Three new MOTs share their calling to pastoral ministry
Soundings: First things first
Editorial Board
Adviser and Publisher
Dr Anthony Goh
Chairperson, Council on Communications
Communications Manager
Lynn Tan
Managing Editor
Alvin Tay
Editor
Lianne Ong
Communications Executive
Kathrynn Koh
Sub-editors
Lucy Cheng
Janice Khoo
Tan Chiu Ai
Elliot Soh
Proofreaders
Kenneth Lee
Christabel Tan
4 New Bishop: For our 140th Anniversary, we will galvanise the Methodist community 6 TRAC 49th Session report 12 CAC 49th Session report
ETAC 49th Session report
Feature /
Called to pastoral ministry
Soundings: First things first
Methodist Message is 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 English Standard Version unless otherwise stated.
Nicky Raysa is a London-based Indonesian visual storyteller. Inspired by self-reflection, her work explores themes of faith, human connection and the beauty in everyday moments through painting, drawing and digital illustration. She has a postgraduate degree in illustration from the Royal College of Art, London.
Seek first the kingdom of God
Bishop Philip Lim was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2024. Previously, he served as a missionary in Cambodia under the Methodist Missions Society (MMS), and as Executive Director of MMS from 2012 to 2018.
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live." ~ Amos 5:4
Our hearts are full of thanksgiving as we begin a brand new year. Two events that stood out from 2024 fill me with gratefulness: the peaceful transition of leadership as Mr Lawrence Wong assumed his role as Singapore's fourth Prime Minister in May, and Singapore winning a bronze medal in kitefoiling at the Paris Olympic Games in August.
For our Church, there is also much to celebrate and give thanks for. Our churches are growing steadily with members serving the Lord fervently. Our pupils have excelled in the schools as well. On top of these, Methodist Welfare Services continue to reach out to the needy and Methodist Missions Society continues its work of planting churches.
Personally, I lead a rather uneventful life (except being elected Bishop). Still, I want to give thanks for all the little and mundane
things. Indeed, I am reminded of Paul's word in Colossians 1:3-4, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints."
Nonetheless, there is a degree of apprehension arising from the challenges we face—the escalation of conflicts and wars with no end in sight, the rising cost of living and prevalence of mental health issues, just to name a few.
Remember then the words of Amos, which is a call as well as a promise. Amos 5:4 says, "For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: 'Seek me and live.'"
In this new year, I urge all Methodists to resolutely seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Thanksgiving Service
Date: 11 January 2025
Time: 9:00am to 12:30pm
Venue: Kum Yan Methodist Church
Speaker: Bishop Philip Lim
me: Changing Times, Unchanging Peace |
The Peace of God’s Reign - Isa
> Registration starts from 8:30am
> Lunch is provided
> There will be Mandarin translation
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Presidents' Greetings
We thank God for bringing us into 2025, another year of his mercy and grace. The Church is God's expression, we are called to live this out in comfort and peace or in time of difficulties and trouble. The expression of God's righteousness is lived in and through us, disciples of Jesus Christ.
As disciples of Jesus Christ then, may we truly live out our faith boldly, in thought, word and deed.
Let us not be comfortable with doing Bible study only; instead, let us strive to obey. Let us not be comfortable with bringing prayer items to God only; instead, push to discover God's will and pray his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Let us continue to lift the name of Jesus high in this next quadrennium!
As we step into a new year, we find ourselves navigating a world filled with uncertainties and challenges. Yet, amidst it all, we find assurance and peace in the timeless promises of our Almighty God. May we draw strength from the comforting words of Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." This promise reminds us of God's sovereignty and his command for us to find stillness in his presence.
Let us pause to recognise his immense power and trust in his supreme control over every aspect of our lives. It is this divine promise that anchors us, providing an unshakeable foundation of peace and confidence.
May his everlasting presence bring you comfort and courage throughout the journey ahead.
As we step into 2025, my prayer is that all of us may do so with hearts filled with assurance and anticipation for what lies ahead.
Assurance, because we can be certain that God's unfailing love and faithfulness will see us through every step of the way. Anticipation, because of his amazing grace, his endless mercy, and the new opportunities he will bring each day.
So let us journey together in assurance and anticipation as a family in Christ, filled with peace and purpose. For Scripture reminds us, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end" (Lamentations 3:22).
A blessed 2025, brothers and sisters!
Rev Lek Yong Teck Rev Saravana Kumar Rev Reuben Ng
By MCS Communications
New Bishop:
For
our 140th Anniversary,
we will galvanise the Methodist community
The new Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), Rev Philip Lim, was consecrated on 6 December 2024 at Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church (QCMC)/Faith Methodist Church. Bishop Philip Lim, who attended QCMC as a child, will serve in the 13th quadrennium from 2025 to 2028.
In his new role, he will be the spiritual leader for more than 46,000 Methodists in 46 churches across Singapore and serve as the head of regional churches established by MCS, namely, The Methodist Churches in Thailand, Cambodia and Nepal. He will also provide counsel to 15 Methodist schools, and support MCS' social concerns arm, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), which runs 22 care centres and programmes. In addition, he will represent MCS to the wider Christian community within and outside Singapore, as well as in inter-faith relations and interactions with the government and community partners.
MCS' three Annual Conferences are organised and governed based on the various churches English-, Chinese- and Tamil-speaking heritage. The newly-elected Presidents are Rev Lek Yong Tek (Chinese Annual Conference), Rev Saravana Kumar (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) and Rev Reuben Ng (Trinity Annual Conference). Together, they will support the Bishop in mutual consultation and collaboration on all matters related to MCS.
Bishop Philip Lim succeeds Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, who is retiring after a four-year term. The title of Bishop Emeritus was conferred on Bishop Dr Wong by the General Conference of MCS during the 13th Session in September 2024. Bishop Dr Wong has spent nearly 40 years in service, and has been a pastor, lecturer and President prior to becoming a Bishop.
(above left) Laying on of hands (above) From left to right: Bishop T Jeyakumar (Malaysia), Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, Bishop Philip Lim, Bishop Milton Nee (Australia) and Bishop Huang Kuan Yu (Taiwan, Republic of China)
The congregation included Methodist pastors and leaders, invited guests, members and friends of the Methodist community
(far right) Bishop Philip Lim giving the Benediction
About 500 people attended the Consecration Service. Guests included Bishop Lu Guan Hoe, who is President of the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) and Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Singapore, representatives from the Archdiocesan Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism Centre of Singapore (AIRDECS) and government representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY). From the Methodist community overseas, Bishops from the Chinese Methodist Church in Australia, The Methodist Church in Malaysia and The Methodist Church in Taiwan, were also present.
Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon, who was Bishop of MCS from 2000 to 2012, preached from Colossians 1:24-29 on being "A Servant of the Body of Christ".
After the consecration and laying on of hands, Bishop Lim addressed the congregation. He thanked Bishop Dr Wong for his service and humourously revealed that he had met up
with the three Bishop Emerituses for a "crash course" on being a Bishop.
"I am well aware of the big responsibility entrusted to me, so please remember me in your prayers," Bishop Lim said.
"Next year, in 2025, MCS celebrates its 140th Anniversary which coincides with Singapore's 60th Anniversary of independence. MCS will continue to do our part to serve and build our nation. Through MWS, we will galvanise the Methodist community and aim to mobilise 1.4 million volunteer hours (about 35 volunteer hours a person) and raise $1.4 million for people who are in need in Singapore."
"I call upon the Methodist community to arise and to love our neighbour as ourselves, for the Lord says, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)," Bishop Lim said. An earlier version of this article was published on 6 December
(above left)
Praying at the altar
(above right) Honouring Mrs Wong Lai Foon, Bishop Dr Wong's wife
(right)
Alvin Tay is the Managing Editor of Methodist Message and LCEC Chairperson of Wesley Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Dominique Wang and Daniel Lie
An ageing congregation and use of AI in churches among challenges in next quadrennium, says outgoing TRAC President
There are concerns and challenges ahead for the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in this new quadrennium (202528), said the outgoing President, Rev Stanley Chua. And these include an ageing congregation and the use of AI in churches.
Making his last address as TRAC president at the 49th Session held at Paya Lebar Methodist Church from 18 to 21 November 2024, Rev Chua highlighted five pressing concerns:
1. An ageing congregation
The ageing ratio in Methodist Churches is higher than the national average, said Rev Chua. The ratio of those who are 60 years and above in the 21 TRAC churches has moved up to 41.2 per cent in 2024, from about 25 per cent in 2017, representing an annual growth of 8.5 per cent.
