Harvest Force 2021 issue 3

MMS Strategy CHURCH PLANTING

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My Father is the Gardener O

ver the last 30 years, MMS has grown from a tiny seed of ideation to that of reaching the nations as a Methodist entity. In particular, we are supporting some 49 churches in the mission fields.

Planting a tree or crop involves preparing the soil, watering, protecting from weeds and pests, fertilising, etc. Similarly, planting a church requires much labour and care.

In John 15:1, we are glad that God is the Gardener. In fact, God Himself is the One who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). MMS is really privileged to be part of His field, by being involved in the planting and watering.

Growth and reproduction are always the welcomed results. We always look forward to having bigger plants and reproducing more babies. We also prune for further growth and further propagation. In similar way, we welcome church growth as well as new churches and preaching points in our mission fields.

From the initial establishment of “The Mission” at the fields, the Methodist Church in Nepal “The Annual Meeting” since 2008; the Methodist Church in Thailand has moved ahead to become “The Mission Conference” in 2021; while the Methodist Church in Cambodia has become a “Provisional Annual Conference” in 2018. We look forward to them becoming “The Annual Conference” eventually.

MMS is 30!

Some believe that green is the 30th anniversary colour. Isn’t it apt that green also signifies growth? As we celebrate God’s faithfulness, let us always remember that He is the One who leads the mission and brings about people and churches. Read on page 6 the celebration details written by Dr Christopher Cheah, the Chairman of our 30th Anniversary Taskforce. (By the way, our 30th Anniversary logo is in green!)

On page 2, Rev Derrick Lau exhorts us to come alongside MMS in our Church Planting strategy. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong reflects on the meaning of planting a church on page 41. From pages 11 to 27, we recount our Church Planting work in Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia. Read from pages 28 to 33 about the church-planting journey by some of our partner churches, Kampong Kapor MC and Living Hope MC. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

(John 15:5) Without God, we cannot do anything of eternal significance. Surely it was Sovereign God who has brought all this about, and surely because this is His mission to begin with. Let us celebrate 30 years of God’s faithfulness!

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CONTENTS

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. All information published is correct at time of writing and may subject to change. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version, unless

02

FIRST WORD • Strategy of Church Planting: Revisit

04

06

HF Special • MMS Celebrates 30 Years of God’s Faithfulness

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FEATURE STORY • Church Planting Movements • Church Planting in Nepal • Church Planting in Thailand • Church Planting in the New Normal in Cambodia • The Joy and Privilege of Church Planting • Virtual Missions Trips

otherwise stated.

MCI (P) 036/01/2021

ADVISOR Rev Derrick Lau

NOV 2021

EDITOR

Leongheng PROOFREADER

Wendy Tan CHINESE PROOFREADER Goh Tuan Gee

WAZZUP! • Country Information • Opportunities to Serve

2021 ISSUE

03

TRANSLATORS Henry Wang, Thng Pheng Soon PHOTO CREDITS Carol Ong, Cassandra Lee, Cheryl Chen, Henry Yeo, Lyndon Gan, Nathanael Siew, Noel Tam, Mildred Goh, Will Stacken DISTRIBUTION & SUPPORT Eileen Lim, Helen Tan, Tan Poh Ling & Volunteers DESIGNER SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd

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PRINTER Print & Print Pte Ltd PUBLISHER Rev Derrick Lau 70 Barker Road #06-01, The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936

FIELD FEATURE TIMOR-LESTE • Home-Based Missions: Mentoring & Teaching Digitally • Gaining Insights from Serving Others

Tel: 6478 4818

MMS IS SOCIAL! Connect with us and never miss an update

mms@methodist.org.sg

www.mms.org.sg mms.org.sg mms.org.sg

t.me/mmsorgsg

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COVER: Planting for growth

Photo credit: freepik.com

41

CLOSING THOTS • The Church in a House?

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HARVESTFORCE 2021 • 3

STRATEGY of Church Planting: C

Rev Derrick Lau 刘作丰牧师 Executive Director of MMS. He is interested in medicinal herb gardening.

hurch Planting and Community Development has been the principal strategy for the ministry of MMS over the past three decades. It has provided the focus for her efforts in planting numerous churches and preaching points, and developing community projects via prayer and the mobilisation of human and capital resources.

As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of MMS, a revisit of the strategy would be appropriate. This article will focus specifically on a brief review of the Strategy of Church Planting with the aim of engaging leaders and members (local and national leaders) in a deeper conversation, and into active participation on the nature and direction of our mission in a pandemic state whilst transiting towards a post COVID-19 endemic environment.

This is how a quick Google search defines church: “Etymologically speaking, the word church means ‘house of the Lord’. The modern word church is a direct descendant of the Old English word cirice or circe. The first recorded use of the Old English word is from the thirteenth century, and it could refer to either a body of Christian believers or to the place where they gathered.” (https://www. gotquestions.org/meaning-of-church.html).

The conventional understanding of church usually refers to a building. And for those of us are familiar with the language of the bible, we would adopt a different viewpoint. From a biblical standpoint, Christ has given us the mandate to build His Church (cf. Matthew 18:20; 28:19-20). The Greek word for ‘Church’ is ‘ekklesia’. It means “the called-out ones”. Paul reiterated the theological perspective that “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

(1 Corinthians 12:27) and “Christ is the head of the church, his body.” (Ephesians 5:23) Furthermore, when Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20), it suggests that the composite nature of a church is made up of members who profess faith in Christ as Lord and Saviour. Thus when two or three are gathered in His name, and God willing, they may assemble in a building (generally termed as a church building) or worship centre (that is within a church building or sited in an auditorium, concert hall, or residence). Church is therefore a living organism of all believers in Christ (cf. https://www.bibletruths.org/is-the-church-an-organization-or-an-organism).

Even if the laws of a country impose restrictions for religious gatherings, the church continues to exist albeit differently. (Due to the sensitivity of this topic, there shall not be any elaboration on this point).

Over the two millennia, Christian disciples have been and continue to face persecution in certain parts of the world. But then again, that harsh reality has not thwarted the life of the church. On the contrary, the Church Father Tertullian (AD 197) in the wake of widespread persecution remarked, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church!” We affirm Christ as Head of the Church and His love for his members will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Furthermore, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a digital platform serves as the equivalent, but prayerfully temporary, option of an actual assembly itself although the Administration of the Sacraments such as Baptism and Holy Communion would have to be celebrated differently.

I am persuaded that a revisit of the Strategy of Church Planting will inevitably challenge us to return to the historical root of defining what a church is really

FIRSTWORD 03

REVISIT 重思教会植立策略 在

过去的三十年里，植立教会和社区发展一直是卫理宣 教会福音拓展的主要策略。我们尽力植立不少教会和 布道站，并经过同心祷告和调动人力及财力资源发展社区项 目。

在预备2021年9月卫理宣教会30周年纪念之际，重新审 视这一策略是必要的。这里将特别简要回顾教会植立的策 略，旨在进一步加强与本地教会领袖和成员的沟通、交流和 对话，深入探讨疫情期间宣教会的使命和方向，并在逐步过 渡到后疫情时代的积极参与。 下面是谷歌对教会的定义:“从词源上讲，教会这个词的 意思是‘主的家’。现代单词church与古英语单词cirice或 circe属于同一个语言系属，并且意思基本相同。据记载， 这个古英语单词最早出现在13世纪，它既可以指基督信徒 的团体，也可以指他们聚集的地方。” （https://www. gotquestions.org/meaning-of-church.html). 传统上对教会的理解是指建筑物。对于我们这些熟 悉圣经语言的人来说，我们会有不同的观点。从圣经的 观点来看，基督已经给予我们建立教会的使命(马太福音 18:20;28:19-20)。 “教会”的希腊语是“ekklesia”。意思 是“被呼召者”。保罗的神学观也重申:“ 你们就是基督的身 子，并且各自作肢体。(哥林多前书12:27)和“基督是教会的 头，祂又是教会全体的救主。”(以弗所书5:23) 此外，耶稣说， “无论在那里，有两三个人奉我的名聚集， 那里就有我在他们中间。” (马太福音18:20) 这句话表明了 教会是由宣称相信基督是主和救主的信徒组成的。因此，当 两三个人奉上帝的名聚集在一起，并且在上帝的许可下，他们 可以聚集在一个建筑物敬拜(通常被称为教堂建筑)或崇拜 中心(在教堂建筑内或讲堂、音乐厅或住宅内)。因此，教会是 所有在基督里的信徒的一个活的有机体(参见https://www. bibletruths.org/is-the-church-an-organization-oran-organism)。即便一个国家的法律限制宗教聚会，教会

like. “Two or three gathered in Jesus’ Name.” Based on this notion, we praise God that He has raised over 40 full-time missionaries and a band of 2000 prayer intercessors, two dozen partnering local Methodist Churches (in Singapore plus one in Sarawak), and a wonderful team of church leaders and members actively engaging in fulfilling the strategy in ways that will build His church, numerically and spiritually!

