Wesley Tidings Newsletter Issue 01 2016

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)

T I D I N G ST I D I N G S

Bi-monthly magazine of Wesley Methodist Church (Singapore)

WesleyISSUE 1 | January - February 2016

MCI (P) 014/01/2016

Wesley Tidings ISSUE 1 | January-February 20162

There are some lessons one never forgets. Like the one I was taught years ago – I bumped into a traffic policeman on a motorcycle whilst hurrying to drive ahead

of some pedestrians at a zebra crossing. From then on, at each zebra crossing, I am reminded – no matter how tempting it is to whizz past it to beat pedestrians who seem to be strolling a tad too leisurely from the other side – one has to allow every pedestrian to cross before one drives past the crossing.

So why do some lessons linger long in one’s memory and hit us so hard that they result in even behaviour change? And why is it that others don’t – they dissipate even from our short term memory!

Take the many lessons the Bible has to offer. Store up treasures in heaven (not here on earth!) Give of your best to the Master (not your second best or your last!) Be wise (not haughty!) with money – it’s a too-familiar list. Yet, how far deep have we allowed these lessons to reach into our being, to grow roots, sow seeds and bear fruits?

Perhaps it’s time to once again refresh our memories and truly let these lessons transform us.

And so, at the start of 2016, by participating in our church-wide Bible Reading Drive, let’s take stock DAILY of the lessons that the Bible offers – of what God has to say about Him, us and our lives. Let us start living these lessons anew.

02 From The Editor

03 So Says Our PIC

marketplace04 Christians In The Marketplace

ministries06 Prayer Ministry

09 Witness & Evangelism

10 Discipleship & Nurture

12 Family Life Ministry Men-In-Christ Breakfast Fellowship

13 Christian Outreach & Social Concerns

22 Communications Tidings Mail-out

on file24 • Carols By Candlelight • Christmas Day Combined Services • Wesleyan Covenant Renewal Watchnight Holy Communion Service

27 Transitions

28 Photo Moment

from the editorcontents

Peggie Chan

Lessons – Live Them Anew

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death by how I live while I am alive now. If no other fears drive my life except my fear of sin and if no other desires consume me except my desire for God, I am confident in echoing the words of Paul, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

With this declaration, I pray that I – and we as a church family – will be among those whom God will use to “shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth”.

Listen to the message of the funeral.

Pastor Shih Ming

so says our PIC

The Message of the Funeral...“shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth”.

On New Year’s Day, I conducted a funeral, which was a wonderful way to begin the year. Before you go all aghast

at my cold-heartedness, let me explain that it was wonderful not because of the death of a faithful servant of God. He was precious to God and his death brings the pain of loss to his loved ones.

It was wonderful because of the message of the funeral. The message of a Christian funeral is found in the words of

the apostle Paul in Romans 7:24-25a: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God –through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Paul declared that God through Jesus has rescued us from this body of death. That’s why “the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”’ (1 Cor 15:54b-55). Death has been swallowed up in victory – a victory assured when Jesus rose from the dead. In other words, death is not to be feared. And if I don’t fear death, what else is there to be really fearful of?

None of us know what the year 2016 will bring. There are ominous signs of economic recession, environmental devastation, escalating wars and endemic diseases that threaten our very existence as a human race. But what is the worst that can result from these? Our physical death. But if death has been swallowed up in victory, then there is nothing to fear about the future.

If you are not afraid to die, there is almost nothing that can stop you from fulfilling your convictions. (This is one of the reasons why suicide bombers are so terrifying.) The positive biblical perspective of this fearlessness is found in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

To be crucified is to be put to death. But Paul is not calling us to commit suicide; he is saying that he lived in such a way that it appeared that he had died and Christ now lives in him.

Another way of understanding this is found in the words of John Wesley, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.”

As I began the year at a funeral, I was confronted with the question, ‘Who or what do I fear?’ Death? Am I fearful of death? As a pastor, I am expected to give a resounding no. But the truth is that I will only really know when I am about to pass from this life to the next. Yet, I have an inkling of how I will feel about


Christians In The Marketplace

marketplace

Lucas Chow was with Hewlett Packard for 20 years before he assumed his various chief executive positions in Singtel Mobile, MediaCorp and Far East Orchard. He retired from Far East Orchard and Far East Organisation in Sep 2014. Currently, he serves as Chairman of Health Promotion Board, Vice Chairman of Yellow Ribbon Fund and he is a member of the Board of Trustees at National University of Singapore. Lucas is a recipient of 2015’s National Day Public Service Medal.

According to the 2015 US Census, the United States has a working population of 154 million, of which 63 million

identified themselves as Christians. Only three million, or two per cent of the total working population, described themselves as Christians who actively integrate faith at work. This means the majority of the Christians in the United States are not actively practising their faith at work! I wonder what the result will be if we conduct the same survey in Singapore.

It has often been preached at the pulpit that we should not be mere Sunday Christians, and that work and faith must be integrated. Yet, why are so many of us still struggling to practise this in the workplace? What should our attitude towards work be? Is it too much to see work as more than getting the next paycheck?

Let’s begin by looking at Scripture and see what it says about work. In Genesis 2:2:

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

Hence God was the first to work. During the time of the Old Testament, people were instructed

to bring their first fruits of labour to offer to God as worship. (Music and songs were introduced into worship during David’s reign when Levites and musicians were appointed.) Labour or work is thus connected with worship. Our ultimate objective as God’s people is to worship Him. And this should not be limited to our life within the Church but extended to whatever we do outside it, including work.

If work is a form of worship, what then should our attitude be? In Colossians 3:23-24, the apostle Paul says:

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

He also stressed in Ephesians 6:7-8: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Just imagine, if regardless of our occupation, we work wholeheartedly as if serving the Lord, I think our attitude towards work and the outcome of our labour will be quite different.

Consider these examples:• If I am a hotel chambermaid and I am cleaning the room as

if Jesus is going to stay there. Will I not pay extra attention to make sure the room is clean and comfortable?

• If I am an investment manager helping my clients with financial investments and if Jesus is my client. Will I not make sure the advice I give for the investment is not only financially sound but also morally sound?

• If I am a factory worker producing household products for the consumers and my customer is Jesus. Will I not make sure the product is not just meeting the specifications but produced to perfection that I will be proud to present it to the Lord?

• If I am a manager or in a leadership position, I am given a team of people to look after and Jesus is in my team. Will I not be a good shepherd and take good care of my flock? Will I not show humility and take their interest to heart?

