS Education Secretariat. She sometimes writes plays.
THEN JESUS SAID TO HIM, PICK UP YOUR MAT
“GET UP! AND WALK.”
(Jn 5:8)
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n the morning of 30 March 2019, students and teachers of the 16 Methodist schools made their way to the campus of ACS (Independent) for the ninth edition of the biennial MethodistWalk. Organised by the Methodist Schools’ Foundation (MSF) in aid of the Methodist schools, the Walk has become a regular feature in the life of the Methodist family. A few months before each Walk, students are given pledge cards to raise money that goes to supplement their own school’s building needs or enrichment programmes. MSF helps to organise the fund-raising and gather everyone for the Walk, during which the students fulfil their pledges by walking a pre-determined route around the vicinity of the hosting school.
The guest of honour, Mr Ong Ye Kung (middle, in dark pink shirt).
Drum performance in the ACS (I) auditorium.
In the pre-dawn hours of this year’s Walk, thunderclouds hovered ominously over most of Singapore. In the end the rain prevailed, but did not dampen the spirits and enthusiasm of the more than 4,500 participants who made their way to ACS (Independent). Though the walk aspect of the morning had to be cancelled, the students and teachers gathered in the school auditorium for a short session of prayer and praise to God. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung shared on the theme “Get Up and Walk”, taken from John 5:8. Mr Ong Ye Kung, the guest of honour and Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, gave an impromptu speech. He praised both the diversity of cultures among our Methodist schools and their unity as part of the Methodist family. Likening this to the various cultures and races within Singapore, Mr Ong encouraged the students to stay united as a Singaporean family, whatever differences might separate them. The morning’s activities rounded off with refreshments for students and staff, and a breakfast reception for invited guests and church members. n
Students from the 16 Methodist Schools gather in the auditorium for a time of prayer and praise, and bonding activities, in lieu of the rainedout Walk.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! That’s exactly what my students taught me at the MethodistWalk when they turned up in full force despite the rain! Kudos to them!” —Ms Caroline Heng, educator at ACS (International) “Despite its early morning start, my fellow church members and I look forward to the MethodistWalk as a significant event in the Methodist calendar… Seeing fellow Methodists from other churches gather for a shared activity reminds us that we are part of the larger Body of Christ, and the infectious energy of the students inspires us to renew our efforts in ministry to our community!” —Ms Grace Toh, member of Kampong Kapor MC and regular attendee of MethodistWalk Photos courtesy of Edmond Ng
MISSIONS Noel Tam is the Home Director and Area Director (Nepal) for the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). He worships at Pentecost Methodist Church and has a passion for the ministry in Nepal.
MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU
Pranish (extreme left) with the WBMC worship team
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have had the privilege to work with my home church, Pentecost Methodist Church, and MMS in our Nepal ministry since 2008. I have witnessed the hand of God at work in the lives of simple people who trust God implicitly. During a recent visit to Nepal, I met 17-year-old Pranish Darjee, who serves in the worship and prayer team of Wesley Bardan Methodist Church (WBMC) in Kathmandu. This is Pranish’s testimony: “During childhood, a high fever left me with a stutter, which remains to this day. Through steadfast prayer and by God’s grace, my condition has improved and I am able to serve in the worship and prayer team. I started school late as my family faced financial difficulties and was in debt. To support the family, my father worked overseas in Malaysia and later in India. My mother also had to work to help provide for my younger sister and me. My difficult childhood made me very angry and sad. I also had to contend with religious issues. As my mother and I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ while my father was a Jehovah’s Witness, we had many quarrels about our different beliefs. Throughout this time, I prayed for wisdom, patience and perseverance as well as for my father’s salvation. In answer to my prayers, my pastor found me a place to stay with a God-fearing family. This brought hope and belief in God’s goodness.
Pranish with his mother and sister.
