Ministry Update OctNov 2016

It has been an interesting month. As of now SAM is at the brink of closing its academic year for 2016. For the first time the module of Theology of Persecution and Discipleship (TOPAD) was conducted in BM with SAM students providing the “trial subjects.” It was unfortunate that a miscommunication resulted in just four students attending this very relevant course. We are now preparing course schedule for 2017. Before long year end reports need to be attended to.

The SAM team was in KK to meet with the leadership team of a local seminary there to initiate a partnership. It was an interesting trip. We were there about three years ago to initiate a similar partnership but it did not progress as expected. In January this year, a chance meeting with one of its staff “resurrected” the interest to pursue this partnership. Meetings were proposed but none materialized until Oct (26). This seminary was skeptical in our proposed partnership to offer a master degree through modular approach as their program is a full-time program. However, along the time both parties negotiated a suitable time to meet, other needs arose that the said seminary adopted the modular approach. It was truly divine timing. The principal even anticipated a lengthy meeting and allocated a whole two hours to discuss the necessary. On my end I was a bit “worried” as I do not know what I need to prepare for the meeting as it looked like as if I only need to be present. Within the first 30 minutes, the “deal was sealed.” What can I say? God prepared every heart involved in this matter!

It was also interesting to meet up with other partners in ministry and former students. In this meeting another partnership possibility was discussed. With God willing, SAM may establish another “branch” center in KK. A meet-up with a former second collegian brought further joy into the trip. It further opened another possibility of partnership. This is to partner a local church in their swiflet bird nest business. SAM considers this involvement/investment as it will provide an income-generating resource to finance our expenses without the need to constantly look for sponsors. Do pray with n for us that we will move in God’s wisdom.

Next month, the final certificate module in Ipoh will take place and I am scheduled to teach on the Gospels. The Theology 1 class in SP will also close in Nov. Then the reports will need to be generated. Christmas programs will begin to unfold. BJAC plans an outreach to the Holy Infant Jesus Home in Balik Pulau, a simple fellowship meal on the eve of Christmas after our service, n a thanksgiving service on NY eve. We are also being “ambitious” to plan for an all-night prayer meeting next year! Well, nothing is impossible because we serve a God who makes possible everything impossible!

Ministry Update Sept/Oct 2016

September was a “fun-filled” month with two visits to two different OA villages on weekends back-to-back.

The short school holidays in September was filled with public holidays too: the Raya Haji break n the Malaysia Day break. It was a much anticipated visit for a local Chinese church to visit this village, off Batu Gajah. Their medical team comprised of both western n eatern medicine complete with nurses. It was about four years ago since I visited this village. It was left off our radar as the pastor is a renal patient n we do not want to burden him with many missions team visits. It has changed. The route to the village was changed to another direction while the route I first took to the village is now almost bare. The palm oil trees that I knew providing a cooling shade was all gone making it scorching hot under the afternoon sun.

The following weekend I was “on the road” again bringing another team into another village. First we were disappointed that at the last minute, another Anglican church decided to visit that same village. The “gate-crashers” team interrupted an otherwise well-planned Friday. Yet, we made the best out of it n saw the brighter side of this incident. Saturday morning n we travelled to a “new outreach” a short distance away. The team did children n youth meetings followed by a simple lunch before returning to the base village. By Saturday afternoon, we had the place “to ourselves” n we were pretty relaxed. We savored the much anticipated delicacies, including the “atas pokok” meat. I am thrilled at the progress of the villagers in partnership with the visiting team who was there the second time. I am excited to observe the bond growing tight in the urban-rural partnership. This is an effort I m looking to establish for the other urban churches too, especially the one above (visit to village off Batu Gajah). Partnership should be focused with a clear objective. The OA villages – they are not locations of “tourism” to visit “touch n go,” instead they are our brothers n sisters together with us growing towards maturity of the Malaysian church as a whole

Please pray for our proposed cottage industry to market a snack product. I am in planning with the local villagers to look into mass producing buah perah n marketing it to the cities as a healthy snack. We plan to offer three flavors – original, spicy, n anchovies. Buah perah is a seasonal nut n we hv quite a bit of time to plan carefully before the next season arrives n production begins. So, what is buah perah as some of you may ask…when it is produced, come grab a pack from me!

October will conclude SAM Taman Pelangi academic year when the current class in Church Admin ends. Elsewhere in SP, the academic year only concludes in Nov when the current Theology 1 class ends. In Ipoh, the diploma module concludes the year after our study in the topic of Theology of Persecution n Discipleship in mid Oct. The certificate module still has another class in Nov before it concludes for this year. We have three graduates in Certificate of Christian Ministry this year. This is perhaps the smallest team, even participating family/friends make up less than 10 in our entourage to Seremban for the Convocation service on 15Oct.

Please pray for SAM Committee team visit to Seminari Theologi Sabah end of Oct. We are exploring partnership to offer MMin program in the Peninsular from SAM Ipoh. You may ask why as we are already in partnership with MEC for the same program. STS shares the same accreditation as STM (ATESEA: Association of Theological Education South East Asia) while MEC receives accreditation from ATA (Asia Theological Association). We want to standardize n streamline our curriculum to be more focused. Besides, our MMin students are now “on-hold” in their studies as requested by MEC who claims they need to iron out a little hiccup – something which I do not know how long it will take!

Join us in prayer too for our next year’s schedule that is in planning. Pray for our regular teaching team – for wisdom, time, n passion – to continue in this ministry. Pray that funds will permit us to attempt related activities for our students to enhance their learning experience. Once again, I thank you for your partnership in this ministry

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