Methodist Missions Society’s Saturday High Tea and Sunday Banquet

‘I must be about my Father’s business’

By NORMAN WONG

YOU remember the story.  Jesus was 12 years old.  His parents had brought Him to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. But because they were travelling with a large group of relatives – they left Jerusalem without Him!

They found Him in the Temple courts sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. 

His mother said, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Once in two years, a generous, missions-minded Methodist absorbs the cost of our Methodist Missions Society (MMS) Saturday High Tea and Sunday Banquet. The Saturday High Tea was meant for all our churches to send their Missions Committee or representatives; the Sunday Banquet was targeted at businessmen and professionals in our community. The theme for both days was the same – “I must be about my Father’s business.”

Children from COSI rendering a traditional Khmer dance at the Sunday Banquet. – Methodist Missions Society picture.  

Children from COSI, outside Phnom Penh, were present to render dance items for the guests.

That Sunday evening, our Bishop Dr Robert Solomon challenged us to stretch our dollar with giving towards missions. Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development and Leader of the House and a Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC, and his wife, Dr Sheryn Mah, brought us great encouragement by coming early for the pre-dinner cocktails and patronising the different stalls which served appetisers from the nations that we are currently serving in. The MMS Chairman, Mr Andrew Tay, presented the budget for the year ahead and asked for a response.

We have been praying for business people and professionals from every industry to come forward and influence every sector of our society for the common good.

Are you in construction, or finance and banking, or law, or medicine, or science and technology, or education, or the media, or food and beverage, or the Arts and entertainment or in the helping and caring professions or tourism or government – whatever your business or profession – our Heavenly Father is saying to you – Will you consider making Me a partner in your business or practice?  

He wants to help you develop your profession or business for the common good.  Charity should begin at home – here in Singapore – but this same skill you have can also be used to help develop other nations. 

One day we will all appear before the judgment seat of God – and I have no doubt He will ask those of us from Singapore to give an account of what we have done with all the intellectual and material wealth He has blessed us with.  In addition to developing our own nation, I believe the Lord is expecting us to assist in the development of the nations around us.

It may seem an unusual blessing, but Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive!” I believe that if Singaporeans are encouraged to give to the surrounding nations, in return, Singapore will receive a greater blessing from God. That’s just His way of doing business!

That weekend we were overwhelmed by the support and generous giving of so many churches and individuals.

If you too would like to share in the work of the MMS, please contact me at 6478-4818 or email me at mms@methodist.org.sg

Guests at the Sunday Banquet received a gift bag each with indigenous products from the six countries in which the Methodist Missions Society does mission work. – MMS picture. 

The Rev Dr Norman Wong is the Executive Director of the Methodist Missions Society.