Private Circulation Only. Diocese of West Malaysia KDN : PP11463/05/2013 (032185) AUGUST Fostering Ventures in Social Ministry

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1 Private Circulation Only M E S S E N G E R Diocese of West Malaysia KDN : PP11463/05/2013 (032185) AUGUST 2015 Fostering Ventures in Social Ministry

2 Editorial But whoever has the world s goods and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17 Church life is more than Sunday morning services. It includes reaching out to the community in need and sharing God s love where it really counts. So in line with the theme for the year Fostering Ventures the second issue will focus on the area of Social Ministry. In the history of the Anglican Church, the Social Ministry first asserted itself in movements of social justice in England. In the early eighteenth century the campaign was against the slave trade and in the nineteenth century, the adverse effects of industrialisation. The Anglican Church s response was to focus on education and give support to the Features children of the poor. It was not surprising therefore that when the first missionaries came from England to Malaya, it was in the field of education that they made their mark. Coming in response to a deep spiritual calling to venture into a bigger mission field to spread the message of peace and salvation, they helped bring about transformation to the lives of the peoples through education and medical care. The first mission school in Malaysia, Penang Free school, was opened in 1816 by the Anglican clergyman Rev. Robert Hutchings. In the field of medical care Dr. E.A.O. Travers, seeing the terrible conditions in which leprosarium patients were living, had with government assistance, built a fully equipped leprosarium in Sungai Buloh that operated on a more humane level. With the taking over of these vital services after independence by the government, the involvement of the Anglican Church in West Malaysia in the area of social ministry has been left largely to individual churches to carry out. This social ministry takes the form of a myriad of activities ranging from large projects such as the setting up of orphanages, homes for the aged, centres for the intellectually challenged and the blind to smaller projects such as tuition classes, feeding programmes etc for the poor. Whatever the activity, the vision of the Anglican Church remains unchanged i.e. to show forth the love of God in seeing to a holistic transformation in the lives of individuals and to ensure that the poor and the needy have access to the resources and dignity they need for a decent life. The Editor Coming Events Editorial Board Private Circulation Only 2 Diocesan Worship Conference 4-6 June Tamil Youth Camp June Diocesan Golden Circle Conference & AGM in Ipoh June Lay Readers School July Diocesan Synod in PJ August Persidangan Belia Anglikan August Seminar for Disciple Makers September STM Graduation 17 October Diocesan Men s Seminar 24 October Ordination Service 30 October Lay Pastors School November Diocesan Mission Sunday 22 Nov Chinese Youth Camp 6-9 December Christmas 25 December Adviser : The Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing Members : Esther Richards (Editor) James Chee Prakash Mukherjee Alan Chong The theme for the third issue in 2015 continues on the theme of Fostering Ventures. The Editorial Board welcomes articles and photographs that focus on the theme for the coming issue. Please submit articles in Word document and not PDF and relevant photographs in JPEG format of less than 1 MB by 20 October 2015 to: The Editor, Anglican Messenger, to anglicandwm@gmail.com The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia No. 16 Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur. Tel : / M E S S E N G E R DIOCESE OF WEST MALAYSIA KDN : PP11463/05/2013 (032185) AUGUST 2015 Fostering Ventures in Social Ministry Braille - a tactile writing system used by the blind and the visually impaired

3 Installation of Archdeacons and Dean of the Cathedral Bishop imparts the blessing on the newly installed Archdeacons Archdeacon Rev. Dr. Stephen Soe and Archdeacon Rev. Stephen Chan being presented to the congregation On Monday 9 March 2015 St Mary s Cathedral was filled with people from across the Diocese who had gathered to witness the installation of Rev. Dr Stephen Soe as Archdeacon of the Upper North Archdeaconry, Rev. Stephen Chan as Archdeacon of the Eastern Archdeaconry and Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah as Dean of the Cathedral by the Bishop the Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing. Present were members of the clergy and deaconesses who had come for the Clergy and Deaconess Retreat, family members as well as members of the congregations of the three ministers who had come to support their priests. The Installation Service which was in the context of the Holy Communion began with the St. Mary s Cathedral Choir leading the procession of robed clergy to the beautiful hymn The Church s One Foundation. In his message to the congregation the Bishop spoke on Hebrews 4:14-5:10 on the theme The Obedience of Christ. After the Intercessions the two Archdeacon Designates were presented to the Bishop. The Diocesan Chancellor led in the administration of the Oath of Canonical Obedience after which the Bishop read the Deed of Installation, presented it to them, robed them with the Archdeacon s Cope, and prayed a prayer of blessing over them before leading them to their stalls. The next part was the installation of Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah as Dean of the Cathedral. To the presentation hymn of Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, the Dean Designate accompanied by the two Presenters and the Diocesan Chancellor was led to the Chancel Step and stood before the Bishop. Following his presentation the Diocesan Chancellor led in the administration of the Oath of Canonical Obedience. The Bishop then took over and handed him the License and prayed a prayer of blessing over him. Rev. Dr. Cheah then made the Declaration regarding the Office of Dean, changed his Cope, and following prayers, was led to his stall in the Cathedral for the newly installed Archdeacons and Dean. The Communion Service then resumed. In all it was a memorable moment in the calendar of the Anglican Church in West Malaysia. Please continue to pray for the two Archdeacons and the Dean to whom God has entrusted the responsibilities of leadership in this Diocese. Pray that they would be faithful to Christ and His Gospel and diligent in the work He has given them. AM Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah receiving his commission from the Bishop Dean of the Cathedral The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah being presented to the congregation 3

