2022AUGUSTTOMAY111ISSUE
On the cover, “G” is at the centre of the title, Floodgates, just as we need to place God at the centre of our all. Our name Floodgates originates from Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Damansara Utama Methodist Church Dream Centre, 2 Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia T +603 7498 8488 F +603 7958 3787 church office is closed on Mondays.
Father God, may we all, children of God, be blessed when the “floodgates of heaven pour out…” and be reminded that the presence of God in our lives is the blessed life. 2022 Pastor
Message From Senior
FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM We are living in an era of constant change, and we witness something new every day, to the point that we may be numb to it. Nothing surprises us anymore. With instantaneous information available through social media, and the constant bombardment of “news”, today’s generation can be overwhelmed by what used to be considered “unusual” or “shocking” in times before, and begin to believe that this is “acceptable” and “normal”. But it should not be “acceptable” nor “normal”. Romans 12:2 tells us “Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is –His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Floodgates was created to be a vessel, a platform where we can publish articles and testimonies to bless and inspire God’s people towards Godly renewal of the mind mentioned by the apostle Paul, and which will stand out from the daily bombardment of confusing and possibly unhelpful
1-4 Senior People 5-6 In Jesus’ Footsteps 7-11 New Jerusalem 12 Book Review 13-14 Seeking God’s Presence 15-17 Finding God In My Illness 18 The Lord My Protector 19 Our Presence AcknowledgingExperienceChristisEnough 20-21 God’s Goodness is Beyond Our Comprehension 22 Baptismal Testimony
E general@dumc.my dumcMY W dumc.my The
May to August
In“information”.Floodgates, we, as a Church, the Body of Christ, can share stories and bear witness to God’s amazing grace and give Him the glory. Also, we can remind ourselves that we are nothing without Jesus, that we would just be part of a dying world and hopeless.
By Pastor Chris Kam, Senior Pastor
Let’s look at Titus 2:1-5. Paul issued a challenge to Titus who was on the island of Crete that Christians must match their lifestyle to their doctrine. If you say you are a Christian, live like one. Instructions were given to four groups of people – older men and women, and younger men and women. Each group had a significant role and Paul started with the older ones, shattering the prevalent myth: “I’m too old to contribute.”
ne observable crucial megatrend today affecting most parts of the world, including Malaysia, is the aging population. Going from an aging to an aged society in just 24 years has created much concern in terms of employment, income security and aged care. There are many reasons for this, including a continued decline in fertility rates and increased life expectancy. Coupled with the fact that many young people are disillusioned with institutionalized religion, this issue is also felt acutely in churches with an aging Incongregation.mysermon series in honouring our seniors in the church, I preached a sermon with the same title. The purpose was to begin a conversation in the church about the issue of aging and to encourage seniors to age graciously and purposefully. Aging is not a bad word. The second half of our lives can be more exciting because we lived the first half of our lives learning to live the second half better. Psalm 71:17 & 18 is an inspirational prayer of the elderly. “ 17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.”
Here’s the big idea: God’s not done with the senior people yet. Neither should you!
Still, we need to appreciate the seniors who have gone through the harsh weather of life O and hung on to their faith. They have made many sacrifices – some they rejoice over, others they regret. We need to, as a spiritual family, help them come to a place of rest and assurance in their golden years. Yes, seniors do enjoy certain perks and discounts in many places and are often invited to “jump the queue” in a special senior lane. But it is no consolation when the cost of medical insurance goes up excessively! As a church, how do we encourage them in the important role they still have? While the emphasis of our outreach and ministry must be towards the younger people, we do injustice when we unintentionally communicate that seniors are to step aside to let a younger generation take over and hence are of lesser relevance. This is so far from the truth and the heart of God.
The psalmist had come to the last lap of his life. In his senior years, he continued to be vigilant. When we were younger, there were mistakes we could recover from more easily. It is not the same when we are older. For example, senior people can’t afford a fall. A broken hip or an injured knee may never recover fully. Your health is not as good as it used to be. Your minds may not be as sharp. There are feelings of insecurity and loneliness as you are now empty nesters. Sometimes the children you raised and loved don’t come back to look after you as much as they should. It’s not that they don’t love you. It’s just the season of their lives. Different challenges present themselves in our senior years. That’s just the way life is.
Henry Ford commented: “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
2. Seniors can model to the next generation what it means to follow Christ. 3. Seniors must continue to learn. 3
Here’s the big idea: God’s not done with the senior people yet. Neither should you!
There are three things Paul encouraged the senior people with: Paul exhorted Titus to teach the seniors what kind of men they needed to become. In other words, he was saying “Be before you do.” 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. I wonder what younger people experience when they interact with older people. Do they see older ones as being stern, grouchy or inflexible, always giving them “the look”? Old age tends to amplify shortcomings in our character, our habits, and the way we respond to situations. If we tended to get angry when we were younger, old age makes us grouchy. If we tended to be shy when we were younger, we then become reclusive in our old age. If we tended to have strong opinions, we then become excessively opinionated. Seniors like these are very hard to talk to. If we have walked with Christ faithfully, we will see a dying to self every day that moves us towards Christlikeness. (Galatians 5:24) It is not by chance that God recorded in the Bible many men who had fallen in the second half of their lives. Noah got drunk. David committed adultery when he was not careful at the peak of his career. Solomon, the wisest man on earth, flirted with all kinds of ideas as he got older and married 700 wives and had 300 concubines. In the same way, Paul turned to the older women with the same tone. It was a call to be Christlike first, to be part of a redeeming community to a fallen world, and then to teach younger women how to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be committed to their home and to be kind and be subject to their husbands. This was a call to point out that we cannot give what we don’t have. This modelling is reflected in Paul’s letter to Timothy. 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. God calls reliable seniors whose behaviour matches what is taught in the doctrine. As they live this kind of life, they display and model what God wants the next generation to become. Some of you may feel you are not qualified to do that because you have not gotten your acts together, or you became a Christian late in life and you really messed up earlier. Our “redeemed messiness” can be encouraging stories. Young people are not looking for sinless perfection but sincere progression in your life. They are looking for authenticity, honesty and that you are living a life of repentance. To respond to such a role and call to model, we must do the following. Paul expected the seniors to adopt the posture of a learner. He exhorted Titus: 1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. In other words, if you want to model to the next generation, you must continue to learn.
