Issuu

MMS Vision, Mission, Values

2023 ISSUE 3 HARVEST FORCE CONNECTS YOU WITH THE METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE

WHEN YOU GROW UP? The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. - Proverbs 16:9, ESV “What do you want to be when you grow up?” From a young age, we were probably asked this question countless number of times. There might be a wide range of ambitions but one thing was certain – we were made to think about the future. The future was like an empty canvas waiting for us to fill in with whatever we wanted. The sky was the limit. But as we grew older, we started to plan for the future with mix feelings of enthusiasm and uncertainty. Fear of the unknown often drowns out our excitement. It is definitely good to plan ahead. However, we need to submit our plans to God who directs and establishes where we will go. In line with Proverbs 16:9, MMS’s new vision and mission statements are our guidelines to engage Methodist churches and communities in missions. Read on page 2 as our Executive Director, Rev Derrick Lau, shares about the re-statement of our Vision, Mission, and Core Values. On page 36, Bishop exhorts us to keep pressing on towards what lies ahead. MMS can keep moving forward because we know that our labour in the Lord is not in vain. In this issue, we also feature on our Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS). Rev Teresa Wilborn writes about this programme that brings hope for the future for the poor and needy children in the mission fields. The programme has helped many children and we encourage you to be a part of it by sponsoring the children. After benefitting from this SSS programme, some children have grown up and started to give back to the community. Read from page 8 to 14 the life-transforming stories of the beneficiaries. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” These children have dreams that we can help to support. You can pray to seek where your gifts can be a blessing. You can pass the word around and tell others about the SSS programme (www.mms.org.sg/sss). You can sponsor a child today.

Hello!

Have a story to share? Email mms@methodist.org.sg Your article may be edited for length, style, and clarity.

Let us know!

If you need the magazine to be printed in larger font size, please let us know by emailing to mms@methodist.org.sg.

Methodist Missions Society (MMS) is the missions agency of The Methodist Church in Singapore. MMS is given the mandate to establish indigenous churches supported by mission endeavours in communities across this region where there is no Methodist presence. Harvest Force is published three times annually and distributed free. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Work in Creative Access Nations is not published; please email mms@methodist.org.sg for more information and engagement. All information published is correct at time of writing and may be subject to change. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated.

FIELD FEATURE

15 EAST ASIA: g

CONTENTS

FIRST WORD g

Re-statement of

Mission & Retreat Centre g

LAOS: Called and Re-called

THAILAND: Bible Alive

TIMOR-LESTE: We are One in God’s family: Serving

Vision, Mission, Values

together as a team TIMOR-LESTE: Missionaries

WAZZUP! PERMIT NUMBER

MCI (P) 020/01/2023

ADVISOR Rev Derrick Lau

Nov 2023

2023

CHINESE PROOFREADER Goh Tuan Gee

ISSUE

TRANSLATORS Henry Wang, Thng Pheng Soon PHOTO CREDITS: Angela Sng, Cez Krol, Cheryl Chen, Felix, Jasmine, Letisia, Lydia Yang, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Orathai, Sophealin, Stanley Seah, Stephen Wee, Tepy, Wali Luor, WT

FEATURE STORY

STUDENT 06 SPONSORSHIP

SCHEME Hope For The Future

CAMBODIA: g

SSS in Cambodia – COSI

SSS in Cambodia –

DISTRIBUTION & SUPPORT Eileen Lim, Helen Tan, Tan Poh Ling & Delighters DESIGNER 5Stones Pte Ltd PRINTER Print & Print Pte Ltd PUBLISHER Rev Derrick Lau 70 Barker Road #06-01, The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936 Tel: 6478 4818 MMS IS SOCIAL! Connect with us and never miss an update

Cambodia NEPAL: g

Home

Hostel g

SSS in Thailand – Vineyard Methodist School

30 g

HF SPECIAL

Community Work and Christian Missions

BITE-SIZED MISSIONS g

SSS in Timor-Leste – St Paul

Teaching Kids About Missions

Methodist School

mms.org.sg

PHOTO CREDIT Digital Illustration. Richard Soh

Journey of Transformation: Embracing Inadequacies for Extraordinary Growth

SSS in Thailand – Mettakij

mms.org.sg

COVER MMS Vision, Mission and Values

THAILAND:

TIMOR LESTE:

mms_org_sg

Our Gifts For Missions

MITE Report 26

SSS in Nepal – Sophia’s

www.mms.org.sg

@mms_org_sg

Methodist School of

mms@methodist.org.sg

t.me/mmsorgsg

building through Education

Country Information

04 Opportunities to Serve g

EDITOR Leongheng PROOFREADER Wendy Tan

in Timor-Leste: Nation-

SSS in Timor-Leste – Sundermeier Home

CLOSING THOTS g

Press On To Take Hold

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

RE-STATEMENT OF

VISION, MISSION, VALUES In the last issue of Harvest Force, I presented the restructured organisation chart. It was the fruit of our discussions at the MMS Leaders’ Summit in August 2022. The MMS leaders also firmed up the revised MMS Vision, Mission, and Core Values.

•

• •

Rev Derrick Lau

刘作丰牧师 Executive Director of MMS.

He enjoys brewed coffee and is game at exploring a variety of gastronomical delights!

After 30 years of field-focused ministries development, MMS leaders embarked upon an exercise in 2022 to review her strategic thrust and operational framework. It necessitated a Godfocused obedience, disciplined approach, unity in spirit, and a clear articulation of: • • •

A mobilised Methodist community establishing disciplemaking and multiplying indigenous churches within its reach. 2

What we are? (Role of MMS as a denominational agency) Who we are? (Vision, mission, and values statements) How we operate? (Organisation, Attributes, Engagement, Collaboration)

After much prayer and extensive engagement with our stakeholders that included MMS ExCo members, Annual Conference leaders, Directors, Missionaries, field ministry leaders, Sub-Committee members, local church pastors, missions leaders, organisations, and donors, we are pleased to share how we see our role and a re-statement of our Vision, Mission, and Core Values:

Role of MMS as a Denominational Agency •

Champion field development through a clear mission roadmap & strategy, and equipping of field clergy and lay leadership.

Optimise human capital and financial resources for service of the field. Accentuate the growth and development of missions across the denomination. Cultivate an ethos of missionary care and empathetic support. Track within a robust system of governance, stewardship, and accountability.

MMS Vision: A mobilised Methodist community establishing disciple-making and multiplying indigenous churches within its reach.

Mission Statement: We engage Methodist Churches & Communities to participate in missions, guided by a strategic roadmap, to transform lives through planting indigenous churches and community development.

Core Values: Collectively, we serve in obedience to the Great Commission with: • Personal and Social Holiness. • Responsiveness to God’s calling and diligence in seeking His will. • Unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace. • A mindset of embracing missions initiatives across the Methodist community. • Compassion and cultural sensitivity for the people in the field. • Boldness in faith, commitment, and accountability in ministries.

