KIN launches Mandarin resources to help churches be more special needs inclusive

by Christine Leow // November 11, 2025, 12:01 pm

(Left to right) The people behind the translation of KIN's resources into Mandarin – Executive Director of KIN, Jesselyn Ng; Chairperson of CAC’s Board of Family Life, Tan Boon Chok; translator for Enabling Communities, Liu Jing Jing; translator for Enabling Communities, Fong Cher Eng; President of CAC, Rev Dr Lek Yong Tek; Chairman of KIN, Rev Leow Wen Pin; Associate Pastor at Hinghwa Methodist Church, Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey; and Associate Pastor at Grace Methodist Church, Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan.

When Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan was first posted to Seng Kang Methodist Church (SKMC) to pastor its Chinese congregation, she noticed that there was a group of young people who could not participate fully in the church’s Sunday School because of their special needs.

“Most of the time, children who are fidgety and anxious are told to leave the sanctuary. Or they are asked to stay close to their parents. They are not given a chance to grow deeper in their knowledge of God.

“We are enabling the many Mandarin readers to include and disciple families with special needs.”

“There were no materials for those who can only understand Chinese. I felt this gap keenly and I was moved to do something.”

That “something” has now arrived. In October this year, Mandarin versions of two disability inclusion resources by Koinonia Inclusion Network (KIN) were launched.

Enabling Communities and Enabling Hearts in Mandarin debuted at KIN’s quarterly Community of Practice (COP). It was the first time COP was conducted in Mandarin, finally bringing the movement of Gospel inclusion into Chinese congregations in Singapore.

The event was held in conjunction with SKMC’s 25^th anniversary. SKMC is one of three seed churches from the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) with whom KIN is working to promote special needs inclusion.

“Translating these extremely invaluable resources into Mandarin means that we are enabling the many Mandarin readers in CAC Singapore, in other churches and ministries, and eventually beyond our shores to include and disciple families with special needs. That is our first motivation.

“The second motivation, of course, is to make disciples of all nations,” said Rev Dr Lek Yong Tek, President of CAC.

Resources that enable

The Mandarin resources are designed to give churches an understanding of how to engage people with special needs and include them in the spirituality of the church.

Enabling Communities is a Bible study written by Pastor Leow Wen Pin, founder and board chairman of KIN, and Joanna Ong. The resource helps church small groups understand the basics of disability inclusion from a biblical perspective.

This Bible study material helps church small groups understand the basics of disability inclusion.

Enabling Hearts: A Primer for Disability-Inclusive Churches is a handbook that introduces churches to the basics required to start a disability ministry. It comprises overviews of disability theology, various issues common to all disability ministries, tips on how to include people with specific disabilities, as well as case studies of Singaporean disability ministries.

The seed of the project

The genesis of the translation work began in 2023 when Rev Tan-Yeo joined the four-week Enabling Communities English Bible study programme with SKMC youths as a first step to being equipped. The youths greatly benefited from it.

“We definitely learnt to engage with and love our brothers and sisters with special needs more effectively.”

Said Ian Lai, a youth leader at SKMC: “People with disabilities and special needs are indispensable in our church. But we don’t seem to really understand their needs, whether physiologically or psychologically.

“This Bible reading series greatly deepened our understanding of how God views special needs. We also developed values that are desirable to Him, such as patience and empathy. After completing the study, I would say we definitely learnt to engage with and love our brothers and sisters with special needs more effectively.”

With a desire to see the programme benefit the Chinese congregation, Rev Tan-Yeo proposed to KIN that the book be translated into Mandarin. Then Pastor-in-Charge of SKMC Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey endorsed the project and opened the door for CAC to be involved in the translation.

A labour of love

Among the translators is Fong Cher Eng who serves in the Family Life Ministry of CAC. It was in that ministry that she first encountered SKMC’s special needs ministry Ohana Ministry.

“After retiring, whenever I see, hear or read about the unmet needs of special persons around me, I always regret that I am unable to personally help them like I used to.

“So when I heard about this translation project, I felt both moved and anxious. I wanted to contribute, yet I knew my abilities were limited.”

“I sincerely hope that these materials will provide more concrete help and training.”

That was when she thought to rope in the girl to whom she is a guardian, Liu Jing Jing because Jing Jing is more proficient in Mandarin. Jing Jing readily accepted the challenge even though she was busy preparing for her own wedding.

“I am truly grateful to have been part of this curriculum translation process. I learned that translation is not only about language, but also about conveying the heart behind it,” said Jing Jing.

Cher Eng and Jing Jing worked on translating Enabling Communities.

Added Cher Eng: “Finally, the curriculum has been successfully published. My heart is full of gratitude. I sincerely hope that these materials will provide more concrete help and training for Chinese-speaking parents and teachers caring for children with special needs.”

The primary translator of Enabling Hearts was Amy Tan. A Missions Ministry staffer at Bartley Christian Church, Amy was brought in for her expertise as a trained teacher and children’s book author.

“I joined for the opportunity to study the texts more closely as part of building my repertoire of skills to minister to the lost. I thoroughly enjoyed the material. One day, I hope to become a full-time missionary to Chinese-speaking people.”

For Chinese churches in Singapore and beyond

The translation work is a continued Kingdom collaboration between KIN and CAC which began with the Special Needs Ministry Conference earlier in the year and the co-organising of a COP session on caregivers.

“We want to build disciple-making movement leaders.”

“This journey is for both of us to learn how to develop a disciple-making ministry together, sharing our learning and manpower, empowering each other in our response to follow Jesus,” said Rev Dr Lek.

“One of the constant challenges of the Chinese church is the availability of good, well-written resources.

“This Mandarin translation is just the beginning of putting into the hands of our Chinese churches a tool that will help build the ministry. We want to build disciple-making movement leaders who will take this resource and reach out to Singapore and beyond.”