After my late father-in-law Larry retired from the civil service, he worked as a chemist for another 25 years until he was 80. He came to know Christ in his 70’s, yet he had a passion for learning. He was regular in his devotions and journal reflections. He was a faithful member of his cell group and Golden Club. He was always an encourager and a great model to all of us. He sat through the rigorous weekend preparation class for membership and baptism that I taught. He is 1. Seniors have a role in the church.
Philippians 1:6 … being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
the only one I know of who would read and study the passage before the weekend’s sermon. He would call me for the passage when it was not available in the bulletin. He did this until he returned home at the age of 87. God isn’t finished with the seniors. Neither should the church be. Reflect on how God can use your lifetime of experience and wisdom. Don’t retire. Ask God to re-tyre you. Have conversations with family, friends, CG members and your pastor about what’s ahead for you on how you can serve. This should also include a conversation with your family members about your twilight years, how you would like to be taken care of.
If you are still able-bodied and sharp, go chase your lions! Don’t just hang around people your age. Adopt some younger people to journey with. Not only will they gain from you, they may also mentor you about things from their perspective. Be spiritual parents to young people from dysfunctional homes. Sponsor some within your means, especially in their education, so that they can be lifted out from their lack. Some last words to younger people in the church. Don’t miss out on these treasure troves of wisdom, experience, and stories. They will save you from a lot of heartaches in life. Get to know some seniors, encourage and affirm them, serve them where needed. Recognise that you too will get old someday and they will give you a glimpse and a head start to think about what you will be like when you arrive.
Jesus entered this world with the gospel, discipled His followers communally, raised leaders amongst them and entrusted all who came to Him with the task of world evangelisation. Over the centuries, these ministries of Jesus have given shape to what is today known as the six components of the missionary task.
By Kelvin Yong, Missions Pastor at DUMC T hose were the words God said to me as I looked down from the hill during a trip to Nepal. And what I saw were not just houses but the people inside those houses. These were broken people living in a broken world, lost souls whom God loved and whom He desired to draw to Himself. That was the reason Jesus walked this earth 2,000 years ago. He came to bring God’s love to the world, and to liberate humankind to love, worship and glorify Him. As Jesus’ followers, we are called to continue with the work that He had started, as He instructed us in Matthew 28:16-20, before He returned to heaven.
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“Look at all the houses down there.”
Simply put, it is a call to follow in His footsteps. And this call is given, not just to a selected few, but to every Christ-centred church and to every bible-believing Christian. We are to emulate Jesus and do what He did.
The early disciples displayed that obedience when they stepped up courageously, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, to confidently testify about Jesus before the rulers, the elders and the law experts in Jerusalem (Acts 4:8-12). It was a risky venture but that’s what following in Jesus’ footsteps entails. Some of our members did the same when they stepped out from their comforts and their familiar surroundings, leaving their ambitions, dreams and futures to become missionaries. But what drove them to exhibit such radical obedience? The compelling love of Christ, the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit and the desire to make Jesus known in places He is not. Most, if not all, of these places require us to cross multiple boundaries - cultural, linguistic and geographical. Hence, our missions department is named CrossFields, because missions is about crossing into the harvest fields with the message of the Cross. And we envision every member doing that, beginning with where we are. That means making an impact in the different domains of society as Kingdom disciples. These could be the homes, the neighbourhoods, the workplaces, the institutions of learning or other spheres of influence that are in our Jerusalems, our immediate world. We want to see everyone doing what Jesus did in our Judeas and our Samarias, where the diaspora and the indigenous communities co-live with us in our extended world. And we want to see our members going out in faith and obedience to the ends of the earth, to reach the unreached in the world beyond, either on a short-term mission trip or as a missionary. Or to play a critical part as a mobiliser, a supporter or an intercessor. What a glorious sight that would be when we, as a church, decide to follow Jesus into the world He created and came for.
And what is required of us to undertake this task is an obedient heart, a heart that is filled with God’s love and compassion; a heart that is fully submissive and aligned to His global intent, that is to see all the nations He has made come and worship before Him, to bring glory to His Name (Psalm 86:9)
Reading the
story
7 n the first half of 2022, Senior Pastor Chris Kam and church leaders preached a series of sermons on the Book of Revelation. Our Senior Pastor concluded with a sermon on New Heaven and New Earth (New Jerusalem). I was much blessed by the series and this article is a further reflection from Revelation 21 and 22 as we continue to live in the end times. One of the major themes of the book is the struggle between good and evil, and the climax of this battle between God and Satan, good and evil ends with the defeat of Satan in Revelation 20. This is followed by the final vision in chapters 21 and 22 - the New Jerusalem (also known as New Heaven and New Earth). Where is this place that John saw and described? Is it a real city or symbolic? How did the first readers of the book understand this vision? How should we, living today, understand and apply this vision of the holy city? Let us begin by comparing chapter 22 with chapter 1, the beginning of the book. Revelation is unique from other NT books as there is a strong correlation between the first and last chapters as tabled below1 This correlation helps the reader to understand the message of the book. In the introduction, John makes it clear that these are first-hand visions he saw rather than him reporting what someone else experienced. The reader is prepared that the visions that John saw and heard will soon take place. After he had described and explained the New Jerusalem (NJ), John reminds his readers that Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the sovereign Lord over all the events in history - a key theme of the book. John states in chapter 1 and reminds us again in chapter 22 that the readers will be blessed by reading the book. It is an irony that this often neglected and misinterpreted book should carry blessings regarding its divine revelation2Asecondfeature of Revelation is the use of symbols and metaphors. They are described in forms that often borrow from earlier apocalyptic writings by prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel and Zechariah. The New Jerusalem is described as a city built with precious stones and pearls; trees that can bear a variety of fruits; and a city which is 1,200 miles high. The sun, moon and sea will disappear when this holy city is established. This symbolic universe is incomprehensible apart from knowledge of the Hebrew bible. Perhaps, the image most significant to understanding NJ is an immolated lamb that conquers the forces of evil with humility, selflessness and sacrifice3. This is a paradox that only those familiar with the teachings of Jesus, letters of Paul and the Epistles can Withgrasp.this background in mind, let us try to understand the holy city, New Jerusalem. In the context of prophetic writings, what is the New Jerusalem? It is linked to the idea The that John told, book of Revelation, (Society of Bible Literature, Atlanta, 2003) Philip Rawley, Mark Hitchcock, (Moody Publishers, Chicago, 2011) Nashville, 2003)
1 David Barr,
327 3 Stephen Cook, Apocalyptic Literature, (Abingdon Press,
165 New Jerusalem – All Things New - The End is the New Beginning (Rev 21:1-22:5) I
PJS1 Time is near, events will soon take place Rev 22 v6v8v8v16v17v13v7 Rev 1 v1vv1,4,9v17v20v10v8v3Readers are blessed I am the Alpha and Omega The StarsSpiritand Angels John falls at the feet John names himself
By Lee Kha Loon,
14 2J. Walvoord, Revelation, revised and edited by
Isaiah 65:17-18
of New Heavens and New Earth and the city as a bride. (Rev 21:1,2). This will not surprise readers as all three ideas were already in Isaiah’s visions and prophecy. See table below.
