THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE
ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 027/11/2020
Vo l 1 2 3 N o 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1
LOVE GOD
BY LOVING OUR NEIGHBOUR
Contents
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Church life Methodists in the world Christian living
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EDITORIAL BOARD
1
Bishop’s New Year message
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Coming Up—Trinity Theological College Open House
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One MCS—Presidents’ Greetings 2021
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One MCS—The Rev Dr Gordon Wong consecrated as Bishop
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One MCS—12th Session of MCS GC updates
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One MCS—Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference
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One MCS—Chinese Annual Conference
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One MCS—Trinity Annual Conference
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MCS 135—1HSMS
21
One MCS—GC WSCS
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Welfare Services
23 Missions
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You & Your Family
26
Hymns & Songs
27 Soundings 29
Looking Ahead
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The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church.
Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications
Editor Sheri Goh
Sub-editor
All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. 70 Barker Road #06-04 Singapore 309936 6478-4793 | 6478-4763 message.methodist.org.sg | www.methodist.org.sg newmm@methodist.org.sg
Tan Chiu Ai
fb.com/Methodist.SG
Communications Executive
@methodist.sg
Jason Woo
Proofreader Tan Sheng Ling
Design & Production by Londonbob Design Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd
Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg
BISHOP’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020. He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013-2020.
Vision and ambition “What are the plans and vision God has given you for the Church?”
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was asked this eight years ago when I had been appointed to serve as President of TRAC. I was asked this again last month when I was elected to serve as Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). My answer has remained unchanged, and seems to me to be just as relevant and important during this COVID-19 pandemic. So here is essentially the same confession I made in Methodist Message eight years ago. I wrote then that, whilst grand visions and great plans sometimes inspire me, they more often weary and worry me. Please do not misunderstand— plans are important, and we all can benefit from a passionate injection of enthusiastic motivation. But sometimes I worry. I worry that we speak too much of great and exciting plans. I worry that we start to believe that great and exciting projects reflect spiritual maturity and Christian faithfulness. I worry that we begin to think that a church that has no exciting
project to unveil for the coming year, or quadrennium, is regarded as a church without life or vision. Christians are inspired by passionate speeches to do great things for God. The Church is urged to think big and do big things for the glory of Christ. I worry that we hear too little of doing small things rather than great things for the glory of Christ. We need to beware, lest our dynamic call to do “great” things for God is misunderstood as implying that the God of the Bible is seen primarily in “great” things rather than “little” things. But that isn’t true. Or, to put it more accurately, what the world considers to be great is often completely different from what God regards as “great”. What the world deems “little” may be, in God’s eyes, “great”, and vice versa. The Apostle Paul understood this well. Concerning the kind of ambition they should have for the s ake of the gospel, he wrote to the Church in Thessalonica: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands … so that your daily life may win
the respect of outsiders.” (1 Th 4:11–12) This is a verse I reflect on at the start of almost every year. I share it with friends at every local church that I have been appointed to. And I share it with myself again this year at the start of 2021. I have no “great” plans or vision for what I want to accomplish in the place that God has appointed for me. I certainly don’t want to be so busy with “great” plans and projects that I don’t have time to do the “little things” properly, like being a loving husband to my wife, an encouraging father to my children, a pastor and friend to all who desire Christian companionship along the journey of life in a world that is often filled with pain and sorrow. In short, my vision and ambition for this year is to be a bit more like Christ in every area of my life: at home; in the office; at church; or on the golf course. Nothing spectacular, nothing “great”—just the little things that constitute quiet Christian faithfulness. I want to do these “little things” well, for God. I hope that as a Church, we will make that our vision and ambition as well.
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Coming Up
TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE 2021 WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE A STUDENT AT TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE (TTC)? JOIN US AT OUR VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE 2021 TO FIND OUT! TTC SEEKS TO DEVELOP IN STUDENTS A MATURE UNDERSTANDING OF “Rare is a theological school that is profound and intellectually stimulating, yet accessible and spiritually reinvigorating... offering both self-study and communal learning opportunities. I found this all at TTC!” —Lisman Komaladi (MTS 2016), General-Secretary, Fellowship of Evangelical Students “TTC not only provides a robust environment for theological dialogue and debates, but it also provides an inter-denominational platform
THE HISTORIC AND BIBLICAL FAITH THROUGH AN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS, SPIRITUALLY ENRICHING AND VOCATIONALLY FORMATIVE CURRICULUM THAT REFLECTS A VARIETY OF CHURCH TRADITIONS FROM AN ASIAN PERSPECTIVE.
date 20 January 2021 (wednesday)
for me to interact with my fellow classmates from different church traditions. In addition, the international nature of the community offers me a broader perspective of our faith from different cultures.” —Louis Leong (MDiv 2), ACTS Centre, English Congregation of My Saviour’s Church 2
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
time 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. find out more at https://ttc.edu.sg/english/ open-house/open-house-2021
One MCS ¢
Presidents’ greetings 2021
Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat
Rev Philip Abraham
Rev Stanley Chua
President of the Chinese Annual Conference
President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference
President of Trinity Annual Conference
Fix our eyes on what is unseen.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our world for almost the entire of last year and we are still not out of the woods. As we enter the year 2021, amid this doom and gloom, how are we to respond?
In the past year, we have been fixing our eyes on the “unseen”—COVID-19. This coronavirus is highly contagious and very smart. However, it can still be seen through the microscope. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” What is seen is temporary; the pandemic will be over in time to come. Let us continue to focus on what is unseen, and that which is eternal. May God’s provision and strength be with us in the new year.
Life is full of challenges. In all circumstances, Joshua 1:9 reminds us to conquer our hardships with faith and confidence. To be strong and courageous in our lives requires us to trust in the Lord relentlessly, as He is our source of strength. As we enter 2021, may God’s promise, power and presence be with us in everything that we embark on. Wishing all of you “a Christ-filled New Year”.
As Charles Dickens wrote in his famous opening paragraph of his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity […].” As a people of God, we can either shrink in fear and complain about our present situation or we can rise above our present situation and make the best opportunity to exercise our faith in God. As the Lord said to Joshua in Joshua 1:9b (NIV) “…Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” So, let us arise
in faith and go into the year 2021 knowing that our Lord is with us and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
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One MCS ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie
The Rev Dr Gordon Wong consecrated as Bishop
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong preaching his first sermon as Bishop
(from left to right) Bishops Emeriti Dr Chong Chin Chung, Dr Robert Solomon, Dr Wee Boon Hup and Bishop Dr Gordon Wong delivering the Benediction in Chinese, Tamil, English and Biblical Greek
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rainy evening on 4 Dec 2020 marked a new chapter in the history of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), when the Rev Dr Gordon Wong was consecrated as Bishop for MCS’s 12th quadrennium. Bishop Dr Wong was elected Bishop at the General Conference Session earlier this year in September. 1 The service was held at Wesley Methodist Church (MC), the oldest Methodist church in Singapore. Scaled down due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was attended by close to 100 congregants. Around 800 others watched the service online via livestreaming. 2 Invited guests included Bishop Dr Wong’s family and friends, church leaders, Methodist pastors-in-charge, heads of Methodist agencies, Methodist school principals and invited media. Also in attendance were leaders from other denominations: the Most Rev Archbishop William Goh of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore; NCCS President and Synod Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rt Rev Keith Lai; Lutheran Bishop Terry Kee;
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
Anglican Bishop the Rt Rev Titus Chung; Col Rodney Walters from The Salvation Army Singapore; the Rev Dr Chua Chung Kai from the Evangelical Free Church, and the Rev Ezekiel Tan from the Evangelical Alliance of Singapore. Bishop Dr Wong’s family, including his wife, Lai Foon, who is the Resident Conductor of the Methodist Festival Choir, and his children, Deborah and Jeremy, also joined the service. His father, 98-year-old Cecil Wong, insisted on being there, despite his difficulty in walking. Bishop Dr Wong embarked on his calling as a Methodist pastor in 1986. He has served as a pastor with Fairfield MC and Barker Road MC, as well as Pastor-in-Charge of Cairnhill MC, Christ MC and Covenant Community MC. He taught for 17 years at Trinity Theological College, where he was the Bishop William F. Oldham Professor of Old Testament. He was elected President of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) and served from 2014 to until this year, when he was elected from among the 46 eligible candidates to the office of the Bishop of MCS for the quadrennium 2021–24.