FIRSTWORD

重申卫宣的愿景、

使命和价值观

在上期《禾丰》中，我呈现了重整后的组织架构图。这是卫理

•

订并确定了往后的愿景、使命和核心价值观。

•

宣教会在2022年8月的领袖峰会集体讨论的成果。卫宣也修卫宣在聚焦发展禾场事工30年之后，领导层于2022年开始

检讨战略重点和运作框架。这需要以上帝为中心的顺服、严谨的纪律及合一的精神，明确清晰的阐述:

• • •

我们是什么组织? (卫宣的角色是宗派的机构) 我们是谁? (愿景、使命和价值观的声明) 我们如何运作?(组织、属性、参与、合作)

经过多方祷告，并与利益相关者（包括卫宣执委、各年会领

• •

重整禾场的人力资本和财务资源的管理，使之日臻完善。着重跨宗派宣教活动的成长和发展。培育关顾宣教士及和同理心的精神。建立健全的监管、管理和问责体系。

卫理宣教会的愿景：

一个被动员的卫理社体在力所能及的范围内培育门徒并倍增本土教会。

卫理宣教会的使命宣言：

带动卫理堂会和社体参与宣教活动，按照战略路线图的指引，通过建立本土教会和社区发展来改变生命。

袖、主任、宣教士、禾场事工领袖、附属委员会成员、本地教会

卫理宣教会的核心价值观：

向大家分享对自身角色的确认，并重申卫宣的愿景、使命和

•

牧者、宣教领袖、相关组织和捐助者）深度沟通，我们很高兴核心价值观：

卫理宣教会的角色是宗派的机构： •

以清晰的任务路线图和战略为指导，提升禾场圣职人员及平信徒领袖的素质，全力支持禾场事工的发展。

作为一个团体，我们顺服上帝托付的大使命去服侍人群，

• • • • •

关注个人和社会的圣洁。

回应上帝的呼召，竭力寻求上帝的旨意。

以和平彼此联络，竭力保守圣灵所赐合而为一的心。响应卫理社体的各项宣教倡议。

加强对禾场人民的恻隐心和文化敏感度。增强对信仰、委身及事工责任的胆量。

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN THE FIELD

The fields are ready for harvesting – but there are so few labourers. In the seven countries that MMS serves, we continue to be in need of the following: • Full-time missionaries. We are asking the Lord to send pastors, church planters, ministry workers, mentors, and teachers. • Short-term workers who are able to spend between two weeks and six months there to help our missionaries. They would need to raise their own financial support. • Prayer partners to pray for our ministries and missionaries.

What to do if you sense the LORD calling you into His mission field:

• Speak with your pastor and ask him/her to help examine your calling to missions. • If your church pastor and leaders affirm your calling and are prepared to support you – praise the Lord! Call MMS straight away at 64784818. • If your church pastor and leaders affirm your calling but are unable to provide full financial support for you – call MMS anyway! Some of our missionaries are supported by the combined efforts of multiple Methodist churches, agencies, and individuals.

AT HOME

You can also come alongside us as Mission Partners and Volunteers (MPV) at home, to encourage and empower God’s work and workers to incarnate the love of Jesus Christ and to make a difference in the mission fields. Communications & Publications • English-Chinese Translator • Photographer or Videographer • Graphic Designer • Web Designer

Office Assistance • MMS Events Coordinator • Member of Fund Raising Team • Member of Fellowship Mailer Team

Financial Assistance • Give towards Student Sponsorship Scheme. Please refer to page 23.

Cambodia

COUNTRY INFORMATION To find out more about the different fields, please email these persons at their respective email addresses:

Cambodia

mms@methodist.org.sg

East Asia

mms@methodist.org.sg

Laos

lichun.woo@methodist.org.sg

Nepal

noel.tam@methodist.org.sg

Thailand

jeremy.choo@methodist.org.sg

Timor-Leste

cheryl.chen@methodist.org.sg

Vietnam

noel.tam@methodist.org.sg

• Personnel needed (whatever talents, skills, experience, age, etc.) to empower local Cambodians especially children, youth, young adults in varied ways including disciple-making in our different ministries (COSI, COSY, Hope House, different Hostels, etc.) • Secondary and primary school teachers to teach as well as empower teachers at the Methodist School of Cambodia especially in English, IT, Science, Mathematics, Mental Health awareness, etc. • Financial Support for more than 200 underprivileged children (about a quarter of enrolment) studying at the Methodist School of Cambodia through the SSS programme. • Online ministries to teach, befriend and empower local Cambodians • Prayer and financial supporters for pastors of the Methodist Church of Cambodia, whose income is below the national minimum wage.

For more information about these opportunities, kindly contact us via email at mms@methodist.org.sg. Be in prayer with us as we seek God’s direction to challenge and mobilise our Methodist community to serve Christ.

WAZZUP! East Asia • A missionary with a passion and commitment to serve in our Diaspora Missions (DM) to reach out to Chinese tertiary students (华侨 & 华裔) on campuses. One who loves the Lord and has a passion to engage tertiary students and initiate outreach activities to bring them the good news and to disciple believers. The missionary will be based in Bangkok, Thailand. • Trainers to conduct leadership development and counselling courses. • Church teams to engage communities through medical services, community services, and development projects. • A volunteer to serve at MMS to support East Asia missions and projects.

Laos • Full-time staff (single or married couple) to serve in Singapore Mission School (SMS) and to develop partnerships and community development with the churches and communities in Laos. • Kindergarten and Primary teachers familiar with the Singapore curriculum to teach at SMS. Teachers may either serve one-year term or longer to teach English or other subjects, or provide short-term courses for teachers’ development for one week to two months. • More SSS supporters and partners to support and participate in our upcoming outreach projects such as the Vientiane Home hostel ministry.

Nepal • Donors and sponsors for Sophia’s Home girls who are continuing their studies in the various disciplines in the local university in Kathmandu. This enables them to complete their professional studies, be financially independent, serve their communities and MCN. • Trainers to conduct online or on-site developmental training on Discipleship, Spiritual Leadership, Financial Stewardships, Administration and IT. • Donors and sponsors for the needy youth within MCN to continue their tertiary education. This enables the future development of MCN financial stability and self-sustainability.

Thailand • Short-term helpers to organise camps, programmes and activities for BB, GB, Children’s, and Youth ministry at our Methodist churches. • Qualified Kindergarten and Primary level teachers to conduct teachers’ training at Vineyard Methodist School and Little Candles School. Focus areas are English and Mathematics. • Mission teams to conduct evangelistic events, community services, etc with our Methodist churches.

• Missionaries and teachers who can teach our Thai teachers English.

Timor-Leste • St Paul Methodist School (SPMS): Short-term missioners to run BB/GB camps, and skills and enrichment training programme (eg IT, art, study skills, etc). Volunteers willing to teach in SPMS for a month to a year; experienced teachers to mentor local teachers in basic curriculum design and instructional strategies for at least a month. • Sundermeier Home: Short-term missioners to provide English, Science, or Mathematics coaching for Grade 10-12 hostelites. • Dunamis House: Volunteers skilled in business management, supply chain, logistics, or other business expertise to offer training courses, coaching, or mentoring to tertiary/vocational students over Zoom. • Volunteers willing to serve for 1-2 months in Sundermeier Home and Dunamis House when missionary house parents take their home leave in Singapore. Volunteers to serve as house parents for a year or more. Retired couples willing to be “re-fired” to serve God in the mission field are welcome!

Vietnam • A tentmaker (with at least a Diploma in Bible and Christian Ministries) to be a pastoral assistant or a small group leader. Or a tentmaker (without theological training) to lead a small group. A business entrepreneur, social entrepreneur, qualified TEFL/ TESOL teachers, or someone with a willing heart to learn and understudy at International Christian Fellowship and MMS-International NGO. • Volunteers to provide short-term relief teaching or organise learning camps for private school and home for children (kindergarten/primary level). A team to consist no more than four people. • Teach English at Sunrise Girls Shelter, Lotus Girls Shelter, or Sunlight Boys Shelter during the holidays. • Urgently looking for business-minded Christians to set up businesses like tuition centre, Christian crematorium, etc. and bring in ministry staff under their umbrella.

