JULY - OCTOBER 2016
92
JULY-OCTOBER
ISSUE
THE COVER
LEGACY MAKER Legendary artists from centuries ago inspired their audience through time. As an artist's masterpiece can span across generations, so too can the work of our hands-led by the Spirit, we can also leave a lasting legacy for generations.
FLOODGATES is a newsletter of DUMC, seeking to report the happenings of the church and the blessings of God upon His people in DUMC. May the articles in Floodgates which seek to encourage and edify the soul, contribute towards building God’s community and making known His glory. If you have an encouraging story to share please send your article of about 600 words to bit.ly/dumcstories or call Monica Lee at 03 7958 7388 if you need a reporter to cover your story. All articles may be edited or rewritten for purposes of clarity and space.
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What Will We Leave Behind? Children’s Church: A Legacy In The Making New Mummies Ministry Outings Golden Club’s Journey To The East NextGen Weekend A New Season Of Alpha CES: New Beginnings CES Medical Camp Getting To Know : Terry Yeow NextGen : Sara Leong NextGen 19-23 DUMC Stories : My Journey With God in Prayer : Who Else Could Have Saved Me? : His Love For Me Is Real : My Moments With God : Experience The Power of Fast & Prayer 24-28 Stories@LEAD2016 : Heart Of A Servant : Our Ladies That Walk The Streets : Christ The Centre Of It All : My 8 Year Old Teacher 29-30 DUMC Ministries 31 Events Calendar Back Cover : Pictures of Alpha Launch
CELEBRATIONS ENGLISH
CHINESE
BAHASA MALAYSIA
Auditorium Saturdays : 5.00 pm Sundays : 10.00 am
Hall 1 Sundays : 8.30 am 11.00 am
Hall 4 Sundays : 10.00 am
NEXTGEN Campus CRAVE (for ages 18-23) NextGen Space Fridays: 8.00 pm
CHILDREN’S CHURCH Room 103-106 Sundays : 11.00 am
Room 102 Saturdays : 8.30 pm
NEXTGEN Teens CRAVE (for ages 13-17) NextGen Space Saturdays: 2.00 pm
YOUTH Room 102 Sundays : 8.30 am
NEPALESE
TAMIL Hall 2 Sundays : 2.00 pm MYANMAR Hall 1 / Room 102 Tuesdays : 11.45 pm Sundays : 3.30 pm
CHILDREN’S CHURCH Hall 1 Saturdays : 2.30 pm
CHURCH OFFICE Damansara Utama Methodist Church
youtube.com/dumcMY
Dream Centre, 2 Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia T : +603.7958 7388 F : +603.7958 3787 E : general@dumc.my : dumcMY W : dumc.my The church office is closed on Mondays.
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What Will We Leave Behind? Chris Kam, Senior Pastor
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very Christian leaves behind something when he or she is finally called home to be with the Lord someday. Leaving a legacy or a heritage is not an option. The question is, “What type of legacy will you leave behind?” This could be one of the most profound questions that may change the way you live your life. You see, your family passes on a legacy to you - good or bad because that is what they have. And you will pass on a legacy to your children by which they will live. It would be reasonable to say that all parents would love to leave behind something good, in fact the best that they have, to their children. But what is the thing of greatest value that we can leave behind for them? The things of greatest value would be reflected by what we put our time to. Excellence in academic pursuits and extracurricular activities are some things we Malaysian parents take pride in. Hence the constant shuttle between one tuition class to another after school and on top of that, all kinds of classes from swimming to music. There is a mad race to chase after the things that we think will get our children ahead of the pack. But are they really things of greatest worth? An added challenge would be that we are not only to pass these on just to the next generation, but beyond that. “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children” (Proverbs
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13:22). Generational blessings are to be a norm in God’s plan for our families. “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” (Psalm 145:4-5). Martin Luther, a seminal figure in the Protestant Movement, was asked what he would do if he knew he were going to die tomorrow. His simple reply was "I would go out and plant a tree." He would, in other words, leave behind a legacy of life that would grow on and on into the future. This brings into question the focus of many in their quest to leave behind wealth, possessions and good academic qualifications. These things, while good to have, will not be the things that are essential for a lasting Godly legacy. In the studies of the book of Joshua, in particular chapter one, when Moses passed on his leadership baton to Joshua, there was a clarity about three things that Joshua received from God as he prepared to enter the Promised Land. First, there was a clarity of God’s call, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. “Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.” (Joshua 1:3-4). God gave precise
details of what he needed Joshua to do and to follow through. Otherwise he would be wandering aimlessly through the region and never arriving, typical of many who are living their lives chasing after the wind, blindfolded. Our children can be climbing the corporate ladder only to realise when they finally reach the top, that the ladder is leaning on the wrong wall! Learning to live in accordance to God’s commandments will save us a lot of time and heartaches in the latter years. How do we discern God’s will? By reading His word and hearing His voice. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). Knowing the Bible well will ensure that the voices we hear, if they are conflicting, will be filtered accordingly because He will never instruct us on something contrary to His Word. Hence, the first principle is to teach your children to hear the voice of God and to discern His will. Second, there was a clarity about God’s Presence, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5). The stories of Joshua in chapters 2 to 12, the crossing of the Jordan river (Chapter 3), the defeat of Jericho and Ai (Chapter 6 and 8), battles with the 31 kings and the day the sun stood still for a whole day (Chapter 10), are powerful stories of God’s faithfulness and deliverance in the lives of the Israelites. These stories are told from one generation to another and immortalized in the Bible. Testimonies like these build our faith. The question is, what stories do you leave behind of God’s faithfulness? DUMC is a story of faith that will be passed on to our next generation. Our ministries to people and mission to the world are powerful stories of life’s transformations. It is about raising up home and workplace ministers as salt of the earth and light of the world. The Church is present through you and your children in the world. Powerful legacies are always about transformed lives. The second principle revolves around teaching your children to experience the Presence of God. Leave behind powerful stories of how God dealt with you.
and show them to step out in faith and do not be too quick to bail them out of difficult situations because those could jolly well be the best learning experiences they can go through as they cry out to God. My challenge, therefore, to all of us would be to build DUMC not just for ourselves with our own preferences, but to build it for our children and their children. We find too many young people leaving the church they grew up in because they no longer find it relevant. The generation after Joshua turned away from God. Let’s not be found making the same mistake. The most important legacy is a life of faith in God that leads to eternal life, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Mattew 16:26). Often we are concerned about our children’s physical well-being. Have we thought about their spiritual well-being, and helping them to move from second-hand to a first-hand faith? In my personal reflection, the book of Joshua was a practical outworking of the promises of God. Simply stated, God is saying in the battle field of life, “Follow me, you win. Leave me, you lose.” Obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings curses. I succinctly summed up the whole series in these words: “Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.” Joshua not only emphasized the faithfulness of God but also the responsibility of Israel. This is the mystery of faith. Although God could do it all on His own yet He gave us a choice to serve Him because He wants to work through us! If Joshua and the people of Israel had not co-operated with God, their entry into the Promised Land would not have happened, and yet without God and without His interventions, they could not have possibly done it. This, I believe, will be the most powerful legacy we can leave behind.
