From Alpha and Equipping to Marketplace and Sports & Wellness, leaders across Wesley Methodist Church’s Witness & Evangelism (W&E) sub-ministries gathered at a local hotel on 3 October 2026 for a day of fellowship, vision-casting and spiritual renewal.
The team comprised leaders from the Alpha, Creative Expression, Equipping, Marketplace, Welcome and Sports & Wellness ministries.
Led by Rev Dr William Sam, pastor overseeing W&E, the retreat was a time of worship, reflection and strategic alignment for the year ahead. Members were also challenged to rethink how they could better engage the community and participate in God’s kingdom work.
RETHINKING MINISTRY RHYTHMS AND MODERN OUTREACH
Pastor William encouraged ministry leaders to take a closer look at the rhythms of their ministries.
He also challenged the team to look beyond traditional models, noting that churchgoers today, particularly younger generations, are moving away from a passive consumer mindset.
“Instead of simply asking whether they are being fed, everyone in ministry can look towards active engagement and real-world mission work,” Pastor William pointed out.
“We must carefully evaluate what a truly missional community looks like, how we steward our physical spaces and resources, and how we balance our time gathering for worship with scattering to serve the community,” he added.
EMBRACING GOD’S WELCOME
Building on this vision, Rev Raymond Fong, Pastor-in-Charge of Wesley Methodist Church, gave participants a glimpse of the church’s plans for the next few years and exhorted them to grow deeper as a welcoming, caring and missional church.
To build towards this vision, Pastor Raymond encouraged all present to anchor their ministry in Romans 15:7:“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
He also led the 28 participants in a time of lectio divina and personal solitude.
Pastor Raymond reminded everyone that God’s welcome is personal, particular and persevering, reaching each person in their unique circumstances.
To cultivate a culture of genuine welcome, Pastor Raymond outlined several important paradigm shifts. He reminded participants to move from outcomes to surrender, explaining that while we are called to labour faithfully, the results and conversion numbers belong entirely to God.
He also exhorted W&E leaders to shift from programmes to journeys by walking alongside people rather than merely running events and programmes.
Emphasising the transition from conversions to community, Pastor Raymond said, “W&E often serves as the crucial first touchpoint, but true discipleship requires helping seekers put down roots in the wider body.”
In addition, Pastor Raymond challenged everyone to consider reversing the traditional sequence in favour of a rhythm of belonging, believing and behaving, a concept first shared by the late Joseph Chean. This means welcoming people into authentic community first so that faith and transformation can naturally follow.
COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING IN ACTION
Following an afternoon of sub-ministry planning and a review of the 2027 calendar, participants reflected on how these lessons could be applied in daily ministry.
Sharing her takeaway from the retreat, participant Yeo Su Chen said, “This is my first W&E retreat. It was good for us to come together and learn more about what each of us is doing within our respective sub-ministries.”
“The reminder from Pastor William to think about what mission means to us, and from Pastor Raymond to shift from merely running programmes to walking alongside people, really resonated with me. It challenged me to see my service not as a task to check off, but as an opportunity to build genuine relationships where people truly feel they belong.”
Woon Kee Yang, the lay leader representative for W&E, also shared his perspective on community building: “All the sub-ministries in W&E are platforms and tools that facilitate ministry, including the building of community,” he said.
“Sports & Wellness, for example, is not just about playing games. It is also an opportunity to show care and concern when someone is struggling, needs a friend to talk to or is feeling unwell. Let us continue to surrender to the Lord and allow Him to create opportunities for us to be His conduit,” he added.
Reflecting on the day, Pastor Willam shared: “What struck me most at today’s W&E retreat was seeing our ministry leaders move beyond planning their individual ministries towards a genuine willingness to collaborate.”
He further affirmed the group: “It was encouraging to witness a shared heart and desire to bear greater fruit together in our outreach.”
As the retreat concluded, the W&E team was left with a powerful guiding question for the season ahead: Are we merely opening our doors to host events, or are we truly opening our lives to build relationships and give others the opportunity to find a lasting home in God’s kingdom?
(Photos courtesy of Witness & Evangelism)
