This August, Wesley Methodist Church joyfully celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Small Group Ministry (SGM) — a cornerstone of discipleship, care and community.
The ministry began in 1985 with just eight groups, inspired by the vision of Rev Isaac Lim, who was then Wesley’s Pastor-in-Charge, to establish a Small Group Ministry focused on discipling members.
From its humble beginnings, SGM has grown into a vibrant network of 261 Small Groups, organised into 16 Zones, supported by 86 leaders in the Zone Leadership team and comprising over 2,400 members.
Just last year, 224 people signed up to be part of a Small Group, reflecting the ministry’s continued relevance and impact.
Today, our smallest Small Group has 4 members, while the largest boasts over 40!
Interestingly, the oldest Small Groups — Pemimpin SG, Telok Blangah SG, Toa Payoh SG and Upper Paya Lebar SG — have been journeying together for 40 years, while our youngest group was formed less than five weeks ago!
The growth over the years has been nothing short of remarkable — from 69 groups in 1998 to 138 in 2009, and 203 by mid-2015.
The theme in 2000, “A Big Church Needs Small Groups,” captured the heart of the ministry’s purpose: ensuring that every member of Wesley Methodist Church, regardless of the size of the congregation, finds a place of belonging and spiritual growth.
Rooted in Christ, Growing in Community
SGM’s mission – Growing Groups That Bear Lasting Fruit – has faithfully guided the ministry since 2009.
This vision is beautifully expressed through the GNF strategy: Gathering, Nurturing and Flowering.
Gathering: To cultivate a deeper sense of belonging by meeting in Small Groups within our faith community
Nurturing: To encourage and spur one another to grow in Christ and His Word through intentional care and discipleship
Flowering: To live out our faith through acts of service, kindness and outreach, reflecting Christ’s love to others
As groups gather, nurture and flower, it is ultimately Christ who brings the true growth.
As Estelle Chan, a member of God’s Dunamis SG, beautifully puts it, “Christ-like friends, a place to cry, laugh, grow and navigate life’s challenges together.”
Rising to the Challenge: SGM During Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 posed unprecedented challenges. With physical church services suspended, Small Groups became the lifeblood of the church. At the time, there were 255 groups, many of which quickly adapted to online platforms to continue meeting, praying and studying the Word together.
SGM leaders rose to the occasion. More than 250 attended ZOOM townhalls where the Small Group Continuity Plan was shared. Despite initial hesitations, even senior members embraced video conferencing, leading to increased attendance and deeper engagement.
Some groups began meeting weekly instead of fortnightly, and many joined the church-wide Wednesday night synchronised prayer sessions.
The ministry also launched the Call to Care initiative, mobilising SG leaders as Care Ambassadors to reach out to members not connected to online services or groups. This effort ensured that no one was left behind during the crisis.
Embracing Technology, Strengthening Bonds
For many, the shift to digital platforms was daunting. One group, affectionately dubbed “boomers” by a member’s teenage daughter, shared how learning video conferencing together became a bonding experience. Mistakes were embraced, and mutual support turned technological challenges into opportunities for growth and fellowship.
Being in a Small Group is like being in a climbing team, as Emmeline Wong, Small Group Leader of Basecamp SG, describes: “Every hand offers support, bearing one another’s burdens, motivating each other and celebrating the moments of reaching new spiritual heights together.”
The pandemic reshaped perceptions of church and community. It reminded us that connection is not confined to physical spaces. Through calls, messages and virtual meetings, members continued to care for one another, fostering spiritual growth and Christ-like transformation.
Looking Ahead
As we mark 40 years of SGM, we give thanks to God for His faithfulness and the countless volunteers who have poured their hearts into this ministry. Their dedication has built a legacy of care, discipleship and transformation.
This year’s theme, Faithful Through Every Generation, reminds us that God’s work continues across time and through people. May the next chapter of SGM continue to bear lasting fruit, rooted in Christ and flourishing in community.
Reflections from Some of Our Small Groups:
David Khoo, TrailMix SG:
Ten years ago, we began as strangers. Then we became friends. Then we started to annoy and hurt each other. Eventually, we learned to forgive, as we saw more clearly the wounds behind our weaknesses. I’ve seen disdain turn into admiration, aloofness into fervour. I see God’s love.
Shirley Yeng, GIFT SG:
As our SG name suggests, we are grateful to be in this family of God – Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) – and going through current and future challenges together through prayer and sharing life, rooted in God’s Word and being accountable as Christ’s disciples.
Roger S, LeGaO SG:
One of the best things that happened to me at Wesley. Apart from learning the Bible more I also made new friends that will last me a lifetime.
