The Methodist Church in Singapore
Vol 115 No 6
June 2013
ISSN 0129-6868
www.methodistmessage.com
MCI (P) 172/02/2013
Inside this issue:
ACS (International) raises funds for Habitat for Humanity
The art of battling homelessness By Lee Qing Hui n ACS (International) photos WHAT CAN CHILDREN IN URBAN Singapore do about housing for the homeless? 25 per cent of the world’s population or 1.5 billion people live in sub-standard housing or with no shelter at all. This year, youths from Anglo-Chinese School (International) did their bit to raise funds and awareness for Habitat for Humanity (Habitat), a non-profit Christian organisation. We launched “The Art of Battling Homelessness”, an art colouring competition, in March. Children from all over Singapore sent in their coloured versions of our template picture, and we selected some to exhibit. At the art exhibition held at Wisma Atria on April 6, 2013, we further engaged children and members of the public. For $2, a small amount which can pay for 17 bricks in India to help put a roof over a child’s head, participants could choose to participate in one of three ways. They could participate in the same colouring competition, or submit their own artwork on “Homes of Love”, or decorate a paper brick to build a “wall”, symbolising the united efforts of all to make the world a better place to live. With 2,104 bricks donated, we managed to get
A student volunteer from ACS (Int) displaying entries from the art and colouring competitions.
2 New Asian Hymnal
Calling for submissions
4 Methodist School of Music 16th Anniversary
MSM marks another milestone with a “joyful eastertide”
6 You & your family
Failure in a world obsessed with success
7 Local songs, local flavours
How local worship songs can be like a good bowl of laksa
8 Sanphranet Methodist Church, Chiangmai
A participant placing her decorated paper brick on the “wall”.
into the Singapore Book of Records for having built the “Longest Paper Brick Wall”! Some of the coloured pictures were then sent as gifts of love to families supported by Habitat around the world. Selected artwork and coloured pieces won prizes as well. Each person’s gift of $2 was a seed of love and hope, and in all, we raised over $8,000. This will go directly to Habitat to eliminate poverty housing worldwide by building simple, decent houses for needy families of all backgrounds, races and religions. We also received good media coverage for the event, and we know that this will help spread the message of tackling poverty and homelessness. Mr Tan Eng Kwang, Volunteer Relations Executive of Habitat Singapore, said: “For many of the students involved, ‘The Art of Battling Homelessness 2013’ is the first publicscale project that expanded the typical study See Page 18
New church building is dedicated
10 Underneath the banner – BB Singapore’s 80 years
New book on BB history is launched
12 Tamil Methodist Church
Singapore’s second-oldest Methodist Church
15 Tell me, Pastor
The first of a two-part series on “Being Methodist’’
19 MM Quiz
Last quiz before it goes online
Methodist Church gets smartphone apps! See Page 2
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
2
COMING UP New Asian Hymnal planned
Contribute to New Asian Songs of Worship By Mary Y. T. Gan
ai/Bigstock.com
Picture by Warunee Kaewjunch
IF YOU HAVE THE GIFT of composing music or poetry, we would like to invite you to share your talent and gift by contributing to our new hymnal, entitled New Asian Songs of Worship, planned for early 2015. We welcome hymns, short songs and liturgical responses that reflect Asian ethnic elements and styles, to convey the reality of the life, mission and witness of churches in Asia. These works should be appropriate for use in corporate Christian worship and in seminaries. We expect to include about 80 to 100 new hymns and liturgical settings in our new hymnal. It will be multi-lingual with original languages and with translations in English, and where appropriate Malay and Mandarin. A guide for music directors and worship leaders
will be included. The new hymnal will be an all-Asian undertaking – musicians, senior church leaders, seminary teachers and theologians in the region have come forward with their support. Hymnal editors are Dr I-to Loh, Ms Mary Gan and Ms Judith LaoyanMosomos, and they will be supported by a committee comprising Dr Simon Chan, Dr Eddy Chong, Dr Lu Chen Tiong, Mr Rudolf Pantou and Dr Michael Poon. To date, seminaries from East and West Malaysia, Singapore, as well as churches in Singapore and the Methodist School of Music will be lending their support to this undertaking. Mary Y. T. Gan is the Project Director of New Asian Songs of Worship.
MethodistSG Mobile Apps
The Church at your fingertips! By Victor Seow WONDERING WHICH worship service to attend? Where’s the nearest church to you? How would you get there? Or find out what’s happening in our Methodist community, and have a quick read about our rich and long heritage. Just download – for free – the new mobile app for The Methodist Church in Singapore from the Apple App Store (for the iPhone version) and Google Play (for the Android version). To install, search for MethodistSG in either one of the stores, or scan the following QR codes using your smartphone.
SCAN here for your Android App
SCAN here for your Apple App
Stay in touch with the latest news, featured articles, events and lots more based on information streamed from our official website, www.methodist.org.sg.
You can search for worship services at our Methodist churches based on preferred timing, geographical zone and language. Know precisely where the church is located with the map pin, and get acquainted with the church and its immediate area. And if your phone has a Global Positioning System (GPS) function, you can use the app to plot out the navigation route to the church of your choice. A connection to the Internet is required. The development of these apps is undertaken by Massive Infinity Pte Ltd on a pro bono basis, and we would like to acknowledge the company for its help. Do give us your feedback – email vic.seow@methodist.org.sg Victor Seow is a staff at the Bishop’s Office looking after research, IT and programmes.
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
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BISHOP’S MESSAGE BISHOP
The Bishop Writes DR wee boon hup
AMONG THE FASCINATING things in modern technology are software tools called search engines which you can use to trawl the World Wide Web. The most popular among them are Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Key in words or phrases related to the information you seek, and you may find what you want from the long list that appears on your computer screen. But, search engines do simply that – search. Fact is not distinguished from fiction, or truth from lies. The World Wide Web is like a bottomless pit – information, good, bad, distorted and false can be mined from it. To determine whether the information that is thrown up is reliable, truthful and verifiable with other sources, you need to apply wisdom and discernment, and occasionally, a healthy dose of skepticism. Sources need to be checked and double-checked. There is a “search engine” however in God’s Kingdom that works in a different way. This is “the Spirit (that) searches all things, even the deep things of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:10) God does not use the Spirit to search for information – instead when the Spirit searches, He already knows what lies out there. The Spirit searches through plumbing the depths of truth and knowledge, very much like how fishermen use an instrument called an echograph to determine how deep the ocean is and where the best fishing spots are. In the process, what the Spirit uncovers is knowledge that is then revealed to us as revelation, for us to receive and know. Search engines throw up volumes of information, much of which would need to be verified and checked.
When the Spirit “searches all things”, only the truth is revealed. There is no doubting the source. This point is especially relevant today when some in our churches are moving in the prophetic. In The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament Today, Wayne Grudem describes prophecies that are given today as “speaking merely human words to report something God brings to mind”. Prophecy today, he explains, is not equal to Scripture in authority. Therefore it is confusing, and incorrect, to always prefix what we today call “prophecies” with “thus says the Lord”.