Other issues associated with church planting are the equipping and empowerment of national leaders (clergy and laity), and the establishment of church polity (including doctrinal distinctiveness, appointment of pastors/officers, conduct of meetings, governance, accountability, sustainability, etc.). Wherever possible,

仍然存在，只是形式不同。(由于其敏感性，此处不作任何阐 述)。 两千年来，基督的门徒们在世界的某些地方一直面临迫 害。然而，严酷的现实并没有阻碍教会的生存。相反，在大范 围的迫害之后，早期基督教神学家德尔图良(公元197年)说:“ 殉教者的血是教会的种子!”我们肯定基督是教会的头，祂不 会撇下祂所爱的信徒，也不会离弃我们 (希伯来书13:5)。 2019冠状病毒的大流行，数码平台竟成了参加实体聚会 的另一个可选性的参与渠道，尽管洗礼和圣餐等圣礼必须以 不同的方式来进行。 我相信，重新审视“教会植立策略”，必然会挑战我们回 到定义“教会”的历史根源。 “有两三个人奉耶稣的名聚会”。 我们感谢赞美神, 基于这一概念,这些年来祂兴起了40多名全 时间宣教士以及2000名代祷勇士，24间卫理伙伴教会(23间 在新加坡，1间在砂拉越),并一支由教会领袖和会友组成，充 满活力的杰出团队，积极参与推动策略的实施与落实，将能 在灵命塑造上及数量增长上更好地建立主的教会。 与植立教会相关的还包括宣教区的领导者(圣职人员和信 徒领袖)的培训和赋能，以及教会组织架构的建立(包括独特 的教义、牧师及职员的委任、召开会议、管理体系、问责制、 可持续性等)。在可能、可行或许可的情况下，教会的植立还 包括敬拜、团契聚会、研查圣经、传福音、社会关怀外展，以 及建立学校、宿舍、创收计划等。 为了配合卫宣异象2025的主题，即 “主啊，扩张我们的 帐幕”，我们鼓励并邀请您藉着代祷、参与和奉献，在七个 宣教区并延伸到其他地区建立和塑造教会。我们力求回应先 知的呼吁，即 “用认识耶和华的知识充满全地，如同水漫过 海”。 (以赛亚书11:9, NIV) 来，一起植立教会 ，让全世界都听到福音!

practical or permissible, planting churches will encompass the conduct of worship services, fellowship meetings, Bible study, evangelism, and social concerns outreach as well as the setting up of schools, hostels, income-generating projects, etc.

In tandem with the theme of MMS VISION 2025 i.e.

“Enlarge the Tent, O Lord”, we encourage and invite you to pray, participate and give towards the planting and nurturing of churches in the seven mission fields and beyond. To the end, we seek 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) Come, plant a church! Let the earth hear the Good News!

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HARVESTFORCE 2021 • 3

Country Information To find out more about the different fields, please email the respective persons at these email addresses: Cambodia lichun.woo@methodist.org.sg East Asia mms@methodist.org.sg Laos

jularul.ps84@gmail.com

Nepal noel.tam@methodist.org.sg Thailand jeremy.choo@methodist.org.sg Timor-Leste Vietnam

cheryl.chen@methodist.org.sg koheng.quek@methodist.org.sg

Opportunities to Serve IN THE FIELD The fields are ready for harvesting – but there are so few labourers.

In the seven countries that MMS is serving, we continue to be needful for 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 to help our missionaries. Please raise your own financial support.

• Prayer partners to pray for our ministries and missionaries.

What to do if you sense the LORD is calling you into His mission field: 1. Speak with your pastor and ask him/her to help examine your calling to missions.

For more information about these opportunities, kindly email 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.

2. If your church pastor and leaders affirm your calling and are prepared to support – praise the Lord! Call MMS straight away.

3. 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.

WAZZUP! 05

Cambodia • Secondary and primary school teachers to teach at as well as empower teachers at the Methodist School of Cambodia especially in Science, Mathematics, etc.

• Human Resource, Admin and Finance Personnel to serve at the school.

• Prayer and financial supporters for pastors of the Methodist Church of Cambodia, who are receiving below the national minimum wage.

• Missionaries who seek to be disciple makers.

East Asia • Professional trainers to conduct enrichment courses, leadership development, young adult counselling.

• Partners to support social work and community development programme, especially for medical services.

Laos • Fulltime personnel to serve in Singapore Mission School (SMS) and develop partnerships.

• Kindergarten and Primary teachers familiar with the Singapore curriculum to teach at SMS. Teachers can opt to serve a one-year term or longer.

Nepal • Donors and sponsors for the Sophia’s Home girls who are continuing their studies in various disciplines in the local university in Kathmandu. This enables them to complete their professional studies, be financially independent, serve their communities and MCN, and be blessings to many.

• Trainers to conduct online training on Discipleship, Financial Stewardships and Spiritual Leadership.

• Missionary to serve in Nepal.

Thailand • Short-term helpers to organise programmes and activities for BB, GB, and Children’s Ministry at Rangsit and Song-Roi Phee tuition centres.

• Qualified Kindergarten and Primary levels teachers to conduct teachers’ training at Vineyard Methodist School and Little Candles School.

• Mission teams to conduct evangelistic events, community services, etc at our Methodist churches.

Timor-Leste • Teachers to volunteer for one year to provide instruction for students in Grades 7 to 12 at the St Paul Methodist School (SPMS), or mentor local teachers in basic curriculum design and instructional strategies for at least a month.

• Short-term volunteers to provide English, Science or Mathematics tuition for Grade 10-12 students in the Sundermeier Home.

• More sponsors are needed for students enrolled at SPMS and high school residents at Sundermeier Home. Please support the MMS Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS) for children and youth from poor families.

Vietnam • An Assistant Pastor (with theological qualifications, with at least a Diploma in Bible and Christian Ministries); Pastoral Assistant; and Ministry Staff (experienced Bible Study group leader without theological qualifications) with a willing heart to learn and understudy to serve in International Christian Fellowship (ICF) and MMS-International NGO. • Tentmakers; Business People; Social Entrepreneurs; English and/or Chinese Language Teachers qualified to teach TEFL/ TESOL; and Professionals to conduct worship and serve in ICF while working in HCMC.

Exploration of New Geographical Missions Partnerships (NewGMP) • MMS is exploring collaborative partnership with local Methodist churches in countries such as Indonesia and Myanmar.

• 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.

AT HOME You can also come alongside 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 • Be an English-Chinese translator.

• Be a photographer or videographer.

• Be a graphic designer.

• Be a web designer.

Office Assistance • Be our MMS Event Coordinator.

• Be part of our Fund Raising Team.

• Be our Fellowship Mailer Team.

Financial Assistance • Be a sponsor through the Student Sponsorship Scheme.

Please refer to page 39.

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HARVESTFORCE 2021 • 3

MMS Celebrates 30 YEARS of GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Dr Christopher Cheah MMS ExCo Member and Chairman of 30th Anniversary Taskforce.

HFSPECIAL 07

I

n My faithfulness I will reward My people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

(Isaiah 61:8b-9, NIV)

These words of the prophet Isaiah written almost 3,000 years ago are being fulfilled among the peoples and nations that MMS has been working with over the past 30 years, since it was established on 30 September 1991 as the missions agency of the Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS).

MMS currently works in Cambodia, East Asia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. We praise God for peoples brought to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, pastors trained, churches planted, schools established, and community development projects started in these nations.

We also praise Him for mobilising our local Methodist churches to pray, give, and send short- and long-term missionaries and volunteers to these peoples and nations.

Looking back over the past 30 years, the Lord has indeed blessed MCS through MMS, and in turn allowed His blessings to also flow to these peoples and nations. They are truly a people the Lord has blessed!

