Methodist Message Jul 2020

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI(P) 027/11/2019 THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE Vol 122 No 7 JULY 2020 THE POST-CIRCUIT BREAKER CHURCH

Church life 4 Contents Methodists in the world 15 1 Bishop’s Message Christian living 20 2 GC 2020 3 Bishop’s address on COVID-19 MwCWWaiaecthnrehErhItatrilf’eisteyvcRhwceyealeokeEordooutsuah,ocLr:ndtoddaOuchttoneteosetaOint?nwmsvslrhKatidieCatebgyimIegaclNuotnpdMthhntum?GiteuctoIyssDolsbe@nlFeo!veuoPsOseumsshiSyrRstknoduroieesaaltrbVpluvtotsa-gieOho,grwelniroiLornedskt—aUrgds:iept,aNnoitohnwsowenTretyserEr.drpi:ooiEdtsrteattaR:sriohpnwgtbSyeoeeg.o!orsdrc?oscugoiokottDrmhnrarohateirircettvniysibilcmoepudl/ewui!tigsegiDsthnPiapot/tfrokhamoypgoeloooratmafopuekrpshemeehhaoodMsiacdftivsa/oMeee?srv/a?saean:anybtwntoesoyatthtttyhheheeirelnpryg 4 One MCS—CAC Highlights 7 Church Profile—Holy Covenant Methodist Church 8 Home—MGS’s 133rd Founder’s Day 10 News—Embracing the circuit breaker and beyond 11 Book Review—The Sovereign God and the Christian Disciple 12 News—The post-circuit breaker church 15 News—CYC: 300k masks for migrants 17 Welfare Services 18 Missions 20 You & Your Family 21 Hymns & Songs 22 Soundings 24 TRAC Bible Matters 26 Home—What does being a Methodist mean to you? 27 THINK 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 Communications Executive Jason Woo Design & Production by Londonbob Design Have something to say or share? Email us at [email protected]

BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference from 2008 to 2016. The Post-COVID-19 Challenge for MCS “Him we proclaim with all wisdom…” (Col 1:28) Virtual meetings and seminars W e are in the midst of a three-phase approach A common complaint of those involved in church ministries to resuming activities safely after Singapore’s and programmes is having to attend endless meetings circuit breaker ended on 1 June 2020. While we and sessions. Most classes and cell group gatherings are look forward to life returning to normal, the government held either after Sunday services or on weekday evenings, has warned that things will not be the same as before the leaving little time for family. pandemic. Even if a vaccine is developed, we shall have to accept a new normal—living with the coronavirus—as it During the circuit breaker period, all were advised to stay may never be totally eradicated. home and face-to-face gatherings were banned. Worship services, choir practices, Bible study classes and cell group I have been asked what the MCS will be doing for a post- sessions were conducted online. The virtual meetings COVID-19 way of life. Let me share some thoughts. I have helped reduce the time spent away from home, welcome your comments. encouraging more participation in training courses and meetings. Not only has general effectiveness improved, Online Sunday Worship Services there is also closer interaction among participants. Furthermore, geographical distance is no longer a barrier Over the last two months, we have been streaming Sunday to inviting eminent speakers to conduct courses. This has worship services online and the production quality of such indeed been an unexpected advantage. services has improved. Many believers feel that online services are more convenient and they can invite their Giving serious regard to the faith of our church pre-believing family members who do not normally attend church services to join them. Online worship services offer The government’s strict circuit breaker measures meant that another option and can complement the traditional on-site from April, onsite worship services and Holy Communion mode as part of the Church’s outreach. were disallowed. Moreover, there were restrictions for the production of online services e.g. no more than two persons were allowed to lead worship and praise, and the duration of each service, including the sermon, must not exceed one hour. This gave rise to much discussion among Christian netizens of different denominations and religious backgrounds about church systems and structures, online worship services, Holy Communion, baptism and online wedding services. Many believers seemed confused and unsure who to listen to. Some members from the same traditional church background ignored instructions and did things |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 1

Bishop’s Message The Post-COVID-19 Challenge for MCS their own way. This was when church ministers realised for producing and streaming online programmes. Online the importance of teaching about their own church seminars and training courses ought to be an important part organisation, beliefs and worship liturgy so that their of the new norm. Some of our bigger churches are already members can be more discerning. equipped for producing online programmes. Our local and Annual Conferences could perhaps explore the sharing of Social groups that need our greater concern resources so as to help those that need assistance. On its part, the General Conference can consider developing its The COVID-19 pandemic exposed our society’s long-term multimedia outreach ministry. neglect of the living conditions of migrant workers and fringe groups. This has had an effect on social and religious During the circuit breaker, workers, with a few organisations—in particular, on MCS, which emphasises exceptions, were required to work from home. Although loving our neighbours as ourselves. There is much to some businesses were affected by reduced on-site be done to show our care and concern, and extend help coordination of work processes, working from home to migrant workers and fringe groups as well as other has been deemed to be generally viable. What will it vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. Our Church needs mean for our church staff? Perhaps not all churches of to do a comprehensive review of our ministry among the future can afford to provide on-site workspaces for these communities and redouble our effects to extend all their pastoral and administrative staff. Rather than help and care to them. giving priority to office space, churches with limited space may prefer to use their space for activities and How will the Church meet the new gatherings of their members and social communities. challenges? One thing is certain: we will have to adapt to a new normal It is time we reviewed the practice of spending almost after COVID-19. It will create opportunities for the Church $10m for a 30-year lease on a plot of land and another and chart new milestones for the gospel ministry. Let us $10m for a church building. Instead, based on actual needs take it to heart, plan and make our preparations. and conditions, we could consider a strategy to acquire technical expertise as well as hardware and software GC 2020 The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) will be holding its 12th Session of the General Conference (GC) from 7 to 11 Sep 2020 and 2 to 4 Dec 2020. Call for petitions for the BOD T his regular session of the GC is held once every four years (a quadrennium), where delegates from the three Annual Conferences (CAC, ETAC and TRAC) come together to revise church laws, approve work plans and budgets for church-wide programmes, as well as adopt resolutions on moral and social issues. The GC organises councils and agencies for the general work of MCS, and during the course of its regular session, elections are held for various officers of the GC and of these councils and agencies to serve in the coming quadrennium. This includes the election of a Bishop to oversee the affairs of MCS and the work of the GC. At its regular sessions, the GC also receives and debates petitions, which are proposals to make changes to The Book of Discipline (BOD), our rule book that describes how we are organised and administered, and contains our Constitution and Doctrinal Statements and General Rules. While such petitions are normally initiated by the Annual Conferences, any organisation, minister or lay member of MCS may submit a petition in the following manner: Three copies of the petition must be sent to the secretary of the GC. PETITIONS MUST BE MAILED 1 Each petition must address only one paragraph of the BOD or, TO ARRIVE BEFORE OR ON 9 JULY 2020 TO: if the BOD is not affected, one issue. The General Conference Secretary (Petitions) 2 Each petition must be signed by the person submitting it, The Methodist Church in Singapore accompanied by appropriate identification, such as address, #06-04, Methodist Centre local church, or Methodist board or agency relationship. 70 Barker Road Singapore 309936 3 Petitions must be received by the secretary of the GC no later than 60 days prior to the opening session of the regular session of the GC, i.e. by 9 July 2020. |2 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

