connectPRAYERA prayer letter of the Methodist Missions Society Not for circulation For Mission Partners and Volunteers only

May 2016 to August 2016

PRAY in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers

for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

dear

praye

r part

ners Much resource is needed for the work of missions. Hence, we

mobilise churches to give and participate. Plus we step up efforts to recruit missionaries. At the same time, we explore innovative ways to enhance mission work.

But let’s not forget that the great resource available to us is PRAYER.

Jesus taught, “ASk and it will be given to you; SEEk and you will find; kNock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7, NIV

Some parts of Asia are experiencing drought with water in rivers and reservoirs at alarmingly low levels. There was a time when God’s people were spiritually dry. And the prophet Hosea announced, “It is time to SEEk the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12, NKJV

As you thumb through the pages of this issue of PrayerConnect, PRAY ANd SEEk the Lord.

Rev Philip LimExecutive Director

Methodist Missions Society

Cover photo by Javan Ng (Fairfield Preaching Point), showing Nepali children praying in church.

ASk - SEEk - kNock

MOND

AYc

AM

BodI

A

1. Pray for all chRIStIAN cAMBodIAN StAFF in ministry and school to remain strong in faith. Pray for the salvation of staff and students who are open and seeking Christ. Pray for God to strengthen the faith of those who face objections due to various obligations.

2. Thank God that the LIcENcE ANd VISA APPLIcAtIoNS are approved in amazing ways which encouraged our office staff. May they continue to serve Him faithfully, and spread the Gospel and make disciples for Jesus.

3. Thank God for the growth in the MEthodISt chuRch IN cAMBodIA. Pray for protection, strength and wisdom for our pastors, leaders and their families. Pray for effective discipleship in the churches. Pray for the DSs overseeing each province as they encourage and guide the pastors under their care.

4. Pray for the BuSINESS AS MISSIoN training and outreach which started last November. May the trainers have wisdom to minister and support the people to be independent and be a blessing in the marketplace.

5. Pray for the construction of GLoRY tRINItY MEthodISt chuRch. Pray for peace and favour from the neighbours and authorities. Pray for safety for all the workers. Thank God that some workers attended the Easter outreach. Pray that the church will reap much fruit and be encouraged.

6. Pray for all the MISSIoNARIES to display personal and social holiness through their intimate relationship with God. May their love and fruits be evidence to all. May God bless them and their families with protection and good health.

7. Pray for growth in our new ministries – hoPE houSE (slum outreach) and uPPER RooM (new church). Pray for the local staff to find fulfilment. May God grant wisdom, strength and joy.

EASt

ASI

A

TUES

DAY

1. Pray that we can find a suitable replacement to run the Nc PREAchING PoINt. Pray that the merger of the two preaching points will continue to be strengthened. May the leadership be able to work together as one.

2. Pray for the coming StAFF ANd LEAdERS REtREAt in KM at WG. Pray that it be an extended time of learning. Pray that the objectives of the meeting will be met, and that the outcome will be fruitful. May the leaders be open to share and learn from one another so that God will be glorified.

3. Pray that the dIScIPLE-MAkING MINIStRY supported by BRMC will continue to grow and be strengthened in all the centres.

4. Pray that the BTC in TP will be finalised and tRAINING in partnership with local CH can commence by this calendar year. Pray that SG and XY will be ready for their new role and challenges.

5. Pray for the NEwLY dEdIcAtEd ch BuILdING in HS to be a beacon of light and to fulfil her calling to serve the community.

WEDN

ESDA

Y1. Praise the Lord with us for seeing the Singapore Mission School through more than half of our SIxth SchooL YEAR (September 2015 to June 2016).

2. Thank God for providing a suitable place across the road to rent as tEMPoRARY PREMISES for the kindergarten and primary school during the construction of the school extension.

3. Thank Him for the steady PRoGRESS oF thE BuILdING woRkS and for blessing us with a Good SItE MANAGER. Pray for safety and for the smooth completion of the ten-month project (February to November 2016).

4. Thank Him for the dEdIcAtIoN of our Principal Lesley and our local and expat teachers, support staff and volunteers. Pray for hARMoNY as they work together.

5. Praise the Lord as the older children continue to ask quEStIoNS ABout BELIEFS, and pray for them to continue to grow in His saving knowledge.

6. Pray for the Lord to continue to provide for the school and bring people: We are in need of a higher ENRoLMENt and more tEAchERS ANd StAFF.

