Methodist Message: Aug 2021

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 027/11/2020 THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE Vol 123 No 8 AUGUST 2021 METHODIST SOCIAL PRINCIPLES: The Sphere of Economics

Contents Methodist Message needs your 1 Bishop’s Message help! Do you have a way with words? Can 2 Events—Coming Up you draw—on paper or in digital media? 3 Church life—CAC Highlights Can you design? Do you like writing? Do 5 Church life—TRAC Highlights you take photos? 6 Events—MSM worship symposium 8 People—MCS Youths WE’RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS! 11 Opinion—Your first job 14 Reach out—Welfare Services Writers: to help cover events, write book 16 Reach Out—Missions reviews / poems / any other article 18 Relationships—You & Your Family contributions Sub-editors: to edit articles 19 Hymns & Songs Proofreaders: to help check out layouts 20 Opinion—Soundings Photographers: to contribute photos of 23 Books—Season of Creation events they have attended Illustrators: to 24 Opinion—Christian hope draw comics / infographics / anything else 26 Opinion—THINK that might be inspiring 28 What does being a Methodist mean to you? 29 Events—Looking Ahead If you have these skills, or any others that 30 People—In Memoriam might make MM a better read, contact us! [email protected] EDITORIAL BOARD The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. Adviser and Publisher All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson 70 Barker Road #06-04 Singapore 309936 Council on Communications 6478-4793 | 6478-4763 message.methodist.org.sg | www.methodist.org.sg Editor [email protected] Sheri Goh fb.com/Methodist.SG @methodist.sg Sub-editor Tan Chiu Ai Design & Production by Londonbob Design — Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd Have something to say or share? Email us at [email protected] Communications Executive Jason Woo Proofreader Tan Sheng Ling

BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020. He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013–2020. Sowing in peace I was recently asked what advice I would give to young Are we, indeed, a generation who have “turned hate into adults as they pursue or complete their university an asset”? education. The natural assumption seems to be that young adults will play a crucial role in the shaping of Do we justify passionate anger as the only way to get our nation which celebrates her 56th birthday. I’m sure our way? they will, as will the not-so-young adults amongst us. And so I offer the same advice to young adults as Lord, have mercy on us. to myself and older generations. Advice that comes directly from Holy Scripture. Help us consider the wisdom of Your Word: “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God… But “Human anger does not produce the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, the righteousness that God desires.” gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness (James 1:20 NIV) is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 1:20; 3:17–18) Someone lamented that our culture seems to “turn hate into an asset”. Many have said that we live in If we hope to reap “a harvest of [God’s] righteousness”, “a culture of suspicion, mistrust, and us-against-them”. let us try to make peace by sowing in peace. And in such a culture, most feel that the only way to cancel (counter) what is wrong and unjust in our world And may the God of Peace save us from becoming a is through “bombast and bloviation”. So we express our nation that “turns hate into an asset.” For “human anger anger through condemnatory rhetoric and unfriend- does not produce the righteousness of God”. ing protests on as many social media platforms as we can find. The many “likes” that our angry and rude 1 John Perkins as cited in Scott Saul’s A Gentle Answer (p. xvii). comments garner only spur us on. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 1

Events ¢ Coming Up TROAFMCSINEBNIOSIATORRRDYS

Church Life ¢ CAC Highlights By the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Communications Team / Photo and graphics from BOFL webinar courtesy of the CAC Communications Team Sharing our resources and growing together LEARNING ABOUT MARRIAGE Board of Family Life (BoFL) Building Up Your Family: Step-By-Step Webinar Series 2021 The first two webinars of the BoFL 10-session webinar “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching series 2021 were conducted on the topic of marriage. them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Here are some of the key takeaways from both talks. (Matt 28:19–20) Marriage is built on the creation of God. 10 tips on Family Communication “So God created man in his own image, in the image of • Listen when others are speaking [Prov 18:13] God he created him; male and female he created them.” • Be prudent in speech [Prov 15:23, 28, 29:20] (Gen 1:27) • Speak the truth in love [Eph 4:15] • Don’t use silence as a weapon “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man • Know when to quit a fight [Prov 17:14] should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” • Respond in love and kindness [Prov 15:1] (Gen 2:18) • Don’t nag [Prov 10:19] • Admit your wrongs and forgive the wrongs of others God, not your spouse, is the Lord of your life. You are two imperfect people coming together; recognise [James 5:16, Eph 4:32, 1 Cor 13:5] that only God can fill the void within your hearts and • Restore using words of encouragement and satisfy your deepest longings and needs. edification [Gal 6:1, 1 Thess 5:11] God is the establisher of marriage. • Try to understand other’s opinion and seek the Seek and depend on God, for He is the source of love and wisdom; the provider of direction and growth; and the interest of others [Phil 2:1-4] giver of the Holy Spirit who guides us. The above contents were taken from the webinars Cultivate a HERO in marriage, one of Hope, Marriage Established by God (神所设立的婚姻) by Encouragement, Resilience and Oneness. President Rev Gregory Goh and Stronger Together: Walk with God together. Pray together. Discovering the Powerful Identity of Marriage & Family by Timothy and Patsy Tan. Upcoming webinars will be Develop a new “we” identity as Mr and Mrs. conducted on the topics of parenting teens, fathering “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what and mothering. Follow CAC BoFL Facebook (@cacbofl) to God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matt 19:6) get the latest updates and information on the webinars! Commit your marriage and family to serving God. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 3 “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Jos 24:15b)

ACS (International) Singapore is a ACS (International) distinctive international secondary Admissions Seminars school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all- for 2022 round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to Pre PSLE Seminars the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the 9 July, 2pm International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). 6 August, 2pm Senior Leadership Team 17 September, 2pm Mr Gavin Kinch Mrs Tan Siew Hoon 1 October, 2pm Principal Vice-Principal RSVP [email protected] Dr Kristopher Achter Mr Chia Choong Kiat Vice-Principal Acting Vice-Principal Post PSLE Seminars 24 November, 2pm & 4pm 25 November, 9am & 2pm 26 November, 9am & 2pm 27 November, 9am RSVP [email protected] Seminars will be held on Campus with school tours where possible. Virtual seminars and tours will be organized instead if there are social gathering restrictions. Attendance is limited and by reservations only. Venue: Oldham Chapel, ACS (International) 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475 For earlier appointments, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or [email protected]

Sharing our resources and growing together LEARNING ABOUT MARRIAGE Board of Laity (BoL) LCEC Induction for New Leaders: Training and equipping new leaders Since 2013, the Board of Laity of CAC has run the Local We give all glory and thanks to the Lord for being the Church Executive Committee (LCEC) Induction once head of the Church and for loving and caring for us or twice yearly. The session welcomes both new and through the generation of people He has raised up to long-time LCEC members, Members-on-Trial (MOTs) and lead His Church. We eagerly invite you to join us in pastors. It aims to provide a better understanding of praying for the following: the way LCEC should function so that newly-elected members may quickly and effectively integrate into the • for the Lord to continue guiding, empowering, system of leadership in their local churches. This year, inspiring our leaders through the Holy Spirit as they the trainers and attendees met online on Zoom on 10 serve His Kingdom July 2021. The Board is happy to see the participation of close to 60 LCEC members from the CAC, Emmanuel • for the well-being and godly leadership of our Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) and Trinity Annual pastors, Presidents and Bishop Conference (TRAC) churches. • for Methodist churches and leaders all around the The main trainer, Ms Kwok Wan Yee, shared that world to stick close to the heart and will of God as all leaders must understand their calling as they they influence and contribute to the running and serve, the concept of connexionism as a Methodist development of Methodist churches distinctive, as well as the organisational structure of MCS. Using examples and multiple choice questions Other than LCEC Induction training, BoL will also be (MCQs), participants were engaged in active learning conducting a Nominations Committee training (providing about the conduct of LCEC sessions according to The guidance on identification, preparation and election of Book of Discipline. members for serving), PPRSC training (providing greater understanding of Human Resource matters in the church As Christian leaders, we are also to recognise that our context), Christian leadership training (happening next identity lies in Christ—as disciple, servant and friend. year) and PEAKS Personality Profiling training (leadership Even as we serve, we must not neglect our discipleship, development based on this internationally acclaimed for it is in Christ that we shall find wisdom, strength and tool, developed by Dr Shirley Lim). truth. Spiritual leadership is where we open ourselves to the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit, keeping Trainings will be publicised to churches via email and God in the conversation and communal discernment. they will be open to relevant individuals from CAC, ETAC This will ensure that our leadership role is performed and TRAC churches. in servanthood and dependence on the One who gives wisdom and strength. If you are a member of the LCEC and you have missed the session, we are glad to share that the session’s recording and PowerPoint slides are available to you online, upon request. Please email [email protected] or submit your request via https://www.cac-singapore. org.sg/enquiry. CAC’s BOL LCEC Induction conducted via Zoom |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 5

