The Retreat for Pastors’ Wives Fellowship came with a difference this year. On the 2nd day of the gathering, 26 March 2019, there was a Thanksgiving Ceremony celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Pastors’ Wives Fellowship (1969-2019). Besides seventy plus participating wives, some pastors came with their children for the occasion.

Rev Dr Tie King Tai, President of SCAC, delivered a thanksgiving message, “The Wholesome Beauty of a Pastor’s Wife”. He shared his love story before his dedication to God and his relation with his wife who was then a new believer. Thus, letting the participants ponder on whether their marriages were by faith or by sight.

Rev Tie also thanked the Lord for the enthusiasm of SCAC Methodist Women in helping set up this fellowship. At present the Fellowship is under the Board of Ministry.

Taking the passage from Book of Amos 3:3 “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”, Rev Tie encouraged all the pastors’ wives to continue to not only walk with God but also their husbands, just as Enoch and Noah who had walked closely with God.

During the ceremony, the 4th Chairlady, Ling Soon Ying (Mrs Rev Ting Daik Choung) shared her gratitude. She stated that, 50 years is fast going but not short. Had it not been the blessing of God, the Fellowship would not have continued until now. It was also through the hard work of each pastor’s wife that the fellowship bloomed and flourished. From the start of twenty members and now of more than a hundred, she felt very thankful.

She was a fresh pastor’s wife during the inception of the Fellowship. She felt blessed to have this faith body as she was no longer lonely in this journey of faith and that she would be able to grow together with the fellow wives in the words of God.

She also felt blessed to have financial support from SCAC in subsidising their living expense and all the encouraging concerns by the Methodist Women. Last but not least, she encouraged all the pastors’ wives to remain firm in their identity and to be a helper of their husbands.

Some pastors’ kids were invited to present performances at this festive occasion. They danced and sang joyfully, bringing a lot of laughter to the participants. All the pastors’ wives present also sang a song “Pass to others”!

Rev Tie then invited the pastors who were present that night to express their love and appreciation to their wives. It was a warm and touching moment.

Reported by Jacqueline Ung
Translated by Christina