Ministry Update MarApr 2020

A 4-weeks partial lock-down! A “divine interruption,” something needful but something we “do not want.” We actually do not know if this RMO will be further extended. My only concern is my mother in Penang, But I take comfort in knowing that Penang as a whole is coping well in its fight against this virus. Here in Seremban, is classified as a RED zone. Yesterday, Klang came under RED classification. Looks like it’s unlikely for anyone of us to return to Penang till, perhaps June. I pray that we will up a notch in prayer. The longer this RMO, though it is helping, the more difficulties we will encounter. I m thinking of the hawkers, the labourers, those who “kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang.”

In Malaysia (from today 30th Mar) we (may) have another 15 days to go, other countries elsewhere just started their lock down. Some 21 days, some a month with very likelihood of pro-longing the situation. My flight to Penang in April had been suspended by AirAsia. And AirAsia has suspended all domestic flights till 21^st April. Our mission trips to Sabah in May and to Gopeng in June had been cancelled. My SAM class in Tapah end of May had been cancelled. The September class teacher from Miri had been instructed by his home church not to travel n I’m not sure if the class can proceed. The month long missions module in STM (whole of June) had been cancelled. SAM Prai class scheduled to begin 1 Apr had been postponed. All classes on campus in STM had been suspended during the RMO. A few students who went home are not allowed to return when the RMO was extended. Classes till end of the semester will commence on-line. This is truly unprecedented. A complete stop. A divine interruption! Perhaps, it is overdue…

My initial observation was that the church was generally caught unaware. Many “crumbled” at the suddenly restricted movements n found themselves gripped with fear – fear of uncertainty, of COVID, of simply unable to be a (physical) church. It is even more devastating for conservative churches that heavily depend on traditional observances because suddenly the question cropped up, “How to ‘perform’ tradition to an empty audience?” A few managed to pull themselves together n resorted to “performing” before a webcam. One obvious observation is that those from a high church setting steeped in tradition are “crumbling” as they are unable to observe Easter in a (physical) church setting.

^HAG2:4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
⁶ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ⁸ ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁹ ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
I know you are praying just as I am. But let us encourage each other to press in. In a little while…this too shall pass n we will enter a new era of unprecedented (golden) season for the church. Let us be discerning.

Ministry Update FebMarApril 2020

Yes, I forgot to report my ministry update earlier. It was one week into March before I realized I forgot. I thought I’ll just lump it into the next report but God “disciplined” me as the partial lockdown “forced” me behind the computer most of the time.

January n Feb were “sction-packed” with many movements. It was the start of the academic term and I accompanied the first year students to visit churches from various denominations as part of their orientation. There was CNY, teaching/preaching engagements. In February my in-campus class visited an OA village in Lenggeng, about 40 mins away from Seremban. End of February was our faculty colloqiuim. March came pretty quickly and the DWM had their annual clergy/deaconesses retreat followed by two weekends in Kampar for BM TEE classes. Just as we were about to begin the second half of first semester, we were instructed to partially lock-down. And here I am exploring options to conduct classes through the internet/online.

So everything is postponed n these two weeks (14 days) everyone is instructed to self-isolate as much as possible. Today marks the first day of such confinement but here I am in my office. Well, it feels like coming to work on a Saturday. Campus is quiet n my radio is blasting. Many are finding it hard to adjust. But really, this restriction is good for me as it literally “forced” me to discipline myself to grade assignments, explore alternative teaching approaches, writing this report, pray more (n fervently). While we are distancing from “risky” locations, there are health workers who still bravely travel to the frontline each day to attend to the health of everyone of us. Do remember to pray for all health workers n pray for the blood of the Lamb to cover them to protect every inch of their bodies. Yes, I feel deeply because my sister is a medical doctor. The anxiety is real.

With the limited physical contact and view of each other, let us spend more time in the presence of an all-seeing God who is unseen to us but is as real as you n I. While we attend to our work with uncertainties of every plan beyond March, pray that God’s purpose will be accomplished. We hv two mission trips planned in early May n early June – there is a restriction from a host church in Sabah but it is only till mid April. However, the host church in the interior of Gopeng is cautioning our visit in early June n it may be cancelled. Please pray together as this is the burden and urgency of all of us in this season

Thank you for your partnership in ministry

TSB