Ministry Update Nov/Dec 18

Coming to the close of the year, reports are being generated and preparations begin to welcome the new year. November was event-packed. The first weekend began with a meeting with the Sidang Injil Orang Asli in Tapah who requested a SAM teaching center in Tapah for their pastors serving in villages in Tapah, Perak and Temerloh, Pahang. Discussions are still on-going and we will likely begin a teaching center there. This is in view with the declining support/interest in Gopeng. The following weekend, I was preaching in an Iban church in Port Dickson. Then it was the faculty/staff retreat to Penang with the main aim of savouring Penang delicacies. I stayed back in Penang for ministry. But in fact, it was a continuation of “makan spree.” Ministry engagements were only on the weekend which left the weekdays to savour Penang favourites. There was a visit to the OA village where we were involved in a “rescue operation” that was pretty dramatic. The next day, I was preaching in a small church. The rain and the cancellation of the Penang Bridge Marathon that morning turned the day a bit gloomy as I stood in front of a locked church 30 minutes before service was scheduled – wondering whether the church had decided to “tutup kedai” that Sunday.

December is just around the corner. There will be two teaching engagements in Ipoh and in Pulau Langkawi. I have actually applied to clear my annual leave but not sure what to do during that time. Office is quiet with very few staff/faculty around.

The annual report for SAM will be sent shortly. Kindly partner us in praying for this ministry. The need is enormous; the workers are few. The potential is huge; the funds are limited. The prospects are big; few are seeing it.

·         Do pray for committed individuals with a heart and passion for this ministry to partner us to develop and grow the local leaders in a holistic manner

·         More prayer partners who will uphold this ministry consistently

·         For funds to enable us to offer quality theological training at very affordable costs

·         For God to open avenues and provide the necessary for OA pastors to be adequately trained

Ministry Update OctNov 18

The highlight of October? Well, it was a brief trip back Penang and this time my meals were carefully planned to include many local delicacies. I taught a 4-hour class on persecution preparedness course at a church in Air Itam, which was part of a 4 part series.  Then I preached in an Anglican church in Seremban where I stood behind the rostrum and discovered I’m too short for the congregation to see me! And the graduation dinner/service over the third weekend…

There were as many as 11 graduands from SAM Penang (Prai n SP). From these, 8 had indicated they will proceed to diploma.  The last module in Prai is concluding for the year soon and that will wrap up SAM North academic year. With my transfer to Seremban, SAM North was pretty neglected. I truly hope next year it will be better organized. With four students left in SP, SP centre will temporarily close and students channelled to Prai for the time being. So, for 2019, we scheduled 3 night classes n one intensive module in Prai centre.

Elsewhere in Ipoh, there’s still much uncertainty as students are not too committed. We are considering juggling the venue between Ipoh n Gopeng. Please pray with n for us in this. This year, only two classes were held.

In the meantime, there are three enquiries to hold SAM teaching centres in Georgetown, Tapah, n Sibu. Now that I am based in STM, I will hv to propose two options to these three enquiries – SAM or STM. Whichever route will still end up with an accredited certificate from STM!

November is filled with activities: meeting in Tapah; (new) students interviews; teaching in JB; preaching in PD; faculty/staff retreat in Penang; leading a visit to OA village; preaching in Penang. Spilling to Dec is another visit to OA village; teaching in Ipoh; teaching in Langkawi; n finally a short break to clear annual leave which I will likely return to Penang (for a makan trip!) or just laze around ;)

Will greatly appreciate your partnership in prayer in preparations for Nov/Dec engagements n 2019 classes.