Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Ministry Update June/July 2016

We are wrapping up the first half of the year with the conclusion of June 2016. It has been a month of many significant incidents. From the end of the previous month, my (third) aunt was ill and in the ICU. At the first visit, I had a bad feeling of her condition. She was the only Christian among her siblings. I remember that I was suddenly unable to pray for her, overcame by a strong wave of emotion – seeing a glimpse of my mother in her. My aunt went home to be with the Lord early in the morning on Friday 17th June. The funeral was on Tuesday, 22 June. The whole day I was disappointed with how the pastor conducting the funeral failed to seize the opportunity to deliver a strong evangelistic message to our unbelieving relatives. I was upset at his wrong theology n poor understanding of the Bible. The thought kept reeling in my mind. Even late into the night driving back from a class I visited in Juru. I stopped by a nearby petrol station to get a full fill of petrol n was all set for my class in SP the next day. My mind was pre-occupied n I let down guard. When I reached home, I drove my car into the compound n turned behind to see the auto-gate shut. Just then, a man wearing black jacket n a full-faced helmet rushed in. I immediately pressed on the horn while he started to smash my car window at the passenger side. Then he rushed out just before the auto-gate shut. Turning behind to see him leave, I saw another accomplish running out from my right. Gosh! There was another robber at my right, probably trying to open my side of car door! It was pretty traumatic for me. But praise God for caring CG members who came to calm n advice me. The next day, police report lodged n window repaired. Thank God also for a caring Christian who offered to pay for the repairs. Incident behind but the traumatic healing is still progressing. Nevertheless, I praise n thank God I was not harmed n nothing was lost.

Ministry-wise: there was a brief trip to the OA village with SAM Penang students at the start of the month. Then there was a trip to Seremban to teach in a Seminary there on behalf of SPECS. I had the opportunity to spend some short but precious time with an old friend from 2nd RC, UM. Next, was an over the weekend trip to OA villages in Kampar with a group of China Chinese pastors from MBTS. I was pretty disappointed that my colleague planned most of the activities to take place in his town church in Kampar itself. We only went for short visits to two different homes in the outskirts.

SAM Ipoh Dip/MMin one-week intensive module is on-going now in Ipoh during this last week of June. Elsewhere, SAM Penang in Taman Pelangi had started their third class of the year with the study on New Testament Survey beginning 2nd June and will conclude sometime end of July. In the meantime, SAM Penang in Sungai Petani will begin its third class in Church Admin on 29th June and will continue till end August.

Next month, July will see many public holidays. But in the field I am in, it makes no difference whether it is a work day or public holiday. For me the major difference is the traffic on the road. After the “holiday season” in July, I hv another class to teach in Seremban. Then, another trip to the OA villages with MBTS team. This time, we will visit Gopeng. Please pray for the church in Ulu Groh. We planned to visit this village then, but last week I was told a huge storm struck n a tree was uprooted, falling right on the church, destroying a major portion.

Please pray for SAM administrative wisdom. Our funds were parked in my church (BJAC) accounts all these years but this year our mother church strongly suggested for SAM to move our funds out. We are seeking our Archbishop’s advice to move the funds somewhere that we can be placed under the covering of the Diocese. I will advice all of you once the new account has been created n its details. It will be a joint account consisting of all four SAM Northern Centers committee members.

I am very looking forward to August – in particular a short over the weekend trip to KK for a mini reunion of 2nd RC collegians. It has been about 25 years since our college days n we are meeting for the first time to see each other, 25 years later!

Thank you for your continuous support and partnership in ministry.

SB

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