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Dr Ang Yiau Hua (1940 - 2022)
Dr Ang Yiau Hua was born in Singapore on 10 July 1940. His birth brought much joy to his parents, Mr Ang Thian Seng and Ms Sia Siew Khim, who had fled China due to unrest and turmoil. His parents were devout Taoists and practiced ancestral worship at the time, and struggled to start life anew with the little that they had in a foreign land - Singapore.
The Gospel came to the Ang household through a kindly matron named Ms Lim Cheng Kiok, who planted the seeds of salvation in the hearts of Dr Ang’s grandmother and mother in the 1950s. Dr Ang's mother was a sickly woman and on one occasion when she needed surgery, out of desperation, the family heeded Ms Lim’s advice to trust in God instead of obtaining a talisman from the Chinese temple. God allowed Dr Ang's mother to experience a successful surgery. Consequently, his grandmother brought all the grandchildren to Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. Dr Ang's family members eventually accepted Christ and the whole household was baptised in 1953. Dr Ang’s faith steadily matured under the guidance of his pastors, leaders, and teachers at church.
In 1957, at the tender age of 17, Dr Ang stepped up to the role of Sunday School teacher. Soon after, he was actively serving in many other capacities. A year later, Dr Ang and Mr Chua Tock Swee, another young Sunday School teacher, were entrusted to reach out to the children in the squatter settlement in Bukit Ho Swee. Both young men enthusiastically taught the children Sunday School songs and Bible stories. This continued every Sunday after church service for three years, until a devastating fire razed the entire village in 1961. The families who lived there were relocated, and even though this ministry ended abruptly, the seeds of the Gospel were sown.
God continued to prepare Dr Ang for a life of service in unique ways. In 1961, Dr Ang was enrolled into Medical School in a miraculous manner. Till then, he had mostly been educated in Chinese-medium schools, and though he had excelled in many subjects, English was a challenge for him. As such, studying Medicine was most unlikely. However, in an unexpected turn of events, in 1960, the Ministry of Education invited students who previously enrolled in Chinese-medium schools to attend a preparatory “crash course” to be eligible for consideration for admission to Science or Medical School at the University of Singapore. In 1961, Dr Ang duly applied and was accepted into Medical School by this pathway, which was discontinued just a year later! In addition, he was selected to be a State Scholar. Clearly, all this came to pass by God’s amazing providence.
Medical School was challenging for Dr Ang as he had to work doubly hard to master medical concepts and technical terms in English. By the time he graduated in 1968, he was effectively bilingual, which was rare in 1960s and 70s. It was not obvious back then why he had to undergo these particular trials over the English language. Yet on hindsight, it is abundantly clear that God had been gradually preparing him for ministry in preaching and translation, and for outreach to the community.
Dr Ang eventually began practising medicine as a General Practitioner at Whampoa Clinic in the Balestier/Whampoa area, a largely Chinese-speaking precinct. He connected well with his patients, both the young and the old, the poor and the needy. Dr Ang was also active in community outreach as a doctor. He volunteered as a doctor for St John’s Ambulance Brigade. He collaborated with Singapore General Hospital to provide free Pap tests to women in various parts of Singapore. From the 1970s to 2000s, he was also actively involved as a volunteer doctor for Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens and looked after the patients in the home during the difficult SARS period in 2003.
While Dr Ang served in the marketplace, God also placed upon his heart a burden for the unsaved. Therefore, in the 1973, he joined Gideons International, a ministry best known for freely distributing Bibles around the world. Dr Ang intentionally placed Gideon Bibles in his clinic, and it brought him immense joy each time a patient came to saving knowledge of Christ through these Bibles. Leading and serving in Gideons, he distributed Bibles to hotels, medical facilities and clinics, schools, and prisons, and shared about their ministry in many churches. Altogether, he served in Gideons International for almost 50 years, variously undertaking the positions of camp president and vice-president.
Alongside his contributions as a medical doctor, Dr Ang served tirelessly as a church leader, preacher, and translator. In Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, he served as a steward in the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) from 1981, and thereafter assumed the role of LCEC Chairperson for 27 years, from 1991 to 2018. During this time, along with long-serving Pastor-in-Charge Rev See Ping Eik, he oversaw the expansion of the church and the construction of the 2nd church building (“TA2”) in Telok Blangah in 2004. Concurrently, Dr Ang served as an Elder in the brethren church Yio Chu Kang Gospel Hall for 32 years, from 1987 to 2019. In both churches, Dr Ang used his God-given gifts of preaching and translation on countless occasions and across multiple events and platforms. God supplied Dr Ang with remarkable energy and zeal to sustain his leadership and ministry across two churches over many years.
God blessed Dr Ang with a loving family. In 1969, he married Ms Margaret Yap Woon Jew. Their 52 years together were beautiful years of journeying with the Lord through the good and difficult times. God blessed them with three children, Dr Ang Pei-Hui Rebecca, Dr Ang Pei-Ming Samuel, and Rev Ang Pei-Zheng Timothy, and five grandchildren. All are walking in the fear of the Lord and seeking to live out the family’s motto that Dr Ang always espoused: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
Dr Ang was called home to glory in the early hours of 1 January 2022. The arc of his life bears abundant testimony to God’s grace and faithfulness. All praise and glory to God!
Dr Ang’s second son, Rev Timothy Ang, writes the following in fond memory of his father:
My father had a formative influence over my whole life, especially in my journey into full-time pastoral ministry. Some of my earliest childhood memories involve seeing him at his desk poring over his Chinese Bible and preparing sermons; leaving home for his Gideons fellowship meetings at the crack of dawn, without fail, every Saturday morning; and shuttling between two churches every single Sunday, sometimes even preaching on both sides.
He set a powerful example of consistent commitment and faithfulness unto the Lord. I marvel at how he found the strength to serve in so many capacities over so many years, on top of the intense work demands of medical practice. It was his example that spurred me to start serving in church. Moreover, whenever I got tired or busy and thought about stepping back from ministry, it would occur to me that he still managed to serve despite being even busier, and that would motivate me to press on. Most crucially, my father’s godly dedication testified to how real and important God is, and how much God deserves our total commitment. This was critical in setting me on the path towards full-time ministry.
My father’s multi-lingual ministry also shaped my own ministry. In a single day, I might hear him speak to me in English, address others in Hokkien and other dialects, and preach or translate in Mandarin. He made ministering in multiple languages look natural and beneficial. Furthermore, it was because he served mainly in Chinese that I was raised in the Mandarin congregation of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. This was initially a struggle for me, as we spoke mainly English at home, but it turned out to be a great blessing. God gradually opened my eyes to His good purpose in equipping me to serve in Chinese. This strengthened my conviction to root myself and my family in a Chinese church environment and eventually to pastor under the Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore. Till today, multi-lingual ministry, especially involving Chinese, is integral to my calling. This is part of my father’s legacy.
I praise and thank God for the godly impact my father had on me. I am heartened that he lived long enough to witness the coming to pass of what he and my mother had long prayed for—that I answer the call to full-time ministry. I seek to honour his legacy by serving faithfully all my life, to the glory of God.
Dr Ang Yiau Hua, leftmost standing, presiding the TA2 topping up ceremony together with the then Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Bishop Robert Solomon, on 4 July 2004.
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洪耀华医生 (1940 - 2022)
洪耀华医生于1940年7月10日出生在新加坡。他的出生给他的父母洪天生先生和谢秀琴女士带来了很多欢乐，他们由于国内动荡不安而逃离中国。他的父母当时是虔诚的道教徒，并且继续在新加坡这片异国他乡以极少的资源重新开始生活。
福音通过一位名叫林清菊的亲切妇人传到了洪家。林清菊女士在1950年代将救恩的种子播撒在洪医生的祖母和母亲心中。洪医生的母亲身体虚弱，有一次需要手术，在绝望之际，家人听从了林清菊女士的建议，选择信靠上帝，而不是去寻求寺庙里的护符。上帝让洪医生的母亲成功地度过了手术。因此，他的祖母带领所有的孙辈去了直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂。洪医生的家人最终接受了基督，全家在1953年受洗。在教会的牧师、领袖和教师的指导下，洪医生的信仰逐渐成熟。
1957年，年仅17岁的洪医生开始担任主日学教师的角色。不久后，他积极地在许多其他职位上服事。一年后，洪医生和另一位年轻的主日学教师蔡督瑞先生受安排到河水山的亚答屋区去接触那里的孩子们。两位年轻人热情地教导孩子们主日学的歌曲和圣经故事。这项事工就在每主日礼拜堂崇拜结束后进行，如此持续了三年，一直到1961年一场灾难性的大火烧毁了整个村庄。居住在那里的家庭被迁移，尽管这项事工突然结束，但福音的种子已经撒下。
上帝以独特的方式继续准备洪医生过一种奉献的生活。1961年，洪医生以奇迹般的方式被录取进医学院。在那之前，他大部分时间都在华校接受教育，虽然他在许多科目上表现出色，但英语对他来说是个挑战。因此，学习医学是极不可能的事情。然而，在1960年，教育部邀请之前就读于华校的学生参加一门预备“速成课程”，以符合新加坡大学科学或医学院的录取资格。在1961年，洪医生申请并通过了这个途径被医学院录取，而这个途径在仅一年后就被取消了！此外，他还被选为国家奖学金获得者。显然，所有这一切都是上帝奇妙的恩典所成就的。
对洪医生来说，医学院是具有挑战性的，因为他不得不加倍努力掌握英文的医学概念和专业术语。到1968年毕业时，他已经成为能够熟练使用两种语言的人，而这在20世纪60年代和70年代是罕见的。当时很难理解为何他必须面对这些与英语相关的挑战。然而回过头来看，显而易见的是，上帝一直在逐渐准备他在证道和翻译方面的事工，以及对社区的外展。
洪医生最终在马里士他/黄埔区的黄宝药房行医作为家庭医生，在这个主要为华人的地区，他与年轻人、老人、贫困者和有需要的人建立了良好的联系。洪医生也积极参与社区服务工作。他担任圣约翰救伤队的志愿医生。他与新加坡中央医院合作，为新加坡各地的妇女提供免费宫颈抹片检查。从1970年代到2000年代，他还积极担任灵光养老院的志愿医生，并在2003年的SARS艰难时期照顾该院的患者。
洪医生在职场上服务的同时，上帝也让他心怀对未得之灵的关注。因此，他于1973年加入了全球闻名的基甸会国际组织，这个组织以免费分发圣经而闻名。洪医生刻意将基甸会的圣经放在他的诊所里，每当一个病人通过这些圣经认识基督，他都感到无比的喜悦。他在基甸会组织中领导和服务，向酒店、医疗机构和诊所、学校和监狱分发圣经，并在许多教堂中分享他们的事工。他在基甸国际组织中服务了将近50年，并先后担任营地主席和副主席等职务。
除了行医的贡献外，洪医生还孜孜不倦地担任教会领袖、参与证道和翻译事工。在直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂，他从1981年开始在执事会（LCEC）中担任执事，并在1991年至2018年期间担任执事会主席27年。在此期间，他与长期任职的主理牧师施谦益牧师一起，监督了直落亚逸礼拜堂的扩建和2004年在直落布兰雅的直落亚逸第二圣殿（TA2）的建筑工程。同时，洪医生在杨厝港福音堂弟兄会担任长老长达32年，从1987年到2019年。在两个教会中，洪医生在无数场合和多个活动和平台上运用他上帝所赐予的讲道和翻译的才能。上帝赋予洪医生非凡的能量和热情，以支持他多年来在两所教会中的领导和事工。
上帝赐福洪医生一个充满爱的家庭。1969年，他与叶温柔女士结婚。他们共度了52年美好的时光，在顺境与逆境中与主同行。上帝赐福他们三个孩子，洪培慧、洪培铭和洪培正，以及五个孙子。他们全家都敬畏主，并努力实践洪医生一生倡导的家庭座右铭：“至于我和我家，我们必定事奉耶和华。”（约书亚记24:15）
洪医生在2022年1月1日清晨蒙主恩召。他的一生见证了上帝的恩典和信实。愿荣耀和赞美归于上帝！
洪医生的第二公子，洪培正牧师，思念他所敬爱的爸爸时，写下感言：
我的父亲对我的一生产生了深远的影响，尤其是在我从事全职牧师事工的旅程中。我最早的童年记忆包括看到他坐在办公桌前研读中文圣经并准备讲道；每周六早上，黎明时分，离开家去参加基甸团契聚会。每个周日穿梭于两个教堂之间，有时甚至在两边讲道。
他树立了对主始终如一的委身和忠诚的有力榜样。我惊叹于他如何在这么多年的时间里找到力量，在行医的紧张工作需求之外，还担任如此多的职务。正是他的榜样激励我开始在教会服事。而且，每当我累了或忙了，想要退出事奉时，我就会想到，尽管爸爸更忙，但他仍然设法服事，这会激励我继续前进。最重要的是，我父亲的敬虔奉献证明了上帝是多么真实和重要，以及上帝多么值得我们全力投入。这对于我走上全职事奉的道路至关重要。
我父亲的多语言事工也塑造了我自己的事工。在一天之内，我可能会听到他用英语对我说话，用闽南语和其他方言对别人说话，用华话证道或翻译。他使用多种语言进行的事工看起来自然而有效。此外，因为他主要以华文服事，所以我是在直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的华语会众中长大的。最初这对我来说是一个挑战，因为我们在家里主要说英语，但事实证明这是一个很大的祝福。神逐渐开启我的眼睛，让我看到他装备我用中文服事的美好目的。这更加坚定了我和我的家人扎根于华人教会的环境，并最终在新加坡卫理公会华人年议会里牧会。直到今天，多语言事工，尤其是中文事工，仍然是我使命的重要层面。这是我父亲遗产的一部分。
我赞美并感谢上帝，因为我父亲所带给我的敬虔影响。令我欣慰的是，他有足够的年岁，在有生之年见证了他和我母亲长期以来祈祷的实现——我回应了全职事工的呼召。我力求通过一生忠诚地服务来尊荣他的遗产，并将荣耀全归于上帝。
洪耀华医生，最左站立，于2004年7月4日，与当年的新加坡卫理公会会督苏诺铭会督，共同主持TA2盖顶仪式。
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Dr Gwee Ah Leng (1920 - 2006)
Dr Gwee Ah Leng was born in Singapore on 15 July 1920. His father, Mr Gwee Puan Tee, from Longxi, Fujian Province, worked for a Chinese rice merchant, and his mother was Mdm Kang Boon Lee. When Dr Gwee was one year old, his mother took him back to his hometown. He returned to Singapore with his father when he was six years old only to go back to the hometown again 3 years later. When the civil war broke out 2 years later, he was back in Singapore again.
During Dr Gwee’s period of study, he went through quite a turbulent process. He attended primary and secondary schools in Zhangzhou, Fujian, and enrolled into Chinese High School after arriving in Singapore. However, the 1930s’ student riot at Chinese High School saw a forced closure by the colonial government back then. According to Dr Gwee's school report card back in 1934, he was transferred from a Chinese stream school to an English stream school, namely, Outram School. Due to his lack of English proficiency, he started from Primary 5 in the primary school. He soon caught up and after two semesters at Outram Primary School, he passed the entrance examination in 1934 to join Raffles Institution. He also obtained excellent grades at the Cambridge examinations and won a scholarship to enter the King Edward VII Medical School (the predecessor of the University of Singapore). After studying for over three years, WWII broke out. He was forced to suspend school and work on an offshore island (now Sentosa) as a laboratory assistant. After the war, he returned to medical school for three years. After graduating, he began to work as a doctor at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). After working for three years, he won a scholarship and went to UK to study neurology and psychiatry.
Dr Gwee’s parents were not Christians in their early years. In 1935, neighbours invited them to attend nightly sermons by Dr John Sung at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. At that time, only Dr Gwee's mother went, and she was so deeply moved after listening to Dr Sung’s sermon, that she asked her son, Dr Gwee, to attend the talks with her. Soon, mother and son decided to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. In his memoirs, Dr Gwee said he was deeply inspired by Dr Sung’s sermons. He often shared about Dr Sung’s energetic preaching and his far-reaching influence on the audience. Dr Gwee also mentioned how Dr Sung had applied some captivating and eye-catching props, such as coffins to engage his audience.
After Dr Gwee and his mother decided to believe in the Lord, they began to attend the new believers’ class at Telok Ayer Church. Finally, in 1936, his mother was baptized by the Rev Hong Han Kheng. After his mother accepted Christ, she became enthusiastic about preaching the gospel. She joined the church's preaching bands, knocking on doors to preach the gospel. A few years later, Dr Gwee was also baptized in 1944 and became a member of Telok Ayer Church. Dr Gwee's father, Mr. Gwee Puan Tee, was apparently also influenced by both his wife and his own son Dr Gwee. The senior Gwee was finally baptized in 1945 and joined the church.
Dr Gwee married Ms Ivy Chew Wan Heong, also a doctor, in 1952. They have two daughters, Gwee Jin Eng and Gwee Jin Hwa.
After Dr Gwee joined Telok Ayer Church, he was a quiet worshipper on Sundays. However, he had become a leader in the medical field. Everyone knew that he was capable, could write and speak well, and mentored and groomed juniors into leaders. After returning from further studies in the UK, he continued to serve in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and actively promoted research there. He became the inaugural Head of Medical Unit 3 in SGH, where he remained until his retirement. Dr Gwee was also the Chairman of the National Council of YMCA of Singapore from 1970 to 1991. In the early days of Nanyang University, Dr Gwee was appointed Chairman of the review committee. Dr Gwee served as the chairman of the judging panel for the inter-school debate on TV. In all, Dr Gwee was highly regarded by civil society. In the 1980s, he was invited many times to be a visiting clinical professor in Beijing, China. Dr Gwee shared his valuable knowledge and decades of clinical experience with the Chinese medical community. This tireless love and generous giving were admirable.
Despite his busy schedule, Dr Gwee accepted the invitation of the church to join the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) of Telok Ayer Church in 1980 and was elected Chairman of the LCEC in the Local Conference in 1981 the following year. Since the establishment of the Telok Ayer Church, the chairmanship of the LCEC had always been held by the pastor in charge of the church. Dr Gwee was thus the first lay member to hold the position of LCEC chairmanship of the church. Dr Gwee proved to be extremely brilliant, efficient, and capable. Immediately after assuming office, the following committees were set up in the LCEC: Standing Committee, Trust Committee, Trusteeship and Economic Committee, Worship and Music Committee, Social Concerns Committee, Membership and Evangelism Committee, Christian Education Committee andworking groups to develop different ministries of the church. With the approval of all the LCEC members, he was appointed Chairman of the Standing Committee to pay attention to the operational policy of the church. When Dr Gwee presided over the LCEC meeting, for each proposal he tabled, he would list different suggestions and analyse the pros and cons of the proposal, so as to assist LCEC members to make wise judgment and decisions. Dr Gwee systematically handled meeting agendas, setting an excellent precedent for future LCEC meetings. Dr Gwee served as the chairman of the LCEC at Telok Ayer Church for ten yearsuntil 1991,when due to health reasons, he handed over the post to Dr Ang Yau Hua, the vice chairman of the LCEC who had served with him for many years. At the same time, he retired and was awarded an honorary stewardship of the church.
In addition to serving as the chairman of the LCEC, Dr Gwee also often served on the pulpit. He regularly preached at Senior Sunday School and the church Hokkien service. Telok Ayer Church used only Hokkien at all its services back then. Dr Gwee could speak fluent Hokkien. When Dr Gwee preached, he never read from any scripts. He only wrote down the main points of the sermon and related scriptures. The content and ideas he wanted to talk about were all in his mind, and he cogently related them all at one go, from the beginning to the end. He never interrupted his train of thought, let alone rambled on and on. Instead, Dr Gwee divided the main ideas systematically into individual points, and methodically built up the final conclusion through the points. This was attributed to his rich experience in public speaking in social and medical circles over the past many years.
In 1986, Dr Gwee started experiencing hand tremors. He suffered from Parkinson's disease, which affected his movements and voice volume. He needed to rely on medicine to maintain mobilityevery day. Despite this, during the first few years of his illness, he continued to serve as LCEC chairman and delivered sermons from the pulpit at a slow pace and with a weak voice. The very last time he preached on stage, he was so weak that he needed to sit down to continue speaking. Later, when he became seriously ill, his two daughters, Jin Eng and Jin Hwa took turns to take him to Telok Ayer Church to attend worship, with Mrs Gwee attending together in a wheelchair.
Dr Gwee returned to be with the Lord on 31 March 2006. During Dr Gwee’s lifetime, he stipulated in his will that part of his estate should be donated for public welfare purposes with the approval of the executors of the will. After Dr Gwee passed on, his two daughters discussed with their mother and decided to donate part of the estate to Telok Ayer Church. With the consent of then pastor in charge Rev See Ping Eik, this donation was set up as “Dr Gwee Ah Leng's Fund for the Needy”. This Fund is still in existence today and has helped many needy families among our congregants in the past.
References:
- Zheng Xiaoying, “Grace of a lifetime (interviewing Gwee Ah Leng)”,in “Stories of 17 senior members in their silver years”, edited by Rev Lee Chung Kau, (in Chinese) published by Trinity Theological College, 1998.
- 1934 Outram School Student’s Report Card for standard 5 student: Gwee Ah Leng.
- Baptism records from 1926 to 1950，Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church 25th Anniversary of the Church Building, 1950, pp. 146-163,
- Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, book of the minutes of LCEC meetings, 1979-1982.
- Oral memoirs on Dr Gwee given by the late Dr Ang Yiau Hua.
- Written notes provided by Gwee Jin Eng and Gwee Jin Hwa.
- Oral memoirs on Dr Gwee given by Prof. Tan Chew Lim
- Lee Chong Kao, “Dr Gwee Ah Leng” (in Chinese), Historical Personalities of the Chinese-Speaking Churches in Singapore, pp. 298-300, edited by Lee Chong Kao, Dao Geng Publishing House, First Edition, June 2023.
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魏雅聆医生 (1920 - 2006)
魏雅聆医于1920年7月15日出生于新加坡。父亲魏泮池先生为福建省龙溪人，曾在本地的一华侨米商的公司任职，母亲为江文理女士。魏医生一岁时，母亲带他回乡，六岁随父返新，三年后又随父回乡，两年后因国共内战回返新加坡。
魏医生求学时期，经历相当波折的过程，他从小在福建漳州上小学至中学，到新加坡后进入华侨中学。然而，三十年代，华侨中学闹学潮，以致遭当时的殖民地政府下令停办一个短时期。从1934年魏医生的学校成绩册显示，当时他从华校转入英校 - 欧南小学，由于英语程度不足，以致只能进入小学五年级。然而，魏医生迎头赶上，在欧南小学上了两个学期后，就通过了莱佛士中学的入学考试，同年就进入莱佛士中学。最终在剑桥考试中考取优异成绩，而获得奖学金进入爱德华七世医学院（新加坡大学前身）读了三年多，日本侵略战争暴发时被迫停学，于是在外岛（今圣淘沙岛）一所实验室当助手。战后，重回医学院补读三年。毕业后开始在中央医院当医生，工作三年后再获得奖学金，赴英国专研神经内科及精神病内科。
魏医生的双亲早年皆非基督徒。1935年，邻居邀请他们参加宋尚节博士在附近直落亚逸礼拜堂的布道会。当时只有魏医生的妈妈参加。魏夫人听宋博士的讲道后，深受感动，遂叫儿子魏医生同去。不久，母子俩决志接受耶稣基督。魏医生在回忆中，对宋尚节博士的布道有深刻的印象，他常与人分享宋博士充满活力的证道以及其对听众的影响力，魏医生也提起宋博士如何在布道中应用一些异常且引人注目的道具，如棺材。
魏医生与母亲决志信主后，开始参加直落亚逸礼拜堂的慕道班，母亲终于在1936年领受方汉京主理牧师的施洗。母亲信主后，热心于传福音，并参加教会的福音队伍，逐家敲门传福音。数年后，魏医生于1944年也受洗，成为直落亚逸礼拜堂的会友。魏医生的爸爸魏泮池先生显然也受其夫人江女士以及魏医生母子俩的影响，最终也于1945年受洗，归入教会。
魏医生于1952年与周婉香女士(医生)结婚，育有两女，魏人英与魏人华女士。
魏医生加入直落亚逸礼拜堂后，默默地参加本堂崇拜，然而，他是医学界翘楚，众人皆知，他能干、能写、能说，造就不少后来者。他从英国深造学成回来后，继续在中央医院服务，并积极推动我国对脑部专科的研究。他成为中央医院的内科第三部的开创主任，一直到他退休为止。魏医生也从1970年至1991年担任全国基督教青年会理事会 (National Council of YMCA of Singapore) 的主席。南洋大学建校初期，魏医生曾受委担任检讨委员会主席。魏医生也曾担任电视台校际华语辩论会评判团主席。因此魏医生当年深受民政重视。八十年代，他多次受邀到中国北京当客座临床教授，魏医生将他的宝贵学识和数十年的临床经验与中国医学界分享，这种不辞劬劳的爱心，令人钦佩。
魏医生在百忙中，于1980年接受本堂邀请加入直落亚逸礼拜堂执事会，隔年1981年的牧区会议中受选成为执事会主席。直落亚逸礼拜堂设堂以来，过去的执事会主席一职，向来都由本堂主理牧师担任。因此，魏医生是本堂第一任由执事而非牧者担任的执事会主席。魏医生办事精明有效率。上任后，随即在执事会里，设立下列委员会：常务委员会、信托委员会、受托与经济委员会、崇拜与音乐委员会、社会关怀委员会、会友与布道委员会、基督教教育委员会，发展本堂圣工的工作小组、发展分堂圣工的工作小组。他经全体执事通过，受委担任常务委员会的主席，关注本堂事务操作方针。魏医生主持执事会议时，当他呈上提案，会列出不同建议并分析各建议的利与弊，以协助执事们作有智慧的判断议决。魏医生系统性的处理会议议案，为以后的执事会开展先河。魏医生在直落亚逸礼拜堂担任执事会主席，共有十年，直到1991年，因健康缘故而交棒于与他一同服事多年的执事会副主席洪耀华医生。并且同时退休荣获本堂荣誉执事位份。
除了担任执事会主席以外，魏医生也常服事于讲台。他例常在高级主日学，以及厦语主日崇拜证道。当时，直落亚逸礼拜堂纯粹使用厦语，包括当时的主日学。魏医生能用流利的厦语证道。魏医生证道时，从不读稿，他只写下讲章要点，以及有关的经文。他所要讲的内容与思路，全在他脑海里，他就是如此一气呵成，从头讲到尾。他从未有思路中断，更不是东凑西扯，而是非常有层次地分解，按部就班达到最后的总结。这也有赖于他过去许多年来、在社会与医学界时常当众演讲的丰富经验。
到了1986年，魏医生开始有手颤现象，他患上了帕金森病症，以致影响他的行动与声量。他每日需靠药物来维持。虽然如此，在他病患的起初几年，他仍继续以缓慢的步伐以及微弱的声音，服事于执事会主席之职以及讲台信息的事奉。最后一次在台上证道时，他体力不足，以致需要坐下来继续讲完为止。后来，到他病情严重时，他两位女儿，人英与人华轮流接送他去直落亚逸礼拜堂参加崇拜，魏夫人则坐轮椅一起出席。
魏医生于2006年3月31日安息主怀。魏医生有生之年时，曾立遗嘱表示要将其遗产中一部分，按遗嘱执行者的认可，捐作公益用途。魏医生回天家后，两位女儿与母亲商量之后，决定将部分遗产奉献于直落亚逸礼拜堂, 并征得主理牧师施谦益牧师的同意，设立此奉献款项为“魏亚聆医生贫穷者补助金”(Dr Gwee Ah Leng’s Fund for the Needy)。此补助金如今仍旧存在，过去曾协助不少本堂会友当中的贫困家庭。
参考文献：
- 郑晓莹：“一生的恩典”(魏雅聆专访)，载于李宗高主编，《秋日胜春朝 – 集十七位乐龄人士的秋景》，新加坡，三一神学院，1998.
- 1934年欧南小学，五年级学生魏雅聆的成绩册。(1934 Outram School Student’s Report Card for standard 5 student: Gwee Ah Leng.)
- 1926年至1950年在本堂领受洗礼芳名录，146-163页，直落亚逸礼拜堂，25周年纪念特刊，1950.
- 1979年至1982年，直落亚逸礼拜堂执事会议及牧区会议记录簿。
- 已故洪耀华医生，口述资料.
- 魏人英女士与魏人华女士，笔述资料。
- 陈树霖教授，回忆资料。
- 李宗高：“魏雅聆医生”，李宗高主编：《新加坡华文教会历史人物》，298-300页，道耕出版社，2023年6月初版。
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Dr. Teng Ping Ming (1914 - 2006)
Dr. Teng Ping Ming was born in Taishan, Xiamen in 1914. He studied at Yinghua Primary School and Xunyuan Secondary School in Zhangzhou when he was young, and then went to Peiyuan Secondary School in Quanzhou to complete high school. After that, he won a scholarship to study medicine at Qilu University in Jinan. In 1937, following the July 7th Lugou Bridge Incident and the August 13th Songlu Battle, China launched an all-out war of resistance against Japan. All schools moved south or west, and Qilu University moved west, so Dr. Teng had to stop studying. At that time, Dr. Teng received a letter from his second brother urging him to come to Nanyang. Urgently, Dr. Teng left Xiamen by boat and arrived in Singapore.
Dr. Teng landed in Singapore and immediately lived in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church and slept on a makeshift bay in the upper corridor of the church. He was greeted by Rev Hong Han Kheng, the pastor in charge at that time, and he went on to spend two weeks living in the attic. Since then, Dr Teng forged a strong bond with the church, and began to actively participate in its choir ministry. The conductors at that time, Mr. Herbert P.C. Wu, and Mr. Liew Choe Hoon invited Dr. Teng to organize a children's choir, which he readily did.
Not long after Dr. Teng arrived in Singapore, he taught at Tao Nan Primary School. The next year, he was transferred to Chung Cheng High School as its first dormitory warden and concurrently as a teacher of mathematics, biology, and science. During his tenure, every Sunday, Dr. Teng worshipped at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church on time. At the same time, other churches also invited him to join their choirs and teach at Sunday school, but he declined all of them, because he remembered how Telok Ayer Church had been gracious to him, and so he stayed in the church to serve faithfully. He also preached during services and sang tenor as a soloist.
In 1938, when Dr John Sung conducted rallies in Singapore for the second time, he had also lived on the third floor of the Telok Ayer Church. Dr. Teng remembered that when he was 11 years old in 1926, Dr Sung went to Zhangzhou to preach, and there were two meetings every day which Dr. Teng participated and was able to answer Dr Sung's questions, and so when the two met in Singapore, it was like a warm and cordial meeting of old friends in a foreign land.
After the war ended, Dr. Teng went back to Qilu University to study medicine for four years. At that time, Qilu University had moved to Chengdu. After graduation, he served as a doctor of the provincial government, participated in the epidemic prevention brigade, and did survey, research, and translation work. Then he returned to Zhangzhou Union Medical College Hospital as the dean.
In 1946, arranged by his parents, Dr. Teng married Ms. Kuo Shu Hsien, who was then the director of the Pediatrics Department from another hospital. Shortly after marriage, in 1947, Dr. Teng was awarded a medical scholarship by the British Missionary Society, and the couple went to England where he studied tropical virology and public health for one year. Dr. Teng finished his studies and stayed in London to practice medicine for five years. His daughter was born in London. Ms. Kuo Shu Hsien also followed her husband to actively participate in the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) and Christian education ministry of the church and the Singapore Methodist Church.