Third, there was a clarity of God’s enabling, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” (Joshua 1:6). The call to be strong and courageous was a divine call and encouragement made by God to Joshua three times. Hence we recognise that God often allows challenges and difficulties in our lives to grow and mature us. Don’t be too quick therefore to wish away challenges and problems. Problems and challenges build our faith. The bigger the problem the bigger the building of our faith because we have a BIG God. The third principle would then be to teach your children to experience God’s enabling. Challenge them to serve their Almighty God and they will experience His enabling in powerful ways. Teach
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Children’s Church:
A Legacy in The Making C
Jeric Lam, PJN6
hildren are often hailed as the uture leaders of our family, community and nation. It is no different in church. As the church and its people strive to be the salt and the light of the world, it is ever so important to raise the future generation of Christians. In DUMC, the Children’s Church was established to build and influence an entire generation. The core philosophy and direction of Children’s Church is to create a place where every child can grow in the security of God’s love in a fun and loving environment; it is a place where we build our legacy through the spiritual discipleship of the next generation of Christians. When I spoke to Pastor Jonathan, the head of Children’s Ministry, he exuded a sense of calmness, patience and trustworthiness, arguably key traits essential for serving in the Children’s Ministry. Pastor Jonathan has been involved in Children's Ministry since 1989, and has been a full-time pastor for six years now after being called by God to serve Him. For him, children are the heart of the church and should always be prioritised. Thus, Pastor Jonathan aspires to help children experience God personally and to equip them to serve God, as well as in their spiritual formation and character building.
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At the entrance to Hall 1, a team of children were serving as ushers to welcome the attendees to celebration, aligning to Pastor Jonathan’s focus of providing children the opportunity to serve in church. With 10 minutes to go before the start of celebration at 2.30pm, the children started to excitedly stream into the hall, some with parents holding their little hands and guiding them in. Mirroring the regular adult celebrations, the children kick-started with worship. The atmosphere was lively and energetic as actions were incorporated alongside singing to engage the children. Prayers were then held followed by tithes and offering. It was quite a heart-warming sight to see children excitedly and earnestly dropping their tithes in the offering bag as they clearly espoused the spirit of giving. I had the privilege to then witness the children's choir in action. As Children’s Church would like to equip children to serve God, one way this is done is through children’s choir, which has been very well received by the children. In accordance with the upcoming Malaysia Day then, the choir sang ‘Sejahtera Malaysia’. While several of them were nervous, the children were harmonious, almost angelic while singing. I salute these children as it is certainly not easy to be on stage in front of strangers, especially for a child. After welcoming the newcomers and making announcements, the breakout sessions started and the children went into their respective groupings. In
Children’s Church, there are 5 sub zones, and the children are grouped based on their age. These are Little Lambs (2 to 4 years old), Explorers (4 to 6 years old), Venturers (7 to 9 years old), Trailblazers (10 to 12 years old) and Amazing Kids (for special needs children). Within each sub zone, children are sorted into cell groups which are managed by dedicated volunteers. In the breakout sessions, a topic with an underlying biblical message or lesson will be shared to the overall group in an interactive, easy-to-understand manner using games, videos and discussions. Next, during quiet time, the children will be given an opportunity to think and ponder the message shared, followed by closing prayers and worship. Typically, the children would return to their cell groups the following week to discuss the topic again to reinforce learning. The experience I gained was memorable and it’s reassuring to know that DUMC understands how important it is to build and leave behind a strong legacy of a generation of children and future leaders imbued with Kingdom values and exhibiting Christ-like character. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. Jesus has a heart for children – all of us should too. Let us strive to build and honour the next generation.
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New Mummies Ministry Outings Staphanie Mun Chen, KL
Outing to KLCC Park Every school holiday, the women from the New Mummies of W2W (Women to Women) will meet up with their children for an outing. The children play together whilst the mummies gather for some time of fellowship, encouragement and prayer. We have met up for playdates, picnics and swims. During the school holidays in March, we went to the paddling pool and park at KLCC. The cool waters were a welcome from the hot 38-40°C temperatures we were facing during that period. Our group consisted of 7 mummies, 14 children (with the youngest being just over 5 weeks old!) and a very supportive grandma. At the KLCC paddling pool, the older children took to the water quickly, and the younger ones were delighted they could wander far and wide as the water was only knee deep. As the children played in the pool, we mummies did what we do best – multitask. We kept our eyes on the children, brought out the food, comforted teary-eyed children, caught up with one another while we took pictures.
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Truly, the best part of being in the W2W New Mummies group is that the mummies are constantly looking out for one another. We understand everyone’s concerns and situations as we have been through the same. We know what it is like to have one child crying and another needing the toilet while being in a helpless state ourselves.
After a snack, the children played at the nearby playground next to the paddling pool while the mummies got into groups to pray for one another. I must be honest here, my flesh did a lot of talking at that moment. I was desperately trying to locate a more suitable place to share and pray together. After all, the mid-day sun was scorching, our children were running everywhere so I reasoned we would be too distracted. But I have since learnt that the most effective prayers are never convenient or planned, but from the heart. We got into groups of two or three, and we shared our hearts, our concerns and prayer requests. We prayed for each other’s families, marriages, children, health and walk with our Lord. At the end of the day, many mummies shared in our WhatsApp chat that the time spent in prayer and encouragement was the best part of the day. Some words from the mummies: “The part when we prayed for each other really encouraged me a lot. Thanks again, sisters in Christ” - Audrey “I have to agree with Audrey that the prayer part at the end was really powerful and heart-warming at the same time… Not sure if it was the power of prayer from one mum to another but it certainly made me feel lighter in my spirit” - Anne
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25
DUMC Merdeka Sports Day God is doing wonderful things amongst the mothers in DUMC’s New Mummies ministry. In this write up, I would like to share how God answered the desires of our hearts through one of the events we had recently. It was a first-hand experience of God's faithfulness. Just about 2 days before the much anticipated DUMC Merdeka Sports Day, the haze was getting worse, possible rain was threatening the pre-planned outdoor event with toddlers and babies involved and on the day before, we were contemplating a change of venue. However, the Holy Spirit prompted us to take a step of faith like Daniel's friends in the bible and trust God to provide good weather. The night before, we rallied all the mothers together with kids and fathers too, we prayed and held to the belief that even if He does not 'save' us from bad weather, He is still a good Father. On the day, God answered our prayer! He cleared the sky of haze and rain. 21 young families with about 45 rambunctious energetic young children turned up and came together for a fun, family-bonding time at the Taman Tasik Metropolitan Kepong. The children and parents were grouped into 4 colour themed teams and each team came up with their own catchy team cheers. The children participated in a wide range of sports events
like football relays, 3 legged family race and water game under a perfect sunny day! Friendships blossomed between families and over a sumptuous picnic spread, families bonded and valuable lessons of sportsmanship were learned. The highlight of the day was when families grouped together in small groups to pray for each state of Malaysia. Every family was assigned a state to be prayed over. It is also a privilege and our responsibility to pray for our nation as a family. At the end of the day, we realised that it was such a wonderful way of leaving a legacy of faith for our children by demonstrating our faith by praying for good weather before the event! And the kids had first-hand experience of God’s faithfulness in answering prayers. There is nothing more important than parents leaving an enduring spiritual legacy for their children. Do you know our children observe our faith in God? We simply cannot pass on a faith we do not have to our children. We set the pace. We are our children’s role models for faith. Truly our faith was built up through this experience, how we decided to honour The Lord with our decision to go to the park. "Those who honour me I will honour" 1 Samuel 2:30. Thank you Lord for your mercy, the beautiful weather, and your favour upon us!