In gratitude for His blessings and to celebrate our 30th Anniversary this year, a Taskforce comprising MMS staff and ExCo members has been formed to plan a year-long celebration from September 2021 to August 2022.

30th Anniversary Testimonies Project To kick off the celebration, 30 testimonies and stories from retired MMS missionaries and long-time volunteers will be compiled into a Singaporean picture of God’s faithfulness in missions over the past 30 years. Many of these are untold stories of how MMS started, and the pioneering works of MMS in these nations. We have started interviewing some of them and the articles will appear on the MMS website over the next few months

and be compiled into a book or in a digital format later. Do look out for these inspiring and heart-warming stories!

30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service In place of a Fund-Raising Banquet in view of COVID-19 restrictions, a Thanksgiving Service will be held at Faith Methodist Church on the first Sunday in Advent, 28 November 2021 to celebrate God’s faithfulness to MMS over the past 30 years. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong will bring words of exhortation at the service, and the three Annual Conferences will be invited to present items to celebrate the partnership of their local churches with MMS over the years. There will also be sharing from the mission fields to testify to His goodness and faithfulness. There will be opportunity to give towards the Little Candles School Building Project and MMS General Fund. Join us at this celebration. Register for the online service via https://tinyurl. com/MMSis30-online, scan the QR code on page 8, or email mms@methodist.org.sg.

30th Anniversary Leaders’ Summit And to end the year-long celebration, key leaders of MMS including staff, ExCo Members, Chairpersons, and representatives of Sub-committees will come together in August 2022 for a time of retreat and vision casting as we look back on what the Lord has done and look forward to what He will do in MMS over the next 10 years and more.

We pray for a fruitful time of worship, prayer, sharing, and planning as we spend time hearing from the Lord of the Harvest on His heart for MMS and the nations.

Prophet Isaiah concluded Chapter 61 with these words: “the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” As we remember His blessings on the nations through MMS in the past 30 years, may this be our prayer for the nations where MMS will be involved in for the next 30 years and beyond!

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FEATURESTORY 09

C

hurch Planting is one part of the two-pronged integrated strategy of MMS. So, what is Church Planting?

It is a process that results in a new indigenous church being planted.

MMS was inspired and guided by David Garrison’s booklet, Church Planting Movements, 1999. And it was used to facilitate church-planting movements as part of MMS’s missions growth strategy.

A Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid and exponential increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment. It is more than “evangelism that results in churches” and certainly more than a revival of pre-existing churches.

It occurs when a church will sponsor formation of multiple spinoff churches that will themselves very quickly reproduce new churches, generally with common teachings and doctrine.

At the beginning of the second millennium, there was a lot of discussion at various levels of MMS leadership on how the key principles of church-planting movements could be adapted and contextualised to MMS fields. Whilst MMS has tried to practise this strategy, we have not always been successful but with God’s help, we persevere on.

The key highlights of Church Planting Movements worldwide as encapsulated by David Garrison are: A. Ten Universal Elements

1. Prayer 2. Abundant gospel sowing 3. Intentional church planting 4. Scriptural authority 5. Local leadership 6. Lay leadership 7. Cell or house churches 8. Churches planting churches 9. Rapid reproduction 10. Healthy churches

B. Ten Common Factors/Characteristics

1. Worship is a language of the heart 2. Evangelism has communal implications 3. New converts are rapidly incorporated into the life and ministry of the church 4. Passion and fearlessness demonstrated 5. A price is paid to become a Christian 6. Society is perceived to have a leadership crisis or spiritual vacuum 7. Church leadership grows via on-the-job training 8. Leadership authority is decentralized 9. Outsiders keep a low profile 10. Missionaries suffer C. Obstacles to CPMs

Measures that tend to obstruct, slow or otherwise hinder CPMs: 1. Imposing extra-biblical requirements for being a church

2. Loss of a valued cultural identity 3. Overcoming bad examples of Christianity 4. Non-reproducible church models 5. Subsidies creating dependency 6. Extra-biblical leadership requirements 7. Linear, sequential thought and practice 8. Planting “frog” rather than “lizard” churches, the former being a church that does not reproduce whereas the latter reproduces regularly.

9. Prescriptive strategies

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HARVESTFORCE 2021 • 3

D. Ten Practical Handles to Initiate and Nurture a CPM

1. Pursue a CPM orientation from the beginning hence the DNA of the planted church is to grow and reproduce.

2. Develop and implement comprehensive strategies 3. Evaluate everything towards achieving the end-vision 4. Employ precision harvesting 5. Prepare new believers for persecution 6. Gather them, then win them 7. Try a P.O.U.C.H. methodology, which MMS modified to be the SEED approach.* 8. Develop multiple leaders within each cell church 9. Use on-the-job training 10. Model, Assist, Watch & Leave (MAWL) Strategy Church Planting Movements are not limited to a geographical or racial sector of society. God has demonstrated that He can produce church planting movements amongst the urban or rural, educated or illiterate, on any continent and from any religious background. He has called all of us, everywhere to be colabourers with Him. MMS continues to aspire to fan out via church planting movements. Come join us. If your church would like to partner with MMS to plant and grow churches in the mission field, email mms@methodist.org.sg now.

* MMS aspires to plant SEED churches where the following aspects are intentionally encouraged and implemented: S: Saltshakers Sprouted Fruitfulness is the result when the DNA of the church is to: – Grow Cell Churches, – Guide Community Core Values, – Go Cross-Cultural.

E: Everyone Equipped Every member is seen as a contributor and has the ability to reproduce when nurtured through: – Purposeful Worship, – Participative Bible Study, – Prayer and Preparation for Spiritual Warfare.

E: Enablers Empowered Lay Leadership and Local Leadership are identified and developed so that there is: – Reduced load on every leader, – Preparation on-the-job, – Ready supply of ‘extra’ leaders.

D: Disciples Deployed This is fanned out in practice by: – Servant mindset or attitude being developed within the church, – Spurring members to witness to family and friends, – Sharing resources for outreach with one another, – Sending out the harvest force.

FEATURESTORY 11

CHURCH PLANTING in NEPAL I

n 1998, our first Missionary couple, Rev Erick Tan and Shanti, with a baby in tow, arrived in the land of Nepal.

They had responded to the call to bring the gospel to the unreached people in Nepal. The church planting work has since grown steadily. Currently, there are 12 Methodist Churches and Preaching Points in Nepal.

PROFILEof OFthe THEChurches CHURCHES in IN Nepal NEPAL Profile Name CENTRAL Wesley Bardan Methodist Church

Noel Tam

Phulbari Methodist Church

Area Director of Nepal

Patlekhet Preaching Point

Pharsidole Preaching Point

Pastor-in-charge and Key Leaders

Established

Distinctive Features

Membership

Partner Church

Pray for...

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Sabashtain Lepcha Associate Pastor: Rev Khogen Basumatary Local Preacher: Christina Pandey, Sushma Kumal Rai LCEC Chairman: Niranjan Adhikari Sophia’s Home Manager: Grace Lepcha Pastor-In-Charge: Ps Kanchaman Tamang Local Preacher: Ratna Biswakarma, Lal Bahadur Tamang LCEC Chairman: Ratna Biswakarma Evangelist: Lal Bahadur Tamang Pastor-In-Charge: Ps Kanchaman Tamang Local Preacher: Alisha Tamang Evangelist: Alisha Tamang Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Sabashtain Lepcha Local Preacher: Arjun Rana Magar Evangelist: Arjun Rana Magar

2002

• Youth and Children’s Ministry • Sophia’s Home for marginalised and destitute girls.

120

Barker Road Methodist Church

...the various church programmes, events, and activities to nurture believers' spiritual lives and to reach the unreached.

2009

• Outreach to villagers through social work

78

Barker Road Methodist Church

...the believers who cannot find time to join the fellowship due to work commitments.

2009

• Outreach to the marginalised people and those of the lower castes of society.

46

Barker Road Methodist Church

2016

• Outreach to the farmers (goats, cows, buffaloes, chickens, etc.)

• Training to reach the unreached.