Events ¢ Dr Low Wye Mun is a medical doctor who serves in the Worship & Music ministry of Holland Village Methodist Church. He plays acoustic & bass guitar and leads songs of praise in the Sunday services. / Photos courtesy of the Methodist School of Music MSM Worship Symposium 2021 My cup runneth over “WFH” (work from home) has become a buzzword, so when the (Top to bottom) Methodist School of Music (MSM) announced their 2021 Worship Panel 1 Symposium, I signed up immediately to WFH: Worship From Home. The theme “Flow: the ancient way to do contemporary (English track) worship” was intriguing, and the topics seemed to flow from Panel 2 the MSM Certificate of Christian Worship course I had attended last year. (Chinese track) Panel 3 Comprising plenary lectures with parallel panel discussions (online chats with experienced Christian worship leaders and (Chinese track) thinkers), there were also skills training sessions. I chose the Worship Leader track while others opted for those for worship musicians, song writers, children’s worship or choir. Presented in English and Chinese, the sessions formed the basis of the three- day gathering of kindred hearts and spirits. And Spirit there was—introducing the concept of FLOW and the ancient traditions undergirding our church worship, the sessions literally flowed into the notion of blended worship. From this arose issues that challenge us all in the “new normal” of presenting church worship services via online platforms. What drew me into the WS2021 sessions each day were: • the speakers and panel discussion servants who freely and generously shared their deep experience, theological foundations, helpful ideas and personal thoughts; • worship services that “walked the talk” of flow, diversity and deep central focus on God; • a Zoom format that enabled interactions where I “met” and was enriched by other participants sharing freely using the “chat” function; and • interaction with the MSM team who put WS2021 together— getting to know them by name, sending them messages, and feeling their humble (and immensely hardworking) efforts to bring about the symposium. |6 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021

I left WS2021 with two main thoughts. THE INVITED SPEAKERS FOR THE ENGLISH TRACK First, how we worship in our churches today continues to evolve, especially in the area of music and communication styles. But just as it has been the Dr Lester Ruth challenge through the ages, the symposium showed me that ancient traditions Duke Divinity underpin the spiritual core of our worship. Thus, we need to remain faithful to liturgical tradition (authenticity) while reaching out to new generations of Dr Adam Perez worshippers (relevance). Churches approach this in different and innovative Duke Divinity ways, but ultimately all converge on the central principle of placing God at the centre of our worship. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic-induced shift to online worship services and outreach presents significant challenges that are common to churches of all sizes and available resources. Even while trying to bring the worship service from familiar sanctuary settings into the sacred worship space of private homes or wherever people might worship, wonderful opportunities have emerged. These include reaching those who might otherwise not be able to be present in a church, finding new ways to enable extemporaneous worship that is innovative, spontaneous and participative, and engaging younger generations of IT-savvy worshippers in the blending of the worship experience. I signed up for WS2021 not really knowing what to expect. God smiled on me, blessing me so richly that I lifted my eyes heavenward and said: “Lord, my cup runneth over.” “I was pleasantly surprised by the range of speakers and depth of their Julie Tai sessions. I learnt about the centrality of Jesus Christ in preparing for our Fuller Theological Seminary. role as worship leader, and grew in my confidence to pursue ‘blending’ or THE INVITED SPEAKERS helping to make the ‘flow’ of the service a meaningful experience FOR THE CHINESE TRACK and encounter for the congregation we serve.” —Anonymous, Wesley MC Dr Simon Ng Alliance Bible Seminary and Malaysian Baptist “I learnt to lead with generous authority and hospitality. I need to increase my passion towards video production as I saw how Theological Seminary in Hong Kong good videos can impact us. We can also be creative with reading the Yvette Lau Scriptures in worship and be intentional with silence and passivity. Founder of the Anabas Ministry in Hong Kong The Worship Symposium changed my negative perspective about doing worship on online platforms.” |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 7 —Jenny Han, Paya Lebar MC “I was able to broaden my perspective of worship from this Symposium and was inspired to make my ministry work more culturally relevant, yet Christ-centered.” —Fiona Yu, Central Baptist Church, Australia

People ¢ Jason Woo is the Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of Caitlin Foo, Andre Chan and Thaddeus Lee MCS youths: The ones who stayed Some of the PLMC youths with Rev Wendy Tay Caitlin came to Christ at 13 when she found a God who “kept showing up” in her life and became real to her. It is often said in Christian circles that the Church is always However, growing up at PLMC in her formative years did a generation away from extinction. not shield Caitlin from experiences that caused her to For The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), the need to question her faith. engage and retain the youth in our churches has become more urgent, particularly as many appear to be moving to “There was a time when many friends and people I grew megachurches that are generally non-denominational, or up with decided to leave for another church or Christianity leaving the faith entirely. altogether. That was a huge period of testing for my faith. Enter the “Why I Stayed” social media campaign. The youth ministry was something that meant a lot to me, Initiated by the General Conference Communications team and I had to witness it unravel,” said Caitlin. and launched in May on the MCS Instagram page, the campaign featured Methodist youths and young adults “I felt abandoned, lonely and quite bitter. I was sharing how issues and challenges in church and in life disillusioned about the Church, and there was not much made them question their faith. Despite this, they chose guidance to help me navigate this. The main issue I to remain in their respective churches. Three of the stories struggled to reconcile was the disconnect between what are highlighted here. the Church was supposed to be (a loving and welcoming community) and the reality surrounding me (that many of “God kept showing up!” my friends had deserted). Caitlin Foo, 26, Paya Lebar Methodist Church (PLMC) “During these times, I was still involved in church activities, but my faith was not growing, and there was no joy. There were lots of painful prayers and just grieving over what was lost.” Still, Caitlin chose to remain and serve God, mainly because of the leadership responsibilities she was given. “Through those responsibilities, I had the opportunity to witness God restore a broken community. At that point, I was dependent on God’s direction, and He showed me people and solutions for the problems around,” Caitlin explained. “Leaving the Church at that point of time would have been disobeying Him.” God brought people to minister and engage her through different seasons of her life. She counted among them the fellow leaders who faithfully stayed the course, pastors who connected her to a healthy and consistent cell group whose members treated her warmly despite not knowing her well. “What helped was simply their fellowship, sincerity when listening, genuine prayer and their availability,” she shared.  |8 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021

