Methodist Message: March 2021 by Methodist Message

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE Vo l 1 2 3 N o 3 M A R C H 2 0 2 1

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 027/11/2020

WHAT ARE YOU GIVING UP FOR

t n e L

Contents

Church life Methodists in the world Christian living

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Bishop’s Message

Coming Up

Church Profile—Telugu Methodist Church

One MCS—ETAC Highlights

Home—The Rev Philip Abraham

Home—On the road to peace

Home—Make time for our youths

World Methodism—Methodist Tapestries Collection

Home—Dr Cheah Fung Fong

News—CALM

Welfare Services

20 Missions

You & Your Family

Hymns & Songs

24 Soundings 26

TRAC Bible Matters

28 News 29

Looking Ahead

30 THINK

The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church.

Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications

Editor Sheri Goh

Sub-editor

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BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020. He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013–2020.

The year of the Ox that knows God?

he Year of the Ox has begun. I confess my

God is heartbroken because it seems as if his own

ignorance and indifference toward any supposed

human children do not seem to know or acknowledge

blessings or characteristics associated with the

him, whereas the ox and the donkey do! The ox knows

Year of the Ox. I know only that I happen to have

who its master is, but God’s children do not know who

been born a Chinese ox! (So Math wizards now know I

their Father is!

celebrate a birthday this year that is a multiple of 12. Here’s a clue: I’ll be at least 24!)

What made God in Isaiah’s day say that his children did not know him?

I know little about the zodiac ox, but I know a little about the biblical ox. For example, the apostle Paul

It wasn’t because the people had stopped attending

says a pastor or church worker is an ox (1 Cor 9:9). (In

worship services (Isa 1:13).

my case, both calendar and church agree!) The Hebrew

It wasn’t because they weren’t offering animal

prophet Isaiah also mentions the ox, curiously in verse

sacrifices in thanksgiving and praise (Isa 1:11).

3 of both his opening and closing chapters. Here’s what he says about the ox in his opening oracle: The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. (Isa 1:3)

It wasn’t because they stopped holding prayer meetings (Isa 1:15). God was heartbroken because his people were not prioritising good deeds to neighbours in need (Isa 1:17). To use one of Jesus’ quotes: they weren’t “loving their neighbours”. And if we don’t love our neighbours, then we aren’t loving God! (Matt 22:37–39). Similarly, Isaiah says: If we don’t help our neighbours in need, then we don’t really know God! An ox knows its Master. Do we? May this Year of the Ox teach us to know our Master.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Coming Up

METHODISTWALK 2021 THE METHODISTWALK IS A BIENNIAL FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY ORGANISED BY THE METHODIST SCHOOLS’ FOUNDATION (MSF), ON BEHALF OF THE METHODIST SCHOOLS IN SINGAPORE. TRADITIONALLY, ON THE LAST SATURDAY IN MARCH EVERY TWO YEARS, STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL 15 METHODIST SCHOOLS GATHER TOGETHER WITH TEACHERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS FROM THE METHODIST CHURCHES, TO WALK TOGETHER AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THEIR SCHOOLS. EACH STUDENT WOULD ALSO HAVE A PLEDGE CARD WITH WHICH THEY COULD SEEK DONATIONS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. DUE TO SAFE-DISTANCING REGULATIONS AMID THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, METHODISTWALK 2021 WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A DIFFERENT FORMAT. WE HELD OUR PRE-WALK LAUNCH ON SATURDAY, 30 JANUARY 2021 WITH THE GUEST OF HONOUR MR LAWRENCE WONG, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AT ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE. FOR FUNDRAISING, INSTEAD OF A PLEDGE CARD, MSF HAS SET UP A CAMPAIGN PAGE FOR EACH SCHOOL ON THE FUNDRAISING PLATFORM, GIVING.SG. FOR THE PHYSICAL COMPONENT OF THE WALK, INSTEAD OF GATHERING TOGETHER WITH OTHER SCHOOLS AT THE END OF MARCH, EACH SCHOOL WILL BE EMBARKING ON ITS OWN DISTANCE-BASED GOAL. METHODISTWALK 2021 WILL END ON 29 MARCH 2021 AND THE DONATIONS WILL CLOSE ON 31 MARCH 2021.

PLEASE DONATE AT

http://bit.ly/msfgivingcampaign OR SCAN THE QR CODE >>

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Church profile ¢ Telugu Methodist Church The Rev Anil Samuel is the Pastor-in-charge of Telugu Methodist Church (Singapore) / Photos courtesy of Telugu Methodist Church

Our Sunday School kids meeting via Zoom Our congregation during on-site services

Embracing Telugu-speaking expats for Christ

elugu Methodist Church (Singapore) is committed to share the Gospel and win the Telugu-speaking friends for Christ. Over the last two decades, God has been good to the life and ministry of the church, helping us build the community, and our ministries have grown and taken various shapes in serving many people. The migrant brothers in the hostels, along with the families from various neighborhoods, make up a beautiful worshipping fabric of the church congregation. In the recent past, the large influx of Telugu-speaking families and expats have paved the way for the church to step out and reach other families in order to embrace them with Christ’s love, subsequently equipping them to serve the Lord with their gifts and talents. The families comprise people with diverse career backgrounds such as in IT, banking, science and technology, engineering, business and marketing, construction, education, medicine and the humanities etc. This rich diversity provides great opportunities both to serve and to tap into the potential to build the worshipping community. Our church community is a safe place to belong, worship, grow in the Lord and be His witnesses. The church organises regular prayers, Bible study for families and cell groups for brothers to build the community. Disciple Bible Training classes are conducted to equip disciples and sharpen their focus towards spiritual formation. The Sunday school ministry continues to nurture young minds to soar high with God’s Word and enjoy growing in His love. The ministry among the migrant brothers and friends in need enable us to live out social holiness. During Christmas and other special occasions, goodie bags and the message of God’s love are shared. Whenever the need arises, proper medical care, skills support and counselling services are rendered to the brethren. During public holidays like Chinese New Year, special evangelistic meetings are held. On other occasions, outings, talks and fun events are conducted for the church family and their friends for spiritual edification and bonding. To cope with the pandemic, the church conducted Zoom prayers to support and strengthen the brothers in the dorms and sisters (foreign domestic workers). COVID-19 awareness

talks and kits have been made available for our dorm brothers. The church distributed food to show care and love in action. Every Sunday, the worship services are streamed live on the church’s YouTube channel, especially for our church brothers in the dorms who are unable to attend the services. During these challenging times, the church remains steadfast in seeking God for opportunities to partner with and sow the seeds of the gospel among the church brethren, establishing them in the faith and fellowship with discipleship as its key component. A new initiative of the church, “CONNECT”, aims to connect with the church brethren, both local and overseas, to help them discover their potential for ministry and mobilise them for theological education. If you know of a Telugu-speaking person of family who is looking for a church or in need of pastoral assistance, please contact us.

TELUGU METHODIST CHURCH (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) 8 Short Street, S(188214) 8611-7374 www.sgtmc.org contact@sgtmc.org Telugu Methodist Church Singapore Our ongoing ministries Sunday worship service: 7 p.m. Sunday School: 11 a.m. WSCS Prayers: Fridays, 8 p.m. Cell groups: Saturdays, 8 p.m. Bible Study: every second Friday, 8 p.m. Maids Prayer Fellowship: second and fourth Sundays Missions Prayer: last Friday of the month, 8 p.m. METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

2022 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides

• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an allround holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP

Achievements include

Mr Gavin Kinch Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice-Principal

• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu.

What the parents say…

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice-Principal

Mr Chia Choong Kiat Acting Vice-Principal

For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan

One MCS ¢ ETAC Highlights The Rev Philip Abraham is the President of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, and the Pastor-in-Charge of Jurong Tamil Methodist Church and Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church.

