It is the 20th TRAC church and with its formation MCS now has 43 churches
JURONG Preaching Point became Agape Methodist Church on Dec 4, 2005. It is the 20th Local Conference of Trinity Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). This means that the MCS now has 43 churches.
Agape MC has 300 worshippers, comprising the English Congregation – 130, Mandarin Congregation – 80, Youth – 30, and Children – 60.
Together with Lakeside Family Centre, which operates two family service centres in Jurong West and Jurong East, Agape MC serves thousands of families in need each year through various services catering to the different stages of life.
The beginnings
In the 1980s, Faith Methodist Church (FMC) established a Grassroot Ministry to reach the blue-collar Mandarin-speaking workers in the community.
In 1993, FMC started Lakeside Family Centre to care for individuals and families in need in the Jurong community.
In 1993, the Grassroot Ministry became the Mandarin Ministry of the Jurong Preaching Point and started its Mandarin Worship Service in the home of a church member affectionately known as Aunty Nancy before moving to a bomb shelter.
On Dec 6, 1998, Jurong Preaching Point moved to the Golden Village Cinema at Jurong Point Shopping Centre and launched its English Worship Service.
Why Jurong?
Jurong has the largest residential population in Singapore with about 9 per cent of the country’s population. There are many learning institutions, including the Nanyang Technological University, located in Jurong.
Jurong is also the largest industrial estate in Singapore and many foreign workers live there.
Agape MC’s mission is to disciple all persons to Christ-likeness. The following are its distinctives:
◆ Every person a disciple and a discipler (Matthew 28:19-20).
◆ Loving Christian community is experienced (John 13:34-35).
◆ Our worship is inspiring, enjoyable and friendly (Psalms 27:4).
◆ Every person is growing towards maturity in Christ (Colossians 1:28-29).
◆ Every person is equipped to serve (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Agape MC believes that God is calling its members to be a multiplying disciple-making church with the following key result areas:
o Worship Celebration – A God-present, creative and welcoming worship celebration with biblical preaching that transforms lives.
o Prayer – Every person experiencing God’s power and faithfulness through God-dependent prayer.
o Community Outreach – An impactful community outreach strategy, partnering with Lakeside Family Centre, and mobilising our congregation to meet the needs of the community.
o Discipling Small Groups – A small group discipling structure catering to the different levels of spiritual needs which assists every person to grow towards Christ-likeness.
o Youth – A vibrant and relevant ministry leading youths to be on fire for God.
o Children – A fun and winsome ministry building the foundations of faith, with Christian parents taking the primary responsibility of nurturing their children, and reaching children in the community.
o Lifestage Fellowships – Loving fellowships where the Bible is taught systematically and which intentionally reaches out and assimilates people at each life stage.
o Ministry Training – Effective training and apprenticeship imparting values, knowledge and skills to equip our workers for a variety of ministries.
o Missions – Multiplying congregations and churches in Singapore and the region.
The church has successfully tendered for a three-storey building at 21 Yung Ho Road which will be called Agape Centre. Agape Centre does not look like a typical church building and that is in tandem with what the leadership of Agape MC envisions the church to be, i.e. a church without walls and a place where the community will feel welcomed and belonged.
Church has successfully tendered for a three-storey building at Yung Ho Road
It is hoped that Agape Centre will be the location of ministry where lives are touched with the love of God and where every person can learn to become a mature disciple of Jesus.
Agape Centre will cost $8 million, which includes the purchase price, GST, stamp duty and fees. The completion of the purchase is targeted for this month.
Dr Tan Tee Khoon is the Chairman of the Pastor-Parish Relations and Staff Committee of Agape Methodist Church.
