Friendships

There's a guy in my church who keeps harassing the girls and getting overly physical with us. I'm told he has special needs, and I know that can be challenging to address. We don't want to get him in trouble if he truly has no understanding of social norms and appropriate behaviour.

I attend youth service and cell group sessions faithfully, but I feel judged when I want to skip cell for a friend's birthday, go clubbing occasionally, or skip church when I'm rushing an assignment.

I recently found out that my Christian friend's marriage has been on the rocks. His wife is abusive, both physically and verbally, and my friend has decided he's had enough and wants a divorce.

I have been a Christian for years but I still see a fortune teller out of curiosity and just for fun. I find that what I'm told makes some sense to me. Some friends tell me not to, but I don't see what the big deal is.

My good friend and I have been shortlisted for a nationwide competition where we could be chosen to represent our school. We have different strengths and it is hard to say who will get chosen. As it is so competitive in Singapore, both of us desperately want to be chosen as we will get to list it as an achievement and get CCA points.

I have Christian friends who are in a homosexual relationship, and they truly believe that God has blessed their relationship. I'm not sure how to respond when they share with me about their happy moments. How do I go about responding to them with love and without any judgment?

I am friends with a couple and have known the husband and wife for nearly a decade now. On the outside, they look like the perfect couple—stable jobs, great kids, nice house, God-fearing family. However, both the husband and wife confide in me separately and share their deepest, darkest secrets with me. They do not know that I am hearing both sides of their stories. I have told them to talk to each other in my separate chats, or to consider couples counselling. How should I tell them I do not want to be involved and that it's too much for me? ~ Friend in the middle

I am an 11-year-old. I have a small group of friends but recently they have been hanging out with my ex-friend. Sometimes they laugh at me and avoid me. Should I confront them or just stay quiet? ~ Lonely

I have a friend who keeps postponing our meetups. Each time, she will say that she is busy with her work or she has prior engagements. I usually find myself the one who initiates. Even when she makes plans, she doesn't follow through. Should I continue to ask this friend out? ~ Tired Girl

I had a big breakup with two of my secondary school friends. Since the start of the year, we had multiple one-sided arguments and they hurt me unknowingly (or maybe not). I stay in the northeast, and they stay in the central area. Once, they scolded me for not compromising to their request to meet in the central area, but most of the time, I do, in fact, meet them there. Recently, I gained a lot of weight due to health issues and they have been fat-shaming me, saying my ugliness and weight gain is the cause of my singleness. What should I do?

My new friend and I are from vastly different cultures, but we see eye to eye on most things. We are both students and when we go out, we are supposed to take turns to pay for meals. But I've noticed that I am always the one paying. Should I say something? It's not that I don't want to be generous. I just don't want to be taken advantage of. Furthermore, he comes from a much wealthier family than I do.

I've been attending cell group for a few years but the level of interaction is at acquaintance level and we usually just talk about the Bible. I'm the youngest in the cell group and the rest are clearly in a different phase of life. The topics the elderly talk about always centre around bodily pains and the married ones talk about their kids. I'm the only single and while I empathise with them, I feel like we do not have the same interests. It's very difficult to click with them in a more intimate manner. I've tried visiting another cell group with people closer to my age, but it felt awkward. How do I build intimate relationship with cell group mates?