by Bishop Moon Hing Bishop Moon Hing and wife Siew Lan

Transcription

1 Private Circulation i Only M E S S E N G E R DIOCESE E OF WEST MALAYSIA KDN : PP11463/04/2010 4/ (023901) MAY-AUGUST 2012 NURTURING THE SHOOTS IN STEWARDSHIP by Bishop Moon Hing billion ringgit questions have been often raised Who is the next government? and Who is the next Prime Minister? In all eventuality, I believe there will still be a government and a Prime Minister after the GE13. The really important question is Will the new government and Prime Minister be practising stewardship? INSIDE PAGE 4 NURTURING IN STEWARDSHIP - REV DR PAUL BARKER PAGE 7 ST JOHN S IPOH CENTENARY CELEBRATION Bishop Moon Hing and wife Siew Lan When I think of the word Stewardship, it takes my mind to the many table talks on the 13th General Election that I have heard at coffee-shops, mamak-stalls, lunch breaks, food-outlet joints and after church services, among members. The two According to the Chambers Dictionary, a steward is one who manages the domestic affairs of a family or institution; or superintends another s affair; or administers as an overseer or officer of a state. In traditional homes and in the Old Testament, a steward was one who ran the whole household and held the accounts on behalf of the master. One excellent example found in the Bible is in the person of Joseph in Genesis 39: 2-6. His master Potiphar had entrusted to Joseph s care everything he owned except the food he ate. Cont'd on page 4 PAGE 13 DIOCESAN WOMEN S CONFERENCE PAGE 14 ARISE! SINGAPORE Putrajaya - the seat of Government

2 CONTENTS EDITORIAL Bishop's Message...1 Nurturing In Stewardship - Rev Dr Paul Barker...3 St John s Church, Ipoh, Perak...6 St John s Ipoh Centenary Celebration...7 An Amazing Year In Malaysia...9 Diocesan Women s Conference Mission Report from Chiang Mai Mission Schools In Malaysia ARISE! Singapore Book Review - The Power of Integrity Our St Chad s Volunteer Writes Festival of Joy The Marriage Covenant For Wisdom...20 Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace and all my people are to submit to your orders. - Gen 41:39. In a world where corruption, nepotism and cronyism are rife, the church must stand distinctive in its witness to the Truth; for transparency and godliness; for spiritual stamina and humility. In the stewardship of its resources, both material, fi nancial and human, we need to ask ourselves whether we are faithful to the Lord s trust and if we are witness to the community in carrying out this trust. Joseph had good reason to be unforgiving and selfi sh if he had wanted to. His was not an easy life in his early years, yet his humility in accepting his predicament and his generosity of spirit in not becoming bitter about those who had mistreated and wronged him, teach us important lessons for life. He was diligent, worked hard at what he was assigned to do, whether it was in Potiphar s house, in the prison or in the palace. His integrity in both word and action refl ected his commitment to God and stood him in good stead, bringing glory to God. That he named his second son Ephraim was acknowledging to the world that It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering. - Gen 41:52. What a testimony and example of excellent stewardship. Can we nurture our believers to follow in his footsteps? Joseph could have been selfi sh and corrupt. He could have been bitter and revengeful, but in the Spirit of our loving God, he tells his brothers, You intended to harm me but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. - Gen 50:20. Can we enter into this kind of trust and change our attitudes about the problems we encounter both within and without the church? The Editorial Board thanks Bishop, Rev Dr Paul Barker and all who so kindly responded with reports and articles. The Editorial Board COMING EVENTS EDITORIAL BOARD 2 100th Anniversary Thanksgiving of Holy Trinity Nibong Tebal - 5 August 2012 Diocesan Golden Circle Conference in Penang August 2012 Diocesan Synod in Kajang August 2012 St Andrew's Church KT 20th Anniversary Thanksgiving - 7 September 2012 Diocesan Discipleship Training Seminar September 2012 CCM Malaysia Day Service - 16 September 2012 Visit to Bangladesh September th Anniversary Thanksgiving of Gereja Shalom and Orang Asli - 30 September 2012 CCEA Bishops' Meeting in Taiwan 3-9 October 2012 Diocesan Men's Conference - 13 October 2012 St Luke's Church Teluk Intan 100th Anniversary Celebration - 14 October rd STM Graduation Service - 20 October 2012 Ordination Service - 26 October 2012 In-Service Training for Clergy/ Deaconesses 5-15 years service October 2012 Lay Pastors School November 2012 Diocesan Mission Sunday (Feast of Christ the King) - 25 November 2012 Diocesan English Youth Camp December 2012 Diocesan Chinese Youth Camp in Penang December 2012 CFM Christmas High Tea at 3.00pm at Luther Centre - 25 December 2012 Adviser : The Rt Rev Datuk Ng Moon Hing Members : Gloriosa Rajendran (Editor) Rev Dr Andrew Cheah James Chee Prakash Mukherjee Alan Chong The theme for the next issue is Nurturing the Shoots in Discipledship. The Editorial Board welcomes articles and photographs that focus on the theme for the coming issue. Please submit articles (with soft copies and relevant photographs appropriately captioned) to the Editor, Anglican Messenger, Diocesan Office or to anglican@streamyx.com by 30th Nov The Synod of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia No. 16 Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur. Tel : /

3 NURTURING IN STEWARDSHIP by Rev. Dr Paul Barker They say that the last part of a person to be converted is his wallet or her purse. Sadly that is often the case. Jesus frequently taught about money, as did Solomon in Proverbs and the apostle Paul. Though stewardship is greater than simply money, money lies at the root of wise stewardship. Jesus told a provocative parable that remains worthy of our attention. A dishonest man cheated his master by squandering his property. He was caught, dismissed from his job, and asked to give an account by his master. The shrewd but dishonest man rewrote loans so that the debtors had much less to pay. One who owed one hundred found his debt rewritten to fi fty, and so on. The man was gaining friends for his imminent unemployment. The master, when he discovered this rewriting of debts, surprisingly commended the dishonest man, not for his dishonesty but for his shrewdness. (Luke 16:1-8) Make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth (mammon) so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into the eternal homes. (Luke 16:9) Jesus teaches the point of the parable. Make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth (mammon) so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into the eternal homes. (Luke 16:9) Here is Christian stewardship in a nutshell. Jesus is commending his followers to wise investments of their money for the sake of eternity. Newspapers and magazines often promote investment opportunities, in property, shares, bonds, retirement schemes or in banks. But nothing in these advertisements, of course, is about eternal investment. What is the picture that Jesus paints us? Who are these friends who will be welcome to the eternal homes? Let me give some hypothetical examples. Imagine you arrive at your eternal home and are greeted by someone you do not know. They welcome you as a close friend. Then they say that because of your investment in the Diocese of Cont'd on page 5 3