He will serve as spiritual leader to 44,000 Methodists in 46 churches as well as to the 15 Methodist schools and other Methodist agencies such as Methodist Welfare Services and the Methodist Missions Society. He takes over from Bishop Emeritus Dr Chong Chin Chung, who is retiring after serving as Bishop from 2016–2020. The consecration service was presided over by Bishop Emeritus Dr Chong, who prayed over Bishop Dr Wong along with the Presidents from the three Annual Conferences: the Rev Philip Abraham (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference), the Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat (Chinese Annual Conference) and the Rev Stanley Chua (TRAC). Bishop Dr Wong’s first sermon in his new role was entitled, “Groan, Groan, Groan”. “No,” he explained lightheartedly, “the sermon title does not describe my feeling on being consecrated as the next Bishop of MCS.” The groaning he referred to comes from Romans 8:22–28: Creation groans (v22); humans groan (v23); and the Holy Spirit groans (v26). “The created world was good, very good, but corruption and decay has afflicted it. Famines, earthquakes, floods, drought and yes—pandemics,” Bishop Dr Wong said.
But in the rest of the passage, the Apostle Paul used the word “hope” six times. “We do groan,” Bishop Dr Wong elaborated, “but we do not groan as those without hope. We groan but with eager expectation—the hope that one day we will no longer need to groan.” And while we anticipate that hope, we should, as John Wesley preached, “employ whatever God has entrusted you with, in doing good, all possible good, in every possible kind and degree […] to all people.” 3 “In so doing, we obey the greatest commandment in Scripture, which is to love God by loving our neighbour. In this world of pain and pandemic, to love our neighbour means to groan with fellow human beings, to offer hope, and work with God to bring whatever good we can out of the bad that surrounds us all.” As MCS’s 12th session of the General Conference adjourned with the end of the service, the three Bishops Emeriti—Dr Chong, Dr Robert Solomon, Dr Wee Boon Hup—as well as Bishop Dr Wong pronounced in Chinese, Tamil, English and Biblical Greek respectively, the Apostle Paul’s Benediction from the end of 2 Corinthians 13: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God our Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.” It was a fitting reflection of the rich multicultural and multilingual culture that is MCS.
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung (with purple stole) prays over Bishop-Elect Dr Gordon Wong as he is consecrated. Behind Bishop-Elect Dr Wong are (from right to left) his wife Lai Foon, his father Cecil, his son Jeremy and his daughter Deborah
“The Rev Dr Gordon Wong appointed Bishop-Elect,” Methodist Message, October 2020, 3. https://youtu.be/OjZJlq0MQcc 3 In the concluding paragraph of John Wesley’s sermon, “The Right Use of Money” (Luke 16:9). 1 2
Guests at the socially-distanced consecration service included: (front row, from right to left) the Most Rev Archbishop William Goh of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore and Anglican Bishop the Rt Rev Titus Chung; (second row, from right to left) Lutheran Bishop Terry Kee and NCCS President and Synod Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rt Rev Keith Lai
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One MCS ¢
T
he Methodist Church in Singapore wrapped up its 12th Session of the General Conference in December 2020, concluding the remaining discussions and decisions on 3 Dec 2020.
The Rev Dr Gordon Wong was consecrated as the Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore at the consecration service at Wesley Methodist Church on 4 Dec 2020, at the end of which he declared the 12th Session of the General Conference adjourned. Office bearers elected at the 12th Session of the General Conference, who will serve in the 12th Quadrennium from Dec 2020 to Dec 2024, include: Bishop – The Rev Dr Gordon Wong Chairperson, Finance and Administration Council – Mr Goh Geck Teck GC Treasurer – Mr Melvin Dineshraj GC Assistant Treasurer – Mr Nicholas Au-Yong GC Secretary – Mr Jeffrey Lim GC Assistant Secretaries – Ps Timothy Ang, the Rev Jeremy James, the Rev Daniel C Tan Nominee, Secretary of the Trustees – Mr Guan Yeow Kwang Nominees, Assistant Secretary of the Trustees – Mr Anton Moses, Mr Kim Seah Teck Kim Chairperson, Council of Governance – Mr Steven Seah Chairperson, Discipline Revision Commission – Mr Kim Seah Teck Kim Chairperson, Council on Archives and History – The Rev Dr Malcolm Tan Chairperson, Methodist Missions Society – Mr Alvin Tan Chairperson, Disciple Agency – The Rev David Gwee The next regular session of the General Conference will be held in 2024.
The Council of Presidents of MCS for 2021–24: (from left to right) the Rev Stanley Chua (TRAC), Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat (CAC), the Rev Philip Abraham (ETAC)
One MCS ¢
Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference
Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie
The Rev Philip Abraham being installed as President of ETAC. Behind him are his family and Bishop Dr Chong
The challenges ahead for ETAC
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he Annual Conference sessions are usually a time of lively worship and joyful reunion among members across the local churches. For the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) session, there would be much hugging and hand-shaking, as well as warm fellowship over home-cooked meals. The Emmanuel Praise choir, decked out in vibrant uniforms, would grace the opening and closing services with their exuberant singing.
reminded delegates in a sermon based on Romans 15:13– 16. In his swansong sermon as Bishop before retiring in Dec 2020, Bishop Dr Chong spoke at the opening services of all the Annual Conference sessions. “The Apostle Paul suffered greatly wherever he preached the gospel. What kept him going, such that he was willing to place his life on the line to bring the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles, was his hope in Jesus Christ.”
But, as we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed church life. While the number of ETAC delegates for its 45th session was small enough to be held on-site at Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street) on 6 and 7 Nov 2020, the COVID-19 restrictions meant they had to be masked and socially distanced. With live singing disallowed, prerecorded songs were played at the opening and closing service and Holy Communion at the opening service was taken individually.
God has not left us alone in our trials. He has given us the Holy Spirit, who comforts us and will be with us forever. He has also given us the community of the Church, which is what Bishop Dr Chong believes John Wesley had in mind when he formed societies, classes and bands. “Our different cultures, backgrounds and gifts enrich our churches,” said Bishop Dr Chong. “We can use all sorts of knowledge and capabilities to instruct and edify each other, look out for and care for one another.”
The two-day session was attended by representatives from the eight ETAC churches as well as Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) President and Bishop-Elect Dr Gordon Wong, and Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) President the Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat.
It is this diversity of the Christian community that led The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) to structure its churches along linguistic lines into the three Annual Conferences—ETAC, CAC and TRAC.
What is next for ETAC? However, despite the difficult year that 2020 has been, “the God of hope is in our midst”, Bishop Dr Chong
A key issue that the Rev James Nagulan, President of ETAC for the term ending in 2020, highlighted in his President’s
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference
Address was ETAC’s small membership and the resulting difficulty in finding pastors to lead its eight churches. ETAC membership dropped by 1.5 per cent in the last financial year, and by 8 per cent since the beginning of last quadrennium. This year’s pandemic further stymied efforts to build up ETAC membership. The Rev Nagulan emphasised that Vision 2024—a roadmap to strengthen and build up the local churches, which was adopted by ETAC in 2019—must be followed-up in the new quadrennium. ETAC, he said, needs to find creative ways to build up congregation numbers. “We must be ready to make radical decisions if we are serious about the future of ETAC.”
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung preaches at the opening service
Owing to the low recruitment of ETAC pastors and most of its Elders being non-Singaporean, only one person was eligible to stand for election as the President for the next quadrennium (2021–24). ETAC had, at the Sep 2020 MCS General Conference session, petitioned for a relaxation of eligibility criteria for ETAC Presidential candidates but the petition did not receive enough votes to be passed. The Rev Philip Abraham, the only eligible Elder, was declared as ETAC President for the next quadrennium. He said to the conference delegates: “I am the Lord’s servant. Let us continue to serve together to build God’s kingdom.”
