April is a busy month that conveniently leads into May. Being a work-oriented person, I’m obviously thrilled to see the many entries in my monthly planner. Without realizing, I discovered I am on another preaching marathon; 11 consecutive speaking engagements through 8 weekends and 2 out-station trips in May and in June; traveling out-station at least once a month till October. Sounds so exciting, right? Yes, it is but age is catching up and I can no longer read small prints without effort.
I really do not know if the problem is me or my colleagues but I recently find myself easily irritated when my colleague is not moving at the same pace as myself. Or another irritation I recently encounter is when someone keeps calling on me to teach how to use tablet computer or GPS. I almost wanted to scream, read the owner’s manual yourself!
I am in Ipoh right now and a bit disappointed at the class turn-up. Perhaps the local coordinator is not aggressive enough. Or simply, he's been sleeping on the job! The BM class in Penang center concluded at the start of the Holy Week with 8 students completing this first module. Next class is in July. Right now in Ipoh is the first diploma class of the new curriculum and attendance is still not certain. Maybe it's because the local coordinator himself is not sure of the structure despite numerous explanation. Really...you can take a person out of the jungle but you cannot take the jungle out of the person.
Besides the continuous speaking engagements in every weekend in May, there will be 2 trips to the OA villages in later part of May. This is followed by a translation workshop in early June, followed by a working trip to Ipoh in later part of June.
Several ground work is in progress for the Anglican Training Center. A new signboard should be up and displaying brightly by mid-May. Classroom equipment should also arrive by then. This will consume my time in setting up the classrooms and library. Also needing attention is the official opening scheduled for 2nd July. Hopefully, we can soon start offering classes in 4 languages; English, Bahasa, Mandarin, Tamil. I know Bahasa is already on-going. Mandarin has some plans already. I will need to start planning for the English schedule while the Tamil work will have to rely solely on my colleague who is busy running around many places. This center will offer basic Christian ministry training in affiliation with STM. This will surely present an alternative for those seeking theological/Christian training in an urban, easily accessible campus.
Please join us in prayer as we venture into exciting times in this nation.
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ministry Update March/April 2011
March started full of activities and they were significant activities. Some Upper North Anglican pastors met to discuss the possibility of starting an Anglican Bahasa church on the island to cater to Anglicans from East Malaysia, who are here for study or work. Then there was the meeting with an Indonesian pastor who expressed an interest to partner Bagan Jermal Anglican Church (BJAC) to start an Indonesian service to cater to the Indonesians who are in Penang for medical purposes (at Adventist Hospital), besides the fact that the Indonesian Consulate is just around the corner.
March also saw the start of efforts towards establishing the Anglican Training Center, a center to house TEE programs for lay leaders/pastors. Also planned was skill-related programs/seminars. And these were not all that came together with month number three. The Sekolah Alkitab Malaysia (SAM) Penang center started its first class with its new curriculum in St Mark’s, Prai with an average attendance of 10 students. Classes are still on-going for the study of the Gospel of Mark as part of the New Testament study requirement. I also began my monthly missions training session with members of St Mark’s Prai that will continue till September. I’m excited to be a part of their missions efforts with the goal to be equipped to do outreach work in South Thailand. They also started their Thai language class with a Thai student from MBTS. They are hoping to pick up basic conversational Thai to enable them to function in their target group of Southern Thais.
BJAC also went to an OA village. We “closed shop” one Saturday and went to Pawong. There were 11 of us in the van with one participant from St Paul as the driver, one from St George’s as an observer, and another whom I never got to know which church he was affiliated to. We were joined by another 13 in 3 cars from FLC. As far as I’ve been informed, everyone had a great time and there are requests to plan another longer trip there. As to the situation in the village, the grocery store project is progressing better than anticipated. Their initial capital has been used and they are receiving requests to sell new items. I’m seeking for sponsors to invest in this ministry and let them run it as they deem fit. Profit will be re-invested and they will roll on their own. Besides being a source of income for the local church, it also serves as a developmental project and an outreach where customers can get to know the church.
Then there was the SAM Ipoh graduation I attended last week. The event was sandwiched by 2 meetings, before & after the graduation service. The Council met to decide on an autonomous style of governance for the various SAM centers. This is because some centers want to affiliate with STM while some with MBS. For myself, coming under the umbrella of the Anglican church, I was instructed to work towards affiliation with STM. There’s actually no choice as I’m obligated to the “canonical obedience” enshrined in my appointment. But I am very glad to witness and participate in the discussion towards drawing up future plans and goals for SAM to be an independent Bible School, standing on its own with its own accreditation and not having to lean on another entity to gain recognition of our programs. However, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Perhaps, it will take another 3-5 years. I’m pushing for the others to set a deadline so we can measure our progress. It will be in September before we start elaborating on this.
