What does it mean for the Church to be "in the world but not of the world"?
Book review: When Woke Goes Broke – Redeeming Social Justice for the Church
From pain to purpose: The Genesis 50:20 effect
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 From cemetery to living room to church building: The only church in Singapore with a Hakka service celebrates 75 years of God's faithfulness
/ Feature /
6 Our Stories, His Glory: Legacy stories of God's goodness
9 From pain to purpose: The Genesis 50:20 effect
13 Methodist Social Principles: What does it mean for the Church to be "in the world but not of the world"?
/ Opinion /
16 Soundings: Wokeness and the Church
18 Book Review: When Woke Goes Broke – Redeeming Social Justice for the Church
20 Young Voices: Broken cisterns, flourishing fountain
/ Outreach /
25 In faith we move, in hope we live, in love we exist: Dedication service of St Paul Methodist School in Timor-Leste
29 Giving hope to lonely seniors
/ Relationships /
32 You & Your Family: To err is human, to forgive divine
37 For God so loved [me] that he gave his one and only son Contents
/ Worship /
35 The worship service requires your active participation
/ People /
And are we yet alive?
This is the opening line of a hymn by Charles Wesley which Methodists traditionally sing every year at the start of their annual meetings. We will sing the same at the opening of our General Conference meeting on 2 September.
And are we yet alive, and see each other's face? Glory and praise to Jesus give for his redeeming grace.
The hymn inspires a steady hope in God as the Giver and Taker of life. Are we yet alive? Let us give praise and thanks to God for each new day.
But, of course, there will be some of us who are no longer alive since our last meeting. At this General Conference, we will pause to give thanks to God for the fruitful labours of pastors who have passed on to glory since the last time the General Conference met in 2020. Why don't we all pause right now to express a prayer of thanksgiving for someone who has recently passed on from this earth?
Wesley's hymn reminds me of the Apostle Paul's attitude to life and death. In Romans 14:8 (NIV):
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
None of us knows for certain how much longer we will live, or when death will lead us home to God. But we encourage each other always to fix our minds on Christ who "died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living" (Romans 14:9 NIV).
So are we yet alive? Then let us "live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" . Amen.
One of the headstones from the former Bidadari Cemetery now located at The Garden of Remembrance (Photo by Wesley Loh, Memphis West Pictures)
Jonathan See works at Hakka Methodist Church as their Youth Worker. He is a second-generation Hakka Methodist Church member. / Photos courtesy of Hakka Methodist Church and The Straits Times
From cemetery to living room to church building
The only church in Singapore with a Hakka service celebrates 75 years of God's faithfulness
(above, left) Services were conducted in the living room of a colonial bungalow in the period after WWII
(above, right) The colonial bungalow on Evelyn Road that HMC operated from in the postWWII era
(right) A Royal Air Force helicopter positioning a 1,000-pound aluminium cross on the new HMC building on 15 December 1966
(far right) Photo taken in front of HMC premises on Evelyn Road during the 1960s
Hakka Methodist Church (HMC), as its name suggests, was one of the churches established to reach out to the Hakka community after initial stages of outreach among the Chinese immigrants in Singapore started in 1885.
Today, HMC is the only church in Singapore with a worship service carried out completely in the Hakka heart language.
Where it all began
Though the church was only officially established in 1949, its roots can be traced as far back as 1911 when a group of Hakka believers met regularly near a Hakka cemetery in Shuang Long Shan (Commonwealth Ave today)—not exactly a meeting place one would expect for a church.
Today, some 2,700 tombstones stand, white and upright in uniform rows, on a plot of land about the size of two and a half football fields, in that same location as the last Hakka graveyard in Singapore.
From that relatively small group of Hakka believers, it grew into a church of a few hundred members worshipping in a building located on Mount Sophia. Not long after the Second World War, a group of leaders would decide to move out, leading them to find a new place of worship in a colonial bungalow built at HMC's current location in the Newton Road vicinity.
Much has changed after 75 years.
HMC members are no longer worshipping in the living room of a colonial bungalow. Instead, the three main worship services are now held in the sanctuary of a larger, architecturally unique building known for its thousandpound aluminium cross, put in place on a tower with the help of two Royal Air Force helicopters back in 1966.
But the DNA of the church has remained the same: HMC is still a church that holds the values of family and Christian community dear, as it did when it first began.
As part of HMC's 75th Anniversary celebrations this year, the leaders organised a 33.6 km walk to commemorate significant milestones of the church. The route of the walk included historically significant checkpoints and CAC churches that were key to the church's ministries.
It was a great time where members of different generations were given an opportunity to appreciate the church's history and pray together as they gathered at each of the checkpoints.
Another aspect of the church that has remained through the years is remaining true to the original call to bring the gospel to the community, in particular, to the Hakka-speaking community. There is a deep sense of duty, especially among the leaders of the Hakka congregation, to press on and keep the ministry going strong.
Reaching out to the Hakka community
The need for ministry and outreach to the Hakka people is more pressing and urgent now than ever before. With the ageing congregation of Hakka-speaking members, and uncertainty on whether the younger generation of Hakkas will take over the reins, there is a very real
HMC's 75th Anniversary Service
Group photo of HMC members who participated in a heritage and prayer walk to commemorate their 75th anniversary
concern about the longevity of this unique ministry in Singapore.
Despite this, God continues to encourage the leaders and members of the Hakka congregation by sustaining them in ways previously unimaginable to them.
The entirety of the weekly Saturday evening Hakka service for example, is now completely accessible to the public via livestream on YouTube, helping the ministry reach out more conveniently to many of the Hakka-speaking, who were either previously unaware of its existence or are unable to attend the services due to age and other reasons.
English services, sharing passionately about the Hakka mission work around the world to members of the church both young and old, Hakka and non-Hakka alike.
The 75th Anniversary service saw CAC President Rev Dr Gregory Goh preach from 2 Chronicles 7:14 in a sermon titled "Yearning for Revival". It was a timely message that challenged the church to continue to seek God through prayer, humility and repentance, and trust in God's promise to bring healing and restoration.
With God's faithfulness these 75 years, HMC is excited about the unimaginable things God will continue to do in the years to come.
(right) As one of the celebration events, HMC church members walked a route that included the Church of Christ of Malaya and other CAC churches, among other stops
The Hakka ministry has also been increasingly involved in efforts to reach out to the Hakka people globally, particularly through Brother Chin Yan Hiong, who has been HMC's full-time Hakka ministry staff for more than a decade. However, Brother Chin will soon be stepping away from this role to serve in the mission field to the Hakka people outside of Singapore.
In August, the pastors and leaders of the Global Hakka Mission Fellowship came together in Singapore and as part of their visit, preached at the Hakka, Mandarin and
HERITAGE PRAYER WALK
1 Hakka MC
2 Church of Christ of Malaya
3 Whampoa Prayed for the Whampoa community. Many years ago, the Whampoa neighbourhood was adopted by the church for outreach purposes.
4 Paya Lebar Chinese MC
5 Sengkang MC
6 Ang Mo Kio MC
7 Bishan J8
Prayed for Focus on the Family.
8 Toa Payoh MC
WESLEYMETHODIST CHURCH
Our Stories, His Glory
Legacy stories of God's goodness
Just as they thought they would be settling into a calm, tranquil retired life in Singapore after decades of working and ministry, God plucked Andre and Cathy de Winne out of their comfortable life to serve him outside of Singapore. Andre found himself writing essays and taking exams in academic French in order to qualify as a licensed pastor in France after God led both him and his wife Cathy there. This came after what was already a lengthy season of serving fulltime in church, and with several faithbased organisations.