apostles (Gal 1:8; 1 Cor 14:37-38; 1 John 4:2-3, 6; Acts 17:11). Over-indulgence in prophecies has a tendency to make us lazy in our personal relationship with God. It is probably part of our traditional and cultural make-up to lean on a medium’s words as carrying more weight than straight and plain language. When we have to filter, much like going through the results from search engines, it just takes too much time. So instead of disciplining ourselves to hear from God directly, we take the “easier” (and probably more mysteriously attractive) route of getting a message from
Today, many Christians moving in the prophetic have learned to refrain from this unhealthy practice. However, it is now more the case of those who hear such words who believe that they are the words of God. Because we are using human words to bring across God’s message, distortion easily comes into play. It is therefore beholden upon the hearer, or receiver, of such words, to discern the accuracy of the prophecy. Evaluate good and bad, helpful and unhelpful, discern true from false through the process of filtering. In the New Testament, evaluation is based on whether the message conveyed conforms to Scripture or (during the early church) the teaching received from the
God through a third party. It is therefore appropriate for me to conclude by reminding us of the target audience for whom the Spirit searches the depths of God: But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind– God prepared this for those who love Him. (1 Cor 2:9, Holman Christian Standard Bible) It is not the sole preserve of prophets to reap the rewards of the Spirit’s search. It belongs to those of us who love God. And may I add, to those who also take time and effort to pay personal attention to what He says to them directly. Picture by landio/Bigstock.com
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
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SCHOOLS The Methodist School of Music 16th Anniversary Celebration
Bishop to MSM: ‘Live the abundant life of Easter joy’ By Grace Toh n Pictures by Moses Goh “ONE HEART, ONE VOICE, oh Church of Christ rejoice,” sang the congregation as they celebrated the 16th Anniversary of the Methodist School of Music (MSM) titled “A Joyful Eastertide”, held at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church on Apr 27, 2013. Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, who preached at the service, noted in his message written for the anniversary booklet: “What better way to celebrate an anniversary than to connect it to the message of the Resurrection?” The message of Christ’s resurrection took centre stage as every element from the music to the liturgy to the Scripture readings focused on the joy of Easter. “What is so joyful about Easter?” Bishop Dr Wee asked, noting that in the Greek Orthodox tradition, the day after Easter was devoted to telling jokes as the believers felt they were imitating the cosmic joke that God pulled on Satan in the Resurrection, and celebrating the joy of the good news. The Bishop probed further: What is so good about Jesus rising from the dead? Jesus’ resurrection shows us that death is not the end – it is a beginning. His rising from the dead also validates all that He had said, especially about giving us eternal life that “starts now and overflows”. John 10:10 in the Amplified Bible states: “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”
Megan Chua Yu Han, aged six and one of the youngest students at the MSM, charmed the congregation with her violin item at the close of the evening.
What would be the appropriate response to this joyful good news? “Receive it,” said the Bishop, “and live it to the full.” We are to live the life that God meant for us and enjoy it, just as the Westminster Shorter Catechism states: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” However, living an abundant life is not something that comes automatically; we have to learn how to live it, which is otherwise known as discipleship. It is only made possible with the Helper, the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to His disciples, which sets us free from our inbred sin so that we are free to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbours as ourselves. How is the MSM living an abundant life? Dr Evelyn Lim, the Acting Principal, said: “16 years have passed, but our vision remains the same – to encourage musicians and worship leaders to have both heart and skill to serve God. “We do this through our two departments – our students’ natural gifts are developed in General Music Education, while theological and practical applications of these gifts are honed in our Church Music Department.” In addition, music lessons for the charges from children’s homes and the children of pastoral staff are subsidised by generous sponsors. The MSM also conducts community outreach events such as workshops or public events like “Gaudete”. The MSM story itself has been a testament of the miracle of new life. Founding Principal Ms Mary Y. T. Gan shares: “Serving as the founding Principal of the MSM for 13 years until 2009 was the most challenging as well as fulfilling time in my life and ministry. “It was overwhelming starting a music school from scratch! However, I felt God’s leading and confirmation when churches and individuals gave generously for the renovation and start-up costs. “I thank God for His consistent provision, guidance and blessings over the
Bishop Dr Wee: “The appropriate response to the joyful news of Easter is to receive it and live life to the full.”
many challenging years… what God has established, He will not abandon, but will continue to bless and build!” Ms Judy Tay, the longest-serving teacher in the MSM and currently the Pedagogy Coordinator, adds: “God deserves only the best – our utmost for His highest; we should all strive to deliver our best in terms of musical style and technique, and to give Him our best.”
PARTICIPATE
n in the MSM Worship Symposium 2013 on June 3-5 at MSM n in the Launch of Certificate of Christian Worship on June 28 at Barker Road Methodist Church n as a member of the Methodist Festival Choir starting August 2013. Details to come. Find out more at 6767-5258 or www.msmusic.edu.sg Grace Toh is the Assistant Editor of Methodist Message.
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
55
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
What is God’s Sanctuary for? Mark 11:17 TWO PIECES OF NEWS on the Internet have raised the following question in my mind: “What is God’s Sanctuary meant for?” The first is the recent news about Pastor Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church in the United States, who rode a zip-line to the pulpit during his church service and sparked comparisons to a circus. This incident reminded me of the event in 2008 as reported by the Kokomo Tribune in the US, where Jeff Harlow, the senior pastor of Crossroads Community Church, lost control of a motorcycle while using it in a sermon illustration. He inadvertently drove it off the church stage into the first row of seating, fortunately into empty seats and narrowly missing his wife. He suffered a broken wrist and head lacerations. The Sanctuary of God (also known as the Temple of God or the House of God) is meant for worship, witness and every spiritual activity connected to them. People who worshiped in the Temple saw the Glory of God. Isaiah 6 gives a glorious
REV
R. Prabhu
Says The ETAC President
picture of that worship. There was a kind of reverential fear during worship. The psalmist said in Psalm 84:4 “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” Lonely and restless people find rest and peace in the presence of God, like the sparrow and swallow in Psalm 84:3. Also, the temple was meant to fulfil God’s purposes, particularly the missionary purpose of God. This applies to any Sanctuary or place of Christian worship. But during the time of Jesus, the Temple had lost its intended purposes. The temple court was meant for the Gentiles to come and worship. However,
T UR of A Lifetime
people turned the court into a place for profit-making commercial enterprise. By doing so, the temple authorities denied the worship of the Gentiles. Worship was hindered. The animals and the people in the place of worship defiled the sanctity of the House of God. There was more noise than praise. The religious leaders of those days were to be blamed for drifting away from God’s missionary purposes. God was not pleased at the way the temple was functioning. Our God is zealous about His house. He wants His holy purposes to be fulfilled. So He cleansed the temple and wanted to bring back true worship in the house of God. Jesus asked, “Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?’ ” (Mark 11:17) Let us remember that as the people of God we are to worship Him in Spirit and truth, and fulfil His mission in His Sanctuary with reverence. The Rev R. Prabhu is the President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference.