In contrast, the ratio of Singapore citizens who are 60 years and above, rose more gradually from around 25 per cent to 33.6 per cent, representing an annual growth rate of only 3.1 per cent.
The implications of an ageing congregation are indeed pressing, given the limited increase in younger members. Rev Chua pointed out that TRAC membership grew at a compounded rate of only 1.3 per cent over the last 5 years, and 1.6 per cent over the last 10 years.
There are a host of practical implications because of an ageing congregation. These include a loss of institutional memory and leadership, a shift in ministry needs, financial sustainability and missional continuity and community impact. An ageing congregation brings changing ministry needs—more resources need to be channelled to end-oflife care, bereavement support and senior pastoral care, said Rev Chua. Also, an ageing congregation may focus more on inward care than outward mission, potentially impacting churches' influence and witness in the broader community.
2. Re-engagement of retired pastors
A second concern highlighted by Rev Chua was TRAC's current Pastors' Re-engagement Policy, which mandates that retired pastors
(above left) Bishop Dr Wong examining Elder ordinands Ps Gilbert Lok and Ps Clement Ong (above right) Rev Stanley Chua gives his final address as TRAC President
Vice-President
Dr CheahFoo Fung
Fong, newlyinstalled TRAC President, Rev Reuben Ng and Conference Lay Leader Henry Tan (above)
Paya Lebar Methodist Church hosted the Annual Conference
between 66 and 67 years old be re-engaged at 100 per cent workload and remuneration, while pastors above 68 years old be reengaged with only 50 or 75 per cent workload and remuneration.
He suggested that a more flexible policy be adopted to honour the unique situations of each pastor and allow TRAC to make the most of a pastor's gifts and experiences. This flexibility would help to take into consideration that churches preferred fulltime pastors.
3. Conference commitment
On this third concern, Rev Chua said that 90 per cent of the conference commitment now goes towards the salaries of pastors and staff. There could be a point when churches find it impossible to continue to increase their contributions and suggested that TRAC should consider diversifying its funding model with other streams of income.
4. Use of AI technology in churches
Rev Chua also voiced concern on the use of AI, which presents promising
E lection of TRAC President for the 13th quadrennium
Following the President's Address, elections for President of the 13th quadrennium commenced. Rev Reuben Ng was elected President. Rev Ng has been a pastor of The Methodist Church in Singapore for 17 years and has served in various positions in both the General and Trinity Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. He is a graduate of Trinity Theological College. He is married to Angela, and they have two young adult daughters, Faith and Eliza.
possibilities but also possible ethical and pastoral issues that need to be addressed. "We need to look into how to integrate the use of AI into our ministry while preserving spiritual discernment and pastoral efficacy."
Sharing a video of a church in Germany that had adopted the use of AI to conduct worship services, he said, "AI, though efficient, lacks the empathy, spiritual discernment and relational understanding essential to truly engage in the complexities of people's faith journeys. An over-reliance on it could inadvertently lead to spiritual disengagement and weaken the relational foundation that is so central to our faith community."
Given these potential risks, Rev Chua suggested forming a taskforce to examine AI's implications, establish ethical guidelines, and support churches thoughtfully as they integrate AI in their worship planning while upholding our commitment to human connection and spiritual integrity.
(top) From left to right: TRAC
5. The call to maintain orthodoxy
Rev Chua's fifth and final concern which he deemed possibly "our greatest challenge", is upholding the orthodox faith that defines us as Methodists. He said, "Our founder, John Wesley, was a steadfast defender of orthodox Christianity and we must remain vigilant against any drift in our orthodox doctrine."
"One of the most pressing challenges to orthodoxy today is the rise of liberal and revisionist theology, particularly on issues related to human sexuality," he said. "Growing voices, particularly from Western contexts, call for the Church to revise its teachings on marriage, sexuality and gender under the banner of inclusivity and social progress."
He emphasised the need to select pastors and leaders carefully, choosing those who are deeply committed to the orthodox faith and are equipped to shepherd the Church in sound doctrine.
Besides highlighting the five challenges ahead, Rev Chua also updated the Conference on two of his observations based on responses from churches to his Conference Directions 2023, as well as progress made on the proposals so far.
• Mobilising the laity
Sharing his observation based on feedback received, Rev Chua stressed that mobilising laypersons to serve in full-time staff positions within our local churches is not solely about addressing the shortage of pastors, but it is also a matter of sustainability, particularly considering our ageing congregations.
"Many of our churches are reaching a critical point where staff salaries consume a huge portion of the local church's budget, limiting resources for other critical ministry areas. This is not a matter of diminishing the value of our full-time staff; rather, it is about being wise stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us."
• Accountability in leadership
Another observation based on feedback received concerns accountability in leadership. Rev Chua said, "From the responses that I received on this direction, 10 of our 21 churches reported having no formalised systems to keep pastors and leaders accountable to each other," he said. "This absence is rather troubling."
Rev Chua said the intent of this direction was to facilitate an accountability system where pastors and leaders could engage
TRAC pastors, leaders and staff at the 49th TRAC Annual Conference
in healthy conversations to address warning signs of moral failings or abusive behaviours before it escalated out of control. Developing an internal accountability structure within each local church must include both pastors and lay leaders, fostering a supportive environment where they could engage in open, loving and preventive conversations, he said.
• Traditional worship services
In 2023, Rev Stanley had highlighted the need to continue offering traditional worship services. To this end, Rev Benjamin Fong will be going on paid study leave, starting 1 August 2025, to pursue a Master of Theology (MTh) in Divinity and would be researching into how John Wesley ordered worship for the early Methodists.
• Streamlining and standardising Local Conference reports
Adopted at the July 2024 Special Session, Rev Chua said a unified format for our Local Conference reports across the 21 churches would promote efficiency, consistency and clearer communication, ultimately supporting more effective collaboration and decision-making throughout TRAC.
• Wesley Sandbox: The Young Methodist Change Makers Conference Lay Leader, Mr Henry Tan, convened a taskforce in early 2024 to oversee the execution of this initiative, which had been conceived to engage and empower Methodists aged 15 to 35 to take the lead in shaping our worship services and outreach efforts through innovative, generationfocused ideas.
In June, Mr Tan presented the Taskforce's recommendations to the Executive Board, affirming that the vision behind this initiative was promising and well-aligned with our goals. However, it recommended an extended timeframe for implementation, considering the ongoing leadership transitions within our Conference. As a result, TRAC Executive Board decided in June 2024
to assign the Board of Laity, along with our Young Adults Taskforce, to carry this project forward into the next quadrennium.
• Lay supply pastors
At the 47th Session of TRAC in 2022, Rev Chua highlighted the pressing issue of our shortage of pastors and proposed the idea of appointing "Lay Pastors" to help address this gap. He updated delegates that the Board of Ministry (BOM) has taken ownership of this initiative of appointing Lay Supply Pastors. BOM has completed their work and presented a report to the President in Nov 2024. The newly-elected President and BOM will present a concrete proposal in due course.
• Revised church membership manual
Rev Chua said the TRAC Board on Discipleship & Nurture expects to complete the revision of the Church Membership Manual by 2025. He added that it was being reviewed because the current membership manual does not include any teaching of key Methodist doctrines.
The new resource will offer study materials on Methodist doctrines, supported by videos and study guides, to enrich understanding and encourage active engagement with Methodist beliefs.
