From 11 to 15 December 2025, Wesley Methodist Church marked a significant milestone with its first equipping and workshop-based mission trip to Luzon, Philippines. Building on a partnership of more than five years with High Praise Church (HPC), this trip represented a new direction in Wesley’s missions approach, moving beyond short-term service towards intentional equipping and leadership development.
“In planning the trip, we used the language of equipping and training because the goal was not to run programmes but to strengthen leaders so they can minister more effectively long after we’ve left,” said trip leader Patricia Koh.
MISSION OF TEACHING, PRESENCE AND PRACTICAL CARE
The core of the mission was a series of workshops on “Mental Health and Well-being” led by Wesley’s counsellor David Blakely. The five workshops covered topics such as “Healthy Stress Care”, “Handling Conflict Well” and “Humble and Strong Leadership”. These sessions were not merely academic; they were shaped to meet the immediate needs of a community navigating high-pressure living conditions and demanding ministry contexts.
“This wasn’t a one-time conversation,” explained Patricia. “It took about four to five months of back-and-forth with HPC and David to discern what would truly serve their context.”
Mental wellness was chosen deliberately and sensitively. “Mental wellness is often taboo,” she shared. “‘Mental’ is associated with mental illness. We had to help our partners understand that this was about everyday stress, emotions and conflict, especially in a high-pressure environment with very limited resources.”
The workshops were tailored for different groups—community members, youth, church leaders and pastors—and held in churches, community halls and even an office space. Each session combined teaching, practical exercises and small group discussions.
“All the materials were left behind,” said Patricia. “The leaders can now use them to reach people we didn’t have time to meet. That’s how equipping becomes sustainable.”
The response was affirming and deeply encouraging. The planned sessions were well received, and the team’s willingness to remain flexible led to an unscheduled workshop for a corporate office in Makati City just hours before the return flight. This “extra mile” moment underscored a vital lesson for any prospective tripper: mission work is about being available to God’s timing, not merely the team’s own schedule.
“We knew the workshops were well received when that request came in,” Patricia shared. “So we adjusted our plans and went.”
LEARNING FROM THE “LAST, LEAST AND LOST”
For many on the six-member team, the most transformative moments occurred far from the workshop tables. The visit to the HPC preaching point at Timbangan left an indelible mark on everyone. Far from a traditional church building, Timbangan is a small shed with a zinc roof and a mud floor in a rural village.
“It brought me to tears,” shared tripper Ivy Ho. “It is beyond my imagination that people with so little are worshipping in a small shed on muddy ground.”
Despite the pouring rain, mothers and children gathered eagerly to hear God’s word. As tripper Leong Wing Kong observed, the members at Timbangan may be “poor” in worldly things but are “rich” in faith. For the team, this was a gentle rebuke and a call to humility, reminding them that true worship is not about comfort, air-conditioning or audio-visual equipment but the condition of the heart.
True worship is not about comfort, air‑conditioning or audio‑visual equipment but the condition of the heart.
LEADERSHIP THAT LABOURS WITH LOVE
The trip also offered insight into the tireless work of local pastors and leaders who serve with clear passion and prayerful dependence. The team witnessed a leadership model that is both resilient and inclusive, with leaders actively empowering youth to lead worship and serve.
Despite a recent leadership shake-up at the mother church (HPC 4E) that saw several key families leave, there remained a heartening sense of unity among those who stayed. The pastor’s steadfastness, alongside the community’s warmth and family-like openness, provided a shining example of how the body of Christ thrives through mutual support and prayer.
LESSONS FOR THE SOUL: WHY GO?
If you have ever felt prompted to join a mission trip but hesitated due to self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy, the reflections of this team offer several compelling reasons to take the step of faith:
- Gratitude restored: Witnessing the simple and sincere faith of the HPC community highlights the abundance we often take for granted in Singapore. It shifts our perspective from entitlement to deep gratitude.
- Reciprocal blessing: Every tripper echoed the same sentiment: they were blessed even as they sought to bless others. “When I bless others, I also receive many blessings in return,” reflected Ivy.
- Deepened understanding: Serving on the ground offers insights that Zoom calls cannot. Two Wesley staff on the trip, Rev Lilian Ang and Counsellor David Blakely, gained first-hand appreciation of the theological and pastoral training needs of HPC leaders, which will now shape future teaching plans.
- Community and growth: The team experienced wonderful dynamics, working “beautifully well together” and supporting one another through small challenges such as forgotten badminton rackets or faulty room locks.
CALL TO PRAYER AND ACTION
As we look ahead to the future of the Wesley–HPC partnership, there are several pressing needs to lift in prayer:
- Provision and sustainability: Many HPC members struggle to meet basic necessities, and several church locations require ongoing repairs. Pray for God’s provision as they minister to their communities.
- Leadership development and succession: Pray for new lay pastors to be nurtured and for future leaders who can ensure continuity and spiritual health in the ministry.
- Future trippers: Pray for repeat trippers willing to take on leadership roles in future missions, even when they feel unprepared or uncertain. Pray for courage, obedience and willing hearts.
The work in Luzon is a testament to God’s grace, which reaches into the most remote areas to bring hope to the “last, least and lost”. As David Blakely shared, quoting the local pastor: “Both the teacher and student learn from each other when they walk side by side.”
Will you consider walking side by side with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines on the next trip?
(Photos courtesy of Andrew Fung)
Read also: Siem Reap: Serving in Uncertain Times, Trusting a Certain God
