Methodist Message: June 2021 by Methodist Message

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 027/11/2020

Vo l 1 2 3 N o 6 J U N E 2 0 2 1

FATHERHOOD

Contents 1

Bishop’s Message

Events: Coming Up

Church Life: Church Profile—Pasir Panjang TMC

Church Life: ETAC Highlights

News: The Cathedral Podcast—Spiritual leadership

People: Bishop Dr Gordon Wong

People: The Methodist Fathers Movement

Reach Out: Welfare Services

Reach Out: Missions

Opinion: The great responsibility of church leaders

Relationships: You & Your Family

Hymns & Songs

Opinion: Soundings

What does being a Methodist mean to you?

Opinion: THINK

Events: Looking Ahead

Church Life

People of MCS

Reach Out Christian Living

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CORRECTION In the May 2021 issue of Methodist Message, we mentioned on page 11 (“A beacon of light in the Geylang community”) that the founding principal of the primary school section was Mrs Grace Heng. It should have been Mrs Heng-Lim Gaik Kee. We apologise for the error.

EDITORIAL BOARD

The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church.

Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications

Editor Sheri Goh

Sub-editor

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BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020. He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013–2020.

The father of all families

s our modern society celebrates Father’s Day in June, I remember the apostle Paul’s prayer to God, whom he describes as “the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Eph 3:15– 16, NIV 2011). I like the translation offered by Bishop Tom Wright: “I am kneeling down before the father, the one who gives the name of ‘family’ to every family that there is, in heaven and on earth.” 1

So I shall celebrate Father’s Day this year by joining

Some are blessed with positive memories of our human fathers; others have never met their fathers, or perhaps have only angry or painful memories of them. But whatever our personal experience of fatherhood might be, the Bible invites everyone to relate with the “one God and Father of all” (Eph 4:6). And is there a particular fatherly or family characteristic of this “one God and Father of all” that the apostle Paul prays for us to know and experience?

Secondly, I shall pray, not just for fathers, but for every member of “every family in heaven and on earth”: that we might all know the “love of Christ”—a love so great, so deep, so wide, so universal that it commands us to love all our neighbours in “every family in heaven and on earth”, “regardless of language, race or religion”—as we love ourselves.

The answer is “yes” and the characteristic is clear: to know and experience this characteristic is to be “filled up to all the fullness of God”. The characteristic of God the Father that Pauls prays for us to know is the love of Christ. He prays that we may all be “rooted and grounded in love” and that we may know this love of Christ which is so great, so deep, so wide that we cannot know it fully (Eph 3:17– 19)!

May we all come to know the love of Christ that inspires us to Love God by Loving Our Neighbours.

the apostle Paul in “bowing my knees” to pray for (at least) two things: Firstly, I shall pray for myself, and all fathers: that we might know a little bit more of the fullness of God’s fatherly love in our lives so that we may become more rooted and grounded in providing love to our earthly families.

Amen.

Tom Wright, Paul For Everyone: The Prison Letters (London: SPCK, 2004), 38. METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Events: Coming Up

WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM 2021:

F LOW

WHY IS FLOW SO IMPORTANT IN WORSHIP TODAY? DOES THE ORDER OF WORSHIP WE FOLLOW CONTRIBUTE OR DETRACT FROM THE FLOW? HOW ABOUT THE WORDS SPOKEN, THE SONGS SUNG, THE MUSIC PLAYED, AND THE AUDIOVISUAL TECH EMPLOYED? AS THE PANDEMIC RAGES ON, MINISTERING TO VIRTUAL CONGREGATIONS HAS BECOME FRAUGHT WITH CHALLENGES; AND THE FLOW OF A WORSHIP SERVICE MAY NOW BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. YET IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE IN LIGHT OF SOCIAL-DISTANCING MEASURES.

DATE 23–26 JUNE 2021 (wednesday–Saturday)

VIA ZOOM FIND OUT MORE AT

COME AND GAIN NEW PERSPECTIVES AND INSIGHT ON THIS MATTER AT WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM 2021: FLOW!

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Church Life ¢ Church Profile: Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Michael Gnasegaran is the LCEC Chairman of Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church (PPTMC). / Photos courtesy of PPTMC

At the meeting with Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong and his team

A lighthouse in Telok Blangah

asir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church was established

New developments around the church

in 1927 on the grounds of Brickworks by the British,

In recent years, there have been new establishments

and since then God has been using this rural

sprouting up around the church vicinity. New hotels are being

church mightily in meeting the needs of Tamil migrants to

built near the church. These developments have called and

Singapore from South India. God’s hand has been slowly

challenged the church to maintain its identity as a source of

shaping and strengthening the church, which now has three

care and comfort in the neighbourhood. This certainly calls

generations worshipping at its premises at 85 Wishart Road.

for more prayer and the exploration of more strategies.

The church is constantly looking out for new opportunities to strengthen the church community and to reach out to the

COVID-19

community at large.

The

COVID-19

pandemic

has

challenged

all

in many ways. Our team of youths, women and men have

NEW INITIATIVES FOR NEW CHALLENGES Methodist Young Adult Fellowship With the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYAF) and the Women’s Society of Christian (WSCS) actively serving the youths and the women, there has always been a need to reach out to those in their mid-twenties to late thirties. There was a growing burden to strengthen the spiritual growth of these young adults as they would be the next in line to take up the baton of church leadership. This heightened concern saw the rebirth of MYAF. This ministry has started their

come forward to render their assistance during these difficult times by ensuring that the various safety management procedures are in place on our church premises. We are thankful to the Lord for the full support of the congregation in such a time as this. The church seeks continuous prayer support to be a lighthouse and to shine for Jesus. We are also exploring ways to partner with our sister churches, Grace MC and Telok Ayer CMC (TA2 Sanctuary).

regular meet-ups and prayer sessions under the leadership of Rosabelle Benjamin.

Visit by the Radin Mas Constituency Office Melvin Yong, Member of Parliament for Radin Mas Single Member Constituency, and his team visited our church on 6 March 2021 for a dialogue with our Pastoral and Lay leadership. The conversation focused on how the church could better reach out to the community. In response, our Social Concerns chairperson, Angeline Jayanthi, mooted an idea of the church starting counselling services. Mr Yong welcomed that idea and offered us the use of the rooms at the Radin Mas Community Centre. Another collaborative idea was to start providing pro bono legal services alongside.

PPTMC Methodist Youth Fellowship METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Church Life ¢ ETAC Highlights Elisha Amalraj Philip is the Vice-Chairperson of the ETAC Board of Missions. / Photos courtesy of the ETAC Board of Missions

Missions Then, Missions Now: ETAC Board on Missions Thanksgiving Service 2021

he Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) Board on Missions held a thanksgiving service on 10 April 2021: “Missions Then, Missions Now”. It was a hybrid service with some participants on-site and others on Zoom. It was a time to praise God for His faithfulness to ETAC and to hit the “pause button”—to be still and remember what the Lord has done, and to look forward and prepare for the changing nature of missions in this century.

Our beneficiaries We screened videos from missions partners from India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Myanmar about how they have been impacted by our collaboration and ministry. From food donations to the establishment of schools, we saw God’s hand in every initiative, project and ministry we have done in these countries and how God has used our conference to serve these nations. Yet, as the participants saw pictures and heard conversion testimonies, it was a reminder that still, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. This is not a time to sit down and rest, but to get up and work.

Dialogue with our leaders During the service, our leaders shared how the missions ministry has impacted their lives, how it has marked seasons in their walks with God. Our former Board of Missions Chairperson, Tamilkodi Arthur, shared how she heeded God’s call to serve in the missions ministry at a young age. She recounted the times she personally saw people accept Christ and live radically transformed lives for Christ. She also recalled how she has seen first-hand the persecution faced by believers in other countries. Rev Jeremy James, the conference Youth Director, shared how the mission trips always remind him of what Jesus asked Peter in John 21:15: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Rev Jeremy mentioned that 4

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

missions are, for him, a “litmus test” to ensure that his love for God is not determined by material possessions but what Jesus did on the Cross. Lastly, I recounted my first conference missions trip to Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in 2012. I remember people yearning to receive Jesus into their hearts. Their hunger for God, amidst all of their difficulties and pain, made me examine my own heart—“Why am I not as desperate for the Lord?” Back home, I did not see people who were as desperate for God and that helped me see that every land is a missions field, whether overseas or in our own churches. We ought to live our lives as a living sacrifice unto God, bringing glory to His Name and displaying His love and kindness wherever we go.

