Ministry Update Nov/Dec 2015

In two weeks, I was “granted” two “titles” I don’t want to use. It amused me why some people take much delight in “exhibiting” fanciful titles before n (abbreviations) after their names. But that is the way of the world; that is the way people are. So, I amused myself with the “white robe” n the “black robe” dilemma.

End of Oct I was commissioned as a deaconess in the Anglican DWM and mid of Nov I “graduated” with the Doctor of Missiology degree. At least, one testimony I can claim is that this “stupid kid” hv got her doctorate! Ok, ok, I may exaggerate a little bit but I still keep my secondary school report book as proof that I was never a straight A’s student n was a bit below average as how teachers would “classify” someone like me.

Nov closed excitingly with a day trip to the OA village with a CG group from GBC. It was fun, as how all visits to the OA villages are.

Dec will open soon n I m getting anxious to prepare all the needed annual/year end reports. I need to wait for data from my colleagues n they need some (much) “pushing” before I can acquire the needed details which is pretty frustrating, actually. But Dec is also a month to sort-of “relax” a bit with the festivities. BJAC will again go out for their Christmas outreach. This year to another Old Folks Home. Do pray for us.

SAM 2016 schedule is almost complete; just missing the certificate part. Plz pray for us as we embark on another year to equip our OA friends towards acquiring their formal theological training at certificate, diploma, n master levels. Students upgrading n new students recruited will mean additional funds needed. But I am confident that God will provide sufficiently n adequately. Another aspect that needs funding is the publication of Bible-school-worthy type of BM books. I am partnering with Wawasan Penabur to publish a BM book on biblical interpretation. RM4000 is required n thus far I hv raised RM1000 with another RM3000 to go. If any of you would like to help towards this effort, kindly contact me. BM books/material are extremely, extremely limited. Please help us to produce more of them. People like me, teaching in the BM Bible School hv to be fluent in both English n BM bcoz we prepare our materials from English material n then translate them into BM. Reference books are very, very limited. Most reading references hv to be translated too before being made available to the students. Or, we use books from Indonesia. But this is one option we would like NOT to resort to as much as possible. I look forward to your further partnership.

THANK YOU

Ministry Update Oct/Nov 2015

It has been an “eventful” month. Started with the final class of the year in Ipoh, the Dip/MMin class of Indigenous Christian Leadership. It was an interesting class of mutual learning. Following that was a missions conference in Chiangmai. The weather was good there – no haze. I learnt pretty much n would hv enjoyed it a lot if not for some over-rigid team mates that functioned like my personal CCTV! I had to miss the STM Convocation service this year. Moving around so much n an aging mother who is growing dependant meant I need to be more selective of my travels. This is also my worry as ministry is expanding n requiring more n frequent travels. I did not hv much time to prepare for my oral exam that came with a short notice but thanks to someone who had experienced presenting his dissertation, his advices were extremely helpful. So, I finally wrapped up my studies. Though I initially do not plan to attend the convocation, I was strongly persuaded to do so. Therefore, I will again attend yet another graduation mid of next month!

So I hv finally wrapped up my doctoral studies…sent it for another round of proof-reading before submitting the final version n inserting a page I just can’t wait to do: dedicating it to the OA church in Malaysia! Been waiting so long to execute this “prophetic act” that it is almost sur-real. Already there are two Semai leaders in the master program n I m a step closer to “working myself out of my job.”

Tmr, 30 Oct is the Ordination/commissioning Service in Taiping n I will don the white robe, attempting to look “angelic” while in another two weeks, will don the black robe, attempting to look darkly cynical!

Just got back from a weekend in the OA villages. Brought an English lady who intends to teach English to the OA villagers. Over the weekend of getting to know her a bit, I m beginning to have some doubts of her commitment. Perhaps I m a bit “too protective” of my OA friends. Just do not want them to be treated as “a safari of wild people in their natural habitat.”

