To be renewed in the race for Christ

2 January 2020

Delegate-Group-Photo — CAC clergy and local church delegates gather for a photo before the 44th session

Between 11 and 14 Nov 2019, delegates representing agencies and local churches under the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) gathered at Bukit Panjang Methodist Church for its 44th Session.

Addressing the delegates in his President’s Report at the opening session, the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat looked back on CAC’s work in 2019 and laid out its plans for 2020.

The Rev Dr Goh touched on the benefits of Central Pooling as well as the need to nurture young pastors and leaders and to proactively seek out new roles for local preachers. He also took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of the Conference to constantly be in the modes of self-reflection and renewal. This is so that it can face the challenges of the world and remain relevant while holding fast to Christ’s teachings and correctly ascertaining the will of God.

Central Pooling: One year on and the need for new blood

A key development from the 43rd CAC Session was the decision to implement the central pooling of resources from which CAC local churches can draw to enable smoother operations of various pastoral ministries. Central Pooling came into effect on 1 Aug 2019.

“The Methodist Church is a connectional Church. Ministers are on an itinerant system and are appointed to serve in different local churches and agencies. With Central Pooling, the appointment system can be more effective in allocation and allow us to better utilise resources,” said the Rev Dr Goh.

The Rev Dr Goh went on to note that with new sub-cultures emerging every four to five years, a good way for CAC churches to renew themselves continually was through recruiting and nurturing young pastors and leaders who are able to make the gospel relevant and help the Church reach out, minister and engage the next generation, the Rev Dr Goh noted.

“Our young people grew up in a different environment. Their mindsets and working styles wholly differ from that of the older generation,” said the Rev Dr Goh. “From my observation, our Conference plays a pivotal role in developing our pastors and lay leaders, offering them opportunities to learn and exercise their spiritual gifts, and to take up leadership positions.”

The Rev Dr Goh also called for a rethink on the roles of local preachers, who currently support the itinerant ministers in their churches. However, if the local preacher is to remain one of the hallmarks of Methodism, such a role must be reviewed and updated as needed, he said. This is especially so when a church has enough itinerant ministers, which would reduce the demand for local preachers and the opportunities for them to preach.

The Rev Dr Goh offered some possibilities for the Conference to consider: “Our local preachers can be bi-vocational preachers—active in evangelistic work in their workplace, sharing God’s words, being the bridge that connects the church into various marketplaces or harvest fields. Churches can run marketplace ministry through them. If we were to redefine their roles as such, the way we recruit and train our local preachers will also need to be modified.”

“The Church, like Paul, must be—constantly racing ahead for Christ, our eyes on the prize.”

Pressing on towards the goal

In his closing sermon, the Rev Dr Goh likened the Christian journey to a race. He expounded on the Apostle Paul’s exhortation: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13–14)

The Rev Dr Goh highlighted that even though Paul often used the imagery of a runner, his epistle to the Philippians was written while in prison. His physical incarceration did not stop Paul from running the race spiritually as he still hungered for more to hear the Good News of Christ. Paul, the Rev Dr Goh said, had in him a “holy unrest”—he was fully aware that the status quo was never going to be enough.

And just as Paul was so, so must the Church be—constantly racing ahead for Christ, our eyes on the prize, the Rev Dr Goh added. “John Wesley famously said, ‘Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.’ I would also add, ‘save as many souls as you can’. This is the core business of the Church. We must never tire of winning souls for God.” It is thus the duty of every Christian to ensure that they are good witnesses for Christ so that the Gospel can be preached further, wider and deeper.

CAC Appointments for 2020

第一教区 District 1 教区长：陸永德牧师DS: Rev Lek Yong Teck
1	芽笼堂 Geylang Chinese Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	程文喜牧师	Rev Paul Thian
	协理	Associate Pastor	廖惠安牧师	Rev Wilfred Leow
2	巴耶黎峇堂／巴耶礼峇美以美宣教站Paya Lebar CMC /Paya Lebar Methodist Mission
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	许亚才牧师	Rev Dr David Koh
	协理	Associate Pastor	曾国华牧师梅国耀牧师沈圣奇牧师	Rev Patrick Chen Rev Boey Kok Yeow Rev Jasper Sim
3	樟宜堂 / 榜鹅宣教站事工Changi MC/Punggol Preaching Point
3	主理	Pastor-in-charge	石训深牧师	Rev Simon Cheo
	传道	Preacher	林国柱传道	Pr Patrick Lim Kok Chu
4	颂恩堂 Charis Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	雷远智牧师	Rev Lui Yuan Tze
	协理	Associate Pastor	张建温牧师	Rev Daniel Teoh
	协理	Associate Pastor	崔平和牧师	Rev Peace Choi
	隶属	Attachment	白瑞健牧师	Rev Dr Andrew Peh
5	盛港堂 Sengkang Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	严家慧牧师	Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey
	协理	Associate Pastor	宾升泰牧师	Rev Peter Pan Seng Tai
	传道	Preacher	吴俊强传道	Pr Nathanael Goh
	传道	Preacher	王海斌传道	Pr Wang Hai Bin

