PLMC Stories
Building a Legacy of Faith in Families
The D6 Family Ministry Conference is an annual event focusing on generational discipleship in churches and homes. It aims to equip families and churches to pass on a spiritual legacy to future generations.
Co-founded by Ron Hunter Jr. and Randall House Publications, the conference is based on the principles of Deuteronomy 6. The Singapore edition of this international conference has been organised by The Bible Society of Singapore since 2016.
PLMC hosted this year’s conference, which was held on 26 and 27 July. We witnessed a significant increase in participation from PLMC, with 60 participants and volunteers compared to just 10 in previous years. It is also heartening to see more young parents participating. This is due in no small part to the active collaboration between Family Life Ministry and Children’s Ministry in the organising and publicity of this event.
The conference featured keynote speaker Dr. Scott Turansky, with workshops conducted by Carol Loi, BP Kuan Kim Seng, Tim and Patsy Tan, and Derek Altom. The panel sessions included Daniel Lim, Dr. Calvin Chong, and Janice Teo.
The plenary sessions by Dr Turansky focused on the mandate to reach families for Christ as well as a heart-based approach that can change our perspective. Workshop topics ranged from equipping children to self-regulate emotions and raising leaders through obedience and correction, to grandparenting digital kids and parenting the parents of children and teens. Two worshops were dedicated to unleashing the power of marriage and the married team. A panel of expert speakers also discussed what is at stake for our children in postmodern culture and progressive Christianity.
“D6 conference opened my eyes to being very intentional in raising my children. From navigating the world of truths and almost truths to understanding the bent of my children. There is so much more to learn!”
“We are in a season of seeking God's will for our family. Together with other participants – grandparents, parents and spiritual parents – we learnt that parenting is "heart" work, as it often involves the deconstruction of our desires, emotions and beliefs.”
PLMC member Marcus Ang, who is married with two young daugthers, said, “D6 conference opened my eyes to being very intentional in raising my children. From navigating the world of truths and almost truths to understanding the bent of my children. There is so much more to learn!”
He added, “Moving forward, I would like my communication with them to be driven by being ‘understood’ rather than by being ‘heard’ and hope they pick up the same. I would also be actively seeking to understand their bent and nurture them in their God given gifts.”
Another PLMC worshipper Lin Xin, volunteered as an usher with her husband Troy, They have a young daughter and another child on the way. She shared, “We are in a season of seeking God’s will for our family. Together with other participants – grandparents, parents and spiritual parents – we learnt that parenting is “heart” work, as it often involves the deconstruction of our desires, emotions and beliefs.”
She added, “If marriage was about a lifetime of growing closer with God at the apex of the relationship, parenting pushes us to see God all around, to allow His presence to fill our homes, our conversations and activities. One practical insight shared by the keynote speaker Dr Scott Turansky was on building lasting relationships with our children. He posits that parents have a sacred responsibility of forming healthy relationships with our children, which then becomes an open door for us to instruct and guide them lovingly through scriptural truths.
“Indeed, D6 has inspired us to raise a generation that fights on their knees, who will worship God with their whole hearts and turn others to Christ!”
The next D6 Family Ministry Conference is scheduled for 25-26 July 2025. The keynote speaker is Dr Timothy Paul Jones, Professor of Christian Family Ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. For more information and early bird registration, please visit d6family.sg
Photo credit: Bible Society of Singapore
顺服上帝的医治 – 王荣弟弟兄见证
前年到去年我不断感觉头晕，看了好几个有关的专科，却一直找不出原因。去年年中，我在洗澡时，我感觉上帝叫我去检查我的眼睛。我当时心里觉得很奇怪，每年我都会去检查我的眼睛，为什么上帝又叫我去检查呢？但我选择顺服神，于是安排去做检查。
医生检查后说我有青光眼，也有一些白内障的症状。其实轻微的白内障不需要动手术，但因着青光眼的缘故，我必须尽快动手术来减轻眼睛的压力。虽然我信主很多年了，可当我要做手术时，我仍感到担心。但我相信上帝的应许，于是，请教会的弟兄姐妹为我祷告后，我就去动了手术。感谢主！去年9月和10月，两次手术都非常顺利地完成，我也不需要戴眼镜了。不过，我心里还是带着遗憾，因为医生说青光眼不能被治愈。只会隨着年龄的增长而恶化，眼睛最终会失明。这听起来好可怕！
今年7月11日，当我去复诊时，医生说我的眼睛康复得很好，青光眼也没了。我感到很吃惊。医生解释说，因为我及时发现并尽快动了手术，所以现在没有青光眼了。哈利路亚，感谢赞美主！
我回想起之前发生的一切，深切体会到上帝真的很奇妙。祂是真神！祂是活着的！祂对我说话，叫我去检查我的眼睛，并藉此使我的眼睛得到完全的医治！申命记3:16说：“你们要坚强勇敢；不要害怕，也不要因他们畏惧，因为耶和华你的 神与你同去；他决不撇下你，也不离弃你。”我深知道我背后的靠山是上帝，所以每当我作决定的时候，我选择倚靠祂。上帝也用诗篇46:1向我肯定祂给我的应许：“ 神是我们的避难所，是我们的力量， 是我们在患难中随时都可得到的帮助。”
我把一切的荣耀归于我们在天上的主！
Setting the Fires of Revival Aflame By Joseph Mok, Chris Cardano, Calvin Ng, and Rianna Cardano
After a five-year hiatus, Paya Lebar Methodist Church Camp was back. A total of 824 members gathered for the camp, which was held from 9-12 June 2024 at Hatten Hotel Malacca, Malaysia. Some 78% attended the English track, while the Mandarin track and Children’s Program each saw 11% of attendees. Most of the camp participants (65%) were working adults.
