Harvest Force 2019 issue 3

2019 ISSUE

03

BE A MISSIONARY

The Workers are Few THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. ~ Matthew 9:37, NIV

M

any hands make light work.

Recently, I was involved in an event that required a mini-exhibition booth to be set up. As the booth was being set up, more and more friends dropped by to give us a hand. And in no time, the booth was beautifully set up. And we had fun doing it together.

This is similar in the work of missions.

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:37-38, NIV There is no doubt that we need missionaries! We are asking the Lord of the harvest to send pastors, church planters, ministry workers, mentors, and teachers. If you sense God calling you into the mission field, speak to your pastor and ask him/her to examine your calling to missions. If your church pastor and leaders affirm your calling and are prepared to support, call MMS straight away! If they are unable to provide full financial support, call MMS anyway. Some missionaries are supported by a combined effort of multiple Methodist churches, agencies, and individuals.

Currently, we are supporting 39 missionaries from our local Methodist churches. We continue to affirm and encourage our missionaries who are serving in the field. We sense the Lord’s prompting to increase the number of missionaries serving alongside MMS. We set a faith target of enlisting 100 missionaries for His mission by 2025.

Will you join us to be a missionary?

We have compiled some testimonies from our missionaries. Read them from page 6 to 21. You will read about their individual callings to be missionaries, and get a glimpse of each life of a missionary in the harvest field. In fact, most of them will tell you that they are just ordinary folks who simply responded to the call for the extra hands to gather in the great harvest out there. And that call is for every believer. On page 2, Rev Derrick Lau highlights that the task of the Great Commission is unfinished. We need to P.R.A.Y. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung exhorts you to respond to God’s call to embark on the missionary’s journey on page 36.

We do need the extra hands in the harvest. Join us to be a missionary today!

Hello! Do you have anything to share?

Let us know!

Email mms@methodist.org.sg Your article may be edited for length, style, and clarity.

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

CONTENTS

Methodist Missions Society (MMS) is the missions agency of The Methodist Church

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FIRST WORD • The Challenge of the Remaining Frontier Mission Task

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.

04

WAZZUP! • Country Information • Opportunities to Serve

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 otherwise stated.

PERMIT NUMBER

ADVISOR Rev Derrick Lau EDITOR Leongheng

MCI(P) 110/01/2019

FEATURE STORIES • Life of a Missionary 06

• Teach and be taught

NOVEMBER 2019

2019 ISSUE

PROOFREADER Wendy Tan

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CHINESE PROOFREADER Goh Tuan Gee TRANSLATORS Thng Pheng Soon, Koh Wan Yee PHOTO CREDITS Benjamin Lee, Cassandra Lee, Evelyn Kong, GS, Joseph Mannar, Joshua Khoo, Low Wee Teck, Rency Rajan, Selina Teo, Sharon Loo, Suzanna Lee, Vincent Lim

• We are all missionaries • Walk as Jesus walked • My Personal Journey with God • Changed • To Witness His Glory among the Nations • Taking Steps into Missions • Journey from Mumbai to Timor-Leste

FEATURE LAOS 22 FIELD • Bringing a Taste of

Singapore to Laos

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MITE REPORT • Not a MITE would I Withhold

DISTRIBUTION & SUPPORT Eileen Lim, Helen Tan, Tan Poh Ling & Volunteers DESIGNER SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd PRINTER Print & Print Pte Ltd PUBLISHER Rev Derrick Lau 70 Barker Road #06-01, The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936 Tel: 6478 4818 • Fax: 6478 4817

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

mms@methodist.org.sg

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

COVER: Harvest is plentiful. Photo was taken in Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand.

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HOME IN ON...

• “My Father’s Business” Banquet 2019 • MMS Family

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CHURCH ENGAGEMENT • Church Engagement in Missions

34

HF SPECIAL • Building Walls or Building Bridges

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CLOSING THOTS • A Call for Missionaries

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

THE CHALLENGE of the REMAINING FRONTIER MISSION TASK O

ur Lord Jesus gave His Mission Mandate, commonly termed as “The Great Commission” to his disciples (cf. Matthew 28:18,19). These apostles were called to be messengers of the Good News beginning from Jerusalem, to Judea, all Samaria and to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). The Gospel spread far and wide in spite of opposition and persecution in the first 300 years!

Rev Derrick Lau 刘作丰牧师 Executive Director of MMS. He enjoys doing DIY projects like simple carpentry and small construction works.

What were the key components that led the first missionary enterprise which transformed itself into a dynamic global movement?

The task is unfinished! We need to P.R.A.Y.

• Clarity of Purpose

• Review our mission strategies to focus on the deployment of resources (human capital and financial) to reach the lost, the least, and the last especially among the FPGs.

• Calling to spread the Good News • Commitment of God’s People to God’s Agenda • Consolidation of mission resources (human & financial) to reach specific people groups • Challenge to serve the Missio Dei Fast forward to 2000 years later.

What is the status of the Great Commission?

R. W. Lewis in the International Journal of Frontier Missiology (35:4 Winter 2018-155) provided the following statistics: • World population: 7.48 billion • Christians: 2.33 billion • Unreached People Groups (UPGs)1: 3.15 billion • Frontier People Groups (FPGs)²: 1.85 billion

• Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into the fields (Matthew 8:39).

• Actively mobilise and equip individuals and churches to engage them in The Great Commission via traditional Missionary Approach or as Global Professionals3.

• Yoke together through collaborative synergetic partnerships so as to optimise the reach to the remaining frontier task.

John Wesley said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”

• Number of missionaries: 4.2 million full time missionaries in almost every part of the world today!

Unreached people groups (UPGs) are those whose population is less than 2% evangelical. However, the bad news is that no discernible progress is being made in more than half of the UPGs, which Ralph Winter referred to as frontier people groups (FPGs). ² Frontier People Groups (FPGs) are those where there are no movements to Christ, no breakthroughs of indigenous faith, and less than 0.1% of the population is Christian. (cf. operationaleworld.org & joshuaproject.net) 3 Abundant opportunities exist to go to unreached peoples and places around the world. Christian professionals are finding opportunities to take the jobs in which they excel and do them well, for the glory of God; and do them somewhere strategic, for the mission of God. (cf. https://www.christianpost.com/ news/5-trends-in-christian-missions-global-christianity-experts.html?page=2) 1

FIRSTWORD 03

前 线 宣 教 之 挑 战 主

宣教任务尚待完成，我们还需要P.R.A.Y.

耶稣把宣教使命，既是我们常提及 的“大使命”托付给祂的门徒(太福音 28:18,19)。这十二位门徒蒙召，要从耶路撒冷， 犹太全地和撒玛利亚，直到地极(徒一8)，作祂 福音的使者。尽管在最初的300年里，福音的 传播遭到诸多阻拦，信徒遭受百般逼迫，但福 音还是广泛传开!

• P.（祷告Pray）-求庄稼的主差派工人去收割 庄稼。 （太8:39） • R（检讨Review）-检讨我们的宣教策略。 把人力/经济资源投入前线群体中的失丧 者、卑微者及最被忽略者。 • A（积极Actively）- 积极动员和装备个人和 教会，通过传统宣教方式、或全球性专业服 务3，参与大使命的事工。

导致初期宣教事工转化为充满活力的全球运 动，主要的因素包括：

• Y（结合Yoke together）-通过合一的伙伴 合作，结合所掌握的优势更有效地执行尚待 完成的前线任务。

• 清晰的目标 • 蒙召广传福音 • 上帝子民委身于落实上帝的救赎计划 • 整合宣教的人力/经济资源，进入特定族群

卫理公会始祖约翰卫斯理说： “给我一百个 除了罪恶别无所惧，除了上帝别无所慕的传道 人，不管他们是圣职人员或是平信徒——他 们将要震动地狱之门，在地上建立天国。”

• 正视挑战，投入上帝的宣教使命中 两千年后，大使命的现况又是怎样呢？ 路易斯（R. W. Lewis）在《前线宣教学国际期 刊》 (35:4 冬 2018-155) 提供了以下数据： • 全球人口74.8亿

备注:

• 基督徒23.3亿

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• 福音未及的群体1：31.5 亿 • 前线未得群体 (FPGs)²：18.5 亿 • 宣教士人数：当下有420万名全职宣教士分 布世界各地！

福音未及的群体是指少过2%人口得到福音的群体。这当中超过半数的福音未及群体没有显著 的进展。宣教学者拉尔夫·温特博士之视为前线未得群体。 前线未得群体：在这些族群中，没有领人归主的运动，本土信仰未得突破，信主人口不到千分 之一。 (参阅 operationaleworld.org & joshuaproject.net)

2

有许多机会能将福音带进世界各地未听闻福音的群体当中。为了神的名能得到荣耀，为了履行 上帝赋予的使命，拥有专业技能的基督徒寻求机会在他们当中从事本身擅长的工作；并且制定 策略，接触群体传福音。(参阅 https://www.christianpost.com/news/5-trends-in-christianmissions-global-christianity-experts.html?page=2) whttps://www.christianpost.com/ news/5-trends-in-christian-missions-global-christianity-experts.html?page=2)

3

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

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

david.khew@methodist.org.sg

Nepal noel.tam@methodist.org.sg Thailand david.khew@methodist.org.sg Timor-Leste

lichun.woo@methodist.org.sg koheng.quek@methodist.org.sg

Vietnam

Opportunities to Serve IN THE FIELD

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.