Missions now Our guest speaker, Dr Violet James, challenged the congregation to step out in faith, be it for short- or longterm missions. However, with the ongoing pandemic, she encouraged the church to pray, give and find creative ways to continue missions work. She suggested involving young people and giving them avenues to use their gifts in technology to bring the message of hope to the ends of the earth. Sharing from Matthew 5:13–16, she spoke of how the world needs the disciples of Jesus now more than ever before. Even here in Singapore, we ought to serve our neighbour.

What lies ahead As the world remains affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will have to look for creative ways to continue missions work. The world may be in a state of lockdown, but His Word knows no boundaries. Hard work is our responsibility, “heart work” is God’s. May we never cease to spread His love.

News ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / The Cathedral Podcast visual courtesy of St Andrew’s Cathedral

Spiritual leadership

This article is extracted from a podcast interview with Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, “Spiritual Leadership”, by The Cathedral Podcast, set up and founded by St Andrew’s Cathedral Singapore, and is published with permission. The full podcast can be found at https://cathedral.org.sg/podcast

Distinguishing between spiritual leadership and other forms of leadership In the context of Mark 10:41 onwards, where James and John ask Jesus to give them a seat on His left and right, Jesus says, “Those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, […] but it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Jesus does seem to be saying that the type of leadership and the way we rule should be different from the way the world rules. The type of leadership Jesus Himself, as a perfect human, exercises should be a model—not just for Christian disciples—but for all human leaders. Jesus came to accomplish a task and He is King, Lord and leader. And yet His leadership style was one in which He ended up being crucified. When Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews” (Jn 18:36). It pretty much means that His style of leadership does not come out of the world’s style of leadership—it comes out of the way heaven exerts leadership. Even secular leadership bandies about the term “servant leadership”, but we see the way in which Jesus’ servant leadership worked out. It’s a leadership that is willing to sacrifice self rather than one that tries to retain a position—you’re there to serve, for however long or short you’re there; you’re serving and seeking to bless the people under your leadership.

Programmes and people When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, His straightforward answer was to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbour as yourself [Mt 22:37–39].

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

ACS (International) Admissions Seminars for 2022 ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an allround 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). Senior Leadership Team

Pre PSLE Seminars 9 July, 2pm 6 August, 2pm 17 September, 2pm 1 October, 2pm RSVP admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

Post PSLE Seminars Mr Gavin Kinch Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice-Principal

24 November, 2pm & 4pm 25 November, 9am & 2pm 26 November, 9am & 2pm

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice-Principal

Mr Chia Choong Kiat Acting Vice-Principal

27 November, 9am RSVP admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg Seminars will be held on Campus with School Tour

Attendance is limited and by reservations only Venue: Oldham Chapel, ACS (International) 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

For earlier appointments, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

Spiritual Leadership

As a leader, I want to do whatever I can to help people fulfil these greatest of all commandments. Whatever programmes or projects I have are to try and help us become the kind of people that Jesus says we all ought to be—people who love God and love our neighbours as ourselves. Programmes can change, because over time, cultures change. Different programmes may have worked in one setting, and they need to change and adapt, but the goal is the same. We should not evaluate the effectiveness of the programme by how many people we got to sign up or attend. We need always to make sure that the programmes are helping us to fulfil that vision. We can ask ourselves, what have I done in the last week that is loving and kind to somebody? Do I more regularly think of each day as an opportunity to do good? Does my work bring benefit to a neighbour? Some small groups might even decide that, once a month, instead of meeting for Bible study, to do something to show love to their neighbours, such as visiting a nursing home, or even supporting a member who is fostering a child. A church could decide to put a particular emphasis on loving different types of neighbours, such as families with children with disabilities. We have different passions, interests and abilities, so we should encourage each other to articulate and express love for our neighbours within their particular setting or situation.

On leading churches In The Methodist Church in Singapore, our system allows us to appoint pastors to different churches. Keeping a pastor at the same church for years can be both a positive or negative thing. A person can get set in their ways. It’s important to be nimble in listening to what others are saying. A good leader facilitates other leaders or members of the church in the discussion on how to proceed. In a church, the leader should be the team builder. God has already given us the vision, but the role of the leader is to facilitate everyone to work together. The members all have their different strengths. The leader needs to get them to contribute their strengths and move forward.

How can we pandemic-proof the Church? I don’t think that’s possible. There will always be crises, and how we respond to the crisis, how we manage and adapt depends on the nature of the crisis. What I think the pandemic has shown is that when we can’t meet physically so much, there are ways in which we can still have fellowship. We need to ask ourselves how we can love God and our neighbours as ourselves, given the current restrictions.

Advice for worn-out leaders At the end of Matthew 11, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. […] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Nourish yourself, read God’s Word, hear again His promises that He loves you, and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We do what we can, the best we can, but leave it in God’s hands and trust Him.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

People ¢ Jason Woo is the Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of Bishop Dr Gordon Wong

Bishop Dr Gordon Wong

The Lord’s gentle leading

ome are placed in positions of spiritual authority within the Church because of dramatic, extraordinary encounters with God that transformed them irrevocably. Others have been quite the opposite— where God walked with them from young, moulding and preparing them along the way for the day when they would be ready for His service. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, 60, falls into the latter group. In 2013, while a lecturer in Trinity Theological College (TTC), he was elected in a closed balloting exercise as President of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), a position he never thought he would find himself in. In his early days as TRAC President, he had to straddle the two roles. With the Lord’s guidance, he went on to serve a second term before being elected the Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) in late 2020, assuming the office officially in January 2021. It was a touching moment to see his 98-year-old father turning up for the Bishop’s Consecration Service. “My father is a man of few words so he did not say much to me beyond congratulating me. But I could tell he was happy since he did turn up for my consecration,” beamed Bishop Dr Wong.

Journey into full-time ministry Bishop Dr Wong is the youngest of four children of Mr Cecil Wong, a respected figure in the accounting industry.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

The Consecration Service of Bishop Dr Wong in December 2020

David Wong, the eldest, holds several key board positions in the corporate world. Bishop Dr Wong’s older brother by six years, Rev Dr Norman Wong, currently serves as a Methodist Welfare Services Chaplain. Bishop Dr Wong’s elder sister, Elizabeth Wong, teaches pre-school children. Bishop Dr Wong was raised in a family with a deep relationship with the Lord. Like his father and brothers, he studied in the Anglo-Chinese schools. He has maintained a spirit of humility while nurturing a love for learning. “Growing up in a Christian environment, it seemed a natural progression for me to have a developed faith in God. It also helped that in school, since it was a Christian one, there was not a problem in having students come together for activities like Bible study,” recounted Bishop Dr Wong. “In fact, it played a major part during my junior college days in ACJC, where we had regular cell groups that met weekly. From there, we had two members who went on to serve the Lord in various capacities like Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming (Pastor-in-Charge of Paya Lebar Methodist Church) and Dr Calvin Chong, a member of Covenant Community Methodist Church, who became a lecturer in Singapore Bible College.” Was Bishop Dr Wong’s decision to become a pastor influenced by Rev Dr Norman Wong? After all, the older brother was one of the ACS Clock Tower boys, whose prayer movement sparked a spiritual revival in Singapore in the 1970s?