In the late 1990s, city-dwellers Louise and Loon Siong, who were already in their 50s by then and retired, responded in obedience to God's call to spend 15 years in rural parts of East Asia. There, they often navigated difficult and treacherous terrain, and hung onto horse-drawn carts. They trained village doctors, built bridges and planned innovative solutions to bring electricity and water to remote villages.
After 22 years with the Singapore Economic Development Board, Lee Shuit Kuin brought her corporate best practices into the mission field. She rarely rested and worked hard, often foregoing home leave, till God told her that he was more interested in her, rather than in what she could do for him.
Harriet Ponnappa struggled to let go of her job as an accountant in one of the Big Four firms when God called her to full-time service. She asked him how she was going to manage with so little savings. He replied to her: "You look after my affairs and I will look after yours." Today, at 95 years old, she continues to disciple others in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
On the video set in the home of Dorothy Wong
Video shoot at the home of Harriet Ponnappa
(below)
The team celebrated Peter and Doris Chow's (both in front row) wedding anniversary after a morning of shooting (bottom of page) On the video set in the home of Frances Lim
These in-depth stories are replete with struggles, grit, heartaches, sense of "fallenness" as well as breakthroughs and triumphs. By December 2024, a total of 26 stories will be told in Our Stories, His Glory 2 (OSHG2), a legacy project by Wesley Methodist Church. Each story is a journey of faith that tells of God's amazing love, and despite seasons where he is sometimes pushed aside, he is ever faithful, steadfast, merciful and gracious.
For the core writing team, Peggie Chan and Christina Stanley, what shone through each story was God's unfailing love. He was always at work even during each person's tender years, regardless of the environment they grew up in. God was always in constant pursuit to touch and transform lives, even when he was pushed aside.
Over these past 14 months, it has been an absolute privilege for the team to have spent hours, days and weeks with long-serving members, retired staff and pastors of Wesley Methodist Church.
What has inspired the team most of all are the many rich spiritual nuggets. Peggie said, "It has been an
overwhelming experience as I have travelled each candidate's journey, mulling together with them, experiencing their milestones and emotions of the ups and downs. I am humbled by the strength that God has given to each of his servants. And when I'm stuck on how best to put so many ideas, facts, aspects, dates, God-moments et cetera together to form a coherent whole, I forget that he's the eternal creator. He is the centrepiece in each story; it is about his ways and our submission to him. Indeed, his hand is firmly on the helm. I remember workmen at a nearby construction site graciously downing tools for us, so that our video shoot session would not be disturbed by the loud drilling noise!"
Corinne Lam, who has been a church member since 1988 shared, "I remember being very inspired by the testimonies in the first edition of OSHG. This time round, I've read all the uploaded stories. I know many of these people personally but didn't know their struggles especially in their earlier days. God is indeed ever so faithful. Now, after reading these stories, I'm encouraged to tell my own story, and I guess my granddaughter will be my first audience!"
(above) Looking at fabric samples with Kwok Sian Yee (in black and white shirt) as part of the B-roll to support her analogy of how God weaves the tapestry of our lives
For the team, every aspect has been a precious lesson. Christina reflected, "Both Peggie and I have been richly blessed, including learning new skills, like scripting and producing videos! We've had the best front-row seats in the house, as candidates have taken us into their confidence, often sharing candid and honest, even difficult appraisals of their journeys. Kwok Sian Yee, one of the candidates featured, was a client of mine in the 1980s when l worked in an advertising agency.
Armed with a strong empathy for seniors, she left the private sector to work at Wesley in a role that required completely different skill sets. Today, she has retired, but I continue to be inspired by her ongoing zest and zeal for life, and lifelong learning."
Currently, the stories can be read on the dedicated OSHG2 website, as well as on Wesley Methodist Church's Telegram and Facebook accounts. By February 2025, a printed book will be launched as part of Wesley Methodist Church's 140th anniversary celebrations.
In 2005, the first edition of Our Stories, His Glory was launched as a printed book to mark Wesley Methodist Church's 120th Anniversary. Twenty-six stories were told in this first edition, and they included the testimonies of many who have since gone home to the Lord, like Mrs Gnana Thevathasan, Dr Robert Loh, Prof Khoo Oon Teik, Ng Kwee Choo, Mrs Sylvia Kho, Mrs Margaret Goh, Dr Oliver Seet, Liau Nyuk Siong, Lucy & Nee Sian Chen, Mrs Ee Chin Kwok and G D Balakarishnan.
Our Stories, His Glory 2 is the second edition with stories being rolled out online, culminating in a printed book to be launched as part of Wesley Methodist Church's 140th Anniversary celebrations in February 2025.
By September 2024, Our Stories, His Glory 2 will offer 18 testimonies and life stories: Dorothy Wong, Lee Shuit Kuin, Frances Lim, Leow Kim Liat, Harriet Ponnappa, Andre & Cathy de Winne, Peter & Doris Chow, Sonny Chuah, Louise & Loon Siong Fong, Kwok Sian Yee, Rev Dr Isaac Lim & Dr Shirley Lim, Philip Oh, Tony Ting, Rev Michael Tan, Loh Hoe Peng, Emily Lai, Ian & Madeleine Chng and David Wong.
Two new stories will be uploaded each month till December 2024.
Uploaded stories may also be found on WMC's Telegram channel and Facebook page.
The church sanctuary was a frequently requested setting, especially by former pastors like Rev Dr Isaac Lim
From pain to purpose: The Genesis 50:20 effect
Warning: This story is about suicidal ideation, suicide and depression. Alex M is a volunteer with lived experience at Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). This story was prepared by Alex and SOS for Methodist Message .
Growing up in a dysfunctional family, my childhood was far from a fairy tale. As a young girl, I often felt abandoned and unloved. The emotional, physical and sexual abuse that I endured haunted me for years. Both my father and mother had their own extramarital affairs, which only added to the instability at home. Fear became my constant companion, and I often found solace in locking myself in the bathroom.
And when things at home became too much to handle, McDonald's became my shelter of refuge where I would spend countless sleepless nights. In the overwhelming stress of uncertainty and chaos, I would constantly hide in bathroom stalls to cry, hoping for
something to happen. But it seemed like my prayers went unanswered. At the age of ten, my father left our family, and shortly after, my mother was declared bankrupt.
Desperation led me to stand by the window where I would contemplate ending it all. I didn't want to simply be injured, I wanted to die. In my anguish to end the pain, I attempted to end my life several times. However, deep down, I always knew it was wrong to end my life and I always felt a pang of guilt for the cleaning lady who would have to deal with my lifeless body.
At 17, depression set in, and alcohol became my escape.
When I entered university, I was determined to make something of myself and prove to my father that I was worth loving, not someone to be left behind. Independence and career success were my driving forces. By 26, I had paid off my university loans and moved out of home after working tirelessly for two and a half years. I thought I had made it, but then cancer struck.
"You must be kidding me," I thought to myself. The diagnosis felt like the final blow. I was ready to give up and asked God to take me away. But while I was in hospital, people persistently showed up to encourage and support me, and that kept me going. Perhaps God had sent them to be by my side so that I neither had the space nor time to have any suicidal thoughts during that difficult time.
As a result of surviving this health ordeal, I felt a strong desire to discover who this God, who had saved me, was. I made it my goal in 2020 to connect with God. At the start of the new year, I felt compelled to join an online church service. The preacher spoke about our identity and what we place our trust in. Reflecting on this, I realised that I had based my identity and worth on my career, and that I had to choose between following God or the world.