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
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YOU &SCHOOLS YOUR FAMILY
Failure in a world obsessed with success By Benny Bong
WE LIVE IN A WORLD obsessed with success. We all want to know who is the richest person (because the accumulation of wealth is an indicator of success), the youngest person who attained a PhD, the winners of Wimbledon or the Golf Masters and the top schools in the country. And success is attractive. We want to associate ourselves with winners and not with losers. We seem to think that maybe success attracts more success. So when I was asked by my pastor to preach recently on the topic of failure, I was both intrigued and delighted. I was intrigued because the topic of failure was part of a month-long series of sermons focusing on how to grow through hardship, and it too was part of my church’s broader theme for the year which was “Lord, Be Glorified In Me�. It seemed to beg the question, can my failures glorify God? My delight was because I believe I am more of an authority on failure than I am on the topic of success. I cannot speak convincingly on how to be successful as my “track record� bears scant evidence of it. Also, the people that I spend the most time with, my counselling clients, come to see me because of some recent failure in their personal or interpersonal lives. As with all good sermons preached in a Methodist church, I tried hard to come up with an acronym for the points I wanted
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,7 +$6 %((1 $/0267 thirty years of parenting. I am amazed at how my two children have turned out as adults, and I am grateful to God. They are not perfect children, and neither are my wife and I perfect parents. But I am happy with how they are shaping up to be. There were times when I asked myself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What did we do right?â&#x20AC;? in raising our kids. When they were very young, I made up my mind to have only one guiding principle: that they know that my wife and I love them, no matter what. It would not matter to me if they did not ace in school. Neither would it bother me if their behaviour would need discipline once in a while. All that I wanted for them was to be persons who loved God, and loved others. If they got this right, I reasoned, they would get other things right in their lives. We tried to model love before them, even though I was well aware that we were not the best at it. They saw and heard how my wife and I talked openly about our differences and difficulties before them (that is being polite, we actually â&#x20AC;&#x153;foughtâ&#x20AC;?). They saw also how we continued to work things out, living together still and loving each other. As a family we spent a lot of time together, just having fun, and talking with each other while at it. I would have liked to say that we spent time together in regular family devotions and prayer. But that would not be true. I tried but
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to convey. I finally came up, not with a word, but with a sound. It is the primal cry of agony when we encounter a failure, which is â&#x20AC;&#x153;AARGH!â&#x20AC;? The first letter A stands for acceptance. Some failures and setbacks come as a consequence of our own folly or inaction. The Bible gives us the lesson in Proverbs 24:30-34 of a lazy person who let thorns and weeds overtake his fields which in turn resulted in a life of poverty. In such instance, we are to accept responsibility for our own folly and take the necessary corrective steps. But what happens when failure is caused by others? Thousands of depositors in Cyprus are facing financial failure which is not of their own doing. Here, too, the point of acceptance is valid. How many of us know of individuals who are unable to accept the terrible hand life has dealt us with? They remain trapped in their denial and bitterness for years, unable to move on. The second letter A is for acknowledgement that in spite of bad outcomes, God is still in control. Habakkuk 3:17-19 speaks of how the prophet still rejoices even though all around him is desolation. The prophet rejoices not because he is glad that his crops have failed, but in the knowledge that his God can redeem him. This rejoicing can be all the more certain when we remember in Job 12:10 that â&#x20AC;&#x153;in His hand is â&#x20AC;Ś the breath of all mankindâ&#x20AC;?. This brings me to the letter R which stands for reliance on Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace and provision. Romans 8:37 tells us that our victory is assured when we rely on Him. The letter G is a prompt for us to go to God for His miraculous strength â&#x20AC;&#x201C; either to overcome the hardship or to endure the hardship. We often have a one-sided or egocentric view of success, and want success in our terms. But success may be finding the strength to live each day with depression, or caring for a family member with dementia. Lastly, when we rely and go to God for strength, we can use the word beginning with the letter H which is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hallelujahâ&#x20AC;?. It is to let out a shout of praise not anguish. This rejoicing is in the same vein as what the Apostle Paul said of boasting about his weaknesses and failures so that he could testify all the more of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength. In fact, in 2 Corinthians chapters 10-12, the Apostle Paul literally displays all of his setbacks. I suggest that this is a good way to begin glorifying God in spite of our failures. As an exercise, it may be good to list and reflect on our shortfalls. The process both humbles us and at the same time reminds us of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich provisions. As Christians, we need not remain embarrassed or ashamed of our failures. We have a God who cares about our failures and is more than sufficient for our setbacks. Indeed, I believe He is a God who is just as concerned about how we fail and move on from there, as He is about how we succeed. So the next time you fail and cry out â&#x20AC;&#x153;AARGH!â&#x20AC;?, remember this experience can have a whole new meaning.
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
7
youth
Local flavours By Annabel Ang
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1 LAKSA. What makes a bowl of laksa taste so good? I could wax lyrical about how you need to get the right blend of spices, “prawny” and “coconut milky” goodness and what-not, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know how to make laksa! All I know is that when I taste a good bowl of laksa, my senses sing. Having migrated to Australia at a young age, I remember the many Singaporean food parties my parents and their friends would throw. We had popiah parties, char kway teow parties and of course, my favourite, laksa parties! There was just something about the foods from home that spoke to our inner man – that may be going a bit far, but you know what I mean. The need for local Singaporean food was in our “DNA”. That’s not to say that we didn’t like our pasta or pies or fish and chips, it was just that our foods from home held a special place in our hearts and satisfied us in that special way. Over the years, we’ve seen Singapore grow. It is no longer a sleepy fishing village but a bustling cosmopolitan city brimming with a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. Some visitors even go so far as to say that Singapore embodies the finest of both East and West. This is also reflected in our churches in Singapore. The songs we sing have mostly originated from great musicians and songwriters in the United States of America, Australia and the United Kingdom. While I do love the Chris Tomlin, Hillsong and Matt Redman melodies, there is something different when I sing a locally-written song: my senses sing – much like when I eat a bowl of good laksa! Worship songs play a very valuable part in our Christian lives. They can increase our understanding of who God is and what He has done for us; they can help us poetically and eloquently express our worshipful response to Him; they can help establish important foundations in our lives that will help us in
our daily living; they can powerfully articulate our prayer and intercession; they can retell Bible stories, and bring fresh insight into the great truths of the Scriptures. When we write our own worship songs, they are pertinent to the life of a Christian here in Singapore. They reflect our struggles, our joys and our very own response to His goodness in our lives. For the past three years, Truthmin has run our very own Methodist youth worship songwriting project, “Even the Rocks Cry Out” (ERCO). Over the years, the songs submitted have blown us away. Each songwriter has had something to say about how God has moved in their lives and their expression of love and worship of Him has been just phenomenal. While not all of us have been gifted with the ability to write songs, we need to encourage our peers and our youths to write and sing our own locally-written songs, because worship borne out of our own local context will always hold a special place in our hearts. Much like a good bowl of laksa. For more information about Even the Rocks Cry Out (ERCO), visit http://truthmin.com/equip/erco
PARTICIPATE
n in singing new songs
to the Lord by using “home-grown” worship songs n in Truthmin’s ERCO project if you are between 15 and 25 years old n in celebrating God’s creativity by exploring one new way of worshipping Him
These are extracts from the winning lyrics of past years’ ERCO projects:
2012 1st Prize G LOVE IS CALLIN urch inity Methodist Ch Tr g, un Sh Ang Hern
at one could know The greatest love th for my soul Has paid the price sus is found alone in Je And now my hope the ones in need He’s the Saviour to ek y of those who se He answers the cr Jesus those who call on Salvation comes to
2011 1st Prize SHINE Paul Ooi, Wesley Methodist Church
2010 2nd Prize LOVE WITHOUT REASON Sophie Wong, Bedok Methodist Church
Your love Compels us to love without reason Jesus, You’ve called us and we Your sacrifice Will go forth and be Your hands and feet Compels us to give Jesus, Your Spirit stirs our souls Your grace It’s reviving, strength and courage are rising Extended in every season Lord use this heart, Let our lives be anthems of Your love Use these hands Living it louder forever, Jesus To reach out in love Today
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
88
MISSIONS Dedication of Sanphranet Methodist Church in Chiangmai, Thailand
New building marks growth of Thai church By Jimmy Tay
The new building of Sanphranet Methodist Church, amidst surrounding rice fields. – Methodist Missions Society picture.
WE WERE LOST! The driver had taken a wrong turn. After a phone call, we were back on track. Then we arrived. There in the cool morning air, Sanphranet Methodist Church (SMC) stood tall, towering over the rice fields and surrounding houses. The Rev Philip Lim, Executive Director of the Methodist Missions Society, and myself were in Chiangmai, Thailand to attend the dedication of SMC’s new church building, which replaced the venue they had previously rented. Our anxiety from getting lost soon dissipated when we were greeted by warm smiles and graceful wais. (A wai is a Thai greeting that consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.) The gentle tinkling of traditional Thai musical instruments completed the picture of simple joy and celebration as members and friends mingled.
Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, his wife Mrs Catherine Wee and leaders of the sponsoring Charis Methodist Church (CMC) were present, including their Pastor-in-Charge, the Rev Helen Hoe Chiew Ngin. Mr Utai Luechai, the Chief Officer of the Chiangmai City District, and the Rev Kiat Laksanasakulchai, the Chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (Northern Region), also graced the occasion. More than 130 members, friends and invited guests were present. The dedication service began with a welcome speech by the Rev Henry Yeo, Deputy Country Director of Mettakij Church Association, an arm of The Methodist Missions in Thailand. This was followed by an appropriate hymn, “How Great Thou Art”, and prayers of thanksgiving were offered. Six young girls from Sanphranet performed a celebratory Thai dance. Their gentle swaying was mesmerising.
The service ended with the act of dedication and a prayer, conducted by Bishop Dr Wee. As the guests of honour cut the ribbon, loud applause rang out and broad smiles beamed from the faces of all who were present. Later, a tour of the church was conducted for the guests. Then lunch! A simple but sumptuous lunch it was. More importantly, you could feel the genuine warmth and joy of all as we shared a meal together. SMC was founded by the Rev Yeo and his wife, Mrs Sungwan Yeo (Tuk). In November 1998, CMC in Singapore adopted SMC and its work, including the funding of the new church building. The faithful and loving support of CMC has undergirded the growth of the Thai church. Gradually, SMC members responded, and today the church is a witness to God’s goodness and love. A kindergarten operated at another site provides needed child and educational care for the children of a number of families. An after-school care service is also offered. A yearly average of 40 scholarships for children, amounting to TB150,000 (S$6,000), has been provided since 2001. Donations have been given to community projects and even the Sanphranet Hospital. Members participated actively in these projects. Truly, SMC is continuing to heed the call of the Great Commission to make disciples.
