I can never forget one particular interaction with a member from my home church. We were chatting over some issues of the church and suddenly his face turned ‘red’. It was not the negative manifestation of some kind of shyness or embarrassment. In fact, what I saw was something positive, something beautiful — I had witnessed it a few times when he was leading worship in church. There was some shining glow on his face or if I may call it — radiance.
Radiance?
When we think of the term radiance, it calls to mind rays of shining light.In Exodus 34, we read about how Moses came down from Mount Sinai and his face was radiant. Where did this radiance come from? As a result of speaking with the Lord, Moses’ face was lit up with God’s radiance.
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord” (Exo 34:29).
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul also talked about this radiance that Moses had, coming from the mountain, and the veil that he had to use to cover himself.
Jesus Is the Radiance Of the Glory Of God
Disciples of Christ have access to God’s radiance through His son, Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews tells us:
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…” (Heb 1:3).
This radiance shines through our lives as we yield our lives to Him and avail ourselves to share our gracious, loving God with others.
The radiance of God’s glory is Jesus’ light on earth. Jesus says: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5, ESV). That light is shining all over the earth, bringing illumination for man to know God.
The radiance of God’s glory is still here today — that’s you and me. Jesus is no longer physically on earth. He says to us, his radiant disciples: “You are the light of the world” (Matt 5:14).
Shine With the Radiance from God
Just as ”the Son is the radiance of God’s glory,” we too are transformed and given this radiance. We are meant to shine with the radiance of God and proclaim the hope which we have to the lost peoples of the world. Paul says that we have a hope which we can be bold about:
“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold” (2 Cor 3:12).
God’s glory shines through us as we continually draw closer to Him.Isaiah 60:1 (ESV) calls us to rise and see the glory of what God has given us.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”
This is a call to action. It is also an intentional act of recognition.
A recognition of who God is, and who we are in His glorious light shining personally on us. The light of salvation and redemption, a light that changes us and makes us radiant. A radiance that transforms us as true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, a radiance that marks us as belonging to the Lord.
The month of May is a month of celebration and thanksgiving. We rejoice for mothers who nurture us whether physically or spiritually. We remember the good work of our ladies all these years through the ministry of the Women’s Society of Christian Service. We recall John Wesley’s strangely-warmed experience and recollect our own personal encounter with the Lord.
Whether it is Mother’s Day, WSCS Sunday or Aldersgate Day, you canlet someone see an expression of the divine nature in you today and every day. Show God’s love to someone, and let them see God living through you!
Indeed, Christ’s light is for everyone, from every nation, in every time. Let the light of Christ shine in our world today through the radiance He gives you.
Easter Combined Services I 17 April 2022 I 8.30 and 11.30 am
It was a sight that had not been seen in some two years — the Sanctuary packed with congregants, with hardly any empty space in the pews.
And it was also a sound that had not been heard, for the same duration — the combined singing voices from the worshippers.
Wesley Methodist Church was geared to mark Easter 2022 amid the easing of the safe management measures from 29 March 2022 — worshippers could resume singing with masks on and safe distancing was no longer mandated. Church members’ attendance and participation brought a joyful energy to the place that was familiar but had been so dearly missed for the past two Easters, which had been held online.
Bishop giving the sermon in the Sanctuary
As the congregants raise their voices today, their singing embodied an earnest praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, for the joy of His resurrection and also for His ever-faithful presence through the past two years and more.
The congregational singing at the 8.30am Traditional Worship Service was accompanied by the musical strains from the wind and strings ensemble and the organ. With no restrictions on the number of unmasked performers allowed, the Combined Choir, in their black-and-white outfits, was some 19-strong, and who led the congregational singing with a spirited rendition of the Easter medley.
The Combined Choir leading the worship singing, with music from the Wind and Strings Ensemble
Pastor-in-Charge Rev Raymond Fong, sending his appreciation to the “worship servants for serving tirelessly every week”, warmly greeted all who came for the service. The easing of the capacity limit restrictions for religious services meant that this was the first time for many to be worshipping on site in a long while.
The Virtual Combined Choir, which included members of all ages, gave a special choral offering of a medley of songs, filling the screen with their collage of their individual colourful backgrounds and beaming their voices into the Sanctuary.
The Virtual Combined Choir giving a choral offering on screen
Members of BeTween Hannah Teo and Dylan Koh gave the scripture reading of Luke 24:13-26 in the Sanctuary, with Ariel Yeo and Isaac Lim doing the same for the 11 am Prayer & Praise service in the Wesley Hall.
The Wesley Hall was also filled with worshippers
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, greeting his centenarian father who attended the Traditional Service, delivered the sermon titled Meeting the Risen Christ with Head, Heart and Hands. Focusing on the discipleship of the Heart, Bishop reminded us that our heart takes heart and is strengthened when our minds are opened to understand the scriptures, which is one reason why it is important to keep coming to church and believing in God.
Even if in this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33), the Good News that Christ died and rose again, assures us that our suffering and death would be followed by new life and resurrection. The gospel that Christ is indeed risen, opens our minds and strengthens our hearts, and directs our hands to bring the hope of Him who has overcome the world, to others.
Ending with the zesty declaration of the Concluding Affirmation and the gusto of the Hallelujah Chorus led by the Virtual Choir, the Easter celebration made it clear that it was hard to beat the experience and joy of worshipping in person, among a community of believers, singing together, in commemorating the most significant event in Christianity.
Another new season, another new spiritual mentor and friend.
Well, Rev Lim Jen Huat is not exactly a stranger but a familiar face to most of us at Wesley Methodist Church. This season, Pastor Jen Huat has re-joined Wesley as one of our pastors.
Pastor Raymond introducing Pastor Jen Huat on 2 February 2022
Entry to Full-Time Ministry
Pastor Jen Huat’s full-time ministry started in 1992.
“On hindsight, I could see God opening the way for me and calling me into the ministry. There was no loud calling. But I just had a burning desire to serve God with my best.”
After he left his previous job at the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Pastor Jen Huat went to Trinity Theological College (TTC) for four years to prepare himself. His early church postings were to Paya Lebar, Trinity and Wesley Methodist churches, before he left for Asbury Theological Seminary for studies from 2005 to 2007. Upon his return, Pastor Jen Huat was posted to Bedok Methodist Church for nine-and-a-half years before going to Agape Methodist Church for four years.
“It is a privilege from the Lord to appoint me to be His servant. Being an instrument of God’s grace to different people and in their different life events has been the greatest joy in my ministry.”
After being in full-time ministry for thirty years, Pastor Jen Huat thinks that the top five qualities that are most important for ministry are love, joy, patience, meekness and faithfulness.
Referring to friendship as his strongest anointing, he said, “What is most important for ministry is connection with people. Let people see God in us. Much of ministry work comes down to relationships with people. How we treat people will allow them to see God in us.”
A Marathon Runner
Besides being a faithful runner for the Lord, Pastor Lim Jen Huat is also known to many as an avid runner and regular participant in marathons such as the Standard Chartered and Sundown.
Since his first marathon in 1992, to raise funds for Paya Lebar Methodist Church, Pastor Jen Huat has continued running marathons.
Watch the video interview of Pastor Jen Huat here:
Video by Joshuah Lim, Carolyn Ong and Matthias Ho
Having been running marathons for over 25 years, these days, what Pastor Jen Huat enjoys most is his morning runs, especially the monthly ones he has with his running kakis (mates).
Said Tina, one of Pastor Jen Huat’s regular running mates: “I have been running with Pastor Jen Huat since 2015. He is a very consistent and excellent runner. Most importantly, he’s very kind and encouraging to us. In our monthly runs, he slows down to keep pace with the slower runners so that we don’t get left behind.”
Their usual monthly route starts at 5am, with the running mates meeting at East Coast Park.
Pastor Jen Huat (middle) and his running kakis (mates)— from left, Anthony, Harry, Melvin and Tina
From Fort Road, they would start their 21.5 km run towards Gardens by the Bay East, Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, MBS Shopping Centre, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade, Nicoll Highway, National Stadium, Tanjong Rhu, Casuarina Cove, Geylang Park Connector (where they would stop for a drink) and looping back to Tanjong Rhu, Gardens by the Bay and ending at East Coast Park.
Running over three hours, Pastor Jen Huat and his kakis would only stop by for a short break to have drinks at the Jalan Batu hawker centre near Kampung Arang, so that they could all get to work on time.
It is no wonder Pastor Jen Huat is also fondly known as the Marathon Pastor.
An Artist
Pastor Jen Huat’s tough ironman demeanour belies his softer, creative and artistic side. When asked if running is his favourite pastime and recreation, Pastor Jen Huat gave a surprising reply — he also likes pottery and painting.
“I picked up the art of making ceramic bowls for the Sacraments when I was studying in Asbury Theological Seminary in the US. Since then, I have been making them, whenever I have the time.”
Pastor Jen Huat has a keen interest to connect art as an expression to Christianity. “Last year, I had my Sabbatical and besides spending my time catching up with old friends and hiking, I also tried my hand at oil painting. I managed to complete four paintings.”
“Trinity” – Pastor Jen Huat’s recent painting in 2021
An Officer and Engineer
Before entering Christian ministry, Pastor Jen Huat was a combat engineer officer with the SAF for nine-and-a-half years.
As Combat Engineer Officer, Pastor Jen Huat’s responsibilities included supporting the army and impeding enemies: “My tasks included opening up pathways for the army, creating and maintaining bridges for river crossings, building minefields, demolishing bridges and setting up booby traps for forestalling enemies.”
“I gave the army ten of my prime years, but the army has given me something that I carry with me for a lifetime — a disciplined life.”
Prior to the conclusion of Pastor Jen Huat’s SAF contract in 1987, he started to think about what he would like to do after its end. He wondered if he should renew his contract with SAF or go into full-time ministry.
Underlying it all, Pastor Jen Huat desired a life with more meaning:
“I wanted to make my life count for God”.
A Sportsman and a Boy’s Brigade Leader
Pastor Jen Huat is not only a long-distance runner, he was also a consummate athlete.
A rugby player, school sailor and school life guard, Pastor Jen Huat had immersed himself in sports during his school days. Amid all that, he also found time to join the Boys’ Brigade (BB) in upper primary school.
Pastor Jen Huat (in foreground) in his BB days
Being in BB during his younger days made a big impact on his adult life. “BB was where I learnt more about Scripture, worship and fellowship, apart from the chapel services in school. It led me to formally receive Christ in Secondary One. BB also formed the foundation for me to sign on with SAF later on in life as I love the outdoor camps and uniformed group experiences.”
During his days at Anglo-Chinese Primary School (ACPS) and BB, Pastor Jen Huat joined his friends to attend Barker Road Methodist Church.
It was at Barker Road Methodist Church that Pastor Jen Huat started to serve God more through the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Pastor Jen Huat in his younger days
“I spent a lot of my time during my younger days and the school holidays at the Methodist Youth Fellowship, at the local church and national level. They helped to ground me in my faith.”
His Growing Up Years
Pastor Jen Huat and Liza have been married for 24 years and are proud parents to their only son, 18-year-old Theodore Joash. A typical routine on most days sees Pastor Jen Huat going for a run then sending his son to school before he goes off to work. “I get to spend quality time with my son this way.”
Growing up in a family of five, Pastor Jen Huat was the middle child with an older and a younger sister. Although he grew up in a non-Christian home, Pastor Jen Huat’s parents enrolled him in ACPS.
Given their family’s ancestral worship background, Pastor Jen Huat recalled that it was God’s providence that almost all of his cousins and him were sent to ACPS, saying, “It could only be God’s prevenient grace.”
“My parents liked that being in BB and church helped me to keep good company but did not really approve of my baptism. I remember my parents were very upset when I sought their permission for my baptism, on my 21st birthday. My mom had cried then. She had only broken down twice because of me in my life. But my parents later relented, and I was baptised the Sunday right after my 21st birthday,” expressed Pastor Jen Huat.
“And a decade or so later, I became a full-time pastor because God opened doors for me.”
A Race to the Finishing Line
When asked where he would see himself in the next five years, Pastor Jen Huat said, “Pastoral ministry, mentoring young pastors and expressing my spirituality through the arts such as painting and pottery.”
For the long term, Pastor Jen Huat is more concerned with how and where the Church can continue staying relevant and bringing the gospel to our community and the world. “There have been so many changes during the pandemic. The world has changed in so many ways. How do we prepare for the new world, like the metaverse? We have to be connected to the real world.”
He added, “We have to think about the hard questions and consider the various platforms to talk about current issues, even the controversial ones. For instance, the pulpit is one platform and counselling is one platform.”
For now, he is just happy to be back at Wesley and looks forward to connecting with old friends. “I will be overseeing the Pastoral Care and Counselling Ministry alongside Pastor Chin Nam.”
And just like running the marathon, to Pastor Jen Huat, the journey of following Christ and full-time ministering is one that takes purpose, planning and preparation.
“Our spiritual race is exactly like running a long marathon and not a sprint. It requires faith, focus and fortitude in God and friendships with our Christian companions,” mused the multi-talented, personable, reflective, down-to-earth and grounded Marathon Pastor.
“Only with these can we make it to the finishing line.”
It was early last year, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a good friend sent Michelle an invitation to Alpha at Wesley Methodist Church.
Michelle had attended Alpha at other churches before but did not complete the course. As it was during the pandemic and she was working from home, she readily accepted the invitation — one that would change her life and move it in a different direction.
Liking the Comfortable Format She was matched with Come Seek Find Small Group, one of the many Wesley Small Groups (SG) which had registered to host Alpha. Due to the pandemic restrictions, the course was held online — which Michelle described as a blessing in disguise. “With its accessibility, it made it easier to join and was less daunting for a non-Christian like me,” she said.
The format of the sessions also appealed to Michelle. Besides the video sharing by Nicky Gumbel, which she thought was a useful and well-done resource to learn more about the faith, she liked the topic discussion, which took place in small group manner in a Breakout Room, in which a couple of new participants were paired with one or two SG facilitators.
“Having the discussions in the Breakout Rooms made it more cosy and heart-warming,” Michelle said.
Having a discussion with the same group of people every week gave the discussion a consistency and helped the group to get to know each other better. There was responsibility and accountability to each other and follow-through from the facilitators.
For Michelle, it was helpful that the SG facilitators were in a similar age group and were open to the participants’ questions. Having the discussion online also makes it easy for her to check in with the SG facilitators and vice versa. “It was very encouraging to have many believers who are rooted in their faith, sharing with you.”
The Breakout Room discussion time was a “small haven” and a good starting point to find her footing, as she gradually gained confidence about her beliefs.
Being Certain of Her Acceptance When her SG facilitator, who had observed her spiritual growth, asked if she was ready to accept Christ, Michelle felt fully ready to say the Sinner’s Prayer.
At that moment, she was confident of her acceptance of Christianity: “I was sure that I have put my hope on God, and I wouldn’t let my life be any other way,” meaning that she was determined not to live without Him from that day on.
After Alpha ended, she stayed on with Come Seek Find SG, finding it a comfortable place for her to grow.
She was prompted to sign up for Baptism and Membership Class (BMC) soon after Alpha, being certain of the direction she wanted to go.
In BMC, Michelle was exposed to new learnings about the faith. While the discussions at Alpha were more exploratory in nature, the discussions at BMC were more in depth, allowing her to delve deeper into His Word.
She was baptised at the end of 2021, marking a significant spiritual milestone in Michelle’s faith journey, within the year. Her parents, who are not believers, and her good friend who sent her the invitation to Alpha, were at her baptism ceremony, witnessing and celebrating the joy with her.
Putting Things into Perspective All of the experiences helped Michelle, who came from a non-Christian family, form a solid foundation in the faith.
She had been put off by Christianity in her teenage years, due to friends who preached in ways that did not appeal to her. But at the same time, she has also been surrounded by good Christian friends, who through the years, have been sending her devotions to read and praying for her.
These were the small and quiet efforts that really touched her. Similarly, Alpha was “welcoming and not overly pushy”, giving her an opportunity to explore her thoughts and questions about Christianity in a comfortable space and manner.
She had, for so many years, been on “auto-pilot mode”, relying on her own strength. “Life throws its curveballs and there are many things beyond my control, like the pandemic.” She found that even though one puts in effort and time and works hard, things might not be smooth-sailing or produce the result that one has hoped for.
Alpha helped to put things into perspective for Michelle, as she learnt that God has His own plans for her, though they may not go in the direction as she has expected or wished for.
It helped that she attended Alpha with a mind-set that was open to exploring Christianity. Michelle said, “I was not there to challenge anything, but rather, I wanted to understand it more so that I could better accept it.”
“Alpha gave me a platform to talk about Christianity and to better understand God’s plans for me.”
Growing In Christ Michelle enjoys the fellowship and discipleship that she finds in her SG. Her SG members used to make it a point to listen to church sermons together when the pandemic made it difficult to head to church. They also closely followed the church’s Directions and Bible study series, which helped Michelle to grow in her walk. In particular, Michelle appreciates having a structured curriculum for discussion that covers a range of topics that are relevant to faith and life.
Reading God’s Word helps Michelle to grow deeper in her faith. Citing the Parable of the Sower (in Matthew 13), she said, “It is inevitable that we may sometimes fall on bad soil, soil with all the thorns, because bad things happen, and there are full of worries in life.”
But His Word reminds her that whatever she is going through is temporary. “It helps me to remember to consciously take myself out of bad soil and plant myself in good soil.”
Receiving and Giving Back The SG members also do discipleship together and would cover S.H.A.P.E. discussions together, through which Michelle discovered that evangelism is one of her spiritual gifts.
