Methodist Message: July 2019

0129-6868MCI MCI (P) ISSNISSN 0129-6868 (P)019/11/2017 057/11/2018

Vol 121 No 7 • JUL 2019

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this issue...

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Sembawang TMC Good stewards of God’s grace

Hymns & Songs The Reason We Serve

Aldersgate MC Celebrating God’s faithfulness and goodness

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page 11

pages 12–13

NEWS—ALDERSGATE SG 2019 Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message.

ALDERSGATE SG 2019

A TASK UNFINISHED: TOGETHER IN GOD’S MISSION

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ethodists in Singapore gathered from 23 to 25 May 2019 to celebrate our Wesleyan heritage and commemorate what it means to be Methodist. The annual Aldersgate SG event is usually organised around 24 May, the day in 1738 when Methodism’s founder John Wesley felt his heart “strangely warmed” by the Holy Spirit’s assurance of his salvation.

Held at Paya Lebar Methodist Church, this year’s lectures and celebration service carried the theme “A Task Unfinished: Together in God’s Mission”. It was a celebration not of the man, but of the mission God gave to Wesley and all Christians—Christ’s command to go into all the world and preach His gospel.

Bishop Emeritus (BE) Dr Hwa Yung, who served as Bishop of the Methodist Church of Malaysia from 2004–12, gave the two Aldersgate Lectures.

Lecture One: World Mission in the Methodist Spirit Wesley famously wrote: “I look upon all the world as my parish.” By that, according to BE Dr Hwa Yung, Wesley meant firstly that where God sent him, he would go. Secondly, he was challenging the problem of nominal Christianity. Thirdly, Wesley saw the whole world as his parish.

In his lifetime, Wesley traversed 250,000 miles on horseback throughout England, Scotland and Wales to preach more than 40,000 sermons.

Because of widespread nominalism, Wesley felt that the “baptised heathen” in England needed the gospel just as much as the “unbaptised believer” in Africa or China. He preached in Britain and America, but

Together in God’s Mission

was prepared to go to “Abyssinia or China, or whithersoever it shall please God” to call him.

To Wesley, Methodism is missions embodied; the Church and missions—both at home and overseas—are inseparable. In the Methodist Spirit, the whole Church must be on fire to spread the gospel of Christ, and not leave it just to the tiny minority who are missionaries.

Lecture 2: Key Challenges in World Mission in Our Generation BE Dr Hwa Yung highlighted that since the spread of Christianity to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of Christians has shifted from the West to the non-Western world.

Continued on page 14...

COMING UP

MICAH CONVERSATION 2019

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ow can Singaporean Christians proclaim the good news of Jesus in doing good? What is the biblical basis for such integral mission? What can we learn from one another in churches and parachurch groups, and marketplace organisations, doing integral mission, community development, and justice and mercy work? What are the strategies, practical approaches and pitfalls in such integral mission work?

Micah Conversation is for: • Christians interested in integral missions, social justice and mercy ministry, community building • Christians who want to be challenged in their thinking and practices of missions, evangelism, outreach and witnessing • practitioners in church, parachurch, marketplace ministries • Christian community service volunteers involved in aforesaid ministries Keynote Speakers: 1. The Rev Raymond Fong (Faith Methodist Church) 2. Eugene Seow (Touch International) 3. The Rev Dr Munther Isaac (Bethlehem Bible College) 4. Dr Melba Padilla Maggay (Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture, Philippines; Micah Global) Ministry Case Studies: 1. Woodlands Evangelical Free Church, Community Dinner Ministry 2. Kenneth and Adeline Thong (The Last Resort) 3. Abraham Yeo (Homeless Hearts of Singapore) 4. Tamar Village 5. James Quek (MyHelper) 6. Reuben Ang (Hesed and Emet / Elsie’s Kitchen) 7. Lee Ee Yang (Covenant Chambers LLC) 8. Living Hope Methodist Church 9. Redemption Hill Church

1 9 July 2019 (Friday), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

20 July 2019 (Saturday), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ovenant Presbyterian Church, 110 Race C Course Road, S(218578) h ttps://www.micahsingapore.org/ micahconversation2019 t hejusticedemand@gmail.com $ 40 (please contact us if you need financial assistance to cover the registration fee) The closing date has been extended to 13 July 2019.

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.

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70 Barker Road, #06-04, Singapore 309936 6478-4793 6478-4794 http://message.methodist.org.sg | http://www.methodist.org.sg newmm@methodist.org.sg fb.com/Methodist.SG

Event visuals courtesy of Micah Singapore

Editorial Board

Adviser and Publisher

Dr Anthony Goh, Chairperson Council on Communications Editor Sheri Goh Sub-editor Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Jason Woo

@methodist.sg

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

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

COURAGE IN CHRIST W

hat is courage? Simply put, it means “having guts”. A courageous person is not afraid. A brave person is without fear. In the New Testament, “courage” and “boldness” are from the Greek word tharreo.

Courage in Christ, however, is not impulsive, rash or impetuous. The boldness Peter showed as a disciple of Jesus was impulsive and impetuous—he tried to stop Jesus from facing the cross (Matt 16:22); he cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant who was in the group sent to arrest Jesus (Jn 18:10). Yet when faced with life-threatening situations, Peter was cowardly and afraid. To save his own neck, he denied Jesus three times before a maid and a stranger.

It was after his dialogue with the resurrected Christ that Peter’s faith was restored and he returned to his first love for the Lord. He took courage and was no longer afraid—he preached boldly to thousands in Jerusalem at the temple gate called Beautiful. Even though he was thrown into jail, he preached the word of the Lord again once released (Acts 4:30).

Jesus told His followers to count the cost of being His disciples: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23; 14:28–30) Being a disciple of Jesus cannot be an impulsive act.

Jesus warned His disciples that they would face many difficulties and even persecution when they preached the gospel: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

He also told them not to be afraid (Matt 10:16–26). “You may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)

Whenever the Church was persecuted, whether in its early era or later, Christians have shown fortitude and faced death unflinchingly. One of the reasons lies in the Christian view of death. For when Christ vanquished death, He not only broke the power of sin; He also gave new meaning to death—to die is to be with Christ, which is far better (Phil 1:23). Confident that being at home with Jesus was much preferred, Paul could face death with courage (2 Cor 5: 6–7).