Bishop’s address on COVID-19 ¢ On 24 June 2020, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung addressed the members of The Methodist Church in Singapore in a video speech. The full video can be found at https://youtu.be/pT09b6HNnbA Dear Brothers and Sisters, peace be with you! L ast Friday, on 19 June, we entered Phase 2 of the post-circuit breaker period. It can be said that the whole nation was elated. However, the government has reminded us that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and therefore, it is not time yet for a big celebration. On Saturday, 20 June, during his National Broadcast, DPM Heng Swee Keat highlighted that it was the bravery and tireless work of the healthcare and frontline workers that had kept us safe all this while. Let us give them our heartfelt thanks. We have heard the ministers continually emphasise that for Singapore to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, it depends on everyone joining in, with the sense that we are all in the same boat and we must pull together. In the past few months, the Church seems to have gotten used to attending weekly services online. Yet the majority of us still hope that we can quickly resume the corporate worship services, for we long to be with the brothers and sisters, as we sing praises to the Lord, listen to our pastors as they deliver their sermons, together partake in the Holy Communion, and enjoy each other’s fellowship as we remember God’s grace. Such sentiments are to be expected, yet at all times, we must look out not just for our own interests but also for others. We should not forget about the health and safety of the people around us even as we assert our rights. Therefore, I hope that every Methodist will remember to help and show care to each other, especially to the seniors or those more vulnerable among us. Remember that we are to love God with all our heart and mind, and at the same time, to love our neighbours as ourselves. The blessings of health and peace be upon you! And bless our nation with early victory over the COVID-19 pandemic, and may the vaccine for the virus be developed before long. For the latest updates on MCS’s response to COVID -19, go to https://www.methodist.org.sg/COVID-19 |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 3

One MCS ¢ CAC Highlights By the CAC Communications Team / Photos courtesy of CAC CAC together during COVID-19 CAC and churches have been supporting one another during COVID-19 pandemic. For more details reporting, please refer to the CAC News June 2020 COVID-19 Special Issue. CAC prays together GMC Befrienders sending warm meals “CAC COVID-19 Daily Prayers & Bible Verses” was launched on to neighbouring 14 Feb 2020 as a means for CAC to provide daily Bible verses residents and unify members to pray together. Initially intended as a 30-day prayer project, our members’ strong response led to TPCMC team CAC providing prayers for more than 100 days! ready for distribution of Supported by a team of CAC pastors and Conference staff, the hand sanitisers COVID-19 Bible Verses have become a daily commitment to provide meaningful heartfelt prayers in English and Mandarin, accompanied by impactful images for each Bible verse. Scheduled to be released at 7.30 a.m. on CAC’s Facebook (@cac.singapore) and Instagram (@CACTogether) pages, the purpose is to unify our followers in praying for COVID-19 concerns first thing each morning. This daily resource has been warmly HCMC young adults preparing welcomed by CAC churches and care packs for elderly community members. Many of them share the verses on their social media Board of Family Life (BoFL) webinars on Zoom! pages, or forward them to their congregations via WhatsApp. The One of the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic CAC-created licence-free Bible verses and the circuit breaker’s strict stay-home restrictions was have also become an additional a rise in family tensions at home. Recognising this as an resource collection for the churches’ issue of concern, the CAC Board of Family Life arranged use during their online sermons. two series of webinars in May and June 2020. Assembling Sengkang MC has also helped to Family Life experts from our CAC churches, the webinars, re-package the visual images into offered separately in English and Mandarin, offered tips to audio tracks, so that those without help individuals and families better manage their emotions, access to social media or WhatsApp communicate and manage conflicts, and establish stronger could still listen to the prayers every relationships with spouse and family. Besides sharing of day. These tracks were uploaded to skmc.org.sg/resources/ biblical lessons on these topics, there were also sessions cpe2020 daily over the month of June. on how to find emotional healing in God and how to bring up spiritually strong families and helping children and Loving our neighbours teenagers to adjust to the “new normal”. Prior to the circuit breaker, many of our CAC church family responded to the commandment to “love our neighbour” (Luke 10:27). In the words of the Rev Ling Tieng Ngung, Pastor-in-Charge of Toa Payoh CMC, we are reminded that “the ministry of the gospel needs to begin with the needs of people in mind”. At a time when the pandemic stirs up worry and stress, thoughtful arrangements by churches to distribute hand sanitisers, masks, vitamins, meals and even little cards of blessings to neighbouring communities are ways in which we, as a Church, can care for the community. During the circuit breaker, CAC churches came together with TRAC and ETAC brothers and sisters to provide their church premises as Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P) to house the homeless. |4 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

This was the first time a CAC Board had hosted a public With CAC’s annual Methodist Young Leaders’ Conference webinar and we praise God for the strong response. The 2020 and other physical gatherings being put on hold, some talks had an average of about 100 persons logging on pastors and youth workers of CAC churches came together and participants’ feedback on how they valued these and prayerfully organised the first-ever online event of webinars was an encouragement to CAC. It was also a great BOYM, “Windows of Love”. Held on 29 May over Zoom, it was opportunity for the CAC administrative team to learn how to attended by some 100 members from various CAC churches. conduct webinars, and we give thanks to God for bringing The event started with a time of praise and worship, followed us through the webinars with few hiccups. The sessions by an interactive sermon by the Rev Glenn Tan, who utilised have also allowed CAC to begin thinking about how online online platforms like Mentimeter and Kahoot. Three blessed webinars could be an alternative to running physical events, winners of the Kahoot quiz even received prizes sent directly even after the circuit breaker restrictions are lifted. to them through delivery platforms that evening itself. The event concluded with a time of group discussions where participants reflected on their knowledge of the Bible. Amazingly, as there were fewer schedule conflicts or having to rush from work, the virtual gathering actually saw many new faces joining CAC’s BOYM event for the first time. BOFLCovidTalk BOYM is in the midst of planning another Poster virtual event in the near future. BOFL CB Webinars Follow @cacboym on Instagram and Poster @cac.bym on Facebook for more updates! Echoing the words in the book of Hebrews, let us always make the effort to #CACTogetherYouths. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:24–25) BOYM Interactive sharing with Kahoot CAC Board of Youth Ministry (BOYM) — BOYM Worship BOYM Windows of Love Windows of Love |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 5 During the circuit breaker, CAC BOYM constantly reached out to young people through social media platforms. The preparation for BOYM to conduct online meetings came as early as February 2020. While running Finding Your Place (FYP), CAC’s discipleship programme for youths, various online videoconference platforms such as Zoom, Skype and Discord were explored. As such, BOYM was able to adapt quickly to the use of online meeting platforms. We thank God that even during this period, CAC BOYM could still honour its 3C purpose: to Connect, Coach and Counsel.

2021 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an • Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an all- all-round English-based education for students round holistic education aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate and ACS heritage Diploma Programme (IBDP). • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP Mr Rob Burrough Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Achievements include Principal Vice Principal • Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu. Mr Gavin Kinch Dr Kristopher Achter What the parents say… Vice Principal Vice Principal “ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships For more information with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. Please contact Joseph Ng The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student or Serene Lim leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” at +65 6472 1477 or [email protected] Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan

Church Profile ¢ Holy Covenant Methodist Church The Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng is the Pastor-in-charge of HCMC./ Photos courtesy of HCMC Finding, flourishing and finishing Fun fact: Holy Covenant Methodist Church (HCMC) is both We understand our presence in Fairfield Methodist School 23 years old and 57 years old! (Find out why below.) (Secondary) as a unique privilege to partner and support the school and we always seek opportunities to do so. H CMC officially became a local conference on 1 Some of our church members have helped out in Day Jan 1997. But its history is intertwined with the of Grace follow-up sessions, as mentors for Famchamps rich legacy of Telok Ayer Methodist Church, which camp and as parents supporting at-risk students. birthed it as the Telok Blangah Preaching Point three decades earlier in 1963. In the 57 years since then, HCMC This year, we are excited for two launches: our first run of has grown in average attendance from 10 worshippers to the Happiness Group (幸福小组) and a cell group among the current 200 or so across its three worship services in NUS Chinese students. Both are evangelistic in nature. Mandarin, English and Hokkien. We are currently in the final year of a three-year church theme: As HCMC does not have its own church building, we 2018: Finding Your Place have been worshipping in the auditorium of the Fairfield 2019: Flourishing in Your Place Methodist School (Secondary) at Dover Road since 2004. 2020: Finishing in Your Place Over the years, God has used different ministries at HCMC enjoys a special unity across the three language different times to spur the growth of the church. Three of services with combined Holy Communion services once a these are worthy of mention: Grace Fellowship, Ruth Home month. Please pray for us to have greater partnership with ministry and Enyue Fellowship. the school and to grow as God desires for us. Grace Fellowship was started in 2006 and is still ongoing HOLY COVENANT METHODIST CHURCH as a ministry to reach out to Chinese nationals, especially postgraduate students and young professionals. (Chinese Annual Conference) Fairfied Methodist Secondary School, Auditorium, Ruth Home ministry (2013–18) reached out to Chinese- 102 Dover Road S(139649) speaking nurses and nursing students by offering them subsidised rental in Ruth Home Hostel. This ministry really http://www.holycovenantmc.org served the needs of the nurses in its time and brought many to the Lord. [email protected] In 2017, Enyue Fellowship was started to reach out to 6270 -7804 Malaysians working or studying in Singapore. This has led to a steady growth in Malaysian young adults worshipping Online Service [Sundays]: 9.00 a.m. with us. for both English and Chinese www.tiny.cc/youtubeHCMC Please check our website and Facebook page fb.com/hcmc.holy for post-circuit breaker service updates |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 7