November n December should be more relaxed…I just realized that I’ve been on a plane once a month since August: to London in August; to Miri in September; to Chiangmai in October; to KL at the start of November. No wonder the air steward in MH commented that I look like a “seasoned traveler.” November n December are also months to prepare endless reports.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry

SweeBee

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Ministry Update Aug/Sept/Oct

Yes, I am aware that I did not post an update last month. There were official travels one after another and before I knew it, it was almost middle of the month! But August was fun, at least the part where I spent 10 days in London. It was truly the Lord’s blessing that I could travel so far for the first time and traveling alone. Well, when I reached Heathrow and waiting in line to pass immigration, I really thought the plane mistakenly landed in India!

Most of the time I was in London, I roamed its narrow streets alone. I pray I have another opportunity to visit this place. One visit is just not enough. I must say, I simply loved the weather – it was between 13-19C most of the time and when it drizzled, the rain was icy cold. The “hottest” day was 21C. Both my nephews were quick to warn me that I will not like winter!

In the midst of my visit, my mother had a fall. Praise God, it was nothing serious. However, she has grown very dependant and I suppose all those who have had an experience living/caring for old people can understand my situation. I have to cut down on my out-station trips so that my mother can be “more secure.” We are still searching for regular (paid) help. Someone who can stay at home to accompany my mom each time I have to go out-station for ministry matters (any other conditions/suggestions are negotiable).

September moved quickly. After the many movements in July/August, I didn’t realize that my three full weeks in Penang is wrapping up. Next week, I have a class in Ipoh. Following that is a short trip to Chiangmai for a missions conference. I have called off the plan to bring our OA graduating students to Seremban for their convocation so I can be home after being away for pretty long. There’s still another trip to the OA villages, probably over a weekend end of Oct before attending the ordination/commissioning service on 30 Oct at All Saints’ Church, Taiping.

Regarding SAM Penang, the “branch” in Sungai Petani had concluded its first class. Because this center began “mid-stream” the next class will only commence at the start of next year. The Prai class is on-going and scheduled to conclude end of October. SAM Ipoh (dip/MMin) module will conclude after next week’s class while I believe the certificate module has another class in November before they wrap up for the year. Then the season for reports will commence…This year we have 5 graduating students: 1 diploma graduate from Penang and 4 certificate graduates from Ipoh.

Once again, I thank you for your partnership in ministry.

SB

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Ministry Update July/August 2015

So here it is – end of July – into the second half of the year. It has been a busy month with back-to-back travels since the Raya break. After a visit to the OA villages, I travelled back to Gopeng for the “ordination retreat” – yes, I m amazed at the turn of events. Never anticipated embracing a conservative church structure – serving God is serving God – somehow, the Anglican DWM will commission me as “deaconess” later in the year in October. What is this, you ask me…I hv no idea. I only know that certain senior colleagues told me to go for it bcoz it will put me in a “better” salary scale; the bishop told me it will give me access to more resources to develop the BM theological education ministry. Apart from that, I really do not know what it is for – maybe granting me a “title” I will never use.

I’m now in Ipoh teaching a class in OT Survey to the certificate/diploma students n the classes will stretch through 8 sessions. In order to save cost, I hv decided to stay in Ipoh over the weekend n visit the BM/OA church services too. It has been quite an anxious experience prior to my travel to Ipoh. It was a bit dramatic too. Driving back home from church service on Sat., the temperature of my car suddenly started to escalate. It kept climbing n climbing; n I got more n more anxious to the point that I was expecting to find smoke rising from the bonnet when it hit the red zone. I obviously prayed anxiously n shortly later, the temperature returned to normal. When I reached the workshop, it was already back to normal. Bcoz it was late in the evening, nothing can be done till Mon morning. Not wanting to take any risk of a breakdown on Sun., I was “stranded” at home on Sunday. Early on Mon morning I drove to the workshop, expecting prompt repair to enable the car fixed on time to drive to Ipoh later in the afternoon. The repairs were done promptly except the replacement of a leaking water tank. No replacement was found n final option is to order from KL which will take 2 days’ delivery. I was planning to travel to Ipoh by bus the next day, not wanting to postpone class for another day. There are some students needing this class credit to graduate this year. Then a phone call came from the workshop that they finally found an unlikely fit from a huge SUV – Mitsubishi Storm – to install the water tank! Praise God – as the mechanic relate to me his relief in finding a solution at the last minute, I kept praising God. He insisted it was luck, I insisted it was God.

