As Wesley Methodist Church celebrates 140 years, members and leaders share their reflections on this milestone and their hopes for the future:
Bishop Philip Lim, The Methodist Church in Singapore:
“I pray that Wesley Methodist Church will come together as one to fulfil the Church mission as light on the hill, with God’s help.”
Rev Raymond Fong, Pastor-in-Charge, Wesley Methodist Church:
“I am humbled by God’s faithfulness and the reminder of His grace and love. 140 years is a long time; the heroes of our faith who came before us have sown seeds in the ministry and life of the church, we are enjoying the fruit and reward of their labour. I feel a sense of responsibility yet deeply excited about what God wants us to do in the next lap. This compels me to humble myself and earnestly seek God for His strength as all Wesleyans come together to own His vision, serve and fulfil it together for His glory. God will enable us!”
Alvin Tay, LCEC Chairperson, Wesley Methodist Church:
“Vision 2035, as shared by Pastor Raymond at our 140th Anniversary services, excites me. The church leadership is working on a vision to create more space within the church so that children, parents, and grandparents can all worship God under one roof. I am sure we have many such multi-generational families in our church. That’s a key pillar and strength of Wesley Methodist Church, something to be embraced. Besides inclusivity regardless of age and ability, we also want to be an open and welcoming church, with our members also reaching out to the least, the last and the lost in society.”
Audrey Phua, Wesley member for over 30 years:
“I feel very at home in Wesley as I’ve been at the church since I was 10 years old. It’s a big church with an even bigger heart, and I’ve been blessed by the ministries that I am a part of. It is inspiring to serve along with Wesleyans who contribute their gifts, talents and time to loving and serving others. This 140th anniversary is a reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness. From the missionaries who came before to the generation of Wesleyans who followed, building on the foundations of God’s grace and provision. May this light on the hill continue to shine forth for His glory!”
Arielle Chen, 12 years old, BeTween Ministry:
“I hope that Wesley Methodist Church will continue to be the special and safe place where my friends and I can grow up together and support one another in His love.”
Ian Wang, Mandarin Ministry:
“I’ve been serving at Wesley for almost five years in the Mandarin Ministry’s worship and AV teams. What keeps me coming back is the welcoming nature of the members and ministries. Whether I’m from another church or just exploring Christianity, I’m welcome to participate in any activity or course. Wesley has helped me learn to interact with people different from me, whether they have special needs or belong to another denomination. The pastors’ equal treatment of everyone inspires me to be more loving and accepting. This 140th anniversary is significant because I’ve recently learned to appreciate the traditions of Christianity, much of which is embodied in this church’s beautiful, traditionally designed building that has stood for more than a century.”
Lee Kok Hang, Mandarin Ministry:
“I’ve been a member of Wesley Church for 10 years. I love the strong sense of community here and the way the church helps me grow in my faith. Wesley has played a big role in my life, giving me spiritual guidance and friendships that have supported me through different seasons. Celebrating the 140th anniversary feels really special — it’s a reminder of how God has been working through this church for so many years. I’m grateful to be part of this journey and excited to see how Wesley continues to make a difference in my life and community.”
Veron Lai, Wesley member for over 30 years:
“I’ve been a Wesley member since 1992. My family were baptised here and we became Wesley members together. Wesley has since become a core part of our family life – three generations worshipping together every week. Wesley is home. I got married here, and my children also grew up here from attending Little Lambs to Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry and then to adult worship services. My Small Group, Rejoice, is where we support one another, grow in discipleship and serve together. My parents, Henry and Emily Lai, served more than 30 years in various ministries at Wesley. At my dad’s funeral, our family experienced overwhelming warmth and comforting support from the pastors, pastoral team and our Wesley friends. Happy 140th, Wesley! You have been God’s faithfulness and blessing in our lives.”