It is this conviction that gave the New Testament Church the courage to face extreme difficulties, persecution and even death. The foundation for such boldness and equanimity is in Christ’s promises—this is great courage.

Jesus also pointed out what truly great courage is: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt 5:43–45) Paul added: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:20–21) This is what true and great courage is. People of such courage are what the world of today needs. Let us encourage one another to achieve the high aim of being truly courageous by starting small and remembering Christ’s call: “Do not be afraid.” n

Picture by Choat/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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CHURCH PROFILE The Rev Albert Vijay Joseph is the Pastor-in-Charge of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church.

SEMBAWANG TAMIL METHODIST CHURCH:

GOOD STEWARDS OF GOD’S MANIFOLD GRACE (1 Peter 4:10)

Minsu village ministry.

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or more than 84 years, Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church (STMC) has been serving God and His people.

Though instituted in 1934, the church has been working with the communities around Seletar Naval Base from as early as 1928. In 1940, a school building was erected at 150 Jalan Sembawang Kechil and for the next 52 years, the church worshipped there.

In 1992, the Housing and Development Board offered STMC a church site at Yishun St 11 which was to be shared with another independent church. STMC formally moved into its new premises in August 1999.

As the lease for its current premises will be expiring in six years’ time, STMC is praying and working for the renewal of the lease. This is a prime location within walking distance of Yishun MRT station, and we are praying that God will grant us favour with the authorities to renew our lease.

STMC currently has 86 members. Though our numbers are small, the ministries of the church are carried out effectively by God’s grace. STMC’s key ministries are witness and evangelism, and missions.

STMC is reaching out to nearly 20 families in the vicinity with monthly visits and provision of daily necessities for the needy families. These families eagerly expect our visitation, during which we share God’s Word and pray for them. An Easter Egg Hunt Community Programme was organised by the Witness & Evangelism Committee for Tamil-speaking pre-believers. The WSCS also organised a one-day cruise to Batam for women pre-believers. These helped us to develop good relationships with them.

Working closely with our Annual Conference Board of Missions, STMC actively supports Christian missions in

WSCS cruise trip.

countries like Myanmar and Sri Lanka through visits and financial support. For the last couple of years, God has blessed us to adopt a village—Minsu Village in Myanmar.

The gospel is preached to more than 100 children every Saturday and to the villagers once a month by an evangelist there. This year, the Methodist Men group of our church visited the village and other ministry areas in Myanmar.

It was the first time our men had the experience and exposure to the ministry.

STMC emphasises good stewardship. As recipients of God’s manifold grace, STMC as a church and members are encouraged to be good stewards of all that we have received from God, to serve Him in both word and deed for His glory. n Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) 3 Yishun Street 11 (Level 3), S(768645) Sunday Service (Tamil): 8.30 a.m. http://www.stmc.org.sg stmcsg@gmail.com 6257-0116

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

Photos courtesy of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church

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

A FEARLESS FAITH

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he other morning, I met an acquaintance from a foreign mission agency. He shared about his work in countries where Christianity is banned by the authorities, and this was the first time I had heard directly from a person who lives out his faith in such dangerous circumstances. What courage he has to serve God knowing that his life is in danger! I admire men and women who are fearless enough to answer God’s call to serve where there is no freedom of worship.

A common definition of courage is the willingness to act on the truth felt deep within oneself and to live out one’s convictions. There are many quotes describing this kind of courage, such as: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in the presence of fear.” A courageous individual is one who is true to their conscience and to the knowledge of the truth that is available.

The Bible has many stories of courageous acts. In 1 Samuel, we are told of David’s courage to bring down the giant, Goliath, with just one shot from his sling when surrounded by jeering Philistines and fearful Israelites. We know that the victory came not from that sling shot but from David’s unshakeable faith in the Lord Almighty.

In the Book of Esther, we learn of the courage of Mordecai and Queen Esther in the face of a king who had decreed an unjust law against the Jews. Mordecai quietly worked on a strategy to save the Jews through Queen Esther, who subsequently risked her life to save the Jews. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish,” she said (Est 4:16b, NIV). Hers was a courageous act, albeit without a host of spectators.

In the New Testament we read Paul’s words: “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (Phil 1:14, NIV). Persecuted, Paul endured pain and torture, and in so doing became an encouragement to other Christians who would, in turn, risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel.

In these examples of Christian courage, believers risked their lives to protect their faith and, in doing so, save lives. Courage continues to be a core attribute of the character of a Christian because he accepts to live against the grain.

A born-again Christian is called to live by faith. This, in itself, needs courage. They have to be courageous to lead a holy life in a fallen world; courageous to make choices that glorify God and not to please or glorify man; courageous to speak for the weak and the marginalised; courageous to stand up for the truth and society’s well-being.

Christian courage begins to become part of our lives the day we profess our faith in the living God. We have decided to follow Jesus whatever the cost; there is no turning back.

Christian courage comes at a price, but we are strengthened and encouraged to persevere for Jesus said, “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (Jn 16:33, NRSV) n

Picture by rdonar/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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

RIGHT DIRECTION + SLOW PERSISTENT EFFORT = PROGRESS T

he other day, my client’s husband was taken aback when she said she was no longer sure that she wanted to give their marriage a second chance, as she doubted that he was really interested in rebuilding their marriage.

He had agreed to counselling after being found out for infidelity. He dutifully came for each counselling session but took little initiative. He made more effort to get home earlier after than he had in the past, but was often far away in his own world and busy with his mobile phone. He made some attempts to listen to her but was often impatient and defensive instead of trying to be understanding.

However, he felt that he was making efforts to show more concern and to be more present for the family. But while his relationship with their children had improved, it remained distant and tense. Attempts to communicate with his wife were few and far between, and too many opportunities were missed to show he prioritised her needs and interests over his.

While his wife conceded he had made changes, they did not hit the “right notes”, akin to a singer’s attempt to reach the high notes but falling flat.

This got me thinking that improvement in relationships happens when there is change—not just in form but in substance. Behaviours must not only improve but be for the right reasons, such as a husband telling his wife about his meetings after office hours not for “reporting” purposes but to share his life with her.

The intent is more important than the mere outward change.

Separately, another client shared an insight about change.

She had been reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits.

