Affected by adapting, limited by learning

7 November 2021

LOVE EXCELLING (CHRISTIAN PERFECTION)

Board of Youth Ministry Methodist Young Leaders’ Conference 2021

18–19 June 2021

The CAC Board of Youth Ministry (BoYM) Methodist Young Leaders’ Conference (MYLC) 2021 was held online from 18 to 19 June this year. Participants gathered on Zoom and joined in on this conference from their homes. Organised annually by the CAC BoYM, MYLC aims to gather and build up young leaders across our various CAC Churches.

After being put on hold for the year 2020 due to Covid-19, MYLC 2021 returned with speaker Rev Wilfred Leow sharing on the theme, “Love Excelling (Christian Perfection)”. Together, a total of 167 attendees from 16 different CAC churches explored the spiritual life journey of John Wesley, the idea of Christian perfection and its biblical foundations.

We hear from those who attended MYLC 2021 on how this year’s conference went for them.

Pr Gareth Yeo, Grace MC (Mentor at MYLC 2021)

“This surely won’t be very impactful”. That’s what I thought when I knew that MYLC 2021 was going to happen, but entirely on Zoom. I carried little expectations but tried to do my best as a mentor. I thought through the games, did some reading up on Christian perfection, prayed for my group members the day before, and wrote digital cards for them.

As expected, the relationships between group members did not grow deep over the one-and-a-half days. However, group sharings were honest and vulnerable, and their responses to the theme talks earnest. I could sense a kindling of the group members’ sincere desire to grow the fruit of the Spirit, and pursue lives filled with Christ’s love.

What I found most meaningful when serving as a mentor was the chance to hear how God has been real to each of their lives. The same God is working and impacting them differently. I had the opportunity to be used by God—to speak into their lives and encourage them to pursue the God I knew loved them deeply. Yes, it was less than ideal and not as impactful as an in-person conference, but it was nonetheless an opportunity to see God at work—even during the pandemic through digital platforms.

Elena Yeo, Telok Ayer CMC (MYLC 2021 participant)

Oh how good it is, when the family of God

Dwells together in spirit, in faith and unity.

Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love

Are the fruit of His presence here among us.

So with one voice we’ll sing to the Lord

And with one heart we’ll live out His word

Till the whole earth sees, the Redeemer has come

For He dwells in the presence of His people.

—“Oh, How Good It Is” by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Russ Holmes & Stuart Townend

MYLC 2021 took a new turn as we moved online. Some perks from this year’s conference include having an ever-active and humorous chat that ran on the side; seeing our youths and young adults turn up punctually for each segment (we did not have to wait for the lift this time!); being able to see everyone’s faces in the group photo, and having our unique MYLC culture hold true even though we were all online. The committee thanks everyone for their active and committed participation, and we pray that relationships will continue to be forged across our CAC churches. Let us continue helping each other grow in our ministries, towards Christian perfection, and nurture and build the younger generation.

Jerry, Ang Mo Kio CMC (MYLC 2021 participant)

I am just so thankful to be able to be here this year. Thanks to COVID-19, MYLC 2021 was indeed a little underwhelming as compared to previous years. Yet, it was wonderfully timely. Instead of having three days filled with activities—intense worship, sermon sessions and exploring our beloved Johor Bahru—MYLC 2021 took a homelier turn.

I always remember having a tonne of fun meeting and warming up to new friends in my CAC family, so it was a HUGE bummer to be unable to meet my groupmates face to face this year. But this year, God very graciously introduced me to amazing people with such a fire for His Kingdom. They seemed shy during the games segment, but their words of prayer and encouragement, as well as their openness in sharing their woes for their sheep, revealed their amazing hearts for Jesus!

MYLC 2021 made me revisit my faith seriously after being dulled out by the health restrictions and the start of my National Service this year. Far from the standard, sin seems to be living with me; “overcome, but not rooted out”. However, I am reminded that sin is and can be destroyed by God’s work of sanctification, and to not let this slow period of life dictate God’s work in my life. He is still moving; He is still refining me.

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LET US SING HIS PRAISE

Board of Senior Ministry 33rd Anniversary Thanksgiving Celebration

7 Aug 2021

The Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Board of Senior Ministry (BoSM) held their 33rd Anniversary Celebration “Let Us All Sing His Praise” on 7 Aug 2021. Board Chair Rev Dr David Koh kicked off the online event as he welcomed the many seniors who have come from various CAC churches.

President Rev Dr Gregory Goh greeted BoSM with well wishes. Referring to 2 Timothy 4:2, he encouraged our seniors to remain faithful to the Lord, to continue to grow in Christlikeness, and to hold fast to preaching the Truth and Love of God to the people around us, including our children and grandchildren.

In his sermon “Let Us All Sing His Praise”, Bishop Emeritus Dr Chong Chin Chung shared three out of the seven directions given by John Wesley when it comes to singing praises to God:

Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep, but lift up your voice with strength.
Sing in time. Don’t sing too slowly. Bring the same energy for the subsequent verses as you did the first.
Above all, sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing; sing to please Him. Let your singing be such as the Lord will approve of and reward when He cometh in the clouds of heaven.

CAC BoSM records two firsts in this year’s celebration: the first time it was presenting programmes mainly in Chinese dialects; and the first time having seniors present their performances online.

Various senior fellowship members from participating CAC churches read the Scriptures and presented their songs of praise in the different Chinese dialects used in their church services. Through this year’s celebration, BoSM had the opportunity to help participants hear more about the CAC churches that offer services in Chinese dialects.

Psalm 103:1–7 read in Hokkien, Geylang CMC	“Come Before the Lord All Ye Believers” sung in Hokkien, Telok Ayer CMC
Psalm 103:8–13 read in Hakka, Hakka MC	“We Build Our New Home Together” sung in Hakka, Hakka MC
Psalm 103:14–18 read in Teochew, Paya Lebar CMC	“The Ever-Deepening Love of God” sung in Teochew, Paya Lebar CMC
Psalm 95:1–7 read in Hokchew, Foochow MC	“The Saviour Is My Beloved” sung in Hokchew, Foochow MC
Psalm 96:1–7 read in Cantonese, Kum Yan MC	“In His Love and Grace” sung in Cantonese, Kum Yan MC
Psalm 98:1–6 read in Hinghwa, Hinghwa MC	Ukulele song medley sung in English, Mandarin and Malay, Grace MC
Scarf dance to “As the eagle soars”, Ang Mo Kio CMC	“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”, CAC Virtual Choir—27 members from 15 CAC churches