NOVEMBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017
NOVEMBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017
93
ISSUE
THE COVER
STEP OUT The BIG IDEA for STEP OUT in 2017 is to love God (the great commandment), to serve people and to make disciples (the great commision).
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.
CONNECT WITH US Find Us On Facebook At www.facebook.com/dumcMY Instagram.com/dumcMY
4-5 6-7 8 9 10 11 12-13 14 16-17 19 20 21 22-23 24-25 26-27 28 29-30 31 Back Cover :
Love God, Serve People, Make Disciples Transforming into the Future Serving God's Purpose in Our Generation This is Christmas Salvation Christmas In God's Hands Look Back with Praise Getting to Know : Adrian Ho LENT Oneness in Journey Inaugural Zone Prayer Meeting CHOSEN ALPHA Season Ends God’s Mission in Cambodia God’s Call to Short Term Missions Land of the Simple-hearted DUMC Ministries Events Calendar W2W Essential : Metamorphosis
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.
My greatest adventure 2 March 2017
3
LOVE
GOD SERVE PEOPLE
MAKE DISCIPLES by Chris Kam, Senior Pastor
M
oses was an extraordinary leader in the sense that he wrestled with God over his call. He was clear in his mind that unless God was there with him, it was pointless going where he wanted to go with his people. In Exodus 33:12-23, we observe the incredible dialogue between God and man. Moses knew the marching order: “Lead these people” (V.12) but God had not told him yet who He would send with him. He knew he had the favour of God upon him. His desire was that God would teach him His ways rather than be dependent on his limited human understanding. God went beyond that and said this amazing line: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (V.14) For most of us, we would be thinking that God’s call will demand a lot of hard work and sacrifices. We often misunderstand the phrase “hard work”, thinking it is synonymous with “strive”. Certainly, we see there is much work in leading 600,000 adult males (Exodus 12:37). This would imply a total population of 2 to 2.5 million people, when Egypt’s population at the time was only about 3 to 4.5 million. That’s hard work!
4
But then why did God also say that He would give Moses rest? The “rest” here meant the final destination of the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. In today’s context, that rest in the spiritual realm is the rest of salvation (Hebrews 4:1). Faith in God was the key to entering that rest (Hebrews 4:2). The Greek definition of rest is “to be refreshed, to abide, to cease and to settle down.” True rest in God allows us to live rejuvenated and be at peace with ourselves and others. The opposite of rest is restlessness, always having the feeling that there is something more to do, something else to get right, a sense of wanting to be more in control, in order to relax and have a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Sounds like an oxymoronic desire, yet in this way we strive in restlessness towards an elusive rest. I resonated with an adage I came across that says “When we strive, God waits. When we rest, God acts.”
It was with such a perspective that I asked God to show me the way as I lead DUMC for the next ten years as its Senior Pastor from the middle of last year. I want God to be there at the end of that ten years when I pass on the baton. I want to learn to lead in restedness and not restless strife. I want to achieve the goal, not of growth, but of grace because growth is His work and not mine (1 Cor 3:6). All I need to do is provide a space for spiritual nurture, health and His Presence for God’s people and God will cause the growth. So I asked Him, what will DUMC be like in 10 years’ time? Very clearly, He said to me to build DUMC not for ourselves but for our children and their children. While it may seem logical that every church should do so, yet by design, we often do not as we are stuck in our old human ways and preferences. The Lord reminded me often not to harbour pride because we have “eaten more salt” and hence think there is nothing much we can learn from young people. We need the humility to sit down with them and hear what they have to say about church. We pray that church is relevant to them as much as it is to us. In being part of us, they catch on the vision and purpose that everything we do must be for the sake of the Gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit, in a spiritual environment of prayer and worship. We must be strong in both the Word and the Spirit. We must have an encounter with God in all that we do, a deep sense of belonging to a community and be given a calling higher than ourselves. Jesus summed up for us a personal and corporate calling of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20): To “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). This is a clarion call to love God and others. This sums up the 613 laws of the Old Testament into just two commandments. This is a stroke of divine wisdom and an indication of the brilliance of our Lord in simplifying an otherwise complicated set of rules to live by. The Great Commission defines the core business of the church: to make disciples and not just believers. A disciple is taught to obey everything Jesus commanded. In one stroke, we understand what it means to be a Christian and to be Church. The one word that would describe what DUMC will be like at the end of it all is the word “Christlikeness”. Christlikeness can come in so many forms but what the Lord had impressed upon my heart are these five words or phrases that reflect the way we treat each other or how we do life together. They are “Honour, Humility, Be Real, Pass-It-On and Fun.” They are by no means exhaustive but these are the key core habits that will be spun into other characteristics of Christlikeness. I call them habits because habits are something that are so much part of us that they become inherent subconscious acts and an automatic natural code of conduct that comes out of our being. We are not merely talking about behavioral modifications but a heart transformation that comes out as a fruit of the Spirit. When we are God- and people-honouring, with the humility of a servant to serve like our Lord Jesus, and being real and authentic in who we are in a non-judgmental atmosphere of acceptance, and remembering always to pass it on to others on a platform of discipleship, and while doing all that, we have fun with an inner joy being evident, that would be an amazing church to be in. Would we be inspired to ask God for that? Let me sum up in just one phrase to give us a sense of purpose and unity to what we hope to see in ten years’ time and beyond. If someone were to ask you, “what is DUMC and what do you stand for?”, you simply need to say we are to: “Love God, Serve People, Make Disciples towards Christlikeness with the core habits of Honour, Humility, Be Real, Pass-It-On and Fun.” That’s it! It does not have to be complicated but let us have fun doing all these. I look forward to running this race with you and being awed by the Presence of God.
