Vol 119 No 6 • JUN 2017
inside
this issue...
MSM 20 Milestone through God’s grace page 11
ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 117/11/2016
message.methodist.org.sg
Methodist Schools’ Foundation Growing church-school partnership page 15
In the Wesleyan spirit: Scholarship and spirituality page 17
MSM WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM 2017
Life as Worship?
“L
et my lifesong sing to You!” declares American band, Casting Crowns, in their 2005 song titled ‘Lifesong’. The song’s overriding theme – to worship God with all of one’s life – is closely aligned with the theme of this year’s Methodist School of Music (MSM) Worship Symposium: ‘Life as Worship’. How does our Sunday worship relate to our daily lives? How does worship form us so that we make a meaningful connection? These questions will be tackled at the Worship Symposium, a three-day conference for pastors, worship leaders, worship planners, liturgists, prayer leaders, musicians, choral conductors, song leaders, choristers and all who are interested in the study of worship. Here, opportunities abound to: ◆ Reflect on your worship leadership role; ◆ Attend practical workshops (conducting, vocals, band, song writing, essentials of worship) and lectures (Music and Theology, Youth in Worship, Worship and Discipleship, Perfection and Excellence, Art of Worship Leading, Language & Beauty of the Psalms, Worship & Cultures etc.); ◆ Taste and see various styles of music; ◆ Experience the glory of God through worship in various forms; ◆ Understand how worship shapes us to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ; ◆ Renew your understanding of worship; and ◆ Be engaged in conversations on worship matters. Held from 15-17 June at Trinity Theological College, speakers and presenters include: Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, Dr Tan
MSM Worship Symposium 2017 15-17 June 2017 (Thursday-Saturday) 9 a.m. – 7.10 p.m. Trinity Theological College, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road Fees: $ 220/pax; group registration at $180/pax for a group of five and more. Register at www.tinyurl.com/2017worshipsymposium For more info, call 6767-5258 or email worshipsymposium2017@msmusic.edu.sg
Loe Joo, the Rev Dr John Bell, Dr Joel Navarro, Prof Eudenice Palaruan, Dr Lim Swee Hong, Pastor Rupert Lim, Mr Mervin John, Dr Hong Xiang Tang, the Rev Raymond Fong, Mr Greg Scheer, the Rev Lee Meng Cham, Ms Leona Quek, Ms Rebecca Chew, Ms Anne Palaruan, Ms Jocelyn Ong, Mr Caleb Yap and Mr Aaron Lum, Mr Earnest Lau and Ms Tan Ming Li, Mr Aaron Lee, Ms Shirley Bong and Mr Patrick Ng. So come – learn, share, explore, experience, and be enriched at the MSM Worship Symposium 2017! n
Image courtesy of the Methodist School of Music
COMING UP
‘My Father’s Business’ 2017: Building a school in Timor-Leste Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. He put this article together with valuable input from the Methodist Missions Society.
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wo years ago, the “My Father’s Business” Banquet organised by the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) raised funds for building projects in Nepal, Thailand, East Asia and Laos, enabling continued growth in education, training, outreach and church ministry. This year, MMS once again calls on your generosity in order to make The Methodist School in Dili, Timor-Leste a reality for up to 700 students from local families. Students from poor families will be eligible for financial support through the MMS Student Sponsorship Scheme (SSS). Over the years, Christian education has unlocked the immense potential of many young lives, transforming them for the better and equipping them to serve their communities. This has especially held true in war-torn nations. The establishing of mission schools is both part of our ‘Methodist DNA’ as well as a way in which we can carry out Christ’s Great Commission. The Methodist School aims to provide quality education in a Christian environment. The curriculum will be based on Singapore standards and taught in English and Portuguese. In addition to a chapel, multi-purpose hall, and classrooms, boarding facilities will be provided for students from remote districts.
Construction of The Methodist School will take place over approximately 36 months, and is expected to be completed by 2020. With your support, the MMS Banquet on 27 Aug 2017 will seek to raise S$5 million needed for the construction of The Methodist School – a much-needed service to the community in Dili that will lead to the betterment of lives, and enable many to come to know Christ, our living Redeemer. Ways you can help: • Give a one-time or regular donation • Sponsor a table • Place an advertisement in the Banquet’s Souvenir Programme Booklet • Pray for the Banquet For more information, please email mms@methodist.org.sg today! n If you wish to support this initiative now or at the Banquet, kindly note that cheques should be made out to “The Methodist Church in Singapore (MMS)”. MMS “My Father’s Business” Fundraising Banquet 27 Aug 2017 (Sunday), 6.30 p.m. The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square Registration for the banquet closes 30 June. To donate, register or find out more, please email mms@methodist.org.sg, call 6478-4818 or visit www.mms.org.sg. Photo courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society
CORRECTION We apologise for errors in MM May’s Church Profile article on Jurong Tamil Methodist Church (P6):
* Sunday services are at 3.30 p.m., not 5.30 p.m. and * the author’s name is the Rev Isaac Raju V.
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
The true meaning of education 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.
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any will agree that educating our young goes beyond just basic literacy or even imparting knowledge and skill sets to help them earn a living when they grow up. It should also aim at preparing our youths to function successfully in society, not only academically, but economically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually, by equipping them with the requisite life skills, attitudes, aptitudes, knowledge, and skills. However, while all these may be true and important, the ultimate goal and purpose of education is to prepare and enable the young to live an upright life as adults. The Bible places great emphasis on training our children in godly truths. For instance, Proverbs teaches us to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) Parents today desire much for their children. Besides wanting normal and healthy physical growth, they also busy themselves in giving their progenies a head start in life through early provision of different forms of learning that modern society values – visual and performing arts, sensory cognition, language mastery, mental flexibility, and abstract reasoning, etc. Experts agree that a child’s education begins with early stimulation in order to develop their learning abilities, and this is to be nurtured and built upon throughout their formative years. Many now hold the belief that babies start learning even from inside the womb, and it is common to see parents read and play music to their unborn children as part of prenatal education. Indeed, young children and toddlers are very impressionable and are readily influenced, and much of what they learn comes from imitating others such as their parents, relatives, teachers, schoolmates, and peers. As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child” – family and friends alike wield immense powers in helping to mould and shape a child’s values and cement their moral standards during their early years.
In fact, it is human nature to imitate and emulate others in actions and behaviour, and the significance is acknowledged in the pair of Chinese characters “教养”, which translates as the bringing up of children. “教” is to teach through words, and “养” is to nurture through actions. Very often, we read or hear about the phrase “actions speak louder than words” in books about upbringing or through conversations with parents and behavioural experts. The simple truth is, children do indeed learn more from the talk that we walk! Jesus Himself led by example throughout the three years that He spent with His disciples. Whilst He was preparing them to lead eventually, He also wanted them to do so with humility, as He told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15, NIV) The apostle Paul would later go on to set an example for the early Church in his imitation of Jesus Christ, and he often repeated the same message in his various letters addressed to the 1st century Christians as we can read from Philippians 3:17 and 4:8-9. Paul also reminded Timothy to be a role model for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). The mark of true Christian discipleship, therefore, lies in the moulding of a Christ-like character, and this is most effective through role modelling. Thus, the most important purpose of education is more than just facilitating the transfer of knowledge; but also about character-building and how we can learn to live godly lives. The most effective means of educating, whether in church or schools, is through practicing what we preach. It will be a sorry day indeed for educators and the notion of education itself, if all we can churn out are individuals who are brilliant in academic pursuits but are otherwise void of morals and character. This will only bring disaster, not only to themselves, but also to the people around them. n
Picture by cxtuku.com/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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CHURCH PROFILE
Paya Lebar MC:
Blessing the nations and the community The Rev Dr Jonathan Seet is Pastor-in-Charge of Paya Lebar Methodist Church.