PRAY
n for the leaders and
members of Sanphranet Methodist Church to continue being candles for God in Thailand.
Jimmy Tay is the Chairman of the Thailand Executive Committee of Mettakij Church Association.
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
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WELFARE SERVICES
Youths meet specific needs in restructured internship programme By Adeline Huang n Methodist Welfare Services pictures FOR THE FIRST TIME, the full cohort of 42 youths in the Trackers programme interned at Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) during the last segment of their three-part discipleship programme, run by Trinity Annual Conference Youth Ministries (Truthmin). This year’s internship also broke new ground in the way the youths served those in need. They carried out projects tailored specifically to the needs of the beneficiaries at the centres as part of the restructured internship programme. The projects were designed in collaboration with MWS and Truthmin, and the heads of five MWS centres who participated in the internship through several rounds of discussions. The five centres are Wesley Seniors Activity Centre (WSAC), D’Joy Childcare and Studentcare Centres, Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH), Daybreak Student Care Centre (Daybreak SCC), and Christalite Methodist Home. The projects were designed to allow the youths to be creative in the way they served those in need as well as to meet specific needs that the beneficiaries may have. For example, the youths attached to BMNH used lesson plans to conduct English lessons for the Burmese nurses there, teaching them greeting words among other vocabulary. This helped the nurses to better communicate and build relationships with the residents. Mrs Jenny Bong, MWS Group Executive Director, said: “This arrangement is a wonderful way in which we connect the needs of the people under our care to the creativity of our young interns.” For example, to carry out the project on English lessons at BMNH, the youths had to research on teaching methods and understand the language needs of the Burmese nurses in their work. At WSAC, the youths taught the seniors how to use iPads to interact with their children and grandkids through photos. And in the process, the interns learnt the needs of ageing seniors like dementia and slower absorption rate. Head of WSAC Ms Kwok Sian Yee
Projects by the Trackers youths included teaching seniors at WSAC how to use iPads to stay in touch with their families, helping in morning exercise sessions at WSAC and giving children drawing lessons at Daybreak SCC.
welcomed the contributions of the Trackers. “The Trackers are a blessing; they were enthusiastic and spontaneous. Their spirit of participation was willing and joyful.” Ms Jocelyn Tan, Community Partnership Manager at BMNH, commended the BMNH Trackers team for bringing “much joy and comfort to the residents during their daily interaction time”, on top of improving the Burmese nurses’ confidence in speaking English. However, there are still areas to be ironed out. Language barriers with the elderly and issues with managing children with special needs were two obstacles faced
by the Trackers during this internship. Daybreak SCC Tracker Yong En, 20 (Charis Methodist Church), spoke of the challenges the team faced working with children with special needs: “We had to think of ways to teach them so that they bring home what they learn.” Nonetheless, self-evaluations show that almost all the Trackers found the internship helpful and highly educational. Half of the participants learnt soft skills and various virtues from their internship experience. A few even found assurance to pursue future vocations. Kyle Yeo, 21 (Holland Village Methodist Church), highlighted that interning at D’Joy had affirmed his passion for teaching. Kyle’s teammate Benjamin Soh, 21, (Covenant Community Methodist Church) chose to continue interning with MWS Headquarters and is currently assisting in the Communications and Fundraising Department. Speaking of his Trackers experience, Benjamin said: “It really enabled me to strengthen my walk with God and I felt that I became more confident as a Christian.” BMNH team member Jason Lee, 17 (Sengkang Methodist Church), summed it up thus: “I wanted to know more about God, to step out of my comfort zone, to learn something new or different. You don’t just join and have your faith multiply suddenly, it is a journey of faith.” Adeline Huang is an Executive (Communications and Fundraising) at Methodist Welfare Services.
JOIN
n the MWS in meeting the needs of beneficiaries (www.mws.org.sg) n next year’s Trackers programme if you are finishing your ‘O’ levels, ‘A’ levels, or National Service – visit http:// truthmin.com/equip/trackers
METHODIST MES
10
CENTRE
80 years o NOW AVAILABLE
Price: $20 BB Headquarters at 105 Ganges Avenue Tel: 6737-0377 OR at the Bible Resource Centre, Bible House at 7 Armenian Street Tel: 6337-3222
Picture courtesy
FINALLY, A BOOK THAT DOCUMENTS the illustrious history of The Boys’ Brigade (BB) Singapore movement over 80 years is available. Mr Jimmy Ho Chee Meng, a member of the working committee, said: “We needed to do this quickly while former BB members and their families were able to recall events over the past eight decades! Otherwise such memories would be lost for good.” A first draft was produced within 18 months by a working committee made up of Dr Lee Soo Ann and Mr Sam Tan, both former BB Presidents, together with Dr John Khoo Buan Hin (ex-8th Company, residing in Sydney) and Mr Ho (ex-2nd Company, residing in London). Mr Colin
of BB Singapore.
Cheong, an experienced writer, was then appointed to complete the writing of this well-researched history book on one of Singapore’s oldest youth uniform groups. Four of BB Singapore’s prominent Presidents had already passed on since 2007 – Mr Liau Nyuk Siong, Mr Tan Hoay Gie, Mr A. M. Cherian and Mr S. P. Chua. There was little information of BB activities between the British colonial era to the period after independence in 1959. Although the monthly Boys’ Brigade Gazette from the United Kingdom had carried some official records, much of what the BB did was not documented. Launched on June 1, 2013, the 160page hardcover book, entitled “Under the Banner – 80 Years of the BB in Singapore”
traces the early roots of the BB from its beginnings in Glasgow in 1883, right through to how its Singapore chapter was started in January 1930 at the Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church by Mr J. M. Fraser, a Scotsman who had been a member of the 23rd Aberdeen BB Company and had arrived in Singapore three years earlier as an architect with the Singapore Improvement Trust (precursor to the Housing Development Board). The book is a rich compilation of facts and information drawn from past issues of Boys’ Brigade Gazette in the UK, anecdotes recalled by old Boys, and photographs of artefacts related to the early days of the BB Singapore right through to modern times. The history of the BB in Singapore is also inextricably linked with The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). Four of the first seven companies started at Methodist churches – the 2nd company at Straits Chinese Methodist Church (later Kampong Kapor), the 3rd company at Anglo-Chinese
SUPPORT
n through buy keepsake and as a gift to friends from to the BB’s social and fund-raising pr
SSAGE JUNE 2013
11
ESPREAD
Underneath the banner
of the BB in Singapore By Grace Toh Continuation School at Coleman Street (subsequently transferred to Wesley Methodist Church), the 4th company at Geylang English Methodist Church and the 6th company at Paya Lebar Methodist Church. Today, the BB is one of the key youth outreach programmes in the MCS. One third of the 117 BB companies in Singapore are sponsored by Methodist churches. Some very prominent Methodists are BB “old Boys” – and they include former president of the Singapore Industrial Court, Mr Tan Boon Chiang; retired eye surgeon Dr Robert Loh; Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, Mr Lim Siong Guan; former Commissioner of Police (1997-2010) Mr Khoo Boon Hui, and our very own Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup. In the book, Bishop Dr Wee shared his personal experience of growing up with the BB, in the absence of his father who had passed away when he was just a youth, leaving his mother to care for seven children. He said: “The most important thing that BB did to shape my youth was to provide me surrogate fathers in the Officers I had, and a company of brothers with whom I grew up, in a safe and nurturing environment. This was done in a Christian environment where we prayed, studied the Bible together and lived as Christian brothers. “As I look back to those years, if it had
ying copies of the book – as a m around the world n by donating rogrammes
PRAY
for more mentors and leaders to come forward to volunteer n
not been for the BB, I would have been lost to the world. It was also during those years that I acquired the basic principles of leadership that have developed even more in the subsequent years by my involvement in church.” Fascinating tidbits are hidden like gems among the pages. How did the BB movement first begin in Scotland? What was the purpose of including drill as a main activity of the BB? What were the habits that the BB aimed to promote? Which verse inspired the BB motto, crest and the hymn which is closely associated with the BB? The book also traces the spread of the BB from the UK to Swatow, China, and how the communist revolution there sent Swatow BB Boys migrating to Singapore, eventually setting up a Company here. Snapshots of the various Companies are presented, such as the anecdote of how the 5th Singapore Company earned their nickname of “The Fighting Fifth”. Particularly compelling is the tale of how the BB weathered the years of the Japanese occupation, with Officers and Boys risking their lives to stay in touch, hiding the Battalion Colours, and using the special BB handshake to secretly identify themselves to each other. An entire chapter is devoted to the BB’s contributions to the community over the years, ranging from band performances to the BB Youth Centre to the renowned Share-a-Gift Project. The book notes that
the latter has been such a regular success, even The Straits Times commented in 1995 that the last-minute rush to help the BB had become a sort of Christmas tradition in Singapore. Mr Khoo had this to say about how BB training benefits the community: “For the community, the availability of a structured programmed activity to develop youths and nurture leaders will certainly enhance community engagement, help in social cohesion and promote harmonious multicultural relations. The social responsibility programmes of the BB also contribute to the community’s well-being. “For the country, all of the aforementioned are in addition to the ability to expose youths to face-to-face, team-based interactions during their spare time, instead of the inward-looking, self-indulgent lure of the Internet.” This positive impact of the BB was affirmed by the eagerness of schools to start a BB Company, such as the Principal of Keming Primary School inviting the BB to start the 38J Company in his school, and Tao Nan School and Nanyang Primary School hosting the 41J Company and the 42J Company respectively. The work of BB Singapore in other Asian countries is also recorded. Notes Mr Tan: “This is a book which every old Boy and ex-Officer should read and have on his bookshelf!” Grace Toh is the Assistant Editor of Methodist Message.