5
Chris Kam, Senior Pastor
Transforming into the Future Phoebe Wong, PJN3
6
M
ost of our regular church-goers would have witnessed the transformation of the church’s outlook gradually over the past couple of years, from a conventional building into a modern and welcoming space. Some find it refreshing, a new look bringing the space up-to-date to house a new generation but some may also wonder whether it was an essential or a realistic decision made by the church. The need for additional space became very apparent as ministries were growing over the years, and as the church reached out to larger communities. The idea first came about approximately 7 years ago to explore how the church could leverage its facilities in order to bridge the gap. Phase 2 of the project to rebuild the fast-aging kindergarten building was put to a halt when it was no longer viable mainly due to rising costs and change of the local council laws. At that point of time, God arranged a divine appointment between Pastor Bernard Lee, the Executive Pastor of DUMC, Lee Kok Yin, Finance Manager of DUMC and Edwin Lim, an Interior Design consultant and one of DUMC’s members, to embark on a new series of restructuring to utilise existing internal spaces as well as to achieve a more contemporary design for the building. The design was very much focused on the concept of connecting with its attendees even before they step through the doors. Gone are the days when a church was merely a building with four walls where people only came on Sundays. Today it’s a place where people can come and connect with others and it’s also a space that provides for church goers’ needs in relation to their spiritual, family or even personal lives. Not only does a physical transformation serve the purpose of supporting the growth of ministries, but it also aligns with the church’s vision of being more relevant to the #twenty35, to provide a space where they can ‘hang out’ and ‘do life together’. The new structure of the building also caters to different needs and expectations of various categories of people including children, youths, adults, the elderly and also the five other non-English speaking congregations. On top of that, it provides a better facility for people to engage with one another and share God’s love - a more conducive place for the community to encounter God. Some of the significant changes were seen in the increase of number of floors for the kindergarten that can now accommodate more children, establishment of a new hall in Block D to allow more activities to be held and the extended café (or Hangar). Good news for parents is that they can now pick up their children from the kindergarten under shade; and children also reap the benefits of having a safer play area that is guarded and doing outdoor activities under a
MAKE DISCIPLE
covered area. There is also a pantry meant for volunteers beside the café for preparation of food, washing etc. Not neglecting the hard work of staff that help to maintain the cleanliness of the church, there are now two rest areas created just for them. Furthermore, the church office has also been turned into an open concept workspace that provides a more modern working environment and with increased seating capacity. Now, with more workstations and the new brightly coloured vibrant work-space, the staff now has more room to not only work, but also to rest and fellowship together, as all families do. When asked about sustainability, Edwin commented that the main goal of the project was to resolve current issues that the church was facing, with practical solutions which included creating more shared places and unlocking hidden spaces. A good example is that the Hangar is now opened all the way to the end where many events such as Alpha could be held in a covered casual setting. The visitors’ lounge is now more easily accessible through the open space near the café as well. Repositioning the information counter also enhances centralization of tasks in one key area to promote efficiency and a more ‘user-friendly’ approach. Future plans include facilities-based projects such as upkeep and upgrading of the building, furniture, electrical items, cabling and other facilities. We may also look to revive the Sports Centre so we can engage the community through sports activities, something greatly favoured by all age groups especially the youth. “It is difficult to gauge the exact timeframe of the whole project. However, we certainly desire for the church to continue to grow and we will then have a new problem to address. But that being said, I would call it a “Happy Problem””, said Edwin. On the topic of sustainability, Pastor Bernard added that the project also includes some elements that will move the church towards a greener environment such as the usage of LED lightings and recycled tiles. With so much in place, it is definitely not by mere human effort but by God’s hand upon each and every step that the leaders are taking. We believe that God will continue to lead the progress of the church to become as functional as is needed, but most importantly, to be a place where the Holy Spirit not only visits but inhabits. We pray that it will be a place where people not only come to know God but can sense His presence and walk closely with Him. May the Lord give wisdom to the church leaders and surely we will see the fruits of their labour. Proverbs 21:5 says, ‘The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.’
57
Serving God’s Purpose in
Our Generation Dato’ Dr Daniel Ho, Founding Senior Pastor
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep….” (Acts 13:36)
God is not looking for the perfect vessel
Despite David’s flaws and blunders, God chose to use him. David was mighty among his peers and he served out God’s purpose in his generation. This is the amazing grace of God and it gives us all hope that we too can fulfil God’s purpose in our generation. However, this does not mean we are permitted to trifle with sins or flirt with compromises. No, we must take our flaws and sins seriously and deal with them firmly.
