Vol 119 No 1 • JAN 2017
inside
this issue...
ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 117/11/2016
CAC, ETAC and TRAC Leaders elected for new terms
MethodistWalk 2017 ‘Walk Together’ in support of schools
page 3
page 5
message.methodist.org.sg
GC 2016 New Bishop consecrated pages 12-13
BISHOP’S MESSAGE
Blessings and hopes in the New Year 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 for two quadrennia from 2008 to 2016.
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he New Year is a time to give thanks for the year past, and a time of new hope. We give thanks because there is much in life to be thankful for: our parents who are still with us, the loving companionship of our children and grandchildren, and grace and blessings sufficient for our daily living. Even if the year had been difficult, we are still thankful for the loving comfort and warm support of those around us. We have new hopes and expectations. Perhaps there were some disappointments and regrets in the past, but we look forward to a new beginning in the New Year. We will start afresh, change, make up for past mistakes or dismiss the matters from our mind. We may even look forward to a splendid year ahead.
When we were students, our teachers would always have us write down our New Year resolutions and encourage us to have plans and expectations for the year ahead. The new goals would give us directions to strive towards in the New Year. In Leviticus 23:23-25, God instructed the Israelites to celebrate New Year. This is held on the first two days of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (i.e. during the months of September and October). The New Year celebration is very important to the Israelites. They assemble as families for a feast on the first two days and there will be blasts from trumpets of rams’ horns to signify the majesty and awe of the Lord. In the evening, they attend religious ceremonies in the synagogues. For the Israelites, New
Year celebrations are a reminder of God’s creation and His judgment. They give thanks for their lives and what they have, and acknowledge that these are created and granted by God. At the same time, they repent of their wrongs and resolve to change their ways before God’s judgment comes upon them. We welcome 2017 with joy on New Year’s Day. Let us give thanks for the past year and for having our families with us as we continue the journey through the coming 52 weeks, or 365 days, that the Lord blesses us with. The New Year also means new hopes and expectations: That 2017 will be a better year than the one that had gone by, and that our strength from the Lord will equal our days. n
Picture by sidarta/Bigstock.com
COMING UP
Our strength, your future – an invitation to TTC Open House By the Trinity Theological College Faculty Publicity Team
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uring the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, the leaders of the major Christian denominations were incarcerated together in Changi Prison. Out of this episode emerged the vision of a union theological college, where all Christian leaders in Singapore would be trained together. And so Trinity Theological College (TTC) was set up in 1948, soon after the war. By the grace of God, TTC has grown over the years. For those who are seeking a solid course of theological studies, including lay persons serving God in “secular” areas, TTC has much to offer. Our strength is your future! Our tradition of producing graduates who are robust in their theology, clear in their vision, and relevant in their ministry skills is well known. The Rev Dr Gordon Wong, President of Trinity Annual Conference, affirms that “the rich learning experience at TTC is not just from books and lectures. Students come from different countries and church denominations, and the different ways commitment to Christ is expressed and understood is both instructive and inspiring.” Likewise, alumnus Rev Stanley Chua says: “I am forever indebted to the college for helping me develop a critical and thinking mind. As Jesus reminds us, we are not only to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, but also with our mind (Mark 12:30).” Our curriculum is well-balanced and forms our students holistically. Lecturer Dr Leow Theng Huat believes that “theological education is about a comprehensive building up of the head (knowledge), hands (skills) and heart (piety). With the formal and informal curricula working in tandem, TTC seeks
Trinity Theological College Open House 18 Jan 2017, 8.15 a.m. – 2 p.m. 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road Please register at www.ttc.edu.sg by 13 Jan 2017. to achieve all three, with the final aim of producing men and women who are truly equipped for ministry.” The faculty members’ “academic” research is often translated into “practical” teaching points for students in the classroom. Ms Sandra Chi, a first-year student, says that “studying at TTC has been a wonderful learning journey, especially when surrounded by lecturers who bring a heart and devotion to their life and teaching”. Our community of students and faculty members share their lives closely together in a learning environment. Second-year student Allan Lee tells us: “Being in Family Groups has allowed me to experience Christian companionship as faculty members journey alongside us.” Come and find out! Visit our campus, meet our faculty and students, attend classes, worship and fellowship with us on 18 Jan 2017. Bring your questions, bring your friends! n Photo courtesy of Trinity Theological College
Methodist Message wishes all readers a very happy and blessed 2017! 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
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HOME
CAC, ETAC and TRAC elect leaders for new terms Chia Hui Jun and Grace Toh are the Editorial Executive and Editor of Methodist Message.
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ew Presidents have been elected for the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) and Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC), while Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) has re-elected its incumbent President for the next quadrennium, at their respective 41st Sessions in November 2016.
The CAC’s new President is the Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat (left), who was elected on the third ballot. Responding, he thanked God for His grace and mercy that allowed him to shoulder this responsibility despite his imperfections, and delegates for their encouragement and prayerful votes, hoping he would not disappoint them in what he is now entrusted with. He also thanked Bishop-Elect and outgoing CAC President Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung for his example of humility in service and his heart for shepherding, and for opportunities and exposure with national and international networks of Chinese churches that have helped shaped the Rev Dr Goh’s sense of duty and mission. “I feel that we need to put a little thought into preserving the distinctiveness and strengths of our Chinese churches,” he said. “I believe that this would be helpful in God’s kingdom.” Mr Guan Yeow Kwang (left) from Foochow Methodist Church was elected as CAC VicePresident, succeeding Ms Kwok Wan Yee from Charis Methodist Church, who was elected as Conference Lay Leader. Mr Guan was formerly serving as the Chairperson of the CAC Board of Human Resource. ETAC elected the Rev James Nagulan (left) as President on the second ballot. He is not new to the role, having been elected ETAC President previously for two terms from 20042012. He said: “I humbly accept and thank God for giving me the privilege of serving the Conference.”