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
12
HOME We continue our new series of profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, there may be opportunity to forge cross-church partnerships and collaborations.
TMC’s mainstay: Evangelism and social concerns By Veronica Poore n Pictures by Tamil Methodist Church
Tamil Methodist Church (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) 8 Short Street Sunday services: 8.45 am (English), 10.30 am and 6.30 pm (Tamil) Contact: 6336-6148 or tmc1887@singnet.com.sg THE WELL-BEING OF THE TAMIL-SPEAKING community in Singapore was the core focus of the Tamil Methodist Church (TMC) from the very beginning, beyond worship and sharing God’s word. This was the Rev William F. Oldham’s very intention, when he partnered two Tamil church workers to set up TMC to evangelise and serve the Tamil community in the Middle and Selegie Road areas in 1887, just two years after he brought Methodism to our shores. And it was in this very church that Ms Sophia Blackmore started classes for nine Tamil girls, marking the early beginnings of the Methodist Girls’ School. As Singapore’s second oldest Methodist church and a member of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC), TMC today continues with its core mission – reaching out to the community, including migrant workers, through evangelism and social concerns. It has widened its tent through providing the necessary leadership to seven other ETAC churches in their formative years. Since 1997, it has also reached out to the Telugu expatriates here, and the Telugu Methodist Church was constituted in 2008.
Our ethos
Sharing the Word and our social concerns ministry keeps us connected with the Indian and Tamil-speaking community in the vicinity of Little India. This evangelistic and outreach programme continues to be our key ministry. The Tamil Evening Fellowship is an active ministry started in 1992 for Indian migrant workers and other Indian nationals. Dedicated church members and friends organise regular Sunday worship service at 6.30 pm, special celebration functions and an annual sports day held on Labour Day.
The Tamil Methodist Church building at Short Street.
Vision
Our goal is to see a growth in Worship-Word-Witness at TMC. Our mission is to be a community that exists to worship God, live His Word and make His glory known. TMC is a caring and loving church, welcoming one and all into its family. We have an English-language worship service at 8.45 am, followed by a Tamil-language service at 10.30 am. There is another Tamil worship service at 6.30 pm for Indian nationals. Sunday School classes for children of all age groups are run both in the morning and evening. We have Bible study programmes, and the Youth and Women’s Society of Christian Service activities are on a bi-weekly basis.
Building each other up
The Bethel Home Fellowship draws church-member family groups with their neighbours for a time of worship and fellowship. This programme has strengthened ties amongst persons of different age groups and given them a better understanding of the church.
Strategically positioned for ministry
TMC has a potential ministry amongst the students of the various educational institutions and hostels sited in the Middle Road to Selegie Road areas. With God’s guidance and passionate workers for witnessing, we will be able to reach out to many of these young adults.
Understanding and working together
Migrant workers getting ready for a sack race as part of this year’s Labour Day sports event by TMC, which featured a telematch.
We are constantly challenged as we try to engage our worshippers who are 18 years old and above. They tend to lose interest in corporate worship and are seldom active in the church and its ministries. These youth and young adults are our assets. We have to build a strong bond with them from a younger age when they show interest and participate keenly in the ministries. It is the responsibility of the mature members to motivate, encourage and spur them on to be disciples of Christ and so be a part of this church. Veronica Poore, Chairman of the Board of Presidency of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, is a member of Tamil Methodist Church.
METHODIST MESSAGE, MAY 2013
LEARNING FROM THE HERETICS
Gnosticism By Roland Chia
ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL heresies that plagued the early Church is Gnosticism. As a religious sect, Gnosticism is best described as a syncretistic blend of Judaism, pagan mystery religions, Hellenistic philosophy and Christianity. In it, we also find the influences of Persian dualism and Babylonian astrology. The origin(s) of Gnosticism has always been a subject of scholarly interest and debate. According to the fathers of the early Church, the origin of Gnosticism can be traced to Simon Magus (Acts 8). But according to Hegesippus, an early Christian historian and Jewish convert, Gnosticism began life as a Jewish sect. Later fathers of the Church such as Irenaeus and Tertullian blamed certain strands of Greek philosophy for inspiring the Gnostic heresy. Be that as it may, Gnosticism became a threat to orthodox Christianity because it offers the most attractive alternative to the Christian account of salvation. A number of prominent Gnostic teachers appeared in the second century, each promoting their own brand of Gnosticism. Saturninus, who taught in Syria, presented a Gnostic system that was heavily influenced by oriental culture and philosophy. The brands of Gnosticism promoted by Basilides and Valentinus, on the other hand, betrays strong Greek influences. It appears that there were as many versions of Gnosticism as there were teachers! This diversity, however, does not mean that it is impossible to identify broad characteristics and common tenets among the different expressions of Gnosticism. As theologian Bengt Hägglund rightly observes, “Gnosticism contains certain major concepts held in common by all the schools and systems associated with it, even though the mythology and the cultic vary”. What, then, are some of these important concepts? The principal idea that governs much of Gnostic thought is metaphysical dualism. Gnosticism portrays a stark contrast between the spiritual and material world, good and evil, and the higher and lower sphere. The absolute God of Gnosticism is pure spiritual essence, who has no real dealings with the created order, and who can only be described in purely abstract concepts. For the Gnostics, only the spirit is good, while matter is not only inferior and worthless, but also intrinsically evil. The absolute God, being pure spirit,
Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College. He worships at the Fairfield Preaching Point in Woodlands.