Today, Caitlin continues to work with the youth in church. The prevailing sense around Andre that religion stood in the She actively engages them in honest conversations that way of rational thinking slowly chipped at his own faith. constantly point them towards an unfailing God who is Andre found himself drifting away from Christianity, seeing deeply interested in their lives. it as a way to exercise independence to feed his desire for self-sufficiency. After all, his contemporaries’ reasons for To those who may be disillusioned by the Church, Caitlin moving away from their own religions seemed logical. says, “Ultimately, the Church is made up of broken and sinful people. So do not be surprised when there is conflict and pain “My friends did not see the objective truth in the faith within its walls. At the same time, do not withdraw from the they had grown up with. Rather, they saw belief as a Church, because Jesus Christ gave His life up for it,” she said. cultural norm that ties society together. However, when Christianity/Islam becomes a cultural norm, it can lead to “If you have suffered hurt from the church, honestly seek judgement against people who do not fit into such norms. God for restoration. Ask Him to reveal the beauty and This makes faith quite unattractive,” said Andre. necessity of the Church. While I have seen people leave the Church, I have also seen people return to it.” The dissonance within Andre gradually grew unbearable. Things came to a head when Andre went through a painful “The Church is a family that restores” breakup. He felt constantly distracted and could feel the devil urging him to commit suicide. Hoping to find some Andre Chan, 25, Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) solace, he attended a church service. Andre Chan spent his entire childhood worshipping in BRMC “That day in church, I was overwhelmed by a desire to where, in his words, he “continuously imbibed Christian escape my hurt with death. So I put on my bag and got culture in [his] mind and spirit for many years”. Everything ready to leave the sanctuary, till something the worship seemed peachy for the young Andre. leader said stopped me in my tracks. I cannot remember what he said. Then one of my friends who was sitting That his Christian worldview would be upturned seemed beside me noticed that I was troubled. We had grown up impossible until he entered Yale–NUS College at 21. There, in church together so he hugged me. I broke down as I Andre was exposed to a melting pot of peers of various experienced God’s love in my friend’s arms.” religious and spiritual backgrounds. Through this, Andre came to an important realisation: “One of my closest friends came from Tunisia, which has “I believe that Christ saved us to be a part of a body Islam as its official state religion. Another came from Serbia, of believers. Through our love for one another, He is which is predominantly populated by Eastern Orthodox bringing restoration to our lives so that we can bring Christians. Yet they were not religious,” described Andre. healing to the world. I am still in church because I want to bring gospel renewal to my church in terms of our life Studying in an institution that so prized reason and together as the body of Christ. This means carving out open-mindedness to other philosophies also meant that time to support and love one another.” Andre had to contend with a plethora of ideologies that threatened to undermine and subsume his Christian Spurred by his experience, Andre is now actively involved worldview. Andre witnessed many giving up their faith, in journeying with fellow young adults whom he used to whether temporarily or for good. lead in his youth group. “I aim to be someone who they can turn to whenever they need help. I also want to help them to read the Bible and comprehend how it all points to Jesus who redeems the world.” “The gospel of Christ teaches us that no matter how far we run or how much we doubt, we are equally saved by grace through faith in Him. Go ahead and question the sturdiness of Christianity so that your faith is not built on how much conviction you have, but on the historical proofs and the robustness of Christ’s gospel that renews all things. “I was not committed to taking questioning seriously [before] and used my doubt as an excuse to push for my own sovereignty. To avoid this trap, I encourage youths to take Christ seriously and to question Him,” advised Andre. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 9

“God never stopped chasing down my heart” “[The conversation was] what God used to really reach out to me, helping me understand my hurts and bring me back Thaddeus Lee, 23, Paya Lebar Methodist Church (PLMC) to His side. God helped me realise that I had been drowning in pride, bitterness and allowed self-centeredness to control Even though he has attended church since he was seven, me. As a result, it affected my relationship with people and the gospel never really made an impact on Thaddeus God,” said Thaddeus. until he came to Christ in 2013 when he was 15, while attending PLMC. After the talk, when Thaddeus decided to return to church, he was surprised and overwhelmed by the positive While a young Christian, Thaddeus wrestled with many reception he received. He likened his experience to that questions surrounding his new faith. He delved into deep of the prodigal son. He felt comforted by the very church topics such as the conflicts between pre-determinism and friends who had every right to be angry with him for his pre-destination and that the God in the Old Testament lashing out at them prior to his departure, yet chose to seemed different from the one in the New Testament. forgive and rejoice at his return. However, these questions were not the ones which made him choose to leave the Church later on. In fact, Thaddeus “It was so clear in hindsight how everything was was blessed to have many people in church who journeyed orchestrated so that I could come out of the battle having with him faithfully and gently in his search for answers to learnt more about myself and Him. I am nobody special— his questions. just an ordinary guy with an extraordinary God who never gave up on him. The only thing I had to do was stepping in It was while doing National Service that he decided to leave and trusting Him; He’s already done the rest.” the faith. “I left because I was unrightfully angry at God and the church community I was in. It was not any theological Thaddeus is now mentoring peers who are rising up as dissonance but rather one that was very emotionally driven. new cell group leaders as well as a 16-year-old boy, all the It began when I started to battle anxiety attacks along with while juggling his university studies. He is keenly aware of feelings of loneliness and abandonment,” recollected Thaddeus. the struggles that youth have with their Christian faith and the reality of teenage angst. “I felt like I was in a rut from being physically and mentally exhausted from training while also being spiritually and Thaddeus has this encouragement for young people who emotionally drained from all that I was feeling. I snapped may be fighting their own internal battles: “Dear brother- and turned away from everything I knew.” or sister-in-Christ. I know that what you are going through is tough. I am in no way undermining or belittling how you Yet although he walked away from God, God Himself never did. are feeling through this struggle. I know that the thoughts and the hurt can be overwhelming at times, even going so What ultimately led to his return to the fold was when far that you cannot hear God. But I want you to know that Thaddeus sent off a longtime church friend, Joseph, at you’re so very loved. Your heavenly Father has seen you the airport. Meeting his ex-church friends was awkward through the worst of it and He will do it again.” for Thaddeus as he had previously severed ties with them on an angry note. Despite this, Thaddeus found himself “No two journeys are identical, and what is probably welcomed by those whom he had spurned in a fit of anger. most helpful for young people is to have honest and open conversations about their thoughts and struggles Just before leaving, Joseph turned to Thaddeus and asked throughout the various seasons in their lives. While him to speak to his mentor about his spiritual struggles. these conversations can happen at the peer level, it is Thaddeus found himself agreeing to do it. God then made also crucial to have these conversations with mature His move on Thaddeus. Christians who are further along the path. |10 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 Truth be told, most—if not all—Christians have struggled with their faith at some point in their lives. And because no two journeys are identical, open and honest conversations are where we can deliberately expose ourselves to, and experience the power, love and grace of God silently and yet strongly at work in all our lives.” Anthony Lee Pastor-in-Charge, Ang Mo Kio MC

Opinion ¢ Lucas Chow is the former CEO of Far East Orchard Singapore, Mediacorp Pte Ltd and Singtel Mobile. He now serves as the Director of the Thirst Collective, which includes Christian websites Salt&Light and Thir.st. He worships at Wesley MC and is a member of the MCS Council on Communications. Your first job: Advice from a former CEO L ike many fresh graduates, I was eager to dive into When we were still in university, one of my schoolmates the workforce after I left university. My urgency asked me to help him plan his wedding and banquet. was driven by the attraction of being financially The couple were on a tight budget and had to feed many independent and climbing the corporate ladder—and hungry youths. An event of that scale required: detailed also because I didn’t want to be left behind by my peers. planning; organisation; problem solving; budgeting; But with hindsight, I now know that a career lasts for creativity; resourcefulness; and communication skills. many years; I would have made fewer mistakes if I had Although this happened many years ago, I still consider spent some time planning my career before setting out. it as one of my major accomplishments. These skills are “transferable” and can be applied at work or under I hope this sharing of my personal experiences in many different circumstances. selecting and hiring potential candidates will be useful especially to those who have just graduated and are You can identify your skills and build skill inventories looking for their first jobs. by reflecting on your life experiences (especially from major achievements). This is particularly useful for fresh Preparing a career plan graduates with no or limited working experience. I find Know yourself it useful to keep a skill inventories list, and to review and add to it periodically as I gain more experience and 1. What are your: skills, values and interests? exposure in life. • Skills: What are you good at? We often learn from • Values: What is most important to you? Our values our past experiences how we can apply the skills that are shaped by our backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. we have acquired. It is important to know what values that you will not compromise, such as family, integrity and religion. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 11