The season of

Lent

e thank God for another season of Lent to be observed. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Sundays are not counted as it was the day our Lord was resurrected. It is a day of celebration. During Lent, we remember the sufferings of Christ on the cross, the cost of our salvation and the depth of God’s love for us; we examine how serious our sin and its consequence are. We approach the throne of God with repentant hearts, seeking His grace and mercy. It is a time for self-reflection on our own spiritual condition and journey, and for drawing closer to our heavenly Father. Many fast during Lent to draw closer to God. Fasting is a spiritual discipline mentioned in the Scriptures. Fasting throughout the Bible has been linked with an extra dimension of power. In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ fasted for 40 days and nights to acknowledge His dependence on the Father, and to gain spiritual strength through the reliance on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Nehemiah fasted for confession, repentance and favour in the sight of the king, for the great mission ahead. There are many types of fasts. Some people fast for 40 days with just one meal a day; some forgo one meal of the day, such as breakfast or lunch. Many, especially Indians, opt for a vegetarian fast. My parents observed

vegetarian fasting. They donated the money they saved while abstaining from meat to the church, which was channelled to social concerns ministries and missions work. After we got married, my wife and I continued to fast during Lent period. We also taught our children to do this. I believe that fasting in the Lent period involves sacrifice. It is not just about stopping something, such as food, or having a social media break. It’s a matter of the heart. Whatever I abstain from must be replaced with some time of prayer and devotion, where I give space for God’s grace to challenge and change me from inside out. How will I observe Lent this year? I want to fast one meal of the day—my lunch. During my lunch breaks I plan to go for prayer walks, conducting flash prayers for the people I pass by. This is just a little sacrifice on my part to show my love for my Lord. He was burdened when seeing the great multitude and had great compassion on them. I want to pray for the people—the helpless and the lost. In the pursuit to grow spiritually towards a transformed and renewed life, I want to continue to pray like the Psalmist: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps 139:23–24 NIV)

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

One MCS ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of the Rev Philip Abraham

Meet the Annual Conference Presidents: The Rev Philip Abraham (ETAC)

The Lord provides

The Rev Philip Abraham (second from right) with his family

he Rev Philip S. Abraham is a man with a mission. In Nov 2020, he was appointed President of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC), which consists of seven Tamil-speaking and one Teleguspeaking Methodist church in Singapore. He is also the Pastor-in-charge of Jurong Tamil Methodist Church (MC) and Pasir Panjang Tamil MC.

A child of God After migrating to Singapore from India, the Rev Philip’s parents began worshipping at Pasir Panjang Tamil MC. As committed Christians who believed that every first fruit belongs to God, they dedicated the Rev Philip, their eldest child, to God’s ministry. The Rev Philip grew up in church and was involved in many ministries, including the Sunday School and Youth ministries. When Jurong Tamil MC was established as a new church in 1977, he moved to worship and to serve there. He was elected as its first Methodist Youth Fellowship president. At the age of 23, while the Rev Philip was attending the Jesus Calls Convention at the National Theatre, the Lord convicted him to serve Him full-time. It was a huge leap of faith because his father had passed away and his

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Dedicating a church at Triveni in India in 2018

mother was the sole breadwinner with five children. They trusted in their Lord and Saviour to provide, and He has met all their needs from when the Rev Philip started theological education at Trinity Theological College in 1984 till today, 33 years into his full-time ministry. In 1988, the Rev Philip married Gnanamany Philip, now a master teacher at the Academy of Singapore Teachers, Ministry of Education. They have two sons, Joshua and Elisha.

“He who calls you is faithful” The Rev Philip has relied on God’s promise that “He who calls you is faithful” (1 Th 5:24) over his years of pastoring Toa Payoh, Sembawang, Pasir Panjang, Jurong and Ang Mo Kio (AMK) Tamil MCs. While “the journey has not been easy”, reflected the Rev Philip, God has always provided. One instance was when he was posted to Sembawang Tamil MC after ordination as an elder in 1992. They were engaged in a joint building project at Yishun Street 11 and finances were tight. They had raised enough funds to cover their share of the project, but had money enough only for chairs instead of pews. When the Rev Philip shared his burden with Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup, then the Pastor-in-charge of Paya Lebar MC, he and the church leadership donated 56 pews!

God has also rallied support from fellow pastors and Methodist churches. The Teck Whye Outreach Point ministry was started with support from the Rev Derrick Lau at the Methodist Church of the Incarnation to reach out to the Indians in the neighbourhood. The Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey provided a place of worship at Sengkang MC for the outreach ministry started together with AMK Tamil MC. Besides ministering together with AMK Tamil MC in local missions, the Rev Philip was able to dedicate three churches in India.

The Rev Philip (front row, first from left) with other ETAC members at Sembawang Tamil MC

Being installed as President at the closing service of the ETAC 45th session in Nov 2020

When asked about the biggest challenge in sharing the gospel with the Indian community, the Rev Philip shared: “The Indians’ basic philosophy is that all rivers lead to the ocean. With a number of deities, they often accept Jesus as one of the gods. This makes it difficult to share the gospel that Jesus is the only God and that there is no other name given on Earth.”

The future of ETAC As the Rev Philip shepherds ETAC over the next quadrennium, he hopes to help grow the eight churches and their leadership, which has been stagnant for some time. ETAC’s vision for 2021–24, “Towards Harvest 2024”, focuses on church growth. “1.1.1. Prayer Waves” was also launched to encourage ETAC members to pray every day at 1 p.m. for one minute for one of their unsaved neighbours, friends or family. In addition, ETAC pastors visit one another’s churches once a month to pray for the pastors, leaders, members and church growth. One of ETAC’s major goals for this quadrennium is to recruit two new pastors. Currently, some pastors hold two or three portfolios in their local churches, potentially leading to fatigue. The ETAC leadership is working to strengthen the Methodist Young Adult Fellowship and identify leaders to serve, in the hope that that more young people will enter full-time ministry.

Karma is another difficult idea to surmount. He said: “Suffering is explained through karma. Many Indians accept their suffering and bondage as a form of retribution for their collective actions. But Jesus’ salvation is free; He can break every chain and bond, and the truth will set them free from the past.” “We need to pray,” the Rev Philip says, “that God will encounter these pre-believers personally.”

How can we pray for ETAC? Pray that •

God will give wisdom to the pastors, leaders and churches to share His love through good and loving deeds

•

our churches will be caring communities with the mind of Christ (Phil 2:1– 5)

•

our churches will grow in disciple-making

The road ahead The Rev Philip is thankful for the opportunity God has given him to serve as ETAC President. “God has His purpose to place me here. My prayer is to listen to His voice daily, submit to his leading, walk humbly in His love, and serve him with fear, putting my trust in Him alone,” he said.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Home ¢ The Rev Bernard Chao is a Lecturer in Practical Theology at Trinity Theological College.

Make time for our youth or lose them over time

n January, Christians in Singapore were jolted by news of a “self-radicalised” 16-year-old “Protestant Christian” who had planned to carry out a violent attack on Muslims at two mosques. 1 We know little of the context or causes that led him to such ideas and actions. This troubling news is an uncomfortable reminder to attend faithfully and fully to our core concern of Christian discipleship. If we pay attention to and make time for our youth, we inoculate our youth against, and create a social environment that is resistant to, radical, dehumanising and destructive ideologies that have nothing to do with Jesus. This requires intention and constant and consistent attention. There are many ideologies and activities that compete for the attention and loyalty of our young people and call them away from Christ and Christian community. Radical extremist ideologies are just one. Loving, engaging, involving and discipling our youth is how the church is called to disciple and teach our young. We either make time for our youth or lose them over time. I suggest three ways in which we can meaningfully engage our young people: intentional parenting, shifting our focus from Church programming to persons, and modelling friendship across ethnic and religious lines.

greater outsourcing of the primary parental responsibility for discipling our children to Sunday schools and youth ministries. Increasingly, we have grown in over-dependence on full-time children and youth workers for the discipling of our young. Intentional parenting recovers the ancient role of parents as primary religious educators. In Deuteronomy 6, the commands concerning the nature, worship and love of God are followed immediately by instructions for parents. Parents are tasked with the work of discipling our children to know and follow our Lord. We are to model faithfulness, engage our children in spiritual conversations about God and life, be alert to teachable moments in the course of life and surround our lives with reminders of God’s goodness, grace and commands. Intentional parenting is not optional. We are all called to active, intentional and competent parenting. We spend an inordinate amount of time studying (and paying) for certificates and degrees for our careers. How much time and effort do we put into learning how to parent? Many parents start strong in preparing for the birth of babies and the early life of toddlers. Few prepare intentionally for the adolescent years when the challenges are both profound and nuanced.