With the theme “Fires of Revival, Lord Do it Again!”, Pastor Philip Lyn, Pastor Eunice Choo and David & Cynthia Leong shared Spirit-filled and heart-transforming messages during the respective English and Mandarin sessions as well as the Children’s Program. Many were blessed by their messages and teaching.
It was a time set aside by the church family for the Holy Spirit to fan the flame in our hearts. The congregation lifted songs of praise from the beginning until the end of camp. Many campers came with hearts of surrender and witnessed the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. We thank God for many responsive hearts during altar calls and testimonies of miracle healings. Such was the hunger for the Lord that even the Sunrise Worship & Prayer attracted more than 100 campers, a turn-out that had not been seen since the bi-annual Ohana Camp started in 2009. To God be the glory!
This year’s camp also introduced new workshops such as Blessing Cast in Stones, Flagging, Prophetic Arts, In Rhythm In Scriptures (IRIS) and Missions talks, where we had the pride and joy in witnessing youths and young adults, our next generation, stepping up to lead. In each of the activities, God revealed prophecies and the works that PLMC would continue to do as a church. The attendees had a great time learning about spiritual gifts and the Giver.
One of the highlights of camp was Gala Night on Day 3, where we gathered in our athletic costumes for the theme: OLYMPICS. It was an amazing dinner program led by our energetic youths with games, videos and performances. Of course, there were also awards for the ‘Best Dressed’ of the night and other notable campers!
From games to great food, we had a jubilant time as one family, watching different generations showcase their talents and gifts. It has been the heart cry of the Camp Committee to mentor and raise up the next generation of leaders in PLMC to take the church to greater heights and glory in the expansion of God’s kingdom here on earth, and the Lord heard our prayers!
As the camp drew to a close, we took part in the Holy Communion, and honoured the Hatten Hotel staff and volunteers. Finally, we recognised our lovely and hard-working Committee Members who helped put this camp together. Fun fact: Did you know that the camp committee spent over 21 months planning every detail of the camp? We give thanks to the Lord for their hard and heart work!
We thank the Lord for a blessed and safe time before, during and after camp. We’re excited to see how God is continually on the move, bringing revival upon PLMC again and again. Indeed, Lord, Do It Again in Jesus’ Name!
“Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” – Psalm 85:6
A Time to Commune with God By Chua Chor Ling, Samuel Lim & ZH Cai
Three participants share how they sought and met with God at the recent Tending the Soul silent retreat (29 May – 1 June).
Chua Chor Ling
The retreat was a much-needed respite and the first time in many years that I was able to have time alone for days at a stretch with the Lord. Before the retreat, my mind was constantly preoccupied with the endless lists of things to do both at home and at work leaving me fatigued, both physically and spiritually. I was looking forward to a much-needed rest, spending time alone with the Lord and seeking His direction for whatever is ahead.
My first night was far from restful. The Lord brought to mind burdens I had been carrying, including things that I had put aside and tried to forget. I spent the night sobbing as tears flowed uncontrollably. It was a very difficult night and totally unexpected. I was looking for rest but ended up feeling even more tired!
The next day, during the one-to-one session with the facilitator, I realised I needed to release my burdens before I could receive from God. As I read 1 Kings 19 later, I was reminded of how when I was seeking God’s voice in my busy days, I felt distant and could not find Him. Just like how God’s voice was not in the great and powerful winds, earthquakes and fires in my busy life, I needed to find a quiet place and be still to hear God’s “gentle whisper”.
I enjoyed walking the meditation labyrinth at the retreat center, where God told me many times to trust in Him even when my path seemed to lead me away from my goal. All I needed to do was to take one step at a time, stay focused on the path He has for me and surely, He will lead me to my destination.
