Blessings Along The Way

BFEC IN 2018

BLESSINGS ALONG THE WAY

We do not journey Home alone when we belong to one another in community. After all, we spur one another to grow as disciples of Christ living out fully God’s purposes for our lives. But what does this look like in our church family? Here is a snapshot of how BFEC seeks to walk in obedience and dependence to our Lord to fulfil His Kingdom purposes. Can you see His footprints? Would you follow?

NAMES

We are a brethren church led by a Council of Executive Elders and Deacons, partnered by a team of full time Pastoral and Operations Staff and Missionaries. We thank God for Advisory Elders as well as the cell leaders and ministry heads who come alongside as fellow under-shepherds of God’s flock (1 Peter 5:2). Our current Council Chairman is Elder Alex Lo; Treasurer – Michael Mak; Secretary – Lim Seow Cheng; Registrar – John Teo.

Within the Council is an EXCO comprising a smaller group of Elders and Deacons serving a term to expedite decision making, within the Delegation of Authority framework approved by Council.

Council 2018 Sitting (L-R): Elders See Toh Ming Yew, Danny Chua, Joshua Quek Mong Hua, Jimmy Tan, Alex Lo, Advisory Elders Ernest Chew, Lionel Ong, Melville Szto, Elders Chong Kum Wah and Roland Tan (Absent: Elder Caleb Chua Soon Boon) Standing 2nd Row (L-R): Deacons Ng Geok Chye, Michael Mak, Jason Sin, Deaconesses: Shirley Soo, Sharon Ngoo, Lucy Yeo, Wong Lee Pin, Deacons Willy Ong, Ethan Pang, Ngoo Chih Yuan 3rd Row (L-R): Deacons John Teo, Jonathan Cho, Kelvin Ng, Derek Pang, Adam Tang, Vincent Lim (Absent: Ang Teck Soon, Fong Chee Siong and Kiang Tzy Peng)

Two committees are appointed by the Executive Elders:- the Finance Committee, chaired by our Treasurer Michael Mak, and the Personnel Committee, chaired by Vincent Lim. These ensure that our finance and personnel policies are not just framed by established governance guidelines but instructed first by careful application of biblical stewardship principles.

WORSHIP & PRAYER

Worship Ministry is always heart before art, individual before corporate, always to the audience of One. More than 60 Frankelites roster themselves in teams to serve here, be it by deploying their vocal, musical or technical talents, in front and behind the scenes. How are you worshipping our Heavenly Father with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?

Church Prayer Ministry exists to remind us we can do nothing apart from Him, especially as a church (John 15:5). We express our corporate dependence on Him during and after Sunday service and in our cells. We have seen breakthroughs when prayer emails alert the 300 listed in FIRE (Frankel Intercessors Ready Everywhere, Everytime). Have you considered not just the power but the loving encouragement you give when you commit to show up to pray with and for one another?

DISCIPLESHIP & PASTORAL

We aim to make disciples following our W.A.T.CH. framework. It is important to ‘Win’ by connecting to Christ and His cause, ‘Anchor’ by being taught and equipped to grow in Christlikeness, ‘Team’ up with others in authentic community and mentoring relationships, and ‘Charge’ by yielding fruitful works for Him.

Our 45 Cell Groups are the primary conduit of pastoral care, discipleship and mobilization for service, led by mature and caring individuals accountable to Elders and Deacon under-shepherds. As this is how we live biblically and authentically as a church, we urge every member to experience body life in cells by giving of themselves to each other in mutual love, sacrificial service and outreach (Acts 2:42-47).

**GLOW Activity by Wong Lee Pin & Diana Chin’s cell group**

**Cell groups GLOW at foreign worker dorms**

We also heed the call of the Faith@Home movement to reestablish the home as the place where faith is authentically nurtured and lived out. The daily outworking of Deuteronomy 6:1-9 in homes, as compared to the once a week encounters in Sunday School, are where true spiritual foundations are built. How are you as a parent taking the lead to set up your ‘family altar?’

BFEC Cares fills in the gap for more attentive care when members go through difficult seasons or crisis. Inspired by Galatians 6:2, we have equipped ome 120 Frankelites to be such intentional Caregivers, widening our pastoral reach beyond cell leaders and pastoral staff. Other churches have been joining us to learn how they can also do this. Do you see how being more skilled in caring for another can build up the Body of Christ and draw others to Him?

Finally, we are grateful to our Pastoral Staff team, each of whom ministers to a segment of our membership – be it in personal discipleship, mentoring, and in times of need - conducting visits, home communions, baptisms as well as helping members in times of grief by facilitating wakes and funerals. Would you pray with us to challenge suitable ones to serve as some staff are nearring or are already in retirement?

CHILDREN

Before BFEC, there was already Bethesda (Katong) Kindergarten or BKK. Started in 1955, it touched the lives of 360 children last year with blessings of a strong leadership team, dedicated teachers and supportive parents.

