As with previous Wesley food fairs, the sights, sounds, treats and aromas of this year’s Wesley Makan CeleFeast on 11 July 2026 were not just enjoyed by church regulars.
Thanks to a series of deeply intentional, cross-ministry initiatives, the wider community – from young children and seniors to invited guests from several charitable organisations – was invited to share in the joy.
At the heart of this effort was a generous $10,200 injection of love dubbed the “LCEC Love Gift”.
Driven by the beautiful reminder to “Let’s Cherish Every Child”, a play on the acronym LCEC, the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) of Wesley Methodist Church stepped forward with a $10,200 donation in CeleFeast coupons. The gift was split equally, with $5,200 designated for children in the Children’s Ministry and another $5,000 for youths in the BeTween Ministry.
WELCOMING ALL TO CELEFEAST
But the generosity did not stop with the children and youth of Wesley.
Wesley’s spirit of inclusivity spread across generations and throughout the community.
Members of the Christian Outreach and Social Concerns (COSC) Ministry also quietly rallied together, donating their own CeleFeast coupons to ensure that no one was left on the margins.
Their efforts focused on sponsoring tickets and coupons for guests, including individuals and families from the Wesley Youth Centre, Wesley Financial Assistance and Wesley Prison Ministry, as well as individuals from other charities such as Prison Fellowship Singapore and The Helping Hand. Wesleyans also donated an additional $4,000 worth of coupons to bless these guests.
“At CeleFeast this year, we are especially delighted to welcome the children, youths and families who attend The Saturday Club at our Wesley Youth Centre in Jalan Besar to join in the festivities,” said Loke Ai Mei, director of Christian Outreach and Social Concerns (COSC) ministry.
Through Bible-based activities, The Saturday Club provides a place where children and young people can discover more about Jesus and the Christian faith while building meaningful friendships within a caring community.
“It is our prayer that, as they gather with many others from the community, they will experience the warmth of Wesleyan hospitality and encounter Christ’s love through the generosity of Wesleyans,” added Ai Mei.
Wesley Youth Centre staff member Peter Wong chaperoned a lively group of three families on the MRT to join CeleFeast. Said one of the children, nine-year-old Yen Yen, while enjoying her sweet treats: “It’s my second time here. Everything is nice here.”
Whether it was a child experiencing a church food fair for the first time, a senior enjoying a warm meal in vibrant company, or an individual simply finding a place to spend a Saturday, there was a place for everyone at CeleFeast.
Among the many smiling faces at CeleFeast was a group of teenagers from HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre. Six volunteers from Wesley Methodist Church and seven staff members from Dayspring accompanied 17 teenagers to CeleFeast from 11am to 1pm.
“It’s a true joy to walk alongside them here at CeleFeast,” shared Caryn Lim, who volunteers fortnightly at Dayspring, bonding with the girls through pickleball and art. “Our ministry is usually based at the Dayspring residence, so being able to bring them to our church and share this part of our community life with them is a wonderful first.”
“Watching their faces light up as they explored the stalls and picked out their favourite treats was the best part of the day,” said Gabrielle Pek, who leads Wesley’s volunteer team at Dayspring. “We’re so thankful to our fellow volunteer Pat Loh and the COSC Ministry for sponsoring the coupons.”
“For our young friends from Dayspring, this was so much more than just a meal. It was a beautiful reminder that they are seen and cared for by a bigger family. Just seeing them laugh, share food and simply get to be carefree teenagers, we couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon with them,” she added.
PARTNERS IN CARE BECOME PARTNERS IN SERVICE
“CeleFeast also brought Wesleyans and our ministry partners beyond Wesley together to serve side by side as one team,” said Judy Tan, chairperson of the Wesley Prison Ministry. “It was a wonderful opportunity to bless the families with a feast while also allowing them to serve at some of the stalls as a way of thanking the church community for its support.”
For Ernest Choo, vice-chairperson of the Wesley Prison Ministry, intentionally involving ex-offenders and their families in serving alongside Wesleyans at CeleFeast helped deepen their sense of belonging and purpose.
“It’s their way of saying thank you to the church community for supporting them and, at the same time, an opportunity for Wesleyans to welcome them into our church community and get to know one another better.”
Rev William Sam, pastor overseeing COSC, expressed his appreciation to COSC for bringing everyone together to serve, saying:
“True community isn’t just about doing something for others; it’s about doing life with them. When we invite the individuals we support to stand alongside us and serve as one Wesley family, we move beyond charity and into genuine Christlike fellowship. We aren’t just giving; we are standing as one team and sharing the joy of service together.”
HONOURING OUR BEHIND-THE-SCENES HEROES
In a beautiful act of personal generosity, Wesleyan Ade Olopade stepped forward with a $1,000 donation in CeleFeast coupons dedicated entirely to blessing our church housekeeping team.
Said Ade: “I am thankful for the cleaners’ presence and warmth in our church, and some of them have become friends.
“More than just coupons, I am sponsoring joy and fellowship.”
This thoughtful gift ensured that the team working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our church spotless could also take part in the festivities at CeleFeast.
In another gesture, a dedicated group of 16 Wesleyans answered the call to sponsor coupons for every member of the church staff.
“It is a privilege to bless everyone on the Wesley staff team,” said Liana Seah. “All 16 of us wanted to give back and say a huge thank you to the staff who serve us so joyfully.”
SPREADING THE JOY OF WESLEYAN INCLUSIVITY
“It’s about making sure everyone is included at the table,” noted LCEC Chairperson Alvin Tay, who commended these initiatives. “We also want to extend our care to those who are serving right here at Wesley. It bridges the gap between those who serve and those who are served. It ensures that the very hands supporting our ministries are themselves blessed and cared for.”
Alvin also expressed his appreciation to the LCEC members and Wesleyans who contributed to CeleFeast:
“I am heartened that the proceeds from CeleFeast will go towards eight charitable organisations, in addition to the Vision 2035 Fund. These charities support underserved children, youths and seniors, truly reaching the least, the lost and the last in our society.”
“Ultimately, every contribution, however small, is a beautiful reflection of God’s abundant grace at work through His people. This year’s CeleFeast is shaping up to be exactly what its name implies: a celebration of community, belonging and unconditional love.”
(Photos by Christopher Leong, CJ Goh, Henry Lim, Jon Chia and Melvin Quah)
📸 Missed out on the food fair this year or want to relive the best moments? Head over to our Church Photo Gallery to see the full album. We look forward to seeing you at the next food fair.