Babylon is a symbol of the evil political powers of the early church. The early Christians suffered severe persecution (Babylon’s slaughter of saints and shedding blood; 17:6; 18:24) at intermittent periods in the first 200 years. The era of Domitian, the Roman emperor at the time of Revelation, did not involve large scale systematic persecution of Christians. The imperial cult, which included imperial worship throughout Asia Minor was what confronted the early church and at times they had to stand up and be faithful and true to the gospel5 Babylon also represented economic power and immorality. There were also periods of peace and prosperity and the seven churches were warned about the dangers of idolatry, wealth, deceit and other moral impurities personified in the wicked city Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18. The contrasts between the Babylonian harlot and the bride (NJ) set the two cities as polar opposites of good and evil, the bride and the whore. The saints were called to “come out of Babylon” in a spiritual sense by not practising cheating and lying, and deceit in trade and commerce. The churches then and now are exhorted not to compromise with the whore but to be faithful and true to the new community6 New Jerusalem – a glorious city The rest of chapters 21 and 22 gives a vivid description of the holy city. The holy city is a city built with precious stones, high walls, a river flowing through it, and a tree. But it has no temple and no gates. Let us examine each of these features: Pearls, precious stones and gold NJ is a city of splendour and grandeur with similarities from Isaiah’s visions and Ezekiel’s temple (Ezek 40-48). The first thing that strikes the reader is the materials used to build the temple. The foundations were adorned with a series of precious stones; 12 types of jewels in all. The colours of the New Jerusalem – a Bride In chapter 21 John uses the metaphor of a bride to describe the holy city. This image is important as the bride is set in contrast to the harlot in chapters 17 and 18. The harlot represents Babylon and the contrasts are presented in the table below4
5Stephen Cook, Apocalyptic Literature, 182 6GK Beale, Book of Revelation, NIGTC, (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, paperback ed, 2013) 1118
I will create new heavens and new earth I will create Jerusalem to be a delight I saw the holy city, the new andIRevforbeautifullyPreparedJerusalemasabridepreparedherhusband21:1-3sawanewheavenanewearthIsaiah 62:1-3 For Jerusalem’s sake; Isaiah 62:5 As a young man marries a maiden. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you All kings will see your glory you will be called by a new name… New Jerusalem 21:2 The Bride 18:12-17 Symbol of luxurious wealth, exploit her 17:18empireBabylon rules over kings of the earth 18:4 Come out of 18:3BabylonWine to make the nations drunk 18:24 blood of slaughter 17:4-5, abominations,18:3 idolatry, impurities, deceit 17:2BabylonHarlot/whore 21:11-21 Splendour, glory of 21:24GodKings will bring glory to Jerusalem 21:6, 22 Water of Life for healing of nations 21:27 Called to be true and 22:14faithfulEnter Jerusalem
4Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1993) 131
mentioned also bear resemblance to the gems on the breastplate that Aaron wore when he entered the holy of holies. The tabernacle in the wilderness was the ‘first edition’ of the temple and Aaron represented the whole nation of Israel before God as he entered God’s presence. That privilege reserved for the high priest under the old covenant is now freely given to the entire people of God. 8 We no longer need a high priest as we enter NJ. Walls, gates and foundations The city had a great, high wall with 12 gates, each gate bearing the names of the 12 tribes, not one tribe on each gate. The foundation, however, carried the names of the 12 apostles. The structures and dimensions of the city are composed of numbers symbolic of the people of God, 12 and 144. The city is measured also in multiples of 12. It is 12,000 stadia (1,400 miles) long and wide. It is therefore much larger than the Ezekiel temple; it is a square, in fact a cube, 1,400 miles long and high as well. What is the significance? Who will populate NJ? The history of Israel and the church (Bride of the Lamb) comes to fulfillment in the NJ. NJ therefore will be populated by both Jews and Gentile believers. It also forms God’s promise to the martyrs, the faithful witnesses of the early church, the conquerors (overcomers) that they, and not the cowards, will be welcomed into NJ9. Sun, moon, stars and sea How would this city be lighted? In Genesis 1, God created light through the sun, moon and stars. There was day and night for man and beast and they serve their purpose now. When the NJ comes, the sun, moon and stars will disappear and be replaced by God Almighty and the Lamb whose presence, as described by the light from precious stones will light up the city. Night will be no more as there will be no darkness.
The sea too will disappear from NJ (Rev 21:1) Some associate the sea with evil in Canaanite mythology. Some Jewish traditions imply that during the end-times the destruction of the sea will occur10. Although the beast out of the sea (Rev 13:1) supports such a view, it is hard pressed to explain the more positive sea images in the book (Rev 5:13, 15:2).