39

Barker Road Methodist Church

...the challenging outreach to the marginalised and discriminated people due to the social differences. ...the spiritual growth of the believers

Wesley Bardan Methodist Church

Phubari Methodist Church

Patlekhet Preaching Point

Pharsidole Preaching Point

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HARVESTFORCE 2021 • 3

EAST Mahimit Methodist Church

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Gopal Khanal Associate Pastor: Rev Pradip Limbu Local Preacher: Mrs Asha Tiwari, Mr Debit Sademba LCEC Chairman: Mr Durga Tiwari Evangelist: Mr Suraj B.K Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Chandra Bamjan Associate Pastor: Khadka Bahadur Sademba Local Preacher: Tej Bahadur Rai, Ram Bahadur Rai, Maya Bamjan LCEC Chairman: Tej Bahadur Rai Pastor-In-Charge: Ps Dil Kumar Magar Local Preacher: Mr Philip Shrestha LCEC Chairman: Mr Philip Shrestha

1998

Siyon Preaching Point

Vijayee Methodist Church

• Youth ministry • Evangelism and Church planting in

Nil

...our ministries. ... spiritual growth and safety ... all believers during the COVID-19 situation. ...the completion of renovation of MMC at the upper level.

East region • Community Development

2005

• Evangelism Church Planting • Discipleship building

76

Covenant Community Methodist Church

...many dedicated workers to plant many churches in various districts in East Nepal.

2014

• Youth ministry • Music ministry • Evangelism

61

Nil

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Gopal Khanal Associate Pastor: Rev Pradip Limbu Local Preacher: Nirmala Magar LCEC Chairman: Rojina Khadgi

2005

• Free music class • Youth ministry • Bible study group.

• Football as sports evangelism

32

Living Water Methodist Church

Emmanuel Methodist Church

Pastor-In-Charge: Ps Khadga Sademba Local Preacher: Mr Bikash Baral, Mr Kamal Rai LCEC Chairman: Mr BIkash Baral

2003

• Youth ministry • Children’s ministry • Evangelism Church Planting • Community Development

53

Covenant Community Methodist Church

Samdan Preaching Point

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Gopal Khanal Local Preacher: Mr Suraj B.K, Bishal Sunuwar LCEC Chairman (Interim): Mr Suraj B.K Evangelist: Mr Suraj B.K

2007

• Youth ministry • Children’s ministry • Evangelism • Community Development

30

Nil

...spiritual and numerical growth....our youth. ...LCEC members to have unity in spirit. ...our land and building project ...more people to be won for Christ through sports and music. ... plan to send Sudil Rai to start an Outreach Point in Morang District. ...spiritual and numerical growth at Tecra where Nirmala Magar is doing ministry. ...our ministries. ...spiritual growth and safety for all believers during the COVID-19 situation. ...spiritual and numerical growth for the new Outreach Point. ...spiritual growth and safety for all believers. ...a breakthrough in the community as people are very stubborn and mostly alcoholic. ...the completion of remaining church building work (false ceiling, toilet, bamboo compound wall, etc.) ...Suraj and his wife.

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Singa Bdr. Tamang Local Preacher: Sumitra Pariyar LCEC Chairman: Mr Lil Bahadur Sunuwar

2008

55

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Singa Bdr. Tamang Local Preacher: Lil Bdr. Tamang Evangelist: Lil Bdr. Tamang

2015

13

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church

Shanti Methodist Church

WEST Abhishek Methodist Church

Basantapur Preaching Point

• Evangelism • Discipleship • Community Development • Prayer and fasting against evil spirits surrounding community • Evangelism • Youth Discipleship • Community Development • Prayer and fasting against evil spirits surrounding community

Mahimit Methodist Church Vijayee Methodist ChurchChurch

Shanti Methodist Church

119

Samdan Preaching Point

...spiritual and numerical growth. ...the “fire” within the church. ...God’s blessing of our own land and building. ...the gifts of healing and spirit of discernment. ...the power to stand against darkness, in order to break the hard ground. ...the people to open their eyes to the Gospel. ...the gifts of healing and spirit of discernment.

Samdan Preaching Point

WEST Abhishek Methodist Church

Basantapur Preaching Point

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Gopal Khanal Local Preacher: Mr Suraj B.K, Bishal Sunuwar LCEC Chairman (Interim): Mr Suraj B.K Evangelist: Mr Suraj B.K

2007

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Singa Bdr. Tamang Local Preacher: Sumitra Pariyar LCEC Chairman: Mr Lil Bahadur Sunuwar

2008

Pastor-In-Charge: Rev Singa Bdr. Tamang Local Preacher: Lil Bdr. Tamang Evangelist: Lil Bdr. Tamang

2015

• Youth ministry • Children’s ministry • Evangelism • Community Development

30

55

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church

13

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church

• Evangelism • Discipleship • Community Development • Prayer and fasting against evil spirits surrounding community • Evangelism • Youth Discipleship • Community Development • Prayer and fasting against evil spirits surrounding community

Nil

...spiritual growth and safety for all believers. ...a breakthrough in the community as people are very stubborn and mostly alcoholic. ...the completion of remaining church building work (false ceiling, toilet, bamboo compound wall, etc.) ...Suraj and his wife.

FEATURESTORY 13

...spiritual and numerical growth. ...the “fire” within the church. ...God’s blessing of our own land and building. ...the gifts of healing and spirit of discernment. ...the power to stand against darkness, in order to break the hard ground. ...the people to open their eyes to the Gospel. ...the gifts of healing and spirit of discernment.

Siyon Preaching Point

Emmanuel Methodist Church

Abhishek Methodist Church

Basantabur Preaching Point

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Approach and Strategy

Over the last 10 years, the Methodist Church in Nepal (MCN) has been planting churches with the vision of “Redeeming Nepal for Christ”. The objective is to plant “multiplying” churches that will change lives and transform communities.

The Church Planting (CP) strategy is to have MCN churches plant new Outreach Points and Preaching Points in neighbouring districts in their region. This has been a successful model and has resulted in MCN now having seven Methodist Churches, five Preaching Points, and eight Outreach Points.

Community Development (CD) is essential in MCN’s CP approach. In the past years, our Methodist churches from Singapore played a pivotal role in helping to “break ground” and enable MCN church planters to start new Outreach Points through the conduct of medical

camps. Other CD initiatives include providing Crisis Relief support during the 2015 earthquake and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. In the new norm, MCN is evolving in its approach to Church Planting and to leverage on the virtual and IT environment to reach the unreached people in Nepal.

Challenges We face some challenges in our Church-Planting efforts.

These include the need to look at creative ways for Church Planting with the COVID-19 experience having forced us into the new norm. We need more partner churches from Singapore to work with MCN churches to bring the gospel to the unreached. Last but not least, we need to develop the Church-Planting teams in our MCN churches through training, financial support, and prayers.

Wesley Bardan Methodist Church

FEATURESTORY 15

Support Here are some areas you and your churches can help us: 1. Provide training for our Church-Planting teams.

2. Provide funding for the staff and programme

at the new Outreach Points and Preaching Points.

3. Keep MCN’s pastors and national leaders

constantly in your prayers and intercessions.

Testimony Here is a testimony of someone blessed by our Church-Planting effort.

Karna Tamang Wesley Bardan Methodist Church Coming from a poor family in a remote mountain village in Nepal and being the eldest son, I struggled a lot in life from an early age. I was also deprived of schooling and I got married at an early age. Despite working hard in the farm day and night, no progress was made in the village. So, my wife and I decided to work in Malaysia. Overall, we did not earn a good income there and we decided to return to Nepal after a few years. We managed to pay off some debts from our little savings.

After returning to Nepal, we bought a small piece of land but we could not decide what to do with it. We also wanted to build a house and do some other business, but we did not have sufficient money to invest. At the same time, my son began to suffer from sudden fainting. We spent time and money on many hospitals and witch doctors, but he did not recover.

At that time, Wesley Bardan Methodist Church began preaching the gospel of Christ and prayed for my son. We were amazed that God healed our son so miraculously. We rejoiced and believed in Christ Jesus as a family, and we were baptised seven years ago. In 2015, there was a big earthquake in Nepal. My village house was destroyed. My family paid rent to live in Kathmandu Valley. Our dream of educating our children, raising a family, doing some business, building a house, etc. were limited by unresolved issues. We prayed for everything although we had little faith in the Lord. But the Lord blessed our family through the church.

Karna & Sumaya Tamang in Malaysia

We received scholarships from the church for one of my daughters to attend school. The church’s earthquake reconstruction programme at that time lifted our financial burden as it included rebuilding our house destroyed in the earthquake. We were grateful for these blessings. My family continued to experience the blessing of the Lord.

Currently, we are raising goats, cows, and buffaloes.