4 Cont'd from page 1 NURTURING THE SHOOTS IN STEWARDSHIP Every Malaysian is concerned with the government and its leader, the Prime Minister, as the chief steward of the nation. We are looking for one to whom we can entrust the whole nation and all her wealth, without sleepless nights. The call to be a steward is a pre-historic one. In a home, the husband and wife are called into stewardship right at the beginning of their marriage the man and his wife should leave his parents and they will become one fl esh (Gen 2:24) and manage their own family. In a nation, the king or the leader is called into stewardship to rule over the inheritance of the nation (1 Samuel 10:1). In the church, the leaders are called into stewardship to feed the sheep and to become fi shers of men (John 21:19; Matthew 4:19). Similarly, we are called to be stewards of Almighty God and to administer and manage the affairs of the Kingdom of God on earth appropriately, according to His desire. There are at least 5 areas we must pay attention to. 1. Stewardship of the mind We are to set our minds on the things above and not on the things in the world (Col 3:2) 2. Stewardship of the heart I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11) 3. Stewardship of the mouth Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefi t those who listen (Ephesians 4:29) 4. Stewardship of the belongings Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand (2 Chronicles 29:14) 5. Stewardship of individual rights He must become greater and I must become less (John 3:30) Real stewardship is not just the knowing of the Word but doing it willingly and honestly Do not merely be listeners but be doers of the Word (James 1:22). AM NEW APPOINTMENTS Chinese Board Chairman Rev. Stephen Soe Tamil Board Chairman Rev. Canon John Kennady Anglican Care Chairperson Ms. A. Annamaney Diocese Women Chairperson Mrs. Veni Selvam Vice Chairperson Mrs. Jacqueline Bau STM Vice-Principal Ven. Steven Abarrow Diocesan Youth Council Chairman Daniel Chai The Next Diocesan Bishop of Singapore 4 The Rt. Rev. Rennis Ponniah

5 Cont'd from page 3 NURTURING IN STEWARDSHIP West Malaysia mission to orang asli communities, that person became a Christian. Your stewardship of money has made you an eternal friend! Or another possibility: you are welcomed in heaven by a Thai family. They greet you as a friend saying that through your stewardship of resources in the DWM work in Thailand, this Thai family came to Christ. You made an eternal friend through your wise investment. A Myanmar family greets you in heaven as a friend. Because of your wise stewardship in supporting STM (Seminari Theoloji Malaysia) this family was ministered to by an STM alumni and became Christian. Examples abound! Imagine, as you arrive at your eternal home, a long line of people from all sorts of places and ages greet you as their friend. What wise stewardship has created so many eternal friends? Christians, following the lead of our world, are often good at investing in the world. We invest for our retirement, for our children s education, in our property, and in earthly friendships. Yet so often we fail to be shrewd and wise stewards for the sake of eternity. Jesus parable is a striking challenge to us, as it was to his original followers. There is probably no Christian church or mission in the world that is over-resourced. The needs remain so great in so many places. When I left Australia in late 2009, I preached on Luke 16:1-9 in various churches. I wanted those who supported me to see their investment in eternal friends. In my prayer letters and reports back home each year, I try to introduce them to their new friends. These friends are my students, colleagues, fellow pastors and others here in West Malaysia and also in other places and countries in Asia where I teach and preach. As well, these friends are those to whom my students and others minister. Who knows how God will use such mission and ministry! Mostly those stewards who support me will not meet these friends on earth. But one day they will be welcomed by many new, yet eternal, friends. How can we become better stewards and nurture the shoots of stewardship? PEOPLE The image of friendships is a very challenging and encouraging one. Christian stewardship is about people because people matter most to God. Our eternal investment must have human faces, even if they are unknown faces to us. We are investing in lives, through ministry and mission at home and abroad. While buildings and equipment are vital, people matter the most. Keep thinking of people as the object of your wise stewardship. ETERNITY Keep thinking of eternity. Around us, there are short-term and long-term investments. But so-called long-term investments are actually very short. What matters is not here and now so much as eternity. Invest in what really matters. Invest in what lasts. As the Apostle Paul said, in relationship to his ministry, what lasts is what is revealed through judgment on the fi nal day (1 Corinthians 3:12-14). He is saying that the ministry that matters is what lasts to eternity. I fi nd it revealing to hear where people leave their money in their wills. In Australia, time and again I found that Christians left their money to their children, maybe a charity or two, but not much, usually, to Christian ministry or mission. Often family members are quite well off and independent. Christian ministry and mission is always in need. KEEP ACCOUNT The dishonest man in the parable was told to give an account of the fi nances to his master. That is not a literal example to us. However it is wise to keep an account of our stewardship, for a few reasons. We often think we are being generous and wise, but do we actually analyse that? I encourage Christians to keep accounts to guard against deceptive and stingy hearts. It is easy to think I am generous but when we do the accounts, many of us may realise that is not the case. At the end of every fi nancial year, I tally up all my giving to Christian ministry and mission to check my giving exceeds my plans. If not, I give more. May the Lord nurture the shoots of stewardship in West Malaysia for the sake of eternal friends. AM Rev Dr Paul Barker holds a PhD from the University of Bristol/Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, A visiting scholar to the seminary, he was a former Vicar of Holy Trinity, Doncaster and has taught at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia. He teaches the Old Testament and Preaching, and is also a facilitator in training preachers in conjunction with Langham Partners International. He has written two books on Deuteronomy 5