Intentional Parenting The primary youth ministers in the Church are parents— not the Sunday school teacher, not the youthworker, not the youth cell leader. A slow confluence of social shifts and changes in congregational practices has resulted in

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Developing a relationship with our adolescent children so that they feel safe to share uncomfortable thoughts, deep feelings, frustrations and unsettling questions takes time. It also takes a consistent practice of exercising patience, faith

and courage to hold our own anxieties in check and make time and emotional space for our teens to speak without interruption. Learning about adolescent development and appropriating new parenting knowledge and skills are helpful. However, the first and biggest step that parents can take is to make (more) time for our children. We need to examine our preoccupations with work or other activities. Intentional parenting means setting aside consistent time to “waste” with our children because the deep and important conversations usually surface in unscripted ways. These deeper conversations about their friends, what they read and see on social media, their social media or gaming communities, their sense of selfesteem, passions or sense of injustice that they have about various issues, cannot be hurried.

Shifting Congregational Focus from Programmes to Persons Our congregations support parents in the discipling of our young people. We can only become aware of what our youth are thinking and doing and be alert to youth starting down dangerous paths if we have made time to develop close and intimate relationships with our youth as parents and congregations. To do so as congregations, we must focus our energies where it really matters. There is a growing realisation among youth workers in Singapore that ministry with youth in our churches tends to be unduly focused on programmes and, in particular, the “production” of youth events. Many of our churches are large. A side-effect of trying to minister to many is a commodifying mindset of trying to manage the church and efficiently “reach” as many youths as possible. Consequently, youth within the church sometimes feel fatigued by the pace of activities and with putting up a “show” instead of being ministered to and discipled. Other youth who do not care for existing modes and activities simply drop out or do not come. Have our regular programmes become sacred cows that no longer serve their intended purposes? If our youth ministries and churches are to be safe spaces for youth to feel engaged and able share intimately, we need to make time and space in our life together for meaningful engagement and conversations. We need to prioritise persons over programmes.

Are we able to shape communities of faith for youth where they have a keen sense of belonging, have peer support and encouragement, difficult questions are welcomed and critical thinking is taught and encouraged? Our congregations and youth ministries can serve as a second safety net, a place where our young people are discipled and experience loving communities of acceptance, learning and where unhealthy and dangerous ideas and propensities can be addressed and redirected toward what is pure and holy (Phil 4:8).

Modelling Friendship Across Ethnic and Religious Lines The third way we can engage and disciple our young people is by modelling—as parents, Christian adults and youth workers—how we make friends across ethnic, religious and also social-economic lines. The Bible describes Christians as people who love, bless, offer hospitality to, befriend and seek the welfare of those they live among (Jer 29:7). Churches and parents can (and must) take the lead in modelling how we make friends and maintain friendship with people of different ethnicities, faith, and economic situations. We can begin by sharing meals and celebrating our different festivals. We can also expand our common space by learning to partner with one another in doing good for our communities. 1 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/16-year-oldsingaporean-detained-isa-planned-attack-2-mosques-14052400

Christian Parenting Courses are available at Focus on the Family Singapore https://family.org.sg/fotfs/downloads/focus_ progmenu_2021.pdf

Alpha Singapore https://singapore.alpha.org/parenting

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Home ¢ Timmy Ng is a Christian Ministry Staff at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). He worships at Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church.

On the road to peace

“Violence should never be solved with peace”. 1

Furthermore, Jesus has never taught His followers to use violence to bring about peace and in His ministry;

hese were the words that was found in the

He practised what He preached. In fact, Jesus said,

document written by the 16-year-old Protestant

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). 5 When

Christian who was recently arrested by ISD for

He was about to be forcefully captured, He said,

making “detailed plans and preparations to conduct

“Put your sword back in its place… For all who draw the

terrorist attacks” against Muslims.

sword will die by the sword” (Matt 26:52). To a representative of one of the most powerful empire in

This young person had apparently spent a lot of his

history, He said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it

time online and alone, which was perhaps the cause—

were, my servants would fight… My kingdom is from

or the result—of the little face-to-face meaningful

another place” (Jn 18:36). Finally, He demonstrated how

communication he had with others.

to respond to those that sinned against Him: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

It is important for young people to develop deep relationships with others from different racial, religious,

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet and

cultural and socio-economic groups. These deliberate

interact with an Ustaz from a mosque, to learn about

interactions will facilitate the reduction in the divides

his work among the youths attending the mosque

between social class, anxiety 3 and bias 4.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

and since then we have gone on to become friends.

We were able to meet and to develop our

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

friendship with weekly meetings because the leadership in our religious groups encouraged us to continue in the relationship. Our

leaders

themselves

also

(Prov 22:6)

invited

each other to attend specially organised outreach

community-building

events

and

even religious events (e.g. for iftar during Ramadan, Holy Communion/baptism during

“And he gave the apostles,

church services). We even facilitated the

the prophets, the evangelists,

youths under our care to organise outdoor

the shepherds and teachers,

events so that they could spend time with

to equip the saints for the

each other, getting to know each other and

work of ministry”

even sharing our faiths.

(Eph 4:12)

I would like for our youths to do this themselves, but these conversations and

“Violence should never be solved with peace”. But violence

relationships are difficult for many to even

will never be solved with violence either. We need to help our

start. In my 12 years of serving in the church

youths to embody what it means to be the ekklesia—the “the

youth ministry, I have noticed that, in every

called-out ones”—to be a living testimony of Jesus’ gospel to

cohort, youths expressed their desire to

the all the world. It is only when selfless love, like that of Christ,

connect deeply with peers and mentors, and

is lived out in the lives of all, that there will truly be peace.

the desire to be helpful to others. They wanted to engage others in meaningful ways—not just within their homogenous social groups, but also in groups comprising of people from different racial, religious, cultural and age groups. However, not many have the skills, experience, emotional

resilience

and

motivation—and

perhaps opportunity and personality—needed to take the first step, to interact deeply and then continue the conversation. They require elders, leaders and parents who are willing to model how that can happen, as well as people who will accept them, spend time with them, journey with them, help them to create those opportunities, and even to

1 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/16-year-oldsingaporean-detained-isa-planned-attack-2-mosques-14052400

walk them through it. I believe that, this way,

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/regardless-classrace-religion-survey-singapore-income-divide-10774682

we will be able to by God’s grace, reduce—and

perhaps even eliminate—the possibility for

Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite, “Unlearning Racial Bias,” The Harvard Gazette, 6 Jan 2020, https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/01/ tools-to-reverse-implicit-negative-prejudice-in-children

self-radicalising among our own youths and, in an indirect way, help the youths in our society.

https://stanford.app.box.com/s/1iupcxgs89yf74fc3nmugoxup6wm19aa

All Scripture referred to in this article are from the NIV.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013

World Methodism ¢ Liz Walsh lives in the beautiful North Pennine hills with her husband and two rehomed greyhounds. She is interested in local history and also participates in living history events relating to the 6th to 11th centuries, where she plays musical instruments relevant to the period. Although rheumatoid arthritis precludes her assisting with the sewing, she is delighted to be involved with the Methodist Tapestries Project as its Administrator. / Photos courtesy of the Methodist Tapestries Collection

Methodist tapestries collection Methodism’s global story through the medium of needlework