4 The 2015 Diocesan Clergy & Deaconesses Retreat by Rev. Jesvinder Singh owner of St. Mary s Residences at the Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine in Menara Hap Seng. Bishop Ng with Datuk Edward Lee 4 The Diocesan Clergy & Deaconesses Retreat 2015 was held from 9 to 11 March in Kuala Lumpur. Participants had the privilege of staying in St. Mary s Residences and attending the sessions at Menara Hap Seng, a walking distance from the Residences. The retreat began with the Opening Service in the context of the Holy Eucharist in St. Mary s Cathedral Kuala Lumpur. Our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing preached on the theme Obedience of Christ from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. This service was made more memorable with the installation of the newly appointed Archdeacons, Rev. Dr. Stephen Soe and Rev. Stephen Chan. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Soe was installed as Archdeacon of the Upper North Archdeaconry, while Rev. Stephen Chan was made Archdeacon of the Eastern Archdeaconry. In addition Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah was installed as the new Dean of St. Mary s Cathedral, Kuala Lumpur. In our midst was Joseph Poole, the St. Chad s volunteer from Wolverhampton, England. Joseph will be attached to St. Mary s Cathedral for six months. The coming together of the Diocesan family in this celebration was a time of meaningful fellowship. Bishop Ng with Rev. Godfrey Stone and his wife Dot The first morning began with a Bible Study on 1 Timothy Chapter 1 conducted by Rev. Issac Pandianadan. Bible Study conducted by Rev. Issac Pandianadan. This was followed by the first of three sessions taken by the retreat s guest speaker, Rev. Godfrey Stone, a retired Archdeacon from Stoke. His sessions were contemplative and very practical in nature as he shared from Scriptures, Anglican roots and resources on Christian spirituality. The participants were led into a time of introspective reflection of life and ministry from a biblical perspective interspersed with practical spirituality activities. These were refreshing and restorative. Later that evening the participants were guests to a sumptuous dinner hosted by Datuk Edward Lee, The second night s session was a time for Bishop Moon Hing to update the clergy and deaconesses on Diocesan matters and current national issues that would have a bearing on the Church. It was a very informative session and enabled participants to keep abreast of the latest developments in the Diocese and nation. Participants were able to seek clarity on various issues like the proposed formation of the future Dioceses, the upcoming GST and other related matters. The last morning after breakfast and at the Holy Eucharist service Rev Christopher Dalie led in the Bible Study on 1 Timothy Chapter 2. Following this the participants had the privilege of listening to Alpha Malaysia share their ministries and update the audience on their latest upgrades and online materials. Bishop Ng encouraged the churches to partner with Alpha in the various projects and events that they organize to empower members in line with our Diocesan theme, Fostering Ventures. All in all it was an enriching retreat. It enabled the Diocesan family to experience the presence of God through the various sessions and times of fellowship. AM Rev. Jesvinder Singh is the Priest in charge of St. James Church, Sentul.

5 Upper Central Archdeaconry Conference 2015 The UCAC 2015 on the theme Church Growth was held on 30 May 2015 at Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang (HTBB) and was chaired by Canon David Devapitchai. Around 140 persons were present at the HUB. Following the opening prayer and song Archdeacon Eddie Ong gave his address which set the tone and direction for the rest of the Conference. He pointed out the problems plaguing the country. From the aviation disasters, the devastating floods that ravaged the East Coast, the economic hardships arising from the imposition of the GST, the rampant corruption arising from the 1MDB debacle, the discovery of mass graves of Muslim Rohingya migrants on Malaysian soil and the constant and vitriolic attacks on the Christian Church, he stressed that the Christian believer must continue to hold on to the three fundamentals of Repentance, Rededication and Renewal if we are to emerge victorious as individuals and as a church. Ven. Eddie Ong Ven. Eddie was followed by Rev. Miles Toulmin, Vicar of HTBB. His theme, Facing Giants gave new insights to the familiar story of David and Goliath on how to face the giants in our lives and be overcomers. He stated the following: - don t be discouraged by rejection - redefine your giants - your battle in private prepares you for your battle in public - play to your strengths - the battle is not yours, it is the Lord s Rev. Miles Toulmin - Vicar of HTBB by Esther Richards Rev. Stew Mcllrath of HTBB leading in worship This was followed by the much awaited presentation of the paper on the proposed Diocesan Realignment by Bishop Jason Selvaraj. He painted the larger picture by giving first the background of its inception during Bishop s Savarimuthu s time and the reasons why realignment was the right way to move the Diocese forward. He went on to answer questions that had been raised by some of the parishes. He pointed out the following limitations: - can t forecast all relevant issues. The proposal is one that is evolutionary - examples given may not be relevant but can provide a framework to work on - current structure of having one diocese is not conducive for growth. Realignment will encourage and facilitate growth and expansion. History shows the DWM was first tied to Calcutta, then Singapore before it became the Bishop Ng and Bishop Jason listening to questions and comments raised by participants. Diocese of West Malaysia. There is a need for decentralisation for better administration. - current structure limits the creation of new dioceses in South East Asia - current structure will not motivate other dioceses to expand. The final talk for the day was given by Dean Andrew The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Cheah, Dean of St. Mary s Cathedral Cheah on the theme The Mission and he based this on Mathew 28: The content of the commission was: The Command Make disciples The Scope All nations The Circumstance Going The Means Baptising...teaching... The Goal Obedience to Christ Four workshops were made available to the participants: - Marriage Course Alpha Malaysia - Planting and growing new churches Deaconess Ruth Ong - Resources for making disciples Dean Andrew and team - Sarang Discipleship Training Rev. Wity Kendu and Archdeacon Eddie. In all, it was a fruitful and rewarding conference. AM Esther Richards is a Synod representative from St. Paul s Church, Petaling Jaya. 5

6 Fostering Ventures In Social Ministry by The Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing The early missionaries brought into this country many blessings and good works in three areas - education, medical aid and social activities. Nearly two hundred years ago when the Anglican mission set foot in this part of the world, it came with the intention of bringing wholesome living to the local people. Except for a few Sekolah Pondok (literally, schools in huts), Madrasah and other Islamic classes and village health centres there was virtually no school, hospital or social outreach centre. Today we have many good mission schools, hospitals and caring centres throughout the nation. Anglican Care is an umbrella body of the social arm of the Diocese of West Malaysia. Currently there are 18 social centres ranging from homes for abandoned children and senior citizens, classes for children with learning difficulties and workshops for disabled adults. In addition there are soup kitchens, a school for the blind and a ministry to single mothers. Prior to the setting up of Anglican Care only a few churches were involved in social work of any kind. No one really knew what they were doing and who they were ministering to. For this reason Anglican Care was established but sadly even after 10 years of its establishment and lots of publicity there are churches that are ignorant of what Anglican Care stands for and the various ministries under its arm. Anglican Care s purpose is to assist and foster collective training, creative expansion and loving care. It aims to Share resources especially in the training of care-givers Appreciate the challenges of care-givers and their sacrifices Identify suitable candidates for the caring ministry in churches Provide spiritual retreats for care-givers Affirm the role and dignity of caregivers and the people they are caring for Provide a larger covering for legislative and admin-istrative purposes Restore the proper image and purpose of God s creation for each individual The need is great. One church or one diocese is not able to meet the various needs in our society. We need everyone, every effort and every ringgit to help in realizing God s supreme purpose for every individual He has created. This venture is a noble one and must be encouraged and fostered intentionally in order to conserve the little effort, energy and resources we have. A little a time, a mountain in time a Bahasa Malaysia proverb. AM What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - James 2:

7 Across The Diocese With Anglican Care by A. Annamaney 5. Homes for the Aged 1. Rumah Damai, Kuala Trengganu 2. St. Mark s Cozy Home, Sungai Buloh, Selangor Plans For The Future Neil Rode Lydia Wong A. Annamaney 1. To Facilitate And Address The Needs of the social care ministries within the Diocese through: Vision Statement To express the LOVE, GRACE, MERCY and COMPASSION of our LORD JESUS CHRIST to the community at large through Social Care, Concern and Action Mission Statement To be a Catalyst in Establishing Social Ministries in EVERY Parish/Missionary District in the Diocese To be a one stop center for growth and development of Social Ministry in the Diocese To be the voice of the Diocese in the national and international social forum and dialogues Throughout the years, even before the Diocese of West Malaysia was formed in 1971, churches in the Diocese have been quietly and consistently carrying out social ministries, often with no acknowledgement or recognition. Anglican Care started in the early 2000 s as an umbrella body to facilitate and address the needs of the various care groups within the Diocese of West Malaysia. In its initial stage, Bishop Lim Cheng Ean appointed Mr. Neil Rode, (then Senior Director of Malaysian Care) to head the Interim Committee, to coordinate the various Caring Ministries in the Diocese. Subsequently, in 2005, Mrs. Lydia Wong was appointed as the 1st Chairperson of Anglican Care. We thank God for Neil Rode and Lydia Wong who led Anglican Care in its early days. In 2012 I was appointed to take over from Lydia who had indicated her intention to retire. Although young as a Council (only 10 years old), Anglican Care s oldest ministry is St. Nicholas Home in Penang which will be 90 years old next year! Presently, Anglican Care is focusing on advocacy, awareness and capacity building for all its members. Our aim is to be the visible expression of God s love to the community. Below is the range of services available in the Diocese. Ministries Registered Under Anglican Care (updated 2015) 1. Services for the Visually Impaired St. Nicholas Home, Penang 2. Services for the Intellectually Challenged 1. Ray of Hope, Ipoh 2. St. Paul s Day Training Centre, Petaling Jaya 3. Bethel Early Intervention Centre, Puchong 3. Homes for Children/ Youths 1. St. Barnabas Home, Klang 2. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Pusphanesam, Johor Baru 3. Rumah Shalom Gopeng 4. Community Service Centres (tuition, feeding poor etc) 1. Beacon of Hope, Sri Manja, Petaling Jaya 2. House of Delight, Ipoh 3. Social Action Ministry, St. Peter s Church, Bangsar 4. St. Mary s Feeding the Needy, Kuala Lumpur 5. Cornerstone Sanctuary Social Concern, Ipoh 6. St. John s Community Help Service, Ipoh 7. St. Luke s Church Care Ministry, Teluk Intan 8. St. George s Church Guides, Penang 9. Maria Community Centre, Kg. Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya A. Advocacy By being the Voice of the Diocese on matters of social work in relation to: I. governmental policies and implementation of those policies II. current social issues affecting our ministries B. Awareness I. Creating awareness of the various works being done under the banner of Anglican Care. II. Encouraging churches to start social ministries in their parishes III. Registering ministries which are already ongoing C. Capacity Building Anglican Care would take the lead in capacity building for its members by providing systematic training and strategic planning. This will be a long term plan. 2. To work together with *R.E.A.C.H. to set up an Anglican Disaster Support and Response Team To build a multi-disciplinary team to provide pastoral, spiritual and medical care to people who have experienced disaster situations. We look forward to churches in the Diocese working together with us to achieve these aims. To facilitate awareness, we are conducting road shows in different towns. So far, we have had road shows in St. Katherine, Kajang, St. John s Ipoh and All Saints, Taiping. We welcome invitations to share about Anglican Care. AM *REACH Relief Emergency And Crisis Help (Diocesan Body headed by Rev. Matthew Chay) Annamaney is the Chairperson of Anglican Care and worships in St. Paul s Church Petaling Jaya. 7

