Methodist Message: March 2024

Gatekeepers launches a new meeting place in the heart of the CBD

TACMC unearths 100-year-old time capsule at heritage church site

How three outreach ministries at AMKTMC grew Vol

Editorial Board

Adviser and Publisher

Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson, Council on Communications

Communications Manager

Lynn Tan

Managing Editor

Alvin Tay

Editor

Lianne Ong

Communications Executive

Kathrynn Koh

Sub-editors

Lucy Cheng

Janice Khoo

Tan Chiu Ai

Elliot Soh

Proofreaders

Kenneth Lee

Christabel Tan

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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/ Bishop’s Message / / News /

3 100-year-old time capsule unearthed at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church during restoration work

7 Charis Methodist Church consecrates its new building at 35th Anniversary service

10 Love the Lord and your neighbour: WPCU2024

/ Feature /

11 Gatekeepers launches a new meeting place in the heart of the CBD

15 How three outreach ministries in AMKTMC grew

/ Opinion /

19 Soundings: Saints in the marketplace

/ Outreach /

21 Bearing the fruit of love

23 Notes from the diary of a church planter

/ Relationships /

27 You & Your Family: From message to messenger

29 At The Well /

33 Going forth in the Lord's name

37 Sowing gospel seeds in the young

Slaves and masters, then and now

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

It is surprising that this scriptural exhortation is addressed primarily to "slaves" (see v22). Slaves in Roman times were, by definition, people who had no personal freedom to choose what work they could or could not do. The slaves, on pain of death, did everything, and anything, the master asked them to do.

Many people condemn the apostle Paul for asking slaves to work heartily. They wish that Paul would have encouraged slaves to rise in protest against their oppressive working conditions. There certainly were slave revolts, fighting (and mostly dying) in their quest for freedom in that era.

When we meet in heaven, we may ask Paul why he didn't inspire revolts against slavery, but I suspect that he had decided that such protests would have led to much bloodshed and greater harm for everyone, including the slaves themselves. In any event, we should note that in the very next verses, Paul instructs all slave masters "to provide ... what is right and fair" to their slaves (Colossians 4:1 NIV), and that they would have to answer to God for the way they treat their slaves. "Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism" (v25).

Life in our modern marketplace is very different from the Roman era of masters and slaves. But Paul's scriptural exhortations can still inspire and guide both employers and employees today. Do we identify ourselves as an employee who is insufficiently compensated for work in the marketplace? God's Word encourages us to find motivation to still do good work by regarding Jesus to be our true Master— "It is the Lord Christ you are serving" —and we find comfort by believing that Christ will give us our proper reward and inheritance for all the good work we put in.

And if we identify more as an employer, God's Word commands us to regard the provision of "what is right and fair" as our Key Performance Indicator which God will be looking at.

Whatever you do —whether as employer or employee— work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Our

25–27 March 2024

Toa Payoh Methodist Church

8.00 p.m. – 9.15 p.m. daily

Reflections from Isaiah 56-58 by Bishop Dr Gordon Wong (in English with Mandarin translation)

Our Hope

Scan here for livestream

Praises & Prayers led by pastors from the three Annual Conferences

Holy Monday

25 March

Isaiah 56:3–8

God of All the Nations

Holy Tuesday 26 March

Isaiah 57:15–19

God of the Crushed in Spirit

Spy Wednesday

27 March

Isaiah 58:3–10

God of the Hungry

100 -year-old time capsule

unearthed at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church during restoration work

Items found point to the long-standing practices of the Methodists in Singapore

Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TACMC) members were overjoyed to discover that a 100-year-old time capsule was located and successfully extracted at the site of their church building at 235 Telok Ayer Street. The church building is currently undergoing restoration work.

The items in the time capsule included a Chinese Bible presented by the British and Foreign Bible Society, a 1921 edition of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church (now the United Methodist Church), a 1919 pocket-sized book containing hymns, minutes of the 1923 Malaysia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and copies of local dailies, The Straits Times and Singapore Free Press, among other items. (See page 5 for full list.)

The time capsule—a slim metal box measuring 300 mm by 300 mm by 50 mm —was successfully extracted on 7 Feb 2024, in the presence of Rev Dr Gregory Goh, President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), Rev Edmund Koh, Pastor-in-Charge of TACMC, leaders of TACMC and representatives from Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM), the national authority that advises on the preservation of nationally significant monuments and sites in Singapore.

Extraction work commenced at 10 a.m. after Rev Dr Goh said a prayer: "Thanks and praise to God as we witness this historic moment for the proclamation made by the

(top) TACMC building at 235 Telok Ayer Street, prior to restoration work (Photo courtesy of TACMC) (right) (from left to right) Rev Edmund Koh, Pastorin-Charge, TACMC; Rev Dr Gregory Goh, President of the CAC; Prof Tan Chew Lim, Lay Leader, TACMC; and Mr Tan Hua Joo, Local Church Executive Committee Chairman, TACMC, holding the time capsule at the sanctuary

Chinese community back in the day. We give thanks for their loyalty, their sense of mission and willingness to serve."

Bishop Dr Gordon Wong of MCS shared in a statement, "The time capsule will connect us to our roots and bring history to life … I believe that what we have discovered will serve to strengthen our understanding of our past and help us to appreciate the rich heritage that we have come from."

TACMC's church building at the corner of Telok Ayer Street and Cecil Street is designed by Swan & Maclaren, one of the most prominent architectural firms during

the early 20th century in Singapore. The building was conferred the Preservation Order specifying it as a national monument in 1989. The church, which was founded by Dr Benjamin West—a missionary doctor— celebrates its 135th Anniversary this year.

The four-storey building, once the tallest in the area, served as a refuge for nearly 300 people during the Japanese Occupation.

TACMC is the oldest Chinese Methodist Church under CAC, and conducts services in Hokkien, Mandarin and English.

Discovering the time capsule's existence

Church members did not know about the time capsule with certainty until recently.

(right) Site of the time capsule seen from the external wall where the marble plaque partially obstructs it

(far right) Extracting the time capsule from the internal wall to mitigate the problem of the marble plaque obstructing it from the outside

The first glimpse of the items inside the time capsule

(centre)

Rev Dr Gregory Goh (first from left) examining the Chinese Bible with Prof Tan Chew Lim (first from right), Rev Edmund Koh (second from right) and Mr Tan Hua Joo (partially hidden) (above)

The interior of the Chinese hymnal containing liturgies

100-year-old time capsule unearthed at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church during restoration work

Items inside the Time Capsule

Booklet which includes the Methodist Episcopal Church's liturgies for the Sacrament of Holy Communion, Funerals, Weddings, and Order of Worship

1919

Minutes of the Malaysia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1923

Minutes of the Finance Committee, Malaysia Conference, Mid-Year Session, 1923

The Straits Times, 8 Jan 1924

There had been hearsay of a time capsule but no one knew its exact location. While researching and curating artefacts for the heritage gallery that is being built inside the restored church building, a committee made up of church member-volunteers came across newspaper reports from the Malayan Saturday Post about the time capsule. The newspaper article reported that the capsule was sealed and laid in the foundation wall during the foundation stone laying ceremony on 9 Jan 1924.