What is the present generation like?
This present generation, compared with the past, is the most knowledgeable and also the most exposed to all forms of experiences, be it physical, spiritual, emotional, social or psychological. While this generation has experienced the greatest advance in science and technology, it is also undergoing the greatest uncertainty, confusion and conflict.
What are the issues? How can we serve this generation?
Firstly, there has never been such great uncertainty and fear about the future, whether we are in the East or the West or the North or the South (depending on our preferred orientation). As a result, everyone is looking for a sense of security. Some find security in things while others find security in a place. The former amass possessions while the latter move to a seemingly more secure address. This is all understandable. As Christians, where should our security lie?
8
The psalmist writes, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (or in time of need)” (Psalm 46:1). There is no place more safe and secure than where God is. In His presence and in His hands, we can walk in peace and trust Him for our future. As Christians, we serve God’s purpose in our generation by sharing about this security and certainty in Christ. Secondly, this present generation wrestles with the issue of identity and significance. Many ask questions like: “Who am I?” and “Is there worth or value in life?” People seek to find identity in power, position, possession, titles, awards and degrees. Others find identity in idolising certain people, movie stars or business leaders. There is nothing wrong with the latter provided the person has character and values that are worth our imitation. Otherwise, it may result in disappointment. The truth of the matter is that we will never know who we are until we know who He is, the One who made us. The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we have discovered our identity in Christ, we will find security, peace and restedness. We will have dignity and value in Christ. We will not need to strive to prove who we are. We will also no longer be concerned about the kind of car we drive, the type of house we live in and where we live. The kind of job we hold also does not matter as long as we put our heart and mind into it. The
latter pleases God more than the kind of job we hold. This brings great freedom, peace and joy. So, we serve our generation best by sharing with them this amazing identity and significance in Christ and the consequent liberty and dignity that follow. Thirdly, this generation is experiencing the greatest addictions of all time, be it addiction to computer games, pornography or gambling. The on-line global reach is mind-boggling! Tragically some governments are trying to legalise on-line gambling for the sake of the almighty dollar and every moral issue is tossed out of the window! Such addictions cause people to be twisted inwards and be consumed by quick gain, passion and fantasy that is dehumanising and ultimately destructive. We serve God’s purpose in our generation by offering this freedom and breakthrough in Christ. Deliverance is possible through Christ. Breakthrough and change can be secured in Christ. Finally, this generation is afflicted with depression and suicide more than any other generation. This alarming phenomenon is sweeping the globe and the age is getting even younger. As Christians, we serve this generation best by being real friends and good listeners to such people. Jesus says that He has come to give us life in all its fullness (John 10:10). May the life-giving Christ be offered to this generation so that people are delivered from depression and come to experience healing and wholeness in Christ.
Christmas Jerica Lam, PJN6
C
hristmas is undoubtedly one of the biggest holidays in our calendar. For many, it is the period for exchanging presents, spending time with family, and eating good food (especially for us Malaysians!). Even in a hot tropical country like Malaysia, Christmas holds an unmistakable charm. However, for me, amidst the hustle and bustle of festivities, I am reminded what Christmas really is: to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. DUMC showcased a Christmas production entitled “Choices” on 16 and 17 December as well as special celebrations on Christmas Day. In addition, many Cell Groups organized gatherings and activities to bless others, to celebrate Christmas and to reach out to pre-believers. While there is no official theme, my takeaway from DUMC’s Christmas events is simple – going into the New Year, we all have a choice on whether or not to follow Jesus, and live a life that is filled with joy and blessing. To me, this is Christmas.
9
I had not been to a DUMC production before and thus, I was eager to attend “Choices”. As the name suggests, the story revolves around the choices two good friends, Gavin and Michael, from very different backgrounds made, and how their lives were significantly impacted. Gavin, who faced many hardships over the years, held on to grudges, resentment and unforgiveness. He chose to push his friend, Michael away and allow his hopes and dreams to slip away as well. In spite of the bad choices Gavin made, he still had the choice to take
the step towards his personal redemption and in the end, he chose to do so. From the play, the audience was reminded that we all face choices in life, and not all choices produce the same outcomes. Some choices we choose to make can lead to consequences that will change our lives forever. Some of us are imprisoned by our choices. The good news is that God chose to send Jesus to die for us on the cross so that we can have the choice of breaking free of the bondage of our own choices and live lives filled with joy, love and hope. Overall, the play was enjoyable as it underlined the key message in a simple and entertaining manner. The cast performed well, showcasing their talent in acting, singing and dancing. Many of them were first timers and we even had one of our pastors appear! (Look out for the testimony by one of the cast members in “Choices I Made”, also in this issue). On Christmas Sunday, DUMC held two celebrations at 8.30am and 11.00am. I attended the 8.30am service, and was at church early hoping to avoid the crowd. However, many were already there as early as 8am and had started queuing up to enter the auditorium. The auditorium was packed, the mood jovial with people smiling and it was heart-warming to greet familiar faces. This is Christmas, I thought to myself. We belted out Christmas carols during worship, and were later treated to a performance by the Children’s Church Choir. Pastor Chris then took to the pulpit,
presenting the big idea of the day turning our water into wine, the ordinary to the extraordinary. Jesus was sent to us as an ordinary man but who did extraordinary things. The sermon was based on one of the first recorded miracles performed by Jesus during a wedding when the wine was finished – turning water into wine. In Jesus’ time, wine (in moderation) was a sign of joy and God’s blessings. The absence of wine at a wedding would mean the absence of joy and blessings. Taken in our context, even if we plan our lives well, our ‘wine’ can still run out. Pastor Chris provided a timely reminder that not everyone looks forward to Christmas, that as some of us struggle with worries, problems and sadness, we may not even realise that we are running low on ‘wine’. On the other hand, some of us fill our jars of life with things that we assume would provide us joy or blessing, such as wealth, pleasure or career, but when the jar is filled to the brim, we realize it is only ‘water’. To ensure that we do not run out of ‘wine’, we need to involve God in our lives. As we celebrate Christmas and enter into the New Year, be reminded to live in faith and to trust God. It is important that we choose to follow Jesus, and choose to live an extraordinary life that is filled with joy and blessing.