Godly lives and ministries The ordination, installation, memorial and closing service was held on the evening of 7 Nov. Pastor Jeremy James was ordained as Deacon; and the Rev Philip Abraham was installed as President, R. Selvathurai as Vice President, as were other ETAC conference leaders. Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon preached from 1 Timothy 4:6–16. ETAC President the Rev James Nagulan welcoming delegates to the 45th session
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
A good pastor, Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon said, is one who heeds Paul’s advice: “Watch your life and doctrine closely” (v16). A pastor’s inner life— their life when no one is watching—and their public ministry must both be beyond reproach and bring glory and honour to God. They must train themselves to be godly: to be like Jesus; to discern what is central to their ministry; and live their lives with hope. In turn, the congregation must honour and encourage their pastors as much as they can.
One MCS ¢
Emmanual Tamil Annual Conference
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021 Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church
Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev R Prabhu
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Saravana Kumar
Jurong Tamil Methodist Church
Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Philip Abraham
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Vijay Joseph
Pastor Rev Jeremy James
Associate Minister Rev Anil Kumar Samuel
Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church
Singapore Telugu Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Philip Abraham
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Anil Kumar Samuel
Part-time Approved Supply Pastor Pastor Stephen Shadrak
Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Saravana Kumar
Pastor-in-Charge Rev James Nagulan
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021 District Superintendent Rev James Nagulan
Methodist Homes Coordinator Rev Anil Kumar
Youth Director Rev Jeremy James Information is correct at time of print.
A socially-distanced and muted opening holy communion service at Tamil MC (Short Street) due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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One MCS ¢
Chinese Annual Conference
Jason Woo is the Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of the Chinese Annual Conference
A call to unite and shine for Christ
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he 45th Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) session was a muted affair compared to previous years. While much of the proceedings over four days was done via Zoom, the opening and closing services were conducted both on-site and livestreamed to off-site participants. In his sermon at the opening service, the outgoing Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung urged the Church to continue holding fast to and proclaiming the hope that only God can give in a world beleaguered by the prolonged battle against COVID-19.
The hope of the Lord is in our midst
The Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat was re-elected for a second term as President during the 45th CAC Session
Bishop Dr Chong’s sermon referenced Romans 15:13–16, where the Apostle Paul used his own tumultuous faith journey in facing trials, dangers and challenges to encourage the early Church to hold fast to the hope that is in Christ. It is this quality of spiritual indomitability that Bishop Dr Chong hoped Methodists across all three Annual Conferences would emulate, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the world seem so chaotic and uncertain. Bishop Dr Chong also urged CAC members to stay united, always mindful and ready to uphold and look out for one another.
Registration at our Columbarium Office (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg
Bishop Dr Chong, in one of his last Holy Communions as Bishop of MCS
“Best of all, God is with us” Echoing Bishop Dr Chong’s message, CAC President the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat, also gave praise to the Lord for guiding the CAC through an eventful quadrennium, during which the latter half saw a number of significant changes. The Rev Dr Goh* bookended his current presidency by sharing how his heart was filled with joy and peace as he prepared his President’s Report because he is “deeply aware of His presence with us; as John Wesley said on 2 March 1791: ‘Best of all, God is with us.’” The Rev Dr Goh reflected on the impact of the pandemic on the CAC churches. He noted that even though many activities and ministries were curtailed or aborted, it was a chance to pause collectively and reflect on the Church’s real purpose. He exhorted the local churches to press on and continue to be bold in revisiting ministry paradigms, organisational structures and existing traditions in order to meet the challenges of the next quadrennium and beyond. The Rev Dr Goh also spoke of God’s timing, drawing attention to the speedy adoption of the Central Pooling (CP) initiative launched in 2018. He had initially wanted to kickstart the exercise in 2019 for implementation in 2020. This timeline would have been severely disrupted by the pandemic and would have posed serious challenges for the CAC. In His wisdom, God enabled the project to be passed two full years earlier. “Because the CP exercise took place in 2018, we also managed to kick off the transformation task force, in a way, that helped prepare the minds of our people for needed changes and adaptations. CP has helped us to be more united and be at a better position to ride out the storms. My heart is filled with awe and thanksgiving. God made everything beautiful in His time,” said the Rev Dr Goh. In addition, the Rev Dr Goh reiterated the importance of disciple-making and that, even as the CAC has done well on the macro fronts, God also looks at the micro aspects of church work, namely the reaching of the lost and needy. He highlighted the current pandemic as a wake-up call to share the Gospel with those around us as well as to disciple the nations.
Looking ahead to the new quadrennium, the Rev Dr Goh shared his vision for CAC: “I hope to see a CAC that constantly abides in Christ…and manifests the following four characteristics namely, passion and zeal for evangelism, disciple-making, strong connectionism that is expressed not only in the itinerant system of pastors but also in gifts and resources, strategic partnership of ministries and mission and lastly, having innovative and engaging ministries in witnessing for God.”
“Worship anywhere, but not anyhow” The closing service included the ordination of Elders and Deacons as well as announcement of retirements, including that of Bishop Dr Chong. Bishop-Elect Dr Gordon Wong, in his sermon, stressed the significant role that incoming members of the clergy will play in the spiritual lives of their flock. He drew a parallel between Jesus’ words of the day when believers “will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem” (John 4:21) with the current situation of physical church services and ministries being disrupted. He urged the Church to consider how it can impress upon members that worshipping God can take place anywhere and any day, and not just in church on Sundays. True worship occurs when believers do so in harmony with the Holy Spirit. “God is both truth and spirit, and worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth,” he concluded. *The Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat was re-elected CAC President during the Session.
The Rev Dr Goh also emphasised the reality of spiritual warfare and the importance of living out our faith in a way that is consistent with what we say we believe in. He cautioned against being in a position where the Church has the form but not the power. “Our beliefs impact our ethics. We need to recover the sense of the total aspect of our faith, not just in belief but in practice. Our beliefs are revealed through the way we act and the moral choices we make. The two are intertwined and cannot be separated easily. A downslide in our ethics and morality will very quickly lead to a change in theology, as we have seen in the West.”
