Methodist Message: August 2020 by Methodist Message

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI(P) 027/11/2019

Vo l 1 2 2 N o 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

METHODIST CONTRIBUTIONS

TO THE NATION

Contents

Church life Methodists in the world Christian living

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Bishop’s Message

Disciple facilitators’ training 2020

Church Profile—Telugu Methodist Church

One MCS—ETAC Highlights

Home—Things you never knew about

The Methodist Church in Singapore (or your pastors)

News—Called through a book

News—A refuge in times of trouble

Home—Faith and deeds

Home—The greatest showmen

Home—Sharing salt and light

Welfare Services

23 Missions

You & Your Family

Hymns & Songs

TRAC Bible Matters

28 Soundings 31

Book Review—The Invisible People:

The Bus Driver; Auntie Goes Home; Uncles at Work

Home—What does being a Methodist mean to you?

Looking Ahead

In memoriam

The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church.

Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications

Editor Sheri Goh

Sub-editor

All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. 70 Barker Road #06-04 Singapore 309936 6478-4793 | 6478-4763 message.methodist.org.sg | www.methodist.org.sg newmm@methodist.org.sg

Tan Chiu Ai

fb.com/Methodist.SG

Communications Executive

@methodist.sg

Jason Woo

Proofreader Tan Sheng Ling

Design & Production by Londonbob Design Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd

Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg

BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference from 2008 to 2016.

Methodist contributions to the nation “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” (1 Tim 2:1–3)

very August, Singapore celebrates National Day, and this year is our 55th. The early years, after independence was abruptly thrust upon us in 1965, were politically challenging and difficult. Our neighbours were sceptical of our survival prospects as we faced massive unemployment,

a housing crisis and a lack of natural resources. But Singapore prevailed over those difficult times through the combined effort of a government’s exceptional leadership and a people’s indomitable spirit. We steadily progressed from our impoverished beginnings to the prosperity we enjoy today, thanks to the sacrifice of our pioneers’ blood, sweat and tears as they struggled together, regardless of race, language or religion. We, who come after, need to continue building on this foundation and defend our homeland at all cost. The Methodist Church has contributed socially to Singapore since it started in 1885. When Singapore gained independence, new government policies presented us with the irrefutable responsibility to increase our contributions to the nation and society.

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

Methodist contributions to the nation

One of our important beliefs is the pursuit of social holiness—taking action to show care and to help the poor, needy and vulnerable in society. That is why we include in The Book of Discipline a section on “The Social Principles of The Methodist Church in Singapore”. These principles are based on a biblical and theological foundation. I call on all Singapore Methodists to a response of faith to these social principles, which include: •

family life: marital relationship and divorce; parent–child relationships; God’s gift of sex; birth control and abortion; infertility and assisted methods of reproduction

•

the stewardship of wealth: property and possessions; a simple lifestyle and consumerism; gambling

•

the responsible use of power: political responsibilities; military service; the use of technology

•

social responsibilities in community life: multi-religious understanding; multi-racial harmony; rights of women; rights of the aged; rights of children; rights of the disabled; rights and social responsibilities

•

serving others with God’s love: caring for the poor; the promotion of workers’ welfare; the provision of health care; caring for the dying and euthanasia; ministry to drug addicts; ministry to prisoners; ministry to foreign domestic workers and labourers

•

caring for God’s world: conservation of natural resources; building a world community

Based on these social principles, the Methodist Church has been fulfilling its social responsibilities through concrete action.

Schools: Our 15 primary and secondary schools and junior colleges include: single-sex schools, co-ed schools, heartland schools, independent schools, private schools and international schools. They offer quality education to more than 21,000 students from different ethnic groups and social backgrounds. Their alumni serve the people of our nation in every important domain.

Pre-school centres: MCS began establishing such centres in 1953 to not only provide early childhood education but also inculcate values in young minds, build character and prepare them to be good citizens; we were one of the first social organisations to do so.

Serving the vulnerable community: With financial assistance from the government, we have set up 18 home-support and service centres, as well as two sizeable convalescent homes to look after vulnerable groups in the community, such as the elderly, the physically weak, single parents and those with special needs. We hope to extend warmth and care, and enable them to live a positive life. It is the responsibility of every citizen and social and religious organisation to participate in nation building and help bring about social harmony, progress and prosperity. MCS is able to contribute to society through working with other social, religious and community organisations to fulfil our shared national values and to build a home that we cherish. We wish our nation blessings of strength and warmth.

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Coming Up ¢ Visuals courtesy of Disciple Agency

DISCIPLE

facilitators’ training 2020

he DISCIPLE Bible Study Programme was developed by a team of pastors and lay persons in the United Methodist Church, and is intended to help Christians engage with the Bible in small groups. It pioneered the

use of video in Bible study, which enables small groups to draw upon the work of scholars, combined with personal Bible reading and dynamic group discussion, to aid understanding of the Bible. The Bible is the text for this Bible Study Programme and is a tool which God has used to transform lives, and not just inform minds.

DISCIPLE Facilitators’ Training

as facilitators, you must:

For an in-depth understanding of the DISCIPLE COURSE, go to https://message.methodist.org. sg/mcs-focus-disciple-agency/

•

or scan the QR code

Disciple Agency (DA) conducts training for facilitators to run the DISCIPLE Bible Study Programme in local churches. In order to be eligible to trained

Must be theologically-trained, OR for lay applicants with no theological training, must have graduated from at least D1, and also have graduated from the course they are applying to facilitate (e.g. if applying to be trained as facilitator for D3, they must have themselves completed and graduated from D3). Lay applicants require recommendation by their pastor.

•

For both clergy and lay, if applying to be trained as facilitators for D2, D3, or D4, they must first have completed training as facilitator for D1.

Important Notes: •

DISCIPLE: BDTBS is a “prerequisite” for DISCIPLE: IWIW, DISCIPLE: RWYA, and DISCIPLE: UTOL.

•

You are encouraged to first complete the DISCIPLE course before attending the training. For example, to register for BDTBS leaders’ training after you have successfully completed BDTBS course.

A new DISCIPLE course will be starting soon! For more information and updates on the course times/dates: https://tinyurl.com/disciple2020 disciple@methodist.org.sg 6765-5301

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

DISCIPLE

facilitators’ training 2020

From Sunday schools at age four with the neighbours Through the disagreeable teens, to a questioning young adult God was, is and will always draw me close to Him Through encounters, rebukes and gentle reminders, You draw me close A season of flawed churches and leaders

Since 10 March 2020, I have been conducting the DISCIPLE class via Zoom.

Evoking disappointment, sadness and ultimately apathy Then You draw me close yet again Marking this Discipleship class our meeting place

We have journeyed with the Patriarchs,

Knowing the beautiful life you have planned for me

sung praises and lamented with the

On this earth and in heaven

Psalmists, marvelled at the majestic works of

Learning, understanding, appreciating and seeing

God and His sovereignty in the history of Israel. We are crossing into the

The importance of our hearts over deeds You planted new friends for this season We disagree, pray, laugh and encourage

New Testament in two weeks’ time

And the veil is lifted, on the march of my Christian heartbeat

and looking forward to radical discipleship.

My rock stabilises and my heart rejoices I step out in courage and in inspiration

Pastor BK (May 2020)

To live and breathe as you imagined Sensitive to your loving beckoning calls Drawing closer to my God

Winnie with her DISCIPLE group from Wesley MC in Dec 2018

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Winnie Pua (DISCIPLE 1) Wesley Methodist Church

Church Profile ¢

Telugu Methodist Church

The Rev Anil Samuel is the Pastor-in-Charge of Telugu Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Telugu Methodist Church

Computer classes for migrant workers

Committed to the great commission

elugu Methodist Church, which was constituted 2008, envisions to reach the Telugu-speaking community in Singapore for Christ.

Initially, the church witnessed to the large number of foreign brothers, but now there are an increasing number of families with children who worship the Lord with us. This has paved the way for the greater pastoral care. Though the needs of these two groups may vary, their common socio-cultural interests bring them together to make further inroads for the gospel. Sharing Christ and equipping disciples to be obedient and committed to the Great Commission (Matt 28:18–20) continue to be the emphasis in the Telugu ministry.

The hostel or dorm ministry of the church brings the gospel to hundreds in the migrant workforce. In recent years, God has opened doors to reach young brothers at a Megayard. SEVA, an outreach ministry to the migrant workers at Westlite in Mandai, focuses on addressing health- and work-related issues through counselling. It also equips the dorm residents in basic computer skills. On a regular basis, the church organises special events on public holidays and on special occasions for outreach and bonding. These events are a great time of fun and learning from one another to serve better and glorify God. Join us! You, too, can be part of this ministry and make a difference by prayer and sharing your resources, to give hope and inspire lives for Christ.

Worship services are held at 7 p.m. every Sunday; Holy Communion is administered on the first Sunday of every month. With the vibrant worship, Word and witness, many friends have been drawn to Christ and the church fellowship. Praise the Lord! Families find the church to be a safe haven for spiritual nurture, bonding and charity. Regular prayers, Bible studies and Disciple Bible training are held for members to grow in their faith. Children enjoy the weekly Sunday school, which allows them to be grounded in the Christian faith.