Artist transferring sketch to linen with lightbox

The first stitches of the project

uilt in 1760, High House Chapel in northern England had, until recently, boasted of being the oldest Methodist Chapel in continuous use. Wesley preached there 13 times and, at the height of the 18th-century lead-mining industry, this small village chapel had over 1,000 Sunday worshippers. However, in recent years repair costs proved beyond the budget of the ageing membership, forcing the fellowship to cease worship there in September 2019. Located high in the North Pennine hills, near to the source of the River Wear, both the Chapel and a nearby monument that marks the spot where Wesley first preached in the area are nationally protected sites. Fortuitously, or, as many firmly believe, through the will of God, in 1984 the Weardale Museum was founded in the adjoining former preacher’s house. This small, independent folk museum, run entirely by volunteers, has now purchased the chapel and after the renovation will use the building to display its collections. This will continue mission through heritage by telling the Methodist story through an exciting and innovative set of embroideries: a Methodist Tapestry. Taking inspiration from The Bayeux Tapestry, the Quaker Tapestry and the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, the aim is to create a set of embroidered panels telling many of the wonderful stories of Methodism not only from the UK but from around the world. An artist at The Weardale Museum has already designed sketches that tell the story of High House Chapel and Methodism in Weardale, as a means of explaining the concept to interested parties. The Durham Embroiders Guild is creating the local “High House Story” panels, but the aim is to go much further than this. Individuals and groups are invited to take part in providing both well-known and more obscure Methodist stories from around the world.

Concept design of one of the panels

Each panel will be 50 x 50 cm square with an image in a 30 cm diameter central circle telling a story, accompanied by a short text (150 words) detailing the narrative. On receipt of the finished panels, The Weardale Museum will have them mounted, framed and displayed within the Methodist Tapestry Collection in the historic High House Chapel. We are seeking expressions of interest from Methodist Societies, craft groups and embroiderers who would like to take part in this exciting venture.

Methodist Tapestry Collection For more information, please contact contact@methodisttapestry.org.uk fb.com/methodisttapestrycollection

Panel subject matter • • •

General Methodist history Local stories of Methodism Suggestions available on request

Medium and requirements • • •

Linen panel (with design applied) and initial set of threads supplied Use any embroidery techniques appropriate for framed item Return to Weardale Museum for framing and display

Process • • •

Agree subject and design with Tapestry team; advice available throughout Keep and share photographic record Return to Weardale Museum for framing and display METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

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Registration at our Columbarium Oﬃce (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg

Home ¢

With the TRAC and CAC ladies during a mission trip to Manila, Philippines, in 2012

Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Dr Cheah Fung Fong

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly

Dr Cheah Fung Fong and her family today

hen asked what she would tell her younger self, Dr Cheah Fung Fong responded: “Love God, and love your family.”

It is a path she has faithfully walked—not just paid lip service to—over her many years of serving God. And she will stay the course in the coming years and beyond, after being elected the Vice President of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) last November. The post of President of the Annual Conference is held by a member of clergy, and Vice President by a lay person. Fung Fong is the first female Vice President of TRAC, the connection of 21 English-speaking churches of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

privilege of reaching out to the kids in the community with the gospel and rooting them in the Word of God. Even after stepping down as the Children’s Ministry coordinator, she continued to serve in ministries involving children and youth. From 1998 to 2011, she was a Board Member of the Fairfield MC Kindergarten. While she was advisor to the Youth Ministry between 2003 and 2011, the ministry piloted the Pre-Teens ministry. She also served as the TRAC Board of Children’s Ministry chairperson from 2004 to 2016. She is currently serving as Fairfield MC’s Associate Lay Leader, after an earlier stint from 2007 to 2011.

A love for God Fung Fong has been serving at her home church, Fairfield Methodist Church (MC) for decades. Her firm belief in raising up the next generation and families to love God led her to serve in the Youth Ministry for years. In 1995, she took up the position of Children’s Ministry co-ordinator. “I believed that God would equip me as I stepped into a ministry that I had never previously served in, and God indeed did just that. He raised a team of like-minded fellow servants who believed that children are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the disciples of the church today,” she shared. She and her Children’s Ministry team had the On a TRAC crisis relief trip to Pakistan in 2004

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Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly

An evangelistic rally during a mission trip with FFMC Children’s Ministry to Cambodia in 2010

A love for people Fung Fong studied Medicine at the National University of Singapore and practised as a doctor in various postings with the Ministry of Health and later as a Senior Family Physician with Raffles Medical Group. With her passion for helping people, God called her to serve the community through Yong-en Care Centre, a social service agency affiliated with Fairfield MC. There, she served there as Deputy Executive Director and was involved in setting up services targeted at dementia and preventive healthcare for the elderly. She also continued on her mission to help young people by working with children and youth, especially in sexuality education and with those at risk of dropping out of school. As a Family Life educator, Fung Fong has spoken extensively to parents in schools and the community. She was invited to be the speaker for the Ministry of Education’s inaugural COMPASS Speakers Series in 2013. She often contributes to various media outlets to share advice on families and parenting. She is currently the Executive Director of Filos Community Services, which has a mission is “to build resilience and empower individuals and families”. She elaborates: “We provide integrated health and social care services for seniors living in the East (Kembangan, Chai Chee and Kampong Chai Chee). These include Active Ageing programmes, Befriending programmes for isolated seniors and Case Management services. We are also the community mental health provider in our location, providing services for persons living with mental disease, so that they can better integrate into community living.”

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

At Fairfield MC’s 73rd anniversary in Jan 2020

“Our Family, Children and Youth services build the future of the next generation who come from low-income families by improving their literacy skills from a young age and supporting them through their school education through tuition classes in core subjects. We also provide workshops for parents to equip them with skills to improve parent-child relationships to build strong and happy families,” she added. In 2019, Filos was appointed by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, as the Volunteer Centre for Bedok Town. It functions to bring together private and public organisations and individuals to care for and serve the needs of beneficiaries in the eldercare, children and youth, and disability sectors in Bedok Town.

A love for family Fung Fong and her husband Christopher were classmates in medical school and served together in the Varsity Christian Fellowship. They have three children. John, 29, is a personal trainer who represented Singapore in weightlifting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Grace, 27, followed in her parents’ footsteps and is now training to be a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Esther, 25, is a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fung Fong has not taken for granted the need to juggle career, ministry commitments and family life. To spend time with her children in their formative years, she decided to eschew full-time clinical work—a decision she has never regretted. Being at home with the children gave her time to coach them in their schoolwork, and also to play and have recreation. “We tried to carve out time for them to have

a day of rest, in a model of the Sabbath rest, but that meant holding them accountable for their schoolwork on the other days of the week.” As busy parents, Fung Fong and Christopher found a way to spend time together as a family to read God’s Word and pray together on a daily basis during the half-hour car ride to school. Deuteronomy 6:5–7 (NIV) formed the basis for their family devotions:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

As the children progressed to teenagerhood, the family made a point to re-connect each night and to work through issues of identity and worldviews during their family prayer as well. Their nightly prayer time continues to this day. “The Bible is very clear in instructing parents to be the primary nurturers of faith for the children God has given them. I need to have that personal relationship with God, reading His Word, loving Him and growing in faith in Him myself. I can then lead and teach my children to do so too,” she emphasises.

Different gifts In the Church worldwide, women outnumber men.1 However, the opposite is true of its leadership, where women make up a visibly smaller proportion. But Fung Fong says she has not experienced any significant prejudice as she served God in leadership roles with the local church and in various Christian organisations which were often male dominated. “There was a mutual respect that we had for each other as we served as co-workers, whether male or female, in God’s service,” she said. She takes inspiration from Huldah, a female prophet described in 2 Kings 22:14– 20: “When King Josiah discovered the Book of the Law during the repair of the temple of the Lord, it was Huldah that he sought advice from, not the greater prophets like Jeremiah. […] Huldah’s modelling encourages me to step up to serve God, when called to do so, with the gifts and talents that He has blessed me with, for the purpose of bringing glory to God.” Fung Fong is also inspired by the work of the female lay workers—often called “bible women”—from the early days of The Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaya. Despite their minimal training, these women used their ability to speak the vernacular languages and worked with foreign missionaries such as Sophia Blackmore to evangelise the locals. “In our times,” she says, “where there is openness and greater opportunities for women to serve God in many kinds of ministry—even in leadership roles, perhaps much more than in previous generations—I would encourage women to look to God and to obey Him as He calls them to rise up to serve and to lead. As Paul teaches: ‘We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance to your faith; 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’ (Rom 12:6–8).” And, in all the ways we serve and do all things, we should “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).

