Entering the New Year: Ministry Update

I thought I just wrote a similar update a little while ago and suddenly, we’re entering into another new year. Time is not just flying, it seems to be speeding by like a jet plane or something. Well, I have left MBTS after 5 years of ministry there learning the most important lesson that regardless of the secular or sacred vocation, people are still fallen human beings prone to every evil known to men.

Being a workaholic, it sure was depressing for me to be relaxed and I’ve been very relaxed since May this year. Hey, I’ve been doing what I was doing for 5 years, what else is there unless I can proceed further with new, improved approaches and methodologies. And because I was not given that privilege, I felt so redundant to the point of depression. We cannot afford to fall into a maintenance mode in ministry. Unfortunately, in many instances, the church/Christian organization is merely maintaining itself without growth.

So I ask myself why I need a break? I should just jump back into active ministry. But I was in a way forced to take it slow. After all, I need to work at the phase of my co-workers. This new year, I have taken the delicate step onto uncharted waters. I have taken a leap of faith into a ministry of huge and vast potentials. I fearfully enter into a challenging task. Ok, so I’m skillful to play around with words. But it is an exciting step for me as the Lord takes me to another phase. I am never a person who can do the same thing over and over again one more time. Thus, I’m always seeking fresh challenges and adventures. And this seems to be it. And I pray and seek your prayer support to build the teaching ministry among the Orang Asli in Peninsular. It is going to be real tough, I am anticipating it. Yet, believe me, the next BIG thing to hit the church will be a revival from the indigenous touching our neighbors to impact this nation. I pray we will be together to witness this huge phenomena.

You know? I’ve always held some kind of prejudice against the Chinese-ed. It started from my campus days when those of us who cannot speak mandarin were treated like an outcast in our own Chinese community. Ok, so this is where racial polarization is birthed – in varsity campuses! In fact, I can very well remember the person who insisted that knowing the mandarin language is the very essence of being Chinese. (Yes Lynette, it’s that old horse, who else? Glad I’m not in Perak) So I have this assumption that the Chinese ed people are just too narrow-minded, square, and A++ in super boredom. And it doesn’t help that a huge population of MBTS are Chinese ed or from China itself. Though my years in CC does help a bit, I mean, hey ST and HA fun people, bah?! But guess what? I met a youth group from a Chinese church and they have got to be in the top three of the craziest people I’ve ever met!!! What an experience. ..And more than that is what I have learned. Christians are people, some with false declarations and some genuine conversions but they are found in every and any church regardless of denomination or background. But hey, isn’t it about time we break down the denomination wall in church? Huh? Where’s the amen fellas???!!!

I’ve got to discipline myself back to my studies. It is fun to assign work to students but having to attend to the assignments as a student is another story. I have to start revising my research proposal for a second submission. But it looks like it has to start in January after the holiday break. There’s just something about the holiday mood. It seems to spread in the air, and catch unexpecting victims to laze through the days in slow motion mode.

It was a busy Christmas day for me. Really… I was with a Lutheran church morning service but had to skip the fellowship lunch to drive to Bukit Mertajam to speak in a Bahasa church for their Christmas service. I was given the estimate of an hour’s drive of distance. I supposed the pastor was anticipating bad traffic. However, traffic was unusually smooth. Even at traffic lights, it was green all the way & I reached the destination in half the estimated time! It was a wonderful service filled with performances of joy and Christmas cheer. I was a bit disappointed though, at the buffet spread. I was expecting some kampong treats but discovered a city menu! Aise…a bahasa church and you find salad with mayo on the table…adui…

But it was a fun Christmas for me especially with the opportunity to meet again my former pastor & family. Geez…it has been about 15 years. And once again like last year, I was swept into an unexpected nostalgia. There’s just something about coming together as a church family that touched deep into the core of my being. I was at a youth camp and was reminded that my major is missiology and my minor is still youth. Once again, realizing I need to constantly take a step back to see the larger picture of ministry and not to be too narrowly focused.

To all my ministry partners that stretch across various denominations, I thank you for walking with me along this journey of faith. I thank you that we are together to work towards the fulfillment of God’s purpose here in Malaysia. I thank you that we are here with the passion to make a difference for our nation in this generation.

PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

PS: Oh ya, I’d also like to thank those who are very concern for my health. Let me explain that I have a goiter and it is harmless. It is only the swelling of the thyroid glands but it is still doing what it is suppose to do. I have consulted two specialists and was advised not to remove it because it is not causing any harm. But thank you for your concern.

Ministry Update December 2009

Tomorrow is my last day serving in MBTS. There had been times of laughter and times of tears. Generally, it has been a time of learning. The most important lesson learnt is that there is no difference serving in a secular capacity and the so-called sacred vocation. We are all still fallen human beings, regardless of whether we are Christians, Christian leaders, or unbelievers. So, I’ve learnt to just let it go when people wronged me because ultimately, each of us stands accountable before God Himself.

The next two months will be the time of transition. And I seek your prayer support to settle down in the new ministry. It is an exciting venture. One of huge potential and enormous prospects, to the extent that I am fearful considering how a little person like me is able to manage this huge job. Of course I also feel so very privileged because I know the Lord would not have called me into this capacity if He doesn’t think I’m capable of it. Please pray along with me along the exciting ministry of big challenges.

There will be a two-tier approach in this teaching/training ministry among the indigenous church. Basic training sends us into the interior while advance training brings them to town where it is more accessible to various resources. The basic tier is a channel almost anyone can contribute. There will be training of very practical needs – Christian and practical living skills. Even teaching children simple A, B, C is relevant. Even sharing the very little we have to offer is a blessing in itself.

I’m hoping that for the rest of this month, I can just relax and slowly go about catching up with my things. Also, I hope there’ll be opportunity to spend time with friends near and far. This Saturday I have a preaching engagement followed by a youth camp, well, is actually a young adults camp. Then, I’m taking a break to PJ after Christmas to spend time with family and hopefully can catch up with some old friends I recently re-met through facebook. The third module of PLK is scheduled for end of January. And we are also planning for a retreat in March.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry. I pray that we continue our networking as we grow together and build the kingdom of God in our generation in our nation.