Ninety years is a monumental lifespan. In a world where media trends shift like sand and print publications come and go, Wesley TIDINGS has defied the odds.
Since 1936, TIDINGS has served as the steady, pulsing heartbeat of Wesley Methodist Church β a bridge spanning time, generations and shifting cultures. As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we look back at how these pages have chronicled Godβs unwavering faithfulness across nearly a century.
(1936β1941): THE PRE-WAR VITAL LINK
The story began on 1 July 1936 with Wesley Church Tidings, steered by its first editor, Mrs Virginia Kriekenbeek, and Rev Dr Hobart B. Amstutz. Long before social media, online articles, instant messaging or emails existed, TIDINGS served as a vital lifeline for the community.
QUICK FACTS FROM THE EARLY YEARS
Impressive Reach: By 1937, its circulation had reached 1,000 copies (a remarkable feat, given that The Straits Times was thought to circulate around 8,000 to 10,000 copies daily at the time).
Community Focus: Alongside pastoral sermons and teachings, the early issues featured announcements and reports on church events and activities, updates on current affairs, particularly World War II, reports on the movements of pastors and members (as the majority of members were from the US and UK at the time), letters from members, jokes and even home-baked recipes and local commercial advertisements.
Global Connection: Copies were mailed worldwide, mainly to members who had returned to the US or UK.
As the 1930s drew to a close and World War II loomed, TIDINGS became a platform for helping members process global turmoil through the lens of Christ, with teachings urging them to love their enemies and news articles preparing readers for the encroaching reality of war.
Letters of appreciation from TIDINGS readers from all over the world including including Christmas Island, Australia, Egypt, Britain and America, in 1941.
(1942β1960s): FROM WARTIME SILENCE TO POST-WAR REVIVAL
THE SILENT ERA (1942-LATE 1940S)
In January 1942, on the brink of Singapore’s fall to the Japanese, Rev Dr Hobart Amstutz, then pastor of Wesley Methodist Church, penned this testament in TIDINGS:
βYet through more than two years of war, we have kept our sanity. We have preached nothing but the message of Jesus, the Saviour of the world.β
As the war raged on, Wesley Methodist Church was seized and used as a military storehouse, while its pastors, Rev Dr Hobart Amstutz and Rev Tyler Thompson, were interned at Sime Road Camp. TIDINGS was forced into suspension.
POST-WAR REBUILDING AND LOCALISATION
Based on current church archives, the first post-war edition of TIDINGS was published in 1952.
After the war, the newsletter took on a critical mission: providing updates on the expansion of church activities and programmes, sharing membersβ significant life milestones and maintaining detailed member information to help reconnect a displaced congregation and bring members back to Wesley.
As Singapore moved towards independence, the publication evolved:
Name Changes: It shifted from Wesley Church Tidings (1936) to Wesley Methodist Church Newsletter (1946), later becoming The Wesleyan (1971), Wesley News (1974) and finally Wesley TIDINGS in 1986.
Pointing Towards Christ: It continued to exhort, encourage and edify members through the teachings of Christ.
Social Voice: Content expanded to address social issues, warning strongly against gambling, opium and secret societies.
Going Local: The names appearing in its pages evolved, reflecting an increasingly localised membership.
Introducing Colour to TIDINGS: By the 1960s, the publication celebrated its first visual milestone with a dual-colour (red and green) Christmas cover.
(1970sβ1990s): REVIVAL AND THE DESKTOP PUBLISHING REVOLUTION
Mirroring the charismatic renewal movement of the 1970s, formal corporate announcements gave way to vibrant personal testimonies of spiritual transformation. TIDINGS also began publicising more outreach initiatives supported by Wesley and mobilising the church towards greater social action, including championing causes such as the launch of the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS).
SUMMARY OF MAJOR MILESTONES
- 1970s: A shift towards personal testimonies and community stories.
- 1986: Rebranding as Wesley TIDINGS and the introduction of full-colour cover printing.
- 1980s: Expansion to include children’s content.
- Late 1980s: Adoption of PageMaker and digital desktop publishing.
- 1980sβ1990s:
Enhanced design, photography and production quality.
Increased coverage of global missions and church life.
Introduction of Pulpit Gems, children’s pictorial stories and Wesley Classified.
With sharper layouts and more professional graphic design, TIDINGS also became the chief storyteller of Wesleyβs expanding global missions, following ministry teams across the region.
(2000sβ2026): THE HYBRID AND DIGITAL ERA
At the turn of the millennium, TIDINGS continued to evolve to remain relevant to its readers, addressing contemporary challenges and vulnerabilities. Articles increasingly explored topics such as mental health, emotional wellbeing and family dynamics, reflecting the realities of modern life.
THE COVID-19 CATALYST
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought lockdowns and empty pews, physical distribution became impossible. This crisis accelerated a major digital transformation.
In 2022, Wesley TIDINGS officially transitioned to an online-first publication, integrating video testimonies, web articles and social media content. To remain accessible to all, TIDINGS continues to print quarterly large-font editions for those who prefer physical copies.
Founded in 1936 for a local church community, the publication’s stories and articles now reach a global audience.
THE HYBRID MODEL TODAY
Online First: Instant connection through the website, WhatsApp and Telegram, including Chinese translations of key articles to foster greater inclusivity.
Print Preserved: Large-font physical copies continue to be printed quarterly to ensure that our cherished senior brothers and sisters remain fully connected.
THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS AND READERS
To our volunteers, past and present: you are the heart and hands of TIDINGS.
We are deeply grateful to our editors and writers for the countless hours you have devoted to chasing leads, meeting deadlines and telling stories that capture God’s grace over the past nine decades.
To our photographers and videographers, thank you for standing behind the lens as our silent witnesses. Your artistry truly captures the soul of our community.
Finally, no publication can exist without its readers.
To our readers, thank you for your unwavering support. It has been our privilege to walk this journey with you for 90 years. Thank you for staying on the same page with us through the decades, for making TIDINGS part of your discipleship journey and for allowing us to grow alongside you.
GOD AS OUR ULTIMATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
How has a church newsletter outlasted decades of secular media empires? The answer does not lie in human cleverness or editorial eloquence.
As Rev James Thoburn proclaimed in Singapore’s first Methodist sermon in 1885:
βNot by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,β says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)
God alone pens the stories.
For TIDINGS, the 90th anniversary is not merely a historic milestone for the church, but an opportunity to reflect on God’s faithfulness and favour. We are thankful for the privilege of participating in God’s mission and witnessing His faithful care.
The Author and Editor-in-Chief of our faith is still writing.
βTo Him alone be all glory, for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.β (Romans 11:36)
The story of Wesley Methodist Church is still being written. Stay tuned, Wesleyans. The best chapters are yet to come.
TIDINGS 90th Anniversary Commemorative Issue:
Click to watch the 4-min Commemorative Video
Read also: A testimony of Godβs enduring faithfulness: My three-decade journey with Wesley TIDINGS