I had everything to lose. I had been thriving in a well-paying job in the tech industry for seven years at this point. However, I felt that
God was revealing the hidden things in my heart, showing me that my heart was not in the right place. Although I had always sensed a calling to serve and volunteer in the social service sector, it didn't make financial sense to me.
It weighed heavily on my mind, but I was convicted to lay everything down to follow Jesus' will for my life. I quit my job and started to volunteer in several non-profit organisations. Through a series of God-orchestrated incidents, I found a local church where I now worship and fellowship regularly. Volunteering became my new calling, and I connected with SOS to share my story in the "Light in the Dark" support group for individuals struggling with suicidality.
Sharing my story in the support group was another turning point for me. I thought I had already dealt with my suicidal thoughts, but I found myself choking up as I recounted my struggles with my abusive family and life-threatening disease. "Had I not resolved this?" I wondered.
Through this group, where others shared similar lived experiences, I managed to process buried emotions that had resurfaced. The support group showed me that I was not alone and that my story could serve as a source of hope and encouragement to others.
This realisation was the embodiment of Genesis 50:20 in my life—the harm and pain I experienced was being transformed into something good. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, telling others that there is hope in this life."
Moved by the healing I experienced in the support group, I decided to become a counsellor. Currently as a counsellor-in-training, I can see how God's hand has been at work. My struggles with suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety and cancer have equipped me with empathy and understanding. When I listen to others who are going through similar experiences, they often say, "Eh, you get it!" This connection, born out of shared suffering, allows me to reach out in ways that others might not be able to. My past pain is now a tool for relating to others in distress, offering a lifeline to those who are in crisis.
God's grace has also brought about reconciliation with my father. Initially, my anger towards my father was so intense, to the point where I envisioned his funeral as the next time I would see him. But through God's transformative power, we have reconciled. This mending of our relationship is another testament to how what was intended for harm has been turned into good.
Genesis 50:20 encapsulates the essence of my journey. The suffering I endured was never without purpose. Through God's grace, the pain that once threatened to destroy me has been repurposed into a mission of hope and healing. The harm intended by life's trials has become the foundation for saving many lives—including my own.
Through every trial, God has been my constant. From a rough childhood to battling cancer, he has never left my side. My faith in Jesus has been my anchor and I believe that this life is not mine but belongs to the Lord.
In my tumultuous childhood, McDonald's was my place of refuge when the chaos at home became unbearable. It was a temporary escape from the emotional and
physical turmoil, a place where I could momentarily feel safe and find fleeting comfort in the warmth and anonymity that the fast-food restaurant offered.
However, as I have grown in my faith, I have come to understand that true refuge and hope cannot be found in physical places or temporary escapes. It is in Christ alone that I have found enduring comfort and strength. His unwavering presence has become my ultimate sanctuary, a constant source of joy and hope amidst life's challenges. Through him, I have discovered a refuge that transcends any earthly shelter, one that offers true and everlasting peace that enables me to journey with others from darkness to light.
About SOS
SAMARITANS OF SINGAPORE (SOS) offers emotional support to people in crisis, thinking of suicide or affected by suicide. All information shared with SOS is treated as confidential and people can choose to remain anonymous.
24-hour Hotline: 1767
24-hour CareText: 9151 1767 (via WhatsApp)
LIGHT IN THE DARK SUPPORT GROUP
Sometimes, even when friends and family mean well, it's hard not to feel misunderstood, especially when you're struggling. If you are thinking this way, remember that you are not alone. Consider joining SOS's Light in the Dark, a support group specifically designed to help those struggling with suicidality. Here, you'll discover a community ready to walk alongside you through life's challenging moments. The sessions cover the following topics:
litd@sos.org.sg for more information. An intake session will be scheduled to assess suitability. You don't have to face your darkest times alone. Reach out—community support is here for you.
Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon, PhD, University of Durham, currently serves as a re-engaged pastor at Barker Road Methodist Church. A former lecturer at Trinity Theological College, he is an Advisor to the Board of Governance of the Methodist Welfare Services. He chaired the committee and was the main writer that produced the Methodist Social Principles.
Methodist Social Principles
What does it mean for the Church to be "in the world but not of the world"?
Every Christian aspires to obey God, avoid evil and do good. But some modern-day predicaments are not discussed specifically in the Bible. How, then, can we apply biblical principles to our lives? In this 9-part series, The Methodist Church in Singapore shares reflections on its Social Principles which, more than ever before, can help believers live by God's firm principles in today's volatile and complex world. This instalment discusses The Sphere of the Church and what it means to be a member of the faith community
Church as God's family
The Church is the Body of Christ. This is something Christians are reminded of by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. The use of the Body metaphor helps Christians to visualise what it means to be a member of the Church, where Christians—differently gifted, regardless of gender, social status, educational qualification—are integral parts of one body, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
It is clear from the teachings of the Bible that the Church is primarily a network of people who named Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Besides seeing the Church as the Body of Christ, Christians are also members of the same Household of God (Ephesians 2:18–20).
In other words, Christians belong to the same family.
The Church as God's family must be shaped by the ethos of the family and follow the teachings of Jesus. We cannot claim to be a member of the Church and refuse to allow Jesus to play a decisive role in the way we view priorities in life and conduct ourselves.
Image: Akiro Hojo on Unsplash
We cannot claim to be a member of the Church and yet ignore Jesus, his redemptive story and the demand of discipleship. It is odd if Christians unwittingly or intentionally replace Jesus with the dominant ideology and godless cultures of our time.
As the Methodist Social Principles have stated in the paragraph on The Sphere of the Church (in The Book of Discipline of The Methodist Church in Singapore 2022 , ¶91): "The Church is a community of believers who are loved by God, informed and shaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sanctified by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. It is a community where Christians are taught by Scripture, instructed by tradition, enriched by reason and affirmed by the corporate experience of the followers of Christ."
The way we think, our attitude towards others, our response to issues we encounter in life, the rationale for the decisions we make, and the lifestyle we choose to adopt— if we are to be true and faithful to our faith— must reflect the teachings of the Church (Romans 12:1–2). In other words, the Church as our family is a significant community which must command our unwavering allegiance.
In the world but not of the world
Recognising the Church as our significant community and therefore agreeing that the Church should have a decisive role in nurturing us and strengthening our faith is not difficult.
Our difficulty is this: How then should Christians who are members of this family respond to the real and often vexatious challenges we face in life?
Historically, Christians have responded in various ways. Famous American theologian, HR Niebuhr, in his classic Christ and Culture (1951) identifies five ways in which Christians have interacted with the wider world:
Christ against culture
Christ of culture
• Christ above culture
• Christ and culture in paradox
Christ the transformer of culture
This categorisation of five typologies has its critics but, when used judiciously, it has served us well in helping Christians to consider how we may relate to the world outside of the Church.
For ease of understanding, let me reduce the five categories to three. Christians can take a stance on:
Christ against culture at one extreme
• Christ embracing culture, at the opposite extreme, and
• Christ critiquing culture in a constructive dynamic tension, as a radical centre
While each approach can find support from the teachings of the Church, a biblically sound, responsive, and responsible approach is the third model which allows Christians to be in the world and not of the world.
The first model in my schema takes a negative view of the world. It tends to be more isolationist, inward looking and world denying. It can, nevertheless, serve as a warning against the temptation to blindly accept worldly cultures.