Then tragedy struck again. In January 2019, both my dad’s kidneys failed and he had to go on dialysis. The day he was admitted to hospital, my sister met with an accident and suffered severe injuries. My mother and I had to shuttle between my father and my sister. After much prayer for healing, my sister recovered fully. During my father’s illness, my mother and I prayed for him. By God’s mercy and grace, he accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, just days before he was passed away on 24 March 2019. Without the support and encouragement of my pastor and cell group, I would not have got through the challenging times I faced. More importantly, I thank God that all that has happened has strengthened my belief in Him. I want to remain faithful and continue serving Him.” “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:9–10) n
Please pray: • for Pranish to continue to be a powerful witness for Christ • that God will continue to provide for the needs of Pranish’s family • that the youths in WBMC will be encouraged by the Pranish’s faithfulness and love for God Photos courtesy of The Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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HYMNS & SONGS Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
ALLEUIA! SING TO JESUS A
scension Day is the 40th day of our Easter journey. It was the day when Jesus ascended to heaven before His disciples’ eyes on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:1–12). Although it is an event not given as much attention as Christmas or Easter, it is one that is full of theological and biblical truth. The hymn “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” depicts the profundity of Ascension Day. It was written in 1866 by William C. Dix for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at Ascension services.1
Stanza 1 alludes to the song in Revelations 5:9, which summarises the story of redemption. Stanza 2 continues with the crux of Ascension Day— that Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9), and His promises that He will not abandon us (John 14:18) and will be with us forevermore (Matt 28:20). Stanza 3 reminds us that Christ is our High Priest, mediator and advocate (1 Tim 2:5). Lastly, stanza 4 references Isaiah 66:1 and Acts 7:49, where the sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ is emphasised. Focusing on stanza 2, the scripture passages on which it is based (Matt 28:20, Luke 24:50–53,
Acts 1:1–9 and John 14:14–20) provide a context for grasping the meaning of Jesus’ Ascension. Jesus’ Ascension highlights His continuing presence with and in us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus declared that the Holy Spirit would come and we would be His witnesses, telling people everywhere about Him. Enjoying Jesus’ presence with and in us comes with great responsibility, which may vary according to the roles we play in society. However, basic responsibility, such as being mindful of the common good, can be undertaken by all of us. Whatever we do to be a witness of Christ can be done with the understanding and belief that the Holy Spirit enables us to accomplish the task. “Lord, help us not to dwell too much on the past, holding you to the Galilean hills and the streets of Jerusalem, but to know you more and more as our Lord and Saviour, risen, ascended and always present with us through the power of the Holy Spirit.”2 n
https://hymnary.org/text/alleluia_sing_to_ Jesus_his_the_scepter 2 Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, © 2004 CRC publications. 1
Alleuia! Sing to Jesus Alleluia! Sing to Jesus; His the sceptre, His the throne. Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone. Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood; Jesus out of ev’ry nation has redeemed us by His blood. Alleluia! Not as orphans are we left in sorrow now. Alleluia! He is near us; faith believes, nor questions how. Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er, shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”? Alleluia! Heavenly High Priest, here on earth our help, our stay. Alleluia! Hear the sinful cry to You from day to day. Intercessor, Friend of sinners, earth’s Redeemer, hear our plea where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea. Alleluia! King eternal, you the Lord of lords we own: Alleluia! Born of Mary, earth your footstool, heaven your throne: you within the veil, have entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest: by your spirit, lift us heavenward, in the Eucharistic feast! Words: William C. Dix, 1866, alt., PD Music: HYFRYDOL, Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1831, P.D. Picture by golfmhee/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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HOME—ALDERSGATE SG 2019 Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng is the Field & Church Engagement Director in the Methodist Missions Society (MMS), and Area Director for Thailand and Vietnam. He is a member of Charis Methodist Church and the Chairperson of the Aldersgate SG 2019 organising committee. This article was jointly written with Florence Fong, a volunteer who worships at Wesley Methodist Church.
OUR ALDERSGATE HERITAGE
The Sunday Celebration at Aldersgate SG 2018.
