One MCS ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of the Rev Philip Abraham
Meet the Annual Conference Presidents: The Rev Philip Abraham (ETAC)
The Lord provides
The Rev Philip Abraham (second from right) with his family
T
he Rev Philip S. Abraham is a man with a mission. In Nov 2020, he was appointed President of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC), which consists of seven Tamil-speaking and one Teleguspeaking Methodist church in Singapore. He is also the Pastor-in-charge of Jurong Tamil Methodist Church (MC) and Pasir Panjang Tamil MC.
A child of God After migrating to Singapore from India, the Rev Philip’s parents began worshipping at Pasir Panjang Tamil MC. As committed Christians who believed that every first fruit belongs to God, they dedicated the Rev Philip, their eldest child, to God’s ministry. The Rev Philip grew up in church and was involved in many ministries, including the Sunday School and Youth ministries. When Jurong Tamil MC was established as a new church in 1977, he moved to worship and to serve there. He was elected as its first Methodist Youth Fellowship president. At the age of 23, while the Rev Philip was attending the Jesus Calls Convention at the National Theatre, the Lord convicted him to serve Him full-time. It was a huge leap of faith because his father had passed away and his
6
|
METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021
Dedicating a church at Triveni in India in 2018
mother was the sole breadwinner with five children. They trusted in their Lord and Saviour to provide, and He has met all their needs from when the Rev Philip started theological education at Trinity Theological College in 1984 till today, 33 years into his full-time ministry. In 1988, the Rev Philip married Gnanamany Philip, now a master teacher at the Academy of Singapore Teachers, Ministry of Education. They have two sons, Joshua and Elisha.
“He who calls you is faithful” The Rev Philip has relied on God’s promise that “He who calls you is faithful” (1 Th 5:24) over his years of pastoring Toa Payoh, Sembawang, Pasir Panjang, Jurong and Ang Mo Kio (AMK) Tamil MCs. While “the journey has not been easy”, reflected the Rev Philip, God has always provided. One instance was when he was posted to Sembawang Tamil MC after ordination as an elder in 1992. They were engaged in a joint building project at Yishun Street 11 and finances were tight. They had raised enough funds to cover their share of the project, but had money enough only for chairs instead of pews. When the Rev Philip shared his burden with Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup, then the Pastor-in-charge of Paya Lebar MC, he and the church leadership donated 56 pews!