One idea that made sense to her was to be unafraid to start small. Like a tiny atomic nucleus, you may begin with small steps to change but perseverance is one of the keys for progress. You need to gain others’ trust that you have indeed changed by doing the right thing each and every time.

This client was upset that her father, who had recently divorced her mother, had found a new partner. His insistence on his daughter’s acceptance of the new love-ofhis-life irked her so much that she could not focus on her job or even her fiancée.

I suggested that she focus on living each day “Daddyfree”—that she mark each day she succeeded in not obsessing about her father on a calendar, aiming for one day at a time until she had achieved 30 “Daddy-free” days.

As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. But the building must be constructed brick by brick and with the right intention. n

Picture by siam.pukkato/Bigstock.com

WELFARE SERVICES By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team

FIND OUT HOW

CHANGED LIVES

GOOD CHANGED LIVES!

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n 2015, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) developed the GOOD (Getting Out of Debt) programme to commemorate The Methodist Church in Singapore’s 130th anniversary and Singapore’s 50th Jubilee. Methodist churches contributed generously to GOOD, providing onetime debt clearance that year to over 650 families in need.

These families burdened with chronic debt from the cost of everyday living.

takes a holistic, systematic approach to empower beneficiaries to clear debt through a monthly debt clearance and savings matching scheme. In addition, the programme promotes the taking of ownership of their debts, and trains beneficiaries to cultivate positive and financially sound money management habits. In FY17/18, we helped 156 families, empowering them to make better financial decisions for their household.

The Social Service Research Centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with MWS, surveyed nearly 200 GOOD beneficiaries. In March this year, the findings were published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a top multi-disciplinary scientific journal.

We are thankful for the Methodist community’s compassion and support for low-income families struggling with chronic debt. Continue to partner us in helping more families get out of debt and build assets through the MWS Family Development Programme.

Together, we can change their lives for GOOD.

The study found that: • Chronic debt hurts the ability of the poor in Singapore to think clearly and make good decisions, meaning the impact is not only financial, but also psychological.

• Debt impairs cognitive and psychological functioning, and it is extremely challenging for the indebted poor to escape poverty.

• After debt relief, a person’s anxiety levels decreased significantly, and decision-making and psychological functioning greatly improved.

After the GOOD programme ended, we launched the MWS Family Development Programme in June 2016.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb 13:16) n If you would like to help more low-income families get out of debt through the MWS Family Development Programme, please donate at https://give.mws.sg or scan the QR code. Thank you!

For more information on the programme: https://mws.sg/services/familydevelopment-programme fundraising@mws.sg

Incorporating what had been learnt from an earlier debt relief pilot, the MWS Family Development Programme

Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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2020 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides

• Exceptional examination results, very 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 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP

Achievements include

Mr Rob Burrough Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal

• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 19 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past eight years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level this year in Archery, Touch Rugby, Cycling, Swimming, Chinese Drama, Debating, Fencing, Football, Golf, String Orchestra, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Wushu

What the parents say…

Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal

For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning.

The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.”

Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.”

Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man.

We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.”

Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more.

Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).”

Steven and Pau Kim Kan

MISSIONS Noel Tam is the Home Director and Area Director (Nepal) for the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). He worships at Pentecost Methodist Church and is the chairman of the banquet organising committee.

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or the past 23 years, MMS has organised biennial banquets to raise funds for major projects in our mission fields. The banquets, titled “My Father’s Business”, reference Jesus’ response when his parents searched for him and found him in the temple (Luke 2:49).

The “My Father’s Business” 2019 fundraising dinner will be held on Sunday, 25 August at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung will be our guest of honour.

“My Father’s Business” 2019 will raise funds in support of the St Paul Methodist School (SPMS) Development Project in Timor-Leste. This project—which includes acquisition of land, construction of classrooms, a hostel, a chapel and other buildings—will be carried out in two phases at an estimated total cost of $5.4 million. We thank God that we have raised nearly half of the funds needed!

As Methodists know, Christian education is not just about the construction of buildings; it is about building capacity for generations to come. In addition to providing excellent academic instruction, SPMS is presently sharing Christ’s love and discipling more than 120 students across seven levels in rented premises. In the spirit of John Wesley, our missionaries are teaching “values and vocation, service and sacrifice”.

As SPMS enrolment is quickly growing beyond the capacity at the current location, MMS seeks support from our Methodist community to make a reality of the God-given vision of establishing a Methodist school in Timor-Leste.

In the June issue of Methodist Message, Bishop Dr Chong wrote, “People who use their talents in service for God and for others have the greatest impact on society.” He quoted from G. M. Best’s book, Education from a Methodist Perspective: “John Wesley was as much an educator as a preacher. Methodist involvement in education stems from his passion for education, which was rooted in his understanding of the Bible and centuries of Christian tradition.”

Therefore, whilst MMS is supporting education efforts in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos through our schools, Timor-Leste, being a young nation with a very young populace, too also benefit from its children having access to quality education that also imparts Christian values as part of its curriculum.

You can help make our vision a reality by sponsoring a table at the Banquet 2019 or making a direct donation towards the SPMS Development project. Please get in touch with us at mms@methodist.org.sg or 6478-4818. n Please pray: • that MMS will be able to raise sufficient funds through the Banquet.

• for the staff and students of St Paul Methodist School in Timor-Leste.

Photo courtesy of The Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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HYMNS & SONGS Justin Yeo and Leong Shengyu serve in the worship and music ministry of Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church.

YOUR GLORY, LORD— THE REASON WE SERVE! H

ymnody is a rich and distinctive tradition of Methodism. Indeed, Methodism is memorably described as being “born in song”, as our expressions of faith are substantially captured in the thousands of hymns penned by the Wesley brothers. This hallowed tradition did not, however, come to an end with the final drop of ink from a Wesleyan pen; nor should it, given the Biblical exhortation to “sing to the LORD a new song” (Ps 96:1).

It was against this backdrop that work began on “The Reason We Serve”. The process commenced literally above the clouds, where concepts and lyrics were scrawled—midflight—on an air-sickness bag.

The words that flowed were borne out of our reflections on a continuing journey of service; specifically, that we serve with the strength that God provides, so that in all things He might be glorified (1 Pet 4:10–11).