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aya Lebar Methodist Church (PLMC) was established on 10 July 1932, and currently has more than 2,800 members. As God’s family, many of our church members meet regularly in cell groups to study His Word, minister to and pray for one another. The vision that God has given to us is “We are a family blessed to bless the community and the nations”. We do this by becoming a ‘Redeeming Community’ that seeks to redeem the image of God in ourselves and others. The church must not only function as a social agency or a ‘do-good club’. We must also carry the presence and power of God in our love for God and our neighbours. It is only through the carrying of God’s Presence that we can become a blessing to the community and the nations. We are learning to move in the power of God through the Holy Spirit in the community and the foundation of our ministry is the Word of God. We built on our past thrust in missions by encouraging people to go on mission trips on three levels: Exposure trips with family and friends; at a deeper level of participation in the mission field; and as team leaders or going for field attachment for a season. During our 80th Anniversary a few years ago, more than 100 mission trips were organised for the year and there is a continuing thrust to encourage people to go for missions. Besides the normal mission trips, we also conduct a leadership training programme (with materials by International Leadership Institute) in various cities and towns,
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.
through which more than 1,400 leaders have been trained. We have also held healing and teaching rallies, where God has surprised us with many miracles and healings and the faith of the people have grown. PLMC also explores ways we can bless the community within a 5-km radius. We are already ministering through our Family Service Centre, Hope Student Care Centre, PLMC Kindergarten, and our language ministries. We have also started to minister to the women and children in a nearby women’s shelter, to those in St. Luke’s Eldercare Centre in Serangoon, to a Kindergarten not attached to our church, and to two nursing homes. Gradually, our working partnership with the Braddell Heights community grew and today, PLMC is one of the key anchors for the National Day and Christmas programmes in our vicinity. God has opened our eyes to see the homeless in our community who had been invisible to us until three years ago. We now visit them weekly in their regular sleeping places with hot drinks and snacks late in the night. Some have even become comfortable in attending our church services. Most of the time, they come cleanly washed and almost
Paya Lebar Methodist Church (Trinity Annual Conference) 5 Boundary Road, Singapore 549954 Sunday Services: 7.30 a.m. Peranakan (Sanctuary) 9 a.m. English (Sanctuary), 9 a.m. Mandarin (Covenant Chapel), 9 a.m. Youth (PLMGSS, Concert Hall) 11.15 a.m. Filipino (Conference Room), 11.15 a.m. English Celebration (Sanctuary), 11.15 a.m. Mandarin (Covenant Chapel) Contact us: plmc.org or 6285-1234 indistinguishable from the other attendees. On the few occasions that they were not, the congregation still remained gracious and has received them as they would have received Christ. By the grace of God, seven of these persons have been baptised in the last two years. Our ministry to the migrant workers (see pic below) has also borne fruit. The Men’s Ministry plays soccer and other games with them, and computer classes are conducted in their dormitory. Recently, we organised a walk to raise funds for injured migrant workers at a church anniversary and it was well attended by both migrant workers and church members! There are many needs in the community and the nations that cannot be met by social action alone. These needs can only be met by the power and grace of God. Please pray with us that PLMC will continue to grow in Power and Love – love for God and love for our neighbours. n
Photos courtesy of Paya Lebar Methodist Church
SAYS THE TRAC PRESIDENT
Divine education The Rev Dr Gordon Wong was re-elected President of The Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in 2016 for a second quadrennial term, but is primarily grateful to God for the gift of his wife Lai Foon and two children Deborah and Jeremy.
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et me be homo unius libri.” This John Wesley quote is found in the Preface to Wesley’s Standard Sermons, a collection compiled to help Methodist Local Preachers promote ‘scriptural holiness’ throughout the land. Homo unius libri – Latin for “a person of one book”. The book Wesley was referring to was the Bible. Wesley’s quote reflects his conviction that the Bible was the most important book for guiding his thinking and living. It was the Book of all books. But we must not misunderstand Wesley. He was not implying that Methodists should be educated and taught from only the Bible. Wesley himself wrote many books, and he did not confine his education, reading, or writing to the Bible. In fact, the Bible itself teaches us to learn wisdom and receive wise education from many different sources. Do you remember King Lemuel? I didn’t. His name appears – only once – in the Bible: Proverbs 31:1. “The sayings of King Lemuel – an inspired utterance his mother taught him.” (NIV) The Bible says he was a king, but he wasn’t any known king of Israel or Judah. Presumably he was not from Israel or Judah. His name appears nowhere else in Scripture. Most scholars think he was an Arab. But this foreign king’s sayings have been included as part of the Jewish Scriptures.
Proverbs 31:1 makes clear that his inspired sayings were taught to him by his mother. We don’t know who she was either. Just a couple of weeks ago in May, many of us honoured our mothers on Mothers’ Day. God, here in Proverbs 31:1, shows us that the words of a wise mother became part of God’s own inspired Scriptures. That’s one of the many ways the God of the Bible seeks to educate us. Not just through the teaching of holy priests, pastors, or popes. Not just through religious teachers from our own religious traditions. The God of the Bible educates through mothers and foreigners. (The book of Proverbs also features the words of human fathers. So many will rightly observe Fathers’ Day also in June.) Like John Wesley, let us be homo unius libri (people of one Book). And that one Book of books teaches us to receive an education from God, not just through holy sermons and the holy Scripture, but also through human mothers, fathers, and foreign kings. n
Picture by www.BillionPhotos.com/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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YOU & YOUR FAMILY
Blood is thicker than water, but bile is bitter 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.
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n exercise I always set for my students learning about Family Therapy is for them to write an essay about themselves and their family. I will get them to draw their family tree and to subsequently infer how their parents, grandparents, and events from their formative years may have shaped them into who they are today. As an educator, I experience a myriad of impressions while reading through these essays, some which give me a distinct feeling of opening up a time capsule and peering into some intimate details of my students’ lives. This is especially true of the narratives from the more mature students, whose accounts of major events that shaped them actually reflect our collective history, both cultural and social. There were stories of family migration, and there were also many that told of more economically-challenging times when their families were busy eking out a living. Others gave sociological snapshots of traditional family values, such as the distinct preference for male children and how they were given more opportunities for education. Two common themes in the stories stood out. One of them touches on the saying: “Blood is thicker than water.” In researching the meaning of this statement, I realised how misunderstood and misused it has been. It had meant to say that the bonds forged in times of war and conflict, where blood was split, were stronger than even family ones, where the presence of birth waters announced the arrival of a new family member. However, because of how we have misinterpreted the old saying, we tend to more easily forgive the members of our family, no matter how many times they have wronged or disappointed us, due to the fact that “blood is thicker”! I have seen this ‘truth’ play itself out in families which continue to bail out their kin who are mired in vices such as gambling. They would pay off their debts on the promise or hope that the gambler would change his ways, only to be disappointed time and time again. I have also witnessed wives who return to their abusive husbands and give them another chance to change, even though they have broken many promises to do so.