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ldersgate SG is organised by the Methodist Church in Singapore to commemorate Methodism’s founder John Wesley’s experience of assurance by the Holy Spirit on 24 May 1738. Through this annual event, the Methodist family reunites to celebrate the values of compassion and discipline of our rich Wesleyan heritage, and be inspired anew to serve God through social action, evangelism and discipleship. Significance That evening in 1738, discouraged by his Anglican brothers’ rejection of his enthusiastic preaching of the gospel, Wesley went to a meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, with a heavy heart. Hearing Martin Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans being read, his heart was “strangely warmed”. Wesley described the stirring of his heart as: “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” He was convicted that the Christian life involved knowing Jesus Christ personally, and not just knowing about Him. Wesley began preaching the gospel with renewed vigour and evangelistic fervour to all who would listen. He formed societies to help Christians grow in their walk with God
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung delivers his greetings.
and one another. He became deeply engaged with social justice issues of his time. The movement he started in the Church of England would later become known as Methodism. John Wesley and Missions “I want the whole Christ for my Saviour, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship and the whole world for my mission field.”—John Wesley Obeying Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28:19 to “make disciples of all nations”, Wesley started spreading the gospel beyond the confines of the Church of England. His relentless efforts in evangelism led to the mission movement and church planting in England, America and around the world. Mission of God’s People Chris Wright, the author of The Mission of God, writes that that one cannot change society without changing individuals, while transformed individuals will not idle in a society that is desperately needing justice and mercy. Wright cites examples of the mission work by early Methodists that transformed souls and societies. The early Methodists were actively involved in God’s
(Above) The panel discussion (from left to right), moderated by the Rev Dr Edwin Tay, with speakers Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup, Ms Denise Phua and Mr Jason Wong. (Top left) The worship team, with the Methodist Festival Choir and the Methodist Festival Orchestra in the background. (Bottom left) The Emmanuel Praise Choir.
mission, preaching the gospel and bringing individuals to repentance, growing the church population and nurturing them to be disciples of Jesus Christ, perfecting them in the love of God. They also brought about social transformation by setting up schools and clinics, establishing ministries to the marginalised, and speaking against social ills such as slavery and alcohol abuse. Wesley’s commitment to Methodism and sacrifice towards realising his vision of making the world his parish have impacted generations till today. As Methodists, we too must continue to have a missionary will, whether by going, giving or praying. It is a mandate (not an option) for the Methodist Church to be a missional church, to actively participate in missions. During the GoForth National Missions Conference in June 2018, Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon shared that it is God who arranges the body of Christ and “puts everything together” (1 Cor 12:19 and 12:24). As followers of Christ, we are all called to be engaged in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to take the whole gospel to the whole world— to go where the Good News has not been heard, where the church is weak, or where there is no church at all, to the poor and marginalised in cities, towns and villages. God’s
mission requires the involvement of every church member, and not just clergy or full-time missionaries. Aldersgate SG 2019 Themed “A Task Unfinished: Together in God’s Mission”, the Aldersgate SG 2019 Conference seeks to refresh, inspire and empower us to participate in God’s mission. Aligned with Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung’s quadrennial vision of “Together as one in spirit and purpose”, this year’s conference highlights the importance of Wesleyan missions, an integral part of the Methodist heritage. The conference will be held at the Paya Lebar Methodist Church from 23 to 25 May 2019. There will be a celebration service and lectures by two keynote speakers: Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung (from the Methodist Church in Malaysia) and Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon. Come and be renewed in your relationship with Christ. Invite your church friends to come, learn and glean precious lessons from the Lord through our eminent speakers. If you have never been part of the Aldersgate SG, we strongly encourage you to join us this year! n Photos courtesy of the Paya Lebar Methodist Church Photography Team. All photos in this article are of Aldersgate SG 2018. METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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2020 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides
• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an all-round holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
Achievements include
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 19 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past eight years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level this year in Archery, Touch Rugby, Cycling, Swimming, Chinese Drama, Debating, Fencing, Football, Golf, String Orchestra, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Wushu
What the parents say…
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475
“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan
ONE MCS—IDENTITY AND DESTINY By the Structural Review Task Force.
RE-ORGANISING FOR THE FUTURE
Organising ourselves better for service and growth ooking towards our Golden Jubilee in 2026 as an autonomous Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), we thank God for His leading all these years as well as seek His direction for what He would have us do.