So, here am I – teaching the night classes n “working as usual” during the day – except that I can wake up at 9am n still be “on time” for work – the desk just beside my bed. I hv built good enough a rapport with YMCA Ipoh that as much as possible, I will occupy the same room each time I m in town – Room 101.

Returning Penang after 1^st week August, I hv a whole full week in Penang before “leaving on a jet plane” for one n a half weeks. With the half week (last week of Aug) wrapping up in Penang I will be on the road again to Ipoh for a meeting on 31^st Aug, then returning Penang on 1^st Sept the next day, will fly to MEC in Miri. For the next (approx) 4 weeks I’ll be in Penang to repeat the class in OT Survey to students in SAM Penang. Then October is another month of back-to-back travels: Ipoh for a full week of intensive class (dip/MMin module); missions conference in Chiangmai; STM Convo in Seremban. Settling down on the 3^rd week of Oct., I should wrap up the concluding classes for SAM Penang. Nov/Dec should be more relaxing as preparations gear up towards Christmas.

SAM Penang had launched its “extension center” in Sungai Petani. Due to time constraint, we can only hold classes once a week, thus, dragging each module through almost 3 months. So, the likely schedule for next year will see:

SAM Ipoh certificate night classes: 3 courses

SAM Ipoh cert/dip night classes: 2 courses

SAM Ipoh dip/MMin intensive day classes: 3 courses

SAM Penang cert/dip night classes: 4 courses

SAM Penang (SP) cert/dip night classes: 3 courses

Kindly uphold us in prayer as the School progresses. It is always your partnership that enabled us to progress n continue. It is also your partnership that motivates me in ministry. There will be one diploma graduate from SAM Penang this year n 5 certificate graduates from SAM Ipoh.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry. I truly n greatly appreciate your partnership in this challenging n exciting journey.

Ministry Update June/July 2015

It was a familiar smell as I drove across the Penang Bridge early in the morning. It must have been more than a decade since I regularly drive across the Bridge so early in the morning. I remember that working in the manufacturing capacity meant going to work when the moon was still in the skies and returning from work when the moon came out to shine at dusk. I seldom had the opportunity to soak in the scorching sun and seized all the opportunity to do so when the lorry carrying the parts I bought was “stuck in customs.” Ahhh…those were the days, the factory days.

I was in the manufacturing concern for about 7 years, then a year in a private Chinese school, before entering ministry. That was 15 years ago. Even with 15 years of “full time ministry” I felt there are still much to learn; simply because God made human beings so complicated. But as I recalled the person I was, I can honestly confess that I have “managed to leave” quite a bit of the fallen nature behind. And that was no easy task. Naturally a task-oriented person, I had to go through the tedious work of unlearn and re-learn to be a “peoples person.” Yeah, yeah, I know I still have a long way more to go. But I hope I have made some progress.

June had been a busy month. I’m back in my office in Penang but will soon embark on a series of travels. I sort of look forward to that as I’ve grown to be someone who cannot “quite stay put in one place for long.” I m teaching a class on “Religions in Malaysia” in SAM Penang. It is an overview of the major religions in Malaysia to give an understanding of what its adherers subscribe to. This will help to formulate the worldview/thinking pattern to understand people of other faiths. I feel this is important as Malaysians today often misunderstand each other from various ethnicity n religious backgrounds. SAM Penang “extension center” or “branch” in Sungai Petani will start later in July. It will start with the course in “Intro to NT” by Rev Khor KH and will stretch through 7-8 weeks with 2.5 hours classes once a week.