“The Reason We Serve” reminds us that we are called to serve with our God-given gifts (verse 1), to exemplify Christ the servant-King (verse 2), and to press onward and upward as disciples in one united body of Christ (verse 3). The bridge is an intimate confession of our sinful nature, a recognition of our struggles on the path of

sanctification, and a prayer for God’s mercy and grace. Each refrain builds upon the previous, encouraging us to lean on God’s perfect strength and to serve for His glory.

The piece features a fusion of elements from Wesleyan hymnody and modern worship songs. It combines a traditional multi-verse structure with a contemporary refrain and an optional bridge, thus at once reflecting the Methodist Church’s rootedness to its heritage and its evolution with the times.

The piece is written for congregational singing, and is available in English (original) and Mandarin (translated). It was first corporately sung in Mandarin at the 2016 dedication service at Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church. It has since been regularly used as a sending song during worship services.

The English original was first sung at the 2018 Methodists, Sing! event, organised by the Methodist School of Music, followed by the Aldersgate SG 2019 Celebration Service.

We pray that “The Reason We Serve” will edify and encourage our brothers and sisters to press on in service for His glory. n

The Reason We Serve Verse 1 Father in heaven, You call us to serve Our brothers and sisters, our neighbours on earth.

For Lord, we are stewards of gifts from above, Your glory is the reason we serve.

Refrain And in Your strength, O Lord, we give our all, We rise to the challenge, we answer the call.

And we press on, we serve in faith, hope and love; Your glory, Lord—the reason we serve!

Verse 2 Christ, You are king, but a servant You came, The sick, poor and weary You loved all the same.

And this You commanded, our neighbours to love, Your glory is the reason we serve. * Refrain Verse 3 Lord, as Your people, we move forth to serve, As one in the Spirit, with vigour and verve.

As humble disciples, flagbearers of love, Your glory is the reason we serve. * Refrain Bridge Lord, we’re but sinners, we stumble and fall.

We sought not Your glory, we gave not our all.

Forgive us, recharge us and mould us Your way, Help us, renew us, we pray! * Refrain Words and Music: Leong Shengyu and Justin Yeo The original audio recording of “The Reason We Serve” is at https://youtu.be/ KKzEopkuACU

Picture by Tinnakorn/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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HOME Peter Teo is a member of the Archives Committee of Aldersgate Methodist Church and a former Editor of Methodist Message.

ALDERSGATE METHODIST CHURCH:

CELEBRATING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND GOODNESS The congregation and leaders of AMC, along with guests, at the anniversary service.

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n 5 May, Aldersgate Methodist Church (AMC) celebrated its 40th anniversary. The bilingual anniversary service saw the church sanctuary filled to capacity—and overflowing.

In her greetings, a beaming Pastor-in-Charge, the Rev Dr Lynette Sathiasingam, gave glory and thanks to God for His faithfulness and goodness over the past four decades.

She also paid tribute to the pioneers of AMC, a number of whom are still with the church, for their dedicated service.

For the first time, more than one bishop, an Annual Conference president and three guest pastors were present at our anniversary service. Reflecting the close relationship between our church and the schools, the principals of Fairfield Methodist School, both Primary and Secondary— Mdm Law Li Mei and Ms Audrey Chen respectively— joined the celebration service too.

God’s purpose for the Church In his sermon, “God’s Faithfulness and Purpose for the Church”, Bishop Emeritus (BE) Dr Robert Solomon emphasised that the Church exists—first and foremost— for the glory and praise of God (Phil 1:11). He said: “The Church does not belong to us. It belongs to God. It is for His glory that we must live and serve.

“We glorify God by being pure and blameless and being filled with the fruit of righteousness. […] The focus is on our inner character, the kind of people we become. The inner character has to do with Jesus. He has to dwell in us and through His cross and indwelling Spirit, we are transformed into Christlikeness.”

Special guests at our anniversary service: (standing) Methodist Missions Society Executive Director the Rev Derrick Lau (centre), flanked by two former Pastors-in-Charge, the Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun (left) and the Rev Paul Nga; (seated, from left) TRAC President the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung and BE Dr Robert Solomon.

BE Dr Solomon exhorted the congregation: “We must know Jesus. Then only can we become Christlike.” In short, we need to grow in knowledge and maturity through God’s written word (the Bible) and the living Word (Jesus).

The official anniversary programme ended with a lunch reception. The joyous celebrations continued, however, as guests and church members exchanged stories and reminisced about AMC’s 40-year journey with a faithful God. n

What AMC means to us

(From left) The specially-assembled children’s choir, part of a combined praise offering of songs and music, along with the adult choir, youths and the church angklung group.

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung and BE Dr Robert Solomon unveiling a plaque listing AMC’s 10 Pastors-in-Charge, beginning with our pioneer missionary pastor, the late Rev William Denver Stone.

A tale of three miracles

Peter Chen is a member of AMC’s Archives Committee.

Evidence of God’s faithfulness is seen in AMC’s arduous journey of faith from its beginnings as a “Pioneer Project” in 1978, when it first worshipped in the former American School in Ulu Pandan. Thus began a nomadic existence for our worship services, even after we became a Local Conference in 1979.

In 1984, we found ourselves worshipping in the school hall of Fairfield Primary School—on the understanding that it was to be on a temporary basis, until we had our own land and building.

God answered our prayers for a permanent home with three miracles.

The first miracle In 1985, Dover Road was re-aligned. As a result, a piece of vacant land was miraculously created right in front of Fairfield Primary School. But would the school allow us to build a church on it?

The second miracle The school had previously shown reluctance in allowing us the use of its school hall, even temporarily. By God’s grace, the school invited us to build a permanent chapel on the newly-created vacant land!

The third miracle We then discovered numerous power cables and gas lines under the site.

It would be too costly or even impossible to build on it. Once again, God provided the answer. The school agreed to exchange its carpark for the site earmarked for our church.

In December 1994, Aldersgate Chapel was completed. We finally had a permanent home.

“We belong to the Body of Christ at AMC, where we have worshipped since January 1978, when the inaugural service was held. AMC has given us many ministries to serve in, which has helped us grow deeper in faith and in trust in our Lord Jesus. To us, the church is not a building, but is made up of God’s people, the Body of Christ.”