Being installed as TRAC President during its 37th Conference in 2012

“I was too young then to be directly involved in that movement,” said Bishop Dr Wong. “Norman would have been about 16 or 17 and I would be just 10. To be honest, I don’t really have any strong memory of the Clock Tower story except what I have read about it or what he told me.” “For me, I have no dramatic testimony, unlike many others who may have had one and in turn made them go into ministry. Instead, all through my life God has given me opportunities both in school and church to serve. For instance, I was already teaching a Sunday School class at my home church, Wesley Methodist Church (MC), since I was 12! I would also go on to lead a cell group during my ACJC days. God exposed me in my early years to the varied aspects of church work and I found that I enjoyed them enough to make it my life’s work,” surmised Bishop Dr Wong.

Congratulating the next generation of TRAC Deacons and Elders

His flexible NS duties also allowed him to accompany his pastor, Rev Dr Tony Chi, on various mission trips to assist in leading worship. These not only helped shape the former’s decision to become a pastor but also affirmed the latter’s encouragement for Bishop Dr Wong to seek formal theological education. After graduating from London Bible College, Bishop Dr Wong served at Wesley MC as lay ministry staff before applying to be a Minister-on-Trial (MOT) in 1986. He would spend the next four years as MOT in Barker Road MC.

“I think my father played an important role in all these as in he allowed me to do what I liked to do,” mused Bishop Dr Wong. “He was the kind of dad who was very supportive when I asked if I could go for a Theology degree. I suspect it was easier for me since Norman had already done it so a precedent had already been set.” Bishop Dr Wong shared a particular dialogue with God while he was preparing for his O-level examinations. This was following a realisation that he had less interest in academic subjects (even though he was doing well in them) than his love for theological subjects. “Since so much of my Christian journey was spent in the studying and teaching of biblical topics, it just seemed to me that it was something I would be happiest to continue to do long term. I said to the Lord: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if You would give me an opportunity to study for an exam on the Bible?’” laughed Bishop Dr Wong.

Journey to the Bishop’s office During Bishop Dr Wong’s National Service (NS) days, God arranged it so that he was able to maintain a regular schedule. Posted into a desk role, he had time to apply for and secure a place in London Bible College (now London School of Theology).

Then-TRAC President Rev Dr Wong enjoyed a warm working relationship with the TRAC staff

In 1991, TRAC established a scholarship to support its pastors for further theological studies to become eligible for teaching positions at TTC. Bishop Dr Wong was one of the pastors selected for the programme. “Remember that prayer I said years before that wouldn’t it be good if God could put me in a position to study for an exam on the Bible? He made it come true again!” From 1995 to 2013, Bishop Dr Wong taught at TTC on subjects such as Old Testament, Hebrew and Homiletics (methodology of preaching and writing sermons), where he was the Bishop William F Oldham Professor of Old Testament. It was a season Bishop Dr Wong looks back on fondly as he truly enjoyed being a Christian academic.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

The Lord’s gentle leading

He has written and published numerous books, including: The Power of Love: Earthly Pain and Heavenly Provision in the Book of Ruth; Faithful To The End: The Message Of Daniel For Life In The Real World; and God, Why? Habukkuk’s Struggle with Faith in a World Out of Control.

Challenges facing MCS

Family life Bishop Dr Wong and his wife, Lai Foon, were married in 1988. They met when he was serving in Wesley MC. Together, they have raised Deborah and Jeremy.

Right from the start of his term as Bishop, Bishop Dr Wong has made apparent what is on his heart for the Methodist community in Singapore, which also formed the basis of the theme for this year’s Aldersgate SG celebration weekend: “The prayer for me, my family and MCS therefore, will be the same and that is always to do with what I believe to be the greatest commandment God has given us: to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves,” declared Bishop Dr Wong. “Please pray for the Church that more and more we will see that the primary mission of the Church is to help each other to love God, by loving our neighbours and to find all the different ways through which to make that a reality.”

“There is this truism about three groups of children born to parents who are busily engaged in church work. The first is ‘MK’, or missionary kids, the second is ‘PK’, meaning pastors’ kids and the third, ‘OK’,” laughed Bishop Dr Wong.

This is a message that he also wants to express to people from other faith communities as he goes about representing MCS.

Bishop Dr Wong would attribute his open communication with his children to how his own father had brought up his four children back in the day.

Indeed, loving God and our neighbours is so important for Bishop Dr Wong that he has earmarked it as a key challenge for MCS in addition to issues such as keeping congregations engaged and connected amidst the government’s restrictions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlighting a trend among offspring of church workers rebelling or even leaving the Church, he admitted that his children, growing up with a father who is a prominent pastor, President and now Bishop, have faced a certain level of external pressure. However, he makes it a point to emphasise to his children not to get stressed by this and engages them in conversations to keep their communication open.

“My father’s manner of parenting was very loving in the sense that he is not the typical Chinese father figure who was all about the discipline. He was very encouraging and pretty much gave us the freedom to pursue our interests,” recalled Bishop Dr Wong. “I suspect that kind of rubbed off on me and so I too, am not the strict kind of parent to my children. My wife is!” Bishop Dr Wong shared an anecdote he uses in sermons and parenting talks to enlighten parents that their perspective on parenting may be diametrically different from their children’s. “I often share this story where a father brought his son on a fishing trip. At the end of the day, the father wrote: ‘Spent a whole day fishing, no catch. A wasted day.’” “However, as we turn to the entry written by the son, he wrote: ‘Spent a day fishing with dad, BEST. DAY. EVER.’”

Bishop Dr Wong with Lai Foon and their children, Deborah and Jeremy

Our children just want our time and love. May we always be parenting with these two things in mind.” Wedding ph oto of Bishop and his wife Dr Wong , Lai Foon

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

People ¢ Text and photos courtesy of The Methodist Fathers Movement

The Methodist

Fathers Movement W

hat started as a fathers’ webinar event on the 17 Oct 2020 (as part of the celebrations for the 135th anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore, or MCS135) has evolved into the Methodist Fathers Movement (MFM), a deliberate sounding of the trumpet to the fathers in the Methodist family. We are thankful especially for the support from the Structural Review Task Force, Chan Fook Kay, Kwok Wan Yee, Henry Tan and Richard Jeremiah, who have been instrumental in the formation of MFM. This June, the month of Father’s Day, some of the core team members of MFM share life lessons from their fatherhood journeys.

We invite all fathers and men to our weekly online gathering on Tuesday nights from 8.45 to 10 p.m. where Methodist fathers meet for worship, teaching and prayers over Zoom. Go to https://tinyurl.com/y9vuuewn, scan the QR code or contact David Ang (Chairman, MFM) at Methodist.Fathers@outlook.com

Fathering and parenting are the greatest privileges one can have, as it gives one the ability to shape a child’s life. It is a responsibility that I take on with much seriousness and also joy. My best fathering moments are mostly centred on long and deep talks with each of my children, especially when they were older and during our one-on-one overseas trips. As a father, I have few regrets but that I could have been gentler and more nurturing in my words and teaching towards them.

David Ang

My prayer for Methodist fathers is that they will put their families first (after God), and witness the glorious legacy of what that will bring.

Kum Yan Methodist Church

In my early years as a father, it was financially challenging to obey God’s call to give up a promising career in order to bring up four young children. One day, I was in the car with my children when they mentioned that their church friend was going to study Medicine in England, which would cost $600,000 in fees in living expenses, that her parents would sponsor. Hearing this challenged my self-worth, that my children were paying the price for my decision—no overseas university studies for them.

Benjamin Chan Fairfield Methodist Church

Their response was priceless! I was touched when they told me that they had never felt “disadvantaged” when they realised some of their friends didn’t have to share bedrooms, went on expensive family holidays, or studied overseas. Instead, my children enjoyed family bonding as they had to share rooms, or making do with simple holiday plans—our MPV became our best platform for “family conferences”, and brought us all over Malaysia. METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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The Methodist Fathers Movement

My best fathering experience My three kids once told me that their fondest memories growing up were the ones during which I was engaged in playtime with them. The zoo and the Botanic Gardens were our favourite playgrounds, especially during school holidays. We also went to the East Coast Park almost every weekend to swim, cycle, fly kites, build sandcastles or just run after a ball. When they were older, we would cycle there as it was very near our home.