The second model takes on a utopian view of what is happening in our world. Those who favour such a view would accept whatever the world offers and adopt the thinking, trends and tastes of contemporary cultures as evidence of the Church being "progressive". This approach does not take the reality of sin too seriously. However, when handled with critical mindfulness, it can still prompt Christians not to reject, without giving fair consideration, the multi-faceted cultures of the world too quickly.
My preferred model lets Christians live out their life as the salt and light of the world, remaining faithful in our walk with God, exposing evil, calling attention to superficial life and wasteful lifestyle, and speaking out against injustice and godless value systems.
While we know that Christians, as members of the Church, should be the light and salt in the world, the sad truth is that often Christians have forgotten who they are as redeemed people called out of darkness into light.
Instead of being more focused on allowing the teachings of the Church to inform and shape our minds and life, we find it easier to follow the consumerist and godless teachings of our world.
The Methodist Social Principles remind us to return to the teachings of the Church captured in our Wesleyan tradition by acknowledging who we are as members of the faith community called the Church, and as members who should be both responsible and responsive in the way we conduct ourselves and engage the wider world.
Christians, community and character "Let the Church be the Church," said leading American ethicist, Stanley Hauerwas. He has spent much of his time calling the Church, especially in the Euro-North American world, not to compromise who they are in the midst of strong temptations to accommodate and concede ground to the gods of our age.
According to theologians like Hauerwas, the Church, especially in the West, has been infiltrated and enthralled by the contemporary dominant ideological worldview represented by political liberalism, and pop cultures underwritten by an overwhelmingly materialistic consumerist value system.
The way to counteract what he denounced as the "Constantinisation" of the Church, that is, when the Church uncritically endorses and sometimes becomes the mouthpiece of worldly values and ideologies, is to re-affirm that the Church is A Community of Character (the title of his book).
Christians must be nourished and nurtured by a community that worships Jesus, narrates his redemptive Story, imbibes the central teaching of Jesus, and acquires virtues which will inform and form our character.
Part of the reason the Church might have been lured into following the ways of the world instead of the way of God is because of our neglect of character formation.
We have forgotten about cultivating the theological virtues of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13); the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23); and a widely accepted set of four Cardinal Virtues: wisdom, justice, courage and temperance.
We tend to be attracted to and follow what others outside the Church are doing and promoting. We happily model our lives after secular gurus rather than ask what the Church should teach and what virtues we should seek after, to be the kind of Christians God intended Christians to be.
For the Church to be the Church, the members must remember who the Head is and continue to open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit to shape us, equip us and empower us for our lifelong journey here on earth, as faithful followers of God.
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.
AND THE CHURCH
The theme that the editors of the Methodist Message have assigned for this issue, "The Sphere of the Church", provides an opportunity to discuss a phenomenon that is becoming more pervasive in evangelical churches in the United States, and which is just beginning to influence some churches in Singapore.
I am referring to the phenomenon of "wokeness".
In 2015, at an Urbana missions conference, a young speaker by the name of Michelle Higgins shocked her audience when she gave a fiery speech in which she denounced the Church for committing "adultery" with "white supremacy".
Speaking to the sixteen-thousand strong gathering, Higgins thundered:
Do you see that racism is the age-old idol in our closet that we can't manage to tear down? Do you see it in our
houses of worship, my brothers and sisters …? Do you see it? Tear it down and admit, with torn shirt, ash in our hair, on our hands and knees, 'Oh, God, we have committed adultery with white supremacy'.1
To readers who are unfamiliar with the concept, wokeness generally means an awareness of or being awakened to social injustices against a particular group of people.
In his excellent book on the subject, Owen Strachan describes wokeness in this way:
Wokeness is first and foremost a mindset and a posture. The term itself means that one is 'awake' to the true nature of the world when so many are asleep. In the most specific terms, this means one sees the comprehensive inequity of our social order and strives to highlight the power structures in society that stem from racial privilege. 2
At first blush, the concerns expressed by wokeism appear to echo those of the Christian faith. Shouldn't Christians be concerned about racism and racial discrimination? Shouldn't Christians be passionate about justice and social justice?
Perhaps that is why some Christians are attracted to wokeism and the social justice movement. They appear to speak the same language and share the same concerns of biblical Christianity.
There are, however, many reasons why Christians should not have any truck with wokeism. Space allows me to highlight only four.
Firstly, the real inspiration behind wokeism and social justice is not the Bible or the Christian worldview. Their sources can be traced to the grand ideas generated by social Marxism, the Frankfurt School, critical race theory (CRT) and intersectionality. 3
These social theories and ideologies are atheistic to the core. They are hostile to the Judeo-Christian tradition. They seek to deconstruct and overturn established moral and social conventions, and erect a new social order based on a materialistic worldview.
Secondly, wokeism is a destructive movement. It seeks to dismantle existing social and political institutions such as civil authorities because they are regarded as the foci of evil and injustice.
This includes the family which, according to the scholars of the Frankfurt School such as philosopher Max Horkheimer4 and psychologist Eric Fromm, 5 perpetuates generational authoritarianism.
Thirdly, wokeism is guilty of and perpetuates the very sin it claims to
address, namely, racism. This is seen acutely in its insistence that all "white" people everywhere are incorrigibly "racist", and therefore the "oppressors".
White people always foster "white supremacy", even if they absolutely have no intention to do so. They just cannot help it.
The only solution is to recognise that one is irredeemably racist and take steps to enact antiracism. For "white" people, this means that they must make every effort to be "less white".
As the influential Boston University professor and antiracist activist, Ibram Xolani Kendi, puts it: "The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination." 6
This is an extremely dangerous idea. It suggests that the only solution to the problem of racial prejudice is racial prejudice, but of a different kind!
Fourthly, despite all their emphasis on justice and equity, wokeism and social justice in fact corrupts true justice and even promotes injustice. This is because wokeism is only concerned with distributive justice, that is, the reapportioning of privilege to those whom the woke deem are without it.
According to wokeism, the fundamental duty of civil law is to enact social or distributive justice based on social and cultural considerations. Civil law is not about retributive justice, which has to do with applying justice proportionate to human actions by rendering to individuals what they deserve.
In this sense, social justice is inimical to true justice, which is focused on equal treatment of all people and the just punishment of lawbreakers. This has led Christian writers such as Jeffrey D Johnson
to rightly conclude that "[s]ocial justice, by its very nature, is not just".7
Wokeism is the new heresy that has captured the imagination of some Christians.
Those who are attracted to wokery would do well to take heed of the clear warning issued by Owen Strachan:
We must sit up and take notice: This is not God's Gospel. This is a worse gospel, infinitely worse. This is man's gospel; legalism is what comes out of the heart of man, not divine grace. This is in truth an anti-gospel. It is anathema. This unbiblical system will not save you. Following wokeness all the way through means that you will be in eternal peril, trapped in your works even as you trust them to make you more 'antiracist', striving for salvation but never attaining it … You will be trapped; in that hour, you will be what the Scripture says: taken captive. 8
1 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, "Michelle Higgins–Urbana 15", YouTube, January 27, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVGDSkxxXco.
2 Owen Strachan, Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement is Hijacking the Gospel—and the Way to Stop It (Washington D.C.: Salem Books, 2021), 7-8.
3 For a more comprehensive discussion on critical social justice and wokeism, see Roland Chia, “What is Critical Social Justice? An Anatomy of an Ideology,’ Ethos Institute for Public Christianity, 1 August 2024, https://ethosinstitute.sg/what-is-critical-socialjustice-an-anatomy-of-an-ideology/.