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We are revisiting the way the MCS is organised—by language of church services. We are currently organised by Annual Conferences: Chinese Annual Conference (CAC); the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC); and the English-speaking Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC). Each is headed by an Annual Conference President. The General Conference, the MCS’ highest decisionmaking body, is led by the Bishop. Today, our membership has grown to 44,000 with about two-thirds (28,000) belonging to TRAC’s 21 local churches. CAC has about 15,000 members in 17 local churches while ETAC has about 1,000 members in 8 local churches. Given its ethnic make-up in 1976, organising the MCS along language lines was logical at the time. Today, all but three of the 17 CAC churches have worship services conducted in English as well. Some 16 out of the 21 TRAC churches have Mandarin and dialect services to cater to members’ parents and to the surrounding community. Some ETAC members have crossed over to English-speaking TRAC churches since only one ETAC church is bilingual with Tamil and English. Meanwhile, to cater to foreign workers in the vicinity of Little India, both Foochow Methodist Church (CAC) and Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (TRAC) have Tamil services.
These are all practical arrangements to meet the needs of the day. With all these changes, however, defining an AC along language lines may cause confusion for new members and the public who are unaware of the history of how the MCS came to be organised in the 1970s. We have now come into another season. The Structural Review Task Force is looking at how to organise the MCS better, so as not to duplicate services or overstretch precious resources in serving our congregations. The review was also prompted by feedback that our structures may have become more cumbersome than helpful. Better use of precious resources The duplication of language services across our local churches also means more demands on our pastors and ministry workers to serve in the different languages across the ACs. There is also a knock-on effect on the need for discipleship materials, training and equipping of the clergy and lay members. A possible outcome of the structural review may be to help increase the availability of pastoral staff in each language stream through cross-Conference appointment of pastors and ministry workers. Or, perhaps there could be more intentional sharing of resources in outreach and equipping, with less duplication of effort. These are some of the foreseeable benefits of the restructuring effort. Let us keep Bishop Dr Chong and the team in prayer as they seek God’s wisdom and His will. n
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SOUNDINGS Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg).
“INCARNATIONAL” EVANGELISM
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or some Christians, evangelism has to do with distributing gospel tracts at an MRT station or some other public place. For others, Christians evangelise by collaboratively organising huge gospel rallies— such as the Billy Graham Crusade of 1978 or the upcoming Celebration of Hope—at public venues like sports stadiums. While such activities arguably do have their proper place, it would be a serious mistake to think that Christian evangelism is reducible to them. So, how are we to understand this activity in which all Christians are called to participate? In order for us to come to a deeper understanding of what evangelism is about, we must begin, not with the Church’s programmes and activities, but with God and His purpose for the world. This is because evangelism is nothing less than participation in the mission of the Triune God (missio Dei), whose purpose it is to bring fallen human beings into a saving relationship with him. As the sent people of our missionary God, Christians are to be His co-workers, empowered by the Spirit to draw people to the divine kingdom. Christian mission is not grounded in the ambition or entrepreneurial
ingenuity of the Church, but in the commissioning God. Evangelism is therefore the obedient and grateful response of the people who are redeemed by the unmerited grace of the loving God they worship. As Lesslie Newbigin puts it, mission is “the spontaneous overflow of a community of praise… [as we experience] the superabundant riches of the being of the Triune God, in whom love is forever given and forever enjoyed in an ever-new exchange”. To evangelise is to proclaim the God of love to those who are estranged from Him. But evangelism is not just about sharing the Good News of God’s love. As Ronald Sider points out: “It [also] means an invitation to join Jesus’ community, the Church, which is now making the kingdom visible by caring for those who are poor, restoring communities and creation, and loving the whole person the way Jesus did”. To evangelise, then, is to communicate the Gospel in the fullest sense: it is to invite the hearer to enter into communion. It is also to invite him to enter into koinonia (fellowship), first with his Lord and Saviour, and consequently, by virtue of his being “in Christ”, with Christ’s Body, the Church.
Soundings is a series of essays that, like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the gospel and Christian understanding.
