Clarissa

24 years old

Kai Ting

First time mentor

The post Hear from our FYP 2025 Participants appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

Building up Nong Yaeng Methodist Church

We had the privilege of visiting and serving with Nong Yaeng Methodist Church (NYMC) over three days. 

On one of the days, we had the opportunity to literally build the church by helping out with the construction of their office and dining hall. While we were likely a lot slower than the professional workers, it was heartening for us—and hopefully, for them—to be working alongside fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to physically build what will eventually be a gathering place for the local community.

We also had the honour of building up NYMC in a more spiritual manner as Jan and I (Zhe Kai) shared a sermon and testimony respectively during their Sunday service. We presented a song, Holy Forever, during the offering, followed by my testimony on how God has transformed my relationship with Him and others as I served God over the years. Jan also preached her sermon in Thai, which I believe went a long way in connecting with the church members who were present.

In the afternoon, we had the privilege of leading them in a series of games and activities to promote team building and unity in the church. Planned by Li Xuan, we were pleasantly surprised to see both Thais and Singaporeans bonding over simple games such as Broken Telephone, Team Towers, and Candle Soccer. As Christians—and particularly, as missions trippers—we have a tendency to overspiritualise and complicate matters, when God can and will use whatever we have prepared, simple as it may be, to build up His people.

Finally, we capped off a long day with dinner together as we were introduced to authentic Thai BBQ and some traditional Northern Thai dishes. We had a heartwarming dinner and fellowship and it was the perfect way to end our visit at NYMC. We were truly blessed to have them host us and include us in their community.

Nurturing the next generation

With the world changing in concerning and unpredictable ways, it was essential to us that we spend time building up the next generation during this trip. We did this throughout the week we were there, partnering with different churches and organisations.

On day 5, we began our day by spending the early morning with a class of lovely nursery children at the local children’s centre. Jacqueline and Trina led them in several songs and dances, and it was extremely amusing to watch their cute actions. The entire room was filled with cries of happiness and joyous laughter. We had a great time and were fortunate to have participated in this programme.

Our next stop was a local community school, where we were asked to prepare a cultural exchange programme for over a hundred students at the last minute. With Jacqueline at the helm, we were delegated different roles and spent the previous night researching and preparing for the various activities.

We started with an icebreaker, “Hunter, Fire, Earthquake”, with Kai Wen explaining the game. Clarissa followed up with a crash course on Singlish, while Jacqueline shared more about Singapore and introduced the four major races. Kai Wen then led us in four popular songs in four languages. To conclude, Li Xuan shared a short testimony of how prayer has impacted her life, and encouraged the students to have a prayerful heart.

The next day, we had the opportunity to engage with youths staying at Mettakit Hostel. Kai Wen led with a sharing on how we can all make the most of our “away” time to keep our fire burning for Christ, which served as an encouragement to them as they are now living independently away from their parents due to their studies. The team also spent time covering them in prayer before we started another game of Candle Soccer.

Finally on day 7, we participated in the ministry of a local community centre called Baan Dem Raak (BDR), which does outreach to children and youth in a broken neighbourhood corrupted by poverty and sexual exploitation. Claudia prepared a series of games and learning pointers with the goal of teaching the youths about time management and goal setting.

The youths were each given a paper with a template that categorised how they wanted to achieve their goals for the year, giving them a clearer picture on how to set and achieve goals, and how to properly manage their time. During their sharing, it was heartening to lear that many of their goals were focused on helping their families and the community. It was a reflection of the love they have received from BDR and their desire to give back to those who have helped them along the way.

Hearing the sick and elderly at home visitations

Home visitations are an important part of pastoral work in Thailand, particularly for the sick and elderly who otherwise find it challenging to go to church. 

These were the most challenging moments for us, as we found ourselves in a position where we were unable to directly meet the physical needs of the people we were visiting. Instead, God gave us opportunities to build them up spiritually.

In the first home, we visited a young bedridden male church member who got into a motorbike accident. It was a very heart-rending moment and something that we were not prepared for. Many of our hearts sank as we entered the room, and I believed that most of us shared the same sentiment of helplessness. When we heard that he enjoys listening to songs and music, we sang Holy Forever to encourage him to have hope in God that he will receive healing and comfort.

