What I Love About Bethany (II)

by Pastor Mark
August 17, 2023

A dynamic church

A vital feature that I truly love about Bethany is that we are a dynamic church. We are not afraid to change as the Lord leads us…guided by the Spirit of God. One problem that churches face today is remaining fixed in old traditions and dying ministries that may not be as relevant.

Over the years, we have recognised that our church’s needs are ever-changing, and it is vital that we identify them and adjust our ministries accordingly. We do not want to minister just because we have been doing something for many years. But instead, as the Holy Spirit leads us, we would seek to be more dynamic in our approach as a church.

The enlightenment of the Spirit of God

  1. Bethany recognises our need for the Spirit of God to give us wisdom and revelation…to know Him and His ways (Ephesians 1:17,18).
  2. The Spirit of God has enlightened the eyes of our understanding (heart) to know and understand what we need to do as a church.
  3. Over the years, we thank God for the enlightenment that the Spirit of God has given to Pastor Charles, our leaders and our brethren to make changes as He leads us.

New changes in Bethany

Many changes were made over the years in Bethany. Let me highlight a few.

1. New instruments used in worship

  1. Previously, our worship was accompanied only by the piano and organ.
  2. Since then, many other instruments have been included, leading to the development of a small orchestra. This has truly enhanced our music ministry and worship.
  3. This is evident each time we worship, especially at the Shangri-La.
  4. Our hearts and spirits are uplifted and encouraged to give greater praise to our Lord.

2. Use of poetry

  1. When Pastor started writing poetry to give us deeper insights into the Word of God, it added a new dimension to how we can be instructed and inspired.
  2. Soon, others also wrote poetry to reflect on what they had learnt from God’s Word.
  3. This has greatly enriched our depth of learning from the Lord’s Word.

3. New ministries

  1. Over the years, we were able to make changes and commence new ministries.
  2. We started the Special Needs Ministry to cater to families with special needs children.
  3. We also changed the Bilingual Service to the Chinese Worship Service, where our Chinese-speaking brethren are now ministered to directly in their own language so that they can better hear and learn.
  4. Post-Covid, we made a significant change by ending our Kindergarten Ministry and starting the Special Seniors Programme on weekdays. The pandemic affected many of our seniors physically, mentally and spiritually. The Special Seniors Programme has proven to be a blessing to them as they find their spirits uplifted through the studying of the Scripture, their minds challenged through the doing of interesting craftwork and their hearts encouraged through the cultivation of good friendships and fellowship.

These are some examples of what I love about Bethany as a dynamic church where we are willing to make the necessary adjustments to minister to the changing needs of the church. Let us seek the Spirit of God to enlighten us further so that we may continue to sense His leading to serve our brethren better.

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