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 to join us! We are asking the Lord to send pastors, church planters, ministry workers, mentors, and teachers.

• Short-term workers who are willing to spend between two weeks and six months to help our missionaries.

Please raise your own financial support.

• 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.

• More importantly, prayer partners to pray for our ministries and missionaries.

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

examine your calling to missions.

2. If your church pastor and leaders affirm your calling

and are prepared to support – praise the Lord! Call MMS straight away.

WAZZUP! 05

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.

Cambodia

• Secondary and primary school teachers to teach and train our teachers at the Methodist School of Cambodia.

• Trained social workers as well as Children’s & Youth Ministry workers for Community Outreach Services (COS) NGO. • Prayer and financial supporters for pastors of the Methodist Church of Cambodia as they are receiving below the national minimum wage and have to be bivocational.

• Trainers and volunteers to support market place ministry and consider joining BAMBOO (www.bamboofoundation.sg).

• Missionaries who are willing to be trained in making disciples in our ministries.

East Asia

• Professional trainers to conduct enrichment courses on leadership development, family, marriage, parenting skills, etc.

• Partners to support social work and community development programme.

Laos

• Missionary to oversee Singapore Mission School (SMS) operations and develop partnership with local churches for village outreach. Currently, the missionaries are completing their service this December.

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

• Experienced volunteer English teacher to help at SMS.

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

Timor-Leste

• Teachers willing to volunteer for one year to provide instruction for Grade 7 to 10 students 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) and support children and youth from poor families.

Vietnam

• An assistant pastor, pastoral assistant or ministry staff with theological qualifications to serve in International Christian Fellowship (ICF) at Ho Chi Minh City.

• Tentmakers, social entrepreneurs, teachers, and professionals to worship and serve in ICF. • Mission teams to visit and serve alongside ICF. • Volunteer to train ICF members on the audio-visual equipment.

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.

Nepal

• A seminary graduate to serve at Caleb Bible Institute on a short-term attachment.

• Ministry staff to serve as spiritual counsellors and mentors for Sophia’s Home on short field assignments.

• Missionary to serve in Nepal. Currently, the missionaries are completing their service mid 2020.

Thailand

• Short-term help (Primary English and Math) for BB, GB, and Children’s Ministry at Rangsit and Songroi-pi tuition centres.

• Qualified English, Chinese, and Math teachers to conduct teachers’ training at Vineyard Methodist School and Little Candles School.

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 Schemes. Please refer to page 25.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN CAMBODIA

Life of a MISSIONARY What is a typical day like in the life of a missionary?

A

Benjamin Lee

typical day is no different from that in the corporate world; there are deadlines and people to meet, except that our focus is on making disciples who will walk in tandem with the calling of God. Once a week, we have devotion with the national staff and have a staff meeting to work out challenges that we face. We also meet up the church leaders to encourage them. We have premarital counselling for couples planning to be married. We handle visiting shortterm mission teams. We meet government officials when our presence in the land is through an NGO platform. And the list goes on. But as a family, we are learning to adjust to the culture and way of life in a foreign land.

What are some of the joy and challenges you face?

We rejoice when the Cambodians give their lives to God, when we see the changes that God is doing in their lives, and when the young people are willing to serve Him full time, giving up their dreams to pursue the calling. One challenge is when some of them choose to walk away after we have journeyed with them for many years. The other challenge is to work with the government officials to meet the requirements of Cambodia.

What are some encouraging short testimonies you have encountered?

WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO SERVE GOD, HE WILL ENABLE US TO DO THE WORK.

Recently, we have a fund-raising event for our Post COSI Integration Programme (PCOSIIP) scholarship fund. The event was fully organised by the COSI alumni who have grown up with us in COSI. They managed the whole event from conceptualising the idea to planning, to executing the event. The missionaries were just there to advise and support them. These young people called the sponsors, worked with the local authorities, and liaised with their friends for support. We are seeing the fruit of the labour of our pioneer missionaries who started COSI. All glory to God. What made you want to stay on to serve?

The calling and conviction of God. The lives of the people being touched and transformed by God. What is one misconception people have about missionary?

One great misconception people have about being a missionary is that one must be of a certain status in spirituality and that only the very spiritual ones will be called to be a missionary. In fact, God calls every one of us. Therefore, being a missionary is being obedient to the call that God has for us. Some of us may be called to be teachers, while others to make an impact in the marketplace. At the end of the day, all of us has a calling and being a missionary is a calling as well.

The key is being obedient to the calling. Do we say “Here am I, send him” or “Here am I, send me”? God is looking for a willing heart.

Another misconception is that we must be skilful in order to serve God in the field. That is not necessary. When we are willing to serve God, He will enable us to do the work. Because when we are in the mission field, it is all about God using us as tools to display his Glory to the people we are serving. It also causes us to depend on God even more.

FEATURESTORY 07

What is one thing our readers should know about missions and missionary?

Being involved in missions does not necessarily mean that you need to be in the field; there are many other areas that you can be involved in missions. You can be one of these: • Mobilisers talk about missions to friends in church, and encourage those with a calling to be involved in missions.

• Senders walk through with those who sense their calling to be full-time missionaries. They help in many areas of preparation like fund raising, personal affairs, and training matters before they go into the field.

Senders accompany those who feel called to visit the potential field too.

• Goers heed the call and go out to the field that God has called them.

• Carers constantly keep in touch with missionaries in the field. They provide member care whenever the missionaries are back home. They furnish updates of missionaries to the church. They provide pastoral care to the family members of the missionaries. They make sure that the missionaries are not forgotten by the sending church.

Being a missionary is a call from God, - it is not a special call for a special group of people. Being a missionary is not a retirement job, where many people will commit to after they retire from their current job. John Piper once

said, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.

Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

Missions is important to the church now, because people are not worshipping God. What made you want to be a missionary?

I had a calling to missions what I was 12 years old.

Through the years God has been reminding me and preparing me for the call to the field. In 2011, when God spoke to me through Isaiah 54:2-3, I knew in my heart that that was the time to leave Singapore and go to the mission field with my family. So, in short, what makes me want to be a missionary is because I experience the love of our Heavenly Father that compels me to obey His calling to share the love of God to whoever He brings along my path, trusting in His guidance and providence.

Encourage more people to come on board as missionaries.

Being a missionary is really seeing God working through your life. Seeing how God can use you for His glory.

Being a missionary is experiencing God’s power and miracles in and through us. It allows us to be able to see things from a very different perspective. If you know that is what God has been tugging at in your heart, I would encourage you to take the plunge and see how God can work through you. If wanting to fulfil the call of God is your ultimate desire, go for it. It is a faith journey.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN CAMBODIA

TEACH and BE TAUGHT I

Suzanna Lee

n many ways, my life as a missionary based at the Cambodian Methodist Bible School (CMBS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is similar to my life as a school teacher in Singapore. This is due to the fact that I teach the same subjects here as I did in Singapore – English Language, Music and Choir. Thus, I find myself spending much time doing the same things that I did in Singapore such as preparing lesson plans, teaching materials, test papers, etc. I also find myself facing similar challenges in teaching these subjects such as trying to achieve the learning objectives with students who have widely different learning abilities and levels of motivation. But the feeling of joy is great when I see progress in the students’ ability to speak English or to play the piano, and especially when they are able to sing in 4 parts ‘a cappella’ at the annual Graduation Ceremony.

There is one thing I do at CMBS that I did not have the opportunity to do in Singapore, that is the opportunity to share God’s Word at the chapel worship service. This is indeed a privilege and joy but also a great challenge for me as I am a novice at preaching and I usually take a long time to prepare a sermon. The challenge increased when I started to preach in Khmer, a language that I am still struggling to master.

