Methodist Message: June 2019

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

Vol 121 No 6 • JUN 2019

inside

this issue...

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MCS 135 Logo design competition

Missions Remembering Dr Jimmy Tang

Methodist Schools Nurturing the next generation

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page 9

pages 12–13

NEWS Pastor Poh Zhi-Hui is currently serving as an Assistant Pastor at Toa Payoh Methodist Church.

SHEPHERDING THE SHEPHERDS MCS pastors at the quadrennial retreat at Johor Bahru, Malaysia from 24 to 26 April 2019.

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astors of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) and Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) came together between 24 and 26 March 2019 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia for their quadrennial Combined Pastors Retreat.

The retreat brought together the pastors of the Annual Conferences (ACs) to deliberate on the expression of their unity in worship practices and organisational structure.

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung led the pastors in meditating on the Word of God and discerning the heart of Christ for the unity of His Church. In a series of three meditations, Bishop Dr Chong articulated three principles for the pastors to keep in view when considering how the unity of MCS may be better expressed.

It wasn’t all work and no play!

Firstly, recognising the three ACs’ differing norms of worship practices, Bishop Dr Chong reflected from John 4:21–26 that to “worship in spirit and in truth” means that true worship of God transcends geographical locations and cultural contexts. While norms of worship practices may differ between the ACs due to their different cultural or sub-cultural contexts, all are seeking to worship God in the most authentic manner they know. So dialogues seeking unity in worship practices need to done in humility and with an interest to appreciate the spiritual truths and cultural concerns behind the worship practices of each AC. Secondly, from Jesus’ “high priestly prayer” in John 17, Bishop Dr Chong reflected that Jesus’ prayer for the unity of His disciples was not to counter a situation of disunity, but a prayer for an existing unity to be maintained. It was a prayer anticipating the tough challenges that the disciples would have to face.

Continued on page 10...

COMING UP

MCS 135 LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION

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he Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) is celebrating its 135th anniversary in 2020, with the theme “LOVING GOD, SERVING TOGETHER”.

We need a logo to commemorate this significant occasion.

The logo may be used anywhere on the MCS website, social media, business cards, letterheads, publicity collateral, gifts or anywhere else MCS decides.

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).

The logo doesn’t need to be professionally finished or electronically drawn, but it does have to be submitted in .jpg or .pdf format.

Go to www.methodist.org.sg/MCS135logo for more information, rules and regulations, as well as submission guidelines. The competition is open from 25 May till 31 Aug 2019.

Prizes First prize

: $300 cash (and a place in Methodist history!)

Second prize : $200 cash Third prize : $100 cash

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

@methodist.sg

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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.

TRAINING UP A CHILD THE METHODIST SCHOOLS’ WAY

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ducation has always been a vital core ministry of the Methodist Church. Its missionary work in Singapore began in 1885 and the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS), a primary school for boys, was established the following year.

Two primary schools for girls, Methodist Girls’ School (MGS) and Fairfield Methodist Girls’ School (FMGS), were subsequently set up in 1887 and 1888 respectively.

Like mustard seeds, these have burgeoned. Today, The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) has 15 schools and educational institutions, which include primary and secondary schools, a junior college, an international school, a private school and a music school.

John Wesley believed education was vital to a fuller, richer life. G. M. Best, author of Education from a Methodist Perspective, wrote: “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 that the Church should be engaged in constantly seeking and understanding what is the truth by which we should live.”

Professor Richard Heitzenrater, my teacher at Duke Seminary and an eminent scholar in Methodism, said: “Knowledge, for Wesley, was not so much a purely intellectual attribute but rather a channel of selfunderstanding, which is crucial for salvation.”

Wesley believed everyone should have access to education regardless of their gender or class. He set up schools for the children of coal miners so that they would not be deprived of education because of poverty. Wesley also devoted himself to raising the quality of education for the younger generation. He believed that education could help build future social leaders of character and responsibility.

In Education from a Methodist Perspective, G. M. Best stated several general principles, including the following: 1. E ducation should never be confined to utilitarian purposes: it is about the acquisition of wisdom so that individuals can give a proper direction to their lives in a fast-changing and complex world; we provide an education so that they can not only earn a living but also keep out of trouble.

Our Methodist schools aim to help students develop wider perspectives and critical thinking skills so that they can constantly re-assess themselves and their positions, and make decisions accordingly.

Education is not just about what we learn as 2. individuals. It is also what we learn together as communities. It is about encouraging mutual respect and understanding, appreciating the importance of forgiveness, reconciliation and renewal, while respecting cultural diversity. Schools build not only the individual but also the community.

In the modern context, there is strong emphasis on such higher values so as to develop engaged communities of high integrity.

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Education should promote self-discipline and hard work and recognition that the more we are given, the more is expected from us. It should equip a person with the right habits and for a life of service to others.

People who use their talents in service for God and for others have the greatest impact on society. They cause others to question the source of their motivation and satisfaction and to wonder how they too may find similar meaning in life.

While the schools of MCS abide by the principles established

by Singapore’s Ministry of Education, they also uphold the inherent spirit of its mission in education. Students will continue to be nurtured and developed in our Methodist schools, which are rich in history and tradition, to fulfill their roles and responsibilities towards self and society. This is part of our social principle related to responsibilities in community life, where we seek to work towards societies in which each person’s unique value is recognised, affirmed and strengthened.

The best is yet to be! Glory to God! n

Picture by Anna Nahabed/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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CHURCH PROFILE The Rev Dr David Koh is Pastor-in-charge and Mr Loh Boon Kee is the LCEC Chairman of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church (PLCMC).