Running counter to the theme of families believing in the strength of blood ties is that of severing of familial ties as a consequence of profound disappointment and betrayal. The ‘bad blood’ and bile that arose out of some misunderstandings and conflicts can be so toxic that some families have fractured permanently. They have cut each other off and not only do they not contact each other, they may even forbid their children to do so. How it is possible that there are these two contrasting pictures of families? Are they perhaps the opposite sides of the same coin – the ‘coin’ being the position of high regard we place on family bonds? I have noticed that for some families this regard has been put on so high a pedestal that many would fight tooth-and-nail to preserve and protect it. But when such regard is unappreciated or is treated with contempt, some respond by ending familial relationships, along with privileges such as patience and forgiveness. When family break-ups occur, it begs the question – is it right to cut a family member off completely? It may be understandable that one finds it hard to forgive and accept a recalcitrant sibling or child, but should it ever amount to banishing them from all contact? As believers in Christ, we are exhorted to be forgiving. But this can understandably be very difficult. When it is challenging, I remind myself that the Lord Himself has forgiven us time and time again. Instead of turning His back on us, He welcomes us with open arms, even with the knowledge that we are going to let Him down again. Finally, I am constantly reminded of the futility of unforgiveness – that even if we are to cut a family member off utterly, the flow of bitter bile is seldom, if ever, quenched. Open dialogue and wholehearted forgiveness are the only ways to achieve full reconciliation. n
Picture by Matt Smith/Bigstock.com
WELFARE SERVICES
Walking on Sunshine By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team
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or the audience at the Singapore Health Inspirational Patient Awards 2017 ceremony that took place in April, it was a heartwarming and perhaps quaint sight to see a group of elderly people honoured as volunteers. The seniors (pictured right), who call themselves The Sunshine Group, received an accolade in the Support Groups category for their years of tireless service at the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH). The awards were inaugurated in 2010 to pay tribute to inspiring patients, but 2017 marks the first year that a separate award category was created to honour outstanding patient support groups. Led by 87-year-old Madam June Cheong, The Sunshine Group was formed 30 years ago when BMNH was located in the void deck of a block of flats in Whampoa. Today, the group has expanded to 17 members, the youngest of whom is in her 60s while the oldest is 91. Mobility issues did not seem to deter these plucky elders, three of whom move around with a walking stick or wheelchair. In spite of their advanced age and physical frailties, the volunteers faithfully show up at the nursing home every Thursday morning, rain or shine. Nothing would stand in their way as they spread God’s love to the elderly sick, needy, and homeless. Said Madam Cheong: “Our mission is to obey the Lord, and love these seniors as He loves us.”
INSPIRED TO VOLUNTEER? Email ce@mws.sg for more information. If you wish to donate, please log on to give.mws.sg.
Their level of organisation is also equally impressive. To facilitate transport to the home, which is now located in Choa Chu Kang, they run a carpool system to pick up members from different districts, such as Clementi and Bukit Timah. Madam Cheong added: “Two gentlemen who live in the East have to take a bus to the nursing home, but they are always the earliest to arrive.” At around 10 a.m., the volunteers and staff would push some 40 to 50 wheelchair-bound residents to the chapel, where The Sunshine Group hosts an hour-long programme. They pray, sing songs of praise as well as Chinese oldies, do light exercises, and enjoy a percussion session. Being of similar ages to the residents, the volunteers were able to relate well with them, especially when they needed a listening ear for their health issues and worries. “Some of them have weak family support,” says Madam Cheong, a former counsellor. “They often feel abandoned and depressed, and lose interest in life. Our work complements that of the staff. We work together to provide holistic person-centred care to the residents.” Madam Cheong recalls how a late resident, a Samsui woman who had a tough life working at construction sites, transformed from a withdrawn person to a much more cheerful one. Her love for singing led her to join The Sunshine Group where she eventually opened up and broke into smiles whenever she was applauded for her powerful renditions of the ever-popular Cantonese song ‘上 海滩’ (Shanghai Beach). Each member of The Sunshine Group contributes $30 a year towards buying gifts and snacks for the residents. Madam Molly Yap, 77, is the group’s treasurer and ‘Snack I/C (in-charge)’ who ensures that every resident gets a yummy treat. Hae bee hiam (dried shrimp sambal), which is typically sprinkled on rice, is an all-time favourite among the residents. Says Madam Cheong, “We find joy in seeing the residents happy, and it’s a therapeutic activity for us too! Working with friends who share the same passion must have reinforced the purpose and sustained our commitment in this ministry for so many years. We are very heartened by the SingHealth recognition, and look forward to continuing this meaningful work.” At the award ceremony, the seniors received a rousing applause as they made their way slowly onstage, unhurried and steady – the same way they have given of themselves to people in need for the past three decades. n This story is adapted from an article published by SingHealth. Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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MISSIONS
New Vineyard Methodist School block dedication The Rev Dianna Khoo is Area Director for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand with the Methodist Missions Society. She is an Elder attached to Barker Road Methodist Church and Mission Superintendent for Thailand.
“The education of our children is a God-given mandate and a privilege of VMS. The Bible said, bring up a child in the way he ought to walk, when he is old he will not depart from it.”
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new school building housing additional classrooms and a multipurpose hall located within the Vineyard Methodist School (VMS), Thailand, was dedicated by our Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung on 13 March 2017. Present at the dedication were members of the VMS Board and representatives from the Methodist Missions Society (MMS). It was a wonderful atmosphere of celebration as students, staff, and supporters alike joined in the dedication service. At the entrance to the new school auditorium, a memorial plaque dedicated to the late Rev Dr Clarence Lim, the pioneer Executive Director of MMS, was erected. Mr Suchad Chiaranussati, Chairman of the Muangthai Mettakij Foundation (MMF), was at the event to welcome the guests from Thailand and Singapore as well as the children and their parents. Also present that morning was Mr Preecha Chuechart, Director of the Ministry of Education, Chiangmai School District Two. He congratulated the school and staff for achieving quality results in the 2015/16 O-Net examination, where VMS scored higher than the national average in all subjects. Mrs Mayuri Yoktree who chairs Evaluation and Development (Province of Chiangmai) said: “The school has an excellent academic standard and an efficient pedagogical method that places emphasis on clarity. This makes VMS a leading learning institution. Parents who send their children to VMS can be assured that their children will not only receive a quality education, but more importantly, be nurtured into individuals of integrity and good character.” This view was similarly echoed by Mrs Pannee Sahasawien, President of the Association of Private Schools, and the Rev Dr Buakab Ronghanan, President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand, Northern Thailand. Highlights of the service included the rousing performances put up by the younger children who showcased their musical skills (pic below), while the older ones performed a traditional Thai dance. An interesting feature was that local craftsmen were also invited to display and sell their wares during the event (second pic on right).
Dr Lionel Lee, Chairperson of the VMS School Board, summed it up nicely when he said: “The education of our children is a God-given mandate and a privilege of VMS. The Bible said, bring up a child in the way he ought to walk, when he is old he will not depart from it.” It is thus a sacred duty and privilege of VMS Principal Mrs Sungwan Yeo and her team, to play a significant part in the lives of the children entrusted to them at VMS. To date, VMS has a total enrolment of 445 children. May God continue to guide them in their work. n
Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society
SOUNDINGS
Hospitable classrooms, inclusive society 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/).
