Aldersgate Service

We are all ambassadors of

God’s Kingdom

Stories: Peter Teo and Grace Toh      Methodist Message pictures: Daniel Lie

“I AM AN AMBASSADOR!” Congregants consisting of clergy and laity at the Aldersgate Service 2011 were encouraged by the speaker, the Rev Dr Eddie Fox, to say this phrase to each other, and they complied with much convivial laughter.

Being ambassadors of God was the main theme throughout his sermon, which was engaging in style as he often encouraged responses from the congregation and at times even attempted to learn Mandarin phrases from the Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey who provided the Mandarin interpretation.

With the theme “Go and Tell: Proclaiming the Gospel Today”, the Aldersgate Service 2011 at Toa Payoh Methodist Church on May 22 got off to a rousing start with a musical introduction by the Wesley Soli Deo Gloria Orchestra, featuring several brass instruments, and the Wesley Combined Choir. This was closely followed by several processional hymns and choruses that were well-known to the congregation.

A new hymn, “Change My Heart”, written by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon and set to contemporary music by musician-composer Jusuf Kamadjaja was sung in preparation for the sermon.

The Bishop then introduced the speaker, the World Evangelism Director of the World Methodist Council, whom he referred to as “the best-known Methodist evangelist preacher”, and who is an eighth-generation Methodist.

The Rev Dr Fox began by speaking from 2 Cor. 5:17-20 to highlight our role as God’s ambassadors, pointing out that the role is not restricted to pastors but encompasses lay persons as well. He first established that “Missions is God’s idea”, explaining how God as a “seeking God” sought us first, and then as a “sending God” sent His messengers to us.

He stressed: “God looks for us before we look for God.”

“I hear people talking about finding God, like God is lost somewhere, when it is the other way around: God finds us.”

 God comes to us and reveals Himself to us in Christ Jesus, “God incarnate”, providing us grace that makes possible our response of faith, and truth that sets us free. This, stated the speaker, is why “Methodism is a missionary movement”.

Secondly, the Rev Dr Fox emphasised that our world belongs to God, its Creator, and is still ruled by Him. However, this world with its violence and trouble is not as God intends it to be. “God so loved the world”, said the speaker, referring to John 3:16, “so we need to love the world more.”

He then asked the congregation if they would be ambassadors for Christ as called and sent by God. He noted that Methodists are often unwilling to do so, joking that the reluctant prophet Jonah “must have been a Methodist”, to laughter from the congregation.

He also highlighted that God does not prefer one people over another, but “wants the whole world to know the living God”. He urged us to be “faithful ambassadors of God’s eternal kingdom that will last forever”.

“We are called to communicate His message and be faithful to His Word. We are to be ambassadors by our words, deeds and signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit.

“And, listen to this, listen to this … we are ambassadors of the Kingdom that knows no end.”

This stirring sermon was followed by prayers of response, and an upbeat offertory song “God Is In The House”.

The Bishop then made some concluding remarks, exhorting Singaporean Methodists not to see evangelism as just a programme, but to be ambassadors who “live evangelism” in their daily lives. This, he observed, is the sign of a living church.

He also paid tribute to the oldest Methodist pastor present, the Rev T. C. Nga, and thanked and acknowledged all who had contributed towards the smooth running of the Aldersgate Convention 2011.

Following that, three pastors who had each served The Methodist Church in Singapore for 25 years received their Long Service Awards: the Rev Koh Keok Nguang, the Rev Joshua Tan Sin Kian (both from the Chinese Annual Conference), and the Rev Dr Norman Wong Cheong Sau (from Trinity Annual Conference).

The Bishop gave the Benediction in Mandarin, Tamil and English, and the congregation was sent forth with lively music by the choir and orchestra, to partake of the refreshments provided for all.