Sunday worship services

TELUGU METHODIST CHURCH (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference)

The church organises special events on public holidays and special occasions

Tamil Methodist Church 8 Short Street, Singapore 188214 http://www.sgtmc.org sgtmc@gmail.com 8611-7374 Telugu Service: Sunday 7.00 p.m. METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

One MCS ¢

ETAC Highlights

The Rev James Nagulan was elected President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) in 2016 for the quadrennium. He is also Pastor-in-Charge of Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street) and Seletar Tamil Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of ETAC

Ministry goes on! The Emmanuel Praise Virtual Choir during the combined ETAC service Sunday School resumed online on 7 June 2020, and a Google site was set up with resources for SS teachers and parents

hen COVID-19 landed on Singapore’s shores, ETAC knew that it would affect our lives: our families, our work, the community at large and, without a doubt, our church life. The introduction of circuit breaker measures meant we could not leave our homes for work (unless we were essential workers), school or church worship services. Social interaction within communities was not possible until we incorporated the wonderful opportunities afforded by modern technology into our thinking. We took the church online to our various congregations, and served them in their homes. We began with Sunday worship services, as conducted within the our respective churches. We then introduced modified Sunday School lessons for the various ages groups; Bible studies, Praise & Prayer meetings, Youth Fellowship, and WSCS gatherings and worship, and the much welcomed migrant ministry worship services were brought to the online platforms. “Zoom” became the buzzword, and we found creative ministry ideas to engage various age groups and needs. What a God-given opportunity to reach out and share the church ministry! Our first online worship service was a combined ETAC service. Our objectives were to unite our eight churches in prayer and worship; we sought God’s wisdom, His guidance during these unprecedented times. In the weeks that followed, each church had their own live and recorded worship services. We were glad that our congregations have been very receptive of these worship services— much more than we had anticipated. Our seniors and home-bound members have welcomed this opportunity to worship in as close a fashion as being in the church.

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

The ETAC LCEC meeting was conducted over Zoom

These worship services, conducted both in English and Tamil, have reached Singaporean members and friends, and other Christians, especially the Tamil-speaking, around the world. Online Sunday School classes saw parents and children learning together in meaningful spiritual conversations. As we view the entire ministry, in its current format and presentation, we may say that it has given birth to a “virtual church”. But this is not the correct meaning of the Body of Christ, which can never be virtual. However, in making effective use of this presented opportunity, in spite of church buildings being closed, the Church remains open and will continue to be so. Though we were physically unable to meet, we continue to be a Church— to worship, pray, study and spread the Word, and have Christian fellowship. Praise God that the Church ministry can go on, and effectively.

Home ¢

MCS 135

Emilyn Tan is a writer at Salt&Light, an independent, non-profit Christian news and devotional website with a passion for kingdom unity, and a vision of inspiring faith to arise in the marketplace. / Photos courtesy of the Methodist Archives and History Library

Things you never knew

about The Methodist Church in Singapore (or your pastors) Did you know that Methodism in Singapore began with a dream of the Singapore harbour? James Thoburn and William Oldham, founders of Methodism in Singapore, were received at the harbour on 7 Feb 1885, by Charles Phillips, who had been instructed in a dream to meet the two missionaries he had been praying for. Here’s another nugget: MPH bookstores was originally a press for the Methodist mission, and used to stand for “Methodist Publishing House”. Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church is another archival treasure. It is gazetted as a National Monument, as the church building at Telok Ayer Street stood through World War II as a refuge for Singaporeans. It retains its unique architecture that blends Chinese and Western styles.

Bedok Methodist Church as it was in 1946–52 had a decidedly kampung feel

As the grand old dame that is The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) celebrates its 135th anniversary, we take a walk through just a few corners of its rich history, and ask pastors what it means to them to be part of the Church.

Fanning faith The year was 1885. The seeds of Methodism in Singapore were planted by Dr James Thoburn and the Rev William Oldham, missionaries sent out by the South India Conference. Upon arrival, they held evangelistic rallies over two weeks, and those who responded to the Gospel call formed the first Methodist church congregation in Singapore—what is now Wesley Methodist Church (MC). This makes Wesley the oldest Methodist church in Singapore.

Telok Ayer Chinese MC was constructed in 1924 and is a national heritage site

Wesley’s Fort Canning home was granted in 1907 by the Singapore governor then in recognition of the Methodist Church’s contributions to missions and education—notable then and continuing even today. Today, Wesley MC has more than 7,000 members. When asked what makes him a Methodist, the Rev Benjamin Lee, a pastor at Wesley, says: “I became a Methodist because this is where God anchored me in His Word after a season where I went to different churches. I stayed a Methodist because I see fellow Methodists desiring and encouraging each other to live out the Word, growing in the Word not just in their minds, but through their acts as well—truly incarnate faith.” The land on which Wesley MC sits was a gift from the Singapore governor in 1907, in recognition of their contributions to society METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

Things you never knew

about The Methodist Church in Singapore (or your pastors)

Christian disciple is true to Scripture and the way God created us to love God by loving our neighbour. “Thirdly, Wesley stressed an inclusive spirit for all people, even the ones with whom we disagree. “If Methodism can strive to show such inclusiveness and respect to those with whom we strongly disagree, then I believe we will be true to the teaching and spirit of John Wesley and Scripture. “And I will be humbled, and happy to be called a Methodist—until the day Christ returns, and we all grow up and out of these temporary labels that still divide us.”

Anglo Chinese School started with 13 students in Chinatown

Steering education In 1886, the first Methodist school, Anglo-Chinese School, was started by Oldham at 70 Amoy Street with 13 students. They were taught English in the night and Chinese in the afternoon, hence the school’s name. The 1972 charismatic renewal that swept through AngloChinese School, and was even covered by the mainstream press, took on the moniker “The Clock Tower Revival” after the iconic clock tower at the school. MCS now has 15 schools under its wing, including primary and secondary schools and a junior college. It also operates the Methodist School of Music. ACS alumnus, the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, President of the MCS Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), gives “three quick reasons” why he is a Methodist: “Firstly, because of the grace and providence of God. I was born into a family that worshipped God in a Methodist church, and I was sent to study in a Methodist school for 12 years—and I am grateful for this. “Secondly, because I believe that John Wesley’s (and Methodism’s) emphasis on both ‘works of piety’ and ‘works of mercy’ as the essential marks of a faithful

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

A 1928 photo of students celebrating the Christmas Cantata at Fairfield Girls’ School, which was started by Sophia Blackmore in 1888 with eight Nonya girls

Meeting societal needs Methodist Welfare Services was founded and registered as an Institution of Public Charter (IPC) in 1981. Its 19 centres and outreach programmes serve the poor and needy, elderly, disadvantaged children and at-risk youths, with the aim of enabling “all to have life to the full”, according to its description on giving.sg. Elaborating on the twin pillars of piety and mercy, the Rev Dr Daniel Koh, former Chairperson of the MWS Board of Governance, explains: “’Acts of piety’ remind us about the importance of being nurtured and shaped by spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, singing spiritual songs, reading the Bible and fasting. “‘Acts of mercy’ reminds us that ours is not, and must not be, a privatised faith. There is a social dimension where we express our faith by reaching out to people, especially those whom I refer to as the vulnerable and voiceless, the poor and powerless.

“The different Christian denominations are like different instruments in an orchestra, all playing the same basic melody. By celebrating our distinctives faithfully, together we contribute to the proclamation of biblical Christianity and bring out God’s manifold wisdom.”

So what makes a Methodist? “My parents got me baptised at Geylang Chinese MC as a baby. I was brought up at Paya Lebar Chinese MC until my early teens,” says the Rev Dr Lorna Khoo, pastor at Holland Village MC. “As a 15-year-old, I went to Trinity MC and fell in love with Christ there.

Kampong Kapor church in Middle Road in 1987

“It is the Methodist key distinctive—radical holiness in heart and life, plus an outflow in social holiness—that kept me in the Methodist Church.”

“In short, the Methodist tradition offers a way that is both Biblical and balanced, and a holiness that is both personal as well as social. And we say we can do this by the grace of God.”

The Rev Malcolm Tan, Pastor-in-Charge of Covenant Community MC, says: “Methodist Christianity, like other authentic Christian traditions, is rooted in the ancient faith once given to the saints (Jude 3).

Lending leadership

“It seeks to follow the catholic, apostolic and orthodox tradition which defends the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the worship of the One God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit according to the consistent witness of the New Testament.”

MCS became independent in 1976 from its Malaysian counterpart in a restructuring. It has had its own Bishop since. Structurally, it is made up of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) and TRAC, which together includes 46 local churches and a membership of 44,000. Bishop Emeritus Rev Dr Robert Solomon, bishop from 2000 to 2012, who wrote the lyrics to “The People of the Way” for MCS135, was born into a Methodist family and thus was an “accidental” Methodist. “Then I began to read the writings of John Wesley and studied the wonderful hymns of Charles Wesley and became an ‘intentional Methodist’. “I learnt to follow Jesus in the company of the Wesley brothers. The primary emphasis on the doctrine of grace in Christ, holiness through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and Christian discipleship as being perfected in God’s love is what marks Methodist doctrine, devotion and discipleship.