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Golden Club’s Journey to the East
Cedric Chan, PJN5
A group of Golden Clubbers went on a journey to the East coast covering 1780KM spanning across Terengganu, Kelantan and Betong within a week. It was a trip to remember. We have such a lot to learn from the seniors amongst us - they are “Gold Mines” waiting to be mined.
“Wow!
Wow! Wow!” A thunderous chorus of WOWs filled the hall as we were served the Cantonese dish of Pu Pu Kao Sern at the Pusing Balik Restaurant in Ipoh. Almost instantaneously, everyone gathered around the table for a group photo with the dish as the highlight.
was really surprised to note that men and women did not have to queue separately at shops or restaurants contrary to what I read in the mainstream media - in fact, it was evident that the Malays did not seem to have reservations engaging with those of other races - friendliness was the order of the day.”
Klik-klok! Klik-klok!
The conversations that bonded us together often centred around family and relationships. Again, in Min Onn’s words, “whilst it was tiring with hectic shopping activities, hopping from one outlet to the next, I must say, I learned so much from the elders, those who have purportedly ‘crossed more bridges than I have walked on roads’. Their insightful responses to my questions were noteworthy, especially the topic on whether or not it was wise to babysit grandchildren. They responded with one accord - an emphatic "no" for various plausible reasons.”
Throughout our journey, this sound, “klik-klok, klik-klok” filled the air and served as our background music – I will reveal the mystery behind this music later. Klik-klok! Klik-klok! It was truly a fun-filled trip as our journey was filled with much laughter, great conversations, scrumptious food and accommodation in opulent hotels. The fellowship was divine as the group bonded in the presence of God. The great conversations we had proved to be an eye-opening experience to some as we discussed topics that were close to the hearts but were seldom brought under the spotlight. In Beng Lee’s words, “the trip to the East Coast was a revelation to many. The people were helpful and friendly and we could see churches brightly advertised along the main road. We noticed, when shopping, you could go to the next stall if the price did not suit you, without angering the previous shop owner. The traffic was chaotic but there was no honking or accidents and surprisingly there were no policemen present in the places we visited. This gives us the impression that there is not much crime unlike PJ” According to Min On, “my perspective of the Malay heartland is totally changed, I
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Our eyes were further opened as our Thai tour guide gave us a quick history lesson on the Malayan communists – stuff that is not available in our local mainstream history textbooks. As we travelled through Kuantan, we realised that the iron lamp poles that lined the roads were all in a shade of brownish red. It was only upon closer inspection that we learnt that this was caused by the bauxite dust that had tainted them. Victor, the youngest in our entourage brought an endless stream of delight to us –- he sang beautifully in French, Mandarin and English, much to his mother’s delight. Understandably his mother, Grace, was exceedingly proud of him! From the very first day of our trip to the last, Victor was diligently practising on his wooden toy; his wooden toy – a Japanese instrument – made the “klik-klok, klik-klok” sounds which had
become the theme sound for our trip. While playing the instrument with such frequency may have irritated some, Victor’s gregarious and loveable character more than sufficiently made up for it. At the end of the trip, it almost seems that something was amiss without that familiar “klik-klok, klik-klok” resounding in the background! Klik-klok! Klik-klok! Our travels brought us to many exciting and interesting places – from batik and kain songket outlets and trying local delights such as lekor, serunding and keropok to visiting turtle conservatories and being captivated by the beautiful sandy beaches; and throughout our journey, God was watching over us. On one occasion, He drew our attention to a large depression on the ground and made sure we did not fall into it and on another occasion when one of the ladies had lost her purse, God saw to it that the purse was picked up by another member of the group before we boarded the bus to head away. Praise the Lord! As we boarded the bus for the final leg of our journey from Ipoh back to Dream Centre, a bittersweet emotion of satisfaction and sadness engulfed us. I praised God for the wonderful trip and just as I closed my eyes and was about to doze off, I heard our organiser Jenny’s voice announce that our next trip was to Malacca and Muar! Klik-klok! Klik-klok! If you are above 55 and want to be part of a fun-loving group who meets every Monday and Wednesday morning at 10am at Dream Centre, contact Brother Rupert Ling at +603 7958 7388 or general@ces.org.my
NextGen Weekend
W
hen we think about “What do we want to leave behind?” we often look towards the next generation. We need to ask “How DO WE want them to turn out? Where DO WE want them to end up?” As a Church, to leave behind a legacy of the Kingdom culture of serving Him through serving His people, we need to be intentional. There are many reasons why people do not serve; feeling inadequate, fearing they have no time, unsure of the future or basically not knowing where to serve. A couple of weekends ago, for the first time in DUMC history, a volunteer drive weekend was organised for the NextGenners to explore stepping up to get an “on the job” feel. It was inspiring and heartening to see more than 200 youths from teens to early twenties step up and offer themselves to various ministries during that weekend. Here is one inspiring story by one encouraged NextGenner. Jeremy Yeo (NextGen) It was about a month before the NextGen Weekend when I first found out about it, and I was really excited as it was the first time in DUMC history that this was going to happen. My expectation was either to be called to serve on the worship team or on the sound crew. Little did I know that God had bigger plans for me. Sara Leong
approached me about a week later to ask me to lead the Pre-Celebration Prayer. I was really shocked because surely there was someone more suitable to take on that role, so why me? Despite my doubts, I knew this was something I couldn't say no to. Worries, doubts, and fears began to fill my mind when I fixated my thoughts on the fact that I felt so inadequate. It was a position I never foresaw myself in, leading the church into a time of prayer. I am no prayer warrior, and there are definitely countless others who have a stronger prayer life than I do. Given a choice, I would very much prefer to be on the worship team or serve together with the sound crew as these were the tasks I was more comfortable doing. Prayer to me was a scary ordeal especially when it's done in public because my biggest fear is running out of words!
caught a glimpse of how fulfilling volunteering and serving the House could be and the other bonus is that we got to do it together with the people we love - our NextGen family. I also witnessed how when serving the House, we automatically become an encouragement to the people watching us. Stepping up and serving isn't all that difficult, all it takes is our availability. We just need to give God our five loaves and two fishes and then watch Him perform His miracle. I am so glad I obeyed and stepped up during this NextGen Weekend. I am grateful for the opportunity. Now I have a story to share about God's faithfulness and how He uses us as His instruments to bring glory to His Name. I believe that Christ was exalted during the NextGen Weekend and will continue to be exalted as long as our gaze is continually fixed on Him. To God be the Glory!
