Ministry Update July/August 2015

So here it is – end of July – into the second half of the year. It has been a busy month with back-to-back travels since the Raya break. After a visit to the OA villages, I travelled back to Gopeng for the “ordination retreat” – yes, I m amazed at the turn of events. Never anticipated embracing a conservative church structure – serving God is serving God – somehow, the Anglican DWM will commission me as “deaconess” later in the year in October. What is this, you ask me…I hv no idea. I only know that certain senior colleagues told me to go for it bcoz it will put me in a “better” salary scale; the bishop told me it will give me access to more resources to develop the BM theological education ministry. Apart from that, I really do not know what it is for – maybe granting me a “title” I will never use.

I’m now in Ipoh teaching a class in OT Survey to the certificate/diploma students n the classes will stretch through 8 sessions. In order to save cost, I hv decided to stay in Ipoh over the weekend n visit the BM/OA church services too. It has been quite an anxious experience prior to my travel to Ipoh. It was a bit dramatic too. Driving back home from church service on Sat., the temperature of my car suddenly started to escalate. It kept climbing n climbing; n I got more n more anxious to the point that I was expecting to find smoke rising from the bonnet when it hit the red zone. I obviously prayed anxiously n shortly later, the temperature returned to normal. When I reached the workshop, it was already back to normal. Bcoz it was late in the evening, nothing can be done till Mon morning. Not wanting to take any risk of a breakdown on Sun., I was “stranded” at home on Sunday. Early on Mon morning I drove to the workshop, expecting prompt repair to enable the car fixed on time to drive to Ipoh later in the afternoon. The repairs were done promptly except the replacement of a leaking water tank. No replacement was found n final option is to order from KL which will take 2 days’ delivery. I was planning to travel to Ipoh by bus the next day, not wanting to postpone class for another day. There are some students needing this class credit to graduate this year. Then a phone call came from the workshop that they finally found an unlikely fit from a huge SUV – Mitsubishi Storm – to install the water tank! Praise God – as the mechanic relate to me his relief in finding a solution at the last minute, I kept praising God. He insisted it was luck, I insisted it was God.

So, here am I – teaching the night classes n “working as usual” during the day – except that I can wake up at 9am n still be “on time” for work – the desk just beside my bed. I hv built good enough a rapport with YMCA Ipoh that as much as possible, I will occupy the same room each time I m in town – Room 101.

Returning Penang after 1^st week August, I hv a whole full week in Penang before “leaving on a jet plane” for one n a half weeks. With the half week (last week of Aug) wrapping up in Penang I will be on the road again to Ipoh for a meeting on 31^st Aug, then returning Penang on 1^st Sept the next day, will fly to MEC in Miri. For the next (approx) 4 weeks I’ll be in Penang to repeat the class in OT Survey to students in SAM Penang. Then October is another month of back-to-back travels: Ipoh for a full week of intensive class (dip/MMin module); missions conference in Chiangmai; STM Convo in Seremban. Settling down on the 3^rd week of Oct., I should wrap up the concluding classes for SAM Penang. Nov/Dec should be more relaxing as preparations gear up towards Christmas.

SAM Penang had launched its “extension center” in Sungai Petani. Due to time constraint, we can only hold classes once a week, thus, dragging each module through almost 3 months. So, the likely schedule for next year will see:

SAM Ipoh certificate night classes: 3 courses

SAM Ipoh cert/dip night classes: 2 courses

SAM Ipoh dip/MMin intensive day classes: 3 courses

SAM Penang cert/dip night classes: 4 courses

SAM Penang (SP) cert/dip night classes: 3 courses

Kindly uphold us in prayer as the School progresses. It is always your partnership that enabled us to progress n continue. It is also your partnership that motivates me in ministry. There will be one diploma graduate from SAM Penang this year n 5 certificate graduates from SAM Ipoh.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry. I truly n greatly appreciate your partnership in this challenging n exciting journey.