What I would have done differently I don’t think I would have done anything differently looking back, except to spend even more time playing with them!

My hope for MFM Chris Cheah Fairfield Methodist Church

My prayer is for each Methodist church to have a group of fathers who are committed to pray together regularly for our families and encourage one another in our fathering journeys.

“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Mal 4:6)

The Methodist Fathers Movement

I remember holding my daughter when she was born and gazing with a sense of wonder and trepidation. The two months my newborn son spent in neonatal intensive care unit, fighting off an intestinal bug that almost killed him. Dancing around the living room with my daughter until we were drenched in sweat. Cycling at night to Changi Village with my son to eat roti prata. I remember the terrible period when my daughter and I couldn’t even speak to each other, and being able to hug her again after we got through it. I remember how often I struggled and thought, “You’ve really messed up.”.

Geoff Chew Christ Methodist Church

I watch now as my daughter and son walk their faith as young adults and take up responsibilities, realising that, by the grace of God, I didn’t mess up entirely. And looking ahead, I realised I couldn’t have come this far without a community of faith-filled praying friends, my parents and my dear wife.

My best fathering moments are

Dennis Chua Changi Methodist Church

•

Spiritual conversations at home: helping family members see what God is working in the family and around us. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. (Ps 127:1)

•

Recognising my children are gifts (heritage and reward) from God: how I prepare them for God’s service—like arrows in the hands of a warrior—are my gifts to God. I need to help them realise their spiritual gifts, strengths and life purposes, and impart social and life skills to them.

•

Demonstrate how we love the giver more than the gifts: I need to involve them to serve together.

My wife and l are blessed with three lovely children. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them (Ps 127:5). My prayer for the Methodist fathers is that they will love their children the way Abba Father loves us—unconditionally and continually pursuing a loving relationship with them.

To be a good father—especially a godly or Christ-centred one—is not an easy task. I thank God for His grace and mercy for me to have had my best fathering experience when I was pursuing my theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, from 1991 to 1993. Our first child, Ivan, was born in Vancouver in 1992. Since his birth, we have experienced God’s gracious provisions of practical help from the Regent College community, friends in the churches that we were worshipping at, as well from back home in Singapore. Going on a father–son holiday to Bangkok and overseas family trips, and having family devotions and meals together have also been wonderful learning experiences for me as a father.

David Leong Grace Methodist Church

If I could turn back the clock, I would spend more quantitative and qualitative time with our children during especially their teenage years. I was so busy serving the Lord full-time and travelling overseas for ministry that I missed spending more individual time with our two daughters. My hope for Methodist fathers is that they will love their wife and children as Christ loved them and place their family as their priority after God.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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The Methodist Fathers Movement

By divine design, fathers play a pivotal role in the stability, unity and vitality of their families, and have far-reaching impact on nationbuilding. Growing up in a home where I experienced the “family altar” and spiritual headship, I purposed in my heart to carry on the legacy my father started. My family is a beneficiary of the example he demonstrated! The challenge remains for me to be consistent and to see the generations-after embrace faith at home. My prayer is for MFM is that it will be a supportive community in encouraging fathers to contend for their families as priest, prophet and

Bernard Lim Barker Road Methodist Church

king. May the brotherhood we have and the testimonies of how we live also impact others far and wide!

The best thing about being a father is to see my children grow up knowing and loving Christ as their Saviour, and to see them serving Him. I had the opportunity to lead them to pray to invite Jesus into their lives. Spending time as a family in doing activities together, as well as being at their graduations and weddings, were very special. More recently, I’ve been blessed to welcome my first grandson! It is a joy as a father to be at the significant moments of my children’s lives. I am glad that my children know that they can always call on Dad whenever they need. Though I spend much time with my children, I still wish I spent more

Peter Tan

time and took more photographs!

Barker Road Methodist Church

Let’s grow as a community of Methodist fathers to help each other grow in our love for Abba Father, to love our wives and love our children, for the greatest of all is love (1 Cor 13:13).

I have always believed that fathering gives us the privilege and responsibility to impact a younger generation. That is why I take every opportunity to share God’s perspectives with them and its impact on the world around them. Hence my best fathering experience has always to bring them to the see people in the heartlands and nations because it allows people to share their narratives about God’s experiences in their lives. Thereafter, we can have conversations on how they can make a difference. My hope for Methodist Fathers is that we will take our role as family

Jenn Yeoong

builders seriously. It is only then that the land, the community and the

Aldersgate Methodist Church

nation will prosper and be a beacon of truth and light to the nations.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Reach Out ¢ Welfare Services By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Visuals courtesy of MWS

A holistic approach

to helping those impacted by adverse life experiences

any of you may have come across distressing news of children being abused or neglected. You may even know of children within your own community who have been affected by traumatic life events such as their parents’ divorce or marital conflicts.

These events are known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), typically occurring from birth till the age of 18. Recent statistics suggest that child abuse cases are on the rise 1, while two out of three adult residents in Singapore have faced ACEs 2.

Trauma-informed care for families and individuals In recent years, the interventions of Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) have focused on addressing the impact of ACEs on our clients. MWS Family Service Centres, for example, have adopted a trauma-informed approach to serve our clients, most of whom have experienced traumatic events such as abuse and violence when they were children, or were recently exposed to divorce, accidents or the sudden demise of loved ones. Our professional staff are guided by five foundational principles of trauma-informed care when they engage clients: safety; trustworthiness; choice; collaboration; and empowerment.

At MWS Girls’ Residence (GR), 80 per cent of the young women had experienced four to seven ACEs at the point of entry. Upon their admission, every girl is given an individualised care plan to meet her specific needs. They are placed in a holistic trauma-informed therapy programme that considers the insights and impact from trauma.

Preventive intervention MWS has also been developing services and programmes aimed at preventing ACEs from happening. One such initiative is the MWS Family Support Programme (FSP), which reaches out to parents who need support in managing issues with their pre-teen and teenage children. Launched in October 2019, one of the key services that MWS FSP offers is the Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P). A team of MWS Family Life Educators run Triple P to counsel and empower parents with simple and practical strategies to help them build strong and healthy relationships with their children. These strategies help parents to manage their children’s behaviours and prevent problems from developing in the future.

Empowering life to the full These positive interventions ultimately aim to empower the vulnerable we serve and make a sustainable difference in their lives. Regardless of when we positively intervene in the lives of those who have experienced adverse life events, we pray that we are able to guide them out of the darkness, put them on the right path to recovery, and give them hope for a brighter future. MSF Child Abuse & Protection Statistics (updated Apr 2020). Retrieved from https://www.msf.gov.sg/research-and-data/Research-andStatistics/Pages/Child-Abuse-Investigations.aspx. 2 Singapore Mental Health Study 2016, led by researchers from Institute of Mental Health, Ministry of Health and National University of Singapore. 1

To find out more about TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, check out Uncommon Voices Issue 1/2021 at mws.sg/publications or scan the QR code. GET TO KNOW MWS: To find out more about the various programmes and services mentioned in the article, scan the QR code or log on to mws.sg. METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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Reach Out ¢ Welfare Services By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photos courtesy of MWS

MWS at 40

A pioneer talks about learning from the dying In 2021, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) celebrates 40 years of empowering life to the full. This is the first in a series of stories from people who have been on this journey with MWS. They include MWS co-founders and leaders, volunteers, beneficiaries, donors, staff, and representatives from the Methodist community. Look out for more stories of lives empowered by MWS in upcoming issues of Methodist Message.