Home ¢ Sue-Mei Tay is the Corporate Communications Manager of Methodist Girls’ School. / Photos courtesy of Methodist Girls’ School MGS’s 133rd Founder’s Day Empowered for such a time as this M ethodist Girls’ School (MGS) they met the headwinds of 2020: Courage, Life-long celebrates her 133rd birthday Compassion and Creativity. There was the friendships are this year and the school’s theme courage to try new things and take on new built at MGS for 2020 is “Empowered”, inspired by 2 challenges with a positive attitude amidst Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a global uncertainty and fear, the compassion spirit of fear, but of power and of love and to reach out to the community to rally and of a sound mind” (NKJV). support others in need and share their blessings and the creativity to look at life Just as the apostle Paul wrote to encourage around them in new ways and unearth Timothy to stand strong amidst tough opportunities and hidden insights. times, the verse reminds us not to allow ourselves to be gripped by fear or crippled House leaders kept the school spirit warm by circumstances that we may face in life. and produced videos to demonstrate school- Rather, we should learn to fix our eyes on wide activities for their schoolmates to try God and draw from Him the power, love and at home. MGS girls also took the opportunity self-discipline to surmount life’s challenges. to spend the time at home meaningfully to create art pieces and videos to encourage It is fitting then, that in this extraordinary year fellow Singaporeans, as well as share creative of COVID-19, the MGS community has stepped ideas with the school community. A group up and pulled together as one to cope with the of girls who call themselves the MGrevival tidal wave of change and challenges. Squad wrote notes of encouragement to their teachers and got together each week Students, teachers and administrative staff via Google Meet to pray for the teachers and displayed dedication, selflessness and a their peers. can-do spirit as they made the necessary adjustments with new daily practices and Indeed, the indomitable MGS spirit that methods of teaching and learning, as well as enables each member of the community to alternative ways to continue with the work at uplift others, and be uplifted in turn, has hand. During the unprecedented full home- always carried the school through its 133- based learning that had to be conducted in year history. This spirit is seen across the April, MGS teachers and students rose to years when staff and students take up the the occasion admirably with courage and mantle to lead the school to greater heights determination. Thus, teaching and learning and lift high her banner. It is also evident continued online with virtual lessons and when they rally as one to prevail in difficult assignments, even for Music and PE! circumstances, and when they steer the school together through landscape changes While COVID-19 may be a “C” word that and global crises to remain steadfast in the has impacted each and every person, the MGS mission to prepare each girl for every MGS community remembers 3Cs with which phase of her life. |8 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

What powers this special The school provides an all- MGS spirit? round education, and the girls excel in their CCAs One, the knowledge that the people of MGS are endowed with God’s love to confidently accomplish and achieve great things for His glory. With this comes the sense of empowerment to overcome life’s challenges and to be a blessing to others. The MGS culture is deeply entrenched in the belief that talents from God should be held and used in stewardship to Him. Over the years, the #MGSBlessings movement has taken flight to impact the community in myriad ways. Two, the Methodist culture and identity Three, the support of many Hence, because each MGS girl, which is the cornerstone of the MGS stakeholders in the school’s carefully shaped and enfolded with education. Miss Sophia Blackmore’s community along the way. Parents, love, cherishes and carries with her pioneering spirit, faith and heart to the Board and the alumnae enrich a sense of duty to endow and enrich serve set an example to all who are the ties that bind, and there is lives, she is empowered to step living out her legacy each day. The a shared sense of belonging and forward to make a difference, for such Christian values on which the MGS love for the school that compels a time as this. This is also seen across education is based imbue MGS girls them to give back. Whether it is the years where the women nurtured with a rich sense of self for their place an alumna who never forgets her by the school have contributed in in the world, as they seek to Master, first friendships made at school, or meaningful ways in all areas of Grow and Serve in every phase of their a young mother who imparts the society and in breaking barriers, with lives. The stewardship and leadership of same values she had learnt from a God’s guiding hand behind each one. the school is guided by the MGS Vision teacher to her child, MGS is never far and Motto as well as the Methodist from their hearts. The contributions In commemorating Founder’s Day ethos, which is strongly reinforced by of parents and old girls have greatly this July, the accomplishment the school’s partnership with Covenant enabled MGS to stand tall in today’s goes beyond 133 years as an Community Methodist Church. landscape and helped to shape established educational institution. the future through developing It encompasses winning the hearts MGS was founded on 15 August 1887 tomorrow’s young leaders. of numerous generations of MGS by Sophia Blackmore, an Australian girls, their families and friends in missionary Ultimately, each member of the MGS the community. Indeed, the MGS girl community shares and works towards is an example of grace, honour and a common goal—the MGS girl as the servant leadership. She calls MGS raison d’être and focus of all things home, a place where she has grown done and decisions taken. At MGS, in character and personhood. each child is important and as a school, everyone contributes to bring out the Sec 4I surprises their teachers on best in each child, who is unique and the last day of HBL before the May gifted in her own special way. school holiday break |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 9

News ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. Embracing the circuit breaker and beyond A theological reflection by Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon “I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty” (Zeph 3:6 NIV) A s Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon viewed (1914–18, more commonly known as World War I); the Great photos and surreal scenes of cities on COVID-19 Influenza (1918–19), a pandemic that infected 500 million lockdown, he looked into what God’s Word had to and killed 50 million; and the Great Depression (1929–39), a say. He saw that this was nothing new. He said, “God is time of great poverty, unemployment and hunger. never surprised about anything that happens on earth.” But, “if you examine the structure of the book of He shared this insight during a webinar talk on 28 May Revelation, you’ll find alternating scenes of terrible 2020 entitled “Embracing the Circuit Breaker and Beyond: distress on earth contrasting with wonderful scenes of A Theological Reflection”. It was a part of a series of heaven and the sovereign majesty of God,” he continued. online talks, “Shepherding Souls in Worship”, organised He advised that we look not only at what is going in the by the Methodist School of Music, which drew about world, but also at God on His throne, which will give us 350 Christians from various denominations in Singapore, courage, hope and faith. Malaysia and Indonesia. In the light of COVID-19, what are some implications for Later in the book of Zephaniah, God says, “I leave within our worship, during the pandemic and beyond? Firstly, you the meek and humble” (12:3). This tells us, Bishop Bishop Emeritus Solomon said, worship must be more Emeritus Solomon said, that God allows disturbances in the serious. “When the pandemic passes, we have to resist world for a very focused purpose of turning us towards Him. the temptation of going back to our comfort levels because He quoted C. S. Lewis: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, we have enough—money, food and entertainment. We speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” live in a world that is constantly in turmoil, so our worship must be consistent with that reality.” In the Bible, the words “war” (or “sword”), “pestilence” (or “plague”) and “famine” appear often, for example in Secondly, we should include lament in our worship. Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and also in Revelation. “It looks like all A lament brings to God a complaint about this world, of history is suffering from the combinations of these three petitions God to do something, then moves to a statement things, which suggests to us that this will be the reality until of trust. There are 42 psalms of lament, the biggest genre the Lord’s return,” said Dr Solomon. For instance, the early in the book of Psalms, which suggests that it was an 20th century saw three major disruptions: the Great War important part of Israel’s worship. |10 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