We grow green vegetables too. We manage to support the family by selling vegetables and milk. Meanwhile, we are worshipping our God alongside other believers in the face of adversity because He provides for us during this pandemic. May the Lord be glorified, honoured, and praised. Thank God for the church and everyone who supported us.

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CHURCH PLANTING in THAILAN I

n 1993, MMS sent our first Missionary, Rev Lim Chong Heng, to Thailand. Since then, the church planting work has continued to today. Currently, there are 16 Methodist Churches and 11 Preaching Points.

Strategies

Rev Henry Yeo Country Director of Thailand.

Our first approach is to plant a new church where there are no other churches within a 5km radius to prevent duplication of evangelistic effort. Secondly, we want to plant churches where there are residential communities within a 5km radius. Obviously, we need people to reach out to. Preferably, the church planting effort should be located in an urban area in order to build a church that can achieve financial selfsustainability and be able to eventually reach out and plant satellite daughter churches in the rural areas.

To survey the demographics, we send a ministry team to study and analyse the area as well as to do a prayer-walk to ask God for guidance.

Then, we begin our work by looking for a “man-of-peace” in order to plant our presence. We will try to start a house meeting in this person’s house. To ensure its continuity, we make disciples who can make disciples on their own. There is a need for a coaching system to help them succeed. This involves raising up local leaders as soon as possible who can help to oversee the operations of the church (in terms of administration, management, and ministries). In addition, we rent a place for worship and fellowship. And when the membership is beyond the capacity of the house, we build our own church.

Santi MC

FEATURESTORY 17

D

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FEATURESTORY 19

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FEATURESTORY 21

Challenges We face four challenges. One of the greatest challenges is to find suitable workers for planting churches. Workers are to be culturally tuned-in and who can make disciples who can themselves reproduce more disciples.

Secondly, for various reasons, Thai people are somehow more difficult to convert than other people groups. This is especially so for the native Thai (people who live in the lowlands), but not the case with tribes who mostly dwell in remote mountain villages.

Thirdly, most churches take a long time to achieve full financial self-sustainability.

Lastly, it is difficult to form, educate, and train lay-leadership. This is because of the Thai mind-set.

They think that only clergy should be involved in ministries; and that ministries are the responsibilities of the clergy (pastors and ministry staff). Therefore, most lay people stay away from ministry, including that of personal evangelism.

Testimonies Here are two testimonies that illustrate the positive outcomes of our Church-Planting efforts: Rev Piti Santitaweechai (Ps Ping) Pastor-in-charge of Payakkaphumphisai Methodist Church I came to know about Rangsit Methodist Church in 1996 when I was 17 years old. It was through their football ministry led by Pastor Yala Puributr. I also learnt about God at the church but it was just head knowledge to me. When I started working, I wanted to do something fulfilling in my life, but I did not manage to find anything meaningful. So, I changed from one job to another. During that time, I asked God what I should do with my life or what I should do next, but I did not get an answer. In the many years that I attended church, I did not find any hope in my life.

Later, I decided to quit my job when I went through many challenges in my job. Since I was jobless at that time and there was a mission

22

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team from Singapore that came to Nong Bua Lamphu Methodist Church, I took the opportunity to go help them. It was the first time that I left my home to go to another province in Thailand. It was then that I came face-to-face with the reality of life – that there were people out there who were in real difficulty and suffering. It was there that I received God’s calling to help these people. It was only God who could help them to have happiness in the midst of their difficulties. In Thailand, there are many who need the Lord.

I started serving the Lord in Payakkaphumphisai Methodist Church and God guided me in the years after that. I received the answers to the questions that I had often asked God about my life before. In the midst of serving, I found joy in my life. Mission work does not only benefit those who come to know the Lord through it, but it is also useful to everyone and in every way. God has a good plan for every person.

I decided to quit my job to study full-time at the Bangkok Institute of Theology in 2007. And in 2010, I graduated with a Bachelor in Theology. In November 2012, I married Mildred Goh, an MMS Missionary.

Together we have two children.

Phloysuay Thanjay (Linjee) Member of the Thungyao Preaching Point I am from a family that has no Christian. I came to know about God when I was in Primary 2 when I went to the Paddy Plant Club (PP Club) at the Thungyao community.

My uncle, who was then the village head, was the one who introduced me to the PP Club. At that time, there were only four to five children attending the club activities. It was lots of fun playing games, singing songs, and enjoying snacks. But I was not really interested in God even though we were taught about God every Saturday at the PP Club.

When I was in Primary 5, one of my friends, who

was a Christian, told me “in the end, those who are not Christians will have to all go to hell.” I was very offended by that statement as it insinuated that my family and I must go to hell. However, I started to think about what I had learnt. And I began to believe that there was truth in the words of my friend. In the end, I decided to believe and got baptised when I was in Primary 6.

After I became a Christian, I started praying and God answered many of my prayers. One example was my desire to lose some extra weight. When I had to move to another school, and the tuition fee became more expensive. I realised that I need be more careful with my spending because my mother was the sole breadwinner of the family. So I decided to use my 20 Baht daily allowance on lunch alone, and not to spend it on snacks. As a result, I lost weight. I could not believe that I could lose as much as 10 kilograms by not snacking. My friends were also amazed and wondered how I did it. However, I knew this must have been the plan of God. When I was in Secondary 2, many issues started to arise in my life. Everything looked gloomy and grey. I was often discouraged and depressed, and for about one month, I wanted only to be alone. As I was in a cell group of the church, everyone prayed for me regularly. Thankfully, my outlook on things started to improve and I felt more encouraged without having to seek medical help. God started working in my heart.

He changed me from a spoiled child (who was shorttempered, quick to anger, impolite in speech, selfish,

FEATURESTORY 23

HELP v

We need financial assistant during the church-

planting stage, which can last a few years.

v We need Singapore churches that can participate in our ministries (online and/or onsite where possible) to help the churches in evangelism, social concern, training, and equipping of members and leaders.

v We need pastoral ministry for our pastors and ministry staff. They need regularly spiritual, mental, and emotional rejuvenation (not just ministry training and equipping).

v We need prayer! Prayer is needed even before we engage in any new work, as well as during the process of growing a church.

BRIEF HISTORY 1993 The first pioneer mission field was

launched in Thailand with the

sending of our first Missionary,

Rev Lim Chong Heng of Gloria

Methodist Church (which later

became Sengkang Methodist Church).

and self-seeking all the time) to a person who started to be concerned about others. Being more mature in my thoughts and words, I became more loving and brought smiles to the people around me. All my friends started to nickname me “pastor” because I was able to give advice to others.

This year, I am 17 and studying the Science and Math stream at Grade 11. This is extremely difficult but God is leading me. I hope to be a teacher to teach children in the future. Even if I do not become a teacher, I will try my best and continue to commit myself to God. I go to church regularly and I am teaching at the PP Club where I found God – so that these PP Club children will also come

1995

The first Methodist worship service started in a three-storey shophouse along Rangsit Road, Bangkok.

2005 Formation of the Mettakij Church

in Thailand, which is the Thai

Mission of the Methodist Church in Singapore.

2021

At its 16th Annual Meeting, the Mettakij Church Association in Thailand was officially declared as a Mission Conference

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Church PLANTING IN THE NEW C

Carol Ong Missionary with MMS serving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her home church is Toa Payoh Methodist Church.

OVID-19 posed tremendous challenges worldwide on various fronts, and not a single life on earth has been left unaffected by it. The Church in Cambodia too faced challenges, and found herself having to adapt to changes and adopt new ways of shepherding her flock while continuing the work of evangelism, bringing the Good News to Cambodians who are grappling with uncertainties and desperately needing a hope that they can be sure of. At The Third Place, we discovered that with each and every challenge, there exists wonderful opportunities.

When COVID-19 infection numbers started to rise early this year in Cambodia, and consequently, restrictions and regulations were put in place by the government to stem the tide, these resulted in the inability of churches to meet physically for Sunday worship as well as for other regular weekday activities. At The Third Place, WiFi was installed so that Pastor Tharoath could continue to conduct Sunday Worship Services and shepherd the small flock of 10 persons remotely. Internet connectivity is a challenge – good at certain times; slow and unstable at other times – and it also depends on the location one is at, as well as which internet service provider one is using. Whether the connection is good or bad, we remind ourselves that we “do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (cf. Hebrews 10:25), all the more, in these stressful pandemic times! One positive thing that emerged from going online, was that there were new people joining us for worship, which otherwise, would not have happened due to where they were located.

