Single but yet not alone
A group of members of connect@brmc at their kelong retreat in January. - BRMC picture.
By GRACE ONG
AFTER praying for three
years, finally on May 6, 2006, connect@brmc became a reality when
50 excited people gathered at Wesley Hall at Methodist Centre
for a simple Dedication Service. It is the new ministry at Barker
Road Methodist Church (BRMC) for singles - unmarried, widowed
or divorced - aged 35 years and above.
Despite an afternoon downpour, God answered our prayer for good
weather just before the start of the gathering.
The event began with a time of praise and worship led by Ms Jacqueline
Yeo and accompanied by Ms Clara Chong, who came to our rescue
when we needed a musician.
Ms Grace Ong, the Chairman of connect@brmc, introduced us to the
ministry's Mission and Vision (see sidebar). Then followed lively
testimonies from Ms Joanna Loo, who attended our earlier kelong
retreat in January 2006, and by Ms Wu Siew See, who joined the
book study in March 2006 when her cell group from her own church
was discontinued.
A surprise awaited the guests when Ms Ong danced with tambourines
and brightly coloured ribbons to the inspiring tune of a Mandarin
worship song, "Arise and Glorify God". The audience
was delighted.
The highlight of the event was the Rev Malcolm Tan's inaugural
address entitled "Single but yet not alone." The Rev
Tan, Pastor-in-Charge of BRMC, based his talk from the book of
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, popularly chosen by wedding couples.
He began by sharing that there are two different approaches to
the singles ministry. One view is that it is for confirmed singles
seeking similar friends. Another is that it is a place to look
for a spouse.
Both are extremes, he said, and he proposed a balanced view that
we are here (no matter what our pre-disposition to the state of
singlehood or that of marriage) to encourage one another in our
life's journey and to provide Christian companionship as we form
a mutually supportive community in Christ.
However, in the journey of life, circumstances may change unexpectedly
and people may find themselves no longer single. Hence, singlehood
may not always be a permanent state for everyone.
Yet, being permanently single should not mean that we would be
alone either. The good news is that for the Christian, we have
the Lord Jesus who is always with us as pointed out in Matthew
18:20.
The text also tells us that we have the companionship of other
believers in our life's journey, with whom we can meet together
in Christ's name.
The Rev Tan cautioned that some people may not be prepared at
all for marriage and cited the example of John Wesley, whose temperament
appeared to be more suited for a single life, while his brother
Charles was known to have enjoyed a happy family life.
The Rev Tan encouraged everyone at connect@brmc to come together
and give mutual support and encouragement no matter where life's
journey takes them so that although currently single, they are
yet not alone.
The event ended with a dedication of the committee members, followed
by dinner at the ACS (Barker Road) canteen.
Grace Ong is the Chairman of connect@brmc.
Ministry's vision
and mission
JEREMIAH 29:11 "For I know
the plans that I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a
hope."
Vision: To present every single-adult matured in Christ.
Mission:
Seek God in all that we do.
Serve the Lord locally and in missions.
Study God's word together.
Support and encourage one another.
Our prayer is for: God to raise up a community of love among
us, that will fulfil Jesus' command in Matthew 22: 37-39 to "love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind, and love our neighbour as yourself."
These are the officials of connect@brmc: Chairman: Ms Grace
Ong, Secretary: Ms Wee York Ming, Treasurer: Ms Murniawati Wirijia;
Hospitality: Ms Ruth Seah; Publicity: Ms Jacqueline Yeo.
For enquiries, please email: jacqyeo@hotmail.com
Website: www.brmc.org.sg/church life/singles
Watch out for these new programmes: October 2006 - Teaching English
as a foreign language in Myanmar; December 2006 - Mission trip
to New Delhi; August 2007 - Trip to Korea and prayer mountain.