Thirdly, we must recover in our Book Review ¢ worship. “Online connections are helpful—they meet a need, and Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. we thank God for this technology— but they can never replace true The community,” Bishop Emeritus Sovereign Solomon said. “We need to come God together to learn how to do the ‘one another’ things that we read about and the in the New Testament: to forgive, Christian bear with and love one another; to Disciple bear one another’s burdens. For that, we need community.” B ishop Emeritus Dr Robert M. Solomon, the Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000–12, has authored more than 20 He ended his talk with a reminder books. The Sovereign God and the Christian Disciple is his latest one. to keep our eyes open to the needy people we might not have noticed In the first half of the book, he examines in detail the biblical teachings before: the marginalised, and those on God’s sovereign nature: as Creator, Saviour, Shepherd and Judge. The who were invisible. He emphasised latter half of the book explores the implications of believing in God’s that even when able to gather again sovereignty in various areas of Christian discipleship such as free will, in worship, we have to look beyond trusting and obeying God, praying, dealing with suffering and pain, our four walls, as the Lord Jesus is engaging in evangelism and mission, and living with hope in this Lord not just of our Church or our darkening world. lives, but of the world around us. Bishop Emeritus Solomon affirmed: In discussing the sovereignty of God, Bishop Emeritus Solomon “God is in control; His hand is on the describes some differences between the Calvinist Reformed theology steering wheel. We need to trust in of predestination and the Arminian teaching of prevenient grace (the Him and be faithful.” view adopted by Methodist founder John Wesley). He warns against confirmation bias, where readers interpret Scripture according to whatever their position might be. Instead, he advises to “[pay] attention to the context of the passage”, and “[let] Scripture explain Scripture”. With much reference to Scripture and illustrations from both history and popular culture, Bishop Emeritus Solomon has explained and explored many difficult questions commonly asked about God’s sovereign work in the life of His disciples. Carefully structured and organised, with thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter to aid reflection and study, this book is a valuable addition to the library of any Christian disciple. The Sovereign God and the Christian Disciple By Robert M. Solomon Published by Armour Publishing (2020), 280 pages ORDER AT http://www.armourpublishing.com/product/the-sovereign- god-and-the-christian-disciple/ $28.89 Enjoy 20 per cent off the price of The Sovereign God and the Christian Disciple with the promo code AMM07 at the webstore’s checkout page (valid from 1–31 July 2020). |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 11

News ¢ Jonathan Huang is the Deputy Director of Administration at Wesley Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Wesley Methodist Church Wesley MC’s online worship services are a tapestry of the unity between pastors, staff and lay people. Shown: our Traditional, Prayer & Praise and Mandarin Ministry Services. We conduct Youth and Children’s Ministry online as well. Our services are hosted at worship. wesleymc.org What does the LORD require of us? The post-circuit breaker church “And what does the Lord require of you but “Essential services” to do justice, and to love kindness, For Wesley MC, this season has heightened our awareness of what is “essential” Christian ministry, both by what and to walk humbly with your God?” we have been doing, and what we have not been doing. Wesley MC has found ways to adapt and continue providing (Micah 6:8) these ministries: • Worship services (online) W hen Wesley Methodist Church (MC) went through our risk management exercise last year, we • Small group meetings & discipleship classes attempted to identify “black swans” that might (video conferencing) disrupt our church and ministry. Unsurprisingly, a global pandemic was not on the list. With our usual forms of • Pastoral care and counselling (urgent cases) ministry gone, we had to ask ourselves, “What does the LORD require of us?” • Social outreach (financial assistance, distribution of essential goods etc.) But God had planned 2020 well in advance for us, forcing long-awaited rethinks in some areas of ministry, Weekday discipleship has also increased in significance but in many ways strengthening existing Methodist and frequency: priorities, principles and practices. This is a sketch of • Daily devotions on social media (written and video) how COVID-19 has affected Wesley MC, how it might look post-circuit breaker, and how Wesleyan principles • Church-wide synchronised prayer can guide us forward. (on Wednesday nights) • Meetings with ministry committees, leaders and volunteers |12 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

Yet it would be wrong to think that what we have not “Checking-in” is something everyone can do. We have had done is therefore not essential. In fact, our deep longing Small Group Challenges in which members bought food for to resume these activities indicate their importance to the each other, and even exercised together. During our online life of the church: services, we pause the video to text five friends for our virtual greeting time. • Physical gatherings (for corporate worship, camps, fellowship etc.) Health is all aspects—spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical! Small Group members help to keep each • Presence with fellow believers other fit through an exercise challenge (through bereavements, illness and hardship etc.) I pray this proactive “check-in culture” will become a permanent feature of our church communities. Many • In-person outreach struggles in our world are invisible, hidden in broken homes (through youth/elderly centres, mission trips etc.) and with broken hearts. Their burdens can be lessened with an outstretched hand and a listening ear. • And many more! “Virtual (is) reality” I personally hope the shift to “weekday discipleship” will continue. While weekend activities will always take up In the first days of the outbreak, we suspended many significant time and energy, the “everyday” should have courses and meetings in a “wait and see” approach. We increased focus even after the circuit breaker if we are to felt that “online” ministry would not have the same quality make true disciples of Christ. as “in-person” ministry. However, as the situation worsened, we realised that “Check-in culture” doing something was better than doing nothing at all, and restarted many meetings and ministry online. In the We are all now every familiar with using our mobile process, we found that online experiences could still be phones to “check-in” at shops and malls. We also use meaningful for our spiritual growth. these devices to “check-in” with our loved ones to make For example, we initially suspended our weekly staff sure they are doing well. devotions and corresponded via WhatsApp instead. However, as we familiarised ourselves with video Our church also decided to “check-in” with Wesleyans by conferencing, we reinstated groups meeting online. Seeing initiating “Call to Care”, an exercise where we mobilised each other’s faces and hearing familiar voices certainly 138 staff and volunteer “Care Ambassadors” to call every made working from home a lot less mundane! person in our membership database. The phone calls were well received, and we were able to identify members’ pastoral needs, update them on our church’s online activities, and share joy with them. Wendy Tan, a Care Ambassador, said, “At first I was a little apprehensive, but I soon got the hang of it. Those that I called expressed appreciation and it was heartening to learn that most were holding up well! One told me about her joy of cooking for the family. Another who as working from home realised she now had more time in the evenings, and wanted to join a Small Group. I am glad I volunteered for this, although it took courage. I found that God can use me in ways I had never expected.” The Wesley Cares info sheet informing members of contact points and online ministry as we conducted our “Call to Care” |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 13