PAYA LEBAR CHINESE METHODIST CHURCH:

RECALLING GOD’S GRACE AND READY TO SET SAIL

80th Anniversary Celebration Choral Concert, “Eternally United in His Glory”, 1 May 2019

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.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

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stablished in 1939, PLCMC is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019. When measured against eternity, 80 years is insignificant. For the seniors who have grown with the church, 80 years feels like a blink of the eye. At this milestone, we celebrate each step, each footprint and each advance towards reaching where we are today. We give thanks for each step forward—every one proof of God’s grace!

For our 80th anniversary, the church had a vision to build a holy temple in the Lord (Ephesians 2:19–22). What was intended initially to keep pace with the external changes in our neighbourhood has now become our most ambitious church expansion project to date. We want to cater to the needs of the growing community of elderly church members, as well as those of a new generation of church members. After much prayer and preparation, the church expansion project, estimated to cost $16 million, commenced last year and will continue over the next two years.

A series of fund-raising programmes has also been organised in conjunction with our 80th anniversary celebrations.

We started off by launching a specially-commissioned set of commemorative stamps in July 2018. The stamps feature a unique design showcasing the buildings of all 17 Chinese Annual Conference churches. Last August, we held a food carnival.

On 1 May this year, esteemed Taiwanese composer and conductor Chan Hung Da (詹宏达) led an amazing choral tribute at our 80th Anniversary Concert, “光明中 永不离”.

Fund-Raising Gala Dinner held at Fullerton Hotel on 3 May 2019.

This was followed by a fund-raising Gala Dinner held at Fullerton Hotel on 3 May. We were blessed by the generosity of PLCMC church elder and art master Lim Tze Peng (林子平), who at 99 is the oldest practising Singaporean artist and a Singapore Cultural Medallion recipient. He kindly donated more than 30 of his valuable art pieces.

Our 80th anniversary celebrations will come to a climax at our Joint Thanksgiving Worship and Luncheon on 18 Aug. Amidst all the fund-raising efforts, our vision of a glorious holy temple must be matched by the active nurturing of our church members’ spiritual lives.

Thus, even as we worship in temporary premises, we continue our five-year plan to focus on Adoration, Belief, Camaraderie, Discipleship and Evangelism.

We give thanks for all who have supported us during this time, especially fellow churches that have so kindly availed their premises so that our weekly church services could continue.

History is built through a journey of trials and tribulations.

God has given us 80 meaningful years. We give thanks for the pioneers who have built up our rich history even as we draw on God’s grace to journey forward and spread the gospel of His love. Just as our new building resembles an ark, we hope to bring in more to our church to receive salvation and the promise of eternity. n

Our new Ark church building, ready to set sail!

Our five-year plan: Adoration, Belief, Camaraderie, Discipleship and Evangelism.

Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church (CAC) 299 Upper Paya Lebar Rd, S(534932) Current venue undergoing renovation till 2020. Services temporarily moved to Geylang Chinese Methodist Church (GCMC) and St. Paul’s Church.

Services Schedule (every Sunday unless otherwise stated) Liturgical Service (English): 4.15 p.m. (at St. Paul’s Church) Contemporary Service (English): 4.30 p.m., every Saturday (at St. Paul’s Church) Teochew Service: 2.00 p.m. (at St. Paul’s Church) Hokkien Service: 4.00 p.m. (at Geylang Chinese Methodist Church) Mandarin Service: 4.00 p.m. (at Geylang Chinese Methodist Church, Lvl 2) Bilingual Service: 4.00 p.m. (at Geylang Chinese Methodist Church, Lvl 5) https://www.plcmc.org.sg/ admin@plcmc.org.sg 6286-7243 Photos courtesy of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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ONE MCS—CAC HIGHLIGHTS The Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey is the Pastor-in-charge of Sengkang Methodist Church.

THE ROLE OF MOTHERS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY

The Dr Rev Niam Kai Huey (second from right) with her family.

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s we celebrate Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for blessing us with mothers, and recognise their sacrifices in nurturing and caring for us.

The scriptural definition of “family” is broader than the core family unit with which we are familiar. The core family unit consists of father, mother, children, perhaps with the addition of grandparents, uncles and aunts. Scripture defines “family” as an entire “clan”, one comprising interconnected networks of relatives. This description reinforces the individual’s holistic development, where all aspects of the person’s spirituality, health, education and welfare are looked after. Like the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”, it takes a clan to support our large Church family and to nurture each child’s holistic development.

The Bible records that faith is not just an individual endeavour. It also involves the family and the support of the larger faith community. Scripture emphasises each generation’s responsibility to pass down their spiritual legacy to the next generation (Ps 78:4–7; Deut 6:7; Josh 24:15; 2 Tim 1:5).

Today, many families in Singapore are small. It is thus my hope that our churches will become the extended spiritual family and faith community that supports each and every of our church members. This is not the endeavour of a few committed individuals. We need to build an entire “kampung” or “village” where the Church family works in unity to groom the next generation of spiritually-healthy children and youths.

As a female pastor, I view myself as being someone sent by our Lord Father to act as a spiritual mother in our large Church family. Mothers, may I remind you that when we are in church, we are not only mothers to our own children.

We also owe a duty of care to be spiritual mothers to other children in our Church family. I invite all mothers to join in this “faith village” to build a strong support network to hold up our large Church family.

