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The Giving Methodist is an initiative spearheaded by Methodist Welfare Services and The Methodist Church in Singapore to galvanise Methodists to perform acts of love. It takes place during the season of Lent, a period of reflection for Christians and also of giving that exemplifies Christ. Come together as one Methodist family to offer our voice, time and financial help to support the last, the lost and the least amongst us.
The objectives that TGM hopes to achieve are to:
-Create awareness about the disadvantaged and distressed
-Engage Methodists in acts of love in a concerted, united way
-Embed Social Concerns in the DNA of every Methodist
As the social concerns arm of the Methodist Church, MWS’ vision is to partner Methodist churches in enabling the disadvantaged and distressed to have life to the full.
The people that MWS serves may experience poverty in different ways — weak social support or fractured relationships, poor health, a sense of hopelessness, or a lack of means. MWS cares for over 9,000 beneficiaries through 22 centres and programmes that aim to GIVE:
– Care to the chronically ill, frail and destitute
– Strength to distressed families
– Warmth to the socially isolated
– Grace to at risk youth
– Hope to disadvantaged childen
Dear Pastors-in-Charge, LCEC Chairpersons, Lay Leaders and OSC Chairpersons,
Warm greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As shared during the Annual Conferences last year, The Giving Methodist (TGM) will be rolled out during LENT 2023 with the theme, “Eat Share Connect”. Praise God for the reopening of the community but as we reconnect with friends and family, let us remember many among us who continue to be adversely affected by the pandemic.
This Lent, let us as a Methodist family partake in Table Fellowship. The aim of TGM is to galvanise the Methodist churches to show acts of kindness and love either through the giving of their time, money or voice. “Eat Share Connect” is anchored on table fellowship. By coming together as a family, a group of friends or even a church to share a meal with the less privileged, lonely and isolated, we demonstrate how to love God and one another.
In Luke 14:12–14, Jesus gives us a biblical basis for communal dining: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
When Jesus exhorts us to invite the disadvantaged in society to our dining table, he is asking us to cross barriers by opening our hearts and homes to those outside our social spheres. In many cultures, especially our Asian culture, having a meal together is a meaningful and significant activity, and the dining table is often seen as a place where people connect, celebrate, bless others and even share brokenness. Eating together ultimately enhances unity and gives people a sense of belonging.
TGM has 3 pillars of giving, Methodists can:
1. Give Time (22 February – 6 April 2023)
– Churches can organise an Eat Share Connect (ESC) event within your premises, at participating MWS centres or in public venues like community clubs in the heartlands.
– Church members can, as individuals, also host a meal for those in need at their homes, in churches or participating MWS centres.
2. Give A Donation (from 22 February to end 2023)
– Encourage church members to give generously or hold a second offering for The Giving Methodist.
– $1.65 million is needed this year to provide 1.1 million meals for the elderly frail and sick, disadvantaged children and at-risk youth whom MWS serves.
3. Give Voice (22 February – 6 April 2023)
– Lend your voice to encourage others to take part in Eat Share Connect by sharing about the campaign through your church’s website, social media channels, church bulletins and other communications channels.
– MWS is able to customize publicity collateral specific to your church’s ESC event, upon request.
– Screen the campaign video and share about TGM ESC over the pulpit.
– Spread the word and encourage church members to do likewise.
Should you wish to learn more or to receive the relevant materials, please feel free to reach out to the team at tgm@mws.sg or visit www.thegivingmethodist.sg. As a Methodist family, let us come together to tangibly bless the isolated, disadvantaged and distressed this Lent. I encourage you to do your part as we love and serve the community through Eat Share Connect.
May God’s Love strengthen you as we together seek to
Love God by Loving our Neighbours
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong
The Methodist Church in Singapore