Exploration of New Geographical Missions Partnerships (NewGMP) • MMS is exploring collaborative partnerships with local Methodist churches in countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, and Japan. • If the Lord is leading you to serve in places beyond the seven countries where MMS has some form of ministry, please get in touch with us.

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

STUDENT SPONSORSHIP SCHEME - HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Rev Teresa Wilborn

MMS Consultant. She is a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church.

Her favourite food is laksa; it’s the first thing she eats when she returns to Singapore!

Over the past 15 years, SSS has provided educational opportunities to more than 2,000 children and youths from the poorest families in Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the September 2023 issue of Methodist Message.

The MMS Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS) is a programme that shares the love of Christ in a real and practical way by helping to break the vicious cycle of poverty. SSS has two donor schemes, for residential and nonresidential students. For residential students, SSS provides residential care to orphans or those from broken homes, including shelter, food, clothing, and access to education. For non-residential students, SSS contributes towards the costs of tuition, books, uniforms, school meals, and transportation. Whether directly or indirectly, people around the world have been affected by COVID-19. While the disease appears to be under control, the economic impact persists. Families living below the poverty line have been hardest hit with business closures, loss of jobs, inflation, and the death of breadwinners. Poverty continues to be the primary reason for children not enrolling in, or not finishing, school. Even if schools are “free”, the costs of uniforms, supplies, and transport are beyond the means of poor families. Dropping out of school virtually guarantees perpetuation of the poverty cycle since the income-earning potential of the child is reduced. SSS seeks to help these children. MMS has raised the monthly sponsorship rates with effect from 1 August 2023. The last increase in monthly contribution rates occurred eight years ago in 2015, 15 years after the scheme began in 2000. Unfortunately, living costs have continued to rise and a second increase is required in order to

FEATURESTORY

NON-RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS

RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS

S$60

S$145

NEW MONTHLY SPONSORSHIP RATES WEF 1 AUG 2023

continue providing adequate care and access to education. For non-residential students, the contribution level will increase from S$45 to S$60, and for residential students from S$110 to S$145. For sponsors who have already made advance payments beyond August, the increase will take effect only upon the renewal date of their sponsorship. For those sponsors who contribute on a monthly basis, the increase has taken effect on 1 August 2023. MMS has sent letters to all donors to explain the need for the raise and to ensure their continued desire to provide sponsorship.

Students in Cambodia and Nepal supported by Student Sponsorship Scheme.

Presently, 100 per cent of all donations go directly towards support of the children. However, significant human resource costs are incurred to administer the programme both at the home office, and by missionaries and national workers in the fields. To address this need, donors will now be encouraged to contribute to the SSS General Fund instead of being matched with specific students. Where there are mission schools, the board of directors of these schools will ensure that funds are used according to established

guidelines to benefit the greatest number of needy students. For local schools and short-term hostels, the MMS Country Directors and leadership teams will oversee the SSS disbursements. Donors who currently sponsor a specific student may continue to do so. Over the past 15 years, SSS has provided educational opportunities to more than 2,000 children and youths from the poorest families in Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Without the generous support of donors within the Methodist community in Singapore, it would have been nearly impossible for these boys and girls to attend school. By God’s grace and with donors’ continued support, SSS will continue to provide hope for generations to come. If you have any questions about SSS or the increases to be implemented in August, please contact Helen Tan at helen.tan@methodist.org.sg or 6478 4753. Read the beneficiaries’ stories on pages 8 to 14.

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

SSS IN CAMBODIA -

COSI Growing up at COSI taught me that Jesus is the best foundation for the adult life, especially living in Phnom Penh where temptations could come knocking insistently. The schooling and tuition opportunities at COSI helped build my educational foundation and prepared me for university. When I wanted to study medicine, many people were against the idea because of the high tuition fees. After praying and seeking the Lord, I was much convicted that the Lord wanted me to study medicine.

Sophealin with her family.

Hello, I am Sophealin. I am 28 years old. I am married and we have a two-yearold daughter. We are expecting our second child in January 2024. When I was about two years old, my parents were separated. My mother took me with her to Thailand to beg for a living. When I was nine years old, my mother passed away. After that, I lived with my elderly grandmother. Being the only girl in the family, my grandmother wanted me to stop school so that I could help her sell vegetables in the market. I was saddened at the thought of dropping out of school. I hoped that COSI would take me in like what they did for my three older brothers. God answered my prayer when Mother Carol Loh and Mother Li Diang, MMS Missionaries in charge of COSI, came and brought me to COSI after much pleading with my grandmother. COSI gave me many opportunities to grow as a person. Staying with the missionaries allowed me to learn English from them. They taught me character-building, emphasising on core values and the inner worth of a person. I learnt about God and His loving and merciful character. And I gave my life to Jesus.

I am thankful for the generous donor who provided financial support, and for the spiritual support I received from MMS missionaries throughout my studies. After completing the 8-year study programme, I passed my university’s internal examination and the national examination. By the grace of God, I managed to pass the examinations while working full-time at a clinic. I am now waiting to defend my final-year dissertation. In church, I have served at the youth ministry and women’s group. I am also privileged to provide our church members with free medical consultation and affordable treatment. I want to thank God for blessing my family. I thank MMS for giving me a home with loving ‘mothers’. I thank my sponsor for his faithful support and advice for so many years!

About Community Outreach Services – Immanuel (COSI) Children’s Village, Phnom Penh, Cambodia A children’s home established by MMS for orphans or children from poor, difficult, and challenging backgrounds. It provides an opportunity for holistic development so that the children may attain their fullest potential. (www.facebook. com/100064024061134)

(COSI Children’s Village)

FEATURESTORY SSS IN CAMBODIA -

METHODIST SCHOOL OF CAMBODIA

Tepy (far right) with her teachers.

Hello, I am Tepy. I am 18 years old. I have been studying at the Methodist School of Cambodia (MSC) since kindergarten. And I will be graduating next year. My teachers think that I have been a hardworking and outstanding student since primary school. I am born into a Christian family. My mother is a hair stylist at the market and my father is a tuk-tuk driver. Their incomes are irregular and insufficient to support the family. We live together with my grandparents and other relatives in a small house in Phnom Penh. With 10 people living under one roof, it is very crowded and noisy. I do not have a conducive environment to study, so I do my homework in the early morning hours after midnight. Despite these challenges, I adopt a good and positive attitude. I try my best to keep up with my studies and to focus on doing well. Over the years at MSC, I have grown in confidence and maturity. I appreciate the encouragement from my teachers and the financial support through SSS that

allows me to focus on doing well for my studies without constantly worrying about my school fees. I will be taking the National Examinations in November. And my goal is to obtain grade A and qualify for a scholarship to the university. I would like to express my sincere thanks to God and my sponsors!

About Methodist School of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia A school established by MMS to provide education for Cambodian children from nursery through Grade 12. Coursework is aligned with the Khmer National Curriculum, with added instruction in English, IT, and Christian Education. (https://www.facebook.com/methschcam)

(Methodist School of Cambodia)

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

SSS IN NEPAL -

SOPHIA’S HOME

Jasmine.

Hello, I am Jasmine. I was brought to Sophia’s Home due to my family’s very poor financial situation. My village is located in a rural part of West Nepal, 415 km from Kathmandu. It is quite isolated and takes five days to get there by bus. It is expensive and dangerous to travel by air due to the hazardous mountainous terrain. There is no Christian church in my village and, like most villagers, my family practised the local religion. I was blessed to know Christ through Sophia’s Home. When I turned 20, I accepted Jesus into my life and was baptised. Seeing God’s work in my life has made me grow even closer to Him. Every visit back to my village deepens my love for the Lord as I ponder on my blessings and new life in Christ. To be able to come from such a faraway place to Sophia’s Home was truly a miracle! Thanks to my SSS donors, I have been blessed with a good education, a godly environment, and a family I did not know I needed.