could not possibly have had anything to do with the creation of the material world. The physical world is the work of the demiurge, an inferior deity. It follows that the Gnostic vision of salvation is radically different from that espoused by the Christian faith. Salvation, for the Gnostic, has to do with the liberation of the divine and immortal soul from the imprisonment of the body. Salvation is attained through a special knowledge (Greek: gnosis), a higher insight. The Gnostics therefore divided the human race into three categories. The vast majority of humankind belongs to the category called the “materialists”. These people are unable to receive the special knowledge necessary for salvation. Christians are “psychics”, who stand a better chance at enlightenment. And the final group is of course the Gnostics, the privileged few who have attained higher knowledge. Gnostic theology is unable to admit the incarnation, as it is traditionally understood. How can God, who is spirit, take upon himself human flesh? How can the good God commingle with evil matter? The Gnostics, therefore, were among the first to teach that Christ did not really become a man, but merely appeared in human form. And if Christ only appeared to be human, his death on the cross is therefore not real, and therefore inconsequential to salvation. Thanks to the tireless and brilliant work of theologians like Irenaeus, Tertullian and Hippolytus, the early Church was able to defeat Gnosticism in its ancient form. But the threat of this heresy is everpresent because the Church is always exposed to the seductive lure of the prevailing philosophies, whether it is relativism, pluralism, Marxism, rationalism or scientism. The Gnostic heresy shows that when Christianity is wedded to alien philosophies, it will result in what the theologian Howard Yoder has provocatively called “bastard faiths”, gross perversions of true religion. The Church in every age therefore would do well to take heed of Paul’s warning: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) Background picture by Terry Evans/Bigstock.com
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2009 METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
TELL ME, PASTOR It’s been written about, preached, and discussed many times over. Yet some of us are still a little uncertain about what it means to be a Methodist. Methodist Message decided to pose candid questions to the Rev Dr Daniel Koh to get a clearer idea in simple language. This is the first of a two-part series.
t s i d o h t e Being M By Daniel Koh Kah Soon SO WHAT’S UNIQUE about Methodism? I once heard a senior clergy boldly proclaim: “Nothing.” In a sense, he’s right, as all Christians share the same historic creeds in which we affirm in our churches. We all share a common faith in God who revealed Himself to us in and through Jesus Christ. Yet we are unique in a different sense. Like other church traditions, Methodists place peculiar emphasis on certain doctrines and practices. We are not claiming to be better or more superior to other denominations. Our uniqueness is found in learning from John Wesley how we can be responsible disciples of Christ. And we do this by holding on to the demands of Gospel and law; faith and reason together in healthy and wholesome balance, without falling into the temptation and trap of legalistic or licentious religiosity.
John Wesley’s teachings are based on Scripture. Can you please explain to me, Pastor, how did John Wesley put forth these teachings that today are embraced by all Methodists?
This is not an easy question to answer in a short paragraph. Suffice it to say that John Wesley claims to be homo unius libri, meaning, a person of one book and that is the Bible. In the early days when he depended on local preachers to help him spread God’s word, Wesley prepared Bible study notes for his itinerant preachers. By his example, as a man who searched the Scripture, he has shown us the importance he has placed on the Bible to guide us in our faith journey.
What are the key doctrines and practices?
I can name three broad areas – grace and responsibility, works of piety and works of mercy, and the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.
Pastor, sorry - Wesleyan what?
Wesleyan Quadrilateral. Renowned American Wesleyan scholar, Albert Outler (1908-1989) coined this term in the course of his research into how John Wesley framed and understood his theology. He concluded that Scripture, tradition, reason and experience were key to how we assess the soundness of doctrines, how our faith is to be applied and how we meet the challenges we encounter in this world.
So how did Outler come to conclude this?
Well, it was clear to Outler that John Wesley depended very much on the primacy of Scripture, enriched by the tradition of the church, supported by reason and affirmed by shared
experience. However, the four segments of the Quadrilateral are not equal. In John Wesley’s theological reflection, Scripture plays a primary role, while the other three areas have supporting roles.
Tell me the significance of grace and responsibility.
Grace is simply defined as this: God reaching out to us because He loves us, and not because we have accumulated enough merit to gain His favour. But at the same time, we are also to take responsibility in how we ought to live our lives to please God and follow His way. His grace liberates us to be responsible and accountable. It does not give us a licence to dwell in sin or to embrace the values of this world.
Tell me about works of piety and works of mercy.
“Works of piety” include studying the Bible, prayer, fasting and the holy sacraments, which work together to help us nurture holiness. “Works of mercy” remind Methodists that our “holiness” should not be kept to ourselves, only for our own benefit. Hence, our Methodist understanding of holiness comes with a social dimension where we attend to and care for the poor and powerless of society, and the disadvantaged. Works of piety and works of mercy combined to foster “social holiness”.
I’ve heard that Methodists must use logic and reason in matters of faith. Is this true?
We must not pit faith against reason. Faith is required to receive the gift of salvation. But when we love God we need to love Him with our mind apart from loving Him with our heart, soul and strength (Mark 12:30). Moreover, we have been reminded to be ready to give the reason for our belief in God (1 Peter 3:15-16). Clearly, faith and mind are needed for wholesome growth, and Methodists should not be afraid to cultivate and exercise both.
I heard that Methodists have some connection with the Anglicans. Please explain.
The 26 “Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church” listed in our Book of Discipline of The Methodist Church in Singapore were selected by John Wesley from the Anglican Church’s 39 Articles of Religion. And of course, John Wesley was born into an Anglican family where he was exposed to Anglican teachings and he was nurtured by his parents in an Anglican home. The Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon, a Methodist minister, is a fulltime lecturer at Trinity Theological College. He teaches Christian Ethics, Pastoral Theology and Methodism.
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
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HYMNS & SONGS
Call to the Holy Spirit in Swahili By Judith Mosomos
Gracious Spirit Gracious Spirit, heed our pleading; Fashion us all anew. It’s Your leading that we’re needing; Help us to follow you. Refrain: Njoo, njoo, njoo, Roho mwema. Come, come, come, Holy Spirit come. Come to teach us; come to nourish Those who believe in Christ. Bless the faithful; may they flourish, Strengthened by grace unpriced. (Refrain) Guide our thinking and our speaking Done in Your holy name. Motivate all in their seeking, Freeing from guilt and shame. (Refrain) Not mere knowledge, but discernment, Nor rootless liberty; Turn disquiet to contentment, Doubt into certainty. (Refrain) Keep us fervent in our witness; Unswayed by earth’s allure. Ever grant us zealous fitness, Which You alone assure. (Refrain) No. 166 in Songs of a New Creation (Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications, 2002) WHAT HAPPENS after Pentecost Sunday? Some churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, refer to the six months until Advent as “Ordinary Time” or the Sundays after Pentecost. It is a period of time in which there are no special days to mark sacred time. In such churches, the emphasis of this season is on proclaiming the Kingdom of God and the growth of the Church, and the liturgical colour is green. The Methodist Church in Singapore, however, joins other churches in dividing the period between Pentecost Sunday and Advent into two seasons: Pentecost and Kingdomtide. As explained by the Rev George Martzen, missionary with The United Methodist Church, in an article he wrote for the Sept 2002 issue of Methodist Message: “The season of Pentecost
recalls the gift of the Holy Spirit and the evangelistic growth of the church. “The season of Kingdomtide constitutes the 13 or 14 Sundays beginning the last Sunday in August and continuing until the beginning of Advent at the end of November. “During the season of Kingdomtide we declare the values and glory of the Kingdom of God. Christ is celebrated as King and Sovereign of the world, with emphasis on God’s dominion over all of creation. The focus in this season is often on social justice and action that flows from a heart submitted to God.” This means that if we follow the Methodist church year as described by the Rev Martzen, we still have to find appropriate hymns for the season of Pentecost. If you would like to explore and consider hymns beyond the United Methodist Hymnal, here is one from Tanzania. It is a hymn that may be used as an Invocation. It is a sung prayer directed to the Holy Spirit for unity, renewal and discernment. This hymn was written by Wilson Niwagila, a native of Tanzania. It was written in 1965 while Wilson was thinking about the process of uniting together seven separate Tanzanian Lutheran congregations. Those seven churches have since grown into twenty districts comprising 2.2 million Christians. The hymn “Gracious Spirit” has a simple melody using five notes: do-re-mi-fa-so in the key of G. The congregation can easily catch the tune within a minute. Use the “Call and Response” style to create more interest. You may do it this way: Leader: All: Leader: All: Refrain (All):
Gracious Spirit, heed our pleading Fashion us all anew It’s your leading that we’re needing Help us to follow you. Njo-o, Njo-o, Njo-o Roho mwema. Come, come, come Holy Spirit come.
