Methodist Message: August 2017 Issue by Methodist Message

Vol 119 No 8 • AUG 2017

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ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 117/11/2016

MCS Focus: MWS Galvanising Methodists to help under-served pages 12-13

Feature: MCSL – a C.L.A.S.S. act page 15

message.methodist.org.sg

Special Interview Secrets to successful social enterprise pages 16-18

MSM WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM 2017

Learning to live in worship Chye Shu Yi is a member of Methodist Church of the Incarnation.

t the Methodist School of Music (MSM) Worship Symposium held from 15-17 June 2017, participants from many different churches, denominations, and countries came to understand more about spiritual worship, experience different forms and styles of worship, train their skills in leading worship, and encounter God together as a community in worship. Spiritual worship The symposium commenced each morning with a worship service drawing from the great cultural diversity of songs, musical settings and readings from different countries. The sermons and reflections at these services highlighted that worship involves much more than just music; they focused on the elements of true spiritual worship – being a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-8), leading a doxological life in Christ (Psalm 95), and loving God and our neighbours (Mark 12). Understanding the theory and practice of spiritual worship was also at the heart of the three plenary sessions. The first session, ‘Standing on Solid Ground’, was conducted by Dr Lim Swee Hong, the Deer Park Associate Professor of Sacred Music at Emmanuel College and the Director of the Master of Sacred Music programme. He said that as worship is essentially about being and living as God’s people, we should guard against the misconception that there is only one ‘authentic’ form of worship acceptable to God (or that it can only be found in our own church) – there

Participants at one of the many workshops available at the Symposium.

is unity in diversity, and what truly matters in worship are our relationships with God and with one another. Dr Lim also warned against changing the role of music in worship, from a subservient secondary accompaniment to become the driving factor akin to that of a secular performance. The second session, ‘Life as Worship’, was led by Dr Lim, the Rev Dr John Bell, a liturgical composer, preacher, and teacher, and Mr Greg Scheer, music associate at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The speakers called for genuine worshippers in spirit and in truth, who approach God with a broken spirit and contrite heart in surrendering all sense of self and walking in obedience to His commands. They stressed that worship was not only about the final outcome or perceived success – it also involves our process and attitude in getting there. They therefore urged participants to make their entire life their worship to God, reminding them that everything from our worship song lyrics to our daily conduct affect others’ perspectives of who God is. Continued on page 11...

COMING UP

Join Christians here to build a righteous Singapore

he annual National Day Thanksgiving Service returns once more on 17 Aug 2017, calling Christians here to join fellow Singaporeans in celebrating our 52nd National Day, by acknowledging God’s providence and the goodwill that continues to thrive among our people. This year’s theme is “To Build A ‘First World’ Righteousness”, based on Jeremiah 29:4-14 and Matthew 5:13-16. Said the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS), which organises the annual event: “We will also come together to pray for our churches as we seek to be credible witnesses at home and abroad. Our prayers will also include peace and harmony in the region, that God can use Singaporeans from all walks of life to build bridges of understanding throughout South East Asia and beyond.” As in past years, we gather with the desire to pray and worship in unity as a community of believers: clergy and laypeople who contribute to the church and society as politicians, civil servants, and civic and community leaders. The sermon will be given by the Right Revd Rennis Ponniah, President of the NCCS and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, which comprises 27 parishes locally and multiple congregations in six other countries in South East Asia (namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam). Bishop Rennis holds a B. Soc. Sc (Hons) in Sociology from the University of Singapore and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Theological College, Singapore. His great love is to build the people of God to be a growing community that blesses the nations. He is married to Amir and they have four grown-up children (two of whom are married) and a grandson. Come and join Christ’s Body in praying for Singapore – for its continued peace, stability and advancement, and that it will grow in righteousness, being a blessing to the nations. n

National Day Thanksgiving Service 2017 17 Aug 2017 (Thursday), 7.45 p.m. (please be seated by 7.35 pm) St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 11 St. Andrew’s Road, Cathedral New Sanctuary Organised by the National Council of Churches of Singapore. Note: Limited parking lots at St. Andrew’s Cathedral grounds – alternative parking at Raffles City and The Adelphi. Light refreshments will be served after the Service. For more information, contact NCCS office at 6336-8177 or admin@nccs.org.sg

Artwork courtesy of National Council of Churches of Singapore

CORRECTION

We apologise for an error in MM July’s book review on Churches and Missions Agencies Together (P21) – the Rev Dr Ivan Liew is missions pastor at Woodlands Evangelical Free Church, not Covenant Evangelical Free Church (Woodlands).

The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated. Our address

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Let us have your views

Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Sze Chern, Chairperson, Council on Communications Editor Ms Grace Toh Sub-editor Ms Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Mr Jason Woo

Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg and if appropriate, your contribution could be published.

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

Social action is integral to Methodism 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 for two quadrennia from 2008 to 2016.

t was the conviction of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, that a Christian’s mission on earth is to love God and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (Mark 12:28-34). The former refers to love of a religious nature, involving the spiritual disciplines which include personal Bible study, prayer, joining in church fellowship, fasting, participating in Holy Communion, and worship services. These behaviours are norms of devout and God-fearing Christians, that we may continually express our love towards God. However, these alone are insufficient to meet the standards of being a Methodist, as set by John Wesley. He asserted that one who loves God would bear practical fruit in his or her life, i.e. loving one’s neighbours. This involves reaching out to build interpersonal relationships and interactions with the community, naturally providing practical opportunities for Christians to demonstrate our views and positions with regard to current events and issues. Of course, our Christian standpoint and opinions must be based on Biblical principles. This is explicitly stated at the very beginning of the section on Social Principles in The Book of Discipline (BOD) of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS): “Christian social responsibility is rooted in the teachings of the Bible. It is an integral part of the Gospel which the Church is expected to proclaim, uphold and follow.” (BOD ¶81.1) In addition: “Since Jesus died and was raised from the dead for the redemption of all people, we believe we should live to help save humanity from sin and from every influence which would harm or destroy a person. All institutions and practices will be tested by their effect upon persons.” (BOD ¶82.4) The Methodist Church’s participation in social action in Singapore dates back to 1885, alongside the start of the Methodist missionary ministry here. In the same year, a school was set up, not only to provide education, but also to help the locals break out of poverty. Today, the 13 educational institutions set up by the MCS continue to fulfil the Church’s social mission. In the 132 years since its founding, our Methodist General Conference and local churches have established several institutions and organisations of social care and support. These include the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd, Methodist Welfare Services, convalescent homes, hospices, family service centres, children’s care centres, seniors’ activity centres, tuition centres, free medical services, services for foreign workers etc. Besides setting up these social service organisations and institutions, the MCS has also published our positions on important social issues, such as in the area of life sciences and the definition of family and marriage. As a founder member of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, the Methodist Church participates actively in national inter-religious dialogues and events in support of religious harmony. The Church works closely with other faiths in building the multi-religious society of Singapore. Despite all that has been done, more concerted effort is still needed in many areas, such as helping the poor, needy and underprivileged. Many in our society have been unable to keep pace with Singapore’s accelerated growth and development, and have fallen behind. The rapidly aging population is also

presenting new challenges to family and society; rising rates of those afflicted with dementia, and providing support for children with special needs are some of the social issues that the Church should also care about and take practical action on. It is clear that we cannot be complacent about our efforts thus far; many of our neighbours are still in great need. “The Methodist Church must view the perplexing times and problems we face today in the light of the life and teaching of Jesus. Jesus teaches us to love our neighbours and to seek justice for all. Silence and passivity in the face of need, injustice and exploitation is to deny Christ.” (BOD ¶82.5) How can you participate in social action? There are many “loving our neighbours” activities and events organised by your own church that you can participate in. You can serve as volunteers, or form a team comprising professionals to serve those with special needs. You could become a sponsor and make regular donations as a practical contribution. You may even serve in the various councils and agencies of our General Conference, or on the boards of the Annual Conferences, or in the committees of local churches. As members of the Methodist Church, we can all participate in social action by giving generously during the Social Concerns Sunday every year. Let us exhort one another with these Scriptures: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17) “…for he who does not love his brother (neighbour) whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20b) n Picture by szefei/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

CHURCH PROFILE

Sembawang Tamil MC:

Bringing care and transformation to the community The Rev Albert Vijay Joseph is Pastor-in-Charge of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church.

embawang Tamil Methodist Church (STMC) was instituted 83 years ago in 1934 by the grace of God. However, its history goes even further back, as the church has been working with surrounding communities around Seletar Naval Base from as early as 1928. In 1940, a school building was erected at 150 Jalan Sembawang Kechil and for the next 52 years, the church worshipped there. In February 1992, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) offered STMC a church site located at Yishun St 11 which we would share with another independent church. The church formally moved into its new premises on 1 Aug 1999. Sharing a building with other churches brings unique challenges, but by God’s grace we are able to address and overcome these challenges, growing in understanding and acceptance of our brothers-and sisters-in-Christ. From our humble beginnings, STMC has grown to about 80 members and we are seeking actively to bolster our ranks.