—Pioneer members Adrian Ho and his wife Cecilia Tan “AMC has been home to me since I married Joseph Gan 18 years ago. It is here that I encountered deep valleys as well as lofty mountains amidst God’s abiding presence. It is in this community that I weathered the transition to adulthood, with its attendant struggles of working, parenting and serving in lay ministry. It is also where I heard and responded to God’s call to fostering and the pastoral ministry.”

—Tay Li Ping “A friend introduced me to AMC two decades ago, when I was in Secondary One. In my formative years, God has blessed me with countless mentors from the church. AMC is also where I have been blessed with opportunities to serve, during which I have grown in so many ways: from a croaky back-up singer to a worship leader; writing and translating for the church magazine Liveline; leading the Youth Camp; and serving on mission trips.

In God’s divine plan, my husband and I got married in AMC and our son is growing up surrounded by this warm, loving community.”

—Grace Ho Photos courtesy of Aldersgate Methodist Church METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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NEWS—ALDERSGATE SG 2019

ALDERSGATE SG 2019

A TASK UNFINISHED: TOGETHER IN GOD’S MISSION ...continued from page 1 A time to celebrate, praise and learn.

“Much of the energy for Christian missions in the 21st century will probably, therefore, come from the nonWestern world. In the west, the liberal churches will become increasingly irrelevant,” BE Dr Hwa Yung said.

“In a […] post-Christian and secular environment, much of [the] spiritual energy [of the Western churches] will be sapped by having to face an increasingly hostile spiritual and social environment outside of the church.”

Nominalism remains a rising challenge, even in the growing non-Western Church, as do divisions, lack of social involvement, overemphasis on megachurches, inadequate pastoral oversight, autocratic leadership and misuse of church funds. To stem these challenges, Christian fundamentals need to be in place, advised BE Dr Hwa Yung. He mentioned that this was the reason the early Methodist Church developed its General Rules (now the Book of Discipline) as a guide for holy living, and held class meetings as a means to hold each member accountable.

How, then, do we do missions in perhaps the most Westernised city in Asia?

BE Dr Hwa Yung delivering lectures on 23 and 24 May.

BE Dr Hwa Yung said: “We all believe what Paul says in Romans 1:16 that ‘the gospel […] is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,’ but for our listeners to believe, they need to see that the message of salvation is relevant to them today”. He shared that missionaries with the greatest long-term impact are those who master the local language, immerse themselves into the native culture and build deep relationships with those they are trying to reach. “The Church,” he said, “cannot be 3000 miles wide but only one inch deep.”

Quoting John Wesley: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.” BE Dr Hwa concluded his lectures with the challenge: “Should not this be our vision too? And will we go where the Spirit leads?” n Photos courtesy of Paya Lebar Methodist Church

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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

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NEWS—ALDERSGATE SG 2019 Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his cats along with a good book.

UNDERSTANDING THE GREAT COMMISSION Clergy and congregation alike celebrating our Wesleyan tradition.

B

ishop Emeritus (BE) Dr Robert Solomon rounded off the three-day Aldersgate SG 2019 event with his sermon during the Celebration Service on 25 May at Paya Lebar Methodist Church.

As this year’s Aldersgate SG centred around the topic of missions, BE Dr Solomon highlighted that the Great Commission has too often became muddied over the years as the Church has been distracted from her primary mission by worldly issues and challenges. He then went on to cite four important factors that influence successful missions.

Making disciples: Primary catalyst for the Great Commission BE Dr Solomon observed that churches are very often preoccupied with making converts rather than disciples.

“One of Wesley’s commendable actions was that he organised the people who responded to his gospel preaching into societies, classes and bands to give emphasis to the disciple-making task of missions. As a result, the early Methodist movement was clearly a disciple-making one, where Methodists were taught and trained to follow Christ with faith, devotion, discipline and obedience,” said BE Dr Solomon.

Acknowledging God’s authority Churches should do their best in disciple-making. However, they must not lose sight of God’s authority and come to think that their good results are wholly by their own efforts.

“Jesus reminds us that the basis of our Christian life and service is His supreme authority,” said BE Dr Solomon. He added, “It is possible that in the light of our management expertise, connections, technology and finances, we may lose sight of the authority and power of the Lord as we get sidetracked with our own human power and might. We must repent of such inclinations and turn to the Lord who has authority over all.”

The Methodist Festival Choir and Orchestra.

Relying on God’s presence Jesus’ disciples gave in to fear when their boat was hit by a storm that He ultimately calmed. As BE Dr Solomon pointed out: “What was the lesson? [It] was the presence of Jesus—when we have it, no storm can overcome us. The Lord’s presence in our lives and in the Church must not be taken lightly nor ignored. Have we come to rely on our skills and cleverness that we have forgotten His presence?”

Are we personally involved and invested?

Lastly, BE Dr Solomon underscored the importance of being personally invested and involved in missions. Every Christian is to be a missionary, period. Be it going overseas to spread the Word of God to the unreached or simply reaching out to colleagues or friends and telling them the Good News, all believers are called to be part of the Great Commission.

“The Great Commission,” BE Dr Solomon stressed, “is issued to all. In our baptism, we are not only incorporated into the Body of Christ, but also commissioned into His service.” n The Celebration Service also saw four members of the clergy being recognised for 25 years of service to The Methodist Church in Singapore: • The Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan (Pastor-in-charge, Yishun Methodist Mission) • The Rev Michael Tan (Pastor, Wesley Methodist Church) • The Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li (Pastor-in-charge, Barker Road Methodist Church) • The Rev Dr Peter Wong (Pastor-in-charge, Christalite Methodist Chapel) We thank them for their steadfast commitment in shepherding the flock and may God bless their every good work.

Photos courtesy of Paya Lebar Methodist Church METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013

ONE MCS—IDENTITY AND DESTINY

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE: INSTITUTION OR MOVEMENT? M

ethodism was a movement, not an institution— we have been reminded of this again and again.

Most recently, Bishop Emeritus Dr Hwa Yung, who spoke at Aldersgate SG 2019, referred to a Methodist Message article from June 2016, “Rethinking the Methodist Church in Singapore”, by Mr Tan Gee Paw, member of Barker Road Methodist Church and former Public Utilities Board Chairman. Mr Tan noted that “in the history of the church, rapid socio-economic changes have always required a fresh direction for the church to avoid its becoming fossilised.” Observing that the Methodist Church in Singapore was at a crossroads, he asserted that “in such rapidly changing times, we need to de-institutionalise more and become more of a movement.”