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he Straits Times reported on 4 Nov 2016 that the government would be extending the Compulsory Education Act, which was passed in Parliament in 2000, to special needs children. This will take effect in 2019. Minister for Education (Schools) Mr Ng Chee Meng said that this is “an important milestone in Singapore’s continuing drive towards national inclusiveness”. He added that it “is a reaffirmation that every child matters, regardless of his or her learning challenges”. The Ministry of Education (MOE) also gave the assurance that no special needs child will be denied of education because his or her parents are unable to pay the school fees. The move by the government to ensure that all special needs children have access to education is a step in the right direction. It must be welcomed and supported by all who are committed to the common good. In recent decades, there has been a growing acceptance in Western societies of the role that public schools can play in providing special education to children with learning disabilities. According to some commentators, this development is due to the changing attitudes towards disability and the rise of professional and parental advocacy. Christian writers on special education like Professor David W. Anderson have long argued that special needs children should be given the opportunity to enjoy the full benefits of an education. In addition, they have insisted on the inclusion of such children as equal members of the classroom community. Some writers have attempted to envision special education within the
framework of a Christian theology of reconciliation. Others have allowed the Christian conceptions of inclusion and interdependence to inform and shape their approaches. However, in thinking about the inclusion of children with special needs in our schools and classrooms, it is the Christian virtue of hospitality that has proved most helpful. In her book about hospitality in the Christian tradition, Christine Pohl explains that “the distinctive quality of Christian hospitality is that it offers a generous welcome to the ‘least’, without concern for advantage or benefit to the host”. Amy Oden helpfully adds that “hospitality does not entail feeling sorry for someone and trying to help…” To understand hospitality in this way is to cause it to degenerate into condescension, where the host becomes the hero and the guest the victim. As a reflection of divine love, Christian hospitality is neither condescending nor coercive. Rather, true hospitality acknowledges the dignity of the other by respecting the other’s freedom and difference. Applying this virtue to education, Anderson wrote: “Hospitality, seen in the teacher’s approach to students, and as characteristic of the classroom milieu, conveys welcome, acceptance, and belonging to all students.” The practice of hospitality in the classroom and the school where there are disabled students requires a radical shift in perspective and orientation. It requires a re-visioning of people with disabilities, and an honest interrogation of the way in which we have understood disability itself. In the hospitable classroom, the primary focus must be the student, not his disabilities as such. Of course, this does not suggest that the student’s disabilities are unimportant. Rather,
“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.
it acknowledges the fact that the disabilities of the student and the limitations they impose are not the totality of his being, but one aspect only. It recognises that disabled students share many things with their able-bodied classmates, that they are “more like the other students than different”, as one writer puts it. In a hospitable classroom, positive attention is given to all students, and necessary accommodations and modifications are made for the disabled so that they can participate in all activities. As Nilsa Thorsos has written, in this welcoming environment, special students are made to see that “they too are included and required to make significant contributions to society”. Inclusive education disabuses us of the deep-seated assumption that children – as well as adults – must be ‘normal’ if they are to contribute to society. As Norman Kunc points out, inclusive education compels us to “search for and nourish the gifts that are inherent in all people”. It is only when a society recognises the intrinsic worth of every person (including the disabled), and welcomes and accepts them, that it can be said to be truly inclusive. n
Picture by Wavebreak Media Ltd/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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HYMNS & SONGS
Listening to the Spirit’s prompting Dr Yeo Teck Beng is Principal of the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
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n article entitled ‘Learning by Listening’ from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (USA)1, wrote: “You can learn a lot through listening. In college, it will be a prime source of information. Unfortunately, people do not instinctively listen well.” It is quite true that we are by nature not good listeners, and this is made doubly so by the noises and distractions that constantly bombard our lives. This is even truer whenever we try to listen to the Word of God. We are oft in need of divine inspiration to help us grasp the true meaning and purpose behind God’s Word. To open the hearts and minds of worshippers to listen to God’s message, a prayer of illumination or a hymn of preparation may be incorporated into the worship liturgy. ‘Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word’ is essentially a prayer asking for illumination by the Holy Spirit as the Christian community gathers in worship around the Lord’s Word.2 German-born Tobias Clausnitzer (1619-1684) first wrote and published this pre-sermon hymn in 1663, some 15 years after he retired as a chaplain in the Swedish army and became a pastor in Weiden. His original German text was translated into English in 1858 by Catherine Winkworth, a gifted translator of foreign lyrics. The hymn first appeared in the Altdorffisches Gesang-Büchlein and later in the second series of Winkworth’s Lyra Germanica in 1858 with the original three stanzas. The first stanza of this hymn of preparation is a petition for a heart that is receptive to the Word of God proclaimed. Stanza two declares that only God can illuminate human hearts and bring the “beams of truth” to all the knowledge and education we have attained. The final stanza ascribes praises to Christ, and once again implores the “Light of light” to “open thou our ears and heart[s]” to the Word of God. Indeed, we need the illumination of the Holy Spirit to fully understand God’s message to us. Our Lord Jesus has promised to help us. He said, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26, NIV) n
Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word
(The United Methodist Hymnal, #596) Blessed Jesus, at thy word we are gathered all to hear thee; let our hearts and souls be stirred now to seek and love and fear thee, by thy teachings sweet and holy, drawn from earth to love thee solely. All our knowledge, sense, and sight lie in deepest darkness shrouded, till thy spirit breaks our night with the beams of truth unclouded. Thou alone to God canst win us; thou must work all good within us. Glorious Lord, thyself impart! Light of light, from God proceeding, open thou our ears and heart; help us by thy spirit’s pleading; hear the cry thy people raises; hear, and bless our prayers and praises. Words: Tobias Clausnitzer, 1633; trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1858 Music: Johann R. Ahle, 1664
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cademic Skills Center, ‘Learning by Listening’ (Dartmouth College, 2001), A available from http://www.dartmouth.edu/acskills/learning_by_listening.doc, accessed on 12 April 2017
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Tiffany Shomsky, ‘Blessed Jesus, at Thy word’, available from www.hymnary.org/text/blessed_jesus_at_thy_word, accessed on 12 April 2017
Picture by Kalina Vova/Bigstock.com
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MSM 20:
Through God’s grace, a hard-earned milestone Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
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ow often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!” I gained a deeper understanding of this stanza from Fred Pratt Green’s ‘When in Our Music God Is Glorified’ as sung at the Methodist School of Music’s (MSM) 20th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, held 29 April 2017 at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TA2 Sanctuary). The responsive call to worship set up a moving ‘call-and-response’ dynamic, leading the congregation into fullthroated, whole-hearted worship of our almighty God. Indeed the worship and music ministry, as faithfully nurtured by the MSM over these past 20 years, enables us to dig deeper and offer our whole beings to worship the Lord in a richer, fuller sense; not only in pleasant times of plenty, but all the more so in times of persecution and trial, as the next stanza implies: “So has the church in liturgy and song, in faith and love through centuries of wrong, borne witness to the truth in every tongue, Alleluia!” This truth has no doubt carried the MSM through its difficult times, since being set up in 1997 by the then Council of Worship & Music of The Methodist Church in Singapore, to develop music and the arts in Singapore, and to serve the Church through music. The MSM has persevered in doing so through several challenges, not least of which was constrained access due to construction of the Downtown Line 2 MRT station at its very doorstep, alluded to by Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung in his congratulatory message printed in the Service’s souvenir booklet. Patience has brought its reward: the completed Hillview Station affords the greatest convenience for potential MSM students. “Students” does not only refer to children and youths benefitting from the MSM’s General Music arm, but also and increasingly to attendees of a wide range of ages who attend courses, workshops, and symposia run by its Worship & Music arm. The MSM’s ministry to all was clearly reflected