Christmas Datin Cathy Loh, PJN2
T
he Christmas season started off well as there was enormous gladness and joy after wrapping up the Choices musical play in mid-December 2016, knowing that our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ had been glorified. The week before Christmas went by routinely until I received a message from my cell leader, Low Mei Ling, to lead Christmas carols at our Home-E celebration on 23 December. I was feeling rather physically drained as it had been a very hectic week. Even more challenging was when a small voice inside me prompted, "Perhaps it is a good time to invite your parents to the Home E.” I struggled and prayed about it. I had no peace but was assured that if it was God's will, surely He will make it possible. We have been praying for our parents’ salvation and the Holy Spirit impressed upon us the urgency for them to know and trust in Jesus. Even though my husband and I have been in Christ for the past seven years, we would honour my parents (who are from a different faith) by attending the customary Chinese Winter Solstice reunion dinner. And it was there, encouraged by my husband, that I asked my parents, "Dad,
come lah for our Christmas Celebration in our cell members Siew Lan and Tan Boon’s smart home...", and I left it at that. Initially my dad appeared uninterested as it was quite a distance from my parents’ place and their usual bedtime is 9pm. To my delight my mom called up the next morning, saying," Ok, dad and I are coming for the Christmas party..." Inside my heart, I was jumping for joy as this was a breakthrough after many years of praying that they would be able to join our Home-E Christmas celebration. Together with our cell group, my husband and I have been praying for all family and friends who would be coming. On the night, there was scrumptious food and wonderful sharing of testimonies by Mei Ling, Tan Boon and my husband. We rejoiced in singing the Christmas carols together and were privileged to have Pastor Dato' Dr Daniel Ho and Datin Doris Ho, visiting us though they had a prior engagement at Xiamen University. When Pastor Daniel closed the evening sharing with a prayer he went on to ask who would like to receive Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. To my amazement my Dad, Siew Yut Yau, a tough nut raised
his hand earnestly. I was dumbfounded and I could not believe it. I went up to Pastor Daniel and asked him to pray for my Dad's eyes which had recently undergone an operation and at the same time pray for my mom to accept Jesus into her life. To my surprise my parents both recited the Salvation prayer led by Pastor Dr Daniel Ho. Hallelujah, praise God indeed! Just as my husband and I received Christ seven years ago, it was with great joy and honour to witness my parents’ salvation. Heaven and the angels rejoiced and I felt the same way. This is indeed an affirmation from God as we had 2 weeks prior to this made a bold decision in faith to move closer to my parents’ house in order to visit them more regularly as well as to bring the light and love of Christ to them. I am indeed in awe, and I am so thankful to God for what HE has done to connect the dots when we stepped out in obedience. They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31 To GOD be the glory!
10
In God’s Hands by Matthew Wan, NextGen
F
or those active on social media, you know 2016 was a year filled with comments about how bad the year was for many. It was also a year when hate, corruption and loss seemed to prosper. For me, however, it was a year of being in God’s hands. At the beginning of the year, I felt anger well up against DUMC for taking so long in carrying out any plans for the younger generation. Being the type of person who rarely shared his thoughts with anyone, I kept this anger in my heart although it was weighing me down so much that it affected my studies and personal life. In April, I was invited by my cousin to join another Church’s 2 days’ Campus Conference. Filled with local and international campus students with a heart for God, I felt right at home. On the second night during worship, I told myself, “Ok, I’m going to change Churches right now.” Right at that moment, I heard God saying loud and clear to me, “Matthew, I know that you want to join this church. But I’m telling you, stay in DUMC, for I am going to use you to do something great in DUMC.” I was so shocked when I heard that and did not know how to respond. That was when the Church’s Senior Pastor came in and said to everyone, “If you were given a sign that says something but do not know what to do right now, I’ll tell you this: Surrender to God.” And so I did. It was there and then my life began to change.