4 See Max Horkheimer, "Authority and the Family" in Critical Theory: Selected Essays, trans. Matthew J O'Connell et al. (New York: Continuum, 2002), 47-128.
5 Rainer Funk, "Erich Fromm's Concept of Social Character", Social Thought & Research 21, no. 1/2 (1998): 215–29, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23250038.
6 Ibram Xolani Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist (New York: One World, 2019), 19.
7 Jeffrey D. Johnson, What Every Christian Needs to Know about Social Justice (Conway: Free Grace Press, 2021), 54.
8 Strachan, Christianity and Wokeness, 87.
Book Review
Lucy Cheng is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and serves as a Sub-Editor with Methodist Message.
When Woke Goes Broke: Redeeming Social Justice for the Church
By Suzanne S Choo
Series Editor: Leow Wen
Pin
Published by Graceworks Publishing
Series Editor: Leow Wen Pin
Do you know the new, internet meaning of a 'sock puppet'? (No, not a woolly toy.)
Have you been confused to see an email from a person who signed off with "they/ them/theirs" after their name?
Do terms like "wokeism", "social justice", "gender identity", "postmodernism" and "cancel culture" bewilder you? Maybe you can understand these trending concepts and expressions, but are unable—or never had the time or didn't know where to start—to make sense of how our Christian faith fits in with these worldly perplexities?
When Woke Goes Broke is the first in a series of books titled The Gospel Way , intended to help Christians cut through the confusion of contemporary culture. In the words of its editor, this book seeks to present "a balanced and biblical view of social justice", ultimately to lead to the conclusion that "wokeism can be redeemed when transformed in the light of the gospel of Jesus".
Now, we may expect a book like this that takes on weighty themes and is meant for study, to have the dry tone of a scholarly research paper. On the contrary, the author does her best to avoid as much jargon as possible. The book is rich, content-wise, but it is not too difficult to understand. The author has done well to introduce, define and clarify the trending concepts and ideas, to explain their origins and contexts, and to guide Christians to recognise their secularist dangers, with the backing of Scripture throughout. In Chapter 3 we are given a refreshing interpretation of social justice in the book of Jonah.
There is a lot of enlightenment packed into these 92 pages which include an appendix of resources for further learning at the end of the book.
At the end of each of the four chapters in this book is a set of reflection questions to nudge the reader to ponder more deeply. While this format is good for selfstudy, it also makes the book an excellent choice for a cell group looking for a study guide on contemporary issues.
One example of the thoughtprovoking questions at the end
of each chapter asks the reader to, "Pick a television series, movie, computer game or song that has been influential or popular in your community or country in the last five years. What underlying message and values are being proposed?"
Another one is: "Reflect on some of the comments and reactions you have given through chat tools or social media. What motivates your posts or reactions? How would you describe your online or virtual behaviour and how does this align with your own values?"
This book never strays from its objective of emphasising the importance and relevance of God's Word for Christians amid the seductive calls of the secular world. In helping us to analyse contemporary culture through a biblical lens, it deserves to be read.
When Woke Goes Broke:
Redeeming Social Justice for the Church is available from Graceworks Publishing. For the month of September, Graceworks will be offering a 10% discount on its online store. Visit www.graceworks.com.sg or scan the QR code.
Young Voices
Elliot Soh is a Sub-Editor of the Methodist Message He worships at Barker Road Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Elliot Soh
Broken cisterns, flourishing fountain
"I think you're weird and I don't want to be friends with you anymore!"
"I challenge you to a fight, you idiot!"
"You don't care about how I feel! This is why we can't be friends anymore."
These are some of many wounding words that I have heard from those whom I have crossed paths with—people I don't see eye-to-eye with, and even friends and family. I have struggled with social interactions ever since I was in primary school and was often left
out of gatherings. When such scarring words were hurled at me, they would shatter my confidence and cause me to withdraw even more. Indeed, it is tempting to be cynical and malevolent when we feel conditioned and pressured to conform to practices that impel us to seek justice on our own terms, rather than letting God be the ultimate judge. Ruminating and desiring control over others only created a vicious cycle of despair and weariness for myself.
However, as I continued to go through the motions and could not find my
Being in a small group has given me (right, sitting) an opportunity to be authentic and accountable with those in the church community
footing in this sea of uncertainty, I realised that I needed to embark on a quest to seek the abundant life which Jesus promises to those who follow him (John 10:10). I had to "be transformed by the renewal of [my] mind" (Romans 12:2). Today, it is by his grace that I am more rooted in his Word and live knowing that he loves me.
As I set off on my quest, I had to first accept that we are all broken as humans and are inclined to sin. No one has been able to escape from the clutches of sin (except Christ). In the past, I used to delude myself that there could be "perfect" humans, which caused me to feel defective and unworthy of being loved when I compared myself to others. It was only when I started to take my faith more seriously in Junior College and during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, by reading the Bible and beginning the discipline of daily devotion, that I was convicted of God's mission to save humanity—to set us free from the shackles of sin and restore us to sonship in him (Isaiah 61:1-3). He showed me that his love was not just for me, but for all. I have had to accept, and am still learning to accept, that God's love is freely poured out for all, friend and foe alike, and am also learning to see beyond surfacelevel behaviours to recognise their brokenness, just as Christ did during his ministry on earth.
How then was I to live out the Great Commandment that Jesus has proclaimed—to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and to "love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:3440)? It was an apt reminder that the Christian life is not meant to be lived only inwardly, but that this inward disposition has to inform our outward behaviours.
Salvation is meant to be shared with our neighbours as we love them, knowing that God first loved us. This fuelled my desire to reach out to and reconcile with those I may have wronged or who had wronged me, either by meeting them or forgiving them in my heart.
Finally, by forgiving myself and those around me, it gave me the confidence to step out and go through the doors that God has opened for me. By God's grace, I have taken on opportunities which have affirmed God's providence and have built up my self-confidence, such as being a sub-editor of this publication. His mercies are indeed new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) as I have seen how God is restoring me each day and allowing me to steward his gifts in this role, such as having an eye for detail or the gift of writing.
God has opened yet more doors for me as he led me to deepen my understanding of him. For example, I came to know about the Koinonia Inclusion Network (KIN) through editing an article that was published a few months ago in the Methodist Message This led me to sign up for KIN's course, "Inclusive Christian Education" about including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in both our Sunday schools and the wider community. 1 From attending the course, I have been able to apply the techniques learnt with my friends—some of whom have special needs like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)—by welcoming them with God's love, fostering an environment of openness, and learning to accept one another for who he has created us to be. For instance, I have begun to be more aware of my friends' needs, such as watching for signs that they may be about to have a meltdown, how to find quiet, safe spaces to let
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My school friends (standing behind me) have taught me how to look inward and live outwardly in God's love
them decompress if their senses are overstimulated while we are hanging out outside, and being mindful of my language and tone via text and speech to minimise misunderstandings.
Furthermore, I have been blessed to have had time to read books such as Koinonia Groups: Nurturing Disability-Inclusive Small Groups in Your Church , which has helped me to lead my small group. One insight I learnt was how our small groups are meant to promote interdependence amongst one another and with God. 2 Another was how to invigorate such a group through promoting active participation amongst members with soul-provoking questions. 3 Finally, I got to understand how to run a small group that is inclusive for all through activities that are transformational, rather than
being solely informational. 4 These pointers have guided me as I continue to work on making the small group I am in a place that welcomes all, regardless of background or brokenness, and is ultimately helmed by God.