7GK Beale, Book of Revelation, NIGTC, 1084, quoted in M. Stuart, Apocalypse II, 383
John also compares the NJ with the Garden of Eden found in Genesis 2 and Ezekiel 47. It is the renewed/eschatological Garden of Eden. River of life When God created the Garden of Eden, there was a river that watered the garden and then flowed out and branched into four headstreams. The temple in Ezekiel’s vision also has a river that starts from a very small source in the temple and flows out; getting larger and deeper as it flows to the Dead Sea. This river gives life to trees and swamps of living creatures. Even the fish in the ‘dead sea’ will live11. The pictorial message is summed up in Ezek 47:9, “Where the river flows, everything will live.” The river in Revelation 22 is also bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God. It also bears resemblance to Zechariah’s vision of the eschatological city “living water will
9
8Robert Mounce, Book of Revelation, NICNT (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Revised Edition,1998) 283
9Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, 137 10Craig Keener, Revelation, NIVAC (Zondervan, Grand Rapids,2000) 549 11Iain Duguid, Ezekiel, NIVAC (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1999) 531 stones are shades of green, blue, red and yellow7. Each gate was made of a single pearl (Rev 21:21). It is hard to imagine the size of the pearl magnified to a gate of a city. Isaiah also saw gates of sparkling jewels, walls of precious stones, and foundations with sapphire (Isa 54:12) The streets of the city were pure gold, like transparent glass. These precious stones are also associated with the light and the glory of God when mentioned in chapters 21, 22 and also in Rev 4:3, 9-11. The effect is to visualise a city with its radiant jewels such as crystal, jasper, carnelian and translucent gold, which together will shine and reflect the glory of TheGod.stones
174 awaits us inspired me to persevere and run a good race. What is the significance of the NJ? Is it a city to keep people in, to protect its citizens from their enemy? That’s what walls and gates do in ancient cities. In this city, the gates, however, are never shut. Everyone can come in. Does this mean that everyone will be saved? Some argue that this passage supports universal salvation; the gates of NJ are always open. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” The call is absolutely universal, but you need to be thirsty, you need to want the water to enter the NJ and enjoy the blessings15. Many will stay outside the city such as the cowardly (those who fear persecution), idolaters, sexually immoral, etc. (Rev 21:27; 22:15). Only those who overcome and have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life can enter the NJ (Rev 21:27) NJ has no gates as there are no more enemies because they have all been destroyed on Judgment Day. Hence, there will be no more curses and nothing unclean will be found in NJ. Why is there no temple?
How is John’s vision of the Holy City relevant to us today? As I meditated on the description of the city, I was over-awed by the beauty and splendour of it. The expectation of such a glorious city that
The OT prophesied that a temple will be rebuilt along with a rebuilt and inhabited city. The temple is a significant feature in Ezekiel’s visions. At the end of Ezekiel 12, the glory of the Lord left the temple in Jerusalem. The glory returned in the visions in Ezekiel 40-48 and finishes with a new name for the temple – The Lord is there. But here in the final vision in Revelation there is no temple in the city. Was John looking for one and was he surprised? The fact that John said, “I did not see a temple” implied he was expecting one. When John saw the vision, the Jerusalem temple had already been destroyed in AD 70. The temple sacrifices were no longer practised. But the expectation of a nonliteral temple is a break from Judaism, which
12James Hamilton, Revelation, The Spirit speaks to the churches, (Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois, 2012) 442
15J R Middleton, New Heaven and New Earth, Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology, (Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, 2014)
flow out from Jerusalem” (Zech 14:8). The fact that Zechariah, Ezekiel and Revelation portray the river as a ‘river of life’ reminds us of Jesus’ teachings when He offered ‘living water’ to the woman at the well. Jesus further stressed this point at the Feast of Tabernacles when He was teaching in the temple and people questioned His authority. He responded by saying that streams of living water will flow from within those who believe in him. (Jn 7:37-39) Jesus promised the dwelling of the Spirit in man, the presence of God. In the NJ all saints will experience the eternal presence of the living God as described in Rev 22:1, by the river of life…flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb12. Tree of life In the middle of the city is the tree of life. This tree of life bears 12 kinds of fruit. A normal tree bears only one type of fruit. The tree also yields its fruit each month which is abnormal. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. The redeemed will enjoy a new and better Eden; the fruit is abundant, accessible and of stunning quality. Old hurts will be healed, and the bitterness, warfare we see today between nations will be no more13Thetree of life is not a singular tree as one tree cannot stand on both sides of the river (Rev 22:2). One tree in Eden has become many trees in the escalated second garden. Together with the size of the NJ which is so much larger than the old city, the NJ will encompass a huge geographical area where all the saints will fit in14.
13James Hamilton, Revelation, The Spirit speaks to the churches, 443 14GK Beale, Revelation, NIGTC, 1106
Application and Conclusion
visions, John often saw active and loud worship in heaven. In chapters 4 and 19, John saw multitudes singing hallelujah and worshipping God; as He sits on His throne. It was a joyous and majestic vision. The church is also exhorted to worship the Lamb. John’s response to these great visions was to fall at the feet of the angel and worship, first in chapter 1, then after this final vision in chapter 22. We too, should respond in awe and worship as we grasp the meaning of TheNJ.last thing that John describes in Rev 22:4,5 is the best part of being in NJ. Those whose names are in the Book of Life will see His face. There will be nothing unclean, no curses, no more tears. They will also bear God’s Name on their foreheads, not the mark of the beast, 666, and have no more fear of the enemy. The vision has a powerful effect as we visualise the grandeur of God’s eternal presence when Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom, which will replace the old temple. We will have the honour to ‘reign with Him’ forever, Hallelujah!
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16GK Beale, Revelation, NIGTC 1091, quoted in O Michel, TDNT IV,889, Holtz, Christologie der Apokalyse, 195-6
17Grant Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on NT, E-book edition (Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, 2012) 542 affirmed the hope of a future temple that is greater in scale than before16. John probably understood that Christ had fulfilled the temple of OT prophecies when he referred to His resurrection as a rebuilding of the temple (Jn 2:17-19). Paul also pictured Christ as the chief cornerstone of the temple, the church (Rom 9:32-33, Eph 2:20) and redefined the concept of the temple away from Judaism. The NJ is therefore more than a temple, city or a place. It denotes the community of God’s people, and the temple denotes the presence of God. Hence the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are the temple17 How should the early church and saints today respond to the vision of the NJ? In the concluding sermon of the series in April 2022, Senior Pastor titled the sermon – All Things New, The End is the New Beginning. As I reflected and wrote this article, there is so much to look forward to - no more tears, no more death, and what is supposed to be the end of creation will usher in a new beginning. What will we be doing in this new place with a new beginning? Worship will be a main Throughoutactivity.his
The book is also available for loan at the DUMC Library.
Jesus said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This book is a step in the direction of making the heart, soul, and mind connection because, if we are to love God, we must first know how good and beautiful our God is.
The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith is available at a discounted price of RM41 from the DUMC Office or here: bit.ly/DUMCLibrary-Books
THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL GOD
The book was designed to be read by a community of believers who desire to know their God. Our faith was meant to be practised, built and nurtured in community. At the end of the book, there is small group discussion guide, with helpful questions. But if you can’t find a community, it is also worthwhile to explore this book alone.
