I just emailed my first draft of chapter one to my thesis supervisor yesterday. It is exciting and anxious, to be taking this step towards a long, tedious effort of an 80,000 words journey. And I have to constantly remind myself why I’m doing this – I can only lead people till where I have been and if I have high hopes for them, then I better know how far I myself am capable.
The partnership of SAM-STM is progressing well. Despite its slow momentum but I believe God works matters in a pace He knows best for all involved. The Anglican Training Center is also slowly falling in place. The official opening is scheduled to be on 13August and classes are starting. Actually, just one – and with one student. But, let’s not despise humble beginnings. A 2-day seminar is also planned for September. The Chinese and Tamil modules have yet to start while the BM module is still contemplating when to begin, this month or the next. But then again, the BM module had a head-start because it comes under the “management” of SAM.
Due to a postponement of class in Ipoh, I only have one outstation trip in August – to Kampar for the Synod. I never liked change of schedules, especially last minute changes. Yet, I must “force” myself to accommodate the working style of different people in my team. So, August appears pretty relaxing (enough) for awhile. But things do pop up and sometimes at the last minute. I’m ready for the 3 overlapping/continuous classes of English/BM classes in Penang/Ipoh in these 3 months (July, August, September). With the start of my dissertation write-up, I will need to factor in time for this too. Then, the Bible Society’s translation work. The team just completed the first draft of Luke. Everyone seems every enthusiastic and they work so fast. I have to discipline myself to keep up with their pace. In the process, I’ve been delaying my editing work for ICM’s BM module. Due to all these, I’m too glad to offer LOGOS Hope team to come to preach/share on my speaking date to relieve me in September.
There are enquiries but yet to receive actual contributions to the SAM school’s student adoption project. This is a fund-raising project, aimed to raise funds as scholarships to enable the indigenous student pastors/church leaders acquire quality Christian/theological education. These students are mainly small-scale farmers in the interior earning meager cash income. The BM churches/outreaches are growing so fast, there’s a lack of funds to finance (even) the ministry. And they are very eager to partner with urban churches to develop their community, both church and non-church community.
Please pray with me for the development of the OA/BM work; for the Lord of Harvest to raise good workers to be trained into exceptional workers; for the Lord of Providence to provide every necessary resources – financial and human resources – as we grow the School.
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Ministry Update June/July 2011
So it’s official, we have crossed the first half of the year. Things are picking up and I am excited. As I looked at my schedule, I must admit I had a great month of learning and discovery. It started with the youth visit to the OA villages, followed by the Bible Translation workshop, with a week in Ipoh full of activities, and the final week of June filled with meetings.
I had especially learned much from the translation workshop; especially, in rediscovering my Malaysian identity. I did not realized how much we’ve been influenced by Indonesian culture, even indirectly through our usage of the Indonesian Bible which is readily available as compared to the Malaysian version. It is a privilege to be a part of this project to embark on the effort to produce a new Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible. Even with the little I can afford and offer, I feel very honored to contribute a little to this spectacular project. More so, when I hold in my hands the “stamped” Bible – stamped by KDN & serial-numbered. I believe for us who use English Bibles, this hold little significance. For me, as a missiologist taught to function in just about any version, what matters is contextualizing the message to the target audience in a manner most understood by them. But as I minister among the malay speaking churches (here I mean Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia) I realize, as Malaysian Christians, we really need a version to reflect our identity.
A week filled with meetings flows into the next month. I have many things to prepare. The Anglican Training Center will hold its first English class on 18th where I’ll be teaching on the Introduction to the OT. Then I also need to prepare for its official opening 13th Aug. Following that is a BM class in Ipoh in mid Aug where I’ll be teaching. The weekend after the week in Ipoh is a short period of rest before departing to Kampar for the Synod meeting. Looks like it’ll be 3 days of sleeping with my eyes open through the boring speeches and endless debates. I think I’ll bring my netbook or tablet pc along to work silently.