Because God gave me the confidence that's founded on Him, I grew excited and couldn't wait for the NextGen Weekend and I know many NextGenners shared the same sentiment. My personal highlight about that weekend was seeing everybody worshiping in front of the auditorium, both young and old from one end of the auditorium to the other. The experience of serving during the NextGen Weekend was amazing as we
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S
ometimes we wonder about the purpose of life. Sometimes we have pre-believer friends asking us the reason for or even curious about our faith. And honestly sometimes, we are just caught off guard by their questions. So what can we do? We can try Alpha or, better, invite them to the next Alpha season.
The Alpha Film Series is significantly different from the conventional Alpha series. Although still featuring segments with Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of Alpha, by using visual illustration and motion graphics, the new series features inspiring stories and interviews of people from all around the world in different cultural settings, making it fun and engaging for audiences.
What is Alpha?
The Preparation
“An opportunity to explore the meaning of life"
The launch party was to be held at the Hangar, the newly renovated extended space beyond Dream Café, on 22 September 2016, a Thursday night. Prior to the launch party, there was a last minute rush to get the venue ready. Being a new season of Alpha, the organizing team put in all their efforts to ensure that the experience would be special for first-timers especially those who are pre and new believers.
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. It is an open, informal and honest space for people from all walks of life to explore and discuss life’s biggest questions. This year, Alpha is repackaged into the Alpha Film Series. The series runs for 12 weeks and each session starts with a relaxing dinner, watching a 25-minute video centred on the Christian faith, and finishing off with small group discussion facilitated by a host.
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Up to a week prior to the launch, registrations were still under 50 people. Despite that, all volunteers and Pastors came together to
Elea Au Yong, PJN2
pray for the event, to yield to the Holy Spirit, putting all our faith into Him to guide and direct us through the 12 weeks ahead. During the prayer, we were humbly reminded of the boy in the bible, how he gave his five loaves and two fishes to Jesus, and that we too, should carry that same posture and depend on the Holy Spirit as we serve others. Alpha at DUMC
The response from the public towards this season of Alpha was unexpected and we believe strongly that God wants to open the door to greater things. Do pray for the volunteers and participants onboard this Alpha journey, as it is not by our strength but the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us. Alpha is open to everyone, there are no boundaries to who can attend or where they are from, and if you are interested to check out more, just come by Dream Café on Thursdays at 7pm.
On the night of the launch, close to 200 participants including volunteers turned up. It was a number unforeseen and it was apparent that God’s hand was in it. Alpha is anointed by God to be used as a platform to spread the good news. Participants were entertained with a hearty dinner, displays of visual conversation art pieces that were set up in the Hangar and the Dream Cafe, and there were live performances as well. With God’s grace and providence, things were up and running according to schedule.
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2016 is a momentous year for Community Excel Services – one of new beginnings. After two years of planning and discussion, DUMC’s home-grown community services arm, Community Excel Services (CES) released thriving ministries to take on lives of their own. During these two years, CES worked closely with the eldership and the Senior Pastor’s office to hammer out the details of this restructuring. The result is an important change in leadership, where Pastor Margaret Loy transits out of the CES and DUMC organisational structure to pursue work with communities living in the margins. After 10 years, Pastor Margaret leaves behind a rich legacy of vision, values, passion and depth of understanding to her staff team and core ministry partners. Stepping up as CES Director is Sophy Lim, who has faithfully served in CES for nine years. This movement is indeed a testament of God’s goodness in using CES for His Kingdom.
Community Excel Services
Golden Club and Citizens’ Network for a Better Malaysia (CNBM). These nine ministries represent the social and community vision of DUMC, “Establish community services in our nation bringing God’s love and justice to a needy society”. Driven by the tagline “Nation Building through People Building”, CES will continue to engage the community alongside DUMC members and volunteers.
Dream Academy
http://dreamacademy.edu.my The Dream Academy Sdn Bhd is a new social enterprise with a focused aspiration for inclusive and sustainable quality education. CES’ flagship kindergarten Tadika Juara Cerdik together with its After School Programme is now run by Dream Academy. Yuen Ting Ai will continue as the Principal under a new board comprising Lim Jit Cheng, Dr Hannah Pillay, Datin Ding Eng Lih, Ang Ming Ern and Treonica Saliang.
http://ces.org.my
In this new phase, CES will continue to run Street Ministry, Breakthrough Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Youth Excel Services, Special Needs Training and Resources (STAR) Youth, Excel Tuition Club, Help Desk, Foodbank,
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Find out more about Community Excel Services at the church information counter, through our website www.ces.org.my, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CESMalaysia or by e-mailing general@ces.org.my
Community Excel Service
Medical Camp
C
ommunity Excel Services’ annual medical camp held from 3 to 6 August this year touched around 900 lives at four locations. Together with Word of Life, a fellowship of Christian medical students, and our sponsors including Absolute Thai, DUMC members once again pooled their resources to lend a helping hand to communities in need of free medical care. We invited two volunteers to share their experience: a CES medical advisor of five years, Dr Felicia Chang, and a first-time volunteer, Yennie Lee. Dr Felicia
programme to help those needing medical help. I agreed almost immediately. Since then, I have unofficially become the doctor-in-charge of the free clinic for CES. I have had the privilege of working with five different groups of student leaders over the last few years. It was amazing that these young people had the heart to serve the poor and under-privileged and to see how they sacrificed their time and energy to bring the love of Christ into these communities. They organized fund-raising events and used the funds to run their projects in various parts of the world. Some of these students had graduated and come back to serve in the Ministry of Health and it was so good to see how their charity work had helped to shape them to be better doctors. Of the things that came to my attention was how tough life could be for the people we were serving. For example, when I saw a refugee client and detected that she had medical issues, my first concern was how to send her to a hospital to get proper medical check-up and treatment. However, refugees are not recognised in our country and hence are not entitled to any government medical care. They are not welcomed here and are not allowed to make a living.
Health Care, Soul Care Dr Felicia Chang Chui Fun, PJN3
“Where is the pain?� I looked at her but she looked back at me blankly so I turned to the interpreter who translated my question in the Myanmarese language. The lady began to tell me about the pain and all the issues she was facing. Once I had examined her and given her some medication for her pain, she smiled and thanked me. The gratitude in her eyes was all I needed to continue to serve in this community. This would be my fifth year serving the poor and needy under the umbrella of Community Excel Services. I received a call from Soo Choo and Pastor Margaret who asked if I could help out in a
Where would they get money to pay for medical needs? If they do not have an UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) card, they do not have any support at all. Even if they managed to get some money, they would be charged the full foreigner rates which is the same amount any tourist would pay if they visited a doctor here. So there I was, looking at a woman with diabetes but I was totally helpless. All we could do was give some advice on diet control before sending them on their way. We also saw homeless people, drug abusers and urban poor folk. These groups of people had more social issues than medical issues. Perhaps having a medical camp was the first step to get to know them and then CES would be able to continue to follow up to see how we could support them in the future.