The vision of STMC is to be an ‘Agent of Transformation’ in the community where we work hard to bring hope and comfort to those who are in need by being salt and light to the community where God has placed us. One of the key ministries of STMC is reaching out to our neighbouring community by regularly visiting some families in nearby blocks. The visits by STMC members would include praying for them, sharing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ, and donating essential provisions to needy families. The families were also invited to attend church services and programmes such as Christmas parties, celebrations for Mother’s and Father’s Days, and the Passion Song Service. We have made successful headway into the community around us and see ourselves as a part of it. At the same time, STMC actively supports Christian missions in countries like Myanmar and Sri

Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) No. 3 Yishun Street 11 (Level 3), Singapore 768645 Sunday Service: 8.30 a.m. Tamil Contact us: Phone: 6257-0116 E-mail: stmcsg@gmail.com Website: www.stmc.org.sg Lanka, through visits and monetary help. We work very closely with the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) boards in our mission work. The last couple of years have seen STMC working towards the Lord’s harvest in Myanmar. Our youths are also very passionate in participating in the various Myanmar mission trips. As a church, STMC emphasises the importance of God’s Word, prayer, and ministry. Our agencies make sure that these three facets are constantly the focus in their meetings. The Word of God strengthens our faith, prayer helps us depend upon God and align our wills with His, while being steadfast in our ministry helps us reach out to others within and beyond the congregation. We sense God’s call to bring up new leaders to serve in the church and the community, to raise up people for full-time ministry, and to touch the lives of our neighbours with the love of Christ. As we look forward to His second coming, we hope to hear from our Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:21, 23, NKJV) n

We continue our series of profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, we may discover more opportunities to forge cross-church partnerships and collaborations. Photos courtesy of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church

SAYS THE ETAC PRESIDENT

Compassion as a way of life The Rev James Nagulan was elected President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) 2016 for the quadrennium. He is also Pastor-in-Charge of Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street) and Seletar Tamil Methodist Church.

ne of the great figures who comes to mind when we talk about serving the marginalised is Mother Teresa. She is a great inspiration to the world. The spirit behind her ministry has been paraphrased as: “Love is not patronising and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same—with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.” Recently, I watched a series of video clips on social media about social action projects. Almost all the videos highlighted how people have become so oblivious to the poor around us. In some cases, the poor shame us by their compassionate response to others who are needy, compared to those who have the means to help. Why is there so much apathy among those who are able to help others? Matthew 25:31–46 is a great passage calling Christians to serve the least, the last, and the lost. It is interesting to compare the responses of those on the King’s right (sheep) and on His left (goats). The message is very simple. Those on the right had acted out of love. It came as a natural response to the least, last, and lost. It was not noticed by others. It was not done to earn some form of credit for themselves. Jesus called them righteous and blessed, and said: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) On the other hand, those on the left were taken by surprise when Jesus condemned them for not doing so. They asked Jesus, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” (Matthew 25:44) Perhaps they had been involved in compassion ministries, but only out of duty and not as a response of love. Thus Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:45) It is not about the “doing” but the “being”. Often we take big groups of people to homes for the aged, children’s homes, halfway houses and such to conduct events on special occasions and during festive seasons. However, these same people who are happy to show love at such events may sometimes

Wesley did much in his time to bring justice, and help the poor. With such history and heritage, we Methodists cannot shy away from this call to social action. miss ministering to their neighbour who is in need. Our compassionate ministry sometimes seems stronger at events, but lacking as a way of life. As church-goers, we have many opportunities to participate in compassion ministries. There are many programmes organised to reach out to the needy. These programmes and events are organised to bring awareness and opportunities to experience the joy of serving with compassion. Take these opportunities to learn and equip yourselves, that compassion may become our natural response to those who are in need of God’s touch of love. John Wesley declared that Christ’s Gospel “knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness”. Though he said this within a context of the need for Christian fellowship and community, it is often quoted to champion social action for the community. Wesley did much in his time to bring justice, and help the poor. With such history and heritage, we Methodists cannot shy away from this call to social action. n

Picture by srubina/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

YOU & YOUR FAMILY

What if ‘This is it?’ 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 in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

“I

t’s the journey, not the destination.” I have had this statement addressed to me time and time again. Recently, a fellow walker said this when he noticed how eager I was to start hiking again after a brief rest. I admit I can be very focused on getting to my destination when travelling overseas. It does not matter what the mode of travel might be. My haste has nothing to do with any discomfort or inconvenience whilst travelling. It has more to do with my determination to get to the location as quickly as possible, and to avoid being lost. I reason that making haste will allow me time, should I find myself lost, to retrace my steps and find my way. Thus I find it hard to be tempted by a travel advertisement that tells me to “Go get lost” – which I suppose would entice more adventurous souls who enjoy exploring off the beaten path. However, being overly focused on hurrying to one’s destination may mean that we miss out on enjoying the journey itself. We do not stop to smell the roses or, in my wife’s case, to take another picture. The scenery will swish quickly by in a blur like the view from the window of a fast-moving train. And more importantly, by hurrying about we may come to feel disconnected with what is around us. On the other hand, destinations exist because they are desirable stops along a journey. Life itself has milestones too, like passing an examination, getting a job or finding a partner. Reaching any destination or objective should give one a sense of satisfaction and achievement. Yet, I have met individuals who journey along with little urgency of reaching a destination. These people are quickly taken by an impulse to pursue a course of study and lose interest in it almost as quickly. Then there are those who switch from one job to another in an attempt to find the perfect job fit, with a long list of what they expect from their work. Therefore, when boredom or drudgery sets

in, they see it as a sign that they are not in the right job. Very often, this relentless search also extends to finding their ‘perfect’ life partners. In fact, some are constantly wondering if there is a ‘better catch’ out there somewhere. I have met a husband in such a situation. He felt bored with his wife and decided to divorce her for another woman. A year later, he came to see me again expressing regret over his decision. We all seem to have a notion that when we have found ‘it’ – be it a job, a life partner, a home, an area of ministry, etc. – we will be perfectly happy, and our restlessness will be quelled. But is this always so? While I am not suggesting that one should throw caution to the wind when making important life decisions, I do want to emphasise that although the process of looking for a right fit is important, being the right person is just as important. Be that loving and appreciative partner instead of expecting our partner to make us happy all the time. Finding the right job is important, but so too is what one learns whilst looking for such a job. Perhaps we should strive to be that employee who gives meaning to what he does instead of finding a job that gives him meaning. And perhaps I should try to be a traveller who enjoys the journey, instead of just the destination. Making this shift in perspective is not always easy, especially for those of us who are anxious or internally restless. I find that I have to consciously tell myself to slow down and not worry about getting lost, and that even if I do get lost, everything will still work out. As believers in Christ, we can adopt this posture when we put our lives into our Lord’s Hands. We can find no safer guide than the One who knows our needs and where we ought to be. n Picture by blas/Bigstock.com