He affirms how, among its doctrines, the Church upholds “both personal and social holiness—that is, the redemption of society. Our own salvation should move us to positively influence human society for the better. We believe that the world can be transformed in a great measure even before the second coming of Christ. Hence we want to love God and our neighbours. “These reasons are characteristic of Christianity in a Wesleyan expression which I have found helpful in my walk with the Lord in the life of His Church. They do not stop us from learning from others. Indeed, in the universal Church of Christ, we practise the exchange of gifts with brothers and sisters in Christ from various confessions, that everything will find their unity in Christ Jesus eventually. To Him be all the glory forever.”

“It expresses itself in personal and social holiness, in the central teaching of Scripture that we are to love God and our neighbours through evangelism and social ministries. This is done in the context of vibrant Christian community. “All these are reasons why I remain a Methodist, knowing that the distinctives of Methodism enrich the larger Christian community.

This article originally appeared at https://saltandlight.sg/ news/things-you-never-knew-about-the-methodist-church-insingapore-or-your-pastors/

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Home ¢ The Rev Dr Edwin Tay was appointed principal of Trinity Theological College on 1 July 2020. An ordained minister of the Chinese Annual Conference, he grew up attending Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, and is an alumnus of Anglo-Chinese School and Anglo-Chinese Junior College. / Photos courtesy of the Rev Dr Edwin Tay

As an ACJC choir committee member in 1988/89 and 1990/90. (The Rev Dr Tay is in the second row, fourth from left)

Called through a book

n my family, I am a second-generation Christian. Attending church on Sundays was a practice that began early in my life as part of what my family would do on the weekends. My parents and grandparents started attending Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TACMC) in the early ’70s. It was there that I was baptised as a child and nurtured in the Christian faith. The reality of God and that of the death and resurrection of Jesus didn’t really grip me in any spiritually significant way until I was a teenager. But this did not mean that going to church was of no spiritual value to me before then—the Church community formed me in important ways that provided the biblical and theological framework to make sense of my life in God’s world. Worthy of note were the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) camps. They ignited my spiritual passion, gave substance to what fellowship with Christ and His followers is about, and challenged me to take God and His Word seriously. Another important event were the renewal and revival meetings I attended. Held during the weekdays over a few nights, they were conducted in Chinese and Hokkien, and were always well-attended as far as I can recall. As a boy, I was there only because my parents had brought me along. I was too young to appreciate the preaching and usually did my own thing while the adults did theirs. But the hymns and revival choruses that were sung have stayed with me. The significance of these meetings only became evident to me only in hindsight. Whether Sunday School, MYF, the church choir or revival meetings, my identity as an integral member of God’s people was shaped by these ministries from when I was a young age.

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The bagpipe band of the Boys’ Brigade 12th Singapore Company in 1987. (The Rev Dr Tay is first from left)

The Rev Dr Tay with his wife, Angela, and daughters Phoebe (left) and Chloe

The first 12 years of my formal education were spent at the Anglo-Chinese School. Towards the end of my second year at Anglo-Chinese Junior College, I felt the call of God to enter the Christian ministry. Interestingly, it was a call that came after I had read the biography of the Methodist evangelist from China, Dr John Sung. I was thrilled to read about the revival meetings he had conducted in 1935 in my home church. It was then that I made the connection with the revival meetings I had attended as a young boy. They were part of Sung’s legacy that shaped the spirituality of my home church. But I was also ambivalent. While deeply impressed by Sung’s remarkable sense of purpose in life, I was sorely disappointed that I didn’t have a similar resoluteness. “What am I to do with my life?” This had been an unresolved question for me, especially in light of what my future was to be after my A-Level examinations. This led to me doing some serious soul-searching, about the way I had been living my life, for several months.

But I still felt inadequate. The more I read, the more I realised that I needed formal theological training for ministry. So I enrolled in part-time theological studies while working in FES and later in TACMC as a member of the pastoral staff team. My growing burden to acquire a theological education led eventually to postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. Many of my colleagues at Trinity Theological College were ordained as ministers before they became theological educators in the seminary—it was the other way round for me. Upon return from the UK, I began to serve as a lecturer in theology before I was ordained as a minister. God’s call upon our lives does not take place in a vacuum. The circumstances surrounding each person’s calling will be different. But regardless of such differences, the nature of our calling will be made clearer when we embrace the circumstances that confront us as the God-ordained setting for living out our God-appointed vocations.

One evening, in the quiet of my room, I felt the call of God and gave my life to Christ for Christian service. There was no audible voice, just an unusual clarity within myself and overwhelming sense of conviction about dedicating my life to the cause of Christ.

The Rev Dr Tay with members of his home church, TACMC, at his ordination in 2015

Many are called through gathered assemblies; I was called through books. I began to devour the biographies of John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards and other well-known Christians. Upon graduating from the National University of Singapore, I joined the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) as a staff worker. Having to guide student leaders, my scope of my reading was widened from more devotional and biographical writings to books on apologetics and theology. The writings of John Stott, J. I. Packer, Martyn Lloyd Jones and A. W. Tozer were especially helpful.

Regardless of how challenging our present reality may be, the Psalmist encourages us to view the whole span of our lives through the lenses of God’s “goodness” and “mercy”. Understanding God’s providential dealings with us through these lenses, we step forth with courage into the future as our Shepherd calls us by name. I have heard my name called many years ago in the quiet of my room. Since then, I have come to recognise his voice better.

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News ¢ By the MCS Communications Team / Photos courtesy of Aldersgate MC, AMKMC, AMKCMC, AMKTAC, Faith MC, Queenstown CMC and Toa Payoh MC

S3P at Aldersgate MC

A refuge

in times of trouble

ith church buildings left empty during the circuit breaker, these Methodists decided that loving their neighbours didn’t have to be put on hold. They decided to put their premises to good use by registering as Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3Ps) with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), so that they could provide shelter to the homeless and displaced—they are a reminder that we can always find ways to serve the community. Each church has a different story on how they were led to this ministry. For the leaders of sister churches Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (AMKMC), AMK Chinese Methodist Church (AMKCAC), and AMK Tamil Methodist Church (AMKTAC), the decision was swift and unanimous. After getting registered upon referral from Homeless Hearts of Singapore (HHOS), team members across all three churches pitched in to run the shelter, 24 hours a day.

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

The work included liaising with HHOS and the MSF, providing amenities like Wi-Fi and laundry facilities, as well as hospitality duties. It was a learning experience for all involved. By connecting with their guests and listening to their stories, the team gained greater understanding of a group of people who are all too easily overlooked when it comes to societal support. Before COVID-19, the three churches were already regularly working together to serve their neighbourhood community. This shelter project was an extension of their ongoing efforts, which include home visits and grocery deliveries. AMKMC Pastor-in-Charge the Rev Anthony Lee has these words of encouragement for those who feel helpless during this pandemic: focus on what you can do, rather than what you cannot. “We have to remember being shut in or shut out may result in an entirely new season. After

Noah emerged from the floodwaters, he began life on behalf of a new humanity. After Moses was up on the mountain for 40 days, he came down and his face shone as a result of God’s glory. Finally, only after Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness did He begin His ministry. Let us spend as much time as possible in God’s presence through prayer, worship and reading of His Word. More than just simply doing our part to stop the spread of the virus and stay home, this period of being shut-in can be a real season of growth in the Lord.” Quoting Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung’s MCS135 sermon, the Rev Lee reminds us to ask ourselves: to whom can I be a good neighbour today? Another joint initiative was between Faith MC and Queenstown Chinese MC (QCMC). S3P@Faith opened at their shared premises from 23 April to 1 June 2020. At full capacity, S3P@Faith sheltered eight female stayers, who were Malaysians and Singaporeans ranging from middle-aged adults to the elderly. Some had been living in public spaces for years, some were displaced from their housing by the COVID-19 situation, while others were Malaysians unable to return home due to travel restrictions. A team of staff and volunteers from both churches were responsible for practical and pastoral care. Part of the work was ensuring that requirements such as cleaning standards, temperature-taking, safe distancing and contact tracing protocols were met, which received approval from MSF authorities before the shelter was opened. During the stayers’ time in the shelter, the team also provided them with emotional support. One stayer even received Christ because of the love she experienced through the community of volunteers. “When I came [to Faith], it was an eye-opener for me… In all my life, in Singapore, I had never been to a church. I was received with open arms, everybody was very friendly, and I was very, very touched,” said another stayer.