“Our mission was to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven, and I think that was reflected in our work.” Dr Patrick Kee MWS Chairperson (1989–91, 1993–97)

Teething problems

ne of MWS’s longest-serving chairpersons, Dr Patrick Kee, was involved in establishing the Methodist Home for the Aged Sick. Then located at St George’s Lane, the Home admitted its first six residents in August 1983. At that time, Dr Kee was serving on the Trinity Annual Conference’s (TRAC) Board of Social Concerns. A general practitioner, he volunteered to provide medical care to the residents. MWS has since grown to a network of 20 centres and programmes that serve the needs of over 8,000 disadvantaged seniors, families, children and youth. Seven years later, Dr Kee helped to promote hospice care in the Methodist churches after he took a course on it. This was to increase awareness of the needs of the terminally ill and the benefits of hospice care, with a view to incorporate it into MWS’s suite of eldercare services.

Like many new organisations, MWS had its fair share of teething problems. One of the early challenges, said Dr Kee, was raising funds to support the operating costs of the Home and other services. Another difficulty was getting church members interested and involved in caring for the needy and elderly sick. “I didn’t expect every Methodist to do it, but we were grateful to those who had a heart for it,” said Dr Kee, now 74. The third problem—one that remains till today—is maintaining the health of the elderly and giving meaning to their lives.

The Bethany story About 16 years after MWS’s founding, the Home was expanded to accommodate 48 seniors, twice the number it started with. With Singapore’s ageing population, the needs for the elderly sick continued to grow and the Home saw the need to expand yet again. MWS was then invited by the Ministry of Health to establish a new nursing home at a different site. This led to the setting up of Bethany Methodist Nursing Home at Choa Chu Kang in

2000, which was able to cater for 200 residents. “My biggest passion was to care for the dying and I tried to incorporate it into Bethany Methodist Nursing Home,” recalled Dr Kee.

What the dying taught him about living Dr Kee has learnt many lessons from treating chronically sick seniors. “Once, when we were doing our rounds in the ward, there was a blind elderly lady who was confused and shouting. She shouted even louder when the nurses tried to calm her down. When I came to her bed, I told her in a soft voice that I was a doctor and held her hand gently. She immediately turned into a sweet old lady. This taught me an important lesson that we need to ‘enter the world’ of the elderly who are confused.” Through his palliative work, he has also learnt to come to terms with his own mortality as a Christian. “Caring for the elderly sick and dying,” he explained, “is not a one-way street. They have been my teachers— inspiring and teaching me how to grow old and to face death with the grace of God in order to live life more fully.” METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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Reach Out ¢ Missions Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng is the Area Director (Thailand & Vietnam) for the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). He is also the Field & Church Engagement Director. He worships at Charis Methodist Church. Rev Henry Yeo is the MMS Country Director of Thailand and District Superintendent in Thailand. / Photos courtesy of Methodist Missions Society

Mission Conference declared

The delegates of the Thai Mission of the Methodist Church in Singapore, also known as the Mettakij Church Association (MCA), at their 16th annual meeting on 16 March 2021

n 16 March 2021, the Thai Mission of the Methodist Church in Singapore, also known as the Mettakij Church Association (MCA), was officially declared by Bishop Dr Gordon Wong to be a Mission

Conference, marking a historic milestone in the journey of the Methodist Church in Thailand. The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), through the efforts of the late Rev Dr Clarence Lim, established the Thai Mission in 1994. On 19 March 2005, upon MMS’s recommendation, the Thai Mission became an Annual Meeting in accordance with the decision of the Presiding Bishop and the Council of Presidents of MCS. This led to the official formation of the MCA. The plan was to declare MCA a Mission Conference in March 2020. Owing to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions, it had to be deferred until the 16th Annual Meeting took place in March this year. It was the first time that the Annual Meeting that was conducted on a virtual platform with delegates from MCS, MMS and representatives from the partner Methodist churches participating online from Singapore. We thank God that most of our MCA members could meet at Shineforth Methodist Church, Chiang Mai, and participate in the Annual Meeting.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Mission Conference declared

Rev Derrick Lau was instrumental in establishing MCA as a Mission Conference. In his address as our Mission Superintendent, he praised God for His sovereignty and grace in enabling MCA to fulfil His mandate in Thailand. He was heartened to learn of the many encouraging reports of progress made by our fellow Thai leaders and MMS missionaries. Rev Lau placed on record his deep thanks and appreciation to one and all who have contributed and

The three-day pastor training programme, which took place immediately after the annual meeting

committed their service. These include our national leaders, both clergy and laity, the many volunteers

Significantly, as we celebrate the establishment of the

serving in the School Boards, the management of

Mission Conference, we need to sustain our efforts

infrastructure

the

toward achieving our vision of attaining Provisional

Home Team and volunteers supporting the operational,

Annual Conference status by 2024/25. We now have the

financial, personnel, training and education needs of

pre-requisite number of Elders to meet the requirements

our ministry in Thailand. They have all been exemplary

stipulated in the Book of Discipline. However, we do

in their passion and commitment in supporting and

need to have a physical Ordination Service for our Elders-

working with our Thai team.

elect when COVID-19 travel restrictions allow.

It is an opportune time to acknowledge with appreciation,

To support the Mission Conference, the following were

the support and prayers from our Singapore partner

established:

churches. They have contributed immensely in our various

•

Provisional Board of Ordained Ministry (PBOM)

initiatives and projects and have been a divine blessing to

•

Discipline Drafting Committee (DDC)

MCA. As MCA continues her journey, we will undoubtedly

•

Provisional Judiciary

projects,

our

missionaries,

and

continue to engage our valued partners and look to build new partnerships with other Singapore Methodist

As part of the efforts towards developing and equipping

churches through our church engagement efforts.

our missionaries and national leaders, we conducted a three-day training programme immediately after the

We praise and thank God for the partnership with our Thai

Annual Meeting. The programme included broadening

brothers and sisters who are labouring conscientiously for

our pastors’ understanding of Methodism, theological

the mission of Christ. We are deeply thankful to God for

aspects of salvation, Holy Communion and child baptism,

their gifts of time, talents and resources. We pray that God

and family and social concerns. This will equip and

will bless them and their families as we serve together in

enable them to impart the knowledge gained to their

the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3).

members, building for the future. Finally, the Mission Conference of MCA would like to thank MCS for establishing the Thai Mission in 1994. MCA would also like to express their thankfulness and appreciation to Bishop Emeritus Dr Chong Chin Chung for his active participation and inspiring leadership in the last quadrennium. It looks forward to the episcopal

MCA’s annual 16th annual meeting in progress. MCS delegates participated via Zoom

leadership of Bishop Dr Gordon Wong.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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Opinion ¢ Tan Shangjun is a lawyer and a member of Foochow Methodist Church

The great responsibility of church leaders

remember reading Ravi Zacharias’ book I, Isaac, take Thee, Rebekah many years ago whilst on vacation, and found the book to contain much-needed wisdom on marriage from a Christian perspective (despite me still being single then). One portion from the book has remained entrenched in my mind ever since: “First and foremost, do not even flirt with the idea that there may have been somebody better out there or someone else with whom you may connect better. Infidelities are not always physical. Emotional vagaries of the mind can be equally dangerous to the health of one’s marriage.” (137)

How things can, and have, changed. When the Miller & Martin 1 report was released, the nature and extent of Ravi’s abusive behaviour left me and many others reeling with grief, disappointment and revulsion. The juxtaposition of the report’s graphic contents against the wholesome image that Ravi had portrayed has certainly betrayed the trust of thousands worldwide. One would be well-justified in ruminating about how something like this could have happened. “How could such a prominent Christian evangelist do such things?” “How could he have led such a duplicitous life?” “Why wasn’t this picked up earlier?” Many questions such as these probably have crossed many of our minds. What lessons, then, can we draw from this whole saga? I offer four brief thoughts (in no particular order of importance). First, we should examine ourselves to “see whether [we] are in the faith” (2 Cor 13:5). Ravi’s scandals should remind us that it is easy to maintain a head–heart divide where

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

what we know does not translate into influencing how we act; it is easy for us to be Pharisees. In practical terms, the quality of our Christian life or personal behaviour is not necessarily correlated to the number of books we read, the depth of Bible studies in which we engage, the hours we spend in Christian service or the number of sermons a pastor has preached. It is, after all, possible to preach a sermon in church without a belief in God. We need to ever so often remind ourselves that Christianity requires us to daily take up our Cross (Luke 9:23). There is also no room for idols in the Church. It is undeniable that Ravi had built a strong following across the globe throughout his years of ministry, speaking at prominent events such as “Passion” conferences attended by tens of thousands. One can only wonder how many of us have put our trust in Ravi, seeing him as a “model” human being or Christian whom we should aspire to emulate. Perhaps this is a good time for churches and individuals alike to assess if we have fallen into the trap of idolising our pastors, church workers, or even the “brand name” or denomination of the church we attend. We would do well to remember that idolising humans can and will only lead to disappointment—the only “idol” we should have is Christ. Third, laity and clergy alike should be encouraged to report cases of abuse (regardless of their nature), and we as the Church should fully support victims or whistleblowers through the process. A Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) insider, Ruth Malhotra, has criticised the organisation’s leadership for trying to discredit victims and silence those who spoke up. 2 This is extremely unfortunate, and has arguably contributed to the present outcome.