The following day after the graduation service I had a meeting with a church in Ipoh to establish partnership in our OA ministry. I’m so glad for this. When I returned to Penang I had a meeting with another church to discuss similar possibilities. I’m really excited. These two are AG churches. In fact, I am still very overwhelmed by the extent of potentials and possibilities in this ministry. I really pray God will raise someone to come along side me soon. At the rate this is going, soon I will not be able to attend to everything completely by myself.
Another interesting event in March was the 50th Anniversary of my school, CGL. It was sort of a last minute thing that I finally made it to the dinner, attended by over 1000 guests and students on the school field itself. As it was on a Saturday night, I was obviously late for the dinner. It was supposed to start at 6.30pm but I arrived at about 7.30pm and dinner was not yet served. Traffic was bad due to this very event. I arrived to meet a friend who showed me to the table, supposedly attended by friends of my class year. But I could hardly recognize some of them. There were 2 ladies at a nearby table who came over to exchange greetings. They recognized me but their faces just do not register in my mind at all. I came back from this event a bit shaken. Many people could recognize me but I could not recognize them at all. It was as if a part of my life had been erased from my memory and that was frightening. I kept asking myself, how come they don’t register in my mind? In fact, I have several facebook friends that I added without recalling who they are but they insisted we know each other from school, CGL. This continues to puzzle me greatly. I keep asking myself why and how come. I completely have no recollection of some friends in school. And these are individuals who claimed that we were pretty good friends. In a way, it is scary. I think I can remember pretty well events in university days. Earlier years seem too dim. It’s like my hard disk drive crashed and was re-formatted and not all data was restored.
April is right around the corner. There are several preaching engagements, and after Easter is a week-long trip to Ipoh for the SAM Ipoh’s diploma program class. Though I’m not teaching, I will attend to this first class and explain the new curriculum to the students. Other days of the week I hope to do 2 things: build better rapport with Ipoh churches while exploring partnership possibilities and to continue interviews for my thesis research. Ending the week will be a trip to Gua Musang, Kelantan. I’ve been looking forward to a chance to visit this place and I’m glad the opportunity has arrived. The local leaders are also waiting for my visit to extend the efforts that is being done in the Simpang Pulai/Gopeng OA Villages in terms of social development and Christian education.
The SAM center in Ipoh has also started their new curriculum this month with Gua Musang center planning to launch their first course in April. Also, kindly pray for the Anglican Training Center, located just next to my office, that aims to offer TEE programs in English, Mandarin, Tamil, and BM.
Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.
March also saw the start of efforts towards establishing the Anglican Training Center, a center to house TEE programs for lay leaders/pastors. Also planned was skill-related programs/seminars. And these were not all that came together with month number three. The Sekolah Alkitab Malaysia (SAM) Penang center started its first class with its new curriculum in St Mark’s, Prai with an average attendance of 10 students. Classes are still on-going for the study of the Gospel of Mark as part of the New Testament study requirement. I also began my monthly missions training session with members of St Mark’s Prai that will continue till September. I’m excited to be a part of their missions efforts with the goal to be equipped to do outreach work in South Thailand. They also started their Thai language class with a Thai student from MBTS. They are hoping to pick up basic conversational Thai to enable them to function in their target group of Southern Thais.
BJAC also went to an OA village. We “closed shop” one Saturday and went to Pawong. There were 11 of us in the van with one participant from St Paul as the driver, one from St George’s as an observer, and another whom I never got to know which church he was affiliated to. We were joined by another 13 in 3 cars from FLC. As far as I’ve been informed, everyone had a great time and there are requests to plan another longer trip there. As to the situation in the village, the grocery store project is progressing better than anticipated. Their initial capital has been used and they are receiving requests to sell new items. I’m seeking for sponsors to invest in this ministry and let them run it as they deem fit. Profit will be re-invested and they will roll on their own. Besides being a source of income for the local church, it also serves as a developmental project and an outreach where customers can get to know the church.
Then there was the SAM Ipoh graduation I attended last week. The event was sandwiched by 2 meetings, before & after the graduation service. The Council met to decide on an autonomous style of governance for the various SAM centers. This is because some centers want to affiliate with STM while some with MBS. For myself, coming under the umbrella of the Anglican church, I was instructed to work towards affiliation with STM. There’s actually no choice as I’m obligated to the “canonical obedience” enshrined in my appointment. But I am very glad to witness and participate in the discussion towards drawing up future plans and goals for SAM to be an independent Bible School, standing on its own with its own accreditation and not having to lean on another entity to gain recognition of our programs. However, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Perhaps, it will take another 3-5 years. I’m pushing for the others to set a deadline so we can measure our progress. It will be in September before we start elaborating on this.