Ministry Update June/July 2015

It was a familiar smell as I drove across the Penang Bridge early in the morning. It must have been more than a decade since I regularly drive across the Bridge so early in the morning. I remember that working in the manufacturing capacity meant going to work when the moon was still in the skies and returning from work when the moon came out to shine at dusk. I seldom had the opportunity to soak in the scorching sun and seized all the opportunity to do so when the lorry carrying the parts I bought was “stuck in customs.” Ahhh…those were the days, the factory days.

I was in the manufacturing concern for about 7 years, then a year in a private Chinese school, before entering ministry. That was 15 years ago. Even with 15 years of “full time ministry” I felt there are still much to learn; simply because God made human beings so complicated. But as I recalled the person I was, I can honestly confess that I have “managed to leave” quite a bit of the fallen nature behind. And that was no easy task. Naturally a task-oriented person, I had to go through the tedious work of unlearn and re-learn to be a “peoples person.” Yeah, yeah, I know I still have a long way more to go. But I hope I have made some progress.

June had been a busy month. I’m back in my office in Penang but will soon embark on a series of travels. I sort of look forward to that as I’ve grown to be someone who cannot “quite stay put in one place for long.” I m teaching a class on “Religions in Malaysia” in SAM Penang. It is an overview of the major religions in Malaysia to give an understanding of what its adherers subscribe to. This will help to formulate the worldview/thinking pattern to understand people of other faiths. I feel this is important as Malaysians today often misunderstand each other from various ethnicity n religious backgrounds. SAM Penang “extension center” or “branch” in Sungai Petani will start later in July. It will start with the course in “Intro to NT” by Rev Khor KH and will stretch through 7-8 weeks with 2.5 hours classes once a week.

On the Raya break, I will bring a team from COR, Butterworth to the villages. Returning on Sunday, I will travel to Gopeng the next day for the “ordination retreat” till Wednesday. Following this is an 8-day course in Ipoh (Mon-Fri, Mon-Wed). So, I’ll be spending more time in Ipoh/Gopeng this month. Yes, I’m looking forward to Aug as I’ll be traveling to London for abt 10 days in mid-Aug.

This year, SAM is expecting to graduate 4 certificate students n 1 diploma student. The diploma student will be the first graduating student from SAM Penang. The leadership of SAM Northern Centers is also in the process of re-negotiating with STM so that the OA students pursuing their BTh in STM can be permitted to do some courses within the close proximity of their villages. This will help reduce cost/travel time.

Do pray for us as we continue to develop/improve the BM theological education ministry in Malaysia.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership in ministry.

SB

Ministry Update May/June 2015

The month ended in a depressing note. A colleague was admitted to the hospital bcoz of some blood disorder n later discovered it was leukemia. After the 7-day chemo she was receiving, there was an emergency where she was admitted to the ICU n later went into a coma n shortly later, passed away. All within 2 weeks! I vented out my anger at God, unable to understand how these could happen. It also got me thinking if I m prepared to meet God. Hv I done all I could with all He gave me? Honestly, as much as we may hv prepared for it, I think that very crucial moment when we pass on, is a scary moment. We know we will die one day but how n when is not known. Though I do not know this colleague very well, yet I grieve over this loss. It’s too sudden. Just 2 weeks ago I sent her a sms to encourage her n she replied asking me to take care of myself too. It’s hard to accept a quick departure of a comrade in ministry…

The next two weeks are filled with activities. It will begin with the much talked about GoFest Missions Conference. This year, for the first time, there’ll be translation to BM as OA participants from Perak were sponsored to attend the conference. Yes, my OA friends are coming n staying in St Nick’s at various locations. Not sure yet if a few will stay at my vicarage. They may prefer to cramp all 25 in a 5-bedroom bungalow beside my office. That’s what the organizers planned. 25 in a place with 2 bathrooms! I better look into this. After all, some are my “OA anak.” Towards the end of the conference, my guest lecturer n his wife will arrive from Miri for a week-long class in Ipoh the following week. So, the weekend will be quite filled as my colleagues from WEC Partners will also be in town for the GoFest Conference n meeting with some local church leaders.