The great responsibility of church leaders

Quite clearly, leaders of churches and ministries wield immense power and responsibility, including that of maintaining discipline amongst the flock. Ravi’s scandals have spotlighted the ease with which individuals may, because of deficient leadership, evade existing accountability structures and lead duplicitous lives.

We would certainly do well to ensure our internal accountability and reporting systems are robust. All reports of abuse should be thoroughly investigated by independent bodies, and the interests of a church or ministry should not take precedence over that of the victims or whistle-blowers. If systems for receiving reports of abuse do not yet exist, this may be an opportune time to begin thinking about setting them up. Conversely, if we have already reacted with hostility or disbelief towards victims or whistle-blowers who have come forward to report abuse, then perhaps this should be a springboard from which apologies and remediations come forth. Finally, there are significant leadership lessons to be learnt. The RZIM International Board of Directors has itself admitted to negligence in maintaining “oversight and accountability” over Ravi as a result of their “misplaced trust” in him. Malhotra’s letter 3 and another letter by Max Baker-Hytch 4 (also an RZIM insider) have further revealed how the RZIM leadership failed by, amongst other things, remaining anonymous, applying a “different standard for the Zacharias family”, and by fostering a “toxic environment” within RZIM, all of which arguably allowed Ravi’s abusive actions to go undetected for extended periods of time. Pertinently, despite numerous calls for transparency from the RZIM US Board, the RZIM US Board has, to date, remained anonymous. Scripture refers to leaders as “elders” (Acts 20:17) and “overseer(s)” who must be, amongst other things, “above reproach, faithful to his wife”, and “have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap” (1 Tim 3:1–2). James also cautions that a teacher’s role is not to be taken lightly, as teachers will be “judged more strictly” (James 3:1).

This episode is a significant reminder to all leaders that integrity, transparency and accountability are exceedingly important not just to Christians, but also to the world at large. In this regard, it may be apposite for current (and aspiring) leaders to reflect and be cognisant of their weighty responsibilities to those under their care so as to ensure sufficiency and efficacy of their leadership. Ravi’s scandals have certainly cast a pall over not just RZIM, but evangelical Christianity as a whole. Many have been hurt and others shaken by the fall of a prominent minister. RZIM has effectively been shuttered. Sceptics may now see Ravi’s actions as being representative of the Christian God, and hence find more grounds to disbelieve Christianity’s claims. For the Church, this may, moving forward, be a good time to establish or improve upon internal structures of leadership, discipline, and whistle-blowing so as to prevent recurrence of the same. For the individual, it would be appropriate for us to be pensive, not defensive. In the words of Michael L. Brown, we owe an apology to anyone who expects better of us because they have every right to. 5 We need to seek God’s grace to show the world that “that tragic cases like this are the exception to the rule”, and that our moral failings “do not reflect in the least on the character of God.”

Lynsey M. Barron and William P. Eiselstein, “Report of Independent Investigation into Sexual Misconduct of Ravi Zacharias,” 9 Feb 2021, https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rzimmedia.rzim.org/assets/ downloads/Report-of-Investigation.pdf

Julie Roys, “OPINION: Spokesperson’s Letter Reveals RZIM’s Spiritually Abusive Leadership & Consequences Of Protecting ‘Ravi’ & ‘Brand’,” 15 Feb 2021, https://julieroys.com/rzim-spokespersonsletter-spiritually-abusive-leadership-protecting-ravi-brand.

Ibid.

https://julieroys.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Max-BakerHytchs-Letter-to-RZIM.pdf.

Michael L. Brown, “How Should We Respond to the Ravi Zacharias Scandal?” 15 Feb 2021, https://askdrbrown.org/library/howshould-we-respond-ravi-zacharias-scandal.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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Relationships ¢ 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.

Cookie-cutter fathers, then and now

ach time I run my counselling course, I set the students an essay that asks them to draw their family tree and examine how their family has shaped them. This exercise can be illuminating as they trace how their values, habits and even temperament may be linked with their parents’ and with family events during their growing years. Over the years of reading their life stories, I have observed several common themes. This is amazing, considering how my students range in age from their late twenties to mid-fifties, and come from countries across Southeast Asia and from diverse cultural backgrounds. One commonality is the role of their fathers and how they saw their fathers. Each father was a version of another and even of their fathers before them! It is as if the fathers were cookies cut from the same mould. While some did not fit the mould, they were exceptions rather than the rule. Let me begin with the role that their fathers played in the family. Usually seen as the provider for the family, the father was absent most of the time as he was busy working to “bring home the bacon” to feed the family. This led to the mother taking responsibility for minding the home and children. She was the “go-to” person when the children needed soothing or if the school had a query about the children. This division of duties did not change even if the mother had a paying job outside too—she was still expected to be on top of things relating to the home or children. What part then did the father play? He was usually the one making the BIG decisions, like house-moving and big item purchases, as well as taking the disciplinarian role. It is little surprise that many fathers were seen as distant authoritarian figures.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Conversely, other fathers were very indulgent towards their children, perhaps as a way of compensating for being mostly absent . Or perhaps, in the little time they did spend with their children, they preferred to focus on happier interactions rather than enforcing rules or punishing their children. In such families, mothers had to function—sometimes resentfully —as single parents, doing double duty as disciplinarian and nurturer. From more recent students’ family stories, though, I see that the days of the cookie-cutter distant father are numbered. It may be because more mothers are working outside or appreciation for mothers’ contributions has grown. At the same time, more and more fathers want to be involved in the home and in raising their children. For instance, they enjoy cooking for the family, or doing leisure and learning activities together with their children to get to know them better. This sea change may stem from greater awareness that fathers are important for more than providing for their families. That their active involvement contributes to family stability and their children’s well-being. That their loving support provides a positive role model. Moreover, marital bonds grow stronger when the mothers feel that the parenting load is shared. Finally, many fathers recognise that being involved enriches their own lives. They enjoy deeper bonds with their family and their emotional lives are enriched by giving and investing in others. Fatherhood, it seems, is good for a person’s personhood.

Hymns & Songs ¢ Justin Chan is a Programme Executive at Methodist School of Music, Worship and Music department. As a reformed rock musician, he believes hymns and heavy metal can co-exist for the glory of God.