Enough of diocesan matters, I’m looking forward to another trip into the jungles next weekend with another youth group…on the weekend Bersih 2.0 is planned. I hope I don’t miss exciting news while dwelling among the trees…no, it’s not THAT bad. Preaching engagements are lined up. It’s another marathon-like schedule. Thought of accepting a “working holiday” speaking in a church camp in Lake Toba end of Aug, but it clashed with another engagement I had earlier committed. Aise…but do pray with me for:
1. The training center and its programs (endorsed by STM) in all 4 languages but I’m only dealing with English & BM
2. The fund-raising project (SAM Student Adoption Program) I just launched in an effort to raise funds to help the OA church pastors/leaders to be equipped theologically. Plz pray for the BM program and wisdom to do a better planning job next year for all centers (Gua Musang, Penang (island & mainland), Ipoh)
3. The speaking engagements in various churches
4. The OA visits and various teams/churches to partner our OA work
5. The Christmas speaking engagement – this, I’m praying. It came unexpectedly and being one attracted to challenge, I have sort of, agreed to it. It’ll be a 7-day speaking circuit through North Sumatra as a prelude to Christmas programs for the North Sumatra churches
6. The dissertation write-up. I’m starting this next phase for my study program. Kindly pray alongside me
7. Discipline – that in the midst of all busyness, I will always remember the reason for each task and be well-disciplined to put Him first and above all
Once again, I thank you for your partnership in ministry.
SB
I had especially learned much from the translation workshop; especially, in rediscovering my Malaysian identity. I did not realized how much we’ve been influenced by Indonesian culture, even indirectly through our usage of the Indonesian Bible which is readily available as compared to the Malaysian version. It is a privilege to be a part of this project to embark on the effort to produce a new Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible. Even with the little I can afford and offer, I feel very honored to contribute a little to this spectacular project. More so, when I hold in my hands the “stamped” Bible – stamped by KDN & serial-numbered. I believe for us who use English Bibles, this hold little significance. For me, as a missiologist taught to function in just about any version, what matters is contextualizing the message to the target audience in a manner most understood by them. But as I minister among the malay speaking churches (here I mean Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia) I realize, as Malaysian Christians, we really need a version to reflect our identity.
A week filled with meetings flows into the next month. I have many things to prepare. The Anglican Training Center will hold its first English class on 18th where I’ll be teaching on the Introduction to the OT. Then I also need to prepare for its official opening 13th Aug. Following that is a BM class in Ipoh in mid Aug where I’ll be teaching. The weekend after the week in Ipoh is a short period of rest before departing to Kampar for the Synod meeting. Looks like it’ll be 3 days of sleeping with my eyes open through the boring speeches and endless debates. I think I’ll bring my netbook or tablet pc along to work silently.
Enough of diocesan matters, I’m looking forward to another trip into the jungles next weekend with another youth group…on the weekend Bersih 2.0 is planned. I hope I don’t miss exciting news while dwelling among the trees…no, it’s not THAT bad. Preaching engagements are lined up. It’s another marathon-like schedule. Thought of accepting a “working holiday” speaking in a church camp in Lake Toba end of Aug, but it clashed with another engagement I had earlier committed. Aise…but do pray with me for:
1. The training center and its programs (endorsed by STM) in all 4 languages but I’m only dealing with English & BM
2. The fund-raising project (SAM Student Adoption Program) I just launched in an effort to raise funds to help the OA church pastors/leaders to be equipped theologically. Plz pray for the BM program and wisdom to do a better planning job next year for all centers (Gua Musang, Penang (island & mainland), Ipoh)
3. The speaking engagements in various churches
4. The OA visits and various teams/churches to partner our OA work
5. The Christmas speaking engagement – this, I’m praying. It came unexpectedly and being one attracted to challenge, I have sort of, agreed to it. It’ll be a 7-day speaking circuit through North Sumatra as a prelude to Christmas programs for the North Sumatra churches
6. The dissertation write-up. I’m starting this next phase for my study program. Kindly pray alongside me
7. Discipline – that in the midst of all busyness, I will always remember the reason for each task and be well-disciplined to put Him first and above all
Once again, I thank you for your partnership in ministry.
SB
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