The Methodist Fathers Movement marked its sixth anniversary with a renewed call for fathers to lead their families in faith, prayer and purposeful discipleship.
On Saturday morning, 17 October 2026, more than 60 participants, including fathers, church leaders and families, gathered at Aldersgate Methodist Church‘s William Stone Denver Hall to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Methodist Fathers Movement (MFM). The gathering was both a celebration of God’s faithfulness and a timely reminder of the important role fathers play in shaping the next generation.
Centred on the theme “The Battle for Generations Through Families”, the event brought participants together for worship, biblical teaching, prayer and fellowship, with Bishop Philip Lim, Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore, as Guest-of-Honour.
The morning began with a welcome and opening prayer by Rev Benjamin Lee, Pastor-in-Charge, Aldersgate Methodist Church, followed by worship led by Paul Khoo, David Lim and Geoffrey Chew. MFM Chairperson Leong Jenn Yeoong then shared highlights of the movement’s journey and its continuing mission to educate, equip and empower fathers to turn their hearts towards their children, drawing inspiration from Malachi 4:5-6. Certificates of appreciation were also presented to recognise those who had contributed to the ministry in the past year.
Fighting for the minds, hearts and spirits of our children
The keynote session was delivered by husband-and-wife team Charis and Lydia Lim, who worship at Wesley Methodist Church. They are parents of two teenagers and co-founders of getconnected SG, a parenting application which seeks to strengthen relationships between parents and children.
Referencing Nehemiah 4:14, Charis reminded participants that our families are worth fighting for, particularly in an increasingly AI-driven world. He identified three critical battlegrounds: the mind, the heart and the spirit.
The battle for the mind calls parents to nurture discernment rather than merely provide answers. While artificial intelligence offers unprecedented access to information, it cannot replace godly wisdom or spiritual judgement. Our children need to be equipped to discern truth and anchor their thinking in God’s Word.
While artificial intelligence offers unprecedented access to information, it cannot replace godly wisdom or spiritual judgement. Our children need to be equipped to discern truth and anchor their thinking in God’s Word.
The battle for the heart concerns identity, allegiance and purpose. In a society where success is often measured by academic achievements, careers and material possessions, parents were reminded that their children are God’s workmanship, created for his purposes (Ephesians 2:10). We need to help our children understand whose they are, rather than allowing worldly expectations to define their worth.
The battle for the spirit calls for cultivating God’s presence in our homes through prayer, worship and dependence on the Holy Spirit. One of the greatest legacies we can leave our children is a living and enduring faith.
Building strong families through covenantal relationships
Lydia then built on Charis’ overview with a practical and deeply personal perspective, drawing on her experience as a psychologist, counsellor, wife and mother. She highlighted three important covenants that underpin strong families: the covenant of sonship with God, the covenant of marriage under God and the covenant of parenthood with God.
Lydia reminded participants that before we can lead our families well, we must first recognise our own identity as God’s beloved children. Our relationship with God provides the foundation for how we relate to our spouse and children.
Our relationship with God provides the foundation for how we relate to our spouse and children.
She also emphasised that marriage is a covenant in which husbands and wives are called to support and strengthen one another, rather than contend against each other. In parenting, she encouraged fathers to be intentional in building secure, loving relationships with their children, including teenagers who continue to need their fathers’ affection, acceptance and reassurance.
An important reminder was that the love and security our children experience from us should point them towards the even greater love of their Heavenly Father.
Together, Charis and Lydia’s messages reinforced that discipleship cannot simply be outsourced to the church. It must begin and be lived out intentionally in our homes.
Growing strong in wisdom and grace
Bishop Lim then called on fathers, based on Luke 2:40 which describes how Jesus grew, became strong, was filled with wisdom and experienced God’s grace.
Using the themes of growth, strength, wisdom and grace, Bishop Lim encouraged fathers to nurture their children holistically while remaining anchored in Christ. Drawing also from 2 Timothy 2:1, Matthew 7:24 and 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, he reminded participants that true strength comes from Christ, wisdom is demonstrated through obedience to God’s Word and his grace remains sufficient even in our weaknesses.
This was followed by a powerful time of prayer, with Bishop Lim, Rev Noel Goh, Rev Benjamin Lee and Rev Leslie Lim praying and ministering to participants. It was a meaningful time of surrender and recommitment as fathers sought God’s wisdom, strength and grace to lead their families faithfully.
The gathering concluded with the closing song, “Jesus at the Centre”, followed by the anniversary cake-cutting in thanksgiving for six years of God’s faithfulness.
As MFM enters its seventh year, our prayer is that fathers will not merely be encouraged by what they have heard but will be moved to action. Beyond strengthening our own families, we are called to return to our churches and communities to encourage, equip and raise up other fathers.
Ultimately, the battle for the next generation begins in our homes. May God continue to raise up fathers who will stand in the gap, lead by example and leave a legacy of faith for their children and the generations to come.
Written by Dr Morgan Zhou on behalf of the Core Team of the Methodist Fathers Movement. He also serves on the TRAC Board of Children Ministry and is a Vice-Principal at ACS (Academy). / Photos courtesy of Methodist Fathers Movement