6 ST JOHN S CHURCH IPOH, PERAK A BRIEF HISTORY by Rev. Robin Arumugam, NSM The recorded history of St. John s Church, Ipoh until now has been rather sketchy. The fi rst reference to it was as South Perak Church the Ipoh Church. It was under the Chaplaincy based in Taiping, the then State Capital, except that the Rev. Joshua Powell Parry, the Chaplainin-Charge was resident in Batu Gajah. The reigning Bishop then was the Rt. Rev Charles James Ferguson Davie the fi rst Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore and it was under his direction that the South Perak Chaplaincy was inaugurated. The Chaplaincy, which lasted for about 50 years, helped to plant the Anglican Church in Southern Perak, and assisted them to become initially congregations and then parishes. In the early stage, due to lack of fi nance and clergy, the ministry was confi ned mainly to major towns. Suffice to say here that, due to the diligence and loyalty to the Word of many Clergy and Laity, inspite of two World Wars and a debilitating Emergency, the Anglican Church has brought Christ to many that hungered for His Word. a proper recording of the history for future generations as we begin the next 100 years. There are no actual records of such gatherings when the British, residing in South Perak, met for religious obligations. However, the early meetings could have been held at the Ipoh Club, which was established much earlier than The records of its history were lost during the Japanese Occupation in World War II. There are no records of services held in Ipoh prior to However, a group almost certainly must have met in early 1905 for in the District of South Perak, mainly the government administrators, miners, and a large number of rubber estate planters. The meeting was held at the Ipoh Court House, a wooden building where the Perak State Mosque now stands. It was at this meeting that the Church of England was fi rst mentioned. They proposed to elect a council and to establish an Endowment Fund for the sole purpose of providing the stipend for a Resident Chaplain and general furtherance of the work and interest of the Church of England in the said District of South Perak. 6 To celebrate our 100th Anniversary, an attempt was made to trace the history of the Church and make a chronological documentation. It was, to say the least, an immense effort to collate materials from all available sources from the past and present to complete the story and enable us to have The old Court-house, situated opposite the Clock Tower The Church was consecrated as St. John the Divine on 30th April, 1912 by Bishop Ferguson Davie an eventual possibility. After some time they could have discussed the possibility of regular Sunday gatherings. It was then recorded that a public meeting was called for on 16th September 1905 to meet and discuss several matters relating to worship and administration. That special meeting was called under the chair of Mr. Edward John Brewster (the Chairman of Kinta Sanitary Board, equivalent to Municipal Council, from 1904 to He retired in 1916 as the British Resident, Pahang. In his honour and appreciation, Brewster Road was named after him), for those who were residing A nine-member committee was elected to supervise the work in the various areas where the British were residing. However, the history of the Church of England in Ipoh Church began in 1906 when the Anglicans held their monthly services, conducted by Rev. J. B. Bourne, in the old wooden Court House. Gradually there was improvement in the following years. The old Courthouse, opposite the Clock Tower, was renovated and set apart as a place of worship. Records show that only four services were held during the year. The Rev. J. B. Bourne

7 St John's Ipoh Centenary Celebration was the Chaplain from Taiping, under the North Perak Church. As the only Chaplain, he had an enormous task at hand, visiting and celebrating Holy Communion all over Perak. The Chaplaincy of the South Perak was inaugurated circa 1909 and until 1910 two services per month were maintained in Ipoh. Those who attended the services must have felt the desire for a permanent church building. The congregation had foresight, for they did not want to build just any type of a Church building, and Chaplain J.B. Bourne was the fi rst to create a fund. It was just the beginning. Later Rev. J. P. Parry, who was stationed at Batu Gajah, continued and raised funds for the Church. From the fi rst it was determined to erect a building worthy of the Church of England and worthy of a place of worship. On the advice of Sir Ernest W. Birch, the British Resident of Perak, and the congregation the Chaplains were keen to complete a building worthy of a Parish Church. It was a wise move for the new Church had not only served the congregation for the last 100 years, but also had the capacity to serve it for many more decades. This desire was fulfi lled on 15th December 1910, when Bishop Charles James Ferguson Davie, of the Diocese of Singapore, laid the Foundation Stone of the future church at Ipoh. When completed, the Church was consecrated as St. John the Divine on 30th April 1912 by the Bishop. ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION We celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Consecration & Inauguration of St John s Church, Ipoh, dated 30th April A Commemorative Holy Communion Service was held on Sunday, 29th April 2012, at 5.00pm, followed by a Buffet Dinner at 7.00pm. The Rt Rev Andrew Phang was the Celebrant and Preacher. We were encouraged by an attendance of about 200 people. The main Thanksgiving Celebration & Dinner was held on Saturday, 26th May 2012, at 6.00pm. There was a short Thanksgiving Service followed by a seven-course Chinese Dinner at the New She Lai Ton Restaurant. Our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev Datuk Ng Moon Hing was our Guest of Honour. It was the best response for a St John s function with 45 tables taken. A Souvenir Magazine compiled by Rev Robin Arumugam was released at this function. CHURCH HIGHLIGHTS AREA CARE GROUP MINISTRY We embarked on our Area Care Group Ministry in February We launched 4 Area Care Groups that meet on alternate Fridays. The Program comprises Worship, Bible Discussion, Prayer and Fellowship. Some of the Bible Study Programs we have completed are CHRISTIAN CHARACTERISTICS, CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINES & RECEIVING GOD S WISDOM. CHURCH FAMILY CAMP Over the last few years, our Church has been organizing Annual Family Camps held on the 1st or 2nd weekend of September. In 2009, it was held at the Rosa Pasedena Hotel in Cameron Highlands. The theme was TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST and the Guest Speaker was Rev Fred David. In 2010, it was held at the Coral Bay Resort, Pangkor Island. The Theme was SPIRITUAL HEALING and our Guest Speakers were Rev & Mrs Vincent Lau. Last year, it was held at Tanjung Bungah Beach Resort in Penang. The Theme was SOWING THE SEED and the Guest Speaker was Bro Joule Bonus from the Philippines. HARVEST THANKSGIVING Though the Church was built mainly by local contributions, the community would not forget that the present edifi ce owes almost as much to public support as to the individual liberality. The Government of the day is to be thanked for their support by providing an almost ideal site and also for the loan of the Old Court House as a temporary Church. EASTER GARDEN PARTY The Harvest Thanksgiving Service is held each year in the month of October. All parishioners bring a variety of food items and gifts in kind. After the Service, we divide the food items and gifts in kind and give them to the Handicapped Homes as well as Children s and Old Folks Homes. About 30 Church Members participate in these visits. The church building was not only bricks and mortar but was the repository over the years due to the ardent prayers of the parishioners and the generations to come. Today it stands proud as an emblem of God s everlasting love and Grace and we have come a long way. We continue to serve the congregation and are actively involved in various programmes. AM Since 2009, on the evening of Easter Sunday, we have an Easter Garden party at 6.00pm. During the party, we have a Sing- Along, Group Games, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Easter Rabbit Game, a Guest Speaker and Food & Fellowship. We encourage members to bring their friends and relatives to this function. TRAINING COURSES & SEMINARS We conduct regular Christian Educational Programs and Training Seminars. We have had the ANGLICANISM COURSE and have embarked on the DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM. We also have had half-day Seminars on the POWER OF PRAYER, LAY VISITATION MINISTRY and NURTURING THE SHOOTS. Cont'd on page 8 7