in the variety of persons who participated in the Thanksgiving Service: from lithe ballet dancers to stalwart Scripture readers; from the glorious array of instrumentalists to the vibrant choir; from the faithful staff in attendance to well-wishers bearing congratulatory smiles. The Rev James Nagulan, President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, preached passionately on Psalm 90, pointing out that it was structured like a prayer. The psalmist acknowledged the eternity and sovereignty of God, compared with our smallness and temporal nature, and responded with both humble pleas for the Lord’s favour, as well as bold requests to show His power to the next generation. “The word ‘establish’ is repeated,” noted the Rev Nagulan, “showing a desire for continuity, that the work of our hands would be seen for years to come as a testament of God’s grace for the next generation.” The MSM took the opportunity to recognise its staff with Long Service Awards: Dr Evelyn Lim, Ms Judy Tay and Ms Filly Chian had served for 20 years, while Ms Cathy Tan and Ms Ellen Andreyana had served for 10 years. Asked for her comments on this joyous occasion, MSM’s founding Principal Ms Mary Gan said: “My prayer is that more churches and individuals will share MSM’s vision. Your practical support in prayers, financial contribution and active participation in promoting the School (including sending your own children) will enable the School to fulfill its vision.” This was echoed by Bishop Dr Chong in his congratulatory message, who hoped that churches would support the MSM, participate actively in its training programmes, and give generously towards its operational needs. n
Photos courtesy of the Methodist School of Music METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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MCS FOCUS: CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN SCHOOLS
CMS – Safe spaces to share, and ro Grace Toh is the Editor of Methodist Message. She put this article together with valuable input from the Rev Aaron Tay, Director of Ministry in Schools, and his team of Christian Ministry Staff.
“The Christian Ministry is more than just a job or a vocation – it is a calling, a passion!”
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very year, as applications open for Primary and Secondary schools in Singapore, most mission schools – including our Methodist schools – experience high levels of interest. Why is this the case? We surmise that alongside academic and extra-curricular excellence, which is not the sole purview of mission schools, another factor is the strong grounding in values and character which our schools provide through pastoral care ministry. “Pastoral care”, however, is not limited to being provided by pastors (though they are crucial in the role of chaplains to our Methodist schools). Our Christian Ministry Staff (CMS), too, play a vital role through their ministry of availability – being stationed on-site in Methodist schools allows them to be present for the students in their times of need. Mr Aaron Ho, CMS at Anglo-Chinese Junior College who has previously served in other Methodist schools, noticed that some students preferred to approach the CMS rather than their teacher or the designated school counsellor. He has encountered students with stories of family struggles and tensions in friendships; several of them mentioned they would cut themselves because they did not have the emotional capacity to cope with these challenges. “Through the year,” he said, “as we provided a safe space for them to share their lives, and as we counselled and encouraged them, we were able to see them become emotionally stronger and more ready to face the challenges ahead of them. From tears to smiles, this is the privilege a CMS gets to see.”
Ms Jenny Koh, CMS at Methodist Girls’ School, agreed that this is an important part of the CMS’ ministry to students. She shared: “Many CMS offices become a ‘hang-out place’ for students during recess, free periods and after school, giving the CMS opportunities to glimpse what is happening ‘on the ground’ as we hear the conversations exchanged and mingle with them.” “The students, who come on a voluntary basis and bring friends with them, feel that this is a safe space and are usually less guarded and defensive. They speak freely about anything under the sun and therefore very often, such occasions become golden opportunities to reinforce teachings from morning devotions and chapel messages.” Creating this “safe space” for students is a key goal for many CMS. Ms Esther Kasinathan highlighted the drop-in centre run for students in Geylang Methodist School (Secondary), where students can come after school to play pool, table soccer, or just ‘hang out’ and relax. The centre even organises pool training and a competition after the exams, and Basic and Intermediate guitar classes for students (see pic on next page). Said Stuart Cheng, a student at GMS(S): “Coming to the drop-in centre helps me relax and release stress. Winning the pool competition helped me to feel I have achieved something.” CMS in St Francis Methodist School, in particular, help their student population – 90 per cent of whom come from more than 20 countries outside Singapore – to settle in and adjust to a new environment as well as school culture. Mr James Lee, CMS at SFMS, shared about their weekly English club support group that brings together students from more than five nationalities over free lunch to learn conversational English, using the Bible and other youth-related materials. The CMS also form a link between the Church and the Methodist schools. Volunteers and staff from the adjoining Bukit Panjang Methodist Church organise a yearly orientation city-tour for new SFMS students in January, bringing them to places of interest and to experience a taste of local flavours with the aim of getting to know the students. Seminarians from the next-door Trinity Theological College (TTC) also organise cycling events and food-cum-photo hunts for interested SFMS students. TTC seminarians come over to
Photos courtesy of the CMS in respective Methodist schools
oom to grow the SFMS school hall weekly to play badminton, table tennis, basketball, board games, guitar, or just have friendly chats and occasional tuition with the students. Time and space do not permit detailing the various areas of a CMS’ ministry, which usually include: 1) Sharing of daily morning devotions, overseeing weekly chapel programmes, including leading worship and speaking; 2) Overseeing Christian Fellowship (CF) meetings, follow-up Bible Study sessions, Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade activities, discipleship and mentoring meetings with students; 3) Informal interactions during recess or breaks, befriending and informal counselling (sharing of experiences and advice); 4) Planning and supporting various special services e.g. Founder’s Day, Religious Emphasis Week or Good News Week, Prefects’ Installation, Baccalaureate Service, Homecoming Service, Christmas Service, etc.; 5) Prayer support and hospitalisation and bereavement ministry to staff and students; 6) Organising prayer groups with parents, staff and students, etc. But the CMS’ ministry goes beyond direct ministry to students, staff and parents. One of the most fulfilling roles of a CMS is nurturing the students to minister to their peers as well. Said Esther: “The students attending CF regularly are developed as leaders to work alongside the CMS to lead the sessions. They also organise activities for other students in school to enjoy after the exams. Here in GMSS, our CF leaders helped organise a movie afternoon for their peers who were interested to come and enjoy lunch fellowship and a movie. CF students also prepared gifts to appreciate and encourage the school leadership and teachers during Teachers’ Day in 2016.”
Passionate to serve students, staff and parents in our Methodist schools? Visit schools.methodist.org.sg to find out more about Christian Ministry in Schools, or email cms.admin@methodist.org.sg Volunteer opportunities also abound to support this vital ministry – e.g. meeting weekly to pray for the school, or providing meals for students etc. Please contact the CMS of the respective schools to offer your help. Jenny affirmed this critical part of the CMS role, sharing: “The constraints encountered by the CMS are many and the fruits of our labour are usually obvious only many years later. Yet what made many of us faithfully plod and labour on then? I believe I speak for some of my fellow colleagues too, that… by making ourselves available as [the students’] adult role models to coach them, counsel them, direct and correct them during their growing up and impressionable years, we know that the ‘investments’ we are making yield eternal returns in due time, even if one soul is touched and return to the fold of God – and we certainly echo the heartfelt joy expressed by the Apostle John in 3 John 1:4.” “The Christian Ministry is more than just a job or a vocation – it is a calling, a passion!” n
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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.
