“Don’t come back a heathen!” I distinctly remember the first time I heard those words from the mouth of Rev Dr Isaac Lim who, while preaching at Covenant Vision Christian Church in February 2023, provided an anecdote of how a man once committed to serving the Lord, returned home from studies in the UK a completely changed man who now forsook the Lord.
The adage, “It takes a village to raise a child”, particularly holds true when it comes to the Methodist community coming together to advance missions. For missions to grow and transform societies deeply and impactfully, the entire community is called to offer its diverse and abundant gifts in blessing those we serve. As a community, what we have to offer collectively can be used by God in far more widespread ways than what we have to offer individually.
The Methodist Fathers Movement (MFM) celebrated its third anniversary on 14 October with the theme “The Heavenly Father and Earthly Fathers” at Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street (commonly known as SSTMC). Close to 80 fathers and their families from across the three Annual Conferences were present to commemorate this significant milestone.
“Gird us with love as shining light that we may help to set all free, to find in thee their peace and life.” Close to 800 people were standing, hearts stirred, singing these words on 6 Oct 2023 at the grand ballroom of the Orchid Country Club.
Recently, my wife’s cousin’s 18-year-old daughter got into some trouble relating to fraudulent transactions, sex scams, etc. and called me for legal advice. After giving her some preliminary advice and linking her up with a lawyer friend to represent her in the case, she asked me not to tell anyone, especially her parents, of her situation. While I tried my best to encourage her to be upfront and honest with her parents, she refused. Should I tell her parents what happened or maintain confidentiality and hope that she tells them herself?
When David Ang was 24, he saw a photograph of a girl in his friend’s photo album. He was attracted to her and asked the friend for an introduction, but nothing happened. One year later, David asked his friend again and this time, the latter connected him with Amy Chiang.
But (if I) have not love, I am nothing … Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
~ 1 Corinthians 13:2-8
Since the sexual revolution, which burst onto the scene in Western societies during the 1960s, the traditional understanding of marriage has fallen out of favour and many alternatives have been proffered.
On 9 September, worshippers from several churches came together at Pentecost Methodist Church for the event, The Faith We Sing: A Special Alleluia. It was designed to be inclusive and welcomed people from different generations and abilities. Parents could bring their children with special needs, and those who required physical assistance could attend as well.
Imagine this scenario: Two friends, both Christians, catch up at a Christian conference. Between them stands a stranger, also Christian. As the friends converse, they “speak through” the stranger, as if he is not there.