Celebrating the birthday of one of the safe sleepers at Faith MC

Blood donation drive at TPMC

For the Faith MC family, S3P@Faith was a practical way for them to take a step towards building a more inclusive community. Faith MC sees every encounter with these members of society as opportunities to bring our kingdom family to those around us both in thought and action, as whatever we do for the least of us, we do for Him (Matt 25:40). Meanwhile, Toa Payoh MC (TPMC) has been operating as an S3P since September 2019, and will continue to do so after the circuit breaker has ended. With COVID-19, TPMC saw an increase in referrals for rough sleepers to their shelter. Knowing that rough sleepers are especially vulnerable during these challenging times, the TPMC team saw this as an open door for them to serve and to share God’s love. Apart from keeping the space clean and comfortable, implementing safe distancing measures and providing food and drinks, TPMC also looks out for their guests’ mental well-being by slowly building a relationship of trust. Every occupant is assigned a social worker who journeys with them and helps them move forward, be it in terms of housing or other pressing issues. In one case, a businessman, who had started sleeping on the streets after his business folded, reconciled his rocky relationship with his father, and both are living under the same roof once more. TPMC was also on the lookout to meet the community’s needs in any capacity that was needed. With stocks in our blood banks running low during the circuit breaker period, TPMC conducted an Easter Sunday blood drive in partnership with Red Cross Singapore. More than 120 people turned up, and 98 packs of blood were collected from the one-day event. The Rev Ming Feong Ching of TPMC reminds us: “If you are feeling helpless and anxious about the situation you are in, I want to encourage you to remember the goodness of God. Remember the faithfulness of our Lord. Remember how God has seen us through every storm we have faced in the past. He has delivered us in the past, and He will see us through the storm of COVID-19.”

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A refuge

in times of trouble

(left) The safe sleeping area at Faith MC (right) A collaboration between AMKMC, AMKCMC and AMKTMC, part of their church was converted to an area for safe sleepers

For Aldersgate MC, becoming an S3P was an extension of the efforts of various members who had been reaching out in their own ways to rough sleepers. They then decided to respond as a church to meet this need, in a prayerfully considered decision. This ministry was new to them, as they had had no prior experience in running a shelter. However, with an eagerness to learn, and the guidance of many experienced partners, the Aldersgate team cleared these initial hurdles to get the shelter up and running. They also expressed their thanks to FMS(P) for agreeing to open the shelter on school grounds. Additionally, the Encounter Fund was initiated in May 2020 with donations from church members and worshippers, in support of Methodist Welfare Services, HHOS and the Covid Migrant Support Coalition.

It was extremely heartening for them to see the whole Aldersgate community taking ownership of this initiative, as seen by the forthcoming responses to calls for volunteers, befrienders and donations. Aldersgate MC is grateful for the opportunity to respond to God’s call in a tangible way. “As Methodists, we must love our neighbours by being missional and by practising social holiness. Our mission is to advance His kingdom on a daily basis, being and making disciples who worship and follow Jesus,” says Pastor-inCharge the Rev Dr Lynette Sathiasingam. Even as we emerge from the circuit breaker period, we hope to continue honouring our Methodists who have been reaching out to neighbours in need, and to inspire others to do the same!

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Home ¢ By the MCS Communications Team / Photos courtesy of Daryl Lim

Faith and deeds

Daryl serving as deputy camp commander for BRMC’s youth camp in 2018

Distributing hand sanitiser to some rough sleepers

(From left to right) Daryl and his friends Ben, Joshua, Alden and Steven (from CWS)

ince August last year, Daryl Lim and his friends Alden, Joshua and Ben from Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC), have been regular volunteers in Catholic Welfare Services’ (CWS) Night Missions programme. They walk the ground to visit and interact with rough sleepers, and bring them buns and drinks. Each befriending visit brings them from the Bencoolen area through to Bugis and Jalan Besar, and usually lasts from around 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. When COVID-19 escalated, Daryl was inspired to start an online platform to collect donations of masks and hand sanitiser to distribute to these rough sleepers. They taught the rough sleepers the importance of cleaning their hands and how to use hand sanitiser properly. In one night, he and his friends gave out 62 bottles of hand sanitiser, along with masks and care packages. Collecting these resources was not without its challenges. Three days before the distribution event was planned, Daryl and his friends had only collected 10 bottles of hand sanitiser as the panic-buying had depleted the stocks in shops. But then donations began coming in from Daryl’s friends and family. He even received a call from the Muslim Youth Forum who had caught wind of their initiative and expressed interest in donating to it. Daryl was inspired to work with rough sleepers when his church, BRMC, held a youth camp themed “Unto the

least of these”—the theme verse reminded him that whatever he did for the least of the kingdom, he did for Christ (Matt 25:40). In the lead-up to the camp, his Sunday school teacher invited him to a Night Missions programme with CWS for a hands-on experience on how to live out that verse in Scripture, which started him on his volunteer journey. Through his experiences, he now has a deeper insight into the lives of rough sleepers and the adversities they face. Even though Singapore is a wealthy country, there are many—hundreds—among us, now invisible, who have fallen through the cracks, through circumstances beyond their control. Daryl has also had many volunteering opportunities throughout his educational journey in ACS(I) and ACJC, thanks to the ACS family’s emphasis on giving back to society. He says: “There is an African term—‘ubuntu’— which, when translated, means ‘I am because we are’. We are who we are today partly because of others. It might be easy to prioritise ourselves over others, but I hope that everyone can broaden their world view by being more understanding and caring in their actions. “If you want to make a difference but don’t know where to start, start small by showing care and respect to those around you. Just as how Jesus demonstrated his love for us on the cross, likewise we can let all that we do be done in love.”

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Home ¢ Jason Woo is the Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng and Kelvin Tan

The Greatest Showmen Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng

The largest Singapore flag (formed by 8,667 volunteers holding umbrellas), according to the Singapore Book of Records, being formed on National Day 2007 at the Padang in an NDP show directed by Kelvin Tan

ingapore’s National Day is always an occasion to which Singaporeans look forward. We are not only treated to a visual spectacle that pays tribute to our country’s progress and achievements through the years, but are also reminded of our long journey together as a people of varied races, religions and experiences in building a nation we can be proud of. This is very much so the case for two members of the local Methodist community, who could not have been more different in their occupational backgrounds and life experiences. Quek Koh Eng, who is Area Director and Operations Director in the Methodist Missions Society and worships at Charis Methodist Church (MC), is a retired Colonel of the Singapore Armed Forces. He had the privilege of being involved in the organising of several National Day Parades (NDPs) from the ’70s to the ’80s, when Singapore was just a young nation finding its footing in the world. Kelvin Tan, who works in the creative industry and attends Trinity MC, contributed his time and skills to NDPs over a span of 22 years from the late ’70s to the early 2000s, half of which in the capacity of creative director.

Witnessing the development of a nation As a young officer in the Singapore Armed Forces in the ’70s, Col Quek Koh Eng found himself quickly placed in a position that allowed him to steer the direction of several NDPs for much of the next decade, an important period in Singapore’s early history as the parades were a way to get Singaporeans united behind a collective vision of nation-building. He started as the Organising Secretary for the 1976 NDP at the National Stadium. “As the Organising Secretary, my roles were to organise the meetings for the Chairman and assist him to coordinate and follow-up on all actions related to the agencies and institutions involved in the parade.”

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Being in such a position allowed Col Quek to have a good picture of just what was involved in making a NDP a memorable experience for the citizen. It also honed his operational skills, which would put him in good stead for parades in the future. After getting his feet wet in 1976, Col Quek went on to chair the NDP Organising Committee in 1979, during which he oversaw one of the many decentralised parades that were a feature of the year. “My role as Organising Chairman was to crystalise the concepts and themes of the Parade and seek approval from the higher authorities,” described Col Quek. “There was a lot of coordination between the various sub-committees, whose jobs were to manage the flypast, invitations, crowd control, security, fireworks, rehearsals and the general table of events.” Col Quek cited that one of the toughest challenges in organising an event the scale of a NDP is getting the varied timings within the Parade precisely right, especially the firing of the 21-gun salute to the President and the flypast display by the military aircraft. He did such a good job that he was re-appointed as the Chairperson of the Organising Committee for two more NDPs in 1980 and 1983. “One of my best memories of my involvement with the NDPs was the one in 1980 when we introduced the feu de joie, performed by the Guard of Honour, which is now a standard fixture at the NDP. As blank rounds were used, we had to affix every rifle with a blank attachment and carry out rigorous inspections to ensure that no mishap occurred,” recalled Col Quek.

changing the format to include display items. The parade was then divided into two major portions, the Parade and Ceremonial aspect, which comprises mainly the marching displays and military hardware, and the second being the Display segment, which features different performing groups showcasing mass displays along a particular theme,” recounted Kelvin. “This template is still used today.” As expected of an event of its magnitude, planning for each NDP took place well in advance before the next parade, often from October the previous year. Having seen through his fair share of NDPs through the years, Kelvin noted that the NDPs in recent years have opted for more theatrics than the ones before, making the viewing experience a much more dramatic affair. He counted the 1998 NDP as one of his more memorable outings. “In 1998, the economy was badly affected, and we pulled together a moving parade that engaged the active participation of all in the audience. It was a party from the start, and the melancholic mood of an economic depression was lifted. The parade then closed with a spectacular fireworks display, a feature that is still being used today.” “It was [always] a deliberate attempt on my part to make the content every year as varied as possible, to ensure that no one would be able to make a comparison to what was before. Each year would showcase certain technological advances and therefore create memories that would be hard to forget.”