After the Ipoh class, SAM Penang class will start with me teaching this time. It’s been awhile since I teach in SAM Penang. I usually slot a teaching assignment for myself just once in each center so that I can stand-by to fill any emergencies. But last year I was too tied up to teach a class in Penang. This year, we will even branch out to Sungai Petani with a new center beginning mid-July.

There’s also a weekend trip to the villages. MBTS will send a team of international students to visit the OA villages on the 3^rd weekend.

Progress of my studies? Oh, don’t ask…

July n August are busy months too. I think I’ll be in Penang 3 weeks in June, 2 weeks in July, n 1 week in August. Towards end of July is another trip to the OA village, followed by the Ordination Retreat, followed by my 2 weeks class in Ipoh that spill over to August; then I prepare to go on a “holiday” westward…

Thank you for your partnership in ministry

31.05.15

Ministry Update Apr/May 2015

April was a month of learning n discovery. Some of you may think I missed out last month’s entry but the truth is, after I posted it on my blog, I did not send to various individuals. I thought I wrote something that was only a personal assumption but I later discovered it was not – in fact, it has become a fact. I m disappointed, that a long-time friend could hv conducted so badly in class that several of my OA friends in Ipoh asked me to never, ever invite her back to teach.

On a brighter note, a new milestone was achieved for SAM when we officially signed the MoU to provide an opportunity for peninsular-based BM pastors to pursue a master degree. It was sometime mid of Apr n our team, 3 from Ipoh joined me in Penang n we travel Penang-Miri-Penang while another traveled from KL n met us in Miri. Representing us was our diocesan bishop who, despite his busy schedule, went to Miri. Well, it was a wonderful time – honestly, we were careful to carry ourselves when our bishop was around – but “let down our hair” when he left our team to attend to another official function. Fellowship was good with friends n partnership was strengthened with BEM Sarawak. I feel so at home in the indigenous community.

Immediately upon our return was the Eastern/UpperNorth leaders retreat in BJAC. I did not hv much time to mingle with the other pastors/leaders from the east coast. So happens, I hv to attend to ensuring things r in order. It was an event that passed by very quickly n I was preparing for the next engagement in Ipoh.

My car battery was a bit weak but I kept delaying replacing it. After all, it was still use-able n as long as I m in Penang, if the battery goes flat, the mechanic is just a phone call away. But then I hv an engagement in Ipoh for a weekend. I was planning to travel to Ipoh on Fri afternoon to accompany an Ipoh team to the OA village on Sat, then travel back on Sun. So, it was risky that if my car battery goes flat on Sun, I will be stranded in Ipoh till the next working day. I decided to go to the workshop to get a new battery. Arriving on Thurs afternoon, I asked the mechanic to also check everything to ensure it is in good shape for long distance drive. It was then that he discovered one of the back absorbers was leaking; n absorbers need to be changed in pair. Then the front absorbers were examined – they were not in good shape either. So, in order to hv a proper balance, the back pair of absorbers n the front pair of absorbers need to be replaced. But that was not all. While examining the back absorbers, the exhaust pipe was seen to be in an extremely bad shape – like a bad tooth half eaten by cavity. So, the back pair of absorbers, the front pair of absorbers, n the exhaust besides the battery needed replacement. It was abt 4pm n the mechanic assured me – in 3 hours, he can replaced all that n I can safely n comfortably drive to Ipoh the next day. The bill? RM1,113.10 (plus labor n GST) but I asked for a discount of 10sen la! Huge sum to pay unexpectedly for car maintenance.