Dear God

t’s the middle of the morning. Claire, my newborn, is fast asleep. What a perfect opportunity to write. Alas, that opportunity is dashed when Claire lets out a cry—it’s time for a feed! Without hesitation, I shut off the laptop, make my way towards her cot and pick her up. On reflection, there’s something familiar about casting everything aside at the sound of my daughter. That’s because I’ve re-enacted the essence of the father’s actions in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–22). To me, the image of the father waiting for the return of his wayward child with such patience and longing is one of the most poignant scenes in the Bible. His response of love and not judgment catches me off-guard with its magnanimity and parental perception. Encountering the parable anew, I am invited to consider fatherhood as a reflection of God’s magnanimous heart. Cory Asbury’s “Dear God” captures the spiritualised perspectives of both the wayward son and the father. While it may not be the most congregationally participative of songs (perhaps best used in an offertory setting), its raw, impassioned lyrics underscore a depth of emotions—from the son wanting to return to the father, to the father showering love on the son. The first half of the song is, which is sung from the firstperson perspective, puts us in the shoes of the wayward son. The second half is from God’s perspective, which can be a dangerous creative move, but the lyrics are biblically sound. Indeed, Scripture tells us that God is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15), and our Lord Jesus “stand[s] at the door and knock[s]. If anyone hears [His] voice and opens the door, [He] will come in” (Rev 3:20). The lyrics “just know that you have always been enough” hits home particularly for Singaporean kiasu parents. God doesn’t expect us to be “good enough”. He has boundless love, stands ready to forgive us for our misbehaviour and awaits our return home with longing and tenderness without us first producing a report card of our deeds, achievements or status. Upon listening to this song, let us renew our minds and expand our hearts to love our children just as they are—with no expectations, no demands and no strings attached.

The Methodist School of Music (MSM) equips and edifies both the individual and the church through music and the performing arts. Find out more at msmusic.edu.sg .

DEAR GOD Dear God, I’ve been trying awful hard to make You proud of me But it seems the harder that I try oh the harder it becomes And I feel like giving up most of the time Dear God, I’ve been chasing their approval and it’s killing me And I know the more I try to prove, oh the less I have to show And I’m stuck inside my head most of the time Pre-Chorus

But if I pray a little harder, if I follow all the rules I wonder could I ever be enough Chorus 1

’Cause I try and try just to fall back down again And I ask myself why do I try to chase the wind I should lean into the mystery Maybe hope is found in a melody So I wanna try again, oh I’m gonna try again Dear child, I hope you know how much I love you and I’m proud of you And please believe the thoughts I have for you will never change or fade away And when you felt like giving up, I never did Pre-Chorus

’Cause I’m not scared of imperfections or the questions in your head Just know that you have always been enough Chorus 2

’Cause you tried and tried and I saw you wrestle with Every how every why, I was right there listening So just fall into the mystery And I’ll meet you here in the melody, try just to try again So child would you try again Oh child you can love again CCLI Song # 7151052 Words and music: Aodhan King and Cory Asbury © 2020 Bethel Music Publishing (Admin. by SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia) / Cory Asbury Publishing (Admin. by SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia) / SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

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Opinion ¢ 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).

The fatherhood of

God “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.

he great ecumenical creeds of the Christian Church—the Nicene

Yet as theologian Thomas Smail has observed

Creed and the Apostles’ Creed—begin with the declaration that

in his book entitled The Forgotten Father, the

the Church believes in God, the Father. The fatherhood of God

fatherhood of God is one of the most neglected

is the fundamental tenet of Christianity that not only distinguishes it

themes in evangelical Christianity. Why is this

from other religions, but also from other versions of theism.

so? Several reasons are offered by Smail.

The fatherhood of God

First, liberal theology has taken advantage of the concept

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to

of the fatherhood of God to present a kind of generic

fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom

theism that pushes the distinctive doctrines of orthodox

we cry out, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit himself bears

Christianity such as the Trinity to the margins. The

witness with our spirits that we are children of God.

concept of God as Father has also been commandeered

(Rom 8:15–16)

by liberal theologians to promote a theory of religious pluralism which postulates that the different religions in

The familiar passage in the Gospel of John (John 3:16),

the world all point to the same God.

which summarises the good news so well, emphasises the indispensable role of the Father in human salvation.

In responding to liberalism, evangelical Christians are

Thus, Smail reminds us that the Gospel “starts not with

anxious to underscore the distinctiveness of the Christian

the cross of Christ or the gift of the Holy Spirit but with

faith by focusing on Christ and the Cross. In the process,

the Father who so loved the world that he gave his Son

however, the concept of God as Father is inadvertently

in his Spirit” (20).

neglected and pushed to the background.

In fact, we fail to understand the New Testament itself

Second, the ascendency of Pentecostal and charismatic

if we focus only on the second and third persons of the

Christianity, which thrusts the third person of the triune

Trinity. In his highly acclaimed book Knowing God, J. I.

Godhead, the Holy Spirit, into the limelight has also

Packer puts it like this:

contributed to the neglect of this important doctrine. In fact, some theologians have observed that charismatic

You sum up the whole of the New Testament teaching

churches have not only neglected the Father, but also

in a single phrase, if you speak of it as a revelation of

the Son—hence the expression “a Christ-less Pentecost”.

the Fatherhood of the holy Creator. In the same way, you sum up the whole of the New Testament religion if you

There is a need to recover the concept of God as Father

describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father.

because it is absolutely central in the biblical witness of the divine self-disclosure.

Packer adds: “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of

In Hebrews 1:1–3, we are told that the incarnate Son is

the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his

the supreme revelation of God. The Son of God became

Father” (201).

a human being in Jesus of Nazareth not only to bring salvation to the world but also to reveal God the Father.

The paternity of God is not a religiously inspired human construct, a convenient metaphor. In historic, orthodox

Jesus himself testified to this when He said: “No one has

Christianity, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” is the proper

seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in

name of God.

the bosom of the Father, has declared him” (John 1:18 NKJV). This had prompted theologians such as Athanasius

The fatherhood of God, therefore, is not a negotiable

(AD 296–373) to insist that no one can know God the

concept that can be replaced by others deemed as being

Father except through the incarnate Son.

more relevant to contemporary society. It is the way God has revealed himself and therefore it ought to inform

Similarly, the third person of the triune Godhead, the

every aspect of the Christian vision of reality.

Holy Spirit, also reveals the Father as He indwells believers and assures them that they are indeed God’s children. The apostle Paul makes this point in his letter to the Christians in Rome:

Works Cited Packer, J. I. Knowing God. Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter Varsity Press, 1993. Smail, Thomas. The Forgotten Father. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

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People ¢ John Pravin is serving as the ETAC Methodist Youth Fellowship President and as a Youth Leader in Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Philosophy at NTU.

What does being a Methodist mean to you?

s I reflected on what being a Methodist means to me, I could not help but think of what it is not: exclusive. Salvation is not only

for the “most upright”, nor is God’s grace only for those who “deserve it”. Instead, grace is that free and undeserved love and mercy which reconciles the sinner to God, through the merits of Christ. To me then, being a Methodist is living in the realisation that everyone is accepted at the Lord’s Table: sinners or saints; black-haired or pink-haired; regardless of race. We are then called to build loving relationships with others, constantly forgiving one another, and working towards displaying the inclusiveness of God’s love. Growing up in the Methodist Church, I noticed that my church operated in unity among three annual conferences (TRAC, CAC, ETAC). We embody the spirit of multi-ethnicity—reflecting the house of God where our differences are a cause of appreciation and not differentiation. However, being a Methodist does not mean that I—or any of my fellow Methodists— are perfect. We still make mistakes. But the act of forgiving and loving one another, just as we were forgiven and loved by God, epitomises what it means to be a Methodist. In a world that so readily catalogues our mistakes, super-glues our failures and forgets that something bad can become good, being a Methodist has taught me that forgiveness and acceptance are nonnegotiable truths in the kingdom of God.

JULY

Events ¢ Looking Ahead

Scan to see events online!

EQUIP MODULE: CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 13, 27 July / 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Aug 2021 (Tuesday evenings, no class on 20 July) Online via ZOOM Register at https://tinyurl.com/6bskk6bk (ZOOM links will be emailed separately) $100 per participant. Fees waived for TTC alumni and matriculated students.

The course is a survey of basic Bible doctrines from the doctrine of God to the doctrine of the last things. It will highlight the most essential features of each doctrine as commonly held by the major Christian traditions. The aim is to give students a broad overview of the faith of the Church and to appreciate the importance of Christian doctrines for practical living.