Using ultrasound and metal scanning tools, the box was detected by TACMC's contractor, Topzone E&C Pte Ltd. TACMC

A handwritten statement in Chinese, documenting the laying of the foundation stone ceremony on 9 Jan 1924 at the site of TACMC (235 Telok Ayer Street)

church leaders decided that the 100-year milestone was an appropriate time to extract the time capsule and plans were made to extract the box. It is uncanny that the time capsule was only discovered and extracted at the 100-year milestone, given that the restoration work was significantly delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Topzone E&C acted upon the advice of architectural heritage consultants, MAEK Consulting, to extract the box. Mr Wong Chung Wan, who is the technical director of MAEK Consulting and oversaw the extraction proceedings, explained that the extraction took several hours as the box was not housed

A Chinese Bible, presented by the British and Foreign Bible Society, printed in Foochow, China

A Chinese translation of the 1784 version of the Methodist Episcopal Church's Discipline, which includes history and doctrine; the translation was done in Foochow, China

A

pocket-sized hymnal containing liturgies and 409 hymns

Singapore Free Press, 9 Jan 1924 (two copies)

in a vault—as was the case for most time capsules—and was partially blocked by the marble plaque commemorating the laying of the foundation stone, as seen from an external wall of the church along the fivefoot-way. The box was finally extracted from the internal wall so as not to damage the marble plaque.

Time capsule items a testament to the rich heritage of Methodists in Singapore

A week after its extraction, the time capsule was opened on 14 Feb 2024 after having rested in a dry box environment where the humidity level was controlled. The unboxing, conducted by Mr Wong, took place at the church's temporary location located at Wishart Road.

One of the significant items is the copy of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the pre-cursor of the Book of Discipline (BOD), a rule book that Methodist churches use today. Methodists in Singapore achieved autonomy in 1968 (as the Malayan Annual Conference) and separated to become The Methodist Church in Malaysia and The Methodist Church in Singapore in 1976.

Rev Dr Goh said he was "most happy" to find the book of hymns, as it represented an important aspect of Christian living— worship. He surmised that the pocket-size dimensions enabled churchgoers to have their own copy, to bring along with them to church and use at home. "Most from the older generations cannot read Chinese. They learnt to read Chinese characters from these hymns and memorised these songs over time."

"It is also heartening to me to know that things aren’t so different today, that we are still keeping to these important traditions based on the documents—the Bible, liturgy, BOD, hymn book—we see in the time capsule," said Rev Dr Goh. For example, the minutes from the Finance Committee

of the Malaysia Conference reflects how the Annual Conferences operate today. "From as early as 100 years ago, church matters were already so clearly spelt out and organised … this accountability from the time of our forefathers constitutes our Methodist legacy."

The financial reports, which mentioned Anglo-Chinese School, Methodist Girls' School and Methodist Boys' School (in Malaya) showed the close link between the Methodist schools and the Church.

The items unearthed in the time capsule will eventually be housed in the heritage gallery at the ground floor of the original site of TACMC and will be open to the public. The heritage gallery, about 232 sqm in size, is timed to open with the completion of the restoration work in Jan 2025, which would coincide with the building's 100th anniversary.

Prof Tan Chew Lim, Lay Leader of TACMC and advisor to the Archives Committee, said, "The time capsule is a testament to the faith and resilience of the early Hokkien-speaking migrants who landed in Nanyang in the late 19th century and came to believe in God. Their lives were positively impacted by the Christian faith, shared by the early Western missionaries."

There are plans to install a new time capsule as a legacy for future generations of church members.

100-year-old time capsule unearthed at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church during restoration work

Charis Methodist Church consecrates its new building at 35th Anniversary service

Thus says the Lord God : "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it."

~ Ezekiel 17:22-24

On 21 January 2024, the new Charis Methodist Church (CMC) building was consecrated and dedicated to the glory of God. It also marked the 35th anniversary of CMC since it became a Local Conference.

The planning and construction process took nearly four and a half years—much longer than the initial timeline of 18 months—as the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted works and the subsequent global shortages of manpower and

materials took their toll, amidst concerns of escalating costs. During that time, CMC held hybrid services at Living Hope Methodist Church (LHMC). The LHMC leaders and members made the "homeless" Charisians feel welcomed, showing what it meant to be part of the same body of Christ. During this interim period, CMC continued to serve the community in Joo Chiat with the Samaria project (for the homeless and rough sleepers during the Covid-19 circuit breaker), prayer walks and English lessons.

Kwok Wan Yee is the Education Secretary of The Methodist Church in Singapore and serves on the Council of Communications as an ExCo member. She is also the Lay Leader of Charis Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Charis Methodist Church

Members of CMC with pastors, leaders and guests

A fruitful ministry because of God's grace

The theme of the Anniversary service was "In the Shade of God’s Grace". Bishop Dr Gordon Wong preached on Ezekiel 17:22-24 and highlighted several points, pointing to the work of the Lord and the part that CMC members must play. Firstly, CMC was established by the design and initiative of God. Bishop Dr Wong noted that God is on hand to accomplish God's will, that God himself will "take a shoot from the top of

the cedar" , "break off a tender sprig" and "plant it" (v22). Secondly, with God's hand upon her, there is the promise of a fruitful ministry: CMC shall establish a fruitful ministry; "it will produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid cedar" (v23a).

It seemed fitting that, as CMC seeks to be an attractive community, the church will serve the community and needy, and be the place where "birds of every sort will dwell and nest" (v23b). Bishop pointed out that

Charis Methodist Church consecrates its new building at 35th Anniversary service

(left) Cake cutting (right) Children's choir

in v23b, the words "nest" and "shelter" (NLT) are both translated as "home" or " 家 " in Mandarin. Charisians were reminded that God has provided CMC with a home, to be a shelter and nest for welcoming many more to come.

Lastly, CMC would thrive but only by God's grace. It is the Lord who brings down the tall tree and makes the low tree grow tall, and as it says in v24, "dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish … I have spoken and I will do it" . The chosen theme was thus most appropriate, as the name Charis is from the Greek word meaning "grace".

Starting a new season with reminders from the past

CAC President Rev Dr Gregory Goh was inspired by the beautiful stained glass artwork that was conserved from the old building and re-installed in the new sanctuary. The stained glass features the elements of the Eucharist, representing Christ incarnate and resurrected, the unity of the Church and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. In his address, he reminded all Charisians to look through that window and see the world outside as Christ would.

Just as Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it" (Matthew 16:18b, NLT), the CMC choir sang the song, "Upon This Rock" at the dedication service—a fitting anthem as it was the same one sung on 3 Apr 1993 at the inaugural service at this location, and again on 20 Jan 2019 to celebrate her 30th Anniversary.

As members gathered again in one location, it was clear that the learning, unlearning and relearning of many things was necessary. Not only had the neighbourhood evolved in the last four years, but the congregation did as well. Many members had gotten married, and there were new additions in the Sunday school classes.

All praise and thanks to God for the promising start to this phase of her history. May CMC always be a people after God's heart.

(right, top)

Front view of CMC during construction

(right, bottom) Construction of sanctuary

(far right, top)

Stained glass that was conserved from the old church building (far right, bottom)

CMC choir

Love the Lord and your neighbour

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2024

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) is an annual celebration by Christians internationally. Traditionally, it is celebrated from 18 to 25 January—the period between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul—and was first proposed in 1908 by Father Paul Wattson, co-founder of the US-based Graymoor Franciscan Friars.

This year's celebration was convened by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso who, together, prepared prayers, reflections, and a common Order of Worship. The theme was, "You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbour as yourself" (Luke 10:27).

Locally, the event was coordinated by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for

19, 20 and 22 January at different venues. Through this event, Mr Gerald Kong, Executive Secretary of ACCED, hoped that participants experienced an intimate love of God that "impels all Christians concretely as joint gospel witnesses to reach out in gratitude for undeserved grace to those in need".

Bishop Dr Gordon Wong of The Methodist Church in Singapore attended the final prayer service conducted at Bible House. "In a world and era where differences divide and destroy, the Church should celebrate more the things which unite us in Christ and argue less the things which divide. The WPCU is an attempt to do this. I wish it was celebrated and observed by

Terence Chua is a Local Preacher at Living Hope Methodist Church.

