Methodist Message: February 2016 Issue

Vol 118 No 2 • FEB 2016

inside

this issue...

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 156/11/2015

CCIS 2015 Celebrating Christmas uniquely at Orchard and VivoCity

Subscribe 365 days of The Upper Room

Early Methodist Preachers Inspiring biographies

page 15

page 16

pages 20-21

MCS130 FINALE

Celebration of Praise and Thanksgiving Service By the Methodist Message Team

A

message.methodist.org.sg

vibrant Celebration of Praise and Thanksgiving Service where over 1,200 attendees worshipped God with contemporary Christian songs and Wesleyan hymns was held at Paya Lebar Methodist Church on 28 Nov 2015, a befitting finale to a year of celebrations for the 130th anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

The congregation’s worship was interspersed with a rich musical showcase of multi-cultural worship performances by musicians across the three Annual Conferences, not only by the Methodist Festival Choir and the newly-formed Methodist Festival Orchestra, but also by the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference ensemble, which regaled us with a United Methodist hymn with a beautiful traditional Hindi melody, and a Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) musician who presented an exquisite guzheng performance. The Choir and Praise team comprised choristers from Trinity Annual Conference and CAC churches.

An inspiring moment in the service was when representatives from all 46 local Methodist churches walked through the congregation bearing placards with their respective church logos, as a symbol of unity in the Methodist Church body.

Opportunities abounded for reflection on the past year’s activities: A video montage was screened, summarising highlights from all the MCS 130 events held over the year such as the ‘Our Unsung Heroes’ video project, MethodistWalk 2015 and Wheels for GOOD; and the top winning song in the MCS 130 SongWriting Competition was presented – ‘Seek, Love, Serve the Lord’

by Dr Andrew Pan from Wesley Methodist Church.

The Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) also presented tokens of appreciation to the Presidents of the three Annual Conferences, in gratitude for their churches’ participation in and strong support of the Getting Out Of Debt (GOOD) programme.

Their support enabled MWS to surpass their fund-raising goal, giving a fresh start to 619 families in the Jubilee Year of 2015, as well as enabling a new debt management programme in 2016 to help even more families.

A Long Service Award was also presented to the Rev Philip Lim Min Hock, who reached his 25th year of service in 2015.

What will keep us moving forward in service at the end of these celebratory events? Drawing from Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV), Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup said in his sermon that our acts of service are often determined by whether we have the mind of Christ – an attitude of “release”, to resemble those whom we’re serving, and the willingness to humble ourselves.

Continued on page 19...

COMING UP

Sharing Christ this Chinese New Year Josephine Poore is Programme Executive at The Methodist Church in Singapore.

T

he Chinese New Year Evangelistic Concert was started in 1995, initiated by Overseas Radio & Television (ORTV).

ORTV noticed from many evangelistic outreach events held previously that the testimonies of well-known Christian artistes, in particular, touched and spoke to the hearts of pre-believing attendees. The artistes were familiar faces and connected well with the attendees, making them more receptive to the gospel. The idea of using artistes familiar to the general public and with good testimonies to do outreach during the festive period was birthed.

This was done in hopes of countering the cultural misconception that Christianity is a western religion. Also, holding the concert on a more neutral ground is a non-threatening way to invite prebelievers who are resistant to attending church.

This biennial Chinese New Year Concert is jointly organised by the Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Church of Singapore in partnership with ORTV and Arise and Shine Artistes Association (ASAA).

The denominations take turns to host the biennial concert with the support of the other above-mentioned denominations. This year, we have the Anglicans – the Diocese of Singapore – helming the Working Committee and organisation of the Concert. We are glad to have the following Christian artistes: Moses Lim and Tammy Chow as emcees, and Eric Moo, Rachel Liang, Vence Soong, Augustine, Liu Cheng, the Heavenly Melody Singers and TBC Dance Group putting up singing, acting, dancing and magic show performances.

Make your Chinese New Year a special one by bringing prebelieving friends, family or relatives to this evangelistic concert, so that they may know Christ and the true source of earthly blessings. n

The Chinese New Year Concert 2016 is based on the theme “Coming Home, Loving Home, Blessed Home”.

It will be held as follows: Date: 19 – 20 Feb 2016 (3 performances) Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium We look forward to the support of various churches and organisations to bring their pre-believing friends to this mega gospel concert.

Obtain your tickets by 16 February from: The Diocese of Singapore Contact Person: Ms Amy Lo (Tel: 6288-8944 ext 221) OR Chinese Annual Conference The Methodist Church in Singapore Contact Person: Ms Mercy Koh (Tel: 6478-4814) You can also get tickets at the door on 19 and 20 Feb.

Methodist Message wishes all readers a blessed Lunar New Year!

“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。 ” (2 Cor 5:17) The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the New International Version, unless otherwise stated.

Our address

Design & Production SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd Printer A&D Printhub Pte Ltd

Methodist Message • #06-04, 70 Barker Road, Singapore 309936 Tel: 6478-4793 • Fax: 6478-4794 Email: newmm@methodist.org.sg MM website: message.methodist.org.sg Church website: www.methodist.org.sg

Let us have your views

Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, Chairman, Council on Communications Editor Assistant Editor Ms Grace Toh Sub-editor Ms Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Ms Chia Hui Jun

Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg and if appropriate, your contribution could be published.

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

The virtue of respect Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2012. He has been a Methodist pastor for more than 30 years.

I

n the month when we celebrate Lunar New Year, we turn our attention to the virtue of respect, as in filial piety, honour and the like.

The erosion of this virtue begins when a higher premium is placed on individual rights. There is something appealing about championing your self-interest as a fundamental human right.

But if we do not aggregate the interests of the individual together with the community, we have allowed the power of sin to control us. What is sometimes celebrated as a right may be nothing more than selfishness.

When Adam was asked whether he had disobeyed God’s command, he pointed the finger at Eve. But Scripture is clear: Adam was with her when she was deceived (Genesis 3:6). Eve was deceived, but not Adam (1 Timothy 2:14): he was there as the serpent tempted his wife.

Yet he did not admit to the collective culpability for the disobedience. Adam’s sin was not only that he disobeyed God in eating the forbidden fruit; he wrongly asserted his individualism, disavowing collective responsibility for what transpired in the garden.

To exercise respect, we must put aside any kind of selfconsideration. In the eyes of the world, we only respect those who are “above” us. Scripture shows otherwise: it is to “count others more significant than yourselves … let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”. (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV) Humility is the mother of respect.

There is another subtle way of degrading respect that may seem innocuous to some: humour. When we “make fun” of others, we belittle them. But with humour, the disrespect implicit is often overlooked. Whether it be stand-up comedies, talk shows, satires and lampoons, or just coffee-shop banter – give them time and they slowly eat away at the regard we have for persons, or even traditions and customs. If we want to make fun of people, do some self-deprecation, rather than sneak surreptitiously at others.

As humour can also be a powerful tool to unearth injustices, including raising awareness of various forms of disrespect, it is our responsibility when we watch, listen and read to do so with discernment. Where appropriate, it is also beholden upon us to correct or express a contrary view. This may help to check a subtlety that could in time be upheld as acceptable.

In Singapore, this virtue must be specially valued because of race and religion. In the West, it has seemed fashionable in recent times to lampoon Islam, and we have read of the backlash. Back home, Christianity, in contrast to the other faiths, has become an

“...count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

.

Philippians 2:3-4, ESV

easy target, as it has already been in the West for a long time. The critics appear to assume that Christians do not mind – which I believe is a false assumption. Many of us do mind!

Some have falsely applied Christ’s teaching of turning the other cheek when in fact Christ’s overarching principle, slapping being just an example, is not to return evil for evil.

In short, when we are being shown disrespect, the proper response is respect, for by doing so we terminate the possible vicious cycle that the other intends to start with us. We respond with love, truth, and grace, in action as well as with words.

So let this Lunar New Year be an opportunity for us to continue showing this virtue – respect – to all. May the Lord prosper you in spirit, soul and body. n

Picture by Szeyuen/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

|3

HOME

Being with Christ Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon was Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 to 2012. Currently retired, he now keeps busy with an active itinerant ministry speaking and teaching in Singapore and overseas.

A

friend shared with me that a global Chinese Christian leader told a recent gathering of Chinese pastors “how we Chinese are good at knowing (pursuit of knowledge) and doing but lacking in the being (the personal relationship with Christ)”. This accurate observation is true for most Christians, regardless of ethnicity. We need to reflect on our call to being with Christ.

Why do we shy away from what is at the core of Christian discipleship? Or forget that eternal life is defined as knowing God the Father and the Son (John 17:3) – an essentially relational knowledge?

It has to do with how we come to know a person. But the sinful human heart tends to reduce God to an “it”, a habit that began at the Garden of Eden when Satan promised the knowledge of good and evil if Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Satan had deftly distorted and reduced true knowledge to factual knowledge. He injected a big lie into the human race’s thinking processes by saying that the purpose of life is to know something.

This directly contrasted what God had designed. The purpose of life is to know Someone. God made Adam and Eve to know Him and each other, and He visited them daily for walks (Gen 3:8). But because of their sin, Adam and Eve hid from God (and from one another).

Since then, human beings have substituted relational knowledge with the pursuit of informational knowledge. This can be seen in many forms, even in piety. Jesus challenged the Pharisees that in knowing all the details of the Law, they had ignored the Lawgiver and did not know Him. They had bitten deeply into Satan’s lie.

For those who are turned off by the idea of becoming religious encyclopaedias, a form of piety that feeds on endless activism may be more attractive. Theirs is a breathless form of Christianity, their frantic busyness hiding their lack of relational depth.

W. H. Griffith Thomas rightly noted: “We cannot make up for failure in our devotional life by redoubling energy in service.” Yet, many Christians seem to be on a spiritual treadmill, wondering

why they are not making any progress in their knowledge of God and His ways. They have yet to discover that silence (Habakkuk 2:20) and stillness (Psalm 46:10) are good antidotes to mindless busyness.

Jesus described how we would be judged at the end. Many would rely on their knowledge of something and their list of religious achievements, but they would be sorely disappointed. Some would take pride in their Bible knowledge.

Scripture does say that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32). But how easily we turn scriptural truths into superficial mantras! We become presumptuous and easily misled. Thus Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). He was not contradicting Scripture, but challenging the kind of Scripture reading that is merely informative rather than deeply formative.

Jesus also said that many who would claim to have been busy doing good things (prophesying, exorcising, doing miracles) in His name would also be turned away from His kingdom because they had missed the most important truth: they had failed to be with Jesus. “I never knew you” is a divine statement that exposes the lack of a relationship between busy servants and their Master, and turns all their apparently good deeds to evil deeds!

Because the Lord has made it clear, we cannot claim ignorance or ask to be excused. Instead, we must learn to seek first to spend unhurried time in getting to know Jesus, listening to His voice, marvelling at His character, discovering His will, understanding His ways, and enjoying His presence.

Then our fact-finding and doing-good mission will find focus and fulfilment in the light of our being with Jesus. Then we can avoid ending up with heads crammed with information and schedules filled with activities, but hearts empty of God. We will discover that the most profound thing to say at the end of life is not “I thought” or “I did”, but “I loved”. n

Picture by R_Tavani/Bigstock.com

SAYS THE TRAC PRESIDENT

Watch, wait and wonder The Rev Dr Gordon Wong was elected President of Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in 2012 for the quadrennium. He has been a Methodist pastor for 30 years, and was a lecturer at Trinity Theological College from 1995 until he was elected President.

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

“A

Luke 2:17-19

ll who heard it were amazed.” (Luke 2:18) All who heard the news about Jesus the Child were amazed.

When was the last time you were amazed – truly amazed – at some news?

Modern media coverage has made the experience of true amazement very rare these days. It sometimes feels as if there is really “nothing new under the sun”. Of course, every sensational headline amazes or shocks, whether it is some horrible violent killing, or a tragic air crash. And yet, because such bad news comes to us almost weekly, the amazement or shock tends to last only briefly. We get used to bad news, and we slip more easily into indifference rather than amazement or wonder.

Modern technology also plays its part in reducing our sense of true amazement or wonder. We are so accustomed to the technological wonders of our modern world. We pick up our smartphones, and within seconds we are speaking with someone thousands of miles away. We can even see their faces as we talk.

Just 15 years ago, that technology would have seemed like science fiction. Now we take it for granted, and the surprise is rather that anyone today is unaware of such available technology.

My guess is that even someone like Einstein would have been truly amazed at the technological and medical miracles that are almost commonplace today.

Surgery that involves cutting one’s chest or skull open, surgically removing or rearranging tissue and organs, occurs every day. Organ transplants – taking one organ from another person’s body and putting it in yours – extending life and health in such wonderfully miraculous ways. Do we take this for granted?

Does it amaze us at all?

Modern media, technology and medical advancements have made it hard for any of us to experience any real sense of amazement or wonder.

And yet, if we can no longer be truly amazed… no longer experience a sense of mystery and wonder… then we become people who are indifferent to almost everything. Mystery is replaced by monotony, and life without wonder becomes a life without hope or expectation.

Albert Einstein said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”

In the busyness of our daily lives, and maybe even more so in the busyness of the Lunar New Year season of holidays and home visits, there is no time to watch, and wait, let alone wonder. No time to “pause and stand rapt in awe”.

No time to ponder and think, and allow oneself time to wonder and be amazed.

Mary took time to think. She “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). She took time to ponder and wonder.

Modern technology and modern science will continue to come up with astounding miracles and wonders for our health and convenience. But the wonder of them all will quickly fade as today’s miracle becomes tomorrow’s standard issue.

Maybe G. K. Chesterton was correct when he said that “Our world will never starve for want of wonders. It will starve only for want of wonder.”

We all live in a busy, modern world of technological wonders. I pray that my wife, children and I – and every of one of you and yours – will somehow be able to make time to watch, wait and truly wonder at the Wonder who is truly God. “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth” to all who make time to ponder the wonder of Love divine in human form.

Amen. n Adapted from a homily shared at the Advent Service conducted by the Methodist Festival Choir on 29 Nov 2015.

Picture by Tom Wang/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

|5

YOU & YOUR FAMILY

Standing the test of time 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 in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

T

wo postings in the newspaper’s ‘Obituaries’ section caught my eye the other day.

The first was for a woman in her 90s. It carried a list of her clan of 35 family members, nine of whom were great-grandchildren. Some may view this with a sense of satisfaction on her behalf – that she lived to a ripe old age and had the joy of seeing her family grow and grow.

The second posting was for a man in his 80s.

There was no long list of surviving family members.

Nor were there the usual words about how the deceased was missed. Instead there were these poignant words: “Upright and just. Generous and loyal all his life.” I also noted it was the fourth memorial posting for him. Clearly, he is still deeply remembered.

I wonder how the deceased would like to be remembered. If they could attend their own wakes and funerals, would they be surprised by anyone in particular who came? If they could listen in on conversations, would they be pleased with how they are spoken of?

I do not think my curiosity about how we will be remembered is morbid or unique. One only has to look at the carvings on some totem poles and obelisks to see how some ancient rulers wanted to be remembered.

To bring it closer to home, some of us may recall how we collected the autographs and comments of our

classmates in the past.

These were then feverishly studied to discern how others thought of us. In today’s context, it is akin to the instantaneous Facebook ‘like’. It is as if people feel they are being evaluated all the time and must be “liked” for every comment or picture posted on their Facebook timeline.

To have one’s qualities reaffirmed by others is not bad in itself.

Gary Chapman has written about words of affirmation as one of the five Languages of Love. We are reminded to sprinkle these in everyday interactions with loved ones for our relationships to blossom and grow. On the other hand, believing that there is nothing about oneself which is pleasing or good can be a sign of low self-esteem and acute self-doubt. Such individuals constantly seek the approval of others.

What kind of approval should we then be looking for?

Sadly, many of our life achievements cannot stand the test of time. Even wealth amassed for the younger generations may be frittered away in no time. Let us go back to the example of the obituaries.

I believe the two “achievements” listed earlier are longer lasting. The first is investment in the lives of people. I have a hunch that the great-grandmother probably knew this. Secondly, investment in a life well-lived according to one’s principles and values. Although nothing much was said about the elderly gentleman, one gets the sense that he is well-remembered.

His achievement was how he lived his life rather than what he accomplished.

How would you like to be remembered? n

To bring it closer to home, some of us may recall how we collected the autographs and comments of our classmates in the past.

These were then feverishly studied to discern how others thought of us.

Background picture by Scyther5/Bigstock.com

YOUTH IN FOCUS

Guiding your teen to manage dating and relationships

A

s your child reaches the teenage years, he or she will naturally start being interested in the opposite sex.

Do not panic! This is a natural phase of growing up. It is important that as parents, you approach your teen with an attitude of seeking to understand, guide and support them, rather than ‘telling’ them what to do. This will keep the atmosphere at home positive and the doorway to communication open.

Here are some tips to help you guide your teen: Have a dialogue, not monologue When parents do all the talking, even with only good intentions, you might start to sound like you are nagging, lecturing or preaching. Instead, engage your teen with open-ended questions and have a two-way conversation so they have the liberty to express their thoughts, clarify uncertainties, and discuss options.

Seek to understand why he wants to be in a relationship. Is it due to peer pressure, not wanting to be left out, loneliness, sex or status? Share your convictions but do not impose them.

“Because I said so” doesn’t work for teens. Instead, provide logical explanations and compelling reasons. This way, your teen will feel a lot more comfortable and willing to approach you with their concerns and seek your advice.

Affirm their worth Proverbs 16:24 reminds us that pleasant, nurturing words are soothing and healing; naturally, teens respond to encouragement rather than discouragement. Affirm your teen’s qualities and character and explain the value of virginity – a one-time gift that is valuable and worth saving for marriage. When your teen has your affirmation, he will value and respect himself within the context of a relationship as well.

Set a good example Proverbs 22:6 exhorts parents to train and teach their children as they grow. This requires a gracefilled approach to moulding a young person’s character, where parents live out their own faith with transparency and honesty – showing rather than telling their teen what a living relationship with Christ is. Indeed, values are ‘caught’ rather than ‘taught’.

Set ground rules and expectations It is also important to set rules and boundaries for your teen. This includes boundaries on when your teen will be allowed to date, the type of media entertainment they can access and social media they can use. This will vary from family to family depending on the maturity and age of your teen.

Use teachable moments to discuss the consequences of premarital sex and talk about living out values in the context of relationships.

Once the boundaries and consequences are clearly spelt out, your teen will have clarity on your expectations so there is no confusion.

By helping your teen take a God-centred approach to relationships, you will create positive values and attitudes that will see them through to adulthood. n

It is important that as parents, you approach your teen with an attitude of seeking to understand, guide and support them, rather than ‘telling’ them what to do. ©2015 Focus on the Family Singapore. All rights reserved.

Used by permission of Focus on the Family Singapore (www.family.org.sg), a local charity dedicated to helping families thrive through differentiated programmes, trusted resources and family counselling.

Picture by Dragon Images/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

|7

MISSIONS

Motivating and Equipping for Missions The Rev Lee Shuit Kuin is Training Director at the Methodist Missions Society (MMS).

O

n 29 Aug 2014, some 14 potential and newly-appointed missionaries who had earlier submitted their applications with the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) graduated from a two-month intensive training programme.

The MMS has put in special effort over these couple of years to motivate, train and prepare Methodists in Singapore – MMS missionaries, and members of the Methodist churches – to serve in missions.

The training programme consists of modules designed to equip for effective ministry in the field.

This includes a module on Methodist Essentials, where participants benefitted from learning about Methodist heritage, doctrines, theology, spirituality, and disciplines. In the Spiritual Formation module, especially ‘Hearing God’, participants experienced greater intimacy with God, having been encouraged to set aside time daily to be in God’s presence.

Other important modules include global missions, cross-cultural dynamics and communications, indigenous church planting, practical ministry skills such as holistic counselling, homiletics, teaching and disciple-making. They were also blessed by the Leadership Development module, which touches on spiritual leadership, leadership multiplication, conflict management, leadership resilience and dangers.

Also, participants undertook a field trip to the Asian Civilisations Museum to familiarise themselves with various cultural worldviews and share their learnings. They were also required to be actively involved in a “Building Redemptive Bridges” project with people of the field that they would be serving in. Modules like Catholicism,

The graduation and covenant service

Participants of the inaugural missionary training in 2014.

with special reference to Timor Leste, and Buddhism, with special reference to Thailand and Cambodia, were included in the training programme.

The MMS deeply appreciates the dedication and service of Methodist pastors, missionaries, lay leaders, as well as a number of non-Methodist missionaries and ministers for their time and effort in teaching in the training programme.

In 2015, the MMS organised a series of missions courses open to members of the Methodist churches.

In January 2015, almost 80 people turned up for the first one-day course entitled ‘Building Bridges with People of Different Religious Worldviews’, where Dr Jeanette Hui and Dr Ashok Kumar taught the key features of popular religions. Participants gave feedback that they benefited greatly from the course.

Most of the 25 participants in the ‘Bivocational Missions’ course were

young Christian professionals, and were motivated by guest speakers Mr Kua Wee Seng, Dr Tan Lai Yong and Mr Kenneth Bong’s testimonies of being both professionals and ministers in a cross-cultural context.

The ‘Missional Business’ seminar challenged emerging entrepreneurs to launch Christ-centred companies that not only make profit but also meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people they touch. The inspiring and challenging seminar drew 35 participants comprising emerging young entrepreneurs, experienced businessmen, and more. The keynote address by Dr Stanley Ling was followed by a forum with Mr Alvin Tan, Mr Ong Teong Hoon and the Rev Erick Tan – committed Christians experienced in missional business.

On 21 November, 15 participants graduated from the Kairos course jointly organised by the MMS and Simply Mobilizing. The Kairos course is a nine-session, interactive course on world Christian missions, looking at biblical, historical, strategic and cultural dimensions of missions.

Moving forward, with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, the MMS will continue to motivate and equip Methodists to serve in missions. To God be the glory! n

Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society

WELFARE SERVICES

She gave her birthday By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team

W

hile others may throw an extravagant party or come up with an extended wish list for gifts for their 21st birthdays, Jacqueline Chua was pounding the pavement in the middle of the night on hers.

The recent graduate did not want any presents for her birthday in 2015 as she had decided that she had all she needed.

However, she had the strong desire to run a marathon, and to be able to discipline her mind to complete the challenge.

Marrying the two desires, she decided to run for a good cause, asking people to donate to Residence @ St. George’s (RSG) instead of buying her birthday gifts.

RSG is a girls’ hostel run by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), rehabilitating at-risk girls who are serving their probation or were referred by other volunteer welfare organisations.

What the run was not Jacqueline was sure of what she did not want the run to be.

It would not be about her, her birthday or the money. She wanted the focus to be on letting more people know of the work RSG is doing.

And it would not be about the run either.

“I don’t want to just turn up on the day, run and go home,” she said. “I challenged myself to visit RSG regularly to get to know the girls.”

The youth from Hakka Methodist Church’s Saltshaker Youth Ministry had been visiting RSG with her church friends, playing games, conducting lessons and organising events such as Christmas parties and Parents’ Day. “It was tough. I had to juggle classes, exams, training for the run, and visiting the girls,” she explained. “But I had resolved that it would always be more about the people than the money.”

Through this, she came to know the girls better. “I was very touched by how sweet the girls are, despite their tough exterior and backgrounds.”

21 kilometres for 21 years Jacqueline combined her 21-km run with an overnight cycling event RSG was organising, from Changi Village to Marina Bay. This way, the RSG girls could take part by cycling as well.

The toughest part of the project was asking for donations. “It was probably the most nerve-wrecking part,” she said.

“Soliciting for donations was thoroughly uncharacteristic of me, and the prospect of being ignored or rejected made me squirm,” she added.

The three-month long project raised more than $2,000 for RSG. The run was also a challenge for the avid runner. “Running at a time when my body was supposed to be resting made it very difficult to focus on the road ahead, much less pace myself,” she noted. If not for her running entourage, made up of her father, the Rev Jasper Sim, and a friend, she might have given up midway.

But she finished her marathon, and celebrated her 21st birthday by raising funds for a cause she believed in.

“I gave what I had: two legs to run and a friendly face to build relationships,” she said. n

Jacqueline (far right) with her running entourage.

VISIT u www.mws.sg to find out more about MWS causes.

Photos courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

|9

CHURCH PROFILE

Wesley Methodist Church:

Growing, building and impacting Noelle Tang is Pastoral Team Member (Communications) at Wesley Methodist Church.

A

t the Atrium of Wesley Methodist Church (Wesley) stand two boards with numerous colourful paper hearts. Displaying handwritten reflections on Scripture, these paper hearts are part of a new year-long Bible Reading Drive where more than 2,600 Wesleyans committed to read the Bible daily in 2016.

The Bible Reading Drive follows a series of intentional discipleship efforts initiated since 2012. When the Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming became Pastorin-Charge, the 7,000-member church had just completed a faith project – ‘Biblethon’ – to involve every Wesleyan in hand-writing the entire Bible. This opened the door to a church-wide immersion in the Word of God. To strengthen their foundation in the Word, Wesleyans participated in a church-wide “Meeting Jesus in the Gospels” campaign in 2014, involving sermons, memory verses, Scripture reading and small group studies. The single-minded focus for 40 days forged a renewed sense of oneness in the Wesley church family, and Wesleyans called for more.

In 2015, Wesley delved into a church-wide study of Acts and Paul’s letters to the churches, followed by a three-month sermon and small group study series “Rebuilding Walls, Restoring Lives” centred on the book of Nehemiah.

Said the Rev Dr Kow: “We celebrated Wesley’s 130th Anniversary last year.

By learning to be the church described in the Bible and restoring the broken walls in our lives, we want to continue the charge that God has given to us – to be salt and light in the world for, God willing, another century to come.”

At Wesley, discipleship and outreach are understood to be intertwined and symbiotic. The ONE Christmas Service on 25 Dec 2014 (pic below) was a major milestone in spurring the church to grow in its outreach; close to 8,000 people attended the Service, of which 2,600 were guests. This energy and unity then flowed into the Acts 2 Church campaign and subsequently to the Alpha Course.

More than 700 people were introduced to the Alpha Course in 2015, with a record number of 363 participants.

At the start of 2016, the leadership has also adopted strategic directions for the next five years, encapsulated in the phrase: “Growing in Christ, Building Community, Impacting the World”. These directions are set to move the church

Wesley Methodist Church (Trinity Annual Conference) 5 Fort Canning Road, Singapore 179493 Sunday Services: English, Traditional 7.30 a.m., 9.30 a.m.,

11.30 a.m. & 5 p.m.

English, Prayer & Praise 9.30 a.m. & 11.30 a.m.

Mandarin 2.30 p.m.

Saturday Service: 5 p.m.

Bible House, 7 Armenian Street, Basement 2 Sunday Service: 11.30 a.m. (Filipino) YWCA Fort Canning Lodge, 6 Fort Canning Road, Level 2 Ballroom Sunday Services: 9.30 a.m. & 11.30 a.m.

(English, Youth) Contact: www.wesleymc.org, mailbag@wesleymc.org, www.fb.com/WesleyMethodistChurch or 6336-1433 towards the fulfillment of its mission of “glorifying God in Jesus Christ by loving Him, loving one another and loving our neighbours as ourselves”.

On 21 Feb 2016, Wesley will once again gather to rejoice in the promise of God from Zechariah 4:6, given 131 years ago. The road ahead remains uncertain, but by the Spirit of God, Wesley Methodist Church continues to stand upon the promise of God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. n

We continue our series of profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, we may discover more opportunities to forge crosschurch partnerships and collaborations.

Photos courtesy of Wesley Methodist Church

SOUNDINGS

Interrogating multiculturalism Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor to the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg/).

I

n June 2011, I wrote an article for The Straits Times on multiculturalism in Singapore at the invitation of The United Nations Alliance of Civilisation. In the article, I argued that the Government’s approach has succeeded in fostering social cohesion in multi-racial Singapore. I suggested that the Singapore model could provide insights on how the West could address some of the conundrums it is experiencing with state multiculturalism.

Multiculturalism is no doubt one of the defining features of Singapore history and society. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, is right to identify multiculturalism as one of the ‘soft powers’ of the nationstate, together with leadership and governance.

The Bible provides a number of powerful pictures of cultural diversity.

For example, in Revelation 7:9 (ESV), we have the wonderful portrayal of the multitude “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” praising God in the new creation.

Ethnic and cultural diversity are not the result of human rebellion and sin.

They are part of God’s good creation, an expression of the inexhaustible originative genius of the Creator.

Cultural diversity should therefore be celebrated.

“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.

Undergirding this great diversity is a profound unity. The story of the creation of Adam and Eve underscores the fact that human beings from every race and culture share the same genetic ancestry.

And, as Genesis 1:26 makes clear, all human beings are created in the image of God and are thus equally valued and loved by their Creator.

The Incarnation brings out the importance of our shared humanity and the value of cultural and ethnic identity in a way that is at once profound and elegant. In taking up our humanity, the eternal Son of God affirmed its goodness and value. And in coming as a Jew in the Incarnation, the Son underscores the significance of ethnic identity.

Human rebellion and sin, however, has distorted and perverted the unity and diversity of the human race in grave and destructive ways.

Firstly, it introduced enmity and mutual suspicion into cultural diversity, fracturing human relationships and turning ethnic identity into an idolatrous ethnocentricity. Secondly, as the story of the Tower of Babel indicates, it promoted a false unity that is in fact a species of tyrannical totalitarianism.

Sin can also corrupt our philosophies and practices of multiculturalism, causing them to be short-sighted, parochial and alienating.

Multiculturalism could easily be hijacked by postmodern relativism that insists that morality is relative to particular cultures. Such moral relativism, when mixed with the rhetoric of tolerance and a penchant for political correctness, could foster the belief that members of one culture have no right to make judgements about the practices of another culture or tradition.

In some cases, even legitimate observations or criticisms could lead to charges of racism, Islamophobia or homophobia. For example, Thilo Sarrazin was asked to step down from his position on the board of the Deutsche Bundesbank for writing a book that criticised Muslim immigrants for refusing to integrate into German society.

Here then is the unsettling irony: Imbued with moral relativism, multiculturalism can become an extremely intolerant ideology.

Multiculturalism could also promote a species of irrationalism and a naïve emotionalism that can unleash chaos in public life and may prove detrimental

to social stability. By substituting slogans – “racism”, “intolerance”, “Islamophobia”, and “homophobia” – for rigorous thought, multiculturalism could induce a subtle but destructive intellectual and moral stupor.

Multiculturalism may sometimes use the language of “cultural rights” to legitimise traditional practices even though they violate the dignity of certain members of the community.

Female genital mutilation, which is practised in certain Asian and North and Central African countries as well as immigrant groups and which is deemed demeaning and unethical by many, is a case in point.

On its own, multiculturalism appears quite incapable of resolving the conflict between “cultural rights” and universal rights.

Finally, multiculturalism could lead to the radical insularisation of individual ethnic communities that may cause societies to become fractured, fragmented and divisive.

This is largely the problem with multiculturalism in Europe, which led Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the former French President Nicholas Sarkozy to declare it an “utter failure”. David Cameron hit the nail on the head when he said that state multiculturalism in Europe has not worked because it has “failed to provide a vision of society”.

Instead of engendering a more inclusive society, multiculturalism can foster a segregating parochialism that alienates communities from each other and from the rest of society.

Multiculturalism is about acknowledging, respecting and celebrating our cultural differences and particularities. But it should also be about how we must transcend these particularities in order that we may build our common life together. n

Background picture by Kaarsten/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 11

CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATIONS SINGAPORE

Publishing and trainin Chinese churches wor Vincent Toh is the General-Secretary of Christian Communications Singapore. He was previously featured in an article in the August 2012 issue of Methodist Message for his heroic act of volunteering as hostage when a tour group he was leading in Egypt was held up by gunmen.

Christian Communications Singapore Address: 8 Burn Road, Trivex #09-15, Singapore 369977 Tel: 6323-3354 Email: go@cc-sg.org Website: cc-sg.org

“T

hank you for the books and training you provided, which has helped my ministry in our country. Everyone in our village is grateful to you.” These words of thanks were expressed to Christian Communications Singapore (CCS), a Christian organisation serving Chinese churches through publishing and media ministry, training ministry, China ministry, and other services.

Reaching more than 1,000 church leaders and 100,000 people yearly, CCS aims to assist the growth of the universal Chinese Church in Christ, bear witness for the Lord Jesus and expand God’s kingdom throughout the land.

“Teaching the Bible” is always the first priority of every ministry of CCS. We zero in on helping believers be rooted in the Word of God and build a firm foundation of faith. For this purpose, CCS focuses on three major areas.

Literature Ministry We publish, develop, import and translate high-quality Chinese Christian literary, Bible Study and Sunday School materials from all parts of the world to benefit the Chinese churches and the brothers and sisters in Singapore. By God’s grace, CCS is one of the biggest centres for Chinese Sunday School material and resources in Singapore.

Through the years, God has blessed Singapore with many faithful pastors and Bible teachers, who have developed many wonderful teaching materials to equip their church members and students. CCS has the honour of working with some of them, such as the Rev Caleb Soo and the Rev Polly Wang, publishing their works to bless the body of Christ.

Our latest publication is How Great is Your Love, a devotional handbook of meditations for Lent by the Rev Dr Pan Chou Wee, a lecturer at Trinity Theological College.

Photos courtesy of Christian Communications Singapore

ng to serve rldwide

“This is a two thumbs-up course! I feel privileged to join this course, as it helped me learn methods of evangelism, and become more confident to share the gospel.” 协会

证主 新加坡福音 证主出版社

apore ications Sing

mun Christian Com tions Pte Ltd Triv ex CCL Publica ad #09 -15 8 Bu rn Ro 369977 re po ga Sin 354 3-3 632 : Tel 6-8273 Fax : 663 rg @cc-sg.o Email: go -sg.org ://www.cc Web : http

生命 圣经教导育

– Participant in the ‘From Doubting to Believing’ course

類事 個機構各 導」為 整 、教導、考 字 「聖經教 我 們 鎖 定 過不同媒介：文 神的話語， 學習 ，透 工的焦點 ，幫助信徒進深 等 察、培訓 上打好根基。 礎 在信仰基

Recently, we have also converted our books into e-books, not only because e-books are getting more 方面的 定這幾 靈兵工廠 e-books popular, but also 屬because are more accessible in some parts of the world where getting hard 我們也認 兵工廠的 作為屬靈 會， eReading app (Empowering Reading) from Google Play or ： 教our 向 的 copies is difficult.服Try 事方 it out – download 立堅強 建 · 導 教 藉聖經 獻中華， 教教育— ·使命 iTunes today, and基督 empower by reading a good book! 音遍神州 —福yourself 音運動。 福音事工

西澳辦事處 , Dianella Promenade 458 Grand lia 6059 West Austra 303-9560 Tel: (604) 各區證主： g Kong 香港 Hon 協會有限公司 號 國際福音證主 沙咀道 52A 香港新界荃灣 19 樓 皇廷廣場

·福 中國 反向宣教 音事工— 新加坡福

版一 配搭，出 從 Christian Education 展望未來 弟兄姐妹 《 佈道課程 群愛主的 我們和一 雜誌《新橋》和一 雙 管 齊 下 進 預工的 GDP Learning Hub (Grow, Develop Progress) is the training arm of CCS. We conduct various 的 兩 項 事 工 and 坡 份福音 ，藉著這 》 幫助新加 信 以 相 ” 到 動 疑 運 教· 福 音 加坡的中國人。 “反向宣 百 programmes and懷行courses with to assist the body of Christ to grow in Him, develop 在新 different churches 萬 是 這 子 接 ，未來日 教會來迎 憫和大愛 時期。同胞 著神的憐 史 性 黃金 their spiritual gifts,深and reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Tim 2:2). 信，因become 信 多 歷 更 的 ， 人 立 被建 全球華 福音遍傳 更快，教會不斷 以，建立有系 多 育。所 education, Our programmes include family Sunday School teachers’ training, Bible Land 信主將更 的，能讓 導和培 緩 教 容 、 不 培 徒需要栽 的聖經教導是刻 面 統的、全 求學 習。 orientation and personal courses.

‘From Doubting to Believing’ is one of the most 追 evangelism 終身學 身 都 終 徒 徒 督 信 一個基 能 目標是每 ； 成 為「 那 忠 心 們的最終that 門 徒 trained over 500 brothers and sisters who are committed to popular courses we我不 offer 長， 成 為has 成 。 斷 2） 習， （提后二 的人」 教導別人 personal evangelism.

Said a participant: “This is a two thumbs-up course! I feel privileged to join 言 使命宣 this course, as it helped me learn methods of evangelism, and become more confident to share the gospel.”

In 2016, we are going to have two new programmes : ‘Only You can be You’ and ‘Chinese Calligraphy & Spirituality’.

協會 號 香港福音證主 沙咀道 52A 香港新界荃灣 19 樓 皇廷廣場

wan 台灣 Tai 證主協會 廈8樓 財團法人福音 22 號錫安大 台北巿松江路

USA 美國 USA ns Inc. of Communicatio e 111, Christian Blvd., Suit aire USA 9600 Bell 77036-4534, Houston TX

ada ） 加拿大 Can unications（Canada 15, n Comm Christia k Rd, Unit Beaver Cree da 155 East 2N1, Cana Hill,NO,L4B Richmond

aysia

Mal Sdn. Bhd. ions（M） CCL Publicat Unit 201,2/F, t, 2, Letter Box ng Hang Jeba odist, Loro ysia.

Wisma Meth West Mala a Lumpur, 50150, Kual

馬來西亞

公司 國證網絡有限 山道 478 號 九龍荔枝角青 A 室 13 樓 百欣大廈

、傳 ，藉 出版 督教 機構 助普 教會 之基 服務，輔 服事 華人 工及 其他 協會 乃一 國福 音事 神的國度。 福音 證主 拓展 事工、中 主及 培訓 信徒 在各處見證救 播事 工、 長， 裏成 基督 世華人教會在

China Gospel Ministry Our China Ministry is committed to serving the churches in mainland China through pastoral care and training, supplying teaching materials to assist the Chinese churches to reach out to Chinese, especially the tribal groups in Western China. In recent years, God has opened doors for us to reach out to Chinese mainlanders in Singapore. We also give away books to churches in China and Bible college students from mainland China who are here.

We thank God that CCS is blessed to be a blessing and a “spiritual arsenal” for local and overseas churches. It is only by God’s grace and providence through the body of Christ and our fellow brothers and sisters that we can achieve what we have.

We look forward to your prayer support and partnership in ministry. To find out more about our ministry and latest developments or to serve as ministry partners and volunteers, please visit our website or subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter available in Chinese and English. n

METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 13

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

Rob Burrough Principal

  • 13 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past six years • 98.7% pass rate in 2015 IB Diploma examination • O Level High Value Added: All 7 students with raw scores of 18+ passed the 2015 IB Diploma with average of 34.5 • Outstanding ‘value added’ examinations results from PSLE to IB graduates

Kathleen Manley Vice Principal (Academic)

• Three students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for 2015 • Top university admissions in the UK, US and Singapore • Successes at national level this past year in Archery; Cheerleading; Chinese Drama; Cycling; Debating; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Touch; Taekwondo; Volleyball

     • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the Methodist ethos and provide high quality teaching

Richard MacLean Vice Principal (Pastoral)

• 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 • 25+ overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme

Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal (Student & Staff Development)

For more information, please contact Joseph Ng or Stephanie Hanrahan at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.com.sg

The international senior management team has over 55 years of combined senior management experiences in Britain, Africa, Asia, Europe and New Zealand.

What the Parents and Students Say… “Having witnessed the positive transformation in our younger daughter at ACS (International), we decided this year to also transfer our older daughter in Sec 3 from a top class in an elite and prestigious girls’ school to ACS (International). The different teaching methods, the high quality of teaching, the promotion of individual character and personality, and the obvious enjoyment of school at ACS (International) made the transfer most worthwhile.”

Vincent and Germaine Leong "We love the smaller class sizes, the wide array of CCAs and the many approachable, friendly, passionate and dedicated teachers in the school which makes the whole experience a great one for our boys.”

Cecilia Chau ‘’What I find makes this school different from others are the many great teachers who engage with students and make learning fun and effective. ACS (International) is a school beyond compare and I’m proud to be a part of it.’’

Benjamin Wong Liang Min – Head Boy “We were looking for a school that would invest in developing our children holistically, plus prepare them for university back in the UK. We certainly found all this and more at ACS (International) - strong academic achievement, sporting success, serving others through community service, student leadership opportunities, and nurturing in their Christian faith - all the while thriving under the tutelage of excellent teachers in the rich and diverse international milieu that ACS (International) provides.’’

Steve and Anna Griffiths

HOME

Celebrating Christmas uniquely at Orchard and VivoCity Kjelti Koh is Secretary at Celebrate Christmas in Singapore Ltd, and worships at Charis Methodist Church.

“I

’ve been participating for the past seven years, and this is the first year that I’m just watching. I now know why people would want to keep coming back, because it’s a blessing to be a part of this.”

The above comment, overheard from an audience member at the Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS) concert on 24 Dec 2015, aptly describes the impact of CCIS as a unique event in Singapore’s Christian landscape. Now into its 13th year (12th in 2015), CCIS celebrates the true meaning of Christmas in a highly visible way at Orchard Road during the week preceding Christmas, with displays, performances, activities and booths.

2015 was the first year that CCIS held its activities at VivoCity in addition to Orchard Road. It also marked the first year that CCIS partnered with Grace Methodist Church to run family bonding activities at VivoCity. A total of 1,184 children – and their families – participated in the activities.

The half-hour programme saw children playing four games that depicted different parts of the Christmas Story: a shooting game to find the Christmas Star; a Lego maze to represent the journey to Bethlehem; a craft activity to make a bookmark that depicts the Nativity scene; and lastly an obstacle course to represent the flight to Egypt, away from King Herod. Each family was then presented with a commemorative family photo.

CCIS celebrations had earlier kicked off on 18 Dec at the Opening Ceremony held at Orchard Road, with guest-of-honour Ms Irene Ng (former MP for Tampines GRC). This was followed by five nights of high-energy performances at two stages in front of Wisma Atria and ION, as well as fun-filled activities run by our partner, Singapore Youth for Christ (SYFC).

Singapore Anglican Community Services also ran a charity booth as part of CCIS’ efforts to give back to the community, where they were able to raise funds and educate the public on their psychiatric and senior services, as well as mental health and wellbeing.

At VivoCity, nightly performances were held at the Amphitheatre on the third floor, and there was a Christmas Story tapestry activity run by SYFC. CCIS continued to run its annual project My Christmas Wish, giving presents to primary-school children from lowincome families. Some of these children are from centres that

help the homeless, or the orphaned. Our senior citizen volunteers organised and distributed 695 gifts to the children, with help from our partner, Toys“R”Us Singapore.

The CCIS Christmas Concert was the culmination of the week-long activities, featuring performances from foreign performing groups. Our guest-of-honour, MP for Mountbatten SMC Mr Lim Biow Chuan, toured the booths at the Plaza with his family, accompanied by the Event Coordinator Mr Han Hai Kwang and Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, before heading up to the Amphitheatre to enjoy the concert.

Approximately 700 people attended the concert, where they were treated to performances from groups that came from as far as Canada and Brazil, and as near as Malaysia and Singapore.

Notable highlights included the Singaporean harp ensemble, led by musicians Michael-David and Zsiporah (above pic) who held a harp training workshop here, and Celebration of Praise, a 50-member group from Indonesia presenting song and dance items that showcased the cultural diversity of their indigenous people groups (pic below). The crowd really enjoyed the finale, the perennial favorite ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah.

CCIS thanks the following organisations and churches, without which running the event would not be possible: ➢ Venue sponsor, Mapletree – VivoCity ➢ Hotel sponsor, Far East Hospitality ➢ Mineral water sponsor, F&N Foods Pte Ltd ➢ The Methodist churches in Singapore, especially Grace Methodist Church, for their enthusiastic participation ➢ Youth volunteers from Singapore Youth for Christ ➢ My Christmas Wish partner, Toys“R”Us (Singapore) Pte Ltd ➢ Singapore Tourism Board, Orchard Road Business Association and other government agencies n Photos courtesy of Celebrate Christmas in Singapore

METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 15

365 days of The Upper Room – subscribe for yourself, your family and friends!

The Upper Room daily devotional guide offers meditations written by ordinary people recounting God’s presence in their lives. Each day’s entry includes a Bible reading, a short meditation, and prayer. It is perfect for personal devotion, small group reflection, and outreach ministries.

In each handy travel-sized booklet, you will read about real people struggling to live faithfully in real-life situations, with the Bible as the touchstone for and measure of faithful living. The writers of the daily meditations that appear in The Upper Room are made up of laity and clergy and come from around the world. However, all in some way reflect the belief that God’s will for each of us is good, and that God calls us to lives of love, forgiveness, and service to others, according to the example of Christ.

Subscribe and get your own copy now! $15.60 + postage (One-year subscription in Singapore) Tel: 6478-4815 Email: waiying.wang@methodist.org.sg

HYMNS & SONGS

Beholding the Glory of the Son of God Dr Yeo Teck Beng is Principal of the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.

Christ, Upon the Mountain Peak (The United Methodist Hymnal, #260)

Christ, upon the mountain peak, Stands alone in glory blazing; Let us, if we dare to speak, With the saints and angels praise Him: Alleluia!

Trembling at His feet we saw Moses and Elijah speaking.

All the prophets and the law Shout thru them their joyful greeting: Alleluia!

Swift the cloud of glory came, God proclaiming in its thunder Jesus as the Son by name!

Nations, cry aloud in wonder: Alleluia!

This is God’s beloved Son! Law and prophets fade before Him; First and last and only One, Let creation now adore Him: Alleluia!

T

ransfiguration Sunday (7 Feb 2016) is the last Sunday of Epiphany, which is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and marks the beginning of the Lenten journey.1 Though not universally observed, the Roman Catholics retain this day on its original date of 6 August. The Protestant Church, however, moved the commemoration from a weekday to the Sunday before Lent.

This move has wisely connected the final epiphany of Jesus with the Lenten season. The Transfiguration of Jesus thus acts as a bridge into Lent by further identifying who Jesus is and anticipating what would occur as our Lord steadfastly headed for Jerusalem.2 A fitting hymn to sing on Transfiguration Sunday is Brian Wren’s 20th century hymn: ‘Christ, Upon the Mountain Peak’. This was the second hymn text that Wren wrote at Mansfield College, Oxford, England in 1962.3 Emeritus Professor Wren’s text captured the awe in the event when Jesus underwent a dramatic change in appearance as the “inner circle” of His disciples beheld His glory in dazzling brightness.

The Transfiguration narratives in the Gospels reveal Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah. With Moses personifying the Law and Elijah, the Prophets, Jesus symbolises the fulfillment of the Law and the countless prophecies in the Old Testament (stanza 2). The poetic text in stanza 3 presents God’s affirmation of His beloved Son through the cloud: “Jesus as the Son by name!”

The disciples never forgot what happened that day on the mountain.

Many years later, both John and Peter gave testimonies: “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son… We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” (John 1:14; 2 Peter 1:18) n

Words: Brian Wren, 1962 (Mt. 17:1-8; Mk 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36) Music: Peter Cutts, 1962

Robert Webber, Ancient-Future Time: Forming Spirituality Through the Christian Year (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books, 2004), 89.

1

2

Laurence Hull Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996), 136.

3

‘Christ, Upon the Mountain Peak’; available from http://www. hymnary.org/text/christ_upon_the_mountain_peak (accessed on 30 Nov 2015)

Background picture by 1971yes/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 17

MCS130 FINALE ... continued from page 1

Celebration of Praise and Thanksgiving Service Firstly, to have the mind of Christ requires us to be able to release our grasp on high positions and things important to us, “because we know in this world positions bring about privileges, prestige and many other things that benefit us”.

Secondly, we need to be willing to “resemble” those we are serving, as Jesus had set the example by “taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (verse 7).

The third aspect of this mindset indicates the extent to which we are willing to humble ourselves and make sacrifices for those we serve (verse 8) – an attitude that prevents us from serving others for show.

Bishop Dr Wee shed light on a conducive environment in churches to cultivate this mindset, which involves “encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, participation in the Spirit, and affection and sympathy” (verse 1).

Encouragement in Christ is found in the experience and reality of Christ always by our side, and we can serve others with the comfort and love we have received in affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Authentic fellowship in the Spirit, similar to that at Pentecost (Acts 2), should manifest itself in humility and sacrificial acts of service.

Finally, these should lead to deeply-felt compassion, and to freely give of ourselves when we see people who are suffering. This may translate to moving out of our comfort zones of family and church to minister to those in need.

Ms Cynthia Ng, 80, an honorary steward who serves in the children and prayer ministry in Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church, said: “The service was very good, especially the sermon which tells us that we have not only reached 130 years, but also that it is the years ahead that are more important, and who we are focusing on.

Our focus should always be on Jesus Christ our mighty Lord and [we should] have our hearts and minds on Him and work towards His plans and projects together as a church.”

Ms Mercy Jaya Prya, 22, who attends Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church, found the service lively with its mix of traditional and contemporary songs, and her mother Anna Matthew also found the Bishop’s sermon useful.

Said Low Sock Hwee: “I came here with my cell group because I’m from this church. The service is a good way to end the whole year’s celebrations…This year is a special year so we decided to come as a cell to be part of the celebrations. It’s good to see the three [annual] conferences come together.” n

“Our focus should always be on Jesus Christ our mighty Lord and [we should] have our hearts and minds on Him and work towards His plans and projects together as a church.”

–An attendee at the Service

Top and right: The Methodist Festival Orchestra and Methodist Festival Choir leading the congregation in song.

Above: Representatives from local Methodist churches bearing placards in a procession of unity.

Photos by Daniel Lie METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 19

EARLY METHODIST PREACHERS We continue our series of paired articles on early Methodist preachers from the UK and Singapore, aiming to trace the movement of the Holy Spirit in grassroots evangelistic preaching, reminding us of the evangelistic fervour of Methodism worldwide, and demonstrating the fruitfulness of the Gospel when preached with spiritual power and integrity. The first instalment was published in MM Oct 2015 (P20-21). As you read the biographies of our Methodist forebears, may you too be inspired to preach the Gospel – not only within the church, but going beyond to reach our community.

Thomas Taylor

One of Wesley’s veterans The Rev Dr David Lowes Watson is an eminent Wesleyan scholar, author and Methodist minister of the Tennessee Conference, the United Methodist Church, USA. He was keynote speaker at the Aldersgate SG 2014 Convention.

L

ike many early Methodist preachers, Thomas Taylor came from humble origins.

He was born on 11 Nov 1738, the youngest of eight children in a working-class family.

According to his own account in The Lives of Early Methodist Preachers, he was a boy “of a passionate temperament who swore in a most dreadful manner,” though he did read the Bible and “got much light into many things”.

When he was 17 he heard George Whitefield preach on the text “it is high time to awake out of sleep” (Rom 13:11, KJV) and went home “full of good resolutions”. This led him to join a Methodist Society, and one evening during his prayer time “the Lord appeared in a wonderful manner … I saw him by the eye of faith, and caused such love to flow into my soul that I believed that moment and never since gave up my confidence”.

He continued his fellowship with the Methodists and began to sense a call to preach “as a fire in his bones”. The Society recognised this, and one Sunday when they had no preacher they asked him to bring the message. Further invitations followed, and in July 1761 he met John Wesley who encouraged him to attend the next Methodist Conference in London. It was a mark of Wesley’s leadership that he quickly discerned a call to preach, and Taylor was duly appointed by the Conference to serve in Wales.

Thus began a ministry of more than five decades, boldly preaching the gospel throughout the British Isles. Wherever he was appointed he also made sure that the Methodist Societies followed the General Rules established by John Wesley, which make clear that the “method” of Methodism has always been a disciplined discipleship.

Most of Taylor’s preaching was in the open air.

This meant extensive travel, usually on horseback, often on foot. It also meant facing direct and even violent opposition which he became adept

in handling, as in the town of Cork in Ireland when the colonel of an army regiment ordered his trumpeters to sound while Taylor was holding a service in the street. He responded by having the people who had gathered to hear him sing the Doxology over and over again until “the trumpeters were at last fairly worn out”.

He also encountered the brutality of the 18th century penal system. In Scotland he visited a man in prison for the murder of his wife, and witnessed his execution. According to Scottish law at the time, before being hanged the man’s right hand was chopped off. Taylor published a censorious account of this, leading to personal attacks on him “filled with lies of all sorts”.

In 1799, Taylor’s ministry took him to the West of England, and on 22 May he preached at Gwennap Pit in Cornwall. This was a large hollow in the ground, probably caused by mining subsidence, and John Wesley preached there a number of times. It remains an important place of Methodist pilgrimage, and Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon of The Methodist Church in Singapore is pictured below preaching to a group of pilgrims at the same site.

Wesley records in his Journal that he preached at Gwennap on 14 Sept 1766, and observes: “I believe there were twenty thousand people, and, the evening being calm, all could hear.” As we can see from the picture, even Wesley could be lured into what can best be described as “a preacher’s count”.

Thomas Taylor died on 16 Oct 1816, his obituary noting that he had “only a few hours earlier, in an animated sermon, set forth the deep things of God”. n

Photo courtesy of Moses Goh

The Rev Samuel M. Thevathasan

He lived by the Truth

Dr Tong Hoo Ing contributes to Methodist Message as a volunteer writer. A retired neurologist, he worships at Wesley Methodist Church, and volunteers with medical mission teams to third-world countries.

I

n his Advent Meditation published in Malaysia Message Nov-Dec 1950, the Rev Samuel M. Thevathasan’s theme was “The Source of Truth”. He wrote: “The greatest quest of life is Truth – persistent, changing, widening and unending quest … Truth, absolute Truth, does not change, but the comprehension of it, and expression of it does and must, with the changing circumstances of time. The quest will grow and expand, but the kernel of Truth – that by which man must live, endures.

As God is unchanging, eternal, so is Truth; but man’s comprehension of it is, at best, only partial, inadequate, and imperfect.” What a wonderful philosophical and godly mind!

The Rev Thevathasan was born in Jaffna, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He was educated in Jaffna College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Madras University – a unique achievement in those days – and obtained a Master of Arts degree from the same university.

In 1919, he was invited by the Rev J. S. Nagle to come to Singapore to teach English, Latin and Scripture to the School Certificate classes in the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS). Since then, the Rev Thevathasan’s service was entirely with the ACS and the Methodist Church.

A fellow teacher, the Rev C. B. Paul, described him as “an emblem of purity and love. Never an unkind word fell from his lips”. Another teaching colleague Mr Chew Kia Song said that, working in conjunction with the Maths Specialist Mr H. M. Hoisington, the Rev Thevathasan raised the standard and fame of the school which became a leading educational institution in Singapore and Malaya; his addresses at chapel services were an inspiration to the boys (Malaya Annual Conference Journal, December 1958).

The Rev Thevathasan served the Methodist Church as District Superintendent and Executive Officer during the very difficult period of the Japanese Occupation.

While shouldering these coordinating duties, he was the Pastor of Wesley Church, meeting on Sunday evenings at Short Street as the Wesley Church premises had been commandeered by the Japanese Forces for use as an ammunition depot. When services were still held at Fort Canning, one could not help but admire his steely nerves when he calmly continued conducting a service as a Japanese soldier, pointing his gun from side to side, walked down the aisle before leaving.

He retired from teaching on 31 Dec 1940, after 21 years with ACS, Singapore, except for two years in the Methodist Boys’ School, Kuala Lumpur. In his farewell message to the ACS family, he said: “Every time a teacher teaches, he should be led to the question: Has the Truth come to you? In other words, do you live by the Truth?” (ACS Magazine, 1940) He concluded his meditation on “The Source of Truth” by noting: “The subjective comprehension of Truth, that personal enjoyment of a life hid in God, is a most rewarding, ever expanding life experience. People sometimes talk of cynicism, coldness in spiritual fervour, as fruits of long periods of living and suffering. This should mean little, unless it is to be understood that disappointment, troubles, illness, death, too often understood only on the surface, bring spiritual dullness to those who expected a protected life, as the reward of religious devotion.

No, this spiritual contact with God is a growing experience, for God never fails a true seeker.”

Having given his life to living by the Truth, the Rev Thevathasan was called home to glory on 21 June 1958, after suffering a major stroke. n Acknowledgement: Mr Robin Thevathasan provided valuable personal information on his grandfather.

Photo courtesy of Robin V. Thevathasan METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 21

POEMS

Gethsemane Ella Wheeler Wilcox was a popular American poet and novelist in the late 19th century. This poem was published in a volume titled Poems of Power (Chicago: W. B. Conkey, 1902), and is in the public domain.

In golden youth when seems the earth A Summer-land of singing mirth, When souls are glad and hearts are light, And not a shadow lurks in sight, We do not know it, but there lies Somewhere veiled under evening skies A garden which we all must see – The garden of Gethsemane.

Down shadowy lanes, across strange streams, Bridged over by our broken dreams; Behind the misty caps of years, Beyond the great salt fount of tears, The garden lies. Strive as you may, You cannot miss it in your way.

All paths that have been, or shall be, Pass somewhere through Gethsemane.

With joyous steps we go our ways, Love lends a halo to our days; Light sorrows sail like clouds afar, We laugh, and say how strong we are.

We hurry on; and hurrying, go Close to the border-land of woe, That waits for you, and waits for me – Forever waits Gethsemane.

All those who journey, soon or late, Must pass within the garden’s gate; Must kneel alone in darkness there, And battle with some fierce despair God pity those who cannot say, “Not mine but thine,” who only pray, “Let this cup pass,” and cannot see The purpose in Gethsemane.

Background picture by Naxaso/Bigstock.com

IS THE MONTH FOR REGISTERING FOR THE GROWING A HEALTHY CHURCH AND YOUTH MINISTRY CONFERENCE

27 Feb (Saturday), 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sophia Blackmore Hall, Level 6, Methodist Centre, 70 Barker Road Join this conference for a biblical framework to lead your church and youth ministry to health the same way Jesus led his ministry, and align your heart and life with the priorities of Jesus and experience the joy and challenge to walk as Jesus walked. You will discover how Jesus created a movement of multiplication, four distinct phases in Jesus’ life and ministry, nine foundational priorities of a disciple-making ministry, why our ministries exist and what our ministry goals are, and more.

Organised by TRAC Board of Witness and Evangelism and Intentional Disciplemaking Network.

Fee: $60 per person For more info, email idnetwork07@gmail.com

feb

27

REGISTERING FOR DISCIPLESHIP COURSE FOR TEACHERS

2 Mar (Wednesday) – 4 May (Wednesday), 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.

Morrison Room, B1, Bible House, 7 Armenian Street

What does it mean to you, your colleagues and your students that you are a Christian teacher? In this discussion-based course, participants will learn how to effectively teach and witness for God in classrooms, communicate key biblical truths relating to education, and apply love for others as they teach. The trainer is Dr Phillip A.Towndrow, who has been a teacher, teacher-educator and educational researcher for more than 25 years.

Organised by Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship. Register by 22 Feb. $150 per person (inclusive of textbook Walking with God as a Christian Educator).

For more info, visit www.bible.org.sg/dpt, email sowerinstitute@bible.org.sg or call 6304-3762

mar

2

REGISTERING FOR DATE WITH DAD (HIGH TEA) SESSION

5 Mar (Saturday), 2 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.

Mandarin Orchard Singapore, Grand Mandarin Ballroom (Level 6), 333 Orchard Road The Date with Dad (High Tea) features interactive activities, fun games and intimate conversations designed to help fathers celebrate the milestone of a daughter becoming a young woman. Customised for daughters aged 12 to 15.

Organised by Focus on the Family. Register by 20 Feb. Fee: $120 per father and daughter pair.

For more info, visit www.family.org.sg/DatewithDad

mar

5

REGISTERING FOR THE REASONABLE FAITH CONFERENCE 2016

11 – 12 Mar (Friday & Saturday), 9 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

Church of Singapore (Marine Parade), 145 Marine Parade Road

WILLIAM LANE CRAIG Reasonable Faith

Dr Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University.

He has authored or edited over thirty books, as well as over a hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology.

SEAN MCDOWELL Biola University

Day 1 (9am–4.30pm) Keynotes: ✱ Why is apologetics important? ✱ Why did the universe begin? ✱ If God, why evil?

Dr McDowell is an Assistant Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University. He is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith.

Day 2 (9am–4.30pm) Keynotes:

JOSE PHILIP RZIM

Jose Philip is currently serving as an Evangelist and Apologist with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (Asia-Pacific). He also lectures on Apologetics, Christian Ethics, and Gospel & Culture at Singapore Bible College, Baptist Theological Seminary and Bible College Malaysia.

11–12 MAR

CHURCH OF SINGAPORE

✱ Why is the universe fine-tuned for life?

mar

Sign up now at http://reasonablefaithconference2016.peatix.com/

Organised by Ravi Zecharias International Ministries and Reasonable Faith Singapore.

Fee: $15 each for students and NSFs; $30 each for working adults.

✱ Can we be good without God? ✱ How do we apply apologetics to our evangelism? ** for more details about the conference schedule and break-out sessions please visit our website

(145 Marine Parade Rd)

Conference fees are $30 for working adults and $15 for students and NSFs

Join the Reasonable Faith Conference to listen to a panel of speakers who will equip and encourage you to use apologetics and defend the truth of Christianity with reason, logic, and evidence.

Dr William Lane Craig, Dr Sean McDowell and Mr Jose Philip will speak on topics such as the problem of evil, whether Christianity is in conflict with science, and if there is evidence for the existence of God, and more.

Organised in conjunction with

Hosted by

CHURCH OF SINGAPORE

For more info, especially on the free evening sessions for pre-believers, visit www.ReasonableFaithSingapore.org

11-12 METHODIST MESSAGE • FEB 2016

| 23

THINK

Good conversations Kwa Kiem Kiok is a local preacher at Trinity Methodist Church, and teaches missions-related subjects at East Asia School of Theology. She and her husband, a Trinity Annual Conference pastor, enjoy walking in the outdoors.

E

very day I exchange text messages on various platforms; about a third of my friends on Facebook may “like” a post I put up, and I would “like” their postings. Every day there will be communications for various purposes – I could be teaching in class, then a quick exchange of information with my colleague (“So…I will put that form in your box to sign”) or making appointments (“Let’s meet at the admin conference room at 2 p.m.”).

And of course every day there will be emails.

But it is not every day that I have a conversation.

Conversations are not just functional, but are opportunities and times when I attempt to connect with others more intentionally, holistically and meaningfully. Conversations are not just giving information or making appointments. Those are necessary social interactions and should always be graciously done.

But good conversations are when we just talk, listen, probe, and share what’s bothering us. Conversations require us to listen with our hearts to the other and to hear the subtext, hence they require our full attention.

Conversations take time and space and are face-to-face.

Conversations are when two or more people explore new territory, exchanging thoughts, pulling together what has been read and experienced, to see what new ideas emerge. A good conversation, like a good book, leaves me thinking, reflecting and questioning about life, God, and whatever we talked about.

Such conversations take time; but usually we are so stretched during the day we don’t have that time. Too often I try to just keep up with people by texting them during the 30-minute commute home. But that’s not a good conversation.

I am sure Jesus and his disciples had many long conversations as they

lived together over three years. He also had some significant conversations recorded in the gospels – with Nicodemus (John 3) and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). In his letter to Philemon, Paul could have ordered him to act (v.8), but instead he sought to persuade and cajole (v.14).

These are examples of conversations in that they show active listening and respect for the other. Such conversations elicit a response, an action or change of attitude.

Good conversations then, often with good friends, leave me with my interest piqued, ignorance informed, previous thoughts provoked and feelings comforted; with Christians, such conversations often end in prayer because we want to lift up all that we’ve said to the sovereign Lord and by whose Spirit we can change and be moulded to being more Christlike. And it’s those people with whom I want to have further conversations because I am changed for the better by our conversation.

To have good conversations we need to be good conversationalists. We need skills like being present and not being distracted; hence mobile phones need to be put aside. Being present then allows us to listen attentively to the other and so be able to connect beyond the superficial level. Good conversations require us to give the other time, space and effort to meander around exploring various topics of concern.

Building on all that then, conversations are thus the basis of good friendships, and our conversation partners are people with whom we speak about anything and everything, keep in touch with and pray with.

Good conversations broaden our perspectives and help us grow. So let us take the time and make the effort to have some good conversations. n

To have good conversations we need to be good conversationalists. We need skills like being present and not being easily distracted; hence mobile phones need to be put aside.

Picture by Yastremska/Bigstock.com