Representing TRAC Singapore at the TRAC Malaysia session in 2017

1 https://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/22/the-gender-gap-inreligion-around-the-world

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

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News ¢ Ponseeta Paul is a member of Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street). / Photos courtesy of the Rev James Nagulan

CALM

Malaysia brothers and sisters at the inaugural CALM event

Care and Love Malaysians

020 was a year like never before. So when we entered the year 2021, it was not with the usual hope and joy for the New Year but with panic and uncertainties.

Among those who faced a very troubling year were our Malaysian friends in Singapore. Strict measures had led to borders between Singapore and Malaysia to be closed. Many, without having the privilege of time, had to make tough decisions. CALM (Care and Love Malaysians) is a collaborative Outreach and Social Concerns initiative by Seletar Tamil Methodist Church and Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street. The initiative was birthed through a vision to reach out to our Malaysian neighbours who have stayed behind in Singapore during this pandemic. CALM hopes to gather all Malaysian Christians for a time of worship and prayer, provide opportunities for fellowship, and provide help and support where needed. The initiative kicked off its first session on Saturday 30 Jan 2021 with a one-hour service, which included worship, testimony sharing, a time of prayer, and a short exposition on Matthew 11:25–30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and

As the evening drew to an end, the congregation was encouraged to spread the word and invite their Malaysian friends to come and be blessed through future CALM meetings. Those who had attended were given a bento set and a small gift—an EZ-Link card with the contact details of the pastors. Those who had attended the session had a blessed time. One of the participants, Sara, shared, “Please pray for us. We had to leave behind two children ages two and six back in Malaysia in our helper’s care. We miss them so much.” Another sister, Shalini, said that God’s promise in Deuteronomy 31:8 gave her strength: “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Another CALM session was held on 27 Feb 2021 at 7 Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street. We thank God for His faithfulness and for giving us the opportunity to share His love with our neighbours. Through the continued efforts of CALM, we hope to serve as a loving community and further reach out to those around us.

The EZ-Link card that was given to the attendees, which lists the contacts details of the pastors

learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30) We were reminded to look to God at all times despite our circumstances. God’s comfort carries us through tumultuous waves and troubling times. Through the comfort we receive from God, let us comfort others and draw others closer to Jesus’ love.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

If you have Malaysians friends you would like to invite to future sessions, please contact the Rev James Nagulan at or the Rev Vijay Joseph at

8608-7221 8311-3393

We would like to work towards providing them with prayer, counselling, jobs, accommodation and other areas of support.

Welfare Services ¢ By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo courtesy of MWS

Persevere in doing good for the vulnerable and needy Suet Ehr (right) brings Chinese New Year cheer to Mdm Chan

“Some volunteers travel long distances weekly to where MWS SAC – GreenTops@Sims Place is located. They also make available themselves when we are short of volunteers. I know of a volunteer who is rather elderly and has family commitments, yet she will make time to help out even though she stays at West Coast,” she said. Suet Ehr is a positive example of a Methodist who perseveres in doing good. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)

he circuit breaker to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was a period of social isolation. Many of us could not see our loved ones in person and had to adapt to attending church service online. But Mdm Chan Ah Choo’s situation was far worse than a loss of personal freedom. On top of having to adapt to COVID-19 measures, Mdm Chan, who is in her early seventies, was then the main caretaker of her terminally-ill husband. The couple have no children, and external family support was also limited. Due to her injured shoulder and leg, caring for her bedridden husband was an immense challenge. Mdm Chan was also frustrated by her difficulty in obtaining basic essentials like food and toiletries during the circuit breaker. When her husband passed away in Aug 2020, the grief she had to deal with made her extremely vulnerable. MWS Senior Activity Centre – GreenTops@Sims Place (MWS SAC – GreenTops@Sims Place) staff Lee Oi Wei and Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) volunteer Teo Suet Ehr subsequently befriended Mdm Chan. She was initially shy and reserved, but the MWS befrienders helped Mdm Chan emerge from her shell by regularly visiting her home and they have since become her welcome companions. The MWS befrienders also encouraged Mdm Chan to attend activities and make friends at the SAC, as well as use the gym to improve her physical health. Suet Ehr, who worships at Geylang Chinese Methodist Church, sees volunteering as a Biblical commandment to serve and bless those in need. She is further motivated by the faithfulness of MWS volunteers, which serve as constant encouragement in her volunteering journey.

Let us take this season of Lent to rally our family and friends to bring love and hope to those facing social and emotional poverty, so that they may have life to the full. Although we may be facing a difficult time ourselves, let us reach deep into our hearts to give others a warm and friendly face, heartfelt camaraderie and caring fellowship to tide them through tough times. Let us be the friend they need now.

The Giving Methodist invites you to be a friend and more In the spirit of helping those like Mdm Chan, we invite you to join MWS’s Persevere in Doing Good campaign by reaching out and befriending those who are isolated and distressed, for a period of six to 12 months. MWS will connect you with socially isolated seniors, disadvantaged and distressed families and individuals, and disadvantaged children in need of meaningful, longerterm friendships, advice and emotional support to guide them through the struggles in their lives.

Join the Persevere in Doing Good campaign in these 3 ways: Give Time Be a Befriender to a child, a senior or a family in need. Give A Donation Empower over 8,000 disadvantaged and distressed individuals and families. Give Voice Encourage someone to give. Pray for the last, lost and least. To sign up as a befriender and find out more about the campaign, go to

https://thegivingmethodist.sg or scan the QR code. If you have any other enquiries, please email tgm@mws.sg.

Missions ¢ Juliette Arulrajah is the MMS Area Director for Cambodia and Laos. She is also the Chairperson of the MMS Training Committee. / Photos courtesy of MMS

Kids Missions Adventures D ream s & Di s cove r i es! Thav Veasna (right) sharing about COSI, the children’s home in Cambodia where he grew up

Facilitator Cindy Ho shares about Timor Leste, one of MMS’s mission fields

“Dream from young to discover how God is calling us!” excitedly shared a Lower

KMA kicked off with creative investigative icebreakers

Primary participant in Kids Missions Adventures (KMA)

The children were then prepared to go on their own

after “travelling” to Timor-Leste on the zoom digital

mission adventures with the stirring “live” testimony of

platform and “interacting” with Rita, a young student

Thav Veasna. Veasna grew up at COSI (a children’s home)

at St Paul Methodist School. Rita has a dream to

in Cambodia, met Jesus, saw first-hand God’s intervention

make a difference in her community by becoming an

in his life and that of his family (including the miraculous

educator and is currently taking little practical steps to

healing of his terminally ill mother), his graduation to

fulfil that dream.

fulfil his dream of becoming a civil engineer, and then

and worship led by children from Grace Methodist Church.

hearing God’s call to serve as a Methodist pastor in In response to how God was calling us to reach out to

Cambodia for which God led him to Singapore and Trinity

children during the year-end school holidays, KMA was

Theological College, where he is currently studying.

organised by the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) in partnership with the Boards of Missions of the Chinese

“My daughter had such an interesting and fun-filled time

Annual

Annua

with the other 10 children in her breakout group,” said a

Conference (ETAC) and Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC),

mother after the event. Working in pairs, 72 facilitators

as well as the CAC Board of Family Life and TRAC Board

(aged between 20 and 70 from different churches)

of Children Ministry.

provided a meaningful God-centred time for the children in

Conference

(CAC),

Emmanuel

Tamil

their breakout groups. In these small groups, the children A first for Singapore Methodists, KMA was an engaging

shared their impressions about life in other nations as

and hands-on programme where 321 children (170 in

well as how this impacted them, prayed, learnt a Nepali

Lower Primary and 151 in Upper Primary) from the 46

song, and penned encouragement notes to a missionary

churches of our three Annual Conferences had mission

of their choice or to someone of a different culture.