Ordained Deacons
Retired pastors
Pr Bernard Chng Chun Yong
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung
Pr Patrick Lim Kok Chu
Rev Goh Aik Hiang
Pr Lin Ming Zhong
Rev Yeung Hin Fai
Pr Joshua Ong Chee Xiang Pr Nathanael Goh Jun Chuen Pr Florence Ngu Siew Ning Pr Wang HaiBin METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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One MCS ¢
Chinese Annual Conference
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2020
卫理公会华人年议会2020委任 District 1 第一教区
District 2 第二教区
District 3 第二教区
District Superintendent 教区长
District Superintendent 教区长
District Superintendent 教区长
Rev Lek Yong Teck 陸永德牧师
Rev Philip Lim Kian Leong 林建隆牧师
Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey 严家慧牧师（博士）
Geylang Chinese Methodist Church 芽笼堂
Telok Ayer CMC / TA2 直落亚逸堂／直落亚逸第二礼拜堂
Foochow Methodist Church 福灵堂
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chua Ooi Suah 蔡伟山牧师
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Poh Heow Lee 傅後利牧师
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Wilfred Leow 廖惠安牧师
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Joshua Tan Sin Kian 陈新坚牧师
Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Lau Chong Yaw 刘昌耀牧师
Paya Lebar CMC/ Paya Lebar Methodist Mission 巴耶黎峇堂／巴耶礼峇美以美宣教站
Assistant Pastors 助理 Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie 吴钧杰牧师 Rev Lin Ming Zhong 林明忠牧师 Rev Patrick Lim Kok Chu 林国柱牧师
Re-engagement of Retired Pastor
Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Dr David Koh Ah Chye 许亚才牧师
Preacher 传道 Pr Timothy Ang Pei-Zheng 洪培正传道
Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah 曾国华牧师 Rev Jasper Sim Shenq Chyi 沈圣奇牧师 Rev Boey Kok Yeow 梅国耀牧师 Rev Ng Beng Keow 黄明娇牧师
Changi MC/ Punggol Preaching Point 樟宜堂 / 榜鹅宣教站事工 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Simon Cheo Hsun Shen 石训深牧师
Charis Methodist Church 颂恩堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Lui Yuan Tze 雷远智牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Daniel Teoh Kean Oon 张建温牧师 Rev Peace Choi Pyong Hwa 崔平和牧师 Attachment 隶属 Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian 白瑞健牧师
Sengkang Methodist Church 盛港堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey 严家慧牧师（博士） Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Peter Pan Seng Tai 宾升泰牧师 Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan 陈杨丽旋牧师 Attachment 隶属 Rev Lisa Yu Li Hsin 俞丽鑫牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Nathanael Goh Jun Chuen 吴俊强牧师
Bukit Panjang Methodist Church 武吉班让堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Lek Yong Teck 陸永德牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Christopher Louis Kong Chung Dai 江宗大牧师
Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee 陈英意牧师
Grace Methodist Church 恩典堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern 尤永深牧师（博士） Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Eric Soh Wai Foon 苏伟峰牧师
Holy Covenant Methodist Church 恩约堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng 许立欣牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Florence Ngu Siew Ning 吴晓宁牧师
重聘退休牧师(部分时间）
Rev Seet Keng Tat 薛庆达牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Ong Bee Keow 王美娇传道 Attachment 隶属 Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat 何威达牧师（博士）
Hinghwa Methodist Church 天道堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chu Vee Ping 周伟平牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Anne Lim Ai Lei 林爱莉牧师 Rev Peter Soh Kee Lie 苏圻利牧师
Kum Yan MC / Kum Yan MC (Woodlands) 感恩堂／感恩堂（兀兰） Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Philip Lim Kian Leong 林建隆牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Herman Kan Man Shek 简文石牧师
Hakka Methodist Church 天恩堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Irman Halim 林恩信牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Nathanael Chew Eng Pin 周永斌牧师
Yishun Methodist Mission 义顺北宣堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay 周美丽牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Bernard Chng Chun Yong 庄俊勇牧师
2021 CAC PASTORS’ SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS BY BISHOP 2020年会督特别委任本年议会教牧 Missionaries with MMS 宣教士
District 4 第四教区
庄炳亮牧师（博士） Rev Dr Alex Chng Peng Lian 李文英牧师 Rev Cassandra Lee
Director of DISCIPLE Agency‘门徒机构’主任 严家慧牧师（博士）（义务） Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey (Honorary)
District Superintendent 教区长
Rev Chua Ooi Suah 蔡伟山牧师 Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church 女皇镇堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Ling Tieng Ngung 林天源牧师 Associate Pastor 协理 Rev Tack Ng Lai Chun 吴丽真牧师
Associate Directors of DISCIPLE Agency ‘门徒机构’副主任 江宗大牧师（义务） Rev Christopher Louis Kong Chung Dai (Honorary) 周美丽牧师（义务） Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay (Honorary)
Associate Director of Christian Ministry in Schools 学校圣工副主任 许立欣牧师 Rev Edmund Koh
Methodist School Chaplains 卫理学校校牧 Rev Lek Yong Teck 陆永德牧师
Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah 曾国华牧师
Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee 陈英意牧师
Rev Lui Yuan Tze 雷远智牧师
Re-engagement of Retired Pastor
Rev Christopher Kong 江宗大牧师
Rev Jasper Sim 沈圣奇牧师
重聘退休牧师(部分时间）
Pr Shawn Koh Shin Jan 许巽然传道
Rev Boey Kok Yeow 梅国耀牧师
Rev Alex Chng 庄炳亮牧师
Rev Paul Thian 程文喜牧师
Rev Irman Halim 林恩信牧师
Rev Wilfred Leow 廖惠安牧师
Rev Simon Cheo 石训深牧师
Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie 吴钧杰牧师
Pr Timothy Ang 洪培正传道
Rev Joshua Ong 王志翔牧师
Rev Glenn Tan Tze Meng 陈书铭牧师
Pr Ong Bee Keow 王美娇传道
Rev Nathanael Goh 吴俊强传道
Rev Peace Choi Pyong Hwa 崔平和牧师
Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern 尤永深牧师
Rev Koh Lik Hng Edmund 许立欣牧师
Rev Bernard Chng 庄俊勇牧师
Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay 周美丽牧师
Rev David Koh Ah Chye 许亚才牧师
Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan 陈杨丽旋牧师
Rev Goh Aik Hiang 吴奕贤牧师 Assistant Pastors 助理 Rev Jacqueline Ho Sow Fong 何秀芳牧师 Rev Joshua Ong 王志翔牧师
Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church 宏茂桥堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Helen Hoe 何秋吟牧师 Assistant Pastor 助理 Rev Wang Hai Bin 王海斌牧师 Preacher 传道 Pr Shawn Koh Shin Jan 许巽然传道
Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church 大巴窑堂 Pastor-in-charge 主理 Rev Chin Yan Chong 陈元昌牧师 Associate Pastors 协理 Rev Koh Chew Hai 许就凯牧师 Rev Glenn Tan Tze Meng 陈书铭牧师
2020 SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS BY PRESIDENT 2020年会长特别委任 Trinity Theological College, Principal & Lecturer 三一神学院院长及讲师 郑益民牧师（博士） Rev Dr Edwin Tay Ed Min
Lecturers at Trinity Theological College & Chaplains to CAC Students at Trinity Theological College 三一神学院讲师及华人年议会三一神学生院牧 何威达牧师（博士） Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat 白瑞健牧师（博士） Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian
Principal, Institute of Elders 四宗乐龄学院院长 邱仁发牧师（义务） Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot (Honorary)
Sabbatical Leave（1 year）安息年及进修（一年） 吴毅华牧师 Rev Andy Goh Yik Wah
Medical Leave 病假 蔡尚志牧师 Rev Louis Chai Shung Chee
Soon Hong Kee Scholarship Trust Fund Representative 孙鸿岐奖学金信托基金代表 Retirement 2021: 张振忠会督 Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung 吴奕贤牧师 Rev Goh Aik Hiang 杨显辉牧师 Rev Yeung Hin Fai Bishop Dr Chong leading the ordination of the new deacons
Information is correct at time of print.
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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One MCS ¢
Trinity Annual Conference
Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie
Welcome to Church “How might we continue to promote the loving welcome of God in both the Church and the world?” Bishop-Elect Dr Gordon Wong asked the delegates of the 45th session of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in his final address as President before his consecration as Bishop on 4 Dec 2020. The session was held at Toa Payoh Methodist Church (TPMC) and online from 23 to 26 Nov.
TRAC President and Bishop-Elect Dr Gordon Wong at the opening service of the TRAC 45th session
Bishop-Elect Dr Wong served as President of TRAC, comprising the 21 Englishspeaking Methodist churches in Singapore, from 2013—2020. “Over the last eight years,” he explained, “we [i.e. TRAC] have been using the simple logo of the five W’s to form a coloured star to remind us that we wish to be a Conference of churches that make disciples who promote God’s Word, Worship, Welcome, Witness and Wonder. This year, we have returned to the W for Welcome.” How is the Church, socially distanced because of COVID-19, to be an inclusive place of welcome for its congregation as well as the community around it? Firstly, Bishop-Elect Dr Wong said, we should be thankful to one another who are serving in the Church—those who serve in ministry, in the local churches, the Annual Conference, the General Conference or as staff. Secondly, we should have ministries through which we can show love to our neighbours, regardless of their
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The Rev Stanley Chua being installed as TRAC President for the next quadrennium
“race, language or religion”, such as through partnerships with the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS). We should also show the welcoming love of God in a polarising world. “Love means learning how to disagree without being disagreeable,” said Bishop-Elect Dr Wong. Highlighting social media as a place that divides, he encouraged Methodists to extend the welcome of God’s inclusive love for all. He ended his Address by thanking all with whom he had served alongside over the last eight years.
