Personally, looking back to the interview and the visit to the school, I still don’t know what to think of it all. I’ve always been more of a journalist than an English teacher. At the time, no article had been published on it, so I saw my role as making more people aware of the impact of globalizing English and to raise difficult questions about the marketing language of English for Specific Purposes and teaching English always being a good thing.

Later on, I recall a journal editor colleague encouraged me to write an academic article on ESW. I recall saying, “No thanks–I’ve had enough! I’ve done my job– now (more) people know this exists. It’s up to others to take it further in that academic way if they choose.”

If anyone by chance needs a pdf of the originals, no problem, just let us know.

R.J. Preece

Good to meet you yesterday too! Haha, I’ve been writing for about 10 years plus and it’s all on this site! I believe we have much to learn from each other and also from the people who have been doing great work reaching out to the ladies in Geylang yesterday. Tremendous stuff!

Peace be with you :)
Hagere

I suppose you’re from CEFC? :) – Intentional Discipleship Making! Yes, I am familiar with FCC. I attended it for about a year or so (maybe less) and I have good friends from there. I know what they believe and I know they are not really regarded as Christian by most (if not all) evangelical churches in Singapore.

My thoughts on FCC are here. You’d probably find me even less balanced after reading that ;) Anyway, I didn’t agree with FCC because I thought they were theologically too liberal for me and that’s one of the reasons why I left the Church. But I’m supportive of what they are doing to an extent. I don’t think any church is perfect and while I’ll disagree with them in many important theological points, I also agree with them in a lot of areas and I think the conservative evangelical church has a lot to learn from them – even as I think the opposite is also true.

I do believe homosexual acts are sinful, but I’d disagree with the response of most conservative evangelicals. An article I think expresses my present view to quite large extent is this one.

I’m not sure what you mean by whether I agree with their support of the LGBT movement. I’m very sympathetic to the LGBT community, but don’t agree with everything. On the other hand, I certainly would not identify with the Christian Right’s response to the movement. So far, what I’ve seen from Christians in Singapore (and some have spoken out very loud over the past few years) in response to the “movement” here is nothing different from the Christian Right in America or anywhere else. I don’t agree with either side fully. I think both sides are reactionary.

It’s so sad that Christians have reacted the way we have to the LGBT community. Young non-Christians see us as judgmental, anti-gay and hypocritical, as this study found out last year. We don’t have to be known as judgmental and anti-gay even if we disagree with their beliefs and actions. The fact that we’re known for these things means that our approach to the LGBT community is clearly wrong. Jesus was against sin, yet he wasn’t here to judge or condemn people, but to love and save them. He wasn’t known for his judgmental attitude and definitely not for his anti-gay or anti-adultery stance; He was known for His love ultimately. He was love personified. Love, grace and acceptance characterized Him and His ministry, but sadly not the Church today.

If I had to choose between supporting the Christian Right (or Christians who adopt similar tactics, attitudes or actions) and the LGBT movement, I’ll clearly support the latter. Not because I agree with everything there. But because Christians are known so much for their anti-gay and judgmental actions that if I were to err on one side, I’d err on the side of the LGBT movement any day. While I don’t think Jesus would agree with everything there, I’m quite certain that He’s definitely on their side on certain issues. And I’m quite certain He’s on their side on some issues against the church too! The Jesus I know and the one I worship would always stick up for the marginalized and the LGBT community is one of the most marginalized communities in the world today. That doesn’t mean that He would agree with their lifestyle or agree with everything about them, in the same way he didn’t agree with the lifestyle of the woman who committed adultery, but still stuck up for her against all who wanted to judge and condemn her.

I wish the church would not speak up much about this issue because whenever we do speak up, words of judgment just come flowing out. We can argue that we are actually loving these people in all our protests and pronouncements and condemnation of their acts, but I think if we actually believe that, we just deceive ourselves. I can’t judge the hearts of individuals who say they are genuinely concerned and love the LGBT community. But I think as a whole the Church has gotten a bad reputation and justly so. As a whole, for many years we have not been loving the LGBT community, only judging them. We have not tried to understand them, but only tell them that they are wrong and need to change. We have not bothered to listened to them, but only speak down to them. Thus our well-deserved reputation.

I think we should keep quiet and just show love and love and more love and pray and pray and pray. Maybe until we’re known as lovers and givers and sacrificers for the poor, the lost and the marginalized, rather than hoarders of money and self-righteous hypocrites who love to point out the sins of others – maybe then can we speak out and the world will listen and God’s love would truly transform people. Apart from the theology of grace and love, I don’t think more theology or better theology or a louder proclamation of right theology and what sin is is what the world or the church needs. Rather, what the world needs is the preaching of the gospel of grace (which is all about love and acceptance, not judgment and condemnation) and us seeking to live out out lives of grace and love.

Sorry for this long response. The question touched a nerve ;) Cheers!

I am fully supportive and empathetic to your views for the need of ministries for the poor and needy. Although I am equal passionate about the urgent need for authentic and intentional disciple making :) The need of sex workers (particularly the Chinese) strike a cord with me because many elect to come in the hope of a better life, less so because of extreme poverty.

I was surprised with the position of FCC, a position I would assume you are fully aware of. Written in their website and stated by their pastoral adviser, FCC supports the GLBT movement and believe that homosexuality is not a sin. Is this what you agree and subscribe to as well?

Thanks for your message. I am a bit familiar with Healthserve, having met Peter at the YWAM gathering. I do believe they also have a free clinic on Sundays in Little India (with AEF?). I’ll definitely find out more about the English lessons!

It’s indeed good to hear that there are Christian groups involved in these areas :) I was in Little India last night (Sunday) with some friends and the place is super-duper crowded. So many opportunities around…

Got to know another lady who walks the streets too and befriends people there. =p There’s a grp of them that seeks to bring worship into Geylang. Another grp she introduced me to- a house church, has daily worship at another Lorong in Geylang.

Encouraging right? I find God is so present in Geylang, and like hanging out at Highpoint. It was warmed my heart fellowshiping with these ones there.