Rev Benjamin Lau, who grew up at Wesley Methodist Church, was appointed to Wesley in January 2021 after serving as a pastor at Christ Methodist Church from 2018 to 2020. At Wesley he oversees the NextGen ministries, which include Children’s Ministry, BeTween Ministry and Youth Ministry. His passion is to nurture the next generation to grow in faith and live out their calling as disciples of Christ.
Pastor Benjamin is also actively involved in the wider Methodist community through his role on the TRAC Board of Youth Ministry and his role as the TRAC Young Adults Ministry Director contributing to initiatives that strengthen youth and young adult discipleship across churches.
At the 50th TRAC Annual Conference, Pastor Benjamin was appointed as Pastor to Living Waters Methodist Church with effect from 1 January 2026.
As Pastor Benjamin moves on to his next appointment, Wesley TIDINGS invited him to share his reflections on leaving Wesley, the memories he treasures most and his encouragement for the congregation.
What inspired you to pursue a life in ministry?
My initial calling came on 7 October 2008 during a prayer meeting where I was seeking God’s direction for my life. Psalm 37:4-5 came to mind: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this…” I realised that the desires of my heart weren’t just mine; as I delight in the Lord, He would place His desires in my heart.
That day, God impressed these words on me: “To reach out to the world by starting with equipping the people in the church to prepare them for outreach to the world.”
The confirmation of that calling came on 17 January 2009 at a retreat called Fellowship of the Burning Hearts organised by CRU Singapore for final-year students discerning God’s call. During a devotional reading, I came across Hebrews 3:7: “So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…’” At that moment, a deep conviction resonated in my heart. I knew the Holy Spirit had been speaking to me all along, and flashes of my initial call came back vividly.
Then came this assurance: “God is faithful always, just be obedient to His call.” I knew I couldn’t run away anymore. Right there, I prayed and committed myself to respond to His call.
Since then, I’ve carried a deep burden to see lives transformed for Christ. And what better way than to devote my full-time vocation to nurturing and equipping God’s people for His kingdom work?
As you step into this new season, what emotions stand out most for you?
I have mixed feelings, grieving the sense of loss after investing so much in NextGen ministries at Wesley over the past five years yet feeling excited as I embrace and prepare for the new season ahead.
Could you share a defining moment when you felt truly affirmed in your calling while serving Wesley’s NextGen Ministry?
One of my greatest joys is seeing young people step up to serve and, for some, even answer God’s call to full-time Christian ministry. Two individuals come to mind. One was a youth leader I knew when I was a youth staff; years later, he became our Youth Ministry (YM) Chairperson when I returned as the pastor overseeing YM. Another was a youth I had the privilege to mentor and journey with for a season about 14 years ago. He eventually responded to God’s call to full-time ministry and is now pursuing theological studies. These two are just among the many I’ve journeyed with, and they remind me that the time invested in the young will bear fruit in God’s time. Moments like these affirm me deeply as I walk alongside young people who choose to follow God’s leading in their lives.
Looking back on your role as NextGen Pastor, what key insight about mentoring or discipleship will guide your future ministry?
I’ve learnt that it truly takes a whole church to raise the next generation. Beyond CM, BeTween or Youth leaders, parents, grandparents and every member of the church family play a vital role in modelling faith and nurturing the next generation.
What memory of seeing a young person grow in faith or commit to Christ remains most precious to you?
Witnessing young people commit their lives to Christ at the altar during camps and seeing their lives transformed afterwards are some of my most cherished moments. As shared earlier, some of them are still actively serving in different areas of the church, and some have also answered God’s call to full-time Christian ministry.
Is there an event or project at Wesley that holds special significance for you?
The YM musical production Birthday Letters in 2024, entirely produced and coordinated by our youths, was the most memorable project I’ve witnessed. Besides that, having the privilege of baptising both my young children at Wesley is something I will always hold close to my heart.
Youth Ministry often brings unexpected moments. What surprising insight or valuable lesson did you discover while journeying with young leaders?
Each year, I intentionally lead a selected group of youth leaders through a season of journeying together, usually via a book study. During these times, I learned so much about their lives and perspectives. Often, their insights challenge my own ideas of ministry, and I’ve come to appreciate those moments deeply.
I’ve learnt the importance of listening to understand and speaking to be understood. When we build trust and walk with young people through the ups and downs of life, we begin to see how God is at work in the different seasons of their lives.
If you could give one heartfelt encouragement to the Wesley congregation about investing in future generations, what would it be?
Let’s all be intentional in modelling our faith to the next generation. When young people see Christ in us—in our words and actions—they are inspired in their own faith journey.
Finally, what will you miss most about being part of Wesley Methodist Church?
I will deeply miss the warmth, love and support of the Wesley community, especially how you embraced me and my family during my time here as a young pastor with a young family.
Serving alongside a close-knit pastoral team has been such a privilege, and partnering with our NextGen leaders and staff to invest in the lives of young people has been a joy.
I look forward to hearing the wonderful testimonies of God’s work at Wesley and seeing how He will lead the church towards Vision 2035.
Wesley TIDINGS thanks Pastor Benjamin for his faithfulness and commitment to nurturing the faith of our young people. His dedication has been a remarkable gift to Wesley Methodist Church. We are deeply grateful for the countless hours he has poured into discipleship, mentorship and building a strong spiritual foundation for the next generation.
We wish Pastor Benjamin, his wife Claire and their children Charis and Cephas every joy and success as he embarks on this new chapter. May he continue to witness lives transformed by the love of Christ.
Read also: Rooting for Our Next Generation to Press on in Christ