Let all the children who enter the Church experience the multiple layers of care from their spiritual grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters. Let them be surrounded by a Church family who is willing to spend time to care for them, and to act as role models and mentors. n

To celebrate Mother’s Day this year, CAC’s Board of Family Life recorded an interview with the Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey about the important role that mothers play in building up spiritually healthy families. View the full interview at CAC’s Facebook page. CAC also regularly organises a series of parenting seminars and classes, such as the Father School and the Mother School. fb.com/cac-singapore Find out more about activities organised by CAC’s Board of Family Life on Facebook fb.com/CACBOFL Photo courtesy of the Rev Niam Kai Huey

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

GIVING AS ONE TO THE COMMUNITY

An Easter Sunday lunch was organised by Christ Methodist Church for almost 60 friends from the Marine Parade neighbourhood, together with befrienders and volunteers.

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Members of Wesley Methodist Church bearing gifts as they reached out to befriend families in Jalan Berseh.

n the epistle of James, all Christians are encouraged to do good: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18) As Methodists come together as one to give time, donations and voices to those in need, we live out our faith in Christ through good works and give glory to His name!

To galvanise Methodists to perform acts of mercy and to give generously for the benefit of the poor, in-need, distressed and elderly sick, The Giving Methodist campaign was held during the season of Lent, from 6 March to 13 April 2019. Methodist churches and Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) organised over 100 volunteering opportunities. Churches also helped to spread awareness of the campaign through social media.

In its second year, the campaign inspired over 3,000 acts of giving time, donations and voices to the poor and disadvantaged. Volunteers gave their time to bless the community through food distribution, outreach activities, Easter celebrations, and many more. In total, over $350,000 was raised from the Methodist community to bring about positive change for the disadvantaged.

While this year’s campaign has officially concluded, our mission to help the poor and those in-need never ends.

You can continue to support us by giving a donation at https://give.mws.sg/home/93-tgm-regular-donation.html or use the QR code.

Pentecost Methodist Church and Living Hope Methodist Church raised funds to purchase food hampers which were packed and delivered by volunteers to 154 needy families in Pasir Ris.

“From the packing of the hampers to the delivery, volunteers from the two churches simply worked together as one. And that touches me, that we were one at heart with only one purpose—to serve the community and to serve God!” —Chin Wei, Pentecost Methodist Church “Giving is an overflow of our love for Him and His people, and that’s also why we continue giving—because we love others and we love God through giving.”

—David and Magdalene Luo, Wesley Methodist Church

“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt 10:8, NIV) n Photos courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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NEWS Sheri Goh is the editor of Methodist Message, the mother of a tween and a preschooler, and the willing slave to a cat.

CELEBRATING THE HOPE THAT IS JESUS CHRIST

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Celebrating Hope.

he Celebration of Hope (COH) was a nation-wide endeavour calling on all churches to unite to pray and proclaim the life-transforming name of Jesus, bringing the message of hope to Singapore and beyond.

Six rallies—individually titled “The Freedom of Hope”, “The Colours of Hope”, “The Power of Hope”, “The Abundance of Hope”, “The Joy of Hope” and “The Reality of Hope”—were held at the National Stadium and the OCBC Arena from 17 to 19 May 2019. Two rallies were conducted in English while there was one each in Chinese, Tagalog and Tamil, as well as one specially for children and their families. At some rallies, simultaneous sign-language translation was projected on screens positioned around the stadium. The full-house events were also live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, drawing tens of thousands of viewers across geographical boundaries, some even from Mongolia.

As the Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, said before his opening prayer at the final rally: “Hope is the certainty and assurance that something good is coming your way, no matter how final death may seem to be in the end.

The hope is in the one name of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for you and me, who was raised to life and never to die again.”

Taiwanese pastor the Rev Kou Shao-en and British writer and speaker the Rev Canon J. John brought messages of love and hope in Chinese and English respectively.

At the final event on May 19, the Rev Canon J. John encouraged those present to “look up [to God]”, “look in [at ourselves]”, “look back [to what Christ did for us]”, “look around [at other Christians]” and “look forward [to Christ’s return]. He read from Philippians 12:13–14 (NLT): Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. “Life without Christ is a hopeless end, but life with Christ is an endless hope,” he said.

(Left) The Rev Koh Shao-En from Taiwan.

(Right) The Rev Canon J. John from the UK.

The search for hope is not confined to the person on the street. Testimonies from those we might consider celebrities—both local figures (such as Darren Lim, Evelyn Tan, Noah Ong and Li Nanxing), and also famous names from overseas—reiterated during the rallies that even if we are well-known, we all still face adversities. If we try to find hope in the things of this world, we will ultimately fail.

COH was organised by the National Council of Churches Singapore and Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore. It involved 227 churches and 18,000 volunteers, and was a rally two-and-a-half years in the making—2017 was the Year of Preparation, 2018 the Year of Prayer, and 2019 the Year of Proclamation. 2020 will be the Year of Discipleship, particularly for the nearly 5500 inquirers who will be followed up after the rally.

Let the celebration continue. n

Photos courtesy of Celebration of Hope

MISSIONS Gopal Sebastian is the MMS Country Director in Nepal. He worships at Sengkang Methodist Church.

REMEMBERING DR JIMMY TANG CHIAN PIAO Dr Tang (first from right) with the medical and dental team from Barker Road Methodist Church and Sengkang Methodist Church in Nepal in Nov 2018.

Dr Tang in action.

“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Master.” (Matt 25:23)

and their three children—Tricia, Tracey and Trevis—always missing them whenever he was away on missions.

t is never easy to come to terms with the loss of a very dear friend, especially since we have been co-labourers in the mission field in Nepal for the last 11 years. Dr Jimmy Tang, a dentist, was called home to be with his Master and Lord on 29 April 2019.

On one of our field trips to a village deep inland where the residents had little or no access to medical care, more than 400 men, women and children came to receive treatment over the two days we were there.

Jimmy started his dental clinic early, working through lunch and finishing each day at dusk. He had a slipped disc, but this did not deter him from providing dental care with great patience and a warm smile.