Leadership renewal After his Address, the laity, through outgoing Lay Leader Kim Seah, thanked Bishop-Elect Dr Wong for his service as President. A photo and video montage, assembled by TRAC office staff, was shown before a farewell gift was presented to Bishop-Elect Dr Wong. One of the main orders of business during every quadrennial Annual Conference session is to elect a new President and other leaders. The Rev Stanley Chua, Pastor-in-Charge of Wesley MC, was elected after five ballots as TRAC President from 2021–24. Dr Cheah Fung Fong from Fairfield MC was elected TRAC Vice-President, the first woman to fill this role. Henry Tan, formerly TRAC Vice-President, was elected as Lay Leader. Over the next few days, elections were also held for TRAC’s key appointments and board members. Outgoing Lay Leader Kim Seah urged TRAC delegates to encourage more, especially the younger ones, to step up and serve at the level of the Annual Conference and beyond. Pastors and lay leaders also formed smaller groups to fellowship, discuss the issues their respective churches were facing, and pray for one another’s personal and church needs.
Henry Tan (extreme right) being installed as Lay Leader and Dr Cheah Fung Fong (fourth from right) as TRAC Vice President
The power of welcome The closing service of the TRAC 45th session was held at TPMC, which celebrated its golden jubilee in 2020. Owing to COVID-19 limits on the size of the congregation, the service was attended in person by those who were being installed, ordained or dedicated, along with their families. The rest of the TRAC delegates attended the service via livestreaming. During the service, the new TRAC President, Vice-President and Lay Leader were installed while Conference officers were dedicated. Pastors Joey Chen, Alex Chew, Benjamin Lau and Allan Lee were ordained as Deacons, and the Rev Eddie Ho, the Rev Poh Zhi-Hui and the Rev Byron Teo were ordained as Elders. (Local preachers had been recognised at the Holy Communion service on 23 Nov, also at TPMC, to mark the start of the TRAC 45th session.) The Rev Edmund de Souza of Wesley MC delivered a sermon that continued with the theme of welcome. He preached from Luke 19:1–10, which tells the well-known story of Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus. Jesus is a welcoming Saviour, he said, and reached out to connect with Zacchaeus, a dishonest tax collector who was a pariah among his own people. Similarly, we should look out for those who society has overlooked or ignored, and “see [them], notice them and connect with them, and reach out a hand of welcome to help them encounter Jesus in their own lives”. A loving welcome, the Rev de Souza pointed out, can change lives. “I believe God will use us to bring salvation to those who are far from Him, to bring restoration to those who are broken, and to bring healing to those in need,” he said. “God is calling us to be the Church that welcomes those who are far from God […]. We should be that kind of a welcoming community, so that the name of Jesus will be lifted up and many will be blessed.” METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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ONE One MCS ¢ ¢
Trinity Annual Conference Trinity Annual Conference
PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021 District 1
District 2
District 3
District Superintendent
District Superintendent
District Superintendent
Rev Dr Jonathan Seet
Rev Reuben Ng
Rev Alvin Chan
Barker Road Methodist Church
Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church
Agape Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev. Wendy Watson
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Anthony Lee
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li
Pastors Rev Dr Daniel Koh Rev Lawence Chua Rev Jeremy Ong Rev Benjamin Fong
Pastors Rev Lee Yam Kai Rev Nga Mee Hee
Cairnhill Methodist Church
Assistant Pastor Pastor Emanuel Goh
Assistant Pastor Pastor Gilbert Lok
Living Hope Methodist Church
Bedok Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Ivan Tan
Pastors-in-Charge Rev David Gwee Rev Dr Aaron Tay (Effective 1 Apr 2021) Pastor Rev Timothy Yong
Christ Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Edwin Wong Pastors Rev Dianna Khoo Rev Barnabas Chong Rev Daniel C Tan Rev David Ho Gim Pin Assistant Pastor Pastor Tay Li Ping
Christalite Methodist Chapel Pastor-in-Charge Rev Shaun Chong Assistant Pastor Pastor Reginald Chan
Kampong Kapor Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Kenneth Huang Pastors Rev Tay Kay Leong Assistant Pastor Rev Anthony Phua
Pastor Rev Joshua Loo
Methodist Church of the Incarnation Pastor-in-Charge Rev Edmund Koh Pastor Rev Gabriel Liew
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
Fairfield Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Wendy Tay Pastor Rev Dr Peter Wong
Toa Payoh Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Benjamin Lee Pastors Rev Ming Feong Ching Rev Poh Zhi-Hui
Paya Lebar Methodist Church
Wesley Methodist Church
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Raymond Fong
Pastors Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup Rev Vincent Goh Rev Christopher Chin
Pastors Rev Edmund de Souza Rev Michael Tan Rev Lilian Ang Rev Chia Chin Nam Rev Gladwin Lee Rev Adrian Ng Rev David Ho Seng Hian
Assistant Pastors Rev Jacob Lim Rev Joey Chen
Pentecost Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Jonathan Seet Pastor Rev Jason Phua Assistant Pastor Rev Collin See
Trinity Methodist Church
Pastors Rev Paul Nga Rev Sng Chong Hui Rev Byron Teo
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Pastor Rev Ling Kin Yew
Assistant Pastor Rev Allan Lee
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Alvin Chan
16
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr William Sam
Assistant Pastors Rev Benjamin Lau Pastor Clement Ong
District 4 District Superintendent
Rev Dr Edwin Wong Aldersgate Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Lynette Sathiasingam
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021 Director, Truthmin
Rev Ian Lee Assistant Directors, Youth Ministry
Rev Benjamin Fong Rev Timothy Yong (Schools) Rev Allan Lee (Trackers)
Assistant Pastor Pastor Jeremy Yap
Director of Young Adults Ministry
Covenant Community Methodist Church
Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Malcolm Tan
Rev Ming Feong Ching
Pastors Rev Daniel Terence Yeo Rev Ian Lee
Faith Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Reuben Ng Pastors Rev John Benedict Foo Rev Peter Koh Rev Eddie Ho Assistant Pastor Rev Chan Mei Ming
Holland Village Methodist Church Pastor-in-charge Rev Joel Yong Pastors Rev Dr Lorna Khoo Rev Loretta Lim
Living Waters Methodist Church Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Aaron Tay Pastor Rev Khoo Kay Huat (Effective 1 Apr 2021) Assistant Pastor Rev Alex Chew
Rev Adrian Ng
Assistant Director, Lay Equipping and Development Institute (LEAD)
Rev Ling Kin Yew Director, Seniors’ Ministry
Rev Irene Thung TRAC Crisis Relief Coordinator
Rev Jason Phua TRAC Chaplains to TRAC TTC Students
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun Rev Bernard Chao Rev Wendy Tay Lecturer, Trinity Theological College
Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun Rev Bernard Chao On Sabbatical Leave Rev Lim Jen Huat Study Leave
Rev Lai Kai Ming Rev Chan Siew Chye Coordinator Peranakan/Indonesian Ministry
Rev Jimmy Wong Coordinator Peranakan Ministry
Rev Christopher Chin
METHODIST MISSIONS SOCIETY 2021
APPOINTMENTS MADE THROUGH THE BISHOP’S OFFICE
Rev Derrick Lau Missionary Pastor (East Asia) Rev Tan Cheok Kian Missionary Pastor (Thailand) Rev Clarence Lee Missionary Pastor (Vietnam) Rev Leslie Lim Area Director (Timor-Leste & Laos) Rev Teresa Wilborn Missionary Pastor (Timor-Leste) Rev See Swee Fang
Director, Ministry in Schools
Executive Director
Rev Dr Aaron Tay Associate Director, Ministry in Schools
Rev Dr William Sam Rev Anthony Lee Information is correct at time of print. METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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2021 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides • Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an allround holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
Achievements include
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu.
