Grace Methodist Church - History of GMC

History of GMC

Grace Methodist Church (GMC) had its humble beginnings in the 1960s as the English congregation of the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church in Telok Ayer Street. It was led by Alfred Yeo Chee Heng who was then a fresh graduate from London Bible College, Great Britian. He was appointed as the Supply Pastor. The congregation grew bigger over the years and on 8 Nov 1970, it was officially constituted as Grace Methodist Church (GMC).

Rev Alfred Yeo continued to pastor the church. The church service was held at the Telok Blangah Chinese Methodist Church, adjacent to its present site. Though young and small in number, the church was always at the forefront of missions promotion and weekend mission trips to West Malaysia were a common feature. The church also sent out several missionaries to various countries like Thailand, Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, Europe, Cambodia and Indonesia.

In 1985, an extensive church building fund was launched and the church started looking for a suitable piece of land to build its own building. GMC then moved to Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) for its services from 1992-1998 during which it managed to secure the lease for its present site and started its building construction.

5 Apr 98 was a very eventful day in the church's history - it was the day it moved into its newly-built church building at Telok Blangah. The new building was dedicated on 7 Nov 99 and we have been here ever since.

Rev.Wilfred Leow is GMC's current Pastor-in-Charge, and its membership now stands at more than 700. Some current activities are: one contemporary worship service at 9.00am and one contemporary-charismatic service at 11.15am on Sundays; a Choir; a Tambourine Dance team; a children's ministry called Gracestar; the young adults; junior youth; youth; Small Group Ministry; Senior Fellowship; Prayer Ministry; WSCS and Visitation every Thursday and Friday.

Milestones in GMC's history

1954	Singspiration Corner was formed as part of the Sunday School programme at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. Rev. & Mrs Alfred Yeo, Andrew Yeo and Lim Tiong Hock were some of the active members.
1955	Rev Alfred Yeo left for studies in London Bible School. Singspiration Fellowship become the new name for Singspiration Corner.
1959	Rev. Alfred Yeo was invited by Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church to serve full-time in the English Service. Over 80 people worshipped together with the Sunday School Senior Section at 9.00am every Sunday.
1964	Telok Blangah Chinese Methodist Church Building project was completed. The English Service and the English Sunday School began n mid 1964 at 4.00pm with over 30 worshippers.
1965	Dedication of the new building at Telok Blangah.
1970	The English Service at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church together with the Sunday School moved to Telok Blangah Chinese Methodist Church.
1970	Nov 8th - Congregation was constituted as Grace Methodist Church. Rev Fan Chong Nam, Rev Fang Chao Hsi and other pastors were present. Morning and evening services and Sunday School were held in Telok Blangah Chinese Methodist Church.
1972	Church Building Fund Project was launched. "May Fair" was organised to raise funds. A bungalow at Pasir Pajang Hill was purchased for the use of youth activities, Bible study, prayer meeting, retreat and as the parsonage.
1978	Rev Yeo was seconded to Billy Graham Crusade as Executive Secretary. Mr Daniel Lee was the Assistant Pastor with Rev Yeo as the Pastor-in-charge.
1979	Rev Yeo was seconded to Scripture Union as General Secretary and Rev J Williamson was appointed as the Pastor-in-charge and Mr Daniel Lee continued as the Assistant Pastor. The evening service was terminated.
1981	Jul - Rev Yeo left Grace Methodist Church to join Scripture Union as full-time Executive Director. Aug - Rev Francis Ngoi was appointed as part-time Pastor-in-charge while he was still serving as Executive Secretary of the Board of Christian Education, CAC.
1982	Jan - Rev Francis Ngoi was appointed as the full-time Pastor-in-charge. May - Launching of Group Ministry.
1985	The prayer ministry was intensified with the publication of Grace Link (Monthly Prayer Calendar), restructure of the weekly prayer meeting and the formation of the fast and prayer chain. Sep - The Church launched out church planting project in Tampines New Town with monthly gospel service at Changi Bethany Presbyterian Church at Lorong Chabai. Mr & Mrs Lim Yew Kheong joined the Church as full-time workers for the project. Both Mr & Mrs Lim graduated from WEC Missionary Training College in Tasmania in July 1985. Oct - Weekly pray-fast began at 747 Upper Changi Road East, a rented house for the Grace Methodist Mission Centre for missions in Tampines New Town.
1987	Aug - Commenced the exploration of building a church cum family service centre at 398 Telok Blangah Road. a grant of US$3,000 was received from General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church in Nov 1987.
1989	Jan - Rev Francis Ngoi and family left for further training in Boston University with the support of Board on the Ministry and the church. Pastor David Liew was appointed as the supply Pastor of the church.
1990	Rev Dr Francis Ngoi was reappointed as Pastor-in-charge, after his return from Boston University with D. Min in Culture, Personality and Religion (majoring in psychodynamic approach to Marital & Family Counselling).
1991	Jan - Rev Norman Wong was appointed as the Pastor-in-charge. Jun - Exploration for church building was submitted to CAC Project Planning and Fund-Raising Committee for discussion.
1993	Jun - The Church officially leased the old market site belonging to the Methodist Church in Singapore for the building project at the cost of $2.5 million.
1995	Jan - Rev Dr Francis Ngoi was reappointed as the Pastor-in-charge. The 10-vision statements formulated by the former Pastor were consolidated into 8 means of grace for the nurture of GMCians. Jun 4th - (Pentecost Sunday) - Care Group leaders were installed for the new development of the Group Ministry which was then renamed "Ministry Group". (19 groups with membership of 196).
1996	Aug 4th - Ground-Breaking Ceremony led by Rev KT Wong, the President of CAC Sep - Piling for the church building commenced.
1997	Jan - Commencement of the main building work.
1998	Apr 4th - TOP was granted. Apr 5th - (Palm Sunday) - Moved into the new church building.
1999	Nov 7th - The church building was dedicated to the glory of God, by Bishop KT Wong.
2000	Commencement of the implementation of the 5-Year Vision Plan of the Church. Mar 20th - Certification of Statutory Completion (CSC) was granted.
2001	The Church leaders pledged to work towards the fulfillment of the Church vision. MG leaders were reorientated to implement the faith development programme.