THE Pastors' Retreat at Sofitel Palm Resort in Johor from April 13 to 15, 2004 will go on as scheduled with one change - there will be a new keynote speaker in place of Dr John Stott.


The Rev Howard Peskett, Vice-Principal of Trinity College in Bristol, England will now be the speaker at the residential Retreat. He is no stranger to Singapore as he has worked here for 20 years. He will replace Dr John Stott, who is now unable to come because of health reasons.

The event is organised by the Bishop's Office of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

THE REV PESKETT:
No stranger to
Singapore.

The Rev Peskett, 62, was born in Guangxi, China. After studying theology at Cambridge and Semitic Languages in Jerusalem, he was ordained an Anglican minister in 1968 and served in Newscastle upon Tyne. From 1971 he worked at the Discipleship Training Centre in Singapore where he was Dean from 1976 to 1986.
From 1988 to 1991 he was the Research Director at Overseas Missionary Fellowship International Headquarters in Cluny Road. Since 1991 he has been teaching missions and religion at Trinity College, Bristol.


He has written or co-authored several books, including The Message of Mission and a Bible study guide, Isaiah: Trusting God in Troubled Times.


The Rev Peskett is preparing four talks for the Johor retreat. He will speak on "Biblical Preaching in the Modern World" after dinner on the first day of the retreat on April 13.


His second talk the following morning is entitled "What I am Learning About Prayer and Preaching". In the evening of the same day, a discussion he is leading should draw out interesting facets about his life. It is entitled "My Journey as Pastor and Preacher".


In his final talk after breakfast on April 15, he will speak on "Contemporary Challenges to the Church". There will be time for small group discussions for all the sessions.


After tea, the retreat will end with a closing Communion Service.

Talk on
'Contemporary
Challenges
to the Church'

THE Rev Howard Peskett will address the issue of "Contemporary Challenges to the Church" in a talk at the sanctuary of Barker Road Methodist Church on April 17 at 4 pm.


All Methodists and their friends are invited.


The talk will be preceded by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon's semi-annual Lunch Fellowship for Lay Leaders and heads of Local Church Executive Committees, which will be held at Sophia Blackmore Hall, 6th floor, Methodist Centre, at 1 pm.