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People: The Methodist Fathers Movement
The Methodist
Fathers Movement
What 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
David Ang
Kum Yan Methodist Church 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.
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.
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.
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.
Benjamin Chan
Fairfield Methodist Church
Chris Cheah
Fairfield Methodist Church 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
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.
(Mal 4:6)
Geoff Chew
Christ Methodist Church
Dennis Chua
Changi Methodist Church
David Leong
Grace Methodist Church 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.”.
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
• 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 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.
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.
Bernard Lim
Barker Road Methodist Church
Peter Tan
Barker Road Methodist Church
Jenn Yeoong
Aldersgate Methodist Church 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 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 time and took more photographs!
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 builders seriously. It is only then that the land, the community and the nation will prosper and be a beacon of truth and light to the nations.