I lived in Sophia’s Home for 14 happy years and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I felt safe and cared for, and cherish many memories. I learnt a lot about life and God from the big sisters and graduates. Now, as a graduate myself, I try my best to teach and assist my younger sisters in Sophia’s Home. Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies. I am also working part time as the Finance Executive for the Methodist Church in Nepal (MCN) and Methodist Society Nepal (MSN). Working at MCN and MSN has enabled me to serve God while I continue my studies. Without the generosity of the SSS donors, my life would have turned out very differently. Thank you!

About Sophia’s Home, Kathmandu, Nepal A girl’s home established by MMS to provide shelter and education for about 20 poor and needy children.

FEATURESTORY SSS IN THAILAND -

METTAKIJ HOSTEL

Hello, I am Orathai. I am 18 years old and I am studying in Year 6 at a local secondary school. After finishing my lower secondary, I had the chance to stay at Mettakij Hostel while I attend my upper secondary school. On my first day at the hostel, I wanted to go back home badly because I had no experience living away from home. However, I soon got used to the routine. As a student in the hostel, I had to adapt to set waking up and sleeping times, doing housework, and other things requiring discipline and time management. I also learnt to forge new friendships and change old habits in order to live harmoniously in a community. Life in the hostel has helped me build relationship with God through worship, prayer, devotion, and bible reading. I also serve at Shineforth Methodist Church in the Welcome and Usher ministry. Serving God in this ministry has helped me to foster close relationships with other church members. I am truly thankful to the Lord for blessing me with these opportunities to serve Him! I would like to thank the SSS donors for providing me with financial support to stay in the hostel to continue my education. With God’s help, I hope to pursue a degree in medical studies. My dream is to become a doctor to treat those who are in pain and those who are poor and unable to receive treatment. Paul’s words in Romans 12:12 encourage me to live my life joyfully in hope and with patience, and to always persevere in prayer. Thank you.

(Shineforth Methodist Church)

Orathai.

About Mettakij Hostel, Chiang Mai, Thailand A hostel established by MMS to provide a place for poor and needy children from remote villages to continue their school education and be exposed to a Christian environment. About Shineforth Methodist Church, Chiang Mai, Thailand A church planted by MMS to reach out to the people in Chiang Mai. It is located next to Mettakij Hostel. (www.facebook. com/pages/Shineforth-MethodistChurch/680204335654715)

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

SSS IN THAILAND -

VINEYARD METHODIST SCHOOL

Ms Wali Luor with her son Ton Taan.

Hello, I am Ms Wali Luor. I am a single parent and my son, Ton Taan, is in Primary 5 at the Vineyard Methodist School, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I am very glad and thankful to the Lord for the SSS donors, the school, and the church for providing an education subsidy that has given my son the chance to study in a good school. I never thought that we would be so blessed in this manner. After receiving the education subsidy, I wanted to know more about God and started attending the Shineforth Methodist Church. On my first visit, I felt so good because everyone was friendly and talked to me. Whenever I feel worried or unhappy, God helps me to release these negative feelings. I feel close to God, and my uneasy feelings fade away. All these things happened when I went to church! Whenever Ps Seeda sees me, she asks if I am well and if I am ready to receive Jesus into my life. Recently, I told her that I am starting to believe and have been praying. I am hopeful that God will continue to bless my son and me as we receive Jesus into our lives. I pray that God will lead my husband to return to us one day, so we can experience family warmth together again. Please pray for us.

About Vineyard Methodist School, Chiang Mai, Thailand A school established by MMS to provide formal education with Christian morals principles from Kindergarten to Primary School children. (www.vms.ac.th) About Shineforth Methodist Church, Chiang Mai, Thailand A church planted by MMS to reach out to the people in Chiang Mai. It is located next to Vineyard Methodist School. (www.facebook.com/pages/ShineforthMethodist-Church/680204335654715)

(Vineyard Methodist School)

(Shineforth Methodist Church)

FEATURESTORY SSS IN TIMOR-LESTE -

ST PAUL METHODIST SCHOOL

Letisia with her school mates.

Hello, I am Letisia I am a 10th grader at St Paul Methodist School in Timor-Leste. My dream is to become a teacher “to get kids excited about learning and to help bring positive change” to my country. When I was 12 years old, my mum was diagnosed with a terminal illness. My father was the sole breadwinner, so the burden of looking after my mother and my three younger siblings fell on my shoulders. I continued to attend school faithfully and I never complained about housekeeping, cooking, and caregiving during those difficult years. In addition to my academic studies, I also learnt how to sew. When my mum died last year, my faith in God grew ever stronger. I will be graduating in two years. With the generous support of SSS, my dream of becoming a teacher will soon become a reality!

Letisia learning how to sew.

About St Paul Methodist School, Timor-Leste A school established by MMS to provide formal education with Christian morals and principles for children from remote villages. ( )

(St Paul Methodist School)

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SSS IN TIMOR-LESTE -

SUNDERMEIER HOME

(Clockwise from left) Felix teaching a class of younger children. (Below, right) Felix graduated in December 2022 from local Bible school. (Below, left) Felix painting a farm house.

Hello, I am Felix. I came to the Sundermeier Home in Gleno, Timor-Leste when I was 22. I started high school late because my father passed away when I was a teenager, and I needed to help my mother by working and looking after my younger siblings. After graduating from high school, I wanted to become a pastor. I moved to the Dunamis House in Dili and completed two years of Bible school. I am now attending online courses with Arrows College (www.arrowscollege.com) in Perth, and will return to Sundermeier Home next year to serve as chaplain. My dream is to minister to the youth and be a blessing to the community that has cared for me. Thanks to SSS. Thanks for the mentoring by MMS missionaries. I can achieve my dream! I can share my God-given talents! I can be the salt and light in Timor-Leste!

About Sundermeier Home, Gleno, Timor-Leste A hostel established by MMS to provide a place for poor and needy children from remote villages to continue their High School education in Gleno, within a Christian environment. (www.facebook.com/ SundermeierHome) About Dunamis House, Dili, Timor-Leste A hostel established by MMS to provide a place for needy youth from remote villages to continue attending university or vocational training in Dili, within a Christian environment.

(www.facebook.com/SundermeierHome)

FIELDFEATURE EAST ASIA

MISSION & RETREAT CENTRE The place for pastors, leaders, and mission workers to refresh their bodies, minds, and spirits and be healed before returning to the front lines. WT

Both my wife and I realised that many church leaders and pastors are experiencing “pastor burnout,” and as a result, their ministries and churches suffer the consequences. The number of pastors suffering from burnout is growing each day. Many ministers and church leaders need a place where they can go to be rejuvenated to be effective leaders in the areas of their calling or ministry. God gave us the verse in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And He planted in us the thought of building a retreat centre for the work of spiritual care for God’s shepherds. This would be the place for pastors, leaders, and mission workers to refresh their bodies, minds, and spirits and be healed before returning to the front lines. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work. And we have been ignited hope and excitement about building a retreat centre. God is getting us into shape for the goal He has for us. We sold our apartment in SH and invested in building a retreat guesthouse for pastors, those in full-time ministry or retired from fulltime ministry, and church leaders who need a break

and time-out from their rigorous schedules, so that they can escape the rigours of everyday life and use their time at the retreat centre for prayer, study, relaxation, and seeking God. With this vision, we are completing the building for church leaders, church groups, including staff members, missionaries, and their spouses, that serves to rekindle the fires of their passion for God and ministry. It will also serve as a point of mission for missionaries who come to ZJJ to provide a ministry of spiritual help and encouragement. Moreover, this centre can be used for mission trippers to conduct mission visits or works, and even vacation tours in ZJJ at the same time. As ZJJ is situated geographically at the centre of East Asia, it is a good location for missionaries going westward for their mission work. We registered the place officially as a guesthouse, which will give us the opportunity to cater to different groups of people who come to this place of rest or for those longing for a vacation with a mission and for exposure to mission work.