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Yennie Lee
Many have told me that what we were doing was pretty much a ‘one-off’ effort with no long-term impact. It was like dressing a superficial wound without solving the actual problem. I cannot deny that we cannot solve everyone’s problem. It would definitely need the involvement of every section of our society – from lay people to NGOs, churches to government and policy makers, to make any significant long-term social change. But, being an optimist, I believe that many people are working together to help the poor and needy. So, even as an individual or an organization, we can still impact the lives of the people that we serve by doing what we can when we can. A simple medical check-up shows them that people are concerned about their health; a simple meal warms their stomach for that day; a simple smile and touch shows them that someone cares. Would it take away their suffering? Not in a big way, but it still gives a glimmer of hope. Even the slightest bit of hope, for a day or two, may brighten someone’s life even for a short time. So to me, even if I can serve one or two days and be part of the team that brings such hope, I am glad that I participated and contributed to someone’s life. What inspired me during this journey were the people I served with. Their dedication, patience and understanding were beyond amazing. I remembered telling the students during a briefing session, “Please remember that there is no place for ego and pride when we work in community serving God". See a need, meet it. Be humble and serve wholeheartedly. And God who sees you work diligently will reward you abundantly. My reward is the grateful smile from the person I served that day whose life was touched because I took the time to meet them. Glory to our God who gives us the ability to make someone smile! Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
Healthcare for the Underprivileged Yennie Lee, NextGen
When I heard about the medical camp organised by Community Excel Services, I jumped at the opportunity and was excited to volunteer in providing health care especially to the under-privileged, and to have exposure on how a mobile clinic is run.
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The Malaysian medical students from Russia with whom we collaborated were tasked to record the patients’ health conditions by inspecting discomfort in any part of their bodies, and measuring their blood pressures. The records were then given to doctors for further inspection and prescription of medicine. I helped out in different areas, one of which was standing at the entrance of the venue with a few other volunteers to publicise the camp and inviting people to come in for health check-ups. As the majority of passers-by were Myanmarese and Bangladeshi refugees, language was the main barrier to communication. Fortunately, there was a Myanmarese interpreter who helped with the translation, and we managed to invite many to enter for a check-up. I also helped to register incoming patients before they proceeded to their check-ups, and distributed food packs, consisting of a simple meal and packet drinks, to each person after their check-up. Although brief, I had the opportunity to touch lives. I also made new friends with a diverse group of people: volunteers, medical students, interpreters and even refugees. It was an eye opener to witness a space without much amenities transform into a clinic within minutes. Truly it was a humbling experience to serve people, and to play a part in providing some very basic health care to those who normally would not have this privilege. It does not take much to make a small difference in the lives of others, all it takes is to avail ourselves and love people like Jesus did. Find out more about Community Excel Services at the church information counter, through our website www.ces.org.my, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CESMalaysia or by e-mailing general@ces.org.my
Getting to know… Terry Yeow, NextGen Teens
Elea Au Yong, PJN2
Tell us about your background
I didn’t grow up a Christian. I’m the youngest and the only son in my family. I have typical old fashioned Chinese parents and my father thought that I should become an accountant, engineer or a lawyer.
How did you come to know God?
When I was growing up, significance was very important to me. In secondary school, I was in a gang; I bullied others, and was a troublemaker to my classmates. Doing those things made me feel significant, respected and accepted by my peers. But gradually, I realised it was a lie. At that time, I was forced to attend church by my sister so I started attending the youth service. One day when the youth pastor shared his testimony about how he came to know God, it was as though he was speaking to me and that was when I accepted Jesus into my life.
How did you become a staff at DUMC?
When I was 22 years old, there was a calling from a guest speaker in a camp to become a full-time staff at church. I knew that calling was for me in God’s timing. Since then, every year I would ask God when should I be entering full-time ministry. God eventually led me to DUMC and I have been here since 2013.
How did your family respond to your decision?
I am thankful to our Lord that my parents respected my decision and they were
supportive. The Lord has given me wisdom to learn to prioritize my time for family, work and ministry.
What’s your passion for NextGen?
I have been working with young people for 15 years, both professionally and in ministry. I have seen students who have messed up their teenage years and had the consequences to deal with later in their early 20s. That broke my heart. I wished they had someone there to help and guide them. That drove my passion for teenagers. I knew that just by paying a little more attention to a 13 year old, walking with him, loving him, accepting him for who he is and helping him along his growing years, by God’s grace, he would become a young adult who would sure of who God is and what God is calling him to do.
What do you want to see happen in your ministry 10 years from now?
I would love to see a bunch of crazy young people who are unapologetic about their faith in Christ. They would be a generation that loves God, serves people and are passionate about making disciples of Christ.
God can move within us. I would love to see them surrender more of their lives to Him, whether in church or school. I look forward to seeing them experience the results of their surrender. The power of surrender is a very important value to teach young people.
What’s your passion or what do you enjoy doing?
The two biggest passions in my life are young people and music. I always said that if I were born in another country, I would have been a musician. But it’s humbling privilege that I get to serve in the Worship Ministry now.
What do you intend to leave behind as a legacy?
It is my prayer that what we are doing now will grow a generation of young people who are certain of who their God is, and that they will have personal encounters with Him in their daily life. It’s important to leave behind a generation that will live their lives passionately, knowing their purpose and their giftings in Christ, and using them for His Kingdom.
What do you look forward to in your ministry in line with our Step Up theme this year?
I would like to see more young people understand that stepping up means surrendering more, not giving more. Surrendering empowers us and that is how
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Getting to know… Sara Leong, NextGen Campus
Michelle Wong, PJN6
A graduate in psychology and with 7 months’ experience in child therapy, Sara knew her calling was in fulltime ministry, even while she was in Australia. The door was opened to her when a Pastor in events, youth and worship ministry “created a job” for her in spite of the fact that there was no job opening at that time. This built up her portfolio in managing events for youth and worship and as well as pastoral care.
What inspired you to be in full time ministry?
My parents were always supportive. My dad said something really wise which helped me to decide. He said, “If God opens a door for you to serve him and these are the best years of your life, why not give your best years to God?”
After 7 years in Australia, why return home?
I returned to Kuala Lumpur because God closed other doors for me in Australia. I was in the midst of applying for my Australian PR (permanent residence) but just as I was about to submit the application, the law changed and it became harder to obtain a PR without pursuing another degree/course. I felt God already saying then that my time in Australia was up and there are other things He wants me to do back in KL. I was so reluctant to pack my bags and come back to Malaysia but since I didn't have a choice, I had to. The moment I touched down in KL, my heart was immediately calm. I knew then that KL was going to be home for the next season of my
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life. Two years on, this is where it has left me - staffing at DUMC.