The following day after the graduation service I had a meeting with a church in Ipoh to establish partnership in our OA ministry. I’m so glad for this. When I returned to Penang I had a meeting with another church to discuss similar possibilities. I’m really excited. These two are AG churches. In fact, I am still very overwhelmed by the extent of potentials and possibilities in this ministry. I really pray God will raise someone to come along side me soon. At the rate this is going, soon I will not be able to attend to everything completely by myself.
Another interesting event in March was the 50th Anniversary of my school, CGL. It was sort of a last minute thing that I finally made it to the dinner, attended by over 1000 guests and students on the school field itself. As it was on a Saturday night, I was obviously late for the dinner. It was supposed to start at 6.30pm but I arrived at about 7.30pm and dinner was not yet served. Traffic was bad due to this very event. I arrived to meet a friend who showed me to the table, supposedly attended by friends of my class year. But I could hardly recognize some of them. There were 2 ladies at a nearby table who came over to exchange greetings. They recognized me but their faces just do not register in my mind at all. I came back from this event a bit shaken. Many people could recognize me but I could not recognize them at all. It was as if a part of my life had been erased from my memory and that was frightening. I kept asking myself, how come they don’t register in my mind? In fact, I have several facebook friends that I added without recalling who they are but they insisted we know each other from school, CGL. This continues to puzzle me greatly. I keep asking myself why and how come. I completely have no recollection of some friends in school. And these are individuals who claimed that we were pretty good friends. In a way, it is scary. I think I can remember pretty well events in university days. Earlier years seem too dim. It’s like my hard disk drive crashed and was re-formatted and not all data was restored.
April is right around the corner. There are several preaching engagements, and after Easter is a week-long trip to Ipoh for the SAM Ipoh’s diploma program class. Though I’m not teaching, I will attend to this first class and explain the new curriculum to the students. Other days of the week I hope to do 2 things: build better rapport with Ipoh churches while exploring partnership possibilities and to continue interviews for my thesis research. Ending the week will be a trip to Gua Musang, Kelantan. I’ve been looking forward to a chance to visit this place and I’m glad the opportunity has arrived. The local leaders are also waiting for my visit to extend the efforts that is being done in the Simpang Pulai/Gopeng OA Villages in terms of social development and Christian education.
The SAM center in Ipoh has also started their new curriculum this month with Gua Musang center planning to launch their first course in April. Also, kindly pray for the Anglican Training Center, located just next to my office, that aims to offer TEE programs in English, Mandarin, Tamil, and BM.
Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Ministry Update March 2011
It’s been a quick month full of activities. First, the CNY break where I “locked” myself indoors to escape the stress of Penang traffic. Just concluded last week was the SEA Anglican Provincial Gathering. Never thought I’ll enjoy an Anglican function but I did. Actually, I discovered that there are Anglican pastors from other diocese who are “fun” and it’s not all dull traditions. Don’t get me wrong. Traditions are good… if it serve a purpose.
Entering into the third month sees the start of the BM school in Penang and Ipoh. Not sure yet when exactly Gua Musang is starting their classes although the coordinator said it should be in March too. The Ulu Tiram center is still pending. The coordinator is busy being a daddy.
Later in the month (12th), I’ll be bringing a team of blind participants to an OA village. A friend asked in a surprised tone…what can they see? Anyway, I sort of forced them to play a role in the trip. 4 of them will be sharing their testimony and 3 of them are blind. I have a van load going and we will be joined by FLC to this “exposure” day trip. Please pray for us: good weather, logistics, those ministering (BJAC sharing to adults & FLC ministering to the children), the journey, etc.
The grocery store project at Pawong is apparently doing well. Stock is already running low. But I’ll go see the place and study the needs before I update further. Anyone interested to partner development work with the OA community? There are several other projects needing partnership with urban church/individuals. Pray over it and let me know. A little monetary investment from our part is a huge contribution to them. I have 2 chicken projects pending needing investment of approximately RM5000 a year for 2 years. These are all located within Perak/Pahang and we can go visit anytime.
Kindly pray also for the Bible translation workshop scheduled for early June by Bible Society of Malaysia. It was postponed from December last year. As we all know there is a tremendous need for contemporary and contextualized translation into Bahasa Malaysia. The present one, the only version, is not accurate at all and Malaysians have been relying on Indonesian bibles in BM services/churches.