Aside from my ministry at CMBS, I also help out at the Joy Methodist Hostel (JMH) which is a ministry that reaches out to tertiary education students who come from different parts of Cambodia to study in Phnom Penh. I help the hostel manager to plan and implement the outreach and discipleship programmes which include weekly worship-cumBible study sessions and monthly leadership training sessions. Notwithstanding the numerous challenges I face here, it always gives me much joy to see a student come to know and accept Christ through this ministry or to see others grow in their faith and discipleship.

As I serve God in these ministries in Phnom Penh, I have come to realise that whatever I do here is not just for the people here but also for myself. As somebody once said: ‘When you teach others, you yourself are also taught by them.’ How true this is! I have indeed learnt much from the students and co-workers in both CMBS and JMH. For example, I am touched and amazed by the determination and tenacity of many CMBS students, most of whom are in their early twenties, who have to overcome numerous obstacles to come and equip themselves to become servants of God. I have realised that my short stint in Phnom Penh is an essential part of my spiritual journey and growth in Christ. I have learnt that mission work, whether short term or long, is not just going somewhere ‘to make disciples’ but also, in the process, to become the disciple and person God wants you to be.

FEATURESTORY 09

MISSIONARY IN CAMBODIA

WE ARE all MISSIONARIES What is a typical day like in the life of a missionary? typical day is always about leaning and trusting upon the grace of God to direct and provide! Getting down on one’s knees and seeking God’s face.

A

Low Wee Teck

What are some of the joy and challenges you face?

It is a joy to see first-hand how the Lord provides, delivers, heals, restores, and multiplies!

We can always trust in the loving arms of our gracious Father.

What are some encouraging short testimonies you have encountered?

I had a BB Boy who had the opportunity to study abroad. And after spending a year overseas, he returned to meet me, hugged me, and thanked me for the work I am doing in Cambodia. He also told me that he wanted to be a missionary and to spread the Good News of Christ to his friends. He was transformed and on fire for the Gospel!

What made you want to stay on to serve?

I just want to be obedient and faithful to what God has called me to.

What is one misconception people have about missionary work?

Perhaps the most important work a missionary could do, besides getting to know God’s heart better, is getting to know better the hearts of the people we are reaching out to.

What is one thing our readers should know about missions and missionary work?

The call to missions is to the body of Christ. We are all missionaries regardless of our station or vocation; we are called to be salt and light.

What made you want to be a missionary?

Every follower of Christ is called to be a missionary as we see from the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19); and our response should reflect that of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8). However, the calling became personal for me over the years as I encountered the Lord on many short-term mission trips. I sensed the Lord calling me to uproot and to invest in raising up disciples for Christ’s Kingdom in Cambodia.

Encourage more people to come on board as missionaries.

Being a missionary is about being available and obedient. As we all sing, “I have decided, to follow Jesus. The Cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back.” It is an exciting journey of faith and adventures. Are you up for a challenge? Would you like to take the leap of faith?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN NEPAL

Walk AS JESUS WALKED

GS

What is a typical day like in the life of a missionary?

A missionary is someone with a vocation. However, the difference is that the person is conscious that whatever he does, it will be for the proclamation of the gospel. I am a businessman in the country that I serve in. My wife and I operate the Jars of Clay café that provides a conducive environment for families with young children to relax and have a meal. Running a business takes up a part of our time.

As for our MMS ministry, I oversee and manage the administration and financial resources from our HQ to support the various field ministries, which include our six Methodist Churches, ten Preaching Points, a Bible Training Centre, and a girls’ home. On a regular basis, we have visitors and guests from Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia who participate in and support these ministries. I also conduct leadership and ministry trainings in various locations. In a year, there are about 12 weeks of guest visitations and 5 weeks of training. All these visits and trainings take up a major part of our ministry work and demand quite a bit of time.

On a weekly basis, we also conduct various small group discipleship meetings. My wife mentors a group of girls from our girls’ home as well as some of the children’s ministry teachers, while I help some youth in our churches to grow in faith and obedience.

The missionary call is not just an individual call; it includes the family. As such, our three children are involved in the various ministries we are in. They help out in the weekly children’s ministry and join in the adventures of some of the visiting teams if it coincides with their school holidays. My eldest son, Jedidiah, is also giving weekly tuition to some of our girls in the girls’ home. In addition, during their long vacation breaks, we visit all the various points of our ministry as a family.

FEATURESTORY 11

What are some of the joy and challenges you face?

It is a joy to see the people, whom we have invested our lives in, now investing their lives in others. The apostle Paul rejoices when he sees the growth and maturity of the people whom he has given his life to. This is the joy of a missionary.

The challenge of a missionary in a cross cultural environment is for the missionary to understand and work effectively in a culture that is vastly different from his.

What are some encouraging short testimonies you have encountered?

Over the last 14 years of our ministry, my wife and I are beginning to see the 3rd and 4th generations of disciplemakers amongst the people whom we have invested our lives in. The girls, who have graduated from Sophia’s Home ministry, are not only teaching in the children’s ministry but also taking up leadership role as ministry leaders and teacher trainers. Some youth whom we have spent years of nurturing are also now evangelists and pastors who are also helping others to grow and raising disciple-makers amongst them. One encouraging example is to see a pastor making a disciple of a blind man who is now leading as a house fellowship leader in his village.

What made you want to stay on to serve?

Obedience to the call of God.

What is one misconception people have about missionary work?

When I was younger, I had a ‘romantic’ idea of who a missionary is: He is seen as a hero of faith; one who is willing to put down his own ambitions and to sacrifice in order to follow Christ. But now I realise that a missionary is just an ordinary person who is obedient to the call on his life in order to follow Christ.

What is one thing our readers should know about missions and missionary work?

God has a mission given to all of us - His people. It can be an overseas call or a call to serve amongst people who need to know the Lord within our own country. Jesus tells us to be the light and salt of the world. This is the mission that He had given to all of us.

What made you want to be a missionary?

To walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). To me, Jesus was the first missionary who was sent by the Father to this dark world. In following the footsteps of Christ, I do believe that God had also called me to be a missionary to wherever He had called me to go.

Encourage more people to come on board as missionaries.

The harvest beyond the shores of Singapore is indeed ripe. It is time to collect the harvest that God had prepared. He may be calling you to a specific people group to witness the collection of this harvest. Are you ready to obey this call?

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN THAILAND

My Personal JOURNEY WITH GOD D

Cassandra Lee

uring my first five years as a new Christian, I hardly knew the Bible and I read only portions of the Bible. I did not have a full picture of the Bible and did not understand how the various books in the Bible connect to one another. However, after my first-ever mission trip, which happened to be to Chiang Mai, Thailand, I decided that I wanted to know more about God and learn more about the Bible.

Subsequently, my friend introduced me to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) which I stayed with for seven years. Sometime in the middle of these seven years, I told the Lord that I would like to serve Him full time as a missionary when I retired from the Army.

Our desire to serve God comes first from our close walk with Him, by diligently studying His Word, knowing His Word, and then doing what His Word says.

Without our first coming to Jesus and following Him, we will not have the desire to serve Him. Once God put that desire in my heart to serve Him full time, I started to equip myself. First, I volunteered to be a Sunday School teacher at my church. I knew that in most mission fields, I would need to be involved in children’s ministry and I had zero experience in handling children. And then I enrolled myself into a part-time theological degree course so as to better equip myself with God’s Word. I also took part in mission trips to Bintan, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Thus, even before we begin to serve God whether full time or part time, let us equip ourselves as much as possible by participating in the various ministries in the church.

Finally, in August 2009, I was sent to East Asia by MMS. I was not sure if East Asia was the country that the Lord wanted to serve in then, but I went because the mission opportunity was there. And in May 2011, I was sent to serve in Chiang Mai, Thailand. And I have served there till now.

Even as I tried to prepare myself as much as possible before becoming a missionary, I still felt inadequate to serve as a missionary because I lacked skills

FEATURESTORY 13

in active evangelism, in planting a church, in administrating a church, etc. Even so, these inadequacies did not stop me from becoming a missionary because Jesus promises that He will make me a fisher of men. I trust that God will be the one to guide me and give me the necessary skills and wisdom that I need to get His job done.

If you have it in your heart to serve God in a foreign land, then go. Then, lean on the sovereignty of God to get you where he wants you in the harvest. Do not worry about “running ahead of God.” You are not that quick! Trust the Lord to direct your moving feet. Do not fear the risk of ending up some place the Lord does not want you to be. Too many, including myself, already took that “risk” when they assumed a ministry or vocation with no confirmation other than their own desires. For me, I started with my first mission trip to Chiang Mai in my late twenties and I ended up as a missionary in Chiang Mai in my late forties. So it can happen to you too when you start to obey God’s command with a simple mission trip!

