MORE than 200 frontline and support staff of the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) attended a talk recently on “Our Heritage, Beliefs, Structure and Ministry” by the Patron of the MWS, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon.
The “orientation” talk was given over two Monday afternoons at Sophia Blackmore Hall at the Methodist Centre on Oct 20 and 27, 2003 and ended with a tea reception and a tour of the premises.
For many of the staff, who serve the 3,000 people at MWS’ 13 service hubs, this was their first visit to the Methodist Centre. They left the talk inspired by the “do good” heartbeat. Among them was Mr Chan Kum Kit, Chairman of the MWS.
The Executive Director of the MWS, Mr Vernon Kang, explained the purpose of hosting the talk: “This is the first time that the organisation has gathered all our staff for such an orientation. We believe that by understanding the essence of Methodism, the individual will be better able to align himself with the mission and objectives of our organisation.”
Those present were given a thorough understanding of the rich heritage and tenets of Methodism patterned after John Wesley, the Father of Methodism, as well as the structure of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS).
With the help of a Powerpoint presentation, Bishop Dr Solomon touched on John Wesley’s work, the beginnings of Methodism, the “birth” of Singapore Methodism, our beliefs, and the work and mission of the MCS.
He said he was pleased with what the MWS staff were doing for the good of the community, and he urged them to “continue going about doing good”.
Highlighting the MWS as the outreach and social arm of the MCS, he encouraged the staff with a John Wesley quote: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can!”