Well, once again let me end with this familiar quote…
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry.
Entering into the third month sees the start of the BM school in Penang and Ipoh. Not sure yet when exactly Gua Musang is starting their classes although the coordinator said it should be in March too. The Ulu Tiram center is still pending. The coordinator is busy being a daddy.
Later in the month (12th), I’ll be bringing a team of blind participants to an OA village. A friend asked in a surprised tone…what can they see? Anyway, I sort of forced them to play a role in the trip. 4 of them will be sharing their testimony and 3 of them are blind. I have a van load going and we will be joined by FLC to this “exposure” day trip. Please pray for us: good weather, logistics, those ministering (BJAC sharing to adults & FLC ministering to the children), the journey, etc.
The grocery store project at Pawong is apparently doing well. Stock is already running low. But I’ll go see the place and study the needs before I update further. Anyone interested to partner development work with the OA community? There are several other projects needing partnership with urban church/individuals. Pray over it and let me know. A little monetary investment from our part is a huge contribution to them. I have 2 chicken projects pending needing investment of approximately RM5000 a year for 2 years. These are all located within Perak/Pahang and we can go visit anytime.
Kindly pray also for the Bible translation workshop scheduled for early June by Bible Society of Malaysia. It was postponed from December last year. As we all know there is a tremendous need for contemporary and contextualized translation into Bahasa Malaysia. The present one, the only version, is not accurate at all and Malaysians have been relying on Indonesian bibles in BM services/churches.
Well, once again let me end with this familiar quote…
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Ministry Update 2 Feb 2011
Almost at the blink of an eye, we have completed the first month of 2011. Everyone is still in their holiday mood as we prepare to celebrate Chinese New Year tomorrow. In fact, January passed by so swiftly I had almost no opportunity to reflect upon the activities planned in the new year. It’s like in daze and I’m not sure I am fully awake to realize it is already February.
As I can recall from looking at my January schedule, there were speaking engagements with little break for me. But it was fun to complete a marathon of 9 preaching engagements through 7 consecutive weekends, starting from November, ending in January. At the Upper North Anglican clergy meeting last month, a decision was made to establish a training/theological center in Penang. That was an exciting decision which I hope to be given more responsible and involvement. After all, that is my calling. Pastoral…eh, not really my cup of tea. I very much prefer working within a teaching institution, ie., the (Christian) education ministry.
The Bahasa Bible School will start its class in March. I’m in the midst of promoting it and getting the ground work ready. My coordinators in other centers don’t seem to be as enthusiastic. Perhaps it’s because they are pastors first, unlike myself. Penang will start its class in Prai at the start of March. The same for the Ipoh center. Gua Musang and Ulu Tiram have not given me any details yet. End of the month is the SEA Provincial Gathering and I’ll meet most of them. I intend to personally push them to expedite the work. We really need a good start in a professional and impressive manner. After all, first impressions count. I want it the very best, just for our Lord. He surely deserves that. Nothing less but the very best.
As we prepare to celebrate the lunar new year, I would like to take this opportunity to greet everyone a very blessed Chinese New Year, Kong Xi Fa Cai, and a (spiritually) fruitful year ahead.
As I can recall from looking at my January schedule, there were speaking engagements with little break for me. But it was fun to complete a marathon of 9 preaching engagements through 7 consecutive weekends, starting from November, ending in January. At the Upper North Anglican clergy meeting last month, a decision was made to establish a training/theological center in Penang. That was an exciting decision which I hope to be given more responsible and involvement. After all, that is my calling. Pastoral…eh, not really my cup of tea. I very much prefer working within a teaching institution, ie., the (Christian) education ministry.
The Bahasa Bible School will start its class in March. I’m in the midst of promoting it and getting the ground work ready. My coordinators in other centers don’t seem to be as enthusiastic. Perhaps it’s because they are pastors first, unlike myself. Penang will start its class in Prai at the start of March. The same for the Ipoh center. Gua Musang and Ulu Tiram have not given me any details yet. End of the month is the SEA Provincial Gathering and I’ll meet most of them. I intend to personally push them to expedite the work. We really need a good start in a professional and impressive manner. After all, first impressions count. I want it the very best, just for our Lord. He surely deserves that. Nothing less but the very best.
As we prepare to celebrate the lunar new year, I would like to take this opportunity to greet everyone a very blessed Chinese New Year, Kong Xi Fa Cai, and a (spiritually) fruitful year ahead.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Ministry Update: Reflecting 2010
The days between Christmas and New Year are often lazy days. Many opt to take leave and go for a holiday. Others go to work without actually being present at work. The anticipation for a new year and the wrapping of the old is an annual affair we encounter yet we always fall into the trap to laze through the week.
