The email was unexpected. After all, the couple, my clients for the past eight months, were doing well in their relationship and I had witnessed mutual concern for each other’s wellbeing.
My son has daily meltdowns from sensory issues
My son struggles with some sensory issues, and exhibits inflexibility and perfectionist behaviours. Since starting primary school, the demands of school have escalated such behaviours, leading to daily meltdowns—hours of screaming, self-harm and incessant erasing and rewriting. However, in school, he is a model student! The whole family’s life has been put on hold, and we are centred around keeping him calm and safe. I feel this is not fair for his older siblings whose needs may have been sidelined. I’ve considered taking him out of school, but many say he will outgrow this behaviour. Will he? How can I manage things better?
From foe to full-time caregiver
Ms Lim Joo Teng vividly recalls the day her life took a dramatic turn. Two decades ago, her father, with whom she had been living with since her parents’ divorce, received a call from their estranged mother notifying them that her brother, Joo Phiau, was in critical condition in the hospital after a tragic car crash.
“Don’t come back a heathen!”
“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.
Collaboration in Missions
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 Heavenly Father and Earthly Fathers: Methodist Fathers Movement celebrates its 3rd Anniversary
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.
Should I maintain confidentiality for a relative’s problem when she is 18 years old?
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?
Love or nothing
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
A Special Alleluia: Inclusive worship for all abilities
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.
The start of greater things
Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (AMKMC) began as the quintessential house church when around 35 people congregated at a rented semi-detached dwelling at 24 Mayflower Rise to worship God in January 1977. After several uneasy months dogged by complaints and other challenges, the congregation had to move to an alternate worship location before making a permanent shift to our present site.
Cairnhill MC celebrates 25th anniversary with eyes set on Tengah
If one were to recall Cairnhill Methodist Church (CaMC) in its pioneering days, there would be fond memories of the excitement of forming a new outreach point and establishing new relationships with her neighbours. Now 25 years later, we celebrated this milestone birthday with our eyes set on an even bigger target—ACS Tengah.
I seem to have lost a friend
I have always looked up to a sister from a former church. She is an intercessor like me and I learned from her spiritual insights. I am an introvert; she has been my only best friend for the past 40 years. We meet once a year over Christmas. When her husband passed away 10 years ago, my friend slowly changed her behaviour. She became forceful and assertive over time. Last year she abruptly broke off the friendship and we didn’t meet at Christmas. I have been praying for God to restore our friendship but my prayer is still unanswered. I am hurting over the loss of a cherished friendship. My faith in God is badly shaken. Emotionally and spiritually, I feel rejected, lonely and vulnerable. It’s hard to make new friends.