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Laos

CALLED AND RE-CALLED I went into full-time overseas in 1997 at the age of 40. Sometime in 2016, my wife reminded me that we always had this desire to serve in a lessdeveloped land. After much praying and seeking the Lord, in 2017, we read in Harvest Force that MMS was looking for a couple to serve in Laos. After applying and going through the process in order to determine our calling and suitability, we finally left in March 2018 as a couple to help Singapore Mission School (SMS) in Laos.

Stanley Seah

Stanley and Bee Leng are in their sixties. They worship at Agape Methodist Church and were her pioneer members. Stanley was the first staff of the church and left to answer God’s call in 2018 to serve in Laos. Stanley enjoys playing squash and has joined The Belgian Club in Vientiane so as to continue his love for squash. Bee Leng enjoys trying new recipes when she cooks.

Since our return, we have witnessed God’s bountiful provision and goodness in blessing the school.

From March 2018 till December 2019, my wife served as a Kindergarten Teacher and I as the Operations Manager. During those 22 months, we were able to help the children in the school, and forged a close, caring, and loving friendship with the people there. Our going there was indeed a Kairos moment. As I was on the ground, I was able to help implement the many operations and structural changes set by the School Board. My wife was able to step in to teach the K2 children as the then teacher had to go on maternity leave. The school gave us a memorable and wonderful farewell party when we had to return to Singapore to attend to some personal issues and family matters at the end of 2019. In 2020, COVID-19 disrupted everybody’s plans and ours included. In September 2020, we were challenged by the late Ms Juliette Arulrajah to return to SMS as the school was in a transition of being handed over to MMS. As we had a meaningful and fruitful time there, God answered our prayers and called

Handing over of SMS to MMS.

us to go there and serve again. However, due to COVID-19, we could only go back to SMS in October 2022. Since our return, we have witnessed God’s bountiful provision and goodness in blessing the school. These are the blessings upon blessings which we have witnessed: 1. We saw an increase in the enrolment of students from around 70 plus in September 2022 to 105 in January 2023, and it is still increasing. 2. Donations of S$30,000 were received from an individual just

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Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Easter celebration

Reminder that God will provide.

Singapore Mission School.

in time when we needed to build up the third floor of the existing building to accommodate the increase. 3. Completion of the legal transfer of SMS to MMS was finally achieved in February 2023 after a lengthy process and application by our appointed lawyers that started at the end of 2020 with the relevant government agencies. 4. Although we had 105 students, we also began to see more wanting to enrol in our school. We had about 20 children waiting to join our Kindergarten 1. We then had to look at adding more rooms to accommodate more

Kindy children. In God’s perfect timing, the tenant of our next door shophouse abruptly left the place in May 2023. We sensed this as God answering our prayers and therefore contacted the owner and successfully leased the unit in July 2023. This has allowed us to expand the then Kindergarten unit of two shophouses to three with that lease. Being adjoining units, the ground floor of the three shophouses became for us a big Kindergarten as the walls between them were knocked down to allow movement and better usage of the space. 5. We were also blessed to be able to recruit like-minded staff to cope with the increased needs. And we

are still praying for more as we are experiencing growth in our enrolment. 6. We are so thankful to Agape Methodist Church’s strong support. Otherwise, we would not have been able to take this step of faith to go back to Laos. God has indeed shown that He is faithful and our Provider in our times of need. We know that He will continue to bless SMS and us because this is His work. Do continue to pray for us to be in the centre of His will so that we can be fruitful here at SMS. To God be the Glory!

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Thailand

BIBLE ALIVE I loved reading to my boys when they were younger. Their favourite bedtime ritual always included a Bible story. Their eyes would widen in wonder as they heard how David overcame Goliath with a sling, or when God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites. Reading and bringing the Bible to life for them were precious moments for me as a mum and brought me much joy.

Angela Sng

MMS Missionary to Thailand. She is from Toa Payoh Methodist Church. She claims that she can get lost while driving even with a GPS.

What about making the Bible come to life for those who are illiterate? What about those who did not have the privilege of going to school? How would they be able to be amazed at the wonders and miracles of God? This has been one of our biggest challenges at Mittaphab Methodist Church. Most of our members are

illiterate. They work mainly in the construction industry, working long hours and living in rented one-room spaces. Although many have an audio Bible app, most of them do not bother to use it. “Too tired” or “I don’t understand it” are the most common reasons given. Desiring our church members to experience the same kind of wonder our little boys had when reading the Bible, we embarked on a “Journey through the Bible” this year. Everyone was encouraged to come at 9.30 a.m. every Sunday to study the book of Exodus. Come and see the Bible come alive, we told them. We prepared slides and pictures to share stories from the Bible.

We want our church members to love the Word and hunger for it. Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the September 2023 issue of Methodist Message.

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The turnout was initially discouraging, with fewer than 10 trailing in at 9.40 a.m. But we persevered. Each time we visited a family, we would remind them to come earlier on Sunday. We also urged those who came to spread the word and bring their cell group members. Our perseverance paid off. After half a year, we have a roomful of 30 to 40 people every Sunday at 9.30 a.m. We have fun making up actions together to commit verses to memory. Repetition is key, and illustrations help bring the Bible to life. We play games such as “Who’s who in the Bible?” Happiness is when they can easily differentiate Moses from Abraham! We want our church members to love the Word and hunger for it. We pray that they will truly fall in love with the Word as we journey together through the Bible.

From top: Making up actions for a memory verse. (left) Rev John Thirawat Preedakasemrung using pictures to liven up the story. (below) Doing actions while Rev John Thirawat Preedakasemrung (Angela’s husband) recites the Bible verse.

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Timor-Leste

WE ARE ONE IN GOD’S FAMILY: SERVING TOGETHER AS A TEAM Mission trips have resumed in the new normal after the pandemic. Read the reflections from the team leader of a youth mission team who went to Timor-Leste in June 2023 for a week:

Stephen Wee

Feeling like an old man stuck in an 18-year-old boy’s body, Stephen may be young but his body aches attest to the active person that he is. He has been to Timor-Leste five times, and he has decided to return to visit whenever he can. He serves the Lord through playing drums in worship. And, recently, he took up the role of a mission trip leader.

One common purpose: to serve the Lord and serve the people of Timor-Leste together as one family in Christ.

Our mission team consisted of 10 members: six youth from Aldersgate Methodist Church (AMC) and four (2 youth and 2 adults) from Holland Village Methodist Church (HVMC). Even though we were from different churches, we were all going to Timor-Leste with one common purpose: to serve the Lord and serve the people of Timor-Leste together as one family in Christ.

Christo Rei: Sitting at the feet of Jesus as a team.

In our weekly team meetings that started in April, besides planning for the trip, we prayed for the missionaries. We also fasted and prayed for the trip as a group. When we first arrived in Timor-Leste, we were fortunate enough to be able to squeeze in a time for a prayer walk and devotion at the Cristo Rei. It was a time of spiritual preparation as we prayed over the country. The team spent three days at the Sundermeier Home on the mountain of Gleno. This hostel was managed by Uncle Joseph and Aunty Grace. We were blessed to have the opportunity to have fellowship with the hostelites and to teach them how to play the keyboard, cajón, and guitar. They could use these skills when they worship God during their daily devotions. We also taught simple English and led in devotions. At the Sunday service, the assistant leader of our team, Mark Feijen, shared from the book of Philemon on the importance of forgiveness.