She believes that it is God’s plan for her — “to evangelise in a less preachy and pushy way to encourage someone in my position to accept Christ.”
When her SG held a second run of Alpha, she was invited to share her testimony, to which she gladly did, seeing it as a way to give back. She was highly encouraged by the questions from the participants in the second run, having fruitful discussions with them.
For Michelle, the intentional matching of the facilitators’ and participants’ backgrounds and faith journeys for the Breakout Room discussion was an important factor in aiding open and comfortable sharing for the new participants — one that she really appreciated.
To those who are looking to learn more about Christianity through Alpha, Michelle has this to say — do not hesitate to join.
“My only regret is that I didn’t know Him earlier,” she said quietly. If she had, perhaps her adulthood would be filled with less worry and more joy, she explained.
But as it is, she acknowledged that it was all in God’s good timing, and that every believer is a work-in-progress. Now she gives thanks for the sense of calm and peace in her daily life, and for the blessings that she finds in growing in Christ every day.
What is Alpha?
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is organised in Wesley once in a year through small groups.
The talks are designed to engage and inspire conversation. Usually around thirty minutes long video exploring the big issues around faith and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions from Who is Jesus? and How can we have faith? to Why and how do I pray? and How does God guide us?
The verse 1 Peter 1:3-3 (NRSV) says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Let me tell you why this verse appeals to me. I love sci-fi shows, particularly those that have to do with Time-travel. One of my earliest favourites in my growing up years was the Back to the Future series starring Michael J. Fox (as 17-year-old Marty McFly) and Christopher Llyod (as eccentric scientist Emmett “Doc” Brown). Creative story plots of how Marty and Doc moving between past and future realities, fixing and undoing problems caused by their present selves, fascinated me so much that I once seriously considered becoming a scientist! (Well, I guess I didn’t drift too far since I studied computing science.)
Anyway, there was a scene I remembered of a guy named Biff Tannen (played by Thomas Francis Wilson Jr.) who altered the timeline when he travelled back in time to give his younger self a sports almanac (a book that recorded the results of every major sports event for the next 50 years). Younger Biff became rich betting on ‘sure-win’ results! Wow, wouldn’t you wish you had such a book?
The idea of foreknowing something and having the sure-win ability to change, alter or effect good ought to be a good thing, right? Well, provided that the sure-win actually happens, I suppose.
But we have all been conditioned from young to know that there is no such thing as a ‘sure-win’ foreknowledge unless someone has the system all rigged — otherwise it is virtually impossible to foretell the future, and such matters would only exist as a fantasy. It is easy to tell of a fantasy because fantasies do not last very long and are easily replaced by other fantasies (hardly anyone remembers Back to the Future today compared to the likes of the Marvel Universe).
But over 2000 years after Jesus died, the churches of today are still talking about Easter — the resurrection of Jesus! Surely a resurrection isn’t believable, as it is not a norm! But why didn’t Easter (the resurrection of Jesus) become a fantasy? Well, let’s investigate some ‘sure-wins’ to find out if they are rigged.
Jesus’ ‘sure-win’ claims were audacious!
Jesus made many claims that sat uncomfortably with the religious authorities of His days, such as the following:
He claimed to be the Lord Yahweh Himself by using God’s personal name, I AM (John 8:57-58)
Jesus forgave sins, but who can forgive sins but God alone? (Luke 5:21)
He offered eternal life to whoever believes in Him (John 3:16)
But amongst the most audacious of claims were Jesus predicting His death and resurrection. In fact, what was unbelievable was that Jesus predicted it at least three times in the Synoptic Gospels!
First time (Matthew 16: 21-23, Mark 8:31-32 and Luke 9:21-22) — Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding the multitudes and was explaining to His disciples that he must suffer many things, be rejected by elders, chief priests, scribes, be killed and be raised again.
Second Time (Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32 and Luke 9:43-45) — After the transfiguration, Jesus told his disciples that He was going to die, but would be raised in three days!
Third Time (Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34 and Luke 18:31-34) — Jesus and His disciples were heading towards Jerusalem for the Passover, and He told them how He would be mocked, condemned, flocked and ultimately crucified, but on the third day he would be raised!
The sheer audacious claims of Jesus would remain a fantasy if His claims did not come to pass.
Jesus’ sure-win claims were accurately fulfilled!
It is easy to rig a lottery to cheat a sure-win in a fantasy. But how could one ‘rig’ death against the mighty Roman empire? Having up to four Gospel accounts of the resurrection and numerous specifically documented accounts from eye-witnesses who had interacted with Jesus, validated the resurrection of Jesus.
Because Jesus accurately fulfilled the specific prophecies and audacious claims He had made, it validated the identity and credibility of His character as a reliable promise keeper. So not only can we trust in the facts that have happened, but we ought also to seriously regard all that He has taught and said, especially all that has yet to happen.
He said He will return! (John 14:1-3)
He will judge all people! (Matthew 25:31-46)
He will establish a new kingdom, and end death and suffering. (Revelations 21)
Jesus’ sure-win claims speak of a certain sure-win future for those who would believe in Him!
Christianity does have characteristics of a sure-win fantasy. The only thing is — it’s not a fantasy but a reality! That is why the story never dies even after 2000 years! Fools believe in fantasies, but fools have also been known to reject truths, such as the following:
The one who believes and is baptised will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16, NRSV).
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24, NRSV).
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1, NRSV).
All these sure-wins happen all because of Easter. If the resurrection hasn’t happened, our faith would be dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). But for Christians and the whole world, there is every reason to rejoice because: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3, NRSV).
This is not a sci-fi fantasy! The sure-win promise still stands! Let us rejoice in the Lord!
As Singapore enters an endemic phase, the Children’s Ministry (CM) at Wesley Methodist Church is looking forward to resuming in-person services. Wesley CM has been online for two years since the pandemic started in 2020.
As we head into April 2022, we are looking to resume the 9.30 am and 11.30 am CM sessions, for children below 9 years old.
As a safety precaution, CM is going to stagger the resumption of CM as follows:
Children who are 7 and 8 years old will return on 3 April 2022.
Children who are below 7 years old will resume their Sunday School sessions on 24 April 2022.
Children in the 9-10 age group had returned to CM on 13 March 2022.
Sunday School at 5 pm had fully resumed on 13 March 2022.
Main hall teaching session with Teacher Daryl Prayer time
As for those who are not ready to return to church yet, fret not, online CM classes will still be available at 9.30 am and 11.30 am at least until 8 May 2022. If your family faces challenges returning on site, please write in to our CM team at cmteam@wesleymc.org.
As on-site CM has been suspended since the Covid-19 situation started two years ago, we would like to provide the following information relating to the classrooms and age groups:
Parents are kindly reminded to pick up their children on time from the assigned venues at:
P3-4 at L2 Hall
P1-2 at L3 Hall
Pre-School at Plaza Hall
5pm 5L2F at L3 Hall
5pm PSCom at Plaza Hall
All children and teachers in all Sunday school classes will still be required to wear masks. We would also encourage your children to regularly sanitise or wash their hands regardless of their vaccination status.
Said Daryl Tay, “We are really excited to re-open our Sunday school classes for all our children in stages soon. It has been a while since our children attended church in person although some of them have participated in CM camps during the school holidays last year.”
“In addition, we also like to remind parents to monitor their children and if they show any symptoms of Covid-19, or they have been recently exposed to Covid-19, we ask that you keep them home.”
“The past two years have been pretty demanding for our CM staff, teachers and volunteers as we all try to adapt to the changing rules and regulations.”
“We thank the parents, children and our volunteer teachers for all their patience and we are grateful that we could transition to the online CM quickly to adjust to the situation. Our team of teachers had to quickly rework, reorganise and re-adapt the curriculum for the children, and thank God, now we can regroup to restart CM for all our children.”
“Nothing beats returning to church in person,” said Daryl.
Small group sessions with class teachers
As we return to the new normal in a post-pandemic era, CM is looking forward to opening its doors to our 650 children again.
Every child, no matter how young, belongs to our Lord and each holds incredible spiritual gifts and purpose for God’s kingdom. At Wesley Methodist Church, we want to journey with your child and guide them in that direction.
Joining in live, to the Bible storyCraftwork by preschoolers
So, parents, bring your kids back to CM soon. We have missed our children at Children’s Ministry and are ready to reconnect them with their faith community in church again!
Hear from the CM community who will be glad to welcome the children back.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt 19: 14).
For the past two years our Children’s Ministry has pivoted online through this pandemic, and we are thankful for technology that allowed us to continue to engage a majority of our kids, who have been faithfully attending the online sessions thus far.
However, we believe that these formative years are critical for developing a faith foundation for our kids, and our discipleship journey with them is limited in an online setting.
With the easing of safe management measures now, we are glad that we can now welcome the entire ministry back, and it’s our joy to journey with our children in-person again.
We encourage you to welcome back our little ones, so that we can partner together in shepherding our next generation in their discipleship journey with the Lord.
– Rev Benjamin Lau
Psalm 122:1 (NLT) says it all — “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Zoom has been a good alternative but still has its limitations. One great thing about on-site CM is better engagement with the children. We’ll finally be able to hear one another sing during worship, hear the children’s immediate responses during story-telling and have fun doing crafts together!
– Teacher Eunice
“It has been challenging connecting with some of our younger children through Zoom as it is harder to get their attention.
I pray that we will all adjust well to returning to on-site Sunday school and look forward to going back, with the parents’ full support.”
– Teacher Lee Siew Cheng
We are so happy that on-site CM service has resumed! We are glad that we are able to attend traditional on-site service while Gabriel attends CM service under the loving care of the CM team. Gabriel who is turning four this year, has also been enjoying himself a lot for the past few on-site sessions. It’s wonderful that he is able to interact with church friends his age. He would tell me who his new friends are and appears to pay better attention than online service, as the CM team does a wonderful job in crafting the lessons in such a way that they capture the children’s attention with engaging storytelling, art work and activities. Gabriel would tell me about the Bible stories that were told and excitedly show me his craft work after every session. Thank you so much to the CM team for all the effort and hard work in doing this for our children!
– Zhi Chuan, a parent
About Wesley Children’s Ministry
The Children’s Ministry (CM) in Wesley Methodist Church strives to help our children encounter Christ for themselves. Every child is precious in the eyes of our Lord and to us. We offer classes for children 18 months to 10 years old. Our classes go by different age groups although we have collective worship sessions together. In addition, we also organise day camps or other children’s activities throughout the year for the children.
If you would like to find out more about our classes, please reach out to cmteam@wesleymc.org, our ministry church staff, and have a chat with us.
Calling for Volunteers for Children’s Ministry!
If you are interested to help children to discover Jesus in various fun ways, even if you can only commit once a month, we would love to hear from you! Please contact cmteam@wesleymc.org for more information.
Concerns about Covid-19 Safety Protocols
Feeling a little confused about all the changing safety protocols? Don’t worry, we understand! If you have any questions about the changing Covid-19 safety protocols, please feel free to reach out to us any time. Please contact cmteam@wesleymc.org for more information.
The atmosphere was laced with excitement and anticipation, mixed with a hint of pensiveness and a tinge of poignancy.
It was the last service for Wesley@Cathay, at The Grand Cathay, its home for the past five years.
And it was the first time in a long while that the service saw this many people — over 300 registered worshippers.
After months of having to be seated within safe distancing requirements, it was the first time that the congregation could freely sit wherever they wanted.
Even though the congregation was not able to join the worship team in singing aloud (in adherence to safety guidelines), we basked in the music, moved along to the beat of the drums, and followed the lyrics in our hearts, as the instrumental strains and voices of the worship team reverberated in the darkened theatre.
The Wesley@Cathay worship team on stage on 27 March 2022
Heart-warming to See a Crowd Members of the Wesley@Cathay Welcome Team, adorned in their familiar red polo tee, brought the energy by brightly greeting the worshippers who streamed in throughout the service.
Berlinda, who has been serving here since pre-Covid time, felt touched to see so many people back for the service — she has had seniors sharing with her that it was their first time attending a service in person since the pandemic started.
She said, “It is nice to see families and friends sitting together without the need for social distancing, for the first time after a long while.”
Aik Wee, who had served in the Prayer & Praise team in church before serving at Wesley@Cathay, shared Berlinda’s sentiments, saying that he was elated to see so many people. “It feels good and makes the place warm.”
Families and friends together for the service
Many Fond Memories Formed The Welcome Team has fond memories of the service at the Grand Cathay, such as the coffee that was served pre-service, which offered a homely and welcoming touch for the worshippers and the volunteer team.
Esther, Berlinda’s fellow long time teammate, gave thanks for the community here, recalling their after-service fellowship and post-fellowship community and friendships. Having come back recently to serving after a break, she said, “It was nice to be back here serving and seeing familiar faces in the crowd.”
Pastoral Team Member Patrick Chua felt “emotional”, having seen Wesley@Cathay through the whole five years and more. He will miss this place and what it means to the team who has seen its growth from inception — “everything — the atmosphere, the space, the volunteers, the welcoming culture.”
It was the same feeling for mother-and-daughter team Tabitha and Amberle Lee, who have been serving together with their family members here for many years, with Tabitha belonging to the pioneering batch of volunteers.
During Covid-19, when the service at The Grand Cathay moved online, their family volunteered at the main church serving as greeters.
“We wanted to continue to serve together. We felt that it was important to help people not to forget the privilege of serving,” Tabitha said.
Amberle saw how God really provided for the team through Covid-19 pandemic, citing the large number of worshippers on site today, which demonstrated that people are willing to come back to worship on site. Her prayer for the new move is for people to be willing to attend the services at Cineleisure, and that the disruption may be minimal, especially to families with children.
It was an “overwhelming” experience for Siu Ming, who has been serving since 2018 in the Welcome Team, after having to take a two-year break due to the pandemic restrictions. “Wesley@Cathay was like a second home away from home for me,” she said, sharing the many memories she has formed here, being involved in various events like Alpha@Cathay, Gifts of Blessings and Christmas@Cathay.
She looks forward to the new community at Cineleisure Orchard, where there would be many new tenants to bless.
Thanksgiving for the Time of Growth After the sermon given by Rev Gladwin Lee, Holy Communion was served, the final one for Wesley@Cathay here at The Grand Cathay.
Pastor Gladwin delivering the last sermonat The Grand Cathay
In a Thanksgiving segment, Pastor Clement thanked God for watching over the service and the team over the past five years, particularly for the opportunity to grow as one faith community.
Pastor Clement led the congregation to affirm what the Lord has done here at Wesley@Cathay and seek His guidance as we look forward to the new home for our Prayer & Praise services. Special thanks were given to the team of Wesley@Cathay volunteers — whose sacrifices and commitment helped to build the service from its beginnings to its current stature, persevering through the Covid-19 pandemic — dedicating them for continued service at the new location.
Pastor Clement leading the Thanksgiving segment
Looking Forward to New Things As a Community The sense of wistful anticipation was also shared by the congregation, especially the ones who worship here regularly.
The Gwee family, who usually worship together at the Traditional Service, had attended a few services here. They attended the final service as one family, sitting together and enjoying the atmosphere. They are looking forward to visiting the services at Cineleisure Orchard.
Aleene and Monica also had good things to say about the Wesley@Cathay service. Aleene, who was a regular worshipper at Wesley@Cathay, will miss the convenience of being near the main church.
Regular worshippers here with their family of seven, Matthew and Sarah shared about planning the logistics of travelling to the new location, which included ferrying their children to their respective ministries. While this was a convenient location, they were looking forward to the many food options at Cineleisure Orchard.
Focused on packing up the audio and visual equipment was Samuel, from the Creative Team. He thought that the last service felt “surreal and sad” and described the move as “challenging and exciting”. He expressed thankfulness that in the last five years, God has clearly shown them how He could grow His people when they avail themselves to Him.
Members of the Creative Team at work
Eric, a familiar face at Wesley@Cathay, was greeting and saying goodbye to the congregation. He shared that while it was sad to be leaving this place, it being God’s home, the team is also looking forward to a new season with excitement and anticipation. It is so because “the community remains intact”, likening the move to a corporate scenario — instead of it being like one resigning from a job and leaving colleagues, it is more like the whole office moving to new premises together, with everyone intact and involved.
As the last slide went off and lights died down, the Wesley@Cathay team of staff and volunteers busied themselves with packing up the equipment and arranging for the transition. A group of volunteers organised themselves for the Gift of Blessings Project, to bid farewell to tenants at The Cathay — with whom the team has formed relationships over the years — with a small gift.
With that, a chapter of Wesley@Cathay comes to an end, but a new one is beginning soon — on 1 May 2022 — one that would be welcomed with joy and thanksgiving — and loud singing!
“My wife, Madeleine, and I are getting along in years,” said Ian Chng, a veteran overseas missionary and now, a Zone Leader serving in the Small Group Ministry (SGM) of Wesley Methodist Church. “Our ministry runway might be short, and we want to do what we can to help build up leaders to lead our Small Groups.”
Ian and Madeleine Chng, both in their early 70’s, have been serving with Wesley SGM since 2017. Prior to that, they served in Singapore Bible College (SBC) before they were sent out as overseas missionaries based in Hong Kong serving East Asia from 2010 to 2014. They were then based in Singapore till their retirement in 2018.
The Chngs are a distinguished-looking couple. Madeleine is warm and personable, while Ian is articulate and humorous. Together, the Chngs have a vigorous attitude to life. Conversations with them revealed their deep sense of reverence and thanksgiving for how God has worked in their lives.