8 A Learning Centre for the Orang Asli Students by The Ven. Dr. Stephen Soe 8 Rumah Shalom - 428, Jalan Langsat, Taman Gopeng, Perak. The Orang Asli, the indigenous minority people of Peninsular Malaysia have been marginalized and living in poverty in their own land. Over 60% of them still live in isolated areas, far from the reach of basic amenities of medical care and education provided by the government. The JHEOA recognizing that education is key in the campaign to assimilate the Orang Asli and to improve their standard of living, provide them with new occupational opportunities. However, despite the efforts made, the situation has not improved. The dropout rate among school going Orang Asli children remains high. What can the Church in Malaysia and in particular the Anglican Diocese do to improve the education level of the Orang Asli? In an attempt to provide quality education, Rumah Shalom, a Christian hostel was inaugurated by The Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing on 10 January A joint effort of Ven. Dr. Soe, Mrs Soe, Bisfe Swee Lan and Bishop Ng with some of the committee members of Rumah Shalom Gereja Shalom, Gopeng and St. Paul s Church, Penang, the vision of the home is to provide holistic training and guidance for secondary school students so that they will be equipped with the skills necessary for their future, assist in raising standards of living among their people and ensure their language and culture is preserved. Rumah Shalom is located at 428, Jalan Langsat, Taman Gopeng, Perak, a suburban town near the Orang Asli settlements. Gereja Shalom assists in the running of the home. Holistic training and guidance would be provided in the following aspects: Academic Guidance - A daily schedule has been drawn up and will be followed closely by the students to ensure school work is completed in the afternoon. - Additional tuition by professional/ volunteer tutors is provided on a one to one basis for students needing it. Self Management Training - All personal belongings e.g. shoes, uniforms and clothing are to be maintained by the individual student in pristine conditions. - They are to follow the timetable of the home and help in cleaning and maintaining a clean and pleasant environment. Spiritual Formation - Daily devotion and bible reading will be part of the spiritual formation program. - The students will be involved in the ministries of Gereja Shalom. - The church will assign a Christian couple as God parents to guard the growth of their spiritual lives. Discipleship - The church will adopt a systematic discipleship training program which the students will complete before they leave the home after Form 5. - All students are required to take Bible Knowledge as a subject in their SPM examinations. Commissioning - There will be a 6-12 month discipleship program for SPM leavers, training them to be disciples of Jesus before they leave the home - Counseling for their tertiary education will be provided - Those who hear the call of the Lord will be recruited into full time ministry and training. Currently the home houses 11 boys between the ages of and is overseen by the house warden couple, Rudi and Yenni. The academic guidance is provided by visiting teams from Penang and Ipoh, for 3 hours a week on Saturday mornings. How can you participate in this ministry? - You can provide tuition or guidance in English, Bahasa Malaysia or Mathematics to these students once or twice a month on Saturday mornings from 9.00am to 12.00pm. Teacher s guide and work books have been prepared for this purpose to ensure the learning is continuous. Ven. Dr. Soe with the students - You can donate in cash or kind. You may also sponsor a student at RM300 per month or RM3600 per year. If issuing cheques kindly make it in favour of the Synod of the Diocese of West Malaysia-St. Paul s Church, Penang and on the reverse, write Rumah Shalom. Mail to No. 56, Macalister Road, Penang. Conversely you can do it via online banking to Public Bank Account No.: AM The Ven. Dr. Stephen Soe is Vicar of St. Paul s Church, Penang.

9 St. Luke s Church Care Ministry by Nirmala Ruth non-christians who attend the Sunday School. The half way home was set up when an alcoholic husband was unable to find accommodation for his 6 children with one more on the way. This family came to church practically every week begging for shelter. Now, the husband works in Singapore while the wife takes care of the 7 children with help from the Care Ministry. Church members preparing food for the Soup Kitchen The Care Ministry of St Luke s Church, Teluk Intan has been in existence for the past 25 years. What started as paying rental for the family of a student who was studying in STM at that time has now evolved into diverse ministries like the Soup Kitchen, Food Bank, Micro Financing, Tuition classes, Half Way Home and Utilities Fund. The Soup Kitchen was launched in 2012 as part of the church s 100th year celebration. It was one way of reaching out and giving back Liew Choon Sim to the poor and needy in the society. It has since seen an influx in the number of people who receive Mary Beh the food three times a week and we have a continuous number of people who pay for this ministry. For the past two years, we have conducted evangelistic and healing meetings and most of the families attended these meetings where the gospel of Jesus was preached. It is done differently in Teluk Intan as we send the food to the homes of poor non-christian families who are unable to come to the church premise to collect the food. Through the Soup Kitchen, we have met many families who struggle to educate their children or make ends meet because the sole bread winners of the family are hard core alcoholics. We came up with the Food Bank to help these families by providing them monthly provisions like rice, milk, Milo, infant formula, lentils etc. This then prompted us to start tuition St. Luke s Church Care Ministry Team Free Tuition Halfway Homes Advisor One of the many families that receives food from the Soup Kitchen Jimmy Ling Rev Soon Jun Jer Soup Kitchen Care Ministry Food Bank See Koh Khoon Nirmala Ruth Kristine Chan Empowering lives with the Love of Christ Micro Financing classes as education is most important to break the vicious poverty cycle. The children who come from these families do badly in school as many of them are still not able to read the Malay language. Currently, we have about 35 students and 7 teachers. Through the tuition classes, many children were interested to attend Sunday School. So we now have an average of 35 students, many of them Care Ministry Coordinator Utilities Fund We started Micro Financing to help church members who are struggling financially. We have one project that is on going. Mrs Jaya James started selling fish and vegetables in January When asked how this business has helped her, she said that money is not tight like before. She can now make ends meet while paying back the capital borrowed. The real blessing, she said is when she is able to help other poor people by giving them whatever extra she has. Our next project is to set up a food stall and train people to cook and run the stall. We have truly seen the hand of the Almighty at work as Ooi Hock Tai many non-christians are touched by the grace of God. What started as help has borne fruit into them wanting to attend service and any evangelistic Janet Ling meetings we organise. We do get people who cheat and lie to get help but that has never been an issue because poor people will do anything to get help in whatever way they can and we should never judge or stop helping them. Our vision is Empowering Lives with the Love of Christ by being caring, providing temporary assistance and the 3S - Shelter, Sustenance and Support and to break the poverty cycle through education and a second chance in life. AM 9