8 Cont'd from page 7 ST JOHN S IPOH CENTENARY CELEBRATION CHRISTMAS CAROLING The St John s Carolers undertake both Home Caroling and Public Caroling as a happy group of earthly angels. The Carolers cover public places such as hotels, shopping malls and welfare homes over a weekend. The Carolers also go to more than 50 homes over three nights of home caroling. 9 LESSONS AND CAROLS SERVICE This is a Service of Carol-Singing, Scripture Readings and Choir Presentations held in the Church. The St John s Christmas Choir is featured prominently in this Service. The Service has had a more evangelistic emphasis in the past two years. CHURCH MISSION ST MARY S CHAPEL, TAMBUN (BM) Our BM Ministry takes place at St Mary s Chapel Tambun. Weekly Services are held on Sundays at 10.00am, alternating between a Holy Communion Service and a Praise & Prayer Service. Weekly Bible Study takes place on Friday nights and a Weekly Sunday School on Saturday mornings. Bro Joseph John coordinates this Ministry. GERIK ANGLICAN CHURCH (BM) We undertake a BM Ministry at the Gerik Anglican Church. Weekly Praise & Prayer Services are held on Saturdays at 4.00pm, with a monthly Holy Communion Service. A Teaching Program is conducted on alternate Saturdays at 3.00pm. Bro Joseph John coordinates this Ministry. TAMIL MINISTRY Our Tamil Service takes place every Sunday at 6.00pm, alternating between a Holy Communion Service and a Praise & Prayer Service. A Weekly Tamil Prayer Meeting takes place on Friday nights in members homes on rotation-basis. Bro Joseph Thambiah coordinates this Ministry. MYANMAR MINISTRY Our Myanmar Ministry takes place at the St John s Education Centre Hall. Weekly Praise & Prayer Services are held on Sundays at 9.30am, with a Monthly Holy Communion Service. Bro Morris Zaw Htet Aung, a Myanmar migrant worker with Theological Training, coordinates this Ministry. A recovering cancer patient, Moses and his family. Amelda, the eldest child is in Form 1 and is (almost) a straight A student. Wife, Vani, works as a part-time school cleaner. Moses is unemployed as he receives a small SOCSO pension.) COMMUNITY SERVICES KINDERGARTEN The Kindergarten caters for children of ages 4 6 years old. We have fi ve classes and six teachers, led by the Principal, Ms Lucia Dourado. The Kindergarten operates from 8.30am to 1.00pm daily, Mondays Fridays. CHILD-CARE CENTRE Our Childcare Centre operates from 8.30am 5.30pm daily, Mondays Fridays. It is led by Mrs Agnes Aylesbury. It caters for children of ages 2 9 years old, either on a full-day basis or a half-day basis. EDUCATION CENTRE The Education Centre at our premises has facilities such as Conference Rooms, Meeting Rooms, Office Space, Dormitories, Hostel Rooms and a Guest Apartment. These facilities are open to the public on rental-basis, with special consideration given to Christians, Churches and Mission Organizations. AM OUR CLERGY Vicar: Rev Tom Cherian & his wife, Veronica Shanti 8 SOCIAL MINISTRY Every month, the Church Social Concerns Committee supplies provisions to needy families known to us. Assistance is given for the school expenses of needy children known to us and for other special needs brought to our attention. Sister Hilda Sankey coordinates this Ministry. Priest (NSM): Rev Robin Arumugam & his wife, Ruth

9 AN AMAZING YEAR IN MALAYSIA by Jason Brown Greetings in Christ! My name is Jason Brown and I was the St. Chad s Volunteer from the Lichfi eld Diocese to the Diocese of West Malaysia The St. Chad s Volunteer programme aims to build bridges between our two Dioceses as well as use the time on mission in the different countries; to challenge and grow the young adults in their personal faith. It also aims to show how the Church works and runs in a different country and to allow volunteers to bring back those experiences to their home Churches and Dioceses. During my year here in Malaysia, I was stationed at Christ Church, Penang under Rev. Christopher Tan. This has been a real blessing for me, learning and working under Rev Chris has been eye-opening, informative and challenging. During my year at Christ Church I had the blessing and honour to be involved in so many different aspects of the ministries of the church (Sunday School, Young Adults, On the beach Visitation, St. Nicholas Home, Preaching and Church Administration) and through this I have learned not only a lot about myself and my own faith but also about the running of the Church and all that is involved. It has been a truly humbling experience. One of the best parts of this trip has been to see the Word of God spoken and taught in so many different languages and across so many different people groups. This is one memory that will always remain precious to me as it reminds me of the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 19 Go and make disciples of all nations... I would encourage any young adult who feels like God has placed a calling on their lives or need a challenge to grow more in their faith, to take up a mission trip through St. Chad s Trust. It takes a step of faith to leave behind all you know and to move even for a year to a foreign land. It is through this that you learn more about the wonders of our God and how he keeps his promises to us. God will also place in your path some amazing people to learn from and grow with. I have been really blessed in this area, meeting a number of people from all around Malaysia who have taught me many things and challenged me to grow both as a person and in my faith. It is these lessons and encounters that have left the deepest impact and I hope to take them back with me and use them to encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in the Church back in England. I would like to thank Christ Church and Rev. Christopher and his family for Jason (right) in traditional chinese shirt looking after me during my year with them and for making Christ Church really feel like home for me. Thank you very much for the time spent together and for the knowledge and experiences you have shared with me. I would also like to thank the Diocese of West Malaysia for allowing me the opportunity to share in so many of the different programmes the Anglican Church organises throughout the year. Thank you all so very much for an amazing mission trip and may God bless you all. AM Sightseeing 9