The daily wage earners and those on the lower rungs of Cambodian society, i.e., the tuk tuk drivers, the karang-guni man, hawkers selling food on the road, etc., were the hardest hit by the pandemic. The Third Place reached out to help alleviate their difficulties by running food distributions, which were sponsored by churches as well as individuals back home in Singapore. These food distributions afforded us the opportunities to share God’s love in a tangible way, as well as the message of His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. As an aftermath of the food distributions, people were invited to come to church to learn more about the faith. In addition to online worship services, The Third Place now holds in-person worship services to cater to elderly villagers who do not possess internet connection nor the knowledge to access social media platforms. Current COVID-19 regulations allow gatherings of up to 10 persons. The average Sunday worship attendance in-person and online now stands at around 17 persons. Indeed, all thanks and praise to the Lord of the Harvest for His harvest!

FEATURESTORY 25

NORMAL in Cambodia

On-site and online Sunday worship.

Food distribution to the needy.

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Karang guni man receiving a food pack.

Children’s ministry pre-COVID days.

An encouraging testimony in times like this: Chan used to frequent Pastor Tharoath’s coffee stand, and the latter would share the gospel with him. One day, Chan asked if Pastor Tharoath’s God could help his two sons who were in the province and unable to attend school. Pastor Tharoath then taught him how to pray and trust God, and encouraged him to attend church to learn more about God. He did so and one month later, his prayers were answered. His two sons secured a place at a Christian school with full scholarships as well as room and board. He was so happy that he shared the miracle of answered prayer with his wife. Both of them were convicted of the reality of God, and decided to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Both now attend church at The Third Place.

Together with three other new believers, Chan attends weekly bible study with Pastor Tharoath. He shared that he would like to serve the Lord and tell others the good news too.

Although current COVID-19 regulations do not permit the physical gathering of children for classes (children’s ministry and weekday language classes), having online lessons with those who have access to their parents’ devices gives us the opportunity to be in touch with their parents, thus opening the way for friendship and evangelism.

Indeed, with each and every challenge, there exists wonderful opportunities. May the Lord lift our eyes beyond the drab pandemic landscape, to see and seize the opportunities that await us.

Children’s ministry pre-COVID days.

FEATURESTORY 27

ABOUT The Third Place is a beacon of light and hope, reaching out to the factory workers and neighbourhood in Odem, Phnom Penh with the love of Christ. If you are interested to help in this ministry, please contact MMS at mms@methodist.org.sg.

HELP • We need funds for food distribution to help those affected

by the pandemic.

• We need funds to support school-going children to attend school online.

• We need prayer intercessors.

PRAY • for the capacity building of the

national leaders, and the sustainability of ministries in Cambodia.

• for the Methodist Churches in Cambodia to continue wholesome and fruitful online services.

• for creativity and wisdom for pastors to nurture their disciples.

• for perseverance and faith to trust and grow in faith.

• for stable internet connection at The Third Place.

• for the health and protection of pastor and volunteers.

OVERVIEW MMS in Cambodia has been involved in Church Planting from the beginning (1996). We have been a bridge for partnership between local Methodist churches in Cambodia and Methodist churches in Singapore as part of the church planting process.

We have seen several church plants becoming self-governing, self-propagating, and self-financing churches. Currently, MMS continues to partner the following churches:

.

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THE JOY AND PRIVILEGE of Ca-Tu, a 35-year-old member of Santi Methodist Church in North Thailand recalls:

M Lyndon Gan Lay Ministry Staff at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. He considers it a great privilege to have been involved with the ministry to the Lahu in North Thailand from the early days of MMS. He continues to be involved with MMS. Apart from a passion for God’s Mission, Lyndon enjoys wildlife photography and where time permits, he can be seen with his camera in our parks and forests.

y parents divorced while I was still in my mother’s womb.

My grandmother raised me and I hardly had any contact Ca-Tu (today) with my parents. is a leader of When my grandmother moved to Santi Village, I was the oldest Santi Methodist Church boy among all the children there. I became the leader of the children. At that time, I had little interest in studies and I led the other children to hide in secluded spots along the river where we would drink alcohol and sniff glue.

One day, when I returned to the village from school, I heard that a team from another country had come to teach about Jesus.

Out of curiosity, I stood outside my house to observe. The foreign team was teaching about Jesus but I did not know who Jesus was and what Jesus was all about.

Ca-Tu (2000) when he Not long after, Pastor Ca-Suh came to the house of the village was a beneficiary of the chief, Pak Kheh, to teach songs. I went along to learn but did not Student Sponsorship Scheme that paid for his believe that Jesus was a real God. My family followed the Lahu school fees. religion and I just followed what they believed and practised.

Pastor Ca-Suh soon came to stay and built a church in the village. Although I did not believe in Jesus, I still went to church to play guitar and sing songs. I also attended the church services. Slowly, I understood that Jesus was different from the Lahu religion. Slowly, I came to believe in Jesus. I received water baptism when I was studying in M2 (secondary 2).

About a year after Pastor Ca-Suh came to the village, he announced that Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (KKMC) in Singapore was offering scholarship for students in the village to attend school. This was a great opportunity for me as my family was poor. I completed my secondary education (M3) at Pong Nam Rong School near the village. I went on to study engineering in Lamphun. After earning a diploma, I found work in Taiwan.

After six years, I returned to Santi Village to work in my farm. One day, a Christian woman came to the village and asked if I had any prayer request. I told her that I was praying for a wife. Within three months, I met a girl from Chiang Rai who I had never known before. In our second meeting, I asked her if she would marry me and she agreed! Her parents were also very nice to me and treated me well. This all came as a surprise from God. He provided me with a wife and daughter and is providing for my family.

I am so grateful to God for all He has done. Thanks also to KKMC for helping to start Santi Methodist Church in this village.

Ca-Tu shared the above testimony when I visited Santi Village in December 2016.

FEATURESTORY 29

Church Planting It was in May 1998 that KKMC’s mission committee made a study trip to Chiang Rai province in order to identify potential villages to start church planting work in partnership with MMS. On our way to a village located in a mountain at Mae Khajaan, we passed by a small village that was still under construction. We were told that this was a new Red Lahu village inhabited by 15 families. We decided to visit the village to find out more.

The village was so new that it did not even have a name. It was referred to by the name of the village head – Pak Kheh’s village. With the village head’s permission, we gave deworming medicine to the children, played some games, and did a puppet show based on a gospel story.

A sudden thunderstorm saw us rushing to take shelter in different houses. I ended up in the village head’s house. We explained why we were visiting the area and he invited us to do missions work in his village.

None of the families had heard about Jesus and they were keen to find out. Meanwhile, other team members who were sheltering in another house built bridges of friendship with the children as they played improvised games and activities.

This event of that day was mentioned by Ca-Tu as his first encounter with the name of Jesus.

When the KKMC missions committee held a debrief

that night, everyone felt God was calling us to start work at the first village. After a time of prayer, the conviction grew stronger. By October 1998, Pastor Ca-Suh had moved into the village, built a small pastonage, and started teaching songs and bible lessons to the children and youth.

Ca-Tu was one of the youth who attended Pastor Ca-Suh’s programmes that led to him eventually believing in Jesus. Today, he is one of the leaders of Santi Methodist Church (SMC). His testimony is one of many from the Red Lahu people who had come to Christ through the church planting efforts of KKMC and MMS. Such testimonies brought us great joy when we saw the fruit of our church planting work. When we first started church planting work in Santi Village in 1998, God presented us with many open doors of opportunity to share the Good News in word and deed.

A poor harvest due to bad weather conditions led us to set up a rice bank to provide relief. A year later, we learnt that the village’s access to the nearby river was blocked because someone had bought the land along the river and fenced the property up.

The village had no running water. So we brought a team up, linked up with an NGO that specialised in water projects, and helped to erect a water tank and lay a two-kilometre pipe into the mountain to draw fresh spring water.

Later, we learnt that the village children could not afford to attend school

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so many KKMC members contributed to a Student Sponsorship Scheme that enabled the children to go to school. Several students went on to complete their diplomas and degrees. The current pastor of SMC, Rev Tharwin, is a beneficiary of this education scheme.

These early opportunities led to longer-term income generating projects to help with the livelihood of the people. Together with some miracles and healings, those initiatives helped the people to see in tangible terms what it looks like when the kingdom of God comes into their village and their lives. As a result, many came to believe in Jesus.