10 We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight by Eileen Khoo With that as the driving motto the Medical Mission of the Anglican Church started St Nicholas Home with only 8 crippled and blind children in Klebang, Malacca. In 1931, the Home moved with 16 children to Scotland Road in Penang and in 1938 to where it is today at Jalan Bagan Jernal. The Home concentrated on education for the blind for all races and creed and became the first institution in Malaysia to start education and rehabilitation for the blind. Today, St Nicholas Home, Penang is the training centre of the future for the blind. It is a voluntary non-profit and non-governmental organization catering to the blind and whose work is supported by donations and volunteers. St Nicholas Home provides uniquely designed programmes to train and prepare the blind for a quality life filled with joy and respect. 1. Early Intervention Programme (EIP) Staff (2 nd from left) with client and family 3. Deaf-Blind & Multi-Handicapped Programme (DBMH) Lim Tong Enn learning to peel garlic A story telling session DBMH programme is a continuation from TASKA as it provides training, education and support services to children aged 7-18 who are blind and have multi-disabilities. The children are taught skills that will help them cope with the activities that they need to perform in their daily lives. 6. Low Vision Centre The centre provides assistance to the blind who still have very slight traces of vision. 7. Senior Citizens Programme This is a residential programme for blind senior citizens aged 60 and above who have no family members. 8. Online Study Resource (OSR) This is St Nicholas latest effort in helping the blind. OSR is a collaboration between St Nicholas Home, Penang and Frog Asia Sdn. Bhd. which makes available the necessary reading materials to the blind so that they are on an equal footing to compete and excel academically. Better academic results translate into better employment opportunities. We are proud that three of our graduates are currently pursuing their Diploma in Business IT with the option of continuing with 10 The EIP provides training to children with visual impairment and multi-disabilities up to age 6 in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Perlis. Support is provided to the child and his/her family to help the child to develop wholly and to prevent or reduce other disabilities which may or may not be due to the main disability. 2. Taska OKU St Nicholas The taska was set-up to serve as a resource centre for pre-schools that are willing to open their doors to blind children and provide continuity to the children from the EIP. 4. Vocational Training & Employment Services (VTE) The VTE provides training in pastrymaking, basket-weaving, massage and IT. Its IT examination is certified by an external body which is recognised by the Malaysian government as well as the private sector. We also provide job placement services. Repairing electronic equipment Basket weaving 5. Information Resource Centre This centre provides braille and blind and visually impaired (BVI) library services. The student leaving for Adelaide being interviewed in the presence of the National Director Daniel Soon the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Business Information Systems Management programme. One of them is under a full scholarship from Hong Leong Bank. By mid-july 2015, another student will be leaving for Adelaide to pursue a Bachelor in Business (Innovations & Entrepreneurship) at the University of South Australia under the full sponsorship of Maxis Malaysia. He recently completed his Diploma in Business Studies from UiTM with a CGPA of We hope to see more vision-impaired persons excel to reach their full potential. AM Eileen Khoo is the Learning and Social Services Manager of St. Nicholas Home.

11 Helping People Help Themselves Mission Statement: In response to the Gospel, we at St. John s Community Help Service Ipoh, seek to reach out in love to those who are in need of advice or more concrete help. We are here to ensure that individuals do not suffer through ignorance of their rights and the services available to them or through their inability to express their needs more effectively. Seek to reach out in Love. St. John s Community Help Service (CHS) seeks to create awareness of the services and benefits available in this country for the public. At the same time, we seek to equip people with the knowledge of how to fulfill their needs in finding the right agency and adhering to the requirements stated on the application forms. We are open on Tuesdays from 12.00noon 2.30pm and Saturdays from 9.30am 12.00noon. CHS Members meeting Help University Students St. John s CHS is manned by church members who offer their expertise with love and care to people in the community who seem lost and do not know where to go for help. We offer a friendly environment for confidential discussions, with a coffee corner for fellowship and hospitality. No matter what race or religion they are, we welcome them warmly and demonstrate our care and concern. We do not judge them nor decide for them but we guide and direct them. Since its launch in 2013, St. John s CHS has welcomed over 150 visitors from the Ipoh community, listening to their experiences and problems, and helping them to work out how and where they can get the help they need. In some cases we have guided them in writing letters, filling up application forms and organizing supporting documents. In some cases, we have directed them to relevant Government departments, agencies and organizations that would address their needs. Our network includes our church members, Social Welfare Department, SOCSO, Jobs Malaysia, Income Tax Department (BR1M), Lembaga Air Perak, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, etc. Awareness of rights and seeking services and benefits available. Reuben visited CHS after being encouraged by one of our church members. He was living from hand to mouth by selling recycled items. He is a diabetic patient and walks with a limp, and we advised him of his eligibility for disability benefits ( OKU orang kurang upaya ) together with social welfare benefits. We gave him the application forms and guided him through the process. (CHS is aware that applications rejected are often due to lack of complete information, wrong information or without the supporting documents). Both the applications made were successful and he subsequently sent his friend, Mary, a single mother for help with her problems of employment. Giving advice and concrete help. At work Philip was bitten by a stray dog while painting a house fence. He ignored the injury then but after some time he was hospitalised. He visited us after reading about CHS in the local papers. He was fed up of making lots of applications for Social Security benefits but always being rejected. After studying the copies of his previous applications, CHS gave him hope and advised him to make a new application together with his current medical report and other supporting documents. A few months later he informed us that SOCSO had re-opened his file. St. John s CHS is not giving people fish but helping them to learn how and where to fish. We have come to know that some A typical CHS setting people who have been to us for help have indeed learnt how to help themselves and have also been sharing this knowledge with their friends and families. In order to promote our services to the wider community, St. John s CHS, with the support of the Church, has organized 3 community activities so far. The promotion for these activities was done through flyers, press releases and notices in relevant sections of major newspapers. The objectives in all the 3 activities were to promote the St. John s CHS to the wider community, to promote friendship and fellowship with members of the outside community and to extend the hospitality of the Church to the outside community. The first of these activities was a Book Sale held in February 2014, where books and magazines donated to us were sold from only 50 sen to RM5.00. The second was the Ipoh Community Fun Day which was held on 6 September There was a variety of Indoor Games with lots of prizes, food and drinks, a Café set-up and a children s colouring competition. All items and activities were priced at only RM1.00 each! The third was a Community Service Open Day & Bazaar held on 7 February 2015, where selected Government departments, agencies and organizations set up booths to promote the respective services available to the community. Vendors were also invited to sell items on cheap sale. AM This article is a joint effort by Janet Jebasundar, Jebasundar, Rev. Tom Cherian & Ruth Yates. 11