Ian and Madeleine celebrating Ian’s recent birthday
Undoubtedly, their personalities seem well suited for the Small Group Ministry.
With their zeal for the Lord, wide exposure and experiences in both the local and overseas missions fields, the young-at-heart Chngs have served in many ministries within Wesley. But SGM is the ministry that they have felt led to serve in for the past five years.
Serving as a Small Group Zone Leader With Madeleine as his support and co-labourer in SGM, together with three other core team members, Ian is currently overseeing 22 Small Groups (SG) that have a total of about 150 members.
As a Small Group Zone Leader, Ian’s main responsibility is to support the Small Group Leaders (SGL).
Ian (extreme right, 2nd row) and Madeleine (extreme right, 3rd row), with the Toa Payoh SG which has been around for over 30 years (Photo taken before the pandemic)
Apart from attending SGM workshops, conferences and meetings, Ian and Madeleine also take the time to visit SGs, have conversations with the SGLs, disseminate and clarify information that comes from church, suggest resources, and bounce ideas off with the leaders to find ways to further edify the members. Ian also organises quarterly prayer meetings for the leaders in his zone.
Said Jason Cheng from the GenesIX SG in Zone 9: “I first met Ian and Madeleine in late November 2021. They come across as friendly and authentic and they clearly possess a wealth of experience. The subsequent meet-up at his place was fun and enlightening, with stories on how they have to be ‘shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves’ during their time in the missions field. I always look forward to tapping on their wisdom to lead my SG better.”
Life Before and After Christ
“We just enjoyed life,” quipped Ian, when queried about their lives before they came to know the Lord.
Ian and Madeleine met in Australia in the 1970s, when both were studying there as accountancy undergraduates.
Ian and Madeleine were married in December 1977
Upon their graduation and marriage, Ian worked in banking and commercial firms while Madeleine worked in various multi-national corporations and in a top insurance firm here.
It was through her colleagues at her firm that Madeleine got to know the Lord. “We used to have Christian Fellowship at the company together with my colleagues,” said Madeleine. “After I accepted Christ, my friend brought me to Wesley because our office, at Cathay on Handy Road, was nearby. Wanting to commit myself fully to being a child of God, I decided to be baptised in the early 1990s.”
In the meantime, Ian had followed Madeleine to Wesley. “The sermons spoke to me. I love music and most of all, the hymns we sang touched me.”
A few years after Madeleine was baptised, Ian also decided to follow Jesus and was baptised. They became very active in church ministries.
The Chngs attended a Bible study group led by Dr Isaiah and his wife (missionaries from India) on weekday mornings at 7.30am in Wesley for about 10 years, from 1990s to early 2000s. “It solidified our knowledge and understanding of the Word, and it grounded us in our personal lives,” said Ian.
Ian and Madeleine in their younger days
“Gradually, our lifestyles started to change. We were no longer just looking to enjoy ourselves,” said Madeleine. “We started to think about how to live intentionally as followers of Jesus, and to plant the seed in other people’s lives.”
Committing themselves Fully to God After a trip to Israel together with some fellow Wesleyans in the mid 1990s, Ian started to be more committed in ministries such as Family Life, Witness & Evangelism and Missions, at church. He was involved in leading worship in the Sanctuary and preached at the Filipino services. They followed their Bible teachers Dr and Mrs Isaiah on missions trips to Bangalore, India and Kathmandu, Nepal. Ian remembers going on an exploratory trip to Nong Bua Lam Phu with Wesley before the church was planted in Isaan. They recalled fondly the member care trips to Morocco and East Asia to visit Wesley’s long-term missionaries.
Against this background, it was natural that Ian and Madeleine started considering committing their time fully to God. “God spoke to me loud and clear through the hymns, You are the seed and Here I am, Lord,” says Ian. There was no turning back.
Rev Melvin Huang encouraged them to equip themselves for their foray into full-time ministry work after they both answered the call to full-time service after an evening Bible seminar conducted by the then Bishop Dr Robert Solomon. Bishop Solomon was preaching from Isaiah 6 and both their hearts were moved.
In 2004, the Chngs gave up their full-time careers and enrolled in SBC for a two-year course in Inter-Cultural Studies.
After their graduation in 2006, they felt called to return to SBC to spearhead the Development department and were involved in fundraising for a new hostel, and setting up scholarship funds, legacy fund and endowment fund, besides building church relations. The Chngs could clearly see the gracious hand of God in their ministry.
During their stint in SBC, God also brought along some faculty members and fellow colleagues who became good friends till this day. In 2010, the Chngs answered the call as overseas missionaries based in Hong Kong for East Asia.
The Chngs working as missionaries, in their Hong Kong office
After completing their five-year posting, Ian and Madeleine came back to Singapore and served as local missioners from 2015 to 2018, when they retired from full-time ministry.
What Made Ian Agree to Lead Zone 9
Last year, Ian answered the call to step up as Zone 9 Leader: “I was hesitating and needed more confirmation from God. The day after Kayyona Lim, the then Zone 9 Leader, asked me to step up, I met someone who told me she was an Assistant Zone Leader in another zone. I asked the Lord if this was a sign from Him. Then, a few days later, I met the same lady again who excitedly called out to me as I could not recognise her because of the face mask. I took it as a confirmation from the Lord.”
There is synergy in their experiences as missionaries and leading SGLs. They have worked in multi-cultural teams with colleagues of varied personalities. “We have to navigate with different lenses in order to connect with our SGLs as everyone has different leadership styles. We pray that the Lord will be our help and guide in this ever-changing time.”
“The Lord moulded us along the journey of life. We have learnt to be much more tolerant and accepting of people. We learnt to adapt and be flexible and yet do not forget to point people to God,” said Madeleine.
It also helped that both Chngs identified hospitality as one of their strong spiritual gifts.
Being a leader of Maker’s Clay SG, Ian understands first-hand the issues some SGLs might face. “Some problems are easier than others to resolve. A few common challenges have cropped up during the pandemic, like a dip in attendance and less connection between members due to work challenges, family and other issues. I encouraged the leaders not to lose heart but continue to hold the groups together and persevere in shepherding their sheep. We are all chosen, loved and accepted by God.”
Ian with his Maker’s Clay Small Group members
What Leading Small Group Ministry Means to the Chngs
“It is all about supporting our SGLs to thrive in their ministry and not just doing ministry. It is important for us to build relationships and trust with them. We should ‘decrease’ and allow the younger leaders to ‘increase’, finding significance in their service to God,” said Ian.
The Chngs visiting one of their SGLs, Esther (extreme left), and her mother-in-law (2nd from left). Esther is from Catalyst SG
Ian described church as being made up of small groups and communities of people gathering within a wider body of Christ: “A church like Wesley needs Small Groups. Small Group Ministry is all about loving people, providing mutual support and helping people be transformed into Christlikeness.”
Kopi time with Michelle, a Zone 9 SGL
Apart from serving in SGM, Madeleine is also part of the Blessings Craft sub-ministry and the Dawnbreakers choir at 7.30am on Sundays: “I am blessed that the Lord has given me these opportunities to serve.”
Advice for Small Group Leaders
After all these years of being servant leaders themselves, what would be the top three pieces of advice that Ian has for a SGL?
“Build relationships and build trust.”
“Pray for your groups, be a servant leader, and make faithful disciples.”
“And after 71 years of tears and joys in our lives, we have one takeaway — to trust God regardless of our circumstances. He knows all the struggles we have as individuals, as SGLs, and as frail human beings. Someone once said, If God can count the number of hairs on your head, He can count the number of tears in your eyes.”
Great advice indeed — not just for Small Group Leaders but for all disciples of God.
About the Small Group Ministry of Wesley Methodist Church
The Small Group Ministry (SGM) of Wesley Methodist Church currently has 263 Small Groups, with a total of about 2,600 members, under 16 zones.
Zone 9 comprises the following small groups : 11.30am Usher Ministry, Catalyst, Cornerstone, Diakonia, D’Upper Room, Disciples of Christ (D.I.S.C), GenesIX, God Leads Our Way (G.L.O.W.), Haig View, Jacob’s Well, John 15:7, Kados, Kindled Hearts, Maker’s Clay, Our Mighty God (OMG), Pray & Share Together Always (P.A.S.T.A), Providence, Rollin’ With Gog, The Bible Connection (TBC), Toa Payoh, Zaw-Kar, Faith and Heart.
(Please note that the zones are not allocated by proximity or postal districts).
Looking to join a small group in Wesley Methodist Church or find out more about our Small Group Ministry? Please reach out to us at eehweew@wesleymc.org or gerhardinef@wesleymc.org.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ comprise the heart of the Christian gospel, making Good Friday and Easter two of the most significant celebrations in the Christian year. This year, Lent starts with Ash Wednesday on 2 March and ends on 16 April with Holy Saturday. The season of Lent invites us to ready our hearts to remember Jesus’ passion and celebrate His resurrection. It also calls us to repentance even as we anticipate Good Friday and observe Easter Sunday on 17 April.
Repentance Involves Changing our Mind
What is the biblical understanding of repentance? In the New Testament, the Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means to ‘change the mind’. Fundamentally, it indicates changing our mind about something. We have been thinking one way, but now we think the opposite way. It leads us to say to God, “I have sinned” and prove it with a 180-degree change of direction. In other words, repentance is asking the Lord for forgiveness, with the intent of not sinning again.
A classic Bible story that illustrates true repentance is that of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-6). Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in the city of Jericho. He was not popular with the citizens because like all corrupt tax collectors, he collected more taxes than he should and pocketed the extra for himself. However, he underwent a complete change of heart when Jesus called out to him by name and invited Himself to his house. Not only did Zacchaeus stop his sinful act, which was a disguised form of stealing, he also gave half his wealth to the poor and made a fourfold restitution to people he had defrauded.
Admit our Disobedience
What can we learn from Zacchaeus’ contrite act of repentance? It starts with a clear admittance of our disobedience to God. This can only happen when we stop rationalising our sinful words and deeds by comparing ourselves with people whom we perceive as ‘bigger’ sinners than us. The truth is that in God’s eyes, “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isa 64:6). Therefore, we must get past our tendency to relativise or downplay our sins, and face our wrongdoings by resolutely turning away from them and to God.
Godly Sorrow Convicts
The Apostle Paul identified two kinds of sorrow that might manifest in a person who sins. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor 7:10). It was godly sorrow that convicted Zacchaeus to repentance and led to his salvation (Luke 19:9).
The difference between godly and worldly sorrows is the chasm between heaven and hell, salvation versus damnation. Worldly sorrow may bring about deep regrets over the sins committed, but there is no accompanying change of mind and heart, nor any willingness to change behaviour that shows our abiding faith in the Lord.
This kind of worldly sorrow was depicted in a boy who was caught stealing apples from the kitchen of a boarding school. He was brought to the chaplain and was told, “You must now confess your sins, and ask God for forgiveness.” So, the boy in remorse, bowed his head, clasped his hands, and prayed, “Dear God, please forgive me for taking seven apples from the kitchen.” Puzzled by his prayer, the chaplain asked, “But I thought you stole five apples.” To which the boy replied, “Yes Pastor, but I am including the two I am going to take tomorrow.”
For one Bible commentator, worldly sorrow is like a steamboat on a river that has a tiny boiler and a great big whistle. When the steamboat blows its whistle while going upstream, it would drift downstream because the boiler is too small to propel the boat and blow the whistle at the same time.
Many of us are like this steamboat. We have a great big whistle and a tiny boiler. We shed tears over our sins and make a big display but there is no true, lasting repentance. It may seem like we have repented and gotten on the right path but we soon drift back into the wrong direction.
Repentance Allows God’s Forgiveness Let me offer the reasons that compel our repentance.Firstly, it allows God to forgive and cleanse us from our sins. God assures us through Scripture, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Let us do everything we can to confess and repent, no matter how unworthy we might feel, knowing that God will surely forgive us and draw close to us when we do that (James 4:7-8). Just as God reached out to us before we came to know Jesus, He is still reaching out to us through the Holy Spirit and calling us to return to Him if we are trapped in our sins. Furthermore, He promises to restore us when we are truly repentant (Jer 15:19).
Repentance Keeps Us Humble Secondly, repentance keeps us humble. When we have trouble repenting, it is often because of our pride. Pride makes us think that our thoughts and ways are higher than God’s. The opposite of pride is humility. Repentance helps us humble ourselves when we agree with the truth of God’s standards of righteousness and allow His Spirit to change our heart (2 Tim 2:25-26). Therefore, let us be quick to repent, so that we may be kept humble and receive God’s abundant grace, especially in our time of need (James 4:6).
Repentance Leads to an Abundant Life Thirdly, repentance leads us to abundant life in Christ. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). After urging everyone in the church to “be earnest and repent,” Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Rev 3:20). When we confess and repent, we are inviting Jesus to fellowship with us so that we might live life to the fullest in Christ (John 10:10). May God convict our heart to move from worldly sorrow to godly sorrow so that true repentance might take root in our heart. May His goodness convict us to live only for Jesus with fullness of joy, even as we resolutely repent of our sins and turn to Him for protection, deliverance, and guidance. May God in His grace and mercy, forgive and restore us for every sin committed against Him in thought, word and deed. In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
20 February 2022 l 137th Anniversary Combined Worship Services
Wesley Methodist Church celebrated its 137th anniversary by giving praise for God’s preservation, provision and protection, and looking forward to a new season in Church Directions.
The whole family of Wesley — from the children and youth to the seniors — gathered in one body online and in person, to join in the joy of God’s faithfulness to our church.
The strains of the violins from the Wesley String Ensemble and Wesley Young Ensemble, with the melodies of the organ and flute, combined with the voices of the choir, provided a rich musical setting for the service.
In the Hall, the Prayer & Praise team led the congregation in a heartfelt, spirit-filled worship session.
A lively time of worship and thanksgiving in the Wesley Hall with the Prayer & Praise team
Online, the Virtual Choir gave a rendition of the response hymn, In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified, in three languages — English, Mandarin and Filipino — in an acknowledgment of the congregations at Wesley.
Looking at God’s preservation, with thankful hearts for our forebears — all who had served the church, over the 137 years — we are reminded that “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses … let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb 12:1-2).
This spirit of gratefulness extended to the dedication of our church staff, as Pastor-in-Charge Rev Raymond Fong thanked them for their commitment and sacrifices in serving together with our pastors and leaders, to strengthen our ministry and service, particularly amid the challenges of the pandemic.
A special moment for the dedication of our church staff
Lim Jia Ying and Lim Jia Xin from the Sunbeams Chi Rho presented a spirited reading of Matthew 5:1-16. The sermon, titled Intentional Discipleship At Its Best — Happy Disciples, delivered by Rev Stanley Chua, TRAC President, outlined the need and essential principles for living a genuine Christian life (Matthew 5-7), as illustrated in the Beatitudes.
It reminded that only the pursuit of a deep relationship with Jesus will last eternally and taught what it means to be truly blessed.
Believers are to develop healthy spiritual eyes and a whole-hearted devotion to Jesus so that others can see Him in our life.
Looking forward, giving thanks for God’s provision, Pastor Raymond launched Directions 2025: Intentional Discipleship — Take the Next Steps, signalling a new season of discipleship, which would take us through different steps of maturing our faith in the next four years.
Rev Stanley Chua praying a prayer of dedication over the church as we commit Directions 2025 to the Lord
In this on-going pandemic, we commit to God the protection of our church, community and the nation, and trust in His leading and grace as we embark on a new journey of deepening our faith and supporting one another on the road towards Christian perfection.
To God be the glory for the things He has done — in the Methodist Church in Singapore, our nation, our church, families and communities, and in each of our lives — how great Thou art!
Coming together to serve and celebrate: (L-R) Mr Philip Oh (LCEC Chairperson), Mrs Oh, Rev Raymond Fong, Rev & Mrs Stanley Chua, Mrs Aw and Mr Aw Choon Hui (Lay Leader)
“How did you do it?” was my opening question to Connie Ho, a petite, reserved and soft spoken veteran Sunday School teacher in her 70s.
Barely three minutes into our conversation about her long service in Children’s Ministry (CM) between 1965 to 2019, I could not resist asking Connie about how she could serve so tirelessly for such a long time in the ministry.
As a motherof three children myself, I found it amazing Connie could persevere serving week after week so patiently, doggedly and faithfully, looking after very young children, for over five decades.
I would soon find out Connie’s cheerful, youthful and humble disposition belies her real age. Her reticence and taciturnity belie her stoicism and strength.
Connie Ho, a veteran Sunday School teacher at Wesley for over 50 years
How It All Started
It was 1965, and Connie had just completed her senior Cambridge exams (the equivalent of ‘O’ levels) at Methodist Girls’ School.
“I had some time after I completed my exams so I started helping out in the Children’s Sunday School,” recalled Connie.
Wesley Methodist Church then, reminisced Connie, was just the sanctuary building with a small spartan classroom beside it. Sunday School was held in that classroom. There were about 20 children in total for all primary school and secondary levels in the one and only session at 9.30am, with about three children from each level.
“In total, we had five to six teachers each Sunday in those days. The teachers were close.”
Church life was much simpler back in the 1960s. There were fewer people and so church felt more like a tight knit family to both the adults and children who came to Wesley on Sundays.
“The Sunday School teachers were very close and cooperative. We only had one mission — to bring God to the children who came from all walks of life. There were also many needy children in the vicinity then.”
Pastor Christopher Smith from the United Kingdom was the pastor in Wesley and Elsie Quah was the Sunday School superintendent then in the 1960s.
Said Connie: “I remember both of them well. Pastor Smith and Elsie were overseeing the programmes.”
