Building a Fellowship of Disciples

Here’s a quick recap on the newly established foundations for SJSM Village. If we all get on the same page and work together to improve, despite differences in opinion, that will really help to build a dynamic community of impactful believers!

WORDS: ANNABELLE BOK

Most of us are aware of the structural changes to the church office and the cell ministry that have been rolling out in stages since January 2018. Some, like the introduction of the cell rhythm and cell Word material, ministry reorganisation, and the introduction of the cell zonal system, have been more noticeable than others. One unmistakeable change has been the rebranding of our Host team, complete with their clearly identifiable uniforms!

As the months rolled on, with our plans constantly buffeted by changing COVID-19 safety regulations, you might have wondered what, if any, of these changes have actually been executed. You might also have wondered whether they are relevant to the new normal of online services, safe distancing, virtual non-congregational meetings.

Personally, and especially as a relative newcomer to SJSM (I joined the church in late 2017), I had some gaps in my understanding of how all the pieces fit together, why our leaders felt the changes necessary, and what they hope said changes will achieve. An opportunity to speak with Ps Joshua Sudharman (our vicar from 2012 to 2021), Ps Alvin Toh (our vicar as of 1 July 2021), and Richard Lau (our Executive Pastor) was very welcome, as they helped clarify a lot of things for me — I hope this helps you too!

FORWARD PLANNING — A VILLAGE OUTLOOK

Asked to explain what most of us remember as “that matrix diagram”, Ps Joshua said, “the cell system and zone structure need to settle down before we can realise the full potential of the new structure”. This is partly because they have built-in feedback loops and resource centres which, when properly in place, are meant to bolster the pastoral leadership team’s overall ability to provide pastoral care across our multi-generational congregation’s diverse spectrum of needs.

While this has been delayed mainly by COVID-19 and its impacts, another factor was the time it took to explore and understand the Zone Pastor role — for existing staff members who took on this new responsibility as well as for potential and new staff. The leadership team couldn’t just create a new job description based on theoretical ideals and simply post a recruitment notice; they wanted fellow SJSMers who understand our culture and ethos in these positions. Having Zone Pastors who are in full alignment with the vision they have put forward will help us to support one another better in our shared efforts to become a fruitful community of invested believers.

The entire transformation plan (and in fact, the Metamorphousthe theme that has carried us through the past five years) had its genesis in our inaugural Discipleship Symposium back in 2015. Ps Joshua notes that “John 15, on the vine and the branches, was an anchor text” which provided the main metaphor in our leadership’s understanding of discipleship; this then led to the “3M” aspects of fruitfulness: maturity, mission, and ministry.

And so, since 2016, a transitional set of Transformation Teams comprising both staff and lay representatives has been praying for discernment, undertaking research, going on learning trips, and holding in-depth discussions on how best to integrate the church with the final finished result of Project Spring-Winter — SJSM Village. Having to make space for and allocate resources to Chaplaincy for one, while streamlining processes and reporting by flattening the staff hierarchy and reducing the number of disparate work groups, required some lateral thinking and an almost complete overhaul of the organisation chart. (Recall Ps Joshua’s 2020 AGM Chairman’s Address.)

Now, with SJSM Village coming to life right before our eyes, it’s a lot easier to see how our leaders had the integration of our church with the Village and its many facets and entities in mind when they envisioned the final result of these changes.

MEETING REAL NEEDS

The diagrammatic representations of the new structure might look complicated, but it can be boiled down to a very simple basic concept — meeting people’s real needs through the lens of “in-reach” (Spiritual Formation Group: addressing current concerns and equipping our people for the future) and “outreach” (Outreach & Missions Group: sharing God’s love with our immediate neighbours and beyond). The Church Operations Group provides the structure and platforms for everything that’s being carried out.

The fact that 90 percent of SJSM’s members are part of the cell ministry logically means that a greater share of our pastoral and discipleship resources should be directed towards providing them with pastoral care: facilitating fellowship, relationship building, mentoring, and building of identity and community. The new structure supports this spectrum of care by catalysing a rearrangement of priorities: That’s why the Pastoral Connexion Group — comprising the cells, NextGen, and Ethnic Congregations — is placed to intersect the programme-based groups at multiple nodes.

The Zone Pastors are a channel for lay members to put forward a variety of ideas and initiatives that can impact the church as a whole, instead of simply waiting to go along with whatever is decided for them. “What we’re trying to do is to promote greater collaboration, while putting the pastoral care needs of our cells foremost. We’re trying to customise our efforts to equip our members to what they are indicating that they need and want, instead of just providing what we think they should be picking up. Look at it as having more touchpoints for feedback and suggestions from the ground, and better access to resources,” Ps Alvin says.

AN ENGAGED, EMPOWERED COMMUNITY

As Ps Joshua first explained in his 2020 AGM Chairman’s Address, because the Zone Pastors are fully invested in getting to know and shepherding the members under their care, they can accurately facilitate accurate and timely communication between our members and our staff and leaders. Accordingly, time, effort, and resources can be channelled into organising activities and courses that match our peoples’ needs and interests, increasing their personal capacities to initiate and drive ground-up ministry efforts.

SJSM is a pretty large church, so without dedicated eyes and ears on the ground, it’s not that easy for our leaders to understand where the congregation is at: what our concerns, desires, and needs are with regards to our spiritual growth and avenues to serve, and how we prefer to be engaged. Our cell leaders and cell pastors do their best, but as the majority hold other heavy responsibilities, it’s difficult to ensure that members are cared for equably without these leaders being stretched too thin.

So come on, jump in and get involved! As a friend and fellow SJSMer once told me: If you want to see a difference, then get in and make a difference.

• Join the church staff (www.sjsm.org.sg/church-recruitment.html) or take up a role in the Nursing Home (www.sjsm.org.sg/nh-recruitment.html)

• Join a ministry! Contact us at www.sjsm.org.sg/get-in-touch.html or respond to one of the various recruitment Notices in our Bulletin (www.sjsm.org.sg/weekly-bulletin.html)

• Join a cell: cell@sjsm.org.sg

• Get equipped: Bookmark www.sjsm.org.sg/courses.html and avail yourself of the various courses and workshops that we arrange, even as the new feedback loop system sorts itself out. In due time, you’ll be able to have a say in what’s planned and provided!