In the second home, we visited an elderly church member living alone. With her daughter living in the city and experiencing her own challenges, this elderly lady experienced loneliness and found it difficult to find joy in her life. At her home, we had a meaningful conversation with her and gave her words of encouragement. By God’s grace, she also shared that she has in fact been feeling more joyful recently! We rounded off our visit by praying for her and singing 能不能.

At the third home, we visited another elderly lady who had an ischemic stroke and was had no sensation in her left hand and wrist. We thank God for Li Xuan’s expertise in nursing as she helped to assess the lady. Together with Kai Wen, they both shared with her exercises that she could do to prevent further loss of mobility. We also encouraged her to visit the church more often and to our surprise, she turned up for the worship and prayer session that very night at Shineforth Methodist Church!

Retreat & Reflection – Being Built Up

Just as Jesus invited his disciples who have been doing ministry to draw themselves away and rest, we took the morning to rest and be in communion with him. After a long week of ministry, we had the opportunity to reflect on what we have done in the mission field of Chiang Mai. 

On our final morning there, we went to a quaint reservoir at Chiang Mai University to take some time to be still, to listen, to read the word of God, and to pray. We then took turns to share what we had gathered and reflected on from the past week. Many of our sharings revolved around how our hearts and minds had been shaped and moulded as we participated in the local ministry and fellowship with the Thai pastors and staff. 

Through this missions trip, we experienced firsthand how we are all “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” A reminder that, regardless of nationality or our best-intentioned efforts, it is the Spirit who graciously builds us together to participate in the ongoing work of God anywhere and everywhere we go.

By Teo Zhe Kai and Daniel Tay

The post Being Built Together appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

虽然只有短短一年的时间，但和你们在一起真的是一件非常愉快的事情。感谢你们热情地欢迎我加入你们的社体！希望我有带给大家祝福，就像大家带给了我祝福一样。 

作为一间教会，盛港堂是蒙福的。平均起来，你们每周都有至少一位访客。对于你们来说，欢迎他人进入教会社体的机会是很大的。同时，作为周围为数不多的教会之一，你们有很多策略性的机会可以接触到周围的社区。我盼望你们能抓住上帝所给予的祝福来成长。 

离别是伤感的，但上帝有祂的目标和计划，让我们学习顺服上帝的旨意。我们卫理公会的巡回制度，就像一个旋转木马。有一天，我可能又会被派到盛港堂，我们就可以再续友情了，谁会知道呢？ 

愿上帝继续保守你们，大大地赐福你们！ 

平安，廖惠安牧师

The post 廖牧师的告别 appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

It has been a great joy being with you though it was for a short one year. Thank you for warmly welcoming me into your community. I hope I have been a blessing to you even as you have been a blessing to me. 

As a church, SKMC is truly blessed. You have at least one visitor per week on average. The opportunity for you to welcome others into the church community is tremendous. Also, as one of very few churches around, you have a strategic opportunity to reach out to the surrounding community as well. My hope is that you will seize this blessing given by God to grow. 

While partings are sad, God has His purpose and plan for us. So we learn to submit to the will of God. And who knows? Our itinerant system is like a merry-go-round. One day, I may be circled back to SKMC and we will be able to re-establish our fellowship again. 

May God continue to bless you and prosper you greatly. 

Shalom, Rev Wilfred Leow 

The post Farewell from Rev Leow appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

这的确是上帝的带领和供应。因为更改了短宣地点，我们才有机会探访一些属于Rangsit教会基督少年軍成员的家庭。

故事一： 这是我们探访的第一个家庭 。家中的爷爷在两年前信了主，成为基督徒。有一回，这位爷爷骑摩托车把孙子们送到校门口时，摩托车突然着火了。刚巧有一位Rangsit 教会的同工在那儿，便帮忙爷爷灭火并邀请爷爷到教会。爷爷借着这个事件便开始接触教会。虽然他的视力欠佳，他仍然忠心参加主日崇拜。我们探访爷爷的那日，和他同住的姐夫也在场。爷爷的姐夫因意外而受伤。当时，他一直坐在门外，看着我们。我们为爷爷和他的家境祷告之后就走向爷爷的姐夫, 为他祷告。
我们为着他的痊愈祷告，也告诉他要相信耶稣。奇妙的事情发生了。隔天主日，他竟坐着轮椅出现在教堂。教会的弟兄姐妹都欢迎他。午餐时，一些弟兄姐妹还把他带到牧师前带领他做决志祷告。感谢赞美主！在牧师的带领下他做了决志祷告，之后牧师还把挂在他颈项上的护身符除去。