At the end of May, I began to watch old Disney movies and musicals. While watching I asked myself, “Why don’t I join a musical?” I had done that before, at Church and in school, and I would love to relive those moments. So I searched online and found auditions for a musical in Malaysia. I was called for an audition but unfortunately did not get a part in it. I believe God was actually gearing me up for our DUMC production because a few days later, the producers of the Christmas production began their auditions. Initially, I was unsure whether I could take part as my family would usually go to Alor Setar, Kedah, in mid-December to celebrate Christmas with my relatives there. I shared about this with my parents, and to my surprise, they gave me blessings to take part in the Christmas production! Since then, everything began to move forward so smoothly. I was selected to play the role of one of the main characters. I began to serve actively in Church and CG and my studies were slowly but surely improving. Rehearsals started in July, and it got intense as the day of the performance drew near. This prompted me to start taking full responsibility in balancing my studies, rehearsals and other plans. It was tiring, but I thank God for giving me the strength to push through. The last few rehearsals coincided with my finals. As this exam involved the completion of my Foundation studies, I
was so stressed out that during the exams, my mind went blank. To make matters worse, after the finals, I got into depression and suffered anxiety attacks. I could hear voices telling me that I would not only fail my exams, but I will also fail everyone in the production. My mind and heart were filled with so much uncertainty, I felt like bursting. I became so emotionally tired that I finally said to myself, “STOP”! Then I turned on the song You Make Me Brave sung by a Christian band. It was through the song that I heard God speaking directly to me through the singers, saying, “I made you brave”. God again reminded me of His promise and further added: “You will pass your finals, although not with flying colours.” With that, my depression and anxiety attacks were gone. I also delivered all my lines and both nights went smoothly during the production. I thank God for using me to share His gospel through my talents. It has always been my passion to serve God this way and bring glory to His name. I also thank God for showing me His true love and teaching me to surrender everything to Him. Had I not listened to God and left DUMC, I would not have had the privilege of serving God the way He intended for me. As He has promised, I passed my finals and completed my Foundation studies! Now, as I ask, “Now what, God?” I will wait on His reply, knowing that He already has a plan for me.
11
LOOK BACK 12
o
n the last day of 2016, “Look back with praise” was the challenge of Proclaim 2016. It had been a difficult year for many of us; with the plunging ringgit, the rise in the cost of living and the loss of job security that was spreading worldwide. It may have seemed, to some, like a never-ending uphill climb dogged by depleting strength at each step. Yet reflecting on 2016, though it was not easy, God had been evident in my life every single day. The choice of praise and worship songs reminded us of the goodness and blessings our Almighty God had bestowed upon us in this past year. The montage of DUMC’s 2016 journey included highlights of the first transition of Senior Pastor DUMC had ever experienced with the commissioning of Pastor Chris Kam into the Senior Pastor’s office, LEAD 2016, the hunger for the Holy Spirit through the teaching of the Holy Spirit series, and various activities the DUMC ministries organised throughout the year. In accordance to the theme of Step Up in 2016, my cell group (Cornerstone) was challenged from the beginning of the year to step out of its comfort zone as well. The cell leader’s call resonating the direction of the church resulted in more than half the members serving regularly by the end of 2016. We saw members settling into various ministries including the Connectors, ushering, writing, the Resonate team and volunteering at conferences. It has been exciting growing together with fellow cell members and sharing regularly about how God had been working in our lives. Pastor Chris Kam later gave an impactful sermon which will remain in my heart for years to come. The words that rang in my ears were “Obedience leads to miracles, miracles lead to thanksgiving, thanksgiving leads to worship, and worship invites the presence of God.” A cell member later shared with wisdom that often we come to God in the opposite manner. We expect to be filled in His presence, worshipping and giving thanks in the hope of an exchange of miracles before we are willing to obey. Oftentimes we neglect, or forget, that ours is a relationship of faith and His promises are a covenant not a contract. As a newly wedded couple, my husband and I can testify that we are truly humbled by the blessings He showered upon us throughout the wedding preparation till the day of the wedding. Random events seemed determined to drive us insane. The decorations arriving just a day before the wedding, no root cause for a flat tire, inability of caterers to deliver what had been promised, massive road blocks and you name it! His presence and intervention were evident especially on the wedding day which was held fatefully on the same day as Bersih 5.0. God Himself demonstrated a love bound through covenant, assuring us that a marriage centred on Him is sure to promise lots of adventure, excitement and abundant blessings.
