“It’s like an arranged marriage!” Reverend David Teo says of his vocation as a Chaplain. “You get married first, and then fall in love later.”
Pastor David, as he is known among our staff, beneficiaries and their caregivers at St Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC), is also our Chaplain.
He is an Anglican priest with The Diocese of Singapore, and the honorary priest of Chapel of Christ our Hope (CCH). Since 2012, CCH, housed on the premises of SAAC in Elliot Road, has been serving persons with autism on the moderate to severe spectrum as well as their families.
As a Chaplain, Pastor David’s role encompasses pastoral care, counselling and spiritual guidance. In the Anglican Church, pastors are ordained by the Bishop. They pledge an oath of canonical obedience to the Bishop. The Bishop decides the posting of pastors, assigning them to different churches, local schools, Community Services or overseas mission.
“I got ‘posted’ to SAAC as a full-time chaplain and pastor to lead a new church plant for families with special needs,” he says.
He’d had no experience in serving persons with special needs and had no knowledge about autism. But all that didn’t faze him. His first few weeks on the job were spent reading up on autism, connecting with the SAAC staff to understand more about their work and those with autism.
And while he did fall in love – with the work, that is – it took him a while more to fully grasp what he’d read, heard and observed about persons with autism.
“During a visit to our Day Activity Centre, I noticed a client staring at me through the side of his eyes – like how you might look at someone you dislike. I was puzzled as I hadn’t met him before, much less offended him!” remembers Pastor David.
“A staff member explained that the client looked at me that way due to his sensitivity to light. Looking sideways at things or people causes less light to enter his eyes, which helps him cope better with his condition.”
Such personal encounters have helped him to better understand persons with autism and accept them for who they are.
With a smile, Pastor David adds: “I admire their Innocence. Most of them don’t do things out of malice; they’re simply playful or anxious. They don’t lie or scheme; what you see is what you get. So it’s easy to get to know them and serve them.“
Serving beneficiaries of SAAC also involves reaching out to their families and caregivers, which Pastor David calls a “privilege”.
While he’s seen a fair share of those struggling and grappling with feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty, he’s also observed many families who embraced their child with tenacity, trust and hope.
“Hope,” as he points out, “comes with the openness to accept the child for who he or she is.”
His greatest wish is for everyone to see beyond labels and embrace the inherent value and goodness in each individual.
“People with ability also have disabilities,” Pastor David says. “Some of us come from dysfunctional families; others struggle with impaired thinking, feelings and relationships.
“We have addictions, bad habits; we are easily tempted, easily pressured, and we tend to imitate others and not try to be ourselves.
“Likewise, people with disability also have abilities. They can learn almost everything that most people can do, though they may struggle to express it. They are human beings like any of us in need of relationships to love and be loved in this world.
“All they need is a little understanding and support from others.”