为着爷爷祷告

爷爷的姐夫在中心的照片

故事二： 建筑工人，Mong和他的妻子，和两个女儿住在一间由Mong自己搭建的小屋子。他的妻子来自老挝，是一名天主教徒，而他自己则是位前佛教徒。由于Mong的妻子希望Mong 能成为基督徒而造成他们的夫妻关系有些不愉快。当时，Mong 找不到让他放弃佛教信仰的理由。可是有一回，他却答应和妻子一起去教会。从那时起，每当他想要成为基督徒时，他的脑海里就会出现一些挣扎。同时，他的身体状况并不是很好，他的右臂有些瘫痪，胸口也有点紧绷。在一次教会的祷告会中，他上前接受代祷。当一位会友为他的身体状况祷告时，他感受到仿佛有蚂蚁在他的右臂上爬行。当祷告结束后，他竟然能举起他的右臂，胸口的不适也消失了。从此，他就成为基督徒，忠心跟随主。当我们问他如何能为他祷告，他告诉我们为他的女儿祷告。上帝给了他异像，他的女儿将来会影响老挝属灵的气氛，把福音带到老挝。他也分享说在老挝，人民没有宗教自由。翻译员对我们说Mong听到上帝的声音，也决心要做上帝要他做的事。从这位看似平凡的弟兄的身上，我们见证了他有多么大的信心！

Mong 和他的家人

故事三：在Watnnala 学校教英文
Thanyaburi教会的Kuk 牧师接待了我们也为我们铺路，让我队有机会在Watnnala 学校教英文。起初，该校的校长并不赞成让一组基督徒来教学校的孩子。真的是上帝的带领，我们才能有机会进入这间学校。学校的反馈让我们得知学生们都非常喜欢通过游戏学习英文，认为学习英文其实非常有趣。

在Watnnala学校教英文

游戏时间

在整个短宣的过程中，我感受到当地基督徒，教会员工，Kuk 牧师以及Prueng 热情的接待，也感受到他们对上帝的信心，爱和忠诚。感谢主的带领和保守，在我们身上，也通过我们，让我们再次见证他奇妙的作为。

撰稿 黎彩凤

The post 泰国曼谷短宣：上帝奇妙的眷顾、信实和爱 appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

This was indeed God’s providence. Due to this change, the team had the opportunity to visit the homes of some members of the Boys Brigade from Rangsit Church on Saturday afternoon.

Story 1: The first home we visited – a grandfather who became a Christian about two years. He was dropping off his grandchildren at school when his motorbike caught fire. A church worker from Rangsit Church ‘happened’ to be there and helped to put out the fire and then invited him to church. It was through this that he went to Rangsit Church and has been attending the church faithfully despite his poor eyesight. When we visited his home, his brother-in-law who is staying with him, met an accident and was injured. After we prayed for the grandfather and his family’s situation, we also went over to pray for his brother-in-law who was sitting outside the house watching us all the time.

We prayed for his healing and after that told him to believe in Jesus. Wonder of wonders, the next day Sunday, he appeared in church on a wheelchair. Church members welcomed him and while we were having lunch, they pushed him to the pastor who prayed with him to receive Christ. Praise the Lord! He prayed with the pastor and after which the pastor removed the charms that were around his neck immediately.

