I WAKE up some mornings and pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming – for one whole year now, I have had the privilege of being a part of your MMS team. No mistake – it is your MMS team. I hope you all know by now what MMS stands for – because you are a part of MMS! (Look at the end of this article if you do not know).
For as long as I can remember – I think I must have caught this from my mum and dad – I have known that a large part of my mission in life is to help the less fortunate. I have had the privilege of travelling to several countries in the region. Each time I have returned with a very heavy heart. So many people lack even the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, education and a reasonable way to make a living.
I am quite sure that on the Day of Judgment, the Lord is going to ask the church in Singapore what we have done with all the material wealth He has blessed us with – have we shared some of our abundant resources with the needy?
Obviously, I cannot answer for everyone – all I can say is that I have been overwhelmed and greatly encouraged by the generous response of so many of you. Whenever we highlight the plight of the less fortunate, we have received an immediate response. Thank you very much!
This is one of the two main pillars of MMS – community development – caring for the needy in a wholesome way that will empower them to not only survive but to help others in return. And every time I receive reports of even one person being helped, through your generous support, my heart overflows with joy.
But I am equally passionate about the other main pillar of MMS – church planting – empowering people to preach the good news of God’s amazing love in Jesus Christ to those who have never heard. I believe the Lord will use His church to change His world. With your help, many have come to know Christ, and several new churches have been planted.
The more I spend time in discussion with our pastors and missions committees in our churches the more encouraged I am. So many of our leaders are more experienced and more passionate about missions than I am; it has been a huge learning experience for me.
On top of all that, the MMS staff team in our headquarters are a great bunch to work with. With all that support, I truly have a dream job, helping the poor through church planting.
So if you have not had the joy of helping a child in desperate need, or contributing to the support of a church planter or helping to purchase land to build a church or Bible college, contact me at 6478-4818 and share my joy.
The MMS is currently helping the poor and planting churches in six countries, including Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand and Timor Leste. Please ask if you would like a copy of the seven-page report I submitted to our Annual Conferences.
Thank you for giving me a dream job!
The Rev Dr Norman Wong is the Executive Director of the Methodist Missions Society.