“As much as we think our Conference is small,” he added, “we have much potential to do good. As I was preparing the devotion for this morning’s Session, I sensed God telling me that He has a plan for us. I urge that we pull together as a Conference rather than seeing ETAC as a separate body from the local churches, so that we can move forward, planning together for the future of ETAC, because it is critical that we put our minds together to accomplish what God has planned for us.” Mr Anton Moses (left) from Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church was re-elected ETAC Vice-President, and Mr R. Selvathurai from Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church was reelected as Conference Lay Leader. The Rev Dr Gordon Wong (left) was reelected as TRAC President on the first ballot. He responded: “Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank those of you who voted for change and new leadership. And although we were ‘out-voted’, let’s pray that God can and will work all things together for good. For those of you who voted for ‘status quo’ and no change, I pray that this decision will prove to be for the good of the Conference and part of the will of God.” “For all of us, whoever we voted for, let’s pray that God’s grace will be sufficient to overcome all our human failings and weaknesses... So, let’s be ‘OnTRAC Together’ as we try to help each other serve the Lord.” Mr Edmund E (left) from Faith Methodist Church was re-elected TRAC Vice-President, and Mr Kim Seah Teck Kim from Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church was re-elected as Conference Lay Leader. n
Photos courtesy of the respective Annual Conferences
Background vector by Kjpargeter/Freepik METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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MISSIONS
Right values – right results! Benjamin Lee is an Associate Missionary with the Methodist Missions Society and is the Principal of the Methodist School in Cambodia.
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ducation is one of the key focuses in the work of the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) in Cambodia. The Methodist School of Cambodia (MSC) has been around since 1997. For many years, we have been teaching our students the importance of putting their best efforts in their studies, and especially in doing the examinations based on their own efforts. In Cambodia, there are three national examinations: the Primary 6 national exams (equivalent to Singapore’s PSLE), the Grade 9 national exams (equivalent to the GCSE ‘O’ levels), and the Grade 12 exams (equivalent to the GCSE ‘A’ levels). Cheating had previously been rampant in the national examinations throughout Cambodia; many students cheated their way through their studies. But in 2014, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports instituted processes and policies into their national examinations to prevent students from cheating. This was a shock to the nation as many of the students were unprepared for this change. For our students in MSC, there were no problems because they had always been taught not to cheat in their exams. In that year (2014), MSC achieved an overall pass rate of 66 per cent for the Grade 12 students against the national average of 23 per cent. Over the past two years, our students have achieved very good results. MSC had an average of above 80 per cent passes for our Grade 12 students. As for the Grade 9 students, we achieved 100 per cent passes for the past two years, enabling all of them to move on to the next level. From the recent Grade 12 examinations in August 2016, six of our students were awarded government scholarships: one each to study law, economics, agriculture, and tourism, and two for social studies. This is a great achievement for the school.
This is truly a testimony of how God has worked in the lives of the students. They have worked very hard to do well and more importantly, have done it the honest way and been an excellent example and witness to their fellow students! Many of the students have attributed their achievements to the discipline and Christian values nurtured in them at MSC. It is not only the dedicated effort of the staff, but also the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that has enabled MSC to achieve these results. Indeed, it is God working through our staff to prepare our children to be responsible citizens who will be an asset to their country. n
PRAY u For the students who will be taking their national examinations at the end of the academic year 2016/2017 in August 2017, that they will stay focused on their studies and do well. u For the teachers of MSC that they will continue to be bold and uphold the “no cheating” policy in MSC through our teaching of Christian values. u For the Education Minister, that he will continue to bring about the right reforms to the education system in Cambodia. Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society
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HOME
‘Walk Together’ in support of our schools By the MethodistWalk 2017 Committee
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12
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ethodist schools and churches will Walk Together! The Methodist Schools’ Foundation (MSF), together with the 15 Methodist schools in Singapore, will hold its biennial fundraising walk on 25 March 2017. The needs of the schools and students are many and urgent. This event will go a long way to help fund and continue the work of great programmes in the schools, and will benefit the students directly. In these uncertain times, more aid is also needed to help lighten the financial burdens of needy students. Your generous giving goes directly to provide the children with enriching programmes. In addition, 100 per cent of funds raised by each student for the MethodistWalk 2017 goes back to his or her school. As an Institution of a Public Character (IPC), all donations of $100 or more to MSF will get a double tax-exempt.
We are thankful to God for the four sponsoring churches of MethodistWalk 2017: Foochow Methodist Church, Holy Covenant Methodist Church, Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church and Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church. We do require volunteer assistance at the walk in the following roles: doctors, photographers and traffic marshals. Please contact Ms Annie Chng at 6478-4808 or annie.chng@methodist.org.sg to volunteer, or for more information. To participate in the walk, please contact your church office. We look forward to your keen participation! n MethodistWalk 2017: Walk Together Saturday, 25 March 2017 Anglo-Chinese Junior College 8 a.m.
METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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ST 41ST41SESSION SESSION OF OF THETHE CHINESE CHINESE ANNUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONFERENCE
Thanksgiving, blessing and minist Chia Hui Jun is Editorial Executive at Methodist Message and worships at Foochow Methodist Church.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
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ishop-Elect Dr Chong Chin Chung delivered his final President’s Address at the 41st Session of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) on 14 Nov 2016, sharing his reflections and thanksgiving for the past two quadrennia of service. He reiterated the quadrennial theme “Take My yoke, learn from Me” based on Matthew 11:29, and said that the spiritual dimension of our Church must be clear, the authority of the Bible must be absolute, and Bible study must be a daily practice of Christ’s followers. The Rev Dr Chong expressed his concern about men’s lower participation rate in church programmes. The Church must be intentional in its efforts to build the men up to play a stronger role as husbands, fathers, and heads of the family. He called for more collaboration among the Board of Witness and Evangelism, Board of Family Life, Board of Youth Ministry and Board of Senior Ministry, and suggested more intergenerational worship and activities to help build stronger families. He underscored the interdependence of the Annual Conference and Local Conferences, noting that programme boards are meant to complement the work of the local churches, offering programmes larger in scale and with access to special resources and expertise. Annual Conference work depends on full support and participation from Local Conferences, and vice versa. Neither can be effective alone. Turning to the perennial issue of pastor supply, the Rev Dr Chong emphasised that pastors are valuable assets of the Annual Conference, since 56 pastors shepherd 15,000 members
in 66 worship services. Each pastor shepherds 267 persons on average – a relatively heavy load shared with full-time local ministry staff. Besides thanking God for two PhD students joining CAC’s ranks next year, he was heartened to note that there are five students in the Chinese Department at Trinity Theological College. As for ongoing initiatives and conference-wide projects to support, the Rev Dr Chong highlighted that Punggol Preaching Point (PPP) has rented premises for use as a Family Life Centre. He urged the churches to consider more intensive usage of church premises outside of traditional Sunday worship timings, especially since it is no longer tenable to consider church planting in the traditional sense in land-scarce Singapore. Land for public worship costs millions of dollars for a 30-year lease, and far exceeds any single church’s building funds. Later on 16 November, PPP’s Protem Committee Chairperson Mr Dennis Chua reported that existing ministries such as care group meetings, and parades by The Boys’ Brigade (BB) and The Girls’ Brigade (GB) will be moved to these rented premises. The Rainbows Programme functioned as a support group to help children from single-parent families in Greendale Primary School and Punggol Secondary School deal with forgiveness and loss,
ry needs and recent outreach has been made to the families of BB and GB participants, one family at a time. An After-school Engagement Programme consisting of sports, confidence-building and other enrichment activities was also conducted for Punggol Secondary School students. The new Board of Family Life (BoFL) was formed this year to champion the Christian family through family life education and equipping. The Protem BoFL Chairperson reported that BoFL aims to raise awareness of the biblical perspective of family, build spiritual strength and resilience in heads of families for strong and authentic Christian family life within CAC churches, encourage the establishment of Family Life ministries in the churches, and to connect and bridge resources and expertise to cater to specific needs within the local church’s context. In closing, the Rev Dr Chong encouraged the Conference to “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, ESV). “I thank God for the different gifts He has given to each one of us, and everything that was done was only by His grace,” concluded the Rev Dr Chong. At the closing and ordination service on 17 November, the Rev Tack Ng, the Rev Irman Halim, and the Rev Edmund Koh were ordained as Elders. Pastor Simon Cheo and Pastor Patrick Chen were ordained as Deacons, and Preacher Cassandra Lee Boon Eng was ordained as a Diaconal Minister and will be a missionary to Thailand under Methodist Missions Society. n
The Rev Edmund Koh, the Rev Irman Halim and the Rev Tack Ng (front row, left to right) were ordained as Elders.
Pastor Patrick Chen (left) and Pastor Simon Cheo being ordained as Deacons.
Come alongside to support PPP’s ministry needs – for more info, email edmundkohcac@gmail.com
Preacher Cassandra Lee being ordained as Diaconal Minister.
The Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat (left) being congratulated on his election as the new CAC President.
Photos courtesy of Phillip Lam/Joshua Khoo METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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41ST SESSION OF EMMANUEL TAMIL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Collaborating to face challenges Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
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n his final President’s Review at the close of his four-year term, Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) President Rev R. Prabhu called for ETAC churches and members to strengthen collaboration in ministry, in the face of the Conference’s many challenges. These include retaining members, reaching out to migrant populations, sustaining Conference programmes over the long term, strengthening financial support, identifying and nurturing leaders and volunteers, pastoral supply, and seeking places for worship. The President noted that ETAC’s membership had yet to cross the 1,000 mark, and so “we have to encourage church-wide participation”. “Each and every local church has to have a workable plan to bring people into the fold of God,” he said. He was encouraged by the growing outreach ministries at Teck Whye by Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church (PPTMC) with space provided by the Methodist Church of the Incarnation, at Punggol and Sengkang by Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church (AMKTMC), and at Bedok Preaching Point by Seletar Tamil Methodist Church (STMC). Methodist churches in Europe, he shared, have attributed renewed church growth to their ministries to migrant populations, as reported at the World Methodist Conference 2016. He acknowledged ETAC churches such as AMKTMC, PPTMC, STMC, Singapore Telugu Methodist Church, and Tamil Methodist Church who have been ministering to migrants, as well as Jurong Tamil Methodist Church which has indicated interest to do so. “Now is the time,” he exhorted, “for these churches to co-ordinate programmes… so we should come together, share resources (including human resources), and ideas.”
The Rev R. Prabhu delivering his President’s Review.
This call for co-operation was extended to the area of Conference programmes. The Rev Prabhu noted that there was often duplication of programmes between ETAC Boards and local churches, and urged a review of Conference programmes so local churches can be more involved in the planning and implementation. He invited ETAC churches to come alongside sister churches who were struggling, such as Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church which has much potential for growth due to its prime location, but lacked resources as it had a small congregation. Resources continue to be a challenge for ETAC as a whole, so the President called for prayer, noting it was vital “because we depend on God”. Financially, Conference commitments faced increases due to the revision of pastors’ salary, and cost-related raises in General Conference (GC) commitments and service charges. The perennial need for volunteers and leaders continues, not only for programmes but also to represent ETAC at GC level. The Rev Prabhu was encouraged to note that there were emerging leaders from ETAC’s Methodist Youth Fellowship and Women’s Society of Christian Service. He also looked forward to the easing of ETAC pastors’ workload with the ordination of Pastor C. Saravana Kumar as Deacon at the Closing Service of ETAC’s 41st Session, and the acceptance of the Rev Vijay Joseph from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malaysia (ELCM) to serve as an ETAC pastor, with the consent of the ELCM Bishop. In addition, the Rev Prabhu proposed that local churches organise ministry teams to reach out to newcomers and visit those in need, particularly seniors who live alone and may struggle with loneliness, depression and physical ailments. Thus, the whole church can be involved in such ministry rather than leaving it only to pastors. Finally, he highlighted the need to seek alternative places of worship, noting that the leases for three ETAC churches would soon expire, and that some congregations worshipped in rented premises, facing frequent moves and Photos by Daniel Lie
The Rev Prabhu congratulating the new ETAC President, the Rev James Nagulan (right).