A movement is marked by an attractive and clear unifying vision for a shared future, as well as a strong set of values or beliefs. The vision is well articulated so all members of the movement can understand it and pass it along to others.

A movement has no organisational structure but consists of a group of people united by their desire to achieve something, and coming together to find any way they can to get it done. What unites a movement is a common vision or goal.

On the other hand, an institution begins when members of a movement begin to add rules, regulations and procedures to prevent something bad from recurring. The institution’s rules hold it together. Members may have a slightly different version of the vision but what unites are the institution’s rules. Thus, the institution’s purpose is to define what it does and the way it is done.

Institutions are structured, making it hard to change because of a felt need to conserve and preserve what has taken time and effort to evolve. Often, there is concern over

encroachments into one’s turf, causing some to become protective and suspicious of others coming near their area of responsibility. Positions and power may be jealously guarded.

In an institution, directions and guidance come down from the top. In a movement, ideas come from all over; anyone or any group can come up with one. In movements, achieving the vision is more important than giving or saving face, so people are on the lookout for like-minded others, and collaborate with anyone sharing the basic vision and values. A movement is thus able to generate its own resources, recruit its own members and participants, and especially, in the process, raise up new leaders.

Clearly, authority and discipline have their place in ministry work. Thus, a strong movement will be one that is somewhere between a do-as-you-please and a disciplined organisation. The movement leader’s job is to steer the ship safely between these two poles, while ensuring the ship stays anchored by its core values.

At this point in our structural review, some small groups are meeting to share about their ministries and look for ways to reduce duplication or work more effectively together. As they talk, they have realised their common vision. As relationships are built over coffee, they see opportunities for missional unity, the possibility of sharing resources, and coming together in interest groups focused on shared passions. Generous flexibility and innovativeness needed to make us a movement again are not far away. As a church ministry staff prayed at the end of a session, “May this review provide the space and room for us to move together for the glory of God.” n Picture by viteethumb studio/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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WE ARE HIRING! Christ Methodist Church has immediate vacancy for the position of

DIRECTOR, OUTREACH BASE

DIRECTOR, OUTREACH BASE Christ Methodist Church, as part of its strategy to strengthen its 5 core ministry bases, seeks to hire a full-time Director for Outreach Base (D/OB) to assist and support our base directors (or pastors) to manage, coordinate & implement the pastoral ministry work and activities of assigned ministries. This position will be to assist and support the Pastor-In-Charge (PIC) and Executive Director in the area of outreach.

The candidate must be a Christ-centered team player who is capable of leading and directing local outreach opportunities for the church. This person must possess strong interpersonal, organisational, and motivational skills. He / she should be a self-starter, emotionally intelligent, and humble. The person must be equipped with a working knowledge of events planning, programme management, and communication.

Roles & Responsibilities The D/OB will report to the Executive Director for day-to-day administrative issues and will work with the PIC to overseeing the work of the Outreach base

Job Description & Duties • Assist and support our base directors (or pastors) to manage, coordinate & implement the pastoral ministry work and activities of assigned ministries • Strategize, plan and manage both long term and short term evangelistic outreach and missions efforts for the congregation • Assist in budget planning, reviews and reporting for all outreach-related budgets • Identify, equip and develop logistical and spiritual outreach leaders for the future while encouraging current leaders and assisting in their continued development • Plan and oversee all new believers care and follow up with the relevant teams • Actively participate as a member of Christian Outreach Social Concerns, Missions and Witness & Evangelism Committee

Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s Bachelo or Master’s Degree in Theological Studies.

Experience working in Missions or Social Services Organisations.

Experience At least 15 years of relevant working experience in a church or relevant organisation with more than 1,000 members or volunteers.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter along with a current resume to info@cmc.org.sg or 597 East Coast Road, Singapore 429082, Attn: Mabel Wat. For further details on each position, please visit our website at www.cmc.org.sg

NEWS Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message.

BEYOND BELIEF

(From left) Panel moderator the Rev Dr Edmund Fong, Dr Mathew Mathews, BE Dr Robert Solomon and Dr Goh Wei-Leong.

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o quick and easy sound bites emerge from the gamut of ideas discussed by the presenter, panellists and the audience at the “ETHOS Forum 2019: Religion in the Private and Public Spheres”, held at Trinity Theological College on 25 April 2019.

Dr Mathew Mathews, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore, presented a paper, which he co-authored, entitled “Religion in Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres”.1 Based on a survey of 1,800 respondents in 2018, the paper assessed Singaporeans’ views on religion in relation to inter-religious harmony and politics, as well as their attitudes towards social and moral issues.

One of the study’s findings is that the majority of Singaporeans consider themselves somewhat religious (55%) and see religion as still relevant today (70%).

Most of the respondents, especially those identifying themselves as Christians, Muslims and Hindus, tend to be more conservative, particularly in moral issues such as infidelity and homosexual sex.

However, differences between the position of the younger and the older generations are becoming more stark. The younger and more educated tend to be more liberal in their views on sexual matters. “Many more young people look at it in shades of grey,” explained Dr Mathews. “I think this is part of a broader millennial kind of understanding about accepting diversity, … [of] respecting other people who have their own way of doing things.”

Following Dr Mathews’ presentation, the audience had the opportunity to address questions to a panel comprising Dr Mathews, Bishop Emeritus (BE) Dr Robert Solomon and Dr Goh Wei-Leong (a general practitioner and founder of HealthServe, an NGO).

The panellists felt that the labels of “liberal” and “conservative” are no longer useful in this day and age, as there are those who are biblically conservative but socially liberal, and vice versa. “There are all kinds of combinations,” explained BE Dr Solomon. What is important, he said, is to be “tethered well to the Scripture in their explorations. […] I believe younger people have more sympathetic views [towards the LGBT community] because they have more friends in that community. Older folks don’t have friends like that.”

When asked about the increase in the number of online petitions recently calling for bans and shaping of legislation, BE Dr Solomon said, “Petitions are just a matter of who shouts the loudest. […] We want a society that is more harmonious and resolves issues in a more mature manner.”