Along the lazy days the Lord brought me to reflect upon the year that was and appreciate the many blessings, both seen and unseen. As I pen the final update for the year, allow me to share and thank each one of you for being my friend, my partner, and fellow traveler along this spiritual pilgrimage we share.
It was a year of adaptation for me, leaving an education based institution to begin the new phase of ministry. The Lord gave me a vision and a passion to pursue a ministry of vast potential and I still am overwhelmed by its potentials and prospects. But this only serves to remind me of how inadequate I am apart from God. Entering into the so-called full-time Christian vocation is a complete surrender to the will of God and the anthem is, it’s all about You, Jesus; not about me.
It is a tremendous joy to serve across denominations; meeting and partnering with fellow brothers and sisters from various denominations and church backgrounds. This is the uniqueness of my calling and my pledge of loyalty to the church of Jesus Christ, not to any specific denomination. Denominations, by the way, only serve to divide.
As I reflect upon the past year, I saw the ups and downs, the laughter and the tears, the joy and the sorrow. Yet in all these, I give thanks to a mighty God who works all things for the good of those whom He loves. Allow me to express my gratitude for your partnership and fellowship. Allow me to share with you and return you the blessings you extend to me. Allow me to thank the groups you represent for walking with me through the year, to individuals that have taught me, inspire me, and encourage me.
Living as redeemed sinners we can never achieve perfection at this end of heaven but your partnerships have enriched my spiritual journey in so many ways. To FGA BM, JCMC Youth/Young Adults, FLC that I am regularly in touch and work with – thank you. To individuals that colored my spiritual journey through 2010: from MBTS, PCC, Wesley Methodist Penang, Wesley Methodist Taiping, AOG Ipoh, CGMC, HMB Sabah, HMB Sarawak, FGA Penang, JCMC, FLC, EPCC, GBC, and countless others – thank you.
To my home cell in GBC: you are the only familiar refuge when I needed to return home. I have not been attending GBC Sunday services even at times when my Sunday mornings are available because GBC has grown very distant. Each time I visited, there seemed to be more unfamiliar faces drowning the familiarity I was expecting. It dawned on me that GBC is no longer “home.”
To my partners in the BM ministry, especially the FGA BM pastoral team: you guys are the best. I feel so inadequate each time I stand before you to “teach” knowing that I face an audience who have years of field experience that I ought to learn from. Thank you for accepting me as an “unofficial” team-mate and sharing the retreat, the training, the makan. I greatly appreciate and am honored to learn the ropes of practical ministry together with you guys, something that is not taught in the Seminary. It truly enable me to better formulate a curriculum that is relevant and appropriate for the Bible School ministry I am leading. You are a team that expresses joy in ministry and your partnership birth a deeper love for the BM work in this nation.
To my partners in JCMC: hey, you guys remind me of my previous youth pastorate. The struggle to balance between pleasing the conservative leadership and pursuing a passion for God is nothing new; a little nostalgic to me. Thank you for your friendship and fellowship, not forgetting the fun and makan.
To my almost forgotten family in FLC: though I do not visit often, the times that I do is like returning home to familiar surroundings. The small-knitted-ness among you is so unique and it easily makes one feel at home. Thank you for launching me into active ministry decades ago.
To friends and partners in ministry: in Penang, Taiping, Ipoh, JB, Klang Valley, Sabah, Sarawak, and friends who have migrated to Australia, UK, US; friends I met in Malaysia but from/serving in various countries around the globe – the honor of having known you colored this year brightly and I pray for the coming year that we continue to enrich each other spiritually as we journey together.
As I prepare my first message for 2011, I am reminded of the need to challenge ourselves to expect discipline from God – a discipline that will move us out from our comfort zones, to prevent complacency, and to be always be on our toes. To all my partners in ministry, I thank you and pray that we will continue our partnership into another challenging year tomorrow, anticipating God to work in us and through us to influence a nation that desperately needs to know and experience a loving God.
Along the lazy days the Lord brought me to reflect upon the year that was and appreciate the many blessings, both seen and unseen. As I pen the final update for the year, allow me to share and thank each one of you for being my friend, my partner, and fellow traveler along this spiritual pilgrimage we share.
