“It is imperative,” said the Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung, “that ministers and laity work as one.”
As President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), he was giving his Address at the Conference’s 38th Session, held Nov 11-14 last year at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church.
In light of the multi-faceted challenges facing the Church today, ministers and laity need to have better understanding of and closer collaboration with each other.
Said the Rev Dr Chong: “Our society is facing relentless waves of postmodern thinking, and some groups are attempting to dangerously re-define the meaning of ‘family’. The church must hold fast to the Bible’s teaching for parents regarding their responsibilities to their family. These include serving as role models of faith for our children.”
Through nurturing their children in the faith, parents can revisit the foundations of their beliefs and strengthen their own sense of belonging in the church. The children will also grow into fine leaders for the church in the future.
The President brought up the example of the Rev Gideon Choi Gi Deug, who has been in Thailand this past year, studying the language and participating in ministry, in preparation for his commission as a missionary there. His daughter, Ms Peace Choi, was earlier introduced to the conference as a new Member on Trial.
During his commissioning at the CAC Closing Service, the Rev Choi expressed that he was not worried about his daughter remaining in Singapore while he was away, because he trusted that she was in the good care of the conference and the local church. This was a good testimony of ministers and laity working together to nurture youth and young adult believers in the ministry.
However, it is not just within the family or among the young that the Church is facing challenges. The Rev Dr Chong pointed out: “Today there are signs that the dialect ministry is waning, due in part to the declining levels of proficiency in dialects among pastors.”
ordained as deacons during the CAC Closing Service on Nov 14, 2013.
Yet, ministry and discipleship among the dialect-speaking remains important. Thus, the President suggested setting up a unit under the Board of Witness and Evangelism that would provide networking, support and resources to the various dialect communities across CAC churches.
The number of pastors in active ministry has also gone down, with the retirement of several senior ministers over the past few years. The Rev Dr Chong expressed gratitude for their faithful service, trust in the Lord to raise workers for CAC’s future needs, and appreciation of the valuable pastoral care provided by retired pastors that continue to volunteer in churches.
He said: “I urge you to value and show concern and care for our retired pastors, and I encourage our young ministers to consult them and benefit from their wisdom and wealth of experience.”
Lay people are important in the ministry of the church, and pastors should share ministry with them appropriately. This will allow pastors to equip even more believers for God’s service. He said: “Believers today are blessed with a great variety of gifts and many have robust and mature spiritual lives. Together they have helped make the church more systematic and efficient.”
With pastors and lay people working together, more forms of practical outreach to the community can be undertaken. For example: Holy Covenant Methodist Church’s nurses’ ministry at Ruth Home, and the Missions Development Fund by the CAC Board of Missions to provide training for transient workers here to share the gospel when they return to their home countries.
Churches can also apply to the Johnny and Nancy Lim Fund to seed their gospel ministry, and to the General Conference for grants to develop their social concerns ministry.
“Whatever we do,” said the Rev Dr Chong, “we must be fully committed, and never neglect the heavenly vision given to us!”
New and Retiring Pastors
Five new Members-on-Trial were introduced to the Conference:
• Ms Peace Choi Pyong Hwa
• Mr Winston Tay Ed San
• Mr Lau Chong Yaw
• Mr Lui Yuan Tze
• Dr Edwin Tay Ed Min Two senior pastors retired: the Rev See Ping Eik, formerly Pastor-in-Charge of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, and the Rev Dr Lee Kok Pheng, previously Pastor-in-Charge of Foochow Methodist Church.
Pictures courtesy of the Chinese Annual Conference
During the CAC Meeting, a memorial service was held for three faithful workers who had passed away during the year: the Rev Lim Chong Heng, Mrs Fang Chao Hsi, and the Rev Ding Bing Hoe. Mr Gordon Aw, husband to the Rev Ding’s niece, wrote the below eulogy.
Remembering the Rev Ding Bing Hoe
On Oct 23, 2013, the Rev Ding went home to the Lord, whom he had served faithfully on earth for more than 50 years. His was a life poured out for Christ as he ministered first in The Methodist Church in Malaya, and later, The Methodist Church in Singapore.
After retirement in 2004, his ministry enlarged and he began serving across denominations and churches. Just as John Wesley considered the world his parish, the Rev Ding went among people with needs and continued to touch and
build lives for God.
Scripture tells us that Jesus was concerned for the last, the least and the lost. He called the “sick” to repent and come to Him. In like manner, caring for those in need was a priority for the late Rev Ding. He rendered help at every point of need, demonstrating the gospel with living compassion and practical action to win people for Jesus.
Indeed, he was known less for words, but more for deeds. As a dedicated pastor, the Rev Ding’s primary concern was the well-being of his sheep and he gave his best to pastoral care,always encouraging and nurturing his flock.
The late Rev Ding was not only a faithful servant and caring pastor. He was also a filial son, loving husband, patient and devoted father of three, doting grandfather, and sincere friend. At his wake, hundreds came to pay their last respects. Many shared stories of how his simplicity and sincerity had moved them. Some gave the thumbs-up and told the family, “Rev Ding – good man, great pastor, best friend.”
Grace Toh is the Assistant Editor of Methodist Message and has been a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church for most of her life.