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MSF: Growing our churchschool partnership Joni Ong is Chairperson of the Methodist Schools’ Foundation and a member of Wesley Methodist Church.
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very two years, images of cheerful students in bright red, blue and yellow at the MethodistWalk surface to nudge our consciousness of the Methodist Schools’ Foundation (MSF). But did you know about the equally colourful background of the MSF, and the crucial support role it plays in the educational mission of the Methodist Church? Back in 1995, Methodists faced a dilemma: The Singapore Tote Board had offered to grant all our Methodist schools $500,000 each for IT and library related purchases, but was it appropriate for us to accept? The Executive Committee of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) met to discuss this, and decided to decline the offer (which would have totalled $6 million). Yet, our schools still needed funds to upgrade in view of the IT revolution that was then taking the world by storm. Was there an alternative solution? The Rev Dr Isaac Lim and Mr Tan Wah Thong were not prepared to let matters rest. After two years and many rounds of discussions with the Ministry of Finance, IRAS and the Ministry of Education, the Methodist School Buildings Endowment Fund (MSBEF) was finally approved in June 1997 – the precursor of today’s MSF. The MSBEF aimed to provide cash to construct, maintain and improve the Methodist schools’ buildings and facilities, and to purchase educational equipment, teaching aids and computers for them. The MCS gave seed money of $5 million to kick-start the MSBEF. Fund-raising models varied – from an initial partnership with The Lyric Theatre which donated opening night takings from its musicals, to the sale of orchid plants for Chinese New Year, to the MethodistWalks which have now become a mainstay of the church-school partnership in the Methodist family.
This precious church-school partnership is the cornerstone of everything we do at the MSF. The inaugural MethodistWalk in 2002 set aside up to 30 per cent of raised funds to cover the expenses of organising the Walk. In 2007, the Church stepped up with individual churches assisting to underwrite expenses for the Walks, so that schools now receive 100 per cent of all funds raised! In recent years, another two endowment funds were set up to support and motivate financially needy students – the MSF-Chen Su Lan and MSF Financial Assistance Funds. The impact of such assistance cannot be understated. Mr Daniel Yak, Vice-Principal of Geylang Methodist School (Primary), shares: “Through the financial support given by the MSF, our students who are in need of financial help are able to focus on their learning in school and that has enriched their holistic development. We would also like to thank the MSF for generously supporting the school during the school’s recent upgrading project.” Noted Mrs Chaillan Mui Tuan, Principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Junior): “Through the biennial Methodist Walks, the MSF unites students and staff of the Methodist schools, and reminds us of our common heritage and mission. Our
boys not only learn how to give cheerfully and generously in Christian service, but they also get to enjoy the meaning of Christian community through the morning walk and picnic. MSF has indeed provided a seamless and fulfilling way for us to raise funds for our school’s needs. At ACS(J), these funds have been used to enhance the learning spaces for our boys and to maximise the potential of students with learning differences.” I appeal to the Methodist churches and community to continue supporting the schools through the work of the MSF. Besides monetary donations to continue the provision of excellent education, our desire is also to see the church-school partnership expanded. If each church has an affiliated school, with 16 schools and 46 churches, each school can have on average three churches supporting and partnering it in terms of prayers, participation and pastoral care! What blessings! As we labour together in this field of educating our future generations in a Christian environment, I pray for unity, love and joy for all of us. To God be all glory! n Photos courtesy of the Methodist Schools’ Foundation
The MSF thanks the Methodist schools for their notes of appreciation – we could not print all due to space constraint. For the full list of appreciation notes, see schoolsfund.methodist.org.sg METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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Praying parents, unite! Hilda Toh, Tina Tan, and Anne Soh are parents of children in Christian mission and secular mainstream schools.
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raying Parents Unite (PPU) is a gathering of parents to pray in unity for revival in the family, schools, and nation. Since its inception about four years ago, there are now more than 30 schools which are covered by “praying parents groups”. The vision of PPU is for every school in Singapore to be covered by praying parents groups. The PPU also serves as a place of connection and support for parents who are seeking to start prayer groups in their children’s schools, as well as parents looking for other parents to pray with, regardless of the level (pre-school through to tertiary) or system of education (mainstream, special needs, homeschooled, or school of life) that their child is currently in. In the last two PPU meetings, praying parents shared testimonies on what God has been doing in the schools and
re-dedicated their personal prayer altars. In addition, spouses personally and corporately repented of any and all wrongdoings in their relationships with each other so that their prayers for their children would not be hindered. Parents also stood in the gap and corporately repented of sins pertaining to the family and prayed for the nationwide restoration of the family unit. The next PPU meeting will be held on 8 July 2017, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Music Room of Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road). Please register your intention to attend at http://bit.ly/PPU-3 to assist our administrative preparation, or contact Carol (9847-6180) or Anne (8623-2866) for more information. n
Photo courtesy of Praying Parents Unite
Faith Kindergarten celebrates Jubilee year Mrs Elsie Yee is the Principal of Faith Kindergarten.
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aith Kindergarten, formerly known as the Faith Methodist Church Nursery Programme, owes its humble beginnings to the vision of one man over 50 years ago. In 1966, the Rev T. C. Nga, Pioneer Work Pastor of Faith Methodist Church (FMC), saw the need for preschool education for children within the Queenstown community, and laboured hard to meet it. Over the years, enrolment gradually grew and it soon became well-known both within and beyond Queenstown. In 2004, almost 40 years after its inception, the kindergarten
was officially registered with the Ministry of Education and became a joint ministry of FMC and Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church (QCMC). On 18 March 2017, Faith Kindergarten celebrated its Jubilee year with a Thanksgiving Service, giving honour and glory to God for His continual protection and faithfulness over the past five decades. In attendance were the current batch of students, along with their parents, fellow alumni, pastors, and leaders from FMC and QCMC, as well as supporters and well-wishers. Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretary-General of NTUC, and Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC, was present to grace the Service. He said: “As parents, we can help our children better define success. We can use different yardsticks as their needs may be different. If our children can do justice to their blessings, and learn to give thanks as an individual, to their families and society, we would have succeeded.” To God be the glory! n Photos courtesy of Faith Kindergarten
Scholarship and spirituality in the Wesleyan spirit The Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon is a pastor at Christalite Methodist Chapel, a part-time lecturer at Trinity Theological College and Chairperson of the Methodist Welfare Services.