Stella Lau, PJN6
The week leading to Forward 2017 was filled with much anticipation. It would be my first experience of being in a celebration hosted by the Myanmar Congregation. Another first, to be joining a midnight celebration. Though my body was predicted to hold a grudge against me the next morning, I knew this was not to be missed. There were occasions when I have heard pastors and leaders speak of places where the presence of the Holy Spirit is so strong one can feel Him upon entering the place. They shared experiences of healings and touched hearts merely through the apparent presence in His place. It sounded beautiful to my ears, yet it was not so relatable. That is, till I entered DUMC auditorium at 11.50pm on 8 Jan, 2017 for Forward 2017. An unfamiliar worship team were in the midst of leading pre-celebration worship while cheerful ushers welcomed me into the auditorium. Taking a quick glance around, I saw many unfamiliar fellow church members immersed in their time with the Lord. Taking my seat with my cell members, I fixed my eyes on the worship team and it felt like they weren’t just worship leading but they were fully enjoying worshipping God. Their joy radiated, influencing others with the thirst to worship. There is no way to put into words or make sense of what happened next, tears began to well up in my eyes, I felt my heart swell with such immense joy, and the urge to praise Him was insuppressible. I was totally consumed in worship for our Almighty God from that moment on. This could be what they meant by the ‘presence of the Holy Spirit in His place’. Pastor Chris Kam came on stage joined by the very energetic, passionate and extremely lovely Pastor Sarah Aye as the Myanmarese translator. We were apprised of the direction DUMC will be taking in the next three years, a journey God promised to go ahead of us on. STEP UP in 2016 would lead us to STEP OUT this year, continuing on the 4 year strategy in 2018 with STEP IN followed by STEP FORWARD in 2019. The big idea for STEP OUT in 2017 is to love God (the Great Commandment), to serve people and to make disciples (the Great Commission). Many responded to the altar call of surrendering in obedience. It will be a challenge that promises an exceptional experience. I know He has called me to simply to carry myself with confidence as a child of God while bringing assurance to others that they too can live confidently as children of God. As Tim Keller once said, ‘it is not about thinking of yourself less, it is about thinking less of yourself.’ As I look back with praise for God being with me on every step of my journey in 2016, I am now looking forward to stepping out into another year of challenges with boldness.
13
Getting to know… Adrian Ho Adrian is a graduate in Business and Computing from APIIT with seven years of corporate working experience in the banking and recruiting industry before joining DUMC full-time.
Michelle Wong, PJN6
1. When did you join DUMC?
I joined DUMC when it was in Ruby Cinema, Seapark, about 8 years ago. I was attending their weekly celebration on Saturdays as I was a youth leader in my previous church.
2. How did you get into full time ministry?
I had a calling to serve full-time when I was in Youth with a Mission (YWAM), after completing a 6 month DTS (Discipleship Training School) course in Penang. I was so eager to work in a church or non-profit organization, but someone prompted me to really pray and seek God’s direction before working full-time in a church ministry. I then sought counsel from pastors, family and my mentor. I decided to work in the corporate world and after seven years there, I finally knew it was time and that God wanted me to go into full-time ministry; in fact He even showed me in a dream where I would be working.
3. What was one significant moment when you were reminded of God's faithfulness?
This happened when I was looking for a job after a camp in Sabah. I had been sending my resume to a few companies, and had attended some interviews but there was no positive reply after waiting for months. I was very worried and concerned about my finances. One night,
14
God spoke to me just before I slept. I remembered vividly that I was too lazy to wake up and get pen and paper. God said that I needed to understand two things or He would pass me by. Without a second thought, instantaneously I looked for a pen and paper. I jotted down what God gave to me and His message was so real and powerful: • He is the anchor and the author of my life and my future is in His hands. • He will walk with me and hold my hand in His as we walk this journey. Hearing from Him really gave me a peace that surpassed all understanding. From then on, it motivated me to go further and to trust in him that he is Jehovah Jireh.
4. Is there a bible verse that you have been living by?
The life bible verse that I have been living by and confirmed by many people who have been giving me this same verse is Joshua 1:6-7:
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
5. What do you want to achieve in 2017? What are your aspirations for 2017?
Besides wanting to put on some weight, my goal is to mentor young graduates and working adults. There is so much potential in them, I believe that with support and guidance, their energy can be channelled into making them leaders of tomorrow. I aspire to guide those who are in the #twenthy35 group and encourage them to soar to greater heights. I believe strongly that they are able to achieve more than what they are doing now. Furthermore, I would like to take them on mission trips to spread the Word of God to people who do not know who Jesus is.
6. Any words for our readers?
Do what you love to do, be passionate in doing it and leave the rest to God. He will enable you to do greater things in your life when you allow Him to use you and obey his commandments.
LOVE THE
YOUR
WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF Luke 10:27
by Alex Tung, PJN1 ent is a season in the Christian calendar stretching for a period of six weeks preceding Easter. It consists 40 days (excluding Sundays), begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. It is typically regarded as a solemn affair and its observance includes practising some degree of self-restraint and/or denial to certain luxuries of life, usually by way of fasting. Today, Lent is observed by various Christian denominations ranging from Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Roman Catholics as a means for Christians to refocus their lives in order to draw closer to God through the practice of simple living, prayer, and fasting. The general idea of fasting during Lent is to slow down (the philosophy to “gear down to go up”) as a means to facilitate an annual re-examination of one’s life, priorities and worldview. It is a season for Christians to practice introspection in order to assess their Christian walk and spiritual health.
What is fasting?