Not all of us are called to be full-time missionaries, but that should not stop us from participating in missions to reach out to the lost in Singapore and beyond. You can use your job experiences or gifts that God has given you to serve in the mission field on a part time basis. For example, we have a church member who is an ex-Vice School Principal and a teachers’ trainer who goes regularly to the Methodist schools in Chiang Mai and Cambodia to provide consultation to the school principals and training for the teachers. We also have church members who are actively involved in some of the executive roles in MMS in Singapore. There are other members who went to the mission field to teach English, to teach dancing or cook for an evangelistic event. So whatever skills that you have, we can use it in the mission field!

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MISSIONARY IN THAILAND

CHANGED I

Sharon Loo

wish I could tell you how I was called by God with a thundering voice from heaven, “GO!”. In actual fact, it was more of, “Excuse me, God, did you forget to call me?” We are into our 12th year of service in Thailand this year. Looking back, I believe all is in His plan and mighty hands.

In 2008, in a state of being lovey-dovey, I followed my husband to the field.

Honouring my marriage vow, I dutifully honoured my husband’s call to mission.

After all, God never seemed to call the wives, at least they were not recorded in the Bible. He called Abraham, not Sarah. He called Jacob, not Leah or Rachel.

He called David, and who cares who his wives and concubines were! I assumed the call my husband received was a call for our family. A good wife should follow submissively, which I did. However, I soon realised that being a follower of someone else’s calling was not sufficient for me to stay afloat in the field.

When hardships and challenges came, I found myself free-falling from heaven to earth, anxiously and frantically looking for something that I could take hold of, yet I found none. I wrestled with God in my heart, asking him a hundred whys and a thousand “what am I doing here in Thailand?” It was a very humbling, soul searching process. I felt that I was losing myself and everything. Everything that I was familiar with - skills, language, culture, finances, relationships - they all started to give way, one by one. However, this process was so crucial; it was in losing myself or rather dying to self that I found God, and eventually my calling.

Through my struggles and tears, I realised that being called or not was not the determining factor. Many who were called experienced similar struggles just as I did. It was a long process of surrendering myself to my Saviour. After all, if you read the Bible carefully, everyone is called. If you are a believer, you are called to carry the good news to your neighbours, whoever your neighbours are, whether at home or overseas. God had slowly and painfully changed my heart when I reluctantly but obediently stepped out in faith to obey Him. Not I, the Superman missionary who was meant to change the world, but I, the bruised and broken who needed to be changed before I could be of any use. I heard His cry for the lost and He had made this my very heartbeat. I found joy like never before in serving the Thai people.

There is a misconception that a missionary needs to be skilful or gifted. It

FEATURESTORY 15

is of course very useful to have skills. However, speaking from experience, most of the time, God challenged me to do work that I am totally not skilful at. It is a rather scary and intimidating experience. “This is not fair, God! You knew I can’t do this yet You gave me this job?” However, this is exactly why God has given me these jobs, so that when they are accomplished we can only stand in awe and give all glory to God and not ourselves. Is not our God so hilarious in His dealings? Time and again, He proves to be our all-sufficient and faithful God. I am an accountant by training but I barely use my accounting skills, - maybe only 10% of the time.

Dear friends, please do not sit and wait all day or all year or all your life for your calling, or keep fooling yourself

that you are not skilful enough. You just need some courage to buckle up your seat belt and join Him for a ride.

It will be the wildest, yet the most fulfilling ride, way beyond your dreams and imagination. Today, I am humbled and privileged to be called a Methodist missionary. You may or may not be called, that is not too important. But I can assure you that you will be changed for His glory!

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN THAILAND

TO WITNESS HIS GLORY among t What is a typical day like in the life of a missionary? typical day is like any other typical day in Singapore! Devotion, housework, work/ministry, family time, and of course with meals inserted!

A

What are some of the joy and challenges you face?

The joy is seeing people coming to know the Lord, and seeing children and youth developing godly values through the ministry.

There are two major challenges: First is when local culture stands against biblical culture. Second is to develop the local language skills for deep conversation.

Vincent Lim What are some encouraging short testimonies you have encountered?

We have a four-year-old boy who attends our children’s programme on random Saturdays depending on his availability. We want him to join our nursery because we feel that each time we teach him on Saturday with regard to manners and character traits, the next time we see him, he would have forgotten about them.

During the last two months of studying in our childcare, I am so proud to see a big change God has instilled in him. He is so well mannered now and has so much potential inside him.

We have a sick elderly grandma whom we are reaching out to. She is very open and has already received Jesus in her heart. However, she is still unsure if Jesus is the ONLY way but she wants to grow and find out more. We have been seeing her regularly in our church together with her two grandsons. It is encouraging to see how the Lord brings His people into His kingdom!

FEATURESTORY 17

the Nations What made you want to stay on to serve?

The season of His call to serve here has not changed.

What is one misconception people have about missionary work?

A misconception is that missionary does exciting evangelistic work all the time. Actually, the work we do is routine too. And the testimonies we encounter can be encountered everywhere else too.

What is one thing our readers should know about missions and missionary work?

Missions is not a call for some, it is a call for all. And if God has called you to be a missionary out there in the unknown, know that it is not based on how big your faith is, but it is based on how big our God is!

What made you want to be a missionary?

The compelling message of God’s love must be shared with those who have not heard the gospel. And God has instilled in my heart especially those who do not have much opportunity to hear of His good news! This made me want to be a missionary - to witness His glory among the nations!

Encourage more people to come on board as missionaries.

We have always heard the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. In Thailand, we have less than 1% Christians and yet we do not have enough manpower to properly disciple these Christians and not to mention reach out to the pre-believers! So much can be done yet so little is actually done. Join us in creating the unthinkable through the power of His Spirit. Truly, not by might, not by power but by the Spirit of God, may His kingdom be established on earth as it is in heaven.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN TIMOR-LESTE

TAKING STEPS into MISSIONS

Joseph Mannar

What is a typical day like in the life of a missionary?

Generally, it is the same as for any other job, and all jobs are not the same as they differ from one to another. So, as for ourselves, we ensure the students are on time to go to school; we prepare breakfast, clean, wash, and have devotion before breakfast. For those students in the afternoon session, they study and then do gardening for an hour. After all the tools are cleaned up and placed back, they will get ready for school. After dinner, we gather for devotion and the students take turns to share each night. Then, they do their school work. Each student has to follow a duty roster.

We also monitor the cook and gardener every day. This is 24/7 in Sundermeier Home (SH).

What are some of the joy and challenges you face?

The joy is seeing the students improving in their English, and reading the Bible and memorizing verses. The challenge is to discipline them.

They lack discipline and guidance because they come from families and schools with too much freedom. So when they stay with us, the first year is tough for them to adjust to us and while we are learning to understand them.

What are some encouraging short testimonies you have encountered?

What is encouraging is to see the students themselves going to their villages in teams to share the Word and their personal lives. Their families are excited to see a change in their children in terms of character and behaviour. Three students who graduated from SH are now attending bible school in Dili.

What made you want to stay on to serve?

We are staying on because it is God who called us to serve. We have experienced God’s amazing love and protection. He has seen us through in every way.

What is one thing our readers should know about missions and missionary?

When we came to Timor-Leste, we tried to introduce our Singapore system and we dealt with them in a quick, productive way. Our expectations and methods were wrong! We must learn the culture, systems and methods before we can start work

FEATURESTORY 19

with them. We need to learn their language to work with them. There is also a big adjustment in living conditions.

We need to adjust to the food, water, and sanitation.

Coming to third world, under-developed countries may be very frustrating. One other major area of concern is the annual Visa application which can be very stressful.

What made you want to be a missionary?

During my working days, I was actively involved in my church and made many mission trips to different places.

After I was retrenched, I joined my church as missions coordinating staff. It was quite a boring job. Closer to the end of my third year, I was on a look-out to go missions.

Then I saw an ad in Harvest Force looking for people to go to Nepal and Timor-Leste. So I called the MMS office and spoke to Col Quek. After some discussion, he invited me to go with him to Timor-Leste. Without any hesitation, I agreed and followed him to Timor-Leste. On our return, he asked if I was keen to talk to my church. I am a very operational and outdoor person. So this was a great challenge to me. I have always read and heard about missionaries and I wanted to experience what life is like in the mission field. And today, six years later, I have no regrets though it is always challenging. It is all done well and good with God’s help. The confirmation came from Joshua 13:1.

Encourage more people to come on board as missionaries.