Injecting vibrancy from one century to the next Kelvin Tan found himself in a unique position to organise, conceptualise and oversee the creative presentations of NDPs that straddled the 20th and 21st centuries. For a little more than two decades, Kelvin helmed various appointments, the biggest of which was as the NDP’s Creative Director. He felt that the NDP in 1984 was the turning point with regards to the parade’s creative direction. “From 1984 and onwards, we were told to make the parade more attractive and less militaristic by

Kelvin directing the NDP show at the Padang in 2007

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Home ¢ Goh Eck Kheng is the Managing Editor of Loaves+Fishes, the publication of Covenant Community MC. / Photos courtesy of Juleen Shaw

Sharing salt and light Juleen Shaw is the managing editor of Salt&Light, a website that unites Christians in spirit and purpose to live out their faith, to serve and lead, to influence and impact. She is a member of Covenant Community MC, where she serves as one of its service managers and sits on the Alpha@CCMC committee.

How did you get involved in Salt&Light?

Where did you start?

Two-and-a-half years ago, I was approached to launch Salt&Light as its managing editor.

In the beginning, we were at our Genesis 1:1—formless and void. There was no team (except me), no content, no website, not even a name. I thought I could take my time to learn about the technology and the church ecosystem, contact newsmakers, build my team, then launch the website when I was ready.

While I saw the necessity of the Gospel and testimonies going out to a digital generation (which includes all of us who use platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp), I did not seriously consider the offer. Digital news was not my natural habitat—I had always been a print journalist at SPH and MediaCorp. But God seemed to think otherwise. About 12 hours before I was to give my answer, I told God: “God, You know I would not take on this role unless You want me to. If You really want me here, will you show me clearly?”

But two weeks after I’d joined, my CEO, Edric Sng, said: “We’re launching in eight weeks at a pastors summit attended by 800 senior pastors.” I couldn’t believe it. I felt the weight of responsibility to readers, churches, our Board of Directors. I remember sitting on my bed (I had no office yet) crying out to the Lord: “I can’t do it! I’m the wrong person! I must have heard You wrongly!”

I thought no more about it. But that very night, I opened up my DISCIPLE study manual to do my homework for the upcoming class. Guess what the theme for the week was? Work. The theme verse was 2 Thessalonians 3. I realised I had been telling myself that I was already serving in church a little, working on freelance projects a little, attending Bible classes a little. It was “enough”. I had only just left my teaching position at NTU and thought I’d take a break. But God chastised me through this Bible passage: “Don’t be idle! I did not make you to just take on a little. You can do more!” God was right. I was only giving Him a little; not my all, not my best. There’s no concept of retirement in God’s economy! (Just ask Moses and Noah.) The next day, I called the CEO and said: “Okay. I’m in.”

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The Salt&Light team in a Zoom editorial meeting during Circuit Breaker. Clockwise from top left: Tan Huey Ying, Gracia Lee, Gemma Koh, Juleen and Christine Leow. Now working from home, the team, including Juleen, shares daily personal reflections and weekly team devotions

But because His call had been so clear, I stuck it out. It was only when we launched on 8 Jan 2018 that I saw His plan: at the end of day one, we had 30,000 readers, by the end of day three, there were 58,000 readers. The numbers and speed of growth were like nothing I’d ever seen. I finally stopped fighting God and said: “Okay, God, I guess You knew what You were doing.” We launched with 20 stories, without knowing where more stories would come from. By God’s grace, from the day we launched till now, we have not stopped publishing new stories every single day. It was like seeing the miracle of five loaves and two fishes multiplying.

Can you tell me about your organisation and team? We currently have five writers—ex-journalists, editors and producers from the Straits Times, Today and CNA. Like our readers, we hail from different churches. Our CEO, Edric Sng, used to run the digital desk at Today and CNA. He is also the deputy senior pastor at Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church. We take counsel from a Board of Directors which includes Lucas Chow, who worships at Wesley MC, and Pastor Benny Ho, senior pastor of Faith Community Church in Perth. Salt&Light, together with our sister website Thir.st, comes under the umbrella of Thirst Collective. Thirst Collective is not affiliated to any one church, but is the vision of a group of pastors and marketplace leaders who saw the need to equip and encourage believers to live out their faith in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. We see ourselves as a gathering place for Christians to unite in spirit and purpose to serve and lead, to influence and impact, to find meaning in the mundane, to wrestle with doubt and despair in faith, and find amazing grace for the journey ahead.

To that end, we partner mainstream churches and para organisations to deliver the message that Christianity is more than a religion. It is a deep, personal and transformative relationship with God and with each other.

How do you run and how are you different from a secular newsroom? Salt&Light runs like a newsroom, publishing new stories daily, coming together for editorial meetings and postmortems. Like any newsroom, we are pretty much on alert 24-7—when news breaks it’s all systems go and our phones start buzzing whether it’s 12 p.m. or 12 a.m. I remember early on in Salt&Light, the one night I decided to leave my laptop in the office was the night Billy Graham died. We had to scramble to call up pastors for their response and publish the news within an hour. From that time on, my laptop has not left my side! Our criteria is that every story needs to encourage, equip and edify the body of believers and glorify God. We also set out to be hyper-local, as there are many excellent faith websites existing, but the foreign ones don’t address, say, how an NS boy deals with the negative influences of camp life, or what to do if your boss insists that you practise fengshui, or how a PSLE parent copes with the pressure. Interestingly, even though we have a local voice, we receive emails from all over the world—UK, US, Australia, China, Mexico, India, Malaysia, Philippines, etc. I guess disciples the world over have the same struggles. Some of our editorial core values are what you would find in any newsroom, for instance, “we strive for excellence in every image, video and article”. But we also have editorial core values that are faith-based: “Everything published must agree with Scripture”.

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Sharing salt and light

There are also “internal” core values aimed at honouring God: “A God of perfect order deserves the utmost professionalism” and “we work on our personal walk, so that our output will follow”. As a team, we commit our work to God at the start of every work day, praying for our interviewees, for sensitivity to God’s prompting, and that His Word will not return void. I can’t tell you how important this is—God has been our guide at every step. He has “downloaded” stories to us which went on to clock over 200,000 readers within 12 hours, jamming the server. And He has also stopped us from running potential stories that appeared credible but were later proven otherwise.

Which stories have been significant? The favourite part of our job is hearing the God stories of people from all walks of life and realising that God is everywhere and seeks everyone. One day we are interviewing an illiterate ex-offender, the next day a CEO from Cambridge. One day a mother who lost her only son in a tragic accident, the next day a missionary who willingly answered God’s call to a war-torn country. One day a migrant worker, the next day a glamorous celebrity. At our editorial meeting, a writer shared about her interview with an abandoned and abused child who

The Salt&Light team and contributors celebrating CNY pre-COVID. From left to right: Tan Huey Ying, Karen Tan, Edric Sng, Gracia Lee, Geraldine Tan, Emilyn Tan, Juleen Shaw, Jane Lee 20

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was so damaged that he committed murder at 16. God met him in an isolation cell in prison. When we hear all these stories, and how God in His mercy and grace redeems, saves and heals, replacing condemnation with abundant life, we feel privileged every day to tell of His wondrous works (Ps 145:4–5). And the God who performs miracles, gives visions and speaks clearly to those who seek His counsel? He is not confined to the pages of the Old Testament. He still does today.

Which story was most meaningful to you personally? There have been many, but one is a young woman who gave up her comfortable life in Singapore to be a missionary in war-torn Afghanistan because God put in her heart a burden for the people who have not heard the Gospel. She is God’s “light” in a very dark place. Another is a marketplace leader who is not just a CEO to the staff in his secular workplace, but also a “pastor” to them, openly seeking God’s will for the company and for his staff. He is “salt of the earth”, preserving God’s statutes in a rough world. Both people moved me with their commitment to God’s call, no matter what it took, and their complete dependence on Him and acceptance of His will. God never fails us when we put our trust in Him.

Welfare Services ¢ By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo courtesy of MWS

MWS volunteers befriend families in need through the MWS Family Development Programme. (This photo was taken before the circuit breaker.)

Never too young to make a difference “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12)

passionate volunteer with MWS Family Development Programme (FDP) since July 2019, Joanne Chua from Changi Methodist Church shares her journey in volunteerism. Like many others her age, the 22-year-old is busy balancing several commitments on top of school, work and church; but Joanne does not shy away from volunteering.

Cultivating a heart for volunteerism Joanne went on a two-week Overseas Community Service Project (OCSP) trip to Thailand with her university and forged a close bond with the children during her time there. Realising she was unlikely to return and continue the good work with the same children, she became inspired to volunteer where she could make a more long-lasting impact. This led Joanne to consider joining her father, an active volunteer with Methodist Welfare Services, to work with families in need through the FDP. This is an asset-building intervention scheme targeted at low-income families in the bottom 10 per cent household income group in Singapore. FDP helps the underprivileged break the cycle of poverty through financial planning, debt clearance and savings matching.