My dream is that Christians in the marketplace will consider our work as a form of worship and we are doing it as if we are serving the Lord. Then the world will be a much better place.

Lucas Chow

This is a new regular column that will explore some of the key issues Christians grapple with in the marketplace, starting with this article on Work as Worship.

Regardless of your role, position or experience, you have been placed by God at your place of work and gifted by God to do your area of work for a purpose. How can you bring Jesus to your work and into your workplace? Find out at the inaugural GRACE AT WORK Marketplace Conference 2016 on Saturday 2 April. More details on facing page and at www.wesleymc.org/marketplace

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Marketplace Conference 2016How can you receive the grace of God to be a witness for Christ at your workplace? How can you minister God’s grace to your colleagues and clients at work? Three speakers with diverse marketplace experience and thoughts on marketplace ministry will inspire and challenge you to impact your workplace with God’s redemptive grace.

Date: Saturday 2 April 2016Time: 8.30am to 3.30pmVenue: Wesley Hall Wesley Methodist Church 5 Fort Canning RoadFee: $20 (includes materials, refreshments and lunch)

For more details and registration, please visit www.wesleymc.org/marketplace.

Closing date for registration is 27 March 2016.

THREE GIFTED SPEAKERSTHE MARKETPLACE CONVERSATION

PLENARY 1 The Heavenly Meaning of Our Earthly WorkRev Dr Tan Soo Inn will shed light on the sacred/ secular divide and explore how our daily work fits into God’s purposes to sustain and redeem creation.

PLENARY 2Getting Our Faith to WorkRev Tim Costello will help us understand how we can be God’s instruments at work as well as how we can better integrate our faith and vocational calling, embrace sensitivity to cross cultural diversity, and realise our desire to bring the kingdom of God into the workplace.

PLENARY 3Great Things for a Great GodHear from Datuk Dr Edward Ong his anecdotes of faith and struggles in the marketplace, and allow God to inspire and challenge our perspectives of work.

Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn Director of Graceworks

Rev Tim Costello Chief Executive of World Vision Australia

Datuk Dr Edward OngFounder of the Sutera Harbour Resort


prayer ministry

I am not a prayer warrior. In fact, I am more of a prayer worrier. I used to have this fear of praying out loud. And although I

have since overcome this fear, I am still not totally comfortable when it comes to praying openly in a group. Hence attending the inaugural Wesley Prayer Service (WPS) was the last thing on my mind.

For several years, I have had this struggle with corporate praying. Hence I was pleased to read that in Matthew 6:6, Jesus teaches that ”when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

That suited me fine then. But as a DISCIPLE 1 facilitator in 2013 and 2014, I have had to do either the opening or closing prayer for several of the sessions. Hence I had to pray aloud. And while participating in the DISCIPLE 3 programme in 2015, my wife, Wendy, and I started the practice of praying as a couple before meals. While previously, both of us would give thanks on our own – and silently, we began to take turns to pray and thank God for the food and His providence. We often have our meals at home, which means that we have a lot of ‘practice’ praying together aloud.

The good thing about a couple praying is that I learn of my wife’s concerns when she prays – and vice versa. And we also pray for one another as well as our children, siblings, parents, and our fellow DISCIPLE participants and facilitators. So we feel the closeness to the family as well as the class.

Looking back, I think I had worried too much and I was too self-conscious. I have since stopped worrying about what people think about my prayer. I pray to talk to God, and not to impress the people around me. In Matthew 6:8, we are told that our Father in heaven “knows what you need before you ask him”. It is indeed reassuring to know that my prayer is understood by God even if it may not sound coherent to men.

Still, the thought of attending the Wesley Prayer Service didn’t cross my mind until this new year as I joined 2,600 other Wesleyans in the year-long Bible Reading Drive (BRD). Reading the first four chapters of Acts on the first four days of 2016, I realised that the early church always prayed together.

In Acts 1:14, it was written that the disciples “all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Ten verses later in

Confessions of a Prayer WorrierWesley Prayer Service6 January 2016

Acts 1:24, the disciples prayed together to ask God which of the two men – Barsabbas or Matthias – should take over the apostolic ministry from Judas.

Three more instances of the early church praying together were to follow in the next three chapters (see box).

And so by Day Five of the Bible Reading Drive, and with five chapters of Acts (and another five chapters of Ezra) ticked as read, I felt this burden to go for the Wesley Prayer Service the next day. I asked my wife if she would like to join me. She said yes and we marked it in our calendar; yet it was not quite carved in stone for all it took was for one of us to change our mind and back out. Surprisingly – and fortunately – both of us decided to go as planned. I thank God for keeping that thought in my head. And so we found ourselves sitting among more than 100 Wesleyans at the Wesley Hall – waiting expectantly but somewhat anxiously for what was to come.

We were put at ease very quickly. Pastor Michael Tan preached on 2 Chronicles 7:11-16, where God assured His people in verse 15: “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place”. How wonderful! Pastor Shih Ming then led us in prayer as we quietened our hearts to listen for what God was saying to us. Several Wesleyans wrote words of knowledge on pieces on paper, some of which were confirmed by others in the congregation.

For example, one person wrote and shared: “A lady with pain in a finger on the right hand needs prayer for healing. To pray for her.” During the altar call, one lady from the congregation did come forward and identified herself as “the one with pain in the right hand.” She was prayed for by one of the pastoral team members.

At the end of the two-hour service, I realised that you need not be a prayer warrior to attend the Wesley Prayer Service. Instead, you can have a prayer warrior pray for you during the altar call. Even that is entirely up to you, or as the Holy Spirit leads you. All you need is a willing and open heart, and a desire to be still before God and to engage Him in conversation.

Will I be back again for the next Prayer Service? I pray that I would. In fact, I also pray that more of you could join me and many others at the next Wesley Prayer Service. Come and experience it! This service is not just for prayer warriors but for

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prayer worriers and novices as well. We are all there to learn to pray as a community and to discern what God is saying to us. And we will get better over time

Richard G Scott once said: “If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want Him to talk to you, read your Scriptures.”

Indeed, reading the Bible daily through BRD is part of my conversation with God. But I also need to talk to God, and I can do that by praying to Him. And of course, God also talks to you when you pray. So yes, I can pray on my own, behind closed doors. But importantly, praying together in community encourages and edifies one another. Have you ever wondered why the Lord’s Prayer uses plural pronouns such as “our”, “us” and “we” instead of singular ones such as “my”, “me” and “I”?

Perhaps it was more than a coincidence that BRD and WPS were launched within days of one another – at the beginning of a brand new year. Yes, let’s join our hearts together in reading the Bible daily – and in prayer as well.