Your first job: Advice from a former CEO For example, how you would like to spend your time, When you first graduate, you may not have all the energy and resources? How willing are you to miss a necessary skills and experience to be successful in your family member’s birthday dinner because you have to career. You need to identify the gaps and make realistic finish an important assignment? How important it is for plans to bridge them. While some people may be naturally you to work in a company that promotes responsibility talented, most need long hours of practice and endurance towards the environment? Is it a must that the company to achieve excellence in sports, arts and music. The same you work for conducts its business with integrity? can be said about one’s career. There aren’t, I am afraid, any shortcuts. Knowing your values will help to set your priorities. This will come in handy when you consider career-life It is thus useful to set career goals for the next five, 10 integration and choose a company to work for. and 15 years, and to make practical plans. Here are some things you might want to consider: • Interests: What are your passions? This may be what you enjoy but are not necessarily expert at, such as • your age in five, 10 and 15 years’ time playing a musical instrument, art, cooking, etc. • your marital status • your financial status and desired financial needs I have a keen interest in food and enjoy watching skilful • your desired level of position, e.g. director, manager, chefs at work. Whenever I dine at a Japanese restaurant and if the counter seats are available, I like to watch the senior executive, etc. chef preparing the dishes. While I don’t have the talent • your hobbies and leisure activities: how much time to replicate such dishes at home, I am inspired to learn more about the ingredients used, and the chef’s creativity do you need to pursue them? in the food’s taste, texture and presentation. This interest and knowledge in food helped me when I was managing As we move into different seasons of our lives, our a food and beverage business. priorities, needs and financial responsibilities change, such as from being single and living at home to being When your interests are aligned with your career, it can married and with children. Different people have different motivate you to develop the knowledge and skills in definitions of career success. For me, it is simple: if you helping you to succeed. are happy, then you are successful. My late father chuckled when I told him I was joining How do I know what job and company MediaCorp. He said that finally someone was paying me are suitable for me? to do what I like! Know the environment and available opportunities 2. What are your career goals? What would you like to be in five, 10 or 15 years? In looking for a suitable industry and vocation, I suggest that paying attention to the following: When I was in school, my favourite composition topic was “What do you want to be when you grow up?” While all of • global industry and market trends (short- and long- us have aspirations, a reality check is necessary to avoid term) disappointment. Knowing yourself will help you to set appropriate and realistic career goals. • factors that will influence the future • opportunities that best align with your skills, You might highly value spending time with family and friends. But some careers might require you to work long values, interests and career plans hours in order to be successful. If you are not prepared to make such a sacrifice or compromise, then it may not be The global pandemic has had a major impact on many the right career path. businesses and industries. For example, the demand for the travel and hospitality industries has plummeted. However, the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries have seen an increase in job opportunities. But how |12 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021

long will this trend last? Governments around the world • Be punctual and arrive slightly ahead of time to are already planning to move from treating COVID-19 as give yourself time to calm your nerves. Few hiring pandemic to endemic. Countries cannot shut their borders managers like to see their candidates rushing to the forever. With the pent-up demand, air travel cost is appointment. predicted to increase by 30 per cent when countries open up later this year. • Dress appropriately for job you are hoping to get, but be yourself. At the early days of the pandemic, the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks skyrocketed. We • Have all your necessary documents such as educational saw companies rushing to cash in on the opportunity. But certificates and referral letters well-organised. with the oversupply of such products and the incidence of the virus decreasing in many countries, prices of such During the interview items are expected to fall. • Pay attention to the questions and ask for clarification Thus, when looking for a job in such volatile situation, the if you don’t understand. key is to remain flexible and have a view of the long term. • Answer questions clearly in a succinct manner and Know the company to the point. Use your knowledge wisely but humbly. Before you apply to a company, it may be worthwhile • It’s better to admit that you don’t know the answer to find out more about it. Most companies’ or to a question than to make up an inappropriate or organisations’ webpages provide information about incorrect one. what they do, their vision and values. Better still, if you know someone who has worked for or is still working After the interview for the company or organisation, have a talk with them about the company culture. Regardless of the outcome, immediately follow up with a thank-you email to the interviewers. If it is appropriate, Know the boss recap what was discussed and reiterate why you should be considered for the opportunity. This is a small gesture While it may not be easy, it will be helpful if you can find that will go a long way. out more about the character of the company’s leadership. As key decision makers, they influence the company’s Hiring managers look for candidates who are keen, are direction and working culture. Gathering information competent and have the potential to learn and grow in about the reputation of the leadership and management the company. style of the company can go a long way in helping you decide if this company is suitable for you. Most importantly, seek God’s guidance and go M.A.D. How do I prepare for a job interview? God has graciously given all of us different kinds of gifts, The interview is a good opportunity for you to observe and I believe work is God-enabled. Without Him, we can the company’s culture and management style. From my do nothing. Whether we are looking for a job or preparing experience of interviewing potential candidates, here are for an interview, let’s not forget to pray and seek His some pointers that may help you to improve your chances guidance so that whatever we do is aligned with His will. of being offered a job: As Christians, we must be the salt and the light in the Before the interview marketplace and prepare to go M.A.D. (make a difference). • Do research and arm yourself with information about May God bless you abundantly and guide you to the the company and the job you are interviewing for. career path He has chosen for you. This will increase your confidence and also show the interviewer that you are keen and have done your homework. Rehearse your answers if possible. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 13

Reach Out ¢ Welfare Services By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo courtesy of Bishop Dr Gordon Wong Spur each other on to good works Run to empower lives Bishop Dr Wong (extreme right) with his father and brothers B ishop Dr Gordon Wong is well-known for his golfing skills and has won several local charity COVID-19 has surfaced new vulnerabilities in society. In golf tournaments. And as every good golfer and addition to their financial constraints, many are struggling sportsman attests, Bishop Dr Wong believes that playing with their mental and emotional health. Between April well requires practice and discipline. 2020 and March 2021, MWS Family Service Centres saw a sharp spike in the number of people who experienced “My fitness regime? I play golf once or twice a week with family violence, financial issues and family issues. friends and my 99-year-old dad. I also try to fit in tennis once a week with my brother and friends, but doubles only, While the virtual run is not a marathon, completing please!” shared Bishop candidly as he also revealed that he distances like 20km or 40km does require some level regularly clocks 10,000 steps a day. of mental toughness. By joining MWS Empowerun, participants demonstrate their own resilience and their “1 Timothy 4:8 tells us that although spiritual health and enduring support for those in need, and encourage them to discipline are the most important, physical health and persevere through their challenges. discipline are also important,” he continues. “MWS helps us find ways to Love God by Loving Our As proof of his belief, Bishop accepted the invitation of Neighbour with acts of kindness and love. This is especially Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) to take part in MWS important in the midst of this very distressing and difficult Empowerun, a virtual run held in conjunction with MWS’ period. I hope my participation in MWS Empowerun will 40th Anniversary celebrations this year. Participants may remind us ‘to run the race’ and ‘spur each other on to good choose to complete 20km or 40km cumulatively from 23 works’,” said Bishop Dr Wong. Oct to 7 Nov 2021, and fundraise by getting supporters to donate to MWS. MWS hopes to raise $600,000, and all funds will be channelled towards its 20 critical programmes that serve the disadvantaged and distressed. |14 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 SIGN UP TODAY mws.sg/empowerun MWS Empowerun Event period: 23 Oct to 7 Nov 2021 Run format: Complete a 20km or 40km virtual run (The distance can be cumulative over the event period) Registration fee: $40/pax Participants will each receive • a runner’s pack consisting • a backpack and a runner’s T-shirt Fundraise $500 per pax and empower 8,000+ people in need For enquiries, please email [email protected]

Reach Out ¢ Welfare Services By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photos courtesy of MWS MWS at 40 An MWS nursing home resident shares her story of faith, receiving dignified care and regaining hope. This year, Methodist Welfare Services celebrates 40 years of empowering life to the full. This is one of a series of stories from people who felt empowered to empower others through MWS over the years. Get involved and join MWS in empowering lives. Learn more by visiting https://mws.sg/mws40th/ cheering up another resident!” Jo precisely what MWS hopes to bring Lee said. to its beneficiaries. “Hello, how are you? Can I get you a Jo Lee came to MWS Bethany Nursing Café Joy, one of the major additions cup of coffee or tea?” asked Madam Home – Choa Chu Kang about six of the recent Care Remodelling of Loo Jo Lee as she pointed to the menu. years ago. She had suffered a stroke MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa and just woken up from a three- Chu Kang, is an example. Apart 50-year-old Jo Lee is a resident at month long coma. from providing a cosy communal MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa space for residents and visitors, it Chua Kang. She is also the cashier- “I was struggling with my health. is designed to be run by residents, cum-front service staff of Café Joy, My marriage was falling apart. My empowering them with a sense of which is located within the Home. daughters were teenagers then. I independence and purpose. This shut myself in and did not want to is in line with the care philosophy Rising from challenges for self speak with anyone,” she recalled. at MWS Nursing Homes, which is and service “Up till 2019, I refused to accept that resident-directed. The Homes are “I serve as a cashier here once every this was going to be my life. But the also designed to provide a home-like two weeks. The staff trained me MWS Bethany team really cared for and dementia-friendly environment on how to greet customers, take me. Slowly, I turned to Christianity so that residents’ care needs are orders and use the cash register,” and, with the help of the clinical addressed in an integrated and shared Jo Lee as she cheekily waved and pastoral team, I began to see holistic manner. a stash of ‘play money’ in different life more positively and feel hopeful denominations. “I really enjoy serving again,” Jo Lee said, her radiant face “Serving as a cashier at the café at the café, meeting and chatting with a picture of calm and peace. has been meaningful and fulfilling. people. It feels good to contribute. Who knows, I may be able to return Sometimes, I’ve even found myself Empowerment in all aspects to work in future! I thank God and of care the MWS Bethany staff for their love, This sense of empowerment—through care, concern and patience. It feels its physical care environment, like my heart is blooming with hope programmes and care approach—is again,” said Jo Lee. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 15