MISSIONS

A bridge to life Tan Li Diang is a Methodist Missions Society missionary in Cambodia and the Coordinator for the Post-COSI Integration Programme.

he Post-COSI Integration Programme (PCOSIIP) in Cambodia was established in 2009. Its objective is to help children from the COSI Children’s Village successfully transition from a sheltered environment back into society. Since then, 15 COSI youths (10 per cent of COSI’s population) have successfully completed the programme, and graduated from universities in various disciplines. Currently, there are 18 students under the PCOSIIP. We thank God for guiding and providing for these children. Many of our PCOSIIP graduates have also found gainful employment. Some of them have even come to hold key ministry appointments in Methodist Missions Society (MMS) ministries. It is indeed a joy to see them moving on in life and starting their own families! (Read about some of them in the sidebar on the right.) As they grow and mature, we pray that they will continue to contribute to their community and society with gratitude for what they have received through Christ. MMS acknowledges the support and prayers of individuals and churches that make the PCOSIIP a meaningful ministry, transforming the lives of these youths and nurturing them as faithful disciples of Christ. n

PRAY for: u Sponsors to continue their support for the work of PCOSIIP. u PCOSIIP youths to manage work and studies well. Most of them want to work to help support themselves, but many courses require full-day studies, leaving no time to work. u The fresh graduates as they seek jobs relevant to their studies.

News from PCOSIIP graduates Tong Hak recently completed his nine-month training with Project Khmer H.O.P.E. and is now doing his internship at the Dara Airport Hotel. Sokna is undergoing a course in Physiotherapy and Sreyla will be studying to be a Laboratory Technician. These two girls began their courses at the University of Health Science in January 2017. Linna Seangly was in her final year in International Relations (IR) when she was awarded a scholarship to read Law in English. She started the four-year course in October 2016, attending classes in the evenings. She is able to cope with her final year in IR as well as doing her evening classes for her Law course, which she is excited about and hopes to do her Master’s degree overseas. Pray for Linna as she is self-driven and hungry for knowledge. She plans to find a job to support herself after completing her IR course, continuing with her Law in English course. Darareaksmey, who was also in her final year of IR studies until September 2016, has started work in the MMSCambodia office since August 2016, and has moved to live and work in COSI. Darareaksmey is happy to serve in the MMS-Cambodia office where she is involved in ministry. She is the Captain of the Girls’ Brigade in the Methodist School of Cambodia (MSC). Sinat Phok completed her studies in Management with the National University of Management in September 2016. She is a capable administrator for Bamboo Foundation. She works in the MMS-Cambodia office and lends support to her colleagues there. Chorvy Keo has joined the teaching staff in MSC from the new academic year which started in October 2016. She is teaching Christian Education (CE) and Khmer language.

Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

HOME

Bringing hope to the nations over 180 years Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his three cats along with a good book.

running theme in the work of the Lord is that He often brings forth mighty movements from small, humble beginnings – a shepherd boy who would one day defeat a giant, win battles, and be king; a baby born in a manger to commoner parents who would go on to be the Saviour of the world, worthy of all our praise. The Bible Society® of Singapore (BSS) started also with a small beginning – a devoted Welsh farm girl’s love and desire for God in 1800. Fifteen-year-old Mary Jones would have never expected that her decision to trek barefoot – for almost 42 kilometres across unforgiving terrain – to a neighbouring town, to buy a Bible after saving up for six years, would so inspire the Rev Thomas Charles that he would go on to create the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) in 1804. The mission of BFBS was to make the Bible readily available, not just in Wales but throughout the whole world. And it was from BFBS that the BSS eventually came into being. 180 years later, the Society still continues to instil hope and comfort through sharing the Word of God across our nation and beyond. The BSS celebrated its 180th anniversary on 4 July 2017 with a concert held at Trinity Christian Centre. The event was graced by the President of Singapore, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam. In his congratulatory message, Dr Tan wrote, “We live in an interconnected world today. While this presents challenges, there are also new opportunities. It is encouraging to see the Bible Society developing new initiatives to bring the Bible to a wider audience. It is also heartening that the Society actively supports overseas

communities with challenging living conditions such as illiteracy, war, and natural disasters.” The two-hour concert saw six different groups coming together, with various performances that showcased the multiracial, multicultural, and multi-denominational aspects of Singapore’s social and church landscape. The items included two full-scale Chinese orchestra pieces performed by the Anglican High School, and an Indian dance segment by My Saviour’s Church Dance Ministry. There were also vocal performances by Ms Jocelyn Ong (of Grace Methodist Church), Christian singer-songwriter Alarice, young choristers aged seven to 19 from Christus Cantores, and 13-year-old Ethel Goh, a classical cross-over singer, who wowed the audience with her rendition of ‘Pie Jesu’. The event was then rounded off with a rousing medley of hymns by the 40-member Amazing Grace Presbyterian Church Adult Choir. Interspersed throughout the concert were re-enactments of experiences faced by the ‘colporteurs’, who were Bible peddlers of religious books and tracts. The ‘colporteurs’, who were active well into the 1960s, often had to travel across dangerous and harsh terrain and territories, in order to spread the Word amongst indigenous communities. Without the hard work of the ‘colporteurs’ and the risks they undertook, the spread of the Bible in the South-East Asian region would have faced tremendous difficulties indeed. Dr Lee Soo Ann, President of the BSS, said: “Truly [God] has acted in making His Word available to the nations in the languages they can understand, formats they can

appreciate, and prices they can afford. God has used Singapore to advance His Kingdom, and we need to treat our continuing responsibility with diligence and perseverance.” Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung of The Methodist Church in Singapore was present during the concert. In his congratulatory message, Bishop Dr Chong wrote, “Looking back on these 180 years evokes the deepest thanksgiving for God’s grace, and appreciation for the unstinting support of the churches towards [BSS’] work.” “Tonight’s concert is the Bible Society’s way to sincerely demonstrate its gratitude towards the churches, and also to express its determination to continue with the original mission faithfully.” n The Inaugural Sower Awards One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the Inaugural Sower Awards 2017. The Awards honour individuals used by God as His channels of blessing in the Bible mission over the years. The Lifetime Achievement Award The late Rev Peter Hsieh, the Bible Society’s first local and longest-serving General Secretary. The Bible Missionary of the Year Award Mr Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt. The Benefactor of the Year Award Mrs Dorothy Chan, the first major supporter of ETHOS InstituteTM for Public Christianity. The Volunteer of the Year Award The women volunteer group from Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church who have been partners in the Bible Mission for almost 30 years. Photo courtesy of The Bible Society of Singapore

HYMNS & SONGS

A cup of water holds God’s fresh grace Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

(The United Methodist Hymnal, #427) Where cross the crowded ways of life, where sound the cries of race and clan, above the noise of selfish strife, we hear your voice, O Son of Man. In haunts of wretchedness and need, on shadowed thresholds dark with fears, from paths where hide the lures of greed, we catch the vision of your tears. From tender childhood’s helplessness, from woman’s grief, man’s burdened toil, from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress, your heart has never known recoil. The cup of water given for you still holds the freshness of your grace; yet long these multitudes to view the sweet compassion of your face. O Master, from the mountainside, make haste to heal these hearts of pain; among these restless throngs abide; O tread the city’s streets again; Till all the world shall learn your love, and follow where your feet have trod, till, glorious from your heaven above, shall come the city of our God! Words: Frank Mason North, 1903 (Mt. 22:9) Music: William Gardiner’s Sacred Melodies, 1815

Picture by Vanilla_soup/Bigstock.com

Dr Yeo Teck Beng is a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.