12 St George s Church Guides by Helenn Wevers In 1816 a ship set sail from India bound for the Island of Penang, Malaysia Its cargo? Convicts and mahogany trees! You must be thinking what a strange combination but it is from that convict labour and those mahogany trees that the foundations of the Church of St. George the Martyr were first put down. Building commenced in 1817, finished in 1818 and its Consecration was by the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Middleton, Bishop of Calcutta on 11 May, In the forecourt, one of those Sengal Mahogany trees still stands today, proudly watching over the Church, and watching over it, is a new mahogany tree planted by The Most Rev. Datuk Bolly Lapok during his visit on 19 April In July 2007 the Federal Government of Malaysia declared St George s one of Malaysia s 50 National Treasures and Museum. What a privilege and honour they bestowed upon the Church. They made available a grant and the doors closed to undergo a major restoration. In 2009 the doors re-opened and heralded the birth of St George the Martyr as a Heritage Listed Site saw the creation of the St George s Church Guide Mission! At present we have 12 volunteer guides, including myself and we open the Church Monday to Thursday, 10am 4pm and soon Saturday 9am 1pm. Our Mission Statement encompasses many things but without doubt the most important being to serve God with a happy heart and a smile on our face, be loyal ambassadors to both our Church and Christianity and to ensure that each and every visitor leaves having had a feel good experience. Guiding has two distinctly different parts. The first is to share the rich history of the Church and our vision for the future with visitors from all corners of the globe. We know no boundaries between country, nationality, race or religion. Since 2011 we have welcomed 72,989 visitors from the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, India, China, Korea, Australia and of course, thousands from all parts of Malaysia. We have groups of school children asking amazing questions not only about the Church but about Christianity. We have to be on the ball with them! The second part is to be able to offer solace and comfort to anyone who comes to the Church seeking emotional support whether it be through counseling, prayer or evangelism. Some don t realize they need help until you offer it and to see the awakening look on their faces as they listen to you is all the reward you need. All Team members have incredible testimonials about the changes they have been able to make in someone s life. St George s Church is the only registered Heritage Site in Penang to offer Audio Description to the Visually Impaired where we entwine describing the church with the story of our history. 11 May 2019 will see St George s Church, its congregation, the Diocese of West Malaysia and the entire Anglican community celebrating not only the 200th year, life and history of the Church but the fact that on that day, Anglicanism arrived on Malaysian soil. Praise the Lord! Perhaps a trip to Prince of Wales Island. Pearl of the Orient.Penang.to join in our celebrations should be entered into your diary! Church Guiding is a unique way in which to serve God. It s not just meet & greet, we interact with all manner of people. We ve learned how to communicate in many languages using words and hand gestures and I m sure we look hilarious doing it. We have sad days, we have frustrating days but most of all we have FUN days! Serve the Lord and have fun doing it, what more could a person want? The St George s Church guides would consider it an absolute pleasure to welcome everyone to our beautiful Island, show you some St George s hospitality and give you a personalised, guiding experience, not just of the Church but of our beautiful island! In 1816 our Church was a vision, in 1817 it was built, in 1819 it was Consecrated and in 2019 we celebrate its 200 years of life and commence Guiding it into the next 200 years! AM children visiting from St Christopher s Church, Johor Baru The Sengal mahogany tree planted by The Most Rev. Datuk Bolly Lapok Celebrating our 1st AGM as a Constituted & Social Mission, St George s Church Guides

13 Visit to Shal Home by John Gunapalan Interactive games with the residents. On 28 March 2015, youths from St Paul s PJ and St. Mary s KL visited Shal Home, a home in Petaling Jaya for people who are suffering from mental illness. The visit was the annual Lenten Lunchbox event organised by the Diocesan Youth Council for the Upper Central Archdeaconry. were some who did not join in. This was followed by a short round of interactive games to break the ice. The games allowed us to get to know the residents while also producing some good laughs. After this there was a message about Jesus being the Christ, The residents were then encouraged to express their feelings and what they thought heaven would be like through painting. It was interesting to see what some of the residents had painted as well as listen to the explanations about their paintings. The youths helped some of the residents in the painting. This required us to listen and follow their instructions to bring out the images in their minds. To me, this was a good opportunity to make a connection. As this was a Lenten Lunchbox event, lunch was provided for everyone served by the youths. And on that day, it was McDonalds. As we handed out the food, it was nice to see how much this visit made it an extraordinary Saturday for them. As for us, it was a day out of our regular weekends to do something worthwhile. When we arrived at Shal Home in the morning, some of the youths were apprehensive about the visit, perhaps because they did not know what to expect. However, having visited the home the previous year, I explained that there was nothing to worry about. After a brief introduction of the purpose of the visit, we began the session with a time of singing and worship. The residents were generally responsive, although there Group discussion and teaching about Easter. the Messiah, and that He had to suffer and die for our sins. The message was illustrated on a whiteboard in the form of doodles and simple drawings. Residents enjoying the meal provided I thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve our community. In our busy lives we may often forget to take time to serve the needy. But as we found out, it does not require a great deal of effort to do so. Therefore, I would encourage anyone to volunteer for a cause such as this, for it can be an eye-opening experience, a fun time with friends and a chance to show some love and care. AM John Gunapalan is with the the Youth Service of St. Paul s Church Petaling Jaya. 13

14 Anglican Care Retreat And AGM 2015 by Maureen Chand knowledge and eventually to develop skills on what to say and do. 14 Participants with Bishop Ng Moon Hing and Bishop Charles Samuel No regrets! That s how I felt attending the Anglican Care Retreat and AGM 2015 from 22 to 25 May 2015 at Hotel Grand Continental, Kuala Trengganu on the theme Here I am Lord. In all a total of 40 delegates from different churches throughout the Diocese participated. It was clear that a lot effort had gone into the organising of this retreat by the committed and dedicated people from the various caring ministries. Bishop Ng in his address at the AGM made it clear that Loving Care was the one thing that attracts the non believer to the church. He also warned of the need to beware of the wrong focus and suggested that sufficient training be given to care-givers in managing the caring centres in their respective churches. Bishop reminded the participants of maintaining a True Focus and Genuine Dr. Edmund addressing an attentive audience Attraction. He stressed on continuing in the vision of Anglican Care, training for succession, courses for equipping, and the establishment of an endowment fund to prepare future leaders to play bigger role in the area of social concern. The highlight of the retreat was the two sessions by Dr. Edmund Ng, a psychotherapist with post-graduate qualifications in counselling, ministry and thanatology. He is a former pastor and business CEO and Founder and Resident Director of GGP Outreach, a communitybased grief support service for those who have lost their loved ones as well as on post-trauma grief, loss counselling and Practical and Financial Help. He presented the topics sensitively and everyone listened intently on how to face grief and handle the loss of a loved one. His vast experience in this area made it easy for him to share with the delegates, (some of whom had lost loved ones) about the need to face the reality of the loss, not to hide the frustration but to move forward and be transformed to accept the loss. Dr. Edmund referred to Luke 24 : with reference to grief support. The sessions gave guidelines on how to reach grieving people with compassion, concern, understanding and In the second session, Dr. Edmund brought the participants to a better understanding of Disaster Recovery and the phases of Disaster Response first, Relief which includes providing tents, blankets, water, clothes, medication; then Restoration which includes utilities, communication, clearing up houses, repairs etc and finally Recovery people have to rebuild their lives and this is where the church has the opportunity to care and be involved. He reminded us that the objectives of Grief Recovery for Disaster Survivors was to come to terms with their losses, to move on in life with resilience, rediscover hope, purpose and meaning in life and to expand the Kingdom of God. After all that, there was a workshop on The way forward what next? led by Rev. Matthew Chay. It was a brainstorming session in light of the recent floods in the East Coast and the earthquake in Nepal. REACH - Relief, Emergency and Crisis Help - is a new ministry that has been introduced into the Diocese. Participants outside Rumah Damai, Kuala Trengganu The participants were taken on a visit to Rumah Damai - a home for the aged as part of the outing during the Retreat. In all, the Anglican Care Retreat and AGM 2015 was a rewarding experience for all who attended it. AM Maureen Chand is the Ministry Coordinator in St. Paul s Church Petaling Jaya.