Sunday School sessions were mostly about telling familiar Bible stories and completing some basic simple colouring and arts and craft projects. Much of the teaching was done using the chalkboard.
“There was zero technology and very limited resources. But the children were appreciative of whatever that was before them. We made do with a lot of used newspapers, paper scraps, discarded tin cans, whatever the church could provide and we could find,” said Connie, who recalled that the children were always excited and engaged and often enjoyed the sessions so much they clamoured for more stories and “work”.
After the Sunday School classes, Pastor Smith would thank the teachers and encourage them. Elsie would encourage Connie who had apprehensions about public speaking to go for further studies if she had the resources to.
Little did Pastor Smith and Elsie know then that such small gestures of kindness and care would be instrumental in encouraging Connie to go on serving in Wesley Sunday School for five decades.
Their small acts of kindness had made a big difference to Connie.
A Famed Family, a Famed Street
Connie had started attending Wesley in 1963, soon after she accepted the Lord.
Getting hit physically by parents for going to church was not uncommon back then in Singapore when many parents were averse to Christianity because of their lack of exposure to and understanding of it. Said Connie: “I was whacked by my father when he found out I went to church behind my parents’ backs.”
“But I continued going to church without my parents knowing,” recalled Connie with a chuckle.
It was not too difficult for Connie to hide her church going from her parents as they were always busy.
Apart from tending to their nine children, Connie’s parents were also the famous Hong Kee Wanton Mee hawkers on Hock Lam Street (near Fort Canning Hill) from the 50s to 70s. The Hong Kee wanton noodles had made such a name for themselves, so much so that they even had regular customers from Changi who would travel all the way to Hock Lam Street, to patronise the noodle stall: “My father would make all the ingredients himself including the wanton, char siew and noodles. Life was hard. My father sold pork in the day and wanton mee at night.”
Each bowl of noodles was only 30 cents back then and many Anglo-Chinese School teachers at the original Coleman Street site, would make a beeline for the Hos’ famous wanton noodles.
“I often had to help out selling wanton noodles and got the opportunities to meet the customers who came to the stall,” said Connie. “Some of these customers were Christians and I got to know them too.”
“God is so good to me. Because we lived near Wesley, I could just walk to Wesley every Sunday in five minutes.”
Connie at Billy Graham Crusade, circa. 1978
Beyond Call of Duty
In 1970, after five years of teaching in the Wesley Sunday School on Sundays and working as an accountant for small companies on weekdays, Connie decided to take no-pay leave to enroll in a Children’s Evangelism course.
Connie (back row: second from left) at a Children’s Evangelism Fellowship retreat and course at Johor Bahru in 1970
Despite her family’s objections and reservations, Connie took a huge leap of faith, dipped into her hard earned savings and went to Johor Bahru for three months, to hone her skills in how to teach children’s Sunday School. Whilst there, she had the chance to experience a silent retreat in nature.
“I came back from the three-month training course, recharged with more ideas for our Sunday School programme and renewed in hope to bring God’s kingdom message to His precious little sheep. Although the money was a lot to me then, I have never regretted it.”
A Life of Fortitude and Faithfulness
From 1965 to 2019, Connie had literally seen thousands of children who had gone through the doors of the Wesley Sunday School.
Bringing God’s Word to the children through different media has given Connie over 50 years of sheer joy as she served tirelessly every Sunday for over 50 years. Besides Sundays, she sometimes also spent up to half-a-day on Saturdays to prepare the Sunday School resources for the next day.
“In the old days, we used whatever we could find to make activitiy sheets, puppets, toys, scripture verses to share with the kids. Even things like a humble piece of newspaper, a scrap of used gift wrapper, a marker pen were precious resources to us.”
The only longer break Connie had from Wesley CM was when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 1988. That is Connie’s other separate story of journey of faith. But in short, God has shown Connie that He is ever so faithful and has better plans for her life. In response, Connie has always put her trust in Him and obeyed His will.
When asked if she had ever encountered any big challenges in her years of serving in CM, Connie replied with a firm “no”.
“Occasionally, we would have kids who would scream and yell, bicker and argue, run out from the classrooms or hide in the bathrooms. Children being children, they could sometimes be a handful. But when parents trust us with their kids, I want to honour that trust and make sure I look after their kids well. I try my best to be patient and reason with the kids.”
Having served in CM for such a long time, Connie has seen many of the children she had taught, become parents themselves. She has also taught the children of many of her past students. Some of the children Connie had taught in the past included our Pastor-in-Charge Raymond Fong and his brother, Reverend Edmund Fong, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan.
In recent years, some of Connie’s ex-students have also become her teaching peers in CM. “It is always so gratifying to have my former Sunday School students, who have now become Sunday School teachers themselves, come up to me to say that they remember me well. I am serving God and I do not expect any recognition or reward. But it warmed my heart to be remembered.”
Seeds Planted, Many Trees Rooted
Today, Connie is no longer serving in Sunday School. She retired in 2019, believing that the younger and more tech savvy Sunday School teachers should succeed her.
But her lifelong ministry to the children have made a great impact to thousands of children who were taught, led and looked after by her – Connie had planted the seeds in all of their lives, and many have in turn been planted firmly by God’s living waters. Many Wesleyans have served in different ministries over the years. But few could say that they have served so resolutely and joyfully for over 50 years.
Undergirding Connie’s dedication, is her compassion and love for people and her love and reverence for the Lord.
“Most important of all, I love children. And God loves me so much.”
“So I want to bring the story of God’s wonderful plans of redemption and salvation to little children.”
Do you have an interesting story or testimony to share with us at Wesley TIDINGS? If you do, we would like to hear from you! Please email us at tidings@wesleymc.org
“I grew up in a loving Christian home,” said Carolyn Ong, 21, currently a first-year National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate and a volunteer serving at the youth services on Saturdays at Wesley Methodist Church.
“My parents are faithful Christian parents who took my two brothers and me to Church every Sunday.”
“But when I was younger, I would just go along with my family to Church every Sunday morning and did not feel very connected to my faith.”
Carolyn and her family
Might this sound familiar to you? Carolyn’s testimony is a familiar recurring narrative in many second-generation Christian families today.
Carolyn’s testimony is also about how she eventually experienced the Lord personally and had a breakthrough in her spiritual journey.
A Hustle Culture
Growing up, Carolyn was just like any typical Singaporean student who would try to do her best at school: “From a young age, I felt I had a lot of pressure to do well in academics and my CCA.”
Carolyn at 3 years old
Since she entered primary one, Carolyn was mindful that she had to behave well and not get into any trouble in school as Carolyn’s mother is reaching P.E. in the primary school she studied in: “Having a mother who is a teacher in the school I studied in has its perks. I knew my mother was always there if I needed her. But there was also the downside,” said Carolyn. “Besides the fact that my mother knew all my teachers, I also felt I should not let my mom down and there was some pressure.“
Chapel servicel in school was boring to her. Like many of her friends, she would either be whispering to her friends or falling asleep during the service.
Carolyn was really modest about herself: “Academics-wise, I would just say I am an average student.”
But being in one of the top girls’ schools in Singapore, she constantly felt the push to excel: “It is also in me to push myself hard.” So driven was Carolyn she had also made it to the school squash team. “Life was just school work, squash, and more school work.”
Carolyn (second from right) with her school squash teammates
“And there was social media which also adds on to the hustle culture. I just felt I have to constantly work hard until I hit my goals. And there were other things like the way a teenager is expected to dress or look a certain way. It was harsh.”
When asked about the meaning of the hustle culture, Carolyn explained: “It is a lifestyle where work and achievements have become such a priority that other aspects of life like hobbies, family-time, spiritual life, and self-care often become neglected or non-existent.”
“I constantly have self-doubts and I felt I could not measure up.”
“In school, I was not only expected to do well academically, but we were also strongly encouraged to take up leadership positions and do internships too to pad our resume.”
Like many young people today, the pressure was real in Carolyn’s life from a very young age.
The Breakthrough
Despite all the academic and social pressures, Carolyn is a bright and diligent student who managed to cruise through her younger days.
But she did not make any serious attempt to ask questions about her faith or to look deeper: “I was simply not very interested,” said Carolyn who eventually took up an internship at Wesley Methodist Church in April 2021.
How did the breakthrough come about?
A five-month respite after Carolyn’s O-levels led her to explore Christianity more earnestly: “God is gracious and He knew I was hungering for something deeper and more meaningful in my life. He led me back to Him in an unexpected way.”
By then, Carolyn had tried to fill her life with different things such as binge-watching Netflix, working part-time, and hanging out with friends to talk about life: “I felt myself going into a spiritual desert because no amount of reading, sleeping or binge-watching could satisfy me during those months.”
“I decided to give the Sunday youth worship services another shot out of boredom. Nothing big happened and there was not a big miracle or something. It just happened gradually over time, and this time, it just felt different. The services made me feel more refreshed and rejuvenated. It was strange because I had never felt that way before.”
Before that, Carolyn had never looked forward to going to church in the 16 years of her life: “Just like that, God stirred in me and made me realise that He is the only one who could fill that emptiness in my heart and satisfy me more than the worldly things I pursued.”
When God calls, there is no turning back. He simply sets things in motion for Carolyn.
“The first invitation came when my friend encouraged me to join the Creative Arts sub-ministry since I am always interested in visual arts, especially in design and drawing. I had also not been to church camp for a few years but the same month I joined the creative arts sub-ministry, I decided to go for the church camp with the sole intention of passing time.”
Carolyn’s recent painting
“God also met me at the Wesley church camp.”
Church camp that year became the turning point in Carolyn’s life. She stepped out of the spiritual desert she was in and set foot on a transformative journey when the three-day camp ended. Pursuing Christ was now the focal point of Carolyn’s life.
After the Spiritual Desert
“I intentionally sought out a Christian community to grow with in Poly,” said Carolyn, who went on to become one of the leaders in the Christian fellowship at her polytechnic, besides also serving in Wesley’s creative arts and youth service sub ministries.
Being out of the spiritual desert did not mean that Carolyn’s life was “hunky-dory” at Poly though: “I still had expectations of what people and I have of myself. I still struggled with my self-identity and self-worth. I was anxious all the time and kept telling myself I could not do certain things.”
But the difference became apparent to Carolyn in 2019 and her all-time favourite verse is Philippians 4:6-7: “I could surrender to God my anxiety and expectation issues. I know He is faithful and He will come and help me fill the gaps in my life.”
“I no longer only use worldly success to define myself. My identity is in the Lord.”
Looking out for her Peers
Having gone through her own encounter with the Lord, Carolyn has stepped up in her faith and she is especially keen to share the hope she has with her peers.
Sarah (left) and Carolyn have been friends since 2013
Sarah Fok, a close friend of Carolyn, since they were in the same small group “Fireflies” when they were in secondary one, described Carolyn as a loyal friend, and a person who would always show concern to people around her: “Carolyn is a friend who is always there to guide and help her friends no matter how busy she is. She has helped me take steps to be more intentional with my relationship with God. She was the one who introduced me to Christian communities in and outside of the church to grow my faith.”
In 2020, after she completed her Poly studies, Carolyn did not jump onto the corporate internship wagon like many of her peers. Instead, she chose to intern with the Communications and Youth ministries at Wesley Methodist Church. The internship at Wesley was an eye-opening experience for her. She did not expect the number of people who labour hard “behind the scenes” in a Church and the experience showed her “the vast amount of ministry work and prayers that go on in a Church.” After her internship, Carolyn continues to serve actively in the youth ministry at Wesley, serving in the video and audio-visual team as well as in the creative arts ministry.
Today, Carolyn is an undergraduate majoring in life sciences. She has always been keen to know more about the ways science and faith converge and hopes to be able to use what she learns to tell her peers more about how faith can meet science.
When asked what she would tell her younger self 10 years ago, Carolyn replied without missing a beat: “I would tell myself that I did not have to struggle all by myself. Make space in your life for Jesus to come in and help you shoulder all that expectations, pressure, and burden.”
“I would tell my younger self I am precious in the Lord.”
If you would like to find out more about the Wesley Youth services or its activities, please reach out to us at ymstaff@wesleymc.org. If you would like to serve in the Wesley Youth Ministry, you may find out more about us at: https://wesley.sg/youthvolunteer.
Do you have an interesting story or testimony to share with us at Wesley TIDINGS? If you do, we would like to hear from you. Please email us at tidings@wesleymc.org
This article was first published in Wesley TIDINGS, January 2022.
A Service of Meaning and Purpose
Wesley Methodist Church welcomed Rev Edmund de Souza on 1 August 2017, and now bids him farewell, as he retires after close to 40 years of pastoral service.
Rev Edmund de Souza’s conversion story is well known, a colourful one that he has shared many times in his sermons. After encountering God in his youth, he followed God’s leading to serve Him, which led him to many meaningful experiences that include attending seminaries and running a drug ministry in Klang, West Malaysia.
After graduating from Trinity Theological College in 1982, Pastor Edmund’s first posting as a Member-On-Trial was to Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. Subsequently, he served in Wesley Methodist Church as a young pastor from 1984 to 1988, and thereafter, he took on his first assignment as a Pastor-in-Charge (PIC) at Christ Methodist Church (CMC), where he was for two years before he went on study leave.
He obtained his Masters of Divinity from the Southern Methodist University in Texas in 1992, and following his return to Singapore, was posted to Bedok Methodist Church, where he spent about eight years. He then went on to be PIC of CMC for the next 17 years, which remained his most satisfying posting.
He retired officially at the end of 2016, but came to Wesley the following year under the re-engagement option, and stayed for more than four years. He had also been, for many years, the District Superintendent of District Three, which Wesley Methodist Church is in.
Pastor Edmund with wife Jessie, 2017
Servingthe Lord Tirelessly and Faithfully
Ministries that he has overseen in his long service in the Methodist Church include youth, worship, and pastoral care. Pastor Edmund describes his ministry experience to be pleasant and meaningful with there being a sense of purpose.
“I find it rewarding when I have a sense that what I do has blessed the church and made a difference in lives. It could be through preaching, teaching, counselling or providing leadership in achieving our church vision.”
There were, of course, challenges and difficulties along the way. The few occasions when it had been less than satisfying for Pastor Edmund were those where there was a sense of disunity in the church leadership. “It breaks my heart when I see leaders disunited and working behind the scenes for their own agenda.”
He shares about another time when he had felt broken, which was during the early season of his pursuit in seeking God for healing. There were a few church members who believed God would heal them, and they experienced God’s presence and ministry in their lives. Even though it seemed that God was doing something in their lives, they eventually succumbed to their illnesses — Pastor Edmund even saw one member pass away right before his eyes.
Pastor Edmund sums up his decades-long service as “one very satisfying and fulfilling journey”, and he feels blessed in having had the opportunity to serve as a pastor.
Inspiration to Many Younger Pastors
He has few regrets, but if time and resources were up to him to decide, he would like to have been a better leader in leading his teams to be more effective in growing the church. He would also have liked to have been a better and more effective preacher, knowing that this is one ministry that impacts the congregation the most.
With his affable demeanour, good looks and wise leadership, Pastor Edmund has made an indelible impact both at the pulpit and on the people he worked with. His sermons are known to be clear and concise, and crafted for easy understanding. His steadfast commitment and sound guidance have inspired many young pastors and colleagues.
Pastor Edmund, with Rev Stanley Chua (centre) and Alvin Tay from the Wesley Creation Care Committee, planting trees outside the church for a Creation Care project in 2019
Rev Chia Chin Nam shares this in his tribute to Pastor Edmund, whom he thanked for his “friendship and valuable contributions as a humble leader and mentor”:
“What Pastor Ed has taught me is humility in the way he submits to authority, particularly to the PIC. He is a very experienced pastor himself and has served as a PIC for many years in the Methodist Church. Yet he is always supportive of the PIC, Pastor Stanley in the past and now Pastor Raymond. He would gently and wisely provide his views constructively, especially during Pastor-in-Charge’s Office (PICO) meetings, never undermining the authority of the PIC. This is a very precious lesson I would hold fast in my heart and live out even as I serve under the authority and leadership of Pastor Raymond.”
Rev Chia Chin Nam
A New Chapter in Life
He is looking forward to his new phase of life — describing it as a “break for good” — when he would be fully retired. He hopes to be able to take better care of his health by exercising, especially cycling more regularly, something he had had to sacrifice often when he got busy at work.
One to keep active, he is open to volunteering in meaningful ministries and participating in missions work, when the opportunity arises.
Pastor Edmund’s journey is about following God one step at a time, through each open door.
It has resulted in a lifelong service in ministry, one that testifies to faithfulness and purpose, bearing much fruit for the Lord and blessing many in the Church.
Wesley TIDINGS wishes Pastor Edmund a blessed retirement with gratitude for His faithful service and the difference he has made in the lives of so many.
This article was first published in Wesley TIDINGS, January 2021.
“Before I went into full-time ministry, I was a Sunday Christian, even though I had served in various ministries in the church,” said Rev Philip Lim.
Recounting what led him to full-time ministry, he said: “I knew a church member who retired from his job and gave his full time to serve in the church. Nothing was too low for him to do! Pastor Philip thought then that he could use this man’s decision as a model, and follow suit. But within two years of this church member’s retirement, he was stricken ill, never recovered, and passed on. This was a wake-up call for me.”
For Pastor Philip, this episode jolted him out of his complacency and he realised that time was not in his hands, and that he should serve God in his prime and not offer God his retirement.
In 1989, Pastor Philip, then an accountant, enrolled in Trinity Theological College (TTC) and became a Member-on-Trial (MOT).
