Last year, 11 participants from three Methodist churches—Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church, Toa Payoh Methodist Church and Kampong Kapor Methodist Church—came together for the inaugural centralised Companions in Christ (CIC) course, a spiritual formation programme under the Disciple Agency, which oversees the CIC curriculum. Participants from different churches completed the course in English from April to November 2025, guided by three CIC facilitators from Wesley Methodist Church—Alvin Tay, Tina Khoo and Lau Lee Fang.
CIC centralised classes, which are open to all churches, are beneficial for churches planning to start CIC for the first time, or smaller churches which may not have enough facilitators and/or participants to start a class.
The CIC experience
The 8-month class is designed to help participants draw closer to God through rhythms of silence, communal reflection and meditation on Scripture. CIC offers a small-group experience in spiritual formation that focuses on one’s experience of God and the discovery of spiritual practices that help participants share more fully in the life of Christ. Equipped with the CIC participants’ book, participants completed daily exercises and met weekly at Toa Payoh Methodist Church for discussions, reflecting on their experiences and insights from the week.
Participants also practised spiritual disciplines such as the examen, Lectio Divina, and journalling. Through the examen, they learnt to pause and review their day in God’s presence, becoming more attentive to God’s gentle promptings. Lectio Divina invited them to slow down and dwell in Scripture, allowing God’s Word to speak to them personally. Journalling complemented these practices by providing space to record reflections and spiritual insights, helping participants track their walk with God over time. Together, these disciplines nurtured a deeper awareness of God’s presence in daily life and formed foundational habits that would continue beyond the course.
Spiritual formation is deeply personal, and CIC offered a safe space for all participants to explore and discover different spiritual disciplines. Participants also focused on cultivating a posture of constant awareness and availability towards God through breath prayers. By pairing a simple phrase from tradition, Scripture or hymnody with each inhale and exhale, they sought to enter God’s presence, listen to his voice, and respond in faithful and loving action. This practice reminded them that prayer can be both simple and continual. Participants also meditated on Scripture using their imagination, which invited them to slow down and enter a scene from Scripture or a spiritual story in their minds. By imagining themselves present in the story, observing its details and sensing the emotions of those involved, they connected more deeply with God’s Word and the experiences of the characters.
One session invited participants to reflect on one another’s spiritual giftings. As they named the strengths and gifts observed in one another, they were reminded that each person is uniquely created and equipped by God for a purpose and as part of the body of Christ, with each gift designed to complement and support the others. This exercise encouraged participants to see how their distinct abilities can be used not only for personal growth but also for the edification of the wider community. It became clear that as these gifts are faithfully employed in service to God and one another, deeper unity is cultivated and the body of Christ grows together.
In another session, each participant shaped a clay jar, acknowledging its imperfections and fragility. Through this exercise, they were reminded that although they are flawed in many ways, they can still reflect God’s light and shine in his purposes. The cracks and flaws in the jar symbolised human limitations, yet they did not diminish value or potential. Instead, they highlighted how God can work through brokenness to bring beauty, purpose and impact to the world. This activity encouraged participants to embrace their imperfections, trust in God’s transformative work, and step forward in faith, knowing that his light can shine through even the most fragile vessels.
The journey culminated in a two-day retreat where participants looked back on their CIC journey to observe how God had been at work over the months. The retreat was not only a time of reflection but also a moment of recommitment—to continue nurturing spiritual habits, to encourage one another and to live intentionally in God’s presence. When the course drew to a close, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in their lives. The friendships and spiritual habits developed in CIC became anchors, reminding them that spiritual growth is an ongoing journey, one they continue together as companions in Christ.
Hear from the participants
“I was deeply struck by the ‘Gift of the Spirits’ exercise, which challenged me to reflect on and appreciate the unique strengths of my fellow participants. This, together with starting each day with God’s word and reflection, has deepened my awareness of God’s guidance and presence in my daily life.”
~ Aw Yeong Pak Wai, Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church
“These 28 weeks of Companions in Christ have been spiritually transformative for me. The guided reflections and authentic sharing created space for allowed me to engage with Scripture beyond head knowledge, allowing it to speak more personally into my life. Being surrounded by a warm community of sisters and brothers in Christ has strengthened my faith and encouraged me in my walk with God.”
~ Jeanette Poh, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
“One helpful concept that I learnt was to approach God as we are, with raw feelings and emotions, and allow God’s embrace to touch, heal or affirm them. When I’m going through frustrations or overwhelming emotions, I am reminded to simply go to God in prayer.”
~ Nicholas Sim, Toa Payoh Methodist Church
“Through these 28 weeks of Bible reading, prayer, examen, Lectio Divina and journalling, I am thankful for the spiritual formation and God’s sanctifying grace of guiding me to be like Christ.”
~ Seow Bee Leng, Toa Payoh Methodist Church
Visit Disciple Agency’s website https://disciple.methodist.org.sg/en/ for more information on Companions in Christ.
Annette Poh worships at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church with the Media & Comms Ministry. She attended the Companions in Christ course last year. / Photos courtesy of Annette Poh and Seow Bee Leng