Fasting has the intrinsic element of religious motivation – it is practised as a spiritual discipline. When done right, fasting enables us to remove distractions from our lives and helps us to be more attentive to God speaking to us and the working of the Holy Spirit within us.
16
Other than fasting from food (including dessert), it is not uncommon nowadays for people to give up other forms of indulgence such as smoking, watching television or even consuming social media. It is six weeks of self-discipline using the time that one would otherwise spend on these activities, to be invested in prayer instead.
Should I fast?
You should fast because it is biblical – plain and simple. The discipline of fasting is practised and supported throughout both the Old and New Testaments. In Daniel 10:2-3 of the Old Testament, we find that Daniel had fasted before he was given the vision by God and in Matthew 9:14-15 of the New Testament, we read that Jesus had expected his disciples to fast. While the discipline of fasting varies in priority from one denomination to another, Christians as a whole can find the fundamental basis for fasting in the Bible. The Bible provides us with various reasons for fasting. In Acts 13, we find the teachers and prophets fasting and praying after which the Holy Spirit revealed God’s intention for Barnabas and Saul to spread the gospel among the nations. Fasting was also used as a sign of repentance (1 Samuel 7) where Samuel and the Israelites fasted in their confession to the Lord for their transgressions against the Lord. The practice of fasting itself, encouraging as it may be, should not be made a spectacle of. Jesus, in Matthew 6:16-18 warns us of the dangers of allowing the spiritual discipline of fasting to become spiritual pride. We are reminded not to make a show of our fasting but rather be inconspicuous about it.
Lenten Milestones
Whilst not comprehensive, below are the generally observed main milestones of Lent’s 40 days:
Mardi Gras 28 February 2017 Mardi Gras (‘Fat Tuesday in French) is marked as the day before Lent starts, i.e. one day before Ash Wednesday. As the practice of Lent generally entailed Christian households fasting, these households would – in preparation for fasting – use up all the fatty meats, sugars and other rich foods in their storage. While this ensured that over the period of Lent they would be less tempted by decadent foods in their cabinets, it also meant that all these indulgent foods would be in abundance on this Tuesday, hence the name, Fat Tuesday. While the origins of Mardi Gras has plenty to do with Jesus, over the years the promotion of Mardi Gras as a day of gluttony, binge drinking and music has wrung it of its Christian significance.
Ash Wednesday 1 March 2017 Ash Wednesday is observed as the start of Lent, and since it falls exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday. “Ash” in Ash Wednesday comes from the Jewish practice of marking one’s forehead with ashes in the form of a cross as ashes symbolise the dust from which we are made.
Palm Sunday 9 April 2017 Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent and marks the beginning of the Holy Week. Biblically, Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.
“Palm” in Palm Sunday takes its name from the palm branches that the people of Jerusalem had waved as they welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Traditionally, the waving of palms and laying them on a guest’s path signified great respect for the guest.
Holy Week 9 April 2017 - 16 April 2017 After Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus’ next seven days would be pivotal to Lent as well as the Christian faith. It was over this Holy Week that Jesus spent time with the Gentiles in the Temple, travelled up to the Mount of Olives (where He predicted the events of the next few days), had the Last Supper, was arrested and tortured by Roman soldiers, crucified on Calvary outside the Jerusalem gates, was bound and buried and rose again three days later on Easter Sunday.
Holy Thursday 13 April 2017 On the evening of this Thursday of the Holy Week, Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples. It was at this Last Supper that Jesus established the practice of Holy Communion which we still observe and practise today. It was also over this Last Supper that Jesus foretold the betrayal of Judas. After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples went out to the Mount of Olives where Jesus left His disciples to pray in isolation and was eventually arrested by the Roman soldiers when he returned.
Good Friday 14 April 2017 Good Friday commemorates the day Jesus was crucified on Calvary. It is through Jesus’ death on this Good Friday that the ultimate sacrifice was made and the ultimate price paid, for the salvation of mankind. If the events on this Good Friday had not been satisfied by Jesus, we would, to this day, be without communion with God and our sins would still not be forgiven. On this Good Friday, it is crucial to remember that while our salvation may be offered to us freely, it was not cheap; the price of our salvation was the life of Jesus himself.
Easter Sunday 16 April 2017 Easter Sunday, nowadays also known as Resurrection Sunday, marks the end of Lent and is recognised as the day Jesus rose from the dead (thus conquering death) and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God as our advocate. His resurrection also signifies the triumphant victory of good over evil and of life over death. Challenge yourselves to mark these dates into your calendar and observe this period of Lent as a disciple of Jesus would. You may pull out these two pages and carry with you as a reminder.
