THE CHALLENGE of MISSIONS PARTNERSHIP

Rev Derrick Lau

Executive Director of MMS

The Methodist Missions Society (MMS) was established in 1991 as the missions agency of The Methodist Church in Singapore. MMS seeks to establish indigenous churches supported by mission endeavours in our region. We are committed towards encouraging, enlisting, engaging, and empowering Methodists to serve in missions by partnering, praying for, and participating with MMS to reach those whom Jesus died to redeem. We believe God has called us to help rebuild, restore, and reconcile people to Christ.

MMS provides opportunities in the harvest fields in terms of evangelising; equipping and nurturing new believers; making disciples; planting churches; and expressing love through social concerns, healthcare, education, livelihood projects, and practical assistance. As at 31 January 2021, we have 38 Missionaries serving in 7 countries and 4 Home-based Missionaries, and 22 local Methodist Churches and Conferences engaged in some form of partnership with us.

The Mandate of the Great Commission

The Great Commission was given to the apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ before He ascended to heaven (cf. Matthew 28:18-20). They went about proclaiming the Good News throughout the region. Consequently, many professed faith in the Risen Christ!

The apostles recruited and equipped new converts to partner them in spreading the Good News. According to 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul advocated the principle of disciple multiplication where faithful men were to teach other faithful men, who then extended the spread of the Gospel through that multiplication process.

From the period of the Early Church to the Medieval Period and up to the present day Church, the strategy of multiplying disciples has remained unchanged though the methodologies have been adjusted to address varying socio-political and religious issues. Since the 1st century, the Gospel has reached almost every nation of the world. Today, the priority is to reach to the 49.2% of the least reached 17,439 people groups of the world. (Source: joshuaproject.net)

The Strategy of Partnership

We have developed a Church Engagement Roadmap. This is an important initiative to engage, excite, encourage, equip and establish mission interest, involvement and partnerships in all our Methodist Churches. We believe there is great value in strengthening and expanding collaboration and partnership with our local churches and Annual Conferences in reaching the unreached peoples in our region.

Individuals and local churches who seek to partner MMS in fulfilling the mandate of Christ together, will be provided with appropriate Training contextualised to each field. We seek to empower by building capacity and developing self-sustainability via engaging with relevant stakeholders whether they be clergy or laity, so that MMS can better fulfil her call and purpose.

MMS VISION 2025 serves as the framework for the new quadrennium (2021-2024). The thrust is “Enlarge the Tent, O Lord” (cf. www.mms.org.sg). MMS Vision 2025 seeks to:

1 Enlarge the scope of mission.

We envisioned the expansion of our capacities beyond our current commitments in the seven countries. We shall focus primarily on the vast unreached people groups in our region.

2 Engage churches, individuals and Annual Conferences

to fulfil the prophetic call to “fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covers the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9, NIV). It includes the raising of missionaries, developing strategic partnerships with local churches, enlarging the pool of prayer intercessors, and increasing financial resources and support.

We praise God that local churches, individuals, and Annual Conferences continue to provide the much-needed prayer and financial support for our office and field operations. Major fund-raising events such as the biennial banquet are nevertheless necessary for funding field projects (especially new projects) and for replenishing our General Fund.

Come and serve the Missio Dei together! Let the earth hear the Good News!