7. Pray that the re-registration of INSPIRE and the chINESE work can be completed soon. May God send us the right teachers and to help us manage our classes.

8. Pray for the LAo GoVERNMENt with its newly-elected President and Assembly members that they may govern the nation wisely with His help.

LAo

S

THUR

SDAY

MY gi

ft fO

r his

greA

t cOM

Miss

iON th

rOug

h MMs1. Pray for the progress of the EARthquAkE

REBuILdING PRoGRAMME that it will proceed smoothly. It was slowed down due to the border closure over the last six months.

2. Pray that LIFE IN NEPAL would resume back to normal as the borders have been opened. At the time of writing, there are still fuel and gas shortages.

3. Pray for good health among the NAtIoNAL PAStoRS ANd StAFF and their families as hot summer weather approaches. It is also the monsoon season in Nepal.

NEP

AL

MY gift fOr his greAt cOMMissiON thrOugh MMs

MY

gift

fOr h

is gr

eAt c

OMMi

ssiON

thrO

ugh M

Ms

StEP 1Either select a Specific Area and a Country, or allow us to direct your gift where it is needed most:

StEP 2Decide how much you would like to give either on a monthly basis or as a one time gift:

[ ] Pledge a monthly gift of S$ ________________ commencing ___________________________ [date] until further notice.

[ ] Make a one-time gift of S$ ________________.

PDPA: MMS is committed to ensuring the security of all personal data she collects. MMS shall use and disclose such data only for her necessary purposes and if so, shall adhere to the guidelines of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). All personal data shall be kept strictly confidential at all times. If ever MMS has to disclose any personal data to any third party, she shall do so only with the prior consent of the owner of the personal data.

[ ] whERE It IS NEEdEd MoSt

[ ] chuRch PLANtING [ ] coMMuNItY dEVELoPMENt

[ ] REV dR cLARENcE LIM MISSIoNARY dEVELoPMENt FuNd

[ ] couNtRY __________________________________________________ [Choose from Cambodia, East Asia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam]

Rev/Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms: __________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

Postal Code: ________________________ Church: _______________________________________

Tel: ______________________ [h] ________________________ [o] ________________________ [h/p]

Email: _________________________________________________________________________________

I am making my gift through [tick one]:

[ ] Payment by credit card [ ] VISA [ ] MasterCard

Name on Card: ________________________________________________________

Card No: _______________________________________________________________

Signature: ______________________________ Expiry Date: __________________ [ ] Payment by cheque Bank & Cheque No: ___________________________________________________

Please cross your cheque and make it payable to “The Methodist Church in Singapore [MMS]” and mail it together with this form to MMS Executive Director, Methodist Missions Society, 70 Barker Road #06-01, The Methodist Centre, Singapore 309936.

[ ] I wish to receive Harvest Force and PrayerConnect regularly.

[ ] I wish to receive Pray for MMS in 60 seconds prayer email regularly.

[ ] My comments, feedback and suggestions:

Date: ________________

If you need more details, please call 6478 4818. For more information on Student Sponsorship Schemes, logon to http://www.mms.org.sg/sss.html

MY gi

ft fO

r his

greA

t cOM

Miss

iON th

rOug

h MMsStEP 3 Fill in your payment instructions:

Sour

ce C

ode:

PRT

_PRA

YER_

C

thA

ILA

Nd

friDA

YFRI

DAY

MY gi

ft fO

r his

greA

t cOM

Miss

iON th

rOug

h MMs 1. Praise God for the smooth proceeding of the 11th thAI ANNuAL

MEEtING on 15 and 16 March chaired by Bishop Dr Wee, and the ordination of 2 Elders and 2 Deacons. The 2 Elders are Rev Pisut Khongsukthara of Water of Life Church and Rev Somphan Saengkhen of Genesis Methodist Church. The 2 Deacons are Ps Namphol Pichpartapee of Sanphranet Methodist Church and Ps Panya Khajornsantichaikul of Payakondee Methodist Church.

2. Pray for the NEw ELdERS ANd dEAcoNS as they learn the rope and discharge their new responsibilities effectively with love and passion.

3. Praise God for another successful graduation of P6 at VINEYARd MEthodISt SchooL. The graduating class of P6 performed well above the national average. Pray that the students will continue to diligently pursue of academic excellent and continue to grow spiritually.

4. Thank God for granting ANGELA SNG full recovery from the cancer treatment. She has returned to Thailand to continue to care for the boys in Term Fun Home. She missed them dearly.

5. Thank God for the adoption of the thAI Book oF dIScIPLINE. Pray that the pastors and church leaders will learn, understand and apply the Book of Discipline in their ministries.

6. Pray for all PAStoRS to be refreshed. Pray for wisdom from above on how to nurture their members to greater awareness of good discipleship.

SATU

RDAY

1. Pray for a good nation-wide hEALth cARE system to be implemented to address pressing health issues such as Tuberculosis which is currently on the rise. Pray for all medical workers in the hospitals and community health centres to have good work ethic. Pray that the Minister of Health will approve MMS health care MOU for the work in Ermera as soon as possible.

2. Pray for God to continue to establish the work of the MEthodISt SchooL as David and his family teach the Grade 7 Class of 18 students in Hera District. Pray for strength and wisdom as David pioneers the work of the Methodist School.

3. Pray for God to strengthen the health of the students in SuNdERMEIER hoME so that they will not fall sick easily. Pray that they will embrace the culture of the Home and experience a personal relationship with God in the process. Pray for Joseph and Grace to have continued wisdom, strength and good health in running the hostel and to train the students in the way they should go.

4. Pray for God to open more doors and accelerate breakthroughs as we continue to serve through coMMuNItY dEVELoPMENt projects.

5. Pray for wisdom and courage to follow as the Lord leads RudY woNG.

tIMo

R-LE

StE

VIEt

NA

Msu

NDAY

1. Pray for PS LESLIE ANd hIS FAMILY to adjust and adapt well in a new intercultural environment. Pray that his two older children, who are in Singapore, will also cope well in their absence.

2 Pray that the INtERNAtIoNAL chRIStIAN FELLowShIP (ICF) congregation will grow deeper in the Word, be relevant, and shine for Christ in the marketplace - wherever they are.

3 Pray for the MEN oF IcF, who are separated from their spouses and family, will guard their hearts against temptation and the enemy deception. May God protect the godly men who will be empowered to remain faithful to their spouses.

4 Pray for Ps Leslie’s SERMoN preparation and teaching. Pray that the word of God will bring about transformation of lives and obedience to Christ in individual lives.

5 Pray that ICF will be a houSE oF BLESSINGS to this beautiful nation. Pray that it will be able to demonstrate the love of Christ to all whom we are reaching out through our social concerns and good works. May we have the wisdom of Christ to know how to prioritise the needs with our limited resources. May Christ be glorified in all our undertakings.

MEthodISt MISSIoNS SocIEtY70 Barker Road #06-01 The Methodist Centre Singapore 309936t 6478 4818 F 6478 4817 E mms@methodist.org.sg w www.mms.org.sg Fb www.facebook.com/mms.org.sg Ig www.instagram.com/mms.gram

A jouRNEY thRouGh thE VALLEY

‘You have cancer...’

When I first heard these words from the doctor, I thought I must be dreaming. Can’t be me, I thought, I have been very healthy all my life. Can’t be me, I thought, God has called me to serve Him in Thailand so this can’t be happening to me. Can’t be me, I thought. I still have a 6-month-old baby and a 4-year-old boy. He can’t be taking me away from them so soon...tE

StIM

oN

Y

As reality set in and the shock and numbness wear away, we prayed and prayed. And I was almost overwhelmed by the peace that God has given me, and an assurance that all is in His hands and He will take charge. And take charge He did. From flying back to have a second opinion and doing the surgery, from insurance coverage that enabled me to go to a private hospital, from providing me with Christian doctors all the way and the support that I get from family, church and friends. It speaks so clearly to me of His love and providence.

It is a stage 3 cancer. I went through 6 weeks of radiotherapy and 6 sessions of chemotherapy. And I went through it all with hardly any side effects. Today, I have cleared the scan and am back in Chiang Mai serving alongside my husband again. Doctor said the chances of it coming back is as high as 50%. But I shall not fear, because through it all, I know that my life is in the hands of my Maker who is my Healer. And He has promised that I will thrive and grow like the tree planted by the rivers in Psalm 1.

It has been a journey through the valley of shadow of death. Many times I complained as Job did. But I have never failed to realise who is holding my hand. I know that I am not alone in this journey. My prayer is that what He has brought me through will bring comfort and encouragement to people around me. Indeed, our God cares.

~ by Angela Sng She is a missionary in Thailand and a member of Toa Payoh Methodist Church.