10 Partiicipants at the iconic Christ Church OVER 300 ATTEND DIOCESAN WOMEN S CONFERENCE by Nesamani Alexandor 10 The 42nd Diocesan Women s Conference 2012 was organized by the Southern Archdeaconry from 4-6 June 2012 at Hotel Selesa, Johor Bahru. The theme for the Conference was Nurturing the Shoots. A total of 305 ladies, 18 men and 12 children from 34 Churches in the Diocese participated. We also had in our midst 13 sisters from Myanmar, who were visiting the Diocese. The Opening Service was held in St. Christopher s Church at 5 pm. It was officiated by the Rt. Rev. Datuk Ng Moon Hing. He was assisted by Asst. Bishop Jason Selvaraj, Archdeacon Edward John and others. After the service and a group photograph, we were ushered to the Hall of Praise of St. Christopher s Church for the Opening Night Dinner. Following the Dinner the ladies congregated for the Business Meeting. The Bishop in his Presidential Address explained the theme of Nurturing the Shoots. Seeds sown become young shoots that need to be nurtured. Young shoots are people and ministries of all ages, as captured in the Vision & Mission statement: In response to the Gospel and Mission Mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we seek to make disciples, to bring wholeness in the midst of our changing society and to grow our diocese to the glory of God. There are three actions in the vision and mission statement:- 1. To make disciples 1.1. The seed of disciples making 1.2. The process of Nurturing 2. To bring wholeness 2.1. The seed of bringing wholeness 3. To grow our Diocese The Bishop encouraged us to look into the possibility of growing our Diocese into a province with a few dioceses. If this is still the vision of the DWC, he suggested that we strengthen the Archdeaconry Women s Committees. He also left us to decide if we are willing to have Regional Annual Conferences and come together once in three years. The next day the ladies went into their respective language sessions for the Theme Talks and Workshop Sessions, getting back together only for meals. ENGLISH SESSION The Speaker for the English Session was Mrs. Joy Samson from St. Mark s Church, Butterworth. She spoke on the theme 'Nurturing the Shoots'. She quoted Joshua 1:11 which exhorts the people to get the supplies ready and take possession. She also spoke on the life of Joshua as a man of great courage and a worshipper of God. She reiterated that women can do many things for our Lord and that we should not be afraid. We should make Prayer Life our lifestyle. She spoke at length on the Qualities of a Good Prayer Life Qualities of a Good Christian Woman Characteristics of a Christian Woman Nurturing for Discipleship Characteristics of Discipleship. The ladies then dispersed to their groups to discuss topics relating to: what they wished to see in the DWC and/or the Women s Fellowship in their Parish or MD in 20 years time the strengths of the DWC and/or Women s Fellowship in the Parish or MD today the weaknesses of the DWC and/or the Women s Fellowship in the Parish or MD today how to get there in 20 years time in a practical way Cont'd on page 19

11 MISSION REPORT FROM CHIANG MAI by Rev. Wong Chee Seong Rev. Wong Chee Seong and wife Margeret, son Josaiah and daughter Joyce Greetings in the name of Christ. My family and I had moved and settled down in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last month. On the fi rst two weeks we had difficulty fi nding our way around Chiang Mai town, because it is still very new to us. We will need more time to fi nd our way around town. However, we have started our fi rst mission, with Dean Rev Yee, to Pai. After one week we moved up from Bangkok on 5th June. The Anglican Church of Thailand has two outreach centres in the Northern Thailand, one in Omkoi with Karen work and the other one in Pai with Lisu work. Both the outreach areas have three villages up on the mountain so the Isuzu four-wheel drive is just suitable and very useful to move around. Previously I had heard about Bishop Moon Hing's Orang Asli ministry in Perak under St. Peter's Church and the stories of his adventures. Now, together with my whole family, I'm about to experience the same adventures in the three villages in Pai. Pai is a town about a hundred kilometers from Chiang Mai. The fi rst village called Sai Ngam is about twelve kilometers up the mountain from Pai where we met Pastor Som Chay. Not too far from Sai Ngam is the village of Doi Pilu and Pastor Nipon and Amanda station are out there. The rain came when we reached the second village. After the rain stopped we continued our journey to the village called Nam Plaa Mong which is another ten kilometers from Doi Pilu. Although the three villages are not very far, we still drove for hours due to the poor road conditions on the mountain. It is a fi ve-hour drive from Chiang Mai to the third village in good weather. A two wheel drive vehicle would not be able to go up to the villages for sure. Our fourwheel drive is 14 years old, but is still very powerful and meets our needs. Of course, since it was my fi rst time there, Dean Rev Yee was driving the whole time during the journey. After visiting the third village, we returned to Sai Ngam, where we planned to have our dinner and service. There is no electricity supply in all the villages, only solar system for their daily electricity supply. We ate what they served and the taste was good. We started our worship service after dinner around 8pm. Some villagers came with their own torch lights in the darkness and some came on motorcycles. I was given the opportunity to preach and Pastor Nipon translated into the Lisu language. Dean Yee celebrated Holy Communion followed by prayers for the villagers. Service ended about 10.13pm. The villagers would only have the chance to celebrate the Eucharist whenever Dean Yee pays them a visit or when a mission team comes with clergy. We spent a night in Sai Ngam village in a wooden house. Thank God for good weather. We all slept well. Josaiah did wake up for his milk about 4am and Margeret needed to prepare the milk in the dark. No fan, no air-condition, but we had naturally cool air through the night. On our journey back to Chiang Mai, Dean Yee briefl y assigned me to these two northern outreach points since I am stationed in Chiang Mai. Both these outreach points were started and supported by different Anglican churches from the Diocese of Singapore many years ago. According to Dean Yee, regular visits and ministry will certainly help the villagers to grow spiritually. By God's will, our centre in Chiang Mai will be ready for use before April next year. At this moment, our team leader Aj. Narin and his wife Fon are working very hard to get the licence for the centre and to prepare the curriculum and paper work. We hope to start the kindergarten next year along with the Thai new school term in May. In addition to the proposed Mandarin tuition, a third project is the Alpha Coffee Centre run as a cafeteria in the day and with Alpha courses at night. A similar centre in Korat has been started by someone from Singapore. For the moment, I plan to get more familiar with the road system in Chiang Mai town, and try to know our neighbors by reaching out to as many people as we can. I will also continue my Thai 11 Cont'd on page 13

12 MISSION SCHOOLS IN MALAYSIA by Alice Doria Muti Wholesome education has always been something close to my heart, not only because I have children who are still in school but also because I believe that every child should be given the opportunity for a good education one that would empower and equip him/her for the future. For this issue I will be touching on mission schools in Malaysia in particular St. David s High School Melaka. Mission schools were the greatest of the British legacies left from their era of colonialism, and have produced many leaders in this country. There are many successful alumni of mission schools all over the world, including business leaders, doctors and various academicians, who would readily testify to the impact and infl uence of these mission schools in their lives. During the colonial era (19th century), there were at least 800 mission schools and convents established. However, this scenario changed dramatically with the end of the British rule and the beginning of political independence. Today, there are only 462 mission schools and convents left (227 in Peninsula Malaysia and 235 in Sabah and Sarawak). Most missionary schools were established by missionaries of various Christian denominations, mainly the Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Brethren churches. Although started by the Christians, these schools provided education for all regardless of race, religion, creed and social class. In addition to providing quality education, the school s curriculum also included the inculcation of religious, moral and spiritual values. During this time, the missionaries were fully involved in the school s curriculum, operation and administration, with much support from the colonial government. Nuns, Brothers and missionary teachers taught in these schools. Primary and secondary education were provided with English language as the medium of instruction, strict discipline and the imparting of positive values were the education characteristic of the day. Undoubtedly, our education standard was the best in the region (Singapore was part of Malaya then). In the early years of independence ( ), in order to qualify for government fi nancial funding, the mission schools (after much debate) were incorporated into the Malaysian Education System. They followed the national curriculum but were allowed to retain English as their medium of instruction. However, in 1969 the government implemented the National Education Policy emphasizing the use of the Malay language as the medium of instruction. In accordance with this policy, English- medium schools were converted into Malay-medium national schools. The language change was made gradually and by 1982, all mission schools became Malay-medium schools. Mission schools became governmentaided schools or Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan in 1971 mainly due to lack of resources to maintain the schools. This means that the Mission Authorities while retaining ownership of the land and the buildings, are not involved in the administration of the school this includes issues like placement and relocation of teachers and principals, student intake as well as activities undertaken. It is felt that the mission schools have since lost much of their original character, ethos and ideals. St. David s High School Malacca is one of the remaining mission schools in Malaysia. It has about 1600 students and is one of the top schools in Malacca. Historically, St. David was an Anglican Church mission project in Melaka. It started with the establishment of a maternity hospital along Tranquerah Road in The St. David s Mission Hospital was then run by Dr. (Mrs) Ferguson, the wife of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore. The 12 Newly completed three-storey building