Team at Sundermeier Home.

Team briefing BB/GB camp participants.

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Our team spent an evening with the university students staying at Dunamis House, which was supervised by Pastor See and her husband, Uncle Hoe. We had fellowship over dinner with the students and shared our testimonies. Many of them shared that they were encouraged by the team’s testimonies and had learnt something new about how the young people live out our faith in Singapore.

Team of 10 members departing Singapore on 11 June 2023 for a week-long mission trip to Timor-Leste.

Dinner & fellowship at Dunamis House.

Grade 9 Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade camp in St Paul Methodist School.

Feet-washing activity to exemplify Philippians 2:3-4.

We spent a day preparing for the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade (BB/GB) camp before running the actual 2-day camp at St Paul Methodist School (SPMS). The theme verse for the camp was Philippians 2:3-4, focusing on the values of humility and selflessness. We linked these values to the servant leadership that Jesus exemplified, building each student’s leadership skills to become more Christ-like. We led devotions with the students and conducted activities like feet-washing to teach humility and servant leadership. We also had a worship night when the students had an encounter with the Lord. We are thankful that most of us from AMC serve together in the worship ministry, which made leading the worship night less stressful! We ended the camp on a lighter note by playing various station games with the students and learning a dance with them. Through this mission trip, the team saw how God moved ahead and used us so that the people of Timor-Leste could have an encounter with Him. The mission team also witnessed the goodness of God through the love that the missionaries had for the people. We saw God’s sovereignty and provision for the people in TimorLeste. The team was blessed to be a small part of reaching out to the people of Timor-Leste and helping them to grow closer to God.

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Timor-Leste

MISSIONARIES IN TIMOR-LESTE: NATION-BUILDING THROUGH EDUCATION

Rudy David Wong

MMS Home-based Missionary after serving in Timor-Leste for five years. He worships at Aldersgate Methodist Church. Cutting his own hair is one of the skills he had to learn in the field, and he has recently progressed to cutting his wife’s hair as well.

I believe this will sow the seeds of opportunity for future generations. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan met Singaporeans David Chan (right) and Jessie Chan (left), who started St Paul Methodist School in Dili, Timor-Leste, in 2016. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan recently made an official 4-day trip to TimorLeste. On 26 July 2023, he visited St Paul Methodist School (SPMS). We thank God that the Minister was keen to see the pioneering work of our missionaries and went the extra mile to travel 45 minutes from the capital Dili to our school in Metinaro. The Minister spent the morning visiting our school and the construction site of our upcoming new school premises. The Minister also participated in a dialogue with other educators from Singapore who were involved in educationrelated ministries across the 13 districts in Timor-Leste, organised and hosted by SPMS. The Minister’s visit to SPMS was featured in The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao on 27 July 2023. Below is an excerpt translated from the article in Lianhe Zaobao that describes MMS missionaries David and Jessie Chan’s journey of educating the next generation of Timorese:

Newspaper clipping of Lianhe Zaobao.

Sowing seeds of opportunity for local students: Local teacher couple builds school in Timor-Leste Many Singaporeans have left their comfortable lives behind to help the needy in Timor-Leste out of the goodness of their hearts. David and Jessie Chan with their three children, moved to Timor-Leste eight years ago to set up a school so that more Timorese children could receive a good education. They have since educated more than 600 students. David Chan, 48, was originally a viceprincipal at a primary school, while his wife Jessie (53) taught physical education and maths at a secondary school. “Education is an indispensable part of every country, and Timor-Leste lacked quality education in its short history,” Chan said. “We are here to help because we have the ability to do so, and I want to show our students that each individual is capable of making an impact in our world and society,” he says.

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OUR GIFTS FOR MISSIONS We would like to support MMS so that the Good News of Jesus Christ can be proclaimed to the ethnic Cambodians, Lahus, Laotians, Nepalese, Thais, Timorese and Vietnamese, by giving to:

GIFT DETAILS General Donation (where it is most needed)

Crisis Relief Fund (General)

Rev Dr Clarence Lim Missionary Development Fund

Student Sponsorship Scheme (Non-Residential)* General @ S$45 per month (until 31 July 2023) @ S$60 per month (wef 1 August 2023) Cambodia / Laos / Nepal / Thailand / Timor-Leste

Student Sponsorship Scheme (Residential)* General @ S$110 per month (until 31 July 2023) @ S$145 per month (wef 1 August 2023) [ ] COSI (Cambodia) [ ] COSY (Cambodia) [ ] Sophia’s Home (Nepal) [ ] Mettakij Hostel (Thailand) [ ] Term Fun Home (Thailand) [ ] Sundermeier Home (Timor-Leste)

$ $

Nepal $ Community Development $ Staff & Ministry Support Sponsorship and donations of tertiary studies for: $ - Sophia’s Home girls $ - Pastors’ children Thailand $ Staff & Ministry Support Little Candles School Building & Furnishing Fund $ $ Students Bursary Fund for VMS & LCS Ministry Vehicle for Payakapum Methodist Church $

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Laos Staff & Ministry Support Community Development

Timor-Leste Staff & Ministry Support St Paul Methodist School Building Fund

$ $

Vietnam Vietnam SSS General/Children’s Fund Community Support Fund

$ $

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Cambodia Church Planting Ministry Staff & Ministry Support Methodist School of Cambodia COSI COSY Post COSI Integration Programme National Pastors Support

East Asia Ministry Support

OUR MISSIONS OURGIFTS GIFTS FOR FOR MISSIONS “I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing” Samuel 24:24 “I will not offer burnt offerings to 2the LORD my God which cost me nothing” 2 Samuel 24:24

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MMS Executive Director Methodist Missions Society 70 Barker Road #06-01 The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936

FIELDFEATURE

Dr Vivian with the SPMS students. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As part of the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) in Singapore, they set up St Paul Methodist School (SPMS) in 2016, which caters for students from Grades 1 to 12. Two cohorts of 18 students have graduated, and some have been awarded scholarships to study at universities abroad. The curriculum was developed by the couple, and this year they have also launched a healthcare-related vocational programme with a private education provider from Singapore where the students will have the opportunity to do internships at St Luke’s Eldercare in Singapore. The vocational programmes will later be expanded to cover agriculture and the environment. When the new campus in Metinaro is completed next year, it will have dormitories, science labs, and a farm for learning agricultural technology, and a mini-supermarket in the future. Foreign Minister Dr Vivian visited SPMS on Wednesday (26 July) and spoke to representatives of NGOs

and the school, Timorese government officials, students and parents. In an interview with the accompanying media, Dr Vivian said it was heart-warming to see Singaporeans coming to TimorLeste out of a sense of goodwill and mission, volunteering their time in welfare work to train teachers, and enhancing educational opportunities for children and young people. “I believe this will sow the seeds of opportunity for future generations.” He suggests that making a difference in the long-term sustainability of facilities such as laboratories for 800 to 900 students cannot be limited to a single voluntary organisation, but the role of the NGO (non-governmental organisation) is to help to catalyse systemic changes in local systems and infrastructure. “Ultimately it is important for each Timorese to remember that ‘it is our own people and leaders who are responsible for our country’.”

Newspaper clipping of The Straits Times. (https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ singapore-well-placed-to-help-timor-lestereach-its-potential-dr-balakrishnan-says.)

Join us to pray that God’s name will continue to be lifted high through our missions endeavours and the MMS ministries will continue to contribute to building the people, especially youth, in Timor-Leste. May God’s blessing and favour be upon this young nation!