The next morning I was in my office, still reeling from the shocking, sudden departure of hard-earned cash that I posted on my FB wall on this matter. I began my drive to Ipoh at abt 2pm n as usual driving alone I prayed n sang praises to God, not bothered that I sang off-key n wrong lyrics. I began by praying to God asking to send my “claim” to heaven for His consideration. And I told God that He may answer me quickly, slowly, or not answer me at all – yet I will still send my “claim” to heaven. Even if He does not entertain this “claim” I know I hv done the right thing as a good steward in spending such a huge sum to care for a car that rightfully belongs to Him. I reached Ipoh n checked in at YMCA, unpacked a bit, logged in to the internet awhile n dropped on the bed to rest awhile before my dinner appointment. It was then, slightly after 5pm that a Whatsapp message came n the sender asked me how much exactly was the car repair cost n wanted to pay the complete bill! Several minutes later, he sent a picture thru whatsapp the fund transfer slip. 3 hours – the mechanic needed to replace new parts for my car; 3 hours for heaven to “process my claim.” God is good – all the time; all the time – God is good!

May has no out-station travels but I needed time to seriously work on preparing lesson plans for SAM Penang class in June/July n SAM Ipoh class in July/Aug besides starting to chart course materials for SAM Ipoh class in October. June will start busy with the YWAM GoFest Missions Conference. There is already a planned weekend trip for a team to visit OA village in Gopeng; some OA participants may be staying in SNH hostel n some in my vicarage; n WEC Partners (Malaysia) reps will be in town – we hope to meet some pastors/mission leaders in some local church; then my guest lecturer n his wife (from MEC Miri) will be arriving towards the end of the conference n we will travel to Ipoh/Gopeng for a week-long class.

An update regarding my studies? I really don’t know how is my progress. It’s like wondering endlessly in an endless circle in the wilderness. As I complained n complained ceaselessly, the Lord rebuked me. Then I realized that I hv no right to judge nor compare my present thesis supervisor with the previous ones. God made her the way she is just as God made me the way I m. The reason God put us together to work in this season is so that I may learn what I need to. So, I don’t know if I can graduate this year but I hv surrendered to God who determines the times n the seasons.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry

SB

Ministry Update Mar/Apr 15

It has been a hot n humid month but I’m glad the rain has come to cool the weather, even though it was just isolated showers – a little here n a little there. I’m sure many of you are similarly surprised at how we r now concluding the first quarter of the year – already.

After a whole month of being “confined” to Penang in February, I was glad for March n the opportunity to visit the OA villages – accompanying some YWAMers to explore the villages as mission points for the practical sessions of the GoFest Missions Conference in early June. The following week was a week-long class in Ipoh/Gopeng. It was to be our first class in attempt to offer a 3-credit course n a combined class of diploma n master students. However, the students participated were all diploma students due to some administrative hiccup. The class was “moved” to Gopeng – not only were there more students from Gopeng, it was because there was no one with a valid driving license to transport the students to Ipoh. So, the following dip/MMin classes will be held in Gopeng.

An important lesson was learnt by me in a hard way – that those serving in the pastoral ministry in the BM ministry do not necessarily can function teaching in the Bible School capacity; that those able to teach do not necessarily able to function teaching in a BM Bible School context.

I was hoping to “enlarge” the teaching team n I suppose in that quest, I failed to discern properly. First I had a new teacher who does not seem to care abt the commitment made to almost 20 students n simply “disappeared” on one session n didn’t bother to explain the “disappearance” the next session. Second I had a major disappointment that came from some long-time friends. In fact, I m beginning to feel foolish that at one time I had actually “looked up” to this couple as they r more senior in ministry, in age, n as Christians. So this person moved to Ipoh n kept insisting that I give her a teaching schedule, readily offered to teach day or night. However, as the day draws near to the class – a date she herself committed – she began giving “unreasonable” requests, among others, insisting on holding her class at a time impossible for the students to attend, thus defeating the very purpose of a night class. There were also some harsh remarks insulting the intelligence n economic status of my OA friends. I was so very disappointed – how can someone in ministry behave in such a way? She seemed to hv lost interest in a commitment she eagerly sought; probably bcoz after awhile in a new place she had found something that can give her better n wider recognition? I almost wanted to say that to her bcoz my patience was wearing thin n I almost wanted to cancel the class.