Alvin Tay

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matt 18:19-20

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. – Rom 8:26-27

Five instances in Acts 1-4 of the early church praying together

1. They pray as they wait upon the Lord “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the

women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” – Acts 1:14

2. They pray to seek God’s choice “Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us

which of these two you have chosen to take over the apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.’” – Acts 1:24-25

3. They pray in fellowship “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to

fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to prayer.” – Acts 2:42

4. They pray as a discipline “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time

of prayer – at three in the afternoon.” – Acts 3:1

5. They pray for boldness “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people

and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them…. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.’” – Acts 4:23-24; 29

Join us for the Wesley Prayer Serviceevery first Wednesday of the month

(No Prayer Service in July and August)

7.30pm to 9.30pm • Wesley Hall

Mavis Wong (above), the lady with pain in her finger, sharing her testimony at the second Wesley Prayer Service on Feb 3. Here is what she says:"Glory to God! All this while, I had this habit of consistently bending and massaging a stiffness on the joint in my third finger of my right hand. This joint used to be extremely painful. God in His mercy took away the pain. But I kept meddling with this finger as though subconsciously doubting God's healing. On 6 Jan, the first Wesley Prayer Service, Pastor Benjamin Lee announced there's someone with pain on the right hand to come out for healing. I knew God was speaking to me. So I went up and I received from our Lord, His assurance that He had healed my finger. Thank you, Jesus!"


Lord manifested among His people in momentous times and circumstances. Today, He would also do likewise among us as the Church universal presses on in an era of unprecedented challenges.

4. Is there a fixed Order of Service? There is a path with lamp posts to guide our footsteps:

i. Begin with a time of musical praise and worship.ii. An exhortation with God’s Word.iii. Sharing of pre-verified testimony/testimonies of God’s

responses to prayers.iv. Listening and responding to God’s voice of guidance for a

time of prayer and intercession.v. Altar ministry by pastors, PTMs and leaders for persons

with personal needs.

5. Any takeaways or reflections following the first service on 6 Jan?i. Return to Begin The people came with expectant hearts believing that

the gathering was a timely return to one of the chief fundamentals of our relationship with God – coming together in prayer before Him. As a church, there is no better start to a new phase of our faith journey with the recent completion of the upgrading project of our sanctuary.

ii. Smooth and Soothing The entire flow of the service was smooth and soothing

not due merely to human effort in planning and execution, but the leading and enabling work of the Holy Spirit. There was a genuine sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence and the people were generally being ministered to through the various aspects of the service.

6. Any word of encouragement for those who may be fearful of praying openly?

Prayer is never a solely human effort to communicate with God. God encourages us through the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:26-27 that even though we are weak, the Holy Spirit Himself will help us to pray. If we do not know how to pray concerning our challenges, situation, issue and need, the Spirit of God is our intercessor and He helps us to pray in accordance to God’s will. The majority of Christians are not comfortable about praying openly, but through regular prayers with our Christian loved ones and close Christian friends, our innate shyness and even fear will be expelled by an increasing faith.

prayer ministry

Wesley Prayer Service got off to a good start on Jan 6 with more than 100 people praying as a community. In a

written interview, Rev Michael Tan shares on the thinking and prayers that went into the planning of this monthly service.

1. What were the thoughts and prayers that went into the planning of Wesley Prayer Service?

Wesley Prayer Service (WPS) is envisioned to be a gathering where we individually and corporately – regardless of gender, age, spiritual level or disposition (charismatic, contemporary or traditional) and the ministries we serve in – will encounter the living presence of the God of the Bible. As such, in the overall preparation of the service, i.e. the expression of musical worship, message of exhortation from God’s Word, time of listening and responding to the Holy Spirit, conducive setting to encourage verbalised prayer etc, much prayerful considerations have been exercised. Thus one of the initial processes was for the Core Prayer Team – consisting of members and worshippers from the different worship services in Wesley and Kathlyn Tsang the PTM for Prayer – to spend time to listen to God and seek His ‘agenda’ for the service. The perceptions arose from this process were then shared with and verified by the pastors.

2. What are the desired outcomes? As in all our endeavours, we desire that God would be pleased

with what we do, and manifest His presence among us to help us overcome the myriads of challenges we face daily, that He would counsel us, encourage us, and as He knows best and determines perfectly, heal us in body, soul and spirit. We know that when we encounter Him and experience Him more intimately, we will certainly be impelled to pursue His calling for us as His individual child and as His Church.

3. How different is WPS from our Wednesday Prayer and Intercession (WPI)?

The primary focus of the WPI is to pray and intercede for the many and diverse needs within and outside the church. Hence the meeting is more structured for the intercessors to cover the prayer items under the areas of church ministries and programme, missioners and missionaries, and personal needs. In the WPS, there are also some prayer focuses to foster our oneness in and through prayer. However, the emphasis is not to ask God to meet our prayer requests per se, but to submit ourselves to Him. The WPS is thus a time of opening ourselves to God and letting Him work His supreme and sovereign will and ways in our midst. In the past the glorious presence of the

What you may like to know about the Wesley Prayer Service

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witness & evangelism

Our journey started way back in 2009 when Rev Alvin Chan suggested forming a football team for Wesleyans

to get to know one another better. Our team then started to take part in the CrossRoad Cup (CRC), an inter-church tournament.

Formerly known as the Agape Cup, the CrossRoad Cup (https://www.facebook.com/CrossRoad.Cup) was formed to spread the Gospel through football as well as to foster a spirit of brotherhood and fellowship among participating churches. There is a short worship and sharing session held before every game which would be led by the home team. Many friendships have been forged between the players from the different churches.

As with most teams who just started playing together, Wesley struggled with both numbers and results – we earned the unfortunate tag as the “whipping boys” of the tournament and losing 4-0 was not uncommon. Morale was low and changes were made, but we soon made progress, albeit at a slow pace. We began to qualify for the knockout stages regularly and even managed to reach the final in 2013. However, we lost to Riverlife Church 1-0 despite dominating the game.

In 2014, we were finalists in another tournament, the Sports Coalition Singapore (SCS) Cup, but lost to Church

of Singapore 3-1. However, it is often said that one learns more from defeats than from victories and it is indeed true.

