|
1964
|
The late Bishop H.B. Amstutz of the Methodist Church in Malaysia (which then included Singapore) was guided to choose the site now known as 400 Commonwealth Drive.
An agreement was made on 1 May that a complete plan of the proposed Church complex be submitted within three months and the construction work to be completed within 24 months.
The Board of Trustees of the Methodist Church in Malaysia made an initial payment of $8,034.50 for the site of 47,824 sq ft with a bank loan.
In December, Bishop R.F. Lundy succeeded Bishop Amstutz after his retirement.
Bishop Lundy and Rev T.C Nga were elected respectively as the Chairman and Secretary of the Methodist Church Queenstown Pioneer Work Committee. |
|
1965
|
On 4 Jan, the committee submitted the layout plan for the Church building with a total estimated cost of $250,000.
The first open-air service was conducted on 18 Apr, even before the completion of the Church building.
On 13 Aug, the Ground-breaking Ceremony was held.
By October, more than $70,000 cash and some $30,000 pledges were received. Dr and Mrs Goh Kok Kee donated $100,000 to the Church Building Fund.
On 10 Dec, the Laying of Cornerstone Ceremony was conducted by Bishop Lundy.
|
|
1966
|
On 6 Sept, the Sanctuary was named Faith Methodist Church as it was a testimony of a Church built solely by faith. Secondly, the Church was also named in memory of Faith Goh, the only daughter of Dr & Mrs Goh Kok Kee, who passed away during the first year of pioneer work.
The English-speaking congregation was constituted into a Local Church Conference on 17 Jul. It was known as Faith Methodist Church with a total of 38 founder members.
The first choir was formed, followed by the setting up of various ministries such as Administration and Operations, Youth, Sunday School, WSCS (Women’s Society of Christian Service), Evangelism and Missions.
During this time, Faith's Nursery Programme was first mooted by Rev Nga. The first two classes of the Nursery Programme began on 5 Sept.
|
| 1967 |
Faith Nursery Programme officially started in Jan.
On 25 Jun, the Dedication Service of the Sanctuary was jointly officiated by the then retired Bishop Amstutz and Bishop Lundy.
|
| 1969 |
The Evangelism and Missions Ministry was split into two separate ministries namely, Missions and Witness & Evangelism. |
| 1970 |
The Church Library Ministry was set up by the Sunday School. |
| 1976 |
By mid 1976, total membership of Faith had grown to 339. It also saw the completion of the Church's extension, renovation and repairs project.
In December, the Chinese-speaking congregation became a Local Church Conference known as the Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church (QCMC).
At the same time, Rev Nga also concluded his ministry in Faith. He was elected the first full-time President to head the Trinity Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore.
|
| 1977 |
Rev Ho Chee Sin was appointed Pastor of Faith. Under Rev Ho's leadership, the Unified Small Groups Ministry, where groups of people meet together for Bible study was formed. Prayer and Praise Service was inaugurated. During this period, the Church grew at an average of 16% a year.
|
| 1978 |
The Community Evangelism Programme was formulated to share the gospel in the Ghim Moh, Mei Ling St and Stirling Rd housing estates.
|
| 1984 |
Faith's membership has grown to 1,072 members with three full-time pastors and 30 missioners. It became the second largest Methodist Church in Singapore.
Rev Dr Clarence Lim was appointed Pastor of Faith. Rev Ho became the Bishop of the Methodist Churches in Singapore.
|
| 1985 |
Faith adopted a mission field in Sabah.
|
| 1986 |
Established a partnership with SIB (Sidjang Injil Borneo) and signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support four evangelists, two pastors and a project to furnish the living quarters of the Tagaroh Evangelistic School.
The Church Development Fund was set up to see to further renovation works of the Church i.e. air-conditioning the sanctuary and the necessary structural rectifications.
|
| 1990 |
Rev Dr Clarence Lim handed the baton to Rev Dr Isaac Lim.
Faith began to conduct worship services at Anglo-Chinese Junior College.
The Adults & Family Life Ministry was formed.
The Church produced its first newsletter, FaithLink.
|
| 1991 |
The Lakeside Family Centre was set up to reach out to the community around Lakeside area in Jurong.
|
| 1994 |
Jurong Ministry (renamed as Jurong Preaching Point) was set up. It will eventually become a separate Local Conference in TRAC.
|
| 1995 |
The Unified Small Groups Ministry was renamed Pastoral Care |
| 1996 |
A Joint Development Committee was formed with the Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church to look into the re-development of the present facilities at Commonwealth Drive.