The village acquired a permanent name. Santi Village, which in their language meant “village of peace.”

Today, SMC is a growing church and it is helping to plant a church in another village. In early September 2021, they completed a new church building, as the old building was too small for the growing congregation. God’s peace and favour had come to the village indeed.

There were, of course, many challenges along the way as well. There was a time when a pastor left abruptly after suffering from burn-out. Another pastor met with a fatal road accident. At various periods, the worship services saw only a handful of worshippers as members had temporarily moved out of the village for work or studies while others had backslided. However, the leadership provided by Pastor Henry Yeo and Pastor Pisut, as well as the continual prayer, support, and visits from KKMC encouraged the believers. Many

FEATURESTORY 31

Kampong Kapor MC’s first visit to Santi Village in May 1998.

times, God raised up people in the village to exhort the village members to return to God. Often, the people God chose surprised us. It was like God raising the prophets and leaders in the book of Judges.

SMC was dedicated by the then Bishop Dr Robert Solomon in January 2002. Even before the church was dedicated, the church members felt that they should start a preaching point in another village. They identified Payakorngdee Village that was three hours from Santi Village. It had 70 Red Lahu households. The SMC pastor and church members visited Payakorngdee Village to hold monthly Bible Studies, Sunday School classes and to preach. The visits created such a good impression of the Christian faith that the Payakorngdee people of the main village invited the SMC team to start a church there. After two years of building bridges, Pastor Panya moved into the village in April 2004 to start the church planting work. Payakorngdee

Methodist Church (PMC) was dedicated by Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung on 9 June 2018.

Today, both SMC and PMC are growing churches.

SMC is now involved in planting another preaching point at Mae Pun Lang Village. They hope to become financially independent and be active in planting new churches. May God grant their prayer.

Seeing how God has planted and established SMC from the time He led us to make a detour to stop in the village is indeed a wonderful privilege. There is no greater work or legacy we could leave behind than to see these villagers coming forward to follow Jesus. This is the only thing that will last forever. To leave a lasting legacy and make an eternal impact, we ought to follow Jesus and bring the people into the Kingdom of God. Contact MMS to explore how you and your church can join us in this wonderful work in God’s Mission.

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VIRTUAL MISSION TRIPS

A chance to GO ABROAD Church Planting

Will Stacken Pastoral Team Member at Living Hope Methodist Church. He is an American citizen and previously served 10 years as a supportraising missionary with Youth With A Mission based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Throughout this period, he had the opportunity to travel Southeast Asia extensively and visited many different ministries and development projects across the region. As he led teams of young people in crosscultural missions, he observed how these exchanges between diverse Christian communities brought encouragement and a greater understanding of God’s word through the diversity of His church.

or many of us, the topic of Church Planting can feel daunting because the tasks involved are beyond our reach. However, to put it simply, Church Planting takes place when a church or an agency like Methodist Missions Society (MMS) sets out to plant a church in a particular location. It focuses on the basic aspects of Christian community such as preaching, prayer, outreach and the discipleship of those who come to believe the Lord. The initial years of a Church Plant are delicate, and encouragement is vital to help new believers know they are a part of the larger Body of Christ. But they are also exciting times of development as the believers and community grow.

It is with this in mind that in early 2020, just before we were hit by COVID-19, Living Hope Methodist Church (LHMC) began a partnership with Songroi Phee Methodist Centre (SPMC) in Bangkok, Thailand under the guidance of MMS. SPMC is a Church Plant of MMS. It was founded four years ago through local Thai outreach activities.

LHMC felt it was not enough just to offer financial support, though this is vital and accomplishes much. We wanted to create opportunities for our members to be involved by visiting SPMC. As we are all aware, short-term mission trips, a staple programme for many churches, have been put on hold indefinitely due to travel restrictions and safety concerns. As such, we have had to rethink how to engage with our missions partner.

We knew while they were in a delicate phase and needed encouragement, they could nonetheless provide us with a refreshing perspective as a growing Church Plant. This process of re-evaluation led to the programme we have called a ‘Virtual Missions Trip’ (VMT). Let me share a few dreams I have for this project.

Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Our relationship with SPMC is an investment in our own LHMC community. By initiating and maintaining this relationship, we push against the passivity of waiting for the new normal to come. The VMT connects LHMC and SPMC youths by developing English lessons, and by interacting in games that teach vocabulary and share interesting stories that focus on teaching conversational phrases. This programme that the youths themselves are developing will empower them to realise their own potential to impact others with the Gospel using creative means.

By learning about one another’s school experiences, local foods and phrases, these groups have a shared experience that brings them from feeling foreign to feeling familiar. Having the opportunity to learn about the culture of the other gives the opportunity to better understand our own. These topics may seem mundane, but they help facilitate relationships that can go on for years to come.

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when we CANNOT LEAVE HOME

Faith Formation

SPMC is doing the practical ministry of sharing the love of Christ through word and works in their local community, a slow process of allowing Christ to permeate their Thai culture. Through the VMT, SPMC is given the opportunity to impact another nation and culture by allowing them to share their stories and culture with us. This exchange allows them the opportunity to play a part in fulfilling the Great Commission by sharing Christ with another culture and community. Their community is blessed as they give, and we are blessed to receive, and vice versa.

Personally, I feel it is important for our Singaporean youths to see Thai Christian faith expressed. This shows the diversity and power of God’s Church to transform

lives globally. Faith formation will occur when both communities play an active role in helping one another know the love and power of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

In closing, Church Planting may seem hindered by the pandemic. However, simple initiatives like the VMT gives an opportunity for LHMC and SPMC to encourage the Church in each other’s nation and fan the flame of passion for God. I pray that cross-cultural exchanges like this will edify both sending and receiving communities, help us all to see the rich mosaic that is God’s Church and embolden us to participate actively in God’s global and expanding Church.

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TIMOR-LESTE

Home-Based Missions: MENTORING & TEACHING L

Cheryl Chen Home-based MMS Missionary. Cheryl worships at Aldersgate Methodist Church with her husband, Rudy.

Together, they seek to live out God’s great adventure wherever He calls them to, and dream of building a rock-climbing wall in their home someday.

ife has changed dramatically since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caught the world unawares. In a time of restricted air travel when mission teams are grounded, how can we continue to be involved in reaching the nations?

Exploring how digital missions could work, Rev Dr Lorna Khoo of Holland Village Methodist Church recruited volunteers from different churches in Singapore to provide tuition to individual students of St Paul Methodist School (SPMS) in TimorLeste. Beginning in March 2021, the eight volunteers meet with their students once or twice weekly for 1.5hr over Zoom or WhatsApp video call to coach them in English or Mathematics. Today, the initial pool of tutors has expanded to 26 volunteers, which translates into having 80% of Grade 10 to 12 SPMS students engaged in one-on-one personalised learning.

Some volunteers are retired educators like Ebenazer from St Paul’s Church who wants to use her years of teaching experience “to help children who do not have the same chances as our children” in Singapore. Other volunteers have full time studies or work but choose to give their time to be involved in this new home-based approach to missions. As Hannah, 17, from Holland Village Methodist Church says, she “decided to volunteer because God prompted me to share my time and knowledge with underprivileged kids. Although school work is piling up, I think this is a very good way for me to obtain the habit of giving with a cheerful heart.” With a heart to serve, many volunteers just want to “help someone to be able to do better in their studies” as Boon Hwee, a senior manager worshipping at Wesley Methodist Church puts it. With God’s help, all these humble, heartfelt intentions can go a long way in building a young nation through sowing into the heart of each individual student.

In a time of school closures in Timor-Leste to manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the digital tuition programme also complements and reinforces students’ learning at home with a coach who can provide timely feedback on their work. SPMS Principal David Chan believes that the personalised coaching stretches and challenges his students academically in ways that would not be possible in a large classroom setting. In addition to the increased exposure of speaking and learning in English, students are also practicing values and life skills of being responsible and diligent, and taking ownership over their learning by keeping virtual appointments with their tutors.

Christian education and mentoring also take place as most sessions begin with prayer and a short devotion. The tutors exemplify Christian values in their interactions with the students. Some tutors, like Peter from Aldersgate Methodist Church, use the Bible as a text to teach English. At 83, Peter who is the most senior volunteer in this programme, hopes this approach can help his student to learn the language and “better understand the Christian way of life, grow spiritually, and understand the teachings of Christ.”