13 Cont'd from page 11 MISSION REPORT FROM CHIANG MAI hospital eventually ceased operations when the government expanded its medical services. but steadily taking shape. The new school block which started construction in 2010 was completed early this year. The establishment of St. David s School was a bold vision of Commander R.K. Hudson who was then the Diocesan Secretary. He galvanized all relevant parties; the Church, the Government and the Community to pave the way for the birth of St. David s High School. The old St. David s Mission property at Tranquerah was subsequently sold and the proceeds used to put up the school building located at the current site at Bukit Baru (an area of about 5.5 acres). In 1959, the fi rst batch of 160 St. Davidians entered Form One (only boys then, girls were accepted from 1989). The fi rst Principal was Mr. Derrick O.C. Thomas. By far the most revered Principal would be Mr. P.V. Jacob (feedback I obtained from Old Boys ). He served the school for 14 years from 1962 to However, like all partially aided schools, the school was in dire need of funds for repairs and upgrading of facilities to sustain an optimal learning environment. The headmaster and School Board had to source or raise funds to maintain and repair buildings inclusive of buying the students desks and chairs. Despite sorely lacking funds, the everincreasing student population has led to the need for additional classrooms, labs, toilets and staff facilities. In 2009, the school authorities together with St. David s Old Boys association and the PTA launched a School Building Fund for the proposed three-storey school block (costing about RM2.4 million), to house these new facilities. Various fund raising activities were carried out, including school carnivals (fi rst one in 2009), an Anniversary Dinner and the relentless lobbying for funding from the State and Federal Government. The entire school has also been given a fresh coat of paint, sponsored by ICI Corporation. The Christian Fellowship is alive and well. There is a school Chapel and Rev. Joseph Soon is the School Chaplain. Our ex-vicar, Bishop Datuk Dr. Batumalai was the Chairman of the Board of Governors until his retirement in December Now the baton has passed on to Rt. Rev. Jason Selvaraj. There is the ever supportive Mr. Chay Y.C. the school Principal. The CF advisor currently is Pn. Soh S.C. Many concerned parents, organizations eg. Malaysian Youth for Christ, also chipped in to contribute to the various activities for the Christian teenagers in the school. The mission schools are no longer in a position to play a leading role in the fi eld of education which was then an important channel to transmit Christian values. However, by the grace of God, the mission of the founding fathers will and should continue. The struggle lives on and I am sure you will agree with me, that our mission schools (irrespective of denomination) are worth fi ghting for and are a legacy to be passed on with pride. We should not only look to the Government for the growth and sustenance of our schools but also our alumni and the community. We seek your prayers and support (alumni and also the community) not only fi nancially but also your time and talent. Mission schools were brought into being through the selfl ess act of the pioneers and missionaries and now, it is entrusted to our stewardship. Pray that the Christian community will rise to the challenge and be actively involved in educating the young generation. AM Language lessons as the Thai language in the north is slightly different to that in Bangkok. I will assist in monitoring the renovation progress assigned by my team leader Aj. Narin. In my ministry, other than planning to visit the two outreach points regularly, I will assist and accompany the mission teams arriving in October, November and December. I pray that God will grant me the fl ock which belongs to Christ but are not in the sheep pen, so that I can have the opportunity to serve and train them to become the disciples of Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for supporting and upholding us in your prayer. Yes, your prayer is a great encouragement for us to move on. Below are some prayer items: 1. Pray for the ministries in the three villages at Pai and Omkoi. 2. Able to serve and train the Thai people with my limited knowledge of the Thai language. 3. Our team to build on the foundation of Love and Unity. 4. More than 50% of the Christian population in Thailand are staying in Chiang Mai, but there are still many un-reached in Chiang Mai. Pray that God will grant us the other sheep that are outside the sheep pen. 5. Pray for the greater awareness of overseas mission in our Diocese. AM Lo and behold! Through the cooperation of the School Board, the teaching staff, the alumni, the Government, PTA and the community at large, the vision is slowly Alice Doria Muti is a member of Christ Church Melaka Rev. Wong was ordained thirteen years ago. In 2010 he was sent to Thailand as a missionary. 13

14 ARISE! SINGAPORE 2012 FROM THE LIPS OF CHILDREN AND INFANTS YOU HAVE ORDAINED PRAISE BECAUSE OF YOUR ENEMIES, TO SILENCE THE FOE AND THE AVENGER. Psalms 8: 2 by Ev. Sheerah Lee Arise! Singapore took place on Saturday, 14th April I saw about 2000 children gathered at Paya Lebar Methodist Church. ARISE! is a gathering of children in praise, worship and prayer, in every time zone of the world on 14th April, 2012, in lifting up the name of Jesus. The fi rst ARISE! event was held in Singapore in ARISE! started simply in obedience to a vision God gave. Over the years, the Lord crystallized the vision of ARISE! it is about raising children who have a heart of worship - and out of their worship fl ows the song, the dance, prayer and mission they will be a part of Isaiah 61:11. ARISE! was recently invited to partner the 4/14 Movement in the call to the world to fast and pray for the 4/14 Window. It is no coincidence that the Lord is moving different parts of the body to stand in the gap for this 4/14 generation. At ARISE! Singapore 2012, I was so blessed to come to realize that the children have a vital role to play in all this; It is Time they enter God s presence in praise and worship, take their place as a generation set apart for His works and fast & pray for their generation on the Global 4/14 Day they are a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61:11 It's a brand new experience for me to be part of the ARISE! family. It's amazing to see how these children come together and obediently and joyfully sing and praise Him. I m deeply moved by how dedicated parents come together to support this event and to see the people's love for Jesus bind them to put this event together. 14 I am blessed and touched by God through the children's praises. I could not help but feel God s pleasure as the children lifted Cont'd on page 19