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When I heard the news of his sudden demise, I was filled with disbelief. It cannot be, I thought to myself repeatedly; how could this have happened?

Jimmy and a group of doctor friends—affectionately known as the 3-2-1—from Barker Road Methodist Church had been serving in missions in Nepal, providing dental and medical services to the poor and marginalised in far-flung villages that are often difficult to access. I had on many occasions accompanied the medical teams during their trips. My relationship with Jimmy had grown from that of being work colleagues to that of being friends and brothers-in-Christ, which made his death feel all the more painful.

As Jimmy ministered to the poor and needy with his Godgiven skills, I witnessed a very compassionate, caring and committed man. Humble and soft-spoken, he was very approachable to one and all. He was an excellent example a light that shines forth in the darkness, and offered words of encouragement to me and many others, always putting others’ needs before his own.

On occasions when we bunked together in the mission field, he would share with me his calling to missions, and the challenges and joys of his work. He loved his wife Regina

My wife Jacqueline and our three boys have all been blessed by his love and generosity. During the occasions he spent time with my family, we enjoyed his laughter as he shared his love for food, photography and cars. When I informed them about Jimmy’s passing, they cried bitterly.

JJ, my eldest son, says it most aptly: “Dear Uncle Jimmy, thank you for giving your time, energy and attention to impact so many people’s lives purely out of love and compassion. Thank you for being a great example of a person who radiates God’s love and Jesus’ values to the people around you. Thank you for showing us numerous ways through which we can help others and how we should live our lives well. We love you and will miss you!” n

Please pray for: • Regina, Tricia, Tracey and Trevis. May God grant them His peace and comfort as they grieve over their tragic loss.

• the ministry in Nepal, that God will continue to provide faithful servants.

Photos courtesy of The Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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NEWS

SHEPHERDING THE SHEPHERDS ...continued from page 1 So the present impetus behind discussions on the unity of MCS is not to combat signs of disunity, but to grow in unity. The call for a better expression and practice of unity is also set against a backdrop of anticipated challenges that MCS may face, for which a tighter connection may enable better mutual encouragement in the faith and allow for nimbler responses to such challenges.

Therefore, dialogues on the unity of MCS need to consider what is helpful and good for future generations of Methodists in Singapore.

Lastly, reflecting on John 21:15–19, Bishop Dr Chong called on the pastors to remember the meaning behind the word “pastor”, which Jesus had given to them and their given task of tending to Jesus’ flock. He further exhorted the pastors, regardless of AC, to recognise all MCS churches as Jesus’ sheep, and to tend all whom Jesus gives to them in the spirit of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11).

Pastors deep in discussion about the expression of ACs’ unity in worship practices and organisational structure.

The Rev Dr Karen B. Westerfield Tucker.

Also aiding the pastors in their deliberations on worship practices was the Rev Dr Karen B. Westerfield Tucker, an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church and Professor of Worship in Boston University. Her presentations shed light on the historical development of some of our worship practices today and their implications for the discussions on worship practices in MCS’s context.

Over the three days, the MCS pastors also enjoyed the spiritual refreshment of fellowship with one another across ACs over meals; worshipping in Tamil, Mandarin and English; and communing as one at the Lord’s Table. n Photos courtesy of the Rev David C. S. Wee

HYMNS & SONGS Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

O SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD

O Spirit of the Living God (The United Methodist Hymnal, #539) O Spirit of the living God, thou light and fire divine, descend upon thy church once more, and make it truly thine.

Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace; till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease.

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June 2019 is Pentecost Sunday, the 50th day of our Easter journey. It marks a new season— the Sundays after Pentecost.

truth and love, words that all people may understand so that, regardless of age and race, the children of God will be united.

In Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church, Laurence Stookey explains that the “Day of Pentecost is about the church as the community of the Spirit, not merely about the work of the Spirit in the hearts of the individuals”.1

Stanza 4 concludes the prayer with an abiding significance of our Easter journey. To fully appreciate this journey is to understand the three significant events of the Resurrection on Easter day, the Ascension on the 40th day and Pentecost 10 days after. We therefore believe in the Resurrection (Easter), and that Christ is present in us (Ascension) and through us by the Holy Spirit (Pentecost).

“O Spirit of the Living God” alludes to Acts 2, the Scripture passage often read on Pentecost Sunday. The hymn reminds us that on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the people of God and they received power. It is a beautiful prayer of intercession to God for the Holy Spirit to once again descend on the Church, that she may be renewed.

Light, fire and wind are the symbols attributed to the Holy Spirit. Using these symbols (stanzas 1 and 2), the hymn writer describes how the Holy Spirit inspires and empowers the Church to continue its mission to advance the kingdom of God. Stanza 3 is an appeal for the Holy Spirit to grant us words that speak of

The hymn reflects Stookey’s explanation of what Pentecost Sunday means—it calls us to sing a prayer for the Church to be open to the Holy Spirit’s work not only as individuals, but as a community. Individually, we have to be willing to be counter cultural as the hymn exhorts. Collectively, we can cultivate a spirit of unity in practising the resurrection as Christ lives in us, as we work out our faith through the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit. n

Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow until our minds are free from mists of error, clouds of doubt, which blind our eyes to thee.

Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal, to preach to all thy great good news, God's glorious commonweal.

Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear, the language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear; till every age and race and clime shall blend their creeds in one, and earth shall form one family by whom thy will is done.

So shall we know the power of Christ who came this world to save; so shall we rise with him to life which soars beyond the grave; and earth shall win true holiness, which makes thy children whole; till, perfected by thee, we reach creation's glorious goal!

Words: Henry Hallam Tweedy (1868–1953) Music: FORREST GREEN, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958).