Book Review by Dr. Hannah Pillay, PJN 3
ho is God to you? What is God like? What is God thinking when He looks at you? If you have been asking or been asked these questions and are not sure how to respond, then this book might help you explore these Thequestions.aimof this book is to help us discover the God that Jesus knew, talked about, and revealed through the Gospel narratives. As Christians, we may know a lot about God, but do we know Him as we would know a flesh-and-blood person? The book seeks to explore our beliefs or narratives about God which often are unspoken and compare them to the narratives of Jesus. Each chapter takes a particular belief, which is that God is good. Smith then explores questions we may have in mind, like “When we are confronted with suffering, do we wonder what the person has done to deserve it?”, or “God is an angry God who judges”, or “If you do well, you will be blessed; if you sin, you will be punished”. The narrative of a “punishing / blessing” God was also prevalent in the days of Jesus. In John 9:2,3, the disciples asked Jesus the same question of a blind man they encountered “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Each chapter has several questions for us to think about when reading, and questions to reflect on at the end. There are soul-training
W exercises provided, which are activities we can do to build a deeper relationship with God. This is so that what we learn does not just remain head knowledge, but becomes heart knowledge.
To submit book reviews with the library, write to equip@dumc.my
Library opening hours are Saturdays 1.30 pm – 4.45 pm and Sundays 10.15 am – 11.15 am. To apply for a membership card that allows borrowing, visit bit.ly/DUMCLibrary-Member
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BY JAMES BRYAN SMITH
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How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. 9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favour on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
By Sarah Lye, PJS2
10
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
12 Lord blessedAlmighty,istheone who trusts in you.
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
Features salm 84 is a beautiful psalm. The desire of David in Psalm 84 is undoubtedly for the presence of God. David is crying out for the living God (vs 2). His heart and flesh cry out for the living God. His soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord. He wants to commune with God. He longs to dwell in the presence of the Lord. Why?
Because David knows that’s where he can find rest and peace. That’s where he can find solace and quietness. When he is still enough before the Lord, David is able to hear from God. He is able to discern the heart of God. In the presence of God, David too can find strength. Psalm 84:5 says “Blessed are those whose strength is in you”. When David lingers in the presence of God, he feels the strength of God – he feels had.experiencecanLikewise,strengthened.wetoohavethesamethatDavidWhenwewaitupon the Lord, we will fix our eyes upon God and not be worried or weary of things inside us, around us and outside us! His strength will come and we will be able to soar like an eagle. Those who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength as in Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will walk and not be faint.” When David is in the presence of God, he cries out to God for mercy, favour and deliverance from the evil one. David has the confidence that God will answer his cries and prayers. He is desperate for God to intervene in his situation. He keeps pushing on God. When we are desperate for an answer from God, we too will cry out for His grace, mercy P and favour. We desire God to shield us from the wiles of our enemies. God will come through for us when we pursue His presence and wait patiently for Him. David declares that a day in God’s presence is better than a thousand elsewhere. He would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked (v 10). David finds delight in the presence of God. He enjoys spending time with God. For he knows that God is his sun and shield. He will bless His people with favour and honour when they seek after His presence. God too will not withhold good things from those who are walking uprightly beforeWhenHim.David lingers in His presence, all he does is to worship God. He praises and sings to Almighty God and enjoys His presence. He waits upon God and places his trust in God. In the midst of this, David knows that God will not short-change him. Hence, when we seek God for His presence and wait upon Him, we will also experience His love and peace. There will be a divine exchange that is indescribable. We will be refreshed and rejuvenated in His presence. We rest in His love and stand on the promises of God. God is our Shield and Protector. He is our Refuge in times of need. May we be like David who longs and faints for the courts of the Lord! Lord, help us to desire after You more and more each day and to be transformed into Your image day by day.
“When we wait upon the Lord, we will fix our eyes upon God and not be worried or weary of things inside us, around us and outside us!”
15
FINDINGILLNESSGOD
By Vera Tay, DUMC Missionary to Cambodia IN MY
n November 2021, while I was still in Cambodia, I was very ill. I had dengue fever, malaria, H. Pylori infection, it was like my body was under attack by a machine gun, hand grenades and nerve gas. I was hospitalised and required outpatient treatment for a total of 15 days.
On 27 Nov (the third day of my fever), I relocated to Baray. When I arrived, I had to be supported out of the van as I could hardly walk. Esther Ding checked on me after her dinner and I had a temperature of 40 degrees Celcius. I was unconscious. They sponged me but the temperature did not go down. I was sent to the Baray District Hospital Emergency Ward. It had only basic medical facilities; I had to bring my own blanket, food and water, but there was a doctor and medicine available. I do not remember at all changing my clothes or getting into I
Message From Senior Pastor the car. I only remember waking up in the emergency ward with oxygen tubes in my nostrils asking, “Where am I? What am I doing here?” When I was brought in, my face was white as a sheet. My fever was very, very high and the doctor immediately gave me oxygen. It was the oxygen that woke me up from my unconsciousness. I was then given a paracetamol injection and put on drip. The doctors did a blood test and found out that I had dengue fever. The next morning, a few of the Khmer church leaders with whom I worked came to pray for me. I was drifting in and out of consciousness and could hardly speak. I was then transferred to a private clinic in Baray. Here, they did another blood test that confirmed that I had dengue fever, malaria and H. Pylori and a viral attack, and that my white blood cell count had dropped below the normal healthy level. The doctor gave me some medicine and immediately advised that I be transferred to a hospital in Phnom Penh as the facilities were limited in Baray, and so I made the two-hour journey by a private van (there was no ambulance) to Phnom Penh. In Phnom Penh, the doctors could not identify the reason for the drop in my immunity and it fell daily from 50% to a low of 37% of the normal range. My liver was under stress and my blood sugar level shot up, until I was asked if I was diabetic, which I am not. On the fifth day, my immunity level rose to above the normal range. The doctors were more hopeful although my platelet count continued to drop. Daily, I had needles inserted into my arms and hands for blood tests and for drip medication. Twice the nurses were not so professional when they changed the drip needle and my blood splattered onto the bedsheet, blanket and pillowcase. I had bruises and small wounds on my arms, leaving marks and