What does the LORD require of us? I see online ministry continuing to complement our usual Blessing packs for Cleaners forms of ministry in a post-circuit breaker world. Whether and Thank You Cards for they are in-person or virtual, our bonds are genuine because the Holy Spirit makes us God’s family across space Healthcare Workers as small and time, just as they were with the New Testament gestures of appreciation churches who corresponded over distance; we join them in longing to see each other in person once again. for little and big things that people do for our country “The Wesleyan way” Social outreach is non-negotiable in Methodist practice. It is “By religion, I mean the love of God and Man baked into to our constitution in the Book of Discipline. It is exactly what God requires of us in Micah 6:8, to “do justly” filling the heart and governing the life.” and to “love mercy”. They are not things to do “after” we have done the essentials, but are themselves essential. —John Wesley, “Of Former Things” “What does God require?” John Wesley saw faith as wholly involved from the inward heart to the outward life, expressed through works of Yet if there is one thing that should carry on long after this piety (loving God) and works of mercy (loving man). A season, it is the last injunction to “walk humbly” with God, and complete Christian life involves all at once. to place our utter reliance and dependence on Him at all times. So while many Methodist churches have seen reductions in This was a time of great uncertainly, and following in the offerings, and it would have been tempting to focus solely tradition of the New Testament Church, this was a season on our own congregational needs, I have been heartened of many “pastoral letters” from our leaders, through video to see many of our churches make it a point to devote and the written word. Our leaders in our churches openly resources to help the needy in society. acknowledged our initial unpreparedness for this situation, and exhorted us to direct our gaze and reliance on Christ. Wesley MC has continued to support the community, They explained how our church would continue to be especially migrant workers, through existing and new faithful, and asked for prayer and unity. partnerships, such as adopting two dormitories through the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach. We have also No matter the situation, may our “phase one” always commissioned a “COVID-Acts of Kindness” task force involve looking to God first and asking Him to guide us to identify specific needs and how we can bless others, each step of the way as we submit our lives to His hands. including frontline and healthcare workers. This is the most “essential service” we must perform if we are to be true disciples of Christ. No matter what happens, the best of all is that God is with us! T h e A l p h a S i n g a p o r e team is continuing to equip practitioners who want to run Alpha, so more people can learn about Share Jesus! However, fundraising activities have been severely affected due to the current Covid-19 situation. T he G ift Would you consider giving in support of the Alpha ministry today? Your gift to Alpha Singapore goes towards helping people share Jesus, the greatest gift. And their gift to you will put a smile on your face! Alpha Singapore has partnered with several local brands to send Blessing Packs to all who pledge to donate $50 monthly for a year. Love what you receive in the Blessing Packs? Offer more support to these brands by gifting their products to your family, friends, or Alpha guests! To donate, please visit: http://singapore.alpha.org/sharethegift You can choose to give a one-time donation of $600 or give $50 over a period of 12 months. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.

News ¢ By the MCS Communications Team / Photos courtesy of CYC Tailor/CYC Made to Measure CYC: 300k masks for migrants A household name since 1935, CYC Made to Measure is a homegrown tailor helmed by managing director Fong Loo Fern, who is also the chairperson of Methodist Welfare Services (MWS). W ith the spread of COVID-19, many of CYC’s projects in China stalled due to work stoppages. Singaporeans also stopped shopping for work wear. Business levels at CYC plunged by 80 per cent. The staff, including Loo Fern, took salary cuts. It pleaded with landlords to reduce their rent in order to stay afloat. Three weeks before the circuit breaker, as Loo Fern was Designer Chia Link Kwee reflecting on a friend’s idea to sew masks for charity, the sewing a reusable mask. Holy Spirit prompted her to donate these masks to migrant The team has researched and workers. Soon after, the CYC team began researching and prototyped many different prototyping mask designs. The prompting turned out to be designs for the best possible fit. perfectly timed. This was how the 300k Masks for Migrants initiative was born. The CYC team believes in zero- waste and has stored up high- A call for volunteers was posted on CYC’s Facebook page. Within a day, it received an overwhelming response. quality fabrics left over from The project had more than enough volunteers, including producing their tailored shirts. detainees referred by the Singapore Prison Service, to help These are now put to good use with the sewing. The response to the mask-making initiative was completely unexpected; it was also heartening to see for making reusable masks. an outpouring of goodwill from Singaporeans from all walks of life. Batches of pre-cut mask kits ready for delivery to sewing CYC continues to make corporate-friendly reusable masks volunteers. Each mask kit (incorporating a water-repellent anti-viral filter) from their contains 300 fabric masks. renowned Egyptian Cotton shirt fabrics, which are sold on its website. The sales help to support the Masks for Migrants initiative too. Like all other businesses, CYC has had to adapt swiftly to keep up with COVID-19 measures. Loo Fern describes feeling like falling into a deep chasm at times. Nevertheless, the team has buckled down and found new ways to diversify their business. Reminding everyone to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding (Prov 3:5), Loo Fern said: “When we are in a storm, it can get scary and our faith is tested. But, if we trust in the Lord and remain positive, we can overcome. It is really important to know where we can draw strength from.” |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 15

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Welfare Services ¢ By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services As we obey, HE enables Providing healing to the dying When Edmund Tan was approached by a friendly face This is the mission of the MWS palliative team—to provide at the nursing home where his wife, Winnie, was quality of life for patients with life-threatening illnesses, and serving as a volunteer befriender, to serve as well, to support their caregivers—physically, psychosocially and he gently protested. “No, no, I can’t do it. I don’t have any spiritually. Regardless of their stage of life or condition of experience in healthcare. Besides, I’m quite shy myself.” health, everyone deserves dignity and holistic care to the end. It has been 10 years since that fateful encounter. Today, MWS Assistant Chaplain, Chua Chiew Poh, weighs in: “Some 71-year-old Edmund and 62-year-old Winnie are active patients may be declining physically but we see improvements befrienders to the chronically ill and elderly sick served in them spiritually and emotionally. Others suffer from by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) through its nursing incurable degenerative illnesses, yet became more resilient. homes and home care & home hospice service. Through the songs that we play for them, prayer support and recounting the blessings in their lives, patients sometimes “It was God at work,” Winnie said about Edmund’s change discover new meaning. Despite the physical pain and suffering, of heart. He had been feeling quite low at one point in some of them radiate peace and, in certain cases, joy as well. time because of health issues. But God sustained him and, Spiritual care and love are what complete palliative care.” in thanksgiving, Edmund decided to take up that invitation to volunteer. As Edmund reflected on his befriending journey, he said, “We had started on this thinking that because we have been so As a nurse clinician, Winnie had thought that serving as blessed, we should also bless others. Eventually, we found a befriender to the elderly sick was a natural thing to do. ourselves blessed many times over.” Winnie agreed: “God Yet, she confessed that it was not so much her healthcare is love and His love is unconditional. I want to be more like professional experience that had given her any advantage. Him. All we need is to surrender and He will use us.” Instead, it was God who multiplied the impact of her gift with people when she simply obeyed His commandment to love MWS is one of only a few charities in Singapore that her neighbours. She thanks God for enabling the genuine runs an integrated home hospice and home care exchange and many deep connections she has made. service for chronically ill and frail people. The suite of services provided include: The couple, who worships at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, remembers the first person they were assigned to. • home-based palliative care “An elderly gentleman was fighting late-stage cancer. We • medical and nursing care found out that his family was embroiled in conflict, and • therapy he was a non-believer. During our visits, we would chat • assisted showering and sing with him. Sometimes, all I did was hold his hand • diaper changing and just be there. When he eventually passed, we were • grooming thankful to see the peace on his face,” Winnie recalled. • light housekeeping • elder-sitting or respite care She also shared about a 96-year-old lady who loved to chat and tease her with cheeky Cantonese riddles and rhymes. Find out how you can contribute to “The times we spent together were wonderful and filled MWS Home Care & Home Hospice with laughter. She reminded me of my late mother.” www.mws.sg As professionals in hospice service would attest, what Edmund and Winnie have been doing is an extension of the [email protected] psychosocial and spiritual support offered in palliative care. For those facing end of life, their need to find meaning in suffering, and to regain peace and mental strength becomes even greater and stronger. Listening to their stories is as critical as managing physical pain and symptoms. |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 17

Missions ¢ Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng is the Field & Church Engagement Director in MMS, and the MMS Area Director for Thailand and Vietnam. He worships at Charis Methodist Church The laity and its place in the Church A disciple is one who responds to Jesus’ call to The obvious difference between the work and fruit of follow Him. Jesus said, “If anyone would come the Holy Spirit in each believer’s life: the work of the after me, let him deny himself and take up his Spirit is the direct result of the Spirit’s active ministry; cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The challenge is the fruit of the Spirit is the outcome of His indwelling for all who are called by God to take their faith seriously, and our yielding to Him. Galatians 5:17–23 tells of the grow as disciples of Christ, and not be content to be sharp contrast between the works of the flesh and fruit of merely pew warmers but true believers who know and the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit (nine of them) is spoken serve the will of God. of in the singular, signifying the oneness of the fruit. The believer is not complete until he manifests all nine There is a divine blueprint for each and every one of graces—a journey of sanctification. For every believer, God’s people, which is suited to our personalities, talents, sanctification is the will of God (1 Th 4:3, KJV), a subject needs, potentialities and environment. God has ordained so important that it (and holiness) is mentioned 1066 certain specific tasks and works for each individual times in the Bible. believer (Eph 2:1). We are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1), and there is a At conversion, the believer receives the justified life—he different race for each one of us. Paul “finished [his] is made righteous. This is followed by a consecrated life, course” (2 Tim 4:7, KJV) when he fulfilled his ministry by during which we acknowledge the Lord’s ownership of our completing his work. lives: “Ye are not your own… bought with a price” (1 Cor 6:19—20, KJV). At the altar of consecration, we yield our lives and our wills to the Lord but we cannot live in a vacuum. Our lives must be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18), who is our teacher and counsellor, and He will anoint us with power and for understanding God’s truth. |18 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