“A

large city is a place where people are lonely. This loneliness is not the result of an absence of people; rather, it is due to a lack of genuine caring relationships.”1 This was the observation of an American philosopher and naturalist of the 19th century, Henry David Thoreau. We live in an increasingly troubled world and encounter unimaginable human suffering that can feel overwhelming. Many individuals, Christians included, sometimes respond by turning a blind eye to the pain and loneliness we witness around us. In place of practical help, we merely pray for the needy. Yet, we are called to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and tend to the sick in tandem with our charge to share the Good News. Social responsibility and soul winning are intrinsically bound together and constitute an inherent part of the Church’s ministry. ‘Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life’ was written by Frank Mason North (1850-1935), a Methodist minister who served congregations in the American states of Florida, New York, and Connecticut. At the request of the Methodist hymn committee that prepared the 1905 Methodist Hymnal2, the Rev Dr North composed one of the first social gospel hymns that expressed the special needs of American society amidst the increasing urban reality of faceless and uncaring strangers on the streets of New York City. Even though the hymn was written more than 100 years ago, our world today is still divided by the “cries of race and clan” (stanza 1) and haunted by “wretchedness” and “the lures of greed” (stanza 2). Through this hymn, the Rev Dr North urged us to listen to the voice of the Son of Man, and to catch “the vision of [His] tears”. Jesus said, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42, NIV). This was echoed in stanza 4, where the Rev Dr North reminded us that when we offer a “cup of water”, it “holds the freshness of [Christ’s] grace.” In the final stanza, the Rev Dr North’s prayer was that “all the world shall learn [God’s] love”. He looked forward to the day when urban hopelessness would be transformed to reflect the “glorious… city of our God”! May God help us to be a community of faith, sensitivity, and compassion. n

enneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily K Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications, 1990), 312.

ichael Hawn, History of Hymns: ‘Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life’, M available from www.umdiscipleship.org, accessed on 20 June 2017

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METHODIST MESSAGE, AuGuST 2013

MSM WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM 2017 ...continued from page 1

The third session was a panel discussion on worship, culture, and the arts. The discussion covered issues such as how the status of our relationship with God naturally comes forth in our worship, and how worship is not an individualistic pursuit but undertaken together with the church community. The panel spoke candidly about general misunderstandings that artists lead worship because they “just want to perform”, but also stressed that worship leaders should not harbour anything that distracts them or the congregation from God. Ultimately, the reason why spiritual worship is so crucial to the worship service is because we must first walk right with God before we can facilitate others coming to Him. Worship diversity The afternoon sections over the three days of the symposium commenced with sessions exploring music in worship. The sessions ‘What Would Jesus Sing’ and ‘Times and Seasons’, led by the Rev Dr Bell and Dr Joel Navarro, Professor of Music at Singapore Bible College, introduced participants to songs, musical settings, and readings around the world from countries such as Korea, Africa, Germany, and Hawaii. The speakers challenged participants to consider adopting such cross-cultural worship components, in order to help congregations appreciate that these have intrinsically-unique cultural identities, yet also connect their culture to a worldwide community centred on God and His plan for us. Another section, titled ‘Tell Me the Story of Jesus’, was a real-life case study in which Mr Caleb Yap and Mr Aaron Lum from Grace Baptist Church spoke about their experiences in its churchwide project – the GBC Reformation Concert 2016 – to collaborate and celebrate the story of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation in scripture and song. They shared that worship music has the power to help us feel, learn its theology, and become united in Christ through skilful and wise leadership as well as pastoral love. Symposium participants could also choose from a variety of afternoon sectionals, which included the Rev Dr Bell’s ‘The Language and Beauty of the Psalms’, introducing participants to various songs based on the Psalms. The Psalms are especially appropriate for worship as they are rich in theology, and cover a great range of human emotions as well as a variety of subject matters. Greg Scheer said in a separate session that the Psalms should be sung in modern worship as they give us vocabulary to express our faith, connect us to the historic and global church, and disconnect us from our cultural and personal perspectives.

Another insightful sectional was ‘Worship and Culture’ conducted by Dr Lim. He explained that worship is transcultural as it has certain dynamics beyond culture, is contextual as it reflects local cultural characteristics, is countercultural as it resists the idolatries of a given culture, and is cross-cultural as it reflects the fact that the body of Christ transcends time and space. The challenge for us in our uniquely-Singaporean culture is therefore figuring out how to distinguish contextual elements from transcultural elements, and thereby localise our worship without disconnecting ourselves from the global body of Christians. Worship skills The symposium also offered a plethora of workshops to cater to the different aspects of leading worship such as band arrangement, vocals, and specific instruments like guitar and keyboard. More than just skills training, these workshops were a platform for sharing different perspectives and experiences, and a reminder that the role of a worship leader was not performance, but instead a background facilitation of bringing the congregation to worship God. The highlight of the symposium was the Worship Symposium Festival at its concluding evening service, ‘A Life of Joyful Praise’, which was led by the workshop lecturers and involved representatives from the choral conducting, dance, choral arrangement, and songwriting workshops. It was a joy to worship God together with brothers and sisters from different cultures in a celebration of community. Dr Yeo Teck Beng, former Principal of MSM, said: “Life as worship is about us living out the Great Commission, and ascribing glory and honour due to God through worship. Through this Symposium, we hope worship leaders share their experiences and knowledge with each other, and bring back what they learnt to share with their own countries and churches.” n

Photos courtesy of the Methodist School of Music METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

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MCS FOCUS: METHODIST WELFARE SERVICES

Galvanising Methodists to help the By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us...if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8 (NIV) Doing God’s work

ounded in 1981, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) is a multi-service charitable organisation as well as the social concerns arm of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). Embodying the Wesleyan spirit of helping the poor and needy from all walks of life, MWS serves the young and old of all races and religions through 20 centres and various outreach programmes across Singapore. Our vision is to enable all to live life to the full through reducing chronic poverty, alleviating the strains and stresses of modern family life, helping the elderly age in place and live in dignity, nurturing the potential of disadvantaged children, and rehabilitating at-risk youths. Guiding and supporting us in our endeavours is our Patron, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung. In addition, our Board of Governance that consists of elected members of the clergy, leaders and prominent members of the Methodist community leads us in our work.

MWS Family Development Programme beneficiary Mdm Zhou with Hakka Methodist Church volunteer Mr Lim Ka Lai.

Volunteer Ms Tan Chiu Ai conducting a storytelling session at D’Joy Children’s Centre.

Our spectrum of services MWS’ critical services support low-income and/or distressed families, children and youths from low-income families, youths at risk, the destitute, sick and/or frail elderly, and the socially isolated. With a strong focus on those who have fallen through the cracks, our services and programmes are built around a holistic and integrated approach to create sustained positive impact. In FY2015/2016, MWS helped more than 13,000 beneficiaries across five key impact areas: disadvantaged children, at-risk youths, multi-stressed families, socially isolated elderly and migrant workers, and the chronically ill, frail, and destitute. Currently, we are working to fill urgent needs in several gaps in Singapore’s social and healthcare service landscape, especially in eldercare. These needs include a severe shortage of nursing home beds, and inadequate support in helping seniors age in place and with dignity across a spectrum of ages and physical conditions. Addressing these concerns, MWS has doubled our eldercare services in the last two years, including the launch of three new centres in 2017 alone. They are the 197-bed MWS Nursing Home (Yew Tee), and two MWS Senior Activity Centres in Kebun Baru and Pasir Ris. Our two homecare services for chronically ill and frail seniors, Agape Methodist Hospice and MWS HomeJoy, have also joined forces to co-care for patients and support their resourcestrapped caregivers. Another identified area of critical need involves low levels of financial management awareness and social mobility among chronically poor families. For this, we have launched the MWS Family Development Programme (FDP) featuring a main debtand savings-matching component, at a dollar ratio of 1:2 capped at a maximum of $200 a month.

e under-served The MWS FDP is a continuation from the successful GOOD (Getting Out Of Debt) Programme that ran during Singapore’s Jubilee in 2015 and as part of the MCS’ 130th anniversary. It also incorporates new elements like monthly educational bursaries, and provision of milk to babies and pregnant mothers.

MWS Family Development Programme beneficiary Mdm Noorridah (left) with Trinity Methodist Church volunteer Ms Josephine Lim.

