Time sure flies…we are already gearing up for Christmas and soon preparing to greet the new year. I am writing this update in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands; no, I’m not on holiday though today is a public holiday (Deepavali). I am teaching a class in Church Admin and the students have been great. A bit boring here with the constant rain and super poor internet reception; but yesterday we visited an OA settlement in the BOH tea estate nearby. Prospects are good to network with the SIB OA churches here to expand the school. There are about 10 SIB OA churches in this region and the pastor we met was very keen to work with us. I’m trusting God to provide the necessary while I continue to dream big for Him.
A couple of days ago, I was very encouraged to receive an unexpected phone call. The caller wanted to invite me to preach at her daughter’s wedding. She told me that her daughter specially requested for me to preach on her special day. It was such an honor and encouragement to know there’s someone in some church who thinks I’m a good preacher; unfortunately the date was not appropriate. I’m scheduled to be in Medan 1-7 Dec for a preaching circuit in 4 churches to kick-start the Christmas season. And I’m now wandering why 3Dec is such a popular date. So far, I’ve received 4 invites to different events by different groups on this very date.
The BM school is progressing well. The OA pastors pursuing their studies in MBTS have officially transferred to SAM. I’m pretty upset when I received an email from the academic dean with a request to help them correct rumors that the BM dept in MBTS is closing. Upset because they are too sensitive and insecure; upset that they do not know the BM students well. Hanging around with those fellas, I know they always joke, but somebody must have overheard them joking and took it too personally. I’m disappointed that certain insecure individual is still trying to push blame on me for his inability to execute the ministry properly.
We will be meeting with STM personnel early Nov to elaborate on an official MoU. In the meantime, our center in Penang (Bayan Point) will launch its second class, a repeat of the course conducted in Prai earlier this year. If things go well, we will greet 2012 with a center in Prai (mainland) and Bayan Point (island) for SAM Penang; a center in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands and Ipoh for SAM Ipoh. We also hope to begin sending final year students for optional short-term internship practical in Sarawak. Pray for us as we seek to grow this ministry. The church in Malaysia is the responsibility of Malaysian Christians; and we seek to train and raise local ministers to minister to their own people groups. Pray for the Gua Musang center that they will grow strong and stable in their pool of students and teachers.
As of now, I have all registered OA students sponsored for the course fees of their entire programs. 6 students transferred from MBTS have yet to be sponsored. More students are expected for next year, so our SAM Student Adoption program will continue to invite partnership from individuals and churches. I will soon send out updates to all sponsors; just waiting for the final class of the year to close in November.
My study program is still on hold. The director of Graduate School is still looking for a replacement to supervise my dissertation. But I’m glad to know that plan B is he’ll assume that position if no suitable candidate is found.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ministry Update Sept/Oct 2011
September opened with a week- long class in Ipoh. I was in YMCA the entire week with little entertainment at night after class. Being unfamiliar with Ipoh town, I stayed in my room and spent most of the time browsing the net. That’s when I picked up another addictive game in FB. The class in Penang center was put on hold for the week while I was in Ipoh and it will come to a close early October.
I was in Kinta Valley area 3x in September and will be repeating that frequency this month. I remember bringing the LOGOS Hope team of three into the OA villages middle of September. It was tiring having to interpret for 3 members and running here and there in between so they were able to converse with the locals. But I remembered how they were sharing about how God had financially provided for the Ship. If I remembered it right, it was previously a ship transporting cars and needed euro 500 million to refurbish in 5 years but God’s intervention changed that into USD 28 million in 2 years. I remembered that while I was interpreting that, at the back of my mind I was struggling, questioning God about His providence. I have experienced His providence in small measures here and there in my life but I’m now in the midst of asking for sponsorship for my OA friends. I have great plans for them, I share it with them, and they are just as excited as I am. Still, we hope together for the day when we can carry out these plans which obviously need financing. That day, I was grumbling in my mind before the Lord. Intellectually, I know God provides, but I have not experience it in any significant manner. The next day when I arrived at my office, there was a letter for the church addressed to me. When I opened it, a cheque fell out. When I saw the amount, I was numbed for awhile. After I pulled myself together, I can only cry. And I cried, and I cried…the letter came from someone I heard about in a church in Penang but I’ve never met this person. The letter stated that the Lord had blessed his family and they would like to share the blessing by sponsoring the OA students. Out of curiosity, how much do you think a stranger can give to a ministry they only know from a brochure; to a person they may have heard of but never met? I leave you to ponder the amount. But it was substantial…it made me cry! My OA students are so blessed and I’m so happy.
The last Sunday of September was another “historic” moment. There was a crowd of about 700 gathered in Gopeng Square where the OA church celebrated their 15th Anniversary. Rain poured and guests came from various places. The church leaders were dressed so smartly while the clergy had their official attire on. It was humid, it was pretty uncomfortable as the formalities of the service stretched longer than anticipated. Hunger caused discomfort, especially when some food was already on the table. But it was a memorable evening. Tiring for me, traveling to Gopeng from Penang and returning to Penang after the service and forced to wake up the next morning to a cool, sleepy day to attend the Upper North Clergy meeting. But it was worth it, it really was.
October has several trips to the OA villages: one with a Methodist group and another with an Anglican group. End of October is another class with the Ipoh students who had it planned as a retreat and we will be meeting in Ringlet. Please pray for us; for a time of mutual learning, fellowship, and outreach.
Most importantly, I request prayer for my studies. My thesis supervisor withdrew as he is undergoing some medical treatment. I know God has appointed a candidate to replace him. Please pray that we find this person soon. I hope to complete my studies by next year in line with my plans to start offering advance degree programs for the BM school. Papers make a difference, what to do? That’s how things work…
Again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.
PS: Praise the Lord, I have a new toy…Asus Eee Pad Transformer, a 10.1’ android pad and I no longer need to print sermon note – save the trees! Got a good deal for it, though I was waiting for someone to bless me with one…
I was in Kinta Valley area 3x in September and will be repeating that frequency this month. I remember bringing the LOGOS Hope team of three into the OA villages middle of September. It was tiring having to interpret for 3 members and running here and there in between so they were able to converse with the locals. But I remembered how they were sharing about how God had financially provided for the Ship. If I remembered it right, it was previously a ship transporting cars and needed euro 500 million to refurbish in 5 years but God’s intervention changed that into USD 28 million in 2 years. I remembered that while I was interpreting that, at the back of my mind I was struggling, questioning God about His providence. I have experienced His providence in small measures here and there in my life but I’m now in the midst of asking for sponsorship for my OA friends. I have great plans for them, I share it with them, and they are just as excited as I am. Still, we hope together for the day when we can carry out these plans which obviously need financing. That day, I was grumbling in my mind before the Lord. Intellectually, I know God provides, but I have not experience it in any significant manner. The next day when I arrived at my office, there was a letter for the church addressed to me. When I opened it, a cheque fell out. When I saw the amount, I was numbed for awhile. After I pulled myself together, I can only cry. And I cried, and I cried…the letter came from someone I heard about in a church in Penang but I’ve never met this person. The letter stated that the Lord had blessed his family and they would like to share the blessing by sponsoring the OA students. Out of curiosity, how much do you think a stranger can give to a ministry they only know from a brochure; to a person they may have heard of but never met? I leave you to ponder the amount. But it was substantial…it made me cry! My OA students are so blessed and I’m so happy.
The last Sunday of September was another “historic” moment. There was a crowd of about 700 gathered in Gopeng Square where the OA church celebrated their 15th Anniversary. Rain poured and guests came from various places. The church leaders were dressed so smartly while the clergy had their official attire on. It was humid, it was pretty uncomfortable as the formalities of the service stretched longer than anticipated. Hunger caused discomfort, especially when some food was already on the table. But it was a memorable evening. Tiring for me, traveling to Gopeng from Penang and returning to Penang after the service and forced to wake up the next morning to a cool, sleepy day to attend the Upper North Clergy meeting. But it was worth it, it really was.
October has several trips to the OA villages: one with a Methodist group and another with an Anglican group. End of October is another class with the Ipoh students who had it planned as a retreat and we will be meeting in Ringlet. Please pray for us; for a time of mutual learning, fellowship, and outreach.
Most importantly, I request prayer for my studies. My thesis supervisor withdrew as he is undergoing some medical treatment. I know God has appointed a candidate to replace him. Please pray that we find this person soon. I hope to complete my studies by next year in line with my plans to start offering advance degree programs for the BM school. Papers make a difference, what to do? That’s how things work…
Again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.
PS: Praise the Lord, I have a new toy…Asus Eee Pad Transformer, a 10.1’ android pad and I no longer need to print sermon note – save the trees! Got a good deal for it, though I was waiting for someone to bless me with one…
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