Alternatively, KINGSFOLD (UMH 606), which might be more fitting if the hymn is sung as a prayer of intercession.

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aurence Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for L the Church (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007), 75.

Picture by mrs.kohanova/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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MCS FOCUS—METHODIST SCHOOLS Kwok Wan Yee is the Education Secretary for the Council on Education, and also Conference Lay Leader for the Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore. She worships at Charis Methodist Church.

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION Gathering as a family of Methodist schools at the MethodistWalk in 2019.

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he Methodist schools in Singapore now are a far cry from the humble beginnings of the first one founded 133 years ago. The early schools started in borrowed buildings. In contrast, the 15 Methodist schools today enjoy comfortable, state-of-the-art facilities. Altogether, they house 21,050 students as well as 1,692 teaching and 440 non-teaching staff.

On the walls of several of our schools can be found Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it”, a constant reminder to the teachers and students of their purpose each day. When children are started off right, they will finish well.

TRAC Administrative Manager

Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) is one of the three Annual Conferences making up The Methodist Church in Singapore. It is a connection of 21 churches with about 28,000 members.

TRAC oversees various programme boards for discipleship, social concerns, evangelism, missions, worship, children, youth and seniors’ ministries as well as the administrative boards for finance and ministry.

TRAC is looking for a suitable candidate to join the team as TRAC Administrative Manager.

Responsibilities and duties: To provide support to the TRAC leadership in developing and implementing administrative policies of the TRAC Executive Board and work with programme boards, ministries and local churches to align with these policies.

To lead and manage the administrative team in the TRAC office to ensure documentation and support to the various programme boards are provided effectively and efficiently.

To liaise and work with the General Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore to ensure delivery of finance and other administrative services are delivered to TRAC promptly and of good quality.

To assist various boards in the supervision and timely reporting of regulatory requirements to ensure compliance such requirements.

To assist TRAC local churches through provision of shared resources For job requirements and application information, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/TRACAdminManager

Students from Fairfield Methodist School (Primary).

The Methodist Girls’ School bowling team in 2018.

Relationships are part of the whole equation of nurturing children in our Methodist schools. Much effort is put into helping the students cultivate a strong sense of belonging, which contributes to the anchoring of their identity and character. With time, the students build strong bonds with one another, as well as with their teachers and non-teaching staff. They come back to serve on various boards and committees, to participate in celebrations, to support fund-raising or to teach. Some families have many generations educated in our Methodist schools.

“Schools are holding environments that create safe spaces for our students to explore, learn, fail and grow. Teachers are key in this space,” said Mr Wee Tat Chuen, principal of Geylang Methodist School (GMS) Secondary, and Mrs Jennifer Gan, principal of GMS Primary. “At GMS, we see relationships as key in connecting with the students, absorbing their feelings and emotions, and processing these with them. Doing this will allow us to meet their needs, nurture them as individuals and grow their aspirations to fulfill their potential in making a difference in their world.

“Today, as we redefine what success is as a nation, the GMS family remains steadfast in our mission to inspire our students to stand out as beacons of light in the community. The school is where values are instilled and developed.”

At the National School Games in 2018, the Methodist Girls’ School bowling team was up against strong competitors and trailing behind.

Despite this, the girls displayed sportsmanship and integrity when they reported scores that had been recorded wrongly due to technical glitches at the competition venue. Had they not reported the incorrect scores, their team would have been placed in an advantageous position.

Instead, the girls fought hard and remained resilient as a united team; they prevailed and eventually garnered second place.

Mr Loo Ming Yaw, Principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), affirmed that “to ‘train a child’ is the collective work of home, school, church and community. It requires not just cooperation, but unity of

(Top) Teachers attending the Methodist Schools’ Long Service Awards Service in 2018.

(Bottom) Students from St Francis Methodist School.

purpose, directing complementary efforts and actions. The purpose, as the book of Proverbs emphasises, is to teach them to fear the Lord all their lives.”

Pastors are appointed as chaplains to the schools. They are at the schools regularly to share devotions, lead prayer, and provide counsel and pastoral support wherever necessary. Christian ministry staff are assigned to the schools and work with the chaplains in the schools’ Christian activities such as camps and holiday programmes that focus on students’ personal and spiritual development. They also provide strong support for troubled students and their families through counselling services.

It is in our schools that many will experience a spiritual awakening and learn to fear the Lord. “Spiritual education is at the heart of what we do for our charges—anchoring their spirit in the knowledge of God,” shared Mr Loo. “In order for them not to turn from away from it, we need to engage their heads, hearts and hands by talking about and showing them what it means through our teaching and example. This is the sacred duty of not just teachers and school leaders, but also parents, alumni, supporters and the Church. I believe that to train someone requires the full array of what constitutes teaching—encouragement, correction and chastisement.” n Photos courtesy of Methodist Schools’ Foundation METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 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

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.

WALKING TO REINVIGORATE MARRIAGE

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for elderly parents quickly fills the vacuum. With all this caregiving, first to children and then to elderly parents, some couples end up emotionally drained and become strangers to each other.

The title of this article holds a clue. Let me first clarify that I do not think my marriage is on the rocks or that it is in some state of emotional doldrums. But my wife and I have come to a stage in our marital life when we should not take things for granted.

Throughout any marriage, there is a need to rediscover interests and points of connection. When old interests no longer satisfy, new ones need to be found. For some, it may be grandparenting, doing voluntary work or taking up a hobby together. For my wife and me, it is walking. Of course, we cannot go on walking holidays all year round, so we need to find other interests as well.

ver the last four years, around the middle of each year, my wife and I have taken leave from work to do long walks together—about 20 kilometres a day over a six-day period. We are sedentary urbanites who rarely walk more than 3000 steps on an average day. So how did this interest in walking come about?