/ Photo courtesy of Terence Chua

Representatives from various Christian denominations, including Bishop Dr Gordon Wong (second from right), leading in

Gatekeepers launches a new meeting place in the heart of the CBD

The new leadership of the nearly 50-year-old marketplace ministry seeks to continue the mission of discipling the nation to advance God’s kingdom on earth.

On 23 January this year, a meeting for tech executives in the Central Business District was held in a shophouse on Pekin Street. On the surface, it did not look like an unusual gathering for those working in the technology industry, but the purpose of this event was not solely about networking. What made this meeting different was that the participants belonged to different Christian denominations, and had come to explore and share insights on how technology can be a force for transformation to shape Singapore’s future through faith and innovation. And to top it off, it was organised by the oldest marketplace ministry organisation in Singapore.

The gathering—the inaugural session of Kingdom Gathering, a series of monthly industry-focused talks—was organised by interdenominational parachurch organisation, Gatekeepers Singapore (Gatekeepers for short). Previously known as the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International Singapore (FGBMFIS) and subsequently Full Gospel Business (FGB), Gatekeepers most recently changed its name in 2019 and celebrates its 49th anniversary this year.1

According to Sherman Ng, Gatekeepers' National President since March 2023, the monthly sessions are part of Gatekeepers' plan to draw marketplace leaders where Kingdom worldviews—adopting a biblical perspective when viewing the world— could be shared and discussed.

The first session of the Kingdom Gathering series at Gatekeepers' new premises on Pekin Street

The genesis of Gatekeepers

The genesis and growth of FGBMFIS in its early years were intrinsically linked to Christianity's involvement in Singapore's social development and the charismatic movement in Singapore. The movement raised a new generation of Christian leaders, including the late Canon Dr James Wong (founding Vicar of Chapel of the Resurrection) who mentored Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong (founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Community Church) and Pastor Kong Hee (founder and senior pastor of City Harvest Church).

The story of Singapore's charismatic movement detailed in the book Unfolding His Story gives an account of how FGBMFIS started, the involvement of various leaders and members across various Christian denominations, including leaders from Methodist churches and students who were part of the ACS clock tower revival in the 1970s.

Georgie Lee, who co-authored Unfolding His Story with his son Galven Lee, is Gatekeepers' immediate past President. He pointed out that the work of Gatekeepers was always meant to complement the Church.

″The Church does a wonderful job of discipleship in many areas but the area that needs more attention is what I call vocational discipleship. We have a flourishing Sunday church but the Monday church is but just a whimper of what it should be,” said Georgie, whose career over the past 50 years has spanned journalism, stockbroking and investment banking.

Fulfilling the gatekeeping mission today

Today, Gatekeepers is led by a new generation of leaders who want to continue the original mission of discipling men and women to fulfil God’s work. This vocational discipleship is relevant for various industries and sectors and helps with peer mentoring and discussing solutions that fit within the Kingdom model. Long seen as advocates and pioneers for vocational discipleship, Gatekeepers' members share their mission by being living testimonies of marketplace theologies and through their faith journeys, transform lives and impact culture.

Aside from the monthly Kingdom Gathering sessions, Gatekeepers also has plans to expand in the region. Gatekeepers Thailand was started last year and groundwork for the Indonesian chapter is underway.

Sherman wants to continue building marketplace discipleship communities, equipping members with a Christ-centred theology of work for effective evangelism in the marketplace as the essence of vocational discipleship at Gatekeepers. This is also evident in Gatekeepers' focus areas: Intentional Discipleship, Impactful Stewardship and Influential Leadership.

Gatekeepers launches a new meeting place in the heart of the CBD

Georgie Lee (left), the immediate past president, continues to lend his support to the current president, Sherman Ng (right), as a member of the Gatekeepers Council of Elders

″We function intergenerationally, like any family. We're like a family in the marketplace. We might be living in a time where there is an epidemic of fatherlessness, but we have a perfect Father in God. God's rules are perfect as his kingdom is perfect. Let us work to live out the gospel of the kingdom and expand his kingdom, together," said Sherman, who worships at 3:16 Church.

Referring to members as "gatekeepers" is a reminder of their role and responsibility, and to bring the values of God's kingdom back to the "gates", the pillars of society. In the Bible, a gate is regarded as a place of importance to a city—for its defence, a meeting point, where judgements are ruled and decisions are made, even for trade and commerce, i.e. a marketplace.

Sherman sums up the role of Gatekeepers and its members, ″We are gatekeepers, whether we like it or not. We gatekeep our hearts and minds, our lips and tongues. We determine what comes into, and goes out of, our lives—our homes, businesses and beyond, even the outcome of our nation … Gatekeepers is the praxis of marketplace theology."

Rev Ian Toh, the founding pastor of 3:16 Church, oversees the pillar of intentional discipleship in Gatekeepers. The Kingdom Gathering series is one of the initiatives to build marketplace communities and start conversations.

"'Worship is work' is a neglected truth— worship extends into every aspect of our lives, including the oft-overlooked domain of work. The separation of sacred and secular has created a divide that inhibits believers from recognising the divine potential within their daily tasks. Yet, if we embrace that every occupation can be an expression of worship, we open doors to a richer, more meaningful life in Christ," says Rev Toh.

Recently, Gatekeepers has attracted new members in their 20s and 30s. Christopher Tsoi, 37, from Toa Payoh Methodist Church, is a Young Gatekeepers (YGK) Leader. ″I see Gatekeepers as a valuable community of Christians from different churches, whether in a similar line of work or a different one. We discuss spiritual and daily life concerns, and there is an added intention of evangelising and growing in discipleship in the marketplace.″

Joylynn Soh, 28, from Bedok Methodist Church, joined Gatekeepers in 2021 and is an active member of the YGK group. For her, witnessing how Kingdom perspectives challenge societal norms has motivated her to better steward the resources she has been given. Just as how Gatekeepers is a proponent of redemptive enterprises, Joylynn has been encouraged to review her perspectives on how work and business can be used to restore the fallen creation order back to God's original design.

(top) Women’s Gatekeepers

(right) Gatekeepers members enjoy the camaraderie within the group and grow together in various aspects of life

"I've been able to widen my perspective of seeing finance [as] not just about maximising shareholder value in the financial sense but also about weighing equally the intangible Kingdom objectives that can be fulfilled," said Joylynn.

Gabrielle Kum, 27, who worships at Faith Community Baptist Church, felt convicted to reach out to the people at her workplace after entering the workforce. "Through Gatekeepers, I finally found people who have the same fire and passion for the lost in the marketplace. Now I know that there's an army of marketplace warriors in the Gatekeepers community who are with me in this race.″

For more information on Gatekeepers, follow their Facebook page @gatekeeperssg or visit their website at https://www.gatekeepers.sg

MARKETPLACE MINISTRIES

BY METHODIST CHURCHES

Wesley Methodist Church | Marketplace Support Group (MSG)

An MSG is a peer mentorship group of three to four Christians who build spiritual friendships to support and mentor each other in their walk as disciples within their vocation. This initiative under the Witness & Evangelism's Marketplace Ministry is restarting following a hiatus during the pandemic. A Marketplace Conference to equip participants in Theology of Work is scheduled for August and thereafter, you may register to be part of an MSG. All Christians are welcomed and you may log your interest directly with the church.

For details: wefriends@wesleymc.org

Barker Road Methodist Church | WSCS God@Work

A lunchtime spiritual oasis for women in the workplace.