There is a profound ecclesial dimension to evangelism that some modern approaches have sometimes either neglected altogether or downplayed, due not least to the subtle influence of a pietistic individualism. Now, if Christian evangelism is to be in sync with the work of the missionary God, it must be “incarnational”. As witnesses of the incarnate Word, Christians can never stand aloof from the people they hope to reach, but must immerse themselves in their “worlds”. There is therefore always a “kenotic” (self-emptying) element in any work of evangelism, a willingness to humble oneself. But there is another sense in which evangelism requires humility. In evangelism we speak about the spiritual blessings that are not in our power to bestow. Thus D. T. Niles has arrestingly described evangelism as “a beggar telling another beggar where both could find something to eat”. Triumphalism simply has no place in Christian mission! But if evangelism is to be truly “incarnational”, then the Christian must proclaim the Gospel not only in word, but also in deed. This means that the Christian witness must match what he says with the way he conducts himself, especially in the way he relates to family members, colleagues, friends and even strangers. True evangelism therefore has to do with so much more than handing a gospel tract to a stranger or inviting a friend to a big evangelistic event. It has to do with living our lives as Christians before others, authentically and faithfully, trusting only in the grace of God that is at work in us. n
References Arias, Mortimer. ‘That The Word May Believe.” In Mission Trends No. 3: Third World Theologies, edited by Gerald H. Anderson and Thomas F. Stransky. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1976. Newbigin, Lesslie. Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986. Sider, Ronald, Philip N. Olson and Heidi Rolland Unruh. Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing House, 2002.
Picture by artitcom/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
HOME—ALDERSGATE SG 2019 Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung served as Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia from 2004 to 2012. He is the keynote speaker at Aldersgate SG 2019. The following are synopses of the two lectures he will be delivering.
“THE WORLD IS MY PARISH”
Lecture 1: World Mission in the Methodist Spirit 23 May 2019 (Thursday), 7.30 to 9.30 p.m.
on the American frontier more effectively than any other denomination!
he world is my parish” are probably John Wesley’s most famous words. They also encapsulate the essence of his understanding of mission, not just to 18th-century England but to the whole world.
We will briefly explore how world mission advanced in the 19th and 20th centuries through people such as Hudson Taylor (who had a Methodist background) and David Hill in China, and E. Stanley Jones and Waskom Pickett in India.
This lecture will look at the historical background to and the meaning of Wesley’s well-known statement, made after his encounter with Bishop J. Butler of Bristol. His missional theology may be further expounded under five headings: the image of God, prevenient grace, salvation as healing, perfecting Christian character and the eschatological restoration of all things.
Professor Andrew Walls asserted that “the Wesleys saw Methodism as a mission; their successors turned the mission into a church with a mission society”. This may well be the most important takeaway from this lecture.
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For Wesley, the Christian’s duty to preach or evangelise on home ground is no different from the call to overseas mission. As Professor Andrew Walls states, “In this view of the preacher’s task, there is no place for a special category of ‘cross-cultural’ or even ‘overseas’ mission.” Wesley’s approach to evangelism and mission is fully explicated in his sermon, “The General Spread of the Gospel”. The lecture will also look at how Methodism and the preaching of the gospel spread rapidly to America, West Indies, Africa and Asia, even before the founding of the Wesleyan Methodist Mission Society in 1818. Those who drove this rapid missionary expansion included Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke, who primarily built on Wesley’s foundational teachings, and took the emphases further. For instance, Wesley’s concept of itinerant preaching received its greatest development under Asbury. It was the “circuit riders” under Asbury who advanced the gospel
Lecture 2: Key Challenges in World Mission in our Generation 24 May 2019 (Friday), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Global Christianity is faced with a number of challenges: • the move of the centre of gravity of the Church from the West to the Majority World; • the Western Church’s increasing weakness and the declining number of missionaries sent out in comparison with the growing missionary numbers from the Majority World; • the problem of nominal disciples almost everywhere; • the geopolitical implications of an increasingly multipolar world; • the growing persecution of Christians around the world; and • the increasing demand for the gospel to demonstrate its relevance in today’s world. In the face of these, how do we prepare the church for effective mission? n Picture by R_Tavani/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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NEWS Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his cats along with a good book.
CONVERSATIONS VITAL IN TACKLING SOCIETY’S TOUGH ISSUES A speaker illustrating the unpredictable societal landscape the future generations will face.