With five stanzas, it is best that the role of the leader be shared between a female and a male. In doing so, there will be variation in each stanza and in the voices. A percussion instrument (djembe or conga) may be used to accompany the song. Using both piano and percussion works as well. Sing the refrain in both Swahili and English. By singing “Njo-o Roho mwe ma” (pronounced as Nyo-o roho - mwey mah) we taste a new language. We may not have the gift of speaking a foreign language but to a certain extent, by making ourselves sing in Swahili we connect ourselves to the people in Tanzania; a people in a continent geographically far from us with a church facing serious challenges in various forms. May our singing be our prayer and may it be a sign of our solidarity with them.
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COVER STORY From Front Page
The art of battling homelessness
environment in school into a larger arena involving the media and several external stakeholders. Eyes have been opened and good seeds have been sown. May God water these seeds and grant subsequent increases from glory to glory. “The idea of using decorated paper bricks has also been identified and shared with Habitat colleagues in the Asia-Pacific region as a potentially effective way to raise awareness and funds. We certainly hope that this idea will also bear fruit beyond our shores.” The youths organising the event were the Ambassadors from ACS (Int), one of three leadership groups in the school. We promote the missions of our school, one of which is to exercise Christian social responsibility to the community. We conceived this idea and then organised activities with the help of our teachers to raise the seed money. It was humbling for us to know that God has used our “two fish and five loaves” of an idea to impact others. We were blessed with support from unexpected quarters. We also witnessed miracles in how circumstances came together for the event’s success. Ms Stacey Low, teacher-in-charge for this project at ACS (Int), shared how unprepared and helpless she felt when she realised the magnitude of the event required more resources than were available. Along with the Parent School Partners, she turned to the Lord in prayer. “Immediately after the prayer, the Principal called me to say he had good news for me: The ACS Foundation had given us a grant specifically for this project. I couldn’t believe it because it was so unexpected, it was so much money and the news was given immediately after we had prayed for help and not before.”
We saw God’s favour in such things as getting the required licenses and fire safety approval in time, and, despite it being a heavy news day, received good media coverage too. Ms Low added: “Basically, it was a case of God meeting our needs even before we knew about them.” Through this anti-poverty campaign, we learnt to have compassion for others in need. We learnt especially the importance of breaking the cycle of poverty by educating the younger generation. Despite their young ages, they can still step forward and make a difference in someone else’s life. As it is written, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) After this event, I am personally convinced that there is nothing that can stand in our way when we work collectively, armed with a purpose and heart, for a cause that is much bigger than ourselves. You may still make donations at www.give2habitat. org/member/ambassador/stop Lee Qing Hui is a Year 6 Ambassador of Anglo-Chinese School (International).
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MM QUIZ From next month onwards, the MM Quiz will be moved online to the Methodist. SG Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/Methodist.SG. Prizes will remain the same. See you there!
MM QUIZ No.165 1. What proportion of Boys’ Brigade companies in Singapore are sponsored by Methodist churches? _________________. 2. How many scholarships for children does Sanphranet Methodist Church provide per year? _____________. 3. In The Methodist Church in Singapore, what is the church season after the season of Pentecost? ______________. 4. How many years did the founding Principal of the Methodist School of Music serve? ___________________. 5. What is the name of the new mobile app for The Methodist Church in Singapore? _____________. 6. What does the peace of God transcend? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. 7. Peter’s first letter encouraged those who are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to submit to their elders. 8. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, Paul appealed to them by the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and gentleness of Christ. 9. Jesus compared the Pharisee and the tax collector, praising the one who begged God for _ _ _ _ _. 10. According to Romans 3, God presented Christ as a sacrifice of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. BIBLE QUIZ NO. 165 Name: _______________________________________________ Age: _________ Address: ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Tel: (Residence) ____________________ Church ____________________________________________________________ The MM Quiz is open to those 21 years and under. The first two all-correct entries opened will win a $20 voucher each from Baptist Book Store. The names of the winners and the answers to MM Quiz No. 165 will be published in the next issue of Methodist Message. Entries close on June 10, 2013. Mail us your entries now! ANSWERS TO MMQUIZ 164: 1. Sojourners; 2. No; 3. The Gospel; 4. Fiftieth; 5. M; 6. clothe; 7. righteous; 8. fruit; 9. gentleness; 10. peace. THE WINNERS The winners of last month’s MM Quiz No. 164 are Andrea Wong Qian Wen and Cheryl Ng Hui Ting, both from Bukit Panjang Methodist Church.
POEMS
By the Waters of Babylon Psalm 137; John 14:16, 27; Psalm 96:1; 1 Peter 1:8; Acts 2:4 By Oliver Seet BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON I can sing the Lord’s song because the Paraclete resides in me healing the fissures in my heart and filling every enclave with joy unspeakable. He fills me from the basement to the rafters till I burst forth in language none can understand and speak sweet secrets to the Lord. By the waters of Babylon I shall sing a new song that shall exalt the Lord; for the bondages of circumstance cannot contain the freedom within nor the joy that like quicksilver courses through my arteries. His word satisfies more than delectable food and the Paraclete releases the flood of living water within my belly. By the waters of Babylon I find peace unaccountable in adversity knowing full well that ephemeral pain cannot blur the vision of the eternal kingdom where I dwell. Dr Oliver Seet is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and a Board Director of the Metropolitan YMCA. IN LAST MONTH’S “Page From The Past” column, we reprinted an article about Kampong Kapor Methodist Church’s Mandarin Ministry from the Oct 1988 issue of Methodist Message. We failed to clarify that the worship time indicated in the original article reflected the 4pm service time 20 years ago. KKMC’s Mandarin Ministry now meets for worship services every Sunday at 2pm instead. We’re sorry for our error!
Cartoonist: Dan Pegoda
CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL. Used with permission.
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JUNE is the month for ... Residence @ St. Georges’ 1st Anniversary Charity Dinner
June 28 (Friday), 7.30 pm HarbourFront Centre, Ban Heng Pavilion Restaurant
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
A Day of Mission Perspectives: Entering God’s Heartbeat
July 6 (Saturday), 8.15 am – 4.30 pm Methodist Centre, 70 Barker Road, Sophia Blackmore Hall Enquire by June 17. A journey through the Bible, church history and our beliefs to understand missio Dei. For Missions Coordinators in the Women’s Society of Christian Service as well as all women who have a passion for missions in the church. Organised by the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service. Call 6478-4821 or email wscs1@methodist. org.sg
Registration is closed, but you may still donate to the centre by contacting Ms Anna Hoffman at 6478-4713 or AnnaHoffmann@mws.org.sg Organised by Methodist Welfare Services.
Alpha Chinese Team Training
June 29 and July 6 (Saturdays), 8.30 am – 5 pm Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church, 1 Ang Mo Kio Street 21 Register by June 10. Sixth person in a group of five attends free. This training course will equip new team members as well as refresh experienced leaders in running the Alpha Course in Mandarin. Organised by Alpha Singapore. Call 6469-5085 or register at www.alpha.org.sg/friends/ChineseTT
Fairfield Methodist Church 65th Anniversary Food and Fun Fair
June 30 (Sunday), 8.30 am – 3 pm Fairfield Methodist Church, 1 Tanjong Pagar Road Proceeds from the fair will go towards its Church Building Fund. Organised by Fairfield Methodist Church. Call 6221-7394.
Child Sponsorship Celebration: Children of the Blue Sky Choir
July 7 (Sunday), 5 pm – 7 pm Trinity Christian Centre @ Paya Lebar, Level 4 Chapel Register by June 30. World Vision celebrates its supporters whose generosity has helped to alleviate poverty and the suffering of children in a sustainable way. The Children of the Blue Sky Choir is a group of former street children from Mongolia who were rehabilitated at a children’s centre and found hope in God. Organised by World Vision. Call 6922-0100 or visit worldvision. org.sg/1/cotbs
Signing up for STEPS For A Cause Runathon
August 24 (Saturday), 7 am – 11 am Bedok Reservoir Park, Boat Vista Registration closes in July. A runathon cum mini-carnival to raise funds for Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), and to nurture compassion in youths for the needs of the underprivileged. Jointly organised by MWS and the Chinese Annual Conference Board of Youth Ministry. Contact: Ms Bernadette Sandra at 6478-4709 or visit www.mws.org.sg
Preparing to “Walk in Wisdom” at MethodistWalk 2013 July 6 (Saturday), 7.30 am Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Registration for the Walk has closed, but please remember to collect and wear your MethodistWalk T-shirt for the event!
