Ministry Update April 2010

It’s been a month as I slowly settle down in my new office, picking up the pieces and finding my way around. Last month was eventful with travels and adventures. This month, it’ll be a bit more “localized.” Good Friday/Easter weekend is just round the corner with services to attend. Besides the night classes in Prai on Monday nights and Thursday nights, and speaking engagements on almost all Saturdays, I have the weekdays to attend to all the necessary preparations besides putting things in place in my office. I’m a bit slow in getting the necessary office equipment, wanting to explore options for a good bargain.

The Bible School in Ipoh is taking shape slowly and sturdily. I’m glad of the progress. I am excited at how things are taking shape. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Lord is shaping the School. We have both teaching approaches of night classes and intensive classes taught by local and out-station teachers. We also have in our teaching team a few Orang Asli pastors. The first class of the year kicked off last month in Gopeng with ten registered students. I was teaching the class and stayed in the rural church. Little did I know that the church was infested with rats almost the size of a cat! The other option I have was to stay with the local OA pastor in the kampong. But I was not prepared for a kampong stay. There’s no electricity at night and water supply was inconsistent. And I needed to prepare the next day’s sessions, thus, I opted to stay in the rural church, a double story shop lot located within a row of shops in the old Gopeng town. The first night I could hardly sleep as there were strange noises almost everywhere. They were probably noises made by the rats. Well, I just believed them to be rats. The second night was pretty similar. I knew I had to catch some good night’s sleep to function well teaching the class the next day, so the smart me took a dose of piriton and I slept through the night soundly, disregarding the funny noises around. I was “rescued” from the church the following two nights where I stayed with some good friends in Ipoh. Good thing I brought my GPS. Helped me navigate my way around. But even with that, I took several wrong turns…

Do pray along side me for the Bible School. This is an exciting ministry. We are planning to offer certificate, diploma, and bachelor programs in two tracks: Christian Studies and Theology. Our team of teachers is mainly local teachers, including the OA pastors. We are planning two venues: night classes at YMCA Ipoh and intensive one week classes at a local church which has a complete education block. A fund from a foreign mission organization is available to enable us to run this ministry. God truly supply all our needs. Now we are waiting for better/more participation from other local churches around the nation once we publicize the school and its branches/extension centers. From the pastoral angle, I’m still surviving. Praise God for that.

PS: to some of my friends who are a bit confused – I AM still staying in Green Lane. It is my office that is in town. I moved into the office which is a room in a single story bungalow that will serve as a mission house for visiting pastors/missionaries

Ministry Update March 2010

I am now writing this update as an Anglican pastor. Hahaha…humorous, isn’t it? And our God is indeed a humorous God. Never did I ever imagine myself to be associated with a traditional, conservative religious organization. But God has His plans, in His way, in His time. I have moved in to the parsonage which was newly renovated a few months ago in anticipation of a resident pastor. Now, as I settle down I need to fill the basic furnishings with things that will make the place more conducive. Not sure how I’m going to do that. After all, I’ve always enjoy the mission field and used to the very basic of living conditions which make this place pretty much a “luxury.” It’s a single story bungalow with three rooms. One room has been converted to the office while the other two is available to house guests/visitors. Each has 3 beds and both have air-con and fan. However, there’s just one bathroom available which may cause a little hassle for big groups visiting. Utensils are available at the very basic/minimal for the moment. Do drop by for a visit. It’s pretty lonely here.

My primary ministry is still the OA community in Perak and I’ll be traveling frequently there. I’m still exploring how to comfortably leave my mom home alone during my travels away from Penang. Kindly advice if you have any suggestions. I’m considering getting a maid. The training ministry in Perak is progressing slowly. Initially, it was planned that PLK will run in parallel with SAM but there’s a proposal to merge these two to form a more holistic feeder school for ITC. Please pray as this school slowly takes shape. There’re available facilities ready in a local church in Ipoh, in anticipation of the establishment of a school. Looks like the Lord has been preparing the way for the ministries within my portfolio. We will pioneer the BM track for ITC and will need about two years before we can be directly linked to a local Seminary. Please pray for us.

March is pretty busy with the task of settling down in this new office. I have a speaking engagement at a youth group in a Methodist church on the first Sunday. The second week I’ll be joining the team of BM pastors from another church for a worship retreat at BHOP in Penang Hill, followed by a trip to Simpang Pulai for a weekend retreat with lay leaders with some BM pastors. That leaves week three pretty free to attempt a lot of desk work for the class in Intro to Christian Missions in Gopeng on week four. Following this will be preparations for Good Friday/Easter weekend and welcoming month four of the year.