(right)
Rev Reuben Ng was the Pastorin-Charge of Faith Methodist Church and District Superintendent of District 3
Annual Conference 49th Session
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2025 Trinity
Trinity Annual Conference President: Rev Reuben Ng
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2025
Director, Truthmin
Rev Allan Lee
Assistant Directors, Youth Ministry
Rev Isaac Tan (Trackers)
Pastor Rufus Chan
Pastor Joshua Kwok (Schools)
Director of Young Adults Ministry
Rev Benjamin Lau
Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD )
Rev Ling Kin Yew
Assistant Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)
Rev Ming Feong Ching
Director, Seniors’ Ministry
Rev Joshua Loo
TRAC Crisis Relief Coordinator
Rev Jason Phua
TRAC Chaplains to TRAC TTC Students
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun
Rev Dr Bernard Chao
Lecturer, Trinity Theological College
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun
Rev Dr Bernard Chao
On Sabbatical Leave
Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li
Rev Stanley Chua (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2025 to 30 Jun 2025)
Supernumerary Leave
Rev Wendy Tay (w.e.f. 1 Dec 2024 to 30 Nov 2025)
Coordinator Peranakan/Indonesian Ministry
Rev Christopher Chin
APPOINTMENTS MADE THROUGH THE BISHOP’S OFFICE
Director, Ministry in Schools
Rev Anthony Lee
Associate Director, Ministry in Schools
Rev Dr Aaron Tay
Rev Poh Zhi-Hui
METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY 2025
Executive Director Rev Derrick Lau
Missionary Pastor (Thailand) Rev Clarence Lee
Missionary Pastor (Vietnam) Rev Leslie Lim
Missionary Diaconal Minister (Timor-Leste) Rev Teresa Wilborn
Missionary Diaconal Minister (Cambodia & Thailand) Rev Vincent Lim
Rev Dr Nathanael Goh is Lecturer in Christian Ethics at Trinity Theological College. He is also an Elder attached to Sengkang Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Chinese Annual Conference
A new chapter unfurls in CAC history
Rev Lek Yong Teck elected as President for the new quadrennium
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." The words of Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV) remind us that to be a Christian is to acknowledge our temporality; to be awakened to the way history inhabits us and is inhabited by us. We work to discern the spiritual repercussions of a history that precedes us, lives in us and shapes the future to which we are called.
With such a revered cognisance of the weight of history, delegates of the 49th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) gathered at Charis Methodist Church from 11 to 14 November 2024. The outgoing President, Rev Dr Gregory Goh, had served for two quadrennia and was ineligible for re-election due to age. Rev Lek Yong Teck, who was Pastor-in-Charge of Bukit Panjang Methodist Church, was elected as CAC President.
In his final President's Address, Rev Goh shared with the delegates some reflections from his eight years in office. In sum, they are:
Guarding and passing on the pure gospel of faith
Rev Goh reflected on challenges to orthodoxy and Christian morality, especially in the area of sexuality. He had observed first-hand the United Methodist Church's decisions to change the definition of marriage and to ordain LGBTQ pastors. Noting that these challenges are not simply outside our shores, but are at our doorstep, he urged CAC churches to continue to grow in the right use of our voice, especially concerning matters of morality. Using the repeal of Section 377A as an example, he reminded the delegates to continue to engage the authorities wisely and winsomely for the sake of the common good.
A gift of thanks for outgoing CAC President, Rev Dr
(above left) Rev Lek was elected President of CAC for the new quadrennium (above right)
Goh Nai Lat
Furthering the disciple-making movement among our local churches
Rev Goh also highlighted the need to continue the good work CAC has done in focusing on disciple-making.
Referring to statistics released in the Lausanne Movement's State of the Great Commission report last year, Rev Goh pointed out how researchers think that there are 100+ million professing disciples due to disciple-making movements worldwide. In addition, they estimate that over 9 million churches have emerged from church planting movements.
Rev Goh surmised that the Wesleyan distinctives of social holiness and entire sanctification, and the methodical way in which the Wesleyans' organised church life can also be considered a kind of disciple-making movement—insofar as those methods inspired more than just unthinking programmatic repetition, but an ethos of discipleship. It was not
the system that made disciples, but their commitment to make disciples that led to a systemic approach.
Encouraged by CAC's progress, but eager for the work to continue, Rev Goh urged delegates to "press on until disciple-making becomes habitual and instinctive until it is synonymous with our nature". Part of that is making a "kingdom impact in every sphere of society". To further this movement of whole-life discipleship, CAC will continue to flesh out and publish its own Illumine Christian worldview curriculum.
The need for intentional leadership development and succession
Turning his attention to intentional leadership succession, Rev Goh encouraged resources to be allocated at every level of CAC life, from the local church to the Annual Conference.
CAC pastors and leaders with Bishop Dr Wong, Bishop Emeritus Chong Ching Chung and then BishopElect Philip Lim
In order to exemplify the kind of intergenerational ministry needed to make this happen, Rev Goh shared that, as President, he intentionally scheduled regular meetings with the District Superintendents (DS) and the Board of Ministry (BOM) Chairperson. These meetings gave him the opportunity to make decisions collaboratively. He also led a yearly retreat with them, to foster friendship and ministry planning. DS "interns" were also introduced for intentional leadership grooming. In this way, leadership and succession become a shared commitment and responsibility rather than being driven purely by one individual's personality.
At the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches last year, he also began a biennial fellowship of DSes, BOM chairpersons and Presidents for Malaysia Chinese Annual Conferences (West Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah) and CAC to learn and connect the younger leaders.
Quoting the poet, T S Eliot, "Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?", Rev Goh cautioned CAC not to fall to the false choice of choosing between the young or the old. "We all have a shared mission," he said, "and age should not be a barrier to either receiving or sharing the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the communion of saints formed by his power."
In the spirit of reception, therefore, Rev Goh shared with the delegates that the recentlyconcluded 13th Session of the General Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore has approved CAC's petition on Retirement Age for Election of Episcopacy and Presidencies, and will amend the Book of Discipline with respect to its provisions on retirement age for the election of Episcopacy and Presidencies, to allow for elders who have not exceeded retirement age in the year of election to be eligible for election. These amendments will take effect from the regular session of the 14th Session of the General Conference.
Continue to celebrate the distinct charisms of the Chinese Annual Conference
History once again took centre stage, as Rev Goh reminded delegates that "the story of CAC is a rich and textured history of Chinese culture, dialects and people groups, which continues to the present day." In particular, "the history of CAC helps us to locate ourselves within the mission of God amongst a particular strand of the breathless expanse of peoples, nations and tongues of the earth". He drew the origins of this gift to Pentecost, where the various tongues were not erased. Each disciple could hear and understand each other in their native language.
Further explicating his point, Rev Goh shared that our ability to situate ourselves in God's story in Singapore was augmented by the discovery of the 100-year-old time capsule at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. This has given us a precious glimpse of our forebears in the faith from 1924. The precious artefacts, like the Chinese translation of the 1784 Book of Discipline , connect us back to our forefathers and remind us that we are recipients of a legacy of faith dating back long before we were on God's earth and that, if we remain faithful to God, will continue long after we are gone.
A continued commitment to central pooling
The history of CAC contains many milestones worth celebrating, and Rev Goh brought a recent one to mind in his closing address: central pooling. This is CAC's 6th year after a historic vote for central pooling in the 43rd Session in 2018. Taking the opportunity to thank all CAC churches for their sacrifices, contributions, and remarkable commitment to the body of Christ in building up one another, Rev Goh shared about the many benefits central pooling has made possible in CAC.
For example, leadership succession and pastoral appointments can now be discussed and confirmed much earlier. Conference projects, such as the CAC counselling
(below left)
Installation of Rev Lek as President of CAC
(below right)
A light-hearted moment during the Closing Service
ministry and Illumine , were also funded from the central pool. A salary scale revision was completed, resulting in better benefits for CAC pastors. This encourages younger applicants with growing families to join the pastoral ministry in confidence that the Conference cares for their needs.
Most of all, after central pooling, the appointment system ensures that local churches can now have pastors appointed to them that better reflect their needs, and not just their balance sheet. Rev Goh rightly concluded that, "We can all agree that an appointment system where pastors are no longer appointed based on finances is a laudable development."
The requirement for sensitive and courageous responses to the needs of society
Rev Goh's final exhortation was for CAC to respond to societal needs boldly. He mentioned the ministry to special needs families, which has already taken shape under the CAC Board of Family Life (BOFL), and which will find particular expression in a special needs school and church in Tengah. He also announced an inaugural Special Needs Ministry Conference on 31 May 2025 at Bukit Panjang Methodist Church, jointly organised by the BOFL and Koinonia Inclusion Network.
Other societal needs that CAC has responded to under Rev Goh's presidency are: a renewed commitment to chaplaincy and ministry in schools, the mental health crisis and the need for counselling, and creation care. Rev Goh highlighted some initiatives, such as partnering with the creation care organisation, Our Father's World (formerly Creation Care Sg), to understand CAC's carbon emissions inventory through electricity usage.