Missions ¢ A child learning to type Bible verses on one of the laptops donated by Living Hope MC. This was a Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng is the Church Engagement Director and Grace Chung community outreach computer programme by the is the Church Engagement Manager of the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). Song-Roi Phee MC, Thailand, in 2020 / Photos courtesy of MMS (This article was first published in Harvest Force Issue 1 [2021]) M MS was officially established on 30 Sep We are not alone 1991 as the missions agency of The Methodist Church of Singapore (MCS). Aldersgate MC mission team Its primary mission is to establish indigenous members visiting the children at churches where none currently exist. MMS aims to Hope House, Cambodia, in 2018 be a disciple-making movement that touches and transforms lives. Church Planting and Community Development are the integrated strategies for transforming lives and communities.1 MMS’s mission comes alive as a testament shown by the past 29 years of partnerships with MCS’ Annual Conferences, churches and donors in Singapore, together with missionaries and hundreds of national pastors and co-labourers serving in Cambodia, East Asia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng, Field/Church Engagement This can be achieved through a three-phase framework of Director, emphasised that “MMS does not and cannot work conducting a missions pulse survey, dialogues and forums alone”, and this was of vital importance in developing with the following key outcomes: the Church Engagement Strategy.2 We are encouraged that God has seen MMS through the years by bringing • Deepen the relationship and partnership with the together faithful men and women to fervently contribute Annual Conferences and all local Methodist churches and carry out God’s missions work. We are also blessed in Singapore. by the Methodist churches and communities that have come alongside MMS to pray, to love and to generously • Receive valuable and meaningful feedback to contribute their time, effort and resources toward our customise and realign action plans for the collaboration ministries and missionaries. in mission and ministries initiatives. Moving forward, as a denominational missions agency, • Have greater clarity in what is expected of MMS MMS endeavours to be an agency of choice amongst the as a denominational missions agency, and a more Methodist community in Singapore. While we have come coherent understanding of the roles and relationships some way in establishing our work in seven countries over between MMS and the local Methodist churches and the past 29 years, we are nevertheless mindful of our the missions agency. inadequacies as we journey on. We believe we are now at a point where we need to expand our partnerships, enrich • Enhance partner relationships, improve partnership our collective call and energise our congregations in the retention and form new partnerships. area of missions. Rev Derrick Lau, MMS Executive Director, sets out one The MMS Church Engagement Team (CET) desires to of the goals in the Strategic Directions 2025 as having build capacity by enhancing stakeholder and partnership Church Engagement be an essential initiative of MMS to relations strategically, managing expectations and engage, excite, encourage, equip and establish mission engaging churches in a meaningful way to deepen interest, involvement and partnership in all our Methodist the partnership with all three Annual Conferences— churches from CAC, ETAC and TRAC.3 the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) and Trinity Annual Conference This initiative provides a clear sense of direction to (TRAC)—as well as with all local Methodist churches and collaborate, encourage strategic partnerships and missions committees. establish long-lasting relationships. They are fundamental to paving the way towards achieving the God-given Barker Road MC medical mission. There are still much to be done in our fields to mission team members equip, nurture, train and strengthen the pastoral and lay praying for missionaries leaderships to become self-sustainable one day and fulfil in Nepal in 2018 the call God has placed on their hearts. As MMS enters into the new year, it is our hope that this initiative will invigorate and deepen relationships and collaborations with existing partner churches. Also, we hope to begin new dialogues with churches that have yet to become partners, to come alongside to intercede, contribute and support MMS in big or small ways. With one goal, one mind and one heart, let us push forth in living out the mandate given to us: to love God, to love our neighbour and to make disciples of all nations. Get in touch with us now; every partnership and all contributions count towards touching and transforming lives for God. 1 The Book of Discipline, ¶371. 2 Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng, Field/Church Engagement and Area Director’s Report, MMS Strategy for Church Engagement. 3 Rev Derrick Lau, Strategic Directions 2025 (2019). |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 17

Relationships ¢ You & Your Family Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. Living under a cloud T he COVID-19 pandemic has cast a menacing cloud till who knows when and what will be allowed. Those over humanity and directly affected every country, wanting to study abroad do not know when it will be rich or poor. Over the past year and a half, a possible. Those trying to choose a field of study need staggering 187 million have been infected and more than to consider how the dynamic job landscape may be 4 million have died.* totally different in four or five years. Singapore has largely been spared the worst in the As people become more isolated and uncertainty abounds, pandemic. This is not to say that no-one has died or fallen ill, some experience mental health challenges in the form or that businesses and livelihoods have not been affected. of anxiety and depression. People are worn down to the For most of the general population, though, wearing masks point of being less patient and more irritable. and not eating in at our favourite food places or travelling overseas have been a prolonged big inconvenience. Thankfully, though, the pandemic’s impact is not all negative. Amidst the clouds of gloom and doom, some The most commonly-voiced adverse effect is a loss of silver lining has appeared. connection. Observing social distancing, working from home and being unable to gather in large groups means Not long ago, many of the older generation mourned connecting less with others. For young adults, gone the mushrooming of a “strawberry generation”, who— are the memorable graduation ceremonies, birthday like delicate strawberries—bruise easily emotionally. celebrations and wedding banquets. The product of the older generations’ hard work and success, these young adults grew up self-absorbed, For this article, I want to focus more on young adults. These feeling entitled and unwilling to make sacrifices and individuals are completing their formal education, starting endure hardship. A good number remain in this frame, careers and making decisions about life partners. They are perhaps hunkered down in their own unreal world, entering their most economically productive phase and are but I am observing the rise of a new generation. a country’s potential leaders across all fields. This is a critical age group, on which the nation often pins its hopes. More and more young adults are more environmentally conscious, striving to reduce waste and consumerism. Initially, I thought that this generation, digital natives They are more open to being socially inclusive and caring whose lives revolve around social media, would for the less fortunate. They step out of their comfort zone have no problems replacing face-to-face with virtual and get involved, volunteering time and energy. They communication. But it seems that they, too, yearn to are ready to try new things and not fear failure. Gone is meet in person and hang out in groups. the mantra “You only live once, so live it up”; “You only have one life, so live it well” is now the guiding light. The pandemic also seems to have reduced the desire for many to plan and to dream about the future. Uncertainty Observing these shoots of change sprouting gives me hope due to constantly changing safety measures means that for our younger generation and for our future. Out of the big decisions may have to be shelved, recalibrated or shadows of the COVID-19 cloud, this generation is being re-evaluated. Those planning to marry have to decide roused. Out of adversity and challenge have come individuals whether to go ahead with current restrictions or wait hungry to find meaning and authentic connection. |18 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 *Statistics as at the time of writing

Hymns & Songs ¢ Kathryn Cheng is an Assistant Program Executive at Methodist School of Music, Worship and Music Department. She arranges music for MSM and mixes virtual choir performances by MFC GOD OF THIS CITY The Methodist School of Music (MSM) equips and edifies both the individual and the N ational Day reminds everyone that strength and unity as a country church through music and the performing arts. is important, especially now, as the world undertakes its second year of living under COVID-19. Some countries have become more Find out more at msmusic.edu.sg. divided under the strains of managing the pandemic, while others have become more united. GOD OF THIS CITY “God of this City”, performed by Chris Tomlin, describes the love of God You’re the God of this city on a large scale. The driving message of the song is that God’s love is not You’re the King of these people meant to be solely an introspective experience, but one that extends over the community. Though the words are simple, they shine a light of hope, You’re the Lord of this nation reminding us that regardless of our present trials, something better and You are greater is coming.  You’re the light in this darkness This brings to mind Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the You’re the hope to the hopeless governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and You’re the peace to the restless those that exist have been instituted by God.” You are While our earthly leaders may come from backgrounds and faiths different from our own, they have been placed in positions of power to carry out There is no one like our God God’s plan. What we can do is to pray that they will be guided by wisdom. There is no one like our God So, as we all play different roles in the body of Christ, we should be For greater things have yet to come reminded to be good neighbours to all in our community.  And greater things are still to be In an interview with Aaron Boyd, who recorded the original version of the done in this city song, he said that he intended for the song to question what the Church Greater things have yet to come is doing on a global scale to combat big issues such as climate change, And greater things are still to be done poverty, human trafficking and so on. He further stated that we should all be the ones to pioneer change; we ought to have the attitude of serving in this city. the world with a Christ-like love. Words: Bluetree, Richard Bleakley, Aaron Boyd, There are big issues indeed to be combatted globally. And locally, we Peter Comfort, Ian Jordan, Peter Kernoghan, have to grapple social and community issues brought about by COVID-19; Andrew McCann indeed, greater things have yet to come if we all exercise our role to be Performed by: Chris Tomlin (2008) partners with God in bringing light, hope and peace to this city. Copyright © 2008 Thankyou Music |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 19