With a deep impression of Singapore before he left there, Dr. Teng and family decided to return to Singapore in 1953 and set up his own practice here. He was well-versed in both Chinese and English, and he could speak Hokkien. He also went abroad to learn acupuncture and TCM’s physiology, as he was well verse with both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine. During this period, Dr. Teng lived with his parents to take care of them and treated them with utmost filial piety and respect. In 1976, Dr. Teng and his wife migrated to Canada to take care of their son who was studying there. Unfortunately, due to the cold weather in Canada, Dr. Teng and his wife returned to Singapore in 1980.
In 1981, Telok Ayer Church saw a need to set up a Mandarin worship service. So it recruited members from the Hokkien service to serve in the Mandarin service. Dr. Teng and his wife joined the pioneer team. Only twenty people attended worship the first week. No choir could be formed. The number of worshippers gradually increased, and when it reached fifty people, a small group choir was formed and presented the first performance during Christmas. Since then, hymns had been sung every Sunday in the form of group singing. Dr. Teng pressed on to continue the search for talents among church members, recruiting new voices from more places. As a result, the choir grew from strength to strength. Soon, a formal choir was finally established in the Mandarin service, with Dr. Teng personally serving as the conductor.
In 1982, the church decided to present "The Glory of the Resurrection" by Peterson. There were many people who had come to watch the performance. With Dr. Teng’s efforts in publicity and invitation, besides members of the Telok Ayer Church, other people from Christian and music circles, including Mr. Choo Huey, the conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at that time, all came to support the performance and they were impressed by the presentation.
On December 17, 1988, in conjunction with the Centennial celebration of the church, the church presented the choir "The Glory of Christmas" at the Sentosa Fountain, and the original composer Owen personally conducted it. In 1989, a combined choir for Easter presented "The Glory of Easter", and it went on to present Mandelson's masterpiece "Glory to High" during Christmas of the same year. Dr. Teng specially invited Professor Huang Feili, director of the Conducting Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, to personally conduct the choir. With the leading of the Holy Spirit, the outcome was amazing.
Dr. Teng was then the chairman of the Worship and Music Committee of the church. He was full of enthusiasm and dedication for the music ministry of the church. During festive seasons (such as Christmas, Easter, etc.), he spared no effort to support the pastoral team to promote various programs related to hymns. At the age of ninety, Dr. Teng experienced some mobility difficulties, but his care and enthusiasm for church music ministry remained the same as before.
Dr. Teng returned to the Lord on July 2, 2006 at the ripe old age of 92 years. He once said with emotion when he looked back on his life, "My relationship with Telok Ayer Church lasted half a century, and it was Telok Ayer Church that had shaped me."
References:
- Teng Ping Ming, “The Choir and I – Telling stories of those years with enduring legacy” (Excerpt), (in Chinese), Ripples from the Bay, 2005/12, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
- Zheng Xiaoying, “Love and affection till old age” (interviewing Teng Ping Ming and Kuo Shu Hsien), in “Stories of 17 senior members in their silver years”, edited by Rev Lee Chung Kau, (in Chinese), published by Trinity Theological College, 1998.
- Teng Ping Ming, “Telok Ayer Church and I”, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church Centennial Celebration Souvenir Magazine, 1989, (in Chinese), pp. 170-172.
- “Introducing Mandarin Choir”, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church Centennial Celebration Souvenir Magazine, 1989, (in Chinese), pp. 126-127
- Lee Chong Kao, “Dr Teng Ping Ming” (in Chinese), Historical Personalities of the Chinese-Speaking Churches in Singapore, pp. 81-82, edited by Lee Chong Kao, Dao Geng Publishing House, First Edition, June 2023.
Dr Teng Ping Ming conducting the Mandarin Choir
Dr Teng Ping Ming and his wife Ms Kuo Shu Hsien
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邓炳明医生 (1914 - 2006)
邓炳明医生于1914年出生于厦门泰山，小时在漳州就读英华小学与寻源中学，然后到泉州的培元中学完成高中，以后他获得奖学金到济南得齐鲁大学念医科。1937年随七七泸沟桥事变，以及八一三凇泸之战，中国展开全面抗日战争。所有学校南迁或西移，齐鲁大学西迁，邓医生因此不得不停学。当时，邓医生得二弟来信劝他到南洋，于是不久，在急速的安排下，邓医生匆匆地乘船离开厦门来到新加坡。
上岸后，邓医生便住在直落亚逸礼拜堂，搭一帆布床睡在礼拜堂楼上走廊。白天受当时的主理牧师方汉京牧师的招待，就这样过了两星期的骑楼生活。从此，邓医生便与直落亚逸礼拜堂结了不解之缘。并且开始积极参与礼拜堂的诗班事奉。当时的指挥吴保助先生与留澡芬先生邀请邓医生组织儿童诗班，邓医生义不容辞立刻把儿童诗班组织起来。
邓医生来星不久，先在道南小学任教。隔年，转至中正中学担任第一任舍监兼任数学、生物、生理卫生教师。在任教期间，每主日，邓医生都按时到直落亚逸礼拜堂崇拜。有了职业后，别的教会也来请他参加诗班及教主日学，但邓医生都婉拒，乃因直落亚逸礼拜堂有恩于他，因此始终忠心耿耿一直留在直落亚逸礼拜堂事奉，除了诗班以外，也在讲台上证道，并担任过男高音独唱。
1938年，宋尚节博士第二次到新加坡布道时，宋博士也住在直落亚逸礼拜堂三楼，邓医生记得在1926年当他11岁时，宋博士曾到漳州传道，每天的两堂聚会，邓医生都参加，且能回答宋博士所发的问题，以致宋博士到新加坡时就认得邓医生。两人在他乡遇故知，格外亲切。
战争结束，邓医生再回去齐鲁大学修读医科四年，那时齐鲁大学已迁至成都。毕业后，他担任省政府医生，参与防疫大队，作调查、研究、翻译的工作。接着回漳州协和医院担任院长之职。
1946年，由父母撮合，邓医生与当时任协和医院小儿科主任的郭淑贤女士结婚。婚后不久，即1947年，邓医生获英国差会医学奖学金，夫读妇随，赴英修读热带病毒学，公共卫生学一年。邓医生修读完毕，留在伦敦行医五年，女儿在伦敦出世。郭淑贤女士以后也随夫热心参与本堂与新加坡卫理公会的妇女会与基督教教育事工。
由于逃难时居住新加坡时留下的好印象，1953年邓医生全家来星，自设药房行医，他学贯中西，能说闽语，也到国外学针灸、脉理、中式西化融通，医道有口皆碑，这期间，邓医生接父母同住奉养、事亲至孝。1976年邓医生伉俪移居加拿大，为便于照顾儿子读书。可惜因加拿大气候过于寒冷，邓医生夫妇俩于1980年重回新加坡。
1981年，直落亚逸礼拜堂认为有设立华语崇拜的需要，就从厦语崇拜找些成员在华语崇拜事奉，邓医生夫妇义不容辞，加入开路先锋的队伍。第一个礼拜只有二十个人参加崇拜。当然不可能有诗班。崇拜人数逐渐增加，当增加到五十人时，才组成小组诗班。在圣诞节呈献了第一个节目。此后，每主日就以小组合唱形式呈献圣诗。邓医生毫不灰心地继续在会友中发掘人才，四处招兵买马，使得团员人数不断增加，不久，终于成立一个正式的华语圣歌团，由邓医生亲任指挥。
1982年本堂决定要呈献彼得逊 (Peterson) 之《复活的荣耀》。演出时来观赏的人很多。在邓医生的鼓吹与邀请之下，除了本堂会友外，别的教会及音乐界人士，包括当年的新加坡交响队指挥朱晖在内，都到来捧场，人山人海，挤得水泄不通，听的人都受感动。
1988年12月17日为了配合本堂百周年庆典，本堂在圣淘沙喷水池呈献诗班大合唱《圣诞节的荣耀》，由原著作曲家奥文亲自在场指挥。1989年复活节本堂联合诗班呈献《复活节的荣耀》，在同年圣诞节期间再接再厉呈献曼德尔逊的杰作《荣耀归于至高处》，邓医生特地邀请北京中央音乐学院指挥系主任黄飞立教授亲临指挥，在恩主的带领下，效果奇佳。
当年邓炳明医生是本堂崇拜与音乐委员会的主席，一路来对教会的音乐事工都满腔热诚，全心全意的投入。每逢佳节（如圣诞节、复活节等）来临之际，他都不遗余力地与教牧们配合去推动各项与圣乐有关的节目。邓医生高龄九十时，行动有些不便，但仍对教会音乐事工的关怀与热诚依然如昔。
邓炳明医生于2006年7月2日安息主怀。享年92载。他曾回顾一生时感慨地说：“我与直落亚逸礼拜堂的关系，足足有半个世纪，是直落亚逸礼拜堂造就了我。”
参考文献：
- 邓炳明：“我与诗班 – 源远流长话当年”（摘录），载于《水湾之声》，2005/12, 直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂。
- 郑晓莹，“恩爱到白头”（邓炳明、郭淑贤转访），载于李宗高主编，《秋日胜春朝 – 集十七位乐龄人士的秋景》，新加坡三一神学院，1998.
- 邓炳明：“直落亚逸礼拜堂与我”，直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂百周年庆典特刊，1989,pp.170-172
- “华语圣歌团简介”，直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂百周年庆典特刊，1989, pp.126-127
- 李宗高：“邓炳明医生”，李宗高主编：《新加坡华文教会历史人物》，81-82页，道耕出版社，2023年6月初版。
邓炳明医生指挥华语诗班
邓炳明医生与夫人郭淑贤女士
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Dr. Benjamin Franklin West (1858 - 1933)
Lauded as ‘a man of God, lover of children, and master of repartee and always the dispenser of laughter and merry moods’, Benjamin Franklin West was a graduate in medicine from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was running a clinic in Iowa in 1888 when he heard Bishop Thoburn speak and felt compelled to give up his practice to work as a missionary in Singapore. According to Bishop Oldham, he came at a time when the mission work was ‘in the early days of its severest struggle.’ Except Dr. West could have actually not begun at all. Contrary to his expectations, he was unable to continue with his work as a doctor as he lacked the ‘necessary British credentials’, but was quickly asked to teach at the Anglo-Chinese School in Singapore. There was a real sense of disappointment such that Catherine Jackson recounted that Dr. West had contemplated several times to take ‘the first boat leaving Singapore’ but did not do so as he said he ‘could never quite get the consent and approval of [his] conscience to actually do the thing.’
The Chinese Methodist churches in Singapore have Dr. West to thank for not returning home any earlier. At that time, the Methodist mission to Singapore initially did not consider ministering to the Chinese-speaking population at all. The first Methodist missionaries to Singapore had divided up their work into four departments: English work, the Anglo-Chinese School, visiting among the local women and educating girls. ‘Social and evangelistic work’ amongst the Chinese-speaking population only began when Dr. West realised that the Chinese had need of a dispensary stocked with Western medicine and opened one in a shophouse in Upper Nankin Street in 1889 to meet that need. It was certainly both social and evangelistic work in nature as ‘no one ever goes away from the Dispensary room without first having the word of life.’ His work among the Chinese allowed for close interactions with them, and gave him the opportunity to begin Sunday Services conducted in English and Chinese. By 1890, thirteen Chinese had asked to be baptised. As one biography notes, this was the ‘the first church to exclusively see to the spiritual needs of the Chinese Methodist community in Singapore’. This was the beginning of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
Dr. West was met with several challenges pastoring the Chinese community from the get-go but persevered through them all. Firstly, the migratory nature of the Chinese population meant that it was difficult to grow the church. Many of the Chinese church members were only in Singapore for a season or two before leaving Singapore and therefore the church permanently. This phenomenon was in fact a source of stress for the missionaries. Secondly, there was a lack of funds to sustain the dispensary work. The dispensary was more than once considered for closure but Dr. West persisted with the work using his own money.
More immediately pressing was the communication barrier. The different dialects spoken by the Chinese and the lack of preachers comfortable in speaking those dialects were a big obstacle to the mission work. There was at least one unsuccessful attempt at inviting Methodist ministers from China to pastor the fledgling flock in Singapore. Sensitive to the urgent need to speak directly to the Chinese community instead of through a translator, Dr. West went to Amoy, China, for one year to learn the Hokkien dialect. This was on top of being proficient in Malay and later ‘learning enough Tamil in Penang to read the rituals.’ He also relied on the romanisation of the Hokkien dialect, which then allowed missionaries to organise a Sunday School curriculum for the Hokkien-speaking members of the church.
Dr. West’s desire to be close to the community he felt burdened for can be encapsulated in one of his attempted experiments. He rented a shophouse on Bencoolen Street and used it to serve as a house to shelter rickshaw pullers. The contemporary observer commented that such a place was the ‘capital’ for ‘noise day and night, dust, dirt, smells, and general fights and confusion’. Although he eventually gave up such an arrangement and was said to be exhausted from his multifaceted ministry, this experiment exemplifies the lengths missionaries like Dr. West went to better interact with the local populace, contrary to the plural society that J. S. Furnivall observed in British colonies.
The rest of Dr. West’s time as a missionary is best captured by the National Library Board’s Infopedia biography:
In 1895, West was sent to Penang as Superintendent of the Penang District, especially to develop the ministry among the Chinese there … In 1898, West ran a small theological school in Penang and started the work by inviting a few locals to study with him at his home. This marked the beginning of the Theological Training School … In 1905, West and his wife established the Jean Hamilton Memorial Theological School at Mount Sophia in Singapore, which provided training to local church workers. This institution is known today as the Trinity Theological College … In 1906, West and his family returned to America on account of his wife’s ill-health.
Dr. West served as a missionary for 19 years and went home to be with the Lord in Seattle, Washington, on 2 July 1933. Put together, his mission work amongst the Chinese reflected a heart for unreached communities, no matter how transient the contact may be. His effort to speak the languages of these communities reflected the lengths at which he would go to make the gospel meaningful to them. His efforts to design a Sunday School curriculum in the local dialect reflected his understanding that the Great Commission did not stop at conversion. His later efforts to start theological schools revealed his desire for the missionary work in Malaya to be continued by well-trained locals.
Reflecting on Dr. West’s life at the end of it, his missionary contemporaries had these to say:
On his strong work ethic - ‘I have never known a man to stick closer to his job. If you wanted to see Dr. West, you went to his office. If he was not there, he was out on the District. It was no use to call up the Recreation Club or the local loafing place - he was not there. He worked all the time. In Penang he was everything but Principal of the Anglo-Chinese School and Superintendent of the Deaconess’ Home.’
On how his heart for others brought others to Christ - ‘The mother of one of our most active young men in one of our largest churches today, told me how Dr West found her ill and about to die. During the night, heart complications arose, and for hours she hovered between life and death. All night long, Dr West sat beside her; now his hand on her pulse, now administering the medicine that was to keep her alive. She was not a Christian and could not understand why he watched over her so carefully. She finally remonstrated with him, told him she was but a poor woman with no money to pay him, and that he would better leave her to die. Still he sat and watched as the night deepened, and the danger of her dying increased. Again she told him she was poor, and had no money to pay him. Finally, Dr West said, “But Nonya, I am not here for pay.” Then she said she looked at him in amazement and asked, “You do not want pay? You will not take pay? Then why are you watching over me so carefully?” Then Dr. West told her why he had come to Malaya and that God wanted her to recover and give her life to Him, and serve Him. He then told her of Christ and asked her to think of this when she was better and able to do so, and if she could give herself in service to Christ. In telling it later, she said, “Oh Missie, I had to believe in Jesus as he told me that Jesus loved me and wanted me to live and be a follower of Him. Why Dr West was doing just the things that he told me Jesus went about doing, and I had to believe.” That woman became an active worker in the church, as long as she lived, and her children today are all active in the work of the church.’
In short, Dr. West ‘was loved and revered because he served and lived as he knew the Christ had lived and served others,’ and we ‘from a later generation in wonder view his labours into which we have [been called to enter].’
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卫士德医生 (1858 - 1933)
便雅悯·富兰克林·卫士德（Benjamin Franklin West）医生被誉为“一位敬畏上帝的人、儿童之友、机智的演说家，总是欢笑和喜乐的传播者”。他毕业于俄亥俄辛辛那提大学的医学院。1888年，当他在爱荷华经营一家诊所时，他听到多本会督（Bishop Thoburn）的证道，感到内心受到驱使，决定放弃医生的职业，去新加坡从事宣教工作。根据阿尔汉会督（Bishop Oldham）所言，卫士德医生来到的时候，宣教工作正处于“最严峻挣扎的早期阶段”。然而，卫士德医生实际上可以选择不需要开始这项事工。因为与他的期望相反，他不能行医，因为他缺少“所须的英国履历”，但他很快被邀请到新加坡的英华学校教书。为此卫士德医生感到极其失望，以至于凯瑟琳·杰克逊（Catherine Jackson）回忆说，卫士德医生曾多次考虑搭乘“第一艘船离开新加坡”，但由于他表示“无法完全获得自己内心同意和允许来真正做这件事”，所以没有这样做。
新加坡的华人卫理公会教会应该感谢卫士德医生没有趁早回国。当时，卫理公会宣教士最初并没有考虑向华人族群宣教。最早的卫理公会传教士将他们的工作分为四个部门：英语工作、英华学校、探访当地妇女、以及女童教育。一直到卫士德医生意识到华人需要一家提供西医药的诊所，并于1889年在南京街上段的一家店屋开设了一家诊所以满足这需求，华人卫理公会才如此开始进行社会关怀和宣教工作。这肯定是社会关怀和宣教性质的工作，因为“没有人在没有先听到生命之道的情况下离开诊所”。他在华人社区的工作使他与他们有了密切的互动，并为他提供了开始以英语和中文进行的主日崇拜的机会。到1890年，已有13名华人要求受洗。正如一本传记所指出的，这是“新加坡华人卫理公会社区首次专门满足精神需求的教堂”。这标志着直落亚逸华人卫理公会教堂的开始。
从一开始，卫士德医生在牧养华人社区时面临了多个挑战，但他坚持克服了它们。首先，华人人口的流动性意味着很难发展教会。许多华人教会成员只在新加坡停留了一两个季节，然后离开新加坡，教会也因此无法持续增长。这个现象事实上对宣教士们造成了压力。其次，维持诊所工作的资金不足。诊所曾多次考虑关闭，但卫士德医生使用自己的钱坚持继续这事工。
更为紧迫的问题是语言沟通障碍。华人使用不同的方言，而缺乏能够流利使用这些方言的宣教士是宣教工作的一大障碍。他们曾经有至少一次尝试邀请来自中国的卫理公会牧师来新加坡牧养刚入会的新信徒，但未成功。为了满足与华人社区的直接对话的迫切需要，卫士德医生前往中国厦门一年，学习福建话方言。除此之外，他还精通马来语，并后来在槟城“学会了足够多的淡米尔语来阅读崇拜礼文”。他还依赖福建话方言的罗马化，这使宣教士们能够为华人教会的福建话成员组织主日学课程。
卫士德医生希望能够与他感到负担的社区保持亲近，从以下他一次的尝试，可以体验到他的负担。他租了一家店屋，坐落在明古连街（Bencoolen Street），作为提供人力车夫们住宿的地方。当时的观察者评论说，这样的地方是“一切噪音的中心，昼夜不停，尘土、污垢、异味，还有一般的打斗和混乱”。尽管他最终放弃了这样的安排，并且据说因为他多方面的事工而感到筋疲力尽，但这个尝试充分展示了像卫士德医生这样的宣教士为更好地与当地人互动所付出的努力，与弗尼瓦尔（J. S. Furnivall）观察到的英国殖民地中的多元社会形成鲜明对比。
卫士德医生作为宣教士的其他轶事最好由国家图书馆局的Infopedia传记来描述：
在1895年，卫士德被派往槟城担任槟城教区的教区长，特别是为了发展那里的华人事工… 1898年，卫士德在槟城办了一所小型神学院，并开始邀请一些当地人到他家学习。这标志着神学培训学校的开始… 1905年，卫士德和他的妻子在新加坡的索菲亚山创办了珍·汉密尔顿纪念神学院(Jean Hamilton Memorial Theological School)，为当地教会工作者提供培训。这所学院今天被称为三一神学院… 1906年，卫士德和他的家人因妻子健康原因返回美国。
卫士德医生作为一名传教士服务了19年，并于1933年7月2日安息主怀于华盛顿州的西雅图。综合来看，他在华人社区中的宣教工作反映出他对未得之民有着一颗爱心，无论这种接触有多短暂。他努力学习这些社区的语言，表明他不遗余力地使福音对他们有意义。他致力于设计本地方言的主日学课程，反映出他理解大使命并不止步于信仰转变。他后来努力开设神学院，表明他希望马来亚的宣教工作能够由受过良好培训的本地人继续。
回顾卫士德医生的生平，他的宣教同仁这样评价他：
对他坚韧的职业操守 - “我从未见过一个人如此忠诚于他的工作。如果你想见卫士德医生，你就去他的办公室。如果他不在那里，他就在教区工作。打电话给休闲俱乐部或当地的休闲场所没有用，因为他不在那里。他一直在工作。在槟城，他除了是英华学校的校长和女传道院的院长以外，还兼任其他职务。”
关于卫士德医生对他人的关怀以及如何带领他人来到基督，有这样的见证：‘我们今天最大的一所教会中，一位活跃的年青人，他的母亲告诉我卫士德医生曾发现她病重濒死。夜间，她的心脏发生了并发症，她在生死边缘徘徊了数小时。整夜，卫士德医生一直坐在她旁边，一会儿检查她的脉搏，一会儿给她服用维持生命所需的药物。她不是基督徒，不明白为什么他如此细心地守护着她。最后，她直言地告诉他说她只是一个贫穷妇女，根本无法支付他，最好还是让她去死。但他仍然坐在那里，看着夜深，她的生命不断垂危。她再次告诉他她很穷，没有钱支付他。最后，卫士德医生说：“但是，Nonya（她的名字），我不是为了报酬而留在这里。”她惊讶地看着他，问：“你不想要报酬吗？你不会接受报酬吗？那你为什么如此细心地看守着我？”然后，卫士德医生告诉她，他来到马来亚的原因，因为上帝希望她康复并将她的生命献给上帝，为上帝服务。然后，他告诉她有关基督的事情，并请她在康复后思想这些事情，并考虑是否能够献身于基督的事工。后来她告诉我说：“哦，小姐，我必须相信耶稣，因为他告诉我耶稣爱我，希望我活下来并成为祂的追随者。卫士德医生正履行他所告诉我耶稣所做的事情，我因此不得不相信。”那个女人后来康复，在她有生之年一直是教会中的热心事奉，她的子女今天都积极参与教会的事工。’
简而言之，卫士德医生“因为知道基督是如何生活和为他人服务，他也同样如此生活和服务他人，所以他备受爱戴和尊敬”，我们“作为后来的一代，对他的努力感到惊叹，我们也受召唤来继续这项工作”。
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Mdm Lim Cheng Kiok (1922 - 2004)
The late Madam (Mdm) Lim Cheng Kiok (25/12/1922 - 5/4/2004) (fondly known as ‘清菊姐’, pronounced as Cheng Kiok Ji, in Hokkien) is remembered by many, including her countless Sunday school students in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (henceforth, TA), as having a hearty, bellowing voice and a strong, quick-tempered, ‘gentle giant’ character. Converted by John Sung in China when she was in school, Mdm Lim was one of the pioneering Sunday School superintendents of TA for about 30 years before she left for Australia in mid 1970s. Though she had no children, she was every child’s guardian angel right through their growing up years. Her one wish was for them to be saved, and to grow in wisdom and stature and please God.
She was single-minded and focused on imbuing strong Christian values and imposing strict discipline in both student and teacher alike. She was responsible in framing up a Word-based Sunday School curriculum, which must always circle back to Salvation and the Cross to wrap every sermon. She would often end her story with a sinner’s prayer and asked students to follow her. Her intention was for the gift of salvation to be the compass and anchor in every child’s life through adulthood. Mdm Lim also took pains to plan and design the curriculum from the sermons to be delivered, the Bible stories to be taught by the teachers, right down to the weekly Bible verses put to memory using a little booklet (金句册子) containing weekly Bible verses which Mdm Lim had designed and printed. The child would line up in front of the teacher and recite the verse of the week in Hokkien and the teacher would sign against the verse. At the end of each year, during Christmas Sunday, those who had completed all the verses would receive a present. There were three kinds of present. One that every student would get on Christmas Sunday, one for full attendance, and one for those who had completed memorizing all verses. Mdm Lim took pains to prepare presents as encouragement for her students.
In her unrelenting persuasive manner, members whom she had approached to serve, found it tough to say ‘no’ to her. The student population according to a statistics at that time in 1963 were 870 students spread in over 40 classes, taught by over 60 teachers. There were basically 4 sections: Kindergarten, Primary, Junior and Senior (幼级 、 初级 、中级、高级). Mdm Lim would take turn to speak at every section, once a month. With 4 sections, it meant that almost every Sunday she had to speak. She literally had many stories to tell at different level impromptu. She would combine classes so that she could cover for teachers who did not turn up. On Sundays, Mdm Lim was a bundle of energy, sprinting horizontally across a huge carpark in those days and vertically up four floors in the building, and doubling up a time keeper by ringing bell for assembly.
Her professional background also helped in deepening the roots and strengthening the foundation of faith in every segment of TA’s members. Besides starting the first TA youth choir with her nephew, Mr Liew Cheng San, which presented hymn every Sunday at the Senior Sunday School, Mdm Lim who had worked as a matron with Singapore General Hospital before becoming a matron at Chan Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home in the late 60s through the 70s for more than a decade, pioneered and started TA’s pre-nursery and creche ministry where young parents of newborns and toddlers were cared for by voluntary, trained teachers armed with nursing background recruited by Mdm Lim, in order to give peace of mind to parents while they worship in the service. Mdm Lim also served in the Young Women section of the TA’s Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS, in Chinese妇女会). In addition, she had also been invited preach at the Hokkien Sunday Worship.
Mdm Lim will always be remembered as a teacher, Superintendent, and spiritual teacher and guardian angel to many growing up children in TA. Her love and compassion for children, made her care for them like her own. Deeply concerned about the welfare and salvation of her pupils, she would check the attendance registers and visit them if they were absent for a few weeks. She was filled with compassion for pre-believing children of families, and ensured their attendances by driving them to church. For TA generations of members who knew Mdm Lim, she cut an influential and God-fearing, powerful impact in the early years of TA, which had everything to do with raising resilient, God-fearing generations to come.
Mdm Lim returned to the Lord on 5 April 2004 after a period of illness in hospital. She was cheerful throughout her illness. Although she was very weak towards the end, she continued to read the Bible regularly.
References:
- TA 25th Anniversary Magazine, 1950.
- 林清菊校长，本堂主日学报告书，新加坡基督教卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂，主日学特刊, Lim Cheng Kiok, Church Sunday School Report, Sunday School Souvenir Magazine of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, 1963, pp.3-5
- Mdm Lee Soo Yong, personal communication
- Mr Liew Cheng San, personal communication
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Prof Tan Chew Lim, personal communication
Mdm Lim speaking to Sunday School Students.
Pre-nursery and creche ministry set up by Mdm Lim
Mdm preaching at Hokkien Sunday Worship
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林清菊女士 (1922 - 2004)
已故的林清菊女士（1922年12月25日 - 2004年4月5日）（亲切地被称为“清菊姐”），被许多人铭记在心，包括许多在直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂里接受过她主日学教导的学生。她洪亮的声音、坚强的性格、急躁的性情、赤子之心，宽宏的胸怀给许多人留下深刻的印象。她在中国念书的时期，就已蒙宋尚节博士（Dr John Sung）带领归主。林清菊女士是直落亚逸堂主日学的先驱之一，担任主日学校长长达30年，直到1970年代中期离星移居澳洲。虽然她没有亲生子女，但她一直是众多孩子成长年代的守护天使。她唯一的愿望是他们得救，并在智慧和身量上长进，讨神喜悦。
林女士一心一意地致力于灌输正确的基督教价值观，对学生和教师都施加严格的纪律要求。她负责制定以圣经为基础的主日学课程，她在每一堂主日学的讲道，都必须始终围绕救赎和十字架的道理。她经常在讲完故事后带领学生作认罪祷告。她的目的是要让救恩成为每个孩子一生中的指南和船锚。林清菊女士经心策划和设计课程，从所要传讲的证道，到教师要教授的圣经故事，一直到每周要背诵的经文。为方便学生背诵经文，她还设计并印制了一个小册子（金句册子）。孩子们会排队站在教师面前，用福建话背诵当周的经文，教师则在经文旁边签字。每年圣诞主日结束时，已完成所有经文背诵的学生将获得礼物。礼物有三种：每个学生都会在圣诞主日收到第一种，完全出勤的学生也同时收到第二种，已完成所有经文背诵的学生还多收到第三种。林清菊女士费心准备这些礼物，以鼓励主日学的学生。
林女士很有说服力，被她邀请的成员很难回应她说“不”。根据1963年的主日学统计数字，当时的学生人数为870名，分布在40多个班级中，由60多名教师教导。主日学基本上分为幼儿班、小学班、初级班和高级班。林清菊女士每个月会轮流在每个班级讲道。有了4个班级，就意味着她几乎每个主日需要讲道。她可以随机应变地在不同班级与学生程度讲述许多不同的故事。她会合并班级，以便代替没有到场的教师。在每主日，林清菊女士充满活力，她在当时的直落亚逸堂的大停车场上横跨奔跑，又爬上四层楼的教堂建筑，同时还负责敲响集会的铃声。
林女士的专业背景也有助于加深直落亚逸堂会友各个群体的信仰根基和坚固基础。她与侄子留青山先生一起创办第一个直落亚逸堂的青年诗班，每主日在高级主日学献唱。她早年在新加坡中央医院担任护士长，在60年代末到70年代期间转到陈树南卫理公会儿童之家担任护士长。基于她的看护背景，她在直落亚逸堂发起学前和婴幼儿看护事工，由林清菊女士招募具备护理背景的自愿教师来照顾新生儿和幼儿，好让年轻的父母能安心敬拜。林女士还在直落亚逸堂妇女会的青年妇女部门中服务，并曾被邀请在直落亚逸堂的厦语主日崇拜证道。
林清菊女士将永远被铭记为直落亚逸堂中许多成长中孩子的老师、校长、属灵导师和守护天使。她对孩子们的爱和怜悯使她像对待自己的孩子一样照顾他们。她非常关心学生的福祉和救恩，她例常核查学生出勤册，如果有学生缺席几个星期，她就会探望他们。她对未信主的家庭的孩子尤其充满同情，甚至亲自载送他们到礼拜堂，以确保他们能参加主日学。对于那些认识林清菊女士的会友来说，她为早年的直落亚逸堂留下巨大的影响力，引领会众敬畏上帝，并培育一批坚毅与遵从上帝的下一代。
林清菊女士于2004年4月5日因长期病患在医院蒙主恩召。她在整个病程中始终保持愉快的心情。虽然她患病末期非常虚弱，但她仍然经常阅读圣经。
参考资料：
- 直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂, 建堂25周年，纪念特刊，1950年。
- 林清菊校长，本堂主日学报告书，新加坡基督教卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂，主日学特刊, 1963年，3-5 页。
- 李素融女士，个人交流
- 留青山先生，个人交流
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陈树霖教授，个人交流
林清菊女士向主日学学生讲故事。
林清菊女士所设立的摇篮班与幼儿班
林清菊女士在厦语崇拜证道。
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Madam Seet Chye Siew (1905 - 1989)
Madam Seet Chye Siew served as a female preacher of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church from 1952 until her retirement in 1970. She served the church faithfully for 18 years and is the longest-serving female preacher in the church. Members are used to calling her "Chye Siew Ji" in Hokkien (meaning Sister Chye Siew). Sister Chye Siew was born on 13 August 1905 in Kinmen, Fujian, into a family of unbelievers. She attended a Christian mission school, and was convicted through the gospel shared in school. She was deeply concerned about her family's salvation, which was then hindered by steep tradition, which emphasized filial piety and obeying the husband as head of the household. Through an arranged marriage from birth, she was to marry Mr Chua Aik Cheong, who, she hoped, would convert before marriage. But the Chua family would not agree.