VivoCity: Online, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Novena: Online, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Suntec: Hybrid, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Raffles Hybrid, 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Place: (except Jun and Dec)

For details: brmcwscssg@gmail.com

1 Women were admitted into its membership in 2008 and thereafter, FGBMFIS changed its name to Full Gospel Business (FGB) in 2012.

Senior Manager Property Administration

To apply and view other Employment Opportunities at MCS, visit https://www.methodist.org. sg/contact-us/mcs-employmentopportunities/

Alternatively, send your resume to hr@methodist.org.sg

Gatekeepers launches a new meeting place in the heart of the CBD

Photo taken during a Young Gatekeepers Christmas dinner / Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Kum

How three outreach ministries in AMKTMC grew

For churches in the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, the Tamil-speaking congregations are well-placed to reach out to different segments of society. One significant segment is that comprising migrant workers, both male and female. This was the objective of Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church's (AMKTMC) Fellowship of Indian Brothers (FIB) and Fellowship of Indian Sisters (FIS). In addition, the church also offers Tamil language tuition classes for primary school children, drawing the Tamil-speaking families from the neighbourhood and beyond.

Providing free classes and a listening ear Fellowship of Indian Brothers

When FIB started in 2007, it reached out to migrant workers by visiting the dormitories. But after AMKTMC moved to its new church building in 2012, the migrant workers were invited to the church premises instead, where free classes in Spoken English, Basic Computer Skills and AutoCAD software

were conducted. At first the migrant workers were reluctant to come to church as they thought they would be asked to convert to Christianity. One of the reasons for their scepticism was the fact that classes were free. "What's in it for you, why is it free?" they would ask.

Today, approximately 40-50 dedicated students actively participate in the classes which run on a weekly basis. An estimated 1,000 migrant workers have attended the classes in the last 10 years. According to Alfred Jayaprakash Sugunaraj, who oversees the FIB, some of the participants have included Bangladeshis and Myanmarese even though the classes were publicised to be conducted in the Tamil language. "We don't get to choose who comes for the classes, so we just go with the Designer's plan," Alfred said.

Beyond running classes, the ministry focuses on befriending the workers and

Lianne Ong is the Editor of Methodist Message

/ Photos courtesy of Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church

(left) Tamil tuition ministry for primary school children (middle) Courses are run by FIB (right) A time of prayer during an FIS meeting

taking the time to hear their problems. "We are not trained counsellors, but we can provide a listening ear and prayer. Most of the time, the brothers just need someone to lean on, not so much a solution," said Alfred. "But it would be great if we could find someone who can provide Christian counselling and is conversant in Tamil," he added.

Over the years, some of the brothers have been baptised at AMKTMC. However, many accept Christ in secret because of the stigma that it carries, especially in the Hindu culture, as the brothers do not want to face rejection from their families.

One of the participants, Kannathasan, who works in the construction industry and has been a part of the FIB for the past four years, serves as a testament to the programme's positive impact. He shared, "My initial steps into this community began with the Spoken English classes. These sessions not only enhanced my communication skills but also facilitated better interaction with my colleagues at work. Moreover, the Computer Skills and AutoCAD teachings have been instrumental in expanding my professional horizons."

Likewise, Natarajan, who also works in the construction industry and attends the sessions regularly, expressed his gratitude for the programme. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to enhance my skills without bearing a financial burden."

They once met at the park thinking nonChristians would not want to be in a church Fellowship of Indian Sisters

The FIS began in 2017 with the objective of reaching out to Indian sisters who had come to Singapore for work, often without any friends in a foreign country. Many of the sisters are migrant domestic workers (MDWs), nurses or working in the IT field.

The ministry was born out of a collaboration between then WSCS President, Dr Amutha Chinnadurai and the Evangelism Chairperson, Therese Thenmozhi. The first task was to decide how to publicise the ministry. "But God told us, 'Your job is to make the ministry available, I will bring the sisters'," shared Dr Amutha.

The first meeting was held under the shade of a large tree at Ang Mo KioBishan Park with just a handful of sisters. "We had decided to hold it outside of church, so as not to intimidate the nonChristians," Dr Amutha, a paediatrician, recalled. The time would be spent enjoying home-cooked food and Indian old-school games. The leaders would weave in "Character Education" lessons with no particular reference to the Bible. This was followed by prayer, which was "not compulsory"—so as not to turn anyone off. "Amazingly, we found that they actually wanted the prayer!"

When Christmas rolled around, the meeting was held at AMKTMC's newly renovated church building so that the Seniors Ministry could join in.

"We had tiptoed around the idea of meeting in church, but our assumptions that the non-Christians wouldn't want to be in the church building were proven untrue! In fact, they enjoyed being around older people, as it reminded them of home," Dr Amutha said.

How three outreach ministries in AMKTMC grew

Courses conducted by FIB are free

Currently, there are a total of 22 sisters in the group. As each one of them has different off-days, an average of 7-10 sisters attend each session. Over the years, an estimated 60 foreign workers have participated in FIS. Two formally accepted Christ, while several are already from Christian backgrounds.

The meetings are held once a month and the content shared cover topics relevant to the sisters, for example, mental health and managing finances. In 2024, there are plans to start weekly classes, imparting skills like sewing so that the sisters might use these skills to start small businesses when they return home.

Sharing the faith with students' families

Tamil Tuition Ministry

The Tamil Tuition Ministry began in 2017 with five primary school students. Today it has 15 students, the majority of whom come from non-Christian families. Most of the students stay through their whole primary school journey. "Some will visit us again when they are in secondary school!" said Prem Kumar, who has served in this ministry since it started and says AMKTMC is likely the only ETAC church that offers Tamil tuition classes.

The free classes are promoted via their TRAC sister church on the same premises—Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church—which runs English and Math tuition classes. Ang Mo Kio Methodist Preschool, which is also co-

located on the same premises, promotes the Tamil tuition classes to their K2 students from Tamil families. The classes run every Friday, from 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

"All our teachers are church members who are able to read and write in Tamil but they are not specially trained. We have 10 tutors on rotation, and we divide the students into three classes—Primary 1-2, Primary 3-4 and Primary 5-6 —with one teacher assigned to each class," explained Prem.

Beyond tuition, the ministry organises family activities. "We celebrate Children's Day and go for an outing once a year. Recently, we conducted a 'faith-sharing' meeting with parents of the students and about 15 adults attended," Prem said.

(left)

FIS meeting

(right) Children's Day event held for the Tamil tuition students and their families

Saints in the marketplace

In the past few decades, there has been an avalanche of excellent books on marketplace ministry such as Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Plan for the World (2012) by the late Timothy J. Keller, 1 and The Kingdom of God in Working Clothes: The Marketplace and the Reign of God (2022) by R. Paul Stevens. 2

The marketplace is seen as an arena for Christian witness, ministry, and mission— and rightly so!

However, what exactly is this complex and somewhat amorphous "locale" that we have called the marketplace? What significant impact—if any at all—can the presence of Christians have on those who live, move, and have their being in it?

The modern idea of the marketplace can be traced back to the agora of ancient Greece, the most illustrious of which was located at the centre of the great city of Athens. The agora was not solely a place for trade and commerce. It was also the heart of political, social, cultural and religious activity.

In the same way, the modern marketplace— the agora of our time—cannot be reductively understood as only having to do with business and economics. It is an arena in which a lively confluence of all sorts of human activity takes place: politics, education, government, law, and of course, trade.

Christians should be alert to the fact that the modern marketplace is not ideologically or morally neutral—regardless of what some secular writers would have us believe. It is flooded with ideas, fads, trends, moral sensibilities, values and attitudes which affect lives, shape relationships and colour our understanding of reality itself.