Our church partnerships Methodist churches have been an integral part of our work through the past decades. In addition to supporting us in our various donation campaigns, volunteer drives and fellowship events, some churches have also adopted our centres and programmes as their social concerns ministries. Currently 14 of our centres have a partnering church, with members sitting on our Central Governance Committees overseeing each centre’s operations and grassroots matters. Some of our long-standing partner churches are Paya Lebar Methodist Church which adopted Covenant Family Service Centre in 1987; Pentecost Methodist Church which took on Tampines Family Service Centre in 1991; and Christ Methodist Church which came aboard to adopt Christalite Methodist Home in 1997. The General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service is also our partner for our home for troubled youths – Residence @ St George’s. In 2016, MWS launched the MWS Ambassadors (MWSA) initiative to nurture closer relationships and engagement with church members. To date, we have 28 MWSAs from 25 churches. As leaders of the local church social concerns committees, they have been effective and valuable in advocating for MWS, raising awareness, and serving as bridges between MWS and their congregations. One of the longest-running church partnerships originated on the greens. Inaugurated in 1989, Methodist churches have been convening at the MWS Fellowship on the Greens charity golf event every year. In addition to promoting interactions between

Ms Winnie Tiu, a volunteer facilitator with MWS FamilyWorks Community Services’ Rainbows programme, engaging with beneficiary Audrey Fong.

golfers from various Methodist churches, the convening churches have been instrumental in planning and fundraising. MWS is also blessed by collaborations with Hakka Methodist Church and Trinity Methodist Church on the MWS Family Development Programme launched last year. Committed volunteers from these churches have stepped up to befriend and support distressed families placed on the programme. Volunteering pays back As the heart and soul of every charity, volunteers are an essential and much-appreciated group of workers at MWS. However, there is another side to volunteering. Volunteers have constantly told us how much more they gained than they gave: from being more thankful, to growing into better people, to getting inspired and amazed by the bravery and strength that beneficiaries show in the face of adversity. While we have been very fortunate to have the unwavering support and commitment of Methodists who have served tirelessly for years, it is important to have more on board to carry on the work. We can do so much more as a Methodist family! As the Lord said, we will always have the poor. With needs in the community ever-increasing, we are looking for more Methodists to do the Lord’s work. If you would like to serve and bless the poor and needy, we welcome you to join us. n FIND OUT more about our causes at www.mws.sg.

Hakka Methodist Church volunteers Mr Chua Kok Hua and Ms Anne Pang with MWS Family Development Programme beneficiary Mr H’ng and his baby Isabella.

For more information on how you or your church can be involved in volunteering with us, please email ce@mws.sg. If you wish to donate, please visit give.mws.sg. Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

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Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides: * Excep(onal examina(on results; very strong value added achievement; and an all-round holis(c educa(on * 50:50 mix of local and interna(onal teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage * Small class sizes with overall student : teacher ra(o of 8.7 : 1 * 40 diﬀerent CCAs – 16 Spor(ng; 12 Visual and Performing Arts; 12 Special Interest Groups * 25+ overseas trips per year * Over 200 formal student leadership posi(ons * Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IB Diploma programme

For more informa+on, please contact Joseph Ng or Stephanie Hanrahan at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinterna+onal.edu.sg

What the Parents say …

“We value the school’s deep heritage and strong values … their holistic approach provides an encouraging learning environment.”

ACS (Interna(onal) Singapore Mr Rob Burrough Principal is a dis(nc(ve interna(onal secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other na(onali(es, oﬀering an all-round Mrs Tan Siew Hoon English-based educa(on for Vice Principal students aged 12 - 18 years leading to the Interna(onal General Cer(ﬁcate of Secondary Educa(on (IGCSE) and the Interna(onal Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP).

Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal

Achievements include: •  Top students achieved 45 / 45 perfect score in IB Diploma in each of the past two years. – Winnie Cruz-Ding

“Our daughter has become a person that we feel is ready for the world.”

•  19 Top of the World awards in IGCSE examina(ons over each of the past eight years •  Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universi(es for the past eight years

– Keith and Nancy Tan

•  Admissions to top universi(es in the UK, US, Australia “The different teaching methods, the high quality of teaching, and Singapore

the promotion of individual character and personality, and the obvious enjoyment of school … made our daughter’s transfer most worthwhile.” – Vincent and Germaine Leong

“We love the smaller class sizes … and the many approachable, friendly, passionate, and dedicated teachers.” – Cecilia Chau

•  PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ level students achieve outstanding value-added examina(on results for the IB Diploma with improved pathways to good universi(es •  Successes at na(onal level this past year in Archery; Touch Rugby; Cycling; Swimming; Chinese Drama; Deba(ng; Fencing; Football; Golf; String Orchestra; Taekwondo; Volleyball; Wushu.

HOME

A C.L.A.S.S act

The Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd

Victor Seow is the General Manager and a board member of the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd. He worships at Charis Methodist Church.

By Methodists, for the Christian community

ormed by Methodists under the auspices of the Council of Christian Social Concerns in 1995, the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd (MCSL) continues to be the channel for like-minded Methodists to be involved in the co-operative movement, and an enabler of regulated social enterprises that meet the needs of our community. Its main social enterprise is Hosanna Bereavement Services, which most Methodists would be familiar with. This is the Co-operative’s key social mission to our Christian community in times of grief and loss, through the provision of one-stop dignified bereavement services. MCSL’s secondary social enterprise (MCSL Management) provides facility management service. The aim is to relieve mundane responsibilities in the upkeep of common properties. This service is currently deployed to two main sites at John Wesley Centre and Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church respectively. MCSL Management also undertakes cleaning services at several churches on a smaller scale. Though MCSL is constituted separately from the General Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore, it sees itself as part of the Methodist family based on its founding principles. Its vision is to be a premier cooperative society guided by the spirit of unity and love for others as written in Acts 4:32. Its businesses in bereavement and facility management services, as well as its charitable support to the Methodist community and beyond, continue to reflect the values of sharing and caring for one another. New shared values and a burgeoning membership This is further articulated in its newlydeveloped shared values ‘C.L.A.S.S.’ which stands for Caring (showing compassion, concern and consideration

for others), Leadership (serving with integrity as servant leaders and leading by example), Appreciation (having appreciation and mutual respect for all shareholders and valuing their contributions), Sustainability (recognising that sustainable profits and business value creation are essential to doing well and doing good), and Stewardship (acknowledging that God owns everything including our talents and resources, and letting honesty and fairness guide our actions to protect and look after them). Today, MCSL counts more than 1,000 members from both the Methodist and non-Methodist denominations participating in its co-operative endeavours. The significant increase in membership is largely due to MCSL embarking on road shows at several Methodist churches to promote awareness of the Co-operative and to strengthen its membership base. We encourage fellow congregants to come to our booth and join as members whenever the Co-operative is running the road show at your church. A portion of the Co-operative’s surplus is retained in the Common Good Fund. This fund is designated for the common benefit of its members, including its Annual Thanksgiving Dinner, educational seminars, and excursions to neighbouring countries. MCSL recognises that one of its priorities is to be able to serve its members better. In this respect, MCSL has partnered various co-operatives in Singapore in extending special benefits to them. Some of these initiatives include discounted hotel stays here and abroad, discounted professional training programmes, and interior renovation services, along with a newly-designed membership card (see above). Do check out MCSL’s website and Facebook Page at www.methodistcoop.org.sg and www.facebook.com/methodistcoop respectively.