15 BOOK REVIEW THE POWER OF INTEGRITY - JOHN F MAC ARTHUR by Gloriosa Rajendran John F Mac Arthur is the pastorteacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. He does a daily Programme on national radio and is the author of several books. In this book, Mac Arthur deals with the topic of integrity in three parts. The Essentials of Integrity, The Examples of Integrity and The Ethics of Integrity. He begins by defi ning integrity as follows: Integrity essentially means being true to one s ethical standards, in our case, God s standards. Its synonyms are honesty, sincerity and incorruptibility. It describes someone without hypocrisy or duplicity. someone who is completely consistent with his or her stated convictions. In the fi rst part, Mac Arthur examines the essentials in developing what he calls righteous motives. He states that this involves a desire to know Christ intimately, a commitment to the Word of God as the ultimate authority and a desire to live a godly life. In the fi rst chapter entitled Value Unsurpassed, he says, Only as we build our relationship with Christ and tap into His might will we have victory over sin in this life. And that is the only way we can build a life of integrity. In stating the Doctrinal Integrity in Chapter 2, he says, All believers must act as guardians of the Truth God has entrusted the Church with the stewardship of Scripture and its duty is to support and safeguard the Word as the most precious possession on earth. The book goes on to state clearly how to safeguard this Truth and goes on to describe God s love in the chapter on In Pursuit of Godliness. It enunciates emphatically that all believers must act as guardians of the Truth. In the second part of the book, Mac Arthur discusses the examples of Daniel and Paul as seen in the scripture. Writing about how Paul defended his integrity, he says, An essential goal for any spiritual leader is to gain the people s trust through genuine integrity. A reverential knowledge of God s greatness is what characterized Paul. In dealing with the Ethics of Integrity, Mac Arthur devotes two chapters to Holiness Personal Holiness and Practical Holiness. He starts off by dealing with the problem of hypocrisy making clear that The Lord can work effectively only through lives that are disciplined and submitted to Him Lack of diligence in serving Christ not only wastes opportunities for good works, it also allows evil to prosper. The book concludes by reminding the reader that When others, believers and unbelievers alike can see Christ in us, we have developed a power only our Lord can give a power that characterized Him as He dealt with people in this world The power of integrity. The power of integrity is simple really: Obey God and watch Him use you to transform lives around you. 15

16 OUR ST CHAD S VOLUNTEER WRITES... I am Anthony Jude Arul and I am in England as a St. Chad s volunteer based in St. Bartholomew s Church, Wolverhampton. This is my fourth month. First of all, I want to give thanks to God for giving me this opportunity. He has provided the best for me here. I was officially commissioned in Lichfi eld Cathedral on 24th March 2012 by The Rev Canon Dr Pete Wilcox. Both my supervisors, Rev. Ben Whitmore and Rev. Philip Swan have planned for me to be involved in various ministries here so that I can learn and gain experience. Within the Parish I am involved in the junior church, youth gatherings, cell groups, and soon will be preaching. I am also going around Lichfi eld Diocese to share my testimony and experiences about the St. Chad s volunteer programme. I have experienced many things in these four months. Some of the things have given me new insights and some have helped me to realize that God is working in many different ways. After walking a while, I noticed that I was no longer in the town area. I was only aware of the water on my left and green fi elds on my right. There was no noise. I could hear the singing of the birds. Frightened ducks were fl ying away; sheep, horses and cows gazed at us. What a lovely view around me. I felt energized and told myself, whatever happens, I am continuing the journey. On the last day, reaching Lichfi eld Cathedral, this phrase came into my mind. I was lost and now I am found, amazing grace. Yes, I was lost spiritually and this time of walking the pilgrimage gave me the opportunity to be with God, forgetting all my problems, worldly desires and not thinking of what I am going to do tomorrow. All that I had done during this journey was (Right) A happy Anthony Jude Arul after his commissioning People, especially all the women attending the prayer session were glad to see me and it was special to be representing Malaysia on that day. I attended the Clergy Conference for the Lichfi eld Diocese at Swanwick Conference Centre. I met many priests and spent time talking and sharing with them, even playing indoor football. The theme was Consider Your Calling. Some of the priests I met told me that all the talks presented had inspired them and it had been refreshing as well. They also felt that many others were touched. I particularly was touched by John Bell s talk on Liturgical Praise. I have also had time to travel and have a good holiday for ten wonderful days. I went to the Lake District, London, Stoke on Trent and Paris. I am spending my time well here with fresh new experiences. The St. Chad s volunteer programme is a great learning programme. 16 One of the most signifi cant experiences was the Pilgrimage walk which covered 90 miles. We walked from Chester to Lichfi eld. It was cold but sunny most of the time. Coming from another part of the world which is warm throughout the year, it was difficult for me to cope with the situation. Half way through the fi rst day, I had bad cramps in my right leg and I actually wondered whether I could really do it! I walked!! At one point, our team leader, Mr. David Pott read a poem and asked us to quieten ourselves and refl ect on the poem about our journey with God. I started to walk along the canal and ponder about the poem. Celebrating Palm Sunday pray, enjoy nature, sightsee and make new friends. This pilgrimage walk was a great blessing for me, making history in my life. It was a solid time of refl ection, refreshing and reconnecting with God. These are two important secrets that made me to complete this journey - God and good fellowship. I was very privileged to attend the Women World Day of prayer, praying for Malaysia with the theme, Let Justice Prevail. On that day alone, there were about 6000 churches around Britain praying for Malaysia. Working with the youth The time here for me is a period to be alone and forget the arena of the wider world. It has made me silent and turn to God for all my needs. Thanks be to God!! Anthony Jude Arul AM

17 FESTIVAL OF JOY GOOD NEWS RALLY by Sharon Alex Rajah Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one travelling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generation. Isaiah 60:15 The day 14th April 2012 was a remarkable date in the Anglican calendar as Christ The King Church Subang Jaya with a congregation of about 30 people organized an enthralling Good News Rally called the Festival of Joy. As the Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10b The joy of the Lord is your strength. The Festival of Joy brought great joy to many souls including believers and non-believers. God used our Diocesan Missioner Rev. Canon John Ganapathy to do extraordinary things for the extension of His kingdom. This was held at the Dewan Serbaguna in SS15, Subang Jaya. Good The presence of the Holy Spirit enveloped the whole hall Shepherd Church Subang Jaya, being the mother church of Christ The King Church also played an important role in the success of the Rally. Canon John leading in prayer Bondages were broken, sins were forgiven, the sick were healed, miracles took place, joy fi lled many broken hearts and the glory of the living God came upon everyone. The power and glory of the true living God moved freely among all of us. The worship session brought this Good News Rally to greater heights. The presence of God fell like fi re upon everyone as in the day of Pentecost. The Lord has been gracious from the planning stages till the time of execution. For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37. The hall was fi lled with 800 believers and non-believers who came expecting miracles in their lives. Many who were living in darkness were brought into His marvelous light. As Rev. John preached, the Lord touched many hearts and made many people to rededicate their lives for Jesus. It was a new beginning for many Christians. Their hearts were fi l l e d w i t h j oy. The magnifi cent touch of the Lord renewed their strength and refreshed their souls. On the day of the Rally, God stopped the rain and gave us good weather. The presence of the Holy Spirit enveloped the whole hall as Rev. Canon John Ganapathy got on the stage. The Good News of the Lord was shared with the hundreds who were seated in the hall. The glory of the living God came upon everyone The Festival of Joy was indeed a great blessing! We pray and hope that more rallies like the Festival of Joy will be organized to bring about the glory of God and the extension of His kingdom. AM Sharon Alex Rajah worships at 'Christ The King Church Subang Jaya 17