Indeed, I see that the confidence I have today as compared to before Covid-19 is by God's grace. Being rooted in him and his Word has empowered me to step out into the world, knowing that I am in this world but not of this world, because he restores us each day ever closer to Christian perfection.
Truly, we were once lost and apart, trusting in our own broken cisterns instead of drinking from the source of living water (Jeremiah 2:13). Today, we are found and restored in God's image and are blessed with the dignity of being his children. Even when we have strayed from him for long periods of time, he always gives us opportunities to be restored to sonship with him. As baptised Christians, we have the seal of the Holy Spirit, and are given the mandate to go out into the world and help those who are broken to return to him—the one who always welcomes us back with open arms. Let us treasure these precious opportunities to seek the one who is the restorer of all—loving and serving him "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).
1 To know more about KIN and the courses they run, go to https://kin.org.sg/.
2 Ping Lin Chew, Wen Pin Leow and Jesselyn Ng, Koinonia Groups: Nurturing Disability-Inclusive Small Groups in Your Church (Singapore: Koinonia Inclusion Network, 2024), 22-24.
3 Chew, Leow and Ng, Koinonia Groups, 38-41.
4 Chew, Leow and Ng, Koinonia Groups, 50-62.
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Outreach
On her second trip to Timor-Leste, Dr Cheryl Chen divinely met her husband who was serving as a missionary in the field. Together, they now serve as MMS non-residential missionaries supporting the ministry in Timor-Leste, and worship at Aldersgate Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of MMS
In faith we move, in hope we live, in love we exist
Dedication service of St Paul Methodist School in Timor-Leste
In faith we move
In 2013, God called David Chan to build a school without walls, to love the orphans and widows. In faith, David, his wife Jessie and their three children—Isaac, aged 14, Joy, aged 11 and Isaiah, aged 8—responded in obedience and moved to Timor-Leste in 2015. The family had embraced God's heart for the Timorese and were sent as Methodist Missions Society (MMS) missionaries by Aldersgate Methodist Church.
In 2016, the first Methodist school in TimorLeste was born when David and Jessie started the first class with 18 Grade 7 students. St Paul Methodist School (SPMS)
was established by MMS with the aim to provide quality, affordable Christian-based education for Grades 1 to 12. Faithfully offering a Grade 1 and Grade 7 class every year, the school expanded as student enrolment increased rapidly. Today, SPMS is a full 12-grade school with 779 students!
On 7 July 2024, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong dedicated SPMS to the glory of God. More than 450 people gathered to celebrate God's goodness with the completion of Phase 1 of the SPMS Development Project, which includes classroom and hostel blocks, a multipurpose hall with canteen, administration building and football field.
Opening ceremony at SPMS
In his sermon, Bishop Dr Wong explained that Paul, the apostle, was quoting from ancient philosophers in the theme verse (Acts 17:28) of the Dedication Service. This demonstrated that "truth about God can be learned from outside the Bible". The Bishop declared that students in SPMS could learn from everything good that God has created in the world by receiving a well rounded education in Language, Mathematics, Science, Music and the Arts. He said that this good education students received from SPMS would help them to learn the good truth about God: that we are all the offspring of God (Acts 17:28). He also reminded all parents and guests that God is nearer to us than we think, since "[I]n God, we live and move and exist. In our living and moving from place to place, God is with us."
Bishop Dr Wong ended his sermon with an invitation to sing along to an old song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love", with the words "sweet love" replaced with "God's love". He prayed that SPMS would help the world find the greatest love of all.
In hope we live
In addition to local government leaders, students and their families, teachers and staff, more than 60 partners and supporters from Methodist churches and other denominations throughout Singapore specially made a trip to TimorLeste to witness this milestone. Most of the guests from Singapore had journeyed with SPMS since the early days when operations took place in the Chans' missionary home, and the Methodist churches represented had sent mission teams, contributed time and resources in partnership with MMS to achieve the vision of building a permanent home for the school. These guests rejoiced to see the beautiful new building with proper classrooms and ample outdoor space to conduct The Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade programmes—a far cry from the three temporary sites the school had been operating out of previously. After 14 years, MMS' vision and hope of establishing a well-run school for the Timorese had finally come to pass!
(top row, left) Bishop Dr Wong ending his sermon with a song (above, left) Students of SPMS
(from left) Bishop Dr Wong and H.E. Alex Tilman, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Singapore, honouring partners in Singapore and Timor-Leste: Rev Dr Lynette Sathiasingam, Aldersgate MC PIC; Mun Kwok On, Holland Village MC LCEC Chairperson; Rev Raymond Fong, Wesley MC PIC; Jacqueline Seah, Ang Mo Kio MC Missions Chairperson; Ho Lip Jin, SPMS Development Project Manager;
Rev Teresa Wilborn, SPMS Development Consultant; Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng, MMS Field Director & Regional Director overseeing TimorLeste; Joseph Lau, Consultant Architect from LAUD Architects; Director Yao, HEFU International Construction
(top row, far right)
A group activity taking place during class time
(top row, right)
The Chan family today (from left): Jessie, Joy (20), David, Isaiah (17) and Isaac (23) serving together in SPMS
(above, right) Sharon and some of the dancers
(above, far right) One of the dance performances
In love we exist
For this official Opening Ceremony and Dedication Service, volunteers from Singapore joined the SPMS teachers to plan for the event, working collaboratively to set up the sheltered space for 450 guests, prepare food for the dinner reception and organise a tour of the school.
Of special mention is the dance team led by Sharon Liew, a member of Wesley Methodist Church. Even though Sharon had never been to Timor-Leste before, she had heard about SPMS and felt led to serve with her dance expertise for the service. Sharon singlehandedly produced and choreographed eight dances which were performed during the 5-hour programme to portray the story of the school and God's hand at work. For the entire month of June, she stayed in SPMS to identify and train the 250 student dancers. This required her to take a leap of faith and close her dance school in Singapore for that period.
Sharon also mobilised others to serve God
with their gifts and talents, such as sewing costumes and filming the event. One of these volunteers was Lily John, a choir mistress who came to Timor-Leste for three weeks to set up SPMS' first choir.
The team from Singapore had a glimpse of the wider kingdom work taking place in Timor-Leste when they had the opportunity to dine at a restaurant school set up by Brazilian missionaries, to train and empower vulnerable girls and young women with the skills to earn a livelihood. Guests also visited the site of Pelican Paradise Resort, Timor-Leste's first five-star hotel with conference facilities. The resort is a multimillion-dollar investment by Singaporean Datuk Edward Ong to train and employ young people, with the hopes of reducing the nation's youth unemployment rate.
There are many more missionaries and ministries labouring in Timor-Leste, and we give thanks that the Methodist community in Singapore is participating in God's call to love Asia's youngest nation!
In faith we move, in hope we live, in love we exist
Hear from SPMS partners and supporters:
"I am awed by how much the ministry at SPMS has advanced and grown so quickly. Indeed, God is at work through the faithful work of David and his team. I'm inspired by the potential of this ministry … !"
~ Rev Adrian Ng , Wesley Methodist Church Pastor
"David Chan is equivalent to a Sophia Blackmore in Timor-Leste, and a David who conquers and kills many Goliath-sized problems!"
~ Joseph Lau , LAUD Architects, SPMS Development Project Consultant Architect who worships at Fairfield Methodist Church
"The trip provided good exposure of the two MMS ministries, SPMS and Sundermeier Home (a student hostel in Gleno). Travelling by ground transportation on the challenging terrain between Dili and Gleno … helped me to appreciate the hardship that mission workers need to go through."