Join me in prayer as we anticipate greater things that the Lord has for our nation. Thank you for your partnership in ministry.

Ministry Update February 2010

February arrived swiftly enough but I have no complaints. I’m too eager to get started on active ministry. And February kick-started it with a meeting with OA church leaders in Gopeng. It was a fruitful meeting but still requires follow-up with other denominational reps. I have been to Gopeng several times and traveling there is no problem as I am familiar with the route. But I have planned visits to friends in Ipoh and Taiping. For the first time, I was driving alone along unfamiliar roads with nothing but a GPS to take me to my destinations. I do admit that I was both anxious and nervous. Just how much can I trust the GPS anyway? Besides, what if I suddenly lost satellite signal? But it was an experience epitomizing my spiritual journey right now.

I do not consider myself a spiritual giant. Instead, I lack so much faith to attempt what the Lord impressed upon my heart. So, this step of faith that I’ve taken to walk on uncharted waters, into a ministry of vast potential and huge challenges, I’m not hiding the fact that I’m entering it with much fear and trembling. And I have nothing except the voice of God to take me to its destinations. I have nothing except the prompting of God’s Holy Spirit to direct me at each step.
Sometimes I still wonder if I’ve made the right decision. After all, uncertainties are still lurking in the corners. I wanted so much to take the offer to serve as missions pastor with a vibrant church. I mean, I’ve been with the traditional church for so long. But ministry is not about what I want, it’s about what He wants. And considering the ministry, I took the option to serve from the platform of a traditional church. In fact, the three main traditional denominations form the largest group of the OA community I’m serving. It’s only logical to start a training ministry along the established groups.

February is a month of festivities. I mean, hey, CNY mood is in the air. My mom had put up CNY deco everywhere in the house. The shopping malls and streets are exhaling festivities into the atmosphere. People are slowing down as they gear towards CNY. Later this week will see a lot of travels and for a whole next week, CNY theme will dominate almost every aspect of our lifestyle.

For me, I only have a full calendar for the first and last week of February. The two weeks in between is CNY. I submitted my revised research proposal last week. It will take some time before my supervisor return it for further revision. In the meantime, I can indulge in Facebook (again). Pray for me as I juggle with several hats: the training ministry among the OA, pastoral ministry in BJAC, PhD student. But these are roles I very much look forward to with much excitement and anticipation. For most of you who know me well enough, my strength is in teaching and not pastoral. So, it’s going to be quite a challenge to pull off the pastoral aspect of my portfolio. Do remember me in prayer and thank you for your partnership in ministry. A very Kong Xi Fa Cai to all of you and God’s richest blessings for a prosperous new year.

PS:

Robert & Ruth: thanks for a wonderful time in Ipoh. More so for your fellowship, friendship, and partnership in ministry. I do believe the Lord is preparing you both for a greater purpose

Lynette: thanks for being a wonderful friend all these years; especially those times in 2nd RC, UM “harassing” me to attend church. At a time when I was prompted to stray, the Lord brought you to make sure I stay true to Him so that He can make me who I am for such a time as now to fulfill His purpose

PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Ministry Update January 2010

Ah, I finally got down to pen a few updates…It’s been a relaxing, smooth ride into the new year, at least for me. Christmas was a blast. I had a wonderful time spending Christmas morning in an English service of a Lutheran church, the church that launched me into active ministry and hence, the start of yet another nostalgic moment for me. On Christmas afternoon, I was with a Bahasa church in Bukit Mertajam, being ushered in into a community of closely knitted fellowship of tribal hospitality. Christmas brought a love so deep and divine that I was a bit reluctant to go to PJ to spend New Year with my family there. Yet I know I have to. If not, taking up my new ministry commitments, I will have to be in church for all Christmas/New Year to come. And it was a wonderful time with my nephews. They grow so fast…

I came back to Penang on the 7th Jan. My nephew asked me why I need to go home so soon and I have to simplify a reply that there are people in Penang paying to hear me talk (I have a preaching engagement). Anyway, it has been a wonderful, fantastic, and fulfilling week as the Lord enabled me to minister across denominations. On 10jan I was ministering in the Lutheran Church, on 13jan I was with the FGA BM pastors, on 16jan I was with the youth in a Methodist church, and on 17jan I was sharing about the OA work with the Brethrens. Amazing isn’t it? That’s beside the in between fellowship with fellow believers from the Baptist, Anglican, etc…I think this is what I really enjoy most, ministering to the universal church of God, where the wall of denomination does not exist.