In Dr Goh’s experience of working in a secular organisation such as HealthServe, it is unethical for doctors and volunteers to proselytise. He tries to create an environment where people will notice “an unseen, deep, powerful difference” in Christian doctors and volunteers, and then ask why. The Christian community, he says, must be “winsome” rather than push our beliefs onto others.

Given Singapore’s history of racial and religious volatility, Christians thus cannot be strident. BE Dr Solomon called for “the Christian position [to be] that of Christ-like humble confidence. […] We need to represent the Church, which has the beauty of Christ, in its conversations, relationships and attitudes, and in its stand on what God has already revealed about himself.” n 1

athew Mathews, Leonard Lim and Shanthini Selvarahan, “Religion in M Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres,” (working paper, Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore, March 2019), https:// lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/ips/ips-working-papers-33---religionin-singapore-the-private-and-public-spheres.pdf.

Photo courtesy of ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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ANG MO KIO METHODIST CHURCH

KINDERGARTEN The Kindergarten is looking for a suitable leader to join us as a Principal.

Job Scope and Responsibilities:

Requisites:

•

•

• • • • • • •

Work with the Kindergarten Management Committee and lead the Kindergarten team towards achieving the Vision, Mission and Core Values Be responsible for daily operations of the Kindergarten Lead and mentor teachers in their planning, development and implementation of the programme, curriculum and pedagogy Establish collaborative partnerships and rapport with parents for the students’ development Ensure an optimal and safe environment appropriate to the holistic development of the students Ensure regulatory compliance Manage the budget and oversee the efficient use of resources Serve as a role model for the Kindergarten staff and students

• • • • •

Diploma in Preschool Education - Leadership (DPE-L)/Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Leadership (ADECL) Diploma in Preschool Education - Teaching (DPE-T) or other ECDA-recognised diploma in early childhood education ECDA-certified Level 2 Preschool teacher Passionate in working with children Proficient in spoken and written English Preferably minimum 2 years of relevant leadership experience

Interested and suitable applicants may submit your resume with a recent photograph to jaclynnlim@amkmc.org.sg Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Registration at our Columbarium Office (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays).

Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg

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

CHRISTIAN COURAGE

sake. As Augustine said, “it is not the punishment but the cause that makes the martyr.”3 The cause for which the Christian must have the courage to suffer and even to die for is not a doctrine, a religious institution or a revered religious tradition, but a person—Jesus Christ, his Saviour and Lord.

Christian courage therefore has to do with Christians’ resolve to stand firm in their faith in Christ in the face of opposition, hostility, ridicule, threats, persecution, danger and even death.

Such courage is required not only of martyrs. Ordinary Christians are also called to display this virtue because it requires fortitude to be a faithful disciple of Christ in this sin-marred world.

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There are numerous forces at work in our culture that could cow Christians into concealing their faith or acting against their convictions. These forces, which some writers have called “cultural intimidators”, are everywhere—in our homes, at our workplaces, in public spaces, and even in the church—pressurising Christians to “conform to the patterns of this world” (Rom 12:2).

What is not widely known is that during the 43-day captivity before their executions these Christians were given the choice to live if they would reject their faith and embrace Islam. They refused.1 In the face of death, these Christians—many of whom hailed from poor villages and towns in Upper Egypt—acted with extraordinary courage and remained faithful till the very end.

It takes courage to live our lives for God instead of for the world’s approval or applause. It takes courage for a Christian scientist to refuse to participate in experiments that would result in the destruction of a human embryo; for a Christian politician to speak up against injustice and against social policies that would erode public morality; for a pastor to refuse to acquiesce to the secularising forces at work in the church today and pander to the latest fad.

“In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)

ebruary 2019 marks the fourth anniversary of the brutal murder of 21 Coptic Orthodox Christians

by Daesh or ISIS in Libya. It is difficult to forget the video of ISIS fighters marching these Egyptian Christians along the beach in orange prison suits.

The great theologians of the Church—from Augustine in the fifth century to Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth— have produced erudite tomes about Christian courage.

Alongside wisdom, temperance and justice, courage is one of the four cardinal virtues, so called because they are foundational to the spiritual life.

Christian courage must never be confused with acts of bravado or even bravery. As the 20th century Christian theologian and philosopher, Josef Pieper, explains, “The virtue of fortitude has nothing to do with a purely vital, blind, exuberant daredevil spirit.”2 The Christian faith does not champion valour in itself.

Neither does it urge Christians to suffer injury for its own

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.

The Christian can only muster such resolute courage when he puts his faith in Jesus Christ. Christian fortitude is possible only when we entrust our lives to the One who has overcome the world and draw strength from Him alone.

As the late Pontiff John Paul II so powerfully put it: There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not conquered.

There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not bear with us… This is our faith. This is our witness before the world.4 n

or a riveting account of these martyrs and their faith, see Martin Mosebach, F The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs (Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2019).

2 Josef Pieper, The Four Cardinal Virtues (New York: Pantheon Books, 1955), 124.

3 Augustine, Sermon 328, “On the Birthday of Some Martyrs.”

4 Homily of His Holiness John Paul II, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, 8 October 1995, https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/ homilies/1995/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19951008_baltimore.html.

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Picture by Nomad Soul/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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NEWS The Rev Jasper Sim is the Pastor-in-charge of Charis Methodist Church.

CHARIS MC CELEBRATES 30 YEARS, ANNOUNCES REDEVELOPMENT PLANS

W

e are deeply thankful to be able to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Charis Methodist Church (MC), as well as several milestones.

On 26 April 2019, URA informed us of approval to redevelop our church and to retain the existing three-storey House of Peniel, as well as the change of use of the land for both 91 and 97 Koon Seng Road from residential to place of worship use, without affecting the property’s freehold status. Praise the Lord!

Construction will begin in August will take 1½ to 2 years. Prior to the re-building of our sanctuary block, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung will conduct a service on 7 July 2019.

From 14 July, we will hold our worship services at Living Hope Methodist Church at 20 Tampines Street 33. The first worship service will be in both Mandarin and English, starting at 4pm.

From 21 July onwards, these will be our regular worship times: • Mandarin Service: 3 to 4.15 p.m. in the Chapel (Level 3).

• English Service: 4 to 5.30 p.m. in the Sanctuary (Level 2).

The church office will continue operating at 97 Koon Seng Road until further notice. The church office number remains as 6344-5750.