However, digital missions has its challenges too, with unstable internet connections and the lack of smart IT devices being part of the inherent infrastructure issues.

Most Timorese do not have laptops and often one mobile phone is shared among a family, which limits students’ access to online learning. Yet, as Suat Khoh from

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DIGITALLY

Tutors

PRAY • PRAY for the SPMS students who are in the digital tuition programme. May they continue to be keen in their learning.

Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church shares, the “poorer communication and limitations in explanation due to distance learning” has helped “shake us out of Singapore comfort zones to bear the fruit of patience and perseverance.”

Home-based missions might sound paradoxical but loving our neighbour is still possible with the help of technology and a willing heart. If you would like to volunteer as a tutor, donate a pre-loved device (laptop, tablet, smart phone) or contribute your time and expertise in any way, drop us an email at cheryl.chen@ methodist.org.sg to find out more about how you can be involved in home-based missions!

•

RAY for the volunteers to persevere on P in the good works. Pray for more volunteer tutors.

•

RAY for God to provide the resources for P this digital tuition programme.

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TIMOR-LESTE

GAINING INSIGHTS from SERVING T

Nathanael Siew Organising member of Youth Beyond Borders – TLSG Connects Programme. He is currently studying in Raffles Institution, and is serving as a Primer in the Boys’ Brigade in Raffles Institution (60th Company). He is from Faith Community Baptist Church.

hroughout the years, the Boys’ Brigade 60th Company in Raffles Institution has served different communities through various overseas mission trips. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it was not possible this year. It was, however, apt that on her 30th anniversary, 60th found a creative way to serve others despite these challenges.

Consequently, Youth Beyond Borders – Timor-Leste Singapore Connects was born. This programme aimed to impart 21st Century competencies to 39 Grade 9 to 12 students in St Paul Methodist School (SPMS). Led by five primers from 60th, four virtual sessions were planned, each comprising devotions, worship, and activities to teach and demonstrate these life skills.

We faced numerous challenges during the planning process. Firstly, we had to understand the context of the SPMS students who would be accessing the sessions from their mobile phones and encounter internet connectivity issues in Timor-Leste.

Hence, we had to brainstorm useful and engaging activities to conduct through the screen. Additionally, differences between the Singapore and Timor-Leste cultures meant that extra effort had to be spent making the activities relatable to the SPMS students.

Amidst overcoming these challenges, we took away many valuable lessons. One was an enduring commitment to ensuring the information we communicated was appropriately received. For instance, when teaching entrepreneurship, we initially planned to discuss the case study of Dropbox. However, after some feedback, we realised that it was challenging for the Timorese to make a connection with Dropbox.

Hence we opted for them to come up with ideas on how to best sell ayam potong (a popular chicken dish in Timor-Leste). This taught us the importance of resisting the

G OTHERS

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temptation to simply teach out of our knowledge and context; we took the extra step to consider how to best present information so that the Timorese can best learn.

Another lesson was perhaps more intangible.

Throughout this experience, it was refreshingly insightful to interact with a vastly different culture and people. We were very surprised upon knowing that the Timorese followed football extremely closely (and many were even huge fans of Ronaldo)! As such, we planned a discussion for openness based around predictions for Euro 2020, which generated significant excitement.

The interactions in the breakout rooms had also opened our eyes to perspectives we previously had not considered.

This experience of conducting a virtual programme was deeply fulfilling. A particularly

memorable moment was when the Timorese simulated promoting ayam potong by doing a dance on TikTok, generating much laughter and amusement from everyone. Albeit short, such moments were ones we remembered because it allowed us to connect with the Timorese students on a deeper level. Furthermore, when we shared our dreams with one another, we realised that, despite the differences in cultures, there existed an underlying similarity in dreaming about the future.

Overall, this experience was deeply humbling.

This programme for us has been rewarding, insightful and fulfilling, and we are so thankful to have such an opportunity. It also showed that even though outreach and mission trips may be “reduced” to Zoom calls, there still lies an opportunity to serve the nations, one too good to miss out on.

ST PAUL METHODIST SCHOOL St Paul Methodist School (SPMS) provides formal education with Christian morals and principles for children from remote villages. For more information about SPMS, please visit www.spmstl.org. If you sense the Lord is calling you to support the MMS school ministry, please email mms@methodist.org.sg or call 6478-4818.

HELP If you, your school, BB/GB Company, or organisation would like to be involved in a workshop or programme with SPMS conducted over Zoom, email us at cheryl. chen@methodist.org.sg. We can explore how virtual missions can work!

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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)

$

Student Sponsorship Scheme (Non-Residential)* General $ @ S$45 per month Cambodia / Laos / Nepal / Thailand / Timor-Leste

[ [ [ [ [

$

$

Staff & Ministry Support Community Development

Nepal

$ $ $

Community Development Staff & Ministry Support Sponsorship for Pastor Lay Leader Training at Caleb Bible Institute Education

] COSY (Cambodia) ] Sophia’s Home (Nepal) ] Mettakij Hostel (Thailand) ] Term Fun Home (Thailand) ] Sundermeier Home (Timor-Leste)

$ $

$

Thailand

Staff & Ministry Support Little Candles School Building Fund Students Bursary Fund for VMS & LCS

$ $ $

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

$ $

Cambodia

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

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

Vietnam

$ $

V ietnam Children’s Fund Community Support Fund

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$

Harvest Force, PrayerConnect, etc.

Others (please specify):

PERSONAL INFORMATION •

$

Please inform us of any change of mailing address, contact number, and email address.

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If you choose Internet Bank (IB) Transfer or PayNow option, please state your name <space> phone number <space> gift purpose [e.g. Helen 98765432 General Donation] in the Reference field. Or mail/scan to mms@methodist.org.sg this form with your details.

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Ministry Support

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Rev Dr Clarence Lim Missionary Development Fund $

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East Asia

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OUR GIFTS FOR MISSIONS “I will not offer burnt offerings to the 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

THE CHURCH in a HOUSE? Greet also the church in their house. (Romans 16:5) 又问在他们家中的教会安（罗16：5）

T

he apostle Paul, missionary to all the nations, does not here understand a “church” to be a building. The “church” may meet in a building – in this verse, the “church” met in the house of Prisca and Aquila. But the church is not a building.

COVID-19 has stopped many from meeting together in a church building or sanctuary throughout the last 18 months. But the church of Jesus is not a physical building. As the song in our Methodist Hymnal puts it:

Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore. He usually includes a song in his sermons.

The church is not a building; the church is not a steeple; the church is not a resting place; the church is a people.

We’re many kinds of people, with many kinds of faces, all colours and all ages, too from all times and places.

向

万族传福音的使徒保罗， 在《罗马书》中提到的“ 教会”，指的并不是一座建筑 物。“教会”可以聚集在一座建 筑中——就如这节经文中的教 会，就聚在百基拉和亚居拉的住 家。教会所指并非教堂建筑。 过去的十八个月冠疫肆虐，许多信徒

I am the church!

You are the church!

We are the church together!

All who follow Jesus, all around the world!

Yes, we’re the church together!

Jesus Himself promised that wherever two or three persons meet together in His honour, He will be in their midst (Matthew 18:20).

So what does it mean to plant a church?

I guess church planting means sowing and watering seeds that will grow into two, three, or more, people who meet – whether in a house, or online – in honour of Jesus who taught us all to Love God By Loving Our Neighbours.

May the Methodist Missions Society keep on planting seeds that grow into churches, with or without buildings, but certainly without walls.

无法到教堂或圣所聚会。然而耶稣的教会并非实 体的楼房。卫理圣诗中的一首诗歌这么说： 教会不是建筑；教会不是尖塔； 教会不为休憩；神子民是教会 。 我们是地上万族，各人有独特面容， 多元肤色和年龄，来自万邦和万国。 教会是我！教会是你！教会是你和我！ 凡跟随主耶稣，普天下圣徒！ Yes, 教会是你和我！ 主耶稣应许我们： “无论在哪里，有两三个人 奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。” (马太福音18：20) 那，植立教会又意味什么呢？ 我认为，植立教会意味着播种、浇灌后，两三 个或更多的信徒茁壮成长，他们无论是聚在室内 或线上，都尊崇神，遵行耶稣的教导，藉着爱邻舍 表达对神的爱。 愿卫理宣教会继续撒种浇灌，种子成长，建立 实体教会，以及更多相信並委身于基督信仰的群 体。之间没有藩篱。

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