Most significantly, the modern marketplace is influenced by worldviews which receive their inspiration from a myriad of sensibilities—such as rabid individualism and relativism—and are mostly antithetical to the Christian worldview.

Christians in the marketplace must therefore be able to discern these worldviews in their various shades and guises. To do this,

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.

A view of the ruins at the Ancient Agora of Athens, with the Temple of Hephaestus at the far side of the archaeological site. (Source: Shutterstock)

Saints

they must be steeped in the teachings of Holy Scripture and allow the truths of God to govern their minds, hearts and conduct.

In other words, they must develop what the Russian Orthodox theologian, Georges Florovsky, calls "the Scriptural Mind". 3

Furthermore, even though the modern marketplace is often described as "secular", it in fact is not—if by "secular" we mean the absence of spiritual and religious influence and vitality. Just like how the ancient agora was the home of temples dedicated to different gods, the modern marketplace is also captivated by all manner of idolatry, which are arguably more insidious than their ancient counterparts.

This means that malevolent spiritual forces— invisible to the naked eye—are at work in the modern marketplace. Their influence is behind every business transaction and every human interaction, in ways that are beyond our reckoning.

The apostle Paul has described these entities variously as "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) and "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). These forces are at work in the "sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2), and their singular purpose is to blind minds.

Christians, however, need not despair because of this! For in that same "public space" we call the marketplace, a greater power is also at work— that of the almighty God, whose nature is love.

To put this in a different theological register: in this fallen and sinful place that we have been calling the marketplace, God's general common grace, which Reformed theologian Louis Berkhof defines as "a grace that applies to mankind in general and to every member of the human race", is present and at work. 4

We see the outworkings of God's grace in every humane and just policy, in every ethical

business transaction and in every generous and edifying relationship. We see evidence of this grace whenever the true, the good and the beautiful shine through in the modern agora.

The role of the Christian in the marketplace—whatever his vocation—is to point others to the God of grace through word and deed and in all his relationships. To do this, the Christian, who belongs to God's peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9), must embody and manifest an essential distinctiveness that sets him apart from the unbelieving world—a distinctiveness which the Bible calls holiness.

The presence of saints in the modern marketplace makes a difference because they are present in a peculiar (a radically different) way. They are present to commandeer the metaphors that Jesus himself employed as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Their presence as salt and light—which staves off decay and dispels the darkness—will in some ways effect change in the people they encounter in the modern agora.

20 Methodist Message — March 2024

1 Timothy J. Keller, Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Plan for the World (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2012).

2 R. Paul Stevens, The Kingdom of God in Working Clothes: The Marketplace and the Reign of God (Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2022).

3 See Georges Florovsky, "The Lost Scriptural Mind," Collected Works of Georges Florovsky. Volume I: Bible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View (Büchervertriebsanstalt, Vaduz, Europa, 1987), 9-16.

Mr Chua Wah Liang recalls a haunting visit to a museum in Poland when he was in his 30s, encountering heartwrenching images of Holocaust victims and a poignant exhibit of a pile of shoes belonging to those who had lost their lives at Nazi concentration camps.

Now, at 86 and a stroke survivor residing at MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee, he shares these impactful travel memories with his pastoral care volunteers during their weekly visits.

"As a young adult, I travelled extensively, and I enjoy reminiscing about those experiences with visiting volunteers. We chat and sing old songs together, which brings me joy. Their friendship makes me feel at home and less lonely," shared Mr Chua.

Embracing the call to love our neighbours

Since his admission into the Nursing Home in 2019, Mr Chua has been receiving regular pastoral visits from volunteers, including via Zoom during the Covid-19 lockdown.

On a Friday afternoon, he warmly shares tales of his European and Indian travels, his previous swimming pool construction business and more with pastoral care volunteer Allan Howe.

EARING the fruit of

"It is a joy to connect with residents like Mr Chua, and pray for those who are open," shared Allan, a 63-year-old retiree and member of Aldersgate Methodist Church. "I believe that the work of the pastoral care team is very important in God's eyes. Many residents here are very old, and some are on palliative care, including several who are in the final stages of their life. God's word tells us that he is not wilIing that any should perish, but that all should be saved. I hope to be able to share God's word and journey with them in their final moments."

He added: "I am thankful for MWS Chaplains, Rev Dr Norman Wong and Rev Chua Chiew Poh, who are inspiring trainers and models of care and dedication for many residents. The Christian songs that the Spirit led Norman to sing with us during my pastoral care training also deeply ministered to me."

A holistic care model

While healthcare professionals address residents' physical health, the pastoral care team, including volunteers, attends to their spiritual and emotional well-being. Their warm presence creates a caring and supportive environment within the nursing home, contributing significantly to the holistic well-being of the residents.

By the MWS Communications Team. / Photo courtesy of MWS

Mr Chua Wah Liang, a resident at MWS Nursing Home – Yew Tee, shares a laugh with MWS pastoral care volunteer Allan Howe

Bearing

Besides bedside ministry, some pastoral care volunteers assist the MWS Chaplains during the weekly chapel services.

"Volunteers inject vitality into the environment, and we see the faces of residents brighten when they are around," said Rev Chua.

"Their influence encourages active participation in activities, such as singalong sessions, and we have observed a noticeable difference in residents' engagement levels over the years. In the past, we sing and the residents just listen. But now, we see them singing along with us!"

Enhancing capacity to care Church members keen on ministering to nursing home residents can now enrol to be trained by the MWS Chaplaincy Team, through this year's The Giving Methodist (TGM) campaign.

TGM, an initiative spearheaded by The Methodist Church in Singapore and its social concerns arm, Methodist Welfare Services, encourages Methodists to show love and kindness to the distressed and disadvantaged. This year's theme, "Serving in His Footsteps", is a call for Methodists to emulate Jesus' self-giving ways by blessing and serving the needy in the community.

3 WAYS TO GIVE DURING THE GIVING METHODIST (TGM) 2024

GIVE TIME

Sign up to spend two hours with the MWS Chaplaincy Team and be trained in Pastoral Care. You will also get to minister to residents at an MWS Nursing Home.

GIVE A DONATION

Donate to provide financial assistance to over 11,000 families and individuals that MWS serves across our 22 centres and programmes.

GIVE VOICE

Spread the word about TGM 2024 by sharing digital resources in your church or among your social networks.

Visit https://thegivingmethodist.sg for more information.

Nursing home residents may face various emotional challenges, including loneliness, anxiety and grief. At MWS, pastoral care volunteers are trained to offer a compassionate and empathetic ear, providing a safe space for residents to express their emotions. Through active listening and understanding, these volunteers offer comfort and foster emotional well-being.

Even for residents who are withdrawn or non-communicative due to medical or mental issues, volunteers can offer quiet comfort through their presence, or engage them in prayer and song.

Allan shared, "On one of my visits, I met a resident who looked downcast. Despite his initial silence, I remembered Norman's guidance to wait for the Spirit's prompting. Eventually, I felt led to ask if I could pray for him. The resident nodded, and after the prayer, he softly said, 'Amen'. It reminded me that God has made everything beautiful in its time."

At the heart of Allan's service to residents is love. He stresses the importance of sincere love, expressing: "Working with the pastoral care team has expanded my capacity to care, and I am seeking God to 'refire' me to continue bearing his fruit in my remaining years."

Sanpranet Methodist Church, Thailand

Part 1 of 2

Rev Henry Yeo and his wife, Sungwan Yeo, were sent out by the Methodist Missions Society, Singapore (MMS) to help establish the Methodist Mission in Thailand (MMT) in 1998. Rev Henry served as the Country Coordinator and then later as Country Director. Sungwan is a native Thai from the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

In 2004, MMT was renamed the Mettakij Church Association (MCA). The main objective of MCA is to plant churches supported and enhanced by community services and social welfare.