I am also glad that the last couple of days/weeks, I had the opportunity to meet long lost friends in Facebook. Schoolmates, classmates, collegians, course mates…and catching up on old times like what old people usually do. Ah…the joy of walking down memory lane, recalling those sweet, innocent moments. Unfortunately, I seem to have some corrupted memory files in my head disk drive and that made me missed out on some old adventures.

I realized I’m a bit addicted to Facebook and I forced myself to quit all games (except Mafia Wars). I’ve been sitting on my research proposal for about three months and I need to discipline myself back to my studies. And yes, quitting those games does help a bit. I’m revising a large portion to date. Stuck on a section which needs a little input from my supervisor, so, waiting for his reply will give me an excuse to indulge in Facebook for awhile.

Ministry is progressing well, slowly. A meeting is planned for various church leaders this 1st Feb. Please pray for us. We will meet to discuss how to plan/develop the training/teaching ministry to lay leaders in the interior, and also the possibility of community development and church partnership for various projects. We hope to share resources and save time/effort while being able to bless all concern. In the meantime, I’m being anglicanized, so that I serve from the platform of the Anglican church, ministering to the OA community. Please pray also for the advance training we are planning to establish in Ipoh town. We will work with a local seminary to offer degree/advance degree programs.

CNY is right around the corner, so, allow me to be the first few to greet you with a very happy and blessed Chinese New Year. Kong Xi Fa Cai…

Entering the New Year: Ministry Update

I thought I just wrote a similar update a little while ago and suddenly, we’re entering into another new year. Time is not just flying, it seems to be speeding by like a jet plane or something. Well, I have left MBTS after 5 years of ministry there learning the most important lesson that regardless of the secular or sacred vocation, people are still fallen human beings prone to every evil known to men.

Being a workaholic, it sure was depressing for me to be relaxed and I’ve been very relaxed since May this year. Hey, I’ve been doing what I was doing for 5 years, what else is there unless I can proceed further with new, improved approaches and methodologies. And because I was not given that privilege, I felt so redundant to the point of depression. We cannot afford to fall into a maintenance mode in ministry. Unfortunately, in many instances, the church/Christian organization is merely maintaining itself without growth.

So I ask myself why I need a break? I should just jump back into active ministry. But I was in a way forced to take it slow. After all, I need to work at the phase of my co-workers. This new year, I have taken the delicate step onto uncharted waters. I have taken a leap of faith into a ministry of huge and vast potentials. I fearfully enter into a challenging task. Ok, so I’m skillful to play around with words. But it is an exciting step for me as the Lord takes me to another phase. I am never a person who can do the same thing over and over again one more time. Thus, I’m always seeking fresh challenges and adventures. And this seems to be it. And I pray and seek your prayer support to build the teaching ministry among the Orang Asli in Peninsular. It is going to be real tough, I am anticipating it. Yet, believe me, the next BIG thing to hit the church will be a revival from the indigenous touching our neighbors to impact this nation. I pray we will be together to witness this huge phenomena.

You know? I’ve always held some kind of prejudice against the Chinese-ed. It started from my campus days when those of us who cannot speak mandarin were treated like an outcast in our own Chinese community. Ok, so this is where racial polarization is birthed – in varsity campuses! In fact, I can very well remember the person who insisted that knowing the mandarin language is the very essence of being Chinese. (Yes Lynette, it’s that old horse, who else? Glad I’m not in Perak) So I have this assumption that the Chinese ed people are just too narrow-minded, square, and A++ in super boredom. And it doesn’t help that a huge population of MBTS are Chinese ed or from China itself. Though my years in CC does help a bit, I mean, hey ST and HA fun people, bah?! But guess what? I met a youth group from a Chinese church and they have got to be in the top three of the craziest people I’ve ever met!!! What an experience. ..And more than that is what I have learned. Christians are people, some with false declarations and some genuine conversions but they are found in every and any church regardless of denomination or background. But hey, isn’t it about time we break down the denomination wall in church? Huh? Where’s the amen fellas???!!!

I’ve got to discipline myself back to my studies. It is fun to assign work to students but having to attend to the assignments as a student is another story. I have to start revising my research proposal for a second submission. But it looks like it has to start in January after the holiday break. There’s just something about the holiday mood. It seems to spread in the air, and catch unexpecting victims to laze through the days in slow motion mode.