Opinion ¢ Soundings Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg). By suffering and blood “Soundings” is a series of essays that, like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the Gospel and Christian understanding. O ne of the dangers in the way that Christian mission Christians who have lost their lives because of the Gospel. is sometimes presented in some Christian circles The history of Christian mission is a bloodstained history. is that it tends towards a triumphalism that It is a history of suffering, sacrifice and martyrdom. dangerously distorts this vital work of the Church. Some of these accounts sound very much like Disney fairy tales A number of theologians and missionaries have warned where the hero always emerges victorious, while the against religious triumphalism. villains are always vanquished. In his influential book Transforming Mission, the South However, when we take a hard and truthful look at the African theologian David Bosch writes that “Mission is (un-cosmesticised) history of Christian mission from its not a triumphalistic enterprise. It is by definition done inception in the book of Acts to the present day, we will in weakness”.1 In a similar vein, Leslie Newbigin, the be confronted by a different and more complex picture. bishop-theologian who served in India as a missionary for more than 40 years, urges the Church to learn from To be sure, the history of Christian mission does testify to the New Testament “what it means to bear witness to the the triumph of God’s grace. But let us not forget that it also gospel from a position not of strength but of weakness”.2 tells the stories of countless missionaries and ordinary

Not only must the Church understand that she is to fulfil killed because of their faith in Jesus Christ.5 Scholars her God-given mission in weakness, she must also be have estimated that between 2011–25, about 150,000 prepared to face persecution and suffering. Christians will die because of the Gospel every year.6 Christian witness and mission will always be met with Yet, as Ronald Boyd-McMillan has rightly observed, opposition. It is for this reason that Jesus sent the Seventy “The fuller story of the contemporary persecuted Church and the Twelve with these ominous words: “I am sending remains a tragically untold story.”7 But these are stories you out like sheep among wolves” (Matt 10:16). (Read that need to be told and re-told, for they testify to the verses 17–42 for the full account of the persecution and uncommon faith and courage of ordinary Christians for opposition that the Church should expect.) whom loyalty to Christ is more important than life itself. The apostle Paul certainly could not conceive of his These are stories about Christian discipleship. They have apostolic ministry apart from opposition, suffering and much to teach us about what it means to say that we even the prospect of death. In perhaps one of the most are Christians, and about the heavy cost that comes with moving passages in his epistles, Paul alludes to the confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. extreme hardships that he and others like him had to endure for the sake of the Gospel. “We are hard pressed One of the most important theologians in early Latin on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in Christianity, Tertullian (155–220), famously said that despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”. This but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8–9). epigram was certainly true in Tertullian’s day where the Church grew rapidly despite the opposition, hostility and As Victor Paul Furnish writes, “Paul regards suffering persecution it faced. not just as an occasional experience of apostles but as the essential and continuing characteristic of apostolic It remains true in our day as well. Many scholars have service.”3 Hardship, suffering and the threat of death are observed that the Church is most vibrant in countries therefore sine qua non of Paul’s ministry. where persecution is intense. Persecution has resulted in the loss of many lives, but it has not prevailed against the The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have witnessed work of God. more Christians martyred for their faith than all the previous nineteen centuries combined. Many of our brothers and sisters across the globe bear witness to the risen Lord in humility and weakness, At least 45.4 million Christians were martyred during unfazed by persecution, suffering and even death. Their 1900–2000, more than all the centuries before combined humble faith shows forth the glory of God and testifies to (24 million).4 From 2000­–10, one million Christians were the triumph of his grace. 1 David Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shift in Theology of Mission, American Society of Missiology Series 16 (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1991), 182. / 2 Leslie Newbigin, The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission Today (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995), 5. / 3 Victor Paul Furnish, II Corinthians, AB, vol. 32A (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1984), 283. / 4 David Barrett, George T. Kurian, and Todd M. Johnson, World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religion, vol. 1 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), 11. / 5 Todd Johnson, David Barrett, and Peter F. Crossing, “Christianity 2011: Martyrs and the Resurgence of Religion,” International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 35(1), 2011: 28-29. / 6 Ibid. / 7 Ronald Boyd-McMillan, Faith that Endures (Grand Rapids, MI: Revell Books, 2006), 13. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 21

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Books ¢ Dennis Tan firmly believes that the Church can do more to care for creation. He leads the Advocates of Creation Care and Environmental Stewardship at Sengkang Methodist Church. He is also a founder of Creation Care SG, a community that aims to equip fellow believers to care for creation by transforming their lives and churches. Season of Creation T he Season of Creation is the annual Christian The Season of Creation Devotional celebration of prayer and action for our common 2021 is put together by Dennis and home. From 1 Sep to 4 Oct, we unite with the global Michelle from the creation care team at Church to pray and protect God’s creation. Sengkang Methodist Church (MC) under the guidance of Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot. This year’s theme is “A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos Dennis leads the team and is also a of God”. Oikos is the Greek word for “home”. We proclaim founder at Creation Care SG, an initiative that the Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it—yet the that aims to equip fellow believers to environmental crisis threatens the homes of millions of care for creation by transforming their God’s creatures, including humans, around the world. It lives and churches. Michelle is a Local challenges us to ask the question: How can we claim to Ministry Staff with the Youth Ministry, love our neighbours as ourselves, yet turn a blind eye to anchoring the organisation and design. the devastation of our common home? The team of contributors include three While there are many resources overseas about creation pastors from different Methodist care, there is still a dearth of resources for Christians in churches: Rev Raymond Fong (Wesley Singapore seeking to live out God’s mandate to care for MC), Rev Dr Andrew Peh (TTC, Charis MC) His creation. Through the Season of Creation Devotional and Rev R Prabhu (Ang Mo Kio Tamil MC). 2021, we hope to provide a resource adapted for our Our team of lay writers hail from diverse unique local context. backgrounds as researchers, educators and students. They are Ann Shin (Faith We also hope to educate readers on how to care for creation MC), Benjamin (Living Waters MC), in practical ways, through conscious acts of repairing our Jillian (Holy Covenant MC), John (Ang broken relationship with the rest of creation—human and Mo Kio Tamil MC), Jonathan (Wesley non-human alike—in all areas of our lives. MC), Michele (Barker Road MC), Prarthini (Charis MC) and Wilfred (Sengkang MC). This devotional is a display of Methodist unity in caring Winnie (Ang Mo Kio Chinese MC) also for God’s world. We are thankful for contributions from contributed to the devotional’s design. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong and various Methodist pastors. This year, God has also grown our pool of writers significantly, |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 23 with nine laypeople from all three Annual Conferences. As was the year before, the 2021 devotional is anchored by laypeople to express that caring for creation is the responsibility of all. The Season of Creation Devotional will challenge your existing notions of what it means to create a home for all. It will compel you to reflect on what it looks like to live in a world that is inclusive, just and full of peace and hope. It will push you to unite in addressing the environmental crisis and its problems and embrace a life as a responsible steward of God’s creation. Readers will be able to access the Season of Creation Devotional 2021 via the various MCS channels in late August. However, while written for the Season of Creation, the devotional can be used by anyone at any time. Individuals, cell groups, and churches who wish to use the devotional will also be able to access versions without dates.