adventures in three different countries (Cambodia, Nepal and Timor-Leste), moving seamlessly from one to

Sharing their “takeaways” readily and joyously after their

another from 10 a.m. to noon on 14 Nov 2020.

return from the breakout sessions, the children were

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Encouragement and well-wishes the children at KMA sent to Veasna after the event

inspired collectively by a short video to go, share, pray and give. After this came a spiritually empowering time when they committed themselves afresh to Jesus, covenanted with God to try to discover and follow His dream for their lives even as they were commissioned to go forth in the Wesleyan fashion as the world is our parish. Indeed, God moved far beyond our expectations and imaginations! Many facilitators shared how they were blessed by the children’s passion and insights even as they themselves learnt new things about missions and made friends with facilitators from different churches and Annual Conferences. When they received the post-

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

event follow-up materials for their children, parents shared that their children had a positive experience at

Psalm 25:4–5

KMA! Veasna was touched by the encouragement and well wishes he received through photos of the children’s messages sent by some facilitators via WhatsApp and several the children themselves mailed to him. In addition, Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church WSCS was spurred further into missions caring and giving. Barker Road Methodist Church also ran a contextualised adapted KMA with MMS resources just before Christmas 2020 for their Primary Sunday School, again with positive outcomes.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

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You & Your Family ¢ Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

Change, obsession and keeping up

am not sure when it happened. Neither do I know

physical body knows it is not so. But what about other

how it happened. What I do know is its signs. What I

aspects of our lives like the cognitive and emotional?

am referring to is losing the fight with change.

Do they “age” at the same rate and manner? There are also those who are so ready to embrace stagnation that

It began with a feeling and then the realisation that

they may actually age faster. “Use it or lose it” we are

I was having difficulty keeping up with change.

reminded. An earlier-than-useful resignation to the

Following this realisation was resignation and a slow

process of aging may lead us to reject trying new ideas

disengagement, at least in certain aspects of life. For

and things with the excuse that we are “old already”.

example, after being hounded to adopt a paperless

So, my suggestion is to adopt an attitude that is open

mode of staying in touch with my bank account, I tried

to change and resist the urge to age before our time.

several times to set up a e-banking. But after several

When it comes, it comes; we need not rush toward it.

failed attempts, coupled with much frustration, I gave up. Secondly, quit whining. The “good old days” are gone, Change, we are often told, is a constant. In order to

so comparing the present with the past is futile. As

progress—nay, survive—in the modern world, we must adapt

believers, we should stop comparing and complaining

and change. Swim with the tide of change; or be engulfed.

because we have the hope of a much brighter future with incorruptible bodies that will neither age nor tire.

It seems that there are two slopes on the trajectory of change. We are either on the upward incline, moving

The third suggestion is to trust not so much in the

up the change curve, or on the downward decline.

constancy of change or on our ability to keep up with it.

Emotionally, we may either feel anxious about keeping

Instead, view change through the lens of God as sovereign

up or setting the pace of change, or be sad about losing

over all. If God, in His infinite wisdom, deems fit for us

the familiar and fearful about being able to cope.

to keep up with some changes, so be it. And if some changes pass us by, we need not be anxious because

What should our attitude towards change be? Let me

our dependency is on Him. He knows exactly what needs

make a few suggestions for consideration.

updating, replacing and improving and what does not.

Firstly, we can embrace change and innovation. This

As we prepare for the season of Lent, let us reflect if we

mindset works on the premise that we can continually

should surrender to Him our obsessions or anxiety about

adapt and grow, and there is no upper limit to growth.

keeping up with change.

Now, the sceptic in me reminds me that with age, my

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

Hymns & Songs ¢ Amelia Leo is a programmes executive at the Methodist School of Music, Worship & Church Music Department. As a new mother of one, she is still learning what sacrifice means.

Meekness and Majesty Meekness & Majesty Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity in perfect harmony— the Man who is God. Lord of eternity

020 was a year in which many of us had to give up many things. Families and friends gave up holiday plans, birthday parties, weddings and graduation ceremonies. Whole industries ground to a halt and many had to give up their jobs for new ones, if any. Workers gave up their usual work schedules, and students their timetables. Churches could no longer hold their weekly gatherings and church camps in the same way. Amidst a time of great disorientation, giving up something in Lent to honour God might be the last thing on our minds. One might be tempted to avoid broaching the subject with God altogether. “Give up? Sacrifice? Haven’t I already given up so much in the past year? I would really like to have a break from having to sacrifice.”

dwells in humanity, kneels in humility and washes our feet . O what a mystery— meekness and majesty! Bow down and worship, for this is your God! This is your God! Father ’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence, yet learns obedience

Scripture does have a word for us in times like these. The journey of every disciple ought to be marked by sacrifice; this path is laid down by none other than Jesus Himself, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6–8). Notice the fourfold magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice—from God to servant, servant to man; and as man, he suffered, and then he died—not just in an ordinary way—but violently and most painfully on the cross. How is it that, as the song by Graham Kendrick says, the Lord of infinity would stoop so low to lift us up to the heights of his throne? One can only conclude with Kendrick in the chorus—“O what a mystery!”—and bow down and worship God. Perhaps the tumult of the past year has revealed what you had unknowingly placed above Jesus, and hence what you need to give up for this season. Or maybe you are doubting God’s presence with you as you sacrifice your work for your family, your personal time for your children, and your own plans for others’ sake. Whatever your situation, remember Jesus’ sacrifice. He is surely with you as you make sacrifice after sacrifice in honour of Him.

to death on a cross. Suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice. And as they crucify prays “Father forgive”. Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible, love indestructible in frailty appears. Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly, lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne. Words and Music: Graham Kendrick (1986)

Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

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

A lenten prayer O

ne of the most beloved fathers of the early Church is St Ephrem the Syrian. Born in the city of Nisibis (Turkey) in approximately AD 306, Ephrem was a deacon and a hermit who made enduring contributions to the theology and spirituality of the Christian East. His voluminous writings include theological treatises, spiritual works and commentaries on the entire Bible. But Ephrem also composed some of the most profound theological poetry for the Church, the most famous of which is arguably this Lenten Prayer.

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, Faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not judge my brother; For Thou are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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In this prayer, the venerable father (i.e. a sainted monk), as he is called, whose feast day is celebrated in the Orthodox world on 28 January, asks God to take away and to give. Ephrem asks God to remove four vices from his life, the first of which is “the spirit of sloth”. Here sloth does not refer to the moments of laziness that all of us—if we are honest with ourselves—experience occasionally.

The lust for power is thus a form of spiritual depravity, a blinding and toxic self-centredness. The lust for power is blinding because it misleads us into thinking of ourselves as the absolute centre of the world. It is toxic because it causes us to treat others with utter disrespect, and even with contempt. The final vice in Ephrem’s prayer is idle talk.

Sloth is a spiritual disease, a condition of the heart and the soul. It is a kind of disinterested lethargy that robs the believer of spiritual vitality and purpose. Sloth is the absence of genuine motivation to love God and serve Him. It makes the life of the Christian one tremendous spiritual waste.

In all of God’s creation, only the creatures that have been given the privilege of bearing the image of their Creator have the gift of speech. Like freedom, speech may be regarded as one of the most exalted gifts that we have received from God. But it is for this very reason also the most dangerous.

Sloth leads to the next vice we find in Ephrem’s prayer: faintheartedness. Faintheartedness is spiritual despondency—an infirmity of resolve and a lack of courage.

If the attendant danger in freedom is rebellion, the attendant danger in speech is blasphemy. The spoken word can be the means of human self-fulfilment. But it can also be the means of self-destruction. The spoken word can inspire and save. But it can also deceive and kill.