At the closing service of the 49th Session, CAC witnessed the ordination of a deacon, Rev Michael Lee, an elder, Rev Shawn Koh, as well as the retirement of four pastors: Rev Nathanael Chew, Rev Jacqueline Ho, Rev Lui Yuan Tze, and Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey. We also celebrated the installation of CAC's new President, Rev Lek Yong Teck. In all this, we are reminded of the truth that "God makes everything suitable for its time." God, who has redeemed time, does not undo, efface, or erase our personal histories but gathers them all up, taking up what time has wrought. The unknown future beckons. Yet we need not know every detail in advance. We need only trust that our histories sail into an eternal future with God who will make all things new, an eternity that will bear the marks of our now.
PASTORAL
卫理公会华人年议会2025委任
Chinese Annual Conference President 华人年议会会长
Rev Lek Yong Teck 陸永德牧师
2025 SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS
BY BISHOP
2025 年会督特别委任本年议会教牧
Missionaries with MMS 卫理宣教会宣教士
Rev Cassandra Lee Boon Eng 李文英牧师
Director, Centre for Missions Analysis, Reconstruction and Development (MMS) 卫理宣教会宣教分析、重组和发展中心主任
Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee 陈英意牧师
METHODIST SCHOOL CHAPLAINS 卫理学校校牧
Rev Dr Alex Chng 庄炳亮牧师（博士）
Rev Anne Lim Ai Lei 林爱莉牧师
Rev Bernard Chng 庄俊勇牧师
Rev Boey Kok Yeow 梅国耀牧师
Rev Christopher Kong 江宗大牧师
Rev Cynthia Choo 周美丽牧师
Rev Dr David Koh 许亚才牧师（博士）
Rev Edmund Koh 许立欣牧师
Rev Gareth Yeo 杨泳泰牧师
Rev Glenn Tan 陈书铭牧师
Rev Irman Halim 林恩信牧师
Rev Jasper Ngoh 吴钧杰牧师
Rev Jasper Sim 沈圣奇牧师
Rev Joseph Chen 陈勇畅牧师
Rev Joshua Ong 王志翔牧师
Rev Lui Yuan Tze 雷远智牧师
Rev Michael Lee 李瑞缘牧师
Rev Ng Beng Keow 黄明娇牧师
Rev Ong Bee Keow 王美娇牧师
Rev Patrick Chen 曾国华牧师
Rev Patrick Lim 林国柱牧师
Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师
Rev Peace Choi 崔平和牧师
Rev Peter Pan 宾昇泰牧师
Rev Simon Cheo 石训深牧师
Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan 陈杨丽旋牧师
Rev Teh You Siong 郑有祥牧师
Rev Timothy Ang 洪培正牧师
Rev Wilfred Leow 廖惠安牧师
Pr Jason Lee 李乐恩传道
Pr Jonathan Huang 黄敬权传道
2025 SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS BY PRESIDENT 2025 年会长特别委任
Trinity Theological College, Principal & Lecturer 三一神学院院长及讲师
Rev Dr Edwin Tay Ed Min 郑益民牧师（博士）
Lecturers at Trinity Theological College & Chaplains to CAC Students at Trinity Theological College 三一神学院讲师及华人年议会三一神学生院牧
Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat 何威达牧师（博士 ）
Local Church Attachment: Kum Yan MC 隶属：感恩堂
Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian 白瑞健牧师（博士 ）
Local Church Attachment: Bukit Panjang MC 隶属：武吉班让堂
Rev Dr Nathanael Goh Jun Chuen 吴俊强牧师 （博士 ）
Local Church Attachment: Sengkang MC 隶属：盛港堂
Lady Chaplains to CAC Students at Trinity Theological College 华人年议会三一神学生女院牧
Rev Helen Hoe Chiew Ngin 何秋吟牧师
Faculty in Development 储备讲师
Rev Timothy Ang Pei-Zheng 洪培正牧师
Associate Director of Christian Ministry in Schools 学校圣工副主任
Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng 许立欣牧师
Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie 吴钧杰牧师
Re-engagement of Retired Pastors 重聘退休教牧
Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师
Rev Chua Ooi Suah (Part Time) 蔡伟山牧师
Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey (Part-Time) 严家慧牧师(博士)
Rev Nathanael Chew (Starting Feb 2025) 周永斌牧师
Rev Jacqueline Ho (Starting Feb 2025) 何秀芳牧师
Rev Lui Yuan Tze (Starting Feb 2025) 雷远智牧师
Principal, Four Denominations Institute of Elderly 四宗乐龄学院院长
Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot (Honorary) 邱仁发牧师（义务）
Reaping God's h arvest
Rev Saravana Kumar elected President at 49th Session of ETAC
The 49th session of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) was held from 8 to 9 November 2024 at Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church.
The year 2024 marked the end of the 12th quadrennium (2021-2024), which meant that the delegates needed to elect a new ETAC President and other office holders for the 13th quadrennium (2025-2028). Rev Philip Abraham did not qualify to stand for election again due to his age, and in fact, ETAC had only one eligible candidate—Rev Saravana Kumar. This was made possible because of a successful petition by ETAC at the 13th General Conference Session to amend ¶584 of the Book of Discipline to state, "...to provide for at least two candidates for that particular election; or to allow a single candidate to be declared elected". Rev Kumar was thus elected as President for the next quadrennium.
The quadrennium theme: Towards harvest
In his final President's Address, Rev Philip Abraham recounted his goals for the quadrennium:
• To grow ETAC's membership
To improve pastoral supply
To strengthen ETAC's Youth Ministry
He reported on ETAC's Vision 2024 "Towards Harvest", a goal to reach 1,000 members by the end of the quadrennium.
From 2021 to 2023, the annual themes were "PRAY", "SEEK" and "SOW". The theme for 2024 is "REAP", and churches organised various programmes that align with this vision and bring it to life.
The "REAP" theme was unpacked in the following ways:
• R : Build Relationships Fostering meaningful connections within congregations and communities
• E : Examine Readiness Assessing our hearts, ministries and preparedness for God's calling
• A : Assure God's Love and Promises Reaffirming the unchanging and faithful love of God and his promises in every season of life
• P : Pray for Salvation Seeking God's intervention through prayer for the salvation of souls in our communities and beyond.
Significantly, ETAC's membership has grown steadily each year (except for 2020), and is now just a little shy of 1,000 members.
Installation
as ETAC President
ETAC pastors and leaders, together with GC leaders, Bishop Dr Wong and then BishopElect Lim
(above left)
of Rev Saravana Kumar
(above right)
Lianne Ong is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos by Daniel Lie
"I am thankful for the ways that our churches have embraced these principles, sowing seeds of faith and love that will, in God's perfect timing, bear fruit in abundance," said Rev Philip. Through efforts that took place over the four years, such as the daily synchronised prayer and prayer bookmarks to remind members to pray for 10 pre-believers, a "culture of prayer and outreach" was fostered.
Pastoral supply
A total of four pastors were recruited during the quadrennium: Ps Adlin Jacob, Ps Jesudoss Charles, Ps Vasanth Joseph and Rev C Jebakumar.
The 49th Session witnessed Ps Adlin Jacob ordained as a Deacon. Ministers-on-trial, Ps Jesudoss Charles and Ps Vasanth Joseph have progressed onto MOT 2 while two seminary students, Mr Elisha Philip and Mr Joshua Gnanaruban, are on track to complete their Master of Divinity Studies in May 2026 at Trinity Theological College and Singapore Bible College respectively. Rev R Prabhu has been re-engaged as an Associate Pastor.
Formation of Board of Youth Ministry
Earlier last year, a Youth Dialogue was held, where ETAC youth leaders gathered to raise their challenges and concerns. This was a crucial time of listening, reflecting and discerning God's direction for the next generation. In response to the need for youth-focused ministry, Rev Philip announced the formation of a new Board of Youth Ministry, signalling ETAC's commitment to youth engagement.
President
Rev C Saravana Kumar
District Superintendent
Rev James Nagulan
PASTORAL
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2025
Ang Mo Kio Tamil MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev Albert Vijay Joseph
Pastoral Assistant
Ps J S Jesudoss Charles
Jurong Tamil MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev Philip Abraham
Pasir Panjang Tamil MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev Philip Abraham
Associate Pastor
Rev R Prabhu
Seletar Tamil MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev James Nagulan
Pastor
Rev Adlin Jacob
Sembawang Tamil MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev C Saravana Kumar
Tamil MC, Short Street
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev James Nagulan
Pastoral Assistant
Ps Vasanth Joseph
Toa Payoh Tamil MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev Albert Vijay Joseph
Pastoral Assistant
Ps J S Jesudoss Charles
Singapore Telugu MC
Pastor-in-Charge
Rev C Jebakumar
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS
FOR THE YEAR 2025
District Superintendent
Rev James Nagulan
Methodist Welfare Homes Coordinator
Rev Adlin Jacob
Chaplains to Methodist Schools
Rev Adlin Jacob
Ps Vasanth Joseph
Called to pastoral ministry
Meet the Members-on-Trial who were admitted in 2024 to their respective Annual Conferences.
A career change I
did not expect
Pr Esther Yek Member-on-Trial Yishun Methodist Mission (CAC)
Iwas born in Malaysia and grew up there. My mother brought me to church when I was about four or five years old.
Before entering seminary, I worked at a Senior Activity Centre for 14 years. During those years, I learnt how to interact with people and minister to them.
In my early 40s, I thought a career change would be good and considered social work. However, another path came to me, which was to serve full-time in church. When I prayed about it, God immediately opened the door for me to serve full-time in church as a Lay Ministry Staff.
During the two and half years as a Lay Ministry Staff at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church, my heart's posture changed from reluctance to obedience to God’s calling to full-time ministry under the Chinese Annual Conference. It is God’s love and grace that led me to obey and respond to his call.
Graduating from seminary does not mean that I have learnt everything and am already perfected. Rather, I've just begun the journey of learning. As I set sail on this new phase of my journey, I look forward to it with both anticipation and trepidation.
May God give me a teachable heart to learn and follow him, help me to be a vessel fit for him and to fulfil what he has entrusted to me.
Mhistorical, communal and international. During my childhood years I attended a small liturgical church with my family in rural Minnesota in the USA. I grew in my faith through Sunday school classes and serving in the church service. This early exposure to liturgical worship familiarised me with the faith and taught me to appreciate the rhythm of the Church through the Christian calendar. I am grateful to have begun my faith in a place like that because it helped me see the historical aspects of Christian faith within a warm community.
In my teenage years I had a strong desire to experience more of the Christian faith and felt that attending a different church community may help facilitate that. This community helped me to experience Jesus Christ for myself and I professed my own personal faith at age 15. The church youth ministry provided friendships, many of which I have kept even until today! This season of life introduced me to the awesome reality of how our Christian faith is meant to be a communal experience.
From age 22 until today, I have lived outside of the USA. During this twenty-year period of international living, I served ten years as a support-raising missionary with Youth With
From a rural town in Minnesota to serving overseas, God has called me
Ps William Stacken Member-on-Trial Christalite Methodist Chapel (TRAC)
A Mission (YWAM) in Netherlands and spent three-plus years studying for my Masters in Divinity (MDiv) at the East Asia School of Theology here in Singapore. Pursuing my MDiv in Singapore was a step of faith and provided valuable space to discern if Southeast Asia was more than just a place to visit for mission trips, but instead could become another place to call home.
While pursuing the MDiv, I was welcomed to do my internships with Living Hope Methodist Church (LHMC) in Tampines and served as a Pastoral Team Member (PTM) after graduating in 2018. I felt at home in the local context and in the Methodist Church and could sense that serving there was a blessing to others and myself. When we sense God’s good hand moving in a situation, it can help bring confirmation of his leading. Thus, making the choice to apply for MOT was easy!
I now serve as Associate Pastor at Christalite Methodist Chapel and as one of the Chaplains at Geylang Methodist School (Primary). My family and I have settled in wonderfully at Christalite. I’m thrilled to see how God’s leading and provision has been shown to us over the years. I pray that each of you would trust the good hand of our good God as he seeks to lead you!
Ps William Stacken and his wife
• Six fully air-conditioned rooms
• Tranquil and peaceful surroundings
• Floor-to-ceiling windows with natural light
• Unobstructed views of lush greenery
• Free high-speed Wi-Fi connection
• Ample free parking spaces
-Elizabeth Tang Every funeral: A beautiful farewell, a lasting memory
• Chapel with seating capacity of up to 150 persons
• Memorial room with a furnished outdoor patio available
• Rooms are also available for private memorial services
• Award-winning Christian columbarium
My journey of faith began at the age of 17 when I came to know the Lord. However, it wasn’t until I joined the Chinese Christian Varsity Christian Fellowship during my second year at the National University of Singapore (NUS) that my faith deepened. Through the fellowship, I encountered a vibrant community of believers who spurred me on in my walk with Christ.
It was during a mission trip to China that the Lord unexpectedly stirred my heart. He opened my eyes to the immense need for the gospel and planted within me a desire to serve him in full-time ministry. Yet, despite the clarity of his prompting, I didn’t pursue it seriously. Life moved on, and so did I.
After graduating from NUS, I embarked on my career as a pharmacist, where I sought to glorify God daily. I was committed to living out my faith in the workplace and church, where I actively served in various capacities. I was content and fulfilled—at least for a season. However, our Heavenly Father often calls us beyond our comfort zones.
The quiet stirring for full-time ministry never left me. As I turned 40, the fulfilment I once felt in my work began
A call I couldn't ignore
Pr Tham Wen Chen Member-on-Trial Foochow Methodist Church (CAC)
to wane. It was a year marked by deep introspection. I wrestled with questions that gripped my heart: Was I truly living out God’s purpose for my life? Would I one day regret ignoring his call? Interestingly, during this time of soul-searching, my wife, Siew Hwee, also felt the Lord’s leading toward full-time ministry.
After much prayer and seeking his will, in June 2020, amid the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic, we both resigned from our jobs. I began theological studies at Trinity Theological College (TTC), while Siew Hwee joined the Fellowship of Evangelical Students, a parachurch organisation serving students in tertiary institutions, as a full-time staff worker.
During my time at TTC, my sense of calling to serve as a pastor at the Chinese Annual Conference grew stronger. Through the guidance of TTC lecturers and the encouragement and support of leaders and members of Foochow Methodist Church, I’ve witnessed God’s hand leading me every step of the way.
As I continue this journey, I am humbled by his faithfulness and overwhelmed by his grace. Please pray for me that I will serve the Lord faithfully, with a heart that seeks to glorify him in all things.
and sons, Elias and Esaiah
Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity.
First things first
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
~ Matthew 6:33
There is perhaps no better time to examine our priorities than at the beginning of a brand new year. Since ancient times, such an exercise has been deemed beneficial, as clearly articulated in the dictum attributed to Socrates that "the unexamined life is not worth living".
This deliberate act of self-examination is beneficial because it helps us to identify the things that we truly value, and prompts us to realign our lives, activities and goals accordingly.
Self-examination has an important place in the Christian tradition. This practice, if done prayerfully, may bring to light hidden sinful fixations and desires that subtly steer us
away from God. It may reveal a pattern of life or a habit of mind that is a hindrance to the spiritual life and to our devotion to God.
What is the Christian's priority on the basis of which he should order his life?
The answer is found in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus exhorted his hearers to "… seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). This verse is of course well-known to many Christians and has even been put to music, a song still sung in some churches today.
But what is this divine kingdom about which Jesus spoke? And what does it mean to seek it?
While Jesus did not offer a systematic presentation on the nature of the kingdom, he told numerous parables which provide lively glimpses of this divine reality.
The kingdom of God in the New Testament is indeed a multi-faceted term, as many scholars have pointed out. Its nature and significance can only be grasped if we study what the entire biblical canon—both the Old Testament and New Testament—has to say about it.
Drawing from the testimonies of both Testaments, the New Testament scholar George Ladd summarises their teaching on the kingdom in this way: "The bond that binds them (the two Testaments) together is the dynamic concept of the rule of God". 1
The kingdom of God is therefore the reign or rulership of the sovereign and loving God, the Creator of all that is.
Now, if the divine kingdom is the reign of God, to seek after it surely means to submit ourselves to everything that God commands. In other words, to seek the kingdom of God, to come under his rulership and reign, is to love what God loves and hate what he hates. It is to be obedient to his word and conform to his will.
Seeking the kingdom means much more than regular attendance at Sunday worship (though this is important). It requires nothing less than a radical surrender of our desires, wants and ambitions. It requires that we bend our wills to God's, a spiritual renovation of our lives.
This is seen supremely in the demand that Jesus makes to those who wish to be his disciples: "'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for
my sake will find it'" (Matthew 16:24–25).
To seek the kingdom of God requires the seeker to die. It requires the seeker to die to his sin-driven self in order that he may truly live for God.
But there's more!
Since God's reign over creation is characterised by love, justice, mercy and holiness, those who seek it must also embody these values in their lives. This means that seeking God's kingdom is not just a matter of the personal devotion of the individual to Christ. It is also always a call to strive for justice, peace and wholeness.
That is why Christians are not just commanded to seek God's kingdom, but his righteousness also. In fact, the two are synonymous because the divine kingdom is the reign of the righteous King.
But what does it mean to seek the righteousness of God?
It is to conform our lives to the moral and ethical standards found in the Bible, and to strive to live by them in every aspect of our lives, especially in our relationship with our neighbour.
Here, seeking God's kingdom has a relational or social dimension, which is nicely captured by the Wesleyan concept of social holiness.
Jesus instructed his disciples to seek first the kingdom of God, that is, to give it the highest priority in our lives. It is to put the kingdom of God and all that it stands for above everything else—our careers, our family, our comfort.
For it is only when we do this that the rest of our lives will be ordered in a way that glorifies God himself.
1 George Eldon Ladd, The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism (Eerdmans, 1974), 130.
ACS (International)
ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
• Exceptional examination results, strong value-added achievement and an all-round holistic education
• 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage
• Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8 7 : 1
• 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups
• Over 200 formal student leadership positions
• Scholarships for four Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides Achievements
• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP
• 23 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past twelve years
• Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years
• Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore
• PSLE and GCE ‘O’ Level students obtaining outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP and improved pathways to good universities
• Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu.
Senior Leadership Team
Dr Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship & Church Music at the Methodist School of Music and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
How can hymns speak more directly to the realities of life?
The prophet Amos was a man of uncompromising integrity, deeply concerned with justice and righteousness. His message was clear: worship that is full of praise but devoid of justice does not please the Lord. Amos declared, "Away with the noise of your songs, but let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a neverfailing stream" (Amos 5:23-24 NIV).
What does this mean for the role of music in worship today? Can our songs truly honour God if they do not reflect his heart for justice and love?
This question takes me back to a pivotal moment in the 1960s when theologians and musicians gathered to reflect on the state of music in worship. While the hymns
Walking alongside you with compassion and care ESTABLISHED SINCE 2000
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38–39
HOSANNA BREAVEMENT SERVICES PTD LTD
they sang were deeply rooted in theology and scripture, they recognised that something was missing. As rich and meaningful as these hymns were, they did not fully engage with the lived experiences and struggles of their communities. This realisation sparked a bold and transformative question: How can hymns speak more directly to the realities of life while remaining true to the faith?
What resulted from these gatherings is the Hymn Explosion of the 1960s, which reshaped how we experience and understand hymns today. By embracing theological depth, cultural inclusivity and musical diversity, this movement gave us hymns like, "For the Healing of the Nations" (UMH 428), "For the Fruits of This Creation" (UMH 97) and "All Who Love and Serve Your City" (UMH 433). These hymns continue to call us to action, addressing justice, stewardship and community service.
Today, many contemporary hymn writers are crafting songs that we could be singing in worship—songs that speak to the realities of our lives and the mission of the church. These texts invite us to reflect deeply on our faith and the challenges we face as a community of believers. Perhaps it's time to consider how these songs might enrich our worship practices. Or maybe this is an opportunity for the worship committee to take up the challenge: to write a song, a chorus or a prayer that speaks directly to the unique struggles and hopes of our congregation. These contributions could become valuable additions to our collective prayer and worship resources, amplifying our call to love God and neighbour in tangible, transformative ways.
In the 12th quadrennium, then Bishop Dr Gordon Wong emphasised that we should love God with all our hearts, souls, minds and
strength, and love our neighbours as ourselves. Each church adapted this theme in unique ways across the Annual Conferences, offering its perspectives on this commandment. This resonates deeply with Amos's call, reminding us that true worship is not only about loving God through praise but also about loving our neighbours through action.
We need to ask ourselves: How do our worship practices reflect God's call for justice and compassion? How do these reflections shape us to be the people of God, called to serve his people?
Language serves as a foundational tool in worship. We can draw inspiration from the language of the Psalms, the prophets, and, above all, Jesus. Their words speak to the complexities of life—its joys, struggles, and aspirations. By incorporating their profound language into our worship, we invite a spectrum of emotions and experiences that resonate deeply with everyone, creating a shared sense of connection and purpose.
This intentional approach informs both our minds and hearts, encouraging us to reflect on the realities of life and consider how we can actively participate in God's work of justice and compassion. As we open ourselves to this transformative process, our minds are renewed, and we are drawn into deeper alignment with God's will. When we allow ourselves to fully engage in this calling, the Holy Spirit equips and empowers us to live out our worship in meaningful and impactful ways.
May our worship—through prayer, music, and the Spirit's transforming power—shape us into a people mindful of God's call to pursue justice and commit to making it integral to our worship practice.
We need to ask ourselves:
How do our worship practices reflect God's call for justice and compassion? How do these reflections shape us to be the people of God, called to serve his people?
Outreach
Rev Derrick Lau is the Executive Director of Methodist Missions Society. / Photos courtesy of Methodist Missions Society
Continuing the work of our Father's business in the mission fields
Methodist Missions Society (MMS) was set up in 1991 as the missions agency of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Its strategy is to establish indigenous churches supported by mission endeavours in communities in our region where there is no Methodist presence. MMS is committed to deepening and expanding its reach and impact in seven countries, namely Cambodia, East Asia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. More recently, MMS initiated the Diaspora Mission in Chiangmai, Thailand, and is also in conversation with local churches to collaborate in Japan.
Phases of church planting
Praise God for our church planting over the last 34 years. Becoming a Mission Conference or Provisional Annual Conference are stages in which the local churches grow from strength to strength and eventually form an Annual Conference.
As part of our church planting work, we endeavour to help churches in the field establish an Annual Conference. We are pleased that The Methodist Church in Cambodia will become a full-fledged Annual Conference in 2027, and The Methodist Church in Thailand will be a Provisional Annual Conference in 2027, while The Methodist Church in Nepal transitioned into a Mission Conference in late 2024.
We rejoice and give thanks to God for positive development and growth in these church planting initiatives. We shall continue to focus on capacity building of the national pastors and lay leaders and provide resources to encourage and equip them to fulfil the mission of Christ in their historical and cultural context. Our church planting models are based on a disciplemaking movement that would birth disciple-making churches.
(left) The Methodist Church in Nepal transitioned into a Mission Conference in October 2024
(below) Japan Dialogue and prayer with churches in October 2024
Methodist schools and hostel facilities in the mission fields
For schools, the educational priority is the building of capacities for the leaders and students. We rejoice for opportunities to sow the seeds of the gospel in the Methodist School of Cambodia, Vineyard Methodist School in Chiangmai, Thailand, Little Candles Methodist School in Phrao, Thailand, Singapore Mission School in Vientiane, Laos and St Paul Methodist School in Mentinaro, Timor-Leste. We are also preparing to launch the second Methodist School of Cambodia in the next two years.
When we were in Nepal in October 2024, the national pastors shared with me the need for student hostels for boys in urban centres as a next phase of community outreach. This would support church growth as men usually bring women to the churches when they get married. Additionally, this would complement Sophia's Home, a girls' home for the underprivileged we had started more than two decades ago.
In Vietnam, besides providing pastoral leadership at the International Christian Fellowship, we shall continue to deepen our engagement with the Girls and Boys facilities. The Fuzhou Ministry concentrates on community development and social care services. Other community projects include hostels and income generating projects.
Partnerships with local churches
Stakeholder engagement continues to be a priority for MMS. Our partnerships with 39 MCS churches resulted in 28 Memorandums of Understanding signed in 2024 alone. These partnerships have enabled us to approach unreached communities and enhance our mission work in our region. We are deeply indebted to the leaders from Chinese Annual Conference, Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, Trinity Annual Conference as well as the General Conference Women's Society of Christian Service, for their support and partnership.
As the harvest is plentiful, we believe that MMS is positioned to serve and support the mission aspirations of our local churches.
Direction
for the new quadrennium
In the new quadrennium, together with the new members of the MMS Executive Committee and Sub-Committees, we will strive to:
• Seek the mind of Christ in discerning the missiological pathway ahead We are grateful for the mobilisation of over 2,000 intercessors; this strengthens our resolve to focus on our Father's Business. Prayer is an indispensable spiritual weapon that serves to wrestle with forces that seek to thwart the mission of Christ!
• Share the convictions that Christ has laid upon our hearts for his mission We firmly believe that the Spirit of God plays a key role in convicting individuals and local churches to rise to the challenge to reach the nations. We would like to actively listen and support these aspirations from the ground. We pray for clarity of the call of God.
• Strengthen our stakeholder engagements
We pray that the body of Christ, including the 46 local Methodist churches under MCS (and some nonMethodist churches), might collaborate in intercession as well as manpower and financial resources, to reach the nations for Christ in our region!
"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."
~ Habakkuk 1:5
Outreach
It's okay for men to not be okay
Elliot* remembers the day his world shattered – when his wife of 12 years called in November 2022 asking for a divorce. "Two days later, she packed her things and left for her hometown, walking out on me and my son," he shared.
Their marriage, which began as a longdistance relationship, struggled from the start with misunderstandings and emotional disconnect. "My ex-wife had frequent meltdowns and would lash out with hurtful words. Triggered, I'd shut down and go for days or even weeks without talking to her. I even used my son to pass messages," Elliot admitted, acknowledging his role in the marriage's breakdown.
"After my wife went through four miscarriages, I didn't give her any emotional support, which she saw as cold violence. It was hard for me to show her care as she had been hostile and aggressive throughout our marriage, like smashing things around the house and hitting me."
Finding support
Despite the turmoil, Elliot never wanted a divorce and agreed only after his wife threatened suicide. "The divorce was a big blow. Even now, I struggle with feelings of loss," he said.
Whenever Elliot shared his struggles with friends and family, he was told to "move on". "It's not that I don't want to," he said. "But I'm still dealing with the trauma of my wife leaving me."
A month after finalising his divorce in October 2023, the 53-year-old found support among other divorced dads in the Divorce Support Group started by FAM@ FSC (Strengthening Families Programme@ Family Service Centre) and led by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS).
"Divorce brings a lot of legal and emotional stress, which many do not understand," Elliot said. "In the group, I feel accepted. The counsellor encouraged us to share our struggles, making me realise I wasn't alone or wrong for feeling weak. We exchanged coping tips, encouraged one another, and learnt from each other's experiences—it felt great to see my sharing helped others."
Anny Rodjito, an MWS counsellor who led the support group, shared, "All the participants came in feeling inadequate for struggling with adjusting to life after divorce. Sharing their experiences helped normalise those feelings, reduce isolation, and create a sense of community and support."
A post-groupwork self-assessment revealed that participants improved in 11 of 16 dimensions, especially in emotional well-being, with all feeling better prepared to support others.
Fighting stigma: It's okay for men to not be okay
Support services like the Divorce Support Group are crucial for men, yet many hesitate to seek help when facing challenges due to traditional masculine norms valuing selfreliance, emotional restraint, and toughness. Indeed, across the three Family Service Centres run by MWS, the proportion of men enquiring and seeking help is consistently only about 35% of all enquiries received,
compared to enquiries from women. Such expectations discourage vulnerability or help-seeking, which can lead to emotional isolation, suppressed feelings, and unhealthy coping behaviours. Research has linked such ideals to poorer mental health and higher suicidal ideation.
"All of us in the support group faced the stigma of divorce," Elliot said. "As men, we're expected to be strong and act like we're fine. When I open up to friends about my feelings regarding the divorce, they'd say things like, 'Get over it, you're a guy.' There's this constant expectation for us to hold it together, but I'm not okay—I'm losing confidence in myself. I thought I could make good decisions, yet my marriage fell apart."
Finding strength in vulnerability
Through the support group, Elliot learnt to express his emotions instead of bottling them up. "I'm working on being more open and vulnerable," he said, reflecting on the changes he's making after realising how his emotional unavailability contributed to his marriage's breakdown.
Besides improving his mental health, Elliot's openness has deepened his bond with his seven-year-old son. "We understand each other better and feel more connected now," he shared.
Post-support group, Anny continues to work with Elliot through individual counselling to improve communication with his son and ex-wife, and to better manage his emotional triggers. She also guides him to process grief, build resilience, and navigate the challenges of single parenthood.
Finding faith
Amid the pain of his marital breakdown, Elliot also found acceptance and support in another place—the church. His post-divorce journey became one of rediscovering his Christian faith.
"I was stressed out each time I received a letter from the divorce lawyer, it felt like a death warrant," he said. "The only thing I could think of was to go back to church for emotional support. I had been a non-practising Christian prior to that. I found comfort in the community's prayers, advice and encouragement."
Elliot said that his faith has grown stronger though this journey. "I've learnt to rely on God and trust in his plan for my life. For example, when handling the legal matters of my divorce, I prayed for wisdom. It's been a time of deepening my faith and finding strength in him."
*Not his real name
MWS FAM@FSC provides family and marital counselling, as well as divorce support for couples navigating separation and family transitions. To learn more, visit www.mws.sg . If you would like to support our work with a financial contribution, please visit mws.sg/give
Methodist M si Odyssey Methodist Music Odyssey
Children will start their early music journey learning to enjoy and appreciate music through music & movement, singing and music making.
Classroom-based lessons
At K1 and K2 levels, the programme aims to develop the whole child with a musical and spiritual emphasis. The rich and unique music curriculum engages the whole Methodist approach to lay the foundation for godly character through holistic music education.
What your child can look forward to:
Immersive learning journeys
Opportunities to perform
Methodist Music Odyssey is just a small part of the enriching programmes that are available at Methodist Preschools. We offer a variety of engaging STEM-based teaching aids and programmes that help prepare Methodist Preschoolers for primary school education and beyond!
Methodist Preschools has both Kindergarten and Childcare Centres. Scan the QR code to visit our website and schedule a visit.
Nurture the Future with us today!
Every child a person of Good Character who is an Explorer, an Innovator and an Entrepreneur
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Rev Joey Chen is currently pastoring at Paya Lebar Methodist Church, and oversees the Family Life, Youth and Young Adult ministries. Prior to pastoring, Rev Joey had stints in the public and private sectors doing communications work. She is married to Andrew, whom she met in seminary.
Benny Bong has over 40 years of experience as a therapist, clinical supervisor and trainer. He also conducts regular talks and webinars. Benny has helmed MM’s You & Your Family column for more than 18 years and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
Sue-Lynn Teo is a registered psychologist with the Singapore Psychological Society and is trained in Educational and Developmental Psychology. She specialises in assessments and therapy work with children who have learning, behavioural or special needs. She worships at Toa Payoh Methodist Church with her family.
Need advice? Scan the QR code or visit https://www.methodist.org.sg/mm-atthe-well/ to submit your question. Due to space constraints and repetition of topics, we may not be able to feature all questions submitted.
Dating & Marriage
If a spouse agrees to divorce, would it mean he doesn't believe that God can heal the marriage?
From what I understand, divorce is permissible if one party commits adultery and wants to divorce their legal spouse. If the spouse agrees to the divorce, would it mean he/she does not believe that God can heal the marriage? On the other hand, if the spouse does not agree to the divorce, is he/she being stubborn and overly optimistic? In what circumstances would God not want the spouse to divorce the party who continues to commit adultery? Wondering
Joey says
Dear Wondering,
God desires reconciliation and he can heal a marriage fractured by infidelity. But that can only happen if (i) the party who committed adultery is truly repentant, and desires to change, (ii) both parties are willing to put in the hard work of repairing the marriage, and (iii) both parties are willing to do what it takes to continue maintaining the health of their marriage. This is because God respects human free will, and we must want to work in tandem with God. The couple can start this process of healing and reconciliation by going for marriage counselling. However, if the unfaithful spouse has asked for a divorce and/or continues to commit adultery, it’s a clear sign that there is no repentance. As long as that is the case, reconciliation would not be possible.
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The party who was cheated on would be emotionally overwhelmed, and it can be a confusing time. The relationship dynamics of the couple can also add another layer of complexity. It would be helpful for the party who was cheated on to prayerfully assess the situation and discern the next steps with the help of his/her pastor, a Christian counsellor and with godly counsel from Christian friends of the same gender.
Family
P4 son is asking for a mobile phone
My son has been asking me for a mobile phone after seeing his peers owning one. He is in Primary 4 and I
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only intend to get him one when he is in Upper Secondary. How should I educate him that he can own a mobile phone but only when he is much older? Wondering Father
Sue-Lynn says Dear Wondering Father,
Using a "+ and -" list as a visual, discuss the pros and cons of owning a smartphone. Listen to his views on the pros. He may share reasons like staying connected with his friends (e.g. via WhatsApp), playing online games with them etc. Explore alternatives like inviting his friends over or play online games on the computer.
Educate him on the cons he might be unaware of (e.g. screen time addiction, the inability to self-monitor at this age and stick to the limits, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online "stranger danger", health issues like poorer sleep quality, eye strain etc.). As a Christian parent, explain how the online world generally promotes worldly, even antiChristian, values.
Re-establish your role as a parent to protect and keep him safe until he is older and more mature, with better skills to navigate the online world. This can be hard as he might respond with feelings of frustration, anger and unfairness. Again, validate his emotions with kindness (e.g. "I know you feel angry about not owning a smartphone yet") and reiterate your stance firmly. If needed, explain the conditions, before you'll consider getting him a smartphone when he is older (e.g. consistently keep to the current screen time limits, agree on parental controls, download only agreedupon apps etc.). You can negotiate another time to revisit this agreement.
Friendships
My friend keeps cancelling our meetups
I have a friend who keeps postponing our meetups. Each time, she will say that she is busy with her work or she has prior engagements. I usually find myself the one who initiates. Even when she makes plans, she doesn't follow through. Should I continue to ask this friend out? Tired Girl
Benny says Dear Tired Girl,
It sounds like your friendship is lacking two important ingredients. The first is respect and the second is mutuality. I sense a lack of respect from how she cancelled on you several times. We can be understanding if there is a valid reason like a pressing work deadline or a family crisis, but being stood up suggests: "I do not see the need to keep my word" and "I do not respect your time or commitments."
Mutuality is what makes friendship rewarding and meaningful. Mutuality is when one’s sacrifice and giving to the relationship is responded to by the other giving back. It need not be equal responses in quantity or quality but the other reciprocates when he/she can. Contrast this with one party always giving and the other only taking and you wonder if one is being used by the other. Of course, there may be times and situations when we are prepared to go the extra mile for the other, for a specific reason. Perhaps it is time to invest your time and attention on someone who appreciates it and not take you for granted.
You and Your Family
Benny Bong has over 40 years of experience as a therapist, counsellor and trainer. He also conducts regular talks and webinars. Benny has helmed the You & Your Family column for more than 18 years and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
Breaking up before breaking down
Awoman in her late twenties sought counselling for her relationship with her boyfriend. In their nine years together, they were twice on the verge of breaking up. On both occasions, she initiated it because of his addiction to pornography. The woman was torn between her unhappiness over his habit* and her feelings for him. These feelings were kept going by his promises to kick the habit and his threat to harm himself if she left him.
Her question was whether she should remain in the relationship and if not, how to break up. Breaking up is seldom easy, regardless of who initiates it. It gets more and more difficult in a long-term relationship. And what if ending a relationship may trigger a strong reaction? Should one be forced to stay only to avoid such a response?
Here are some pointers for those considering breaking free before things get so bad that they may suffer a breakdown.
Firstly, relationships of this nature should never be under coercion; they should be based on mutual choice. Partners must know what they are getting out of it and what is asked of them. As a rule, friendships grow when there is a positive exchange between individuals. What they put into the relationship—be it sacrificing time to be together or sharing personal vulnerabilities— is compensated by what they gain from it. One-sided relationships seldom last or grow.
In rare instances, the partner who gives and gives may feel compelled to do so. In the foregoing case, the girlfriend initially felt she had to help her boyfriend overcome his addiction. She not only encouraged him in his abstinence efforts. To prevent his being tempted to turn elsewhere, she consented to premarital sex despite being initially opposed to it. Her being unable to leave the relationship for fear of his harming himself was another form of coercion.
If indeed there is concern of an adverse reaction, the ones initiating the breakup should not spring it on their partners. Thought should be given to how to deliver such a devastating message in a safe manner. This may involve pointing the way to resources for the disappointed party to draw upon, e.g. consulting a counsellor to work through any difficulties or render support.
Secondly, clear and open communication is always helpful. Couples should talk about their hopes and dreams. After getting to know each other and finding that he/she might make a good life partner, there should be some talk about plans for the future. If for some reason, your partner’s plans do not coincide with yours, it is perhaps time to invest in another relationship.
I am not suggesting that one’s default response in the face of disagreement be to quit and leave. Relationships are rarely picture-perfect. If, however, there are concerns that might pose a reason for an indefinite delay in moving forward, e.g. a dominant and dependent parent is opposed to the partner, the couple would do well to try to work together through such a challenge. The couple should agree on the steps to be taken and a timeline for progress. If an impasse arises, the couple should carefully consider their options, e.g. getting outside help.
Thirdly, remember that it takes two parties to start and grow a relationship but only one to end it. The partner intending to leave is to communicate, not convince the other of, his/ her reasons for doing so. The reasons may not sound compelling or even logical to the other, but they make sense to the initiator.
Fourthly, we may be so involved in a relationship that it may sometimes be difficult to view things objectively. So it may be helpful for couples to speak with others who know and care for them and ask their opinion and specific concerns about the relationship.
Lastly, I have been asked my opinion of the idea of a cooling-off period, i.e. when the couple stops seeing or communicating with each other, to allow them to think clearly about their next steps. This may be helpful especially when the couple feels "in a rut" about their issues and keep going around in circles. When couples are considering this, I usually ask them about the "terms and conditions" such a period might entail. How long would it last? Would they be allowed to pursue or develop relationships with others? Would they make efforts to work through their problems during this time and what indicators would they use to decide whether to carry on, e.g. if they pine
for each other as confirmation to stay together?
When a couple is at a point when it is time to end a difficult relationship and start afresh, it is imperative to consider how to do so with understanding and compassion, honouring and respecting the good in the years together while being mindful of what lies ahead.
*Note: I used two ways to describe the use of pornography, i.e. "addiction" and "habit". This reflects the differing views of the scientific and clinical community for this behaviour. Some see it as a compulsion which sufferers are unable to control. The behaviour is thus seen as an illness warranting treatment. The other view is that the behaviour is a learned or acquired maladaptive one. Sufferers can change when faced with the right incentives and disincentives.
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On the beach at night, search the blackness of ocean and sky after the sun sinks in a royal blaze
Feel the origin of the secrets stirring ceaselessly in the sonars of the deep, secrets swelling through the cosmos,
As his passion fleshed from dust and charged with his breath into the image of his being
Our measure is but a particle in infinity, and our life but a poem written in dew,
Yet we too are hallowed soundings of his poetry and song breaking forth from jars of clay.
by
Kopi kakis
by Lau Peng Leong, Yen Tun I and Zachary Yong
Lucy Cheng is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and serves as a Sub-Editor with Methodist Message
Photo
Mizan on Unsplash
#GO WORKSHOP | BUILDING BRIDGES: WORLDVIEWS & CONTEXTUALISATION
23 January 2025 (Thursday), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Cru Centre, 18 Verdun Road, #03-01, S207280 Register via https://cru.sg/GoEquip Free For enquiries, email gomissions@cru.org.sg
Worldviews define what we believe and how we look at the world. Come explore how you can share the gospel in ways that penetrate people’s worldviews so that they can make sense of it!
Organised by Cru Singapore
MINISTRY TO CHILDREN: HELPING CHILDREN TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS
8, 15 & 22 February 2025 (Saturday), 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Trinity Theological College, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S678093 Register via https://www.ttc.edu.sg/english/study-at-ttc/equip-registration/ $150 (standard registration)
NOTE: Participants must attend all three sessions and pass the course assignments to complete each workshop.
This course will equip lay Christians with biblical foundations as well as knowledge of processes and strategies to minister to children, including children with diverse educational needs. Participants will draw on principles and practices from Scripture and developmental psychology to establish a coherent and integrated philosophy of ministry to children. In addition, participants will learn about classroom management, motivation and engagement, leveraging teaching and learning resources to help children build an authentic relationship with Jesus, discover and cultivate spiritual gifts, and be released for ministry to serve God with the power of the Holy Spirit.
22 March 2025 (Part 2: Preparation for Day Away), 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Trinity Theological College, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S678093 Register via https://singapore.alpha.org/events/empower-youth/ $20
EMPOWER is a local centralised team training for anyone who is looking to run the Alpha for the first time. It is run centrally for anyone from any church to come.
At this training, you can expect to receive all the basic handles you need to get started on running the Alpha Youth Series. There will be time for you to ask your questions and get hands-on practice. It is recommended that you attend both sessions.