Sister Chye Siew eventually was married into the Chua’s family whose members were all non-believers. His family ran local businesses in Singapore and Indonesia, including rubber, betel nuts, and copra. In 1930, she arrived in Singapore with her husband and their young daughter. In 1935, when Dr John Sung led a revival meeting at Telok Ayer Church, Sister Chye Siew was convicted and called to serve enthusiastically in church ever since. Her older brother, Mr. Sy Eng Su, was a professor at Xiamen University, and went to Singapore to serve as the principal of the Chinese High School during the Sino-Japanese war. Her sister-in-law came from a prominent family, and the Xiamen Water supply Company was founded by her sister-in-law's brothers, who received special education and training in the field. The relationship between the two sisters-in-law was very good.
Rev Tan Peck Geok worked with Sister Chye Siew’s sister-in-law when she was working in Xiamen YMCA. They met in Singapore in 1938 after Rev Tan arrived here. In delivering a eulogy on Sister Chye Siew at her wake service, Rev Tan recalled that they had gotten along very well and progressed to become prayer partners. Sister Chye Siew always prayed for her own husband, children, aunt, mother, and relatives. Rev Tan praised her as a good wife, daughter-in-law, daughter, mother, and relative. Rev Tan Peck Geok remembered that in the early morning of 8 December 1942, when the Japanese army was shelling Singapore, all relatives looked fervently out for Sister Chye Siew and not anyone else. Rev Tan said that this showed how Sister Chye Siew was much loved and favored by others because of who she was.
Rev Fang Chao Hsi, the pastor-in-charge then of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, also paid tribute to Sister Chye Siew, having known her for half a century. In a published eulogy on Sister Chye Siew, Rev Fang said that there were many beautiful words and deeds which marked the life of Sister Chye Siew. We share Rev Fang’s impression on Sister Chye Siew by reprinting the following three points from the eulogy:
1. She is a virtuous woman
There is an old Chinese saying: A woman who has no talent is a virtue. Sister Chye Siew had both talent and virtue. She had been a great help to her own husband. She had many talents, and deft with her handiwork over different kinds of chores, such as sewing, steaming cakes, rice dumplings, and sharing her gifts with relatives and friends during the Chinese New Year. She had the capacity to take care of distant relatives and neighbors who were living in poverty and in financial difficulties. She would always place others’ interests above hers. More admirably, she was filial to her elders. Her aunt and mother, were two seniors who were bedridden due to illness, and needed care in daily living and food. She respected the two elders and never complained. Her aunt was a firm non-believer at first, but moved by Sister Chye Siew’s filial piety, she finally accepted Christ, was baptized, and eventually returned to the Lord’s home. Credit goes to Sister Chye Siew’s beautiful testimony.
2. A dutiful follower
Sister Chye Siew was devoted to the Lord, served the Lord with all her heart, was enthusiastic for ministries, and determined to save souls. In short, doing her best to carry out duties of a follower of Christ. During the 1940s, the church had limited funding, and restaurant dining was a luxury. So, Sister Chye Siew took the lead and shared responsibility with fellow sisters-in-Christ to cater for various church meetings and meals. Sister Chye Siew was a well noted cook in church. Just like Martha in the Bible, Sister Chye Siew used her strength to serve the Lord with her hands and served others.
3. She responded to God’s call to serve
In 1952, Madam Fang Chee Geok, a female preacher of Telok Ayer Church, was called home by the Lord. The ministry of the WSCS (Woman Society of Christian Service) in Telok Ayer Church needed a suitable candidate to take over. Sister Chye Siew often paid visits to members with Madam Fang Chee Geok and was familiar with members' families. Hence, all the stewards of the church nominated her as the next most suitable successor. The Methodist Chinese Annual Conference appointed Sister Chye Siew as a lady preacher, and she accepted this appointment until she retired in 1970. She was a good co-worker, loyal to God's family, loving the Lord and others, and enduring in all things. She demonstrated servanthood in God’s ministry. She ran her race and gave her account to the Lord. Our Lord would have said to her, "Well done, you good and faithful servant. Come in and share your master's happiness!"
Sister Chye Siew passed on at the age of 84 and completed her life journey on 5 August 1989. She was called by the Lord to enjoy eternal happiness.
References:
- Tan Peck Geok, “Remembering Preacher Seet Chye Siew – Enduring a life of loving the Lord,” (in Chinese), Ripples from the Bay, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, October 1989.
- Fang Chao Hsi, “Remembering Preacher Seet Chye Siew – Lady of Virtue”, (in Chinese) Ripples from the Bay, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, October 1989.
- Chua Tock Swee, oral notes
- Lee Chong Kao, “Preacher Seet Chye Siew”, (in Chinese) Historical Personalities of the Chinese-Speaking Churches in Singapore, ed. by Lee Chong Kao, pp. 355-356, Dao Geng Publishing House, June 2023.
- Lee Chong Kao, “Mr Sy Eng Su”, (in Chinese), Historical Personalities of the Chinese-Speaking Churches in Singapore, ed. by Lee Chong Kao, pp. 357-358, Dao Geng Publishing House, June 2023.
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薛彩秀传道 (1905 - 1989)
薛彩秀传道自1952年开始担任直落亚逸礼拜堂堂的女传道，直到1970年退休为止，忠心服事于本堂共18年，是本堂任期最长的女传道。会友们都习惯以闽南语称她为“彩秀姐”(Chye Siew Ji)。彩秀姐于1905年8月13日出生于福建金门。薛家当时没有一人信主。彩秀姐曾就读鼓浪屿毓德女子中学，该校是一间基督教学校。她在学校听见福音之后就笃信不疑，深为家人不信主而担心。薛家的传统思想很深。中国古训是在家从父，出嫁从夫。彩秀姐与蔡益昌先生指腹为婚，她希望蔡益昌信主后才结婚，但是蔡家不肯答应。
以后她嫁入蔡家，婆家中没有一人信主。夫家在新加坡与印尼经营树胶、槟榔、椰干等土产生意，1930年她随丈夫带着年幼女儿来新加坡。1935年，宋尚节博士在直落亚逸礼拜堂带领布道奋兴会时，彩秀姐得到很大的复兴，从此热心参与教会的事奉。彩秀姐的哥哥薛永黍原在厦门大学任教授，抗战（中日交战）到新加坡任华侨中学校长。她嫂嫂出于望族，厦门自来水公司是嫂嫂兄弟创办，学有专才。姑嫂俩的感情很好。
陈碧玉牧师在厦门青年会工作时，曾与彩秀姐的嫂嫂同工。陈碧玉牧师于1938年来新加坡之后便认识彩秀姐。陈牧师在回忆彩秀姐的追悼文中，说她与彩秀姐很谈得来，很自然的成为了祷告之友，彩秀姐时时为她丈夫、儿女、家姑、母亲和亲戚祷告。陈牧师称赞她为好妻子、好媳妇、好女儿、好母亲、好亲戚。陈碧玉牧师记得1942年12月8日清晨，日军炸星，众亲戚都来找彩秀姐，不找别人。陈牧师说这可见彩秀姐平日待人之一般。
本堂前任主理方兆熙牧师，在追忆彩秀姐时说，他认识彩秀姐已有半世纪，他说彩秀姐的生平有很多嘉言懿行，实难一一细说，他在悼文里，提出三点作为纪念。在此，转载方牧师的三点，供读者分享。
1. 她是才德妇女
古语：女子无才便是德。她是才德两全。她一生使丈夫有益无损。她有许多才干，靠她两手做粗细功夫、缝衣、蒸糕粿、粽、过年过节诸亲友分享她的馈赠。她有量气，照顾生活缺乏和经济困难的远亲近邻。她有克己待人的美德。
最可钦敬的是她孝顺长辈。她和家姑和母亲，两老多病卧床，起居饮食，需要随侍，她奉敬两位老人家，未曾发怨言。家姑原本不信主，后因她的孝心感动，终愿决志，愿跟随彩秀的上帝，愿受圣洗，接受耶稣为救主，直到安返天家。这是她美好的见证。
2. 做平信徒本分
她虔诚事主，竭力服务，热心主工，立意救人，尽她力量，做信徒的本分。当时四十年代教会的经济力量非富裕，而且酒楼餐室并不普遍，所以教会各种会议，需要膳食，都由她领先与姐妹们共同负责。可说她是直落亚逸堂著名的烹饪好手。如圣经中马大用力用手服务，借着服事人，来服事主。
3. 她受圣工职份
一九五二年直落亚逸堂女传道方芝玉女士，蒙主召返天家，该堂女界事工，需要适当人选承接。因为她平素跟方芝玉女士探访会友，对会友家庭熟悉，所以该堂全体执事皆认为她最适当继任斯职。请求年议会委派担任女传道职份，直到一九七〇年她才退休。她是一位好同工，忠于上帝的家，爱主，爱人，忍耐在各样事上，表明自己是上帝的的用人，直到她走完人生的路程，到主面前交账。主人要对她说：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，可以进来，享受你主人的快乐。”
彩秀姐享年84岁，终于1989年8月5日走完她一生的路程，蒙主召她进入享受主人的快乐。
参考文献：
- 陈碧玉： “悼薛彩秀传道 – 忍耐过爱主生活”，《卫讯》1989年10月
- 方兆熙： “悼薛彩秀传道 – 淑德留芳”，《卫讯》1989年10月
- 蔡督瑞： 口述资料
- 李宗高： “薛彩秀传道”，李宗高主编：《新加坡华文教会历史人物》，355-356页，道耕出版社，2023年6月初版。
- 李宗高： “薛永黍先生”，李宗高主编：《新加坡华文教会历史人物》，357-358页，道耕出版社，2023年6月初版。
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Mr Chan Seng Siong (1904 - 1995)
Mr Chan Seng Siong’s father moved to Singapore at a young age, starting a family here after marrying a local Nyonya. Born in 1904, Mr Chan Seng Siong was the youngest of three boys. During that period, China was experiencing a shortage of male children. As a result, Mr Chan’s father, being quite traditional, insisted on sending the three boys back to China. However, their mother, having only three children, was reluctant to do so. Eventually, she decided to keep the two oldest in Singapore by her side and send the sixteen-year-old Chan Seng Siong back to China with his father.
Mr Chan Seng Siong returned to his hometown, Anxi, in the Fujian province of China, a region known for its many tea plantations. As a young man, he worked there as a secretary and bookkeeper. He received a good education and, upon reaching adulthood, married in Fujian Province, China, and had two boys and a girl. He learned about the Bible from his wife, who told him many stories from it, leading him to become a believer in Jesus.
Mr Chan’s wife, the daughter of a scholar, was educated under the western system at a school founded by nuns. At that time, many nuns were in China to start schools and be involved in the education of young children with the intent to evangelize to them, leading Mr Chan’s wife to become a converted Christian at an early age. The couple attended church in China and, upon their arrival in Singapore, sought out a home church they could attend. They found Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church and began as laymen, serving and attending church every Sunday. Their faith was strengthened during the revival of the church by Dr John Sung.
During the Second World War, when China was at war, Mr Chan Seng Siong and his father moved their China family southwards and returned to Singapore. The journey was not easy as there were no big cruise ships at that time; only small boats, making their journey to Singapore quite arduous. Upon their arrival in Singapore, they led a modest life as they had not brought many valuables with them. The Chan family settled in Telok Ayer Street, near Cross Street, located at the junction of Singapore. As their circumstances improved, they rented a shop. Since Mr Chan Seng Siong had worked in a tea plantation, he started selling tea leaves and developed a tea estate business in Singapore. Mr Chan also helped with remittance and letter writing for people with ties to China. Mr Chan and his wife owned a large house in Katong with multiple rooms, a huge and pretty garden to-date, where they hosted many brothers and sisters for small group worship services and Endeavour Fellowship over the years, until driven by difficult predicament, they had had to sell it.
Mr Chan Seng Siong was very passionate about preaching the gospel to pre-believers. He would sometimes lend a gospel van to transport residents to his home in Katong to listen to the gospel, including some of his less well-off relatives who came to his home for family worship. The couple understood that what they had was a gift from God, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that the souls of men are treasured by God. Their home became a focal point for sowing seeds for the Holy Spirit, leading to the conversion of one family every week.
Mr Chan Seng Siong also led his 90-year-old mother-in-law to Christ. During the Japanese Occupation, she fled to Indonesia for a period of time. During this period, the Chans continued to serve Him faithfully in Singapore, and led both his mother-in-law and his mother to believe in Jesus. Their conversion was an incredible miracle because they were very traditional and stubborn, deeply influenced and entrenched in folk religion, worshipping of ancestors, and performing superstitious rituals. However, seeing the transformation in Mr Chan Seng Siong and the caring wife of his, Mr Chan’s mother-in-law, came to believe in Jesus at a ripe old age too. One day, the matriarch unexpectedly fell into a coma. The doctor advised the Chan family to prepare for her passing, given her advanced age and the uncertainty of her regaining consciousness. However, Mr. and Mrs. Chan Seng Siong placed their trust in God. Miraculously, three days later, she woke up. Upon awakening, she expressed her desire to believe in Jesus. This surprised the family as she had never shown interest in doing so before. She shared that she had been to hell, affirming that hell existed. The Chans believed that this was a unique experience God had granted her.
Mr Chan Seng Siong had two older brothers who also returned to Nanyang from Indonesia after the Japanese retreated. They did not believe in Jesus, and their disobedient and rebellious children caused them much distress. Mr Chan Seng Siong’s wife took them to Sunday school in Indonesia. The children enjoyed their time at the church, listening to Bible stories, singing hymns, and receiving food. Upon their return to Singapore, they were remarkably well-behaved, obedient, and were transformed for the better. Eventually, the entire family came to believe in Jesus, which was a praiseworthy event.
After war, Mr Chan Seng Siong’s career had experienced many ups and downs. During a period when there was suppression of the Chinese in Indonesia, Mr Chan had engaged in trading tea and trusts, among other things. The Indonesian side also provided some business to Mr Chan, such as import and export. Mr Chan was also involved in the wholesale of bird’s nests with Indonesia. After Mr Chan’s business was severely impacted, he could no longer continue any of his businesses, and even had to sell the house in Katong, jointly owned by the couple. They were much aggrieved. Despite their reluctance to part with the house including losing a large garden, Mr Chan’s wife, who had always supported her husband, encouraged him, saying, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Therefore, the Chans did not blame God for their material loss but turned more reliant on Him and continued to serve the Lord fervently. Sometimes, the couple even took public bus to Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, and attended church every week as usual. Mr Chan Seng Siong was passionate about serving as a steward. His own eldest son served as an usher befriender, and Mr Chan’s daughter-in-law was a pianist for the children’s Sunday School. Their eldest granddaughter married a local preacher. Their grandson is the music conductor of the Hokkien Service choir. Mr Chan Seng Siong often reminded his family not to miss church services.
Mr Chan Seng Siong’s wife believed in the Bible, which encouraged having many children. She sometimes read hymns to the elderly and also assisted in matchmaking many young couples in the church, providing insights into the character of potential partners. Today, many couples whom she had helped set up many years ago, have grown old together.
Mr Chan Seng Siong was a conservative man with strong spiritual values. When faced with temptations in business, he refused all invitations to engage in improper and immoral activities. Some people suggested that he speculate and invest in stocks or even gamble, but he chose to remain steadfast. Once, his eldest granddaughter was advised by an outsider to help bring some gold bars overseas and get rich quickly. He responded, “What God has given me is good, so I don’t need to wish for anything else.” Chan served as a steward at the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for more than forty years. His service continued until the day he passed on, at which point he finally relinquished all his responsibilities on earth and rested in the arms of the Lord. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)
In the early years of the church, from the 50s to the 80s, three outstanding leaders, namely Mr Lim Yeow Tong, Mr Chan Seng Siong and Mr Teo Kong Wah, were the stalwarts and activists of the Christian faith, fervently organizing prayer meetings, and also led hymn singing and conducted preaching. Affectionately known as “Three Musketeers”, they were passionate in evangelism and invited brothers and sisters-in-Christ to share their testimonies. It was one testimony of faith after another, and through the stories of people, that more and more came to witness what God was doing and how lives were transformed. The three gentlemen, who were in-laws through marriages among their children, shared deep brotherly love for one another for almost half a century, often organized picnics and swims at Changi Beach. The wives would have fun in the water and prepare the food and drinks. They had fully manifested the family of God founded on love and fellowship, akin to Proverbs 27:17 which proclaims, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.
Reference
- Dictated by Mrs Rebekah Goh, eldest granddaughter, on 15 December 2023.
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曾生相 (1904 - 1995)
曾生相先生的父亲很早就已经来到南洋， 并在新加坡成家，娶了一位土生土长的娘惹为妻。曾生相先生出生于1904年，是三个男丁中，排行最小的。那一段时期。中国很缺乏男丁，所以曾先生的父亲因为蛮传统，所以就执意将三个男孩儿送回中国去。可是他的母亲不舍得，因为她只有三个孩子，最后决定把老大老二留在母亲身边，继续留在新加坡，然后带十六岁的曾生相先生与父亲回祖国。曾生相先生回到自己的故乡,在中国福建省安溪，一个不算大的地方。那里有很多的茶园，年轻的时候，就呆在茶园做书记，记账等。
曾生相先生学历高，成年之后，在中国福建成亲,娶妻生子，膝下有两男一女。他听妻子讲述很多圣经里的故事，耳濡目染，也跟着信耶稣。曾夫人是秀才的女儿，识字，受西方教育，在修女学校就读。那时很多修女在中国成立儿童教育，向他们传福音，所以曾先生的妻子较早就成为基教徒。夫妻俩在中国上教会，来到新加坡后，也到处寻找教会落脚。就这样，他们来到了直落亚逸礼拜堂，开始只是平信徒，参与事奉，也在每个主日上教会。后来在宋尚节博士来星复兴教会的时期，才坚定稳固了信仰。
二次战乱的时候，中国战乱，曾生相先生与父亲再一次南下，回到了新加坡。这个过程不容易，因为那时候没有油轮，只有小小的船只，所以他们的旅途真的是很颠簸，经过千辛万苦才来到新加坡。那个时候也没有带很多贵重的东西，来到新加坡之后，生活相当贫苦。那时，曾家老小就安定在新加坡的直落亚逸街，靠近位于交界处的俗称吉宁街(克罗士街Cross Street)。后来生活慢慢好了之后就租了一间店。因为曾生相先生熟悉茶园生态，所以他就开始卖茶叶，发展茶庄生意。那时也提供代人写信的服务，并协助同胞把汇款汇回中国等。曾先生也在经济容许下，与妻子共拥有了属于自己的有地房子，位于加东一带，房子面积颇大，且有一个大花园，可招待并容纳很多参与家庭小组崇拜或勉励会聚会的弟兄姐妹。
曾生相先生很热心于传福音，尤其是未信主的亲朋戚友，有时还会借福音车来载居民到自己加东的住家听福音，当中也包括一些比较贫穷的亲戚，来曾家做家庭礼拜。他们夫妻俩知道他们所拥有的是上帝赐给他们的，施比受更有福，人的灵魂是上帝所珍惜的。加东的家就成了为圣灵撒种的集中地。就这样，每一个礼拜，许多家庭一家一家地陆续信了主。
曾生相先生也影响了他那九十高龄的岳母。在二次大战攻入新加坡时，她被安排逃到印尼一段时期。在逃到印尼这个时期，他们也没有停止他们的侍奉，还带领了自己的母亲与岳母信了耶稣，这是不可思议的神迹，因为她俩都非常传统固执，而且受了民间宗教的影响，所以有拜祖先，举行民间宗教的仪式等等。因为曾母看到了曾生相先生的改变，看到曾妻那么的有爱心，所以最后也信了耶稣，虽然有她的挣扎，但还是得上帝的救恩赦免。还有一个见证：曾生相先生的岳母，有一天，无故昏迷！昏迷了三天三夜，医生要曾家准备后事，因为老人家已经年纪大了，而且就是昏迷了这么久，医生没有把握说她会再醒过来。曾氏夫妇交托仰望上帝。结果，三天过后，老太太奇迹般地醒来。醒来后，她说她也要信耶稣。曾夫妇都甚感惊奇。心想以前怎样劝都不肯信，现在忽然昏迷后醒来竟然决志信主。原来她述说她到了地狱，果然真的有所谓地狱。曾氏夫妇相信这是上帝特别给她的一个经历。
曾生相先生有两个哥哥，后来也从印尼回到了南洋，他们也没有信耶稣，他们的孩子都不听话，而且叛逆，令他们很操心。曾生相夫人带着侄子侄女上印尼的主日学。小孩子到了教堂很开心，有圣经故事听，有圣歌唱，还有食品送给他们。回来新加坡之后也很奇妙地变很乖，听话懂事，后来他们全家也信了耶稣，真可谓是大丰收。
二战过后，曾生相先生的事业经过高低起伏，有一段时间印尼排华，曾先生从事买卖茶叶类，还有信托等，印尼那边也有给一些生意给曾生相先生，印尼华人也寄信件到中国。曾生相先生也与印尼作批发燕窝的生意。曾先生的生意大受影响后，生意就做不下去，更落得把夫妻俩共同努力拥有的加东的一间大屋子，忍痛割卖。虽然大家都感到非常不舍，觉得很可惜，好大的一个花园，就这样没了。但是一路扶持曾先生的妻子说：赏赐的是耶和华。收取的也是耶和华, 耶和华的名是应当称颂的。所以，曾氏夫妻并没有因为失去物质生活而埋怨上帝，反而更加仰赖祂，继续热心服侍主。有时候，夫妻俩更乘搭公共巴士，到直落亚逸礼拜堂，每个礼拜照样的去教会崇拜。曾生相先生热心担任执事。很多时候他都跟家人叮咛，时间要安排好，千万不可因事不去教会崇拜，他们的后辈也牢牢记在心里面。他的长子是迎宾招待员，媳妇在主日学儿童唱诗班，担任司琴，长孙女后来嫁给了传道，长孙子则是现任厦语崇拜的诗班指挥兼负责圣殿插花事工。
曾生相夫人，人人昵称她“生相嫂”。她相信圣经所说的上帝要人生养众多，所以她有时候除了念诗歌给年长者，也会帮忙撮合教会不少对的年轻人，说某某人的女儿是怎么样的一个人，某某人的儿子会不会跟他相配等等。今天有不少受她当年所撮合的夫妇已白头偕老。
曾生相先生为人保守，属灵与价值观非常坚强，在生意上遇到诱惑挑战，比如说有人会邀他做一些不正当不道德的事，他都一概拒绝。有一些人叫他炒股票投资，甚至赌博，他都选择安安分分的，守住岗位。有一次，有人向他的长孙女建议叫曾生相先生带一些金条走私到外地，很快就能发财。但曾生相先生说，上帝给我什么的都是好的，所以我不需要去奢望其他东西了。曾生相先生在直落亚逸礼拜堂当了四十多年的执事。侍奉没有停止，一直到他卧病的前一天他才放下重责。曾生相深知将身体献上当着活祭是圣洁的，是上帝所喜悦的。（罗马书12：1）
曾生相先生、林耀东先生与张光华先生是直落亚逸礼拜堂在战后五十至八十年代，三位非常受主重用的好弟兄，有如 “三剑客”，为本堂建立了重要肢体组织与委员会，例如主办祷告会，带领唱诗歌和讲道，并安排弟兄姐们分享见证。那是一场接一场的信心见证会，并通过人的见证，体会到上帝的作为，如何改变生命。就这样，成立了勉励会一直到现在。林耀东先生，曾生相先生和张光华先生，彼此间是亲家，他们三位交情非常好，情同手足超近五十年，经常组织一些樟宜海边，野餐游泳。太太们则嬉水并准备饮食，充分体现了上帝家里的关爱与扶持。
参考资料：
- 曾淑芬，长孙女于2023 年十二月十五日口述
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David Tay Boon Hua (1941 - 2024)
David Tay Boon Hua, the eldest son in a family of ten with two younger brothers and seven sisters, was born on 30.11.1941 during the Japanese occupation of British colonial Singapore.
Coming to Faith
He first encountered the Christian faith through Bible Knowledge class in his secondary school, Oldham Methodist School at Coleman Street. However, he never got to know Jesus Christ personally then. His mother, a staunch Buddhist, strongly objected to her children becoming Christians. Nevertheless, God was quietly working in David’s family.
A relative encouraged them to join Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church after David's father suffered a heart attack. Through the church ministry, the whole family including David accepted Jesus Christ and were eventually baptised.
Entering adulthood, he started work in a large local construction company while pursuing private studies in accountancy. After 10 years, he started his own civil engineering construction company with a few former colleagues, undertaking earthworks and reclamation projects at Jurong Port and the Mitsubishi Shipyard. As the business took off and bigger projects rolled in, cash flow became a problem.
One day while driving to work, he suffered a heart attack. In the pain and panic, he thought of his young wife and two sons, only 7 and 5 years old then. The words "Jesus Saves", which he had seen on the back of a car windscreen, flashed across his mind. He had no idea how Jesus could save him in that dire moment but cried out anyway, "Jesus, please save me. Don’t let me die!"
Just then, a business associate passing his car, which was at the entrance of the office building, saw his distress and rushed him to hospital. During his month-long hospitalisation, he reflected on his harrowing experience and felt God was calling him to serve in church.
Fruitful Service
However, he did not respond to the call immediately. Upon recovery, he undertook road construction projects in Malaysia for another 5 years.
Service in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
When he returned to Singapore finally, the church pastor approached him to take on the role of Steward for the Hokkien service. He accepted without hesitation and sold his construction company, thus beginning his journey of Christian service with zeal and passion.
God honoured his heart’s desire for service and over the years, called him to serve in various capacities.
When the church started the English service, he was appointed the steward and started the small group ministry, leading the first Cell Group with the pastor. He also served as an Associate Lay Leader (2002-2019) as well as Chairman of the Property Management Committee for 17 years (1997-2014).
When the Church building at Telok Ayer Street was gazetted as a national monument, he was tasked to form a Renovation Committee to restore the church building to its original features and character. It was a massive project requiring co-ordination with various stakeholders and oversight of contractors.
In the midst of the restoration works, David experienced a touching moment when a significant discovery was made of 4 Chinese calligraphic characters in gold, "Shang Di Shi Ai" (God is Love) which had been obscured by the timber backdrop at the pulpit area in the sanctuary. These precious words describing God’s character were carefully preserved and restored with gold leaf to their former glory so that subsequent generations of worshipers entering the sanctuary are reminded of God's great enduring love.
Although the work was fulfilling, the demanding schedule caused David to suffer another heart attack. God graciously sustained him and despite health challenges, the restoration work was successfully completed and the building conferred a heritage award by the Government.
Another significant construction project undertaken by the church was the redevelopment of the Telok Blangah branch church building, formerly also known as Telok Blangah Chinese Methodist Church in 1995. David was appointed as Chairman of the Technical and Construction Committee.
David experienced God’s blessing after a decision was made, despite budget constraints, to build the car park down to basement 3 and add a columbarium in basement 1 to cater for the need of aging members. When the contractor was excavating for the basement structure up to 45 feet below sea level, hard rocks were encountered resulting in substantial savings in the cost of sheet piling. The entire project was successfully completed on 25th October 2004 at a total cost of $11.4 million against the original budget of $15 million. The new building was named Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church TA2 Sanctuary.
Service in CAC and MCS
While David was serving in the local church, he was elected as the Conference Treasurer at the Chinese Annual Conference in 1992 and continually served for 12 years until 2004. In 2001, he helped to submit a successful tender for a piece of land in Sengkang. Today, CAC Sengkang Methodist Church stands on the site, serving the community in that district.
He has served on various CAC Boards. He was a member of the CAC Executive Board (1992 -2004) and served as CAC Associate Conference Lay Leader for four years (2013-2016). His last held service before retirement was as Chairman of the Board of Governance (2017-2019).
At the General Conference level, he has served in the Financial Administration Council (1992 -2004), was a member of the Council of Governance for 4 years and also served as a member of the Council of Trustees (2009-2012).
He served as honorary Treasurer for 16 years (1995-2011) on the Board of St. Francis Methodist School, a private education institution started by the Methodist Church of Singapore to offer a second chance to struggling students who could not fit in mainstream schools for various reasons.
God’s blessings
David is filled with thankfulness for the many ways God had blessed him and his family. Firstly, he has a supportive and godly wife, Shirley. Though she was not highly educated, she believed and trusted the Lord completely. Feeling that she could not help her sons much, she placed them in God’s hand. During one revival meeting, she willingly offered her two sons to serve the Lord when the preacher made an altar call. Without fail, she prayed fervently for their two sons even after they had grown up and started their own families, often reminding them to give their very best to the Lord.
In response to God's calling to theological education, their elder son, Edwin went to the United Kingdom to study Systematic Theology and eventually graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a doctoral degree. He is a Methodist minister and currently the Principal of the Trinity Theological College. His second son, Winston also studied theology. He was conferred a Bachelor of Theology degree by the University of Glasgow and currently serves as chaplain of a Christian-based healthcare institution.
Another major blessing was being part of Bible Study Fellowship for several years. In the midst of a busy church service schedule, his desire was to seek God first and know Him better by studying God’s Word. For him, it was not a mere intellectual exercise but one that led to the transformation and renewing of his mind. As he grew spiritually, God and His Word became his source of strength and hope.
Whenever he faced challenges and difficulties in business or service, God’s loving kindness and assuring Word enabled him to trust and seek His guidance. Being a mere human, he has struggled with fear and discouragement on many occasions, including a fearful situation of near bankruptcy at one stage. When his faith wavered, he would cry out to God in the midst of desperation and God would help him overcome it.
David Tay Boon Hua retired as a honorary steward in 2019 due to ill health. However, even as age and physical weakness has caught up with him, God’s grace continued to sustain him and keep him in good spirits, till he returned to God’s eternal glory and rest on 19 May 2024.
Mr David Tay Boon Hua, chairman of the TA2 Technical and Construction Committee, holding a shovel standing on the right, took part in the TA2 topping up ceremony on 4 July 2004.