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ealing head-on with complex issues through discourse and discussions has been a hallmark of the ETHOS Conversations series of events. Organised by the ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity, one such Conversation was held on 20 Mar at the Bible House that saw its auditorium filled with attendees eager to hear about “Nurturing the Future Generation”. During the event, it was noted that despite society’s rapidly changing family norms that are perhaps brought about by the conflict between furthering one’s career versus settling down, the value of the family unit still occupies an important place in the hearts of young Singaporeans born between 1995 and 2012 who were categorised as Gen Z. That Gen Z’ers are facing increasingly polarising issues of the day was also touched on. These issues, if not handled civilly and sensitively, could lead to tribalism, insularism and extremism. They range from the call to expand the definition of the family unit to matters pertaining to race, religion and politics. These are exacerbated by the growing porosity of borders and the growth of technologies that allow the seamless exchange of various ideas and ideologies. Therefore, the important role that open dialogue plays in an increasingly polarising world, especially one in the midst of contested norms was illustrated. A speaker argued that contestable issues lend themselves well to the opportunity to bring the broad middle together even if one chooses to agree to disagree on fundamental issues… [as this can] turn shadows and caricatures to flesh and blood.
Panellists taking questions from the audience.
Another speaker followed up by pointing out that work can be and has to be done to “future-proof ” our youth, who were born into a society he described as having a “high expectation of happiness and a low tolerance for unhappiness”. He related his observations gleaned through the course of his work that many in Singapore are struggling with having enough time for their families. At one end, there are households so mired in poverty that the parents have to work multiple jobs and consequently become absent in their children’s lives. At the other end, parent absenteeism is also rising as parents immerse themselves in the pursuit of career excellence. All these lead to higher frequency of breakdowns in marriages, the increase in at-risk youths and the rise of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The speaker lamented that with the advance in various technologies globally, people are losing touch with one another, preferring to rely on non-personal forms of communication. This is amidst the ever-increasing modes of influence, positive or otherwise, through platforms like social media that can shape hearts and minds. He concluded that in order to safeguard our future generations, efforts have to be made to reach out not only to parents but also to the youths in ways that will make them see that “someone loved me, someone believed in me, someone invested in me and someone changed me”. n Methodist Message is not able to reveal the names of the speakers due to Chatham House Rules. Photos courtesy of ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity
BOOK REVIEW Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his cats along with a good book.
JESUS: THE PATH TO HUMAN FLOURISHING
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itnessing about Jesus to non-believers can be daunting. After all, one must be prepared to handle the barrage of questions that are sure to follow such an attempt. Even though Jesus Himself commanded us to spread the Gospel across the nations, there still exist ethnic, cultural and social boundaries that may appear to be immovable obstacles against obeying Christ’s commission. I’Ching Chan-Thomas, in her book Jesus: The Path to Human Flourishing, counts the spreading of the message of Christ amongst the Cultural Chinese as one of the more challenging obstacles that would-be evangelists face. Chan-Thomas, a Chinese Christian apologist, uses her own experiences, anecdotes and knowledge gained through her exhaustive research to explain why proselytising to the Cultural Chinese can be an extremely trying endeavour. She goes deep into the history of Chinese spirituality while also touching on the collective worldview and communal psyche of that ethnic group.
Jesus: The Path to Human Flourishing By I’Ching Chan-Thomas Published by Graceworks (2018), 126 pages https://graceworks.com.sg $ 16 (no GST, free shipping within Singapore) Enjoy 10% off the price of Jesus: The Path to Human Flourishing by using the promo code ThePath10 at the webstore’s checkout page (valid from 1–31 May 2019).
their worldview. The onus is on us to learn and study about the Cultural Chinese worldview and their cultural expressions… [W]e must learn how to articulate the Gospel in terms that are attractive and significant to this quarter of the world’s population.”
First off, Chan-Thomas identifies the ideologies of the “Three Religions” (San Jiao)—Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism—as the bedrock of the Chinese identity through the centuries and that continues to be so in the modern age. The three philosophies have syncretised and melded into the lifestyles and minds of ethnic Chinese, many of whom continue to live by their principles (knowingly or otherwise).
Jesus: The Path to Human Flourishing is just 118 pages long, but its insights and impact have the potential to extend beyond its modest page count. It is written in a concise, clear style that makes it a breeze to read. ChanThomas efficiently breaks down the often tangled and hard to understand concepts that swirl around Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism—many of whose teachings have long since become mired in Chinese superstition and mysticism.