This is Rev Henry's account of their time spent planting indigenous churches in Thailand from 1998 to 2005.

It is a cool, dry February day in 1998 when we arrive and set up our base in Sanpranet. Sanpranet is a relatively well-populated community in the Sansai district in the northern province of Chiang Mai. Most inhabitants are the native Lan Na Thai people (also known as Khon Mueng or "City People"), while the rest are from hill tribes such as the Lahu, Karen, Akha and Hmong who come to Sanpranet to seek economic opportunities in the capital city (which, like the province, is also called Chiang Mai).

The church we are attached to here is the first church in Thailand adopted by MMT.

This church was planted by a pastor from the Lahu tribe. Before our arrival, he had made a request to come under the umbrella of MMT. It is a very common practice in Thailand for pastors who plant independent churches to do this in order to attain a form of legitimacy.

On our first Sunday, we can see it is a vibrant church, but all its 80-odd members are from the minority Lahu tribe and all activities are conducted exclusively in their own dialect. This dialect, foreign to the Lan Na Thai and people from other hill tribes, is clearly a barrier to outreach. Neither does the church offer any activities to attract the community at large. Having identified what is lacking, we must now find solutions.

Most Sanpranet inhabitants are in the lower-middle income group, but there are some very poor families trying to make ends meet because jobs are scarce. We find out later that several of our first converts are employed in a big pig farm not too far away.

After discussing with me, my wife Sungwan, a trained teacher, sets off to visit an elementary school operated by a local Buddhist temple. It is highly common in Thailand for schools to be founded and supported by a temple or be located on temple grounds.

She comes back to report that many of the students need help after school with their homework assignments. But quite a few of them are being raised by single mothers or come from families which are broken. In many cases, both parents will be at work for long hours daily, six days a week, leaving their children home alone after school to fend for themselves. And even when parents are at home, many are not educated enough, or are too tired, to help their children.

Sungwan wants to minister to the children by starting an After-School Programme for them. Much to her delight (and mine), it attracts almost all the children at the small school, particularly the older ones studying in Grades 4-6 who have considerably more homework assignments. After spending some time observing the students, Sungwan categorises them according to their abilities and begins to tutor the weaker ones.

When she has time, she goes out to visit the parents of the children. During these informal "parent-teacher meetings", besides discussing the children's progress, she looks for an opportunity to talk about God and to

pray with the parents. As time passes, it's obvious that many of them are grateful for the After-School Programme and trust her. However, while they appreciate what she is doing for their children, they are not yet open to receiving Christ as their Saviour.

We remind each other that God is the Lord of the harvest and we are here simply to sow the seed. Three weeks into the AfterSchool Programme, Sungwan announces to the children that if they come to the church on Saturday mornings, she will teach them songs and stories from the Bible. It is gratifying to see the response to her invitation. More than 80 children are turning up every Saturday!

Remarkably, even though most of the parents are not willing to accept Christ or to attend church themselves, they readily allow and even encourage their children to attend our Saturday morning activities. This situation really boosts our boldness and vision.

In August 1999, Sungwan takes the lead in organising a one-day evangelistic outreach to the children. We are greatly helped by a missionary couple from the United States who are here to aid us for two weeks. We had first met them in Bangkok in 1994 when I was pastoring a church there, and where they were instrumental in Sungwan's conversion to Christianity. About 80 children attend and at the end of the day, at least 40 of them pray to receive Christ. A few months later, most of the converts are joyfully baptised at a nearby swimming pool by Bishop Wong Kiam Thau of the Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

Sungwan neither has a degree in theology nor has she received any training to be a missionary. I'm grateful she has accompanied me into this mission field which, as God ordained, happens to be her home country. She says she's simply doing what she feels is needed for the community, especially in the areas of the children's education and welfare.

2000

2002

Year 2000 brings a big change! In October 2000, Sungwan starts a child-care centre as many parents need a place for their children to be looked after while they're at work. Some people have expressed their wish for an adult worship service on Sunday for non-Lahu speakers. Sungwan and I can speak the so-called "Central Thai" language but we're not proficient in the Lan Na Thai dialect which is slightly different. We have invited a pastor who is a Lan Na Thai and able to speak both languages to help shepherd this newly-formed congregation. Eventually this congregation will become the Sanpranet Methodist Church, while the Lahu congregation re-locates to another city in Chiang Mai.

It's 2002 and a new four-lane highway is being built. While this brings about many advantages, it will unfortunately separate Sanpranet from another community nearby, where some of those who attend our church come from. The highway will not only inconvenience them, but it will also be an unsafe crossing for the children. This is why we set up our second church, Shineforth Methodist Church.

In 2005, we are able to tap on the Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS) which will help some of the poorer families supplement the cost of their children's schooling. Although tuition is heavily subsidised by the Thai government from Grades 1 to 12, there are other expenses like school uniforms, books and stationery which can be a heavy burden.

Meanwhile, we are constantly looking for ways to meet the needs of the adults in Sanpranet MC. Making disciples is difficult, to say the least. For example, a pre-believing elderly woman went to an evangelistic healing crusade and accepted Christ after

she was healed of pain in her arm. A cell group was formed which met at her home, as her children forbade her to attend church with us. However, one day she requested the cell group to stop meeting at her home as her children opposed it. While Sungwan and I continue to visit her, she won't allow us to even pray for her. She feels obliged to obey her children as she's dependent on them financially. Sadly, such overpowering resistance of family members is not uncommon in Thailand.

The similarity in the church planting model for Sanpranet MC and Shineforth MC is that they both started off with ministries for children. Eventually the parents and other adults are drawn in. It's our experience that fewer Lan Na Thai people (richer, as they generally own the houses they live in) will accept Christ, as compared to people from the hill tribes who mostly stay in rented housing.

I'm reading up on the history of Chiang Mai to better understand our mission field. Chiang Mai is the birthplace and a stronghold of Theravada Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism with the most adherents in Thailand. Some tribal communities won't allow churches to be built and in rare instances, churches have been burned down. Although this sort of physical opposition is rare, Christians encounter very subtle verbal opposition of various forms. The city itself has so many temples; no wonder it is referred to as the Buddhism capital in Northern Thailand.

In a short time, I've learnt that societal pressure is a very strong deterrent for Thai people to become Christians. In their culture, individualism is seen as selfishness and arrogance, and in a country where the popular saying goes, "To be a Thai is to be a Buddhist", converting is as serious as renouncing your national identity. How do we present the gospel in this context?

Part Two of this story will be published in the next issue of Methodist Message

2005

Walking alongside you with compassion and care ESTABLISHED SINCE 2000

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.

HOSANNA BREAVEMENT SERVICES PTD LTD

Romans 8:38–39

You

and Your Family

From message to messenger

The 12 men came on stage as the opening item. Ranging in age from the early 40s to late 60s and dressed in blue jeans and T-shirts, they looked confident and determined. Linking arms they began to sway and sing to the tune of Robbin Williams' song "A Better Man". The lyrics, however, had been re-written by one of the men.

This was no concert but a symposium on Breaking Stereotypes: Celebrating Positive Masculinity. The men were not professional performers. Each had his own story of being abused by their fathers and in turn, being abusive to their wives and children. They were on stage to declare publicly their change of heart and lives. The lyrics of two stanzas profoundly declared this.

There are things I have said and done I have hurt you so deep, more ways than one I am starting to understand To rebuild trust, I have to be a man.

Let us walk the talk, let us take the walk Respect is earned from the past we've learnt Expression is the only way out, to mend your broken heart And that's all I got to show.