MCSL has been blessed over the last 22 years to be in a position to purchase two properties. The first is a commercial unit at Hexacube while the second is another office unit at Sunshine Plaza, both for rental as well as for asset appreciation purposes. The Cooperative aims to provide good returns to its members for the shares they have invested in. Engaging the younger generation One of MCSL’s greatest challenges is to bring the younger generation into its fold. Presently, about 80 per cent of its members are more than 50 years old, which do not bode well for its renewal and long-term plans. The Co-operative seeks more millennials to be involved in new enterprises and the co-operative movement, as well as in addressing societal needs. To this end, MCSL has recently started engaging in various youth initiatives, such as with the Republic Polytechnic’s Social Enterprise Management Diploma Programme, the Singapore National Co-operative Federation’s Youth Co-operative Camps, and speaking at our Methodist schools. In supporting these programmes, MCSL hopes to encourage our youth to take the path less trodden for the benefit of our society, to be future social entrepreneurs who can take MCSL further as new leaders in the years to come. In a nutshell, MCSL exists for its members, and what the members would like to do, now and in the future, in terms of its economic interests and the core values it embodies. Nevertheless, our fervent prayer is always that the principles of caring and sharing, as described in Acts 4:32, will continue being exemplified by each and every one of us. For we are reminded in Hebrews 13:16 to “not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (NIV). n Becoming a member Contact Mr Victor Seow, General Manager Tel: 6767-1638 Email: vicseow@methodistcoop.org.sg Hosanna Bereavement Services Contact Mr Ricky Guok, Funeral Director 24-hour Hotline: 6352-7797 Email: admin@hosannabereavement.com.sg Facilities Management Services Contact Mr Victor Seow, General Manager Tel: 6767-1638 Email: vicseow@methodistcoop.org.sg Photos courtesy of the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

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Interview: Secrets to succe Dato Dr Kim Tan is the Founder Chairman of SpringHill Management Ltd (UK), a fund management company in biotech and social venture capital investments. He is the co-founder of the Transformational Business Network (TBN) and is on the advisory boards of PovertyCure, Sustainia, Africa Health Fund and the John Templeton Foundation. Widely recognised as an expert in social entrepreneurship and community transformation, he was a special guest speaker at Trinity Annual Conference’s 40th Session in 2015. We republish with permission his interview by Leadership.com.sg, a platform for leadership resources by Eagles Leadership Institute.

Q: CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS ABOUT, AND HOW IS IT APPLIED TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS?

S Photo courtesy of Eagles Leadership Institute

ocial enterprise or impact investing is intentionally finding a business solution to a social problem. Rather than tackling social problems through aid and through charity, we find business people with the creativity to come up with business, enterprise-based solutions. And when we make these kinds of investments, these businesses have to be profitable. Because if they’re not profitable, they become charities. But we are not just looking for a pure financial return, which is small – we are also looking for a social return, and we also like to see an environmental return. That’s what impact investing or social entrepreneurship is about. It’s intentionally going in to build businesses amongst the poor that will solve or tackle social problems and social needs.

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: hosannab@singnet.com.sg Web: www.hosannabereavement.com.sg

24-Hour Helpline:

Contact Ricky Guok @ 6352-7797

ssful social enterprise Q: WHAT ARE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS, ESPECIALLY WHEN OPERATING IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES? The biggest challenge when it comes to making investments, not only in the developing world but in the developed world, is always management. It’s about the human capital, the human talent. I come from a background in venture capital, and we tell people that we are not investing in technology or a business plan, because those will fail. We are investing in people. Even in a country like Singapore, if you don’t have good people, you will not build a successful business. And it’s the same with a business in the slums, in Africa or in South East Asia. Unless you have the right kind of people, it doesn’t matter how much money you throw into a project, you will still fail. So if you are a small business in a slum and you don’t have the education, the management experience, what do you do? The banks won’t lend you any money, there’s no venture capital available. Hence you need a generation of courageous, social investors to go in and make these kinds of investment. And they don’t just bring their money, they bring their talent as well. They bring people; they bring management skills, mentoring, to help these businesses grow in scale. That’s the biggest challenge of any business – people. In developing countries, we place great hope in the returnees: People who have been educated in the West, who have been refugees in the West because of regime change, revolutions in their own countries, or genocide, who are coming back to their own countries now that there’s peace in their homelands. Having been educated in the West, they will provide the human talent. We saw that in Taiwan, in South Korea, in India with the pharmaceutical companies, and now we’re seeing that in China. It’s the returnees who have been educated abroad, worked abroad, gained some experience, and have gone back to their countries; they are the ones with the talent who can build businesses that can transform their countries. So it’s about people – the biggest needs and the biggest challenges.

Go get your education, do your MBA but go get some experience, then get some crazy friends to build it together, but get the right kind of business plan, the right kind of patient capital that will allow you to build something that is sustainable. – Dato Dr Kim Tan

Q: M ANY YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO START SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AFTER GRADUATING FROM UNIVERSITY. WHAT ADVICE OR ROADMAP WOULD YOU GIVE THEM? My advice would be to go and gain some experience first. If you are straight out of college, even after a Master of Business Administration (and we lecture in a number of MBA schools), you are not that “useful” yet, to be very honest. Because until you have actually been in the business, you don’t know how tough it is, especially if it is a small business and you’re just starting up. Working for a big corporation is easy, compared to going out on your own to start up a business. And when you’re starting up a business that has some social benefits for the poor, it is even more challenging. So my advice would be: Get your education but go and gain some experience – it doesn’t matter which sector. And after that, go and find some like-minded people because it is very lonely building your own business, and build it together. Get the right kind of funding. From venture capital experience, most businesses fail because of poor management, and because they are undercapitalised, they’re too small. Unless a business can get to a certain scale, it’s actually very difficult to survive. So you have to get the right kind of business plan, the right kind of capital – patient capital, for quite a long period of time, to build a business that can have a certain scale and size for it to survive. Continued on page 18...

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...continued from page 17

My view is that there are too many small social enterprises that are too small, and will never survive. We need to help some of them get to scale. And that’s really the key difference between social enterprises and impact investing. Social enterprises are often more ‘social’ than enterprise. They are usually started with grant capital, free money. When you start out with free money, you tend to build a very different culture than when you have investors – even if the investors are pretty benign and are very supportive of your vision. Nevertheless, you have a responsibility when you take investors’ money. So you’d build a very different kind of business. Social enterprises tend to be too small, and sadly many fail. What I would rather see is the participation of experienced business people who understand scale, who know how to build businesses that employ 100 people each, not just two or three.

We need to be building small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – that sector is what is missing in many of the developing countries. We need experienced business people to build the ‘missing middle’. So my advice is: Go get your education, do your MBA but go get some experience, then get some crazy friends to build it together, but get the right kind of business plan, the right kind of patient capital that will allow you to build something that is sustainable. n Republished with permission from Leadership.com.sg, accessed at www.leadership. com.sg/leaders-chat/interviews-with-ceo/dr-kim-tan-on-social-entrepreneurship/

SOUNDINGS

Migration and justice Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor for the ETHOS Institute™ for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg/).

ur world is currently facing a displacement crisis at an unprecedented scale. In 2015 alone, more than 65 million people have been forced from their homes by conflict and persecution, over half of whom are under the age of 18. This tally is greater than the combined population of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It must be recognised at the outset that forced migration is never a cause for celebration. These refugees, who out of desperation leave their own lands and cultures in the hope of attaining a safe and secure life, often endure untold hardships. But the migration crisis has also created unique opportunities for people-smugglers vying to get a larger stake in the extremely lucrative sex trade. Additionally, extremist groups like Daesh have also taken advantage of this phenomenon to plant terrorists in unsuspecting host countries. Countries like Australia have introduced strict measures to deter asylum seekers, and to detain those who arrive illegally at their shores. Over the years, Australia has proliferated detention centres in isolated locations like Baxter, Curtin, and Christmas Island. These detention facilities are so poorly run that Peter Young, the former chief psychiatrist of Australia’s detention centres, described them as “factories

for producing mental illness and mental disorder”. What would a Christian response to the pressing and complex migration crisis look like? What appropriate actions should governments take to ensure that genuine asylum seekers do not become victims of further injustice, humiliation, and suffering? It must first be acknowledged that there is no consensus among Christians on this difficult and pressing issue. On one end of the spectrum, there are Christians who advocate an open border policy, urging governments to allow the masses fleeing oppression free entry into their countries. On the other end, Christian restrictionists advocate tighter border control. The Christian Scriptures offer penetrating insight into the modern migration crisis, even though the geo-political realities of its authors are radically different from ours. The injunctions in the Old Testament concerning the proper treatment of the alien (i.e. foreigner) and sojourner are grounded in a profound theological anthropology articulated in the very first chapter of Genesis. Regardless of their ethnicity and social status, human beings are deserving of special dignity because they are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). In addition, the instruction to the Israelites to welcome the alien is accompanied by the clear reminder that their ancestors were once displaced people – slaves in Egypt and wanderers in the wilderness. “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among