How did you become a staff at DUMC?
Pastor Daniel and Pastor Gilbert had been encouraging me to come back to KL even while I was still working in Australia. So when I finally came back, Pastor Bernard called me up for a “friendly chat”. The next thing I knew, HR called up for me to fill in some forms. I had been told that there was no opening for NextGen. This is the ministry I really wanted to serve in. Why NextGen? Because I want to be in a place that allows me to sow into the “messy-ness of lives and mentoring” and God willing, this experience can help to prepare me for my next calling. Guess what? They created a position for me. DUMC believes that God has a specific calling for everyone. Then I knew deep in my heart that this is the place where I want to be planted in. It’s been almost 2 years now.
How do you relate to the Step Up theme this year?
This April, Pastor Alex announced that he would step out of NextGen. That means I have to step up to lead the NextGen Campus. It is faith stretching but God is ABLE. I don’t regret stepping up.
What do you intend to leave behind as a legacy?
To be a part of building up a generation of NextGenners who are passionate about God, who understand the nature of God
through His word and experience God personally. To see them have their hearts and minds aligned, be solidly and deeply rooted in the Word and unashamedly worshipping God in constant excitement.
Do share if there is a bible verse that you live by.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Come join us!
Truly, there are many ways to use your gifts and talents to serve God in God's kingdom. But if you want to sow into young people’s lives (particularly CAMPUS ministry for youths), we WANT you! For more information contact please email to nextgen@dumc.my
The preoperative treatment involved putting a metal halo with 6 screws attached to her skull. She needed to be in the hospital for the initial period to start putting traction to lift her spine up by her sitting on a special chair with weights to pull her head upwards thus pulling the spine upwards as well. The target was to eventually reach half her body weight which was 45lbs. After 4 days, Ashlyn complained of numbness on her head. The doctor was concerned and did an MRI just to be sure things were alright before continuing. This threw me off guard because if she was unable to proceed with this treatment, she would need to go for an additional 6 hours of surgery which involved two incisions on her abdomen to access the spine, followed by the posterior spinal fusion surgery 24 hours later. This would be very taxing for her. I had to turn to God. Who do I ask for help but the Lord? He is my Comforter and my Deliverer. The next day the MRI showed that everything was normal and she could continue with the treatment. God is good.
My Journey with
God in Prayer
I
Cathy Ho, PJN4
n 2013, my daughter Ashlyn, then 13 years old, was diagnosed with scoliosis. This caused her spine to curve and twist resulting in a compressed upper body. In July 2015, her curvature became critical and we decided to send her for spinal fusion surgery in Mayo Clinic in the US. I started preparing myself for this difficult and challenging chapter of my life. I sought comfort in the word of God daily and His Words spoke to me. As I prayed over the months, God gave me the peace and the assurance that she would be in good hands. The Lord also gave me a picture of a blooming flower, the assurance that something beautiful would come out of this challenging chapter of our lives.
The next two and half weeks were tough for Ashlyn. I requested my prayer partners to pray. By the time she was about to go for surgery, her curvature had reduced by 35%. This would make it much easier for the surgeons to straighten her spine further during surgery and also reduce neurological risk. I thanked God for giving her the perseverance during the treatment. The day of surgery finally arrived. It was to last 12 hours. But we thanked God that we were given updates every two hours. My prayer partners were also updated so that they could pray more specifically for Ashlyn. Finally, the surgery was completed. The surgeon told us that she had very good correction on her spine and had only lost 1.5 litres of blood and there was no need for blood transfusion as her blood was recycled. Praise the Lord! I then mobilized my prayer partners to pray for good pain management. Overall she did quite well. She was up walking on the third day and was discharged on the fifth day. We arrived in Malaysia mid-March after six weeks of recuperation post-surgery. Praise the Lord! I thank God for my 14 prayer partners who had been praying unceasingly from the time we were waiting for a place at Ronald McDonald House to the time she started her treatment until she recovered from her surgery.
We went for an assessment in early December 2015 and were told of the various options available. Due to her severe curves, the doctor suggested that we opt for preoperative treatment using halo gravity traction followed by posterior spinal fusion surgery. She also suggested that we contact Ronald McDonald House (a charity home), on the possibility of staying there as an outpatient during the preoperative treatment and during recuperation. I mobilized my prayer partners into praying for a place there.
Ashlyn now has a balanced shoulder and is 3 inches taller!
Ashlyn and I arrived in Rochester, Minnesota in early January 2016 for preoperative treatment. We called Ronald House and were placed number 9 on the waiting list. The next day, the House called to say that we had a place there. What perfect timing! God is good.
I was reminded of what Pastor Tan Chi's wife said "When I am faced with challenges in life, I can't wait to find out what good things will come out of it." Praise be to God. He is good.
As I reflected on what had happened, I began to see the fulfillment of the picture God gave me of the blooming flower. The blooming flower represents Ashlyn's beautiful new body. My walk with God has taken on a greater height where I learned to depend on Him more and learned to praise Him more. Ashlyn's spiritual walk has also taken on a new dimension.
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Who Else Could Have
Saved Me? Amy Gwendoline Foo Ai Ling, PJS1
M
y name is Amy and I am a member of Benny Liew’s Cell Group in Subang Jaya. I attend CG regularly; in fact, one could say that I attend close to 90% of all CG meetings. In mid-April this year, on a trip to Sabah, I developed extremely bad flu. I came back on 22 April and went to work the next day. I was very sick and could not work that day and a kind colleague took me to University of Malaya Medical Centre (formerly University Hospital Kuala Lumpur). I was admitted to the Accident and Emergency (A & E Unit) on arrival as it was a Saturday and also because my condition had deteriorated. I was rushed to the ‘Red Zone’ after being resuscitated three times in the A & E Unit and on the third time, they intubated me although they were not able to get consent from Geraldine, my daughter. I became unconscious. My daughter was crying when she saw me in the A & E as they had taped my eyes and had heavily sedated me. Some CG members and leaders came to give their support and stayed with her until the wee hours of the next day. They prayed for me unceasingly and Brother Lam anointed me with anointing oil and bound the spirit of death. The doctors in the A & E gave me a 50% chance of survival and tried to get me to the ICU as soon as possible. My heart and kidney also began to fail. Though my condition was not encouraging, my CG members stood by me and many came to pray with me and for me. They came to the ICU but I was unconscious close to eight days. Finally, the doctors extubated me.