The Church celebrated its 30th anniversary of God’s faithfulness with a commemorative publication, One Faith, One Mission, One Hope.
In November, a worship service for the Filipino community was established following the appointment of a full-time Filipino staff.
|
| 1997 |
On 1 Jan, Rev Dr Donald Chia officially took over the pastorship from Rev Malcolm Tan.
Faith registered another Boys' Brigade Company at Jin Tai Secondary School for the Seniors Section, 62nd Singapore Company.
The 14th Singapore Company of the Girls' Brigade also conducted its first parade for girls in Fuhua Primary School.
In December, the Church released the three remaining SIB (Sidang Injil Borneo) Churches back to SIB.
Faith offers 2-year or 3-year theological scholarships to the SIB pastor-evangelists.
Through the AUP (Adopt-an-Unreached People) programme, the Church sent out about 20 people on mission trips to Sabah and East Asia.
A tuition center was set up in partnership with the Likas Baptist Church of Sabah under the B2000 Project in Sabah.
|
| 1998 |
Lakeside Family Centre was registered as a charity under the Charities Act on 9 January.
A Faith web site was established as a means of communication with members of the Church. At the same time, an Archivist Committee was formed to preserve the records and history of the Church.
The Jurong Ministry (renamed as Jurong Preaching Point) which incorporated the Jurong Mandarin Ministry was formed and launched on 6 Dec. The services were conducted in the cinema halls of the Golden Village Multiplex at Jurong Point Shopping Centre.
|
| 1999 |
Corporate Prayer Meeting was launched on 29 Jan for leaders and members to pray as one body.
Under the Adopt-an-Unreached People (AUP) Programme, Faith continued its financial support for the translation of the Bible and Christian literature for the Uighurs. Faith also became one of the partners in the setting up of a Uighur Training Centre in East Asia.
The B2000 Project in Sabah came to a closure in Sept.
|
| 2000 |
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) approved the redevelopment plans for the new Church building at 400 Commonwealth Drive.
The Church makes a commitment towards the Magars in Nepal under the AUP Programme.
The two Sunday Schools operating in Commonwealth and ACJC were merged to form the Youth Ministry with its services conducted at ACJC.
CareNet, a ministry which seeks to train and organize lay persons for caring ministry within Faith was set up.
The Glowing Years Ministry was started to cater to the physical and spiritual wellness of the elders in the Church.
|
| 2001 |
Rev Dr Donald Chia embarked on a new ministry in the USA. The baton was passed to Vincent Goh who was appointed Interim Pastor-in-charge from Mar-Jul.
Rev Kow Shih Ming officially took over as Pastor of Faith Methodist Church on 1 Aug 2001.
Faith Methodist Church and Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church unanimously agreed on the re-development of 400 Commonwealth Church Building Project. The estimated cost was about $12 million and work was expected to begin in Jan 2002.
On 27 Dec, the Church office was relocated to Block 76 at Commonwealth Drive.
It was with the last Watch Night service on 31 Dec, that the Church gathered together for its last service in the soon-to-be demolished building.
|
| 2002 |
Worship services were consolidated at ACJC.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Church building at 400 Commonwealth Drive was officiated by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Faith Methodist Church.
Jurong Ministry was renamed as Jurong Preaching Point.
|
| 2003 |
On 31 May, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon conducted the Topping Up Ceremony.
The Youth Ministry also continued to grow and saw an increased in numbers to close to 200 people. It was re-launched as The Tackle Box on 27 Apr.
FaithLEAD was formed as a Leadership Equipping and Development ministry.
The new building at 400 Commonwealth Drive is handed over to the Church on 1 Dec. The first combined service was held on 14 Dec in the Church sanctuary.
|
| 2004 |
A fourth pastor, Rev. Lawrence Chua, was appointed to help spearhead the growing ministry in Jurong.
The new Church web site was revamped, with the aim of becoming a strategic communications vehicle not only for Faithians but also potential visitors and seekers.
On the evening of 17 Jan, led by Bishop Dr Solomon, both Faith Methodist Church and Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church consecrated our new building to God.
In February, FaithActs, a new social service agency was registered and gazetted. It will service the needs of youths by providing social services and practical aid.
Both FMC and QCMC decided to join their resources and formed a joint library called, The Attic. It was officially opened on 29 Feb.
Faith Methodist Church funded the translation and publication of two Max Lucado's children's tales, Because I Love You and You Are Special in the U language.
The Church celebrated its 38th anniversary in the new premises with a big dinner celebration; A Growing Faith, an updated commemorative publication on the Church’s growth especially in the areas of the church redevelopment and ministries was launched.
|