you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34) Every time Christians read the Gospels, they are reminded that their Saviour and Lord Himself once lived as a refugee in Egypt because His own homeland was not safe (Matthew 2:13-15). These passages of Scripture, together with the principles of solidarity, compassion, and the hospitality they inspire, shape the Christian moral vision of the human community. It is therefore impossible for Christians to turn a blind eye to asylum seekers. In addition, Christians of every stripe have always emphasised the preferential option for the poor, which includes the vulnerable, the oppressed, and the disenfranchised. While these moral principles are clear, the chaos of the modern migration crisis makes their application very challenging indeed. But if displaced people are to get the justice they deserve, the international community must make every attempt to abide by these principles, even if the policies of individual countries may differ. By the same token, it would be immoral for any country to categorically refuse refugees for whatever reason. This of course does not mean that countries should open their borders unconditionally and accept every refugee indiscriminately. While host countries should do their level best to receive asylum seekers, they have every right to regulate their borders and control the influx of immigrants. The realism of the Christian approach to migration is expressed well by the American Bishops’ pastoral statement, Welcoming the Stranger: “While people have the right to move, no country has the duty to receive so many immigrants that its social and economic life is jeopardised.” n

“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. Picture by Anjo Kan/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

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BOOK REVIEW

A practical guide to ‘workshipping’ Dr Clive Lim is an entrepreneur with 20 years’ experience, having successfully started three businesses. He was the founder and first CEO of TeleChoice International Ltd., a mobile telecom services and equipment provider. He is also the managing director of Leap International, an investment holding company. Dr Lim holds a Master of Business Admin from the Asian Institute of Management, a Master of Christian Studies (Marketplace Theology) from Regent College (Canada), and a Doctor of Ministry (Leadership and Business Ethics) degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (USA). He is a board member and adjunct lecturer at the Biblical Graduate School of Theology.

“When I talk about work in this book, I am not just referring to what is done in paid employment, because I am discussing work from God’s perspective. I believe God sees work as any purposeful activity requiring focus and effort. That means it could be housework, schoolwork, caring for children or parents, study, paid work, voluntary work, etc.” – Ms Kara Martin, Preface to Workship

“T

he reality, as Mark Greene has said, is that 98 per cent of people in church will spend 95 per cent of their time outside of church, and their pastors should be thinking more creatively about equipping them for those mission fields.” (Preface to Workship) There is growing awareness among Christians that our faith is relevant in our workplace, and a stronger desire to engage our faith with our work. This awareness and the ensuing dialogue is referred to as the ‘Faith at Work Movement’. Many good books have been written about integrating Christian faith and work. Some of them are meant for theological students at seminaries, but an increasing number of books on this subject are accessible by the lay person. Ms Kara Martin’s book Workship is one such example. This book has been written for both paid and unpaid workers — volunteers, housewives or house-husbands, students, corporate executives, or professionals. Notes Kara: “When I talk about work in this book, I am not just referring to what is done in paid employment, because I am discussing work from God’s perspective. I believe God sees work as any purposeful activity requiring focus and effort. That means it could be housework, schoolwork, caring for children or parents, study, paid work, voluntary work, etc.” Workship is a book for personal reflection and also group study, each chapter ending with a prayer and reflective questions. This relevant book, full of warmth, can only have been written by an experienced marketplace person and theologian, who has not only reflected long and hard on integrating faith and work, but has also taught and encouraged others to do the same.

The dualism of the sacred and secular — commonly referred to as the “church on Sunday and work on Monday” divide — is pervasive in Singapore’s churches. Mr Paul Stevens, Professor Emeritus of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College (Canada), frequently reminded his students that there are no part-time Christians. You are a full-time Christian in every vocation. The challenge is not a matter of full-time or half-time, but whole-hearted or half-hearted. I strongly believe that understanding the integration of faith and work will diminish the separation of the sacred from the secular, the privileging of church life over work life. To use Kara’s term, it will make us “intentional Christians” in the workplace, and enrich not only our faith, life, and work, but also enable us to be more effective witnesses in the workplace. Imagine the impact that can be made when all Christians shine as lights in the world, wherever their place of work. In the first part of Workship, Kara lists six biblical perspectives of work. One of them, ‘Work as a Good Thing’ (Chapter 2), had deep meaning for me. I grew up in the 1960s/70s in Singapore, where jobs were hard to come by. Thus, my father was always looking for work. It was not that he was lazy; in fact, he valued work, and was honest and hardworking. Even when Dad was working, there was barely enough to feed our family of six. When Dad lost his job, most of the extra food disappeared. However, what stood out in my memory was less about the lack of food, and more about the anxious looks of my parents, and the hushed tones they used when discussing financial problems. But this dark cloud disappeared when Dad found a new job. Food once again appeared on the dining table and, more significantly, relief and smiles returned to my parents’ faces. Hence, I learnt very early on as a child that work is hope, and working meant having a future. No work meant no hope. Nonetheless, work is also cursed – refer to Chapter 3 of the book. After the Fall, as recorded in Genesis 3, our work has been plagued by ‘thorns

’ Workship

How To Use Your Work To Worship God by Kara Martin Published by Graceworks Available at SKS Books and Biblical Graduate School of Theology Book Corner, retails at $18 (before GST).

and thistles’. My father was always tired, and the long hours and anxiety of providing sufficiently for the family took a toll on his health. My mother, understandably, has a negative view of work. When she found out I was holding two jobs, she asked: “Son, why are you working so hard and even have two jobs? Do you have problems with money?” “No, I have more than enough.” I replied. “Then why are you so silly, working so hard?” When I told her I loved my jobs, she looked at me with incredulous eyes. “You ate the wrong thing?” The second section of Workship advocates viewing our work as spiritual discipline, expounding on six work disciplines. These disciplines or practices are how we express our faith to bring about reconciliation and transformation in our workplace. This is where Kara shows us how worship can happen at work. In my opinion, we are intentional about the first three in Singapore — ‘Holy Working’, ‘Gospel Working’, and ‘Prayerful Working’ — but are less acquainted with the last three: ‘Incarnational Working’, ‘Spirit-Empowered Working’ and ‘Social Justice Working’. I would encourage you to read these latter three for yourselves. Christian integration of faith and work requires intentional engagement, not inevitable

engagement or retreat. The six spiritual work disciplines are helpful for me in considering how to be a more intentional Christian in my workplace, and the book even offers a brief questionnaire to identify your preferred spiritual discipline of work, and how you can develop the others. Workship’s third section highlights four concepts of work: ‘Vocation’, ‘Work and Identity’, ‘Working Relationships’, and ‘Kingdom Business’. As a parent of three ‘Gen Y’ or ‘millennial’ children, I frequently try to counter what I believe are their optimistic and rosy expectations of work with doses of reality. We are blessed to be living in one of the richest cities in the world, but the world is changing and the future of work will be stormy. Workship provides a good summary of Gen Y’s work attitudes in Chapter 14 on ‘Work and Identity’, that I would like my children to read. The last concept, ‘Kingdom Business’, is important for me. I frequently encounter three Christian views that undermine the essence of business. The first is the duality I mentioned earlier: The view that business and church are like oil and water, and cannot mix. The second views business as a place of overwhelming temptation and festering sins; to be avoided as much as possible. The third views business only as a front for missions in countries hostile to Christian missions, without considering the business’ essence or viability. This book highlights and clarifies what constitutes a good business and has useful references. I enjoyed reading this warm and compassionate book about real people and real workers, and I believe it is relevant for everyone. Thank you, Kara, for sharing with us the work of your hands. n

“The reality, as Mark Greene has said, is that 98 per cent of people in church will spend 95 per cent of their time outside of church, and their pastors should be thinking more creatively about equipping them for those mission fields.” – Ms Kara Martin, Preface to Workship

Book cover image courtesy of Graceworks METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

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POEMS

A Touch Of Love Leong Kwok Thye is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church and has been involved in the ministries of Scripture Union, the Bible Study Fellowship and the pastoral care programme of Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) and Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road). And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mark 1:40-42)

The leper longed for release, From a body ravaged by disease. He came to Jesus with a plea, “Set my imprisoned being free.”