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郑文华先生 (1941 - 2024)
郑文华先生是一个育有十个孩子的家庭中的长子，他有两个弟弟和七个妹妹。他于1941年11月30日出生在日本占领英国殖民地新加坡的时期。
信仰的启蒙
郑文华先生通过在他的学校、奥登卫理中学（Oldham Methodist School）所上的圣经知识课程中第一次接触到基督教信仰。然而，那时他从未亲自认识耶稣基督。他的母亲是一位虔诚的佛教徒，强烈反对她的孩子成为基督徒。然而，上帝在默默地在郑先生的家庭中动工。
一个亲戚在郑先生的父亲患心脏病后鼓励他们参加直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂。通过教会的努力，郑先生全家接受了耶稣基督，并最终受洗。
成年后，郑先生在一家大型本地建筑公司工作，并在同时他自修会计学。10年后，他与几个前同事创办了自己的土木工程建筑公司，在裕廊港口和三菱造船厂进行土方工程和填海项目。随着业务的起步和更大规模的项目的进展，资金流动成为一个问题。
有一天，在开车上班的路上，他遭遇了一次心脏病发作。在痛苦和恐慌中，他想到自己年轻的妻子和两个儿子，当时只有7岁和5岁。他脑海中闪现出他曾在一辆汽车后挡风玻璃上看到的“耶稣拯救”这几个字。他不晓得耶稣能如何在那个危急中拯救他，但无论如何他大声的呼喊：“耶稣，请拯救我，别让我死！”
就在那时，一个经商伙伴路过他停在办公楼入口处的车，看到他在疼痛当中，立即将他送往医院。在他住院一个月期间，他反思了自己惊心动魄的经历，并感到上帝呼召他到教会中事奉。
丰盛的事奉
然而，郑先生当时并没有立即回应上帝的呼召。康复后，他在马来西亚承接道路建设项目工作了另外5年。
在直落亚逸礼拜堂的事奉
在他最终回到新加坡时，教会牧师请他担任厦语崇拜的执事。他毫不犹豫地接受了，并出售了他的建筑公司，从而开始了他热诚与积极的基督徒事奉之旅。
上帝回应了他对事奉的渴望，并多年来呼召他在各种职务中服事。
当教会开始英语崇拜时，他担任英语崇拜的执事，并开始了小组事工，在牧师的带领下成立了第一个小组。他还曾任副会友领袖（2002-2019）以及财务管理委员会主席17年（1997-2014）。
当直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的建筑物被政府定为国家古迹时，他受委组织教堂翻新工程委员会，以恢复教堂建筑的原貌和特色。这是一个庞大的项目，需要与各有关部门协调，并监督承包商的工作。
在翻新工程进行期间，郑先生经历了一次感人的时刻，当时在圣殿讲台处的木制背景后发现了四个用金色书法写成的汉字，“上帝是爱”。这些描述上帝特性的珍贵字词于是被小心的保存下来、并用金箔恢复到往昔的辉煌，以便让后世的人群在进入圣所时，能感受到上帝伟大而持久的爱。
尽管工作令他满足，繁忙的日程安排使郑先生再次遭受心脏病发作。上帝仁慈地支撑着他，尽管健康方面存在挑战，翻新工程还是成功完成了，并获得了政府的文化遗产奖。
教会承担的另一个重要建筑项目，就是1995年重建坐落在直落布兰雅的分堂，以前也被称为直落布兰雅卫理公会礼拜堂。郑先生受委为技术和建筑委员会主席。
在做出以下一个重大的决定后，郑先生体验了上帝的祝福。这决定的过程如下：当时尽管预算有限，教会最后决定要将停车场建设到地下3层，并在地下1层增设骨灰堂以满足年迈会友的需求。结果当承包商在海平面以下45英尺处开挖地下结构时，遇到了坚硬的岩石，从而在打地桩的成本上实现了大幅度的节省。整个项目于2004年10月25日成功完成，总建筑费为1140万新元，比原本预算的1500万新元低。新建筑被命名为直落亚逸卫理公会第二圣殿，英文简称为TA2。
在华人年议会与卫理总会的事奉
当郑先生在本堂教会服事的同时，他于1992年在华人年议会上当选为年议会财政，并连续服事了12年，直到2004年。在2001年，他协助成功投标了在盛港一块土地。如今，华人年议会盛港卫理公会礼拜堂矗立于该土地上，为该地区的社区服务。
郑先生曾在华人年议会的各部任职。他是华人年议会执行部的成员（1992-2004），并担任了四年的华人年议会副会友领袖（2013-2016）。他在退休前最后担任的职务是年会监管部主席（2017-2019）。
在新加坡卫理公会总会层面，他曾在财务理事会（1992-2004）任职，担任过四年的监管理事会成员，并曾担任过信托理事会成员（2009-2012）。
他曾担任圣法兰西斯卫理学校董事会的名誉财务主管16年（1995-2011），该学校是新加坡卫理公会创办的一所私立教育机构，为因各种原因无法适应主流学校的学生提供第二次机会。
上帝的祝福
郑先生对上帝多方祝福他和家人充满感恩。首先，他有一个支持他、敬虔的妻子黄秀卿女士。尽管她没有受过很高的教育，但她完全相信并信任主。她觉得自己无法对儿子们有太多帮助，所以将他们交托给上帝。在一次奋兴会中，当讲员领会众祷告并呼召时，郑太太愿意将她的两个儿子献给主。她坚持为两个儿子祷告，即使他们长大并建立了自己的家庭，她经常提醒他们将最好的奉献给主。
响应上帝的呼召，他们的长公子郑益民博士前往英国研读系统神学，并最终从爱丁堡大学获取得神学博士学位。他是卫理公会的牧师，现任三一神学院的院长。第二公子郑益山先生也攻读神学，并获得了格拉斯哥大学的神学学士学位。他如今在一所基督教医疗机构当院牧。
另一个重要的祝福是多年来参与查经团契(Bible Study Fellowship)。在繁忙的教会服事日程中，他的愿望是首先寻求上帝，通过研究上帝的话语更加了解祂。对郑先生来说，这不仅仅是一种知识上的锻炼，更是一种导致心灵的转变和更新。随着他在灵命上的成长，上帝和祂的话语成为他力量和希望的源泉。
无论在事业或事奉中面临挑战和困难时，上帝的慈爱和坚定的话语使郑先生能够信靠并寻求祂的引导。作为一个平常人，他在许多场合都经历了惧怕和沮丧，包括一次几乎破产的惊心境地。当他的信心动摇时，他会在绝望中向上帝呼求，而上帝会帮助他克服困境。
由于健康原因，郑文华先生于2019年从执事会退休，成为荣誉执事。然而，即使高龄和身体的虚弱已经赶上了他，上帝的恩典仍然支撑着他，使他保持着乐观的态度，一直到2024年5月19日他回到上帝永恒的荣耀与安息。
郑文华先生 （右边站立，手握铲子），TA2 技术与建筑委员会主席，于2004年7月4日参与TA2 盖顶仪式。
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Mr Liew Choe Hoon (1911 - 1989)
To tell of the contributions of TA pioneer Mr Liew Choe Hoon, who was a steward of the church and served in the Local Church Executive Committee for about 40 years, one cannot help but talk about church worship and choral music.
Except during pandemic times, copies of hymnals and bibles have always lined the back of each pew. Amongst these was the Amoy Hymnal, a thick hardcover book containing familiar well-loved Hokkien hymns.
Its nondescript presence was so entrenched, few would have asked where it came from, or who published it. Yet behind it lies a great testimony of dedicated service and commitment to the worship of God through sacred music.
The 1st edition of the Amoy Hymnal was reprinted by TACMC in May 1955 because copies of the original Amoy Hymnal compiled by the Church of Christ in South Fujian were either lost or destroyed during the war. The second edition was published in June 1975 during the church’s 50th Anniversary.
The compilation of 400 hymns in both Hokkien and English was no small feat in those days and Mr. Liew was one of the church pioneers who played a big part in the production of both editions of the Amoy Hymnal.
Every committed Christian who eventually serves in significant ways has a starting point in their faith journey. So, how did God shape Mr. Liew’s younger years and lead him into service?
Born on 19 March 1911 in Amoy, China, Mr. Liew lost his father when he was barely a month old. His widowed mother brought him up and sent him – her only child – to Nanyang under a relative’s care to further his studies. Only about 10 years old on arrival in Singapore, he attended Anglo-Chinese School until senior high. Upon passing the Cambridge examinations, he obtained a job as a non-uniformed police officer cum photographer investigating homicide cases in the Criminal Investigation Department.
God gave Mr. Liew a love for music which led him to his salvation and years of dedicated service in the TACMC choir. It began when God providentially led him to seek lodgings in the vicinity of TACMC. The sound of hymns being sung first attracted his attention and he might have begun attending the services then. Church records show that he was baptized in 1928.
At that time, some rooms in church were available for rent and the young bachelor rented one on the third floor. Living in church was convenient, as his place of work was nearby on Cecil Street.
TACMC’s new choir conductor, Mr. Herbert P.C. Wu also lived in the church and approached him to be his assistant. One of Mr. Liew’s responsibilities was to produce the choir’s music sheets. A stencil pen was used to copy the notes and lyrics on a sheet of waxed stencil paper. Then it was placed on a cyclostyling machine which rotated the stencil in a continuous loop, with the right amount of duplicating ink to print the copies. Making music sheets this way was time-consuming, laborious, and sometimes messy. It required patience, an eye for detail, and an ability to write small words in Mandarin, Hokkien and English, besides musical notation!
It was said of Mr. Liew that while he spoke few words, he was a man of action. Producing the music sheets was his labour of love. He gave not just in effort but also in finances by paying for all the materials used. Later, when the church needed renovations, he undertook the planning and installation of choir stalls in the sanctuary as a love gift to the church – so great was his passion for sacred music. Another example of his love in action was when Mr. Liew helped set up TA’s sound system in the 1960s. He ingeniously made valve amplifiers with metal box housings and constructed plywood boxes to house 8-inch and 10-inch speakers. After painting them, he personally installed them on the sanctuary pillars.
Mr. Liew got married in 1948 but he remained an ardent member of the TA church choir. Three out of his four children also served in church choirs. His elder son, Cheng San, conducted the Senior Sunday School choir while his elder daughter, Soon Kah, sang in the church choir and his younger daughter, Soon Chin, conducted the children’s choir.
His early role as the choir conductor’s assistant prepared Mr. Liew for bigger things; the compilation of two editions of the Amoy Hymnal in 1955 and 1975 respectively. The production of the 1st edition was an intricate process and Mr. Liew was one of 14 volunteers involved. Without modern aids like computers with music writing software, the music notes and their connecting lines had to be pasted by hand onto a large white sheet of paper. The completed score was then photographed with a camera and tripod. His son, Cheng San, recalls his father shooing him away as a child from the delicate work of preparing the scores at home during evenings.
When the 1st edition went out of print, the church decided to compile a 2nd edition to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the church and include English translations for the benefit of the bilingual congregation. To prepare the scores, Mr. Liew probably liaised with Mrs Ivy Balchin, who provided the English translations to the indigenously composed Mandarin and Hokkien hymns included in the new edition. His daughters, Soon Kah and Soon Chin, were roped in to type out the English translations and check the spelling and metre of the hymns.
Mr Liew would be heartened to know that the Amoy Hymnal has served many Chinese congregations outside TACMC well up to the present day. The Christian service of our pioneers like him has left us a legacy of eternal value.
On the home front, one of the greatest impacts Mr Liew had on his children was his great concern for his family’s salvation and spiritual growth.
Following the advice of Proverbs 22:6, he brought his children to Sunday School at TACMC every week without exception – whatever the weather, and whether there were exams or not.
During the week leading up to his mother’s baptism at TA’s weekly cottage meeting, a relative paid them a weekday lunchtime visit to try to change her mind. Mr Liew, who came home for lunch daily, sat rigidly in his armchair a few feet away from the elderly ladies with his eyes closed, perhaps in prayer, until the visitor left without accomplishing her original intent. When his mother eventually received baptism, it was the only occasion his children had seen their father shedding tears.
By his children’s description, Mr Liew was, like many Asian fathers, undemonstrative outwardly, preferring to let his actions speak for themselves. When his mother passed away, he took extreme care to design her tombstone. He also followed the ancient Chinese custom of mourning for three years. Such was his way of obeying the fifth commandment.
Before he passed away on 25 September 1989, he left a handwritten will. He gave very small tokens to each of his four children, but bequeathed the total amount in a savings account to his lifelong church TACMC. He also movingly asked that the children take the utmost care of their mother, just like what the Lord Jesus did before He died on the cross, when He entrusted His earthly mother to His beloved disciple John.
During his lifetime, Mr Liew Choe Hoon served God and the church faithfully for more than five decades, leaving us a Christian model of persevering steadfast dedication to His Lord’s work and people. Now, he is part of that cloud of witnesses the writer of Hebrews described in Hebrews 12:1-2 who by his life’s example is exhorting us to lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Let us take heed and be inspired to live our lives likewise.
References:
- LCEC Minutes 27/9/1975
- LCEC Minutes 30/6/1975
- LCEC Minutes 17/10/1977
- Article written by Mr Liew Choe Hoon about the Church Choir in the 25th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine published in 1950
- Undated article about Hokkien Choir found in Archive collection
- Preface of 1st Edition of Amoy Hymnal
- Preface of 2nd Edition of Amoy Hymnal
- Notes from interview with Mr Liew’s children by Mrs Angela Tay
- Personal Notes on Mr Liew Choe Hoon by Mr Liew Cheng San, Ms Liew Soon Kah, Ms Liew Soon Chin and Mr Liew Heng San
2nd Edition of the Amoy Hymnal, published by Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church in 1975
Typesetting proof through manual paste-up painstakingly done by Mr Liew Choe Hoon
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留澡芬先生 (1911 - 1989)
留澡芬先生曾是直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的执事，在执事会里忠心服事40年之久。如要讲述留先生对本堂的贡献，就不得不谈论本堂崇拜和诗班的圣乐事工。
除了在疫情期间，本堂每张长椅的背后，都摆设着诗歌本与圣经。诗歌本当中之一就是《闽南音圣诗》（The Amoy Hymnal），这是一本厚厚的硬皮书，内中印有熟悉且深受喜爱的闽南圣诗。
它默默无闻但又根深蒂固的受保存，很少有人会问起它的来源或出版者是谁。然而，在它背后隐藏着对圣乐崇拜的贡献、服事和承诺的伟大见证。
《闽南音圣诗》的第一版于1955年5月由直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂重新编印，这是因为当时由中国闽南基督教会所编印的原版闽南圣诗、在战争期间被丢失，或被毁。1975年6月，直落亚逸堂在庆祝本堂建堂50周年之际，再次编印《闽南音圣诗》的第二版。
当时，编撰400首闽南和英文圣诗的汇编工作可谓不小，而留先生是参与《闽南音圣诗》两个版本制作的教会先驱之一。
每一位奉献且作出重大贡献的虔诚基督徒在信仰之旅中都有一个起点。那么，神是如何塑造留先生的年轻时期并引领他事奉的呢？
留澡芬先生于1911年3月19日出生于中国厦门，他在出生仅一个月时就失去了父亲。他的寡居母亲抚养他长大，并将他送到南洋在亲戚的照顾下继续学业。抵达新加坡时，他大约只有10岁，在英华中学上学直到高中。通过剑桥考试后，他获得了一份在刑事调查处从事调查凶杀案的非制服警察兼摄影师的工作。
神赐给留先生对音乐热爱的心，这引导他的得救、以及对直落亚逸堂诗班多年的事奉。一开始，是神的带领让他寻找在直落亚逸堂附近的住所。最先吸引他注意的是诗班唱的圣诗歌声，那时他大概已开始参加直落亚逸堂的崇拜。根据教会的记录，留先生于1928年受洗。那个时候，直落亚逸堂里的一些房间可以出租，这位年轻的单身汉租了位于礼拜堂三楼的一个房间。住在教堂里很方便，因为他的工作地点就在附近的丝丝街。
当时直落亚逸堂诗班的新任指挥，吴保助先生也住在教堂里，他请留先生担任助理。留先生的责任之一是制作合唱团的乐谱。他们使用了一支蜡笔将音符和歌词复制到蜡质薄膜纸上。然后，将其放置在一个旋转的蜡纸复印机上，机器以恒定的速度转动，使用适量的复印墨水打印副本。以这种方式制作乐谱是耗时、费力且有时会弄得很乱。它不但需要耐心，且需具有洞察秋毫的眼力。除了音乐符号，还需要能够书写细小的汉字、罗马音与英语字母！
有人说留先生虽然寡言，但却有诸多行动。制作乐谱是他的心血之作。他不仅付出了努力，还支付了所有材料的费用。后来，当教堂需要装修时，他主动承担了在圣殿台上设置诗班席位的规划和安装，这是他对圣乐热诚所付出一份如此大的爱心礼物。他的另一个爱心行动的例子是在1960年代，留先生帮助设置直落亚逸堂的音响系统。他巧妙地用金属盒做出真空管放大器，并制作了木质箱子来容纳8英寸和10英寸扬声器。在上好漆之后，他亲自将它们安装在圣所的柱子上。
1948年，留先生结婚，但他仍然是直落亚逸堂诗班的热心成员。他的四个孩子中有三位也在直落亚逸堂的诗班中服事。他的大公子青山担任高级主日学诗班指挥，他的大千金纯嘏参加直落亚逸堂的诗班，而他的小千金纯真则指挥儿童诗班。
他早期担任诗班助理指挥的一职为留先生以后的圣乐事奉铺路，即在1955年和1975年分别编纂两版《闽南音圣诗》。第一版的制作过程非常复杂，留先生是其中14名义务人员。在没有现代化工具如音乐写作软件的情况下，音符和相连的线条必须用手工粘贴到一张大白纸上。完成的乐谱随后用相机和三脚架进行拍摄。他的公子青山回忆起小时候，在家里的晚上看到父亲忙于准备乐谱时，父亲会把他轰出房外。
当第一版绝版时，直落亚逸堂决定编制第二版，并同时纪念建堂50周年，并为双语会众提供英文翻译。为了准备乐谱，留先生据悉曾与慕乐真夫人(Mrs Ivy Balchin)联系，她为新版里有本地创作的中文和闽南诗歌提供了英文的翻译。留先生的两位千金纯嘏与纯真被使唤、为英文的翻译稿打字，并校对诗歌的拼写和韵律。
留先生假如仍健在，将会很欣慰地知道《闽南音圣诗》至今仍然为许多直落亚逸堂以外的华人教会所使用。像他这样的先驱基督徒的奉献服务给我们留下了永恒的价值传承。
在家庭中，留先生带给他的孩子们最大影响之一是他对家人救恩和灵命成长的极大关注。
他按照箴言22:6的忠告，每周都无论天气如何，无论是否有考试，都带他的孩子们到直落亚逸堂的主日学。
在留先生的母亲受洗归主之前的一周里，一位亲戚在周日的午餐时间来拜访，试图改变她老人家的想法。留先生每天中午都回家吃饭，他严肃地坐在离那两位老太太几英尺远的扶手椅上，闭上眼睛，也许在默默祷告，直到来访者未能完成原来的目的而离开。当他的母亲最终受洗时，这是他的孩子们见到他流泪的唯一场合。
根据他的孩子们的描述，留先生像许多亚洲父亲一样，在外表上不会流露情感，但更用行动来表达自己。当他的母亲去世时，他非常用心地设计了她的墓碑。他还遵循了中国古老的哀悼习俗，为期三年。这就是他遵守圣经里十诫中第五诫的方式。
1989年9月25日安息之前，他留下了一份手写的遗嘱。他向他的四个孩子每人赠送了一些小礼物，但将储蓄账户中的全部金额遗赠给了他终身所属的教会直落亚逸礼拜堂。他还感人地要求孩子们、像主耶稣在十字架上临终前将地上的母亲托付给他所亲爱的门徒约翰一样，尽最大的本分地照顾好他们的母亲。
在他有生之年，留澡芬先生忠诚地为上帝和教会服务了五十多年，给我们留下了一个持之以恒、坚定奉献于主工和众人的基督徒典范。现在，他成为希伯来书作者在希伯来书12:1-2中所描述如同云彩围着的见证人之一，凭借他生命的榜样来劝勉我们放下各样的重担和脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐奔那摆在我们前头的路程，仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣。让我们谨慎听从，并受到鼓舞，以同样的方式生活。
参考资料：
- LCEC会议纪要 1975年9月27日
- LCEC会议纪要 1975年6月30日
- LCEC会议纪要 1977年10月17日
- 留澡芬,“直落亚逸礼拜堂的吟诗班”，直落亚逸礼拜堂建堂25周年，纪念特刊，53-55页，1950年。
- 关于厦语诗班的无日期文章，存档收藏品中发现
- 《闽南音圣诗》第一版序言
- 《闽南音圣诗》第二版序言
- Angela Tay女士采访留先生的孩子们的笔记
- 关于留澡芬先生的个人回忆笔记，由留青山先生、留纯嘏女士、留纯真女士和留恒山先生撰写。
直落亚逸礼拜堂于1975年出版的《闽南音圣诗》第二版，
留澡芬先生亲身苦心地用手工为诗歌排版
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Mr. Lim Yeow Tong (1904 - 1992)
Mr. Lim Yeow Tong served as the Lay Leader of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for more than 40 years. He is amiable and approachable. Most of the church members know him and affectionately call him "Yeow Tong Hia" in Hokkien. (i.e. Brother Yeow Tong). Brother Yeow Tong was born on September 24, 1904 in Hengdelou, Longpu Township, Fujian Province, China. Being the only grandson in his family, he was well doted. At that time, the family was quite well off, and his father worked as the secretary of a gasoline company run by foreigners in Xiamen. However, misfortune struck and when Brother Yeow Tong was two years old, his mother died of a respiratory disease, and his father passed away soon after because of physical and mental distress brought on by his spouse’s death.
At that time, Brother Yeow Tong was only three years old, and dependent on his elderly and frail grandparents. His life turned more and more impoverished. His grandparents died of hardship from their state then, and Brother Yeow Tong was transferred care to a second uncle who was immobile. At the age of six, he lived a nomadic life, going to different homes of nearby relatives and friends to do odd jobs such as sweeping the floor, weeding, and watering flowers. He earned a few cents a day to survive. Once, Brother Yeow Tong was seriously ill and did not eat for several days. When he was lying on the hospital bed, an unbelievable miracle happened. Brother Yeow Tong saw with his own eyes, two strangers through the wall of the room, coming into the room with food and water in their hands to feed him.
A few years later, another miracle took place in his life. One day, the Lord spoke to a relative and friend to persuade the second uncle to give up his custody and let Brother Yeow Tong be fostered and live in with a relative, because this relative had needed a son to carry on the family lineage, and they were a well-off family. So, arrangements were made, and Brother Yeow Tong finally stepped into a warm and loving home. At the age of ten, he had the opportunity to attend a missionary school. The school conducted worship, Bible reading, prayer, etc. every day. From then on, Brother Yeow Tong began to know that there is a God who created the universe, the incarnate Jesus Christ, and he also understood the truth and difference between the true God and false gods. He read in Psalm 146:9: "The LORD protects the stranger, upholds the fatherless and the widow, but bends the path of the wicked." He felt that "God is the God of orphans", and his heart experienced God's love and mercy. Seeing how God had miraculously led and allowed the best arrangement to take place, he felt gratitude and praise in his heart.
After graduating from primary school, Brother Yeow Tong was promoted by the principal to attend Xiamen Gulangyu Xunyuan Secondary School for free. Xunyuan Middle School was a well-known school founded by the church. Brother Yeow Tong also participated in the special bible study class set up by the chapel over two consecutive years and was baptized into the church at the same time. Every Sunday afternoon, Brother Yeow Tong and other students went to Dongyu village to preach as a team. After graduating from secondary school, he travelled southward with his friends, landed in Singapore, temporarily stayed at a relative's house, and started worshipping at the nearby Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church on the first Sunday.
Later, he moved to the 2nd floor of No. 272 Telok Ayer Street, opposite the church. Every Sunday before worship, he would arrive early to teach the members to read the hymns in Hokkien, and also taught the Bible. He also began to participate in the church school ministry of the church. His regarded Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church as his own home. After Brother Yeow Tong moved to Singapore, he first taught at a night school, and later, through a friend's introduction, he transferred to a bank to work as an accountant. Soon, Brother Yeow Tong also settled down and raised a family. His family rented a room on the fourth floor of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. In 1935, Dr John Sung came to the church to hold an evangelistic rally. Brother Yeow Tong was deeply moved by the Holy Spirit during the evangelistic meeting, and he decided to dedicate himself, and since then, was transformed to a brand new person. No matter when and where he was, he would seize the opportunity to preach the gospel to people he met and lead them to the Lord. It may be in a taxi, in an office or to street hawkers, Brother Yeow Tong ‘cast his net wide to catch fish’.
Another meaningful and pioneering project Brother Yeow Tong had embarked on in church was under the leadership of Rev Chua Sing Teck in 1948, he worked together with Mr. Teo Kong Hua and Mr. Chan Sing Seong to jointly plan and set up the Endeavour Fellowship and served as its first chairman. Brother Yeow Tong devoted a lot of time and energy to the ministries and fellowship, planning different programmes, including dedication sessions, preaching practices, invited talks, and testimonials, etc. The Endeavour Fellowship is still active today and has cultivated many members to participate in various ministries for more than 70 years.
An important ministry of the Endeavour Fellowship in the early years was open-air evangelism. Brother Yeow Tong, together with Rev Chua Sin Teck, Mr. Teo Kong Hua, and others, regularly visited places like Bukit Ho Swee, Jalan Kukoh, Club Street, Thong Chai Medical Institution, Havelock Road, Lau Pa Sat, etc, while holding banners bearing the cross. Later, the evangelistic team expanded to include other church members including Brother Tock Swee, Sister Teck Choo, Sister Liew Kim and Brother Kah Hoe. The Endeavour Fellowship also purchased a Gospel Bus and added foldable cloth chairs for evangelism and family worship. Their acts of evangelizing were sometimes met with resistance and harassment from the residents. Yet their zeal for God was encouraging and the number of converts increased. After the Endeavour Fellowship was set up, family worship and evangelistic meetings held at members’ homes packed every week throughout the year, and the church prospered during that time.
Brother Yeow Tong bore the gift of drawing which he self-taught. He started an advertising company and contributed his skills to the designs of the covers of the church's weekly bulletins and anniversary magazines. At the same time, in the 1960s and 1970s, whenever there were drama performances to celebrate Christmas, Brother Yeow Tong would conceptualize, and design stage sets and other props for the performance. He painted three large oil paintings for the church: The Last Supper, The Resurrection of Jesus, and The Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Today, these three paintings are still hung in the social hall of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for church members and visitors to enjoy.
Brother Yeow Tong was often invited to preach in Hokkien Service not only in Telok Ayer Church but at the then branch church at Wishart Road and the Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church. Every time he was invited to speak, he would readily accept and spend a long time praying, collecting, and sorting out materials. The title of his last sermon was: "The Hope of Eternal Life", which was also the greatest hope he had clung onto all of his personal life. On October 13, 1992, Brother Yeow Tong returned to the Lord and fulfilled his greatest hope in life for Christ, and entered the eternal kingdom prepared for him by God.
References:
- Lim Yeow Tong, “Blessed are the fatherless”, My Testimony, published by Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, 18 November 1984 (in Chinese), pp. 7-9.
- Lim Hong Khiam, “Remembering my late father, Mr Yeow Tong (1904 -1992)”, Ripples from the Bay, 23 Nov 2003 (in Chinese), pp. 13-15.
- Lim Siew Hong and Chua Tock Swee, oral notes, 2 August 2022.
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林耀东先生 (1904 - 1992)
林耀东先生在本堂担任会友领袖有四十多年之久，他为人和蔼可亲，会友们多都认识他，并亲切地以闽南话称呼他“耀东兄”(Yeow Tong Hia)。耀东兄于1904年9月24日出生于中国福建省龙埔乡、恒德楼，是家中唯一独生孙儿，被视如宝贝一样。当时，家境相当美好，父亲在厦门一间外国人经营的汽油公司担任书记。可是，天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。耀东兄两岁多时，母亲因患咆哮病不治死亡，父亲因为身心不堪打击，不久也相继去世。那时，耀东兄才三岁，依赖年高体弱的祖父母抚养，生活愈来愈穷困，不幸的孤儿拖累了两位老人家，以致一年后归天。耀东兄就跟着一位双腿残废的二叔相依为命。六岁的他，就过流浪式的生活，到邻近亲友的家中作散工如扫地、拔草、浇花等。每天只能赚取几分钱糊口。有一次，耀东兄患了重病，几天都没有进食。当他躺在病床上时，发生了一件不可思议的奇事；耀东兄竟能透过房间的墙壁看见两个陌生人，手里拿着食物与水走进房里喂他吃东西。
几年后，另一件奇妙的事情发生。有一天，主感动一位亲友与耀东兄的二叔商量，要求让耀东兄过房给一位亲戚，因为这位亲戚需要找一个男孩子来传宗接代，而且他们又是小康之家。于是，耀东兄在这位亲友的安排下，终于踏入一个温暖之家。十岁那年，他有机会在一间教会学校就读。学校每日有礼拜、读经、祈祷等。从那时起，耀东兄开始认识了天地间有一位创造宇宙的上帝，道成肉身的耶稣基督，也明白了真神与假神的道理。他在诗篇146篇9节读到：“耶和华保护寄居的，扶持孤儿和寡妇，却使恶人的到路弯曲。”他感受到“上帝是孤儿的上帝”，心灵体验上帝的慈爱与怜悯，并看到上帝怎样在暗中奇妙的带领和安排，以致心中存着感谢和赞美。
小学毕业后，耀东兄受校长提拔免费就读厦门鼓浪屿寻源中学。寻源中学是教会创办的有名学府，耀东兄也参加该礼拜堂特设的圣经研究班，一连两年就按章参加考试，同时受洗入教。每主日下午，耀东兄与其他同学结队到东屿乡村布道。中学毕业后，他与好友南下，在新加坡登陆，暂住在亲戚家里，第一个礼拜天就到邻近的直落亚逸礼拜堂做礼拜。
以后，他搬到礼拜堂对面直落亚逸街272号2楼，每个主日崇拜前会早到礼拜堂教导会友读圣诗，从第一首开始用闽南语读，之后还教导圣经。于是，也开始参与教会的主日学事工。他与直落亚逸堂的关系，如同自己的家一样。耀东兄在星定居后，先在一间夜校教书，后来经友人介绍，他转到一家银行当会计师。不久，耀东兄也在本地成家，有了儿女之后，他带着家人在直落亚逸礼拜堂四楼租了一间房间安居下来。1935年，宋尚节博士到本堂举行布道培灵会，耀东兄在布道会中受圣灵的浇灌，便决志把自己献上，从那一刻起，他成为一个全新的人。无论何时何地，他都会把握机会向人传福音，领人归主。无论是在德士上，办公的地方或街边小贩摊，都是耀东兄撒网捕鱼的场所。
耀东兄在本堂作了一件意义深长的先驱工作，就是于1948年在蔡信德牧师的带领下，与张光华与曾生相先生同心协力，共同策划，设立了勉励会，并担任首任会长，并为勉励会付出许多时间与精力，安排不同节目，包括献心会、练习讲道、特别讲座、见证会等。勉励会迄今仍旧活跃，七十多年来已栽培了许多会友参与各项圣工。
勉励会当年的一项重要事工，就是露天布道。耀东兄例常与蔡信德牧师与张光华先生等人，拿着福音的旗帜并高举十字架到河水山、碽石仔，大门内，同济医院，黑桥头，铁巴刹等地方，向该区的居民传福音。以后布道队伍扩大，包括督瑞兄、德珠姐、柳金姐、加和兄、等人。勉励会还购买福音车、并添购可折叠布椅、供布道与家庭礼拜之用。布道有时会遭受到当地群众的抗拒与骚扰。他们传福音的热诚，是值得鼓舞。使得教人数增加。勉励会设立之后，当时全年每周都排满在会友家中举行的家庭礼拜与布道会，所以当时教会很兴旺。
耀东兄天生喜好绘画，靠着勤奋自学，以后开创一间广告公司。凭他绘画的手艺，时常为教会的周刊与周年纪念特刊设计封面。同时，在60到70年代，每逢庆祝圣诞节若有话剧表演时，耀东兄必定义不容辞地为有关表演构思并设计舞台布景及其他道具。那时，他为教会画了三大幅油画：最后的晚餐、耶稣的复活、客西马尼园的祷告。如今，这三幅画仍悬挂在本堂楼下副堂，供会友与访客观赏。
耀东兄常受邀在本堂厦语崇拜、以及当年的直落布兰雅分堂及女皇镇属堂证道。每次受邀讲道时，他都欣然接受，并化很长的时间祷告并收集与整理资料。他最后一次讲道的题目是：“永生的盼望”，这也是他一生所持守的最大盼望。耀东兄于1992年10月13日，蒙主恩召，完成他一生最大的盼望，进入上帝为他预备永恒的国度。
参考文献：
- 林耀东：“孤儿是有福的”，卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂编印，1984年11月18日出版，我的见证，7-9页。
- 林鸿谦： “追悼先父 耀东先生 （1904-1992）”，水湾之声，2003年11月23日出版，13-15页。
- 林秀峰、蔡督瑞： 口述资料， 2022年8月2日
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Richard Tay Tong Thiam (1927 -2014)
We're pilgrims on the journey
of the narrow road,
And those who've gone before us
line the way.