Seeing Christ in volunteering Since she started, Joanne has completed the volunteer training programme, created a video for FDP, and even hosted the Enrich and Engage session where volunteers share their experiences to enhance their knowledge and skills. While she has certainly learnt much, there are still days when Joanne struggles, especially when other commitments fight for her attention. “I find my conviction to help others anchored in God’s Word. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ To know that whenever I help others, I am actually serving God keeps me going.” Due to COVID-19 restrictions, most of her work has had to be conducted online over the last few months. Joanne looks forward to having face-to-face interactions and getting to know the beneficiaries better soon. As we approach International Youth Day on 17 August, may we celebrate our youths and pray that they will use the gifts and talents God has blessed them with to enrich the lives of the vulnerable in our communities.

Overcoming doubts and fears “I was initially worried that I could not help meaningfully,” recalls Joanne. “Having come from a privileged and blessed family, I never had to pay for most things myself or worry about the bills. Furthermore, I have not gone through marriage or childbearing. What if the beneficiaries felt short-changed or compared me with other more capable and experienced volunteers?” But Joanne was reminded through Scripture that God equips His people for His good works, regardless of their age. The community also helped Joanne ease in and gain greater confidence. Many of the volunteers were fellow church members who had known her since she was young, and they have always been very encouraging.

MWS FDP volunteers share experiences on Zoom

If you are keen to volunteer with MWS, please find out more at www.mws.sg volunteer@mws.sg

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Registration at our Columbarium OďŹ&#x192;ce (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg

Missions ¢ Grace Chung is the MMS Church Engagement Manager and she also handles the Donor and Fundraising Management. She worships at Grace Assembly of God./ Photos courtesy of MMS

Love

through unity in action

Home visitation to a 12-year-old paralysed girl

he COVID-19 pandemic has escalated at an alarming speed, infecting millions and impacting economies as countries imposed tight restrictions to halt its spread.

We humbly invite you to pray with us for the mission fields, to partner us to expand God’s kingdom and to contribute financially, e.g. to MMS General Fund.

Even as Singapore battles and grapples with the crisis, the three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore, together with our Methodist churches and donors, have come together in unity to respond to the needs of our Methodist Missions Society (MMS) mission fields affected by the pandemic.

We can achieve more together than alone. We are made strong when we come together in the name of Christ. It is our hope that the work of missions will further inspire us all to press on to share the Gospel, to build committed disciples for Christ and to share our love through our twin strategy of church planting and community development.

The MMS Home Office has been working closely with our field teams to prepare, respond and strengthen their ability to provide assistance to their beneficiaries. We have united in solidarity to show love in action, pray and provide financial aid via our Crisis Relief Fund of about $50,000 so that our leaders, pastors, national workers, local churches in all MMS mission fields and entities could respond and provide immediate relief to the affected families. We hear of heart-breaking difficulties from our fields’ church members and their families of what they are going through as well as their concerns about their livelihood after losing jobs because of the lockdown measures. Teachers in our schools are choosing to continue teaching while taking a pay cut. Parents are unable to pay for school fees, children cannot afford medical care for their ageing parents, and numerous church members face similar circumstances. Despite the storms of adversity, we witness the sheer resilience and faith as they persevere through this crisis. Pastors are praying fervently, national workers reaching out with food, essentials, and basic sanitisation supplies to the families and children. Leaders are stepping up to raise funds to pay salaries and more.

Please pray for •

our national pastors and leaders as they ensure ministry continuity in their respective churches.

•

God’s protection in the mission fields where COVID-19 cases are increasing and for their national health system to provide safe and adequate services.

•

MMS as we continue to provide for the needs of our mission fields, with financial support from our churches to accomplish the Great Commission.

Get in touch with MMS today! www.mms.org.sg mms@methodist.org.sg 6478-4818

These efforts have shown God’s love in action to those in need and those who have yet to receive Christ. They are also a testimony to the families of our school children and the surrounding communities that we communicate our love not only in words, but also through compassionate actions. The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that we cannot overcome crisis by ourselves and that we are all God’s people called to serve and support one another. Truly, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Ps 133:1, NIV)

Families in mission fields bringing home their relief packages

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You & Your Family ¢ Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

The family in a post-COVID world

he COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how we work, trade with others, study in schools, relate to our families and worship God. And because important areas of our lives have been affected, we should all the more think of ways to mitigate its ill effects. I would like to mention two effects on families and suggest three coping strategies. One outcome is the added strain on frayed family relationships. The need to limit community transmission means spending more time at home, often competing with family members for the same resources like private space, video-conferencing on online devices, as well as time for work, each other and self. When these interactions rub each other the wrong way, we see increased conflict and in bad situations, incidences of domestic violence. This pandemic has also highlighted how unequal our society has become. The income and resource gaps may have gone unnoticed for some time but now that the pandemic has brought on a major economic crisis, the plight of those in the lowest percentiles cannot be ignored. For now, with massive government support both indirectly and directly available to poorer families, their economic neediness may not yet be fully felt. But as weeks turn to months and possibly to years, many families will be in for a prolonged hard time. How can families adapt in such a chronic and unrelenting crisis? Three strategies may help families cope better. The first is that families that are better able to synergise, cope better. To have synergy is to be able to draw together and support one another. It is tantamount to the pioneers of the Wild West who circled their wagons to provide 360-degree protection against enemy attack. They drew strength in numbers and pooled together their resources.

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Families can achieve greater synergy if they have reasonably good relationships with one another. So, it makes sense to maintain healthy relationships with family and friends. In the absence of being able to draw strength from each other or when supportive relationships are few and far between, the second coping strategy is interfacing, where the family in need draws upon resources further afield. These could be both formal and informal helping resources, for example, the social service agencies and church communities, neighbours and the extended family. For this strategy to be effective, needy families must know of the existence of these resources. Moreover, they must be ready to call upon the resources, rather than choosing to suffer in silence because they feel ashamed or embarrassed. Finally, the third helpful strategy is compromise. When the dust from the pandemic settles, families may have to recalibrate their hopes, dreams and plans. Some may review decisions for an overseas education or home upgrading. Still others may cut back on discretionary daily purchases, like eating at home more often or shopping in discount stores. Making compromises can happen only when we are prepared to face the future squarely. As believers, we may apply the strategy of compromise with a difference. Rather than viewing the future as bleak, we can ask God for new lenses, or His vision or perspective on our circumstances. Writing to the people of Israel in exile, the prophet Jeremiah reminded them that their Lord knew His plans for them. Instead of viewing their captivity as their downfall as a nation, they were assured that God’s plan was for their welfare and to give them hope and a future (Jer 29:11–13). We may not yet see the end of this pandemic but with our eyes on God, we already know how it will end.

Hymns & Songs ¢ Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord

n planning worship that should appeal to the youth, does it mean more contemporary songs should be included? When we sing hymns, are we excluding the youth?

Hymns are a staple in the Methodist tradition. The 6,500 hymns of Charles Wesley and the hymn translations of John Wesley contain the substance of Methodist theology. These hymns are used for instruction, devotion and worship. The process of singing and imbibing these hymns will shape one’s Methodist identity to a large extent. If these hymns are not learned by the younger generation, will the Methodist theology and identity change? How can we introduce hymns to the youth? A fresh way to sing hymns might be brought about by studying the hymns through the lens of performance practice, i.e. looking at the era during which the hymn was written and understanding how music was sung during that time. By understanding the style, we may be able to vary our hymn singing and thus make it more “alive”. Another way is to contemporise the hymn. The worship team may explore the chords and experiment what works. Improvisation around the melody employing exciting chord progressions appropriate to message may enliven the hymn. To go a step further, you can re-tune the hymn. For example, “All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord” was set to a new tune by Joshua and Amelia Loke. Here’s their thought: “New music, when set to old lyrics, has the potential to uncover the treasures of the past for the edification of today’s congregation. When we were given the task to re-tune this Wesleyan hymn, we thought carefully about how the new tune should sound. As the lyrics spoke about unity in the body of Christ, we concluded that the new tune had to be accessible to both young and old, and had to have musical elements from the past and present. The melody also had to ‘match’ and bring out the meaning of the words, especially Wesley’s description of our glorious hope, perfect harmony in Jesus, and the heights of rapture that await us at the end of days. In light of this, we have come up with a rather stately, hymn-like tune that has some contemporary elements. We pray that the new music will refresh this old hymn, and spur both the young and old in the Methodist Church to strive for godly unity. ‘Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!’ (Ps 133:1)”

ALL PRAISE TO OUR REDEEMING LORD (UMH 554)

All praise to our redeeming Lord, who joins us by his grace, and bids us, each to each restored, together seek his face. He bids us build each other up; and, gathered into one, to our high calling’s glorious hope we hand in hand go on. The gift which he on one bestows, we all delight to prove, the grace through every vessel flows in purest streams of love. E’en now we think and speak the same, and cordially agree, concentered all, through Jesus’ name, in perfect harmony. We all partake the joy of one; the common peace we feel, a peace to sensual minds unknown, a joy unspeakable. And if our fellowship below in Jesus be so sweet, what height of rapture shall we know when round his throne we meet! Words: Charles Wesley (1707–88) Music: ARMENIA, Sylvanus B. Pond, 1836;

harm. by Austin C. Lovelace, 1963

Scan the QR code to listen to the hymn. The orchestral accompaniment was written by Joseph Lim. Joseph, Joshua and Amelia worship at Fairfield MC, where they also serve in the worship and music ministry. METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

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TRAC Bible Matters ¢ The Rev Daniel C Tan started his pastoral ministry after graduating from Trinity Theological College in 2003. He is currently appointed to Fairfield Methodist Church as Pastor-in-Charge.