As a marital therapist, I have met many couples who discover that after years together, the “magic is gone”. Many more find that they have grown apart and have little in common with their partners.

Now it may seem strange that after being together for years and leading closely intertwined lives, couples find themselves rather estranged from each other. It may be that their attention and energy have been focussed exclusively on being parents, so much so that they have lost the ability to be a couple. Parenting can be all-absorbing, and they may have reduced or cut themselves off from the hobbies and pursuits they once had. Hence, when their children no longer need nor want their attention, the couple finds themselves at a loss. Some may hardly notice this if caring

The key here is to be deliberate in connecting with each other. Relationships do not just happen. They also do not maintain status quo. Like any well-kept garden, marriages have to be tended, reinvigorated and, every now and then, even weeded. There must be a commitment to spend time with each other, doing things together, and communicating. There must also be a willingness to do things your spouse has an interest in as well as to weed out practices which have been allowed to choke the relationship, such as being overly critical of each other, or harbouring resentment or unforgiveness.

How are you tending to your marriage? Is it time to reinvigorate it? How are you doing so? n Picture by Tom Wang/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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ONE MCS—IDENTITY AND DESTINY By the Structural Review Task Force

ORGANISING OURSELVES BETTER FOR SERVICE AND GROWTH From left: Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon, Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup and Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung.

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t was a historic occasion. Almost 250 pastors and leaders from the three Annual Conferences (ACs) gathered at Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church to listen to the perspectives of three bishops on the MCS Structural Review on 4 May 2019. Each shared his personal and independent views.

Unity of the Church was very much on the bishops’ minds.

Their messages were candid and full of wisdom.

Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon, who served from 2000 to 2012, said that the unity that Jesus prayed for in His High Priestly prayer was based on truth and holiness. It has missiological importance (Jn 17:17–18, 23).

Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon also pointed to different models of unity in Church history. Biblical unity is more organic than organisational. It refers to having one heart, mind and voice. He thus asked those gathered to pray for a revival first, from which the unity for an exercise like this can then be found. He recommended all task force members to read Earnest Lau’s book, From Mission to Church, to better understand our current system, which has both episcopal and presidential components.

Pointing out the many practical considerations like assignment of power to leadership and ACs, the need to strengthen “connectionalism”, and the concerns of minority groups, he noted the tendency of some towards being territorial. He also suggested that younger leaders be involved more as the restructuring concerns the Church that they will have in the future.

Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup, who served from 2012 to 2016, shared that his sense of a lack of mutual trust made him a “sceptic”, although earlier he had been an advocate and supporter of coming together to avoid duplication, to increase resource sharing and to enhance unity. He said that the purpose should be about church

growth (usually a bottom-up phenomenon) and not just organisational restructuring (which tended to be a topdown phenomenon). His challenge to the task force was for them to be clear on the purpose and the process as well as to listen to the people before formulating plans.

The restructuring must come with attendant strategies for growth in order to benefit the local churches where growth really matters. The priorities must start with where the people are in the local churches, and how they can grow with the sharing of resources.

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, our current bishop since 2016, was concerned that with regards to direction for the Church, the leaders must make the right decisions at the right time, before it becomes too late. The Government’s language policy has wrought an irreversible trend in our churches. Many mother tongue and dialect services have already disappeared from other denominations.

Bishop Dr Chong brought up many issues the Church is facing, including how the young are shunning religion, family issues, and the fast-growing proportion of seniors among our members. He highlighted how some of them may be better tackled through an integrated approach by the Church as one body rather than separately as three ACs. There is much for the Structural Review Task Force to digest, reasons to pause and take stock. Do continue to pray for Bishop Dr Chong and the other task force members as they seek the Lord’s direction, for there they will find unity of spirit and purpose.

All glory to God. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28) n Photos courtesy of Hon Chee Seng METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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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

和散那治丧服务

Hosanna Bereavement Services Your one-stop bereavement and funeral-related services

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Hosanna Bereavement Services Pte Ltd

(A Subsidiary of the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd)

Block 4 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Industrial Park #01-1333 Singapore 319056 Tel: 6259-4560 Fax: 6259-4095 Email: hosannab@singnet.com.sg Web: www.hosannabereavement.com.sg

24-Hour Helpline:

Contact Ricky Guok @ 6352-7797

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).

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

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n arguably one of their most iconic songs, the folk rock group of the 1970s, Crosby, Stills and Nash, offers this perennially sound advice: “Teach your children well, / Their father’s hell did slowly go by.”

From an infinitely more authoritative source, we find these words: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov 6:22).

While many parents and educationists recognise the importance of properly nurturing a child, how best this should be done remains a contentious and conflicted debate. Theories on what constitutes positive parenting abound, shaped in one way or another by modern psychology and the dictates of culture.

In this article, I turn very briefly to the works of two Christians who have written insightfully and (some would add) provocatively on this subject: Anabaptist Menno Simons (1496–1561), whose followers came to be known as the Mennonites; and John Wesley (1703–91). Though these writers lived more than one century apart from each other, there are remarkable convergences on their understanding of what it means to nurture children.

The first important point of agreement between these two writers is that the chief end of the nurture of children is their salvation and spiritual maturity. In his sermon, “On the Education of Children”, Wesley asserts: “Ye that are truly kind parents, in the morning, in the evening, and in all the day beside, press upon all your children, ‘to walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and gave himself for us’…”

In a similar vein, Simons unequivocally underscores this in “The Nurture of Children”: “It behoves true Christians to teach, to admonish, to reprove, and to chasten their children: to set them an example in all righteousness, to rear them in the fear of the Lord, and to care for their poor souls lest through their negligence they depart from the true path, die in their sins, and so perish at last in unbelief.”