Cheering on the faithful,
encouraging the weary,
their lives a stirring testament
to God's sustaining grace.
Steve Green’s song “Find Us Faithful” aptly describes Mr Richard Tay Tong Thiam - “gone before us” but who had encouraged and cheered on the faithful while he was with us.
Mr Richard Tay was born into a Hokkien family and grew up at Cecil Street, just a few blocks away from Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. He was married to the late Lily Loh Geok Kee, and they had four sons and a daughter: the late Daniel Tay Kah Hock, Andrew Tay Kah Su, David Tay Kah Peng, Peter Tay Kah Ann, and Lilian Tay Gek Lian.
Mr Richard Tay grew up in an English-speaking environment, and attended Gan Eng Seng Secondary School. He joined Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church since young and started serving as the president of the English Methodist Youth Fellowship when he was about 15 years old and led his peers in small group bible study. Mr Richard Tay started attending the church’s English Service in 1960 when the service was started by Rev Alfred Yeo.
On 8 November 1970, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church’s English service was reconstituted as the Grace Methodist Church at Telok Blangah and Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church no longer had an English service. As Mr Richard Tay’s family stayed near Telok Ayer, he wanted his family members to continue attending church. Fortunately, an English Sunday School class, taught by the late Mr Cheah Kuan Cheng, was set up, so Mr Richard Tay’s family continued worshipping in Telok Ayer. However, when Mr Cheah could not continue teaching English Sunday School classes, Mr Richard Tay’s family started attending Wesley Methodist Church.
In that time, Mr Richard Tay, however, still had a tugging feeling to return and serve in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. He did return and started serving as a steward in the Local Church Executive Committee. He attended the Hokkien service since that was the only service available then. Mr Tay was so determined to be able to communicate more effectively with the largely Hokkien and Mandarin-speaking leadership and congregation members that he even hired a private tutor to teach his eldest son Daniel Tay and himself Mandarin. What a sterling example of sheer dedication to stay close to the word of God! By this time, Mr Richard Tay, who had personally experienced the predicament of having to leave the church because of the inability to fully comprehend sermons preached in Hokkien, recognized the growing need for an English-language service in church. Many children of Hokkien-speaking church members were English-educated but there was no provision to meet the needs of this group of people.
From 1973 to 2000, Mr Richard Tay was serving as the Associate Lay Leader of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. On 1 November 1982, the pastoral team, led by the late Rev Lim Chee Beng, appointed Mr Richard Tay as the chairman of the sub-committee tasked to set up an English service in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. Other sub-committee members included the late Dr Gwee Ah Leng, Mr Liew Cheng San, the late Mrs Teng Ping Ming, and the late Rev Lim. The sub-committee realised the criticality of addressing the challenges faced by English-speaking members, or risk losing the younger generation. It conducted a survey and held an urgent meeting on 12 Dec 1982. The survey findings confirmed the preference of many members for the setting up of an English Service. Mr Richard Tay wrote in the minutes of the meeting:
I am conscious of the heavy responsibility and the challenging task ahead of us in this endeavour, but I am also convinced that we will bear a greater responsibility if we lose sight of consolidating our members, especially the generations of English-speaking, and the future.
I believe that if we are sincere and dedicated and our actions are in the words of the Psalmist
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But Unto thy name give glory.”
We shall not fail to cause Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church to be a vessel in His Service.
On 3 January 1983, the proposal to start an English service was accepted by the Local Church Executive Committee and on 6 February 1983, the new English service started and was well attended by close to 120 worshippers. In 1989, recounting the growth of the English Service, he wrote
Now in our 7th year, our congregation has more than doubled the number of worshippers and increased our activities…We shall give a good account to God of our endeavours and be of effective service to mankind at large, and our congregation in particular.
Mr Richard Tay and his wife continued to worship in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for many years. Mrs Lily Tay-Loh Geok Kee went home to the Lord in 2011 and Mr Richard Tay in 2014. Mrs Tay was well known for her dedication in preparing delicious breakfast meals for fellow church members. Their eldest son, the late Mr Daniel Tay, used to serve as the pianist for the choir and the English service. His children – David, Peter and Gek Lian – and their families are still worshipping in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist today.
Mr Richard Tay’s actions are a testament to his strong sense of responsibility about the salvation of his fellow members and future generations. He was fervent and dedicated in his service and was instrumental in setting up an English service again for the church after the last one pastored by Rev Alfred Yeo ceased more than 10 years ago. At a time when Singapore’s language policy was still in an embryonic state, his foresight and actions helped to expand the influence of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
All of us worshipping at the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church are beneficiaries of Mr Richard Tay’s faithfulness and dedication. The footprints that he has left for us will continue to lead many to Christ.
O may all who come behind us
find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion
light their way.
May the footprints that we leave,
lead them to believe,
and the lives we live
inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us
find us faithful.
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郑忠添先生 (1927 - 2014)
我们是窄路上的朝圣者，
前辈们指引着我们前行。
他们为忠诚者欢呼，
为疲惫者加油鼓励，
他们的生命,是对上帝恩典鼓动人心的见证。
以上是史蒂夫·格林（Steve Green）的歌曲 “Find us faithful” （“见证我们忠诚不渝”） 的中文翻译。歌词确实是郑忠添先生的写照。他是我们的前辈，在前头指引我们前行。而当年在我们中间时，他为忠诚者欢呼、为疲惫者加油鼓励。
郑忠添先生出生在一个福建籍的家庭，在丝丝街长大，直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂就近在咫尺。他与已故的卢玉枝女士结婚，育有四个儿子和一个女儿：已故的郑嘉福先生、郑嘉寿先生、郑嘉平先生、郑嘉安先生和郑玉莲女士。
郑忠添先生在一个讲英语的环境中长大，并就读于颜永成中学。他从年青时就加入直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂，在大约15岁时开始担任英语卫理青年团的团长，并带领其他青年进行查经小组。1960年杨至恒牧师在直落亚逸堂开设英语崇拜，郑忠添先生也就开始参加英语崇拜。
然而1970年11月8日，直落亚逸堂的英语崇拜自立、成为恩典堂牧区。直落亚逸堂就不再设有英语礼拜。由于郑忠添先生的家人住在直落亚逸街附近，他希望家人能继续参加直落亚逸堂的崇拜。所幸的是，由已故的谢观正先生(Mr Cheah Kuan Cheng 译音)主持的英语主日学班刚好成立，因此郑忠添先生的家人继续在直落亚逸堂参加礼拜。然而，当谢先生无法继续教英语主日学班时，郑忠添先生的家人开始参加卫理公会卫斯理礼拜堂的崇拜。
然而，郑忠添先生仍然惦念不忘、向往回到直落亚逸华人卫理公会教堂事奉。他确实回来并开始在执事会中担任执事。由于当时直落亚逸堂只有厦语崇拜，他只得参加厦语崇拜。郑先生为了能够与大多数讲福建话和华语的领袖和会众更有效地交流，他甚至雇了一名私人教师来教他的长子郑嘉福先生和自己学习华话。这是一个对上帝话语忠诚奉献的杰出榜样！此时，郑忠添先生亲身感受到一些会友、因为不能完全理解福建话讲道、而不得不离开教会所面对的困境。他意识到直落亚逸堂需要开设英语崇拜的需求越来越大。此外，对于许多讲福建话会友的子女中受到英语教育者，直落亚逸堂也没有任何满足这群信徒需求的措施。
从1973年到2000年，郑忠添先生担任直落亚逸的副会友领袖。1982年11月1日，已故林志明牧师领导的牧师团队委任郑忠添先生为、设立英语礼拜的委员会主席。委员会成员包括已故的魏雅聆医生、留青山先生、已故的邓炳明医生娘郭淑贤女士和已故的林牧师。该委员会认识到解决英语会友所面临的诸多挑战的重要性，若不及时处理将面临失去年轻一代的危机。他们进行了一项调查，并于1982年12月12日召开了紧急会议。调查结果证实了许多教友希望设立英语礼拜的期望。郑忠添先生在会议记录中写道：
我意识到我们在这项努力中肩负着重大的责任和充满挑战的任务，但我也确信，如果我们不把巩固我们的会友，特别是讲英语的会友和未来一代的视野看为首要任务，我们将负起更加重大的责任。我相信，如果我们诚恳与奉献精神的行动配合诗篇作者的话：
“耶和华啊，荣耀不要归于我们，
不要归于我们；要归在你的名下。”
我们必能使直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂成为上帝圣工的器皿。
1983年1月3日，设立英语礼拜的提案被执事会接受，1983年2月6日，新的英语崇拜开始举行，近120名会友参加了礼拜。1989年，回顾英语崇拜的增长，郑先生写道：
如今进入我们的第七年，我们的会众人数已经增长了一倍，我们的活动也增加了...我们将对我们的努力向上帝作出美好的交代，并为人类的整体，尤其是我们的会众提供有效的服务。
郑忠添先生和他的夫人继续在直落亚逸礼拜堂崇拜了很多年。卢玉枝女士为会友准备美味的早餐在教会中为众所周知。他们的长子已故的郑嘉福先生曾担任合唱团和英语崇拜的司琴。他们的千金郑玉莲和另外两个公子郑嘉平和郑嘉安及其家人至今仍在直落亚逸堂参加崇拜与服事。
郑忠添先生的行动证明了他对会友和后代信徒救恩的责任感。在杨至恒牧师所带领的英语崇拜停止超过十多年之后、直落亚逸堂终于重新设立英语崇拜，这要归功于郑忠添先生热诚和奉献精神所带来的推动力。在新加坡的语言政策仍处于初级阶段时，他的远见和行动致力于扩展直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的影响力。
我们所有在直落亚逸堂崇拜的会友都是郑忠添先生忠诚和奉献服事的受益者。他给我们留下的足迹将继续引导许多人追随基督。
Steve Green 的 Find us Faithful 中副歌，继续的成为郑忠添先生忠诚事奉的见证：
愿后来者在我们身后，
见证我们忠诚不渝，
愿我们奉献的火焰，
照亮他们的前路。
愿我们留下的足迹，
引领他们相信。
愿我们的生活，
激励他们顺服。
愿后来者在我们身后，
见证我们忠诚不渝。
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Mr Tan Meng Seng (1932 - Present)
Mr Tan Meng Seng was born on 11 October 1932 in the town of Wenchang (文昌市), Hainan. He has a self-effacing tag for himself known as “gong gian” in Hokkien which means stupid kid) because he said he was neither educated nor skilled despite the many jobs he had held before (remisier, business entrepreneur in hair styling and pig farming, to name a few). In fact, by 40, Mr Tan was already a stay-at-home husband and a full-time volunteer in many of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (henceforth, TA)’s projects and committees. Now, recounting his spiritual journey, Mr Tan attested to God’s wisdom and leading to have seen him through every church ministry in which he was one of the key persons involved. One of them was in steering his home church’s foray into overseas mission. Hainan Island is TA’s first overseas mission field, where Mr Tan had pioneered and went on to labour at the harvest field for close to over 30 years.
Being a Hainanese himself, Mr Tan has a great affection for his hometown. One year, he returned to Wenchang to visit relatives. With a vision for mission, he met a Christian brother in a church in Hainan through various channels to initiate a mission programme there. In October 1996, he roped in the help of Pastor Ng Khoon Seng to run Bible training courses. They later organized a two-year Disciples programme, systematically providing continuing training support for preachers and leaders there. With the initial groundwork introduced by Mr Tan, TA started organizing annual mission trips to conduct youth camps during Chinese New Year which were very well received by the young people there. Many young members of TA responded enthusiastically in joining the yearly Hainan mission trips.
Mr Tan’s effort has been very effective in training up local church preachers and leaders, and raised family-based cells as church bases for expansion. Mr Tan had been instrumental in sealing the official appointment of TA’s pastoral support over Hainan Island’s mission. TA’s mission work in Hainan Island led by Mr Tan and the leaders of TA, had influenced lives and families over three decades and counting. From financially supporting six farmers-turned-preachers, to rebuilding churches which were former wood sheds, and dishing out financial assistance and education fund to young adults and children to continue their basic school education, Mr Tan including his wife, had spared no effort, including making several trips to Hainan Island to support the local churches there through their infancy and developmental years. Mr Tan curated disciple-making curriculum and personally taught them in order to equip and build up the capacity and competency of pastoral staff and leadership of theses churches. TA leaders, including Mr Tan and his wife, made annual visits to the island’s churches, hosted youth camps, raised new spiritual leaders in Hainan, and reached out to the Hainanese-speaking pre-believers on the island.
Mr Tan recounted, “When I first met the Village Chief, and talked to him at length, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to help out in this need. I was ready to serve, tasked to raise and undertake training of leaders and the pastors in Hainan Island. Nothing accomplished today, had been by my own effort nor strength, but by God’s doing, power and protection, that a ‘gong gian’ such as I, could be used as His vessel across the seas.”
Back home, Mr Tan Meng Seng, whose wife (then girlfriend) first brought him, a freethinker to Christ, was the SGM (Small Group Ministry)’s Chair cum overall coordinator and lead of the ministry. The newly-weds then shared a common goal to raise a Christ-centric household. “I was an accidental volunteer in church work, starting with being an usher to a committee member before being invited as a steward, and later as a lay leader from 1993 – 1999. When I was in-between jobs and started spending more and more of my time with chairing different ministries, I was grateful that my wife had continued full-time teaching in a primary school, while I had stopped working and devoted all my time with church. I participated in almost every activity and working committee in church. God used this ‘stupid son’, despite my lack of academic nor professional success to serve Him. I count myself worthless if not for God’s grace and blessing.” Mr Tan had been a loyal and faithful worshipper cum member of the Mandarin service, a modern Elijah who manifested the power of prayer in reviving TA through leading its prayer ministry. Mr Tan also taught the new-believers’ classes, teaching discipleship, baptism classes, made home visits and hospital visits (TA is the oldest Chinese speaking Methodist Church in Singapore). Mr Tan is an ardent believer and advocate in witness and evangelism both in local and overseas mission. Mr Tan is always concerned over the salvation of his members and their family members. Mr Tan’s passion and creativity in outreach shone through, when he picked up foot reflexology so as to augment his evangelism work in care and counselling of pre-believers.
Mr Tan also shared a burden for casting of demons (‘exorcism’) and had had personal encounters and taught about opposing forces believed to exist in both Chinese religions and modern context. The topic of his classes would be a common refrain related to Chinese social customs, on how it posed as one of the main obstacles in bringing Chinese pre-believers to Christ. Today, Mr Tan remains as Honorary Steward of TA.
References:
- 海南宣教事工知多少？Ripples from the Bay, 12/1997, p.4
- 海南岛之旅。Ripples from the Bay, 1/1998, pp.3-5
- Magdalene Ong, Hainan Mission Trip, Ripples from the Bay, 2000, p.11
- Susan Koh, interviewing with Mr Tan Meng Seng
- Tan Hua Joo, personal communication
- Mr Lee from Hainan church, personal communication
Mr Tan sharing with young people in the Youth Camp
Mr Tan leading a small group discussion during the camp
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陈明星先生 (1932 至今)
陈明星先生于1932年10月11日出生在海南文昌市。他自称“gong gian”（闽南语，“憨仔”，意即“傻孩子”），因为他认为自己虽然从事过许多工作（股票经纪人、发廊企业家、养猪场主等），但他自认没有受过教育或具备专业技能。事实上，到了40岁，陈先生已经成为了一位全职的家庭主夫，并在直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂参与许多事工和委员会。回顾他的属灵旅程，陈先生见证了上帝的智慧和带领，并看到了他参与的每一个教会事工中的奇妙经历。其中之一就是引领他的家乡教会成为海外宣教的禾场。海南岛是直落亚逸堂的第一个海外宣教领域，陈先生在那里开创并耕耘了近30年的丰收之地。
作为海南人，陈先生对故乡有着深厚的感情。有一年，他回到文昌探亲。怀着对宣教的愿景，他通过各种渠道在海南的一家教堂中结识了某位弟兄，发起了一个宣教事工。1996年10月，他请黄坤成传道协助，开设圣经培训课程。随后，他们组织了一个为期两年的门徒培训项目，为海南的传道人和领袖提供持续的培训支持。在陈先生奠定的初步工作下，直落亚逸堂开始组织每年一度的宣教之旅，在农历新年期间举办青年营会，得到了当地年轻人的热烈响应。直落亚逸堂的许多年青会友都热衷于参加每年的海南宣教之旅。
陈先生在培训当地教会的传道人和领袖方面取得了很大成效，他发起了以家庭为基础的细胞小组，作为教会扩展的基地。陈先生对于直落亚逸堂在海南岛宣教的积极参与起了关键性的作用。由陈先生和直落亚逸堂的领导所开启的海南岛宣教事工，在三十多年的时间里影响了许多人和家庭。从资助六名转为传道人的农民，到重建过去是木棚的教堂，再到向年青人和儿童提供财务援助和教育基金，以便他们继续接受基础教育，陈先生和他的夫人不遗余力，包括多次前往海南岛，支持那里的教会度过初创时期和发展年头。陈先生策划了门徒训练课程，并亲自教导他们，以装备和建立这些教会的牧师和领导的能力和素质。直落亚逸堂的领导，包括陈先生和他的夫人，定期访问岛上的教会，举办青年营会，在海南培养新的属灵领袖，并接触那些说海南话但尚未信主的人。
陈先生回忆道：“当我第一次遇到村长并与他长时间交谈时，我感受到圣灵促使我在这个需求中伸出援手。我准备好要服侍，被委托培养和训练海南岛的领袖和传道人。今天所取得的一切，并不是我个人的努力和力量，而是上帝的作为、能力和保护，让像我这样的“憨仔”能够作为他跨海的器皿。”
在家中，陈明星先生的夫人（当时是他的女朋友）首先带领他这位思想自由的人归信基督。他担任小组事工的主席兼整体协调员和事工负责人。“我在教会工作中是在一个偶然的机会中成为志愿者，从担任招待员到委员会成员，再到受邀担任执事，后来从1993年至1999年担任会友领袖。当时我由于没有工作，开始花更多的时间担任各种事工的主席，我很感激我的太太继续全职在一所小学教书，而我则停止了工作，将所有的时间都奉献给了教会。我参与了教会几乎所有的活动和工作委员会。上帝使用了这个“憨仔”，尽管我在学业和职业上缺乏成功，却能够为祂服务。如果没有上帝的恩典和祝福，我将毫无价值。”陈先生一直是直落亚逸堂华语崇拜的忠实信徒和会友，他展现了祷告的力量，在引领教堂的祷告事工中奋兴了直落亚逸堂。陈先生还教导慕道班，教导门徒训练和洗礼课程，进行家访和医院探访（直落亚逸堂是新加坡最古老的华人卫理公会礼拜堂）。陈先生是对本地和海外宣教中见证和传福音的热心信徒和倡导者。他始终关心会友及其家人的得救问题。陈先生在外展工作中展现了热情和创造力，他学习脚底按摩以增加他在关爱和辅导未信主者方面的福音工作。
陈先生还关注赶鬼（"驱邪"）的工作，并有过个人经历，教导与华人民间信仰和现代环境中存在的对抗势力有关的内容。他的课程主题常与华人社会习俗相关，探讨如何克服这些习俗对华人未信主者接受基督的主要障碍。如今，陈先生仍然是直落亚逸堂的荣誉执事。
参考资料：
- 《海南宣教事工知多少？》《水湾之声》，直落亚逸堂，1997年12月，第4页
- 《海南岛之旅》《水湾之声》，1998年1月，第3-5页
- Magdalene Ong，《海南宣教之旅》《水湾之声》，2000年，第11页
- 许恩俶，对陈明星先生的采访
- 陈华如，个人交流
- 海南教堂的弟兄，个人交流
陈明星先生在青年营会里与年青人交流
陈明星先生在营会里带领小组讨论
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Mr Teo Keck Seng (1912 - 2003)
Mr Teo Keck Seng was a pioneer of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church who overcame many challenges in his life with God’s grace and mercy. He was born in 1912 in Chang Ding (长汀城), Fujian, China, as the youngest son of a provincial general. He became an orphan at the age of twelve and was raised by his eldest brother’s wife, who lived to be 100 years old. Mr Teo came from a wealthy family that owned a large piece of land in China, but they suffered persecution during the Red Guard period for being rich. Mr Teo’s sister-in-law was tortured and forced to do hard labour by the guards.
Mr Teo started his education in Confucian studies, where he had to worship his ancestors with joss sticks. He later switched to Chinese mission schools, where he excelled in Mandarin, mathematics, science and arts and crafts. He also developed a passion for music and learned to play the piano and violin. He was influenced by the British missionaries who taught him the Gospel and showed him kindness, humility and zeal. Mr Teo embraced Christianity as a source of comfort and peace throughout his adulthood.
Mr Teo completed a high level of education in China, equivalent to today’s A-levels. However, he could not find a stable job in China, which was in chaos due to the Cultural Revolution. At 19, he emigrated to Segamat, Johor, Malaya, to join his second brother and his wife. He and fifteen others established a village school for the poor children in a two-storey attap house. At 20, he became the headmaster of Hua Chiau School, a Chinese mission school, where he taught music and other subjects to his students. He was fluent in Hokkien and Malay and worked as a clerk and teacher in various Chinese schools. At 22, he dedicated his life to Christ and was active in the church, teaching Sunday school. He befriended Rev Yap It Tong, who lived nearby. Rev Yap introduced him to the Segamat Chinese Methodist Church, where he became a member. The school expanded in size and reputation, and Mr Teo designed a new building for it, which was approved by the government.
At 25, Mr Teo married Oh Yew Neo, a young Peranakan Chinese woman from Singapore whom he met through a aunt. She had only received a primary education from Geylang Methodist Girls’ School. They settled down in Segamat and started a family. They had their first child the next year and their second during the Second World War. It was also during the war that Mr Teo lost two of his elder brothers. One of them was accused of joining the Kuomintang party, which resisted the Japanese occupation of China. The Japanese soldiers asked Mr Teo’s brother to join them, but he refused. They executed his brother in prison in front of Mr Teo’s eldest son, who was four years old and hiding behind a tree. He witnessed them putting his uncle’s remains in a box. This happened around 1941 and scarred him for life. Mr Teo never saw his brother’s body and did not know where he was buried. Another of his brothers also died in a plane crash. As Mr Teo’s second brother and wife had no children of their own, Mr Teo’s eldest son and second daughter were adopted by them.
The outbreak of the Second World War prevented the school from opening and Mr Teo and his family had to flee into the jungle. Mr Teo and his family survived in the jungles of Malaya, where they faced hardship and hunger, living in makeshift shelters and digging up sweet potatoes and tapioca for food. By God’s providence, they survived the war and had another child during this time. They endured hardship and danger, but remained faithful to their Christian faith and the underground church they were attending. All schools were closed. After two weeks of hiding in the jungle, Mr Teo and his family returned to civilisation when it was safe. A wealthy businessman invited Mr Teo to run a paper factory in his bungalow and offered them accommodation. Mr Teo had learned the paper-making trade from his father in China, and he made the business successful. He even received orders from Singapore. The Japanese admired his paper quality and calligraphy skills, and hired him to do some work for them. They also provided Mr Teo’s family with a regular supply of rice. Mr Teo spoke Japanese as well. Mr Teo’s tenure at the paper factory ended when the businessman let his relatives take over. After the war, Mr Teo Keck Seng resumed his role as headmaster of the village school in Johore with the support of the town and the wealthy Chinese businessmen. The school grew quickly and had to run two sessions to accommodate the growing number of students. In 1946, however, Mr Teo faced political pressure from various factions and decided to resign and return to Singapore, feeling disillusioned and discouraged by the interference in education.
Mr Teo and his family moved to Singapore, where Reverend Yap connected them with Rev Hong Han Keng, the senior pastor of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TACMC). In Singapore, Mr Teo found a job as a warehouse manager in a rubber factory, which prospered during the Korean War due to the high demand and price of rubber. He had two more children and moved his family into a rented flat in the city. After the war, the rubber business declined and Mr Teo had to take another job as an accountant in a gold trading company to support his family of eight. Rev Hong helped Mr Teo find a job as an accountant in a prestigious gold company. Mr Teo and his family joined TACMC and became active in church work. Mr Teo had a large family of seven children who lived with his in-laws in a spacious kampong house with a field for orchards, crops and recreation. He initially enrolled his older children in a Chinese school, but later transferred them to English mission schools, recognising the importance of English and Christian education.
Mr Teo Keck Seng was a devoted member and stalwart of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, where he served in various capacities. Owing to his big family size, they could be seen every Sunday, riding in a convoy of trishaws and a chartered car to church. Mr Teo proofread church materials and board documents, wrote calligraphy with a large brush for the church, documented the church’s history and milestones, edited the church’s bilingual publications, reviewed the sermons of the pastors because Mr Teo had a local preacher’s licence. Mr Teo was the editor in chief of the Souvenir Magazine for the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the church building in 1950. He also wrote an article on the history of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for the 90th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine in 1979. Mr Teo also complied a chronological historical outline of the Telok Ayer Church for the Centennial Celebration Souvenir Magazine in 1989. Mr Teo would pray monthly during the service and teach Sunday School. Mr Teo sang with a loud voice in the choir, and due to his love for music especially hymns, which he said, soothed his heart and comforted his soul, he volunteered to help translate and transcribe Hokkien hymns together with the late Mr Liew Choe Hoon. He also volunteered to proofread the second edition of the Amoy Hymnal in his retirement years, carefully checking the Mandarin translations and music notes. He often travelled between home, church and the printing press with his young daughter in tow, before the hymnal was published. He was also an honorary steward of the church till 1991. Mr Teo Keck Seng also helped Pastor Norman Wong and Harry Fang to set up the English service with Pastor Alfred Yeo. Owing to a lack of space at TACMC, some of the English-speaking worshippers went to Grace Methodist Church. Frugal and his own handyman, Mr Teo repaired everything from his own cars to embroidery and handicrafts for his children. Mr Teo was a multi-talented man with a creative and sensitive soul, meticulous with an eye for the finest detail. He had a thirst for learning and acquired his flair for languages and prose writing through sheer hard work, picking up every vocabulary with a dictionary by his side. He was frugal and thrifty with his own family and children, but always generous and big-hearted with those in need, making faithful long-term pledges of donations to several charities. He inherited his late father’s strict and disciplined personality towards his children. His prudence in financial management also extended to the Church. Mr Teo was an upright person, untainted in his ways. He would stand his ground and uphold high morals without succumbing to temptation in the construction line, where he declined to attend events that involved socialising in entertainment outlets and bars.
At 44, Mr Teo Keck Seng took a part-time job as an accountant in a construction company owned by a Christian named Mr Chng Che Cheng (庄济清), who was also a member of the Telok Ayer Methodist Church. The company undertook major projects such as Paya Lebar Airport, Dover Road Preparatory School and a government technical secondary school. At 45, he completed his family of nine children. He bought his first car and his first second-hand camera, with which he photographed his youngest daughter, his favourite, as well as Singapore’s plants and historic buildings. Mr Teo had three more children in Singapore, making a total of ten. One of Mr Teo’s lowest points in his life was when he lost two of his children. One of his sons was stillborn and his youngest daughter, Susan, died of sudden convulsions with high fever at four. Mr Teo was heartbroken, especially as he had some Chinese medical knowledge and was known to his neighbours as ‘Doctor’ in Chinese, and they often sought his help. He had saved the lives of several children in his neighbourhood, but this time, he lamented that he could not save his own daughter. As Susan lay dying, she had a high fever and sang, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” as if she saw angels coming to take her away. Mrs Teo witnessed this and was comforted by the thought that her daughter was in God’s arms. Mr Teo also found solace in his family and steadfast faith and overcame his grief after two years.
At 65, he volunteered to be the church accountant and continued to be an active member of the church executive committee. At 81, he supervised the Telok Ayer Methodist Church extension project. Right up to his late 80s, he was a faithful steward to the end, serving condiments during Holy Communion. Mr Teo Keck Seng passed away at 91, two years longer than his doctor expected, and by God’s grace was able to hold his great-granddaughter in his arms before finally resting in God’s arms in March 2003.
Reference
- Oral archives provided by Mr Teo’s children including, Miss Kathleen Teo, Miss Lilian Teo and Mr Lawrence Teo.
