Bishop’s Message

The late Robert E. Webber, a theologian known for his work on worship, referred to worship as “God meeting His people” in his book Worship Old and New. Clearly, it stands to reason that man must also be willing to meet God for this to happen. Several passages in the Old Testament describe such meetings […]

‘Discipleship’ may seem to be a well-worn topic, but it is the most important and fundamental condition for the continued growth, vigour and vitality of the church. The church disregards discipleship at its own peril. The gradual demise of churches in the West is testament to this. We are reminded and cautioned whenever we visit the […]

Amazing cave in deep forest with beautiful waterfalls background at Haew Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park Thailand In the hymn ‘Channels Only’ by Mary E. Maxwell, the lyrics of its last verse are as follows: Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit Hearts that full surrender know; That the streams of living water From […]

Happy new 2017 year card. A girl standing on a rocky shore watching the sunset standing as a part of 2017 sign The New Year is a time to give thanks for the year past, and a time of new hope. We give thanks because there is much in life to be thankful for: our […]

Small plastic toy frogs. One red and the other green. Close up view. Frogs are dense structure. Different from the others. At home among strangers. That is something most of us would find unthinkable, squeamish, and will avoid at all costs. Yet some people would choose to do it: sleeping with frogs. One such person […]

Sufficient time has lapsed to allow for a brief reflection on Pokémon GO. Immediately as the craze began, there were Christians demonising the game – i.e. linking satanic connection to it. I have seen this phenomenon before: When Teletubbies, Power Rangers, Harry Potter, and yes, even The Lord of the Rings (and others I may not […]

Group of People Holding Cross and Praying in Back Lit This month, our General Conference meets to elect new leaders for the next quadrennium, and enact new or amend existing legislations in our Methodist Book of Discipline, among other matters. This responsibility is entrusted to 42 delegates elected by their Annual Conferences. Most Methodists in […]

What happens to us when we choose not to follow God’s way? I do not mean where we might ultimately end up, i.e. heaven or hell, but what happens here and right now. Many of us are familiar with the story Jesus told of the wise man and the foolish man (Matthew 7:24-27). The wise […]

UMC bishops taking their places for opening worship at the 2016 UMC General Conference. A few years ago, during a conference organised by a Methodist Church overseas, I was asked by a member of the host committee what I hoped to learn. Rather impertinently (upon hindsight), I replied that I wanted to learn how not […]

As Methodists we remember our genesis as a movement that posed a challenge to the religious establishment, its theology and practices. Wesley was accused of being an“enthusiast” (one who promoted emotionalism). At some of his meetings, people fainted, cried out, and leapt for joy.He preached in open air, something frowned upon by the church. He […]

The arena where Christ’s followers serve is outside the church, not within it. When Christians think of serving God, they often see themselves doing so in the church: as a Sunday School teacher, usher, singer in the choir, member of the various church committees, full-time worker, etc. This narrow perspective turns the church into an […]

When confronted with an energetic movement that threatened the status quo, Rabbi Gamaliel counselled leaders of the religious establishment who felt the need to suppress it with these words: “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of […]