Looks like I am back to square one – definitely cannot keep these two new teachers in the teaching team. On the lighter side, we will finally sign the official MoU with BEM Sarawak next month. Praise the Lord that we can find a time where both the heads of denomination are available for this occasion. When I was discussing the terms of our MoU with the person in charge in Miri late last year, we felt that it’ll be near impossible to find a time where both our bosses can be free at the same time. Praise the Lord, He made possible the impossible. A team of us from Penang/Ipoh n KL will travel to Miri for this formal occasion where our bishop representing us will sign the MoU where SAM Northern Centers will partner MEC to offer Master in Ministry program in BM to ministers functioning in the BM language here in Peninsular. Besides reducing costs n time, this will be an opportunity for our BM/OA pastors to upgrade to the master level academically. After the Miri trip, is immediately the Eastern/Upper North Archdeaconry Retreat in SNH/BJAC. In later part of Apr is a proposed day trip to the OA village in Simpang Pulai with AOG Ipoh.

Regarding my studies, yes, it is moving slow…I m praying that I will complete the necessary for completion by this year so I can dedicate a doctoral degree to my OA friends. I m eager to “perform this prophetic act” n I hope you will join me to anticipate this spiritual act so our friends can “breakthrough” n rise to their potentials, even academically. I m also thankful to God for partners in ministry offering assistance of various kinds to our OA friends. This is indeed an exciting ministry n greater things God is about to do in our midst through the indigenous church. Will you join me in my walk with them to experience God in tangible ways?

Ministry Update February/March 2015

I realized that the end/beginning of the year are lazy months. When December comes, preparations began towards Christmas and the New Year. The festive mood did not quite fade when January arrives, as preparations are geared up towards Chinese New Year. If it falls on January, February picks up but when it falls on February, festivity drags on till February ends. So, it’s only in March that “serious work” picks up. And this February? It was a lazy month, all blamed at the festivity.

It was not much of a festivity for me. My second sister n family is in London and CNY was quiet without the two noisy nephews. My eldest sister n family only came home on the 3^rd day. I had a good time of fellowship, though – with my nephew who is a 6 months old Christian – in fact, he had so much to ask, we chatted till morning for two consecutive days!

The CNY break allowed me to work n complete the two project papers (though the Diocese termed it as “mini thesis”) for the Ordination Retreat in July. The deadline is end of May but the CNY break is long enough a break for me to complete those two papers! My final touches to the doctoral dissertation are on-going. I’m sort of “dependant” on the other end who seems to be taking it slow.

SAM Penang Prai began its class in early February with a new intake of 15 (certificate) students. With 2 diploma students and one auditing student, we have a class of 18. A good start for the year. I’ve yet to hear from SAM Ipoh (certificate) on their attendance but I’m sure it’s around that figure or slightly more. There’s a request to launch another SAM Penang class, to be held on the island – a proposal still under consideration. Then, there’s another proposal to start SAM SP in Sungai Petani. This will really stretch me in addition to the diploma classes in Ipoh. We are combining the diploma class in Ipoh with MMin (Master in Ministry) class this year n the first class is scheduled to be held next month, March. Some of our prospective students hv been requested to delay their participation in the MMin program in order to complete the 8-month MICPE program (compulsory for Diocesan staff). In the meantime, the administrative matters are still on-going towards the official signing of MoU between SAM Northern Centers (from the platform of Anglican DWM) and BEM Sarawak theological schools. SIB now prefers to be known as BEM – Borneo Evangelical Missions. Once this official partnership is sealed, SAM Northern Centers will need to maintain a standard and quality that comply to the requirements of both accreditation bodies in Asia (ATESEA – Association of Theological Education South East Asia and ATA – Asia Theological Association).

Financial-wise, SAM Northern Centers is stable – thanks to the continuous support from all of you. But do continue to pray for us. Though we may hv forged formal partnerships with STM (ATESEA accreditation) and MEC (through BEM Sarawak with ATA accreditation), it is a big challenge to maintain the standard to consistently offer our training at that level of acceptance. We are probably the only BM Bible School in Peninsular Malaysia, recognized by accredited seminaries and it is overwhelming how the Lord is leading us to be better. After all, with the Lord leading us, we can really expect really big things to happen!