I started with short mission trips to several countries. Every year, I took leave to go and stay for seven to ten days on each trip. It was fun and I enjoyed going year after year. I taught and preached each time I went. This brought about a greater joy within me. My encouragement to anyone who wants to be a missionary is to make a few trips to learn and understand the country you visit. To start off, let it be fun and be a tourist and observer. Pray and ask God to give you a passion and deep desire as you witness the needs in the respective countries you visit. Ask God to give you a country. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. (Psalm 37:4-5) I took this missionary journey at 65. The Lord spoke to me and assured me in Joshua 13:1: Now Joshua was

old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.”

It is God Himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago He planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. (Ephesians 2:10, TLB) Have you ever wondered why God does not just take us immediately to heaven the moment we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour? It is because He wants us to fulfil His purpose. From the day we are saved, God has a ministry for us. It may be serving in the church or doing community work outside the church or being sent to countries which you desire to serve in.

God calls you to a service far beyond anything you could ever imagine. You are put on earth to make a difference and to contribute.

For some, it may be a frightening, big step to go into missions. There will be adjustments and changes to unfamiliar things that we have to go through. The fear of leaving our comfort zones, well-paying jobs, comfortable lives, and dear family. If you are married, you spouse has to be in agreement. Also, we have to leave children behind or to make sacrifices with their education. There are many issues to give serious thought to. Furthermore, it is going to a country filled with uncertainty and you will need some settling into a strange culture and system. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. (John 15:16) Since it is God who chose and appointed you, ask Him for whatever you need. Even if you cannot go now, you can pray for a missionary and support him. The Lord will open doors for you.

God has a ministry for you today in His Church and a mission for you in the world. Your neighbour and your friends in the office are also your ministry. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and check what God is calling you to do today - right where you live - no matter how small it may seem. How will you respond?

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

MISSIONARY IN TIMOR-LESTE

Journey from MUMBAI TO TIMORT

Rency Rajan

he Lord led me to Timor-Leste in an unimaginable way.

A decade ago, two members from the Singapore Mar Thoma Syrian Church (a Christian denomination based in Kerala, South India) visited Timor-Leste in 2007 to witness the needs of God’s people. Since then, this church in Singapore had been dreaming of sending a missionary to Timor-Leste.

I belonged to the Mumbai Mar Thoma Church. One morning, my church friend asked if I would like to consider going into full-time ministry. After a lot of thinking, I said ‘Yes’. But I wrestled with questions like ‘Am I qualified for missions?’, ‘Am I capable?’, ‘Do I have enough knowledge to share the Gospel?’, ‘Who will support my family?’, I was scared to step out in faith.

Eventually, I was linked up with the Singapore Mar Thoma Church members and MMS. And in January 2017, we met up and a partnership was formed to send me to Timor-Leste. I was overwhelmed by the love and care I experienced from them and still do even to today. God moved people and circumstances according to His will.

Gleno I landed in Timor-Leste on 14 January 2017, and I spent my first three months at Sundermeier Home, Gleno. It was a home away from home. I stayed with the house parents, Joseph and Grace, and the hostelites. I taught English to the hostelites and in a local school in Gleno for two months.

Dili Though I had no prior teaching experience, I volunteered at St Paul Methodist School (SPMS) in Dili. I moved to Dili in May 2017 and I got to know the other MMS missionaries, Rudy and David and his family. I also met many missionaries from different countries and Christian denominations. I could see and experience the spirit of ecumenism among the missionaries. They came together as one body in Christ and supported one another in their missions. I became friends with them and they are my family in Timor-Leste.

I shared accommodation with another non-MMS Singaporean missionary.

Besides teaching in SPMS, I also took time to learn the local language and travel in the local transport in and around Dili. I love to walk on the streets of Dili to get a glimpse of the life of the locals. I could also practise Tetum by interacting with them.

Neighbourhood Ministry – Dili One morning, during the mango season, I saw a group of children gather outside my house to throw stones at my mango tree. Some of them asked me if they could climb the mango tree, and that was how I first encountered my neighbourhood children.

I noticed that some had wounds and rashes on their bodies and were shabbily dressed. I felt for them. They were eager to talk to me too.

One afternoon, Sister Joanne, a Catholic nun, gathered the children for an activity.

I shared with her my thoughts doing something for the neighbourhood children.

FEATURESTORY 21

-LESTE

Due to her work commitments with the Catholic Diocese, Sister Joanne could not continue the activities. Instead, she brought me to the neighbourhood for house visits. As I visited the children and told them my intention to start a course for them, they happily enrolled. An elderly lady even kindly offered her compound for us to hold the activity.

We scheduled the activity on 5 March 2018, a day that would not clash with my school commitments.

Unfortunately, Sister Joanne had to attend a funeral in her hometown. I wished she was around because I lacked confidence in Tetum. Also, in the past, there was opposition from the community when a few other Protestant groups conducted activities in my neighbourhood.

But to my surprise, more than 30 children came with their parents and siblings, and gathered under a tree at my neighbour’s compound. They were all waiting to see what this ‘Malae’ (which means foreigner in Tetum) was going to teach their children. I brought along some charts with Tetum and simple English songs, colour pencils, and a story board on ‘Jesus calms the storm’. Initially, I had difficulty in communicating in Tetum but the children understood my instructions. And the Holy Spirit helped me to share the story. That was the beginning. Eventually, I taught them basic English on weekdays and Bible stories on Sundays.

I received many forms of support: David shared his teaching resources. My church sponsored nail clippers, toothpastes, toothbrushes, stationery, and Christmas goodies for the children. The Medical and Youth team visited and had fellowship with these children.

Hera

By His grace, SPMS is expanding and I have been staying in Hera since January 2019.

Before the move, I was asking God to show me someone who can continue the neighbourhood ministry in Dili. God sent three missionaries from another organisation. I was sad to walk away from what I started, but I knew that the children would be blessed by the new teachers.

This is my third year in Timor-Leste and I continue to serve as an English teacher in SPMS. I intentionally talk about who Christ is and what He has done for us when I interact with my students.

My life may not be perfect here. I have experienced challenges and spiritual warfare. But the verse that touches me at the time of fear and anxiety is: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Three years ago, I asked myself if I was capable for Missions. Now, I realise that when I submit everything to Him, He transforms me into the new being that I am today.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

LAOS

Bringing A TASTE OF SINGAPORE

Victor Wee and Sheryl Teo Members of Wesley Methodist Church.

Victor is happily retired but is still active in any way he can. So if the event or activity is interesting, you can count on him. Sheryl thinks crickets are nutritious and yummy.

She hopes more Singaporeans will be open to eating insects, which she claims to be our future food!

Editor’s Note: A version of this article was first published in the August 2019 Issue of Wesley TIDINGS.

O

n 6 June 2019, a group of 15 church members and friends aged between 44 and 81 left Singapore on a mission to Vientiane to help at the Singapore Fair at Singapore Mission School (SMS).

At SMS, we had the opportunity to watch its graduation concert. Seventy students, aged between three and 11, sang, danced and put on a skit in English.

The next day, in preparation for the Singapore Fair, we packed items for sale, put up stall decorations and arranged furniture. The principal, teachers and students were also caught up with the final preparations. It was the first time the school was organising such a major event, to which some 700 guests were invited.

On the morning of the fair, we arrived early and set up our four stalls. There were also other food and drink stalls set up by teachers, as well as games and activities to entertain the children.

At 10 am, guests began arriving. The Singapore Ambassador, Dominic Goh, officiated at the opening of the fair. Senior officials from the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports also graced the occasion. When the fair ended at 3 pm, we had sold most of what we had brought from Singapore! We also thank God for the occasional breezes that sustained us through the very warm day.

The money raised by the fair, as well as donations, will go towards funding school programmes and purchasing teaching resource kits.

The next day, we enjoyed a vibrant worship service at a local church, even though it was largely conducted in Lao. We performed a song item, “This is the Day”, in English and Thai.

We are grateful for the fair’s success and the unity of our team. It was truly by God’s grace and power that we managed to achieve our mission.

FIELDFEATURE 23

to Laos

Edward Leong: Everyone played a part and complemented one another. Although some of us were first-time trippers, through the Holy Spirit at work amongst us, everyone worked as a team.

Lydia: My husband would always tease me, “You can never survive on an overseas mission trip because you’re used to all the modern amenities.” But I disagreed.

Ellyn Chay: I was very encouraged by the team’s cooperativeness and love. In particular, I was especially encouraged by Dr Aw, who is 81. There are many people in our congregation who think they are too old to be involved in missions. Dr Aw has proven otherwise.

And with my children all grown up, I thought: “Why not just avail myself, even though I didn’t know what to expect?” So I went on my first mission trip. God showed me that He is in control of all situations. We just need to focus on Him, do His work, and avail ourselves in whatever small ways we can.