Pastor C. Saravana Kumar kneeling during his ordination at the Closing Service (above), and being congratulated by the Rev Nagulan, Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon, and Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup (below).
increases in rental and maintenance costs. He encouraged churches to consider the possibilities being explored by the Singapore Government of church hubs in shared buildings for smaller congregations. The Rev Prabhu closed by acknowledging that he faced challenges during his term as President, but that “the past four years have been years of grace and sufficiency in my Lord Jesus Christ”. He thanked his colleagues, fellow leaders and wife for their support, and said: “My ministry will continue as long as I am needed.” Two ETAC Elders retired at the end of 2016: The Rev George Barathan, who serves with Operation Mobilization, Canada, and the Rev Rajaspuran Mannar, who serves with The Navigators® of Canada. They will continue to serve with their respective organisations after retirement. n
Bishop Dr Wee preaching at the Opening Service on 10 Nov 2016.
METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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41ST SESSION OF TRINITY ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Networking and investing in each Chia Hui Jun is Editorial Executive at Methodist Message and worships at Foochow Methodist Church.
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t the 41st Session of Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), President Dr Gordon Wong began his Address with the Apostle Paul’s example of thanksgiving in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, and 16-18. He expressed his appreciation for everyone serving in all the Conference boards and local church committees, office staff in TRAC and local churches, retiring Elders, District Superintendents and more. Similar to last year’s Address, the Rev Dr Wong reminded the delegates of the mission of an Annual Conference – making disciples for Jesus Christ, by equipping its local churches for ministry, and providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church. Pointing to the biblical snapshot of “disciples for Jesus Christ” that was adopted for this quadrennium in Acts 2:42-47, he said: “Our mission as an Annual Conference is to make disciples for Jesus Christ who learn God’s Word through the teachings of the apostles; worship God through communion, prayer and praise; give and receive loving welcome in our friendships with each other; witness and testify to God’s love for our neighbours and experience wonder and awe at God’s signs and miracles.” “The primary mission of every Annual Conference in every local church is to help members experience the joyful abundance of life that comes by being disciples of Christ. May God help TRAC stay true to this mission,” he added. On the subject of equipping local churches for ministry, he noted that “many of our churches are blessed with sufficient resources to equip and train their own members for ministry. There is therefore less need for our Conference boards to organise equipping programmes for our local churches… We can and we should help organise equipping programmes with our local churches.” The Rev Dr Wong felt that “if the only thing which our Conference Boards develop is an ethos that encourages and enables local church committees to ‘piggy back’ on each other’s ministries and programmes, we would have fulfilled a most important role in the Board. Several of our boards organise such networking meetings and I hope this will continue in the years ahead.” He drew attention to a major challenge faced in the high cost of maintaining permanent physical church space and church buildings to continue ministries. A lease renewal task force formed last July had discussed the matter extensively and set up a lease renewal fund. He complimented local churches which have made initial commitment and estimates on what they might be able to contribute to this fund, because it exemplified the spirit of unity and working together. He also highlighted that this financial problem of lease renewal presents a wonderful opportunity to invest directly in each other’s ministry, and in so doing, remind churches that they are not independent churches, but are one united conference of 21 siblings “on TRAC together” for making disciples of Jesus Christ. For current church building projects, the local church decides the feasibility of the renewal and the quantum of
donations extended is left to the Conference executive board or sister local church executive committees to determine. The Rev Dr Wong presented an alternative model for the Conference’s consideration and discussion – one which places more responsibility and emphasis on the Conference family in both the decision-making and funding process. This income-percentage model helps remove uncertainty and anguish about what a responsible contribution to a sister church would be, and allows churches to be directly and more tangibly invested such that all become stakeholders in one another’s ministry locations. The third mission of the Annual Conference – providing ministry connections beyond the local church – is fulfilled through various avenues such as the Methodist Missions Society, the Disaster Relief Task Force and Methodist Welfare Services. The President concluded by quoting John Wesley’s sermon on how he regarded “works of mercy” as the chief mark of true disciples. At the Closing and Ordination Service, the Rev Benjamin Lee and the Rev Gladwin Lee were ordained as Elders, and Pastor Adrian Ng was ordained as Deacon. Diaconal Minister the Rev Teresa Wilborn, and Elders the Rev Lawrence Chua, the Rev Lee Yam Kai, the Rev Edmund de Souza, the Rev Noel Goh and the Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup were acknowledged at the Opening Service as officially attaining retired status. n
other’s ministries
The Rev Benjamin Lee (left) and the Rev Gladwin Lee being ordained as Elders.
The Rev Dr Gordon Wong at his installation, having been re-elected as TRAC President.
Pastor Adrian Ng being ordained as Deacon.
“The primary mission of every Annual Conference in every local church is to help members experience the joyful abundance of life that comes by being disciples of Christ. May God help TRAC stay true to this mission.”
– The Rev Dr Gordon Wong
The Rev Dr Wong (far left) recognising retiring pastors: (L-R) The Rev Teresa Wilborn, the Rev Lee Yam Kai, the Rev Noel Goh, the Rev Lawrence Chua, the Rev Edmund de Souza, and the Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup. METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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11TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE
Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung consec Chia Hui Jun is Editorial Executive at Methodist Message and worships at Foochow Methodist Church.
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he Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung was consecrated as Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) for the 11th quadrennium in a glorious, dignified consecration service on 2 Dec 2016, witnessed by regional Methodist bishops who had flown in for this historic occasion. The solemnity of a dedication service steeped in Methodist tradition saw a 1,014-strong congregation, and the presence of distinguished guests including Bishop Dr Ong Hwai Teik of The Methodist Church in Malaysia, Bishop Amat Tumino of Gereja Methodist Indonesia, Bishop Asiri P. Perera of Methodist Church in Sri Lanka, Bishop Dr James Kwang Pek Chuong of Chinese Methodist Church in Australia, Bishop Chen Chien Chung of The Methodist Church in the Republic of China, Taiwan, and the Rev Gao Feng, President of China Christian Council. Beautiful strains of music and soaring voices filled the air at Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church/Faith Methodist Church as Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, the Rev Dr Chong, guest Bishops, retired Bishops of the MCS, Annual Conference Presidents, key office-holders carrying banners, and 120 Methodist pastors proceeded to their seats during the processional hymn ‘Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee’. The exultant, heartfelt music of the Methodist Festival Choir and Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Combined Choir, accompanied by the Methodist Festival Orchestra and Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church Symphony Orchestra, was interspersed throughout the service in hymns and anthems,
Bishop Dr Wee and participating Methodist bishops laying hands on Bishop-Elect Dr Chong’s head in blessing as his family stands behind him.