bruises even two months later. On the sixth day my platelet count dropped to a critically low level of 22,000/150,000 (14.6%); my life was in danger and I had internal bleeding. The doctors came in twice to check on me and finally decided to give an injection to stop the hemorrhage. I continued to have high fever of between 37 to 39 degrees Celcius. It was on the seventh day that I was slightly better, as my platelet count improved a bit. On the eighth day I improved further and my temperature was normal. On the ninth day I was able to be discharged from the hospital. My platelet count was only 88,000/150,000 (58%) but my immunity level was in the healthy range. I had not fully recovered from dengue, but the insurance money was running out. I stayed on in Phnom Penh for another six days for outpatient treatment. On the second day after I was discharged and alone in the hotel room, I felt very weak. Every time I inhaled and exhaled, I felt an ebb and flow of my strength and energy. Then, I felt God impressing upon me that it was His “ruach” (Hebrew for God’s essence or Spirit of God that sustains life) breath in me that was helping me to breathe. I was at the mercy of God. I was so weak. I could only pray “Jesus” and dropped off to sleep. When I woke up, I felt like Jesus was inside me. I cried and cried because I felt God telling me that He loved me very much and that He was with me. He had never left me. I felt the deep love of God inside me. Jesus was so close to me, like the breath in my lungs. Have you ever felt like that before? John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” emphasising that God so loved you and me. As I came to the end of my second year in Cambodia, I was reminded that I am a vessel of God. God was correcting me of my independence and for thinking that I must achieve results to be accepted by God and to earn the praise of man. I learnt to embrace my limits. Jesus also showed me that I have a community, I depended 100% on them to take care of me. It is a warm, assuring emotional feeling to be loved by people who do not even speak the same language and to sometimes understand only 20% of what they were saying. I was so humbled by God. I ran out of clothes and had to wear clothes that my friends gave. I did not have enough money but my friends advanced me some while others blessed me. Different people took turns to make papaya leaf juice regularly, some brought meals, even home-cooked food all the way from Baray,
17 fruits, and coconut water almost daily. And the flowers, oh how they cheered me up and brightened the hospital room, and the fragrance changed the whole atmosphere. I am learning to find God in everything. I am thankful and grateful for the good that my illnesses have brought. I want to thank all the Khmer pastors, leaders and church members who prayed for me. I am grateful to my church, DUMC, and my Missions Organisation OM (Operation Mobilisation Malaysia) - the pastors, leaders, missionaries, members, my fellow Christians, my family and all friends who prayed and sent encouraging messages. I am especially grateful to Esther Ding, Lily Ong, Grace Lim, Xue Tin for making the right decisions for my health and for taking care of me when I was in the hospital. I am grateful also to Jennifer (Cheau Lin), Cavin and Adeline who visited, supported, and blessed me. Thank you all so, so much for praying for Ime.was humbled. I was stripped of my health, strength, and confidence. I came face-toface with my frailty, my weaknesses, and my humanness. Jesus whispered to me that it was okay to be weak and powerless. Jesus had to step beyond His world into ours, that was extremely inferior to His. Jesus left the throne of Heaven, His Kingdom, His Kingship. He became powerless, to be born as a vulnerable little baby on earth and to grow up and to live amongst us. I think in moments of uncertainty, anxiety, and weakness, we all need someone stronger, someone that we can depend on. I remember waking up on one of the days that I was feeling weak, horrible, and lousy and I saw my missionary friends surrounding me speaking in low whispers. To me they looked like angels. I felt protected like in Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”. I asked myself, “Is this true?” and I remembered from Luke 1:37 that “no Word of God will ever fail”. I drank some water and said, “Yes Jesus, I need you as my Protector, my Big Brother, my Healer.” and I went back to sleep. Maybe you need someone like that too? I think God was kind to me when I fell critically ill because He gave me a glimpse of what Jesus had to give up. Jesus humbled Himself when He took on a weaker body when He embraced humankind. Jesus counted the cost to go to the cross for us. I guess He was speaking from experience when He asked us to count the cost to follow Him. (Luke 14:26-33). I just realised the tremendous price Jesus paid. He gave up His power and rights to give to us the power and rights to be children of God (John 1:12). What do you think it means to be given this right and power? I think this is one of the most wonderful gifts God wants to give to you. It is yours if you will accept it. Will you accept this gift?
As Tony reflects on how God has preserved his life, he is also reminded about how God has protected him time and again. In his earlier years, God shielded him from several accidents, even before he became a Christian. He recalls how he was involved in a bus accident where everyone around him was injured by broken glass, but he escaped unhurt. In another incident on his way to Johor Bahru, he had a very near collision with a bus and missed a fallen tree by mere Tonyinches.adds,
Interview by Lynn Foo, PJN6
O
As he recuperated in the hospital, fellow believers came to visit and showed their unconditional love, care and concern. The other patients around him even asked who all these visitors were due to their large number and Tony was able to share that they were from church. As they prayed for his recovery, the abnormalities in the levels of different chemicals in his body came back to normal in just four days! Even the doctors were amazed at Tony’s speed of recovery.
MYLORDTHEPROTECTOR n a Sunday in October 2019, Tony Lim was driving back from a training weekend for PJN1 leaders at Port Dickson. He felt nauseous and had difficulty breathing. He started vomiting and was also coughing out mucus. During that time, the nation was plagued by trans-boundary haze and Tony passed off the episode he experienced as an effect of the haze. He continued going about his regular routine - working and badminton training. However, during his badminton training, he could not help but notice that he was experiencing significant weakness and shortness of breath. He also realised that there was swelling and water retention in his legs. At the advice of his two other fellow badminton trainees, Calvin and Dr Esther (who had also sensed a seriousness in his condition), he decided to head over to UMSC for a medical check-up. The doctors ran different tests including ECG, ECHO, etc. To their astonishment, Tony’s heart showed signs of tissue scarring and was two times larger than normal. His liver enzyme levels were also eight times more than the normal level. Upon investigation, doctors determined that he had actually had a cardiac arrest during his previous drive back from Port Dickson. It was a miracle Tony was still alive! He was immediately admitted and scheduled for surgery to insert a pacemaker. During this time, CG members and ministry friends prayed with him. The surgery went well.
“God has been with me every stage of my life. He has been very patient with me as well. I am really grateful for His grace and also the church family for all their support. I am reminded again of how short life can be and how important it is to have the right priorities. All praise and glory to Him for His divine protection and miraculous healing in my life”.