Dr Eileen Aw: It was a lovely experience. I thank the Lord because we worked hard, wanting the fair to be a success, but there were three things we could not control – the weather, the turnout, and everyone’s safety. I’m very thankful all went well.

ABOUT SINGAPORE MISSION SCHOOL Set up in 2014 by a Singaporean couple in the Laotian capital, the school aims to provide a holistic education in English and Lao for the local children, so that they will have a strong moral, mental and educational foundation to positively influence their community and country in the future. The school welcomes teachers from Singapore who can contribute their expertise and time. If you’re keen to find out more about short and long-term opportunities at the school, please email mms@methodist.org.sg.

PRAY • Pray that the Lord will continue to grant Singapore Mission School favour with officials from the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, our landlord, and the corporate bodies we are collaborating with.

Read about God’s goodness and faithfulness in these MMS Books.

These DVDs present an overview of MMS work and ministries. And they are free of charge. Get your copies now.

$10

$30

ORDER FORMM Items

Cost

Qty

MMS DVD – Simple Faith Amazing Grace (2005 @ Cambodia)

FOC

MMS DVD – Of Miracles and Grace (2007 @ Nepal)

FOC

MMS DVD – Choose to Help a Few (2009 @ Thailand)

FOC

MMS DVD – MMS 20th Anniversary Videos (2011 @ China and Nepal)

FOC

MMS DVD – SSS Videos (2012)

FOC

MMS DVD – MMS at a glance (2013 @ Nepal)

FOC

MMS DVD – Education Opens Doors (2015 @ Cambodia)

FOC

MMS DVD – Proclaim His Wondrous Works (2016 @ 7 Fields)

FOC

MMS DVD – Making Disciples, Transforming Lives (2017 @ Timor-Leste)

FOC

MMS Book – Blessed to be a Blessing (2014)

$10

MMS Book – Wings of Grace (2017)

$30

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Subtotal My donation for MMS My contribution to defray postage cost TOTAL

PERSONAL INFORMATION Name [Rev/Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms] Mailing Address

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METHOD OF PAYMENT Payment by Credit Card

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Please mail cheque and completed form to: METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY • 70 Barker Road #06-01, The Methodist Centre, Singapore 309936.

Thank you for your gift and support. For more information, please contact us at 6478 4818.

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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, Laotian, Nepalese, Thais, Timorese and Vietnamese, by giving to:

GIFT DETAILS General Donation (where it is most needed)

$

Crisis Relief Fund (General)

$

Laos

Rev Dr Clarence Lim Missionary Development Fund $ Student Sponsorship Scheme (Non-Residential)* General $

@ S$45 per month

(minimum commitment of 12 months)

Cambodia / Laos / Nepal / Thailand / Timor-Leste

Student Sponsorship Scheme (Residential)* General

$

@ S$110 per month

(minimum commitment of 12 months)

[ [ [ [ [

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

Cambodia

$ $ $ $

Church Planting Ministry Staff & Ministry Support Post COSI Integration Programme Hope House

East Asia

$ $

Staff & Ministry Support Church Planting Ministry

Nepal

$ $ $

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

$

Thailand

$

Staff & Ministry Support

Timor-Leste

$ $

Staff & Ministry Support St Paul Methodist School Building Fund

Vietnam

$

V ietnam Children’s Fund

Printing And Postage Cost

$

Harvest Force & PrayerConnect

Others (please specify):

$

$

Ministry Support

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(PDPA). All personal data shall be kept strictly confidential at all times. If ever MMS has to disclose any personal data to any third party, she shall do so only with the prior consent of the owner of the personal data. To withdraw or limit consent, please email to mms@methodist.org.sg.

Please cross and make cheque payable to “The Methodist Church in Singapore (MMS)” and mail it together with this form to: Methodist Missions Society, 70 Barker Road #06-01 The Methodist Centre, Singapore 309936 Please apply glue here

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

HOMEINON... 27

“MY FATHER’S BUSINESS” Banquet 2019 O

n 25 August 2019, we had our biennial MMS Banquet. This time, it was at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung graced the event as our Guest of Honour.

We believe that education plays a key role in building a nation. The Methodist Church in Singapore is blessed to have our founding missionaries who believed in education and set up Methodist schools. Our Methodist schools have instilled godly values and nurtured not just many pioneers and nation builders, but also church leaders, pastors, theologians, and missionaries.

MMS will continue this vision at St Paul Methodist School (SPMS) in Timor-Leste to provide quality education in pursuance of our heritage and Wesleyan tradition.

Our faith target was to raise $900K for SPMS building development project. It is our commitment to provide for the children in Timor-Leste as they are the future of the

nation. This is a social capital capacity-building project of great potential impact in a newly independent country with a young population.

We would like to thank all our sponsors and donors.

Many volunteers and helpers also came along to help out in many ways. We thank God for a God-loving couple for sponsoring the dinner, and Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel for underwriting the facilities. We acknowledge our appreciation to the following: • Christopher Tay and Isabelle Chua for being our Masters of Ceremony.

• Grace Methodist Church’s inter-generational worship team for the wonderful time of worship.

• Isaac Ong for the song presentation.

• Big 3 Media for sponsoring the Corporate Video.

• Print & Print for sponsoring printing the banquet souvenir magazine and other paraphernalia.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

This year, we also incorporated a prayer segment to pray for our missionaries. Everyone at the banquet received a prayer card to pray for the seven mission fields.

For the first time, we had a silent auction for 14 paintings by 9 artists. Through this silent auction, we raised about $11K. We hope that this banquet not only raised funds, but more importantly, it also raised more church engagement opportunities with our Methodist churches. And may our faith arise too.

HOMEINON... 29

MMS Family

Rachel Tan

Grace Chung

Dear Lord, You for Dear thank Lord, thank Youbringing for in donors, sponsors, partners, and bringing in donors, sponsors, supporters for and this supporters banquet. Thank partners, for You this for banquet. the privilege serving ThankofYou for the together withofallserving of them.

May privilege together Your name with all be of glorified. them. MayAmen.

Your name be glorified. Amen.

Rachel Tan of Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church has returned to Thailand from 1 August 2019. She is back to teach Chinese and reach out to the students, parents, and teachers in Vineyard Methodist School in Chiang Mai.

Grace Chung joined MMS as the Church Engagement Manager on 21 October 2019. She is from Grace Assembly of God. She has been on several road trips, and enjoys having food stops and sightseeing. She is always in awe of God’s creation in nature and fascinated by the cultures around the world.

Dear Lord, please bless Rachel as she is back in Vineyard Methodist School. May You continue to use her to be a signpost to point the students and parents to You. We pray for Your protection and grace in all that she does. We pray for Grace as she settles in to engage with the churches. May You grant her wisdom and ideas, as well as favour of God and men. Amen.

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HARVESTFORCE 2019 • 3

NOT A MITE would I withhold

Evelyn Kong a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church for the past 18 years. She is currently leading a Cell Group of young adults in their late twenties. Outside church, she is a senior staff nurse serving the community. She enjoys watching Korean dramas and variety shows.

I

Editor’s note: This article was first published in the October 2019 issue of Methodist Message.

t all started in May 2018, when I stayed at Sundermeier Home (SH) during a medical mission trip to Timor-Leste. After the house-parents Uncle Joseph and Aunty Grace (MMS Missionaries) shared about their sabbatical plans in 2019, God prompted me to return to bridge the gap. Fast forward, I left for Timor-Leste on 2 February 2019 with the blessings of my parents, my new boss, and my church’s mission committee. This was my fifth and longest trip to Timor-Leste, and it was also my first Chinese New Year away from my family.

I spent 11 weeks in SH and one week in Hera at St Paul Methodist School standing in for David (MMS Missionary) while he was away in Singapore. It was an eye-opening experience for me to relief teach. And I had a fruitful time of bonding with Jessie, Joy, Isaiah, and the school children.

I even had the chance to sit in my first microlet!

In SH, together with Rudy (MMS Missionary), we oversaw the running of the hostel, and the physical wellbeing, study, spiritual nurturing, and discipline of the hostelites. My responsibilities included overseeing the meal preparations, marketing, ensuring that there were sufficient supplies for the cook to prepare lunch and dinner, supervising the hostelites to prepare breakfast and tea breaks, and ensuring that the beloved house dogs and cats (Ash, Husky, Melody, and Jaspar) were fed! Weekly, on a weekday, Rudy and I drove an hour and 15 minutes to Dili to get groceries. I always enjoyed the car rides as I got to see the beautiful scenery of Timor-Leste: its greenery, sea, and the beautiful sky.