Children are precious to our Lord (Matt 19:14), yet these are perilous times so we are thankful for the many faithful ones who come alongside parents to codisciple the little ones from the Creche (10 children) to Kindergarten Sunday School (40 children) and Junior Sunday School (90 children) ministries.

BKK and KSS joined forces once more to organize the ever popular Vacation Bible School (VBS) for 138 children, sowing His life-giving word into their hearts.

Is God calling you to minister to our children?

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

Grow@Noon turned 6 in 2018, reaching out to our youth in biblically holistic yet relevant ways. Together with our Young Adults Ministry, they can only yield future spiritual leaders if we continue to invest time, love and resources to disciple them intentionally (2 Tim 2:2). Would you be willing to befriend them as they navigate many critical transitions?

SENIORS & SPECIAL INTERESTS

As a 60 year-old church, it is not surprising that many of our ministries have adapted their programmes to reach out to disciple members in their golden years. Without incentive, many silver generation Frankelites spur us by their energetic service. They go on mission trips, reach out to non-believers, mentor the young and keep themselves abreast how to be equipped to face their golden years with wisdom and fruitfulness (Psalm 92:14).

Let us continue to support our 9214, Evergreen Fellowship and Frankel Lights, as well as WAG and Ladies Group though these do not just cater to seniors.

In recent years, we have seen new initiatives like Ukulele For Christ, Table Tennis fellowship and Jesus Club. These are not merely hobby or interest clubs but avenues for fellowship and outreach initiated by willing Frankelites in response to needs and opportunities they see. How can you come along to encourage these initiatives? It may be as easy as spreading the word or bringing someone along.

LANGUAGE MINISTRIES

Our Chinese Ministry has grown in vibrancy through initiatives like Evergreen Fellowship as well as participation in concerted evangelistic outreaches. Our church has also been blessed by other ongoing language ministries like Peranakan Ministry, International Fellowship Ministry (mainly to Filipinos and Indonesians) and the Foreign Indian Workers Fellowship. Indeed, the mission field is right in our midst! Pray for more laborers to join in the harvest right before our eyes (Matthew 9:38)!

**Emcees at the Chinese Ministry’s Mid-Autumn event**

**International Fellowship Ministry Christmas celebrations**

MISSIONS & EVANGELISM

BFEC has been traditionally strong in missions because we believe it comes from the heart of God. If we do not participate in joining Him on His mission (i.e. not missional), we will wilt instead of grow. Hence, we are privileged to be sending out some of our best Frankelites and their families into focus fields like Japan and East Asia for long term ministry. How might you join them in this work?

Our Missions Board also strategizes support for associate missionaries, project workers and missions agencies. It is our goal that every Frankelite and cell group is involved in some way in missions. How are you responding to so great a commission (Matthew 28:18-20)?

**Pondering Life’s Big Questions over dinner**

Our Evangelism Committee organized Life’s Big Questions and Alpha which marshalled great enthusiasm to sow the Gospel seed to our friends and relatives. How are you bearing witness in His power (Acts 1:8)?

COMMUNITY & SOCIAL OUTREACH

A Frankelite believes that good works flow from genuine faith in Christ, and are both sides of the same coin (James 2:17). We cannot be impactful in society if we do not express our faith through acts of love. To this end, we have been privileged to partner with New Hope Community Services to launch Kampong Siglap Lifeskills Training and Retreat Centre or Kampong Siglap in short. Slated to launch next to us at 10, La Salle Street in the later half of 2019, we are heartened that a core team of younger Frankelites have grasped this as something from the Lord, to serve based on timeless principles of loving our neighbours (Luke 10:37). How will you serve in this groundbreaking opportunity to fulfil His purposes?

Yet even before this, our Social Action Ministry continues to keep an eye out for opportunities to serve the more vulnerable in our society, be it by preparing meals or befriending the abused. Within this, the Social Action com facilitates the disbursement of financial aid to needy individuals and families as well as some agencies involved in social outreach. Is there someone you know who ought to be included in this list?

OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS

The Church Office team is a hub connecting all Frankelites – be it leadership, ministries or cells - by gifts of administration to further the mission of the church.

On the surface they oversee key aspects of Membership (Registrar, Baptisms), Estate Management and Facilities, Tech and IT support (Sunday services and staff support), and ongoing aspects of Finance (Accounts, Offerings) and Communications (Web, FB, Bulletin, banners, notices) and Logistics (e.g. Sunday breakfast). Behind the scenes, they also support Council to coordinate the entire year’s church and ministry calendars, worship and pulpit ministry planning and church wide initiatives by working with subcommittees.

Finally, we are thankful for the many other hands that compete the mission of the church by serving in Café Leaf, Flower Arrangement Ministry, stewardship duties, READY magazine, the Library. These and other areas of service may not be as visible but are no less vital as we journey together as One. How are you using your spiritual gifts to serve God and His people?

Blessings Along The Way

BFEC IN 2018