19
A
cknowledging
Christ is Enough
his was the big idea from Pr Benny’s sermon on “Peace that lasts” last December. Little did we know that God would use this as the basis of how He would sustain us as a family through the next few months. From December to April, we experienced two major floods in our house (December and March) and two instances of covid infection (Alan and Wai Keat in February, our elder daughter, Esther in April). Were we emotionally shaken over the past few months? Definitely. Were we anxious and worried with a thousand thoughts racing through our minds in the midst of the storms we faced? 100%. However, did we at any point feel alone, isolated or hopeless? I can say with confidence, a resounding No! This confidence did not come from our own ability or strength but a supernatural PEACE that came from the Lord that He has got it. He is in control. God gave us a sense of peace that transcended all understanding. It was a strong and yet gentle assurance that He never left us nor forsook us. As the song goes, “My God is still in control, and still He reigns on His throne. Though mountains may tremble and sea billows roll, I’ll sing it is well with my soul. My God is still in control”. From a financial standpoint, He has supplied all of our needs and even more. We received the full Bantuan Banjir financial aid in time. He gave us great favour in dealing with the home insurance company and the adjuster. My employer also provided financial aid to T all staff affected by the flood. All in all, we realised that the financial providence we received was more than double of the cost we paid. In fact, God even used this situation to give our house a wonderful physical makeover. We realised that after replacing the tiles and repainting the wall destroyed by the floods, the house looked better than even before! All glory to God.
More importantly, when we were in the midst of these challenges, He gave us a cell group that cared and prayed with us. We were deeply touched by their love, concern, encouragement and practical help. They helped us to clean and rebuild and there was a constant supply of good, healthy and yummy food. Our hearts were filled with the practical and spiritual love shown by our cell group members. When we were in Covid home isolation, one cell group member even drove all the way from his home to pour sulphur around our house compound because, when we were in Covid home isolation, we had discovered a snake slithering in our front yard! We later found out that this cell member was actually quite fearful of snakes but out of love, he just went for it! We are so blessed by our cell group who was with us through the good and bad times! We could not have done all of this without God in our lives and we definitely are thankful that He gave us a caring and loving cell group.
By Yam Wai Keat, PJS1 Our Presence Experience
t was a normal Friday, and I had an appointment to see Dr Kumar at the Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV) about an eye spasm. We had a casual conversation as I have known Dr Kumar since we served together in the VBS (Vocational Bible Study) for kids. The check-up soon developed into something more serious as my blood pressure was found to be on the high side and Dr Kumar suggested doing an MRI scan of my head. Dr Kumar told me that he would refer me to a cardiologist to determine the seriousness of my condition.
In the meantime, the hospital would process my medical insurance approval for the procedures. While waiting for the insurance approval, I drove home thinking that all was well and still under control. Upon nearing my home, I received a call from SMCV to inform me that the insurance request had been approved and to request that I take a COVID-19 test prior to my admission.
When I arrived at SMCV the next afternoon, I decided to see Dr Kumar first and I bumped into Pastor Kelvin and his wife. We spoke for a little while before I proceeded to see the cardiologist. Pastor Kelvin and his wife prayed for me, and I sensed the goodness of God within me. Upon consulting with the cardiologist, he continued to assess me and took my blood pressure, and I was shocked to see a reading of 209/120. The doctor immediately gave me an amlodipine tablet to reduce the pressure. I was like a time bomb waiting to go off at any moment! I was then warded and later in the evening I had an MRI scan of my head. The very next morning, I was to undergo a CT scan, and there I met Dr Kumar and I neurosurgeon Dr Gerard, and by this time, all conversations had taken on a very serious tone. Dr Kumar said that there is an issue that needed immediate attention, but he would leave it to Dr Gerard to explain it to me. Dr Gerard took the time to explain about my condition from the MRI report. According to him, it was known as “brain aneurysm” which is a bulging of an artery in the head due to the weakening of the artery, and if not treated immediately, it could prove fatal. I confess at that moment I became very defensive and pride reared its ugly head. The thought came to me that I did not need anyone’s help and God could take care of it and this manifested in my statement when I told them that I would just allow God to do a miracle so that He would get the glory. Dr Kumar and Dr Gerard spoke to me trying to convince me to go ahead with the procedure and that Dr Kumar would get another doctor who was a cerebral angiogram specialist to speak to me and perhaps conduct the Thatprocedures.evening my wife came and I told her that I would stick to my decision to just leave the matter in God’s hands. She was disturbed by that statement and wanted me to consider the matter carefully. While we were still talking about it, Dr Lau came and explained the seriousness of the matter. He started to put some sense into me and asked that I give him a chance to operate on me. That statement struck me as if it was the Lord speaking to me to give Him a chance to work through this doctor. It was a profound moment for me and I realised that God was with me. Dr Lau said he would wait for my decision by the next morning. I
By James Tan, KL
GOODNESSGOD’S IS BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION
The next morning, with my wife accompanying me to the operating theatre, Dr Khoo who was the anaesthesiologist soon put me to sleep. When I woke up, I was already in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) ward and felt groggy and sleepy. I just knew my wife had been there all the while and that I was well taken care of. Most important of all was that God was there even though I could not feel His presence. The thought that God was there all through the surgery brought me peace. There had been no complications at all during the procedure and I was transferred back to the normal ward, and I was soon able to eat normally even though there was still some difficulty in swallowing. My CG leader, Norman and Jasslin came to pay me a visit and we chatted for a little while. And while we were still chatting, a thought came to me that “GOD LOVES ME” and I knew He had given me the chance to testify and glorify Him for His faithfulness. While still in the hospital awaiting further reports from the previous MRI scan, the medical staff had noticed some abnormalities and requested that a PET scan be done immediately. Here, I told the Lord that He was in absolute control, and I just had the assurance of the Lord’s presence. I was calm all the time and the report came back that the abnormality was benign and there was nothing to worry Throughoutabout. my time at the hospital, I always had a sense of peace and calmness surrounding me. And I started to worship God and He never failed to answer my prayers in my time of need, even to the request of a simple quiet time to feel His presence. This is the song that touched me in a very special way - His presence in my life in the midst of difficulties. When the trouble comes I trust in You For I know You will lead me through And I know You are faithful till the end And when the storms are drawing near When I’m with You I don’t have to fear You’re my Shepherd on whom I can depend Through the day, through the night I know You’re always by my side Lord You are always here with me There is no changing God in Thee You are the same yesterday And today and forevermore Here on Your promises I stand You hold my future in Your hand My solid Rock, Almighty God I worship You “It was a sense of relief that I felt in my heart that the Lord had been there all the time assuring me that He would see me through the procedures.”
