Reach Out ¢ Welfare Services By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo and visuals courtesy of MWS
Re a c h i n g o u t
need f o e m ti ir e th in le p o e p to
W
hen Singapore entered Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) in May 2021, many were reminded of the struggles they faced during last year’s circuit breaker.
It is easy for anyone to slip back into despair and selfisolation when faced with repeated difficulties. The call to love God by loving our neighbour by Bishop Dr Gordon Wong during his Aldersgate SG 2021 sermon was a timely reminder that at times like these, Christians should reach out even more to those who are suffering and in need. Spearheaded by The Methodist Church in Singapore and Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), The Giving Methodist (TGM) aims to galvanise Methodists to perform acts of love. This year, we publicised the need for befrienders to reach out to 500 people in need. To date, only about 47 from the Methodist churches have answered the call. We hope that when you read this, you will be moved to do so as well. MWS will provide befriending training and support to volunteers.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” (Luke 10:2)
So That More Will Come To Know His Love 22-year-old Eunice Chew realised that despite living in a developed country, poverty still exists but is often invisible in our community. Through her past volunteering experiences, she sees that beyond material and financial poverty, people also have emotional, social and spiritual needs. Despite juggling university studies and adapting to the pandemic, Eunice decided to become a befriender. “I know that many people don’t have the chance to experience God’s love through their friends or family. I believe His love is for everyone. This is why I signed up as a TGM volunteer as a small step towards reaching out to and forming connections with these people regularly,” said Eunice, who worships at Christ Methodist Church. 18
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METHODIST MESSAGE July 2021
She is anticipating the day when in-person befriending can resume, having been greatly blessed by the familial warmth she experienced at the MWS Nursing Home where she befriended a resident.
Simply Living In Obedience 52-year-old Lim Bee Leng’s decision to sign up as a volunteer through TGM was motivated by her desire to demonstrate Christ’s compassionate love in concrete actions. Her short journey so far has not been easy. As a new volunteer, Bee Leng faced several challenges brought about by the pandemic. She faced difficulty in connecting with her befriendee virtually as well as language barriers. Yet Bee Leng, who worships at Faith Methodist Church, pressed on, believing that her simple acts of giving can touch someone’s life. After her first virtual befriending session with a resident from MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang, Bee Leng is thinking of new ways to engage her befriendee. “Interacting through the computer screen didn’t stop Mdm Leong from sharing her passion for sewing and how she can make her own clothes. I could feel and share her joy. It touched me deeply that she enjoyed our simple conversation and needed just a listening ear,” Bee Leng shared. If you are encouraged by Eunice and Bee Leng’s experiences, find out more about how you can be The Giving Methodist.
Visit https://thegivingmethodist.sg/ or scan the QR code to sign up as a befriender or find out more about The Giving Methodist. Registration closes on 30 October 2021. For further enquiries on The Giving Methodist, please email
tgm@mws.sg.
