I have never felt so patriotic in my life! I have never felt so proud to be a Malaysian. I believe we are right now at a spiritual cross-road to a breakthrough. Imagine, I can even break down & cry reading postings and comments on the Malaysia Today website! I have a desktop wallpaper of a SAYA ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA poster here on my office computer. I am joining the fight to claim Malaysia back from corruption & evil. Maybe even going bald for RPK (?!) But I know I cannot afford to get too emotional. It is emotions that the enemy camp often use to incite undesireable responses.
Let's join the effort in praying to deliver Malaysia from evil...
Next week I'll be travelling to East Malaysia. Will be away for two weeks and probably will not be able to post any monthly updates till I return. Plz pray for the ministry. Preaching @ Tawau Baptist Church, teaching @ PLAB in Tawau, and teaching in Kuching. I'm looking forward to the exciting adventure. In the meantime, let's keep praying for the transformation of Malaysia.
SAYA ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA !!!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Ministry Update: September 2008
Greetings from little me at a small corner on top of a hill over-looking the lush blue skies and green/muddy sea. Ministry has been an adventure. Many ups and downs. Yet He made all things beautiful in its own time. I am aware as many Malaysian Christians that we are entering or rather, in the midst of very crucial moments in our nation. There’s a bigger cause for the church, rather than the individual. All the more we should unite during these days of “birth pangs” to bring forth the birth of a re-newed nation.
I came back from the missions trip to North Sumatra a few weeks ago, but I may be going back there for a shorter period (about a week) in early December. It’s still semester break in campus now, so things are pretty slow moving (and lazy) until school reopens next Monday. There’s still obvious “situations” needing attention but often, things cannot be rushed. After the BM dept head left to return to the States last April/May, I was appointed to assume that role. However, an American missionary later came unexpectedly & demanded to be made the head of the BM dept (!?). For whatever reason, the School (president) submitted to that demand. (Perhaps to maintain the relationship of MBTS-IMB???) So, I had to sacrifice that position. Initially I was very upset. This person is not based in campus & only comes in half a day, twice a week and yet he demands to be called “director.” (??!!) But now, I feel sorry for him. Each time he sees me, he will talk about the “title.” I have no idea why he is so obsessed with the “title.” Doesn’t anyone ever tell him that ministry is not about titles and positions? Instead, it’s about how effective we are in ministry! If we cannot earn the respect and credibility of the people we work with, our ministry amounts to nothing! So how is the school management going to deal with this matter? They are pretty confused at the sudden change of events which upset the original plans but I was told they are working out job descriptions to clarify job boundaries.
I was at Bukit Mertajam Baptist Church together with some friends for the Merdeka Day Count-down Service. Jenny (Liew) & family, a Korean chap, a student from Hong Kong were there too. The pastor of the BM congregation is a student here & he is intending to hold this sort of service as an annual affair. There was an array of cultural display through traditional costume, songs, and dances; reflecting the diversity of Malaysia, united in Christ. An offering was collected as a contribution to the BM dept., MBTS. I’m so glad for the partnership of local churches, who are rising up to support the training of their leaders. Truly Malaysia belongs to Malaysians & the Malaysian church is the responsibility of Malaysian Christians.
This Sunday, I’ll be speaking at St Mark’s Church in Butterworth. Then I have some teaching sessions at a CG. But I can’t wait for October. End of last week I just realized my teaching assignments in East Malaysia is immediately after the Raya holidays. I have to get me tickets early & was glad I was able to secure a good deal. I travel on Friday to KK & meet up with Michelle. The next day travel to Tawau to spend the weekend with my students visiting their ministry/church. The following week I travel back to KK to catch a flight to Kuching for another week. There’ll be a weekend trip to KL the following week where the BM dept “troop” will visit an urban OA church. The date is still pending, so is my speaking engagement on the same weekend at BJAC (may have to swap with someone).
We are already in September. Soon we’ll be preparing for Christmas & welcoming a new year. I’m already starting to prepare my application to further my studies. In fact, just before I went to North Sumatra, I had the opportunity to meet my prospective research supervisor. If God willing and by His grace, I will pursue a study/research on leadership in a tribal group in Sabah or Sarawak
Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.
I came back from the missions trip to North Sumatra a few weeks ago, but I may be going back there for a shorter period (about a week) in early December. It’s still semester break in campus now, so things are pretty slow moving (and lazy) until school reopens next Monday. There’s still obvious “situations” needing attention but often, things cannot be rushed. After the BM dept head left to return to the States last April/May, I was appointed to assume that role. However, an American missionary later came unexpectedly & demanded to be made the head of the BM dept (!?). For whatever reason, the School (president) submitted to that demand. (Perhaps to maintain the relationship of MBTS-IMB???) So, I had to sacrifice that position. Initially I was very upset. This person is not based in campus & only comes in half a day, twice a week and yet he demands to be called “director.” (??!!) But now, I feel sorry for him. Each time he sees me, he will talk about the “title.” I have no idea why he is so obsessed with the “title.” Doesn’t anyone ever tell him that ministry is not about titles and positions? Instead, it’s about how effective we are in ministry! If we cannot earn the respect and credibility of the people we work with, our ministry amounts to nothing! So how is the school management going to deal with this matter? They are pretty confused at the sudden change of events which upset the original plans but I was told they are working out job descriptions to clarify job boundaries.
I was at Bukit Mertajam Baptist Church together with some friends for the Merdeka Day Count-down Service. Jenny (Liew) & family, a Korean chap, a student from Hong Kong were there too. The pastor of the BM congregation is a student here & he is intending to hold this sort of service as an annual affair. There was an array of cultural display through traditional costume, songs, and dances; reflecting the diversity of Malaysia, united in Christ. An offering was collected as a contribution to the BM dept., MBTS. I’m so glad for the partnership of local churches, who are rising up to support the training of their leaders. Truly Malaysia belongs to Malaysians & the Malaysian church is the responsibility of Malaysian Christians.
This Sunday, I’ll be speaking at St Mark’s Church in Butterworth. Then I have some teaching sessions at a CG. But I can’t wait for October. End of last week I just realized my teaching assignments in East Malaysia is immediately after the Raya holidays. I have to get me tickets early & was glad I was able to secure a good deal. I travel on Friday to KK & meet up with Michelle. The next day travel to Tawau to spend the weekend with my students visiting their ministry/church. The following week I travel back to KK to catch a flight to Kuching for another week. There’ll be a weekend trip to KL the following week where the BM dept “troop” will visit an urban OA church. The date is still pending, so is my speaking engagement on the same weekend at BJAC (may have to swap with someone).
We are already in September. Soon we’ll be preparing for Christmas & welcoming a new year. I’m already starting to prepare my application to further my studies. In fact, just before I went to North Sumatra, I had the opportunity to meet my prospective research supervisor. If God willing and by His grace, I will pursue a study/research on leadership in a tribal group in Sabah or Sarawak
Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.
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