On 31 Jan 2015, Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) held our Annual Thanksgiving Service in the sanctuary of Tamil Methodist Church in Short Street, the second-oldest Methodist church in Singapore. Great has been God’s favour ever since Tamil Methodism took root in Singapore in 1886, and continued with the formation of ETAC in 1976. It is with God’s grace that we now have a generation of ministers and lay persons generously termed as “the pioneers of ETAC”, who have worked for over four decades in their respective local churches, Conference Boards, Councils and related Christian agencies of The Methodist Church in Singapore.
Pioneers who have passed away were honoured, and their wives who graced the occasion received gold or silver coloured leather-bound Bibles addressed in their memory.
Similar Bibles were also presented to retired ETAC pioneer ministers and their wives, and pioneer lay persons in appreciation of their devoted and sustained service to God.
The event also marked the launch of a book, ‘Under God’s Almighty Hand’, which captures a historical record of the key events of ETAC, from its formation and going into its 40th year. Proceeds from the book will go towards the ETAC Theological Scholarship Fund.
Great has been God’s favour ever since Tamil Methodism took root in Singapore in 1886, and continued with the formation of ETAC in 1976.
Veronica Poore is Chairperson of the Board on Presidency of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference. She worships at the Tamil Methodist Church in Short Street.