The 2015 CRC tournament marked the 7th season that Wesley participated in and we had high

hopes for the team. Wesley’s 35-member squad consisted of about 17 believers and the rest were pre-believers. Our

Champions at last!Wesley Methodist Church Football Club

29 November 2015 • Anglo-Chinese Junior College

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:31confidence took a huge blow during the opening game when Faith Methodist Church (FMC) raced to a 3-0 lead before half-time. We were resilient in the face of defeat and soon scored three goals during the second half to get a score of

3-3. But FMC managed to score a fourth goal and in the last few minutes, we fought tooth and nail to make it a 4-4. It felt like victory and was undoubtedly one of the most memorable games ever!

Spurred on by the comeback, we continued to make progress in the next games and even beat Church of the Ascension at 5-0. However, they proved that the ball is round when they beat us on penalties the following week after a 1-1 draw and knocked us out of the SCS Cup tournament. That served as a wake up call and we turned our focus on the relentless march to the CRC Cup final. We were up against the defending champion and favourite, Church of Singapore, in the semis and played to our game plan in a disciplined manner, winning 3-1 emphatically.

We thus won our right to take part in the first-ever all-Methodist final, pitting against probably the church with the most titles to their name - Aldersgate Methodist Church. How apt it was that the all-Methodist final was held in Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), a Methodist school. It was even more special for many of us as we were from ACJC - it felt like a homecoming and made us even more determined to do our best in our home ground.

We did not disappoint. We started with all guns blazing and drew first blood by taking an early lead. We were, however, pegged back 1-1 before half-time. Friendships were put on hold as both sides were determined to break the deadlock. In the end, it took a moment of magic to win the game when our striker controlled a cross-field ball perfectly, side-stepped and finished with aplomb. We had finally accomplished our goal. Champions at last!

Not one to savour victories for long, we will start preparing for the 2016 tournament. Although we finished as undefeated champions in 2015, we know defending the title is much tougher and will not rest on our laurels. We will prepare well for the defence of our title.

To God be the glory!Poon King Yau

More photos at www.wesleymc.org - Life@Wesley!

PHOTOS: NICHOLAS TAN


discipleship & nurture

Bible Reading Drive Launch3 January 2016 • Wesley Methodist Church Atrium

The words of the Bible boomed across the atrium as Pastor-In-Charge, Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming led a diverse group of

12 to read Acts 3 aloud. The church congregation experienced how it is like to receive the Word through public reading, like when Ezra proclaimed the Word of God publicly in an open square more than 2,000 years ago.

Pastor Shih Ming then led the group in writing their reflections on specially produced heart-shaped cards and pinning them on the Reflections Panel, which was set up in the atrium, just outside the Sanctuary, officially marking the launch of the one-year Bible Reading Drive (BRD).

Open to everyone in Wesley Methodist Church, BRD, spearheaded by the Discipleship and Nurture (D&N) Committee, aims to encourage all in church to read the Bible together as a community.

From 1 Jan 2016 to 31 Dec 2016, BRD will see the church following Year 2 of M’Cheyne’s two-year Bible Reading Plan. It will read an average of two chapters a day, and will complete 52 of the 66 books in the Bible comprising the last 25 of the 39 books in the Old Testament (from Ezra to Malachi), and all 27 books in the New Testament.

By encouraging everyone to “Read God’s Word” and commune with Him every day through BRD, the D&N committee hopes that the church will be able to “Understand God’s Word, Live out God’s Word and Enjoy God’s Word”; in short, to let God’s Word RULE our lives.

Keeping in mind how iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (Pr 27:17), the BRD Committee requires every participant to sign up with a buddy so that they can encourage one another to keep up with their daily personal readings.

During the launch, Pastor Shih Ming also urged the church to use the R.O.A.D. map (see box) to help us Read, Observe, Apply and Do what God is saying to us through the Scriptures. Indeed, BRD is not a Bible study programme and hence participants should not be reading the Bible for information, but for transformation. Read the daily Scriptures devotionally to discern and respond to what God is saying to you. Allow God’s Word to transform how

Read or listen to the Scripture readings for the day, inviting the Holy Spirit to give you understanding. It is best to read through all the prescribed Bible passages. Then go back and read the passage/verse that you feel God wants you to focus on. Read that passage/verse a third time, slowly.

Observe what the passage is about. When and where did the event happen? What was the context? Who were the people involved? What was the main message the writer had for the people of that time? Note your observations in this journal.

Apply the passage/verse to your life. What relevance does this passage/verse have for your life? What are the lessons to be learnt? What promises are there to claim? What examples are there to follow? What commands are there to obey? Look for all the possible applications for your life. Here is when you move from information to revelation.

Do what God has revealed to you. It may be to respond in worship, to act in faith on something, to fulfil the premise to the promise, to correct a behaviour, to restore a relationship, to share the revelation with someone else, to serve someone in need, etc. When you do what was revealed to you, you move from revelation to transformation. Record your experience in obeying God’s revelation to you.

R.O.A.D. map

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you feel, how you think and how you live. Participants are also encouraged to gather as a small devotion group of six to seven people to follow the daily reading plan. The group can meet once a week for an hour and follow the 20-20-20 devotion format - spend the first 20 minutes reading the day’s Scriptures in one

another’s presence; the next 20 minutes writing in your journal what God is saying to you; and the final 20 minutes sharing what you have heard from God in the first 40 minutes. Ask the group to commit to an initial period of six weeks and then revisit your commitment with one another. Already, two BRD devotion groups comprising a total of 27 people have been meeting at the Plaza Hall every Saturday morning from 8 am to 9 am for this purpose. In addition, all the church staff also formed devotion groups which meet every Wednesday (except for the first Wednesday of the month) for an hour, also at Plaza Hall.

To further engage the church community, the D&N Committee has also been diligently posting on its Facebook page daily Bible verses that are in line with the reading plan. Followers of the page will be able to read daily reflections posted by Pastor Shih Ming, Henry Tan, Benjamin Lau and several others. The community is in turn invited to share their reflections so as to encourage one another.

Paige Lee Peiqi

A photograph of 82-year-old Alex Giam immersing himself in reading the Bible -- with the BRD calendar and a pencil to boot – first made its rounds on WhatsApp during the early days of the Bible Reading Drive. His daughter, Giam Lay Hoon, had taken the photograph and sent it to her DISCIPLE 3 class via WhatsApp.

Inspired, classmate Wendy Tan shared the photo with her 83-year-old mother, together with a personal letter to encourage her to read the Bible. Her mother was dismissive at first, but within days, she was caught on candid camera reading the Bible with a magnifying glass. She was reading from her favourite The Everyday Bible even though she also has a large print Bible. This was not all. She had even coloured the first portion of the BRD bookmark.

Dad is the inspiration...