Organised by Methodist Schools’ Foundation. Contact: Ms Annie Chng at 6478-4808 or annie.chng@methodist.org.sg
Let us have your
views
Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@ methodist.org.sg and if appropriate, your contribution could be published.
METHODIST MESSAGE, JUNE 2013
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HOME Episcopal Thanksgiving Dinner 2013
Bishop: Lay servants crucial to Church ministry By Grace Toh n Pictures by Shanthi Jeremiah “AN ACTIVE LAY PERSON in leadership in the Church works more man-hours than the pastor does,” quipped Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup as he thanked the lay members of councils and boards at this year’s Episcopal Thanksgiving Dinner. In a response filled with gratitude, he echoed John Wesley’s recognition of the indispensability of lay leaders, preachers and servants in the ministry of the church. Held at the Pan Pacific Singapore on Apr 29, the dinner was organised by the Council on Episcopacy of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), to thank Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon and the MCS leadership of the previous quadrennium, and to welcome Bishop Dr Wee and the MCS leadership of the current quadrennium. This included members of the General Conference Executive Council (GCEC) and the Finance and Administration Council (FAC) of both quadrenniums, as well as Chairmen of the Boards of various Methodist schools and General Conference (GC) office staff. Mr Frederick Chieng, Chairman of the Council on Episcopacy, expressed his regret that Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon was under doctor’s advice and unable to attend the event, but praised the retired bishop for his distinguished leadership of the MCS for the past 12 years, and his humility and kindness which inspired emulation. Mr Chieng added: “His teachings and wisdom helped us to become stronger Christians and better disciples of Christ, to love and glorify God. We pray that God will continue to grant him and Mrs Solomon good health and will continue to bless him and guide him in his future ministries.” He likewise thanked those who served in the GCEC, FAC and Methodist school Boards for their “selfless contributions towards the Methodist family”. He went on to welcome Bishop Dr Wee and the new members of the GCEC and FAC, urging: “Let us work together with one heart, with love and unity to accomplish the task that
Guests were invited to stand in prayer for the Bishops at different times by the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, President of Trinity Annual Conference.
Chatting convivially are (from left to right): Mr Han Hai Kwang,VicePresident of the Chinese Annual Conference; the Rev Philip Abraham, District Superintendent of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference; and the Rev Dr Fong Mow Hee, Associate Pastor of Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church.
was given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.” He also thanked the GC office staff, especially Ms Josephine Poore, for helping to organise the dinner. Bishop Dr Wee responded, addressing the guests: “I feel blessed to be Bishop because of your willingness and expertise to serve.” He pointed out that lay members of councils often sacrificed their weekends, off-days and after-work hours to serve, and expressed his deepest gratitude, noting that the work of the Bishop’s Office was dependent on people like them. He also shared some reflections on his experience in having passed the 100-day mark as Bishop, and how it is the kind of job with challenges that cannot be trained for. His familiarisation with our affiliated mission agencies in Cambodia, Thailand and Nepal have led him to the conclusion that the Church cannot depend solely on full-time pastors to do its work, but must pay attention to how the pastors are equipping and training lay people to do ministry, thereby multiplying abilities and gifts. The Bishop closed his remarks with an appeal: “Please help the Bishop to start looking for your successor!” He shared that an important role of leadership is to find good successors who will surpass what you have done, and take the ministry to greater heights. He also asked for prayer as he continued to shoulder the responsibility for the MCS as well as interacting and relating with the government and heads of other churches. The Rev Dr Gordon Wong, President of Trinity Annual Conference, prayed for both Bishops, encouraging guests to stand at different points in his prayer to indicate standing in prayer for the Bishops. Grace Toh is the Assistant Editor of Methodist Message.
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Growing scourge of modern-day slavery By Daniel Koh Kah Soon IT’S BEEN ABOUT 150 YEARS since most countries banned slavery, but millions of men, women and children are still enslaved today. They are the victims of human traffickers who “acquire and trade” in individuals through coercion, abduction, deception, and abuse of power to provide forced labour or service. In 2009, the International Labour Organisation estimated that close to 21 million people are victims of forced labour. But the number of victims of forced labour as a result of human trafficking, now more commonly referred to as “Trafficking in Persons” (TIP), remains unknown. Other credible sources estimate up to 27 million people living in slavery today. TIP is a very lucrative business, and ranks on par with drug smuggling and illegal gambling. While persecutions against and convictions of those in the TIP trade have increased, globally the enforcement of criminal justice has been weak overall. Often only the front men and women are caught, and the real “ring-leaders” are left untouched. Women account for 55 to 60 per cent of trafficked victims globally. 27 per cent of all victims are children. According to the 2012 Global Report on TIP, by the United Nations, 58 per cent of all cases detected globally are for sexual exploitation. Trafficking for forced labour in areas like construction, domestic homes, factory work and farms, accounts for 36 per cent. Five men were recently convicted in a European Union court for a widespread TIP ring, illegally harvesting human organs in Kosovo to benefit wealthy patients and to line the pockets of doctors who do the transplants. Ironically, the criminals in this case might not have been caught if not for a Turkish man collapsing at an airport in Pristina after his kidney had been removed. On the same day, I also came across an article in our local paper The Straits Times about human traffickers in cyberspace. The opinion piece reported the growing menace of young women being tricked into prostitution in some countries in South and East Asia. A Nepali girl chatted about her ambitions and confided in her new Facebook friend. She was invited to go to Dhaka to take on a job – but instead she was detained by a gang, “locked in a room for days, beaten and sprayed with cannabis derivatives”. Like some 10,000 young girls and women from Nepal who were are trafficked annually to neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, she was forcefully initiated into prostitution. TIP thrives on the poor and vulnerable. They are deceived into the promise of regular pay, and end up being treated as commodities traded for profit. There are those who arrive to find that the promised job is not available – and by then, they would
be in debt, having borrowed money to pay fees to unscrupulous agents. Desperate to service their loans, they end up accepting whatever is offered, often without permits, documentation or insurance cover. The United States issues an annual TIP report that ranks different countries in how they tackle this world-wide problem. In 2010, the Singapore government set up an Inter-Agency Taskforce on TIP to look into human trafficking as Singapore is recognised for its allure as a potential destination for TIP syndicates. The taskforce is spearheaded by the Manpower and Home Affairs ministries in collaboration with other government agencies, and their key response to TIP is prevention, prosecution, protection and partnership. What can we do as Christians to address this problem? At the very least, we should be aware of this heinous business. TIP gangs exploit the poor and uneducated, and those in vulnerable situations. I believe that we are well-positioned to pay particular attention to those who are at risk and vulnerable. In the many mission fields that our Church serves in, and through our social concerns arms, we can work to improve the social well-being of persons at risk, through education, training, and imparting of skill-sets that they might become more self-reliant. This will help to break the poverty cycle that they may be in, which will then better protect them against exploitation. In the Bible, James has made it clear that if we take our faith seriously, we need to care for those who are most vulnerable in our society, because persons are to be loved and cared for. They are not things to be used and exploited. In the time of James, the vulnerable were the orphans and widows – people who could not fend for themselves and who were easily taken advantage of by others. (James 1:27) The vulnerable people of our time, as in ancient times, are the poor and powerless – they are the ones whom society tends to ignore. They easily fall prey to human traffickers if they are left to struggle on their own. Care for them. Speak up for them. Be interested in their welfare if we desire to live a life informed and motivated by a pure and true faith. The Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon, a Methodist minister, is a fulltime lecturer at Trinity Theological College. He is also an active member of Methodist Welfare Services.
Methodist Message is the official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher: Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, Chairman, Council on Communications: Editor: Ms Christina Stanley Assistant Editor: Ms Grace Toh Our address: Methodist Message • 70 Barker Road Singapore 309936 • Tel: 6478-4786 • Fax: 6478-4794 • Email: newmm@methodist.org.sg MM website: www.methodistmessage.com • Church Website: www.methodist.org.sg