Being the man, or a new man, that they were proclaiming involved breaking from an old version of themselves. That version reflected some of the negative characteristics associated with toxic masculinity. In toxic masculinity, men relate to others by being domineering and employ abuse and aggression to assert themselves. They believe that the women in their lives should serve their needs and wants. They further believe that men should not display softer emotions or vulnerability.

In the audience watching the men perform were some family members. Wives and children who were once hurt and fearful. That day, they were there to support their husbands and fathers. I dare say, a few were even proud of the men's courage to step forward.

Benny Bong has over 40 years of experience as a therapist, counsellor and trainer. He also conducts regular talks and webinars. Benny has helmed the You & Your Family column for more than 16 years and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

These men's actions reminded me of the final step of the 12-step recovery programme of the Alcoholics Anonymous group, one of the more successful models for the rehabilitation of addicts. It reads: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we [try] to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practi[s]e these principles in all our affairs."

To me, this is akin to Christians being called to be witnesses of the change we have experienced. To affirm our turning from darkness to light, believers are to go and be messengers to others of the change we have undergone.

The men, on their own initiative, came forward to tell of their changed lives. Some had been interviewed over radio and been on webinars. All appeared using their own names and refused to have their identities masked. They were not satisfied in their own recovery but also wanted to reach out to others who may be like they were, trapped in patterns of violence and abuse for years.

Their changes did not happen overnight. Some of the men had been in treatment for four to five years. Also, it must be said that their wives and children played a key role in their recovery. Many stood by their men despite the pain and disappointments they had suffered. Their continued presence gave the men something to work towards. Some gave their support more openly by joining some of the men's meetings to which family members were invited.

When I heard of what these men were doing, I realised that I was witnessing something extraordinary. These men were not satisfied with simply mouthing or repeating messages they had heard. They became the message of change. They lived out the change that they had experienced.

In therapy, we call this second order change or transformative change. It is the holy grail of all therapeutic work. As professional counsellors, we try to help our clients to change but are often unsure if the change will be permanent.

I am sometimes asked if my clients have completely turned around. Well, that day when I saw the 12 men on stage, I was assured that a leopard can change its spots.

When I heard of what these men were doing, I realised that I was witnessing something extraordinary. These men were not satisfied with simply mouthing or repeating messages they had heard. They became the message of change. They lived out the change that they had experienced.

Benny Bong has over 40 years of experience as a therapist, counsellor and trainer. He also conducts regular talks and webinars. Benny has helmed MM’s You & Your Family column for more than 16 years and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

Rev Tay Li Ping is currently pastoring at Christalite Methodist Chapel. Trained as an Industrial-Organisational Psychologist before becoming a pastor, Rev Tay is particularly interested in the intersection of Psychology and Theology. She is married and has five sons.

Koh Ai Jin i s a registered clinical counsellor with extensive experience in marriage and family counselling, mental health concerns and psychological trauma. She runs her own practice and currently serves as Vice-President of the Association of Christian Counsellors (Singapore).

Need advice? Scan the QR code or visit https://www.methodist.org.sg/mm-atthe-well/ to submit your question. Due to space constraints and repetition of topics, we may not be able to feature all questions submitted.

Dating & Marriage

Should I date my long-time friend who is twice divorced?

I've known Mr X for nearly 20 years and have seen him through two failed marriages. He is now a single parent with a young daughter, who I'm very close to. In our younger days, Mr X had expressed an interest in me but I made it clear that I was not keen on a romantic relationship with him; he respected my decision and so we remained platonic friends. Recently, his daughter asked if I can be her mummy, causing me to question my feelings for Mr X. We've matured together and have a comfortable relationship and I can see myself with him now, seeing this is a different kind of love and season. Should I talk to Mr X or keep my distance?  Friendzoner

Benny says

Dear Friendzoner,

The story that leads to your question is such a lovely one. It speaks of second chances. Your long-time friend, a single parent, has a daughter who wants to call you her mother. Though you initially had no interest to take the relationship further, you are now open to this after so many years and wonder if it may now be possible.

There are two things I have observed that goes in favour of pursuing this relationship. Firstly, you obviously know your friend rather well. For twenty years you have observed him enter and exit two marriages. With this vast stock of insight, would he make for you a good spouse and you, his good partner? Secondly, you have a strong rapport with his daughter. This is important if you are considering becoming the girl's future stepmother.

However, here are two cautionary observations. Firstly, what do the two marital failures say about your friend: What lessons did he learn from them? Would these make him even more hesitant to enter a third marriage? Secondly, why have your feelings for him changed now? Just because his daughter wants a mother is not sufficient reason for a marriage.

As you ponder this matter from an emotional perspective, remember there are the spiritual and community viewpoints as well. Because there are various positions held by churches on marriage to a divorcee, it calls for a pastoral conversation with a minister. Also, the community of relatives and friends may want to weigh in with their views. Marriage is never only about two individuals.

Having considered all these views, if you do still have romantic feelings for him and can picture a future together as man and wife, then speak to him. Do consider working with a counsellor to help prepare you both and his daughter for any new union.

Friendships

Hard

to make new friends

and keep old ones as a 30-something guy

I find it hard to upkeep all my friendships. I have tried to reach out to my friends; however, the connection seems to have gone over the years. Even after trying, the friendships don't seem to grow. Some of these friends, including church friends, do not share the same interests, or do not want to put in the effort. Do I continue to upkeep these friendships or try to make new ones? Any advice for guys to develop friendships in their 30s and beyond?

 Buddy

Ai Jin says

Dear Buddy,

It is commendable that you are proactive in maintaining your friendships, though not all your efforts seem to be reciprocated by your friends. Consider broadly the definition of friendship and how each person in your life represents someone at varying levels of closeness, with differing

levels of expectations. Write down the names of people you know, putting each in the categories of Acquaintances, Casual Friends, Closer Friends and Intimate Friends. Acquaintances are people we meet occasionally, like a neighbour, barber, gym or gaming buddy. With them, we might make small talk or enjoy a contact point in our daily living. Casual Friends are people we meet every now and then; we enjoy their companionship through a common hobby, such as golf or cycling. Someone who serves in the same church ministry might also be in this category.

Closer Friends are those who show more care and concern, and take the initiative to call. Closer Friends tend to share a reciprocal trust to ask each other for advice when help is needed. Intimate Friends are those who know you well and understand you. Friends with this level of "chemistry" may not meet regularly but bond very quickly when they do, recounting meaningful memories or mindsets once shared, which brings connectedness. They may be childhood friends, old classmates or ex-colleagues with whom you have journeyed during a season in life.

Often, we tend to have unspoken expectations of our casual friends and desire them to be closer. Even well-meaning friends struggle with time management, personal health and work challenges or caregiving responsibilities. Be encouraged to keep a connection with them through simple means like social media, texts or a simple meal. Decide what kind of a friend you want to be and for whom. Be a friend who loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17) through ways that work for you. Continue to cultivate existing friendships and make new friends, as you recognise and appreciate all the people you have in your life.

Loneliness is a universal condition, but Scripture reminds us that Jesus calls us his friends (John 15:15) and knows us intimately. This is one friendship that we can cultivate intimacy through daily conversations of prayer and reading of the Word.