And so is MumAnd so is MumAnd so is Mum

PHOTOS: JOHNNY KOH


family life ministry

The Awakening of SaintsMen-in-Christ Breakfast Fellowship

A Talk by Henson Lim • 9 January 2016 • Wesley Hall

The first Men-In-Christ Breakfast Fellowship of 2016 was off to a strong start – the room resounded with the deep

booming voices of men, united in worship. They were then all ears when the speaker for that morning, Brother Henson Lim, spoke about his ministry, Archippus Awakening.

In October 2013, Henson received God’s revelation for a new ministry which centres on Colossians 4:17: “And say to Archippus, ‘Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it’”(NKJV). Archippus Awakening’s purpose is thus the awakening of saints (believers), that they would know and fulfill their God-given assignments. Through this ministry, Henson hopes to grow believers like Archippus, with four distinct characteristics:1. Almost anonymous, but still called – Archippus is mentioned

only twice in the Bible and hence almost anonymous; yet God calls him by name and directs him towards a specific ministry. Similarly, like Archippus, every believer is to take up their respective position in God’s Kingdom.

2. Aware, not apathetic – Archippus recognises the urgency of the end times, and being fully aware of what is taking place within the larger Body of Christ, actively seeks to fulfil his Kingdom assignments.

3. Not activity, but assignment – Archippus exercises discernment and distinguishes between Christian activity and Kingdom assignment, understanding that busyness does not lead to fruitfulness.

4. Anything but aimless – Archippus is clear about his assignment and channels his energies and resources purposefully. He aims to be faithful in fulfilling his assignment so that he may please God.

Henson next expanded on the subject of spiritual mediocrity. He cited Colossians 4:16 in which the apostle Paul gives instructions that his letter to the Colossians be read by the church of Laodicea and that the Colossians in turn read his letter to Laodicea. He then highlighted Revelations 3:14-17:

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

Rev 3:14-17 (NASB)

Henson elaborated that God identifies the spiritual condition of the Laodicean church as one of mediocrity, not unlike the present day Church – enjoying material abundance but with many believers in spiritual slumber.

Henson clarified that the “hot” and “cold” expressed in Revelations 3:15 do not describe good or bad value systems. They actually refer to the hot springs and cold river waters of the region, both of which produce health benefits. And unlike them, lukewarm water does not.

Pointing to 1 John, Henson also stressed that the Church today is in the last hour before Christ’s coming. He cautioned the audience that they should be aware of the times or they would be choked by the cares of the world and be lulled into spiritual slumber.

PHOTO: NG CHAI SENG

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Henson Lim managed an advertising agency for 14 years before stepping into ministry in 2004. Called to the ministry of teaching and preaching, he declares the Word of God with a passion to spur others to rise above mediocre Christianity that they may live lives worthy

of their calling in Jesus Christ. Responding to the Lord’s direction in Oct 2013, Henson stepped down as Deputy Senior Pastor of a local church and Dean of a school of ministry. His assignment for this new season is Archippus Awakening, dedicated to the awakening of saints to know and fulfill their God-given kingdom assignments (archippusawakening.org). Henson is married to Serene and they have seven children. The family worships at Full Gospel Assembly Singapore. Personal website: brohenson.org

He then shared several points which he has gleaned from his life experiences and study of the Bible:1. When God prompts you towards a new direction,

He seeks your obedience first before telling you what to do.

2. The Archippus Awakening is about asking God what He seeks for His Kingdom and then playing a role within it. It is not just praying for good examination results for our children or success in our business.

3. We have to find our purpose in the Kingdom by seeking God, as opposed to pursuing activities for their own sake.

4. In seeking God for our ministry, assignment or task, we must be prepared to look further than we are used to. This involves setting aside our previous experiences, positions and the direction which we have followed. Joshua 3:4 encourages us thus: “…that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before” (NASB).

5. When you are seeking a new direction and do not know where to go next, return to your last encounter with God and seek Him in the Bible.

6. For 2016, intentionally place Jesus as Lord over your life. God will show you how misaligned you are. Once you are aligned to God’s purposes, you will see your assignment.

We thank Brother Henson for his sharing and may we continue to support his ministry through our prayer and giving.

Onward for His glory!Ivan Lim

The year-end school holiday is usually a very busy period

at the Wesley Youth Centre (WYC). We have camps, outings and Christmas parties. One of our growing ministries is the Owl Reading Club – a reading programme for children aged five to nine years old with an emphasis on befriending. Since its inception in 2014, we have invited the Owl Reading children to our Christmas parties too.

Year 2015 was no different. We had a fun-filled Christmas celebration, which our youth leaders helped organise for our youths, children and volunteers. The party kicked off with fun games followed by a scrumptious dinner. It was a boisterous and joyous time of fellowship, as you can imagine, with an exuberant crowd of 60!

After dinner, we screened two clips. One was a Christmas greeting from committee members and ex-staff while the other was a reflection on the question, “What is Christmas to you?” To build on it, the Owl Reading volunteers first shared the story of Christ’s birth; this was followed by the lighting of candles and singing of carols. It was a heartwarming time and some of the youths sang along to the songs they knew. We thank God for this opportunity to share His word and we pray that seeds were sown that day.

A group of girls then performed a dance to an upbeat Christmas song and everyone cheered and clapped along. Before the night ended, we presented the guests with gifts from the Tree of Blessings. They were very excited and deeply appreciative. We ended the day singing “Feliz Navidad” and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Everyone was in such high spirits that they did not want the party to end!

Christmas at the WYC is often a loud and lively affair but more than that, it’s a joyful time of sharing God’s love and blessings with our youths and children.

Jesher TanProgramme Coordinator, WYC

A Joyous Gathering22 December 2015 • Wesley Youth Centre


Sharing God’s LoveWesley Methodist Church’s involvement in Kelantan Court –

a small HDB estate located in Jalan Berseh – began more than eight years ago when Wesley Youth Centre (WYC) moved there. In late 2010, Wesley Seniors Activity Centre (WSAC) was set up a few doors away. Since then, the church has held a Christmas Party for its residents once every two years.

Wesley Community Pojects (WCP) of Christian Outreach and Social Concerns (COSC), with the help of the Worship & Music Ministry (W&M), helmed the 2015 Christmas event. Volunteers and staff went from door to door in the six blocks of flats to invite residents to the party. In all, 550 guests turned up for the event.

The Guest-of-Honour was Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Adviser to Kampong Glam Grassroots Organisations; Mayor of Central Singapore District; Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, Kampong Glam). Grassroots members including the Resident Committee Chairman, Mr Tang Ang Cheong, were also present together with Pastor Shih Ming, Pastor Benjamin Lee, Mr Leow Kim Liat (Lay Leader Representative, COSC) and Ms Tan Ee Leng, (Chairperson, COSC Elderly Ministry).

