It was a real tough decision that I was confronted with. It took much effort and tears to decide to remain in the BM work. But whether or not it should be from the platform of MBTS is all together a different issue. I had the last straw recently. If the head of the organization is supportive but I have a terrible colleague, I think I can continue on. If the head of the organization is not supportive but I have a good colleague, I can still continue on. However, when the combination is an unsupportive head of organization and a terrible colleague, I think there's no way I can continue on. I will only be frustrated every single day. Yes, I very much want to remain in the BM work and yes, I am pursuing this passion but, no, I doubt it will be from the platform of MBTS. There's more than one way to serve and I am opting for another platform to continue serving in the BM ministry.
Recently, I requested for a RM600 subsidy for a weekend trip for the BM students and there's no news of it at all after three weeks. An advance for RM500 was quickly approved, almost without the second wink of an eye for a weekend trip which involve foreign students. I was truly devastated by such a response. I suggested that we should get to know the people we minister before implementing anything new and this terribly arrogant colleague just snapped at me claiming that he has 15 years of field experience and he knows all there is to know. I have no field experience at all. I'm only a Malaysian, living in Malaysia, ministering to Malaysians. Cannot compare to an American ministering in the Asian field more than a decade!
Call me hasty, call me emotional, call me whatever. But imagine yourself in my shoes. Can you continue to serve with joy in such a context? It is too sad for me to have to make this decision. Most of the BM students are here in campus now and I have to hide this from most of them till an appropriate time. Is really a tough decision. Please pray for me. I greatly appreciate your partnership in ministry.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Ministry Update August 2009
It was just this morning when I stepped out of the gate that a middle-aged man with graying hair and a huge pot belly called me. No, I could not recognize him. And he had to introduce himself. He was my senior in college back in UM. And gosh, he looked so different with that huge pot belly. We did not chat. It was just an exchange of greetings. I think he was offended because my first reaction was to exclaim that the person I knew was not so fat! And yes, just like my sister sms-ed to me, I knew how to spoil a person’s day…
I have the privilege and opportunity to connect back with old friends. And I am still wondering at the significance of the events that unfold. Suddenly, the Lord is reminding me of my past? Old friends from school and college came back into my life, one after another. There’s something about it that I just can’t put a finger on.
Last weekend I was in the OA villages. One significant evening service I heard the Lord speaking clearly into my heart. He asked me if I am willing to give this up? I was enjoying worship in the midst of our indigenous brothers and sisters. And at the back of my head was still this offer to leave this and take up a position that comes packaged in prestige, honor, respect, not to mention a comfortable pay check. No, I was not willing to give that up. Difficult as it may be, I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back…
The BM Module of STCM has started yesterday. Students from Sabah, Sarawak, and central Peninsular are all here. A few will come a bit later due to clashing demands in ministry. Please pray for us. The weekends will have the students do some gotong royong work in campus. They will climb trees, cut the branches, trim the grass, etc…Some of these stunts can be quite dangerous. Then the third weekend, everyone packs up for a weekend visit to the OA villages. They will be divided into several teams to visit several kampongs. The weekend before Merdeka Day, they will travel back home. A few will stay put a little longer to plan a Merdeka Day service concert with BMBC.
Please pray for me. Besides overseeing all activities, I’ll be teaching a class next week on the prophetic ministry in the modern church. Pray also for our trip to the OA villages. We are not getting any subsidy for this trip. And that truly upset me. Last year we got a subsidy because the BM students were needed to accompany other STCM students. This year we are on our own and my request for a subsidy has not been approved for almost 2 weeks now. I’m forgetting it. The Lord will know how to supply. And yes, I’m able to channel some blessing I received from a church in Ipoh to subsidize our activities.
In September there will be another visit to the OA villages in Simpang Pulai. This is a lay training seminar I am initiating with the local pastors. We are networking with several churches, including Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, FGA (Penang). Also work in progress is our network with the SIB and AG churches in Peninsular Malaysia. Please continue to pray for this next big wave that will hit the Malaysian church…the rise and revival of the BM congregations.
I have the privilege and opportunity to connect back with old friends. And I am still wondering at the significance of the events that unfold. Suddenly, the Lord is reminding me of my past? Old friends from school and college came back into my life, one after another. There’s something about it that I just can’t put a finger on.
Last weekend I was in the OA villages. One significant evening service I heard the Lord speaking clearly into my heart. He asked me if I am willing to give this up? I was enjoying worship in the midst of our indigenous brothers and sisters. And at the back of my head was still this offer to leave this and take up a position that comes packaged in prestige, honor, respect, not to mention a comfortable pay check. No, I was not willing to give that up. Difficult as it may be, I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back…
The BM Module of STCM has started yesterday. Students from Sabah, Sarawak, and central Peninsular are all here. A few will come a bit later due to clashing demands in ministry. Please pray for us. The weekends will have the students do some gotong royong work in campus. They will climb trees, cut the branches, trim the grass, etc…Some of these stunts can be quite dangerous. Then the third weekend, everyone packs up for a weekend visit to the OA villages. They will be divided into several teams to visit several kampongs. The weekend before Merdeka Day, they will travel back home. A few will stay put a little longer to plan a Merdeka Day service concert with BMBC.
Please pray for me. Besides overseeing all activities, I’ll be teaching a class next week on the prophetic ministry in the modern church. Pray also for our trip to the OA villages. We are not getting any subsidy for this trip. And that truly upset me. Last year we got a subsidy because the BM students were needed to accompany other STCM students. This year we are on our own and my request for a subsidy has not been approved for almost 2 weeks now. I’m forgetting it. The Lord will know how to supply. And yes, I’m able to channel some blessing I received from a church in Ipoh to subsidize our activities.
In September there will be another visit to the OA villages in Simpang Pulai. This is a lay training seminar I am initiating with the local pastors. We are networking with several churches, including Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, FGA (Penang). Also work in progress is our network with the SIB and AG churches in Peninsular Malaysia. Please continue to pray for this next big wave that will hit the Malaysian church…the rise and revival of the BM congregations.
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