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张克承先生 (1912 - 2003)
张克承先生是直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的先驱之一，他的一生饱经风霜，却也见证了上帝的恩典和怜悯。张克承出生于 1912 年，是中国福建长汀城一位省级将军的幼子，家中六个孩子中排行最末。他四岁时母亲去世，十二岁时父亲也撒手人寰，他和兄弟姐妹们只能相依为命。他的大嫂成了他的监护人，他对大嫂一直心存感激，直到她百岁高龄离世。张克承先生原本出身富贵之家，拥有不少田产和房屋。然而，在文化大革命期间，他们因为亲戚的富有而遭到红卫兵的迫害。张先生的大嫂被强制下放到农村，受尽苦难。 张先生在中国最初接受的是儒家思想和孔子学说的教育，平日还要用香火祭拜祖先。后来，他转到了一所由传教士创办的学校，接受了基督教的教育。张先生在中文、数学、科学、艺术和手工艺方面都有出色的表现。他对音乐也有浓厚的兴趣，自学了钢琴和小提琴。英国传教士向他传播了福音，并以仁慈、谦卑和热情的态度对待他，让他从基督教这个信仰，得到了心灵的安慰和平安。
张克承先生的学业水平达到了当时的最高标准，相当于现在的高考水平。但是，由于文化大革命的影响，他在动荡的中国找不到一份稳定的工作。19 岁那年，他决定移民到马来亚柔佛州的昔加末 (Segamat)，与他的二哥夫妇团聚。他和其他 15 位志愿者在一栋两层楼的房子里为贫困儿童创办了一所乡村学校。20 岁时，他担任了华侨学校的校长，教授学生音乐和其他科目。他精通中文和数学，曾在多所华文学校担任文员和教师。他能说一口流利的福建话和马来语。22 岁时，他决志信主，积极参与教会的事工，任教于主日学。他与住在附近的叶义堂牧师成为了好友。叶牧师介绍他们加入了昔加末华人卫理公会，并成为了该教会的会员。学校的规模不断扩大，受到了社会的欢迎，张先生还为学校设计了一座新的校舍，并得到了政府的批准。
25 岁时，张克承先生与一位来自新加坡的年轻娘惹华裔女子结为夫妻。她只受过芽笼卫理女子小学的小学教育。他们在昔加末安家落户，组织了自己的家庭。第二年，他们迎来了第一个孩子，第二个孩子则是在第二次世界大战期间出生的。也正是在战争期间，在 1941 年左右，张克承先生其中一个哥哥因为参加了反抗日本侵略中国的国民党而被捕。日本士兵要求他投降，但他拒绝了。他们就当着张克承先生的四岁大的儿子的面，在监狱里枪决了张克承先生的大哥，也就是他长子的大伯。那时，张克承先生的长子作为长外甥，躲在一棵树后面目睹了这一切，张先生的长子从此留下了终生的阴影。张克承先生从未见过哥哥的遗体，也不知道他被埋在哪里。另一个哥哥则是在一次空难中丧生。由于张克承先生的哥哥和嫂子没有自己的孩子，在他的要求下，张先生将他的长子和次女交给他们抚养。第二次世界大战爆发时，学校无法开学，张克承先生和家人不得不逃进丛林。他们逃到了马来亚的深山老林，忍受着艰苦和饥饿，住在临时搭建的茅屋里，靠着挖红薯为生。在上帝的眷顾下，他们在战争中幸存下来，并在此期间又有了一个孩子。他们虽然生活在困境和危险中，但仍然忠于他们的地下教会。那时，所有的学校都关闭了。 在丛林中躲藏了两个星期后，张克承先生和家人觉得安全了，就离开了丛林。一位富商邀请张克承先生在他的洋房里经营一家造纸厂，并为他们提供了住处。张先生曾在中国从父亲那里学到了造纸术，他成功地使生意兴隆起来，甚至接到了来自新加坡的订单。张先生懂得日语，他的工作技术和态度给日本人留下了深刻的印象，日本人委托他为他们做一些工作，日本人还确保他和他的家人有定期的大米供应。可惜，好景不长，张克承先生在造纸厂的任期结束后，商人最终让自己的亲戚接管工厂。 战后，张先生在柔佛镇得到富裕华商的支持下，重新担任乡村学校校长。学校发展迅速，不得不开设两届，以容纳越来越多的学生。然而，1946 年，面对来自不同派别的政治压力，张克承先生决定辞职并返回新加坡。张先生和家人搬到了新加坡，在叶牧师的介绍下，他们认识了直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂（TACMC）的主理牧师方汉京牧师（Reverend Hong Han Keng）。在新加坡，张先生先是找到了一份在橡胶厂担任仓库经理的工作，在朝鲜战争期间，由于橡胶需求量大、价格高，橡胶厂生意兴隆。他又生了两个孩子，举家搬到了市区的一个租来的公寓里。战争结束后，橡胶生意衰落，为了生计，养活一家八口人，方牧师帮助张克承先生找到了一家非常有名的黄金公司，担任会计工作。张克承先生一家五口，与岳父母住在一栋宽敞的甘榜房子里，房子里有一块田地，可以种果树、庄稼和娱乐。他最初让年长的孩子在一所中文学校就读，但后来认识到英语和基督教教育的重要性，就把他们转到了英语教会学校。 张克承先生非常热心于直落亚逸礼拜堂的事工，在教会担任各种职务。由于他的家庭人口众多，每个主日都能看到他们乘坐三轮车去教堂。
张克承先生所参与的事工包括校对教会材料和董事会文件，为教会题字，用毛笔为教会写书法，非常详尽地记录了教会的历史和里程。张克承先生也参与编辑教会的双语出版物，并能审阅牧师的讲章，因为他持有本处传道的执照。1950年直落亚逸礼拜堂庆祝礼拜堂建堂25周年时，张克承先生担任庆典特刊的主编。1979年，张先生也为直落亚逸礼拜堂创立90周年的庆典特刊，撰写直落亚逸礼拜堂的史略。1989年，张先生也为直落亚逸礼拜堂百周年纪念特刊，编纂直落亚逸礼拜堂的历史年表。 张克承先生每月都会在崇拜中带领祷告，并教主日学。 他在唱诗班唱歌时声音洪亮，由于他对音乐的热爱，尤其是赞美诗，他说赞美诗能抚慰他的心灵，使他的灵魂得到安慰，因此他很乐意与已故的留澡芬先生一起帮助翻译和抄写福建赞美诗。退休后，他还义务校对第二版《闽南圣诗》，仔细核对中文译文和乐谱注释。在赞美诗出版之前，他经常往返于家、教堂和印刷厂之间。直到 1991 年，他还是教堂的名誉执事。张克承先生一生勤俭节约，勤奋好学，心灵手巧，手工细腻，会刺绣，琴棋书画，更有好笔法，自己动手修理汽车，为孩子们刺绣和制作手工艺品。除此之外，张克承多才多艺，具有创造力和敏感的灵魂，写得一手好书法。张克承先生做事严谨，注重细节。他求知欲很强，好学，语言和散文写作的天赋是通过勤奋学习获得的，他随身带着字典，掌握了每一个英文词汇。他对自己的家庭和子女勤俭持家，但对需要帮助的人总是慷慨大方，长期向许多慈善机构认捐。 他继承了先父对子女严格要求、严于律己的个性。他对财务管理的谨慎也延伸到了教会。张为人正直。 他坚守自己的立场，坚持高尚的道德，基督里的属灵生活，不轻易陷入诱惑，并拒绝参加需要在娱乐场所和酒吧应酬的活动。
44 岁时，他在一位教会会友庄济清先生所经营的一家建筑公司担任兼职会计，后者是直落亚逸礼拜堂的成员。该公司承接了巴耶利峇机场、杜佛路预备学校和一所政府技术中学等大型项目。 45 岁时，张先生已有了七个孩子。他买了自己的第一辆汽车和第一台二手相机，并用它拍摄了自己最喜欢的小女儿以及新加坡的植物和历史建筑。张先生人生的最低谷是他拥有十个孩子，其中在新加坡生了六个孩子，却也在短时间内，失去了其中两个孩子。其中一个儿子胎死腹中，小女儿苏珊则在四岁时死于无预警地紧急抽搐。张克承悲痛欲绝，尤其是他拥有一定的中医知识，曾挽救过社区里许多孩子的生命，却没能救活自己的女儿。邻居们用中文称他为 “医生”，经常向他求助。苏珊病危，发着高烧，嘴里还唱着圣诗，仿佛看到天使来接她走。张克承先生的妻子目睹了这一切，想到女儿已经在上帝的怀抱中，她感到很欣慰。张先生也在家庭和信仰中找到了慰藉，并在两年后战胜了悲痛。
65 岁时，他自愿担任教会的会计，并继续积极参加教会的执行委员会。81 岁时，他负责监督直落亚逸卫理公会教堂扩建项目。在八十多岁高龄时，他仍是一位忠实的荣誉执事，在圣餐时为担任圣餐执事。张克承先生以 91 岁高龄辞世，比医生预计的时间长了两年。2003 年三月，他终于在上帝的怀抱中安息。
参考资料：
- 儿子与女儿们口述
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Mr Teo Kong Wah (1904 - 1991)
Born in Fujian, China, Mr Teo Kong Wah’s family was very poor, and he had no opportunity to learn to read or write. When he was a young man, he travelled to ‘Nanyang’ (Singapore) to earn a living. Mr Teo started a family in his late 20s. His life was transformed after someone shared the gospel with him and he then joined Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church and became a believer. He tried to self-learn reading and writing, and because he was very studious and diligent, he learnt the art of extracting teeth by shadowing another dentist, and later even opened his own practice as an unlicensed dentist in Hill Street. Due to his adept surgical skills, his patients found their teeth extractions painless. Mr Teo won accolades from the community he served. He became a popular dentist and enjoyed patronage far and wide. Mr Teo treated people with sincere kindness and compassion. He was so kind-hearted that when he met patients who could not afford to pay his fees, he would extract their teeth at no cost. On one occasion, an old gentleman, after having his tooth extracted for free, said he had no money to go home and asked Mr Teo for money. Without hesitation, Mr Teo handed money to help him get home. Mr Teo Kong Wah was a well-loved and respected dentist in his community. He had lived out the love of Jesus, which is selfless and expects nothing in return.
2 Mr Teo Kong Wah was illiterate and had never attended school. Yet he had a deep desire to know the Word and to read the entire Bible and devour all the Scriptures. He would ride his bike every morning at 4 am without fail, rain or shine, to the parsonage of the pastor-in-charge then, Reverend Hong Han Keng, and asked him to teach him how to read the Bible. Reverend Hong gladly joined Mr Teo to Mount Faber, where he then read the Bible to Mr Teo word for word every day. When Mr Teo returned home, he would continue his practice of reading the Bible aloud, facing the sky in the morning, daily. His reading was not a whisper, but bellowed a clear and distinct voice that could be heard even from the front of the house. Mr Teo Kong Wah wanted to learn how to read so that he could understand the Bible and what God was saying to him without feeling any shame nor qualms, and he also wanted to share the gospel with others.
3 His life was marked by joys and also deep sorrow when he lost his beloved wife, the mother of his eight children when he was only forty years old then. His wife had married him at sixteen and died in her thirties, due to an unfortunate accident which had happened a couple of years before, but which had weakened her physically to some extent. A year or two before her death, she was ruthlessly stabbed by a thief who had broken into their dental clinic and attempted to steal the gold pieces used for dentures. Mrs Teo had recognized the thief as their neighbour, but when interviewed by the Police on likely suspects who had committed this crime, Mr Teo chose to forgive and not to press charges, even though he knew who he was. Mrs Teo survived the attack, but her health declined over the next two years, and she passed away after giving birth to her eighth child. Her eldest daughter, Teo Bee Lan, was only nine years old at the time.
4 God had mercy on Mr Teo who was experiencing hardship when he became a widower with eight children in tow. By day, he had to run a clinic and treat patients while coping with his many young broods. Mr Teo then remarried. The younger wife helped him take care of the eight children and loved them as her own. Despite the strong opposition from her family then, because Mr Teo was much older than she, they went on to have seven more children by God’s grace. Mr Teo Kong Wah had a large family of children and grandchildren, and he lived to be 89 years old in God’s favour.
5 Since the 1940s, there were three ‘musketeers’ in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church who were especially blessed by God, namely Chan Seng Siong, Teo Kong Wah, and the lay leader, Lim Yeow Tong. These three leaders were very willing to serve God and also encouraged the church members to be active in church ministry. Their devotion was inspiring and exemplary to everyone. They always followed the Holy Spirit’s guidance and did what God wanted them to do. They carried out the Great Commission, which is God’s command to spread the gospel, and they visited poor places far and wide. Their outreach was well planned, and they thought through the timing of their outreach and outdoor rallies. They knew that people were busy with their work and lives during the day, so they chose to preach the gospel in the evening after most people had finished their work and dinner. Since there was no internet back then, they wrote the lyrics of simple and catchy hymns on white cloth and hung them up so that the audience could sing along. In the evening, when it got dark quickly, they carried paraffin or kerosene lamps and went around preaching. At first, they drew some attention from the passers-by or the locals who stopped to listen to the hymns and sermons, but they also faced some challenges. There was one occasion, when either a child or an adult, threw a stone at Mr Teo Kong Wah’s forehead, making him bleed slightly. However, this minor incident did not stop them from pursuing their evangelistic mission with passion and perseverance. Why were they so zealous? It was because they saw that the people at that time were in desperate need of the Gospel and the Lord Jesus, and their spiritual eyes allowed them to see the needs of the community and motivated them to be more fervent. However, to avoid further conflict and injury, they changed their strategy slightly. They thought they could focus on discipleship at the church, starting small group ministry at homes, and they started what was then called the “Heart of Giving Fellowship” (later known as the “Endeavour Fellowship”) in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. This setup marked a key pillar in the development and growth of the church size. It also established the strong faith foundation of congregants through generations of evangelism.
Reference
- Dictated by Mrs Rebekah Goh, eldest granddaughter, on 15 December 2023.
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张光华先生 (1904 - 1991)
张光华先生出生于中国福建，家境非常贫困，完全没有机会识字念书。少年时，就孤身来到南洋谋生。初到新加坡，就接触到上帝，因为有人向他传福音，后来加入直落亚逸礼拜堂，成为信徒后，人生就有了很大的转折。张先生很早就成家立业。到新加坡后自学识字，因为他很勤奋好学，很早就跟着人学习拔牙的技术，后来还在禧街 (Hill Street) 开业当起无牌牙医。因为手艺纯熟，病人都觉得张医师手很轻巧，拔牙时一点儿都不痛，所以门庭若市，非常受爱戴。张先生待人真诚，他心地善良，遇到没钱付款的病人，还免费替他们拔牙。有一次，有一位老先生，拔了免费的牙后，说他没有钱回家，问张先生借钱。张先生二话不说，拿钱递给了他，让他得以回家。张光华先生的勤恳，又有上帝的特别恩待眷顾，很快成了大家敬仰的牙医师。张先生这样的爱心，就正如耶稣的爱，那样无私，不要求任何的回报。
2 张光华先生为了要把整本圣经读完，但又不识字，每天凌晨四点之前，就骑着脚车，到那时的主理牧师，方汉京牧师的牧师楼，请方牧师教他识字朗读圣经。方牧师也乐意陪张先生上花柏山，每日风雨不改，一字一句地把圣经念给张先生听。张先生回到家后，便习惯性地继续在早晨破晓后，向着天空大声朗读圣经。他读圣经，不是小小声, 而是连在前房客厅房间皆听得一清二楚。张先生迫切要识字，为的是要读圣经，知道上帝要跟他说什么，一点儿也不觉得羞愧，另一方面他更是为了传福音。
3 张光华先生一生最大的起伏，是在他四十岁时，失去了为他生下八个小孩的爱妻。妻子十六岁就出嫁，过世时只有三十来岁，那是源自一场不幸的事故。事故发生后的一两年，生完第八胎后，因体质过于虚弱，失血过多，而逝世，大女儿张玉兰（Teo Bee Lan）那时候才九岁大。她之所以早逝的主要原因，可追踪到约一两年前的一个夜里，张先生的诊所，被他所认识的邻居破门行窃。小偷当时要偷走店里用来镶假牙的金箔片。在干案时，被下楼查看的张太太识破，歹徒竟将张太太捅得片体鳞伤，失血过多，受重伤。张光华先生当晚虽然也认出劫匪凶手是他们的邻居，可是他选择了原谅，不要再制造更多的仇恨，所以当警察问张光华先生，是否怀疑是谁干案，他选择不追究指控。那时生命危急的张太太虽然被抢救回来，可是却在以后两年内的体质衰退下，生产第八胎后，身虚流血过世。
4 上帝顾念张光华先生的困境处境，白天要开诊所，看病人，又拖着这么多幼儿幼女，非常辛苦，安排他第二任的妻子的出现。她执意帮忙照顾那八个幼儿，并视为自己的孩子，对他们疼爱有加。虽然当时他们的婚姻遭到女方强烈的反对，因为那时，张先生已经步入中年，与第二任妻子的年龄差距甚大大，靠主的恩典眷顾，后来他们又亲生了另外七名孩子。张光华子孙满堂，得着上帝的眷顾，享寿89岁。
5 直落亚逸礼拜堂自二战后四十年代，曾有三位上帝所特别恩待并备受会众敬重的“三剑客”（three musketeers），他们就是曾生相先生，张光华先生，以及领头的会友领袖林耀东先生。他们这三位领袖自少壮时，就非常愿意带头事奉上帝，鼓励堂里的弟兄姐妹更加热心参与教会的事工。他们的付出，激荡心灵，有目共睹。他们时常热心回应圣灵呼召他们事奉的感动。他们背负了大使命，也就是上帝呼召他们传福音，所到之处都是一些贫困的地方。他们的差传是经过深思远虑。他们了解到每一个人白天都有工作，为生活忙碌。所以他们三位弟兄就选择傍晚大多数人下班做完工，晚餐过后，去传福音。那时候没有什么所谓的网际网络，所以他们就用白布写下简短的诗歌歌词，较容易朗朗上口的短诗，写好之后，再挂起来。到了傍晚，天很快黑，他们就拿煤油灯，到处行走布道。开始还会吸引到一些路人或者是附近的居民，站着听诗歌与讲道，过程也不是一帆风顺的。有一次，不知道是小孩呢，还是成人，竟有人拿石块丢向张光华先生的额头，以致他被击中后，流了一点鲜血。但是，这一点儿小挫折，并不能够阻挠他们爱主的心，并继续热心不懈地做传福音的工作。为什么他们会有这般强烈的热忱呢？那是因为他们看到那时候的人，真的非常需要福音和主耶稣，属灵的眼睛，让他们看到了社区的需要，并激发他们更加热心。可是为了避免冲突，免得有人会再受伤，所以他们就稍微调整策略。他们开始在教会里活跃于门徒训练，举行一些家庭小组等聚会，并开启了直落亚逸礼拜堂当时 “献心会”（后称“勉励会”）的成立。
参考资料：
- 曾淑芬，长外孙女于2023 年十二月十五日口述
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Professor Tan Chew Lim (1949 - Present)
Professor Tan Chew Lim, is a respectable senior leader of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TA), fervent after the Lord, and manifests a life full of glory and honour to His Name. Through the many official and unofficial hats that he wears on church appointments, and the many stellar records he holds personally and officially, Prof Tan’s influence and leadership exude a formidable and revered presence amongst the congregants across ages and decades, and Prof Tan himself has come to be synonymous with TA as an icon. In more ways than one, as a former archivist of the Church, Prof Tan bears first-hand witness and has testified to God’s goodness and new mercies over the spiritual journey and infrastructural development of the national monument on many occasions in the public domain, hosting VVIPs, dignitaries and Heads of State as docent, and briefing them fluently on the heritage and social and historical significance of TA. He has been interviewed on TA history in national heritage projects such as those done by URA through video or audio projects done by university/college students. Like a blood-related family member, who knows the family tree and history inside out, Prof Tan’s connection to TA is sealed like lineage where Prof Tan offers first-hand accounts of its rich heritage and treasured heirloom, like the back of his hand.
Prof Tan was born on 12 November 1949 at no. 12 Stanley Street, just next to Telok Ayer Street where, as a kid he often accompanied his mom to the nearby Thiam Hock Keng. Hailing from Stanley Street, Prof Tan first stepped foot into church in 1955 as a young five-year-old. He was subsequently baptised in 1957 Christmas Day on the same day as his wife (4 then and Prof Tan was 7), Grace Wan Eng. Both families did not know each other when they were baptised. The couple came from Buddhist family background. When Prof Tan’s older brother married an Indonesian, born-again Christian wife, the zealous sister-in-law brought Prof Tan’s family members to Christ and church. Prof Tan’s mother was initially resistant to the Christian faith, but encouraged by some Christian sisters to join a family-based small group family worship, the seeds of faith grew and she eventually went to Telok Ayer Church and became a devoted Christian. She was literate, could sing hymns, read the Bible, and also encouraged Prof Tan to read the Bible who from secondary two, started reading Scripture Union’s Daily Bread. His father, who was a seaman and was often away on weeks, converted from initial indifference to eventually being baptised after he himself praying over a medical condition which had led to surgery.
Praying was Prof Tan’s rock of refuge and Prof Tan started his faithful prayers from very young, asking God to give him wisdom in his growing up years. He and his twin sister were struggling in their school work. In much later years, Prof Tan came to realise that the twins had in fact enrolled into school at much younger age than their cohorts, which also explained his nickname, “small kid” in class. In his struggles with studies in younger days, Prof Tan experienced God’s answer to his prayers enabling his significant progress in school, leading all the way to his Masters in UK and PhD in USA, both on scholarships. His twin sister later migrated to US and had obtained a Bachelor degree in US.
Prof Tan wears many hats and he almost doesn’t say no to request to serve on church ministries. First, he is an academic (full professor in computer science, NUS), a Bible scholar (graduand of Biblical Graduate School of Theology where he had obtained MCS (Master in Christian Studies)), and rose through Associate Lay Leader to become the Lay Leader of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TA). His ministry journey started out as a kid when he joined his mom in attending the church’s Endeavour fellowship. Soon later as a teenager, he was invited to take part in preaching practices at the Endeavour Fellowship that laid the foundation of his future pulpit ministry. He later assisted the Endeavour Fellowship chairman Mr Lim Yeow Tong by inviting and arranging other young church members to take part in the same preaching practices. In the mid-1960s, he served as a senior Sunday school teacher. In the early 1970s, he, together with a few young fellow church members, formed the Mandarin Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) where he met his sweetheart Grace who is now his wife. In the mid-1970s, he took over as the superintendent of the Sunday school from Mdm Lim Cheng Kiok when she migrated to Australia. He was also a founding member of the Mandarin Adult Ministry. Both he and his wife are pioneers in leading one of the longest serving cell groups (谦卑组) in the Hokkien congregation, up till this very day. Today, more than 10 older pioneers of this cell group have since returned to the Lord, but it is heartening to note that their offspring continue to join them. Prof Tan is also a pulpit preacher of over 100 sermons to-date, delivered not only in Hokkien, Mandarin and English services at TA, but also as an invited guest preacher to other churches.
By virtue of being the MYF President, Prof Tan joined the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) in 1974. He soon was elected as a steward as well as the recording secretary until 1982 when he went to the United States for his PhD studies. He returned in 1986 to continue serving in the LCEC. In 1994, he was elected as an Associate Lay Leader. In 2000, he succeeded Mr Tan Meng Seng as the Lay Leader till the present day. Prof Tan also served as the chairman of the celebration organizing committee for the 100th, 110th, 120th, 125th anniversary of the church and the 80th anniversary of the TA building. He was a regular interpreter for the podium. Prof Tan also started the TA website as an online outreach for the techy and younger audience. From 2017 to 2022, Prof Tan also served as the chairman of the church Archives and History Committee. He proposed the setting up of a History Galley in conjunction with the current renovation project of the Telok Ayer Church. He also served in the CAC Board of Laity, Board of Communication and Board of Archives and History.
Prof Tan is known to be a soft-spoken, reticent and humble gentleman who demonstrates immovable faith in the Lord. When asked which role he is most fond of? He replied without hesitation, ‘I feel closest to God when I am preaching on the pulpit. Preaching God’s Word is a solo and lonely task but which impacts the individual’s personal path directly, compared to the other roles which God has called me.’ One of his enlightened, blessed moments would be during preparation of his sermon, when he experienced brain drain and drew blank on ideas, he would pray and the outcome is always reassuring, where God provides more than sufficient and more than what he could deliver on his own effort eventually. “By God’s grace, I am renewed with more research and materials than what I could ask for. The Spirit would lead me and ease my stress with God’s presence.”
To Prof Tan, being in the marketplace and being in church ministry is not binary. The former Pastor in Charge of Telok Ayer Church, Rev Fang Chao Hsi who witnessed Prof Tan’s growing up and active participation in church activities, had predicted that Prof Tan would be called by the Lord to full-time ministry, in his youth or after his varsity. However, Prof Tan confessed that he had not received any leading of the Spirit in this regard. He used his secular academic success in the marketplace as his offering and gift to reach out to pre-believing PhD students and post-doctoral fellows he had mentored and tutored when opportunities arose. In fact, Prof Tan said that his ministries in turn, had helped sharpen his administration skillset including starting out as note-taker with paper and pen and human copier for choir song sheets, which, though laborious, was the foundation and grounding for him to eventually head up and run in administrative leadership role as Vice Dean in NUS. Public speaking finesse came with the podium preaching, and thanks to Sunday School classes and cell group activities, he overcame his stage fright, and plucked up courage to conduct altar call after sermon delivery before a large congregation. Prof Tan attributed to his seniors for showing him the ropes, on how to tell Bible stories and engage and instil interest in children to memorize Bible verse reading from young so that they store them as reserves when they face life challenges along the way.
Prof Tan has dedicated the best and prime of his youth and life to God’s work and ministries. The Lord has richly blessed him and his household on earth and to Man as testimony to His glory.
References
- Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, 90th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine, 1979
- Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, 100th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine, 1989
- URA Architectural Heritage Awards (AHA) program, video project on Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, by NTU students, October 2019
- Straits Times, “Rediscover Telok Ayer via audio tour, Instagram posts on it and Kg Glam”, 12 April 2021.
- New Paper Today, “Explore historic districts audio tour and stories on Instagram”, 12 April 2021.
- Susan Koh, interview with Prof Tan, 17 September 2022
Prof Tan (first from the left) among founding members of the Mandarin Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF).
Prof Tan narrating Telok Ayer Church’s founding days in the Video project by NTU students on Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church under URA Architectural Heritage Award program, October 2020
Prof Tan presenting the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church 125th Anniversary commemorative stamps to President Halimah, 19 July 2018.
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陈树霖教授 (1949 至今)
陈树霖教授是直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂一位备受尊敬的年长领袖，对主充满热忱，并展现一个荣耀与尊崇主名的生命。通过他在教会里按职或非按职的多重身份、以及他私人和公务的众多杰出记录，陈教授在各年龄层和数十年代的会友群体中流露着令人敬畏和崇敬的影响力和领导力。陈教授本人已成为直落亚逸堂的代表人物。在许多场合，身为教会的前文物管理员，陈教授亲身见证了上帝的恩慈和日日更新的怜悯、如何彰显在这座国家古迹的属灵旅程和基础设施的发展上。陈教授在公共领域多次接待要人、贵宾和国家元首，向他们流利地介绍直落亚逸堂的遗产、社会和历史意义。他曾在国家遗产项目（例如由新加坡城市发展局推动的项目）中接受采访，通过大学/学院学生制作的视频或音频项目，讲述直落亚逸堂的历史。像一个了解家谱和家庭历史的血缘成员一样，陈教授与直落亚逸堂的联系就像血脉相连，陈教授提供了关于其丰富遗产和珍贵传统的第一手资料，陈教授对这些资料了如指掌。
陈教授于1949年11月12日出生在史丹利街12号，就在直落亚逸街旁边，他小时候经常陪伴母亲去附近的天福宫。史丹利街离直落亚逸堂近在咫尺，1955年当时5岁的陈教授第一次踏入教堂。他在1957年的圣诞节与他的妻子（当时她4岁，陈教授7岁）曾婉英一起受洗，两个家庭在受洗时并不认识。这对夫妇来自佛教家庭背景。当陈教授的哥哥娶了一位来自印尼的重生基督徒妻子时，热心的嫂嫂带领陈教授的家人接受了基督信仰并加入教堂。陈教授的母亲起初对基督教抱有抗拒的态度，但在一些基督教姐妹的鼓励下，她加入了一个以家庭为基础的小组家庭敬拜，信仰的种子逐渐生长，她最终去了直落亚逸堂并成为一名虔诚的基督徒。她识字，能唱诗歌，读圣经，也鼓励陈教授读圣经，从中学二年级开始阅读读经会的《每日读经释义》。他的父亲是一名海员，经常出航数周，他最初对基督教漠不关心，但在经历了一场重病及随后的手术，他亲身祈祷后最终受洗。
祈祷是陈教授避难所的磐石，陈教授从很小的时候开始虔诚地祈求上帝在他成长的岁月中赐他智慧。他和他的双胞胎妹妹在学业上有困难。多年后，陈教授意识到他们俩双胞胎实际上比同龄同学提早入学，这也解释了他在班级里的绰号“小孩子”。在他年轻时对学业的挣扎中，陈教授经历了上帝对他祈祷的回应，使他在学校取得了重大进展，一直到他在英国获得硕士学位和在美国攻读博士学位，两者都是通过奖学金获得的。他的双胞胎妹妹后来移居美国，并在美国考获学士学位。
陈教授担任许多职务，他几乎从不拒绝受邀协助教会事工。首先，他是一名学者（新加坡国立大学计算机科学的教授），一位圣经学者（圣经神学研究院的毕业生，获得基督教研究硕士学位），并从副会友领袖晋升为卫理公会直落亚逸堂的会友领袖。他的事奉之旅始于他小时候跟随母亲参加教会的勉励会。很快，在青少年时期，他受邀参加勉励会练习讲道的节目活动，这为他未来的讲台事奉奠定了基础。后来，他协助勉励会会长林耀东先生、积极邀请和安排其他同龄的年轻会友参加同样的练习讲道节目。在20世纪60年代中期，他担任高级主日学教师。在20世纪70年代初，他和其他几位年轻的教会弟兄姐妹一起组织了华语卫理青年团契（Methodist Youth Fellowship），在团契里他认识到了现在的太太曾婉英。在20世纪70年代中期，当主日学校长林清菊女士移居澳洲时，他接任主日学校长之职。他和太太在20世纪90年代初，组织厦语崇拜的一个小组，命名谦卑组，是厦语崇拜最早的小组之一，直到今日他与婉英仍是谦卑组的组长。如今，谦卑组已经有10多位老前辈回到主那里，但令人欣慰的是，他们的孩子仍然继续加入。陈教授至今在讲台上传讲超过100个证道信息，不仅在直落亚逸堂的厦语、华语、英语崇拜证道，还受邀到其他堂会证道。
1974年，陈教授以青年团契团长的身份，进入本堂的执事会（LCEC）。随即当选为执事以及记录文书，一直到1982年他赴美攻读博士学位为止。他于1986年回国继续在执事会服务。1994年，他受选为副会友领袖。2000年，他接续陈明星先生成为会友领袖直到今日。陈教授还担任本堂以下数项大型庆典的筹委会主席： 100周年、110周年、120周年、125周年以及直落亚逸堂建筑物的80周年。他经常担任讲台的口译员。陈教授还创建了直落亚逸堂的网站，藉网络接触善于科技的年青会友。从2017年到2022年，陈教授还担任本堂文物和历史委员会的主席。他提议在直落亚逸礼拜堂目前的翻新项目中设立一个历史展览馆。除了在本堂的服事，陈教授也在卫理公会华人年议会的会友事工部、资讯部以及文物部当部员。
陈教授受众认为是一个温和、沉默寡言和谦卑的绅士，对主的信仰坚定不移。当被问到他最喜欢的角色是什么时，他毫不犹豫地回答：“当我在讲台上讲道时，我感觉最接近神。讲解上帝的话语是一项单人而孤独的任务，然而与神呼召我的其他角色相比，它直接影响我的个人道路，。”他感到满足的时刻之一是在准备讲道时，当他在构思上遇到灵感的缺乏时，他会祷告，结果总令人安心的是，神提供的超出他自己努力所能提供的充足材料和信息。“靠着神的恩典，我得到了比我所期望的更多的研究和材料。圣灵会引导我，并在神的同在中减轻我的压力。”
对陈教授来说，身处市场和教会事工并不是彼此不相关的二元选择。早年曾担任直落亚逸堂主理的方兆熙牧师亲目看见陈教授在教会活动中的成长和积极参与，他预测陈教授在他年轻时或在他大学毕业后将被主呼召作全时间奉献中。然而，陈教授坦言在这方面他没有接受到圣灵的指引。他将自己在市场上的学术成功视为自己在有机会的情况下、向他指导和辅导的博士研究生和博士后研究员传福音的奉献和恩赐。事实上，陈教授表示，他在教会的事工反而帮助他磨练了他在社会的管理技能，包括担任会议记录员和唱诗班歌谱的人工复印员开始，虽然这些工作繁琐，但它为他最终在国立大学的行政事务、包括担任学院的副院长角色打下了基础。在讲台上讲话的流利也是从主日学和小组活动中获得的，他克服了他的怯场，并鼓起勇气在证道后的大型会场中进行呼召。陈教授将这归功于他的前辈，向他展示了如何讲圣经故事，并激发并培养孩子们对从小开始背诵圣经经文的兴趣，以便他们在面对生活中的挑战时将其作为储备。
陈教授将他最美好和青春的时光奉献给了上帝的工作和事工。主丰富地祝福了他和他的家人，并将其作为对祂荣耀的见证。
参考文献：
- 直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂，90周年庆典特刊，1979。
- 直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂，100周年庆典特刊，1989。
- 市区重建局建筑遗产项目，南洋理工大学学生制作，有关直落亚逸堂的视频项目，2019年10月。
- 海峡时报，“通过音频，重新发现直落亚逸区，Instagram 有关该区与甘榜格南的贴文”，2021年4月12日。
- 今日新报(New Paper Today), “音频与Instagram的故事，有关重新发现历史地区“
- 许恩俶，采访陈树霖教授，2022年9月17日。
陈教授（最左站立者）及其他当年共同创立卫理青年团契的成员。
在市区重建局的建筑遗产项目下，南洋理工大学学生所制作有关直落语逸堂历史的视频中，陈教授讲述直落亚逸堂的开创。
陈教授于2018年7月19日代表直落亚逸堂赠送本堂125周年纪念邮票给哈莉玛总统。
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Rev. Fang Chao Hsi (1917 - 1997)
Rev. Fang was born on 14 May 1917 in Hui'an, Fujian Province. He pastored the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for 20 years from 1961 to 1980. He cared deeply about the affairs of the church and took good care of the members, and many of the older members still miss him.