The programme included a rousing worship session led by Rhythm of Praise (ROP), followed by a lovely violin recital by young musicians from W&M. The Sunbeams Children’s Choir – who sang and danced as they told the story of the birth of Christ – warmed the hearts of our guests .

No party is complete without food and presents! Free popcorn and Potong ice-cream were available before the programme started and guests tucked into

the hearty meal after it ended. Each family also went home with a thoughtfully packed goodie bag.

Some 20 volunteers from WCP supported the event – they packed goodie bags, helped with registration, distributed goodie bags and meals, and befriended the guests. The youths from WYC also chipped in by putting up the decorations in the party area.

All too soon, another year has passed. The work of WYC and WSAC will carry on in this community to share and spread the love of God.

Sharing God’s Love

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WESLEY BEFRIENDERS TO OLDER PERSONS (WBOP) – BRINGING JOY TO THE ELDERLY

It was once again a busy time for WBOP volunteers in the season of Christmas as they sought to bring its joy and cheer

to the elderly they serve.

November 28: Green Avenue Nursing Home Small Group (SG) Parakletos who turned up in full force with their families, helmed the Christmas Party. They packed gifts from the Tree of Blessings which included items like body lotion, towel, tissues, toothpaste and toothbrush for every elderly resident. The group also put up a Christmas tree and decorated the dining area. The children told the Christmas story (in English & Mandarin) and everyone sang carols as the story unfolded. Regular volunteers from Evergreen SG were also present to help. The residents enjoyed a sing-along session and a few performed some great solos!

As a treat, Wesley Methodist Church also donated food to complement the dinner for the residents and the staff.

December 4: St Luke’s Eldercare-Golden Years Centre (SLEC-GYC)The clients from SLEC-GYC came to Wesley Methodist Church on the morning of 4 December. More than 50 elderly, together with caregivers and staff from St Luke’s, enjoyed a concert put up by the young musicians from the W&M ministry led by Jusuf Kam. This was followed by a performance by the Sunbeams Children’s Choir. A simple, but delicious bento lunch was served and the elderly gave it the thumbs-up! After lunch, WBOP volunteers and SLC-GYC staff played games, sang carols and danced for the elderly. Before boarding the bus to return home, Mr Sonny Chuah, LCEC Chairman and member of the Golden Years Fellowship, presented gift bags to each client. The gifts comprised a recyclable bag, a thermos flask, Milo packs and a packet of oat cookies …. just what the elderly had asked for.


December 12: Indus, Berseh and Wesley Seniors Activity Centre (WSAC) Christmas OutreachWBOP organised a dinner for about 80 elderly from Indus, Berseh and WSAC at the Sophia Cooke Ballroom, YWCA. Each group of elderly arrived to the joyous greetings by the Befrienders. Members from the Youth Ministry set up a photo booth near the entrance to the ballroom and the elderly posed for photos with funny and cute props.

Before dinner, the Rhythm of Praise led in a time of worship with song and dance. Our guests joined in, merrily shaking their noise-makers and some were invited to sing. Mrs Ann Ng gave a short exhortation about living with hope and looking for the Light that will give hope.

The Homemakers SG, having taken up the invitation to plan the games for the event, asked the guests to complete answer sheets based on videos that were screened. It was a time of laughter as they collaborated with the volunteers to get the right answers. The youngest volunteer, Ms Cadence Chua, age nine, (daughter of Homemakers member Ms Lim Cheng Hee) did an excellent job asking the questions in Mandarin. The evening ended on a literally bright note as the elderly took a ride down Orchard Road to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights.

Kwok Sian YeeSupervisor, COSC Elderly Ministry

PHOTOS: CALVIN CHANG

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Every year, the Christmas outreach party of the Ministry of The Hearing Impaired (MHI) aims to share God’s love with the larger community of hearing impaired persons in

Singapore and bring back some of our friends into a loving community once again. This year, close to 60 guests attended the party held at the beautifully decorated Wesley Centre Hall. Thanks to the hard work of the Christmas Party Committee, the party was a memorable one with its ‘90s-theme and crazy-fun games! Rev Benjamin Lee shared the Christmas message of Jesus’ love in the midst of hopelessness. And praise the Lord, eight guests answered the call to know more about Christ!

Annual events and parties at MHI have been ongoing for the past 10 or more years. As we persevere in sharing God’s grace, love and mercy with our hearing impaired friends in Singapore and beyond, we ask that you cover us with your prayers. Pray with us as we seek to touch and transform lives within and outside the MHI community.

Abigail ChowProgramme Coordinator, MHI

Touching LivesMinistry of The Hearing Impaired

5 December 2015 • Wesley Centre

An MHI volunteer shares her involvement in the Christmas outreach programme...

“Are you interested in helping out at this year’s Christmas party?”

I was quite surprised when my friend posed this question to me as I have been

inactive in the Ministry of The Hearing Impaired for a few years now. And due to

my busy school schedule, I was initially hesitant to take up the offer. However, after

praying about it, I agreed.

The experience was an interesting one and I have gleaned much from it. While this

Christmas party is organised yearly to reach out to our friends and share the Christmas

message, we had many firsts this year such as a new leader and a new committee. We

did many things from ground zero like brainstorming for new games. Along the way,

we may have overlooked some things and made mistakes due to our inexperience;

nevertheless, things worked out in the end. Our party may not have been perfect but

more importantly, we shared the significance of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of

Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to us.

I was thankful for the opportunity to help organise that party, and I really hope we

have shared the joy and meaning of Christmas with our friends.

Er Xue Hui Volunteer, MHI


Remembering our friends26 December 2015 • Christalite Methodist Home

Do not cast me off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength is spent.

- Psalm 71:9 (ESV)

On Boxing Day, Huios Small Group (SG) was again given the privilege of sharing the joy of Christmas with the destitute

and homeless at Christalite Methodist Home. This time we had the support of three SGs – Acts2Scene2, Disciples and Acts Thursday Group 2 – new offshoots of Huois SG. In total 34 adults and nine children helped out in the Christmas outreach.

Everyone had a part to play. In the weeks leading up to it, roles and responsibilities were assigned to the various members – the worship leaders prepared song sheets with lyrics in hanyu pinyin for the benefit of the linguistically challenged amongst us, a papercrafting guru was mobilised, musicians rehearsed, goody bags were packed, and more importantly, we joined our hearts in prayer that the Lord would use each and every one to touch broken lives with His love.

