Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Ministry Update – May 2007

After three consecutive weeks of preaching engagements I was ready to take a break. Actually, it also marked my 50% done of my thesis (first draft). So, I think I deserve a little break. I went to visit my nephews in PJ over the long weekend. The problem with taking a break is the reluctance of getting back to work! That’s why I’m in front of the PC right now writing this blog entry.

The Seminary is all geared up for the next School of Trans-Cultural Missions (STCM). There are exciting programs lining up – classroom instructions, field study, etc. I’m taking a team to Pengkalan Hulu end of June, another team to Gopeng at the end of July and still another team to Acheh in August. So, should I go for the church camp scheduled for the first weekend of June? I’m still pondering. But back to Seminary news, we have just launched another prayer meeting. Besides the dawn prayer meetings that are attended by most residential students, we have this lunch time prayer meetings. And I invite you to share my vision for the Seminary to be so soaked in prayers that there is an open heaven above us. Those of you who are MBTS Alumni, do join us to carry the burden for a spiritual revival of our Seminary.

My thesis is coming along well. It’s a great opportunity to speak to various churches to discover the status of youth ministry in Malaysian Baptist churches all through the peninsular. Apart from that is the study into various aspects of discipleship, training, missions education, etc. What is more exciting is that my study is an original research needing raw data from the field. Actually, I’m very excited to pursue further into a dissertation on missions strategy involving youth in missions. Anyone like to join me in this study?

Ministry in church is progressing well, I suppose. The new youth group is doing sturdily well in GBC South. We are meeting once a month, at the first Saturday of each month. Our regular program is a game followed by Bible study and we project towards the next meeting & how to prepare for it. I’m hoping to build some accountability in them as I asked them to commit themselves to study a certain portion of the Bible. I certainly welcome suggestions from anyone of you. There’s some good youth study materials offered to us at the Seminary by some local publishers at a discounted rate. I think if we start using these, I can start letting the youth lead some sessions. Youth needs to know that they don’t need to wait until tomorrow to be effective ministers.

The Viet church is growing. It’s due to the Viet pastor who is actively ministering to the Viets around Paya Terubong. This old man can hold cell groups to cater to those working on shifts regardless of time. This means, there’s a cell meeting at 2am!

Please remember me in prayer – the three mission trips (two short over the weekend field trip & the overseas one), my studies (scheduled to graduate this November with ThM), my ministries in MBTS (BM Dept., Graduate Studies Dept., Missions Dept.) & in church (GBC South & Viet church). Thank you. (Phil. 1:3)