Opinion ¢ James Lau is a member of Barker Road Methodist Church. Christian hope in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world T his note of encouragement is meant Christian hope for those who are understandably despondent and forlorn about their Let me start with what Christian hope is not. Christian hope is not optimism future from the worldwide government- since it is not a denial of reality. imposed lockdowns and public health measures imposed to contain the spread of According to English lay theologian, G. K. Chesterton, hope is hoping when CO V I D -1 9 . things are hopeless: “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all... As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery I sat for my final undergraduate law or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be examinations at the National University of a strength.” Singapore shortly after President George H. W. Bush launched Operation Desert Storm In a sermon titled “The Sweet Uses of Adversity”, Charles Spurgeon said: in Jan 1991. Since then, I have learnt and “And dost thou not know that hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the re-learnt the same lesson during the various sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity?” crises, including financial and health, which the world and Singapore have gone through— Scottish Baptist Minister, Alexander MacLaren, explained in his sermon to trust Jesus and depend on Him. titled “The Fruit of the Spirit” that hope in adversity comes from the abiding presence of God: “True peace comes not from the absence of trouble but “Serving families for a decade and more...” 24-HR HOTLINES PAUL & DANIEL +65 8321 3355 TOLL-FREE 1800-777-2422 www.AmazingGraceFunerals.com Amazing Grace has prepared these few measures to allow families to have a meaningful and dignified farewell for their loved ones: A. Online Ticketing Complimentary online ticketing system to allow visitors to reserve a visiting time slot and plan their visits, allowing families to keep within the regulated maximum number of persons at any one time with minimal coordination. B. Online Memorial allows friends to find updated information and offer their sympathies to bereaved families C. Live Streaming this option is available to enable friends and families to participate in the wake/vigil and funeral services online D. Donations families may appoint a PayNow account of a family member to receive donations. This will be posted on the online memorial. Christian Funeral Packages • International Repatriation • Pre-Planning Seminars

from the presence of God, and will be deep and passing all of the song “I Don’t Know About Tomorrow”, composed by understanding in the exact measure in which we live in, Ira Forest Stanphill: and partake of, the love of God.” I don’t know about tomorrow Christian hope is not stoically trying our best to cope and I just live from day to day turning to God only when things appear hopeless. Rather, it I don’t borrow from its sunshine is going through each day together with Him, resting on His For its skies may turn to grey promise that He will never leave nor forsake us (Heb 13:5b). I don’t worry o’er the future For I know what Jesus said Even when we are unaware of His presence, God is with And today I’ll walk beside Him us, as the well-known poem titled “Footprints in the Sand” For He knows what is ahead expresses so well: Many things about tomorrow One night I dreamed a dream. I don’t seem to understand I was walking along the beach with my Lord. But I know who holds tomorrow, Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. And I know who holds my hand For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. God comforts us in our adversities so that you and I can then be channels of God’s comfort and hope to others in When the last scene of my life flashed before me, their adversities (1 Cor 1:3–4). I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. A hand-drawn banner I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest of Colonel Tom Moore times of my life, hangs on the railings in front of a war This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. memorial to mark VE “Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You, Day in 2020 You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most Concluding remarks troublesome times of my life, There was only one set of footprints. In 2019, 99-year-old retired British Army Officer Captain I just don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, Sir Tom Moore (better known as Captain Tom) set a target You would leave me.” to raise £1,000 for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) by doing 100 laps in his garden with the aid of a walking The Lord replied, “My precious child, I love you frame. He ended up raising £4 million for NHS and more And I will never ever leave you during your trial and than £33 million for NHS Charities Together. For this, he suffering. made an honorary colonel and was knighted by Queen When you looked back at the journey of your life Elizabeth in July 2020, about six months before he passed And saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I away from COVID-19. carried you.” Music has always soothed me and helped remind me of We are reminded in Matthew 6:34 of the futility of anxiety God’s abiding presence. Come up with your own selection over the future: “Therefore do not be anxious about of gospel songs to soothe you when you are anxious and tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient to help remind you of God’s abiding presence. Each of us, for the day is its own trouble”. you and me, can then become a channel of God’s comfort and hope wherever we are and to all peoples, regardless Alexander MacLaren explained why you and I should not of race, language and religion, but especially to those who worry in his 1859 sermon titled “Anxious Care”: “And what are of the household of faith (Gal 6:10). does your anxiety do? It does not empty tomorrow, brother, of its sorrows; but, ah! it empties today of its strength. It |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 25 does not make you escape the evil, it makes you unfit to cope with it when it comes. It does not bless tomorrow, and it robs today.” Let us cast all our cares on Him for He cares for you and me (1 Peter 5:7) and face our tomorrows resting in the knowledge that He knows your and my future. In the words

Opinion ¢ THINK Dr David Ang is a member of Kum Yan MC. He is Chairman of the CAC Board of Family Life, Chairman of the Methodist Fathers Movement, and serves on the MCS Judicial Council and Discipline Review Commission. / Photo courtesy of Dr David Ang Work, workers and worship David Ang with his family W hen I was 37, my church asked me if I would power, workplaces, supermarkets, community clubs, consider going into full-time ministry and offices, sports hall, etc. becoming a pastor. But I knew that it was not God’s calling for me, as I felt that my personality, gifts It is on this premise which that I have set out my working and passions made me more suited to serve God as laity. ethos articulated in a “1-2-3” guideline: one God, two (I responded—only half in jest—that if I were to become a assignments and three practices. church pastor, my parish would suffer a lot!) One God From my years in the workforce, I have come to realise that, regardless of their career paths, believers everywhere The God we worship within the church is the same God are able to live out their Christian lives through their who is sovereign over the Church, economies, nations, acts and words of love. I have seen this in people inside businesses and the entire universe. There is no other and outside the church community, regardless of their authority besides Him and His ways are as important in vocations as pastors, church staff or in secular jobs. one domain as another. His desires and rules are the same in church as in the workplaces. And as I studied what really God wants of our lives, I A workplace, office, factory, boardroom or meeting room was led to the beginning of the Bible: “And God blessed is not any less sacred than a church sanctuary. Wherever them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply you work, you should behave as you worship God during and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over your Sunday worship, or in your Friday night cell group. the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens God is deeply interested in the government, law and and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” order, material supplies and everything that is essential (Gen 1:28). God’s desire is for mankind to reign and have for people’s lives and livelihood. dominion over what is in the world. As we are made in His image and of His kind, He wants us to populate the Two assignments world and represent Him everywhere in it. Be an ambassador of God The prayer Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:10 reiterates His We are instructed to be the “salt of the earth” and desire for the earth to be filled with His kingdom as it “light of the world” (Matt 5:13–14). There needs to be a was in Genesis 1:28. This means that we should worship spiritual cognisance that, because we are of God and have God through and carry His heart into the corridors of Christ in us, we can relate, work and serve in the flow of God’s ways mirrored in kindness, helpfulness, other- |26 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021

centredness, humility and composure. In that, there is Three Ps to practise daily also an absence of overt ambition because we know that it is God who will give promotion and vocational Prayer advancement. We do not need to prove ourselves and Praying opens up a channel between God and man that outshine others, which will distinguish us from those ushers in the presence and will of God. Every Monday around us in the rat race. morning, the first thing I did was to pray for my company and its people. In prayer, heavenly blessings This rested and non-striving personality is what are translated into earthly ones. distinguishes a child of God from the rest. This differentiating element is in itself evangelistic as there During these prayers, God put certain names of is something tasteful, attractively different and even employees in my heart only for me to find out later beautiful about it. It does not mean that a Christian that they were actually going through work and/or should be a doormat or a yes-man; this person has the family challenges. In prayer, God also gave me spiritual mind of Christ that thinks, decides and acts according to solutions for business issues. There was once when I was the will of God. pitching for a major project and negotiations came to a stalemate. During my prayer, God showed me how a Be an excellent worker simple adjustment in a contentious contract term could “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and make it mutually agreeable. not to men” (Col 3:23). While organisations place certain standards on workers, the standard of a Christian is set People by what is pleasing unto the Lord. While being in the At the heart of all organisations are people of all world, we follow benchmarks of heaven, which are way departments and ranks. When I was Managing Director, more noble and refined than those on earth. Beyond just God gave me the ability to work with and harness the handing over a good piece of work, we hand it over with different expertise of the many people in my company. I a posture that reflects God’s nature. tried my best to look after the well-being of my staff and their families. When I left my job as the Regional Managing Director of the world’s leading water company, a country general I once took all the fathers and staff of my company to manager of a subsidiary under my responsibility wrote a DADs for Life conference when I was volunteering for to me. He told me that I had been the go-to person for the movement. They were each given door gifts, which any problems because I was always able to find solutions included a wrist band. Years later, on the last day of my for them. Being excellent in our work and delivering on work with the company, a father-worker showed me the our commitment is a more essential testimonial of who DADs for Life wrist band and told me, “Mr Ang, thank you we are and who we worship than preaching and talking very much. I remember this conference and it taught me about God. God favoured my stint while I was managing how to be a good father.” Hearing that left me in tears. the Southeast Asia region as we were able to raise its profitability to become number two in Asia-Pacific. Productivity My company was also known to have a very family- In honour of God and His calling, we need to ask oriented and conducive working environment. Due to our ourselves how we can do better in our work tomorrow, as reputation, we saw many applicants from the region and compared with today. As I mentioned, we can honour God as far away as Europe applying for jobs at our company. and evangelise in our workplace by being an excellent employee and have an attitude of constantly wanting to improve. Through the seasons, I have earned the respect of my bosses through the quality of my work, and thus their listening ear on issues of personal life and faith. Keeping these simple 1-2-3 working guidelines has helped me tremendously in my career and now I have implemented them in the companies that I started. |METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021 27