JULY

Organised by EQUIP

THE SIGNIFICANT WOMAN: A LIFE COACHING DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCE FOR WOMEN Begins third week of July 2021. There are four different intakes. Three intakes are on Tuesday, Wednesday, OR Thursday evenings from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The fourth intake is on Friday mornings from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. This course consists of 9 sessions. via ZOOM, with up to three physical sessions at Cru Centre subject to prevalent COVID-19 measures. Register at https://tinyurl.com/zv3kpxz7 $38 per participant. Registration is required.

The Significant Woman is a discipleship course and represents a new kind of learning process. By utilising life-coaching methods, caring facilitators and personal peer coaches, this unique course provides a method of personal discovery like no other. It combines the Word of God with biblical life principles and is presented in a warm, caring and secure environment, allowing you to apply what you are learning to your daily life.

JULY

Organised by Cru Singapore

D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE 2021 30 to 31 July 2021 (Friday and Saturday) Online via ZOOM d6family.sg family.min@bible.org.sg 6304-5286 $60 per person ($50 per person if you register by 13 June 2021)

D6 is based on the principles of Deuteronomy 6 and it urges the church and home to work together to implement generational discipleship within the churches, homes and families. The objective of D6 Conference is for the attendees to understand how they can best apply the principles of Deuteronomy 6 in their lives in order to pass on a spiritual legacy for future generations. The D6 Conference 2021 is a place where parents, pastors, church and ministry leaders can look to be equipped with practical next steps and strategies in discipling the next generation.

SEPT

Organised by Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship

EAGLES LEADERSHIP CONVENTION (ELC) 2021 6 to 11 Sep 2021 Online conference elc2021.com elc@eagles.org.sg 8575-2163 (Ivy)

ELC is the three-day premier biennial thought leadership experience in Asia, showcasing distinguished international experts, effective role models, current thinking, latest research, and outstanding leadership practices. The convention seeks to grow and nurture leaders to be more value-centred persons by transforming their perspectives, developing healthy partnerships, and empowering them for quality performance in both church and the marketplace. Organised by Eagles Communications

Opinion ¢ THINK David Lang is an Associate Professor of Hermeneutics, Biblical and Systematic Theology at the Singapore Bible College and a published writer. He and his wife, Loo-Geok, worship at Foochow Methodist Church, where he is actively involved in counselling and giving talks on grief, suffering and biblical perspectives on miracles and healing. / Photos courtesy of David Lang

Why? A father’s reflections on suffering (from left to right) Timothy, Titus and Justina as children.

Loo-Geok and the children when the family were living in the USA.

David’s secondary school friends crowdfunded to buy the family a wheelchair-friendly MPV.

y wife and I have three children born between 1991 and 1996. They were all born healthy and developed normally in their early years. They were also very bubbly and bright. However, between the ages of five and seven, they started showing signs of degeneration. Two years after I went with my family to a seminary in Chicago for doctoral studies, Justina started having memory problems in school and became very withdrawn. Thinking it was due to the stress of being in an American school, I decided to bring my family home to Singapore. However, her condition worsened. She started having daily seizures, including sudden drop attacks and convulsive seizures. Between the ages of seven and 10, she lost her ability to walk, stand and sit. She also stopped being able to talk, eat, drink and even swallow her own saliva. At the age of 11, Justina started having breathing difficulties and had to wear a hard collar around her neck to keep her airway open. Later, she needed a ventilator to pump air into her lungs through a face mask. When this did not work, the doctors presented us with two options. The first was to have a tracheostomy, which could prolong her life but also meant prolonged suffering and a “low quality of life”. The other option was to let her go. Seeing that Justina could still be happy in spite of her sickness and smile even when we were using the resuscitator on her, we chose the tracheostomy. We learned that quality of life is not dependent on the absence of pain or the ability to do what one wishes; quality of life can be seen in living life courageously and in receiving love from others.

METHODIST MESSAGE June 2021

Our second child, Timothy, started degeneration at the age of seven. In 2004, our family went for a church camp in Johor, Malaysia. On the second day, he choked on a piece of bacon and was rushed to a nearby hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, his heart stopped. The hospital doctor removed the obstruction and managed to restart his heart. He was later transferred to the National University Hospital (NUH). He died 19 days later without regaining consciousness. Before Timothy died, a doctor took tissue samples from him to send to the USA and Australia for investigation. The result came after he had died—we were told that our children have Niemann-Pick disease type C, a rare metabolic disorder. Children with this disease rarely live beyond their mid-teens. After the results came, Titus also started degeneration. He went through the same process as his sister. Today, both are bedridden with no control over their hands, legs, head and even eyes. Both are tube-fed and need ventilators. Both need to go to the hospital regularly for tests and check-ups. Both are often warded in the intensive care unit (ICU) of NUH for various complications. In fact, caring for them at home is like running an ICU. Even with two live-in caregivers, my wife and I also provide round-the-clock care. At home, we maintain several ventilators, oxygen concentrators, oxygen monitors, suction machines, electric feeding pumps, nebulisers and even a patient hoist.

Why? A father’s reflections on suffering

group of my secondary school friends, whom I have not seen since 1974, organised a crowdfunding project to buy us a car with a wheelchair ramp and space for two wheelchairs and three passengers. So besides caring for our children at home, we now try to provide meaningful experiences to which they can look forward. We believe bedridden people with incurable diseases need not just lie in bed waiting to die. We can, with the help of the community, give them meaningful experiences. Besides taking our children daily to the garden below our HDB flat, we also take them regularly to places like Jewel Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay. As a father, it is very painful having to watch helplessly as our children suffer, lose their abilities and eventually pass on. I shed much tears in secret and cried out to God: “Why? Why must my innocent children suffer?” “Why not me?” “Is it because of my sins, my lack of faith or my not persisting in prayer for healing that my children are not healed?” Though I already had theological answers to such questions, my desperation drove me to turn to the Scriptures again. I carefully studied many passages on healing and answer to prayers. Whereas in the past I learnt them as promises for believers to claim, my re-examination of these passages in their broader literary settings revealed such understanding was wrong.

Indeed, our Heavenly Father has been very present with us throughout this long journey with our children. He has brought many people, including strangers, to rally around us. It is because of their love, prayers and sacrificial support that I can serve God in teaching at the Singapore Bible College and ministering to other groups and individuals while helping to provide the intensive care that has enabled our children to live way beyond their life expectancy. Justina turned 30 recently and Titus will be 25 at the end of the year. God may have put my family through fire. At the same time, He has also brought loving people to form a ring around us to shield us from the direct blasts of the fire.

I also read the book of Job for help to put into words the frustrations I could not express. I did not expect many answers as scholars have said that in the book, God did not address Job’s questions. To my surprise, I found much comfort in Job. When I read how God vindicated Job that he had spoken rightly of God (42:8) despite all that he said to God, I felt relieved that it was alright to pour out my frustrations to God. Second, God can grant his creatures the joy and courage to go through life, despite the hardships and dangers of life (39:13–28). Third, God is in control of the most powerful evil mythic monsters and has set limits for them (40:15– 41:34). Finally, when Job said: “I have heard you with the hearing of my ear, but now my eyes see you” (42:5), I learned it is the presence of God that can bring comfort and sense of purpose. We experience God’s presence in many ways. Once, NUH refused to discharge Justina even though she was ready to be sent home because they learned that the screen of Justina’s ventilator was damaged. A couple, whom we do not know, somehow heard about our need. They took a flight from Indonesia to Singapore the next day to give us two high-quality ventilators. Then, three years ago, a

David and Loo-Geok endeavour to provide meaningful experiences for their children

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Methodist Message: June 2021

Articles inside

What does being a Methodist mean to you?

Events: Looking Ahead

Opinion: THINK

Hymns & Songs

Opinion: Soundings

Relationships: You & Your Family

Opinion: The great responsibility of church leaders

People: Bishop Dr Gordon Wong

People: The Methodist Fathers Movement

Reach Out: Missions

Church Life: ETAC Highlights

News: The Cathedral Podcast—Spiritual leadership

Reach Out: Welfare Services

Bishop’s Message

Church Life: Church Profile—Pasir Panjang TMC