It was a busy Christmas day for me. Really… I was with a Lutheran church morning service but had to skip the fellowship lunch to drive to Bukit Mertajam to speak in a Bahasa church for their Christmas service. I was given the estimate of an hour’s drive of distance. I supposed the pastor was anticipating bad traffic. However, traffic was unusually smooth. Even at traffic lights, it was green all the way & I reached the destination in half the estimated time! It was a wonderful service filled with performances of joy and Christmas cheer. I was a bit disappointed though, at the buffet spread. I was expecting some kampong treats but discovered a city menu! Aise…a bahasa church and you find salad with mayo on the table…adui…

But it was a fun Christmas for me especially with the opportunity to meet again my former pastor & family. Geez…it has been about 15 years. And once again like last year, I was swept into an unexpected nostalgia. There’s just something about coming together as a church family that touched deep into the core of my being. I was at a youth camp and was reminded that my major is missiology and my minor is still youth. Once again, realizing I need to constantly take a step back to see the larger picture of ministry and not to be too narrowly focused.

To all my ministry partners that stretch across various denominations, I thank you for walking with me along this journey of faith. I thank you that we are together to work towards the fulfillment of God’s purpose here in Malaysia. I thank you that we are here with the passion to make a difference for our nation in this generation.

PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

PS: Oh ya, I’d also like to thank those who are very concern for my health. Let me explain that I have a goiter and it is harmless. It is only the swelling of the thyroid glands but it is still doing what it is suppose to do. I have consulted two specialists and was advised not to remove it because it is not causing any harm. But thank you for your concern.

Ministry Update December 2009

Tomorrow is my last day serving in MBTS. There had been times of laughter and times of tears. Generally, it has been a time of learning. The most important lesson learnt is that there is no difference serving in a secular capacity and the so-called sacred vocation. We are all still fallen human beings, regardless of whether we are Christians, Christian leaders, or unbelievers. So, I’ve learnt to just let it go when people wronged me because ultimately, each of us stands accountable before God Himself.

The next two months will be the time of transition. And I seek your prayer support to settle down in the new ministry. It is an exciting venture. One of huge potential and enormous prospects, to the extent that I am fearful considering how a little person like me is able to manage this huge job. Of course I also feel so very privileged because I know the Lord would not have called me into this capacity if He doesn’t think I’m capable of it. Please pray along with me along the exciting ministry of big challenges.

There will be a two-tier approach in this teaching/training ministry among the indigenous church. Basic training sends us into the interior while advance training brings them to town where it is more accessible to various resources. The basic tier is a channel almost anyone can contribute. There will be training of very practical needs – Christian and practical living skills. Even teaching children simple A, B, C is relevant. Even sharing the very little we have to offer is a blessing in itself.

I’m hoping that for the rest of this month, I can just relax and slowly go about catching up with my things. Also, I hope there’ll be opportunity to spend time with friends near and far. This Saturday I have a preaching engagement followed by a youth camp, well, is actually a young adults camp. Then, I’m taking a break to PJ after Christmas to spend time with family and hopefully can catch up with some old friends I recently re-met through facebook. The third module of PLK is scheduled for end of January. And we are also planning for a retreat in March.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry. I pray that we continue our networking as we grow together and build the kingdom of God in our generation in our nation.

Ministry Update 091109: Leaving on a Jet Plane

This morning I submitted my resignation. Never expected it to be so difficult. After all, I’ve cried myself buckets of tears through the months. I suppose it’s because I’ve grown too attached to the work, the people, and a bit too comfortable with the familiar. But it’s time to move on. And I must admit that I’m a bit fearful taking that delicate step onto the uncharted waters. However, the scope, prospects, potentials are way too enormous and exciting. Maybe it’s because I’ve not seen a solid team yet and that’s why I’m fearful. But I have a God who is faithful and that is enough. More than that is knowing that God had brought several brothers and sisters to come alongside me along the long months of waiting and discerning.

I’m leaving MBTS in early December. Although initially planned to start with the new ministry on 1st January, there are apparently some administrative procedures that requires some preparations and I can only officially be admitted 1st March. So I have a longer time to myself, to visit my students’ ministry and attend to some personal matters. However, January I have 2 one-week class in Kuching and in Penang to occupy me and February is CNY month. Not much break actually, come to think of it!

Please join me to pray for this transition period. November is pretty filled with preaching/teaching engagements. Just preached at AIMC last Sunday, my first experience preaching at 2 services and being interpreted into mandarin and hokkien! This week is filled with activities in campus, culminating with the graduation service this Friday. Then next Thursday, a team of us will travel to Gopeng for a 2-day trip to conduct the second module of PLK training. We return on Saturday afternoon and I have a preaching engagement the next day, Sunday. December, the holiday month but I have a preaching engagement plus a speaking engagement at a youth camp.

Once again, friends…I thank you for your partnership in ministry.

PS: anyone familiar with GPS unit/know someone who does? Can advice me on this? M planning to get a unit to help me familiarize with Ipoh as I’ll be travelling frequently there. Perhaps someone wants to upgrade to a better unit, you can pass me your old unit ;)