Alice Kwok, Evergreen SG:
We give praise and thank God for Evergreen SG for keeping us together in sharing our insights to grow spiritually and encouraging one another on this faith journey. May God continue to guide and use us in befriending Indus seniors and others to fulfil His purposes for His glory. Amen.
Samuel Choo, PANIC SG:
We were not made to be alone — God designed us for community. In community, we reflect His nature, learning to love, serve and grow together. Through every joy and challenge, He shapes us, reminding us that His presence is found not just in solitude, but in the unity of His people.
Christina Stanley, Noohra SG:
Initially, the thought of hanging out with the same group of folks wasn’t for me. Yet, when I finally joined and settled into FOG SG and found a loving hub, I truly appreciated doing life together through the Word, worship, praying for and encouraging one another, walks, makan and celebrations. It remains an enriching encounter that is invaluable. Happily, this led me to form two other groups – Jesus4Eternity, as well as Noohra, which I continue to lead and which is, in itself, a mission field.
Doreen Soh, Companions on a Journey (COAJ) SG:
We met at Companions In Christ 2023
Blossomed into COAJ
Friendships grew into sisterhood
Bonded together in Jesus’ name
His candle, His safe space, we light and abide
Fish soup and bak chor mee our top two likes
Companions on a Journey – that’s our lot
Our hands to work, our hearts to God
Small Group Name Game: From Kopi C to KFC
What’s in a name? For our Small Groups, quite a lot! From coffee orders to chemistry, each name reflects a spark of creativity, a story of faith or a moment of inspiration. This is just a flavourful sampling of SG names — there are plenty more out there, each with its own unique twist.
Kopi C – We had a Slido poll for collecting name ideas during our first meeting, and the majority voted for this name. Many of us initially met at our favourite coffee joint and/or love coffee too! And can you guess what Kopi C means? Knowing Our Purpose In Christ!
GoogleGod 1 – In the late 2000s, the term ‘Google’ was synonymous with ‘search’. Hence, GoogleGod means ‘searching for God’. Our search function icon is ‘WWJD’, which stands for What Would Jesus Do – our guiding principle to remind us to always try to exemplify Christian values in whatever we do.
NaCl – NaCl, or sodium chloride, is the chemical formula for salt. The inspiration for NaCl came from the challenge laid down in Matthew 5:13–16 to be the salt and light of the world.
Doorstoppers – The name Doorstoppers came about because we wanted to be this small and humble item on the floor whose purpose is to open up the door and keep it open to welcome people into the kingdom of God.
Lightly Salted – Our group is named Lightly Salted because the Bible says that Christians should be the light and salt of the world. As the name ‘Salt & Light’ was already taken, we added a twist. Given that we like potato crisps, Lightly Salted was perfect!
PASTA (Pray And Share Together Always) – One SG member thought of the name while taking a shower. There are different types of pasta – shape, colour, texture etc. Similarly, each member is different and unique in our own ways, but we are all brothers- and sisters-in-Christ.
KFC (Kindled For Christ) – The members love to fellowship over shared meals, and we have had many occasions celebrating birthdays too. Hence, KFC is also a name for food.
TGIF (Together Growing In Faith) – TGIF because we first started meeting on Fridays.
TrailMix – Sweet, salty, a little nutty – TrailMix is our blend of faith, friendship and God’s grace for the journey. We have seven doctors, so if you’re a hypochondriac, this is the group for you!
Homemakers – This Small Group was birthed from a church ministry called Homemakers Fellowship around 30 years ago. It caters to ladies who are available on weekdays for whatever reason. It used to be young mums, but we aged!
Fun fact: we have always been cosmopolitan and currently have members from six different countries.
PH7 – Project Huios – Huios (Greek): matured son – the older son in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). Unlike the ending in this parable, we choose to work with our Father to seek out and welcome the last, the least and the lost. pH7: the chemical quality of pure water (neither acidic nor alkaline) in nature and mindset. Scripture meets science symbiotically.
(Photos courtesy of Small Group Ministry and Wesley Tidings)
Read related articles:
Pastoral message from Rev Gladwin Lee, SGM pastor: The Heart of Small Group Ministry: Cultivating Genuine Friendships of Virtue
SGM@40: Reflections from Outgoing and Incoming Chairpersons and a Pastoral Team Member <read article>
Discover how one Small Group’s 40-year journey of faith continues to inspire and shape the Wesley community today: Four Decades of Enduring Grace: A Pioneer Wesley Small Group that Started in 1985
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