第二教区 District 2 教区长：林建隆牧师 DS: Rev Philip Lim Kian Long
1	直落亚逸堂／直落亚逸第二礼拜堂 Telok Ayer CMC / TA2
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	蔡伟山牧师	Rev Chua Ooi Suah
	协理	Associate Pastor	陈新坚牧师	Rev Joshua Tan Sin Kian
	助理	Assistant Pastor	吴钧杰牧师	Rev Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie
	传道	Preacher	庄俊勇传道	Pr Bernard Chng
	传道	Preacher	林明忠传道	Pr Lim Ming Zhong
	传道	Preacher	洪培正传道	Pr Timothy Ang
2	武吉班让堂 Bukit Panjang Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	陸永德牧师	Rev Lek Yong Teck
	协理	Associate Pastor	杨显辉牧师陈英意牧师江宗大牧师	Rev Yeung Hin Fai Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee Rev Christopher Louis Kong
3	恩典堂 Grace Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	吴毅华牧师	Rev Andy Goh Yik Wah
	协理	Associate Pastor	苏伟峰牧师	Rev Eric Soh Wai Foon
	协理	Associate Pastor	尤永深牧师	Rev Ian Jew Yun Shern
4	恩约堂 Holy Covenant Methodist Church
4	主理	Pastor-in-charge	许立欣牧师	Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng
	传道	Preacher	吴晓宁传道	Pr Florence Ngu Siew Ning

第三教区 District 3 教区长：吴奕贤牧师 DS: Rev Goh Aik Hiang
1	福灵堂 Foochow Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge		傅後利牧师	Rev Poh Heow Lee
	协理	Associate Pastor		林爱莉牧师	Rev Anne Lim Ai Lei
	重聘退休牧师（部分时间）	Re-engagement of Retired Pastor		薛庆达牧师	Rev Seet Keng Tat
	传道	Preacher		王美娇传道	Pr Ong Bee Keow
	隶属	Attachment		何威达牧师	Rev Dr Wilfred Ho

2	天道堂 Hinghwa Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge		陈元昌牧师	Rev Chin Yan Chong
	协理	Associate Pastor		周伟平牧师	Rev Chu Vee Ping
	协理	Associate Pastor		苏圻利牧师	Rev Peter Soh Kee Lie

3	感恩堂／感恩堂（兀兰） Kum Yan MC / Kum Yan MC (Woodland)
	主理	Pastor-in-charge		林建隆牧师	Rev Philip Lim
	协理	Associate Pastor		简文石牧师	Rev Herman Kan

4	天恩堂 Hakka Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge		林恩信牧师	Rev Irman Halim
	协理	Associate Pastor		周永斌牧师	Rev Nathanael Chew

5	义顺北宣堂 Yishun Methodist Mission
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	陈杨丽旋牧师		Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan
	协理	Associate Pastor	刘昌耀牧师		Rev Lau Chong Yaw

第四教区 District 4 教区长: 严家慧牧师 DS: Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey
1	女皇镇堂 Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	俞丽馨牧师	Rev Lisa Yu Li Hsin
	协理	Associate Pastor	吴奕贤牧师吴丽真牧师	Rev Goh Aik Hiang Rev Tack Ng Lai Chun
	助理	Assistant Pastor	何秀芳牧师	Rev Jacqueline Ho
	传道	Preacher	王志翔传道	Pr Joshua Ong

2	宏茂桥堂 Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	何秋吟牧师	Rev Helen Hoe
	协理	Associate Pastor	周美丽牧师	Rev Cynthia Choo
	传道	Preacher	许巽然传道	Pr Shawn Koh Shin Jan

3	大巴窑堂 Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church
	主理	Pastor-in-charge	林天源牧师	Rev Ling Tieng Ngung
	协理	Associate Pastor	许就凯牧师	Rev Koh Chew Hai
	助理	Assistant Pastor	陈书铭牧师	Rev Glenn Tan Tze Meng