A faithful long-time church member by the name Chng Siew Khoon used to live next door to Telok Ayer Chinese Church. In his youth, Brother Chng often served as a temporary driver in the evenings and on weekends, and so he went out with Rev Fang to visit fellow church members. He witnessed Rev Fang's faithfulness in ministry and his love and care for the church members. Brother Chng reminisced, "Every Sunday during the service, Rev Fang would watch from the pulpit to see who had not come to the service and would call them after the service. If a member was sick or absent due to a family issue, he would immediately visit the member at home or in the hospital. Rev Fang and his congregants have always maintained a close relationship with each other, just like his own family."
Brother Chng used to go to the Telok Ayer Church to review his homework, and he would see Rev. Fang practising and preparing his sermons in the small loft on the fourth floor (now demolished). Rev Fang was preparing in the event he was invited to preach at short notice so that he would still be able to deliver a lively message without having to read off a sermon. Brother Chng said that every Sunday was Rev Fang's busiest day. In the morning, he would conduct a Hokkien service at Telok Ayer Church, and in the afternoon, he would conduct a Hokkien/Cantonese service at the then Branch Church which was located at Telok Blangah, and in the evening, he would rush to Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church to conduct a Hokkien/Cantonese service. If there was a funeral service, usually Rev. Fang would arrange for it to be held after the afternoon service. As a result, he was busy until 10-11pm every Sunday before returning to his residence in Telok Ayer Church. It seemed that Rev Fang did not have any regular rest days, and he was always busy with the ministry of the church. Rev Fang often said, "A pastor is God's servant not a hired hand; a servant shepherds the flock at all times, while a hired hand works and rests according to timing and schedule."
Brother Chng recalled that every Sunday after the worship service, Rev Fang would provide a free lunch for the choir members to enjoy in order for the choir members to continue practising their hymns after the meal. Every New Year's Eve, Rev Fang would invite 20 to 30 theological students to the parsonage for a New Year's Eve dinner, so that these theological students, who could not be with their families on New Year's Eve, could enjoy reunion dinner with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and enjoy the fellowship in the Lord. Brother Chng remembered that on two occasions on New Year's Eve, when Rev Fang received a call from a member of the congregation who had lost a family member, he rushed to the bereaved family and, in addition to praying for the bereaved family, he also helped to arrange for the funeral service.
Professor Tan Chew Lim, the current lay leader of Telok Ayer Church, said in remembrance of Rev Fang that Rev Fang was a spiritual elder whom he loved and knew well. Since he was a teenager, apart from Sundays, Prof. Tan had been frequenting the church premises during weekdays to attend to matters related to youth fellowship and Sunday school ministry. He said that Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church was like a second home to him. Therefore, he had many opportunities to witness Rev Fang's concern for the affairs of the church. One of the things that impressed him was as follows: At that time, there was a large car park in front of the church and a row of parking cubicles, set aside as Sunday school classrooms on Sundays. Rev Fang inspected the Sunday school classrooms from time to time, and when he found tables and chairs in need of repair, he took a hammer and nails and repaired them himself. Ordinary people might have thrown away those tables and chairs, but Rev Fang repaired them again and again. He was thrifty in his life, not only for himself, but also for the church.
Prof. Tan also recalled that back then, Rev. Fang's family lived in the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, and outside Rev. Fang's bedroom was where he also worked, rested and watched TV. Prof Tan said it was also the place where he talked to Rev. Fang from time to time. He said that Rev. Fang once said to him, "Chew Lim! Seeing you reminds me of when I was young, when I was like you with your skinny frame and being very active in church." Prof. Tan knew that he was really skinny when he was young. He had also heard that Rev. Fang was weak as a child and often suffered from stomach problems. Rev Fang was raised by his two aunts, Ms. (Dr.) Png Chi Eng and Ms. Png Chi Giok. Rev. Fang was very active in the church when he was young. When Dr. John Sung, the great evangelist went to Xiamen to conduct revival meetings, Dr. Sung stayed at Rev Fang’s home and encouraged him to dedicate himself to serving the Lord. Later, when Rev Fang was teaching at Sitiawan, with the encouragement from the pastor there Rev Charles E. Fang, he decided to dedicate himself to serving the Lord full time, and miraculously, he was cured of his stomach problems.
Rev. Fang began as a preacher in Sitiawan and was assigned to serve at Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church in Singapore in 1941, Seremban in 1951, and Telok Ayer Church Methodist Church in 1961 until his retirement in 1980 when he migrated to the United States. Rev. Fang served faithfully in the Methodist churches in Singapore and Malaysia for 40 years. In addition to pastoral care, he also served as district superintendent in both Singapore and Malaysia and assisted in the planting of several local churches. During his retirement in the United States, Rev. Fang often led Chinese Bible classes in local churches, and was often invited to preach at a Chinese church in Washington State.
In 1974, when the Bethel Presbyterian Church proposed the establishment of a "All Saints Memorial Chapel" to house the ashes of resting Christians, Rev. Fang was one of the few church leaders who actively supported this ministry. After the completion of All Saints' Memorial Chapel, Rev. Fang served in its organizing committee and as a director until he retired to the United States. To this day, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church is still represented on the Board of Directors of All Saints' Memorial Chapel.
Rev. Fang was married on 16 December 1941 and the wedding was held at the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. On 8 December of that year, Japan bombed Singapore for the first time, so the banquet prepared had to be canceled and replaced by a simple tea reception, which was held on the rooftop of the fourth floor of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
Rev. Fang was called home to the Lord on 3 October 3 1997 at the age of 80. He left behind his wife, Ms. Ng Cheng Han, and three daughters: Biau Oan, Biau Ee, Biau Leng, and two sons: Eng Siong, Eng Chan, as well as sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.
References:
- "In Memory of Rev. Fang Chao Hsi", in Ripples 1997/11, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
- Chng Siew Khoon: "Anecdotes of Rev. Fang Chao Hsi", 125th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, 2014.
- Tan Chew Lim: "Remembering Rev. Fang Chao Hsi", in Ripples 1997/12, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church.
- Lee Chong Kao, “Rev Fang Chao Hsi” (in Chinese), Historical Personalities of the Chinese-Speaking Churches in Singapore, pp. 99-100, edited by Lee Chong Kao, Dao Geng Publishing House, First Edition, June 2023.
Rev Fang Chao Hsi, preaching in Hokkien Sunday worship at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church in 1976.
Rev Fang Chao Hsi and Mrs Fang, Ms. Ng Cheng Han, photo taken at the then Telok Blangah Branch Church, 1976.
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方兆熙牧师 (1917 - 1997)
方兆熙牧师于1917年5月14日出生于福建惠安。他自1961年至1980年牧养直落亚逸礼拜堂共20年之久。他深切关心本堂事务，照顾会友无微不至，迄今不少年长的会友还惦念着他。
本堂忠心老会友庄秀坤弟兄早年住在直落亚逸礼拜堂隔邻，年青时常常在晚上或周末充当方牧师的临时司机，和他一起出外探访弟兄姐妹，从中看见了方牧师忠心的事奉及对会友的爱心和关怀。庄弟兄在追忆中说：“每主日崇拜时，方牧师都会从讲台上注意观察哪些会友没来礼拜，聚会后就会打电话联络他们。如果会友生病或有因家庭事故而缺席，他就会即刻到会友家或医院探访。方牧师和会友之间一直保持着密切的关系，就像自己家里的人一样。”
庄弟兄当年常到礼拜堂温习功课，他见到方牧师在四楼的小阁楼（今已拆除）灵修和预备讲章。因为未雨绸缪，有备无患，每当有人临时邀请他讲道时，他可以不用看讲章便能讲出一篇生动的信息。庄弟兄说，每个主日是方牧师最忙碌的日子。他上午要在母堂直落亚逸礼拜堂主持厦语崇拜，下午要到直落布兰亚分堂主持厦语/粤语崇拜，晚上又要赶到女皇镇属堂主持厦语/粤语崇拜。如遇到守丧礼拜，通常方牧师会安排在下午崇拜过后举行。因此，他每主日都要忙到晚上十至十一点才回到牧师楼。方牧师好像没有固定休息日，每天都是为教会事工忙忙碌碌。方牧师常说：“牧师是上帝的仆人不是雇工，仆人是在任何时候都在牧养羊群，而雇工则是按照时间工作和休息。”
庄弟兄记得每个主日崇拜后，方牧师会提供免费午餐给诗班员享用，以便让诗班员餐后继续练习诗歌。每年除夕晚，方牧师就会邀请二十至三十位神学生到牧师楼享用除夕晚餐，让这些无法在除夕晚与家人团聚的神学生们，能够与主内的弟兄姐妹一起吃团圆饭，享受主里的团契。记得曾有两次在除夕晚，方牧师接到会友家人去世消息的电话，就义不容辞的赶到丧家，除了祷告慰问丧家外，还帮忙安排丧礼。
现任会友领袖陈树霖教授在思念方兆熙牧师说：方牧师是他所敬爱与熟悉的一位属灵长辈。从青少年时代开始，除主日外，陈教授平时也为青年团契与主日学事工经常出入礼拜堂。他说直落亚逸堂有如他的第二个家。因此他有许多机会见证方牧师对教会事务的处处关注。其中一件令他印象深刻的事情如下：当时直落亚逸堂前面有一个很大的停车场，并建有一列的停车房，主日时这些停车房就充当主日学课室。方牧师平日不时巡察主日学课室，如发现有需要修补的桌椅，他就拿起铁锤铁钉自己动手修补。那些桌椅普通人看了也许早已将它们扔了，但方牧师修了再修。他一生勤俭，不但自己节俭，也为教会多方节省。
陈教授也回想到当年，方牧师一家人就住在直落亚逸堂，方牧师的睡房外就是他办公的地方，那里也是他的会客室，也是他休息看电视的地方。陈教授说那里也是他与方牧师时常交谈的地方。他说，方牧师有一次对他说：“树霖啊！看到你就令我想起自己年轻时候，我当时就像你格子瘦小，在礼拜堂非常活跃。”陈教授知道自己年青真的是很瘦。他也听说过方牧师小时身体虚弱，又常受胃病搅扰。方牧师从小由两位姑妈方芝英医生与方芝玉女士抚养长大。方牧师年轻时在教会里非常活跃。当宋尚节博士到厦门开奋兴会时，宋博士住在他们家里，宋博士鼓励他献身服事主。后来，方牧师在实兆远教书时，在方策牧师的鼓励下，他决定全时间奉献，奇妙地，他的胃病就不治而愈了。
方牧师开始在实兆远担任传道，1941年受派到新加坡巴耶礼峇堂服务，1951年到芙蓉事奉，1961年受委到直落亚逸堂服事，直到1980年退休，移居美国为止。方牧师于新马两地卫理公会忠心耿耿服事40年。除了牧会外，他也曾于两地担任过教区长，并协助建立多间堂会，退休后移居美国期间，方牧师常在当地的教会带领中文圣经班，也常受邀于华盛顿州一华人教会证道。
1974年当长老会伯特利堂提议建立“众圣纪念堂”，为安息基督徒存放骨灰时，方牧师是少数积极支持这项事工的教会领袖。众圣纪念堂建成后，方牧师先后担任该纪念堂的筹委与董事，直到他退休移居美国为止。时至今日，直落亚逸堂仍有代表在众圣纪念堂的董事会里。
方牧师于1941年12月16日结婚，婚礼于直落亚逸礼拜堂举行，当年12月8日，日本第一次轰炸新加坡，故只好取消所准备之宴会，而改为简单茶点，于直落亚逸堂四楼天台举行。
方牧师于1997年10月3日蒙主恩召，享年80，他留下牧师娘黄清涵女士和三女二男：妙婉、妙意、妙玲、永颂、永赞，以及女婿、媳妇与内外孙儿孙女。
参考文献：
- “纪念方兆熙牧师”， 载于《卫讯》 1997/11
- 庄秀坤： “方兆熙牧师轶事”直落亚逸礼拜堂125周年纪念特刊，2014年
- 陈树霖： “思念方兆熙牧师“，载于《卫讯》1997/12
- 李宗高： “方兆熙牧师”，李宗高主编：《新加坡华文教会历史人物》，99-100页，道耕出版社，2023年6月初版。
方兆熙牧师于1976年在直落亚逸堂主日证道。
方兆熙牧师与师母黄清涵女子摄于直落勿兰芽分堂（1976年）。
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Rev. Hong Han Keng (1893 - 1976)
Rev. Hong was very much involved in the local churches’ move towards greater autonomy from its missionary-led ecclesiastical structure in the 1930s, where local pastors were exhorted to a greater consciousness that the ‘Church should work towards a point where missionaries were working with and under the direction of local Asiatic leaders.’ This was also a period of time when the church witnessed revival after the visits of the evangelist John Sung, and also when the Chinese Methodist churches had formed its own Mission Conference in order to better manage its own affairs apart from the English-speaking Methodist churches.
This move towards greater autonomy was paradoxically both impeded and strengthened with the coming World War II and the Japanese Occupation. Along with other churches in Singapore, Rev. Hong was forbidden by the Japanese to preach on Sundays. Rev. Hong and his large family were living in the church building throughout the Occupation but they did so with considerable risk, given that Japanese anti-aircraft guns were also placed on the roof of the church building. There was also close scrutiny - each ‘flicker of light from the church building at night would send Japanese soldiers hurrying in for investigation’ as they would suspect the Hongs for possessing wireless communication sets. But that did not deter Rev. Hong from serving the community. He continued to preach and held regular Sunday services unbeknown to the Japanese. It is also said that he also sheltered 300 people in the sanctuary during the Occupation, a testament to he and his wife’s selfless care for them. His work was recognised by the British government in a 1947 award presentation. Reflecting on the Occupation in 1946, Rev. Hong remarked that while ‘much material loss was sustained[, many] encouraging spiritual gains have been made. More church members, greater interest in church programme and progress, more concern for the pastors’ welfare, and deeper yearning for spiritual truths’.
Rev. Hong receiving the Award from Sir Franklin Gimson, Singapore's postwar governor (1946 to 1952)
After the war, Rev. Hong had a prescient outlook concerning the education of the young. In 1949, instead of giving a detailed report of the churches, he expounded on the educational needs he had observed. He noticed that there were no Chinese mission schools under the care of the Methodist Church. As things stood, many members were unable to enroll their children into the English-medium mission schools. He stressed the ‘urgent need’ to have more Methodist mission schools, and warned that ‘if we are not able to take care of our own children, then they will fall into the care of those who will willingly do so’. It was perhaps no coincidence that Rev. Hong also served as the Chair of the Board of Education in the same time period, or that he somehow found time to act on his concern and served as the manager of the Chinese Methodist School, an expansion of the educational efforts by Geylang Methodist School.
The same concern about the education of the young led Rev. Hong to consider starting English services for the future generation that would receive English education. In 1955, he approached Rev. Alred Yeo Chee Heng to start an English service within TACMC even before Rev. Yeo had graduated from his theological studies. This came to pass in 1959 when the first English service was held. This initiative is all the more significant given that it was even before the education policies of post-independent Singapore took root in the younger generation. That English service eventually became Grace Methodist Church. Moreover, he was a shepherd who was concerned about the quality of teaching his sheep was receiving. In an annual report of the state of the churches under his charge as District Superintendent, Rev. Hong expressed a concern about the quality of revivalist preachers coming into churches as guest speakers. For Rev. Hong, these preachers should be looking to encourage the church members to be more Christlike, and not introduce divisions or discouragement.
Rev. Hong’s concern for the community went beyond his flock. In 1933, TACMC started a Mission Sunday School in the Bukit Ho Swee area which attracted many non-Christians, especially after a devastating fire earlier in the year. In 1951, Rev. Hong represented the Chinese Methodist churches to ‘meet the spiritual, educational, and medical needs of squatters in Federation resettlement areas by setting-up churches, schools and medical clinics’ with the approval of the government. He also led TACMC to purchase land of about 20,000 square feet in Telok Blangah as the church expanded its efforts to serve a larger community.
At a personal level, when it came to learning and education, Rev. Hong walked the talk. Although he was based in the same church for decades, there were ample opportunities for him to learn from overseas trips. In 1948, he returned to his country of birth, China, for the first time since leaving it to come to Singapore in 1913. He studied at Nanking Theological Seminary briefly and joined different Christian gatherings, all of which refreshed and inspired him to serve God more gladly. In 1955, he made a round the world trip, ‘seeing the church in action’ to Java, Europe, and the United States, giving him ‘inspiration to return to Malaya and implement some of the things he saw in his own church work.’ Although he was on these trips ostensibly for him to rest from his busy ministry, he nevertheless did not cease from wanting to better grow the kingdom of God.
As a result of his ministry, Rev. Hong’s standing in the larger community was significant. He often represented the Chinese Methodist churches. In 1937, he prayed alongside Rev. Goh Hood Keng for the ongoing Sino-Japanese War. As the leader of the largest Methodist Church in Singapore in 1948, his trip to China was reported by English-medium newspapers. The same was true when he returned from his round-the-world trip in 1956. Even after he retired, an unfortunate incident regarding a break-in at his home in 1970 was also reported.
Most importantly, Rev. Hong was not merely an administrator, church leader or community representative with much influence, although he was certainly all of the above. The English-medium Methodist Message’s obituary on Rev. Hong records the most important ingredient of his success - the time and effort he put into his relationships with his parishioners through his visitations. He was also remembered as the ‘sweet potato rice porridge pastor’, as he would invite members to spend more time in fellowship after services for a sweet potato rice-porridge lunch. Indeed, for Rev. Hong to combine intentional disciple-making with responsible institutional leadership meant that ‘no one [at TACMC] has worked harder or accomplished as much’, notwithstanding the fact that he is remembered fondly as a family man. At the time of his passing in 1976, he was survived by his wife, five sons, seven daughters, four daughters-in-law, six sons-in-law, eight paternal grandchildren, 18 maternal grandchildren and 18 maternal great-grandchildren. More than a large family, he has been a faithful steward of God’s family in TACMC and also the many Chinese Methodist churches in the region.
Those familiar with the present ministry emphases in TACMC will easily recognise them as emphases that Rev. Hong himself toiled for. In a 1952 report on the church, Rev. Hong listed them at length:
The WSCS, MYF, the Sunday School and the Church choir, are going on from strength to strength. Within the Church, classes are conducted in Bible study, speech training, singing, sewing, dramatics, and Bible and hymn reading in Chinese and romanised Hokkien. Work, out of the Church building, takes the forms of cottage prayer meetings, evangelistic meetings on the roads, visits to the sake, poor, and needy, social gatherings, the distribution of relief in kind and in money, and games.
Additionally, as a leader of other pastors, he prioritised the need for frequent gatherings amongst church workers to ‘study the Bible together, to exchange experiences arising out of [their] work, to examine the progress in the work we each have done, and to discuss plans for the future’, believing that they were a source of ‘great inspiration and strength through fellowship with each other and with our Lord, Jesus Christ.’ Indeed, above and beyond the life and testimony of Rev. Hong, may the list of activities TACMC pursued serve as a reminder of the plentiful work for God’s kingdom that remains unfinished.
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方汉京牧师 (1893 - 1976)
方汉京牧师于1893年7月5日出生于中国福建惠安。他于1913年来到新加坡，并在新加坡基督教神学学院（现在的三一神学院）就读神学。毕业后，他首先在职场工作，然后成为一名全时间传道。他在1933年至1961年的28年里，担任直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的主理牧师，他以杰出的表现服务直落亚逸堂，即使在1958年退休后，他仍然继续忠心耿耿地服事。事实上，早在1934年，教区长就表示相信方牧师和夫人“最终会使直落亚逸堂成为新加坡领先的教会之一”。那个时候，他是马来西亚华人宣教会议（后来是马来西亚华人年议会）的重要成员，还担任该年议会的教区长，监督新加坡和柔佛教区的华人教会。
方牧师在上世纪30年代积极参与了本地教会朝向更大自治的发展，当时教会鼓励本地牧师更加自觉地意识到“教会应朝着促使宣教士与当地亚洲领袖合作并在其指导下工作的地步发展”。这也是在宣教士领导的教会体制之外，本地教会朝着更大自治的方向迈出的时期。这个时期正是在奋兴布道家宋尚节博士的访问之后，教会经历复兴的时候，也是华人卫理公会教会成立自己的宣教会议、以更好地在英语卫理公会的管辖之外处理自己事务的时候。
这种朝向更大自治的举措在二战和日本占领时期虽受到阻碍但又反而得到加强。与新加坡的其他教会一样，日本政府禁止方牧师在星期天证道。方牧师和他全家在日本占领期间一直住在教堂里，但这样做存在很大的风险，因为日本人在教堂屋顶上也放置了高射炮。他们受到严密监视，夜间教堂建筑中的任何“微光透出屋外”都会引来日本士兵赶来调查，因为他们怀疑方家有无线电通讯设备。但这并没有阻止方牧师为社区服务。他继续传道，并定期举行主日崇拜，而日本人并不知情。据说他还在占领期间在教堂避难所中收留了300人，这证明了方牧师和师母对他人的无私关怀。他的工作在1947年得到了英国政府的奖励。回顾1946年日军占领时期，方牧师说，虽然“遭受了许多物质损失，但取得了令人鼓舞的属灵收获。有更多的教会会友，对教会计划和进展有更大的兴趣，对牧师福利的更多关心，对属灵真理的更深切渴望”
方汉京牧师接受新加坡战后总督福兰克林.吉姆森爵士(1946至1952)颁发奖状。
二战结束后，方牧师对年轻一代的教育有着具有远见的看法。在1949年，他没有提供教会的详细报告，但却详细阐述了他观察到的教育需求。他注意到卫理公会旗下没有华文教会学校。事实上，许多教会会友无法将他们的孩子送入英文教会学校。他强调了更多卫理公会教会学校的“紧迫需要”，并警告说：“如果我们不能照顾好自己的孩子，那么他们将落入愿意照顾他们的人手中。” 也许方牧师在当时还担任年会教育部主席的职务并非是一件巧合的事，或许他也刚好有时间来处理这些顾虑，并担任了卫理华文学校的经理，这间卫理华文学校是芽笼卫理学校教育工作的扩展。
对年轻一代教育的关注也促使方牧师考虑为接受英文教育的未来一代开设英文崇拜。在1955年，他甚至在杨志恒牧师还未神学毕业就邀请他在直落亚逸堂开设英语崇拜。1959年英语崇拜最终成立。这行动意义深长，因为这是在新加坡独立后的教育政策在年轻一代实施之前就已经实现于直落亚逸堂。这个英语崇拜最后发展成为卫理公会恩典堂。此外，方牧师身为牧者，他关心会友所接受的教导素质。在他担任教区长的职务下，方牧师在一份关于他所管理的教区里各教会的状况年度报告书中表示，对于某些来自奋兴派的传道来到教会担任客座讲员，方牧师对他们的素质存有担忧。对方牧师来说，这些传道应该鼓励教会会友更加像基督，而不应引入分歧或挫折。
方牧师对社区的关怀超越了他会友的范围。1933年，直落亚逸堂在河水山地区开设了一个宣教主日学，吸引了许多非基督徒，特别是在当年早些时候发生的毁灭性火灾之后。1951年，方牧师代表卫理公会华人教会在政府的许可下， “为满足联邦政府安置区贫民的灵命、教育和医疗需求，致力于建立教堂、学校和医疗诊所” 。他还带领直落亚逸堂购买了坐落在直落布兰雅大约20,000平方英尺的土地，以扩大教会将来服务更大的社区。
在个人层面上，当涉及到学习和教育时，方牧师言出必行。虽然他在同一间教会工作了几十年，但他有很多机会在海外旅行中学习。在1948年，他第一次回到自己的出生地中国，自1913年离开中国来新加坡以来的第一次。他短暂在南京神学院学习，并参加了不同的基督教聚会，这一切都使他更加兴奋地为上帝服务。1955年，他进行了一次绕世界旅行，“看到教会在行动中”，前往爪哇、欧洲和美国，这让他“得到了灵感，回到马来亚并在自己的教会工作中实施他在旅行中看到的一些事情”。尽管他似乎是为了从繁忙的事工中休息而进行这些旅行，但他仍然没有停止希望更好地发展上帝的国度。
由于他的事工，方牧师备受广大社区的尊重。他经常代表卫理公会华人教会参加华社活动。在1937年，他与吴佛庆牧师一起为中日战争进行祈祷。作为新加坡最大的卫理公会教会的领袖，在1948年，他前往中国的旅行被英语媒体报道。当他在1956年结束环球之旅后，同样也受媒体报道。即使在退休后，1970年他家遭到入室抢劫的不幸事件也被报道。
最重要的是，方牧师不仅是一位具有影响力的行政人员、教会领袖或社区代表，他肯定是面面俱全。英文卫理报(Methodist Message)对方牧师的讣告中，题述了他成功的最重要因素 – 就是他通过探访与会友建立关系所付出的时间和努力。他也被记忆为“番薯粥牧师”，因为他会在崇拜后邀请会友们进行番薯粥午餐的团契交往。事实上，对于方牧师来说，将有意识的门徒培养与负责任的机构领导相结合，意味着“没有人[在直落亚逸堂]像他那样努力工作或取得那么多成就”，而且同时人们都亲切地思念他为一位很照顾家庭的人。在他于1976年安息时，他的妻子、五个儿子、七个女儿、四个儿媳、六个女婿、八个外孙、十八个外孙女和十八个外曾孙都还在世。他不仅有着众多的家庭成员，还忠实地照顾着直落亚逸堂以及其教区众多的华人卫理公会教会，成为上帝大家庭忠实的好管家。
熟悉直落亚逸目前事工重点的人会很容易认出，这些重点正是方牧师亲自努力的方向。在1952年关于教会的报告中，方牧师详细列出了它们：
妇女协会、青年团、主日学和教堂唱诗班都蓬勃发展。在教堂内，进行圣经研究、演讲训练、歌唱、缝纫、戏剧、圣经和福音书的华文和罗马化福建话阅读班。在教堂之外，有家庭祷告会、路边福音布道会、探访酒吧、贫困者和有需要者、社交聚会、提供实物和金钱援助以及游戏等活动。
此外，作为其他牧师的领袖，他强调教会工作者之间需要频繁聚会，共同“研究圣经，交流工作中的经验，检查我们各自工作的进展，讨论未来的计划”，相信这是“通过彼此与我们的主耶稣基督团契的源泉，带来巨大的灵感和力量。”事实上，不仅仅是方牧师的生活和见证，愿直落亚逸堂所追求的活动项目提醒我们，上帝的国度仍然有大量的工作有待完成。
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Rev. Khoo Siaw Hua (1906 - 1985)
Rev. Khoo Siaw Hua was born in Hong Kong on 17 January 1906, and was originally from Chao’an County, Guangdong Province. Growing up in a Christian family, he was educated in Hong Kong and China before coming south at the age of 19 to work as a teacher in Johor, West Malaysia and as a salesman in Malacca. He married Ms. Liau Yang Hoon in 1926. Ms. Liau was a young lady of high repute, brought up in a Christian family, and her father was the Rev. Liau Thian Ek, a well-known pastor of the Muar Jalan Salleh Presbyterian Church. Rev. Khoo and Ms. Liau had five sons and two daughters.
During the Japanese occupation, Rev. Khoo came to Singapore to do business. After the surrender of Japan, apart from doing business, he also became a real estate agent. With his extensive network and acumen, he was quite successful in the business world. In 1950, with the encouragement of Rev. Calvin Chao, he gave up his business and devoted himself to the Lord's work.In 1952, he was called by the Lord to be the first prison chaplain. Between 1960 and 1970, when the prison chapel became inadequate and needed to be expanded, Rev. Khoo personally purchased the materials and led a group of inmates to build the reform centre for youths and the worship hall for prisoners in the Medium Security Prison.
For more than 30 years, every day, night, morning and evening, Rev. Khoo tirelessly played the role of missionary and counselor. Every day, he was confronted by what the world saw as incorrigible, apostate, rebellious, and ungodly members of secret societies, looters, and even vicious murderers. With his utmost patience and endless love, he touched the hardened hearts of those who were stubborn and unrepentant, and brought them one by one to the Lord's presence, so that they could see the way to eternal life and which saved them from the painful and desperate road to death. They humbly repented at the feet of the Almighty Father and became God's beloved sons and daughters. There were hundreds of letters of confession written to Rev. Khoo by prison inmates after their repentance, and several of them are excerpted in the book "Torch in Prison – Rev. Khoo Siaw Hua". Anyone who read these letters would be moved to tears and could not help but thank God for His power and love for them.
For his dedicated service and outstanding performance, Rev. Khoo had received the following awards and medals:
1959 Certificate of Honour by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
1964 BBM
1973 Justice of Peace1982 Certificate of Appreciation by Ministry of Social Affairs
However, Rev. Khoo did not only serve in the prison ministry; he wore many hats and bore all the various responsibilities. He was the Chairman of the Singapore Chapter of the Singapore-Malaysia Christian Association and the first President of the Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Bible Society. As he was fluent in English and Chinese, and spoke several dialects such as Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese, and Malay, he had served as a volunteer pastor in several churches, assisting in all church affairs such as Sunday services, communion, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and all other pastoral work. Whenever there was a shortage of pastors in the churches concerned, Rev. Khoo was obliged to take over the pastor's duties, and so he often dubbed himself as the "spare tyre" of the church.
Rev. Khoo had served as a steward of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for many years, contributing to the planning of various church activities, and representing Telok Ayer in the annual conference. He contributed actively to the annual conference with constructive ideas and strategies. In May 1951, the issue of independence and self-financing of Methodist churches was raised in the Singapore-Malaysia annual conference. Rev. Khoo suggested setting up a Welfare Department that raised fund to take care of retired pastoral staff (at that time there was no salary scale for pastoral staff and welfare for retired staff). The fund could also help to take care of church members who were handicapped due to accidents or for members who needed financial assistance when their family members were called home by God. This proposal was passed with unanimous votes from all members of the 5th Chinese Annual Conference held in 1951 and the Malaya Chinese Methodist Welfare Department was established in April 1952.
Rev. Khoo made many contributions to the Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, and due to popular demand, he was elected by the Annual Conference to be a delegate to the South East Asia Conference and to the ensuing General Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore-Malaysia, and also to represent the South East Asia Conference at the General Conference in the United States in 1964.