Is there a generational curse

that extends to third and fourth generations?

s I was preparing this article, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. I got to know of people who lost incomes or jobs; others (or family members) were infected with the virus; some were depressed and fearful to the point of panic and irrationality. In the midst of this time of trial and testing, people asked if the reason we are going through such a terrible time is the sins or unbelief of the generations before us that have brought God’s punishment upon us. People asked for prayers for this curse to be broken.

How do we reconcile what seem to be conflicting and confusing warnings? What is God really saying in these passages?

It is perhaps a poignant time to look at Scripture verses like Deuteronomy 5:9, Exodus 20:4–6, or even Exodus 34:7 to understand if these verses support the idea of a generational curse.

In the verses we are exploring, God defined the expectations for a relationship to Him. We know them as the Ten Commandments given at Sinai. God emphasises undivided loyalty and states the fundamental principles for living in right relationship with Him, together with a warning of the consequences if that relationship is broken.

Deuteronomy 5:9 says: “You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” This is linked to Deuteronomy 27:15a: “Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.” At first glance, these verses do seem to support the idea of a generational curse. Children will be punished for their parents’ sin. Is this not a blatant miscarriage of justice? It surely looks really unfair for God to take out their parents’ sin on the innocent. Would it not make more sense for the people committing the sin to bear the consequences of their actions? If pushed a bit further, it seems like a judge sentencing a murderer to death by hanging and extending the sentence to the murderer’s children and grandchildren. That is what these passages seem to allude to. This kind of justice seems totally unfair and uncharacteristic of the gracious God that we know. Perhaps the kind of justice described in Deuteronomy 7:9– 10 seems more justifiable: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.”

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

The word “curse” is generally defined as a prayer or invocation for harm, evil, misfortune or injury to come upon someone as a retribution. Sometimes, it is known as an “imprecation”. In the Bible, the word “curse” is often used in contrast to “blessing”. Usually, when a curse is pronounced against any person, it is the penalty for breaking a promise or oath.

God showers mercy on those who love Him and keep His commandments. God also warns that if the people do not follow the commandments and turn away, there will be the danger of false forms of worship which will have profound consequences for future generations—their children and grandchildren will not be properly instructed regarding the covenant relationship with God and with one another. This is essential to their life and well-being. It is important to understand that God’s justice is part and parcel of His mercy and grace. We cannot take Deuteronomy 5:9 by itself. We must look also at verse 10 (which is crucial): “You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Taking these two verses together, we see something very clearly—God does not desire to curse us. Rather, it is a warning that sin has its consequences and God will punish sin. More than that, these verses show that God is more willing to bless than to curse. When God says He will punish, it is only to the third and fourth generations. But His mercy and grace will be shown to thousands (ESV) or to the thousandth generation (NRSV). The contrast is obvious! It shows God’s emphasis on His divine love and forgiveness.

God’s desire is to deal graciously and lovingly with His people. He limits His judgment to the third and fourth generation. He shows the abundance of His grace and mercy to the thousandth generation. God’s love and mercy are the dominant characteristics of the covenant relationship. The purpose of these passages is meant to be sobering, to bring home a very important point—that our worship and actions have great impact on our nearest and dearest. Our actions have influence and repercussions on them for better or for worse. Our sins have great repercussions on our future generations. As parents, we must seriously consider this— what sort of examples are we for our children? “Children see, children do” is what these passages warn of. When children see adults abusing their spouses, they might learn to abuse their spouse in future. When children see adults gambling, they might pick up gambling. When children see adults smoking, the chance of their becoming smokers is greater. This is the so-called “generational curse” about which these Scripture passages are warning us. While negative actions will have great impact on our younger generations, the opposite is also true. When children see adults praying, they will grow up to value prayer. When children see adults giving of their time and money to help the less fortunate, they will learn to be generous to those who have less. We might think that we can sidestep the consequences of our actions, but in truth, we cannot. Sin has its consequences. Obedience has its rewards. The wages of sin is death. That is the curse—eternal death. Are we all therefore doomed? No! We are not without hope. It is not the end for us. We can see from the Bible that God will not abandon His children. For example, even when He drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, God took the time and tenderness to make clothes and help dress them. The Bible is filled with examples of the grace of God. God’s mercy accompanies people even in their wickedness. And God’s grace culminates in the cross of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians tells us that: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Gal 3:13a)

But it does not mean that we can continue to sin. Just because God is gracious and kind does not mean He will not punish. We must remember the vivid warning that we will bear the consequences of our sins. Ezekiel 18:19–20 makes it clear: “Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” In fact, the whole of Ezekiel 18 is very clear about the consequences of sin and verses 30–32 emphasises repentance: “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Summary We must see the commandment for what it really was meant to be—not a curse but a warning to guard our conduct because of the implications of our actions for our children. God holds us responsible for the welfare of our children. There is no such thing as eternal security based on past good deeds to ensure our future wellbeing. Moreover, people need not despair over past evil that prevents them from enjoying life. We have personal freedom to determine at any time our own conduct. The encouragement is for us to turn away from evil. The warnings given to us are clear. We are not doomed. There is a way out if we repent of our sins and find life in Him. Even though the sins of God’s people would have bad consequences throughout generations, there is grace and mercy given to everyone on the basis of their personal repentance. Repentance involves a fundamental change of direction—turning away from sin and committing oneself to the will of God.

The views expressed in this article are personal and might not necessarily reflect the official position of The Methodist Church in Singapore. This version of the article has been edited for brevity. The full article can be found at http://www.trac-mcs.org.sg/index.php/resources/bible-matters?layout=edit&id=261 METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

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Soundings ¢ Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg)

On being salt and light “Soundings” is a series of essays that , like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the Gospel and Christian understanding.

n Matthew 5, Jesus told his disciples that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Although these metaphors have been subjected to different interpretations, most scholars agree that “salt” has to do with purification and preservation, while “light” points to illumination and guidance. In describing his disciples (and, by extension, the Church) as “salt” and “light”, Jesus is claiming audaciously that they not only are to be witnesses of God’s truth and love in the world, He is insisting that their very presence is somehow integral to the well-being of society. The churches in Singapore have contributed in countless ways to the flourishing of society and to nation building since Christianity arrived on our shores. They have been

involved in public education and public health, and they have done much to reach out to society’s poorest and most vulnerable members. The contribution of The Methodist Church of Singapore in this regard has been truly exemplary, the evidences of which are quite obvious in the history of our city-state. But being the salt of the earth and the light of the world involves more than building schools, hospitals and hospices—important though they undoubtedly are in the service of the common good. It also has to do with the Church’s engagement with some of the most complex issues and challenges that confront modern society, where the only constant is change.

These issues include religious pluralism and tolerance, social cohesion and identity politics, biotechnology and science, the relationship between religion and politics, sexuality, marriage and family—the list can easily be expanded. In a religiously plural and democratic society, the Church’s participation in public discourse on these issues must never be understood as merely optional. It is an important aspect of the Church’s witness in society, and one way in which she fulfils her calling to be salt and light. For more than twenty years, the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has been involved in precisely this form of engagement—sometimes quite publicly, but at other times, working quietly behind the scenes. Contrary to the views of some people, the separation of religion and politics as delineated by the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Acts (MRHA) does not forbid faith communities from participating in public square conversations on issues that affect us all.

The statements that NCCS published on its website are mainly purposed to guide its member churches on how Christians ought to respond to these hot-button issues. But NCCS has never shied away from participating in public consultations when it is invited to do so by the Government. This is because it believes that the rich theological and spiritual traditions of the Church can truly contribute to discussions on these contemporary issues and offer unique insights that are not found in secular accounts. In addition, the Council also believes that the Church can provide a responsible critique (for salt also possesses antiseptic properties), and call to question certain perspectives and trajectories that, in the long run, may be detrimental to the common good.

Although Singapore is a secular state, the Government is not anti-religion, but recognises and appreciates the input of the different faith communities on these issues. That the Government has actively sought the views of the leaders of the various faith communities on a wide range of issues is a clear testament to this fact. Through the years, NCCS has issued statements and published papers on a wide range of issues, including: human stem cell research, euthanasia, social egg freezing, Section 377A of the Penal Code, the legalising of online gambling, mitochondrial replacement therapy, the amendments to the MRHA, etc.1

In addition, together with Trinity Theological College and Bible Society of Singapore, NCCS established the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity—the first official Christian think-tank in Singapore. 2 Through its online articles, publications, conferences and seminars, Ethos Institute hopes not only to create awareness among members of the Christian community of the many issues that have arisen in our world. It also hopes to help Christians to understand them from the Christian perspective, informed by Scripture and tradition.

The full list of statements and papers published by the Council can be found on its website (https://nccs.org.sg).

https://ethosinstitute.sg

METHODIST MESSAGE AUGUST 2020

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2021 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides

• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an allround holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP

Achievements include

Mr Rob Burrough Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal

• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu.