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JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION:

EMBRACING INADEQUACIES FOR EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH As Lydia, my wife, and I stepped off the plane in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we were filled with eagerness. Leading up to this three to four-month mission trip, we were guided by a verse from James 2:26 (NKJV): “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Little did we know that the path ahead was not as we envisioned; it was destined to be so much more.

Cez Krol

A globetrotter from Poland with 71 countries under his belt, Cez shares a transformative tale of faith in Cambodia, alongside his equally well-travelled wife, Lydia Yang. From conferences in Ireland to Everest Base Camp, their shared mission led them to serve. Their first date started in France and ended in Portugal. You can read more about them on their travel blogs: lydiascapes.com and etramping.com.

I arrived with a plan but left with an inner transformation.

We came to Cambodia with the idea of using our professional skills in the area of digital marketing, to equip local people with digital tools and skillset to grow their business or personal online presence. But the business and digital landscape here in Cambodia was different. Our expertise in helping businesses with online awareness, specifically Search Engine Optimization (SEO), did not fit

the needs of the Khmers here that relied little on websites but more on social media to promote their businesses. Lydia, with her vast experience in teaching digitisation and personal development skills, quickly adapted, moulding her training to focus on personal branding, content creation, and resume writing. She also got herself involved in the Girls Brigade in the Methodist School of Cambodia, a Christian uniform group and club that helps to equip young ladies with team building, leadership and personal development skills through activities, education and camps. I, however, was left grappling with a void. My SEO and web design skills seemed irrelevant here in Cambodia. But then, a moment of divine guidance struck me.

MITEREPORT

Lydia adapted quickly and moulded her training to fit the needs of the Khmers.

A conversation with Timothy, our neighbour, principal of the Methodist School of Cambodia, and eventually a dear friend, led to an opportunity to teach computer programming. Still, the abstract nature of computer language and coding was a barrier, especially given the limited IT literacy here. That’s when a “coincidence” – a meme about Arduino – sparked a memory. I recalled my days running a 3D printer store in China, and how Arduino microcontrollers were used there. And then I remembered that Arduino can be used to build inexpensive robots. The idea of using robotics to teach programming started to blossom.

An Arduino inspiration!

Starting from scratch, with no Arduino components and almost no prior knowledge, I embarked on a journey of learning and exploration. I dived into YouTube videos, educated myself, and found a local shop selling Arduino sets, just 156 metres away from where we were staying! If that’s not a “coincidence” then what is?!

Thus, the Robotics Club was born - an avenue for young people to learn critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork through creating robots. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) skills were further developed through the learning process.

The journey was not without its challenges. I learnt the hard way that a freestyle setup would not work. I needed structure and individual sets for each participant. The Khmer New Year break gave me time to reflect and plan, and soon I had devised a 5-week Robotics Workshop Series, complete with a finale team competition.

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Robotics Workshop.

We had 30 participants, ranging from 10 to 40 years old, all coming together to learn, explore, and have fun. They built robots, programmed them, and engaged in teamwork, all while I stood back in awe of what God had guided us to create. What began as a short mission trip to teach digital marketing turned into a humbling, transformative experience. I learnt to trust in God’s plans, to adapt, and to find purpose in unexpected places. Our persistent efforts and actions have left a visible impact, and the Robotics project continues to be run in the school till this date with dedicated pro bono local and expat trainers/teachers and sufficient funding to help subsidise the club for the kids in the coming months. This is a testament to God’s foresight and a bigger plan.

MITEREPORT

The participants had fun at the Robotics Workshop.

As Lydia and I left Cambodia, the verse from Romans 12:2 was inscribed in our hearts: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” I arrived with a plan but left with an inner transformation. The experience taught me that sometimes our human inadequacies are simply opportunities for growth, and that by surrendering to a higher calling, we can be part of something truly extraordinary for His glory.

About MITE MMS Missions Internship Training and Exposure (MITE) is a programme designed to send believers to the mission fields for 1 to 6 months. It is an opportunity to give your best to God! To find out more, visit https://www.mms.org.sg/mite or email mms@methodist.org.sg.

HARVEST FORCE 2023 ISSUE 3

COMMUNITY WORK AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONS

Prof Dennis Lee

Director, Strategic Planning and Capacity Building. He was a Visiting Professor with Copenhagen Business School, a Fellow with Singapore University of Social Sciences, and an alumnus of Regent College (MTS ‘88 & MDiv ‘89). He worships at Kum Yan Methodist Church.

We need a Godly boldness that will enable us to work tirelessly, and to persevere in our missions and ministry of reconciliation— reconciling the fallen world to our Creator.

Community work is a concept that we are not unfamiliar with, be it school-based community service projects or volunteering in our spare time. In this article, the theological underpinnings of Christian and church-based community work will be discussed.

TYPES OF COMMUNITY WORK Firstly, what is community work? Here are four different, if somewhat overlapping, types of community work in churches, some of which you might have participated in yourself.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Some churches set up projects which help specific groups such as soup kitchens for the homeless and youth clubs. Church members may volunteer to participate, or provide the occasional prayer or gift.

CHRISTIAN ADVOCACY Christians have a duty to speak and act against social ills and unfair practices for those unable to fend for themselves, as we grapple what it means to be salt and light (Mt 5:13-16).

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the August 2023 issue of Methodist Message.

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT A new profession of community work has emerged, complete with training courses, qualifications, and recognised salary scales. Some

HFSPECIAL

churches have been able to get grants and funding to employ community workers to strengthen their missions.

A COMMUNE CHURCH Churches of the New Testament were a mass movement of people in communes involved in the struggles of everyday life. The concerns and work of the people, of the Christian community, and of God himself are one and the same. Community work such as establishing schools, training projects for unemployed youth, and welfare projects for the elderly are now common. Its roots are in distinct minority (sub-)cultures and experiences of oppression or discrimination. Such indigenous-led (IPLC)1 initiatives and the theological thinking behind them present a fascinating contrast and challenge to the community work of 21st-century urban churches.

INTEGRATING COMMUNITY WORK AND MISSIONS Sometimes, community work also takes us beyond Singapore’s shores. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical, to carry out evangelisation, church planting, and community work. If one of the objectives of missions is church planting—the building of a commune church—how can community work be integrated into our thinking and practice of holistic missions? Here are three different views we can consider. Firstly, the Fundamentalist view perceives the world as intrinsically evil and sold under sin until Christ’s return. Evangelism is seen as a rescue mission—to rescue as many souls as possible before they are lost eternally. Social action, other than minimal pastoral care for converts, is seen as a dangerous diversion from mission. In the Church Growth view, it sees the primary task of missions as the making of disciples and the numerical expansion of the church. It acknowledges social action as a secondary concern. The tendency is to view community work as bait for evangelistic “fishing”. The church will gain credibility from its good works and build relationships which will be fruitful in making disciples. Community work is a social service which facilitates church planting.

