Ministry Update Feb/Mar 2013

Can’t wait to share an interesting “discovery.” There r wild boars in Penang!!! N they r found very near to my office! They’d come “out” from the “wilderness” when it is dark, roaming among the tombs in Mount Erskine Cemetery grounds. So many of them…n in all sizes!!!

My love language is word of encouragement n I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those of u who take time to reply to my monthly updates with ur words of encouragement. Though it may be a little gesture, it encouraged me a lot. Thanks again. Also, thanks for liking n comment my FB wall postings with ur encouragements. It really helped to remind me that I’m not alone in ministry.

Well, someone “aeroplaned” me shortly before CNY n I hv to squeeze 2-3 months preparation into 2 ½ weeks to take over a class in Theology. Theology is my “weak” subject bcoz I can’t remember what I studied in Theology classes in the Seminary, except that after each class, I find myself more confused abt Christian doctrines. So, it’s a real challenge to prepare n to teach a theology class. Strange…I did pray n ask God for more challenges in ministry; lesson – God answers prayer, need to be more careful in prayer (:P)  

The class is progressing well. God indeed is at work as we elaborate n question our doubts over doctrinal issues. But the one thing I really want to bring across to the students is the challenge to self-theologize as we progress towards a mature church in Malaysia.

Next week, I’ll be traveling to KK to attend a meeting in Sabah Theological Seminary (STS) to elaborate on SAM-STS networking n sharing of resources. Plz pray for us. I’ll be traveling with 2 other OA colleagues. We’ll also visit a village (Baptist) church currently pastored by a former student n minister in Protestant Church of Sabah. Another interesting item in this trip is a personal item – I’ll be meeting an old friend from varsity days, someone I’ve not met for over 20 years! I m excited; we were collegians (of Second Residential College, also known as Asrama Menara Budi, then). We’ll be staying a night at her place b4 ministering at her church, the PCS, which I was told has a congregation of Rungus people group except my friend, a Kelantanese girl who “married into the Rungus family.”

The third batch of Academy S.O.S. (Sahabat Orang Sakit) will arrive soon. The graduation of the second batch was held full of formality where I was requested to put on my academic gown (?!) Anyway, this third batch has 8 participants, the largest thus far.

SAM Penang class is put on hold for this week as I teach the class in Theology here in Ipoh n will pause again after Monday’s class as I prepare for our trip to KK. Plz pray for us as we consider another center in Prai. SAM Penang has 2 new intake this year. SAM Ipoh certificate track has 5 new intakes this year while the diploma track has 3 new students. We hv 4 students scheduled to graduate end of this year but there r some hiccup to administrative requirements. Previously SAM was not administered properly n student transcripts were not recorded. So, now STM is requesting student transcripts of basic courses completed at certificate level n we r tasked to search lacking records. Plz pray for us. Also, we hope to soon acquire the “license” to offer programs at the bachelor level. Our team of teachers hv the basic requirements for this, so it is a matter of time for the endorsement. Plz pray for more sponsorship to sponsor the new students. Will greatly appreciate your partnership in spreading the need to the Christian community you are associated with. Thanks.

Holy Week n Easter is just around the corner. The “traditional” churches r in high gear to “celebrate” this important church event. Since I’m “associated” with the “traditional” church I’m inevitably “roped” into it. For the first time, I’ll be sharing a short devotion in a (super n) hyper-high church on Good Friday at its mid-day devotion on the 7 last words of Christ. Though I had participated in such devotion services before (12noon-3pm) but it was never in a hyper-high church (high in tradition). I’m not sure if I can “restrict” my sharing; I’ll probably stand out like a sore thumb with a contemporary approach n risk a heart attack for the pastor who went for a by-pass last year (!?) Plz pray for me. Also, another interesting item is the opportunity to serve as an interpreter (English to BM) in AIMC for a distinguished speaker who is the main speaker for an exciting intercessory seminar which unfortunately, I’m not able to participate – due to the Holy Week engagements.

Once again, I thank you for ur partnership in ministry

^{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.

Ministry Update Jan-Feb 2013

I just blinked my eyes n my calendar is showing February. Well, January had been a slow month; probably because most r still recuperating from the festivities at the end of Dec/early Jan; or perhaps still in a daze that the so-called end of the world prophecy did not happen…

My proof-reader in Singapore is still proof-reading my dissertation. School has started n his pace is slower now that he has to juggle teaching/responsibilities in school n reading a boring academic writing. But I hope he can meet his own set deadline to complete by end of Feb. I hv to target to complete all the needed by mid of the year too. My supervisor is retiring n returning to the States on 1^st Aug. So, it’s really at the final “lap” of a long “academic marathon.”

The SOS (Sahabat Orang Sakit) Ministry in Penang recently set up an “Akademi SOS.” This is a “training” school for pastors n (lay) church leaders from all over Indonesia who come to Penang to serve in the hospital ministry. I m among the teaching team n they linked themselves to SAM (Sekolah Alkitab Malaysia) Penang to jointly offer short term training program aimed to equipped participants to better understand the local context of ministry. Though targeting Indonesians seeking treatment in Penang (private) hospitals, there r locals among them n they r seeking the best way to serve these Malaysians. There’s where I come in with missiological perspectives.

Thus far I heard these Indonesian pastors, though here on short term basis, hv returned very revived. I was told they became excited for ministry again when they saw their simple prayers answered for healing. The first batch returned after 3 weeks here n the new batch just arrived. I hv 2 two-hour sessions with each intake n the topics for discussions are confined to just 2: worldview n contextualization. The schedule is classroom discussion in the morning n afternoon is practical ministry – visiting hospitals.

I received a lot of donated stuff for my OA friends. The usual practice was I keep them in my store (in my office) n bring in little by little at my each visit to Ipoh/villages. Recently, the stuff got “too much” till my store room door could hardly close. So, the idea came up that we sell those stuff along with St Nicholas’ Home’s monthly jumble sale. So, yesterday was the day n we managed to sell abt half of the stuff; collected slightly over RM240 within one morning. Though I intended it to be a one-off thing, I’ve been asked to hold this “jumble sale” again. Apparently, the stuff we hv r of better quality than those found at the other “stall.”

End of Feb starts the first class in Ipoh for the Diploma module. Kindly pray for us as we start the new academic year. In the meantime the certificate modules already began in Ipoh since early Jan while Penang began late Jan. Four students r ready to graduate with Diploma in Christian Ministry end of the year. Kindly pray as we prepare for this first graduates in our partnership with STM.

Mid March, me n 2 other OA colleagues will represent SAM to attend a meeting with STS (Sabah Theological Seminary) in KK, Sabah to elaborate on our networking efforts n sharing of resources. Plz pray for us as we strive to expand the ministry of BM Theological education in Malaysia. Join us to pray for partnerships n ministry opportunities with individuals, organizations, churches, etc within n beyond Malaysia. (Personally) I hope to get SAM ready to offer bachelor programs soon – if not this year, then next. I m just praying that STM can be more enthusiastic (or any other Seminaries in Peninsular for this matter) to progress more aggressively for the BM work. True that we shld not simply churn out degree papers but the OA ministry is growing faster than we can train them adequately to lead. It is frustrating that while I can serve “full-time” other concern parties (of decision makers) r not willing to spare more than their “part time” attention!

Join us in praying for this exciting ministry in this year of change. I believe that if Malaysia is ever to experience the next “wave of revival,” it will surely hv something to do with the BM ministry. I’m glad God has called me to be a part of it just as many others; will u come be a part of us too?