After sending my wife off, I returned to my ward and Dr Lau was already on the phone and wanted to speak to immediately.me He wanted a quick decision on the procedure due to the degree of danger that I was in. To his great relief, I told him that my decision was to go ahead with the procedure. All this while, my CG members had been upholding me in their prayers, and so had my family, and I knew my wife had a rough time going through the phases of anxiety. I could not ask for a better companion than my dear wife, as she stood firm and steadfast holding the fort. Prayers reach heaven and prayers of a sincere, righteous person are indeed powerful and effective (James 5:16)
21
Message From Senior Pastor spoke with my wife and at that very moment I decided to forgo my pride and agreed to go ahead with the procedure. Then my wife and I prayed together. It was a sense of relief that I felt in my heart that the Lord had been there all the time assuring me that He would see me through the procedures. I had peace as if the Word had come alive in me and the following verses from Philippians 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus, and from Psalm 91:9&10 “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent” echoed in my mind.
By Wee Mei Ling, PJN7
BAPTISMAL
y name is Wee Mei Ling and my CG Leader is David Wong. We are in PJN7 under Pastor Angeline Tan. I come from a non-believing family of six. Growing up, my parents used to bring me to the local temple, and I remember asking my dad, “ Who is this god which I am praying to?” My father was unable to answer this question, and he told me to just offer incense and prayers to this god like everyone else. I did not know who or what I was praying to. After graduation, my working life went downhill, everything went from 100% to negative. I even lost my job after that. My parents saw me in a depressed situation and they asked me to join CG (cell group) from DUMC. When I joined the CG, I felt welcomed by the warmth of the people there and later I visited DUMC during the English celebration. Not long after that, I said the sinner’s prayer at the visitor’s lounge. All these happened back in 2017. The journey in Christ was not an easy one for Afterme. a while, I backslided as I didn’t understand what Christ is about. When I joined my spouse’s CG in 2020, things got M even worse! I couldn’t fit in with his CG as I felt I didn’t understand a lot of things!
Thank God, the CG Leader’s wife volunteered to disciple me by going through the Discipleship 1 lessons and once again I fell in love with Christ. After the discipleship lessons, I signed up again for Level 1 EQUIP classes (which I had done back in 2017), followed by attending the recent BMEW (Baptism and Membership Encounter Weekend) where I felt completely refreshed and rekindled my love for Abba Father. During BMEW, I encountered the Holy Spirit, and experienced God’s true love and peace. Prior to becoming a believer, there were many areas in my life I found myself struggling with, but now I am able to have peace with them. I also found peace at my Christworkplace.never gives up on His sheep as He is the good Shepherd. I have left “home” too long, but my Father never gave up waiting for me to return “home”, like the father waiting for his prodigal son to return, only this time, it was his prodigal daughter. I cannot wait to reunite with my Heavenly Father one day. Amen!
ADULTS MEN ALIVE! John men.alive@dumc.myE
&CONGREGATIONSFELLOWSHIPS
PARENTING (Children) Ronnie & Ivy Khoo Dennis Ngai & Joo parenting.children@dumc.myWei
YOUTH
FOODBANK Tan Hong foodbank@dumc.myLooi S.T.A.R (MinistryYOUTHforIntellectuallyChallenged Youth) Tracey micy@ces.org.myChan STREET (MinistryMINISTRYtotheHomeless) Jerry sccd@dumc.myTeo URBAN DEVELOPMENTCOMMUNITY Sophy sccd@dumc.myLim HELP DESK Josond Lee & Elizabeth Lee helpdesk@dumc.my BOYS’ BRIGADE sccd@dumc.my SPECIAL SERVICES (Let’s Chat & Legal Services) sccd@dumc.my
DUMC CONGREGATIONS & MINISTRIES
MISSIONS CROSSFIELDS Pr Kelvin
FILIPINO (Fellowship) Marilou Retrato filipino@dumc.my PERSIAN (Fellowship) Pr persian@dumc.myKelvin
CHILDREN’S CHURCH Pr Mike children@dumc.myNgui
WOMEN2WOMEN Stella w2w@dumc.myHoh
CREATIVE & MEDIA DEW CREW Pr Gilbert dew.crew@dumc.myTan (ChurchFLOODGATESMagazine) Petulia Lun floodgates@dumc.my CREATIVE ARTS Darren creative.arts@dumc.myOng (WorshipRESONATEMinistry) Gabriel resonate@dumc.myNgui
FIRST TOUCH CONNECTORS Pr Alex connectors@dumc.myTan SECURITY Pr Adrian security@dumc.myChong USHERS Pr Alex ushers@dumc.myTan
NEPALI Adrin nepalese@dumc.mySant
ENGLISH Pr Chris english@dumc.myKam BAHASA Pr Eddy bahasa@dumc.myMarson CHINESE Pr Dr Ling Shui chinese@dumc.myNyuk
LIBRARY library@dumc.my FAMILY FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY Kay Yeow & Rachael Ling family.life@dumc.my PREMARITAL COUNSELLING Bob & Ruby pmc@dumc.myChee MARRIAGE Adrian Chen & marriage.course@dumc.mySusan
COMMUNITY BREAKTHROUGH DRUG REHABILITATION CENTRE Titus bdrc@ces.org.myWong CITIZENS NETWORK FOR A BETTER MALAYSIA sccd@dumc.my EXCEL TUITION CLUB Yuen Ting sccd@dumc.myAi GOLDEN CLUB Rupert sccd@dumc.myLing
NEXTGEN Pr Terry Yeow nextgen@dumc.myPrnextgen@dumc.my(Teens)SaraLeong(Campus)
MYANMAR Pr Sarah myanmar@dumc.myAye TAMIL Sarah tamil@dumc.myKrishnan
OTHERS (IntercessoryFORERUNNERSPrayer Ministry) Pr Chris forerunners@dumc.myManivannan TADIKA JUARA CERDIK Rachael general@dreamacademy.edu.myChan
PARENTING (Teens) Vincent & Lily parenting.teens@dumc.myWong WEDDING PLANNING weddings@dumc.my
missions@dumc.myYongDUMCMinistries
LOVE GOD. SERVE PEOPLE. MAKE DISCIPLES. We are DUMC.
A church for all generations —an exciting community of families, senior citizens, young adults, teenagers, and young children, doing life together. Our primary purpose is not to make nice religious Christians. Our purpose is to build passionate disciples of Jesus Christ.