We are concluding three quarters of 2020 but since mid-March we have to re-schedule, cancel, or delay many activities. The rest of the year appears pretty “gloomy” with reports of new infection clusters popping up here n there. As I begin planning for next year, I’m also a bit cautious of the situation.
SAM Ipoh (Tapah) closed after the scheduled February class. Due to COVID 19 n some leadership matters, it has remained closed till end of the year. Please pray that the students can continue at a different centre/kampong next year. In the meantime SAM Ipoh diploma students are attending STM TEE classes in Kampar. Though their sponsor permits fees only for classes conducted by SAM, I am grateful for the local church leadership who had approved sponsoring them for their classes with STM which cost 3x more.
Elsewhere in SAM (Penang) Prai, we had concluded one physical class, one online class, n currently one online class is progressing till next month.
What is in store for next year? For SAM Ipoh (Tapah) we may change venue to another kampong and conduct physical classes 3x in the year. For SAM Penang (Prai) we will continue with online classes 4x in the year. This is the tentative plan n I will greatly appreciate your prayer partnership as I explore possibilities for next year.
It has been quite an eventful month. In August I officially began my studies for a research PhD with a seminary in Australia. Funds expected to arrive were delayed due to the global pandemic and I was asked to raise funds to pay my fees. It was indeed a humbling experience. I have raised funds for my OA friends but this was the very first time I have to raise funds for myself! Though I know intellectually that God will surely provide, the heart somehow still worried. I asked for a delay to make payment and a few days later the request was granted. I asked for financial aid and the Seminary graciously waived my fees for this one semester due to the pandemic. Then I was told the expected funding came in….thus, the letters n requests that had gone out will greatly help us further to grow the missions department here in STM, not to mention other miscellaneous expenses related to the studies apart from tuition fees. I hv also applied for a scholarship from Langham. Please join me to pray for a favourable outcome.
The month concludes with major church events – the DWM Extraordinary Synod to nominate the next diocesan bishop, followed by the ordination service. Next month will also be full of events. As we gear up to end the academic year, there will be the graduation events – a very toned-down affair. This will be followed by the annual faculty consultation meetings. It is after that, that the phase will slow down with assignments grading n preparation for the next academic year.
I will greatly appreciate your prayers too for an upcoming webinar on inter-faith discourse on 9 Oct. (https://stm.edu.my/news-events/the-inclusive-and-exclusive-nature-of-the-gospel-faith-and-inter-faith-concerns-and-challenges-in-malaysia-a-zoom-webinar-organized-by-the-stm-center-for-religion-and-society-crs/)
Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry
TSB
30092020