At The Workplace

My colleague is now my boss

I am an office worker in my 40s, in a fourmember SME team. My boss resigned recently and one of my colleagues will be promoted to oversee the team. I am more senior and experienced than her and have been in the company for a longer time. I recognise that she will be able to fill the role of a manager but I am not sure if I am able to change my perspective from relating to her as a colleague to seeing her as my boss. I know that I should submit to the authority within the company structure but feel there is some unfairness in the promotion process and am not convinced she's the best person for the job. What should I do?  Hiver

Li Ping says

Dear Hiver,

May I encourage you to start journaling to cope with your conflicting thoughts and feelings about the situation? Journaling is helpful because it allows us to be honest about our emotions, while engaging our objective capacity to make meaning out of it and consider what we should do. As Christians, journaling is also an act of prayer in which we express our deepest thoughts and feelings to God, trusting that the Holy Spirit is with us and will guide us. Try the following:

1. Find a comfortable time and place when you are unlikely to be disturbed.

2. Writing by hand is best, but typing is also acceptable.

3. Invite the Holy Spirit to be with you to help you be attentive to yourself and to him.

4. Write honestly and freely about your thoughts, and especially your feelings about the situation.

5. Don't censor or judge what you write. Don't worry about grammar or handwriting. The only human audience is yourself. As for God, the Psalmists have shown us it is perfectly fine to be honest about how we feel with God.

6. Write also about what you want to do in the situation, as tied in with your deeper goals and values. Listen to what God is calling your attention to.

7. Do this at least four times, whether on consecutive days or spread out, and for at least 20 minutes each time. If 20 minutes feels too long, start with 10 minutes, and work your way up.

8. Leave a space in your journal to record what you have learnt in a month's time, and in six months' time. You may be surprised to find how God has grown you through this experience.

Going forth in the Lord's name

In our journey of faith, it is important to recognise that worship extends far beyond the walls of our churches. As Christians, we can also find divine purpose and worship God through our secular work.

The hymn "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go" (United Methodist Hymnal 438) by Charles Wesley echoes the resolve to know and serve God in all aspects of life and invites us to consider our daily endeavours as opportunities for worship. The words of Wesley, "Thee, only thee, resolved to know in all I think or speak or do," is a reminder that our work can be a form of devotion and a tangible expression of our faith.

The hymn's call to go forth in God's name becomes a daily commission, shaping our labour into a reflection of his love. In the workplace, we can embody the principles of love and good works, allowing our actions to be a testament to the transformative power of God's grace. For example, we may choose to show patience to difficult colleagues and clients or seek God's wisdom first when pondering how to approach a challenging piece of work. Through such ways, each task or interaction becomes an opportunity to manifest the love of Christ.

In our jobs, we can influence the culture around us. When we bring our faith into our daily work, we can be a force for good by making positive changes and being reflectors of his light. Whether through acts of kindness, ethical decision-making, or a

commitment to excellence in our tasks, we can make our work an offering to God. In doing so, we transform the ordinary into the sacred, and our professional lives become an act of worship, resonating with the timeless words of Charles Wesley.

Let us resolve to know and serve God in our workplaces, recognising that our faith is integral to our secular careers, not separate from it. As we engage in the marketplace, may our lives serve as a living testimony to the transformative power of God's love, influencing the world around us for the glory of his name.

Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, My daily labour to pursue; Thee, only thee, resolved to know In all I think or speak or do.

The task thy wisdom hath assigned O let me cheerfully fulfil; In all my works thy presence find, And prove thy good and perfect will.

Thee may I set at my right hand, Whose eyes mine inmost substance see, And labour on at thy command, And offer all my works to thee.

For thee delightfully employ Whate'er thy bounteous grace hath given; And run my course with even joy, And closely walk with thee to heaven.

~ Charles Wesley, 1749

Gwendolyn Tan is the Senior Programme Executive for Worship & Music at the Methodist School of Music and a member of Barker Road Methodist Church.

ACS (International)

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)

For

Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides

• Exceptional examination results, 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 200 formal student leadership positions

• Scholarships for four Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP

Achievements include

• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP

• 23 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past twelve 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 GCE ‘O’ Level students obtaining outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP and improved pathways to good universities

• Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu.

Senior Leadership Team

Mr Gavin Kinch Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice-Principal

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice-Principal

Mr Christopher Hayward Vice-Principal

MISSIONS FOR EVERYONE: CARING FOR CROSS-CULTURAL WORKERS DEBRIEFING

23 March 2024 (Saturday), 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.

Wycliffe Singapore office, 25 Harper Road, Harper Point #02-07, S369683

Register via https://www.wycliffe.sg/events

Do you know someone who is going through a tough time, perhaps a missionary who recently returned from the field, or is facing a situation that needs to be shared with trusted ears? You may be a church leader, or a member of the missions committee, or a cell group leader—you'd like to help, but you're uncertain how.

Come learn more about how to debrief those you care about when they are going through a difficult experience. You'll also learn some boundaries, and how to recognise red flags—when issues surface that require a trained counsellor. Find out what makes for good or bad listeners, plus have an opportunity to practise the skills for good listening.

Organised by Wycliffe Singapore

100,000 SUNDAYS: THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP AND ITS ONGOING RELEVANCE FOR TODAY

19 March – 30 April 2024 (Tuesdays), 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.

Online via Zoom

Register before 12 March via https://www.ttc.edu.sg/english/study-at-ttc/equip-registration/ $100

Christians have been worshipping for 2,000 years (approximately 100,000 Sundays). Over the course of this time, the forms, perspectives, and practices of Christian worship have varied greatly. Yet, some might think that the current state of worship is the way it always has been. This course provides an orientation to the large periods and sweeps of Christian worship history even as it highlights some recurring issues still relevant to the worship of churches today. Gain a better perspective on the presumptions current-day worshippers have about what is considered "normal" and "standard" through a historical examination of these developments. The course is facilitated by Debbie Wong, an MDiv graduate from Duke Divinity School who is currently pursuing a ThD in Liturgical Studies.

Organised by EQUIP

CONNECT2 MARRIAGE PREPARATION WORKSHOP

11, 18 April 2024 (Thursdays), 7.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.

27 April 2024 (Saturday), 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

Online via Zoom (11 and 18 April) and at Focus Singapore office (27 April)

Register via https://www.family.org.sg/event/connect2-marriage-preparation-workshop-apr24/ $380 per couple (Fees are inclusive of a $70 rebate upon completion. More details online.)

For couples who are considering marriage, engaged, or in their first year of marriage, this husband-andwife facilitated workshop will help address issues that they may face as newlyweds, build a solid foundation in the early years and learn to love each other for life.

Session 1: From This Day Forth – Laying the foundation for a strong marriage

Session 2: For Better Or Worse – Working through differences to become one

Session 3: Till Death Do Us Part – Ensuring love for a lifetime

Organised by Focus on the Family Singapore

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“The beauty and serenity of the place, and the clean, spacious

pleasant hall that we used gave me and my family a sense of calm and comfort during this period.” -Elizabeth Tang

Sowing gospel seeds in the young

I was born into a Christian family. My grandmother and mother brought me to church at a very young age. I loved attending Sunday school because of the many interesting Bible stories, the fun times I had with friends and of course, the nice goodies and prizes given out for active participation and regular attendance. The seed of the gospel was sown into my young and innocent heart, preparing me to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour at the church's youth retreat after the PSLE. My Bible knowledge deepened as I learnt the teachings of Jesus Christ and principles of Christian living during my teenage years. An older, mature Christian mentored me and my Christian faith took root.

Kopi kakis

I thank God for choosing me to be his child even before the creation of the world. I know my stubborn self would never accept Jesus Christ on my own, especially if I had not first come to know Jesus Christ when I was young. Although I have served in many different capacities in church over the years, I continue to be involved in Youth Ministry and Discipleship. This is because I am convinced that when the young are exposed to the Good News at a young age, there is a higher chance of them becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

by Lau Peng Leong, Yen Tun I and Zachary Yong

George Loh

George Loh is the LCEC Chairperson at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church. / Photo courtesy of George Loh