On the Raya break, I will bring a team from COR, Butterworth to the villages. Returning on Sunday, I will travel to Gopeng the next day for the “ordination retreat” till Wednesday. Following this is an 8-day course in Ipoh (Mon-Fri, Mon-Wed). So, I’ll be spending more time in Ipoh/Gopeng this month. Yes, I’m looking forward to Aug as I’ll be traveling to London for abt 10 days in mid-Aug.

This year, SAM is expecting to graduate 4 certificate students n 1 diploma student. The diploma student will be the first graduating student from SAM Penang. The leadership of SAM Northern Centers is also in the process of re-negotiating with STM so that the OA students pursuing their BTh in STM can be permitted to do some courses within the close proximity of their villages. This will help reduce cost/travel time.

Do pray for us as we continue to develop/improve the BM theological education ministry in Malaysia.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership in ministry.

SB

Ministry Update May/June 2015

The month ended in a depressing note. A colleague was admitted to the hospital bcoz of some blood disorder n later discovered it was leukemia. After the 7-day chemo she was receiving, there was an emergency where she was admitted to the ICU n later went into a coma n shortly later, passed away. All within 2 weeks! I vented out my anger at God, unable to understand how these could happen. It also got me thinking if I m prepared to meet God. Hv I done all I could with all He gave me? Honestly, as much as we may hv prepared for it, I think that very crucial moment when we pass on, is a scary moment. We know we will die one day but how n when is not known. Though I do not know this colleague very well, yet I grieve over this loss. It’s too sudden. Just 2 weeks ago I sent her a sms to encourage her n she replied asking me to take care of myself too. It’s hard to accept a quick departure of a comrade in ministry…

The next two weeks are filled with activities. It will begin with the much talked about GoFest Missions Conference. This year, for the first time, there’ll be translation to BM as OA participants from Perak were sponsored to attend the conference. Yes, my OA friends are coming n staying in St Nick’s at various locations. Not sure yet if a few will stay at my vicarage. They may prefer to cramp all 25 in a 5-bedroom bungalow beside my office. That’s what the organizers planned. 25 in a place with 2 bathrooms! I better look into this. After all, some are my “OA anak.” Towards the end of the conference, my guest lecturer n his wife will arrive from Miri for a week-long class in Ipoh the following week. So, the weekend will be quite filled as my colleagues from WEC Partners will also be in town for the GoFest Conference n meeting with some local church leaders.

After the Ipoh class, SAM Penang class will start with me teaching this time. It’s been awhile since I teach in SAM Penang. I usually slot a teaching assignment for myself just once in each center so that I can stand-by to fill any emergencies. But last year I was too tied up to teach a class in Penang. This year, we will even branch out to Sungai Petani with a new center beginning mid-July.

There’s also a weekend trip to the villages. MBTS will send a team of international students to visit the OA villages on the 3^rd weekend.

Progress of my studies? Oh, don’t ask…

July n August are busy months too. I think I’ll be in Penang 3 weeks in June, 2 weeks in July, n 1 week in August. Towards end of July is another trip to the OA village, followed by the Ordination Retreat, followed by my 2 weeks class in Ipoh that spill over to August; then I prepare to go on a “holiday” westward…

Thank you for your partnership in ministry

31.05.15

Ministry Update Apr/May 2015

April was a month of learning n discovery. Some of you may think I missed out last month’s entry but the truth is, after I posted it on my blog, I did not send to various individuals. I thought I wrote something that was only a personal assumption but I later discovered it was not – in fact, it has become a fact. I m disappointed, that a long-time friend could hv conducted so badly in class that several of my OA friends in Ipoh asked me to never, ever invite her back to teach.