“Regardless of the stations of lives we are in, God is always present with His people.” – Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung
adding to the jubilant, celebratory atmosphere. The newly-installed CAC President Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat, Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) President James Nagulan and Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) President Dr Gordon Wong presented the Rev Dr Chong to Presiding Bishop Dr Wee. Standing at the altar, Bishop Dr Wee asked: “People of God, the Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung is, by God’s grace, to be consecrated bishop in the church. He has been duly elected to this ministry… Do you trust that he is worthy, by God’s grace, to be consecrated bishop?”
Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup conducting the Examination for Bishop-Elect Dr Chong Chin Chung.
rated as Bishop
The congregation responded: “We do! Thanks be to God!” Bishop Dr Wee conducted the Examination, and invited the Rev Dr Chong’s family – his wife Mdm Ng Swee Kuan, and two of his three children – to stand behind him, and the congregation to pray silently for him. Bishop Dr Wee then laid both hands on his head in blessing, joined by participating Methodist bishops. It was a sacred moment, as we prayed for God’s appointed spiritual leader of the MCS for the next quadrennium, and mulled on the heavy responsibilities placed on his shoulders. The congregation was invited to rise to sing the Gloria Patri, “as our first act in recognition of our new Bishop, to honour and glorify the Lord our God”. The newly-consecrated Bishop delivered his first sermon titled “Inherit the Past, Usher in the Future”. “The account of Joshua tells us that in our limited time on earth, God gives us grace accordingly through the changing seasons of our lives. He opens up new chapters in our life story. Most importantly, regardless of the stations of lives we are in, God is always present with His people.” In Joshua 1:1-9, God instructed Joshua to continue with Moses’ mission, and reaffirmed His promise to the Israelites. Joshua had taken over leading a new generation of Israelites, who must remain focused as their mission was to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land – a new leg in the journey with its own challenges. Joshua had to convince the Israelites to continue with their march, bringing with them the hope of God’s promise and moving onward together. Eventually, Joshua didn’t live to see whether the Israelites became a great nation, or if they became a blessing to the other nations, just as Moses who brought the Israelites out of Egypt did not get to see them enter the promised land of Canaan. Many church fathers and leaders did not get to see the MCS as it is today, but because they gave their all during their time in office, we are able to inherit the past. Fittingly, the sermon was followed by the participation of retired bishops of the MCS: Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon offered the intercessory prayer, and Bishop Emeritus Wong Kiam Thau made the offertory prayer. The offering was collected for the Methodist Welfare Services Chaplaincy Programme. Bishop Dr Chong declared the adjournment of the 11th Session of the General Conference, and the ETAC Combined Choir delivered the choral response in an exultant close to a joyous ceremony. The event was an eye-opener for first-timers like myself. As Bishop Dr Chong had aptly quoted from John Wesley in his sermon, “The best of all is, God is with us.” n
From left, clockwise: Bishop Dr Ong Hwai Teik, Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, Bishop Dr James Kwang, Bishop Chen Chien Chung (partially hidden behind Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung), Bishop Asiri P. Perera, and Bishop Amat Tumino.
Final updates for GC 2016
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he Methodist Church in Singapore wrapped up its 11th Session of the General Conference (GC) in December 2016, concluding the remaining discussions and decisions on 1 Dec 2016. Bishop Dr James Kwang of the Chinese Methodist Church in Australia brought greetings and shared a meditation on the theme “Called According to God’s Purpose”, referring to 2 Timothy 1:9. Elections were completed for the remaining office-holders for the term 2017-2020: • Assistant GC Secretaries – The Rev Simon Cheo, Ms Shanthi Jeremiah, and Mrs Tan Peck Yin • Assistant GC Treasurer – Mr Melvin Dineshraj • Nominee, Assistant Secretary of the Trustees of the MCS – Mr Anton Moses • Chairperson, Council of Governance – Mr Chan Kum Kit Nominations of members to GC Councils and Agencies by Annual Conferences were also received and endorsed by the GC. The next regular session of the GC will be held in 2020. n Photos by Daniel Lie METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides: * Excep9onal examina9on results; very strong value added achievement; and an all-round holis9c educa9on * 50:50 mix of local and interna9onal teachers who uphold the dual Methodist and ACS Heritage * Small class sizes with overall student : teacher ra9o of 8.7 : 1 * 40 different CCAs – 16 Spor9ng; 12 Visual and Performing Arts; 12 Special Interest Groups * 25+ overseas trips per year
ACS (International)
* Over 200 formal student leadership posi9ons
A M e t h o d i s t I n s t i t u t i o n * Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme
ACS (Interna9onal) Singapore SEA Games is a dis9nc9ve Silver Medalist interna9onal Aloysius Low Current IB Student secondary school open to all na9onali9es 9.00am Principal’s Address (including Singaporeans), offering an all-round 9.30 - 11.30am English-based educa9on for School tours & presenta5ons by staff & students students aged 12 - 18 years Oldham Chapel, ACS (Interna9onal) Oxford Student leading to the Interna9onal 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475 Risa Tan 2015 IB Graduate General Cer9ficate of Secondary with 44 points For more informa5on, please contact Joseph Ng Educa9on (IGCSE) and the or Stephanie Hanrahan Interna9onal Baccalaureate at +65 6472 1477 or Diploma (IBDP). admission@acsinterna5onal.com.sg
Saturday 1 April 2017
What the Parents say …
45 Pointer “We value the school’s Ariane Ruppli deep heritage and strong Top 2015 IB Graduate values … their holistic approach provides an encouraging learning environment.” – Winnie Cruz-Ding
“Our daughter has become a person that we feel is ready for the world.” – Keith and Nancy Tan
Achievements include: • 17 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examina9ons over each of the past seven years • 98.7% pass rate in 2015 IB Diploma examina9on and first perfect 45 point score • Pathway to strong universi9es: PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ level students achieve outstanding valueadded examina9on results for the IB Diploma.