~ Jacqueline Seah , Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church Missions Chairperson
"I believe a Christian education will develop the young in Timor-Leste and will give this generation a hope for the future and open their eyes to know that there is a God who loves them."
~ Mun Kwok On , Holland Village Methodist Church LCEC Chairperson
"I will continue to pray for the people who work the ground in Timor-Leste on a daily basis, long after the visitors have left—for their faithfulness and dedication to the work that God has called them to and also for the eyes of faith to see the Lord's hand moving in the land."
~ Loo Ming Yaw , Aldersgate Methodist Church Lay Leader
and administration building
Aerial view of SPMS showing two classroom blocks, two hostel blocks, a canteen cum multipurpose hall
Giving to lonely seniors
Retiree Alice Cheng, 65, recalls the stressful, anxious nights spent lying in bed, straining her ears to listen for any cries for help from her late father during his final months. As his primary caregiver, Alice endured immense physical, mental and emotional strain while caring for him through end-stage Parkinson's disease.
"I think I developed post-traumatic stress disorder from those months of constant anxiety and straining to listen for him. I can still feel the tension in my neck and ears," she shared. "Caring for my late father was immensely stressful and heartbreaking."
Simultaneously, Alice was also the primary caregiver to her mother, who has early-stage dementia. This double burden led to her experiencing frequent bouts of depression.
"I often asked the Lord, 'Why me?'" she tearfully shared, reflecting on her lonely and arduous caregiving journey. Alice's three brothers, all married with families, support by sharing caregiving costs and visiting occasionally.
"I reasoned that maybe God didn't plan for me to marry so I could care for my parents," said Alice. "Sometimes, when my
Alice Cheng takes a break from caregiving while volunteers and staff from an MWS Active Ageing Centre engage her mother
mum is being difficult, I joke about finding someone to marry and moving out."
Due to her dementia, Mrs Cheng displayed symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, behavioural changes like refusing to leave the house and inability to perform everyday tasks. Alice, tending to her mother's every need with little respite, became socially withdrawn and developed caregiver burnout. After her father's passing last year, Alice also struggled with the emotional weight of grief and bereavement.
"When my father passed, I missed him dearly but felt relieved at not having to endure another stressful night or see him in pain. Unless someone has walked this journey, they can't understand how lonely, stressful and dark solo caregiving can be," Alice said.
An answered prayer
To encourage her mother to be more active, Alice tried getting her to join activities at the nearby MWS Active Ageing Centre – Golden Lily@Pasir Ris (GLAAC). When her mother refused to leave the house, MWS GLAAC staff arranged for volunteers to visit and engage her in dementia-friendly activities, including childhood games like five stones and pick-up sticks.
Seeing her mother enjoy time with the volunteers greatly encouraged Alice, who saw it as a sign of a God who listens.
"They are an answered prayer," she said. "God didn't take my burdens away but sent help through my family, church mates and MWS. During the time when MWS volunteers engage my mother, I can take a much-needed breather. It means a lot to know I'm not alone."
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Mdm Wong Lee Fong (second from right) shares a laugh with MWS staff and volunteers
Navigating loneliness in life's transition
For 76-year-old Mdm Wong Lee Fong, a single retiree battling breast cancer, loneliness and social isolation began when she had to live alone. For decades, she lived with her nephew's family, helping to raise his three daughters. However, the family made the difficult decision to emigrate to Australia in search of a better life.
Before emigrating, Mdm Wong's nephew and his wife wanted to ensure she would be cared for, especially given her health condition. They found MWS Active Ageing Centre – GreenTops@Sims Place (GTAAC) in the neighbourhood.
Since then, MWS GTAAC staff have been assisting Mdm Wong with tasks like booking transportation for medical checkups, monitoring her blood pressure and arranging cleaning services as she is too weak to do household chores. They also connected her with a befriender couple who checks in daily, brings her meals and helps with errands. Additionally, Mdm Wong regularly participates in activities at GTAAC, such as morning exercises, cooking classes and craft-making, keeping her active and socially engaged.
"Being alone can be scary. I used to feel anxious about leaving the house, not
knowing who to turn to if something happened," shared Mdm Wong, who has a history of falls from dizzy spells. "Now, I can count on MWS staff. There were times when I've had dizzy spells while running errands, and I called them for assistance. It gives me a deep sense of peace knowing that someone is here for me."
GIFT SENIORS WITH THE WARMTH OF A COMMUNITY TODAY
For seniors like Mdm Wong and Mdm Cheng, who face loneliness and mental health struggles, MWS' regular support brings comfort and positivity into their lives. With 22 centres and programmes across the island, MWS partners the community to provide integrated and holistic care for seniors with different levels of frailty, as well as youth, children and families, regardless of race or religion.
We are also intensifying efforts to train more volunteers in befriending, pastoral care and engaging seniors with dementia, mental health issues and chronic illnesses.
While these additional services will meet more ageing needs, they also increase costs. Your giving will make a much-needed difference. Donate at www.mws.sg/bring-warmth-toseniors-mm or scan the QR Code and join us in leading change today!
You and Your Family
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 17 years and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
To err is human, to divine
Alexander Pope, a poet during the period of the Enlightenment, was said to be the originator of the statement, "To err is human, to forgive divine." Though centuries old, it is still apt today. It is much easier to make mistakes than to forgive someone. I have been thinking about this in the case of a client who needs forgiveness and restoration—not only from the person he has hurt, but from others too.
The client worked in a parachurch organisation and had been sent together with his wife to start a project overseas. Due to upheavals at work, he and his wife returned home for what they thought would be a short break. During this time, his wife left him because of the emotional and physical abuse she had suffered for many years, and later sued for divorce. His employer came to know of this and recommended that he receive counselling and step down from his position within the organisation. It was communicated to the employees and supporters of the organisation that he was being "disciplined". The disciplining was to be followed by a period of rehabilitation with the implication that he would be restored to his previous standing.
It has been almost a year now. He has continued with counselling and made some progress. Although he has tried to make restitution to his ex-wife, it was refused. Pleas to be given a second chance were to no avail. He also slowly, and might I say, hesitantly (but not reluctantly) contacted the community that he was working with overseas, still wishing to return. To his surprise, they were more than welcoming and ready to receive him again.
This now presented a dilemma: the people he served wanted him to continue with his role, but the organisation that originally appointed and sent him was silent and non-committal. Eventually, his renewed contact was made with the full knowledge and consent of the agency. However, he went, not as an employee, but as a volunteer.
To be clear, my interest on this matter is purely that of being his counsellor and with his rehabilitation. The process has involved him acknowledging and accepting responsibility for his actions: expressing remorse and examining the causes of his actions that are clearly not aligned with the values of his faith,
making any restitution that is possible and permitted, and learning new ways of thinking and behaving.
All these steps have been undertaken and whilst one cannot say that his old behaviour will not recur, there comes a point of time when one needs to "draw a line across the sand". One such line may be that he will never commit the same acts again. This determination is important as he may be returning to a position of influence and no one wants to see a misuse of it. However, no one can determine nor guarantee this.
Another "line across the sand" is when the punishment or sentence has been served by the offender. Most courts of law recognise that when a transgression has been committed, the offender must be punished. They determine the appropriate sentence and once it is completed, the offender is set free. To be held indefinitely or punished more than once for the same offence is seen as a miscarriage of justice. Thus, for my client not to know when the period of discipline will be over seems a little harsh. This wiping clean of the slate is also part of the process of him being able to start afresh.