“There were times during my ministry when I felt like giving up,’ said Pastor Philip. “But I remember what the speaker had told us at the TTC graduation service said – serving God is about being faithful, and not about being successful.”
And so, this reminder spurred him to persevere.
Giving God the Prime of His Life
Some 31 years later, Pastor Philip is on the retirement road, having served in three churches — Trinity Methodist Church, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and Wesley Methodist Church. In between, he had taken a two-year study trip to Duke University, Durham, U.S.A., where he studied Christian Spirituality and Worship, a stint that opened his eyes and changed his worldview on life. Aside from a year-long sabbatical in 2007 when he rested and rejuvenated, after which he joined Wesley Methodist Church in 2008, Pastor Philip has dedicated much of his adult life to the Church.
He can, therefore, can rightly claim he has given his prime to God.
Milestones
Pastor Philip speaks fondly of his time at Trinity Methodist Church, where he was Pastor-in-Charge (PIC), for it, was there that he felt he made an impact, namely in the church rebuilding project that he was involved in.
As PIC, he brought on board the rebuilding project his experience having been involved in a building project in his job as an accountant. He fondly remembers various aspects of the project — demolishing the educational block, leaving the sanctuary untouched, building three stories downwards, the sanctuary set on fire by workers who were carrying out hot-works, resulting in the contractors having to replace it with a brand new sanctuary, designing a baptismal pool which doubled up as a water feature. Clearly, Pastor Philip finds this part of his ministry fulfilling as he recounted how good it felt to be driving past the church and seeing its clearly visible structure and presence.
“Before the rebuilding, the church had looked more like a godown,” he quipped.
Trivia about Pastor Philip and Wesley
Here’s a piece of trivia about Pastor Philip and Wesley Methodist Church. Before assuming the post of PIC of Trinity MC, Pastor Philip, when told by the then-President, Rev Dr Isaac Lim, that he would be posted to Wesley, balked at the idea, citing its size. He was then appointed to Trinity MC as there was a need for a pastor there.
Years later, when told he was going to be posted to Wesley, he again requested for an appointment to a smaller church, but had no choice as the then-President, Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup, told him that Wesley needed “an older pastor”. Talk about how God re-routes His servants!
Pastor Philip also recounted significant milestones of his service at Wesley such as the time he had to multi-task at his daughter’s wedding – he walked his daughter down the aisle as well as officiated the same wedding.
As if that was not memorable enough, he saw her received as a member of Wesley only recently, laying hands on her at the confirmation service. This was no doubt, another significant event in his service at Wesley, during which he served in the Family Life and Pastoral Care ministries, took charge of weddings and was PICO (pastor in charge of) of the Life Stage ministries.
Pastor Philip also oversaw the Senior’s Ministry (Wesley Glowing Years Ministry), where he claimed he fitted right in, on account of his age. Soaking in his role here, he frequently joins its members, playing the ukulele, as part of the Endless Praise team, at places like St Luke’s and other homes for Christian inmates. He also started Bible study for the seniors, currently into its eighth year.
Then, there are the many study trips, five to be exact, that he had led to Israel, where his contribution lay in his making alive the Word of God so that his travel companions saw the Bible come alive both during and after the trip.
Covid-19 and Technology, and Wesley’s Growth
Clearly savvy at technology, Pastor Philip encourages the elderly to embrace it fully, including learning to use smartphones, and knowing how to use cashless payments.
On the fallout of Covid-19 on church attendance, he feels there is no substitute for the face-to-face meeting of community and the building of relationships, no matter how rampant the use of online platforms, which are suitable for teaching purposes, under the current circumstances. For example, in the case of the Baptism and Membership classes, one positive outcome is that people who could not previously attend church services physically because of work commitments now could do so. But the downside is that the forging of relationships is limited by online platforms. He feels there is a need to build in face-to-face meetings to achieve this, even if it was challenging to do so.
On the continued growth of Wesley’s membership, Pastor Philip envisions that it might well be dependent on her enlarging her physical premises, even if she already has satellite premises such as The Cathay, YMCA and YWCA. As the church has not been gazetted for conservation, it is still possible to optimally rebuild it at its present site.
Retirement
For now, Pastor Philip just wants to rest and spend more time with his family.
For someone who believes a pastor never retires, it is clear that when he emerges from this rest, he will no doubt find a ministry or two where God will lead him to serve. He will be worshipping in Wesley where his family is members, and where he will be attached to as a retired pastor.
Pastor Philip who considers a full-time ministry not a job nor a career but a calling with no expiration date, has this to offer to those who aspire to enter full-time ministry: “Please God, not men as you will be railroaded by their many expectations. God will equip you”
“Stay focused on God. Always need Him. In all that you do for God, don’t aspire to be successful. Aspire to be faithful.”
This article was first published in Wesley TIDINGS, September 2021.
This is a story about teaching and learning on an English project with the Nong Bua Lam Phu (NBLP) community in north-eastern Thailand.
The teaching team shares the learning each member went through, reflecting on methods, materials, approaches, learning needs, motivation and teaching aids.
Flights overseas were cancelled. Missions trips came to a standstill. At the NBLP Methodist Church in north-eastern Thailand, there were times when church services halted and the children who came to church for after-school activities were all physically isolated at home.
Before the highly infectious coronavirus news emerged, God had already planted the seeds for this English teaching project. So when the lockdowns began, we were ready to start English lessons with the NBLP adults and children. God’s timing was, as always, impeccable.
“It started with the need. Meeting Pastor Winai, Pastor Roong and their team in Thailand during a missions trip really touched many of us with their dedication, warmth, and the way they serve at the church wholeheartedly. While missions trips are very meaningful, we wondered how we could be of more practical help to the church there,” said Yong Ai Lei.
Initially, the challenges of teaching English with thousands of miles separating us seemed impossible to overcome — we had no curriculum, the church had no library of English books or video conferencing technology, and teaching online meant that it was a lot harder to read any visual or physical cues from the learners. The online platform limits the diversity of activities that are helpful to sustain the learner’s attention.
God again pointed the way, bringing together a team with relevant skills, one complementing another. Each member has been a real blessing, all of them serving humbly with heart, commitment, excellence, and with one mind. The preferences and skills of each team member met the needs of the tasks and fell perfectly into place like a jigsaw puzzle.
Engaging children in learning
While there are many resources available for teaching phonics and reading, the challenge was selecting suitable readers and a teaching approach that engages a group of children that has a range of ages and with very limited exposure to the English language.
Children following class in early days of pandemic
The NBLP pastors helped by providing insights into the cultural and learning profiles of the children. They ensured a conducive learning environment with good classroom management as they supervised the learning activities for the children. The reflections and feedback by both the teaching team and the pastors, based on their observations of the lessons and the children’s responses, were used to refine lessons, determine suitable worksheets, and select teaching materials.
“I have been spurred on by
the joy and fulfilment in service and sensing God’s leading in the project,” said Eleanor Goh.
“He has been the impetus behind forming the team and orchestrating the pioneering work on curriculum, teaching methodology and logistics.”
Sharon Teo was similarly touched by God’s grace, even as she strived to make the lessons interesting through engaging online videos, colourful powerpoint presentations, worksheets, and she even learned some Thai to communicate with the children.
For Peggie Chan, the children’s zeal for learning was eye-opening. “Some children come faithfully to learn week after week, even though they looked tired by 2pm in the afternoon after a full morning at church. When there were movement restrictions, they followed the class via video conferencing from their homes.
“It was so rewardingto see the children grow in their learning of words as the weeks went by. I learnt to wait upon God, for their learning,“ said Peggie.
Children receiving achievement certificates and Christmas cards
English For Adults
The focus of the adult class started with lessons that would complement what was happening with the children’s English programme, so that they could apply what they were learning. In the second year, the focus on the lessons shifted to biographies.
While the lessons have the typical elements of grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary building, sentence construction, reading and listening, there is always the underlying goal to express their thoughts, ideas and experiences in English, with communication being the ultimate goal.
“Teaching has multiple purposes and layers but when teaching language leads to authentic communication, then to the strengthening of community, it is a joy to witness,” said Hope Chan.
“I am truly blessed by the insights, experiences and stories that the adult class expressed while learning English and it is my hope that this class allows them an opportunity to grow in confidence in their language skills and ultimately use it for the glory of His Kingdom.”
Hope (on screen) teaching the adult class
Out of Phonics and Vocabulary, fresh blessings
While teaching English was our goal, the experience has blessed us immensely as well.
“In unity there is strength. The camaraderie between us volunteer ‘teachers’ is unique as we each bring our different gifts to the table, as we brainstormed the syllabus, lesson plans and the structure week after week,” shared Sharon.
“The dedication and the Christ-likeness of Pastor Roong and Pastor Winai shone through as they have invested so much of their time, effort and love for the NBLP church, its congregation and the neighbourhood.
“I am personally overwhelmed by this couple’s teacher-likepersona and truly admire their tenacity and labour of love. This, to me, is my greatest motivation to wanting to continue giving my best and serving in whatever capacity I can,” said Sharon.
Pastor Winai setting up before class begins
Peggie is also similarly touched by the Thai team. “The pastors and church staff taught me dedication. They are a truly devoted lot. To list only a few jobs, they rear fish, plant fruits and vegetables, and cook lunch for the children who stay back for lunch after church in pre-pandemic days. Week after week, as they update us with photos and prayer requests, we see a church caring deeply for their community. During the pandemic, they cooked food and sent it to the hospital staff and needy villagers in their midst. Before class on Sundays, the community would be hard at work cooking the lunch, and cleaning up after the meal.
“In the children’s class, one of the pastors would be on hand at every class to translate for the children, providing that bridge and hand-holding that the children needed
to make sense of the lessons. In the adult class too, one of them acts as a translator to their co-learners — the sense of sharing and servanthood taught me what it means to be in community.
Pastor Winai (left) and others washing up after lunch
If you wish to find out more about Wesley Missions, please reach out to us at: missions@wesleymc.org
This article was first published in Wesley TIDINGS, November 2021.
Staying Connected with our Seniors during the Pandemic
At Wesley Methodist Church, the seniors’ community is very important to us.
Our vision and challenge at the Wesley Glowing Years Ministry (GYM) is to have Spirit-led seniors fulfilling God’s purposes, making disciples for Christ and be His channels of love and blessings.
Growing old gracefully may present many challenges, but in Isaiah 46, we are assured of a God who remains faithful in every change. His steadfast love will see us through our life.
As GYM celebrated its fourth year as a ministry, I am grateful to God for the ways
He has encouraged both our seniors and volunteers spiritually, mentally and physically, and led GYM. With its nine sub-ministries, we strive to stay relevant and be His channel of blessings.
GYM and Covid-19
It has been almost two years since Covid-19 hit our shores.
Looking back, things had been difficult for the seniors initially as many were caught by surprise, coupled with a fear of uncertainty and the unknown. Today, I praise God for His love and grace in seeing GYM thus far through this global crisis.
In challenging times like these, it was clear to me and my team that GYM had to try to do things differently.
New Ways of Doing Things
Firstly, GYM needed to have a renewed attitude:In difficult times like these, connecting with the GYM seniors and listening to their stories, have taught me how to view our present crisis.
Many seniors pressed on in life with God’s strength because of His faithfulness in their lives. Their delight is in God’s Word, be it through devotions, sermons, messages or prayers. They try to stay positive, connected and relevant in this digital age which teach them to be more
appreciative, encouraging and understanding of each other within the family, to be more gracious and mindful of each other’s needs.
The pandemic has reminded us of the need to check and re-define our values in life and renew our spiritual relationship with God.”
Secondly, we need to have new ways of doing things: The GYM committee has had to relook at life and daily operations from a fresh perspective. This led to the restructuring of our past programmes to meet the present needs of a cross-section of seniors, as well as to adhere to measures aimed to curb the spread of the virus. Technological features like Zoom, YouTube and the Internet have been utilised to bring blessings to the ministry.
Thanksgiving Despite the Pandemic
Our new prayer foci include the emergence of daily group prayers for the Covid-19 situations around the world, our church, the community. We had also circulated individual devotionals which have received overwhelming support from our GYM community and encouraged many.
I thank God for the many seniors who rose to the occasions to serve, lead in community prayers and projects, and make time to care, connect, encourage and pray.
Even during the pandemic, God has shown His faithfulness and united the hearts of the GYM community in making various projects possible in the last year.
About Wesley Glowing Years Ministry (GYM)
The Wesley Glowing Years Ministry (GYM) has about 200 members. Currently, GYM’s oldest member is 103 years old, and the youngest, 48. It was previously known as Wesley Senior Fellowship (WSF) and renamed Wesley Glowing Years Ministry (GYM) in 2018.
GYM’s predecessor, Wesley Senior Fellowship (WSF), was started in 1980 by several faithful elderly seniors. Many of its members came from Peranakan background. They were a tightly knit community and enjoyed many activities like Bible study, singing, travelling and visitations. In the early years, the annual highlight was the year-end Christmas event which had attracted close to 120 attendees.
Within GYM, there are several groups and sub-ministries.
In 2014, the ukulele group Le L’Uke Ukulele Group was started by Francis Ngui for the seniors. Le L’Uke is a name derived from Luke the Gospel, signifying that it’s a Christian group. The same year, WSF started to plan for providing help to the less mobile seniors in Wesley Methodist Church. The group became more active in 2016 to provide aid to those who are less mobile: in August 2016, three passengers made a maiden journey by wheelchair to the Gardens by the Bay.
Another group in GYM is the Blessings Craft (BC). It was started and spurred on by a Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) event held at Wesley in 2017, during which creativity in craft was required and much appreciated. BC is a recognition of the creative gifts God has imparted to many of His people in GYM. BC hopes to show that this ability that God has given us should never lay idle or be wasted.
Currently, GYM has nine sub-ministries (see pictures below).
Le L’uke UkuleleBlessings CraftVisitations and BereavementsWheels D’ WayHappy HourBible StudyHarmonicaMissionsWalk4Health
If you wish to find out more about Wesley GYM, please reach out to us at: maureenh@wesleymc.org
This article was first published in Wesley TIDINGS, January 2022
What’s on your heart for 2022?
I long for renewal. Something new from the Lord. That’s my hope for 2022 as I put the past year behind and press on to take hold of what the new year brings.
I sincerely believe I can experience and encounter the new as I grow in the likeness of Christ in my discipleship.
I also know that the Lord wants to do a new thing for us as a church this new year. I believe He is inviting us to be renewed through our discipleship as we take the next step to grow in Him.
Let us be intentional about our discipleship this year.
Let me offer three reasons why that is so important. First, we need to be intentional; otherwise we will drift from God. Our sin-led disposition is to move away from God unless we intentionally stay close and grow in Him. In these pandemic times, all the more we need to be intentional in being more like Christ so that we may truly make our life count in these challenging and perilous times.
The second reason is that intentional discipleship is simply obeying God’s clarion call for disciples who are willing to grow deep instead of remaining shallow. God is calling a generation who is willing to grow deep, so that we may truly know Him and make Him known for such a time as this. Let us respond to His call.
Lastly, we need to be intentional because Christ is returning soon. The Covid-19 pandemic is a divine reminder from the Lord that we are truly in the end times.
Let us make the best of every opportunity to grow deeper so that we may know and experience the transforming power of God preparing us for the return of His Son.
So let us be intentional in following and growing in Christ.
To be intentional is to first engage in right methods for growth. The Wesley Discipleship Model is a holistic framework which outlines five faith environments of Significant Circumstances, Scriptural Obedience, Spiritual Relationships, Spiritual Disciplines and Sacrificial Service or CORDS for short, for us to intentionally grow.
Let me encourage you to do a spiritual health-check at wesleymc.org/spi-health-checkso you may know how to take the next step in your intentional discipleship.
Next, find a community that you may be accountable to for your growth in discipleship. It may be to join a Small Group, or form a group of spiritual friends to journey together. I pray we may experience the abiding presence of God encouraging us to help each other grow as we stay accountable to one another. I pray for us to encounter spiritual breakthroughs and be deeply encouraged through the sharing of testimonies and stories of faith and perseverance.
Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to make you willing. No human reasoning or persuasion can make us intentional. Only the Spirit of God can grant that inner desire and willing posture. When we are willing and available, God can and will do a deep work of transformation and renewal in our lives as we take that next step of growth in Him. Let’s humble ourselves and ask the Spirit of God to grant us that willing heart.
Yes, a new year brings fresh possibilities of renewal!
My prayer for you is from Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT):
“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”
Yes, let us put on our new nature as we grow in the likeness of Christ so that we may find our joy, purpose, and strength through our intentional discipleship for the season ahead.
Come, let’s take the next step together as a Wesley family.
Growing with you,
Pastor Ray
This article was also published in Wesley TIDINGS, October 2021.
Psalm 139:23-24 says:
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Isn’t it true that during this pandemic, all of us have had to adjust and adapt to the fluid situation? Working adults have to adjust to working from home while students have to adjust to home-based learning. We have to adhere to safe distancing measures and restrictions in our social interactions with family, friends and colleagues. Our weekend discipline of attending on-site communal worship evolved to attending online worship services from home.
The myriad of changes, distractions and anxieties during this prolonged pandemic can lead to dissonance in our inner life and disconnection from God. Scripture repeatedly calls us to be watchful over our hearts (Lamentations 3:40, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 13:5), due to the human propensity to stray from God, even without us knowing (Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 139:23-24). In this Year of Sabbath-Rest, let’s be intentional to make time to be still in the Lord’s presence, and to ask Him to search our heart (Psalm 139:23-24) — in short, to practise the rhythm of Rest, Reflect and Renew.