At SH, Papa Joe and Mama Grace - as they were affectionately called - had set a schedule of duties and activities for all hostelites. Each of them was rostered for dish washing, area cleaning, and gardening. Some senior ones helped with

MITEREPORT 31

ABOUT SUNDERMEIER HOME Sundermeier Home provides a place for poor and needy children from remote villages to continue their High School education in Gleno, within a Christian environment.

PRAY

cooking, and leading worship and devotion. Year 1 (Grade 10) and some Year 2 hostelites went to school in the afternoon while the rest of the Year 2s and 3s (Grade 11s and 12s) went in the morning.

A typical day would start at 6am. Every morning, after worship and breakfast, I would prepare lunch before giving English and Mathematics remedial lessons for the Year 1s. Two Year 2s assisted me to translate lessons into their local dialect Tetum. After the Year 2s and 3s returned from school, they would take a short snooze before a period of study and then take turns to complete their chores. At 7pm, there would be a group prayer before dinner and the day would be rounded off at 8pm with a short group worship and devotion, and then more study time. Rudy or I would close the day with prayer and add on to the devotion at times. There would be an extended time of prayer and praise every Friday. Lights out would be at 10.30pm.

Weekends were more relaxed with no official lessons. After completing their general cleaning duties in the morning, the hostelites had their games session in the afternoon. On Sundays after breakfast, we headed to a nearby church for service. We also held a service in the hostel at 11am with a team of the hostelites leading worship, while Rudy and I gave the messages. Weekend evenings were free times and the hostelites liked to watch a movie or relax with a guitar at the front porch. Some would turn in early.

For me, it had been a fruitful 12 weeks in Timor-Leste as a MITE participant. I would definitely not trade it for anything else. Though at times it was tiring and trying, the Lord’s protection and grace granted

• Pray for each youth to personally encounter God and develop a deep relationship with Him during the course of 3 years • May the hostelites read and understand God’s Word, which will impact their words, actions, and thoughts.

• May they remember what they have learnt and gained in SH, and be grateful. May they be a blessing to their families and communities.

me strength and joy to serve and love these younger brothers and sisters.

One special moment which I remember dearly was during the farewell cum appreciation session on the night before I left.

The feeling of leaving this special place really hit me. I teared during the praise and worship time especially at two of the songs: ‘You Are’

by Mark Roach and ‘Hosanna’ by Hillsong.

When one of the male leaders went up to share, I was touched by his sincere words. He had changed significantly over the past three months and I was glad to be a part of this change.

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CHURCH ENGAGEMENT in Missions MMS

Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng Field & Church Engagement Director in MMS, and the MMS Area Director for Thailand and Vietnam.

He worships at Charis Methodist Church.

’ strategy is an integrated approach of Church Planting and Community Development, with transformed lives and communities as the desired outcome. However, MMS does not and cannot work alone. As the missions arm of the Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), it relies heavily on partnerships with the Methodist churches and its communities in Singapore to extend God’s kingdom in mission fields that are within our regions. MMS can only fulfil her key role as stated in the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church in Singapore “to… work with local churches as its partner to promote the service opportunities and needs of mission fields selected by the Society as well as to ensure that missionaries are adequately cared for” (para 371) with the support and partnership from the whole body of Christ in the Methodist community. Church engagement is therefore an important initiative of MMS to engage, excite, encourage, equip, and establish missions interest, involvement, and partnership in all Methodist churches.

THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR CHURCH ENGAGEMENT IN MISSIONS Jesus’ words in Matthew provide the church with our mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (28:19-20), and “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (22:37,39). This mission is our grace-filled response to the reign of God in the world announced by Jesus. God’s grace is active everywhere, at all times, carrying out this purpose as revealed in the Bible.

Whenever the Methodist church has had a clear sense of mission, God has used our church to save persons, heal relationships, transform social structures, and spread scriptural holiness, thereby changing the community and the world. In order to be truly alive, we embrace Jesus’ mandate to love God and to love our neighbour and to make disciples of all people. The church seeks to fulfil its global mission through the Spirit-given ministries of all Christians, both lay and clergy. Faithfulness and effectiveness demand that all ministries in the Methodist church be shaped by God’s mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Methodists in the world and Singapore are bound together in a connectional covenant in which we support and hold each other accountable for fruitful discipleship and mission. Integrally holding connectional unity and local freedom, we seek to proclaim and embody the Gospel in ways responsible to our specific cultural and social context.

With a common understanding of our Wesleyan theological viewpoint on mission, we can proceed to engage MCS, Annual Conferences, and the

CHURCHENGAGEAMENT 33

Methodist churches in a deeper conversation on how to establish lasting, meaningful collaborations to fulfil the God-given mission to the Methodist church. In all our engagement efforts, we will seek to adhere to the 3 Partnership Principles listed below so as to establish lasting, meaningful collaborations with key stakeholders and the community.

STRATEGIC SYNERGY: Achieve win-win outcomes aligned with strategic objectives for MMS and partners Why must we seek strategic synergy? This is because MMS seeks to be a value-adding partner in all our collaboration with key stakeholders. Instead of duplication of efforts, we should brainstorm on ways to collaborate more effectively in strategic synergy. This is to reduce wastage of resources and deploy limited resources (human, monetary, etc) to achieve the strategic objectives of our respective organizations.

TRUST BUILDING: Work towards shared understanding to achieve common goals Why is the trust building process critical? Leadership change and renewal occurs at all levels of the church over time. With each new leader appointed at Local Conference, Annual Conference, and General Conference levels, there is a need for MMS to establish contacts with the newly appointed pastors and leaders so that we can renew our commitments, if necessary.

The same trust building process is also necessary with the existing leaders of the various organisations that MMS is working with.

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION: Increase level of commitment and purpose towards the goal to sustain ongoing partnership Why do we need to have effective collaboration?

Engagement will take time to bear fruit as there is a structured process for both MMS and the key stakeholders to go through before we can move from conversation to collaboration. This structured process is fully dependent on the level of commitment and purpose towards the goals of both MMS and the respective partners. Simply put, there is no shortcut. We need to be

very clear where we are in this journey of collaboration with our respective partners so that we can move the partnership to a higher level over time.

Currently, there are 21 Methodist churches that have ongoing partnerships with MMS in church planting, mission trips, projects, and regular financial support for mission works in MMS’ 7 mission fields. This figure excludes those Methodist churches which provided adhoc financial support for MMS’ missions and projects.

With 46 Methodist churches, there is still great potential for MMS to reach out to the rest of the other 25 churches. MMS aims to touch base with every church within the next two years with the aim to engage, excite, encourage, and determine partnership potential. With an over-arching church engagement strategy and plan in place, this will help to prioritise churches which MMS has not engaged with before, but also not forgetting those churches MMS has already engaged to as to maintain ongoing dialogue.

MMS recognises that not every church may be in the season for missions nor have the capacity or resources to support missions. The aim to engage all churches is not just to make known the available mission opportunities but more importantly to increase awareness of MMS’ role and keep an ongoing dialogue so as to foster future collaboration or for MMS to provide support for future mission development. MMS desires to be an agency of choice.

Most importantly, in The Character of a Methodist, John Wesley spoke of Christian perfection – understood as a perfection of love. We are to love God wholeheartedly and join together in Christian service as we reach out to others with God’s love and truth. We are also the People of the Flame. The flame of the Holy Spirit has been a Methodist symbol, reflecting the Spirit-filled life that we live. The Holy Spirit enables us to recognise our calling as God’s people to go forth and to be united in His love as we reach out in mission and evangelism.

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BUILDING WALLS or building BRID W

Rev Dr Andrew Peh graduated from Trinity Theological College (TTC) and Asbury Theological Seminary, and lectures in the area of mission at TTC. He is also a Diaconal Minister at Charis Methodist Church.

Editor’s note: This article was first published in the April 2019 issue of Trumpet by Trinity Theological College.

e are inundated with news about a president who is desirous of building a wall to keep the ‘undesirable’ immigrants out of his country. Nearer home, we read of the Rohingyas, a displaced (and despised) people, without a place to call home. And in Singapore, the total number of foreign workers as of 2018 stands at about 1.37 million, according to the Ministry of Manpower.

These are snapshots of the reality of the displacement and migration of peoples. This global diaspora is changing the way we look at the world and the impact and implications are numerous. Missiologists have termed this development ‘diaspora mission’. There is increasing awareness that missions in our contemporary world is no longer unilinear (from the global north to the global south), but polycentric; that is, we are invited to partner in God’s mission ‘from everywhere to everywhere’.

The biblical basis for diaspora mission is also evident in both the Old and New Testaments. For me, Philip’s encounter with and baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch is one of the most poignant passages. Discounting their ethnic, social and even gender differences, what Philip did in obediently sharing the Good News with the eunuch provides a basis for us to engage those who exist on the periphery of the dominant culture. Justo Gonzalez is right in noting that in the baptism of this eunuch, Philip is doing much more than we think: he is fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah, that the eunuch and the foreigner (the Gentiles) also have a place in the house of the Lord.