Both Wesley and Simons put the responsibility of the nurturing of children squarely on the shoulders of parents. They also put much emphasis on discipline, a concept that has somewhat fallen out of favour in modern approaches to parenting. To modern sensibilities, the counsel of both writers might seem simply too harsh and forbidding.

For instance, in stressing the importance of obedience, Simons insists that parents should give a child “no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies”, but instead should “bow down his neck while he is young, lest he wax stubborn and be disobedient to thee”. Simons fears that some parents have so much “natural affection” for their children that they fail to carry out their God-given responsibility to train them in godliness.

Wesley, more than a century later, writes of the need to “break the will” of the child early in their lives: “At least, do it now; better late than never. It should have been done before they were two years old: It may be done at eight or ten, though with far more difficulty”.

Wesley’s emphasis on discipline is seen in the strict regime that the students at Kingswood School (aged between six and nine) were subjected: they would rise at four in the morning and retire at eight at night. Their day began with two hours of private and public devotion and ended with an hour of private devotion and an hour of public prayer. They were allowed no time for play and were always supervised by their teachers.

Such counsel and practices would surely provoke the ire of many a modern specialist in child development!

Yet this approach has a very long history in the Christian tradition, and can be traced to the writings of the early Church Fathers, whose approaches were based on Scripture (Prov 13:24; 23:13–15).

In whatever way we may wish to adapt Simons’ and Wesley’s counsel to our time, the principles that undergird it cannot be abandoned without consequence. The goal of nurturing a child is his spiritual growth and maturity and the means to achieve it are patient instruction and discipline. n

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.

References Simons, Menno. “The Nurture of Children.” The Complete Writings of Menno Simons. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1956.

Wesley, John. “On the Education of Children.” The Works of John Wesley, Vol. VII. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1984.

Picture by iuricazac/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 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 Cecilia Ng Lim is the President of the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) at Living Waters Methodist Church. She is also a member of the education subcommittee and of the Post COSI Integration Programme (PCOSIIP, where COSI is the Community Outreach Services–Immanuel Children’s Village in Cambodia that provides food, clothing, shelter, education and spiritual guidance for about poor, abandoned or orphaned children) Steering Committee of the Methodist Missions Society.

OVERCOMERS IN THIS VUCA WORLD

WSCS women learning, praying, and praising the Lord together.

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or the third year running, TRAC WSCS organised the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) conference, a conference for women (the men don’t get it!) by women. Each conference has been refreshingly different and uplifting, with various speakers sharing testimonies and experiences from the heart, with courage and honesty.

Overcomers in This VUCA World, held on 4 May 2019, drew 640 women from 54 churches in Singapore, and even Batam.

The Rev Wendy Tay’s opening message gave assurance that each of us is not alone. She quoted what Jesus said in John 14:1 (NLT): “Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God; trust also in me.” She drove home the point that whatever our problems are, they can be endured with patience and faith because Jesus promised that in a little while, we will see Him, and our sorrow will turn into joy (Jn 16:16–20).

Brenda Leow’s frank sharing was awe-inspiring. It was hard to believe that the lovely lady before us had gone through such a horrendous past and yet has been able to walk out of her trials confidently and full of hope. Unbowed

and standing tall before her listeners, she showed the transformative power of giving her life to Christ.

Heartstrings were tugged by June Chuah, who shared about the tumultuous journey of her children who had gone astray. Yet she held fast to her hope in the Lord. Hebrews 6:19 (NIV) is a verse that sustained her: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” [where Jesus] “has entered on our behalf ”. To keep her hope alive, she also turned to friends, others’ testimonies and professional help.

In time, her prayers were answered—her two children were wonderfully restored, are now happily married and lead lives to be proud of.

Fong Loo Fern spoke of her God-moments. Drawing from her ups and downs of helming CYC, one of Singapore’s most established tailoring companies, Mrs Fong shared how she is constantly reminded to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Prov 3:5–6). Looking to Jesus, we will all be overcomers in Him. The panel session with speakers from Youth With A Mission (YWAM)—Judy Foo, Eleana Ho and Lin Hui Photos courtesy of TRAC WSCS METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2019

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NEWS

Brenda Leow shares.

The panel from YWAM (from left): Judy Foo, Eleana Ho and Lin Hui Hui.

Hui—came across like friendly banter among friends. Their gutsy confessions of personal pasts of brokenness and sinfulness left deep impressions in the participants. It was heart-warming to hear how all three have emerged victorious because they believe in God. The Rev Jenni Ho Huan wrapped up the conference by reminding all the women present that they are blessed and in all life’s trials, God is the one to turn to, for He has spoken that He will not leave us.

The conference was certainly lively with the bubbly Norma Sit as emcee; Lily Chan and Doris Tan leading a fun action song; and the Eagles CG of Bedok Methodist Church doing a creative upbeat Cup Praise. TRAC WSCS also provided blessing bags which included a 31-day devotional booklet, I Lift My Eyes to You, the fruit of a writing workshop for WSCS ladies.

Our warmest thanks go to the organising TRAC WSCS Witness and Evangelism committee made up of women from 16 TRAC churches, spearheaded by Vida Yap (Bedok Methodist Church) and Lim Bee Hwa (Christalite Methodist Chapel). n

Participants’ feedback was generally positive and included the following comments and take-aways: • Sharing was authentic.

• Testimonies were powerful, reinforcing God as real.

• Saw God’s grace in the other participants’ sharing.

• The conference was impactful, edifying and enriching.

• The encouragement they received to hang on “a little while”... no matter what.

• God will help. There is hope.