Discipline of Examen
This is where the discipline of Examen can be helpful. The Examen is an ancient Christian practice to nurture a consciousness of the presence of God in our day and how we have responded to His presence. It is called Examen (from a Latin word which means ‘examination’). But rather than it being an examination, it is more like a review of the day to help us find God in our lives.
Examen is associated with the Jesuits because its founder, the Spanish monk Saint Ignatius, had designed the daily spiritual exercise. Ignatius considered it the most important thing a person could do each day. Although the Daily Examen originated from Ignatian spirituality, it draws from ancient Christian practices. In a similar vein, John Wesley developed a list of reflective questions for Methodists to review the day, whether alone or in groups. Both spiritualities view honest self-examination with God’s help, as a means of grace to experience God’s forgiveness, guidance and transformation for holy living.
The Jesuits practise the Examen twice daily — at noon and at the end of the day. It takes about 15 minutes each time, and can be done anywhere, but preferably somewhere private and quiet. The approach is based on the insight that it is easier to recognise God in retrospect rather than in the immediate moment. Just as an airplane leaves a vapour trail in the sky, God leaves a trail of experience in our lives. The key to finding God is to search for evidence in our trail of experience. It is rooted in the belief that God is constantly revealing Himself to us in our experience.
Practising the Examen
The Examen is a simple prayer with five easy steps1:
1. Relish
Begin by counting our blessings and thanking God for all the things we are grateful for today. Recall and relish each blessing, from the really big ones to the really small ones. As we slowly savour each blessing as if it were a satisfying meal, we pause to enjoy what has happened so that it deepens our gratitude to God.
2. Request
Request God’s Holy Spirit to lead us through our review of the day. We need God’s help to discern His presence and leading, as well as our flaws and failings realistically, from the perspective of His merciful love.
3. Review
Next is the review of our day. Here, we recall all the events of our day identifying the following:
I. where and when we have sensed God’s presence, and
II. those moments when we responded positively to God or moments where we rejected any
invitation from Him.
4. Repent
Following the step of reviewing our day, this fourth step offers us the chance to repent and to cry out for God’s forgiveness and restoration. As you ask for forgiveness, you will sense His healing mercy washing over you, cleansing you and making you whole.
5. Resolve
Finally, we end by resolving to live well tomorrow. Considering what the Lord has revealed in the earlier parts, we now ask God to show us concretely how He wants us to respond or what He wants us to do tomorrow. We also ask for insight into what graces we might need to live the next day well, i.e. more patience, wisdom, self-knowledge, peace, faith and faithfulness.
In conclusion, allow me to quote Jim Manney on the Daily Examen:
This was a prayer that focused on God’s presence in the real world. It looked to a God who was near to me, present in my world, and active in my life. It told me to approach prayer with gratitude, not guilt. It helped me find God in my life as I lived it, not in some heavenly realm beyond space and time.2
May you be blessed and grow deep as you encounter the God who is with us in our Daily Examens.3
1This 5R mnemonic (a memory aid) method is developed by Mark E. Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux, M. E. (2015). Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh Ways to Pray from Your Day. Loyola Press.
2Jim Manney, J. (2011) A Simple Life Changing Prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Examen. Loyola Press.
3You may wish to watch our Holy Monday Service this year on YouTube for a teaching and practice session on the Examen.
Wesley Methodist Church celebrates its 136th anniversary
This article is also published in Wesley TIDINGS, March 2021.
Wesley Methodist Church celebrated its 136th anniversary with a special Sunday combined Worship Service on 21 February 2021. Bishop Gordon Wong was the guest speaker to deliver the anniversary sermon.
The service was a milestone in Wesley’s history as it was the first time the respective services from both the hall and sanctuary were integrated on-site, and streamed on-line to those who worshipped at home.
After going through a challenging year in 2020 since the pandemic started, the 136th anniversary has given Wesleyans even more reasons to come together to celebrate this joyous occasion on this God appointed day. The gift of technology from God has also enabled all Wesleyans from both the sanctuary and hall on-site and on-line at home, to come together to worship as one family of Christ.
An Obedient Church for Over A Century
Before the service commenced, everyone was treated to a montage that gave us a glimpse of how far we have come together as a Church since its days of yore.
For many Wesleyans, the montage presentation brought to mind Wesley’s heritage as the first Methodist Church in Singapore.
For over a century, Wesley is an obedient Church that disciples many; a faithful Church that brought the gospel to many in our midst and the region; a resilient Church that has overcome challenging circumstances; and a compassionate and relevant Church that has been helping our community with many acts of kindness.
The montage also reminded us while Wesley may have started from very humble beginnings, it has emerged as a Church that is a light on the hill that has brought together a large faith community in Singapore over the years.
The service commenced with an opening prayer and remarks by our Pastor-in-Charge Raymond Fong as he prepared us to worship the Lord.
Thanking the Lord for seeing us through another year, Pastor Raymond was also “humbled by another anniversary” of Wesley Methodist Church. Like the opening song, “You are the everlasting God”, we were reminded of the Lord lifting us like eagles.
Both on-side and on-line worshippers were invited to exchange greetings with those around them through safe distancing peace gestures or with their friends with a simple text message of Shalom.
Pastor Clement then prayed for the Church to be “in unity in love”, followed by prayers led by our LCEC Chairperson, Mr Philip Oh. As Mr Oh thanked God for His provision of “abundant resources” over the years, he remembered that Wesleyans could only be a blessing to “the least, lost and last” because of the Lord Himself.
Pre-recorded beautiful songs of thanksgiving and praise were played at the service.
Worship Unto the Lord
A canorous rendition of “In my life, be glorified” accompanied by the orchestra, was put up by the Wesley combined service choir in English, Chinese and Tagalog.
The three languages the beautiful hymn was sung in underscored the different communities that our Church minister to. The rendition reminded us that no matter the languages we speak, where we come from, we are all in His Church. Wesley Methodist Church belongs to God Himself.
Another beautiful performance was put up by the Sunbeams Choir. Their youthful enthusiasm to lift Jesus high was unmistakeable.
Church staff is a cornerstone of our daily church activities and ministries, and it was befitting to dedicate a total of 90 full-time staff at Wesley on this special occasion.
While it would be virtually impossible to get a glimpse of all the faces of Wesley’s Church staff at a physical service previously, the online service this year had made it possible for us to be able to take a closer look at all the staff dedicated at this service on zoom.
Pastor Raymond thanked the Wesley’s full-time staff for their “readiness to serve, commitment to be faithful and the sacrifices made that are sometimes unknown but only to God”. Although “the past year has been very challenging”, Pastor Raymond said the Church is “thankful for the team of dedicated staff who have served tirelessly, adapted creatively and persevered joyfully in serving God”.
Message of “A Weaned Child” by Bishop Rev Dr Gordon Wong
The highlight of this year’s anniversary combined service was unequivocally the sermon delivered by our Bishop Rev Dr Gordon Wong.
On behalf of our 45 sister churches, Bishop extended their greetings and well wishes to Wesley on her anniversary. In line with our Church theme for this year, Bishop has chosen to speak on Psalm 131.
Psalm 131 is deemed by some “which takes a few seconds to read but a life time to learn. Its wisdom is most appreciated by those who are at their twilight years”. The Psalmist here speaks of a humble heart, a weaned child who rests in God and ceases over striving and pursuing.
“This is the picture of Christian faith presented to us in Psalm 131: A relationship of dependence and trust as that of a weaned child, resting on his mother. The wise Christians neither do too little nor too much,” says Bishop Gordon. Rest entails “a deliberate and determined effort to compose and give rest” to one’s soul. “This is the secret to contentment and peace: trust. Put your hope in the Lord. The secret to a soul at rest is learning to hope in the Lord.”
Bishop’s sermon encouraged us “to rest and to be composed in God” and to have a balanced attitude in all aspects of our life by applying the spiritual perspective of a weaned child in Psalm 131. Bishop Wong highlighted the distinct differences between “healthy aspiration” and “harmful ambition”. He encouraged us to have the wisdom and insight to know when we “have gone too far” (a quote from a traditional Irish blessing in mind).
The message of a weaned child was a strong reminder for Wesleyans to rest and trust in the Lord in a year when we embark, as a church, to rest, reflect and renew in God.
With the conclusion of the uplifting sermon and prayers, the Wesley 136th Anniversary combined service closed with the dedication hymn, “By My Spirit”. It emblematizes the grace Wesley Methodist Church has received from the Lord to come so far, throughall the thick and thin.
As the dedication hymn composed by Rev Melvin Huang and Leong Wai Meng goes: “By my spirit says the Lord, not by strength or might. This mighty mountain will be removed”.
“As we work with Jesus hand in hand”.
This was first published in Wesley Tidings March 2021 issue
From a Teacher to Church Worker and back to Teacher
One of Jonas Chow’s instagram posts reads like this: “This day is a day to give thanks for those who believed in me, who stood by me, who developed and mentored me, who appreciated me. If there’s one thing the past 35 years has taught me, it’s that God is ever working in my life. And He’s not done yet”.
Indeed, Jonas feels immensely grateful for everything that the Lord has done to lead him to where he is now.
An earnest servant of the Lord since he was young, Jonas had entered full time ministry as a PTM (pastoral team member) at Faith Methodist Church in 2016, after being a Mathematics teacher in ACS(I) for four years.
An unexpected turn of events and a change in God’s calling for him, however, had led Jonas to decide to return to teaching a couple of years ago.
“The call to return to the secular world came to me, one year into my full time ministry job,” reflected Jonas who teaches Year 5 and 6 (17-and -18 year olds) students. “I had to wrestle hard with God and myself about what that meant to me, how it might look to others if I decided to take that step to go back to teaching, to return to the secular world, so to speak.”
Jonas, Math teacher at ACS (Independent)
At the same time, God has also led Jonas to join a small group in Wesley Methodist Church. He had subsequently decided to join his small group members to worship at Wesley in 2019.
Today, Jonas serves as a keyboardist at Wesley.
A Dedicated Teacher
Jonas, which means “dove” in Hebrew, lives up to his namesake.
He strives to be a peacemaker as a personal mantra.
“Mr Chow is a very good teacher not just in teaching,” said Lauren Yeo, Jonas’ ex-student at ACS(I). “He sees the best in people and finds ways to affirm them.”
A second generation Christian, Jonas has always tried to seek, and align his own dreams and ambitions with God’s will for Him. Even at a young age, Jonas had entertained the thought of serving the Lord in full time ministry.
At Fairfield Methodist Primary School as a student, he joined the Boys’ Brigade (BB), and went on to become a BB officer from 2006 to 2019.
Jonas’ years of service at BB had impressed upon him the importance of mentoring the young and pointing them to Christ. This was also at the top of his mind when he decided to take up the Ministry of Education teaching scholarship to study at the National University of Singapore.
His first posting upon graduation is his alma mater ACS(I), where he taught from 2011 to 2015.
Calling to Full Time Ministry
Back in 2005, while Jonas was still in national service, he had received a calling for the Lord to enter full time ministry when he was participating in the Young Methodist Leaders’ Conference (YMLC).
He sought advice from his Pastors then and confirmations from the Lord, and decided to serve more actively in church as a lay person, while he completed his teaching bond before changing his trajectory.
In 2014, his new Pastor in Charge suggested to Jonas to work as a PTM first before he committed to full time seminary studies.
At the end of 2015, in obedience and in faith, Jonas completed serving his bond and began his ministry work as a church staff the next year.
In ministry, Jonas served as a PTM in Discipleship and Nurture, Worship & Music and pastoral care of small groups.
Full time ministry proved to be a pretty steep learning curve for Jonas, but it was nothing that Jonas could not handle.
“Coming from the structured secular working world, things in ministry are more fluid. Every day is different. Some days, I would be out from visiting people in hospital in the morning to visiting and conducting wakes in the evening,” said Jonas.
“Or I would be in the office organizing courses, vetting run sheets, looking through lyrics slides, disseminating information and coordinating for the Sunday services.
“I had to remind myself to focus on God constantly. It is very easy to be distracted amid the multiple tasks.”
A Call to Return to the Secular World
However, after a year of busy learning the ropes of and serving full time in his church ministry work, Jonas felt that something was amiss.
Without elaborating on those issues specifically, Jonas candidly admitted: “I felt I was wandering in the wilderness sometimes. There was a lack of joy in serving amid the busyness in ministry. I started to miss being in the classroom where I actually derive energy and joy from.”
Towards the end of his ministry, Jonas received messages from the Lord calling him to go back to the secular world and let go of everything that he is afraid of.
Jonas was increasingly burdened by the increasing scores of news reports he read about the problems faced by youth going through their difficult tumultuous teenage years.
A few of his ex-students, for instance, also kept asking him when he was going back to teaching. Then, there were some who shared with Jonas the personal issues they had to grapple with. The welfare of these ex-students, many whom were still keeping in touch with Jonas through social media, weighed heavily in Jonas’ heart.
One episode which made Jonas re-evaluate his priorities in ministry work was when he had to help in conducting the funeral of a youth who died by suicide. Jonas was devastated and kept thinking about how things might have been different if his teacher, or a significant adult, had been able to reach out to this youth.
But still, Jonas needed to be sure.
“I had just taken a big step to enter full time ministry. It didn’t feel right to just exit like that. I felt it might trivialize my calling to ministry, a calling I had been waiting to fulfill since 2005. Why was the Lord speaking to me in this way? Was it my flesh that was speaking to distract me?” recalled Jonas.
Psalm 139:23 became Jonas’ daily prayer as he asked God to search and test him, and know his anxiety.
And he told the Lord: “Lord if this is really what You want me to do, to leave full time ministry and return to the secular world, I would like to make three requests – to return to ACS(I), to teach Year 5 and Year 6, and to have the door open without me knocking.”
For a while, it was stone silence.
Much to Jonas’ surprise, a couple of months later, the Lord answered all of Jonas’ three requests.
In 2017, the ministry staff at ACS(I) had invited Jonas to deliver a sermon during the chapel service. During that visit, Jonas’ ex-colleague asked him, unprompted, if Jonas would consider taking up a lower secondary school position. It was not quite what Jonas had asked God for, but Jonas applied for the post anyway.
Jonas did not hear back from the school, and he decided to take a vacation instead.
God Opens Doors in His Time
At the end of his vacation in London, Jonas received a text message from a school staff asking if he was available for an interview.
“I was overjoyed. The message for that job opening for the Math teaching position came in when I was on the tube,” said Jonas. “It was like a reminder that God would open a door for me, but only according to His will and timing.”
Later, to Jonas’ surprise, he found out that the original position for the secondary school was no longer available. However, on that very same day the secondary school position was made unavailable, a Math position to teach the Year 5s and Year 6s was opened.
With the teaching position now available to Jonas, all of his requests of the Lord were met.
“I learnt that when God opens the door for you, you also need to be ready walk through it,” quipped Jonas. “The greatest lesson is that he first wants me to learn to wait upon Him.
“I learnt that I do not have to serve in full time vocational ministry to be living a life of dedicated service.”
“As a Mathematician, I learn to look out for patterns to decipher formulas and patterns,” said Jonas. “For me, the ‘formula’ for being impactful in kingdom work is simply to stay faithful to the Lord. Never mind about the role, the audience or resources. There is no lacking of His supply if what we do is according to the will of the Lord. As for ‘patterns’, I know that the Lord will bless in His timing if I trust and obey.”
Jonas and his 2021 form class at ACS (Independent)
Sacred Perspectives on Secular Work
With the assurance of a promise-keeper God, Jonas finally surrendered to the Lord and left his ministry work to return to the secular world in 2017.
Having been in full time ministry, Jonas has brought back a few valuable lessons with him when he crossed back to the secular education world again. “I brought with me better skills in handling difficult situations, and I now have more experiences in pastoral care and support. More importantly, I have learnt have solitude in and wait upon God.”
Today, Jonas is a hall master of the ACS(I) boarding school, in addition to being a Math teacher.
With each passing day as a teacher, Jonas is discovering new joys and ways to minister to his students. During the circuit breaker last year, he found new opportunities to mentor and journey with the foreign students at the boarding school who could not return home.
“It is a joy for me to walk with my students in their success and to journey with them in their struggles.”
As renown American Pastor A.W. Tozer had once said:Let every man abide in the calling wherein he is called and his work will be as sacred as the work of the ministry. It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it.
Jonas now sees being an educator beyond just a profession.
“When I look back, I know that God had called me out of teaching to go into full time ministry, and then subsequently back into teaching. Teaching is, in some ways, like a full time ministry” said Jonas. “Regardless whether I am preaching about Christ or teaching Calculus, it is ministry to me as long as I am living out my life with a gospel-centred perspective.
“Most importantly, it is a step by step obedience to God.”
“I felt I was like Jonah, running from God even though I had heard His calling,” mused Pastor Raymond Fong, Wesley Methodist Church’s new Pastor-in-Charge (PIC) beginning 1 January 2021.
“So I ended up for 11 years in the marketplace before I finally responded to God’s call to full-time ministry.”
If you have heard the impactful sermons by Pastor Raymond over the years that always reflect his absolute heartfelt faithfulness and obedience to God, these words may sound pretty surprising to you.
Yet, God has proven time and again that He has a way of calling, raising and preparing His chosen servants for Kingdom work. As the saying goes, you can run but you can’t hide.
Pastor Raymond eventually answered His calling from God to be a full-time servant for Jesus, after more than a decade in the civil service sector.
A Deputy Public Prosecutor
Upon graduation from law school, Pastor Raymond, or Pastor Ray as he is affectionately known to many, served as a Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) in Singapore’s legal service, followed by a stint as a Deputy Director of Legal Services in the Ministry of Manpower.
Some of the more memorable cases Pastor Raymond had handled as a DPP involved a gruesome murder, discharge of firearm, and complex criminal breach of trust in the oil industry.
“My legal training helped me to be precise and concise. I hope that has played a part in keeping my sermons short and sharp!” said Pastor Raymond.
A Calling from God
The first call from God came to Pastor Raymond when he was a young law undergraduate during the missions conference held by the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
He had seen a vision of himself taking a leap off a cliff, and a pair of hands had stretched out and caught him before he hit the ground.
“It was a distinctive call for me to enter full-time ministry.”
Although Pastor Raymond felt it was not a calling for him to respond to immediately, he carried this vision in him the entire time he was carving out a successful career in the civil service sector.
Certainly, he wrestled with this calling, rationalising that he could always serve God in the marketplace and as a church lay leader.
In 2002, he received another message from the Lord during the Methodist Youth Conference — God told him to obey the call.
This time, he submitted.
Pastor Raymond decided to make preparations and adjustments in his life to respond to the calling of full-time ministry, and enrolled in Trinity Theological College (TTC) for full-time theological studies in 2008.
A True Son of Wesley Methodist Church
Following his graduation from TTC, Pastor Raymond was first appointed to Wesley Methodist Church from 2011 to 2014, before he went on to become Pastor and subsequently, Pastor-in-Charge at Faith Methodist Church for six years.
Returning to Wesley is truly a homecoming for him.
For many in Wesley, Pastor Raymond is a familiar face.
After all, Wesley is Pastor Raymond’s home church, his first foundational spiritual community since he was just a baby. Many Wesleyans have seen him grow up, serve in various ministries, achieve success in the marketplace, and eventually become a pastor.
His accountability Small Group is also here in Wesley.
Leading worship at Small Group Conference
Connie Ho, who has been serving as a teacher in the Children’s Ministry for over 50 years since 1965, remembers Pastor Raymond as an earnest quiet boy who was thoughtful and kind. “I taught Pastor Raymond when he was just 11 or 12 years old in the early 80s.”
“I remember him because he stood out. He was very attentive in class and had good Bible knowledge from young. He was very helpful and used to help the teachers to arrange the chairs after class,” Connie recounted fondly.
“Once, I shared with my Sunday school class my mother was very ill. A few Sundays later, he came up to me and asked me how my mother was. By that time, my mom was critically ill. I was very moved by this little boy who remembered to ask after my mother. He was a caring boy even at such a young age. He may not remember this episode anymore as he was so young then, but I have always kept that moment in my heart.”
“Years later, you can imagine how proud I was to address him as Pastor Raymond and to see him standing at the pulpit preaching God’s truths to all of us,” said Connie “It gives me so much joy and pride to see my Sunday school student growing up to be such a faithful and obedient servant of God.”
Growing up in Wesley, Pastor Raymond had spent his childhood, formative teenage and adult years serving in various ministries such as the Worship and Youth ministries. He was a lay leader and the Chairperson of Prayer & Praise just before he decided to enroll full-time in TTC.
Pastor Raymond and his younger brother were members of Sunbeams Children’s Choir in 1984
Having known Pastor Raymond for over a decade, Pastoral Team Member Eric Chiam recalled how affirmative Pastor Raymond was towards the younger members.
“I first knew Pastor Ray when he was serving as a volunteer in the Prayer & Praise Ministry and I was serving as a Worship Team member in the Youth Ministry (YM). Pastor Ray was always very encouraging when we were rehearsing for worship. When he became the Youth Pastor, he was very nurturing to the youths and would encourage us to come up with our own creative ideas because he wanted us to really feel the joy of serving.”
“Pastor Ray has journeyed with me through the various stages of my life, from the time I served as a YM volunteer, was a theological student, got married, to being a PTM now. Through it all, he is a good friend to me. Likewise, I have known Pastor Ray since he was a volunteer, church leader, theological student, pastor, and now, my PIC. He is still the humble, authentic and faithful friend I know.”
Pastor Raymond with Youth Ministry members. (L-R) Pastor Raymond, Samuel Tan, Yeo Kheng Hao, Isaac Lim, Tiffany Teo, Eric Chiam, Ho Kai Feng and Pastor Benjamin Lau
A Faith Family
Pastor Raymond is married to the affable and beautiful Grace, an adjunct lecturer at Singapore Management University (SMU). Their son, Timothy, is 16, and like his dad, also an ACSian. As with all married pastors who serve full- time, Mrs Fong’s unwavering support is the most important source of steadfast succor to Pastor Raymond.
“Grace has been my confidante and companion in this journey. I would not have been able to get this far without her as my pillar of support.”
Pastor Raymond with Grace and Timothy
Now married for 21 years, Pastor Raymond and his wife met through involvement in the Varsity Christian Fellowship during their undergraduate years in NUS. As a family, they love to go on mini culinary adventures, yearly holidays and enjoy K-dramas together.
“My working hours can be very long. But I relish my time with my family and I make it a point to try to have conversations with my son and wife every night and take my son to school every morning,” said Pastor Raymond, who espouses quality family time as also a form of spiritual discipline.
Devotion to Kingdom work is obviously a shared and distinct calling gifted by God to the Fong family.
The elder boy of a family of four, Pastor Raymond comes from a family of staunch servants in Christ. Pastor Raymond attributed his lifelong mission of spiritual obedience and servanthood to his family.
His parents, Mr Fong Loon Siong and Mrs Louise Fong, who are members of Wesley, served 15 years in the missions field. They were commissioned by the church to go to Yunnan, China, to reach out to the Yi people as field missionaries, the year Pastor Raymond graduated from law school.
Pastor Raymond’s younger brother, Rev Edmund Fong, is also in full-time ministry. An ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church, Rev Edmund Fong currently lectures at Trinity Theological College, specialising in Theological Hermeneutics (the study of the principles of interpretation of the books of the Bible).
Pastor Raymond with his parents and younger brother Rev Dr Edmund Fong
No doubt, the senior Fongs’ faithful obedience to God’s calling is a shining example for their children to follow suit.
An Accomplished Musician for the Lord
A shared passion for music also runs in the family. Before they left for the missions field, the senior Mr and Mrs Fong had served for many years in the John Wesley Choir.
Pastor Raymond himself is an accomplished musician who plays the keyboard, and composes.
Pastor Raymond leading worship at Faith Methodist Church
One of his recent major works is the 2019 musical For Such A Time As This (click on this link to listen to Pastor Ray’s composition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdJEBikzhZE), written specially for the Methodist Girls’ School in celebration of the school’s 132nd Anniversary.
“MGS was blessed by Pastor Raymond’s contribution towards the musical, based on the book of Esther, which involved 150 people in the production project,” said Mrs. Diana Goh, the Vice-Principal of Methodist Girls’ School.
“When Pastor Raymond was approached to write the theme song and add to the script, he readily agreed. His generous gift of time and talent resulted in a beautiful and uplifting piece which has been used in many other school platforms. The song continues to touch many, encouraging the MGS community. Pastor Raymond’s willingness to serve and minister in different aspects really touched us.”
A Marathon and Not a Sprint
From a young, faithful Sunday school student to musician, prosecutor, ministry lay leader, and finally Pastor-in-Charge, God has led Pastor Raymond through an amazing spiritual odyssey.
For Pastor Raymond Fong, a true son of Wesley Methodist Church, his journey is certainly one that embodies faithfulness, epitomises trust, exemplifies obedience, delineates sacrifices and personifies humility.
However, being a pastor does not define him, emphasised Pastor Raymond. “I am a child of God first and foremost. I am a servant of God, shepherd to the flock and I want to serve by staying on the ground with the people, understanding, empathizing, encouraging and leading by example.”
“My journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Lord, let me run well for you.”
Q & A with Pastor Ray
How do you feel about coming back to Wesley? What were your immediate thoughts and feelings when you received the confirmation?
Delighted! I have always hoped that I would return to Wesley to serve.
My immediate feelings were mixed. On one hand, I was so glad to be able to return, but on the other hand, I wrestled with the feelings of missing my time and ministry at Faith.
How has it been for you in the initial days? The good thing about being an old boy is that you hit the ground running. There are things that are different but there are many things that are the same, and people and staff who are familiar. There is still a learning curve, and key issues to address and decisions to make, but we have a great team of pastors.
Being in a pandemic situation is definitely not ideal. I miss meeting the people in church, shaking their hands, buying food for colleagues, and having a meal together before LCEC meetings start, etc.
What have you learnt about yourself since you became a pastor?
That being a pastor doesn’t define me! My first identity is a child of God — I am loved by God, secured in Him and assigned by Him.
God is more keenly interested in what He can do in me before what He can do through me.
There are many things that you can do, but you have got to do what God has assigned you to do. And you have got to do it from a place of being secured in who you are and being secured in who you are not. Sometimes we strive so hard to be who we are not.
As a pastor and in fact, even if I am not, I want to be rested and rooted in Christ, so I may truly be like a tree — bearing fruit in and out of season.
What has changed for you since your early days as a pastor, in terms of perspectives on ministry, people, how to pastor a church, etc.?
I have learnt that ministry is a marathon and not a sprint. I have worked too hard, perhaps to catch up on lost time because of my refusal in answering His call.
I have to run at a pace that God allows me to. In some seasons, you have to run faster, and in some seasons, you have to walk. At other times, you need to do a slow jog. You need to know how fast God wants you to go.
Over the years, I have learnt to walk in deeper trust and surrender to God’s sovereign purposes and goodness — in His time, in His way, and trusting that His ways are truly higher.
If I have the chance to rewind time, I would have taken the time to be more rested and to be more intentional in accounting to my mentors about this aspect (the pacing) of my ministry. I do take it upon myself to guide and mentor some of the newer MOTs, to help them to find the pace of their ministry.
Another thing I have learnt over the years is to do less and go deep. Go deeper into spiritual friendships, spiritual accountability and authentic discipleship. Don’t settle for the superficial but when the Spirit leads, go deep.
For ministry, we can plan and execute programmes, but it is God who truly transforms. When we do less and go deeper, it allows for transformation to take place.
Authentic discipleship means to have spiritual accountability — to go deeper with each other, being truly authentic in our struggles, rejoicing with one another in our victories, and finding that strength and companionship in our journey.
We have got to be rested in Him too, to be rooted in Christ, so that in seasons of drought, we still bear fruit, because we have deep roots in His deep soil of love. That is why this year (of Sabbath-Rest) is so important, because when you are rested, you come to place where you are willing to be vulnerable, because you are secured in Christ.
What have you learnt in your days as PIC at Faith Methodist Church?
The ministry of a PIC is first and foremost not to lead but to serve — to serve God’s people through humble availability, especially when they are going through a challenging season.
It is to serve God’s people with thoughtful kindness, and to be a shepherd to the flock, by being on the ground with the people — understanding and empathising, encouraging and leading by example.
What are some of the challenges you have encountered?
There was a season in the early years when my family was going through a difficult trial, and I had to wrestle with having to continue giving and serving others, when my family needed me to be there for them. I really thanked God for my Small Group, who ministered to my family. It really impressed upon me that we were not alone, and there was a community that journeyed with me and could be counted on in difficult times.
As a young pastor, there is always a temptation to please man instead of God. This often comes when you have to handle expectations of others — often well-meaning and good-intentioned — but it adds a lot of stress and pressure. Also, I have to manage the expectations I have of myself, wrestling with whether I could have done more.
Another challenge is loving and serving with difficult people. Everyone is blindsided to their own flaws, as I am, and it sometimes can be very challenging to serve together and honour each other as we serve. But there had been many breakthroughs that God had shown to me in such situations. I was able to see how God brought mutual submission, and things worked out in unexpected ways.
What have been your biggest joys in your ministry?
To see lives transformed, and to see people growing in discipleship — to see people set free from bondage to sin, guilt and shame. And to activate and mentor people to rise to their God-given callings to serve in His kingdom.
What are your plans on how we can do church this year amid the ongoing pandemic?
The immediate plan is to enable people to return to church for services and ministry activities. For some, this is significant for their faith experience.
For many members, the symbols and space for worship in church are formative and integral to their spiritual journey, so as a church we need to provide for the opportunity for them to return to what is familiar and foundational for them.
For others, church has gone online. With our best efforts and committing it to prayer, our online service should be meaningfully engaging, spiritual refreshing and personally enriching.
We do our best to steward the resources that God has given us. However, while the online platform is indeed convenient, we must be careful not to promote a consumeristic approach to worshipping God on Sundays, which is one of the dangers for the Church today — that the Church-at-large would be very consumeristic. Being a consumer means toggling between church services to find one that suits my taste; ignoring the worship and going straight into the sermon; or picking the pastor whom I like to listen to, etc.
We need to emphasise the need for sacrificial reverence for God even as our members engage in the online service. In this pandemic, it is an opportunity to re-think the concept of church beyond the brick and mortar. Instead, think of the Church as the body of Christ growing through discipleship in small groups, and small communities of faith. To this end, we must help every Wesleyan develop a rhythm of rest, work and witness wherever God has placed them.
One of the lessons that God is teaching us in the pandemic is to go out and bring the Church out into the world, just like what John Wesley did.
What is your vision for Wesley?
My vision for Wesley is that she will be an authentic community of intentional disciples-making disciples, reaching the least, last and lost, extending God’s kingdom in every sphere of influence, and living lives that help others encounter Christ.
Being a large and multi-layered church does not excuse us from authenticity. The culture that we set starts with individuals wanting to be authentic and being a catalyst of transformation.
As opposed to a ‘by-the-way’ discipleship, intentional discipleship means there is a degree of intentionality in our growth, and that level of intentionality would transform the way we look at discipleship, and ultimately shapes the way we are.
There are 250 Small Groups in Wesley, and we have communities and ministries that are passionate about God. We can do more to help each other grow intentionally in our discipleship and be powerful witnesses for Christ wherever God has placed us. We have to equip our small group leaders and members to have spiritual formation in their groups, and at the same time being a witness to God wherever they are.
TV, K-drama. It all started with Descendants of the Sun
What do you do to keep so fit?
Swimming and going to the gym
What is your favorite Fruit
Durians. Red Prawn is my favorite variety
What is your favorite Local Dish
Wanton Mee, especially the ones with ketchup
What is your favourite genre of music?
Jazz
Manchester United or Liverpool?
Man U!
This article can also be found in Tidings, February 2021.
The Faith Journey of Harold Koh
This was first published in TIDINGS, October 2021 issue
Providing well for his family used to be the paramount priority in Harold’s life.
“That was my top priority,” said 62-year-old Harold who used to lead a comfortable expatriate life as a Singapore Airlines station manager in no less than six cities spanning three continents, including San Francisco, Seoul and Paris.
Harold with his son’s paintings
But the world came crashing down on him in 2003 when he was diagnosed with Syringomyelia, a condition whereby the cysts on the spinal cord or brain stem damage the nerve fibers that transmit information from the brain to other parts of the body and vice versa.
By 2004, Harold had started to lose his use and co-ordination of the right side of his body, especially in his right hand.
He had to make the painful inevitable decision to leave SIA, a company that he was with for over 19 years. He had been medically boarded out by the company as the doctors had recommended that Harold should remain in Singapore for at least a year.
“I spent several months wallowing in self pity and asked God why me. I was also very worried for my family.”
Harold’s family weighs heavily in his heart all the more because they have a son, Benjamin, who has autism.
The Early Days
Harold, circa. 2003
A true blue Wesley and ACSian boy, Harold has been attending Wesley since his kindergarten days. His parents and both his younger sisters were also from Wesley. As a child, Harold enjoyed playing football, squash and tennis.
“I accepted Christ at an evangelistic meeting when I was in secondary two.”
“Life was pretty normal and good for me. I got through school and national service smoothly. Later on in my career, I got to live in other countries while working for SIA. Life was an exciting adventure for me.”
In 1985, Harold married the love of his life, Yvonne, and Benjamin came along a year after that.
Although there were many challenges raising Benjamin, but God was good and little Benjamin had opportunities to spend a number of years in other cultures that are more progressive in embracing and teaching children with special needs then.
The Diagnosis that Changed Everything
Just prior to his diagnosis, Harold was in charge of the SIA operations in Frankfurt, Germany.
“I took over the operations on September 11, 2001, the day of 911. The entire aviation industry went into hyper security mode after that. As Frankfurt was the stopover station for the SIA flights to New York, I had to manage the heightened airline and airport safety measures. Unbeknown to me then, I already had a medical condition.”
In 2002, Harold requested to be posted back to Singapore. He was looking forward to a more stable lifestyle with his family.
But in 2003, a chance medical check up with a cardiologist had led to other checks and the discovery of his medical condition.
Harold’s first surgery in 2003 to decompress the cyst on his brain stem was followed by a second decompression surgery in 2005. His condition started deteriorating as he struggles with his balance, grip and movement.
Syringomyelia is a rare condition that in Singapore. Till today, there is still hardly any local support group on syringomyelia.
Life after the Surgeries
While Harold could analyze his situation and even wrestle with God intellectually, there was a visceral fear in him about the future. The thought of his family being not provided for was too much to bear.
After his diagnosis, Harold finds himself questioning God a lot.
“I told God I thought we had a deal. You gave me a special needs child but you will help me provide for him. How can you go back on your word? I was angry and confused at the same time.”
But going forward, God would reveal to Harold that although his life was a mess but God was still working in it.