What the parents say…

Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal

For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan

Book Review ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Book visuals courtesy of Graceworks

The Invisible People: The Bus Driver; Auntie Goes Home; Uncles at Work

are

the

people

your

neighbourhood? Ames Chen, the author of the Invisible People series,

wants her children—and yours—to know. The series tells the stories of people in three jobs often marginalised in society: The Bus Driver, Auntie Goes Home and Uncles at Work.

Everyone has taken a bus; many families have foreign domestic helpers; and everyone lives, works or studies in buildings built by migrant construction workers. But we often pay little heed to these invisible but essential workers, and even less to their untold stories. Ames wrote these three books to shine a spotlight on these men and women who are their own people, with histories, families and needs that mostly go unnoticed. But the little boy who takes the 7.05 a.m. bus realises when his favourite bus driver no longer drives the route, and he writes a letter to the bus company. The little girl in Auntie Goes Home comes to an understanding, over time, that her foreign domestic worker has physical needs, emotions and dreams for her future outside of her work with the family. And the father of the little boy in Uncles at Work takes him to visit the migrant workers who are building their new flat so that the child can understand the human cost behind his new home. The simple and relatable storytelling style is accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Jayl Chen. COVID-19, and the resultant circuit breaker, has shown just how vulnerable many of our essential workers are, especially if they

The Invisible People: The Bus Driver; Auntie Goes Home; Uncles at Work By Ames Chen Published by Graceworks (2020), 28 pages each ORDER AT

are foreigners living in our midst. This picture

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book series will hopefully help its young

$10 each

readers to feel greater empathy for those

Enjoy 15 per cent off The Invisible People if you buy the complete set of three books. Use promo code MMTIP at the webstore’s checkout page (valid from 1–31 Aug 2020).

whom they might not normally “see”.

Home Â˘ Salomone D is a member of Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church, where he leads the Young Adult Fellowship. He is also actively involved in serving the youth ministry across ETAC.

What does being a

Methodist mean to you?

o me, being a Methodist is growing as a disciple of Christ with the guidance and care of a strong community of believers, while serving the Church and community at large.

Although I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t grow up in a Methodist church, I quickly grew to appreciate the methodical way in which ministries were run and the church functionedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;those in the Church were always clear in their intention to give their utmost for Christ, which inspired and challenged me to grow as a disciple of Christ and a leader. I witnessed the church putting faith and love into action through the various community outreach initiatives in our local church as well as those organised by the Methodist Welfare Services. The various Bible studies and sermons I have participated in have urged me to delve deeper into the Word and grow in my knowledge of God; my conviction to live in accordance to the Word increased as well. I am thankful for the plethora of opportunities that we have as Methodists to broaden our knowledge of our faith, especially through the Aldersgate SG annual keynote event and the workshops that were organised virtually during this pandemic. I am also thankful for the strong community of believers with whom I have been able to fellowship over the years. I can rely upon them for prayer, spiritual support and godly counsel. The fact that we have the three Annual Conferences also presents us Methodists with the opportunity to collaborate, learn from one another and show the love of Christ to the community around us. I praise God for The Methodist Church in Singapore, and I pray that He will continue to use us to serve and bless Singapore in the years to come.

AUGUST

Looking Ahead ¢

Scan to see events online!

BIBLE CONFERENCE 2020: LIVING IN THE KINGDOM 8 and 15 Aug (Saturdays), 9.30 a.m. Register at https://odb.org/sg-bc2020 singapore@odb.org 6858-0900

Join Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert M. Solomon for two online Bible Conferences where you can learn about God’s kingdom from Jesus’ parables and stories, and find out how we can love God and love our neighbours as ourselves.

AUGUST

Organised by Our Daily Bread Ministries.

RAISING A PURE GENERATION IN A COMPLEX DIGITAL AGE 13, 20 and 27 Aug 2020 (Thursdays), 8 p.m. https://www.bible.org.sg/rapg2020/ sowerinstitute@bible.org.sg 6304-3765 (Florence Kang)

Join us in this interactive class to learn more about the latest trends in media and technology, and how to teach our children to be discerning when using these platforms. Time will also be given for discussions according to children’s age groups. Topics of discussion include: • How to be a guardian of your child’s purity • Appropriate sexuality education at home • Building healthy habits and boundaries relating to media and technology.

AUGUST

Organised by the Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship

LIVE WEBINAR: TO PLAN OR NOT TO PLAN? IS THAT THE QUESTION? 17 Aug 2020 (Monday), 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. Register at https://bit.ly/3eybeaa

Even as God has plans for His Church, believers should still, in the midst of praying and acting, plan the next steps of their ministries and churches in such a time as this. Therefore, “To plan or not to plan?” is not the question. “How to plan” is an understandable question. “What to plan” is also a good question. What then is the better and deeper question when it comes to planning in the context of church? How then do we go about planning? Come discover this together at the online seminar.

AUGUST

Organised by The Pastors Seminar & Fellowship.

CHRISTIAN ZIONISM: HERMENEUTICS, THEOLOGY, POLITICS 26 Aug 2020 (Wednesday), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Bible House, 7 Armenian Street, Singapore 179932, Level 4 https://ethosinstitute.sg/ChristianZionism info@ethosinstitute.sg 6304-3765 (Florence Kang) Free admission. Please note that the event will be conducted as a Zoom Webinar if large gatherings are still prohibited by then. To be confirmed at least one week before the event.

What is Christian Zionism? What is its origin and history? How should we evaluate Christian Zionism’s interpretation of the Bible, especially Biblical prophecies? What about Christian Zionism’s teaching concerning Israel and its place in the modern world? What role does it play in politics today? Organised by ETHOS Institute.

In Memoriam ¢

The Rev Dr E. J. Thoraisingam (1933–2020) First Elected President of ETAC (1976–84)

he Rev Dr E. J. Thoraisingam entered into glory on Sunday 12 July 2020. On that glorious day, in the presence of his Maker, he will surely be told, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:21–23) He is survived by his wife, Jessie Athisayam, his son, Christopher Mohanraj, and their family. Born and educated in Singapore, the Rev E. J. was nurtured in his childhood by a widowed father. He participated actively in Sunday School at Tamil Methodist Church (TMC), the Methodist Youth Fellowship, the church choir and youth activities, all of which he continued with throughout his studies at Trinity Theological College, from which he graduated in 1963. One day, as a teenager, he stood facing TMC and told God, “If it is your Will, one day I shall preach in this sanctuary.” And so he did, on many occasions, including at the ETAC Annual Thanksgiving Services when he was President, and when he was Minister-in-Charge at TMC. The Rev E. J. was admitted as Minister on Trial by his Home Conference in 1963, and two years later, he was received into membership of the Singapore Malaya Annual Conference (SMAC). The itinerancy system enabled him to travel throughout Malaya, ministering to Tamil-speaking congregations in towns and Tamil settlements in many rubber estates. He passionately believed that the mission to reach and teach the Tamil-speaking throughout Malaya and Singapore lay in the hands of the Tamil Churches, as well as in raising strong Tamil-speaking Christian lay leaders and clergy. He worked with other like-minded lay and young ministers, leading to the formation of the Tamil Provisional Annual Conference (TPAC) in Malaya in 1968.

As one of the passionate and visionary leaders of TPAC, the Rev E. J. continued to work towards an autonomous Methodist Church, and to keep the status and recognition of the Tamil Churches in Singapore. This desire for a Tamil Conference was realised on 8 and 9 Dec 1976, at the First Session of the General Conference of the MCS, when the enabling Act was passed and ETAC was born. The Rev E. J. was elected ETAC’s first President, and subsequently served a second term. The Rev Dr. E. J. Thoraisingam will be remembered as a spiritual leader who inspired both clergy and lay with building up ETAC at a time when there were insufficient leaders. In spite of meagre salaries and non-existent benefits, the clergy laboured. Throughout his pastoral ministry, which spanned over 37 years in ETAC and another decade prior to that at TPAC, he gave pastoral care to five of the thenseven ETAC churches. No congregation was too small or insignificant to him—he nurtured God’s people, provided effective administration and made sound decisions. After his retirement in 1996, he continued to serve on the Board of Ordained Ministry and attended each Annual Conference Session, as a Ministerial Delegate, until 2018, when ill health caused him to rest. He was much respected for his humility and integrity, and above all, he was a man of prayer. It was his trust in God and his desire to serve the Tamil-speaking in Singapore that led him to serve God with gladness and single-mindedness of heart. May the Rev E. J. Thoraisingam’s life and ministry inspire many to live and serve God with that same zeal.

Ccontributed by Veronica Poore & Shanti Jeremiah

Methodist Message: August 2020

Articles inside

TRAC Bible Matters

In memoriam

Looking Ahead

Home—What does being a Methodist mean to you?

Book Review—The Invisible People

Soundings

Hymns & Songs

You & Your Family

Missions

Welfare Services

News—Called through a book

One MCS—ETAC Highlights

Home—Sharing salt and light

Home—The greatest showmen

Home—Faith and deeds

Church Profile—Telugu Methodist Church

Disciple facilitators’ training 2020

Bishop’s Message