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hose who are familiar with developments in Wesleyan studies might have heard of Albert Outler, an outstanding theologian who first taught at Yale before being recruited to teach at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Among other things, he was the one who argued persuasively for John Wesley to be taken seriously as an important theologian. Outler called Wesley a folk theologian.1 By that he meant someone who is well-versed with the works of important theologians especially the Church Fathers, yet with the gift of presenting the Christian message in ways which even simple folks like unschooled miners could understand. Being able to communicate with common folks is an uncommon gift for an Oxford-educated pastor/theologian. Not many theologians or pastors can do that. Interestingly, Outler’s book on Wesley (1964), published by Oxford University as part of the “Library of Protestant Thought” series on great theologians of the Church, is still in print and used as a textbook, while books on other theologians in the same series have gone out of print. Many of us know Outler is the scholar who coined the term “Wesleyan Quadrilateral” to describe Wesley’s approach to theological reflection and studies. The point he makes is that sound theology should primarily be informed by 1) Scripture, enriched by 2) tradition, clarified by 3) reason and affirmed by corporate 4) experience. Through his research, Outler identified these four frames which undergirded Wesley’s theological works. Scripture is of primary importance. But we cannot neglect input from history and the rich tradition of the Church, nor should we downplay the use of our mind, and the shared experience of the Church. In the Singapore context, among Christians in general and Methodists in particular, we tend to give little attention to the invaluable contribution of Church tradition and the constructive critical use of reason. When Scripture is used or preached, it is usually done selectively. When experience is emphasised, those who are into experiential expression of faith seem to depend more on personal experience than on the use of reason in asserting truth claims. My teacher, William Abraham, the current holder of the Albert Outler Chair at Perkins, has been critical of the so-called Wesleyan Quadrilateral. But Abraham’s criticism is made in the context of a post-Enlightenment West which has replaced “God” with “Reason”. In other words, “Reason” (with a capital R) has become the god of the post-Enlightenment Euro-North American world, sadly with
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imitators from other continents who worship the Euro-North American dominant cultures. That concern of William Abraham is valid in the Euro-North American post-Enlightenment world, but it is not a major problem here, and my prayer is that it will not be so. If anything, most Christians in our part of the world are more inclined to fight shy of using our mind in doing theology and loving God. This is not to say that Christians are not intelligent people – they are. That is why Christians in Singapore have an unusual share of the number of people who have attended universities and who are successful professionals. But when it comes to applying our mind in the service of God, my observation is that Christians are at a loss in handling both mind and faith. Sometimes it seems pastors are not responding to this predicament; perhaps it is easier to manage their congregations if they leave the predicament alone? On the other hand, some pastors find it more “relevant” to follow the kind of “pop faith” (that does not require responsible thinking) which their members may be attracted to. Spirituality, I say, need not be suspicious of scholarship. We do not have to fear reason when reason is used as an expression of our love for God. Didn’t Jesus say we ought to love God with all our mind, along with our heart, our soul and our strength? n
See “John Wesley, the ‘folk theologian’ ”, Methodist Message May 2017 issue, P24.
Pictures by buketbariskan and AlphaBaby/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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Women in this VUCA World Chye Shu Yi is a member of Methodist Church of the Incarnation.
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ow should women today live in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world? That was the focus of the “Women in this VUCA World” conference, held at Toa Payoh Methodist Church on Saturday 22 Apr 2017 and organised by the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS). About 600 participants attended the conference, which highlighted that women today can lead a life that glorifies God in a VUCA world: through Christ, through our calling, and through community together. Through Christ The first segment of the conference was by Mr Lim Kim Pong, titled “Confidently Strong, Courageously Vulnerable”. He shared his experiences in learning to let go and trust God, and how he learnt how to be both confidently strong and courageously vulnerable. He explained that these two do not contradict; one example of this juxtaposition can be found in 2 Corinthians 12:10 where Paul wrote: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Drawing from his life lessons, Kim Pong shared that the key to living in a VUCA world is not to focus on the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, but instead to keep our focus on God amidst these changing circumstances. It is only through Christ and because of Christ that we can be victorious, unshaken, complete and assured in such an environment.
This truth was further brought out by the second speaker, Ms Norma Sit, who elaborated that VUCA change happens on both a global and personal level, and that only our faith in Christ can be a strong enough anchor to keep us stable through it all. In a very personal and emotional session aptly titled “The Walk Back Home”, she openly shared about her life growing up and how she eventually came back to God. Ms Susan Chee and Ms Imelda Ayu Triana, who together with Norma were on the panel in the “In Conversation” segment, also shared their stories of how God sustained them through difficult seasons and how they have been restored through His love and grace. Their testimonies were a moving reminder that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Through calling The top-voted theme by participants for discussion that morning was not passion, or strength, but calling. Many women wanted to know what was God’s calling for them and how they should fulfil that calling. The Rev Dr Maggie Low, who gave the afternoon sermon titled “Resting in the Source of Strength”, described two levels of calling: the first to live life as a child of God, and the second to take on a particular vocation. She explained that these are not separate as there is no divide between the secular and the sacred, and it is especially important to approach any vocation with prayer and the proper perspective, because a job is about what God will do in and through each of his children for His glory and not solely about what each person wants for herself. Dr Low’s sermon was about four women living in a VUCA world. She began with the history of Hagar as recorded in Genesis 16, where Hagar the slave of Sarah was fleeing from her mistress. Hagar is significant because she saw God in her VUCA circumstances, and she was the first woman recorded in the Bible to give God a name. That name was El-roi (the God who sees me), because even though Hagar had nowhere to go and no one else saw her, God saw her. The Rev Dr Low explained that our God is a God of seeing – He sees each one of us where we are and will find us, even if we ourselves feel unaccepted. The second woman was the widow of Nain, whose story is recorded in Luke 7:11-17. As a widow who had lost her only son, she would have been destitute and unable to work or own property, not to mention her grief and emotional pain. Yet Jesus saw her even in the midst of the large crowd, and He had compassion on her. Dr Low explained that the Greek word for that compassion, splangchnizomai, conveys the deepest possible emotion which Jesus could feel and did feel for the grieving widow – our God not only sees us where we are, but also understands and feels our hurts.
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“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10 And He did more than just empathise with her; in an amazing miracle, Jesus raised the dead man and gave him back to his mother, showing that He was truly the Son of God who had power to conquer the grave. The third woman was the Samaritan woman at the well, whose story is recorded in John 4. Even though she had been living in sin, Jesus crossed both the social boundaries of race and gender to reach out to her and offer her the gift of living water, of eternal life. Dr Low explained that eternal life is more than just never-ending duration, and refers to the fullness of life which we can only experience when in a right relationship with God. And she said that the fourth woman living in a VUCA world, whose life has the potential to be changed and used by God, whose story will be a testimony to God’s glory – that fourth woman could be any one of us whose story is still being written. That story begins with faith and trust in Christ, repentance and obedience to His lordship, and love that arises from a right
relationship with God. Through community As Ms Sarah Cheng De-Winne shared at the conference, both the positive and negative aspects of our lives are our testimony of faith to non-believers. God has blessed each and every woman with His gifts, and it was inspiring to see how many women used those gifts in a beautiful way at the conference for His glory. The worship team used their talents across two worship sessions to lead everyone in praising God and responding to His goodness. Ms Samantha Ho and Sarah each presented a beautiful gift of music using their amazing talents in singing choral and contemporary music respectively. Many women were cheerful volunteers in ushering, serving food at the lunch and tea breaks, and contributing in their own way towards the smooth running of the event.