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Finally, the Holistic Mission view asserts that missions are broader than evangelism. Evangelism is viewed as an equal partner with social action as two sides of the same coin. Missions comprise all that God is doing through his church to bring about his Kingdom on earth. Community development is an essential part of God’s mission, whereby the church promotes active citizenship to enable people to work together to improve human circumstances for the well-being of their communities.2 Christians engage in community work regardless of whether it brings people into the church. We should be willing to work alongside nonChristians on specific issues in the community, while not embracing non-Christian world views and lifestyles. Now that we have a clearer understanding of the perspectives of community work, let’s explore some theological pointers related to Christian community work. We can refer to Genesis 1:28 for the Creation Mandate. The starting point for any human involvement in God’s work should begin with the doctrine of Creation. In God’s creative order, human beings are stewards to care for and develop the resources of the earth. As imago

dei,3 we share in his creativity, moral judgement, and provision for needs. Everyone has an equal claim to respect, dignity, a just share in resources which are available, and a responsibility to contribute to the community and environment. Therefore, Christians should work towards these ends and be willing to work alongside all people on the basis of common humanity alone. Part of the task is to enable people to see themselves as fully human, and not as powerless and dependent on other people. We also need to assess our community work practice in the light of scripture and ensure that our practice enables and empowers the kind of community which God desires. In Micah 6:8, Micah paints a picture of a just yet merciful God, and we his people as his agents. God has shown us what is good—the very words used in the Creation narrative in Genesis 1:26-31. As his regents in a world misguided by sin, the Restoration Mandate calls on us to act justly, embrace his loving kindness to reflect his covenantal promise, and live humbly, aware of the abiding presence of God. Finally, Philippians 2:6-7 reminds us that at the heart of the Christian faith is the message of God with us—Jesus emptied himself and

HFSPECIAL took on the form of a servant, who although rich became poor for our sake. We are called to follow the example of Jesus, not claiming our own rights, but to take the role of servants. We need to be willing to wash one another’s feet and not refrain from costly involvement in people’s lives and struggles—not providing mere “first aid” activities but transformational changes. It is here we need the wisdom of God and not just the ideology of community work. When engaging in community work, we need four things. Firstly, we need analysis—sociological, political, and theological—to understand why things are as they are and how they ought to be. Secondly, we need our emotions as we respond to people in their hurt, by aligning our feelings with God’s own heart. Thirdly, we need vision for how things should be in specific contexts, and clarity so that we can set realistic, measurable, and achievable goals for our community work. Finally, and most importantly, we need a Godly boldness that will enable us to work tirelessly, and to persevere in our missions and ministry of reconciliation—reconciling the fallen world to our Creator.

Footnote: 1 The term “Indigenous Peoples and local communities” and its acronym “IPLC” are widely used by international organizations and conventions to refer to individuals and groups who self-identify as indigenous or as members of distinct local communities. https://www.ipbes.net/glossary-tag/ indigenous-peoples-and-localcommunities 2 Msebi, Mawethu, 2022. https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/363905435_An_Analysis_of_ the_Role_of_the_Missional_Church_in_ Community_Development 3 Ref Gen 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

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Teaching Kids About Missions Hey there! This is a new segment to connect with our children and engage them in missions. We hope that the parents and teachers amongst us will find the materials useful. If you have other helpful resources to share, please let us know. You may use this creative Object Lesson to teach kids about missions. Send one child out of the room (with appropriate supervision). Give the other children a treat. As you give each child the treat, say: God loves you! As children enjoy their snack, explain that there’s also a treat for the child who went out of the room.

Ask:

• How will the child know about the treat? • How could we get the treat to the child? Have the children try yelling, throwing the treat toward the door, and using any other means. Children will finally conclude that the only way to

get the treat to the child is to take it to him or her.

Used with permission. Source: ChildrensMinistry.com, https://childrensministry.com/teaching-kids-missionsobject-lesson, 2018

BITESIZEDMISSIONS

Send one child as the “Missionary” to deliver the message and the treat. Then have both children return to the room.

Discuss how the child wouldn’t have known about the treat if the “Missionary” had never gone to share.

Read Isaiah 6:2-8. Then ask: • • • •

How did Isaiah react when he had a vision of God? How would you have reacted? Why do you think Isaiah said what he did in verse 5? How do you think Isaiah felt after God forgave him of his sins?

Read Isaiah 6:8 again. Then ask:

• Why do you think Isaiah was willing to go for God? • What would you have said if this had happened to you? Discuss with children what it means to be on mission for God at home, at school, in their community, in their country, and throughout the world.

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PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD This issue of Harvest Force reminds us of the Vision, Mission, and Core Values of The Methodist Missions Society. MMS was officially launched in 1991, over 30 years ago. A lot has been done over the last 30+ years, and we give thanks to God for the privilege of being part of what he has been doing amongst many nations in the past. But, like the apostle Paul, let us keep pressing on toward what lies ahead.

Rev Dr Gordon Wong

黄昌荣牧师（博士) 新加坡卫理公会会督 Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

He loves bread and butter pudding with lots of custard!

Like the apostle Paul, let us keep pressing on toward what lies ahead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12, NIV) Some things get lost in translation, and the NIV translation above has lost or omitted one of the three times the same Greek word is used by the apostle Paul. Here is an attempt to reproduce in English the triple use of the same Greek verb. Not that I have already taken hold of, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of what has been taken hold of for me by Christ. Or perhaps more elegantly: Not that I have already attained, or already arrived at my goal, but I press on to attain what has been attained for me by Christ. Paul had lived and worked hard for God for many years. But he knows that he has not attained, not arrived yet at the perfect goal for his life. He uses

the same Greek word a fourth time in the next verse. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead … (Philippians 3:13, NIV) Forgetting what lies behind, Paul keeps moving forward. He presses on toward the perfect ending and goal of life. And here’s the point of his pun: Even though he has not yet attained or arrived at the perfect fulfilment of his calling and God-given purpose, he doesn’t get discouraged. He doesn’t say: I give up. I’ll never get there. No, he keeps on pressing forward toward that perfect goal. Why? Because he believes that Jesus the Christ has already attained or secured that perfect ending for him. His quest, his pressing on toward perfection will not be in vain. May MMS also keep moving forward, “because we know that (our) labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58b, NIV)

竭力

追求得着

CLOSINGTHOTS

本期的《禾丰》提醒我们卫理宣教会的愿景、使命和核心价值

我们尝试再现同一希腊文动词的三次使用。

工在过去的 30 多年间陆续完成，感谢上帝让我们有福分参与，

Not that I have already taken hold of, or have already

前，竭力追求得着。

has been taken hold of for me by Christ.

观。卫理宣教会在1991年正式成立，距今已有 30 多年。很多事并经历祂在多个国家的作为。然而，我们要学效保罗，努力向

arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of what

“这不是说我已经得着了，已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者

或者更简捷地表达

标点和合本》）

“这不是说我已经达到了，或已经达成我的目标，我乃是竭力追

可以得着基督耶稣所以得着我的。 ” （腓立比书3:12-21《现代 , 有些东西在翻译中会丢失或遗漏了了，中文《现代标点和合

求，要达到基督为我所达到的目标。

本》译本中， “得着” （take hold of）这个词和原希腊文一样，一

尽管使徒保罗一生勤奋事奉上帝多年，他却非常清楚自己尚未

次，只在经文中出现两次：

得着”二字：

共出现三次，NIV 版的英文圣经，却将保罗写的得着遗漏了一

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12, NIV)

达到完美的生命目标。他在接下来的一段希腊原文里，再度使用“ “弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘记

背后，努力面前，向着标竿直跑，（腓立比书 3:13-14 ” 《和合本》）保罗忘记背后，竭力向前，朝向生命的目标和终点直奔。尽管他还未完美地实现或达到上帝赋予他的使命，但他毫不气馁。

他并未说：目标遥不可及，算了，我放弃了。不，他始终竭力向着标杆直跑为什么？因为保罗心坎深处，相信主耶稣基督已经为自己的得着，取得完美的结局。因此，他竭力向前追求，他的坚持不是枉然的。祝愿卫理宣教会“因为知道，我们的劳苦在主里面不是徒然的。 ”

（哥林多前书13：58下，《和合本》），继续竭力前进！