It was a year of adaptation for me, leaving an education based institution to begin the new phase of ministry. The Lord gave me a vision and a passion to pursue a ministry of vast potential and I still am overwhelmed by its potentials and prospects. But this only serves to remind me of how inadequate I am apart from God. Entering into the so-called full-time Christian vocation is a complete surrender to the will of God and the anthem is, it’s all about You, Jesus; not about me.
It is a tremendous joy to serve across denominations; meeting and partnering with fellow brothers and sisters from various denominations and church backgrounds. This is the uniqueness of my calling and my pledge of loyalty to the church of Jesus Christ, not to any specific denomination. Denominations, by the way, only serve to divide.
As I reflect upon the past year, I saw the ups and downs, the laughter and the tears, the joy and the sorrow. Yet in all these, I give thanks to a mighty God who works all things for the good of those whom He loves. Allow me to express my gratitude for your partnership and fellowship. Allow me to share with you and return you the blessings you extend to me. Allow me to thank the groups you represent for walking with me through the year, to individuals that have taught me, inspire me, and encourage me.
Living as redeemed sinners we can never achieve perfection at this end of heaven but your partnerships have enriched my spiritual journey in so many ways. To FGA BM, JCMC Youth/Young Adults, FLC that I am regularly in touch and work with – thank you. To individuals that colored my spiritual journey through 2010: from MBTS, PCC, Wesley Methodist Penang, Wesley Methodist Taiping, AOG Ipoh, CGMC, HMB Sabah, HMB Sarawak, FGA Penang, JCMC, FLC, EPCC, GBC, and countless others – thank you.
To my home cell in GBC: you are the only familiar refuge when I needed to return home. I have not been attending GBC Sunday services even at times when my Sunday mornings are available because GBC has grown very distant. Each time I visited, there seemed to be more unfamiliar faces drowning the familiarity I was expecting. It dawned on me that GBC is no longer “home.”
To my partners in the BM ministry, especially the FGA BM pastoral team: you guys are the best. I feel so inadequate each time I stand before you to “teach” knowing that I face an audience who have years of field experience that I ought to learn from. Thank you for accepting me as an “unofficial” team-mate and sharing the retreat, the training, the makan. I greatly appreciate and am honored to learn the ropes of practical ministry together with you guys, something that is not taught in the Seminary. It truly enable me to better formulate a curriculum that is relevant and appropriate for the Bible School ministry I am leading. You are a team that expresses joy in ministry and your partnership birth a deeper love for the BM work in this nation.
To my partners in JCMC: hey, you guys remind me of my previous youth pastorate. The struggle to balance between pleasing the conservative leadership and pursuing a passion for God is nothing new; a little nostalgic to me. Thank you for your friendship and fellowship, not forgetting the fun and makan.
To my almost forgotten family in FLC: though I do not visit often, the times that I do is like returning home to familiar surroundings. The small-knitted-ness among you is so unique and it easily makes one feel at home. Thank you for launching me into active ministry decades ago.
To friends and partners in ministry: in Penang, Taiping, Ipoh, JB, Klang Valley, Sabah, Sarawak, and friends who have migrated to Australia, UK, US; friends I met in Malaysia but from/serving in various countries around the globe – the honor of having known you colored this year brightly and I pray for the coming year that we continue to enrich each other spiritually as we journey together.
As I prepare my first message for 2011, I am reminded of the need to challenge ourselves to expect discipline from God – a discipline that will move us out from our comfort zones, to prevent complacency, and to be always be on our toes. To all my partners in ministry, I thank you and pray that we will continue our partnership into another challenging year tomorrow, anticipating God to work in us and through us to influence a nation that desperately needs to know and experience a loving God.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ministry Update 2: December 2010
Cameron Highlands: sitting on the border of two states in Peninsular Malaysia, Perak and Pahang; and home to numerous indigenous tribal people. Recently I was asked how many tribes were there among the indigenous community in Peninsular Malaysia. It was then that I realized I have “lost touch” with my research project; that I’ve left the initial research to sit in my hard disk and focus on the task at hand – interviewing respondents. So my friend, below is the chart categorizing the indigenous community:
Negrito:Kintaq,Lanok,Kensiu,Jahai,Mendriq,Bateq
Senoi:Temiar,Semai,Mah Meri,Che Wong,Ja Hut,Semoq Beri
Malayu Asli:Orang Selatar,Jakum,Orang Kuala,Orang Kanaq,Temuan,Semelai
Most of these people dwell in the interior; mainly in the central region of the Peninsular. Some of you may notice that this is my second update for this month. The earlier update was not sent to everyone in my usual mailing list. Anyway, it’s already December. We have arrived at the close of the year. I had a great and wonderful trip to Ipoh recently, visiting the OA community at both sides of the Camerons hill. I joined R & R’s church team to a Semai village near Tapah and later visited my Semai colleagues at Gopeng. I also had the opportunity to visit Kampar, the Methodist Senoi Workers’ Training Center and tasted the popular curry chicken bread. It was a fantastic trip and there’s much that I learnt and experienced.
First encounter was the team from an Ipoh church…a Cantonese church. But I discovered soon enough that despite the initial language barrier, hokkien is pretty widely known in Ipoh too. However, I was still pretty lost in a Cantonese worship service. It was a “relief” when I hop to a BM church following that. Is always good to be among something you are familiar with after being “lost in (language) transit.”
On the morning before I returned to Penang, I had breakfast in the hawkers’ center in Gopeng market. Yes, R & R…I just discovered this from the locals. There’s a special noodles stall and another porridge stall which are both very popular. But both were closed that morning. I think your church member was referring to these. Anyway, I sat at the table with a Semai family. The hawker came to serve the food, looked at me, and spoke in Cantonese. I looked at her blankly and asked my Semai friend what she just said (well, my Semai friend understands Cantonese). This hawker asked my Semai friend whether I’m Chinese. So, I replied to her I’m “Cina bukan Cina.”
It’s been a slow year for me, having to adapt to the new system and structure of the Anglican church. I doubt I can fully comprehend the “Anglican sentiments” on certain issues they hold so closely. After all, I pretty much grow up with a universal church mentality, free from the confines of (denomination) traditions.
Ministry wise…well, I have my home (church) CG to thank for helping me break record for 8 consecutive speaking engagements through 7 consecutive weekends, stretching from end of November till mid of January. I’m looking forward to some opportunity where I can break such a record. The BM Bible School had delayed its new curriculum launch. We’ll start in March 2011 instead of the initial January. Kindly join me in prayer for this ministry. We are experiencing some “hiccups” that I’m not comfortable to share in detail yet as it is pending decisions from some board members that can only meet in January. I’m looking forward to the new year with new challenges awaiting. Let’s march on in Jesus’ name to change our nation, our world with the truth of Jesus Christ. A very Merry Christmas to all of you and a very happy New Year too…
Negrito:Kintaq,Lanok,Kensiu,Jahai,Mendriq,Bateq
Senoi:Temiar,Semai,Mah Meri,Che Wong,Ja Hut,Semoq Beri
Malayu Asli:Orang Selatar,Jakum,Orang Kuala,Orang Kanaq,Temuan,Semelai
Most of these people dwell in the interior; mainly in the central region of the Peninsular. Some of you may notice that this is my second update for this month. The earlier update was not sent to everyone in my usual mailing list. Anyway, it’s already December. We have arrived at the close of the year. I had a great and wonderful trip to Ipoh recently, visiting the OA community at both sides of the Camerons hill. I joined R & R’s church team to a Semai village near Tapah and later visited my Semai colleagues at Gopeng. I also had the opportunity to visit Kampar, the Methodist Senoi Workers’ Training Center and tasted the popular curry chicken bread. It was a fantastic trip and there’s much that I learnt and experienced.
First encounter was the team from an Ipoh church…a Cantonese church. But I discovered soon enough that despite the initial language barrier, hokkien is pretty widely known in Ipoh too. However, I was still pretty lost in a Cantonese worship service. It was a “relief” when I hop to a BM church following that. Is always good to be among something you are familiar with after being “lost in (language) transit.”
On the morning before I returned to Penang, I had breakfast in the hawkers’ center in Gopeng market. Yes, R & R…I just discovered this from the locals. There’s a special noodles stall and another porridge stall which are both very popular. But both were closed that morning. I think your church member was referring to these. Anyway, I sat at the table with a Semai family. The hawker came to serve the food, looked at me, and spoke in Cantonese. I looked at her blankly and asked my Semai friend what she just said (well, my Semai friend understands Cantonese). This hawker asked my Semai friend whether I’m Chinese. So, I replied to her I’m “Cina bukan Cina.”
It’s been a slow year for me, having to adapt to the new system and structure of the Anglican church. I doubt I can fully comprehend the “Anglican sentiments” on certain issues they hold so closely. After all, I pretty much grow up with a universal church mentality, free from the confines of (denomination) traditions.
Ministry wise…well, I have my home (church) CG to thank for helping me break record for 8 consecutive speaking engagements through 7 consecutive weekends, stretching from end of November till mid of January. I’m looking forward to some opportunity where I can break such a record. The BM Bible School had delayed its new curriculum launch. We’ll start in March 2011 instead of the initial January. Kindly join me in prayer for this ministry. We are experiencing some “hiccups” that I’m not comfortable to share in detail yet as it is pending decisions from some board members that can only meet in January. I’m looking forward to the new year with new challenges awaiting. Let’s march on in Jesus’ name to change our nation, our world with the truth of Jesus Christ. A very Merry Christmas to all of you and a very happy New Year too…
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Ministry Update December 2010
It seems like yesterday when we welcome 2010. We have arrived at the last month of the year and busy preparing to greet another new year. I suppose this is another season for new year resolutions that we never bother to keep. Christmas is just around the corner and the festivities are already in the air in shopping malls.
As I take a glance back at the year it was, I realized that it was a slow year for me. Transition times are slow I suppose, something a work-oriented person like me will regard as redundant times. But I am grateful to the Lord that those times enabled me to think, to plan, to organize. I am still amazed and overwhelmed by the vast potentials of the BM ministry in this country. I am grateful to the Lord for the networks and opportunities prevailing to explore and develop the work. It feels like staring at a 2000 jigsaw puzzle pieces in front of me without knowing how and where each piece belongs and how they can come together. But I am trusting the Lord and His perfect timing for the big picture to come into place.
The BM School ministry hit a “crisis” and we are at a pause right now. There are 2 possible outcomes. First, we break away from SAM network and it will mean no foreign funding and more work for me in raising funds. But this is something I am prepared for. Second option is a more popular possibility, which is to go independent and work in partnership with various seminaries and Bible Schools. I am not familiar with the history and background of this School but discovered that it was originally planned to be the Peninsular Malaysia arm for CTC, a foreign training ministry which has a base in Kuching. Apparently, CTC has affiliate itself with an American university. If SAM re-connect to its roots and original purpose, I suppose the (Peninsular Malaysia) School will also be endorsed by the university. The second option will be a better option for the growth of the School. However, it sort of contradicts my “contract” with the Anglican diocese. I’m not worried; only anxious at how God will direct this ministry. And I’m trusting Him to lead us to the best option where He will best effectively affect the potentials of this work.
I am in the field research part of my graduate studies. I’m having a lot of fun meeting and interviewing my respondents. But I’m about to conclude meeting the Christian population. Next, I’ll need to meet non-Christian respondents and I’m not sure how it will go. I’m trusting it to be just as interesting.
As expected, December is a busy month. The last weekend of November marked the first of my 7 consecutive weeks of preaching engagements at different locations…all the way till the second week in January. Christmas dinners and events are coming one after another. And just let me greet all of you a very merry and blessed Christmas, a happy and prosperous New Year. Once again,
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you
As I take a glance back at the year it was, I realized that it was a slow year for me. Transition times are slow I suppose, something a work-oriented person like me will regard as redundant times. But I am grateful to the Lord that those times enabled me to think, to plan, to organize. I am still amazed and overwhelmed by the vast potentials of the BM ministry in this country. I am grateful to the Lord for the networks and opportunities prevailing to explore and develop the work. It feels like staring at a 2000 jigsaw puzzle pieces in front of me without knowing how and where each piece belongs and how they can come together. But I am trusting the Lord and His perfect timing for the big picture to come into place.
The BM School ministry hit a “crisis” and we are at a pause right now. There are 2 possible outcomes. First, we break away from SAM network and it will mean no foreign funding and more work for me in raising funds. But this is something I am prepared for. Second option is a more popular possibility, which is to go independent and work in partnership with various seminaries and Bible Schools. I am not familiar with the history and background of this School but discovered that it was originally planned to be the Peninsular Malaysia arm for CTC, a foreign training ministry which has a base in Kuching. Apparently, CTC has affiliate itself with an American university. If SAM re-connect to its roots and original purpose, I suppose the (Peninsular Malaysia) School will also be endorsed by the university. The second option will be a better option for the growth of the School. However, it sort of contradicts my “contract” with the Anglican diocese. I’m not worried; only anxious at how God will direct this ministry. And I’m trusting Him to lead us to the best option where He will best effectively affect the potentials of this work.
I am in the field research part of my graduate studies. I’m having a lot of fun meeting and interviewing my respondents. But I’m about to conclude meeting the Christian population. Next, I’ll need to meet non-Christian respondents and I’m not sure how it will go. I’m trusting it to be just as interesting.
As expected, December is a busy month. The last weekend of November marked the first of my 7 consecutive weeks of preaching engagements at different locations…all the way till the second week in January. Christmas dinners and events are coming one after another. And just let me greet all of you a very merry and blessed Christmas, a happy and prosperous New Year. Once again,
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you
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