Women’s Ministry Open House
The Women’s Ministry conducted their first ever Open House on 6 April 2025. Anna Yap, known to many of us as “Mimi”, who helped to prepare for it, shares about this Open House.
Six groups were were represented at this Open House held after our regular Sunday gathering: Wednesday Bible Study, Friday Bible Study, Precept Class, Filipino Ministry, Gladiolus Place Befrienders, and Mums Connect. This event has three main goals. First, it aims to introduce the congregation to the various women’s groups and highlight where one can get involved. Second, it seeks to encourage women to join a group not only to serve, but also to grow and be ministered to. Finally, the event hopes to bring together women who feel called to disciple others and those who are seeking to be discipled.
The event gathered mostly women of different ages and varying seasons in life talking about the different ministries within our church. However, there were also men who came to get to know and support the ministries. It was a blessing to see both men and women coming together for this occasion.
Scripture is Central
These six groups showcase some of the ways to serve and love the body of Christ (the church), and also the bigger community that the church is located in. Each group could bedifferent in its act of love, but one thing remains constant across them all — that the Scripture is central, declared and lived out. As I got to know each ministry during the preparation process, here are my observations on how each ministry does this.
Precept and Wednesday and Friday Bible study
2 Timothy 13:16-17 tells us that Scripture is sufficient for teaching, correction, training in righteousness that we will be complete and equipped for good works. The Precept group, and Wednesday and Friday Bible study gather to study books of the Bible in order for the truth within its pages be made known and become reality in their lives. They carve out time in the business of life (whether from taking care of the family, the kids or grandchildren, or from working, or from ticking off the checklist for the week) to focus on studying the passages of the Bible and discuss what God is revealing through it. Finally, they talk about the implications and applications of God’s word.
Filipino Ministry and Mums Connect
The Filipino ministry and Mums Connect is a more informal gathering to share a devotional (for the Filipino ministry) or to go through a book (Mums Connect is currently going through a book about authority) around a table with shared food. Colossians 3:16-17 exhorts us that since we are now in Christ, we can and we must remind each other of our identity in Jesus Christ that compels us to “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Shared meals are great avenues to remind and encourage one another how to glorify God in all that we do.
Gladiolus Place Befrienders
Gladiolus Place (GP) Befrienders group is an outreach to a girl’s home right across our church building. Once a month, they partner with church members or Care Groups to provide dinner and our Befrienders will have dinner with the girls. In doing so, we seek to build friendships and also look out for opportunities to share the Gospel. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus taught about reaching out in kindness. While we are reminded to show kindness to our brothers and sisters first, we are also to expand our kindness to strangers and those who are hungry and sick. While addressing physical hunger and illness is important, we must also consider the deeper need — spiritual hunger and brokenness.
The Body of Christ
There are many ways to serve the body of Christ and those in our larger community. Beyond the Women’s ministry, there are more of these formal and informal gatherings and groups. Like a marvelous mosaic window in a cathedral, each ministry and each individual of different ages and backgrounds is like a coloured glass that when seen together paints a marvelous picture of God’s love. This brings to mind Romans 12:4–8, where Paul describes the church as the body of Christ—made up of many parts, each with its own function. God, in His wisdom, has given each person different gifts to serve and build up the body according to His purpose. What interests you? Where does your desire lay? Where is God calling you that you may be able to sit at His feet to get to know the infinite depths of who He is, His plan, and His love for you and for all? Like a mosaic window, let us pray that God may lead us where His warm and unwavering light shines through us, so that others may behold the beauty of His handiwork.
Finally, Hebrews 10:23–24 reminds us of the importance of being connected to a local church, where we can encourage one another to hold firmly to our confession of faith. Let us continue to seek God’s plan for our growth as Christians through His process of sanctification. Whether that happens through a ministry within the church or outside of it, may we walk together as God’s people, so that we may be able to “...hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”