At the same time, Harold’s study of Job deepened his understanding of God in his life circumstances.
The First Miracle
The first miracle came in 2005 when Harold answered an advertisement by Great Eastern Life (GE), thinking it was a recruitment for backend support staff. It turned out to be a recruitment exercise for insurance agents and Harold was persuaded by the recruiters to try out the job training, albeit grudgingly.
“Through the training, I discovered God’s generous provision for me. Back in 1997, I had bought several insurance policies to support my friend who was an insurance agent. One of the policies was an endowment with a rider that I did not bother to understand. Part of my insurance training was to scrutinise our own policies. That was when I discovered that the rider of a particular policy I had , looked like it was customised for my situation! It gave me a pay out if I were not able to work on only medical grounds,” recalled Harold, still marvelled at God’s provision. “The insurer would also backdate the claims to early 2004 when I had been boarded out of SIA.”
Subsequently, another insurer, NTUC, also approved Harold’s claim.
The payout from the two insurers alleviated much of Harold’s anxiety about his medical and family’s expenses. It even enabled his wife, Yvonne, to fulfil her dream of studying in Trinity Theological College (TTC). This was a miracle by the Kohs’ reflection.
“Throughout our 35 years of marriage, both Yvonne and I had learnt to support each other through good and bad times. Both my and Benjamin’s conditions have affected Yvonne greatly yet she continued unwavering with her faith.”
From Helpless to Hopeful
The provision, promise and presence of a gracious Father who hears our cries ignited a renewed faith in Harold.
To date, Harold has served as a Disciple class facilitator for over a decade at Wesley. Countless Wesleyans have benefitted from Harold’s facilitation in D1 and D4 classes.
At the same time, God has not forgotten to take care of Benjamin who is now 34 years old.
Apart from attending a special needs school, Benjamin has made full use of his God-given gift of painting to draw many art pieces. The Kohs’ home is adorned with Benjamin’s beautiful paintings of animals and sceneries at all corners.
Ben’s painting of the lion and the lamb.
Said Harold the proud father, “My greatest joy is seeing how far Benjamin has come, especially in his love for art. Ben’s talent in art is obviously not from his dad who failed art, a subject that is quite hard to fail in school.”
As Harold soldiers on in life, trying, he reflected:
“Three things I have learnt so far:
God is merciful, gracious, sovereign and He is our Jehovah Jireh.
He is in control, regardless of my circumstances.
I have to look at things from His perspective, with eternity in mind.” – Harold Koh
In Harold, God has delineated He is bigger than all of the most difficult circumstances in life.
“Finishing this race well is now my top priority in life.”
Do you have an interesting story or testimony to share with us at Wesley TIDINGS? If you do, we would like to hear from you. Please email us at tidings@wesleymc.org
A Community Project by the Companions in Christ ministry
“Whether we clean a house, wash a wound, make a call, write a cheque, listen to a person’s story, or give someone a ride to the doctor, we may do so as if Jesus Himself were the recipient – because he is! And we rely on his strength to accomplish the task. The ultimate purpose of the gifts is to serve one another so the church can bring the love of God to the world in such a way that glorifies God in all things through Jesus Christ”.
This is a quote found in one of the last few chapters in the book for Companions in Christ (CIC). It is one of the many quotes in the book that I really like to recall as it challenges CIC participants like me, to always stay sensitive to the needs of those around us and live a Christian discipleship life that fuses our spiritual formation internally with our acts of kindness externally.
It is also in this same spirit that some 55 members in CIC had rallied together to respond to the community’s needs during the Easter season in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Plethora of Needs in Our Community
Given the plethora of needs, as well as cornucopia of blessing efforts, from many sectors in our community during the pandemic, the CIC community had decided to focus our Act of Kindness blessing effort on the 135-member cleaning team at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).
NCID is the ground zero battling ground since day one of the pandemic. The CIC community wanted to show our care and appreciation to their housekeeping team who had worked tirelessly at the frontline and at great risks to their own health.
The housekeepers of NCID were presented with NTUC vouchers by the Wesley’s Companions in Christ group members at the onset of the pandemic
To ensure good stewardship, the CIC team had discussed with the NCID staff wellness staff to assess the best gifts to bring on some cheer for their housekeeping team. We were told that they have a team of 135 staff on their housekeeping team and that the housekeepers would appreciate practical gifts like supermarket vouchers.
With that plan in mind and the blessings of our pastors, the CIC ministry went on to spearhead a fund raising effort among its members.
Blessing135 Housekeepers at NCID on Wesley’s 135th Anniversary
Thanks to the generous contributions from 55 of the Companions in Christ, the CIC team had managed to raise a total of $4,325. In fact, the support from our CIC Community was so overwhelming we had to return some of the donations as we had already reached our target amount.
In addition, our CIC chairperson Alvin Tay had also requested FairPrice to contribute a donation of $400 worth of FairPrice vouchers through the NTUC FairPrice Foundation.
In total, we raised a total of $4,725 was raised which enabled us to purchase $35 vouchers – two $10 and three $5 vouchers – for each of the 135 housekeeping staff members at NCID.
This year, coincidentally, also marks the 135th anniversary of our beloved Wesley Methodist Church.
The gifts of vouchers, together with 135 printed cards designed by our church and CIC member Yvette Yeo, were delivered by Wesley’s CIC representatives Alvin and Wendy, to the NCID housekeeping manager, two housekeeping team members and a staff wellness senior staff, on Maundy Thursday, 9 April 2020. The vouchers were distributed to their cleaning and housekeeping team over the Easter weekend.
The Heart of the Gospel – Serve One Another
“We are thankful that even in a difficult time such as this when some might be concerned with job or financial loss, the CIC community was still able to unite to contribute to a meaningful cause. No effort is too small when it comes to charity,” said CIC Chairperson, Alvin Tay.
“Every contribution had enabled the CIC community to go out of Wesley to do God’s work this season. At CIC, we want to put into practice living out our faith in relevant and practical ways.”
Because we live in a fallen and broken world, there is a constant, never-ending list of deep needs in our community and the world around us. We do not live in a vacuum.
Christ Himself had walked in our shoes while he was in this world. He understood our earthly needs. He was our example. He evangelised to his sheep. He healed, saved, shared, fed and helped many during His ministry on earth. He showed us that is the heart of the gospel.
On behalf of Companions in Christ, Mr and Mrs Alvin Tay (extreme left) presented NTUC Fairprice vouchers to 135 housekeepers at NCID during Easter and in conjunction with the 135th anniversary of Wesley Methodist Church
As Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African Anglican cleric and theologian once said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” We can all give a little – of our time, talents and treasures – and be transformed to be God’s habits, heart and hands. Together, we can all go out of our church and bring a little cheer and blessing to those who are the last, lost and least in our community.
We just have to remember what Jesus did when He was man on earth.
*Companions in Christ is a 28-week spiritual formation course under Discipleship & Nurture (D&N)
Are your friends and you or your small group members and you planning to organise a project to bless our community? If you are, we would like to hear all about it! Get in touch with us at tidings@wesleymc.org
Zoom On to Keep Connecting
First Published in Wesley Tidings in April 2020
A “Kiasu” Small Group Member
It might perhaps not be too far off to hazard a guess that I might well be the most “kiasu” small group member in zone 10.
Way back in February 2020, while everyone else was still meeting physically, I had already informed my small group leaders that I would attend my small group meetings only on zoom even though I was a novice on that platform. That was more than a month before the church advisory came out to discourage, and subsequently suspend all small group physical meetings.
Meeting through Video Conferencing
Having tried out various communications tools in my other meetings, I had suggested to my small group leaders that I would use zoom to meet them virtually, right after the Chinese New Year. As zoom didn’t quite work out the first time I joined my small group meeting virtually, we switched to whatsapp video call. There were some technical hiccups.
Still, I would say we were off to a good and new start.
The second session of my video chat with my small group had gone better for us. However, I had an earful from my husband after the session as my small group member had used up his entire monthly data plan on his tablet to connect to zoom for my sake.
We learnt early on it is vital to have a good internet connection to have successful zoom meetings.
Small group, Rainbow of Joy, on Zoom
By the third video chat session I had with my small group, the church advisory was already out, in line with government safety management measures. It was clear everyone had no choice by then, but to meet virtually.
As I had hosted a few zoom meetings prior to that, I valiantly volunteered to host the first zoom meeting for everyone in my small group. Preparations are vital prior to the zoom meeting, and I enlisted the help of a friend and my daughter to practise with me a few functions, such as insertion of videos and breakout rooms. For added security, I used the password and waiting room functions.
It was nice to be able to see everyone’s faces at the same time on the screen during our zoom time. It did make me listen attentively to what my friends are sharing and concentrate better.
“With zoom, we tend to be more focused on the discussion topics and go off the tangent less,” said Jeanne Cheng, one of my small group members.
Although we had hit a couple of technical glitches during our first session as a group, we managed to get through our opening prayer, worship via you tube as well as a robust discussion on the book we are studying together. We even tried to recite Psalm 23 together on zoom.
A very positive change that has come out of our online small group meetings is we are now much more focused on the study resources. Being a foodie group, we were previously naturally often quite excited about the food when we met physically. We could only focus exclusively on the spiritual food, for now.
Undeterred by Technology
The average age of my small group is well above 50. We are, what my teenage daughter would call, a group of boomers (a term used to describe people born in 1946 to 1965).
Some of us have not used video conferencing before. There are many things to be learnt from ground zero. Coming together to learn and embrace a new technology together can be a bonding activity in itself.
It was important for my group to know that we don’t have to get everything right at every meeting. It is okay to fumble and circumnavigate the first couple of times. We learnt together as we went along. Those of us who are more experienced in this would help the ones who are new to the video conferencing game.
The key here is not to be deterred by technology. Our desires for fellowship and community can bring us together in Jesus even when we experience glitches or have to change our mindset about doing church and small groups.
More importantly, we have to intentionally treat online small group meetings or church worship services with the same respect and reverence – respect for one another in our community and reverence to God.
The Covid-19 crisis has compelled many of us to use various communications tools to connect to our church and its community. Many might be sceptical of a video chat app’s ability to replace an actual face-to-face meeting.
But when we reflect on the realities of the current situation, I am sure many of us would be very thankful that we could still have the means to come together and commune on a spiritual level.
Thank God for His Goodness
We give thanks for God’s provision that most of us could still have good access to wifi at home and equipment like computers, hand phones and headsets that enable us to continue meeting virtually.
One of the changes that have emerged from the Covid-19 crisis is the general perception that a church community must be connected through physical commune and our fellowship must include food and socializing, in the typical Singapore “fellowship equals fei-loship” context.
The contactless measures of the crisis have changed all that. It begs the question how we could still continue to be community to one another when we are unable to meet physically temporarily, when we are unable to socialize or eat physically together.
This is a good time for us to take stock of what really matters to our community and us spiritually.
As my small group member, Jeanne said: “We have to check on those who do not have a small group to connect with or the right resources to meet their community online. Let us continue to connect with one another and continue to spur one another to grow in the Lord and be transformed in Christ-likeness as we foster community virtually, through this challenging season.”
Read also:
First Published in Tidings January 2020
Christian Cell Group vs. Prison Cell
When you hear of the word “jail cell”, what image comes to mind?
When you see the word “cell group”, a term used commonly for small group in a Church, how would you picture it?
While a jail cell paints a dreary picture of a confined space with no freedom, a Christian cell group generally describes a small group of fellow Christians who gather lovingly together to learn God’s Word and share life together.
The same word conjures entirely different images.
Let’s face it – this can be an uncomfortable thought to many people. Yet, how can the lives of those who had lived in cells intertwined occasionally with Christians from cell groups in churches?
That’s what my small group, Rainbow of Joy, did precisely – reach out to those who were in a prison cell.
No Better Time than Now to Reach Out
Amid our busyness individually and as a small group, there was no better time than now to find time to be a small blessing to the ex-offender community.
Since our small group was started 6 years ago, as an annual practice, , we have always had a Christmas party among ourselves filled with the usual Christmas sumptuous spread and gifts for one another.
This year, as a break from our annual tradition, we decided to organize a Christmas party for not just ourselves but 40 ex-offenders from HCSA Community Services. HCSA Community Services is a Christian charity that houses ex-offenders upon their release, trains ex-offenders and juveniles in culinary skills and offers therapy for abused teenage girls.
December 7 2019 saw 14 of us from Rainbow of Joy trooping to the HCSA Culinary Academy, aptly named 316 (a reference to John 3:16), in the afternoon to transform the no-frills canteen into a temporary festive hall filled with Christmas cheer for 40 ex-offenders and their immediate families.
Home baked turkey by our small group leader for our friends at the Christmas party!
Dinner was a yummy spread, prepared and served by the HCSA Culinary Academy trainees, with the members of Rainbow of Joy augmenting the evening’s spread with home-made turkey, desserts and cut fruits from home. Entertainment came in the form of caroling and a pop-up “pasar malam’ style stall set up by Rainbow of Joy for the guests.
The pop-up stall was the highlight of the evening which saw an impressive array of new and gently used things such as books, clothing, bags, toiletries, Estee Lauder cosmetics, food items, kitchen utensils and cutlery, electronics, head phones and video cameras donated by our small group. The HCSA members are free to pick and choose whatever they desire, based on a first come first served basis.
Members putting on Christmas decorations for the event.
We also had a wonderful evening of singing Christmas carols together, with many of the new friends we met telling us it was their very first Christmas dinner and first caroling experience in life. It was something some of them had never expected to experience in their life time, although they have heard and seen so much of how people around them celebrated Christmas, over the years. Yet, a Christmas celebration actually came throughfor them this year.
Not Everyone Knows What A Christmas Celebration Is
One of the HCSA members at the Christmas celebration told me he had often wonder what people do at Christmas and about the taste of turkey since he was a little boy. He finally found out 50 years later. He was touched by the Christmas dinner celebration put up by us.
As a privileged lot, we sometimes take so much we have, such as having a good Christmas meal, for granted. But, a simple act of blessing and kindness on our part can make a huge difference on others who might not always have the same opportunities, resources and relationships that we have, available to them all the time. It takes a conscious effort on our part to share our blessings with others.
Last Christmas, my small group has been blessed to be able to bless others, to be a blessing, one step at a time. Uncomfortable as it might have been for some of us, as we did not know what to expect, we took the step in faith to be a small cell group that reached out to those who had literally lived in small jail cells.
Works of Blessings and Acts of Mercy
In our group activity to bless others, we have also learnt the meaning of “for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”( James 2:26). We also focus on less of our individual needs, but more on building up one another and others, and foster a stronger understanding and tolerance within our community. Works of blessing and acts of mercy comes naturally when we allow God’s Word to infuse into our lives.
As the year drew to a close, let’s reflect on our blessings to us, our small groups and our community at large from our Heaven Father over the years. It is also a good time, too, to start thinking about how we can be a vessel for God by being a blessing to those who are less fortunate than us.
Rainbow of Joy is a 16-member small group in zone 10 that started in 2014.
This article was first published in Wesley TIDINGS, March 2020.
“What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?” asked Phil, the protagonist, in the 1993 American comedy film, Groundhog Day.
In the film, Phil found himself trapped in a time loop where he was forced to relive the same day repeatedly until he decided to change himself for the better.
Just like Groundhog Day – Stuck in a Rut
Using Phil’s experience as an illustration, Wesley Pastoral Team Member and Counsellor Tony Ting introduced the topic of addiction to participants at the workshop All I Needed To Know About Helping Someone With An Addiction, I Learnt It At The Movies, on 1 February 2020.
Tony explained that this line from Groundhog Day could well be how a person with an addiction would feel while struggling with the compulsion to repeat an activity despite the harm that it does to their well-being.
According to Tony, people can suffer addiction to substance abuse or engage in certain behaviour for the purpose of experiencing feelings of pleasure or relief from stress or enhancing performance. Often, addicts may also be suffering from a co-occurring mental health condition such as bipolar disorder or depression.
Addiction is also progressive in nature.
It generally starts through experimentation, followed by recreational or occasional use such as social drinking or smoking. Thereafter, the person’s mind becomes increasingly preoccupied with repeating the activity to the point of dependency and abuse.
There is hope, however, and with God’s help, addiction is treatable with the right support and interventions.
The Pain of Relapse
Relapse is common and very much a part of a person’s recovery process.
Tony showed clips from the film Beautiful Boy, which is about a boy’s struggles with methamphetamine addiction, and the anguish and despair experienced by his parents in caring for him. David, the father, despite caring deeply for his son, turns him away at one point because his son had relapsed again.
“Carers who struggle with the hurt, disappointment, and the heavy toll in looking after their loved ones may consider seeking help for themselves too in order to sustain them in this difficult journey,” said Tony.
For an addicted person hoping to change, it is important that he or she is ready and wants to change. Those around the addicted person can help by moving him or her gradually through the stages of change and provide support along the way.
Change with God’s Help
The workshop closed with Rev Edmund De Souza sharing about his personal struggle with addiction. In his youth, he had struggled with substance addiction for seven-and-a-half years before he finally sought help from God to help him.
“God, a new environment, and a new purpose in life were what made me change,” said Pastor Edmund.
This workshop is a reminder that one does not have to struggle alone through their
addiction or help those with an addiction. God hears the cries of His children and will heal their brokenness.
Returning to Groundhog Day, Phil had asked his friend Ralph, “What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?”
“That about sums it up for me,” was Ralph’s reply.
With God’s help and the willingness to change, any addiction can be kicked and life can turn around for the better.
Just do not let Ralph’s reply be the narrative for your life.