15 45 th Diocesan Women s Conference by Nesamani Alexandor The 45th Diocesan Women s Conference 2015 organized by the Diocesan Women s Committee was held from 1-3 June 2015 at the Dynasty Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The theme of the Conference was Fostering Ventures. A total of 148 ladies from 32 churches participated. The Opening Service was officiated by the Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing and assisted by Asst. Bishop Charles Samuel and Deaconesses. After tea the participants gathered to take a group photo. The Opening Service began at 5.00 pm. After the service we adjourned for the Opening Night Dinner at the Function Room. The ladies were divided into groups and were told to get to know each other. The next morning after breakfast, we adjourned for the Business Meeting. The Bishop said that the country was going through many crisis such as passing of the Hudud Law by the Kelantan State Legislative Body and the conversions of minors in schools. Issues such as GST, 1MDB and the new Sedition Act had also created uneasiness among citizens. He then questioned: What can the church do? What can DWC do? He said our nation seems to be going downhill in terms of ethics, morals and justice. We need to hear what the Lord is saying in situations such as these. Bishop said that the DWC is entering its 45th year and that it was good to pause and recall what it has done over the years. It has organized various programmes and activities for the women in the diocese. He further said that the DWC should make every effort to bring in the young adult ladies and professional working ladies. He then proposed some activities that the new DWC committee can consider for specific categories of women in our diocese. After the conclusion of the Business Meeting, the ladies went into their respective language sessions for the Theme Talks and Workshop Sessions. English Session The Theme Speaker for the English Session was Rev. Jacob George from Holy Cross C h u r c h Sitiawan. He spoke on the Diocesan Theme Fostering Ventures. All three sessions were very interesting as he related his experiences in serving the Lord in the various churches he was posted to. He said we needed to stay focused when running the Christian Race. We should not be discouraged, frustrated or disappointed with people who try to bring us down Tamil Session The Tamil Session s p e a k e r was Rev. Jesvinder Singh from St. James C h u r c h Sentul. He spoke from Isaiah 54:2 with the title Enlarge the place of your tent. It prophetically speaks about God redeeming the people of Israel and pouring forth blessings. In the same way we will be blessed and the Lord will cause us to flourish but the tents in our lives need to be enlarged. Chinese Session For the Chinese session, the theme s p e a k e r was Rev. Wong Chee S e o n g. T o g e t h e r with his w i f e, Sis. Margaret Yee they shared their experiences as missionaries in Thailand. Rev. Wong shared on the life of Ruth in The Song of Songs as an example of why and how we can step forward and persevere in fulfilling God s will. In conclusion, Rev. Wong challenged the ladies to get ready to equip themselves with the six components under Fostering Ventures. On the second day we organized a trip to Putrajaya but due to the heavy rain, went instead to the IOI City Mall for shopping. The Conference ended on with a time of sharing of experiences on the Conference. We give God all Glory, Honour and Praise!! AM Nesamani Alexandor is the Secretary of the Diocesan Women s Conference. 15

16 Joshua Community Centre Inauguration as Missionary District and 5th Anniversary Celebrations by Ann Balasingam The congregation with Bishop Ng and the clergy 16 Five years in the making of Joshua Community Centre (JCC) as a Missionary District presented itself with many joys, blessings, trials, teaching and rebuking from the Lord. This vision to establish this centre was in line with the vision of Bishop Ng Moon Hing, the Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia, who during his Presidential Address at the 2009 Synod said: Instead of creating a new diocese, let us compete with horses to see whether the creation of the province of West Malaysia is possible or not. This can only be done with the whole Diocese in agreement and sharing and moving at horses paces. We will do this with the help of the Holy Spirit. This was further reinforced through the presidential address at the 2010 Diocesan Synod in August this year when Bishop quoted Joshua 1:11 Take possession of what the Lord has given to you. In his closing remarks, he encouraged us to Take Possession of all the God-given resources such as human resources children of God, evangelistic resources, life-line and social resources. He ended by quoting Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. It is with these challenges and a vision to meet the needs of the people in Seremban that Joshua Community Centre was conceptualized on 29 January 2011 and dedicated that same year on 1 of May 2011 by Bishop Ng Moon Hing. On 19 April 2015, Joshua Community Centre celebrated its fifth Anniversary and Inaguration as a Missionary District. The church began with five core members sent by St. Mark s Church Seremban to reach out to the local community. Today Joshua Community Centre reaches out to the community through its many outreach ministries that include Sunday Worship Service, Bible Study Fellowship, Home Visitation, Tution to the poor and needy and extracurricular activities such as mountain climbing and arts and craft. JCC also hosts annual events like the Healing Rally and Blood Donation Campaign to help the people within Seremban. The Healing Rally reaches the community in Rasah Jaya and Seremban as invited speakers - Dr. Albert Chia and Dr. Wong Si Lan and their cell group members came all the way from Tawau, Sabah to minister healing to the people. The Blood Donation Campaign is another major event that is held annually during the fasting month as there is a shortage of blood in Tuanku Jaafar Hospital during this time. The dedication service was graced by Bishop Moon Hing with a special message from Acts 3 to set aside our ignorance and to move in faith to perservere in the service of the Lord in any situation as life in faith is a RISK. We, as a Missionary District were also blessed to witness the licencing of our priest, Rev. David Low as an NSM priest who was simultaneously appointed as the Priest-In-Charge. The leaders of the Missionary District were prayed upon and two candidates were also confirmed that day. To end off the festivities a Celebration and Fundraising Dinner was held at a local restaurant. The good food, performances Song presentation at the dinner by in-house and imported talent and the fellowship ended the day. Please continue to support us in our fundraising efforts. AM