On a brighter note, a new milestone was achieved for SAM when we officially signed the MoU to provide an opportunity for peninsular-based BM pastors to pursue a master degree. It was sometime mid of Apr n our team, 3 from Ipoh joined me in Penang n we travel Penang-Miri-Penang while another traveled from KL n met us in Miri. Representing us was our diocesan bishop who, despite his busy schedule, went to Miri. Well, it was a wonderful time – honestly, we were careful to carry ourselves when our bishop was around – but “let down our hair” when he left our team to attend to another official function. Fellowship was good with friends n partnership was strengthened with BEM Sarawak. I feel so at home in the indigenous community.

Immediately upon our return was the Eastern/UpperNorth leaders retreat in BJAC. I did not hv much time to mingle with the other pastors/leaders from the east coast. So happens, I hv to attend to ensuring things r in order. It was an event that passed by very quickly n I was preparing for the next engagement in Ipoh.

My car battery was a bit weak but I kept delaying replacing it. After all, it was still use-able n as long as I m in Penang, if the battery goes flat, the mechanic is just a phone call away. But then I hv an engagement in Ipoh for a weekend. I was planning to travel to Ipoh on Fri afternoon to accompany an Ipoh team to the OA village on Sat, then travel back on Sun. So, it was risky that if my car battery goes flat on Sun, I will be stranded in Ipoh till the next working day. I decided to go to the workshop to get a new battery. Arriving on Thurs afternoon, I asked the mechanic to also check everything to ensure it is in good shape for long distance drive. It was then that he discovered one of the back absorbers was leaking; n absorbers need to be changed in pair. Then the front absorbers were examined – they were not in good shape either. So, in order to hv a proper balance, the back pair of absorbers n the front pair of absorbers need to be replaced. But that was not all. While examining the back absorbers, the exhaust pipe was seen to be in an extremely bad shape – like a bad tooth half eaten by cavity. So, the back pair of absorbers, the front pair of absorbers, n the exhaust besides the battery needed replacement. It was abt 4pm n the mechanic assured me – in 3 hours, he can replaced all that n I can safely n comfortably drive to Ipoh the next day. The bill? RM1,113.10 (plus labor n GST) but I asked for a discount of 10sen la! Huge sum to pay unexpectedly for car maintenance.

The next morning I was in my office, still reeling from the shocking, sudden departure of hard-earned cash that I posted on my FB wall on this matter. I began my drive to Ipoh at abt 2pm n as usual driving alone I prayed n sang praises to God, not bothered that I sang off-key n wrong lyrics. I began by praying to God asking to send my “claim” to heaven for His consideration. And I told God that He may answer me quickly, slowly, or not answer me at all – yet I will still send my “claim” to heaven. Even if He does not entertain this “claim” I know I hv done the right thing as a good steward in spending such a huge sum to care for a car that rightfully belongs to Him. I reached Ipoh n checked in at YMCA, unpacked a bit, logged in to the internet awhile n dropped on the bed to rest awhile before my dinner appointment. It was then, slightly after 5pm that a Whatsapp message came n the sender asked me how much exactly was the car repair cost n wanted to pay the complete bill! Several minutes later, he sent a picture thru whatsapp the fund transfer slip. 3 hours – the mechanic needed to replace new parts for my car; 3 hours for heaven to “process my claim.” God is good – all the time; all the time – God is good!

May has no out-station travels but I needed time to seriously work on preparing lesson plans for SAM Penang class in June/July n SAM Ipoh class in July/Aug besides starting to chart course materials for SAM Ipoh class in October. June will start busy with the YWAM GoFest Missions Conference. There is already a planned weekend trip for a team to visit OA village in Gopeng; some OA participants may be staying in SNH hostel n some in my vicarage; n WEC Partners (Malaysia) reps will be in town – we hope to meet some pastors/mission leaders in some local church; then my guest lecturer n his wife (from MEC Miri) will be arriving towards the end of the conference n we will travel to Ipoh/Gopeng for a week-long class.