What the parents say…
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg
“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan
MCS 135 ¢ Jason Woo is the Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of the 1HSMS Committee
from left) CAC President the Rev Gregory Goh Nai Lat, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong and ETAC President the Rev Philip Abraham pronouncing the benediction in Chinese, English and Tamil
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong and the AC Presidents engaging with the youths via several tongue-in-cheek as well as serious questions on culture and activism
Pastor Ian Wong led a rousing worship segment for the 1HSMS “Night of Worship”
Youths in 1 heart, soul, mind and strength for Christ
E
ven though most events planned for MCS 135 were shelved or postponed due to COVID-19 safety measures, the committee for 1Heart, Soul, Mind, Strength (1HSMS) was determined to see it happen as it was the landmark event bringing together Methodist youths across the three Annual Conferences to discuss heartfelt issues with the church leadership as well as to praise God as one. 1HSMS also marked the closing of the yearlong MCS 135 celebration. Taking place via Zoom on 10 Dec, 1HSMS opened with two consecutive discussion tracks. The first discussion involved Bishop Dr Gordon Wong and the Presidents from their respective Annual Conferences responding to questions concerning spirituality, pop culture and societal issues, as well as tackling lighthearted ones such as who their favourite superheroes were. One of the concerns put forth was the growing secularity amongst youths in the Church.
The Rev Stanley Chua, the newlyminted President of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), encouraged the youths to live out their faith fervently in their homes and daily lives. The Rev Chua emphasised the importance of this as today’s youth will be tomorrow’s parents. By making their Christian faith real at home, they will give later generations a “fighting chance” to stay grounded in Christ.
The youth symposium saw active discussions and participation from the Methodist youths via ZOOM
The second was a symposium facilitated by the Rev Bernard Chao, who has worked with young people as an Assistant Director for TRAC’s Board of Youth Ministry. This symposium saw the young participants sharing their take on challenging questions such as “Have church programmes been prioritized over people?” and “Who is missing from our churches?”
Pastor Ian Wong, a youth pastor with Kum Yan Methodist Church, brought up the importance of “relational capital” between churches and their youths. “If you have very little relational capital and you need to build a relationship on Zoom, it’s hard. It’s easy to maintain and grow something if you have gone a certain distance,” he said. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt physical activities and progammes, Pastor Wong opined that churches which have built up strong relationships with their youths over the years will be able to weather the storm. The 1HSMS event rounded off with “A Night of Worship” at Kum Yan Methodist Church on 11 Dec. In view of physical attendance limits, the service was also livestreamed. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong closed the event and MCS 135 with a sermon urging Methodist youths to love God with all their hearts, souls and minds, and above all, to love their neighbours as God loves them and to make that the “most important thing” in their lives.
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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14
METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
One MCS ¢
GC WSCS
Mrs Laureen Ong is a member of the Executive Committee of GC WSCS. / Photos courtesy of GC WSCS
Divine order in God’s family Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Corinthians 11:3
T
he General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service (GC WSCS) held its 12th Session Quadrennial General Meeting on 28 Nov 2020 on Zoom. Present were Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, ETAC President the Rev Philip Abraham, TRAC President the Rev Stanley Chua, President-Elect of The Methodist Women in Malaysia Mrs Evelyn Sim, delegates, reserves and guests.
The service on 29 Nov 2020, at which the newly-elected officials were installed
Bishop Dr Chong delivered an opening exhortation on “God’s Divine Order for Families” based on Ephesians 5:22–25. Dr Teo Li Bee was re-elected GC WSCS President. In her greetings, Dr Teo expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness in leading and protecting the WSCS through a unique and eventful quadrennium, the last year of which saw unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that WSCS will face new challenges ahead to explore creative methods of doing ministry through digital means to touch and transform lives. Also elected were the following WSCS Annual Conference Presidents: Mrs Daisy Ling – Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Mrs Kalaimathi Nagulan – Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) Ms Neo Lay Tin – Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC)
Dr Teo and her IT team conducting the QGM over Zoom on 28 Nov 2020
The newly-elected officers were installed on 29 Nov 2020 at Barker Road Methodist Church in a service officiated by Bishop Dr Chong. With gratitude to God for His love and leading, we give all glory and honour to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
The main theme for the next quadrennium, which ends in 2024, is Divine Order in God’s Family (Eph 3:14–21; 1 Cor 11:3)
Sub-themes for each year are: 2021: Knowing God’s Rules for the Christian Family (1 Peter 3:1–8; Col 3:18–21; Eph 5:1–2) 2022: Developing a Loving & Trusting Relationship in the Family (1 John 3:1; Rom 12:9–10; Eph 4:1–3) 2023: Raising the Next Generation in God’s Way (Prov 22:6; Deut 11:18–19) 2024: Serving God as a Family (Joshua 24:15; Matt 12:48–50) GC WSCS was reconstituted as General Conference WSCS in The Methodist Church in Singapore in 1976. Since then, the women have been actively engaged in the ministries of the Church. GC WSCS is governed by her own constitution in The Book of Discipline and supports generously her mission to provide for the needs of women, youth, and children, in church, community and missions. Spiritually woven together in service and discipleship, and girded with prayer, WSCS serves under the three Annual Conferences (CAC, ETAC and TRAC) in Missions; Witness and Evangelism; Discipleship and Nurture; and Outreach and Social Concerns.
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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Welfare Services ¢ By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo courtesy of MWS
Keen to volunteer with MWS? Whether you are an individual, group or corporate team, we have a varied list of remote volunteering opportunities at our various centres.
Mdm Ang leading other seniors in an exercise session
Find out more at mws.sg/volunteer or scan the QR code. To get involved in other ways, email us at volunteer@mws.sg.
Recognising the strengths of our seniors in the community
T
he network of seven MWS Senior Activity Centres (SACs) run by Methodist Welfare Services do more than just organise activities to engage seniors aged 55 and above. They have been applying the Asset-Based Community-led Development (ABCD) approach, which involves activating seniors to take charge of their own physical and psychosocial health. This shifts their role from service users to cocreators and contributors. Towards this end, a Council of Seniors was formed to provide peer leadership and play a major role in planning and leading activities. These activities included wellness and exercise programmes conducted in collaboration with volunteers and community partners. From participant to peer leader Mdm Ang Bong Chee was a senior who had signed up for the eight-week “Rolling with Wellness” programme at MWS Senior Activity Centre – Teck Ghee VistaLed by a health coach from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), the programme advocated exercises, healthy cooking tips and board games. Noting her positive and optimistic attitude, the spritely 70-year-old was nominated by her health coach as a Peer Support Leader (PSL) to lead various tasks such as taking attendance, reminding
fellow seniors to come for classes and explaining the class contents. When the programme ended, Mdm Ang took the initiative to continue conducting small group exercise sessions with the seniors at the SAC. She had earlier picked up digital skills, which enabled her to do Google searches and make electronic payments. This spurred the tech-savvy senior to look for instructional videos and content on the Internet, and share them with her peers during the exercise sessions. “I like to exercise, as well as share what I’ve learnt. Instead of enjoying exercising on my own, I like to share this joy with others. When I see the seniors benefit from it, I’m very happy. Furthermore, I can make many friends and not be disconnected from society,” said Mdm Ang. Her desire to help fellow seniors extended beyond the “classroom”. During the circuit breaker period, Mdm Ang was concerned about the welfare of those living alone or who had mobility issues. She took the initiative to call them to check on their well-being, and assist in various ways. “I built a very good relationship with some of the seniors. They trust me very much and asked me to collect the TraceTogether tokens for them,” she said. She also helped out over the weekends,
where she would visit the seniors and lend them her mobile phone to check out online learning courses. Mdm Ang exemplifies the indefatigable spirit of helping others, and we hope she can inspire others her age to give back to the community while staying fit and healthy. For her accomplishments, Mdm Ang was bestowed the Singapore Community Engagement Initiative Award, which seeks to recognise members from the community who lead by example and take ownership to care for themselves and others. It is a new category under the annual TTSH Singapore Patient Action Awards. Serving amidst the pandemic Mdm Ang was also eager to come back to MWS SAC – Teck Ghee Vista to lead activities once the circuit breaker was over and physical events could resume. In fact, she has since led several exercise sessions with the seniors with the necessary precautions in place. “It is such a joy to exercise with seniors in the neighbourhood; we’re just like one big family. As long as everyone cooperates by observing good hygiene, safe distancing and mask-wearing, we can exercise together and stay safe,” she said. This article was repackaged from Shin Min Daily News (6 Nov 2020) and Lianhe Zaobao (7 Nov 2020), with additional reporting by MWS Communications Team.