How Christians can effectively reach out and engage the non-believing Cultural Chinese forms the basis of the book. In Chan-Thomas’ words: “If we are to relevantly share the Christian faith with the over 1.3 billion Cultural Chinese in the world, we need to understand
If ever there was a treatise that could succinctly illustrate the socio-psychology of the cultural Chinese, this is the book to pick off the shelf and dive into. n
Book cover visual courtesy of Graceworks Publishing METHODIST MESSAGE • MAY 2019
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ALDERSGATE SG 2019 Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon will be speaking at the Aldersgate SG 2019 celebration. This poem was first published in the May 1998 issue of Methodist Message.
AN ALDERSGATE POEM
In the dark recesses of the soul, Questions emerged to haunt the restless mind. Fickle companions, The comforts of familiar religion; Their words unable to touch the deepest part of the heart. Habits of devotion Practised fervently In company, and in|Solitude; The drive to be perfect, To win love and to receive assurance, Put on pious clothes That failed to warm the spirit. The absence of an anchor For the soul Brought anxiety amidst storms. Anglican priest and Oxford don, heal thyself, Where is your faith? Then, grace touched me Through His Word; When the Spirit Breaking through the clouds of illusion And mists of fear, Spoke to my spirit And brought assurance from heaven. My sins are forgiven. I know I am His. Love found me and stayed in my heart. Lord of heaven and earth, My heart was strangely warmed When you crossed the awful chasm And touched the lonely shores of my soul.
LOOKING AHEAD TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY WORSHIP SERVICES
15 May, 17 July, 14 Aug, 18 Sep, 16 Oct, 13 Nov, 11 Dec 2019 (Wednesdays), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Faith Methodist Church, Worship Hall, Level 4, 400 Commonwealth Dr, S(149604) 6478-4754 (Priscilla) priscillalow@trac-mcs.org.sg
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TRAC Seniors Ministry welcomes you to their monthly Seniors Ministry Worship Services. Join us for a time of worship, fellowship and food, and catch up with other seniors and retirees from various TRAC churches. Organised by Trinity Annual Conference.
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ALDERSGATE SG 2019—A TASK UNFINISHED: TOGETHER IN GOD’S MISSION 23–25 May 2019 (see website for timings) Paya Lebar Methodist Church, 5 Boundary Rd, S(549954) Admission is free. Register now at aldersgate.methodist.org.sg
Christ commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone. But how well have we fulfilled this Great Commission? How can we bring the gospel to the rest of the world? Aldersgate SG 2019 takes a look at the retrospect and prospects of world mission in the Methodist spirit, and the “who” and “what” that are missing in missions. Organised by The Methodist Church in Singapore.
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WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE: INTRODUCTION TO NTLIVE
1 June 2019 (Saturday), 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. Bible House, 7 Armenian St, Level 4, Morrison-Liang Room, Seminar Rooms 1 and 2, S(179932) https://www.bible.org.sg/wtnt/ sowerinstitute@bible.org.sg 6304-5285 (Ignatius Tan) $40 per pax. Registration closes 29 May 2019.
Come experience the New Testament for yourself through kinesthetic learning techniques and be transformed! You will get to: • explore the New Testament’s key events, places and people • arrange the events of Jesus’ life chronologically • uncover what happened during the 400 years intertestamental period • learn about the birth of the Church and Paul's missionary journeys Organised by Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship.
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TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY—THE PATTERN OF PRAYER
23 Jul, 27 Aug, 24 Sep, 22 Oct, 26 Nov 2019 (Tuesdays), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Faith Methodist Church, Charis Hall, Level 4, 400 Commonwealth Dr, S(149604) 6478-4754 (Priscilla) priscillalow@trac-mcs.org.sg
TRAC Seniors Ministry invites you to encounter God through prayer. Admission is free and all are welcome. Organised by Trinity Annual Conference.
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Christ commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone. And John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, proclaimed that “the world is [his] parish”. But how well have we fulfilled the Great Commission? How can we, as Methodists, bring the good news to the rest of the world? Find out more about God’s mission at Aldersgate SG 2019!
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Registration required for all events. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at least 30 mins before each event. Sign up by 6 May 2019 with your local church office, or at aldersgate.methodist.org.sg