Our 30th anniversary Food and Fun Fair, themed “Celebrating God’s faithfulness: past, present, and future”, will be held on our church premises on 13 July 2019 to raise funds. We hope that for

Charisians and friends can come together, and commemorate God’s faithfulness and blessings throughout Charis MC’s journey. All are welcome!

We will also be having a Thanksgiving Dinner on 15 Nov. We still have some ways to go to reach our $2.8 million fund-raising target. If you are moved to give towards our building fund, please refer to accompanying infographic on how to do so.

Thank you! n Infographic courtesy of Charis MC.

LOOKING AHEAD MCS 135 LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION

25 May to 31 Aug 2019 https://www.methodist.org.sg/MCS135logo for more information, rules and regulations, and submission guidelines

The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) is celebrating its 135th anniversary in 2020, themed “Loving God, Serving Together”, and we need a logo to commemorate this significant occasion.

Scan here to see events online!

If you: • attend a Methodist church, • have attended or are currently attending any of our Methodist schools or kindergartens, • work in any Methodist church, school, agency or in MCS itself, • are a beneficiary of any of our welfare organisations or if you are in any other way connected to the Methodist family and you have an artistic idea, you are eligible to join this logo design competition! You can be of any age; you can do it solo, or collaborate with friends (who are also from the Methodist family).

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Prizes First prize: $300 cash (and a place in Methodist history!); second prize: $200 cash; third prize: $100 cash Organised by The Methodist Church in Singapore.

TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY WORSHIP SERVICES

17 July, 14 Aug, 18 Sep, 16 Oct, 13 Nov, 11 Dec 2019 (Wednesdays), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Faith Methodist Church, Worship Hall, Level 4, 400 Commonwealth Dr, S(149604) 6478-4754 (Priscilla) priscillalow@trac-mcs.org.sg

TRAC Seniors Ministry welcomes you to their monthly Seniors Ministry Worship Services. Join us for a time of worship, fellowship and food, and catch up with other seniors and retirees from various TRAC churches.

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Organised by Trinity Annual Conference.

TRINITY LECTURES 2019: ST PAUL ON THE ABSENCE AND PRESENCE OF JESUS 29 Jul to 1 Aug 2019 (Monday to Thursday), 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Trinity Theological College, TTC Chapel, Level 4, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S(678093) https://ttc.edu.sg/english/uncategorized/trinity-lectures-2019/ 6767-6677 Free. All are welcome!

The fifth biennial Trinity Lectures addresses the topic of the absence and presence of Jesus so that we may be enriched in our understanding of how Jesus is present with us. The rationale of this ongoing series is to bring the best of Christian scholarship to address topics relating to our walk and witness as ordinary churchgoers and Christians in Singapore.

Professor Markus Bockmuehl, the Dean Ireland Professor of Biblical Exegesis at Oxford University, has been invited to be the speaker. The highly accomplished and widely published NT scholar is especially known for his research on Paul and Peter.

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Lecture 1: The Pauline Problem: Where is Jesus Now? Lecture 2: Seeing Jesus: Vision and Transformation Lecture 3: Jesus and the Canonical Paul Lecture 4: The Present Jesus and the Footprint of the Absent Paul Organised by Trinity Theological College.

ALPHA GOLF DAY 2019

6 Sep 2019 (Friday), Tee-off: 1.15 p.m.

The New Tanjong Course @ Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Road, S(099892) http://singapore.alpha.org/events/golfday info@alpha.org.sg PEACE Flight—$5,000 / FAITH Flight—$8,000 / LOVE Flight—$10,000. Lunch and dinner included. All proceeds go towards the work of Alpha Singapore. Sign up by 23 Aug 2019.

A rousing game of golf awaits you on the greens of the New Tanjong Course at the Sentosa Golf Club. Win a golf holiday package for two to Japan with Singapore Airlines Business Class and engage in lively conversations with friends old and new over sumptuous meals.

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Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that introduces guests to the Christian faith, providing them with the opportunity to discover and develop a relationship with Jesus. The Alpha Singapore team equips and supports communities that run Alpha—in churches, workplaces, schools, homes, prisons, halfway houses and many more.

Organised by Alpha Singapore.

METHODIST MESSAGE • JUL 2019

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THINK Dr Kwa Kiem-Kiok is Lecturer in Intercultural Studies with Biblical Graduate School of Theology and Local Preacher of Trinity Methodist Church. She is part of the organising team of Micah Conversation 2019, which seeks to help Christians do integral mission by both sharing the good news and doing good in society. It is organised by Micah Singapore and supported by various organisations, including the TRAC Board of Outreach and Social Concerns.

WHAT IS INTEGRAL MISSION?

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s missiologist Paul Hiebert says, for a long time, life was fragmented into different spheres, e.g. public and private; economic, social and political, and religious; rich and poor. In the same vein, missions was separated from evangelism, and proclamation separated from acts of justice and mercy. Today we are trying to pull these threads together again, since they should not have been separated in the first place.

History has shown that it is hard to hold proclamation and justice together. There have been groups who have focused so exclusively on telling people about Jesus that they have cared little for the body while other groups have actively cared for the needs of people without pointing them to Jesus who gives eternal life.

While this either–or approach may seem easy, it actually undermines the integrated message of the gospel. God called Abraham so that he could be a blessing to the nations. That “blessing” is not just spiritual but must surely be all the fullness that God wants to give his people.

As Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10). That fullness cannot just be life eternal in the kingdom to come, but also in the kingdom here and now.

Hence we should be concerned about eating and playing, about Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour, and about the structures which reinforce injustice and prevent people knowing Jesus. We are concerned about unjust governments as well as the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We want to build up the common good, so that everyone can flourish.

As individuals, we are not called to do every one of these things. But we are certainly called to be aware that all these are part of God’s mission for God’s people. We need to encourage our faith communities to see this big picture, and over time and space, address all these aspects of life.

It does mean that we are required to hold these tensions in life, work and ministry. This is a tough call, and one which requires us to be in teams. There can be no soloists in the Kingdom of God. Rather, we all work together as members of the Body of Christ. We need to be aware of the different roles, strengths and gifts of different people in the faith community and support and honour each other, so that the whole body is built up and Christ glorified. That is why we are all called to do Integral Mission today. n See page 2 for more information on Micah Conversation 2019.

Picture by New Africa/Bigstock.com