The spiritual writers of the Church down the centuries consider despondency as a great danger to the soul. It robs the Christian of the theological realism that acknowledges the saving presence of the sovereign God in this fractured world. In short, faintheartedness is a symptom of unbelief. That is why some theologians in the Christian East describe it as nothing less than the suicide of the soul. Sloth and faintheartedness together bring about the lust for power. In other words, these spiritual diseases pervert the heart, causing it to nurture a depraved and destructive kind of love that the ancient spiritual writers call lust.

After dealing with the four vices, Ephrem turns his attention to the virtues: chastity (self-control), humility, patience and love, which is the crown and the fruit of all the virtues. Space does not allow us to discuss these virtues. Suffice to say that Lent for Ephrem is not just about “putting off” the old nature; it is also about “putting on” Christ (Rom 13:14; Col 3). The saint ends his prayer with this petition: “Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother.” This prayer safeguards the petitioner from pride, which, according to ancient theologians is the most a subtle and insidious sin. May Ephrem’s prayer accompany us throughout this season of Lent! May its words urge us to examine our lives and repent of our sinful ways. And may this ancient Lenten Prayer draw us ever deeper into the holy love of God.

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TRAC Bible Matters ¢ The Rev Anthony Lee has been a TRAC pastor since 2009 and is currently serving as as Pastor-in charge at Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church. Pastor Anthony loves wrestling with God in the pages of Scripture, with the help of other saints of course.

Should we take numbers in Revelation literally? Are there only 144,000 saints?

OVID-19, for all its menace, serendipitously uncovered the presence of South Korean cult Shincheonji in Singapore.1 Shincheonji proclaims its founder Lee Man-hee has donned the mantle of Jesus Christ and will take 144,000 people with him to heaven on the day of judgement. Rather ironically, it reached a point when Shincheonji members exceeded the available places. As a result, members are made to vie for a slot and pursue converts to earn their rightful place among the 144,000.2

If only Shincheonji’s members knew that the 144,000 in Revelation is not to be taken literally and being counted among the number is not the main purpose of John’s Revelation.

Revelation 7:4 To see why we cannot read the numbers in Revelation literally, let us look at Rev 7:4 and its immediate context. After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

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Verses 5–8 then list 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes (Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin) to total 144,000. Firstly, if the passage is to be taken literally, may I humbly enquire where the four corners of the earth are located? Sure, I acknowledge the discovery that the earth is a sphere was long after God’s revelation to John but surely a God who knows all could well have revealed a different reality to John? Rather—and this is how I believe God worked in inspiring Scripture—I believe God chose to work with John’s understanding of a flat earth and the “four corners” was never meant to be understood literally. Secondly, if taken literally, the 12 tribes include only the sons of Israel. That means you and I are NOT included. And neither are the adherents of Shincheonji.

Revelation 14 Our hope of being included as God’s redeemed people is not the driving force behind why we cannot read the 144,000 literally. Let’s look at Revelation 14, where there is another mention of the 144,000: Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures

and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Rev 14:1–5) Putting aside the scholarly dispute whether the 144,000 here are the same as the 144,000 listed in 7:4, we must not miss the difficulty presented here. If the 144,000 is taken literally, only men who are virgins are included! Oops, a thousand apologies to women and married men (including those among Shincheonji adherents)!

Genre of Revelation— Apocalyptic literature Since rightly interpreting Scripture is of utmost importance, every believer needs to understand that sound biblical interpretation begins with identifying and respecting the genre of the book. According to renowned New Testament scholar Richard Bauckham, Revelation contains three genres of literature— apocalyptic, prophecy and letter.3 Since the verses that mention 144,000 occur in what scholars regard to be the apocalyptic sections of Revelation, we will concern ourselves here primarily with apocalyptic literature, a genre most of us are unfamiliar with. Symbolic language is the chief characteristic of apocalyptic literature.

The Use of Symbols One helpful way to understand how symbols are important and point towards a larger reality is to imagine yourself in a foreign country where you have absolutely no way to communicate with the locals except by signs and symbols. How would you communicate that you want to eat, for instance? Most of us would put our fingers together and bring our hand to our mouth, right? This simple hand-to-mouth action is a symbol of our desire for food. In a similar— but far more complex way, because God is completely otherworldly—God communicates His intentions and desires to us using symbols familiar to us humans. (Unfortunately, while the symbols in Revelation are familiar to John and his original readers, they are largely lost to modern readers. This huge gap of time, culture, and context is why Revelation is so difficult for many of us!) Another helpful way to understand the reason for apocalyptic literature is to imagine yourself in a war context. How would you communicate to your own troops without revealing your game plan to your enemies? I recall learning several hand signals during my National Service days. Raising my hand in a closed fist position, for example, signalled stopping in our tracks and dropping down on one knee to prepare to engage enemy fire. Revelation has both these dimensions of pointing towards a larger reality without being too explicit. For example, in chapter 17, John shares his vision of a woman. At first glance, she might seem to be a goddess of Rome, in all her glory, a stunning personification of the civilisation of Rome, as she was worshipped in many a temple in the cities of Asia. But as John sees her from God’s point of view, she is a Roman prostitute, a seductive whore and a scheming witch. For good measure there are biblical overtones of the harlot queen Jezebel to reinforce the impression. In this way, John’s readers are able to perceive something of Rome’s true character—her moral corruption behind the enticing propagandist illusions of Rome which they constantly encountered in their cities.4 Yet, the word “Rome” is never used in the entire Book of Revelation.

Returning to Revelation 7:4 and 14:1 How then should the symbolic figure of 144,000 be interpreted? While some have tried to resolve the literal problem by seeing the 144,000 as a special class of God’s people, I believe a far likelier interpretation is that 144,000 means a combination of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples. This number encompasses both Old and New Testament believers. After all, 12 x 12 = 144. The number 1000 signifies a large number of completeness.5 This is confirmed by Rev 7:9–10 which describes a great multitude that no one could number (not only 144,000) from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. The 144,000, then, points towards the fullness of God’s people—after all, we are all God’s sons (and daughters) as the spiritual and eternal Israel.

Symbols demand a response What I wish to emphasise from Rev 7:4 and 14:1–5, however, is not the 144,000 but the descriptions of these believers. Knowing a symbol does not mean one would naturally obey it. I may see my platoon sergeant raise a closed fist but may choose to keep walking on (to my own detriment of course). The true test of one’s correct understanding of a symbol is an appropriate response. In the case of 144,000, as Rev 14:4 reveals, these believers are described as those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Question: Where did the Lamb go? Answer: The Lamb of God went to the cross. Consequently, to “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” marks (pun intended) a Christian’s willingness to suffer and die as a consequence of faithfulness to God and the Lamb. Christians who have given their allegiance to God and are consequently symbolically and indelibly marked on their foreheads with the name of God and of the Lamb. Just as Jesus was “blameless” and yet crucified, so too being “blameless” really means

the sacrificial death of all faithful followers of the Lamb.6 Seen in that light, the virginity of the 144,000 is a symbolic metaphor for absolute faithfulness to God. It does not mean literal sexual asceticism, but points towards purity of heart to be willing to die for Jesus our Lord. John is inviting his readers to be numbered amongst the 144,000 who represent all God’s faithful people— past and present—who respond rightly through sacrificial obedience—even death on a cross (Phil 2:8), completely single-minded and unafraid because they are confident of a far greater reality.

Conclusion As Richard Bauckham rightly asserts, Revelation offers not so much an esoteric and encoded forecast of future events but rather a theocentric vision of the coming of God’s universal kingdom, contextualised in the late first-century world dominated by Roman power and ideology. The 144,000 symbolically refers to all faithful believers, past and present, who accept God’s call to confront the political idolatries of the time and to participate in God’s purpose of gathering all the nations into His kingdom by being completely resolute.7

The views expressed in this article are personal and may not reflect the official position of The Methodist Church in Singapore. This version of the article has been edited for brevity. The full article can be found at http:// www.trac-mcs.org.sg/index.php/resources/ bible-matters?layout=edit&id=265. 1 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/ news/singapore/shincheonji-southkorea-singapore-covid19-investigatemha-12480918 2 https://www.thejakartapost.com/ news/2020/02/27/shincheonji-thesecretive-sect-in-south-korean-virusoutbreak.html 3 Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Theology, ed. D. G. Dunn (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: UK, 1993), 2. 4

Ibid., 17–18.