The conference was an opportunity for believers from many different churches and walks of life to get to know each other. It was heart-warming to see them praying for each other, sharing their stories and advice with each other, and being quick to help each other, even if they had just met that day. It was a reminder of how important community is to the Christian faith – when we face a VUCA world we should not do so alone but instead with the support of others in Christ. Only through Christ, through calling, and through community together can women face a VUCA world and be a different VUCA – Victorious, Unshaken, Complete and Assured. n
Photos courtesy of conference organisers
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The Living Word Dr Oliver Seet is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and a Board Director of the Metropolitan YMCA.
The glamour of new messiahs enunciating words that give flesh and form to tenets framed by master-spirits – words compacted with designer genes to awaken and impassion the gullible who form the coterie of believers, capturing the headlines of tabloids and media, have currency and season; their tenure is ephemeral like the tide.
But the Word of the Divine thrives on the buffeting of the sandstorms of opposition, having no hour-glass. Worms consume the flesh of human memory but the Word of God remains unadulterated by the swirl of centuries, fresh as the day the Spirit first conceived it: speaking to us in a voice that cuts through bone and marrow, giving new enduring life to all who believe and treasure it.
Background picture by Sergey Nivens/Bigstock.com
June IS THE MONTH FOR DEEPENING YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP – CERTIFICATE IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP PROGRAMME
24 June / 29 July / 26 Aug / 23 Sept / 21 Oct / 18 Nov, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Trinity Theological College, 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678093
Scan here to see events online!
The Certificate in Christian Worship is a six-module programme that is designed to: ◆ Teach the biblical, theological and historical foundations of worship. ◆ Promote the use of: Hymns to teach theology, contemporary music that is biblically based and theologically sound, Asian and global songs to broaden the perspective of God’s gift of diversity. ◆ Encourage the use of music and the arts to express acts of worship. ◆ Develop worship services that seek to allow the congregation to participate, encounter God, and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) Come find out just what it means to worship God, what it means to nurture and to live the life of faith, what it means to be a Christian community that offers alternatives to the world, and how we can best reach out to our neighbors with the Gospel and in service to them!
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Organised by Trinity Theological College. Register at www.tinyurl.com/certificate2017 today! For more information, email msm@msmusic.edu.sg or call 6767-5258.
PLANNING TO GIVE THANKS AT THE MGS CARNIVAL
1 July (Saturday), 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Methodist Girls’ School, 11 Blackmore Drive, Singapore 599986 Methodist Girls’ School gives thanks for 130 years of God’s blessings and we are celebrating this with a Carnival for MGS girls past and present, their families and friends, all for a good cause. Come join in the fun at the ‘A Time to Give Thanks’ Fundraising Carnival happening at the MGS Sports Complex!
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For more information, email mgss@mgs.sch.edu.sg today.
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES FACING CHRISTIAN MISSION
5 Jul – 30 Aug (Wednesday evenings, no class on 9 Aug), 7.30 – 9.30 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 11 St Andrew's Road, South Transept Hall, Singapore 178959 Get the lowdown on some practical issues in helping mission workers prepare for shortto mid-term service in cross-cultural settings overseas, and providing them with tools to navigate these selected critical issues. These issues cover a range of concerns from an understanding of missionary calling and commitment to missionary care; from missions partnerships to church relations; from financial support to crisis communications; and most importantly developing effective interpersonal skills to working cross-culturally.
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Organised by the Centre for the Development of Christian Ministry @ Trinity Theological College For more information, please visit www.ttc.edu.sg, email cdcm@ttc.edu.sg or call Ms Esther Lee at 6761-3624.
REGISTERING FOR THE D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE
28-29 July (Friday & Saturday), 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Paya Lebar Methodist Church, 5 Boundary Rd, Singapore 549954
The D6 Family Conference touches on the topic of Generational Discipleship. According to Deuteronomy 6 (D6), the family is to be the centre of spiritual formation. The event aims to help churches, ministry leaders and parents develop and sustain an integrated discipleship strategy that combines the relationship and influence of the church and the home.
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Organised by the Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship and The Bible Society® of Singapore. For more info and registration, visit www.D6family.sg Invite your Chinese-speaking friends and congregation to the Chinese D6 Family Conference! Visit chinese.D6family.sg for details. METHODIST MESSAGE • JUN 2017
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THINK
Finding God in the mundane and through service Cheryl Lee and Audrey Tan are students from Methodist Girls’ School, and members of The Girls’ Brigade 1st Singapore Company.
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ere’s food for thought: how can a humdrum activity like boot polishing bring young girls closer to God? In The Girls’ Brigade (GB) 1st Singapore Company at Methodist Girls’ School (MGS), we polish our boots every time we are in full uniform, and that can be several times in a month. The frequency increases during the season of drill competitions, when we will be in uniform for up to three times a week! Through polishing our boots, we learn to continually seek excellence in everything that we do. Even as a simple activity that many might come to abhor, polishing boots does a lot in teaching us about perseverance – though those boots may seem dull at first, if you keep at polishing them, they will come to shine. Is that not what God is constantly doing to us in our daily lives? Who says God cannot be found in the mundane? Fortunately, He is also found in other settings, such as our Bible Study sessions – gatherings of a few girls, guided by an adult leader in small, close groups. Sometimes we discuss books of the Bible, or biblical characters such as Jabez and Ruth. Contrary to popular belief, Bible Study sessions are not boring at all! We do not drone on and on about ‘musty old people’, but instead, we dig deeper into the Word of God and look at it through fresh eyes in order to catch new insights about it and discuss how biblical lessons are relevant to us. In these small groups, we are free to share about our worries, our concerns for the day or week, and our joys. We also count our blessings and thank God for them.
As a result, we always come away from each session a little closer to God. But GB is not all Bible studies and worship. GB girls follow in the footsteps of Christ by actively serving the community, particularly the LENS – Lonely, Elderly, Needy, and Special Needs people. When we work with the community and various organisations like the Health Promotion Board and Willing Hearts during annual events such as GB Friendship Day (pic below), we are able to reach out to more than a thousand LENS and be a witness of Christ’s love for them. Memorably, in 2012 we played host to 5,000 people, the way Jesus fed the 5,000 centuries ago in Bethsaida. We retain vivid memories of visiting the market to implore vendors to sponsor food, breaking out in our mother tongue to communicate, and even pausing to pray together, that God would supply us. These experiences we enjoy are the fruit of the faithfulness and zeal that our founder, Mrs Elsie Lyne, had when she first started GB in MGS. She was passionate about inculcating Christian values deeply into each and every member. It was her determination to help the girls establish and sustain a vigorous relationship with God that the GB is able to continuously make a difference and be a blessing to our surrounding communities. Recently, The Girls’ Brigade Singapore celebrated 90 fulfilling years of our GB heritage on 8 April with a parade at Singapore Chinese
Girls' School. The Guest of Honour was Mr Ng Chee Meng, Minister for Education (Schools). He affirmed the all-important role of GB in teaching positive values and moulding young girls to become women of excellence. At MGS, GB has provided us with an environment, the space, and time to grow in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with both God and Man. We have come to realise that learning itself does not take place only in a classroom. Likewise, a sustained relationship with God does not only blossom in a church. We must and should continuously learn from one another: from our teachers, officers, senior members, and even our juniors. So be it through the polishing of our boots, serving the community, sharpening self-discipline at drills, studying the Bible, or learning from one another, we in GB have continuously experienced the goodness of God in our own personal journeys of growth. How about you? Where do you find the inspiration and drive to learn and grow in the Lord? n
Photo courtesy of Methodist Girls’ School