Praying for the grandfather

The grandfather’s brother-in-law in the centre

Story 2: Next home of a builder, Mong – his home is just a small shed that he built to house himself, his wife and two daughters. His wife was a Roman Catholic from Laos while he was a former Buddhist. There was tension in their relationship in the beginning as the wife wanted him to become a Christian. He saw no reason why he should give up being a Buddhist. However, at one time he agreed to go to church with his wife. After that, he found that there was a fight inside his head when he was thinking of becoming a Christian. At the same time, his health was not good as he could not move his right arm and he had some tightness in his chest.

On another visit to the church, during prayer, he went forward to be prayed for. As someone prayed for his healing, he could feel as if there were ants crawling up his right arm. After the prayer, he could lift his right arm and also his chest discomfort disappeared. From then on, he became a faithful follower of Christ. When we asked him if there was anything we could pray for him, he told us to pray for his daughters as he had a vision that his daughters will one day be of great influence for change in the spiritual climate of Laos. In Laos, people do not have the freedom to worship God. We were told by our interpreter that he hears God and will do what God tells him. What great faith from a simple man!

Mong and his family

Story 3: Teaching at Watnnala School

Pastor Kuk from Thanyaburi Church hosted us and opened the way for the team to teach English in Watnnala School. It was God’s providence that we were able to go to the school as the principal was initially not in favour of a Christian group teaching the students. The students had an enjoyable time learning and playing games. We also received feedback from the school that the children found learning English fun after all.

Teaching English in Watnnala School

Games time with the students

Throughout this mission trip, I experienced the faith, love, and faithfulness of the local believers and the church workers, Pastor Kuk and Prueng, who served us and brought us around during our stay in Thailand. I thank God for his guidance and protection throughout the trip and the wonderful way he worked in and through us.

By Lai Choy Fong

The post Mission Trip to Bangkok, Thailand: Amazing Stories of God’s Providence, of Faith and Love appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

However, do note that SKMC does not endorse the advertisements and publications recommended by issuu.

The post Issue 9 (Apr-Jun 19) appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

Please view the whole Connection Newsletter with the free magazine plug-in by issuu.

However, do note that SKMC does not endorse the advertisements and publications recommended by issuu.

The post Issue 8 (Jan-Mar 19) appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

若是以信主之前的我。以我自己的性格,我不知道也没有智慧去面对和应付我所面对的困难。只能靠自己来处理。但是,感谢 神有主在我的生命里,感受到 神的平安在我的心, 也知道当我寻找父神时, 我的问题都在奇妙的情况下一一决解。

即便事情没有解决没有被排除。我的心里却有来自上帝的喜乐与平安在我的心。心里也不会觉的痛苦难耐而产生苦毒与不能原谅。在生命面对巨大的变故时,透过上帝的话语帮助原谅与释放自己从不可能原谅的局势里得到释放。

上帝的爱充满我使我得以自由,上帝的智慧帮助我处理我的家里的难处。

信主之后,姐妹对我的评价是以我的性格相背的事情。我却能够去做,而且做的很喜乐。比如,探访。这不是我的性格, 上帝在这方面改变了我很大很不可思议。

我虽然目前觉得我不适合做这个事情。但是, 上帝却一直磨练我,一直给我机会有不得不去探访的机会。

除了感谢主还是感谢。甚愿主继续保守我常在祂里面。并帮助我能够好好的来服事祂的教会。成为一个荣 神益人的器皿。

撰稿 林丽卿

The post 平凡中的不平凡 appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.

Before I became a Christian, I did not have the wisdom to deal with problems. After knowing God, His peace became my guide whenever I encounter problems. Amazingly, my problems will be resolved whenever I seek Him.

On occasions where problems are not solved, I will have joy and peace from God in my heart. Feelings of pain, bitterness or an unforgiving heart were in the past. Through God’s word, I have learnt to forgive and let go of the past. God’s love fills me and sets me free; His wisdom helps me to overcome my family problems.

After believing in Christ, a few sisters observed the change in my demeanour. I started to pay house visits which are
something I would not have done in the past. While I still feel that I am not suitable in the hospitality ministry, God continue to train me by providing many opportunities to visit fellow brethren.

Thank God! May the Lord continue to keep me and help me to be his vessel to serve His church and glorify His name.

By Cindy Lim 

The post Extraordinary in Ordinary appeared first on Sengkang Methodist Church.