In the 1970s, the Singapore Government encouraged cremation instead of burial after death, as it wanted to maximize the use of the island's limited land. At that time, churches did not have a place to store the ashes of Christians after death. A group of church leaders suggested the establishment of a "All Saints Memorial Chapel". Rev. Khoo Siaw Hua and Rev. Fang Chao Hsi, then in charge of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, were among the few church leaders who supported this plan, and in 1976 when the All Saints' Memorial Chapel was established, Rev. Khoo served as a board member and advisor. To this day, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church is still represented on the Board of Trustees of All Saints' Memorial Chapel at Poh Huat Road.
9 August 1983 was the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Prison Fellowship Singapore and the day of Rev. Khoo's retirement. During the Thanksgiving Celebration on that day, Rev. Khoo relinquished the heavy responsibility he had shouldered for more than 30 years to his third son, Rev. Henry Khoo who was the Assistant Prison Chaplain at that time. On 20 December 1985, Rev. Khoo rested in peace. He was preaching in the prison when he suffered a sudden attack of ill-health and finally rested in the Lord's arms at Gleneagles Hospital. Over 60 prison officers and ex-prisoners attended Rev. Khoo's funeral memorial service on 23 December 1985 at the Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church, led by the former prison chief, Mr. Quek Shi Lei.
References:
- Esther Lee Yew Gim, "Torch in Prison - Rev. Khoo Siaw Hua," Translated by Dr. Tan Aik Ling, Dr. Tan Seng Chee, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, November 2012.
- "Profile of the Late Rev. Khoo Siew Hua," Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church Centennial Celebration Souvenir Magazine, 1989, p.187.
- Lee Chong Kao, “Rev Khoo Siaw Hua, BBM, JP” (in Chinese), Historical Personalities of the Chinese-Speaking Churches in Singapore, pp. 262-264, edited by Lee Chong Kao, Dao Geng Publishing House, First Edition, June 2023.
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丘少华牧师 (1906 - 1985)
丘少华牧师于1906年1月17日出生于香港，祖籍在广东省潮安县。从小在基督化家庭中长大，他在香港及中国受教育，19岁后南来，曾在西马柔佛当教师，又在马六甲当推销员。 他于1926年与廖映云女士成婚。廖女士乃名门闺秀，在基督化家庭中长大，父亲乃麻坡长老会名牧，廖天益牧师。丘牧师与廖女士成婚后，育有五男二女。
日治时期为了避难，丘牧师便到新加坡来做生意。日本投降后除了做生意外，同时也做房屋买卖经纪。由于长袖善舞，在商界颇有一番作为。到了1950年，由于赵君影牧师的鼓励，便放弃生意，献身于主的事工。
在1952年，他受到主的呼召，成为监狱的首任牧师。在1960年到1970年之间，丘牧师鉴于监狱礼拜堂不敷应用，需要扩建，他便自买材料，带领一群狱中犯人亲手建立了青年感化院和中等保安监狱礼拜堂。
30多年来，每个日夜晨昏，丘牧师都孜孜不倦地扮演着宣教者及辅导员的角色。他每天所面对的是一些在世人眼中视为无药可救、叛逆无道的私会党徒、打家劫舍的盗匪、甚至穷凶极恶的杀人犯。他以最大的能耐及无尽的爱心，感化了一颗颗顽逆刚硬的铁石心肠，把他们一个个带到主的面前，使他们在痛苦绝望的死亡边路，看到了永生的道路，在全能天父的脚前谦卑悔过，成为上帝疼爱的儿女。狱中囚犯于悔改后写给丘少华牧师的自白书信多达数百封，在“狱中火炬–丘少华牧师”一书里摘录了数封。读过这些亲笔信者，必为之感动得潸然泪下，更会情不自禁地为他们感谢上帝的达能与大爱。
由于丘牧师的热心服务及特出表现，他先后得到以下奖状与勋章：
1959年 英国女皇荣誉公民奖状
1964年 公共服务勋章
1973年 太平局绅
1982年 社会服务奖状
然而，丘牧师不是只单单服事于牢狱事工，他身兼数职，集一切重任于一身。他是星马基督教协会星分会的主席，同时也是新加坡、马来西亚及文莱圣经公会的第一届会长。由于他通晓中英文，又懂得讲数种方言，如厦语、粤语、客语、琼语及马来语等，所以也担任过数间教会的义务牧师，协助教会一切事务，如主持主日崇拜、圣餐、洗礼、婚礼、葬礼及一切的牧养工作。每当有关教会牧师短缺时，丘牧师便义不容辞地挑起牧师之职，因此他时常自嘲自己是教会的“备用轮胎”(spare tyre)。
丘牧师多年担任直落亚逸礼拜堂的执事，与历届牧师共同策划与推动与堂会有关的各项活动。他也代表直落亚逸礼拜堂参加每年的卫理公会华人年议会会议，在年议会中担任要职，时常提出许多有建设性的良策。在1951年5月间在新马华人年议会中，谈到有关卫理公会之自立、自养等问题时，丘牧师便建议组织“慈善部”，作为初步之筹备基金，以便让年老教牧人员在退休后生活费有所保障（当时卫理公会教牧尚未有固定的薪金制度及退休后的福利照顾）；同时也负责对于遭遇意外而致残废之会友，以及慈善部会员息劳天家时，给予经济上的资助，及有关后事的料理。此建议于1951年第五届华人年议会上获得全体以致通过，马上成立“马来亚中华基督教卫理公会慈善部”，并于1952年4月宣布正式招收慈善部会员。
丘牧师在卫理公会华人年议会中有许多贡献，由于众望所归，他也多次被年议会推选派为出席东南亚中央议会及今后新马卫理公会的总议会的代表，1964年他也代表东南亚中央议会出席在美国举行的总议会。
上世纪70年代，由于新加坡政府要尽量利用岛国有限土地，因此鼓励人民死后以火葬代替土葬。当时，教会尚无提供基督徒死后存放骨灰场所。于是在一班教会领袖共同磋商之余，便建议设立“众圣纪念堂”。邱少华牧师与当时的直落亚逸堂主理方兆熙牧师是少数支持这计划的教会领袖。1976年当众圣纪念堂被建立后，丘牧师先后担任董事与顾问。时至今日，直落亚逸堂仍有代表在宝发路众圣纪念堂的董事会里。
1983年8月9日是监狱礼拜堂成立30周年纪念日，也是丘牧师荣休的日子。在这一天的感恩庆典上，丘少华牧师将其肩负了30余年的重任卸交给其第三公子丘殷扬牧师。（丘殷扬牧师当时是监狱助理牧师）。丘少华牧师于1985年12月20日安息。他是在监狱讲道时身体突感不适，最后在鹰阁医院安息主怀。1985年12月23日在卫理公会巴耶礼峇堂举行的殡葬追思礼拜中，有超过60名监狱长官和前囚犯在前监狱总监郭诗礼的带领下参加了丘牧师的葬礼。
参考文献：
- 李幼吟著： 《狱中火炬 – 丘少华牧师》，卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂，2012年11月
- “已故丘少华牧师简介”，卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜一百周年庆典纪念刊，1989年187页。
- 李宗高：“丘少华牧师”，李宗高主编：《新加坡华文教会历史人物》，262-264页，道耕出版社，2023年6月初版。
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Rev Peter Lim Seck Tiong (1922 - 2020)
Rev Peter Lim was born and raised in Tanjong Pagar. He came to Christ at the age of 10 under the influence of his grandmother. In 1935, he attended Dr John Sung’s revival meeting at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TACMC) Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church where he took the name “Peter”. He also became a member of Telok Ayer Church where he taught in Sunday School as a youth. The young Rev Lim was a regular speaker at the Sunday School in TACMC. He spoke to the youths in perfect Hui An Hokkien (惠安福建), not reading from text yet he spoke fluently and naturally.
In mid 1960’s, Rev Lim was elected to the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) of TACMC as steward and local preacher, and later as a local elder pastor (本处长牧). He preached regularly at TACMC’s Hokkien Sunday worship with his fluent Hokkien. For many years, Rev Peter Lim was one of the lay delegates for Telok Ayer Church at the Chinese Annual Conference. He was a notable voice for Telok Ayer Church highly regarded at the conference.
Rev Lim made two important contributions to the historical building of TACMC. The first contribution was to the church front doors - a pair of tall, heavy and strong wooden doors. Rev Peter Lim told an interesting story about these doors. He said, “These two doors were originally meant for Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) in Hong Kong. However, the doors could not fit and could not be installed there!” Rev Lim somehow came to know about it. He personally went to Hong Kong to request the doors be installed at Telok Ayer Church and arranged for the doors to be shipped to Singapore and fitted at where they stand now.
The second memorable contribution happened in the early 1980’s, where there had been a motion to demolish the TACMC church building to replace it with a brand new modernised building. Rev Lim was away and the motion was almost passed. When he learnt of this, he strongly opposed and halted the motion. Thanks to his foresight, several years later, the TACMC Church Building is now preserved as a National Monument. Today, TACMC building at Telok Ayer Street stands firmly and majestically in the financial district, thanks to Rev Lim’s insistence in keeping this National Treasure.
Rev Peter Lim’s contributions went far beyond Telok Ayer Church. He was one of the pioneers who formed the Methodist Youth Fellowship or MYF of the Methodist Church in Singapore. He was also the founding or an early pastor of three Methodist churches, (1) Fairfield Methodist Church in 1948, (2) Barker Road Methodist Church in 1956, when a group of ACS boys wanted to start a new church and Rev Lim was then a teacher came forward to be their first pastor; and (3) Charis Methodist Church – where Rev Lim was the associate pastor of a newly formed evening service at Geylang Methodist Church in 1968, which later became Charis Methodist Church.
In 1966, Rev Lim was among those who set the motion for the Methodist Church of Malaysia and Singapore to be autonomous from the United Methodist Church in USA and became the Secretary of the First General Conference. He was also instrumental in the drafting of the Book of Discipline.
Rev Lim was not only a local pastor but also a teacher. He joined Anglo Chinese School as a teacher in 1950s. From 1961 to 1965, Rev Lim was the principal of ACS in Seremban. He was invited to a re-union function of ACS teachers and students in 2012. Someone asked Rev Lim at the reunion whether he also had his school education in ACS. Rev Lim replied, “I would have, but I was enrolled in the wrong school!” And he explained further. According to him, his mother wanted to enrol him in ACS but the rickshaw rider made a mistake. He was supposed to take them to Fort Canning where ACS was then, but instead he took them to Pearl’s Hill Primary School. “In Hokkien, Fort Canning is 皇家山 (ong kay sua) and Pearl’s Hill is 珍珠山 (chin choo sua). Both sounded somewhat similar and that was how the mistake occurred”. Rev Lim elaborated with a smile.
In 1965 Rev Lim moved from ACS to the then University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore). He had since then served in various top management positions in NUS for the next 30 years. In 1989, Rev Lim, himself an alumnus of NUS, set up the Office of Alumni Relations and had since served as its Director till his retirement.
After his retirement, he joined his son Eric and daughter Ann Li in Edmonton, Canada, together with his grandsons, granddaughters, and great grandchildren. He returned to the Lord on 10 September 2020. He was predeceased by his wife Flora in 2010.
References
- TACMC Local Conference Minutes, 07 October 1980
- Report by Rev Peter Lim on the autonomy of the Methodist Church of Malaysia and Singapore from the United Methodist Church in USA. Minutes of the 21st session of the Malaysia Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, held in Hakka Methodist Church, Singapore, 14-20 August 1967, Chinese Section, pp.93-95.
- Pang Seng Hock, “An interview with BRMC’s founding pastor - Rev Peter Lim”, in Uphill & Beyond Magazine, January to April 2012, Baker Road Methodist Church, pp.6-7.
- Zalina Gazali, “Keeping the spirit alive, Alumni will always remain a pillar of the university community. Mr Peter Lim, one of NUS’ pioneer administrators, explains why”, in NUS Alumnus, July – September 2012, pp.16-17.
- “In memory of Rev Peter Lim,” Eulogy by Prof Tan Chew Lim, 45th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference, 16-19 Nov 2020, Facebook
- LIM, Rev. Peter Seck Tiong - Obituary | Serenity Family Service Society
Rev Peter Lim with Bishop Fang CN, Rev Fang CH and Rev Fang MT at a Chinese Annual Conference held at TACMC
The pair of front doors of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church that were originally meant for HSBC in Hong Kong but are now installed at TACMC, thanks to Rev Peter Lim’s effort.
Rev Peter Lim, seated 4th from left at the front, at ACS Teachers and Students Reunion in 2012.
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林识忠牧师 (1922 - 2020)
林识忠牧师出生在丹戎巴葛，并在那里长大。他在10岁时在祖母的影响下接受了基督教信仰。1935年，他参加了宋尚节博士在直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂举行的复兴会，他在那里取洋名“Peter”（彼得）。他还成为直落亚逸礼拜堂的会友，在青年时代在主日学教导。年轻的林牧师经常在主日学担任讲员。他讲道时，并不是直接读讲稿，而是用流利、自然的惠安福建话向年青人证道。
在20世纪60年代中期，林牧师当选为直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂本地教会执事和本处传道，并后来成为一名本地教会长牧(Elder)。他用流利的福建话定期在直落亚逸堂的厦语主日崇拜里证道。多年来，林识忠牧师是直落亚逸堂在卫理公会华人年议会的代表之一，在年会议时其言论备受重视。
林牧师对直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的历史建筑做出了两个重要的贡献。第一个贡献是礼拜堂前门——一对高大、沉重而坚固的木门。林识忠牧师讲述了关于这两扇门的有趣故事。他说：“这两扇门最初是为香港上海汇丰银行准备的。然而，这两扇门因不合尺寸而无法安装在那里！”林识忠牧师不知何故得知了这一情况。他亲自前往香港请求将这两扇门安装在直落亚逸堂，并安排将门运到新加坡且安装在现在的位置。
第二个令人难忘的贡献发生在20世纪80年代初，当时有一项提议：拆除直落亚逸堂建筑，以建造一座全新的现代化礼拜堂。林牧师当时不在，该提议几乎通过。当他得知此事后，他坚决反对并阻止了该提议。多亏了他的远见，几年后，直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂的建筑受政府保留为国家古迹。如今，位于直落亚逸街的直落亚逸堂在金融区稳固且庄严地屹立，这要归功于林识忠牧师坚持保留这一个国家宝藏。
林识忠牧师的贡献不只限于直落亚逸堂。他是新加坡卫理公会青年团契（MYF）的创始人之一。他还是三间卫理公会礼拜堂的创立者之一或早期牧师，分别是：（1）1948年的花菲卫理公会礼拜堂，（2）1956年的巴克路卫理公会礼拜堂（当时一群英华学校的学生想要成立一个新教会，林牧师作为一名教师自告奋勇担任他们的第一任牧师），以及（3）1968年成立的颂恩卫理公会礼拜堂——林牧师曾是芽笼卫理公会礼拜堂新成立的晚间崇拜的协理牧师，后来该晚间崇拜成立为颂恩卫理公会礼拜堂。
1966年，林牧师是马来西亚和新加坡卫理公会脱离美国卫理公会的独立运动发起人之一，并担任第一届大会秘书。他还在《卫理公会法规》的起草中起到了重要作用。 林牧师不仅是一位本处牧师，也是一位教师。他在1950年代加入了英华中学任教。从1961年到1965年，林牧师担任芙蓉的英华中学校长。他被邀请参加2012年英华中学教师和学生的团聚活动。有人在团聚会上问林牧师是否也曾在英华学校受过教育。林牧师回答说：“我本来应该是的，但我进错了学校！”他于是进一步解释了其中原因。 据他说，他的母亲想要带他报名到英华学校，但三轮车夫弄错了地方。他们本应该去现在的皇家山所在地的福康宁，但他们却被带到了珍珠山小学。“在福建话中，‘皇家山’是（Ong Kay Sua），而‘珍珠山’（Chin Choo Sua）。
两者听起来有些相似，这就是错误发生的原因。”林牧师打趣的说道。
1965年，林牧师从英华中学转到当时的新加坡大学（现为新加坡国立大学）。从那时起，他在新加坡国立大学担任各种高级管理职位长达30年。1989年，林牧师作为新加坡国立大学的校友，创立了校友关系办公室，并担任其主任直至退休。
退休后，他与儿子Eric、女儿Ann Li以及他的孙子、孙女和曾孙一起移居加拿大埃德蒙顿。他于2020年9月10日归于主怀，妻子Flora在2010年先他而去。
参考资料：
- 直落亚逸卫理公会礼拜堂执事会会议记录，1980年10月7日
- 林识忠牧师关于马来西亚和新加坡卫理公会与美国卫理公会独立的报告。
- 马来西亚卫理公会华人年议会第21届会议记录，1967年8月14日至20日，
- 在新加坡卫理公会天恩堂举行，中文版部分，第93-95页。
- 冯成福，“BRMC创办牧师识忠牧师专访”，（英语原文）《Uphill & Beyond Magazine》，2012年1月至4月，Baker Road Methodist Church，第6-7页。
- Zalina Gazali，“保持精神活跃，校友将永远是大学社群的支柱。林识忠先生，新加坡国立大学的一位先驱行政人员，解释了为什么”，（英语原文）《NUS校友》，2012年7月至9月，第16-17页。
- “追念林识忠牧师”（英语原文），陈树霖教授致辞，第45届华人年议会，2020年11月16-19日，Facebook
- 林识忠牧师 - 讣告（英语原文） ，美国 Serenity Family Service Society
林识忠在举行于直落亚逸礼拜堂的华人年议会中，与方忠南会督、方兆熙牧师、方明德牧师，一同合影。
以上左右两扇的大木门，原本要装在香港的汇丰银行，但经林识忠牧师的调协，如今装置在直落亚逸礼拜堂的正门入口。
林识忠牧师（坐在前排左起第四位）参加英华学校师生于2012年举行的团聚会。
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Rev. See Ping Eik (1948 - present)
Rev See Ping Eik was born on 15 April 1948, and grew up in Banting, Malaysia. Growing up in a Christian family, both of his parents were humble Christians. At the time of his birth, Rev. See’s family was the only Christian family in the Banting area. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. See Heng Yong, zealously pursued the Lord and dedicated their lives to evangelising to the residents of Banting. Banting was a very small place, just one street, and the neighborhood was surrounded by kampongs. Rev See’s father, Mr. See Heng Yong, used a rented lorry and asked the pastor to stand in the lorry to preach the gospel and show gospel movies, inviting the neighbors to listen to the sermon. In addition, he also borrowed the building of the Hokkien Association to hold evangelistic meetings and often invited overseas missionaries to preach among them. Later on, Mr. and Mrs. See Heng Yong even dedicated a piece of land they owned for the Lord and built the Banting Christian Methodist Church.
Rev. See Ping Eik’s desire to become a pastor was established at an early age when he witnessed his parents' passion for the gospel and had the opportunity to meet many foreign missionary pastors and evangelists. When he was asked at a young age of 9/10 years old what he wanted to be when he grew up, he was already sure that he wanted to be a pastor. As a young boy, Rev. See went to secondary school in Klang and lived in the church for a period of time, where he was influenced by many pastors in his life.
After graduating from high school, when the Principal of Trinity Theological College came to Kampar to attend the wedding of Rev. See's third sister, the principal heard that young See Ping Eik was interested in becoming a pastor, and immediately conducted an interview and encouraged him to enroll in Trinity Theological College (TTC) in Singapore. At that time, the new academic term for the new intakes had not yet officially started, and the excited Rev. See Ping Eik even enrolled halfway through the academic year, and thus he in fact studied for half a year longer than the other students!
After graduating from TTC, Rev. See went to the United States to study for his master’s degree and began to serve in the church in the United States. After completing his master's degree and returning from the USA, he served in the Malaysian Church for 3 years. In 1976, he began his ministry in Singapore by serving at Kum Yan Methodist Church, and in 1983, he became the Pastor in charge of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church. In 1986, he served as a district superintendent of the Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore. He was also appointed as the Pastor in charge of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church at the same time, and from that year onwards, he remained at Telok Ayer church until his official retirement in 2013.
In the early days of the Singapore church, when it was often faced with problems such as lack of funds, disagreements and disputes among the leaders of the congregation, and a shortage of people willing to help, Rev See, a young man of 36, was assigned to the historic Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, where he had to learn to work with older stewards who were many times wiser than he was. When Rev See was assigned to a new parish, he felt that no major changes should be made within three years. In the midst of a challenging environment, Rev See’s strategy was to focus on shepherding the flock, building a deep relationship with the congregation, and assisting them to be built up in the midst of adversity through sincere acts of love. Today, Rev See still teaches young pastors the same thing, telling them that the most important thing for a pastor to do is to lay the roots first, and then slowly build up his own views through careful deliberation and make incremental changes, slowly. They should be well prepared for God's word and engage congregants with love. Rev See relied on the teachings of the Bible and insisted on focusing on pastoral care, devoting his time to visiting and caring for the members, and from this, he slowly built up an organized church with structure and system, so that the members could support one another with love, and the members could serve God harmoniously and peacefully. Rev See's unique way of patient pastoral care has also become his "personal legacy". Whether the members are poor or rich, Rev See treated them with the same concept of "equal treatment" to all, and he listened attentively with his heart to intercede for every big and small matter regarding the congregants. All the members were touched by Rev See’s loving counselling. For generations, the families of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church have been Rev See's flock. Because of this, the present-day Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, which he pastored, is a century-old church, but still maintains a close relationship with its members and passes on the love for the Lord and the church from one generation to the next.
Rev. See personally has always had a great interest in sacred music. He is a tenor and has been a soloist in many concerts. He insisted that God must be praised with good music and encouraged the singing of traditional hymns in church. He started children's choirs when he was the Pastor in charge of both Paya Lebar Church Methodist Church and Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. The establishment of children's choirs encouraged Christian children to be exposed to beautiful traditional hymns at an early age, and to learn to appreciate and recognize good music on the basis of hymns. It also nurtures generations of choir successors and future church leaders. Due to Rev See's dedication to traditional hymns and choirs, Telok Ayer Church had maintained a strong tradition of worship. Several of the young leaders of the congregation were willing to serve as stewards, having developed a good foundation through their participation in the choir since childhood and also their diligence in attending Sunday school. This has indirectly contributed to the succession plan of the congregation.
In 1989, when Telok Ayer Church was celebrating its 100th anniversary, under the leadership of Rev See, the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church was granted National Monument status by the government, and planning and preparations for the restoration of the church building commenced. This project, which cost nearly $3 million, was finally completed in August 1995, after five years of collaboration between Rev See and the various stewards, and the enthusiastic members of the congregation. With the award of the National Monument status, the church has left an everlasting legacy in Singapore's history, which is a precious gift from God to the Chinese Annual Conference.
Rev. See was “on loan” to the United Church of Australia from 1995 to 1996. He returned to Telok Ayer Church in 1997, and in 1998, Rev See devoted himself to the development of missionary work. As Rev See was leading Telok Ayer Church into a new era, the church began to plan for the construction of a new church building on the site of the original branch church at Telok Blangah (Wishart Road), named the Second Sanctuary of Telok Ayer Church, or TA2 for short. The TA2 building was completed in November 2004 and dedicated on November 12, 2006, through the hard work and dedication of the stewards, brothers and sisters in Christ.
Rev See put a lot of thought into the architectural design of TA2. Because of his expertise in worship, Rev See believed that the sanctuary should be a place of intimate worship rather than a performance auditorium. TA2's sanctuary is wider than other sanctuaries, and the stage is closer to the audience than other sanctuaries. The choir is seated as part of the congregation. Rev See put a lot of effort into studying how to change the worship space into a sacred space, so that the pastor who preaches on the stage can communicate with the congregation in close proximity, so that everyone could have three-dimensional interaction, and could feel that "this is the church". The development policy of the congregation is to emphasize that although there are different language services and singing in the worship service, it still retains the concept of being a unified church with one body. For example, the weekly newsletter still insists on listing the reports and activities of the four services in one weekly newsletter. These policies, both large and small, have contributed to the close relationship between the TA and TA2 congregations.
Rev See retired on December 31, 2013. However, he continued to serve God uninterruptedly as a retired pastor at TA. He is now active in missionary activities. He travels to various mission areas to teach worship studies, instruct church leaders on how to establish planned worship services, and assist in local Christian educational efforts.
Rev See Ping Eik, leading the TA Centennial Celebration Banquet in Aug 1989, at the then Neptune Theatre Restaurant.
Rev See Ping Eik, leading the TA2 Dedication Thanksgiving Banquet in November 2006, at the then Ban Heng Restaurant, Harbourfront Centre.
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施谦益牧师 (1948 至今)
施谦益牧师出生于1948年4月15日，在马来西亚万津(Banting)成长。从小出生在基督家庭的施谦益，父母都是谦卑的基督徒。出世时，唯有施牧师一家在万津一带是基督徒。父母施兴养夫妇热心追求主，把一生奉献于传福音给万津居民。万津是个很小的地方，才一条街，附近周围都是甘榜。父亲施兴养先生用租来的罗里，请牧师站在罗里上传福音，并播放福音电影，邀请左邻右舍听道。此外，他也借用福建会馆举办福音聚会，常常邀请海外的宣教士在他们当中讲道。后来施兴养夫妇更是为主奉献了他们所拥有的一片土地，建了万津基督教卫理公会礼拜堂。
施谦益牧师就是从小亲见到父母对福音的热诚，也因为常有机会接触到许多外来传教的牧师与传道，而建立了他想当牧师的意愿。在他9 / 10 岁幼小年龄，被问到长大后想当什么时，他就已经肯定想当牧师。年少时，施牧师到巴生市(Klang)念中学，有一段时间在牧师楼居住，也从中被许多牧师影响了他的生命
高中毕业后，当三一神学院的院长前来金宝(Kampar)参加施牧师三姐的婚礼时，院长听说年轻的施谦益有兴趣当牧师，就马上进行临场面试，并且立刻鼓励施牧师到新加坡报读三一神学院。当时因为学院新一届的新生还没正式开始，兴致勃勃的施谦益更是在学年进行一半就插班开始就读，还因此比其他的学生多读了半年！
三一神学院毕业后，施牧师到美国念硕士，也在美国开始服事于教会的工作。念完硕士从美国回来后，在马来西亚教会服事3年。在1976年到新加坡感恩堂(Kum Yan Methodist Church) 服事，也开始了施牧师在新加坡服事的生涯。1983年施牧师在巴耶黎峇堂(Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church)担任主理牧师。1986年担任新加坡卫理公会华人年议会教区长。也同时间被委派到直落亚逸礼拜堂(Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church)当主理牧师，就从那年起，一直留在直落亚逸礼拜堂事奉到2013年正式荣休。
早期的新加坡教会在成立期间都常遇到种种问题–比如经费缺乏，堂会领袖意见不一致、且多纷争，愿意帮忙的人手又不足。36岁年轻的施牧师被派到历史悠久的直落亚逸礼拜堂，必须学习如何配合比自己智深好多倍的年长执事。施牧师被委派到新的牧养场所时，他认为在3年内不应进行大改革。在具有大挑战的环境中，施牧师的应对策略就是专注牧养羊群，跟堂会会友建立深厚的感情，以真诚的爱心行动协助他们在困境中被建立起来。到今日，施牧师还是一样地教导年轻牧师，嘱咐他们说：牧师最重要的就是得先扎根，在安静当中慢慢地建立起自己的看法，而不需要大刀阔斧。对上帝的话要有充分的准备，也要好好以爱心处理人事。施牧师就是靠着圣经的教导，坚持专注牧养的工作，把时间放在探访并关怀会友，也从中慢慢地建立了有系统性的教会，让会友也以爱心彼此扶持，会友们融洽和气地服事上帝。施牧师独特的耐心牧养方式也成为了他的“个人遗产“(personal legacy)。会友无论是贫穷或富有，施牧师都以“一视同仁”的理念对待，会友家中的每一件大小事，施牧师都用心聆听代祷。会友们都因着施牧师的爱心辅导而受感动。直落亚逸礼拜堂几代的家族都是施牧师所牧养的羊群。也因为如此，他所牧养成如今的直落亚逸礼拜堂、虽是百年老教会，却依然维持着会友关系亲切，代代相传爱主爱教会的群体。
施谦益牧师个人一向都对圣乐有莫大的兴趣。他是一位男高音，在许多音乐会中担任独唱。他坚持一定要以好的音乐来赞美上帝，鼓励在教会唱传统圣诗。在巴耶黎峇堂和直落亚逸礼拜堂担任主理牧师时，他都创办了儿童诗班。设立儿童诗班能鼓励基督教孩童从小接触到优美的传统圣诗，以圣诗为基础而学会欣赏以及识别好的音乐。从中也能培养一代又一代的诗班接班人以及未来的教会领袖。也就是因为施牧师对传统圣诗以及诗班的这份执着，直落亚逸礼拜堂都一直保留着一份浓浓的传统崇拜热诚。堂会的好几位年轻领袖都是从小参与诗班，勤奋上主日学，而培养了良好基础，愿意委身担任堂会执事。在不知不觉当中也间接地促进了堂会接班人的计划。
1989年正当直落亚逸堂庆祝立会一百周年之际，在施谦益牧师的带领下，直落亚逸礼拜堂获得政府保留成为国家历史古迹，遂开始着手策划和筹备复修。这项耗资将近三百万元的工程，在施牧师和各执事们与热心会友的互相配搭之下，前后化了五年的时间，终于在1995年8月竣工。也因为直落亚逸礼拜堂获得了国家历史古迹的荣誉，直落亚逸礼拜堂在新加坡的历史中留下永受纪念的事迹，这是上帝赐给华人年议会的宝贵礼物。
施牧师于1995年至1996年外借至澳洲联合教会牧会。于1997年重回直落亚逸礼拜堂担任主理。1998年，施牧师更致力于宣教事工的发展。在施牧师带领本堂进入新纪元之际，直落亚逸礼拜堂开始策划于直落布兰雅（Telok Blangah）分堂原址筹建新堂，命名TA2，即卫里公会直落亚逸第二礼拜堂。TA2 在众执事和弟兄姐妹的努力祷告和奉献，于2004年11月建筑完成，并于2006年11月12日献堂。
施牧师为TA2的建筑设计下了一番心思。施牧师由于专长研究崇拜学，认为圣殿应该成为一个亲密的崇拜场所，而不是成为一间表演的礼堂。TA2的圣殿比其他圣殿来得宽，台上与台下的距离都比较靠近。诗班是坐在会众席的一部分。施牧师下了一番功夫，研究崇拜场所如何改为神圣空间(sacred space)，让台上证道的牧者能与会众近距离交流，让大家有立体的互动，能感觉到“这就是教会”(this is the church)。堂会发展方针就是着重虽是两间礼拜堂，不同语音的崇拜，但还是保留着是一间统一的教会，一个肢体的理念。列如周刊到如今还是坚持把4音的报告和活动统一列在一份周刊。这些大小政策都促使TA和TA2两间堂所，维持着亲密的关系。
施牧师于2013年12月31日荣休。但他仍然不间断地服事上帝，在直落亚逸堂担任退休牧师。现在活跃于宣教活动。到各宣教地区教导崇拜学，指导教会领袖如何建立有规划的崇拜，以及协助当地的教育工作。
施谦益牧师于1989年8月带领直落亚逸堂100周年庆典晚宴，地点在当年的海皇剧院酒楼。
施谦益牧师于2006年11月带领TA2献堂感恩晚宴，地点在当时的港湾中心万兴酒楼。
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