After a rousing time of worship and prayer, we served Milo, coffee and biscuits to the residents during their tea break. While most of us were comfortable in engaging the residents in various dialects, some of us felt like fish out of water as we struggled to find the right words. However, with our heartfelt smiles, our halting Hokkien soon became a source of cheer (and comic relief!), and we were rewarded with twinkling eyes and toothy grins.

After the trays were cleared, together with our worship leaders and guitarists, the children and us gathered on stage. The residents clapped as we sang Christmas carols and worship songs in both English and Mandarin. We passed the microphone around as various members spontaneously took the lead in worship – there was a palpable sense of unity and inclusion as we ministered in one voice.

Next up – papercrafting! Each resident was given a template board and an assortment of beautiful, intricately die cut materials with which to design their own photo frame. To our surprise, even the uncles took to the craft! There was definitely something very therapeutic about the process. As they sifted through the colourful materials with us by their

side, helping and encouraging them, reticence soon gave way to a childlike enthusiasm. We found ourselves listening intently to their life stories and in turn sharing our own stories – we were soon opening ourselves up to each other. Toting Polaroid cameras, our little roving photographers offered to take instant photos of the uncles and aunties, amusing everyone with their professionalism and charm. Bingo Time proved to be a hit once again! The cavernous hall erupted repeatedly in noisy bursts of exuberant cheering whenever someone won a prize.

Some Small Groups spread the joy and love of the season to various homes and organisations by participating in Wesley Community Project’s Christmas Outreach.

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The lively party ended with a moving rendition of the evergreen favourite “The Moon Represents My Heart” by a voice, flute and violin ensemble made up of SG members. It was soon time to bid our farewells, and give out Christmas ang pows. As some of us wheeled the infirmed to join the queues, others lingered with the uncles and aunties who wanted to chat just a little bit more.

There were many poignant moments and one such was when a disgruntled uncle who started out complaining bitterly about how God had let him down, cheerfully offered to share his ‘loot’ with another resident – after winning not just one but two rounds of Bingo! “Maybe God remembers you more than you know, Uncle,” I quipped, and he could not help but smile.

Sylvia DhillonMember, Huios SG

Acts2Scene2 SG members’ memories of the event:“I attended the outreach with no expectation but with some trepidation. I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, it turned out to be quite an enjoyable experience especially after overcoming the initial awkwardness. Some of the residents were quite welcoming. I sensed they really enjoyed the children’s singing.”

- Soon Kah Hwee

“It was my first time participating in the outreach and it was very encouraging to see how much the residents enjoyed Bingo. Most of them knew the set-up and even asked me where the blue tack was before we began the distribution. Although it was just a few hours, it made a difference for the residents and some generously insisted that I help open their bottle of pork floss so that I could try some.” - Ong Ji Lean

“We are just thankful for this opportunity to serve as an SG community and be God’s channel through which to share His love. We hope that this outreach has brought some joy to them during the Christmas season.” - Elaine Loke


14 November 2015 • The Hiding Place

Our visits and celebrations with The Hiding Place – a Christian home that provides new beginnings for young offenders,

wayward teens, substance abusers and those in need of help – should perhaps no longer be called ‘outreach’ events.

Instead, with friendships and relationships forged, now every time we meet, there is a great sense of ease, comfort and familiarity – between the faithful staff, the long-stay residents, Pastor Philip Chan and his wife, Christina, and the adults, youths and children of the Family of God (FOG) Small Group (SG). Our meetings now are like mini reunions and in many ways, we are like extended family, meeting several times a year.

One Saturday in mid-November 2015, we celebrated Christmas early with our Hiding Place friends. And the theme was Italian – the brainchild of Ken and Sharon, our appointed organisers for this year’s activity.

Before the fun started, we worshipped the Lord together, led by Hiding Place’s very own talented musicians. Following this, I shared a short devotion on Strength and Grit, recalling The Little Engine That Could – a children’s story of a train which despite enormous challenges and a lack of strength, had enough grit to get over that mountain.

I then led everyone in a resounding affirmation – “I know I can, through Christ!”.

Then the battle of the whisks and spatulas started. With Italian music playing in the background – every adult, youth and child from The Hiding Place and FOG put hand, muscle power and creative skills to produce, from scratch, two Italian classics with live step-by-step instructions by Chef Ken and simultaneous video projection.

On the menu were pizza, with a delicious cheese, basil and tomato topping, and tiramisu, a popular dessert made with mascarpone cheese, coffee, sponge finger biscuits and egg white. Eight groups, made up of Hiding Place and FOG members, teamed up to prepare these dishes – with ingredients all pre-weighed and measured for convenience! There was much laughter and camaraderie – and lots of encouragement for a couple of groups who had to start from scratch again as they had over-beaten the egg white which went from stiff to curdled!

There were about 65 people present including 27 FOG members and their families. The kids had a bonus – in addition to making their own special pizzas, they had fun making their own oreo cookies milk shake as well! Warm and joyous fellowship followed as everyone enjoyed the piping hot pizzas as they came out of the ovens, and finished with the yummy tiramisu dessert.

Of Pizza, Tiramisu and Grit

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Christina StanleyMember, FOG SG

Support The Hiding Place (www.hidingplace.com.sg) through your prayers, donations, friendship and support.

Pressing needs include raising funds for the COE renewal of their vehicle; a $6 million ‘Faith’ Building – their new home (they are currently residing in an old farm in Chua Chu Kang); and their general needs. In addition, both Pastor Philip and his wife, Christina, who are now in their 70s, require monthly medical expenses of about $1,500.

You can also support them by ordering their delicious pineapple tarts, baked fresh on site, and available all year round. Their other lunar new year goodies include almond, pistachio and sugee cookies, as well as love letters and Muar otah. Call 6483 5348 to order!

All cheques to be payable to: “The Hiding Place” at 50 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 698945.

What a memorable and wonderful time it was. We were blessed, and we pray that everyone at The Hiding Place were also blessed. We look forward to journeying with The Hiding Place in the years to come as a safe place and sanctuary, as it seeks to transform lives through the power of God’s word and love.

It all started at our Small Garouper’s Retreat in 2015 when we decided to expand our community outreach

activities and organise an event to bring cheer to others. We contacted Wesley’s Christian Outreach & Social Concerns Ministry in Church, who recommended the Andrew & Grace Home (AG Home). This is a non-profit home that provides a safe, nurturing and conducive environment to care for teenage girls who are dealing with challenging life and family issues such as neglect or abuse, or who are deemed beyond parental control. It was the first time that Wesley Church was forging a partnership with the Home.

