Foochow MC signs partnership pact with MMS

Signing the partnership agreement: From left, Mr Frederick Chieng, the Rev Seow Choon Seng, Bishop Dr Solomon and the Rev Dr Clarence Lim. Standing behind them are Mr Han Hai Kwang, a member of the Board of Missions of the Chinese Annual Conference (extreme left) and leaders of Foochow Methodist Church. -- Foochow MC picture by LIM TECK YAN.

By PHUA SIEW KHENG

A PARTNERSHIP agreement between Foochow Methodist Church and the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) was signed on Nov 23, 2003 during the second English worship service, making Foochow MC the 25th partner church of the MMS.


The agreement was signed by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, the Rev Seow Choon Seng, Foochow MC's Pastor-in-Charge, Mr Frederick Chieng, Foochow MC's Local Church Executive Committee Chairman, and the Rev Dr Clarence Lim, Director of the MMS.


Foochow MC has also become the MMS' ninth partner church from the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC).


The other eight partner churches from the CAC are Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church, Bukit Panjang Chinese Methodist Church, Charis Methodist Church, Grace Methodist Church, Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church, Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore Hakka Methodist Church and Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church.


Bishop Dr Solomon gave a message on "Worship and Mission". Members of the congregation were asked their reasons for attending worship service and what they did after the service.


Though the questions, "Why are you here?" and "Where are you going?" brought some laughter, they were pertinent questions.


In signing the agreement, Foochow MC pledges to work towards:

a) observing MMS Sunday,
b) giving support in prayer and finance,
c) sending mission teams,
d) adopting a church and/or person, and
e) sending missionaries.

Foochow MC currently supports a family serving in Cambodia. The family has been seconded to the MMS for one year, working at a vocational school in Cambodia.


The church also supports four missionaries serving locally with student ministries. In addition, it supports one family working with Campus Crusade and one family working with a drug rehabilitation centre here.


One couple left recently for a country in Central Asia to work with another mission agency.


We are thankful to the Lord for raising so many servants to go forth to the needy fields in the world.

Phua Siew Kheng is the Missions Director of Foochow Methodist Church.