I believe that in many instances, individuals and institutions do not wish to be harsh. Yet, they may not know how to grapple with several competing concerns such as the need to discipline, the need to prevent further occurrences and the need to rehabilitate. When the offence involves close relationships, then another need may present itself. It is the need to rebuild and restore. It comes from the fact that the offending behaviour has caused a rift in the relationships of those involved. It is a tear that needs to be mended.
How does one go about to repair such a tear? Although we are not told exactly how, the Apostle Paul helped to restore the relationship of Onesimus (a runaway slave who was a thief) with his former master by being Onesimus' advocate. He appealed that Onesimus be given another chance and gave a good account of this person whom he had gotten to know when they were fellow prisoners. Paul even made good the money stolen by Onesimus.
Paul shows an example of divine forgiveness. It means following in the footsteps of Christ. I believe we need to develop this capacity to enable us to repair and restore broken relationships.
Worship
Dr Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship & Church Music at the Methodist School of Music and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
The worship service requires your active participation
Week after week, we gather for worship. We listen again to the Word of God proclaimed in Scripture readings and sermons. We sing, we pray, we respond to the Word with our gifts and we come to the table to commune with the Lord—not as individuals—but as a whole community of faith. Why do we do this?
Worship lies at the heart of church life. It is when we all come together to affirm our faith and Christian identity. This means that showing up in church to attend a worship service calls us to actively participate, to be present to the congregation as Christ is present to us. Each worshipper is expected to prepare themselves before the service, ensuring they are ready to engage fully. Our voices in singing and speaking inspire the rest of the congregation to join in, and as our voices fill the worship space, we encourage and uplift each other in our shared spiritual journey. Refraining from using our mobile devices during the service helps to minimise distractions and maintain focus.
Each element of our worship service holds profound meaning and purpose. When we listen to the Scripture readings and sermons, we are reminded of God's timeless truths and his presence in our lives. God's Word teaches us how to dance with the rhythm of life. It assures us that God is with us in joy and in sorrow. The hymns and songs we sing unite our voices in praise, lifting our spirits and strengthening our bonds as a community.
Our music may also help us express repentance, lament or even call out for justice. Indeed, the music is not about praise alone— there is space for the difficult and dark parts
of our Christian life, crying out to God about our disappointments, fears and the injustices we see.
Worship is a constant, unfolding dialogue with God who can speak to us through the Scriptures, the sermon, the songs, the silent reflection and other elements of the liturgy. Responding to the Word with our gifts is a tangible expression of our gratitude and commitment to God's work.
Coming to the table to commune with the Lord is a powerful act of unity and remembrance. It signifies that we are one body in Christ, nourished by his sacrifice and love. This communal act of the Holy Eucharist reminds us that our faith is not lived in isolation but in fellowship with others.
Worship is not passive but active, and we must expect it to be transformative. This transformation is not just personal but communal. Together, as a congregation, we support one another on our spiritual journeys, growing and evolving in faith collectively.
Worship sends us out into the world with renewed purpose and strength. Our time together in worship inspires us to live out our faith in our daily lives, showing Christ's love and compassion to those we encounter. Worship is the heartbeat of our church. It is a dynamic, living expression of our faith that calls us to come together, participate fully, and be transformed. Let us continue to cherish and engage in this sacred practice, knowing that in worship, we encounter the living God and are strengthened as a community of faith.
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.
Romans 8:38–39
HOSANNA BREAVEMENT SERVICES PTD LTD
Percy Low worships at Charis Methodist Church and serves in the Family Life Ministry and as a Cell Group Leader and Local Preacher. She also serves in the CAC Board of Family Life and Counselling Ministry. / Photo courtesy of Percy Low
For God so loved [me] that he gave his one and only son
Percy (third from right), with her late mother (second from right) and family
My parents separated when I was a young child. My late mum worked two jobs to raise me singlehandedly. As I was often alone and feeling lonely, she decided to let me attend Sunday school at Geylang Chinese Methodist Church located just across from our house, although she was not a Christian. She also enrolled me in Geylang Methodist Girls' School, her alma mater, hoping that I would learn the right values and develop good character.
Kopi kakis
by Lau Peng Leong, Yen Tun I and Zachary Yong
When I was eight years old, my Sunday school teacher shared the gospel with me by asking me to read John 3:16 personalised with my name: "For God so loved Percy that he gave his one and only son …". I was deeply moved that someone would love me so much and be willing to die on the cross for my sins. No one had ever demonstrated such great love for me, and my immediate response was, "Thank you, Jesus. I want you to come into my life and be my friend."
I've often struggled with my parents' separation and questioned whether marriage was something I wanted to consider. I am grateful to my Sunday school teachers at church and Christian teachers at school who cared for my welfare and often invited me to share meals with their families. Witnessing strong marriages and what a Christian home could be like gave me the hope and courage to start my own family. Today, I serve on the CAC Board of Family Life, in my church's Family Life Ministry, and with Focus on the Family Singapore, to help strengthen marriages and families and to be a witness of God's love.
EQUIP EVENING COURSE | CHRISTIAN SEXUAL ETHICS
18, 25 September and 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 October (Wednesdays), 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Register by 11 September
via https://www.ttc.edu.sg/english/study-at-ttc/equip-registration
$120 (Standard Registration), $60 (Spouse of Current Matriculated TTC Students), $30 (Youth [aged 21 and below], Full-time National Servicemen, Overseas Participants [from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam]), Free for TTC Alumni/ Current Matriculated TTC Students (Registration Required)
Sexual mores have been contested since the earliest days of the nascent Christian movement. The same is true today, where Christian sexual morality is routinely characterised, both within and without, as cruel, hateful, and even immoral. This course seeks to examine human sexuality from the broad perspective of Christian tradition, in order to answer this question: does creedal orthodoxy still require traditional sexual ethics?
Rev Dr Nathanael Goh is Lecturer in Christian Ethics at Trinity Theological College. He is also an Elder attached to Sengkang Methodist Church. An advocate for the importance of Christian ethics and moral formation, his interests are at the intersection of Scripture, theology, and ethics—especially a retrieval of Christian theological visions of the common good.
Organised by EQUIP
STORIES FROM THE FIELD | CHURCH PLANTING IN JAPAN – A TALE OF TWO CITIES
1 October (Tuesday), 8.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Register by 30 September via https://www.wycliffe.sg/events
Free
How do missionaries reach out to the people of Japan? What are the joys and challenges of such work? The speaker for this session is Daniel Lau. Daniel is privileged to have been involved in church planting work in Tohoku, Japan, and shares some of his experiences serving in both rural and urban parts of the country.
Organised by Wycliffe Singapore
ST LUKE'S ELDERCARE COMMCARE SYMPOSIUM 2024
20 September (Friday), 8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. or 8.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
SIM Global Education
Register via https://www.commcaresymposium.slec.org.sg/
$30 for Track 1: Dementia and Spirituality: Building Connections, Conversations and Collaborations
$100 for Track 2: Wounds to Wellness: Pioneering Paths to Healing
Hosted by SLEC CommCare Academy, this year's CommCare Symposium features two distinct tracks, "Dementia and Spirituality: Building Connections, Conversations and Collaborations" and "Wounds to Wellness: Pioneering Paths to Healing". Hear from speakers such as Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon and Rev Dr Norman Wong about how dementia affects faith in the "Dementia and Spirituality" track, or from experts such as Adj A/Prof Png Gek Kheng in the "Wounds to Wellness" track about managing complex and chronic wounds.
As both tracks are running concurrently, kindly ensure that you register for just one track.