18 THE MARRIAGE COVENANT by Nesamani Alexandor 18 The Upper Central Archdeaconry Women s Committee (UCAWC) organized its fi rst Couples Retreat at Silverpark Resort, Fraser s Hill from 4th 6th May We were delighted to have eight couples from four Churches participating in this Retreat. The facilitators The facilitators were Dr. Vincent Vasudevan and Dr. Victoria Nair Vincent from Joy Harvest Global Ministries. The husband and wife team runs family seminars both locally and abroad. They also conduct family and intercessory seminars and are fi rm believers that strong families make strong churches, which will be able to stand the onslaught of the enemy in the last days. The topics discussed were: The Marriage Covenant Why God designed Marriage Managing Confl icts Effective Communication Techniques The importance of Intimacy The Three Stages of a Woman Confl ict Resolution / Money Matters Why Divorces Occur The 3D s to a Fulfi lling Marriage Dr Victoria led the introductory session on the Marriage Covenant and highlighted that according to Genesis 2:22 which says then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man, so a marriage covenant cannot be broken as God himself had brought the woman to the man. In Genesis 17:7 God said And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. This verse clearly implies that a marriage is to be an everlasting covenant. All the topics discussed made a great impact on us as Dr Vincent & Dr Victoria had personally gone through ups and downs in the early years of their marriage. By the grace of God, they made their marriage work. On a lighter note, the participants took part in tele-match games organized by the resort after which we had the afternoon off. The couples took the opportunity to enjoy the cool and serene environment of Fraser s Hill. On Sunday morning, we gathered for a short Morning Prayer. The retreat came to an end just before lunch. Feedback from participants is that they have learnt a lot from the sessions and that they will now appreciate their spouses more and not take them for granted. All Honor and Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ! AM The participants Mrs Nesamani Alexandor is the chairperson of UCAWC

19 Cont'd from page 10 Cont'd from page 14 OVER 300 ATTEND DIOCESAN WOMEN S CONFERENCE Each session with the Speaker was followed by group sharing of experiences and concerns. ARISE! SINGAPORE 2012 TAMIL SESSION BM SESSION Seventy one ladies from the Tamil speaking churches attended the Tamil Session. The second day began with a Holy Communion Service which was conducted by Rev Victor Arputham, followed by the Talk Nurturing The Shoots. The Theme Speaker for the Tamil Session was Ven Edward John from St Christopher Church, Johor Bahru. The topics discussed were in relation to Prayer and the Christian Family. After each session, the ladies were grouped to discuss a few interesting questions which gave them the opportunity to share their views and ideas. On the last day after the fi nal Talk and Group Discussion, a few ladies came forward to share amazing testimonies. CHINESE SESSION There were 105 participants in the Chinese Session. Rev Lionel Gan Beng Huat from St. Stephen s Church, Yong Peng was the Theme Speaker. He encouraged the ladies with his life experiences in the Pastoral Ministry, so that they would know how to build the life of others. He also challenged the ladies not to give up on the Ministry, assuring them of God s presence and His own way and time for the harvest of the Ministry. He also reminded the ladies to be humble before God, as success is from God, not due to personal merit. There were 36 participants in the BM session. The Speaker was Rev Doding from Gereja Good Shepherd, Pasir Gudang, Johor. He spoke on the Theme Nurturing the Shoots. Rev Doding challenged the ladies to be committed in their service to the Lord and work together in peace and solidarity with the Priest and the congregation to achieve the vision of the Diocese. They gathered in groups to pray, discuss and share their personal experiences with one another. On the second day, all participants were given an option to visit the following places with transport provided by the Organizers: Visit to RBC Visit to Johore Premium Outlet Dedication Service at the Selesa Jaya Church House of Prayer Trip to Singapore Own transport For those who stayed back at the Hotel, they were entertained with Line Dancing and a Flower Arrangement Demo by the Hotel Management. The Conference came to end on 6th June The ladies went home with fond memories of meeting up with old friends and making new ones. They parted with the knowledge that they are women in Christ, who cherish their esteemed place in the sight of God and had a great task ahead to Nurture the Young Shoots. We give God all Glory, Honour & Praise!! AM Mrs. Nesamani Alexandor is a member of the Diocesan Women s Committee their praises and worship. The children who were leading on the platform were also released to pray for the people. They have portrayed a good example of praying boldly and openly. It's great to see children of all ages bold enough to praise God! To be proud of their love for God, to sing, shout, dance, praise God for all He has done. I was touched by the Lord when we were singing "I Believe" -- the hope and faith in believing that Jesus can do miracles over and over again. The Lord has assured me again of the destiny that He has given me. I give all glory and praise to my Savior, for touching me - showing me that children are a gift from God - and that they are instrumental in His Kingdom. I thank God for His undying love. He demonstrated this by the death of Jesus on the cross. I am indebted to God all my life. I strongly believe that God is raising up a new generation to take off where the older generation has left behind. The young of our generation is not the future, they are the present! They are now! They are the history makers and world shakers! So ARISE and build the young of our generation! Reach out to them and disciple them in the ways of Jesus! AM 19

20 FOR WISDOM Viney Wilder 20 Give me a humble spirit, Lord, Where wisdom will take root, And help me then to cultivate Each tender, budding shoot. Endow me with a thirst for truth, Deny me self-content, And make me useful in this world Until my life is spent. Give me a faith that s strong and sure, Above all temporal things. Give me a sense of humor to Offset life s tiresome stings. And fi nally, Lord, make me sincere In all I do and say, That I may build an inner fort Which nothing can dismay. Printed by: Academe Art & Printing Services Sdn Bhd. No. 7, Jalan Rajawali 1A, Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: , Fax: