Ministry Update Nov 2023

 

Greetings from the south (Seremban)! Thank God for another academic year for Sekolah Alkitab Malaysia (Northern Centres). I must admit that activities were reduced and slowed for both the centres in Prai and Gopeng. First, the DWM OA Bible School was launched and many students opted for this school which has a full-time curriculum “tailored” for the OA students. It is a “mini STM” with the full support of the diocese. The teaching workforce was channeled to here and so, part-time studies in SAM Gopeng were reduced. Over in Prai, not much publicity was initiated and with the current batch graduated, there were only two new students while as many as five opted to audit the class. Also, due to poor response, only one class was conducted in Prai. Second, I was appointed to lead the BM program in STM. This will be a conflict of interest with SAM Northern Centres. Therefore, I withdrew active participation in SAM. This is due to SAM National who signed an MoU with Malaysia Bible Seminary (MBS). However, SAM Northern Centres still maintains its partnership with STM to offer Certificate and Diploma in Christian Ministry.

 

This year, we saw one graduate with a Diploma in Christian Ministry at STM Convocation Service last October. He was from SAM Prai.

 

I apologize for the lack of regular updates as before as I am juggling with quite a lot of stuff here. However, I greatly appreciate your continuous partnership in ministry.

 

Thank you and Merry Christmas 2023

 

Blessings,

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Ministry Update October-November 2022

 

Yes, I realized I am not sending out my updates every month. Will continue with once every two months. Work load is piling and studies getting more demanding. Will appreciate your prayers

 

SAM Northern Centres matter: Penang centre has 2 students graduating later this month in Seremban campus. The number of students is dwindling in this centre. In the meantime, the final course planned for this academic year was unfortunately cancelled due to the assigned teacher who pulled out at the last minute. Ipoh centre is progressing well. They will continue till end of this month.

 

SAM Council will meet for a retreat in early November. We have been working independently for so long that we assume the other centres function like each of us. So, coordinators of Northern Centres, KL, n JB centres will meet to streamline SAM direction, now that we have merged into a single entity.

 

STM Graduation events will begin next week on Friday but preparations are picking up. Assignments deadline are also drawing near. It is going to be busy. Do pray for us as this will be the first physical graduation events after a two-year lock-down. Commissioning Service is on Friday morning followed by Graduation Dinner in the evening and the Graduation Service itself on Saturday afternoon. This will be followed by Faculty Consultation on 17-18 Oct n faculty/staff field trip to Ipoh 19-20 Oct.

 

Yes, I do plan to “balik kampong” to Penang. Likely end Nov till Dec. Can’t wait to savour Penang food again.

 

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry

 

TSB

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Ministry Update August2022

Greetings from Seremban! Thank you for your support in the Sekolah Alkitab Malaysia (SAM) Northern Centres ministry. I apologize for the long silence. A few may understand why. Generally, I was on medical leave till end of June. I am picking up from where I left and there are many things to pick up.

 

SAM Northern Centres together with two other SAM centres in KL n JB have bought SAM Leadership Academy Sdn Bhd and we are now a legal entity. It has signed a MoU with MBS to offer BM programs at the certificate, diploma, bachelor, and master levels. In this transition period, programs in partnership with STM will continue and when the details are finalized, existing students will be given the option to choose which path they are comfortable to pursue. In considering various seminaries to partner with, SAM decided on MBS as both already has a history of partnership from the beginning. Also, the less academic nature will be more attractive to increase the percentage of completion of study programs for our targeted students.

 

In Penang, we continued with online classes and two students are scheduled to complete and graduate with Diploma in Christian Ministry this October in STM. We are now at the third module along the year. Penang, being the only urban centre continued with classes online despite the MCO during the pandemic. The other rural centres remained closed as internet was inaccessible in the interior.

 

In Ipoh, classes only resumed physically in June and classes took place in Gereja Shalom Gopeng with mainly OA students.

 

Other extension centres still closed and pending the local coordinators’ advice to open are in Tapah, Temerloh, and Lenggeng. Kindly pray with us that the endemic situation in the interior of these places will improve and safe for gathering soon.  Lenggeng/Seremban is a new centre and in its initial set-up stage. While Gopeng/Tapah is focused on the OA Semai people group and Temerloh to the Semelai, the Lenggeng/Seremban centre will focus on the Temuan people group.

 

I am also picking up on my studies. Praying that within this semester I will be able to complete the necessary to enable me to begin actual research – both library and field research. Again, will greatly appreciate your prayer partnership.

 

Once again, I thank you for your partnership in this exciting ministry

Ministry Update SeptOct 2021

 

The final quarter of the year is here too soon. Spilling over from the pandemic of 2020, events along the past three quarters of the year were bitter sweet experiences. Tears of joy and sorrow intercept each other as both happy and sad events unfold to mold us into stronger individuals, preparing us for some great event I am sure God has ordained for us in this generation and in this nation.

 

SAM Prai is graduating 4 students: 3 with diploma and 1 with certificate. Four online classes were planned but only 3 took place. We were expecting by end of the year physical class will be possible. However, this is not the case. The “old school” lecturer, uncomfortable to teach online, had to cancel the class. The plan for next year is to continue online for this centre.

 

Elsewhere among the OA community, the pandemic caused many villagers to be quarantined and villages placed under EMCO. Generally, OA villages around the central region of the peninsula are affected. Thus, delaying and cancelling classes planned for them. With limited or no internet access, it is difficult to begin classes. What more with SOPs that limit number of individuals permitted to gather. But I praise God for the church in the city that extended help in various ways. Vaccination is slow in the OA villages – some due to distorted teaching, some due to the geographical location. Let us continue to pray for our OA family.

 

SAM national council has resumed talks that were paused due to the pandemic. We are planning to consolidate efforts to share resources and manpower. Do pray for us as we plan forward for SAM to be a legal entity.

 

Thank you for your partnership in ministry

 

TSB

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