• God hears our prayers.

• God is the anchor in our storms in life and we need to trust in His timing.

LOOKING AHEAD CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN A PLURAL WORLD

08 July to 26 Aug 2019 (Monday evenings), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Scan here to see Wesley Methodist Church, Plaza Hall, Level 1, 5 Fort Canning Road, S(179493) events online! https://ttc.edu.sg/english/equip-evening-courses/christian-witness-in-the-plural-world/ $120 ($100 for returning students, if the last CDCM course was within one year). Free for TTC Alumni and TTC Students, but registration is required.

Christian witnessing is part and parcel of our Christian life. We are expected to witness to the great love of God and the life-transforming power of the Gospel. How may we be responsible witnesses in a plural and sometimes fractured world of competing claims and beliefs?

A world where certain countries and people still view Christianity with suspicion and dismiss the Christian faith as a Western religion, students of the course can expect to look at what it means to be a Christian witness. The course will identify challenges which Christians have to navigate and offer directions on how to be faithful to our call as the salt and light in the world.

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Organised by Trinity Theological College.

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.

MICAH CONVERSATION 2019

9 and 20 July (Friday and Saturday), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. (Friday), 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (Saturday) 1 Covenant Presbyterian Church, 110 Race Course Rd, S(218578) https://bit.ly/2JIE3nO thejusticedemand@gmail.com $40. Please register online by 1 July. Attendance is capped at 250 (first come first served).

Probably the first integral mission gathering in Singapore, Micah Singapore’s vision is for the Church to be faithful in living out the whole gospel of Jesus and of His kingdom—the integration of proclaiming good news and doing good works.

Come ready for a highly conversational and practice-oriented time together with many other like-minded Jesus followers on topics such as: • How 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 social justice and mercy work?

• What are the strategies, practical approaches and pitfalls in such integral mission work?

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Organised by Micah Singapore.

TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY—THE PATTERN OF PRAYER

23 Jul, 27 Aug, 24 Sep, 22 Oct, 26 Nov 2019 (Tuesdays), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

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

TRAC Seniors Ministry invites you to encounter God through prayer. Admission is free and all are welcome.

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Organised by Trinity Annual Conference.

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THINK Ng Su-Ling serves on the Global Leadership Team of international missions agency Operation Mobilisation (OM). OM’s vision is to see vibrant communities of Jesus Followers among the least reached. Outside of work, Su-Ling is a hands-on mum to two Methodist school-going girls and a dog named Milo.

TRAINING UP MY CHILDREN IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO

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hen my elder daughter hit primary school-going age, my husband and I reviewed our options. We could send her to my alma mater, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (PLMGS), or another one of my alma maters, a SAP school.

Admittedly, the first things that come to mind when I think about my own formative years at PLMGS are not the teachers’ godly nature or the spiritual values inculcated in us—it was the strict culture. We were known for being conservative, or to put it plainly, just downright square. No talking, no whispering, no fidgeting whether in class or in the hall; pinafores down below the knees. Not the sort of memories that inspire a mother to send her daughters to the same school.

My husband and I eventually chose a Methodist school because we were not prepared to compromise. We wanted a school that takes academic excellence seriously (as most Asian parents do), but takes putting God first in everything even more seriously. We wanted an environment in which our daughters would study hard and play hard, but always within the context of what God is seeking to build in us and through us. I love the PLMGS motto, “Look Up, Lift Up”. It is embedded in the school crest, a visible reminder to the girls to lift up their eyes and fix them on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and Lord over our everyday lives.

Character is not built overnight, but rather in a hundred different teachable moments through our growing up years, and the school environment can potentially have a huge impact on how character is formed. Both my girls are now in Methodist Girls' School (MGS) and I appreciate the little things that contribute to a Christian school environment— the weekly chapel services, or how a theme verse is used at the start of the school year to form a spiritual thread that weaves through the rest of the year. The secondary school girls receive weekly email updates that not only contain

school announcements but also a Bible verse or some other biblically-based inspirational quote. My younger one, who gets particularly anxious during exams, appreciates that her teacher will pray for the class before they sit for their papers.

Now, this does not mean that Methodist schools are perfect.

No school is. There are days when my girls come home rolling their eyes at how some teachers don’t walk the talk, or how classmates behave badly despite coming from Christian homes. Bullying happens, and parents and students alike often fall into the unhealthy habit of comparing grades and anything else that establishes rank and order.

And what I struggle with the most is the knowledge that the school is better resourced than the average neighbourhood school. Will this result in my girls developing a misplaced sense of privilege when they grow up? I also occasionally wonder if I should have placed my kids in a non-Christian school instead so that they can live out their faith under more “real world” conditions. As Christians, doesn’t Jesus exhort us to be in the world but not of the world?

But the world in which our kids are growing up is increasing in both complexity and uncertainty. This has created a whole range of issues that cannot be interpreted in black-and-white terms but rather overlapping shades of grey.

Education for the modern child has to take this into account. I want my children to have the courage to step into the arena of the future without getting blindsided by the relentless onslaught of moral and ethical dilemmas they will surely face. They can only be adequately prepared for this by being grounded in God’s unchanging truth and to use that as the primary lens through which they interpret all of life.

While parents must take the primary role in discipling their own children, the school is an important partner in the process. In this regard, I appreciate how the Methodist education seeks to cement godly values and principles into the fabric of learning. Training up a child in the way she should go is a journey—a marathon, not a sprint.

My prayer for my girls is that when they have completed their years of Methodist school education, they will be able to face their future pathways like a house built on a rock, sure of their foundation in Jesus, and shining like a beacon of light and hope to all around them. n

Picture by Prasit Rodphan/Bigstock.com