People ¢ Ong Puay See is enjoying life as a wandering Methodist in Hong Kong, whilst remotely serving on the CAC Board of Communications and worshipping at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. What does being a Methodist mean to you? I was not born in a Christian family. I never studied in a Methodist Puay See’s church in Hong Kong School. I only got to know Christ through a death in the family. At a neighbour’s invitation, we visited Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist my concerns. After a few weeks of visiting other Church (TA) and somehow found the service reassuring. We have been churches, we walked ourselves back to MICHK worshipping at TA’s Chinese service since. and settled there. That was how my Methodist journey began—me, an English-educated To me, being a Methodist means surrendering young professional who knew no one in the church, with only a my life to God’s plans and trusting that He will smidgen of basic Mandarin, attending Mandarin service in one of the keep me growing in a family that cares for most traditional of Chinese Methodist churches here. I struggled to me, prays with me and deepens my spiritual understand the sermons. In church, I was always known as my parents’ maturity. “Methodist connectionalism” means daughter, and the only church friends I had were the aunties and uncles looking after every single member of the family, in my parents’ cell groups! Yet somehow, even alone, I’ve always felt a giving them the assurance that they belong, strong sense of belonging to the TA family. even when they are alone or apart. These are troubling times and many events threaten to That sense of belonging for the TA family extended to a love for the divide us. Let us focus less on the “methods” broader Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) and Methodist family, through that define us, and more on the “connections” which God led me to take up a role in the CAC in 2016, a defining point of not leaving any single sheep lost and alone, in my life as a Methodist. Whilst staffing the CAC discussions on central however different they are. pooling, I had the precious opportunity to visit all 17 CAC churches. I attended Methodism classes, read through our doctrines and staffed the Annual Conference meetings. I got to know John Wesley and we worked his life stories into a cartoon series in CAC News. In 2019, I was posted to Hong Kong. Friends kindly introduced me to the churches catering to the expatriate community, yet God amazingly arranged for us to set up our new home next to the Methodist International Church in Hong Kong (MICHK). The service there was Spirit- filled, the sermons spoke to my heart, and there were many times I teared for it felt almost like God was right next to me, ministering to

Events ¢ Looking Ahead Scan to see events online! 2021 BUILDING UP YOUR FAMILY: STEP BY STEP Last Thursday of every month till Dec 2021, 8 p.m. to 9.15 p.m. Online via Zoom https://tinyurl.com/FamLifeWebinar (Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link before the webinar) Organised by the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Board of Family Life (BOFL), the Family Life Webinars 2021 themed “Building Up Your Family: Step-by-Step” feature a series of talks by CAC pastors and experienced speakers covering the areas of: marriage; parenting children; parenting teens; fathering; and mothering. Organised by Chinese Annual Conference Board of Family Life SEPT TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE OPEN HOUSE 2021 1 Sep 2021, 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Online via Zoom [email protected] 6767-6677 www.ttc.edu.sg (ZOOM links will be emailed separately) Trinity Theological College believes that theological education is for everyone. Come and learn how you can prepare yourself for full-time ministry, and to witness effectively in the marketplace.  Organised by Trinity Theological College SEPT EAGLES LEADERSHIP CONVENTION (ELC) 2021 6 to 11 Sep 2021 Online conference elc2021.com [email protected] 8575-2163 (Ivy) ELC is the three-day premier biennial thought leadership experience in Asia, showcasing distinguished international experts, effective role models, current thinking, latest research, and outstanding leadership practices.  The convention seeks to grow and nurture leaders to be more value-centred persons by transforming their perspectives, developing healthy partnerships, and empowering them for quality performance in both church and the marketplace. Organised by Eagles Communications OCT MWS EMPOWERUN 23 Oct to 7 Nov 2021 Register at mws.sg/mws40th. Registration opens 19 July. [email protected] $40 per head. Special rate for students aged 13 to 18 who register through their schools at $20 per head. MWS Empowerun is organised to commemorate MWS’ 40th Anniversary of empowering the lives of disadvantaged and distressed, regardless of race and religion. It is an open invitation to anyone who would like to give back to the community by participating in the virtual run conducted remotely for the safety of all. It is also an opportunity for participants who are also celebrating their 40th birthday this year to mark the milestone by running for a meaningful cause. Organised by Methodist Welfare Services

People ¢ Memoriam Peter Joe Chia (1935–2019) In 1973, The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) approached Peter to take over as editor of Methodist Founder of Methodist Welfare Services, Message (MM), which he did until 1985. It was a one-man former editor of Methodist Message show, and Peter did an outstanding job, producing MM every month without help from the kind of editorial, arts M r Peter Joe Chia was a man who wore many and design departments which most sizeable churches hats. His full-time job with the Anglo-Chinese today would have. Schools, where he served with distinction as a teacher, a disciplinary master and then as Vice-Principal In the late 1970s, a group of church leaders, many of them of the Anglo-Chinese School (Primary). active with the old Council of Social Concerns, decided that it was time for MCS to provide more services to the In a tribute to Peter, the Anglo-Chinese School Old Boys’ poor and those who are struggling in the community. A Association shared: “He knew how important discipline group of leaders, which included Peter, with the blessings would be later in life and sought to instill it as early as of the General Conference of MCS, set up Methodist possible. […] But this tough way kept the boys in line. And Welfare Services (MWS) in 1981. Peter was a member of many of them have gone [on] to achieve great things. the Management Committee of MWS, and he also served After all, how many men can claim the distinction of as its Vice-Chairman from 1988–93. What started out as having caned the Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore?” a dream shared by a few like-minded leaders has now Beneath his tough exterior and stern disposition, students been used by God to bless the lives of the sick, the lonely, remembered him as a “softie acting from a place of love”. youths at risk, the elderly, families in crisis, and people who are disadvantaged and distressed. The formative years of his Christian faith were cultivated mainly at Wesley Methodist Church (MC), where he was Peter Joe Chia has touched many lives in the schools the President of Wesley’s Methodist Youth Fellowship where he worked and at the social outreach agencies (MYF) in 1956. In 1957, he led the Singapore District where he volunteered his time. We thank God for him. MYF as its President, providing leadership for the various —Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon Singapore–Malaya Annual Conference MYF chapters in Singapore. Through his adult life, he continued to be a “Kong Kong was a great man, and he was faithful member of Wesley MC. also our grandfather. Not only did he do a lot He was also the District Commissioner of the Boy for the community, he was also a very nice Scouts Association from 1964–68 and the Assistant grandfather to us. He would talk to us and tell Chief Commissioner in 1973. He was a volunteer at the us stories about the past whenever we visited Singapore Children’s Society where he chaired the appeals or called him. He was an inspiration, because committee from 1983–87. From 1986–92, he was Secretary of the Citizens’ Consultative Committee at Telok Blangah. he showed us that it is important to be kind and give to others. Even though Kong Kong is not physically with us anymore, he is still here with us emotionally as he watches over us from heaven. We love Kong Kong.” —Carys Chan, Peter Joe Chia’s eldest granddaughter |30 METHODIST MESSAGE — August 2021