He also showed me a cracked section in the path, where a tiny plant was growing out. “You only see the cracks, but I see opportunity for new life,” the Lord said to me. I was taken aback by how true it was! I had been so preoccupied with doing things right and often beating myself up over my inadequacies. Yet God showed me how the “cracks” in me actually allowed opportunities for me to grow and bear fruit. God is so good indeed in His unfathomable ways!
God continued to speak to me through many wondrous and amazing moments during the retreat—that I could always depend on Him, to remember to slow down in my daily life, and to just praise Him whenever I get impatient.
By the end of the retreat, I felt very well rested spiritually and mentally. God led me to mold a little camera as a reminder of my retreat experience. Just like a camera taking photos, each moment captured is unique and will never be exactly the same again when the moment has passed. In order to capture the God-moments , I need to have my lens focused on Him, to be receptive and ready with my finger on the shutter for the moments that God wants to show me, to be well rested and recharged like the camera battery, and to have my memory card emptied just as He lifted and emptied my burdens, so that I can fill it (myself) up with all the wonderful new moments that He is going to show me.
Thank you, God, for a most wonderful experience. You have showed me so much love and taught me even more! This retreat far surpassed my expectations. God really knew what I wanted and needed even without my asking. I am also thankful to my cluster, cell and workplace fellowship for keeping me in prayers. I look forward to the many more moments that God will continue to show me in the future!
Samuel Lim
I was in a period of transition between jobs, and came with the intention to hear and seek God’s direction with regard to my career and a particular request in my personal life.
The time of silence was unfamiliar and uncomfortable at the start. All I could hear were my own thoughts playing inside my head. However, this made me more conscious that I had come to the retreat with much restlessness and anxiety on the inside, even though I was physically rested. That evening, while walking the grounds of the retreat centre, I conversed with God and could not help but lay down these areas causing anxiety before God in prayer. As i was gazing into the night sky after praying, i felt an inner impression : “Have faith and trust God”. I instantly knew that this was God’s voice speaking to me for my situation.
I felt more “settled” into the time of silence the next day and there was a certain clarity in my mind, as the thoughts from the night before were no longer re-playing in my head. I learnt that we often need to go through a process of “de-cluttering” or “emptying” before we can fully receive God’s love and what He has for us. While taking a walk in the garden that morning, an impression came into my mind that my restlessness was caused by worry about certain events in the future that were outside my control. This must have been the Holy Spirit revealing this to me, and I immediately surrendered these events to God in prayer and felt a sense of relief.
As the retreat drew to a close, I realised that I had learnt to hear and recognise God’s voice speaking to me, which I could have overlooked in the busyness of life. I also cultivated a posture of prayer by learning to bring my requests before God regularly. I came back from the retreat comforted and my relationship with God strengthened during these four days.
ZH Cai
This retreat experience was the second time that I had attended a 4D3N silent retreat. I was very much looking forward to this time away from the busyness of life, into the quiet and tranquility that I have not been able to experience elsewhere.
Coming to this retreat, I had some concerns that I had wanted to bring before the Lord and wanted to seek Him for a sense of direction and clarity. This was particularly in the area of my career trajectory and whether I should pivot out into something quite different altogether. Having had an experience during last year’s retreat, where I had sought the Lord for similar things and received a word to simply trust Him, I had a sense that God would give me a similar response.
Yet, God in his sovereign wisdom chose to respond quite differently and far more explicitly this time. Through the time of meditation and reflection upon both His Word and the book, Every Good Endeavour by Timothy Keller, I ended up leaving the retreat with a far clearer and sharper sense of what God had purposed for the next season of my life. I also left feeling a deeper sense of peace and with a renewed perspective of the meaning of work.
All this was only possible because of the calming and quiet environment that was offered at the retreat centre. It truly is a place that offers a very unique opportunity for us to be still and quiet before the Lord – for our souls to more easily find the rest it so desperately craves in the midst of a constantly noisy and overstimulated world. I was certainly thankful for this opportunity and have every intention to retreat annually and intentionally care for my soul and spirit man.
Chang Qing Outreach
– Lung Talk
长青外展 – “帅医生讲肺话”
PLMC’s Livingstones Mandarin Service often hosts outreach events through its various ministries to share the Gospel and spread God’s love to pre-believers. On the morning of 29 June 2024, in partnership with other ministries, 长青 Senior Fellowship held an outreach event, “帅医生讲肺话”, which included a talk on lung health.
Praise The Lord! Some 125 people attended this event, of whom a quarter were invited guests. We kicked off by welcoming newcomers, followed by a warm-up exercise which was accompanied by an upbeat tune. Radiance and laughter filled the room as the congregation moved to the rhythm of the music. It was fun indeed!