17 Church of the Holy Cross Dedication of Church and Inauguration as Parish Saturday 21 March 2015 marked a memorable day for the congregation of the Church of Holy Cross, Sri Manjung, Perak as four events took place within the context of the Holy Communion service. There was the Dedication of the new Church, the Inauguration of the Church as a Parish, the Induction of Rev. Jacob John as Vicar of Holy Cross and the Confirmation of around 16 adults and young people. The service was attended by around 260 guests and members of the different congregations. The Bishop, Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing, Assistant Bishop Rt. Rev. Charles K Samuel and the congregations of Holy Cross, Air Denak, Inauguration of the Parish Unveiling of the plaque by Bishop Ng and UIE made up the approximately 260 people who attended this service. The service ended with a thanksgiving dinner that showcased the diversity and cultural richness of the various ethnic groups that constitute this growing congregation. All glory to God for the many blessings He has poured upon His Church and His people. AM Confirmation candidates The traditional costumes of Sarawak, Sabah, Indonesia and the Orang Asli 17

18 Diocesan Children s Ministry Agm And Retreat 2015 by Esther Appadurai The Diocesan Children s AGM and Retreat was held from May 2015 in the Grand Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on the theme Fostering Ventures: Discipleship. To make this year s event enriching and empowering, the committee of DCM invited various speakers who were experts in different fields of children s ministry. Their talks and workshops encouraged and motivated participants who gained valuable insights into helping children in their spiritual growth. The event started with praise and worship led by the Lollipops, a group of passionate Christians from different denominations who love to worship the Lord through songs and music. Following this was a highly inspiring Special Address given by Deaconess Ruth Ong. Bishop Charles Samuel then motivated the participants on the theme Fostering Ventures- Discipleship. The AGM commenced with a speech Bishop Charles Samuel: A Great Motivator by Bishop Ng Moon Hing and it served as an eye-opener to the participants on the current issues, challenges and obstacles faced by the Christian Church in Malaysia. Songs of praise and worship: The Lollipops There were nine sessions and workshops in all, each dealing with different aspects of effective teaching. Participants were given the chance to ask and try handson activities during these sessions and workshops. Dss. Ruth Ong giving her message The AGM and Retreat proved to be a rewarding and enriching experience for all who attended. The AGM, Participants and Group Photograph DCM Committee The attentive participants A group photograph Sessions/Workshops 1, 2 & 5 Story Telling, Drama & The Bible: Mr. Tim Nicholls A trainer of teachers for the children s ministry. Loves children and bringing them to Jesus The Sessions and Workshops Sessions/Workshops 3 & 4 Vision and Mission : Rev. Elizabeth Yow Wai Yen Conducts camps and seminars for teachers and children. Her passion: 4-14 Window Session 6 Handling Challenging Children Ms. Annam Chairperson of Anglican Care and trains staff and volunteers for people with special needs. Sessions/Workshops 7, 8 & 9 Outdoor Activities and Innovative Crafts : Mr. William Samuel Winner of the Innovative Teacher s Award at National Level 18 Bishop Ng Moon Hing delivering his address Getting Started: The Briefing Outdoor activities

19 Diocesan News Bites 6TH DIOCESAN BISHOP OF SABAH The Provincial House of Bishops appointed Bishop Melter Tais as the 6th Diocesan Bishop of Sabah. Bishop Tais was ordained a priest in 1993, made Canon in 2006, installed an Archdeacon in 2007, consecrated Assistant Bishop in 2009, appointed Vicar-General in 2014 and on 20 February 2015 was appointed Diocesan Bishop. Bishop Tais is a man of God committed to Discipleship Training, Evangelism and Mission. He is 50 years old and married to Angeline Wong. They have 4 children. Bishop Ng Moon Hing VISITOR FROM OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES On 13 May 2015 Rev. Dr Gary Inrig who recently retired from active pastoral ministry with an EFC Church in California visited the Diocesan office and met up with Bishop Ng Moon Hing. He was in Asia under the auspices of Our Daily Bread Ministries for a series of Bible Conferences in Malaysia and Taiwan. Dr. Inrig is an author of several books such as Whole Marriages in a Broken World published by Discovery House. It was a good opportunity for Dr. Inrig to understand the present challenges facing the Malaysian Church from Bishop. - Rev. Tan Meng Poo DEDICATION OF EPAC The dedication of a new church for the Orang Asli community in Kampar, Emmanuel Praise Anglican Church (EPAC) by Asst. Bishop Charles Samuel was held on 16 May Bishop Charles also confirmed 40 Orang Asli members. Present at this dedication service was YB Dr Ko C S, Member of Parliament for Kampar. The church is situated on the first floor of the 1Malaysia Clinic, behind Grand Kampar Hotel. Canon Dr. Teoh Soong Kee Cozy Home AGM The Home had its AGM on 31 January The Bishop in his keynote address reflected on the history of Cozy Home and its objectives. He challenged the Board to expand its activities through church planting as well as share their experiences and expertise with other churches and extend a helping hand to churches that were willing to start Old Folks Homes. He hoped Cozy Home would not be seen as just a service provider but would be transformed into a training and learning centre of excellence. James Chee St. paul s Bahasa Malaysia Ministry St. Paul s Church Petaling Jaya Bahasa Malaysia Ministry celebrated the Pre-Ka amatangawai on 17 May 2015 after the Sunday service at 2.00pm. The theme for this year s celebration was Uniting God s Harvesters. The actual dates of the Sabah Harvest Festival are 30 and 31 May 2015 and for Sarawak 1 and 2 June However, to get a good response the committee decided to have it on 17 May so that all could join the festivities before they went home to their respective villages in Sabah and Sarawak to celebrate. Ronley Ansoi 19

20 20 The Healing of the Blind Beggar Luke 18:35-43 Printed by: Triple Triangle Trading. No. 84, Jln Taming 5, Tmn Taming Jaya, Balakong, Selangor.