How do we understand a passage like this? What lessons can we glean?

Perhaps the most primary is that God feels passionately about the person on the other side of the wall that we have erected to keep out!

It is significant that the story of Philip encountering the Ethiopian eunuch is placed here in Acts 8. It is Luke’s way of saying that at the moment when the Gospel is reaching the wider world, wherever you go, whatever culture you come to, whatever situation of human need, sin, exclusion, or oppression you may find, the message of Jesus transcends all - God’s love transcends geography, culture, gender, race, and all the sin that we see in others. We are compelled always to point them to Jesus; because He is the one who brings forgiveness, healing, and transformation. Like Jesus, we, the church, should be in the business of demolishing prejudices.

It is said that Singapore is the place where the world converges, and while there have been increased efforts among Singapore churches to send out missionaries, there is also the fact of peoples migrating to Singapore in the hope of a better life, that churches need to give more thought to. This is mission at our doorstep.

HFSPECIAL 35

D GES Have churches given sufficient thought of what or how this mission looks like? Do we set up a migrant workers ministry to demonstrate our obedience to God’s missionary mandate while erecting walls of division and disunity, based upon ethnic and cultural differences? Is the Gospel we share indicative of the fact that the God we worship is the One who desires the salvation of all the nations and all of creation?

Diaspora mission enables us to have a view of mission from the perspective of those who are on the margins of our society, just as Philip’s obedience to the Spirit’s leading enabled him to reach out with the saving knowledge of God to one who was ethnically, socially, culturally different from him. Dare we move out from our comfortable middle-class church community to minister amongst the construction workers from India and Bangladesh, the domestic helpers from Myanmar and Indonesia, the nurses from the Philippines, or the bus captains and waitresses from China? Dare we be inclusive in our outreach to the ex-offenders, the single parents, and the disenfranchised not only by drawing them into the church community but also by ensuring that there is no safe distance between ‘them’ and ‘us’?

Dr Goh Wei Leong, one of the founders of HealthServe, shared his story of how he and some likeminded friends initiated a work among migrant workers to provide some basic healthcare for them. They found a place for a clinic in Geylang Lorong 23 and opened it on Saturday afternoons. But to their dismay, not many workers turned up. He was told that if he really wanted to reach out to the migrant workers, he needed to get to the other side of Geylang, to the even-numbered streets where sex workers ply their trade and where many migrant workers live above brothels, where rental rates were cheaper. They subsequently relocated their

clinic to the other side of Geylang. For me, this is the true “crossover” project because Dr Goh and his friends took that bold step, like Jesus, to break down the walls of division and cross over to reach out to those who need His touch. “By crossing the street, we crossed over to the side of the vulnerable and oppressed…. We spent many evenings talking to them, telling them about the clinic.

And after that, they started coming. It was a major lesson for us; we had to move into their community,” Dr Goh shared.

The urban context of mission is ‘from everywhere to everywhere’. God still calls some to minister in a crosscultural context as long-term missionaries, but for the rest of us, God is perhaps calling us to do His work across the road, and perhaps even in our own homes where we have erected high walls of exclusion instead of bridges of embrace.

What are the bridges that we need to build in place of these walls of exclusion? I recognize that tearing down walls and building bridges will not be easy for the church.

It will certainly be uncomfortable; it will challenge the status quo and cause us to consider where and who is at the centre of our church, and who is at the centre of our faith. But in keeping with the thrust of the mission of God, we cannot afford to let class, race, gender, politics, geography, culture or any other differences and prejudices hinder us from being an instrument for God’s work. Will you raise a wall or will you build a bridge?

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A CALL for MISSIONARIES “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

W

e declare that the crops are ripe and ready for harvest. There is an urgent need for workers to help gather the harvest. Do you hear God calling you? Is there an urging in your heart, building up in you a desire to join in to share the gospel to others of different cultures and languages, and to go and bring God’s blessings to them?

Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung

新加坡卫理公会 会督 Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore. He enjoys spending time with his children.

SCARCITIES IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Often I would visit our mission fields with our missionaries. Each time, deep emotions are evoked. Though the countries have risen above the chaos to become independent, yet ordinary folk are unable to escape poverty. This brings many societal problems, such as scarcity in educational opportunities. For a variety of reasons, many impoverished children are unable to attend school to receive an education. Thus there is a need for teachers to go where the children are to provide the quality education. This is because we believe that education is the most effective way to help the future generation to break away from poverty.

CHALLENGING HYGIENE STANDARDS This is a common observation. There is no potable water, and there is environmental pollution, garbage is not cleared, mosquitoes and rat infestations, altogether unacceptable living conditions. We need volunteers who can help them improve and maintain hygiene at their surroundings for the longer term.

LOW INCOME AND LOW EMPLOYMENT RATES As these countries are still in the midst of development, there are limited resources to invest in industries and provide opportunities. Many of those who need help are low-salaried manual workers. With a wife and children, rental, food and daily expenses, monthly wages are stretched to make ends meet. There is no spare cash to improve quality of life. If anyone has any good idea to help increase their income, it will be an incomparable blessing.

INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION Some government and administrative organisations lack effectiveness, such that there is no proper solution to the people’s affairs. Infrastructure is not maintained regularly, the underground water systems are blocked, the city’s communications and transport are messy, and the laws and policies are not enforced. Added to that there is corruption and other unacceptable practices, which simply drag out and slow down the overall development for the area.

From what is described above, we can see that these situations are caught in a vicious cycle.

These people seldom look satisfied, even smiling faces are rare. The challenges of life are so tough that most are sullen and silent while their hearts are filled with dissatisfaction and discontentment. Who can bring them hope? Who can tell them how to deal with and improve their troubling poverty?

We have been waiting for you to respond to God’s touch and call, to embark on the missionary’s journey, to go and save those who are lost, help those who are weak, and bless those who are poor. If you feel this urging from the Lord, please get in touch with MMS. We pray for you to respond to God’s call.

回应宣教呼召 “要收的庄稼多，做工的人少。 所以，你们当求庄稼的主打发工人出去收他的庄稼。” （太 9:37-38）

我

们向大家宣告庄稼熟了，禾场急需工人 参与收割庄稼！你有听到上帝呼召你 吗？你心中有感动想参与向不同文化的族群分 享福音，去祝福他们吗？

且需求多数是依靠人力的低薪工作。有妻儿的 家庭需要房租、食物、日常用品，每个月领的 薪金勉强糊口，根本没有余钱可以改善生活素 质。若有有什么好点子增加他们的收入，那是 无比的祝福。

教育不普及

我常与我们的宣教士探访我们在本区域的福 音禾场，每次到了当地感触很深，国家虽然从 动乱中独立了，可是大多数的百姓摆脱不了贫 困。这带来许多社会问题，如教育不普及。许多 贫困的孩子因为各种原因仍然无法到学校受教 育，因此需要有教师进入他们当中提供优质教 育。因为我们深信教育是改变下一代人脱离贫 困最有效的方法。

落后的卫生设施

卫生设施落后是常见的现象，没有清洁的饮用 水，环境污浊零乱，垃圾随处、到处有蚊蝇鼠 患、居住条件恶劣。我们需要有义工去帮助他 们改善环境，并且长期跟进。

WE 低薪低职 由于国家仍处于发展中，能 HAVE BEEN 提供的就业机会有限，而 WAITING FOR YOU TO RESPOND TO GOD’S TOUCH AND CALL, TO EMBARK ON THE MISSIONARY’S JOURNEY, TO GO AND SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST, HELP THOSE WHO ARE WEAK, AND BLESS THOSE WHO ARE POOR.

国家行政失效

政府行政机构缺乏效率，造成有关民生的事务 缺乏有效和妥善处理的方案。基础设施没有定 期维修、地下水道淤塞、城市交通混乱、城市 规划无章，加上贪污等陋习，简直拖垮或拖慢 整个社区的发展。 单就以上所述就可以知道这是恶性循环的 原因和后果。从所接触的人的脸上很少看到满 足的面容，也难得看见笑容。生活的困苦压得 大家平日静默无声，但是内心充满不满不服。 谁能带给他们希望？谁能告诉他们如何面对和 改善苦难贫穷？ 我们期待你回应上帝的感动和呼召，踏上 宣教之路，祝福失落者、弱小者、贫困者。若你 有感动，请联系我们卫理宣教会的同工。我们 等你很久了，上帝也期盼你回应祂的呼召。