Then came the sing-along of worship songs to adore and praise our Lord. Thereafter, the guest speaker, a pulmonologist, gave an informative talk on the respiratory system. This was so well received that after his talk, there was a lively Q&A session with a flurry of queries from the audience. There was also a quiz with attractive prizes.
The most important segment of the event came, when Mandarin Service Director Judith Ng shared the Word centred on Ps 139. She also explained how one could secure salvation through Jesus Christ.
By the grace of God, her sermon touched the hearts of many and five persons accepted Christ! Praise the Lord! There could also others who could had quietly offered their hearts to God. It is our fervent prayer that these new believers will grow in Christ in the coming days.
Of course, the whole program could not end without exclusive door gifts and a sumptuous lunch, where members and guests enjoyed a time of meaningful and joyous fellowship. Indeed, all attendees were abundantly blessed and touched by the Holy Spirit that day.
To God Be The Glory!
长青外展
2024年6月29日上午，在与其他事工的合作下，长青举办了一场主题为“帅医生讲肺话”的外展活动。共有超过125人参加了此次活动，其中四分之一是受邀的嘉宾。
活动一开始，我们欢迎了新朋友，然后进行了一场伴随着欢快音乐的热身运动，大家都玩的很开心。接着，我们一起唱了敬拜歌曲，敬拜我们的主。随后，特邀嘉宾，一位肺专科医生，进行了关于呼吸系统的精彩讲座。讲座受到了大家的热烈欢迎。讲座结束后，观众们纷纷提出问题，医生一一解答。活动中还进行了有奖问答，参与者赢得了丰厚的奖品。
最重要的环节是雅春传道的分享，她以诗篇139篇为中心讲解了的神的话语，并解释了如何通过耶稣基督获得救赎。在神的恩典下，她的讲道触动了许多人的心灵，有五个人公开接受了耶稣。我们确信还有一些人默默地将心献给了神。我们热切祈祷这些新信徒随着时间的推移会在基督里成长。
当然，整个活动的最后少不了丰盛的午餐与精美的礼品。在午餐时间，成员和嘉宾们愉快地交谈，享受着有意义的交流。随着活动的结束，我们确信所有参与者都得到了圣灵的丰盛祝福和触动。
荣耀归于神!
God’s Word through Prophetic Stone Painting by Abigail Teo
My encounter with God through prophetic stone painting began during my Crossover in Secondary 3 leading the Primary 6 to the Youth Ministry. This was in 2019 when prophetic painting seemed only like fun and games to us teens. We would pray and ask God what was on His heart but turn to apps like Pinterest for ideas to reference and copy.
During the Crossover, we laid the completed painted stones along our makeshift Jordan River and one by one we would pick a stone in faith that resonated with us. I picked a stone with a painted rainbow with the words “The rainbow represents my never-ending promise” written on it. I knew this verse Genesis 9:16 where God said He would remember His covenant between Him and all living creatures of every kind, a covenant promising His everlasting and living presence in us.
Then 15 years old, I was unable to grasp the depth and breadth of the meaning of the verse. I wondered… what covenant? What promise did He give me? Little did I know that He promised to journey with me through my valleys and assured that He would never forsake nor leave me at all times.
In my growing years, I struggled with fear, rejection, abandonment, loneliness and failure in many aspects of my life. The turning point came with the Holy Spirit’s manifestation when I saw that dusty painted stone rainbow parked in a corner of my room five years later. Somehow it captured my attention that afternoon. I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed as I was rostered in the band to play drums that weekend.
God has gifted me a passion for music and I yearned to serve and worship Him. My fear is that I’m not good enough! Yet.., over the years, I’ve been given opportunities to serve and play drums in many ministries such as Silver Boxes, Youth and Filipino Services before advancing to the band at the main service.
I do feel inadequate in my drum skills and had started off poorly – once, the video camera had even captured me carelessly dropping my drumsticks while playing, much to my horror and embarrassment! I am thankful for some great leaders/mentors in our church family like Uncle Alex, Uncle Tach and Uncle Jamin who built me up with so much TLC, encouraging and comforting me, giving me constructive feedback to better myself. The church family has given me a safe place to be nurtured and refined so that I can draw close to God.
And I am thankful for the inscribed stone painting of God’s promise of His presence in life’s challenges. I have gained much confidence in my drum playing now. Working in partnership with the Holy Spirit has made me realized that it is not through my effort alone, but that every good and perfect gift truly comes from heaven above.
Prophetic stone painting is now not just about a simple art activity to me but also a powerful tool to edify and encourage. It reminded me of a truth that I did not see immediately but experienced many times over since.
