OUR Methodist women have been challenged to be disciples, to “always do good and help the poor” and to use the newly-opened Methodist Women’s Centre for God’s glory.
The call was made by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon at the GC-WSCS Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication of the Methodist Women’s Centre at Sommerville Walk on Jan 19. Some 300 WSCS members and guests were present.
Sharing from Scripture the life and witness of Dorcas, a good woman and a disciple who lived in Joppa in New Testament times, Bishop Dr Solomon said: “Thank God for women in the church. Like Dorcas, many have been great models of discipleship in their piety, faith, holiness, prayer life, witness and service. You are challenged to continue that tradition into the 21st Century.”
He noted that the heart of the WSCS (Women’s Society of Christian Service) and women’s ministry in the Methodist Church was Christian discipleship, and this was the root of all service and endeavour.
Just as Dorcas used her skill and gift to please God and live for others, the WSCS had a great history of doing good.
The WSCS had humble beginnings, he said. Many women gave sacrificially, cooked food and made things to raise funds so that mission among women could be carried out. Their small gifts, like little drops of water, became an ocean of resources and ministry.
On the Methodist Women’s Centre, Bishop Dr Solomon said: “This property is in your hands. Your challenge is to use it for God’s glory. I am pleased with the launch of the Methodist Women’s Ministries. It is the right step. The focus is ministry and service.
“I pray that this centre will be used by you for God’s glory and that it will be a centre for discipleship and good works and acts of charity, and that as a result, many people will come to believe in the Lord.”
In her address, Mrs Laureen Ong, President of the GC-WSCS, said she felt that God had a message for the WSCS. “There are many women and their families within our church and community who are broken in spirit and an increasing number of women who are struggling as single parents.
“We all know the story of the Good Samaritan. In the parable, the question was asked ‘Who is the neighbour?’ Today I will ask you ‘Who can I be a neighbour to?’
“You don’t need to be physically beaten or abused to be wounded. Many are hurt emotionally, many by words and their own careless actions. But our duty is to reach out to them.”
Mrs Ong reminded the gathering that the Methodist Women’s Ministries had been launched to provide church women to volunteer to serve in the ministry of compassion and mercy.
The GC-WSCS is starting a Counselling and Care Centre. It will provide training during the second half of this year.
The Prison Ministry is opening many doors for volunteers in their In-Care, After-Care and Sunday Worship Fellowship with the women inmates.
Earlier, the three Annual Conference Presidents — the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot (Chinese Annual Conference), the Rev Dr Vinson Samuel (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference), and the Rev Dr Issac Lim (Trinity Annual Conference) — sent greetings to the GC-WSCS on behalf of their respective conferences. All three acknowledged the good work of women in ministry.
The Rev Khoo also presented a Chinese painting to the GC-WSCS and explained the significance of the words in the painting – he said “love does not keep a record of wrongs” and added that “this love is a virtue of mothers”.