Celebrating God’s Design for Marriage & Family CAC Loving Families Sunday & Carnival 2023 欢庆上帝所设立的婚姻和家庭 华人年议会《爱家倍》主日及嘉年华会
The Chinese Annual Conference (CAC)’s May Day event has traditionally been a platform for special topical discussions and training, and in recent years, it covered more topics including hyper-grace, kindness, and Wesleyan small groups.
This year is special. When President of CAC, Rev Dr Gregory Goh called for a meeting with the chairpersons of CAC Boards to discuss an all-of-CAC response to the changes in our laws last year, it was clear that the family had to be at the centre of our response. It was decided that the annual May Day event would be the ideal platform to articulate this response and a fun, family carnival would be held.
Our carnival, called “Loving Families” or 爱家倍, was to be a celebration of the family, by the family. Our CAC Boards and staff came together to discuss, plan and organise this event. We had food and game booths sponsored and supported by CAC churches as well as CAC Got Talent performances by families. Families were also encouraged to save up during the season of Lent to help distressed families under the care of the Methodist Welfare Services. Our exhibition partners prepared a wide range of resources for families as well.
On Monday, 1st May 2023, our families came out in full force! There were boys and girls, young and old, able-bodied and brothers and sisters with special needs. 2000 members of the 17 CAC local churches filled Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) with the love and joy of the family. We saw families eating together, playing together, posing together, singing together, serving together, and reciting the CAC Family Life Pledge together. What a glorious blessing and testimony!
But the Loving Families Carnival was not just for family fun. Joshua 24:15b “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Having led the Israelites into the promised land, this was Joshua’s charge before his death. Just as the Israelites were surrounded by gentile nations, the church today is surrounded by ideologies and values that differ from the Word of the Lord.
There is much work to be done: Strong bible teaching, Discipleship pathways, Worldview curriculum, Counselling ministry, Special needs ministry, School ministry, Social outreach, Church planting, and so much more. We are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15-21). May our lights shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matt 5:16).
The Loving Families Carnival took a little over four months to organise and was a joint effort involving multiple CAC Boards and churches. We invited a few key persons in the Loving Families organising committee: Rev Dr Gregory Goh, CAC President; Colonel (Ret) Quek Koh Eng, Organising Committee Chair; and Dr David Ang, CAC Board of Family Life Chair, to give us more insights on how the events evolved and their hopes for CAC in light of this initiative.
Col Quek was heartened that every Board respond expeditiously to their designated roles and responsibilities. He stated that “involving all the Board Chairpersons of CAC in organising this major event was a good move” as it showed the commitment of each Board in supporting the event and building strong families.
President Goh added that he was “very thankful for how fellow brothers and sisters from various CAC churches came together to help and support this Carnival”. In particular, he thanked Sengkang Methodist Church for ensuring that the event was inclusive to those with special needs. “CAC is, in itself, a big family!” he said, as he recalled the harmonious and exuberant atmosphere on the day of the event.
When asked about the motivation behind the Loving Families events, all agreed that it was CAC’s desire––as a Conference––to advocate the importance of family across its 17 churches. President Goh exhorts churches to value their family life ministries because of the key role that families play in continuing the legacy of our faith. He wishes to see harmony in families, whether it be between husbands and wives or parents and children.
Beyond organising a fun-filled family event Col Quek highlighted the deep concern to help safeguard families in response to the “challenges and pressure faced by our families today”. “There have been many webinars, seminars and talks conducted over the years, highlighting the importance of family, but the CAC Executive Board wanted to take a stand and announce this development as a focus and of importance in the days ahead for the spiritual and moral well-being of our Christian families and churches.”
“Families are the bedrock of society,” echoed Dr David Ang. “When this foundation is established and well taken care of, what grows and comes out from it will be healthy and positive. As love, faith, and godliness permeate a home, it will spread laterally and generationally.”
Dr David hopes that the events have allowed parents to “understand and experience the joys and merits of spending quality time with their children and as a family”. He encouraged parents to continue to set aside time to have fun with their children, because doing so aids in strengthening a child’s self-image and creates “emotionally and relationally strong adults”.
Col Quek shares the same regard for the family. He believes that “loving families boost our confidence and make us feel loved”. Not only can families “offer support and security”, they also serve as a “crucial guide in the path of morality”. Moving forward, CAC hopes to see churches introduce more activities to encourage family bonding and bring attention to the importance of family life.
For more photos and videos of the carnival, head to CAC’s Facebook (@cac.singapore) or Instagram (@cacsingapore)!
华人年会（CAC）的五一活动历年是专题讨论和培训的平台。今年的节目有别于往年。 当会长吴乃力牧师召各部会主席开会讨论，去年我国的法律调整家庭课题后，年会全体教牧与信徒确定“家庭”必须居于重要的中心位置 。 因此举办这次特别强调“爱家倍”的嘉年华会。
我们着重于爱家庭和爱的家庭。这是一家人对家庭的共同欢庆； 上帝的家和在上帝里的家。
吴会长“非常感谢来自年会各教会的弟兄姊妹齐聚一堂，帮助和支持这个嘉年华”。 他特别感谢盛港卫理公会帮助，确保我们的嘉年华欢迎有特殊需要的人。 “华人年议会就是一个大家庭！”
最感动的时刻是出席者无轮年幼到年长一起诵读“年会家庭生活信约”。经过一天和谐、热闹的嘉年华，大家都带着感恩与感动的心回家。
欢迎到年会脸书或Instagram浏览更多嘉年华会的照片和视频。
CAC Family Life Pledge 年会家庭生活信约： cac-singapore.org.sg/cac-resource-centre
Dr Benjamin Leong
Chairperson of CAC Board of Laity
CAC Communications Team
Member of Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church