In addition to profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore, we also begin profiling ministries. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, we may discover more opportunities to forge cross-church partnerships and collaborations.
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church moved to St George’s Chapel in Changi as our new place of worship in 2005. While looking for opportunities to reach out to the community, we realised that there was a need for Tamil ministry in the Bedok and Tampines areas, as we increasingly had visitors from these areas.
During this time, Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon encouraged the congregation to consider a preaching point in these areas. Soon, he also put us in contact with the leaders of Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church, who graciously welcomed us to use the premises to reach out to the Indian community. The ministry officially began on 6 May 2012 at Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church.
Sunday services are held weekly at 6 p.m., followed by a time of fellowship with dinner. About 40 people attend the worship service regularly and some of them have become members of the church. We also have regular Sunday school for children aged between 5 to 12. Mr Sudhagar Pandian said: Attending Bedok Preaching Point strengthens me spiritually and provides chances to serve and encourages good fellowship with family, fellow brethren and newcomers. It has helped my children to learn the basics of Christianity easily.” Faithful volunteers from Seletar Tamil Methodist Church come every week to serve in this ministry. A team is constantly involved in Outreach Ministry (Block Visitation). Every Wednesday from 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m., we walk up the nearby blocks looking out for Indian homes. We knock on their doors, introduce ourselves and present them with details of our church. We also present them with a mug that carries information about the church, and offer a time of prayer for those who are open to receive such blessings.
The team has visited more than 200 Indian families in Bedok. Once a month, we have a prayer walk around the areas that we are planning to visit. God makes way for us even as we pray for opportunities to share the gospel. However, the biggest challenge before us is drawing them to our worship service. Slowly but surely, we are beginning to see the fruit of this labour. “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:7, NASB)
We organised a community outreach event last year on 21 Dec 2014. It was a Christmas party where we invited all those we had visited during the year.
By God’s grace, five pre-believing families turned up for this event. We are also planning to start a Health-Care outreach ministry for the coming year. This would give us another opportunity to build our relationships with the community and the families whom we have reached thus far.
Continue to pray for us as we reach out to the community in the Bedok and Tampines area. To God be the glory!
Photos courtesy of Bedok Preaching Point
The Rev James Nagulan is Pastor–In–Charge of Bedok Preaching Point and C. Saravanakumar is the Assistant Pastor