Missions ¢ The Rev Derrick Lau serves as the Executive Director of Methodist Missions Society (www.mms.org.sg).
MMS: An overview
Past and new quadrennium Teachers running the summer programme at the Singapore Mission School Laos in 2020
T
he Methodist Missions Society (MMS) was established in 1991 as the mission agency of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). MMS seeks to establish indigenous churches supported by mission endeavours in our region. We are committed towards encouraging, enlisting, engaging and empowering Methodists to serve in missions by partnering, praying for and participating with MMS to reach those who Jesus died to redeem. We believe God has called us to help rebuild, restore and reconcile people to Christ. MMS provides opportunities in the harvest fields in terms of evangelising, equipping and nurturing new believers; making disciples; planting churches and expressing love through social concerns, healthcare, education, livelihood projects and practical assistance. As at 30 Nov 2020, we have 34 missionaries serving in seven countries and four home-based missionaries.
of ensuring sustainability in the funding of ongoing ministries, capacity for new initiatives and new geography outreach. •
•
In the past quadrennium, MMS embarked on the following priority areas:
Church Engagement is an important initiative to engage, excite, encourage, equip and establish mission interest, involvement and partnerships in all our Methodist churches. We believe there is great value in strengthening and expanding the collaboration and partnership with our local churches and Annual Conferences in reaching unreached peoples in our region. A Church Engagement Roadmap was developed. Appropriate Training Contextualized to each field to empower building capacity and self- sustainability through engaging with relevant stakeholders was ramped up both in Singapore and across the seas for missionaries and national leaders alike, whether clergy or laity, so that MMS can better fulfill her call and purpose.
•
A Governance Framework was developed for the purposes of enhancing and providing assurance over governance of our field entities and ministries.
•
Missions Manual serves to document all MMS policies and operational guidelines and provides a reference to all members, present and future.
•
A Field Strategy & Funding Policy is an articulation of where MMS is along the mission journey, and hence ministry focus, in each of our seven fields. It addressed the prioritisation of ministry initiatives, and the budget planning process for the purpose
Succession Planning underscores the notion that while we remained thankful to God and appreciate the Exco and the various sub-committees for their labour of love, we are constantly engaged in regular conversations about raising new leaders for missions.
MMS VISION 2025 serves as the framework for the new quadrennium. The thrust is “Enlarge the Tent, O Lord” (cf. www.mms.org.sg). MMS Vision 2025 seeks to: 1. Enlarge the scope of mission. We envisioned the expansion of our capacities beyond our current commitments in the seven countries. We shall focus primarily on the vast unreached people groups in our region. 2. Engage churches, individuals and Annual Conferences to fulfil the prophetic call to “fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covers the sea” (Isaiah 11:9, NIV). It includes raising missionaries, developing strategic partnerships with local churches, enlarging the pool of prayer intercessors and increasing the financial resources and support. We praise God that local churches, individuals and Annual Conferences continue to provide the much-needed prayer and financial support for our office and field operations. Major fund-raising events such as the biennial banquet are nevertheless necessary for funding field projects (especially new projects) and for replenishing our General Fund. Come and serve the Missio Dei together! To God be the glory!
Excerpted from General Conference Executive Council (GCEC) Report presented in Nov 2020.
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You & Your Family ¢ Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
Abused and powerless? It is time to take charge
I
t sounds like a tongue-in-cheek question: “Is there
What do these children want, you may wonder. Some may
a law protecting parents from being abused by their
want things like the latest smartphone and gaming apps,
children?”
or privileges like more play or computer time. Their wants and needs may appear different but essentially boil down
Increasingly, this question is being asked, not of abused
to wanting more control and doing what they enjoy.
elderly parents, but in the context of parents in their forties and fifties, with abusive children in their pre-
Psychologists tell us what these children are craving for
teen and teenage years. The abuse could be physical,
ultimately is a deeper connection with their parents. This
like hitting, kicking or threatening their parents with
may be at odds with what some parents say—that when
knives. Then there is emotional abuse like calling them
they attempt to connect, their children show no interest
names, shaming them in public and withholding love and
or even reject them. With these children, it may be that
cooperation for household chores, homework or school
they had sought attention sometime earlier in their lives
attendance. Some children are psychologically abusive,
but were rebuffed, perhaps because the parents were
e.g. threatening to harm themselves if they do not get
too stressed and tired, or not attuned to their children’s
what they want.
needs. Now that the parents are ready to connect, their
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
children are not. The best time to attend to our children
at home. He did this three times within the last year.
is not when we are ready but when they need us.
This parent, himself a trained counsellor, had called me for advice on getting his son to go to school. His
To make sense of the negative behaviours, we need
son’s intermittent school attendance in 2019 had all
to examine parents’ responses. Some adopt strict
but stopped (COVID-19 situation aside) during the past
discipline. If this had been done consistently from
nine months.
the child’s early years, there may be less blatant challenging of their parents’ authority—if “the law” had
After checking for reasonable causes, such as trauma
been laid down clearly and firmly from the beginning,
experienced in school, I encouraged him to take charge
most children would abide by it. From time to time,
of his son. I suggested that the very next morning, he
the children may slip into mischief and misconduct, but
give this son the choice of going to school either on his
a firm reminder of what is acceptable and what is not
own or be carried to school. As this boy was just a little
would likely bring them quickly in line. The key word
shorter than his father, I suggested enlisting the older
here is “firm”, as opposed to “harsh” or “angry”. When
brother’s help.
discipline is done in anger, its intent is unclear to the child and they only learn to obey but not to respect
Morning came and the boy refused to go to school. To
authority.
the credit of the father, older brother and the mother too, they carried him—in his sleepwear—to school
Parents who find their authority challenged or are held
(thankfully, it was a walk of just a few minutes). On
to ransom by their children’s abusive demands are more
reaching the school gate, they set him on his feet and
likely to be those who had not been consistent in their
handed him his school uniform. The boy was upset to be
parenting. They may have started out allowing their
treated this way but went to school on his own accord
children to decide for themselves what they wanted.
in the days following. By taking charge and being firm,
In time, on realising their children’s misguided choices,
they asserted parental authority over their son.
they start trying to influence their children’s choices. Sadly, not many parents are willing to take this They may first attempt to use persuasion or reasoning.
route. Such families may consequently endure years
However, if a child of six or seven has had their own
of emotionally-draining fights and the children may
way most of the time, they would be less likely to
grow up embittered and angry. If they express abusive
surrender their autonomy and bend to the will of
behaviour on others who will not stand for it, they will
others. Other parents may attempt to use bribes or
find doors to relationships and employment closed and
incentives. The limitation to this strategy is that the
doors to prison open to them.
well of incentives may dry up, and when the children become demotivated, what they would likely do is to
Asserting parental authority is ultimately the best
show more of their displeasure.
response to children who test boundaries and show disrespect. Children must learn to respect boundaries
When their children’s behaviour fails to improve,
and develop the capacity to moderate their emotions
some parents turn to professionals—teachers, tutors,
and behaviour. Parents who feel overwhelmed can
career coaches, counsellors and psychologists. When
work with child and adolescent professionals on their
these front-line professionals do not get the desired
children’s objectional behaviour. The key phrase here is
compliance, some parents resort to threatening to send
“work with” and not “work in place of” the critical role
the children off to boarding school or to Boy’s Town, or
both parents need to play. Parents should be parents.
to calling the police. If you feel overwhelmed by your child’s demands and Calling the police was what an anxious and desperate
this article has spoken to you, will you resolve to take
parent did when his 11-year-old displayed aggression
control of parenting your children this new year?
METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
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Hymns & Songs ¢ Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
Lord whose love in humble service
2
020 was a year during which most of us struggled COVID-19 broke out and, up till now, the world continues to contend with multiple
layers of issues the pandemic has brought, such as the heightened use of technology in health, business, education, religion, the arts and even our personal and communal relationships. Today, we are all learning to embrace and cope with the “new normal”. How do we see ourselves moving and God working in this? Let us use this hymn to reflect on this question. The first stanza points us to the cross: the story of how God intervened and saved this sinful world. The cross reminds us of God’s everlasting love for us. This forms the premise on which we are to embrace the “new normal”. If technology is one that helps us cope with the world today, may it be consecrated for God’s purpose. The second stanza reminds us that suffering continues to be the plight of many people. In His ministry, Jesus spent time with the hungry, homeless, marginalised and oppressed. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and comforted the needy. It was His deep compassion and love for people that stirred Him to do so. If COVID-19 has heightened our awareness of the needs of society, will our love for God move us to do as Jesus did? Stanza three is an appeal for the Lord to reveal to us the needs and burdens to which we ought to pay attention. In response to His revelation, may we be quick to respond with love and every ounce of our energy poured to sharing Christ’s life. As in the close of worship, the hymn calls us to go in His name. To every child, youth and aged we are to show God’s love, hope, mercy and peace. This is a very tall order to fill, but we know that we are able to do it with the love of God in us, kindled by the Holy Spirit.
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METHODIST MESSAGE January 2021
LORD WHOSE LOVE IN HUMBLE SERVICE Lord whose love in humble service Bore the weight of human need Who upon the cross forsaken offered mercy ’s perfect deed We your servants bring the worship Not of voice alone but heart Consecrating to Your purpose Ev ’ry gift that You impart Still Your children wander homeless Still the hungry cry for bread Still the captives long for freedom Still in grief we mourn our dead As O Lord in deep compassion Healed the sick and freed the soul use the love your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole As we worship grant us vision Till Your love’s revealing light In its height and depth and greatness Dawns upon our quicken sight Making known the needs and burdens Your compassion bids us bear Stirring us to tireless striving Your abundant life to share Called by worship to your service. forth in your dear name we go to the child the youth the aged love in living deeds to show hope and health good will and comfort counsel aid and peace we give that your servants Lord in freedom may your mercy know and live Words: Albert F. Bayly, 1961, alt. Music: BEACH SPRING, attr. to B.F. White, 1844; harm by Ronald A. Nelson, 1978
Soundings ¢ Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg)
The challenge of
Agape I
n the first epistle of John, we find one of the most profound statements about God in the whole of Scripture: “God is love” (4:8). Love is the very essence of God. Love sums up His whole being. Love is what God immutably is.
This assertion is radical because no other religion apart from the Judeo-Christian faith has this understanding of God. So profound is this proposition that the German theologian of the last century, Emil Brunner, could say that this “is the most daring statement that has ever been made in human language”. 1 The Apostle of love goes on to write: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (4:11). The love that we have received from God should spur us to love one another. John uses the same Greek word—agape—to describe God’s love for us and our love for each other. This suggests that we should love one another in the same way that we have been loved by God! In his fascinating book Love Within Limits, Lewis Smedes describes agapic love as “the power that moves us to respond to a neighbour’s need with no expectation of reward… It is not interested in the odds of getting some self-satisfaction in return for its efforts”. 2
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The Challenge of Agape
Other types of love expect some reciprocity for their object. But according to Lewis, agapic love is different in that it “is not a seeking, grasping, holding love, but a giving love, a love that lets go. It is not the love of need, but the love of power. It is the power to move us toward another person with no expectation of reward”. Is it really possible for human beings to love unconditionally in this way? Can a human love ever reflect God’s love? To many modern ears this idea of love sounds a little too quixotic. Such selfless love sounds somewhat surreal, the stuff of pious talk, maybe, but in actual fact far removed from our common experience.
John stresses that loving one another in this way is important because it authenticates our love for God. “If any one says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). But for John, the love that Christians have for each other is also important in another sense. It is a compelling form of Christian witness. Our love for one another shows that God abides (KJV: “dwells”; NIV: “lives”) in us (4:12). In other words, by our love we show that God is real! This was how the early Christians bore witness to Christ to their pagan neighbours. Tertullian describes this in a famous passage in The Apology:
To be sure, such love is indeed impossible if we were to rely on our own resources. The great fifth century theologian, Augustine, describes the fallen human being as homo incurvatus in se, a person who—as it were—is curved in on himself, totally self-absorbed. The sinner is driven by self-interest. And this manic egoism distorts the way the sinner sees the other. He does not regard the other as an end in himself or herself (i.e., as someone to be loved), but as a means to an end (i.e., as someone who can be manipulated and used). The true source of agapic love, John tells us, is God. God’s love is the source from which all real love flows. And by God’s grace, those who believe in Him have the ability to display—to some extent, at least—His exceptional love in their lives. And yet, the love that grace makes possible in the Christian is always also a task. It is a command that the Christian must strain to obey (1 John 4:21).
It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See how they love one another, they say, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; how they are ready to die for one another, they say, for they themselves will sooner be put to death.
And this also how Christians today must proclaim Christ to the cultured-despisers of Christianity.
1 Emil Brunner, Dogmatics, Vol 1, The Christian Doctrine of God (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1950), 185. 2 Lewis Smedes, Love Within Limits: Realising Selfless Love in a Selfish World (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1978), 126. 3
Ibid, 21.
JANUARY
Looking Ahead ¢
Scan to see events online!
PUBLIC LECTURE: IS A DIGITAL CHURCH A REAL CHURCH? 8 Jan 2021 (Thursday) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. / 15 Jan 2021 (Friday), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Via ZOOM Attendance is free. Registration is required. Register at https://bgst.edu.sg/events/details/222
As the Church continues to evolve in a post-pandemic world where digitisation of the worship experience has been so widely adopted, this lecture focuses on how the Church of the “new normal” can remain meaningful and worshipful for believers.
JANUARY
Organised by the Biblical Graduate School of Theology
PRAYER OF FAITH (TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY) via ZOOM 20 Jan 2021 (Wednesday), 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. priscillalow@trac-mcs.org.sg 9220-8954 (Priscilla)
Find out more about the Prayer of Faith with the Rev Anthony Lee as he brings you through Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV) ZOOM details will be released closer to event.
JULY
Organised by TRAC Seniors MInistry
D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE 2021 30 to 31 July 2021 (Friday and Saturday) Faith Methodist Church, 400 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604) d6family.sg (Registration opens Jan 2021) fb.com/d6familysg family.min@bible.org.sg 6304-5286
D6 is based on the principles of Deuteronomy 6 and it urges the church and home to work together to implement generational discipleship within the churches, homes and families. The objective of D6 Conference is for the attendees to understand how they can best apply the principles of Deuteronomy 6 in their lives in order to pass on a spiritual legacy for future generations. The D6 Conference 2021 is a place where parents, pastors, church and ministry leaders can look to be equipped with practical next steps and strategies in discipling the next generation.
2021
Organised by Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship.
EQUIP COURSES Jan to Dec 2021 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S(678093) https://ttc.edu.sg/english/study-at-ttc/equip/ https://ttc.edu.sg/english/study-at-ttc/equip-registration/ equip@ttc.edu.sg 6767-6677
EQUIP is a lay training initiative of Trinity Theological College. EQUIP courses are designed with lay Christians in mind and offers theological education for Christians who desire to be well equipped to live out their faith in Jesus Christ and for effective and faithful ministry. EQUIP courses are open to all Christians and there are no formal or academic entry requirements. Currently, EQUIP offers the following programmes: • Licentiate in Christian Ministry • Certificate in Christian Ministry • Certificate in Mission Practice Each course or module usually comprises seven sessions. Students have to attend a minimum of five sessions and complete the course assignments on a satisfactory basis to complete each course or module.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Matthew 22:37–39