The layman’s place in the Church Effective ways for laity to be involved in the Church One reason for the failure of some new covenant churches is that they become one-man affairs or are run by pastoral Christ is the Head of the body and we are members of His central teams. The pew-sitter leaves the work of evangelism, body. “The Head, from whom the whole body, nourished preaching, worship, teaching and visitation of members to and knit together through its joints and ligaments, the pastors. But God’s order has always been that every grows with a growth that is from God.” (Col 2:19; Eph believer should be a witness: “you will be my witnesses in 1:22—23). As members of the body, we are created to Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of worship God and to glorify Him on the earth (Eph 1:4–6); the earth” (Acts 1:8). John Wesley said of evangelism, that to evangelise the world with the Gospel (Matt 28:19– “we are all at it and at it always”, a perspective that drove 20); to teach and instruct Christians (Ephesians 4:11–15); the Moravian and Wesleyan revivals. and to witness constantly (Acts 1:8). Stephen and Philip were the first two deacons elected in There are many ways the layman can participate in the early Church, and their influence over the Church was and contribute to the Church as His workman created perhaps more than that of any others besides Peter and to do good works. Besides keeping fellowship with Paul. Stephen was just a layman, and he did great wonders God, we must also keep fellowship with other believers because he was “full of faith and power” (Acts 6:8, KJV). and make constant contacts with the unsaved, wait for Stephen’s life and death had an incalculable effect upon opportunities to witness to them and invite them to the history of the world in his influence upon Saul of Tarsus. be saved. One effective way of maintaining fellowship The leaders in the synagogue “could not withstand the with other Christians is through small group ministry. wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” (Acts Here are some ways we can be effective layman in our 6:10). Their anger flared into murderous hatred. Stephen respective churches: was the first martyr of the Christian Church. • Encourage your pastors so that they may keep on A layman is not of the clergy but the laity—an ordinary fighting the battle actively as they too may become member of the church. Revival and church spiritual discouraged. growth are necessary to get the ordinary church member to do personal evangelism and church ministry work. The • Organise Bible study classes or book studies in your reason that we find personal involvement not forthcoming church or at home for new converts. is that we are spiritually cold. Therefore, it is fitting and necessary for each church member to be active for Christ. • Be actively involved in mission work at home or abroad The Lord asks us to use the talents that He has given us. to bring God’s love and blessing to the unsaved, poor, As we use our talents, they and others will develop—the and needy. man with five talents gained five more (Matt 25:15). • Teach in Sunday School. In the mission fields of the Methodist Missions Society (MMS), many indigenous churches are run by the • Invite others to Christian campaigns, rallies or pastor alone, with a handful of untrained and unskilled evangelistic events like the Alpha Course. Don’t be helpers. In the past two years, MMS has intentionally discouraged if they don’t come. Be cheerful and keep implemented and intensified the equipping and inviting them again. training of our laity in the various fields. However, the process can be better reinforced with the participation • Equip yourself to share with a pre-believer and bring of our Methodist churches in Singapore. The active them to Christ. participation of the laity in churches and church planting (evangelism) is critical in helping churches to • Be a counsellor or helper. Be willing to share your experience healthy and balanced church growth. We will testimony. then be able to see the realisation of more and more Great Commission churches that are self-sustainable • Stand in the gap to pray for the church, pastors and in due course, similar to what the Methodist churches church leaders. Join the intercessory prayer group. experienced 200 years ago. • Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, and visit the sick and prisoners. (Matt 25:34–36) • Finally, do what we can, as best as we can, all the time. |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 19

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. Being in limbo A s I write this, Singapore is just coming out of I know that eating shellfish upset my stomach, I should its circuit breaker, a period of unprecedented stop doing so. But what happens when our need for measures of enforced social distancing. Even when neat explanations is not met and we feel that our world the post-circuit breaker phase three ends, life as we know is unpredictable? We should not throw our hands up in it will have changed. We have been told to be prepared despair. Instead, let us hold on to the belief that the One for a “new normal”. What this may mean and how long it who created all things has His reasons for why things will last is uncertain. I call this being in limbo—a tentative happen; that He is in control and has not abandoned us state of being in-between, neither in the situation of the to our own devices. And importantly, that we are still past nor in some desired state of the future. His beloved. For many, this limbo state is not a comfortable one. Then there are individuals who tend towards a persecuted It imposes restrictions on our freedom and calls for mentality, always feeling the world has something against adjustments. It robs us of our sense of control over our them. Such a view, if not moderated with reality, can lives. It is also uncomfortable because we do not know lead to a sense of heightened anxiety, insecurity or an how long it will be. embittered personality. If your life feels somewhat beyond your control and in To free ourselves from such negative views, what limbo, here are some suggestions. perspective should we adopt instead? We should not bury our heads in the sand or feel that the problems are Firstly, acknowledge that this situation is not of your doing. just too big for us. Doing nothing at all makes us feel It is not your fault, or even that of your favourite scapegoat. completely helpless. Instead, take up the challenge to be Accept it as an act of God, which basically means that there part of the solution, no matter how big or small a part it is no one to blame for it (conspiracy theories aside). may be. So, if we cannot meet one-on-one, we can meet online. If we are saddened by the fact that some have Secondly, do not attribute its negative impact solely to lost their jobs, we can offer practical or material help. This yourself. This is a pandemic, infecting millions and affecting virus cannot block us from doing all this; the only virus the livelihood of many more millions around the world. You that can stop us is taking a defeatist stance. are not singled out or targeted. Being in limbo does not have to mean living on the Why is adopting these perspectives important? Well, brink of disaster. It could mean embracing life with fresh we usually try to find explanations and causes for bad opportunities, if only we let go of what we have known things that happen to us. This is a survival response—if and accept what the future brings. |20 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

Hymns & Songs ¢ Justin Yeo and Leong Shengyu serve in the worship and music ministry of Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church. Even in the valley EVEN IN THE VALLEY Verse 1 Into the valley I stumble, Afflicted I am, in every way. Engulfed by fear, my courage crumbles, O Lord—my only strength this day. Verse 2 Here in the valley I’m broken, Defenceless I am, no end in sight. I toil in vain, my spirit shaken, O Lord—my only hope this night. Refrain Even in the valley I will worship You, Even in the valley I will wait on You, Even in the valley I will follow You, In the valley, Lord, I will. Bridge One day O Lord, You’ll lead me home, From the valleys, to Your embrace. No tears, no death and no more pain, I’ll see Your glorious face! Now… (return to Refrain) Words and Music: Justin Yeo and Leong Shengyu The English version is available at: https://youtu.be/7VEjV_o3uJc The Chinese version is available at: https://youtu.be/TgKPIlm3Osg |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 21