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The reasons for my deteriorating condition were because I had an asthma attack and a bad lung infection. This was the result of the three resuscitations and intubation in the A & E Unit. I was also diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea that had affected the right side of my heart. On top of that, I had a recalcitrant and refractory cellulitis that did not respond to the first antibiotic given until they put me on Clindamycin. All this could have taken my life and even the doctors were pessimistic of my progress. My aunt even asked that I would be given the ‘Sacrament of Anointing’ (administered by a Catholic Priest to those who are going home to The Lord) but she did not realise that it is our God who has the final say. God gave me a second chance at life and I finally woke up on the eighth day. My daughter was elated to see me wake up. The doctors transferred me to a normal ward and I finally recovered. I am thankful to God and the CG, especially to Benny, for praying for me unceasingly and all the support that they have showered upon us. Most importantly, I thank our Almighty God for I know He is good and His love endures forever. My experience reminds me of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life and in John 11:4, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it”. I praise God and give Him the highest glory, now and forever more through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
His Love for Me
T
is Real
his is my testimony of our Heavenly Father's mercy, unconditional love and faithfulness in the lives of my husband, Calvin Leong Hoong Kin and me. Our wedding was set on Saturday, 16 July 2016. After a year’s preparation, upon the completion of the pre-marital counseling course with Dato and Datin YT Loh, we were ecstatic, anticipating a wedding which would glorify Jesus and also honour our parents. Being a part of DUMC's Worship Ministry, Resonate, both Calvin and I had been praying for a vibrant and joyful worship celebration on our wedding day! However, a sudden turn of events took place the week before instead. I started vomiting for a few days and could not digest food or water. Calvin, admitted me to the hospital on Sunday, one week before our wedding. The next day, I was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit as the doctors said that I was in a critical condition. A few months prior, I had a surgical procedure to remove four fibroids which were all bigger than 5cm. One was compressing my bladder, causing discomfort. After that, I thought I was well. Hence, I was bewildered by this sudden health crisis! Both the gastroenterologist and general surgeon diagnosed that I had acute kidney failure with the level of toxin in the kidney being above 400. At 200, dialysis was already required. My kidneys were not functioning. Moreover, my pancreas was infected and scans showed small stones in the gall bladder. My intestinal walls had adhesions and were blocked. Pastor Gilbert and Yukiko Tan came to visit me. They prepared Calvin and I for the worst case scenario: a signing ceremony at the ICU instead of a church wedding ceremony as originally planned. Pastor Gilbert’s feedback was that Calvin was calm when he suggested this to Calvin. Pastor Chris and Stella Kam also visited me at the ICU on Wednesday 13 July, 2016 and they spoke to the doctor. The next morning, at the threeday fast and prayer in DUMC that week, Pastor Chris rallied prayers for healing on my behalf. Over the three-day fast and prayer, the doctor's reports showed good news! My kidneys began to function again. As the toxin levels in my kidneys and pancreas were beginning to drop and return to acceptable levels, with medication, the pancreas infection
Chriselle Koh, PJN6 cleared and my intestines began to unblock itself. That evening, the general surgeon who came to check up on me said, "Girl, I did not think you would make it when you were first admitted, especially with so many organs in critical condition. Now, you are recovering". Cathy Loh dropped by the hospital to see me on Thursday evening, bringing a little bride teddy bear wearing a veil. She declared God's victory and complete healing over my body and that I will be walking down the aisle on Saturday morning, in Jesus's Name! By Friday, the evening of 15 July 2016, the day before my wedding, the doctors discharged me on the basis that I was fit enough to walk down the aisle. I went home and prepared for our wedding. The next morning on 16 July 2016, Aunty Stella Kam (my spiritual mother) veiled and prayed over me, preparing me to begin a new chapter of my life with Calvin. I walked down the aisle on the arms of Pastor Chris Kam as my spiritual father. Pastor Gilbert Tan married us, accompanied by loud celebrative cheers and hoots from our Resonate friends, cell group and family members present. After our wedding, medical check-ups and a strict diet followed. On 17 August 2016, the final health report from a thorough scan showed an overall good bill of health. The stones in my gall bladder were gone and no sludge was seen in the gall bladder duct like before. All my organs are functioning as originally designed by God - healthily! I am so thankful to my parents-in-law, family members, Resonate Ministry and DUMC friends, for the precious gift of prayers they showered upon us, as well as making our wedding a successful one. Special thanks to my husband, Calvin , for taking such tireless, meticulous care of me while I was hospitalized. Most of all, I thank him for his encouragement and unwavering faith in God to see us through challenging circumstances. Our eternal gratitude is to Jehovah Rapha (God is my Healer). He healed me miraculously and granted Calvin and I a dream wedding. Indeed, our God is a loving, great & Almighty God. He has turned water into wine, mourning into dancing. I know His love for me is real. To God be the glory, honour & power, forever and ever! Amen.
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My Moments with God
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said. “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6: 12 Grace Goh, PJN4
I
have been a homemaker for the past 15 years after resigning from my corporate job. I was able to take care of our four children and support my husband in his Christian book ministry. I enjoy serving with him in the cell group and we homeschooled our two younger sons who are currently preparing for their O-levels in a centre. As we were studying the book of Gideon by Priscilla Shirer in Moments last year, I likened myself to Gideon when he was in the winepress, threshing wheat there instead of in an open field, fearful, and far from being a mighty warrior. I was doing what I thought I was good at, caring for the family and being a supportive wife. However, as we went deeper into the study of Gideon, God began to stir my heart to step out from my comfort zone. A CG member invited me to join her on a trip to Nepal to bring relief to the earthquake victims. My immediate response was filled with doubts: I am not even prepared for disaster myself; I am physically unfit; I don’t have the finances to fund the trip; Is it safe ? How was I going to tell my aging Mom? So, I politely told her I would pray about it. During LEAD2015 conference, Pastor Peter Tan-Chi spoke about Peter walking on water and he challenged us: if you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. As my CG member (who was waiting for my reply and was not present at the conference) suddenly held up this book from our book shop entitled “If you want to walk on water, get out of the boat” by John Otberg, I knew at that instant it was God speaking to me. In obedience, I agreed to go on the Nepal missions trip and God graciously provided for my trip. It was not an easy journey to Nepal as it was the rainy season and tremours were still felt in certain parts of the country. I remember that on one of the hikes to a church in the village, a local Nepali woman took us on a ‘short cut’ which she claimed would only take us half an hour to reach that place. The trail was so steep that I broke my walking stick. Looking back, it was indeed God’s protection as I was very near the edge of the hill. We eventually took the normal route on our return but the climbing had weakened my knees and I was panting for breath due to the
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high altitude. When I felt like giving up, my team member told me, “Grace, just focus on the stone in front of you, don’t look up too far”. We are doing Psalms of Ascent in Moments this year and as described in Psalm 123:1 “I lift my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven”, so I fixed my eyes on the LORD whom I know is able to deliver me. As I focused my eyes on those stones, a step at a time, the journey was much easier and I finally reached my destination although two hours later. I was also able to visit a church in Kathmandu pastored by a homemaker herself. I was amazed at how she could still preach passionately from the pulpit after her household chores and cooking us a delicious meal. She is no ordinary woman and is a multi-tasker just like most of us women. God used me to share my knowledge with her on all that I have learned from our W2W (Women to Women) ministry as most of her church members consisted of women, both young and old. The purpose of my trip became clearer to me and I thank God that I can be a blessing to the women in Nepal as much as I have been blessed by the W2W ministry here in DUMC. Having stepped out to Nepal last year, 2016 will be a year of stepping up for me. The study of Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore has brought me to a greater intimacy with the Lord. God gave me new boldness to serve as a facilitator in the homemakers’ group together with Caryn M, Sophie and Pauline. We gather with other homemakers once every fortnight to study the same book. The words from Judges 6:12 “…The LORD is with you, mighty warrior” released by Caryn M when we were seeking Him for our homemakers group was never a coincidence but a divine mandate for us. We know that the Lord has exciting plans for the women in church and with His empowerment, I will serve Him faithfully, hoping to leave a legacy of helping every woman to grasp a hold of their destiny and rise up to their full potential in God.