An update regarding my studies? I really don’t know how is my progress. It’s like wondering endlessly in an endless circle in the wilderness. As I complained n complained ceaselessly, the Lord rebuked me. Then I realized that I hv no right to judge nor compare my present thesis supervisor with the previous ones. God made her the way she is just as God made me the way I m. The reason God put us together to work in this season is so that I may learn what I need to. So, I don’t know if I can graduate this year but I hv surrendered to God who determines the times n the seasons.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry

SB

Ministry Update Mar/Apr 15

It has been a hot n humid month but I’m glad the rain has come to cool the weather, even though it was just isolated showers – a little here n a little there. I’m sure many of you are similarly surprised at how we r now concluding the first quarter of the year – already.

After a whole month of being “confined” to Penang in February, I was glad for March n the opportunity to visit the OA villages – accompanying some YWAMers to explore the villages as mission points for the practical sessions of the GoFest Missions Conference in early June. The following week was a week-long class in Ipoh/Gopeng. It was to be our first class in attempt to offer a 3-credit course n a combined class of diploma n master students. However, the students participated were all diploma students due to some administrative hiccup. The class was “moved” to Gopeng – not only were there more students from Gopeng, it was because there was no one with a valid driving license to transport the students to Ipoh. So, the following dip/MMin classes will be held in Gopeng.

An important lesson was learnt by me in a hard way – that those serving in the pastoral ministry in the BM ministry do not necessarily can function teaching in the Bible School capacity; that those able to teach do not necessarily able to function teaching in a BM Bible School context.

I was hoping to “enlarge” the teaching team n I suppose in that quest, I failed to discern properly. First I had a new teacher who does not seem to care abt the commitment made to almost 20 students n simply “disappeared” on one session n didn’t bother to explain the “disappearance” the next session. Second I had a major disappointment that came from some long-time friends. In fact, I m beginning to feel foolish that at one time I had actually “looked up” to this couple as they r more senior in ministry, in age, n as Christians. So this person moved to Ipoh n kept insisting that I give her a teaching schedule, readily offered to teach day or night. However, as the day draws near to the class – a date she herself committed – she began giving “unreasonable” requests, among others, insisting on holding her class at a time impossible for the students to attend, thus defeating the very purpose of a night class. There were also some harsh remarks insulting the intelligence n economic status of my OA friends. I was so very disappointed – how can someone in ministry behave in such a way? She seemed to hv lost interest in a commitment she eagerly sought; probably bcoz after awhile in a new place she had found something that can give her better n wider recognition? I almost wanted to say that to her bcoz my patience was wearing thin n I almost wanted to cancel the class.

Looks like I am back to square one – definitely cannot keep these two new teachers in the teaching team. On the lighter side, we will finally sign the official MoU with BEM Sarawak next month. Praise the Lord that we can find a time where both the heads of denomination are available for this occasion. When I was discussing the terms of our MoU with the person in charge in Miri late last year, we felt that it’ll be near impossible to find a time where both our bosses can be free at the same time. Praise the Lord, He made possible the impossible. A team of us from Penang/Ipoh n KL will travel to Miri for this formal occasion where our bishop representing us will sign the MoU where SAM Northern Centers will partner MEC to offer Master in Ministry program in BM to ministers functioning in the BM language here in Peninsular. Besides reducing costs n time, this will be an opportunity for our BM/OA pastors to upgrade to the master level academically. After the Miri trip, is immediately the Eastern/Upper North Archdeaconry Retreat in SNH/BJAC. In later part of Apr is a proposed day trip to the OA village in Simpang Pulai with AOG Ipoh.

Regarding my studies, yes, it is moving slow…I m praying that I will complete the necessary for completion by this year so I can dedicate a doctoral degree to my OA friends. I m eager to “perform this prophetic act” n I hope you will join me to anticipate this spiritual act so our friends can “breakthrough” n rise to their potentials, even academically. I m also thankful to God for partners in ministry offering assistance of various kinds to our OA friends. This is indeed an exciting ministry n greater things God is about to do in our midst through the indigenous church. Will you join me in my walk with them to experience God in tangible ways?