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) The digital Church? “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. T he coronavirus pandemic has brought about if this medium is to be used responsibly. What are some unprecedented disruptions to the life and ministry issues and concerns surrounding the digitalisation of the of churches across the globe. This has led churches Church and her ministry? with access to digital technology to exploit their various offerings in innovative ways, such as conducting Sunday One of the most basic considerations, it seems to me, services online. has to do with a theological assessment of digital technology itself. Given the sudden onset of COVID-19, many churches have hitherto taken a pragmatic approach to From the Christian perspective, digital technology— technology, experimenting with its capabilities like all other forms of modern technology—is a tool and utilising whatever works well for them. This is that the Church can and should use to advance the understandable since churches were forced to make gospel. With remarkable prescience, Pope John Paul VI quick adjustments as governments rapidly issued a wrote in his Apostolic Exhortation (1975)—almost two slew of restrictions. decades before the advent of the Internet—that “The Church would feel guilty before the Lord if she did not However, deeper reflection is needed on the role of utilise these powerful means that human skill is daily digital technology in the life and ministry of the Church, rendering more perfect.”1 和散那治丧服务 Hosanna Bereavement Services Your one-stop bereavement and funeral-related services For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Hosanna Bereavement Services Pte Ltd (A Subsidiary of the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd) Block 4 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Industrial Park #01-1333 Singapore 319056 Tel: 6259-4560 Fax: 6259-4095 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hosannabereavement.com.sg 24-Hour Helpline: Contact Ricky Guok @ 6352-7797

However, the Church must at the same time be cognisant The coronavirus pandemic, however, has led churches of the fact that technology is never simply a tool here to explore something quite novel (pun intended), controlled by its users. Philosophers such as Martin namely, online services. Through pre-recorded or live- Heidegger2 and theologians like Antonio Spadaro3 have streamed services, Christians have had to learn how to perceptively shown that technology also influences worship together, remotely. society and culture in subtle but profound ways. Now, we must acknowledge that digital technology “Technology,” write Maggi Savin-Baden and John Reader, has in some important ways mitigated the disruptions “is not something out there or detached from us that we brought about by COVID-19. It has enabled churches here happen to employ when it suits our purposes to do so, and elsewhere to maintain some semblance of stability it is always already part and parcel of what we are and and continuity in these extraordinary times. might become as humans.”4 However, some are worried that Christians may be so The Church must never be naïve about the power of bewitched by the convenience of technology that online ubiquitous technology to shape our culture and change services will become the norm, post COVID-19. These our perspectives about our world and about what it concerns are not misplaced. means to be human. In a similar vein, the Church must be wary of how digital technology and the culture it Here is where theological wisdom is needed for creates can influence and sometimes distort her self- principled practice. understanding as the body of Christ. God has ordained the body of Christ such that the This means that while the Church must embrace physical presence of its members is an important if not digital technology as God’s gift, she must never do integral aspect of its communal life. so uncritically. She must always use technology in a theologically prudent and principled manner. This means that while online services have indeed proved to be a useful (if inadequate) means of mitigating the Perhaps an example could illustrate what I mean. disruptions caused by the coronavirus, they must be seen as provisional and temporary arrangements, and The churches in Singapore are not new to the world of should never be allowed to become the “new normal”. digital technology. Even before the pandemic, churches They should not be regarded as alternatives to offline here were using technology imaginatively to offer online services, or as their substitutes. sermons, articles, seminars not only to their members but to many “anonymous others” as well. Simply put, Christians should never deliberately choose to worship together remotely when they can do so in the Churches must be encouraged to continue to take full flesh, face-to-face. advantage of digital media in this way as it is a means of bringing the gospel to people who refuse to step into a church building. 1 Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi (“Evangelisation of the Modern World”), para 45. See http://w2.vatican.va/content/paulvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_ exc_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html. 2 Martin Heidegger, The Question of Technology and Other Essays (London: Garland Publishing, 1970). 3 Antonio Spadaro, Cybertheology: Thinking Christianity in the Era of the Internet (New York: Fordham University Press, 2014). 4 Maggi Savin-Baden and John Reader, Technology Transforming Theology: Digital Impacts (Lancashire: William Temple Foundation, 2018), 17. |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 23

TRAC Bible Matters ¢ The Rev Benjamin Fong, a pastor in The Trinity Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore since 2015, is currently appointed to Barker Road Methodist Church. Can we read Proverbs as promises? Preaching through Proverbs is often a preacher’s is no guarantee that our immediate experience will match worst nightmare. What appears to be a collection of that of the overall human experience. As an expression of a pithy sayings, with no clear thematic progression of general rule, one would expect certain exceptions to pop up thought, presents a formidable challenge of linking how in the course of our lives, their existence thereby proving the these observations of everyday life contribute to the bigger general rule (also a secular proverb!).6 message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, it is precisely because these Instagram-worthy sayings have this-worldly We can therefore conclude that Proverbs cannot be read concerns that they have the power to make concrete the life as promises that will hold true in every situation. If we are of abundance Christ came to give. looking for promises on that level, we had best continue our fool’s errand elsewhere. But if the prospect of discovering This leads us to the question: can the sayings in Proverbs be how Proverbs can be understood as promises in a much more taken as promises from God? As is often frustratingly the case realistic, bounteous sense appeals to you, read on. with theology, the answer is both a yes and a no, depending on what one means by the term “promise”. Tremper Longman III helpfully warns of the dual pitfalls of absolutising and isolating these sayings.7 One simply cannot At its most basic level, the question asks whether what assume that each saying in Proverbs will always hold true in Proverbs says will literally come to pass in our immediate every situation, nor can we look at these sayings in isolation circumstance. Will I experience abundant riches if I use what I from the rest of Proverbs and Scripture. The same applies to have for God’s purposes?1 Will we never go hungry if we obey all of Scripture, but it is especially so for Proverbs because it is God?2 Will the wicked submit to us? Will accumulating riches in actuality poetry masquerading under the guise of a casual bring us more friends?3 observation of the world. It is less a documentary on human life as it is a musical contemplating the human soul. The Problem with Proverbs The Goal of Wisdom Anybody with a reasonable exposure to the reality of human life would quickly realise that these sayings do not always Recognising the difference between poetry and prose is crucial hold true. The wicked do not always fall into their own to rightly interpreting Proverbs. Leland Ryken highlights a schemes; the righteous do not always escape evil with their crucial distinction between poetry and prose. With poetry, the lives intact; and children do not always follow Christ, even form is often key to rightly unpacking its content, serving to when raised by godly parents.4 “set our thoughts and feelings to the right tune”.8 A literal reading is permissible, but we would find ourselves at best The book of Proverbs, like proverbs in general, are “intense short-changed of the depth of meaning, and at worst turned observations of human experience”, and hold true only when into lessons in irony as we become fools applying the wrong we look at the human experience in a general sense.5 There meaning of what was intended. |24 METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020