No longer despised and rejected; He was unconditionally accepted By his loving Saviour and Lord, Son of the Almighty God.

Jesus could heal him from a distance, But the leper needed His presence; Not only the body but also the soul, Needed to be made whole.

As we move among our neighbours, In our conversation and our labours; Grant us Lord, in all circumstances, The love and compassion of Jesus.

He touched the leper with His hand; The disease left at His command. An act unpleasant by any measure, But one the leper would treasure.

Background picture by weerapat/Bigstock.com

August IS THE MONTH FOR RECOGNISING YOUR DAILY WORK AS A FORM OF DEVOTION

24 Aug (Thursday), 7.30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

7 Armenian Street, Bible House Level 4 Seminar Room, Singapore 179932 Where is God in our day-to-day work? Is God with us when we are at work? Do we work to honour God? In his new book, Dr Robert Banks explores how our daily work can also reflect God’s ongoing work in the world; and why our everyday occupations and activities are a vital channel through which He works to fulfil His present and future purposes.

Scan here to see events online!

Organised by ETHOS InstituteTM for for Public Christianity. Register by 17 Aug 2017 at ethosinstitute.sg/events/dailywork. Admission is free.

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For more information, email info@ethosinstitute.sg or call Ms Florence Kang at 6304-3765.

UNDERSTANDING THE BEATITUDES – JESUS’ TEACHINGS ON TRUE HAPPINESS

25-26 Aug (Friday-Saturday), Friday 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 11 St Andrew's Road, Cathedral New Sanctuary, Singapore 178959

Jesus’ Beatitudes have fascinated readers of all backgrounds, with faith or no. What makes these teachings more mind-blowing is that they are not the run-of-the-mill principles found in motivational bestsellers in bookstores today, published to make a quick buck; the Beatitudes are revolutionary, surprising, and freely available to all. The sessions will focus on the famous set of teachings by Jesus as recorded in Matthew. The context against which they were first taught will be explored so as to grasp the true intent and meaning behind them, while at the same time setting them up against the backdrop of modern society today. Organised by St Andrew’s Cathedral.

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LIVING AND WORKING AT GOD’S PACE IN A HIGH-PRESSURE WORLD

26 Aug (Saturday), 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

7 Armenian Street, Bible House, Seminar Room, Singapore 179932 Time is at a premium today! Statistics show Singapore is one of the three busiest countries in the world. This has damaging effects on our physical health, psychological well-being, family relationships, spiritual depth, and length of life, as well as on creativity and productivity in the workplace. This one-day interactive workshop is for those seeking greater harmony, effectiveness and integration in their daily life at work and home. The workshop will include presentations, small groups, case studies, personal reflection and plenary discussion. Organised by The Bible Society® of Singapore.

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DISCOVERING A SINGLE WOMAN’S IDENTITY, ROLE, AND PURPOSE IN THE BIBLE

26 Aug (Saturday), 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

70 Barker Road, Methodist Centre (Kindergarten Block), Level 2, Room C20-L2, Singapore 309936 How can single women in this modern age come to understand the Creation story, and relate it to their identity, purpose, and seasons of their lives? Pastor-writer, the Rev Jenni Ho-Huan, believes deeply in living with authenticity through the seasons of a woman’s life. A regular blogger and author of four books including When God Shapes a W.I.F.E, Simple Tips for Happy Kids, Shed Those Leaves, and Mewsings, the Rev Ho-Huan will expound on the Bible’s relevance for single women looking to live a godly life in today’s modern environment. Organised by Barker Road Methodist Church.

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METHODIST MESSAGE • AUG 2017

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THINK

Wesley and Christian social witness The Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon is Chairperson of the Methodist Welfare Services, the social service arm of The Methodist Church in Singapore. He is also a pastor at Christalite Methodist Chapel, and a part-time lecturer at Trinity Theological College.

ohn Wesley had a wholesome view of holiness and Christian witness. Not only interested in personal spiritual development (important though that is), his spirituality expressed itself in the social dimension of his life and ministry. Against the temptation of Christians to keep their faith a private matter, his faith interacted with life and encouraged responsible social engagement. Today Methodists around the world, as heirs of Wesley, have often sought to follow his example by nurturing our Christian faith and sharing the love of Christ through word and action. A good summary of our understanding of social responsibility can be found in the introduction to our Methodist Social Principles (found in The Book of Discipline ¶81-90), which reads: “The Methodist Church has a special interest in social concerns because of its desire to be obedient to Christ in bringing the whole of life with its activities, possessions, relationships and environment into conformity with the will of God. Such obedience is exemplified in the life and labour of John Wesley who ministered to the physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs of the people to whom he preached the Gospel of personal redemption and social holiness.” Examples of John Wesley’s social engagement Throughout his ministry, we see Wesley reaching out to those who were trapped in poverty. He gave his own savings to support the work of alleviating suffering. In his 1744 sermon, on a theme which he would repeat a few times, he challenged Christians to “earn all you can; save all you can; and give all you can”. The advice to “give all you can” is not to benefit the preacher, for Wesley lived a simple life. The main source of his income was the stipend he received as a fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford, from which he put aside 28 pounds for his personal use, while giving away the rest in support of ministry and the poor. While his income increased over the years, he kept the same sum for himself and donated the bulk of his income. Wesley did not merely encourage giving money to ease immediate financial burdens of the poor and

Lessons for today

needy, although this was important – he was concerned about how to get the poor out of the poverty trap, building schools to give the children from poor families a place to study, and to prepare themselves for better employment. Influencing change Wesley’s influence extended beyond his own efforts. As a student at Oxford, John Wesley was a part of what was then known as the Holy Club, where members including his brother Charles would meet regularly for indoor spiritual exercises like prayer and Bible study, and outdoor social witness like visiting prisons. His involvement in visiting prisoners led not just to criminals being introduced to Christ, but also had an impact on prison officers who would bring reform to prison facilities and the way prisons were managed. One person influenced by Wesley was Abel Dagge, an officer at Newgate Prison in Bristol, who initiated improvements to the jail and treatment of prisoners. Wesley also played a small part in the ending of the slave trade, a major social abomination in his time. In one of his letters to William Wilberforce, a Christian Member of Parliament who was instrumental in the abolition of slavery, Wesley encouraged him to oppose and work at ending “that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature”.

What may Wesley teach us today regarding Christian social responsibility and engagement? First, there is always a place for us to attend to the immediate needs of people struggling in life. Having been involved in Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), I have been reminded often of pockets of Singaporeans caught in the quagmire of poverty, illness and isolation. Regular giving is one of the easiest ways in which we may exercise Christian social concerns through active participation in bringing relief to “the last, the least and the lost”. We can and should learn to take out our cheque books or credit cards to give regular support to an agency like MWS, or a charity of your choice. Secondly, we need people who can innovate and initiate projects to help those who are poor break out of systemic entrapment. Surely we have suitably-qualified professionals and successful business people among Methodists who love God and care for societal well-being, and who would be willing to offer their services, financial support and other resources to develop schemes and projects to improve the lives of those struggling at the lowest rung of our socio-economic ladder. Finally, we can continue to encourage the transformative work of others who are holding strategic positions in the public sector and the political sphere, just like Wesley encouraged Abel Dagge and William Wilberforce. Christian social engagement should be part and parcel of our Christian life and the way we think and act. This is a rich heritage of our Christian faith, which Methodists should keep alive. n

Oil on canvas by William Hamilton, 1788 © National Portrait Gallery, London. Licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) and accessed via http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw06700/John-Wesley