On Boxing Day, our SG spent the morning bonding and bowling with 16 girls from the Home. We started with icebreaker activities at the Home. The girls were most delighted with their Tree of Blessings gifts from church and the little goodie bags of cookies baked by two SG members.

Bowling and Bonding26 December 2015 • Andrew & Grace Home

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By the time we hit the lanes at the Singapore Swimming Club’s bowling alley, all barriers had melted away. Our initial apprehension that we would not know how to reach out to the teenagers was unfounded.


Our ‘game master’ brought us through a series of whacky and fun challenges and the girls enjoyed themselves so much that we had to extend our time at the lanes.

The outing culminated in a scrumptious lunch. As we enjoyed the food, we also had a good time chatting and sharing stories with the girls.

At the end of the event, we all felt blessed to have had the opportunity to reach out and share a fun and meaningful morning with this group of girls. We are already thinking of planning another outreach outing with them!

Kok Tsui Tsui Member, Small Garouper SG

From May 2016 onwards, Wesley TIDINGS will cease its current mode of distribution. This means it will no longer

be sent to you by post; instead, you may read it online or collect your copy in church.

Cutting cost and going green

If we cease the mail-out of TIDINGS, we will:

• Reduce cost, which is incurred by postage and the printing of envelopes and labels

• Save manpower spent on preparing the envelopes, packing for mail-out and transporting the mail to the mailing centre

• Reduce the use of envelopes and be more environmentally friendly

Be Good Stewards And Save Resources!

Wesley Community Projects (WCP) welcomes Small Groups to partner with us in our many community outreach programmes throughout the year.

Plsease contact Evangeline Leong or Hannah Ng at [email protected]

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on file

More photos at www.wesleymc.org - Life@Wesley!PHOTOS: CHRIS LEONG, JOHNNY KOH & JON CHIA

Carols by Candlelight Service23 December 2015 • 8.00pm Message by Rev Jeremy Ong:“Walking In The Light”

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Christmas Day Combined Services

More photos at www.wesleymc.org - Life@Wesley!PHOTOS: CHRIS LEONG, HENRY LIM & HO TZIN YIH

25 December 2015 • 8.30am & 11.00amMessage by Rev Dr Kow Shih Ming: “Light In The Darkness”


JANUARY 2016 06 Charis Ng Zi En

Daughter of Mr & Mrs Leon Ng Tien Sung

Births

DECEMBER 2015 02 Mr Ang Chin Tiam and Miss Au Yun Xiu, Juliana

05 Mr Ian Lim Zi Yang and Miss Twang Aiyun12 Mr Tan Kah Keng and Miss Tong Shir-leen

26 Mr Dunstan Lee Wei Xien and Miss Chen Fuyi, Valerie

Mr Ian Lim Zi Yang and Miss Twang Aiyun

Mr Tan Kah Keng and Miss Tong Shir-leen

Wesleyan Covenant Renewal Watchnight Holy CommunionService

on file

More photos at www.wesleymc.org - Life@Wesley!

31 December 2015 • 10.00pmWesley SanctuaryMessage by Rev Philip Lim:“What Have I Done? What Will I Do?”

PHOTOS: JOHNNY KOH

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Wesley Tidings is published bi-monthly by Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore for internal circulation to members of the Church | Views expressed in the Wesley Tidings are the contributors’ and do not necessarily reflect that of the Church or the Editorial Board. | Materials in the Wesley Tidings may be reproduced with permission from Wesley Methodist Church or the authors. | Unless stated otherwise, all scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Contributions and enquiries are to be addressed to: The Editor, Wesley Tidings, 5 Fort Canning Road, Singapore 179493

The Editor reserves the right to make changes to the contributions if necessary.

Printed by Man Cheong Printing Pte Ltd

Pastor-In-ChargeRev Dr Kow Shih Ming

EditorPeggie Chan

Editorial TeamJulie EeKevyn LaiCatherine LimOng Joo HiangTan Kee CheongTham Soo Hian

ContributorsRev Dr Kow Shih Ming, Lucas Chow, Alvin Tay, Rev Michael Tan, Poon King Yau, Paige Lee, Ivan Lim, Jesher Tan, Kwok Sian Yee, Abigail Chow, Er Xue Hui, Sylvia Dhillon, Soon Kah Hwee, Ong Ji Lean, Elaine Loke, Christina Stanley and Kok Tsui Tsui.

Photo ContributorsNicholas Tan, Johnny Koh, Ng Chai Seng, Calvin Chang, Chris Leong, Jon Chia, Henry Lim and Dr Ho Tzin Yih.

T I D I N G SThe Magazine of Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore

Wesley Tidings is also available at www.wesleymc.org

transitions

Marriages

CONDOLENCESto the family & loved ones

of those who were called home.

Deaths

of those who were called home.

Deaths

DECEMBER 2015 10 Mr Chuan Ah Fook17 Mdm Ting Lay Eng

20 Mdm Alexandria Tan22 Mr Ng Fook Choon

25 Mrs Bertha Lim-Wong Yun Tshin28 Mr Tan Boon Chiang

Mr Dunstan Lee Wei Xien and Miss Valerie Chen FuYi

Mr Lee Ming Hui Cyan and Miss Tay Ying Han Jolencia

Mr Rafael Lam Zhe Xian and Miss Ngai Qian Li Mr Joshua Tan Kai Hui and Miss Tan Jing Ping

JANUARY 2016 09 Pastor Benjamin Fong and Rev Peace Choi

(were married at Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church)09 Mr Lee Ming Hui Cyan and Miss Tay Ying Han Jolencia 16 Mr Au Chi Kin, Leonard and Miss Tan Ai Ling, Melisa

16 Mr Joshua Tan Kai Hui and Miss Tan Jing Ping16 Mr Ong Wee Kwang, Mark and Miss Peylene Stephanie Goh

16 Mr Rafael Lam Zhe Xian and Miss Ngai Qian Li

JANUARY 2016 05 Mr Tan Eng Hong @ Eddy Tanumihardja

10 Mr Tan Hong Puay16 Mdm Chow Chee Eng20 Mdm Chin Yoy Ching

22 Mr Stephen Tai Kuan Teck23 Mdm Estrella N Rivera

26 Mr Ho Han Beng28 Mr Jonathan Wong Fuqiang

Pastor Benjamin Fong and Rev Peace Choi


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Wesley Tidings Newsletter Issue 01 2016

Documents

Transcript of Wesley Tidings Newsletter Issue 01 2016