Experience the Power of Fast & Prayer Nelly Goh Ley Ting, PJN1
M
y grandson was born early this year on the 9 January 2016. The story of his conception and birth is something that still amazes me to this very day.
The story started with my eldest daughter who had been married for three and a half years and, together with her husband, were planning to start a family of their own. However, her first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. It was a heart-breaking time for all of us. I, who had been praying for some time, wondered what God’s plan was in all of this. It was a lesson that He wanted to teach me about prayer. Prayer, I learned, is a tool we apply to build our faith. Sometimes we may pray and yet it seems like nothing is happening, and hence we become disappointed. Jesus, in Luke 18:1-8, told the parable of the persistent widow in a lesson for us to pray and not to lose heart. This passage of Scripture encouraged me to keep praying for my daughter, despite my anxiety over her inability to conceive. At the end of April 2015, I felt a deep desire in my heart to fast and pray for three days, instead of just praying. I remember telling God that I wanted to experience His power through fasting and prayer and I did not want my fasting to become just a routine. With bold faith, I asked God for an answer to the conception issue by the following month and for me to experience His mercy. I remember it was on the 23 May, the following month, when the family was celebrating our wedding anniversary; in a cheeky manner, my daughter and her husband announced that she was pregnant! Truly, I was so amazed by this answered prayer and the mercy of our living God! He is a God who hears our prayers! What more, a few months after her announcement, I dreamt that the baby would be a boy. Lo and behold, that became a reality too!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.� Philippians 4:6
Now we have a 5 month old intelligent and rambunctious grandchild who is bringing joy to all his family members. I want to truly testify that children are indeed an inheritance from the Lord, a reward from Him! It is a testament of His goodness, and all of us in the family are committed to train the child in His ways to be a godly man in the future, as instructed in Proverbs 22:6. I truly want to give all glory to our good, good Father! Praise The Lord!
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+ + + “To lead is to serve” There is a calling to be legacy makers. We need to ask ourselves, “What will we leave behind?”
As a Church, the Joshua generation, we want to leave behind a legacy of leadership and discipleship. We need to also ask ourselves, “Who is discipling me and who am I discipling?” These stories you are about to read testifies this legacy in the making…
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Heart Of A Servant Shaun Woo, NextGen
has been serving for as long as he has been attending church. He has the gift of leading worship and has the heart for worship. I have heard of how he led worship in our former church but I was too young to remember or even to comprehend. When he came to DUMC, he had the desire to serve and so he quickly jumped straight into the opportunity of serving with Dew Crew, and later on with the worship team.
When I got older, it was truly a special moment to see my dad worship on stage. His act of service unto the House of God planted a seed of inspiration in me and has encouraged me to step up in my service in church. Up till today, dad is still serving faithfully in church through Little Lambs and leading worship at prayer meetings. He taught me the importance of serving God regardless of the ministry you are in. Such is the example of serving I wish to carry on from the previous generation
to the next.
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+++
Our Ladies That Walk The Streets Kao Chee Ming, PJS1
I HAVE RESPECTABLE LADIES in my CG all in their 50s-70s (Ibu Oen, Anna, Maureen, Sim, Emily, Rose, Jessie, Angie) who actually walk the streets and minister to the poor and the prostitutes in Petaling Street, convert taxi drivers into Christianity, cycle together around their neighbourhood just to minister to their neighbours, and so much more. They would even go to such lengths as to take a cab just to minister to the Indonesian maids that live outside their vicinity; give a ride to new believers to church, even when it’s more convenient to send someone else to pick these are in need even when they theselves have no income of their own.
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Their hunger for the Lord and desire to grow in Him has been my biggest inspiration. They attend the Bible Study Fellowship together just so they can learn more about their faith. It has been a joy being in the same cell group as them as they have added so much colour to my life. I can count on them week in and week out to be punctual at cell group and, more often than not, they will be so enthusiastic to share amazing testimonies of what the Holy Spirit has done through their ministry that week.
Praise the Lord for them.
+++ “Amazing grace
how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Those are words that stamps deeply in the life of a man who was once a heroin addict, but had his life redeemed and transformed when he made the decision to follow Christ. The journey of coming out of drug addiction was not an easy one, but through the workings of the Holy free from the chains that could have easily led him to a path of destruction.
Christine Ong, PJN6
Through his daily pursuit of Christ and humble love for people, Jesus’ command to go and make disciples has become a blueprint for his life. He is an inspiration to me, as I personally get to witness how he continuously lives a life of faith and yieldedness towards the work of Christ. He is an inspiration to many, as he is seen to live by his quote – “the richest people in the world are not the ones with the most money, but the ones with the richest relationships.”
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+++ It was a rare Saturday with barely any plans; no Children Church and I wasn’t serving in Resonate. My son, John Shiu who’s turning 8 years old this year, had been so restless since morning and when 2PM came, to my surprise this was what he said, “Oh, it’s 2PM! The musicians are practicing in the auditorium now.” - I was so surprised that he actually remembered my schedule. That got me thinking how intentional and careful I should be when someone that young is watching my every move. Having my little boy in my life challenges me not only as a mother, but as a person overall.
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There are moments when I said or used the wrong words and he, without a doubt would point them out. It’s never easy to admit my wrongdoing to my son but he teaches me to swallow my pride, stay humble, admit my mistakes and live out life right as how he’s been taught to. It’s never by my own strength but it’s by the grace of God (and encouragement from family and friends) that I count it a blessing to see him grow and one day be the man he ought to be in God. John, thank you for showing mama what it means to walk the talk and to live a life with Christ at the forefront of all that I do and say.
Bridget Shiu, PJN6
EVENTS CALENDAR
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Marriage Course Vision Day Marriage Course 3-Day Fast & Prayer Faith@Work Marriage Course 20-22 Men’s Conference
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Leaders' Meeting Church Prayer Meeting Faith@Work MenAlive! Monthly Meeting W2W Encounter Weekend
My greatest adventure
Watch Bear's story Alpha.org
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