“The different teaching methods, the high quality of teaching, • Four students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universi9es for 2015 / 2016 the promotion of individual character and personality, and the obvious enjoyment of school … • Admissions to top universi9es in the UK, US, Australia made our daughter’s transfer most worthwhile.” – Vincent and Germaine Leong
“We love the smaller class sizes … and the many approachable, friendly, passionate, and dedicated teachers.” – Cecilia Chau
and Singapore
• Successes at na9onal level this past year in Archery; Touch Rugby; Cycling; Swimming; Chinese Drama; Deba9ng; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Taekwondo; Volleyball; Cheerleading; Wushu.
WELFARE SERVICES
Life after trauma By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team
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estled among old HDB flats in St. George’s Lane is Residence @ St. George’s (RSG). Run by the Methodist Welfare Services in collaboration with the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service, it is a rehabilitative haven for troubled young girls aged between 15 and 21 years old, most of whom have been sentenced to serve their probation there. Trauma therapy for troubled girls Ms Audrey Rajalingam, a social work veteran of 23 years, heads the hostel. Audrey has just completed a two-year course in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy. She is one of the few community-based professionals in Singapore equipped to deal with victims of trauma. Audrey observed that almost all of the girls in the hostel had previously experienced at least one instance of trauma. Trauma victims often cannot cope with high levels of stress caused by traumatic incidents, which may lead to psychological damage that manifests in behavioural problems. “Trauma triggers could be anything from experiencing a sudden death or loss of a loved one, to witnessing or directly experiencing family violence or physical abuse,” said Audrey. While victims exposed to high levels of trauma are given immediate aid, others may stay silent and suppressed. Audrey shared: “During admission interviews with the girls, the training has helped me to identify areas of trauma that were not highlighted before. This is important for professionals to spot as the victim might have tried to normalise the negative experience and hence not speak of it to anyone.” A full course of trauma therapy can last from 16 to 20 sessions which involve not just the victim but also their families or caregivers. “With the therapy, we hope to restore the victims to precrisis functioning or close to how they were before the traumatic experience.” Motivating and inspiring Besides therapy and counselling, RSG also runs motivational courses to encourage and equip the girls. “To inspire the girls, we have invited individuals from different fields to share their success stories, struggles and how they overcame them. We also had relationship speakers provide insights into developing healthy relationships as opposed to abusive ones,” said Audrey. “What RSG needs critically are volunteers who can share their expertise and skills. I am looking for people who can provide career guidance and profiling on a voluntary basis. The aim is to help our girls to uncover their inclinations and strengths and educate them about possible career choices, even unconventional ones.” n
Trauma victims often cannot cope with high levels of stress caused by traumatic incidents, which may lead to psychological damage that manifests in behavioural problems.
Audrey at work with one of the residents of RSG.
FIND OUT more about volunteering opportunities at RSG – visit the MWS website at www.mws.sg/volunteer to sign up or email us at volunteer@ mws.sg.
Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
HYMNS & SONGS
Our everlasting God O God, Our Help in Ages Past (The United Methodist Hymnal, #117) O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home! Under the shadow of thy throne, still may we dwell secure; sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting, thou art God, to endless years the same. A thousand ages, in thy sight, are like an evening gone; short as the watch that ends the night, before the rising sun. Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all who breathe away; they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
Dr Yeo Teck Beng is Principal of the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
“I
have now entered upon a new year, little knowing what it shall bring forth. A great burden is laid upon me; perplexity and difficulty lie before me, but I hope God will carry me through.”1 This is an excerpt from the memoirs of the late Rev Theophilus Lindsey, when he gathered his thoughts after celebrating the Lord’s Supper on the evening of 21 Jan 1873. I believe many of us share the same anxiety and perplexity of the late Rev Lindsey when we greet a new year with no knowledge of what the future will bring. It has been said that no thinking person ever regarded the beginning of a new year with indifference. All of us have many concerns as we stand on the threshold of the unknown future.2 ‘O God, Our Help in Ages Past’, perhaps the best known of 600 hymns by Isaac Watts, is certainly one hymn that can calm our fears and jitters as we step into the New Year. A paraphrase of Psalm 90, this age-old hymn is considered by many as one of the finest ever written. Living in a time when only ponderous metrical psalms were used in congregational singing, Watts was challenged by his father to write something for the English-speaking churches to sing. Young Watts thus began to create his own versions of the psalms in an inspiring and expressive style and published them in his Psalms of David hymnal (1919).3 For this hymn, Watts based his text on the first seven verses of Psalm 90, which begins: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.”4 The words expressed a strong note of assurance, promise and hope in the Lord. In our present age, whenever another terrorist strikes, or an earthquake occurs, or a loved one dies, where can our hearts find hope and shelter from the stormy blast (stanza 1)? In the midst of these natural or man-made disasters, we are crippled by fear and wonder if we will ever survive. Nevertheless, even when events fly past and are forgotten (stanza 5), our God is forever the same (stanza 3) and He will be our shelter and guide through all the storms of our lives (stanzas 1 and 6). Therefore, take heart. Our God who has been faithful in the past will keep His promises as we face the future. n omas Belsham, Memoirs of the Late Reverend Theophilus Lindsey, M.A.: Th Including a Brief Analysis of His Works … Also, a General View of the Progress of the Unitarian Doctrine in England and America. (London: Williams and Norgate, 1873), 336. 2 Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications, 1990), 12. 3 Ibid., 12. 4 Frank Colquhoun, A Hymn Companion: Insight into Three Hundred Christian Hymns (Wilton: Morehouse Barlow, 1985), 250. 1
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719 (Ps. 90) Music: Attr. to William Croft, 1708; harm. by W. H. Monk, 1861
Picture by srubina/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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SOUNDINGS
Post-truth politics? Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor for the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg/).
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ast November, Oxford Dictionaries declared “posttruth” as the international word for the year 2016. So significant is this expression that Oxford Dictionaries’ Casper Grathwohl even said it could become “one of the defining words of our time”. “Post-truth”, whose origins can be traced to the early 1990s, is not a new coinage. Yet the remarkable events that took place in the UK in July 2016 and in the USA in September of the same year had made it an ineluctable buzzword. Oxford Dictionaries defines “posttruth” thus: “Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” The two events mentioned earlier are of course “Brexit” and the extraordinary journey of Mr Donald Trump to the White House. In the Brexit episode, “Leave” campaigners repeatedly perpetuated untruths in their effort to convince the British public to abandon the EU. The most startling example is the fraudulent claim by Mr Nigel Farage that it costs Britain £55 million (S$99 million) a day to be a member of the EU. More alarmingly, vast swathes of the British population appeared to have ignored all the fact-based
“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.
warnings about the perils of leaving the EU sounded by academics and politicians alike. In the most acrimonious presidential campaign in the history of the USA, then presidential hopeful Trump told so many lies that one reporter said despairingly “it’s hard to know which ones to cite”. The fact-checking outfit Politifact has found that 70 per cent of Trump’s “factual” statements can be categorised as “mostly false”, “false” and “pants on fire” untruth. Of course politicians have always been known to lie, and some commentators have even said that it is virtually part of their job description – although that would be unduly cynical. The difference here is that in the past, politicians would try very hard to camouflage their dishonesty, believing that voters would care. In the so-called post-truth era, this assumption is abandoned, and politicians lie blatantly and with impunity. This shift in paradigm is surely disconcerting not just for the champions of liberal democracies for whom facts are sacred. It must surely also be unnerving for countries like Singapore that have rightly prized objective and rational approaches over visceral ones. There can be no doubt whatsoever that posttruth politics is made possible by the rise of populist movements evident in some countries and the ubiquity of social media. Together, they have ignited and fanned the flames of this new brand of politics. Is truth important in politics and for society? Of course it is, for it is only the truth – not lies or falsehood – that will eventually set us free (John 8:32). Surely even those who do not seem to care very much for the truth know this. They know that a society established on the murky foundation of deceptions will soon fall into ruin. But perhaps the so-called post-truth politics brings to light a deeper malaise that has been
festering in Western societies, namely, the deep and sometimes unarticulated distrust of authority and established institutions. This brings us to another possible ‘take-home’ from these extraordinary events that is perhaps not given the attention it deserves. It is not uncommon to read commentaries that condescendingly deride the voters – bamboozled as they were by an ocean of misinformation and lies – for being gullible and undiscerning. Such caricatures are never fair. Perhaps those who “vote with their hearts” are not always delusional or irrational. Perhaps it is not the case that these voters have given up on the truth but rather that they do not trust the facts – that is, the facts as dished out by authorities whose trustworthiness they have called into question. Perhaps they are wary of the way in which “academic and scientific research” is sometimes commandeered to advance the agenda of the political elite, and to taunt those who disagree. Perhaps the so-called pro-truth brigadiers, who rely slavishly on statistics, are the ones who are naïve. Perhaps they have embraced so narrow and reductionist a view of truth that they foolishly think that numbers, figures and charts tell the whole story. And perhaps this has blinkered their vision to the point that they miss the truth about the hopes and fears, aspirations and struggles of ordinary people. n
Picture by Rawpixel.com/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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HOME
Ministers meet Christian leaders at closed-door session on national security
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n 14 Oct 2016, the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity conducted a closed-door meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean (below, fourth from left) and Minister Tan Chuan-Jin (third from left) on terrorism and national security. About 180 key clergy and leaders from the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches attended the meeting. In attendance were also leaders from major Christian organisations and principals of Bible colleges and seminaries. n
Story and photo courtesy of ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity
YOU & YOUR FAMILY
It’s all about our (self) image 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.
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new neighbour moved into a unit a couple of doors from my office a few weeks ago, specialising in aesthetics. A team of clinical-looking staff dressed in white coats soon appeared, and so did a steady stream of clients. I suspect that behind its pristine doors, staff would be labouring over every pore, wrinkle and blemish that dared present itself. “The aesthetics industry is where the money is,” one doctor told me. Struggling General Practitioners are leaving the Panadoland-cough syrup trade for the Botox-and-creams business, and it is understandable given that this is where the money is. One estimate of the 2015 trade in cosmetics and toiletries in Singapore puts its worth at US$400 million (about S$572 million). This obsession we have about image and appearances is present in many areas. At work, one needs to not only be hardworking but also – and perhaps more so – be seen as working hard. It’s all about looking the part; it’s all about the image. As I was mulling over this, I realised that image is also important in counselling. I am referring not to the counsellor appearing intelligent and professional (although I am sure this helps), but to the client’s self-image. What they think of themselves, rightly or wrongly, affects the way they feel about themselves and how they relate to others. This became evident with a client who was having trouble managing his anger. He got angry frequently and was easily irritable. After some sessions, we realised that his anger was based on fear. To compound matters, he felt very unhappy with what he perceived as his wife’s lack of understanding and support, making him feel even more alone and vulnerable.
US$400 million
One estimate of the 2015 trade in cosmetics and toiletries in Singapore puts its worth at US$400 million (about S$572 million). One source of his feelings of insecurity was his belief that he was not good enough. He had grown up in a family of five siblings and felt the least favoured. Although now a man in his midforties and with a successful professional career, he constantly struggled with his insecurity and low self-esteem. In another situation, a client took some pains to tell me of how he went out of his way to be kind to cleaners and security guards in his office. He then apologised for bringing up what he described as something so trivial. When I questioned him on why he bothered to show such kindness, he said after some thought: “Because I am a nice guy.” Now he was not making a flippant statement but a considered one, given that he battles with violent emotions and behaviour. Yet in spite of all his aggression and hateful actions, he was able to acknowledge that there was some goodness in him. Rather than his story being off-tangent, it was crucial to his recovery. We become better not only because we desire to be so, but also because we believe we can. This belief is grounded on examples of past success and acts of kindness. For people of faith, recovery and rehabilitation comes when we have the hope that we can recover the image of God embedded in each of us. When we reach our full potential, be it in the humanist expression to “self-actualise” or in the Christian tradition to be more Christ-like, I believe we will be truly beautiful, both inside and out. Only then will we be able to replace our worry and frown lines with a more peaceful demeanour, and replace fractious relationships with being in harmony with others. Only then will our beauty and self-esteem transcend age and human frailties. n
Picture by Svetography/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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POEMS
Faith Dr Oliver Seet is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and a Board Director of the Metropolitan YMCA. Faith is the firstfruit of trust conceived in the matrix from the seed of enduring Truth and time-tried Knowledge. Faith is a blind man leaping from an inferno into waiting arms below. Faith is a sightless bat negotiating pillars from heard echoes reverberating from hard surfaces. Faith is the hand clasp of a child stumbling along a murky alley.