David E. Aune, Apocalyptism, Prophecy, and Magic in Early Christianity (Baker Academic, Grand Rapids: MI, 2008), 72. 5

Ibid., 77.

Bauckham, 2. METHODIST MESSAGE March 2021

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News ¢ Annalisa Daniel is a Christian Ministry Staff at Anglo-Chinese Junior College and a member of Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church.

What does being a Methodist mean to you? Love God and love your neighbour (Matt 22:36–40)

his is the greatest commandment as laid out by Jesus. It is through The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) that I have grown to understand and am learning to live out this commandment as a disciple of Christ. I grew up in a Methodist church and was also brought up in Methodist schools—it was where I grew in my desire to know God. It was where my faith was shaped by the Christian values instilled in me. It was where I discerned God’s calling for me, leading me to study at Trinity Theological College and now serve as a Christian Ministry Staff. It was through the connectionalism of The Methodist Church, seen in the Aldersgate celebration services and other combined church events, that I was discipled in God’s Word and built friendships with others from the Methodist family. I came to recognise that despite our being from different annual conferences, we are one big family and play an important role in nurturing the next generation. MCS is also where I grew to love my neighbours through social action and evangelism in various ministries, from schools to homes for the elderly. MCS plays an important part in society and we have been given this platform to serve the needs of our neighbours. Being a Methodist means being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ where we, as one big family, obey His commandment of loving God and serving our neighbours together.

MARCH

Looking Ahead ¢

Scan to see events online!

A LENTEN JOURNEY 2021 12 Mar 2021 (Friday), 8 p.m. “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”—An Evening of Lenten Song and Meditation 19 Mar 2021 (Friday), 8 p.m. “Being in the Kingdom of God” Live online via ZOOM Register at tinyurl.com/lent2021 (ZOOM links will be emailed separately) 6767-5258

Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Come be a part of a series of online events comprising of webinars and a worship service that have been specially planned to help you make your heart ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating His resurrection.

MARCH

Organised by Methodist School of Music

ETHOS CONVERSATION 2021: RELIGION AND POLITICS IN SINGAPORE 20 Mar 2021 (Saturday) 9.45 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. Bible House (7 Armenian St, Singapore 179932) if situation permits or via ZOOM as an alternative Attendance is free. Registration is required. Love offering will be collected. Register at ethosinstitute.sg/conversation2021 6304-3765

In 2018, the government made some amendments to the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA), a Singapore statute which was enacted by the Parliament on 9 Nov 1990. What are these amendments and how will they impact the ministry and mission of the churches in Singapore? What is the relationship between religion and politics in Singapore as set out by the MRHA? Does the separation of religion and politics imply that the Church has no role in public debates and that religious leaders have no right to comment on societal issues?

MARCH

Organised by ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity

EQUIP COURSE: FAITH AND WORK–WORKPLACE THEOLOGY 23, 30 Mar / 6, 13, 20, 27 Apr / 4 May 2021 (Tuesdays), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Via ZOOM Please register online via TTC website at www.ttc.edu.sg $100 (Fee waived for TTC Alumni)

We spend the most healthy and energetic part of our lives working. Yet we seldom reflect on the significance of faith in our work. What does the Bible have to say about work? How can we affirm that the whole people of God are serving in “full time” ministry Monday to Friday, and often Saturday as well? Starting with the definition of work as “purposeful activity, whether manual or mental or both, whether remunerated or not” we will explore both the biblical basis of a theology of work and then wrestle with the contextual implications. Having a theology of work is critical both for those people engaged in a societal occupation and also for pastors, whose primary challenge of equipping the saints includes empowering people for the primary arena of their service to God in the world.

JULY

Organised by EQUIP

D6 FAMILY CONFERENCE 2021 30 to 31 July 2021 (Friday and Saturday) Faith Methodist Church, 400 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604) d6family.sg fb.com/d6familysg family.min@bible.org.sg 6304-5286

D6 is based on the principles of Deuteronomy 6 and it urges the church and home to work together to implement generational discipleship within the churches, homes and families. The objective of D6 Conference is for the attendees to understand how they can best apply the principles of Deuteronomy 6 in their lives in order to pass on a spiritual legacy for future generations. The D6 Conference 2021 is a place where parents, pastors, church and ministry leaders can look to be equipped with practical next steps and strategies in discipling the next generation. Organised by Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship

THINK ¢ Christopher Goh was a student of ecclesiastical history at the University of Cambridge and, when not watching Fulham FC, is pursuing a Masters at Tel Aviv University. He worships at Bedok Methodist Church.

Radical christianity

in singapore

he arrest of a 16-year-old Protestant Christian for planning a terrorist attack has sparked conversations about religious radicalisation in Singapore. The overwhelming narrative is that religious radicalism is bad and should be avoided. However, Christianity is an innately radical faith. To be radical means to push for fundamental changes in the status quo. It is impossible to adhere to biblical teachings without being radical. As Singaporean Christians, how then do we reconcile the call to be radical in a nation-state that seems to abhor radicalism? “Radical religion”, as used in public discourse in Singapore, refers to violent extremists, such as Islamic jihadists and far-right Christian nationalists. However, to view all religious radicalism as violent reflects a narrow understanding of it. Radical Christians have often been radical to the point of dogmatic pacifism—many conscientious objectors who refused to take up arms in the World Wars did so because their radical Christian faith made them reject all killing as murder. At other points in history, it has been radical Christians (including many known in Britain as “nonconformists” or “dissenters”, such as Wesley himself) who were at the forefront of movements to dismantle systems of structural violence. Spurred on by his evangelical faith, William Wilberforce worked to abolish slavery, and likewise for many anti-apartheid activists. Whether or not 30

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we agree with the finer theological points of die-hard pacifists, we must acknowledge that radical Christianity is also a force for peace and justice. “Moderate” Christianity, a Christianity that hangs back and does not challenge society into change, can be just as complicit in violence as religious extremism. Moderate and mainstream Christianity did not argue against the brutal Atlantic slave trade and was complicit in it. The moderate Christianity of the established Anglican Church even encouraged colonial expansion. “Moderate” Christianity is at odds with what we are called to do—to leave behind our old lives and follow Jesus. Jesus did not shy away from radical change. He often contradicted the status quo and shook the foundations of society, leading to opposition from both ends of the religious-political spectrum, from the “conservative” Hebraic Pharisees to the “liberal” Hellenistic Sadducees. His ministry was a radical reimagining of the way God’s Kingdom would appear on earth. Until Jesus comes again, the status quo will always be imperfect, and Christians should never be satisfied with leaving it unchanged. Christ called Christians, having been born again by water and the Spirit, to go forth into the world as transformed and transforming people. In Romans, Paul exhorts us not to conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Radical Christianity calls us to

love not only our neighbours but also our enemies, to forgive them not seven times but 70 times seven; to seek first the Kingdom of God; to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly; and to love the Lord our God with all our hearts. It calls us to submit to the ruling authorities while also obeying God over man. It is incredibly difficult for a Christian to live these out, especially in a secularising society. Radical Christianity is uncomfortable for people in power and for the privileged, and even for many in the institutional Church, because it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for them to abandon their earthly positions in order to enter the Kingdom of God. It is uncomfortable because it calls for a reimagining of the comfortable status quo and a fundamental reform of society. We must not let the discourse following the afore-mentioned incident affect our pursuit of a radical Christian life. I would argue that the answer to religious violence would be for Christians to be more radical. Embracing a radical Christian faith means understanding that earthly violence, which leans on our own strength and understanding, is rarely the solution for metaphysical issues. Christians cannot be cowed into being less “radical” just because of how it is used and misunderstood as a “dirty word” in our national discourse. We are called to a radical faith to bring the transformative power of the Gospel into all the earth.