A brief excursion into the wider genre of Biblical Wisdom The sayings in Proverbs therefore are a promise from God, Literature (which spans not only Proverbs but also Job, the but not in the sense of an immediate fulfilment in every Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs) is therefore situation. The primary promise of Proverbs lies in the necessary. Not unlike the other wisdom traditions of the guarantee that those who walk the path of Wisdom and Ancient Near East, Wisdom Literature is concerned with “the choose Christ over the gods of this world will experience a skill of living”: how we behave in various situations, how we life of beauty, goodness and truth. That beauty, goodness respond to other people, and how we handle the challenges and truth will not always be experienced in every situation of life.9 Unlike the wisdom traditions of the ancient world, hardly negates this promise. If anything, it strengthens the Wisdom Literature adds the crucial theological lens that promise, because it gives the assurance that the God who life is lived before God. Life is not a spontaneous series is still in control will fulfil these promises—if not in this of unfortunate events; nor are we the sole masters of life then in the one to come. Bruce Waltke, a man who has our fates. Rather, the Creator of all in existence remains spent a large part of his life studying the Wisdom literature, intimately involved in the workings of this world, and as its thus asserts that while Proverbs has to do with observations designer, this Creator holds the blueprints for living rightly of human life, its promises extend “beyond life”.15 according to his design. Proverbs trains us to look beyond this life and re-order Bernard Anderson, identifies Proverbs 9:10 as the our lives not around ourselves and our circumstances, summary statement of Israel’s epistemology of ethics— but around Christ who is Himself the true centre of all “knowledge does not lead to faith, but faith is the existence.16 Those who walk this path will thereby find prerequisite for understanding”.10 Wisdom literature wisdom along the way, and finally come face to face with teaches us both that there is a God who has instituted the one whom Wisdom personifies. Making this choice frees a kind of order in the world, as well as how we can live us from the self-destructive path of folly, because it sets rightly within that order.11 us free from the biggest idol of them all—ourselves. Only when our hearts are healed from our “disordered loves” As part of Wisdom literature, the sayings in Proverbs will we experience the promised life, as the apostle James cannot be divorced from the theological conviction that would note centuries later in his epistle.17 God is sovereign, and that we are consequently obligated to live our lives according to a divinely ordained pattern. We should not disparage Proverbs because the promise it This pattern, characterised by what is beautiful, good offers shapes us, in the grand tradition of Wisdom Literature, and true, is contrasted with the antithesis of God— to respond rightly to new situations that occur even if they characterised by corruption, evil and falsehood. Proverbs are not explicitly addressed within Scripture; this is done by transplants the reader to stand at the crossroads between “condensing” into broad generalisations “patterns that tend these two dialectic choices, personified in the persons of to repeat themselves”. We therefore should read Proverbs Wisdom and Folly. Adding to the metaphor of the journey as promises—but first be clear about what those promises of life and the necessary choice between two diverging entail. May we all choose wisdom, and thereby find life.17 paths, the reader is urged to choose to walk the way of Wisdom over the way of Folly.12 The views expressed in this article are personal and might not necessarily reflect the official position of The Methodist Church in Singapore. This version of The Promise Follows a Choice the article has been edited for brevity. The full article can be found at http:// www.trac-mcs.org.sg/index.php/resources/bible-matters?layout=edit&id=253 Just as Wisdom serves as a literary device to represent the cause of God, Folly becomes another literary device 1 Prov 3:9–10 (NRSV). representing the opposing team—the gods of Israel’s pagan 2 Prov 10:3. neighbours. Proverbs thus serves as a polemic challenge 3 Prov 19:4. against the claims of these pagan gods on the hearts of Israel. 4 Prov 5:22; 10:16; 22:6. Proverbs 9:3, 14 describes Wisdom and Folly both as living 5 Tremper Longman III and Raymond B Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament at the city’s high places—locations reserved, in the customs (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 270–271. of the Ancient Near East, for a city’s patron god.13 The choice 6 Leland Ryken, Short Sentences Long Remembered: A Guided Study of Proverbs and presented before the reader, then, is less about the condition Other Wisdom Literature (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), 15. of the mind as it is about the heart. It is first and foremost a 7 Longman and Dillard, 276–77. clarion call for the reader to worship God alone. 8 Leland Ryken, ed., The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Classic Devotional Poems (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 15. This summons gains even more force when we consider 9 Tremper Longman III, How to Read Proverbs (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, how closely the incarnate Christ is linked with the person 2002), 14–15. of Wisdom at Creation. In his gospel, John uses wisdom 10 Bernhard W. Anderson, Contours of Old Testament Theology (Minneapolis, MN: language to describe the pre-existence and divinity of Fortress Press, 2011), 263; Gerhard von Rad, Wisdom in Israel (London: SCM Press Ltd, Christ, closely associating Him with wisdom, but stopping 1972), 67–68. short of a complete equation (since that would bring us 11 Anderson, 264. down the rabbit hole of Arianism, the heresy that Christ 12 Prov 2:20. is a created being).14 As those who have encountered the 13 Longman and Dillard, 275. most tangible manifestation of the transcendent God, 14 Prov 8:22–31; John 1:1–5. Christians are all the more called to make the choice of 15 Longman, 90. walking the path of Wisdom over that of Folly, choosing 16 Ibid., 55; Colossians 1:15–20. Christ over the gods of this world. 17 James 3:15–4:1; cf. St. Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions, trans. Maria Boulding, The Works of Saint Augustine (Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2008), 1.1.1. 18 Walter C. Kaiser, Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003), 84. 19 Prov 10:16. |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 25

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THINK ¢ The Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn is the Director of Graceworks, a ministry committed to promoting spiritual friendship in church and society. Are you a neighbour? T wo of the most special people Bernice [Lee, my the gospels are also clear that we know a tree by its wife] and I have gotten to know recently are fruits (Matt 7:15–20). The implication is that the two Abraham and Cheng Yu, who had been called go together: one cannot claim to love God if one does by God to feed the homeless. We were so inspired by not also love one’s neighbour. their ministry. Jesus is also teaching other lessons through this parable. It may come as a surprise to some of us that there That He makes a Samaritan the hero of the story is are homeless in Singapore, and that they have scandalous. Jesus’ audience would have been Jewish, basic needs like that of food. One study puts the and the Jews in His time looked down on Samaritans number of homeless in Singapore at around 1,000.1 as a second-class race. By making the Samaritan the How should followers of Jesus respond to those who hero, Jesus is saying that race is not what defines a are homeless? person—what is important is that a person loves both God and neighbour. The truth is that, in times of crisis, like the present COVID-19 pandemic, we tend to look inwards. This is Furthermore, if the victim were a Jew, it meant that understandable since we need to comprehend what is the Samaritan was helping someone from a race that happening and survive the crisis. Still, God’s command had deemed him second-class all his life. To love our remains: that we love our neighbour as ourselves. In neighbour as defined by Jesus means we may have to fact, times of crisis are when followers of a Messiah care for people who have hurt us, and to love people who saved through the Cross show their “true colours”. that we might find difficult to love. The significance of loving your neighbour Finally, we see Jesus turning the law expert’s question on its head. The expert had asked, “Who is my neighbour?” Most of us have heard the story of the Good Samaritan Who deserves to be loved? Jesus ignores the question (Luke 10: 25–37), possibly so many times it may be but instead asks, “Who is a neighbour?” If you love your overfamiliar. We forget what is at stake here—the neighbour as yourself, you don’t ask who your neighbour question of how one inherits eternal life, which is life is, i.e. who qualifies for my help. Instead, you extend in God’s Kingdom. We know that we are saved by grace help to whomever you can. and we can’t earn our salvation by good works. But |METHODIST MESSAGE — JULY 2020 27

Are you a neighbour? Who are our neighbours? what He wants us to do before embarking on activism that ironically may make us upset with others and with the Lord. It is still useful to note who our neighbours are—if anything, just to keep us honest. And in light of recent The “art of neighbouring” events, we need to remind ourselves that God’s heart is for folks of all races and from all strata of society: Being a good neighbour is something that we do, not • Geographical neighbours: people who live next just something that we feel or even know. At least three times in the Good Samaritan story, we are told to “do” door/nearby; loving God and loving our neighbour.2 How do we know which people in Singapore belong to the Lord? They are • Relational neighbours: people who are in your the ones reaching out to their neighbours. network, e.g. family, friends, colleagues, classmates etc., but who may not live nearby; One evening, Bernice and I had the privilege of hosting a group of Abraham and Cheng Yu’s homeless friends • Special neighbours: for example the homeless, for dinner. It was a very special evening. We made new foreign students/workers who are far from home friends and learnt so much from them. We saw how they and family, the poor, those who struggle with looked out for each other and how grateful they were for special needs, etc. We need to open our eyes to see the most basic of provisions. We have since met some of those in Singapore who need the neighbourly touch them again, and also some of their friends. As is often of God through us. the case, those who bless others are themselves blessed. None of us can do it all. But all of us can do something. We are living in challenging times. These are the times when followers of Jesus can reveal the welcoming heart of Immediately following the story of the Good Samaritan is God by being neighbourly, and by loving our neighbours. the account of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38–42), which I believe teaches us to listen to the Lord and ascertain 1 “Panel to shed light on plight of the homeless in Singapore,” Straits Times, 18 Mar 2020, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/panel-to-shed-light-on-plight-of-homeless-in-singapore. 2 A good resource on how to love one’s neighbour is Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon’s The Art of Neighboring (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012). Registration at our Columbarium Office (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: [email protected]