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Faith is a woman believing in fidelity when her man walks down the streets of allure. Faith is a father at the terminal waving off a child as she flies into a strange land. May the Father increase the measure of our faith As we step each day Into the dark valley of uncertainty.
Background picture by eelnosiva/Bigstock.com
January
IS THE MONTH FOR
ATTENDING WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
18 – 25 Jan, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Three locations to choose from: 18 Jan (Wednesday) – Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, “A” Queen Street 20 Jan (Friday) – Mar Thoma Syrian Church Singapore, 29 Jalan Keli 25 Jan (Wednesday) – Covenant Community Methodist Church, 11 Blackmore Drive Join fellow Christians in prayer, reflection, songs and fellowship to celebrate the gift of unity among us. The overarching theme is “Reconciliation - the love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14-20). Organised by Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue (ACCED) and host churches. Free admission. For more info, email info@acced.org.sg
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REGISTERING FOR ETHOS SPECIAL LECTURE “IS JESUS GOD?: CHALLENGES TO THE DEITY OF CHRIST”
9 & 10 January, (Monday & Tuesday), 7.30 p.m. – 9 p.m. 7 Armenian Street, Bible House, Level 4, Seminar Room
The deity of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. Nevertheless, a number of scholars have cast doubt on this doctrine. Join Dr Andrew Loke as he responds to prevalent assertions and examines the historical evidence of early Christianity. Organised by ETHOS InstituteTM for Public Christianity. Register at ethosinstitute.sg/ speciallecture. Free admission.
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For more info, visit ethosinstitute.sg/events/isjesusgod, email info@ethosinstitute.sg or call 6304-3765.
REGISTERING FOR ETHOS ENGAGEMENT SERIES PUBLIC LECTURE “KINDNESS: A MORAL ARGUMENT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD”
17 Feb (Friday), 7.30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
7 Armenian Street, Bible House, Level 4, Seminar Rooms 1 & 2 The public space is now increasingly shared with people who resonate with kindness but who may be agnostics and atheists. Come for this lecture by Dr William Wan about how Christians can start, show and share kindness with a conviction that we are driven by our faith in an ethical monotheism, as well as how to bear effective witness to the God who is kind and who has shown His kindness in and through the Gospel. Organised by ETHOS InstituteTM for Public Christianity. Register at ethosinstitute.sg/ kindness. Free admission, but a love offering will be collected.
feb
For more info, email info@ethosinstitute.sg or call 6304-3765.
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METHODIST MESSAGE • JAN 2017
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SPECIAL FEATURE
New Bishop:
Let’s grow in ministry, ‘Together as one’ Methodist Message (MM): What is your vision for The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) in the coming quadrennium? How can we contribute to society? Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung: My vision for the MCS is for all Methodists to be “Together as one in spirit and purpose” – doing all that we do, whether for community or for church, with singleness of heart and mind that is based on our beliefs and our love for God. Together, we will be able to do more, do better and demonstrate God’s love more clearly for all to see. Key aspects of our ministry are our schools, welfare services and missions. Many of our schools are more than 100 years old, being established very shortly after the first Methodist church was founded. They help build sound values from young, and equip people for improving their quality of life. Many Methodists are active in serving the community. Our welfare services reflect the social principles of Methodism and bring hope and relief to the poor and needy. In missions, we use the same strategy of improving lives through education, ministry and social enterprise. John Wesley lived out two tenets in his ministry: Firstly, that the Bible’s message was not to be confined within the four walls of the church; and secondly, that the world was his parish. As Methodists, we seek to be an integrated part of the society we are in. MM: What is one challenge that you foresee for the MCS? How can we face it?
The Methodist Church in Singapore has a new Bishop – the Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung. (Read about his election on P1 of MM Oct 2016, and his consecration in P12-13 of this issue.) Bishop Dr Chong reveals his vision for the Methodist Church, and his motivation for ministry, in this interview with Methodist Message.
Bishop Dr Chong: Our society is quite open to influences and the Internet allows access to various teachings and philosophies that may pull the Methodist community in different directions. The MCS was initially organised into three Annual Conferences due to necessity in terms of different languages and culture. This has helped us to grow and achieve much of what we had set out to do. Moving forward, it is time for us to strengthen our growth as one community, looking for more commonalities in resource-sharing, programmes and mutual support. Coming together, we can draw on a larger pool of gifted members, to discern what is aligned to our beliefs and what is not, so that we stand firm on sound theological foundations. MM: You have been a Methodist pastor for 32 years. How did you get started in ministry, and what keeps you motivated? Bishop Dr Chong: I was born into a Christian family, and from a very young age I have been actively serving in church and sensed God’s calling. My pastor, Bishop Emeritus Wong Kiam Thau, left a deep impression on me as a role model and I aspired to be like him. The Rev Tan Phek Geok was also a wonderful mentor in whom I sensed a “shepherd’s heart”. She treated me like a son, saw me as part of the next generation of pastors, and demonstrated how meaningful it was to serve as a pastor and what it meant to be faithful and humble. What keeps me motivated is simply the conviction that it is God’s work which I have been called to do, and the desire to pass on the flame to others. MM: What are your feelings about stepping into the shoes of your predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup? Bishop Dr Chong: Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee was a very special bishop. He was focused, not easily distracted from what was set out for him to do. He was always well-prepared, whether it was to chair a meeting, preach a sermon or share a devotional message. He has a strong ecumenical spirit, and is well-connected to other churches. Yet, with all the things that occupy him, he is very careful to spend time in personal retreat, to give himself that space and quietness to pray, reflect and realign with God and His purpose. I am inspired by his example, and thankful for having an excellent role model. n Photo by Daniel Lie