17
Numbers 6:24-26
NENESSin journey
KAMPAR was the place to
be from 28 to 30 October 2016. Why? Because here was where we held the inaugural Zone Camp organized by and for PJS1. At sunrise, a few cars travelled in convoy headed to the former tin mining town of Kampar. Of course no journey to Kampar is complete without the much anticipated eating tour: one of the things we excel in is eating!. From Char Koay Teow to Char Siew Pao, we conquered all. Upon arriving at Kampar Hotel, participants were greeted by ushers and were given the keys to the comfort of their rooms. During the three days of togetherness, we voyaged together on a journey that led us to new heights. Group activities were thoroughly participated in and remain memorable in the minds of many. A moment definitely not to be missed was breathing in the sweet morning dew at Westlake Lakeside. We also had a fantastic team-building session that came with biblical values to ponder upon. Pastor Moy How was the camp speaker, and enlightened all participants in the three sessions with most interesting messages. Moreover, who can forget the iron emcees, Brother Steven and Brother Lam, who hillariously graced our sessions with jokes and laughter.
Session 1 (Knowing God Through) The Disciplined Life of a Servant Leader
During the first session, Pastor Moy How talked about the disciplined life of a servant leader in which he emphasized the importance of a Christian believer’s vision,
by Chrisandra Wong, PJS1
priority, character and relationship with God. We were also reminded of the minefields at work/ministry/personal life that we needed to be mindful of, such as sex, power, wealth, anger, unforgiveness, pride and burnout. Ultimately, discipline is a choice and it can be developed.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: - “What would you like to write on your tombstone?” - “How do you end well in life?”
Session 2 (Knowing Self Through Personality Profiling
The second session was about individual personality profiling. It was an interesting session that enabled us to increase our personal effectiveness through: 1) Discovering one’s behavioral style; 2) Knowing our strengths and weaknesses; and 3) Understanding other people’s temperaments. In the fullness of time, we should be able to effectively relate and contribute in a team setting.
Session 3 (Knowing Our Call Through) The Multi-site Vision
After learning about the essence of being a steadfast servant leader and DISC Biblical Personality Profiling, it was only right for us Christians to allow God to use our talents and to respond in obedience. Taking a leap of faith, and with the purpose of fulfilling God’s mission, we were called to build the foundation for eternity by bringing the Gospel to the community, rather than expecting the community to come to us. In order to experience greater growth within
the community, we were called to reach out to the lost by taking church to wherever they are. In equipping for this, we (PJS1) are targetting to commence a Multi-site celebration in Subang Jaya by the first quarter of 2018.
Reflecting on it...
The 3-day journey felt like a family church camp, something that the entire community of DUMC may find challenging to organize considering our growing numbers. The vision of a new “church within a church” may be vague at this moment and voices of uncertainty may be heard in the minds of many. Some are excited about the vision, some may have doubts and others may question it. Since the community is so huge, my role in it may not seem so vital. Perhaps they do not even need me. However, Pastor Moy How reminded the church that it is not about what we can do for God, and that He does not need us to do anything for Him. What God wants is our heart, and to bring us into a relationship with Him! It is only through total surrender to Him that we are able to serve with greater capacity in building a more close-knit church community and reaching out to the lost through community ownership. All this will take time, based on the notion that small is big, slow is fast. Everything that God created has the seed of multiplication built into it. At the end of the day, it is slow, steady growth that lasts for the long haul. We are here to make Jesus’ offer of salvation our purpose in fulfilling God’s mission.
19
PJS1 Inaugural Zo n e P r aye r M e e t i n g by Wendy Tan, PJS1
T
here is often a sense of excitement tinged with curiosity and anxiousness when we embark on something out of our norm. We will query with the hope of quashing our doubts and worries. Leading up to a prayer meeting, one may ask "Aren't praying at home or at cell group meeting the same?" or "Do I really need to pray aloud?" My first time attending a prayer meeting was in September 2016. I was curious and a little anxious, but seeing a familiar face or two put me at ease immediately, and when the meeting ended, I was looking forward to the next one. What I didn't anticipate was that the next one was going to be the Inaugural PJS1 Zone Prayer meeting, held not at a home, but in the conference room of a warehouse in Subang Jaya, on 22 November 2016. The room was filled to the brim. I was among the 111 zone members who had turned up to pray! Pastor Moy How later shared in his devotion that our God will strengthen us, help and uphold us so we need not fear nor be dismayed. (Isaiah 41:10)
20
That night, we sang songs of praise and worship to God, and we prayed about various issues and events. We prayed for
the different sub-zones & cell groups, that members would be healthy and authentic in character, build their families up and be outwardly-focused towards the community. We prayed for the year-end Christmas parties at our homes, that we could reach out to friends that they may come to know the truth and the love of Jesus. We prayed for the Christmas musical production, Choices and PROCLAIM 2016 (Watchnight), that both events would carry messages that would touch the hearts of people. We also prayed for FORWARD2017, that we would grow in unity and draw closer to God. We prayed for our nation, continued peace in Malaysia and the looming possibility of the next general elections. We prayed too for the world that is filled with global crises such as disasters, diseases, climate change, corruption, and persecuted churches. We finally divided ourselves into our own sub-zones and prayed for whatever needs there were. Here are some insights from a few people who attended the PJS1 Zone Prayer: Robbin Khoo: “I was pleasantly surprised by the number in attendance. Our members came with hearts of worship. With spirits fervent in prayer, they interceded for other cell members,
church-wide issues, nationwide challenges and even global catastrophes." Patrick Soh: "There was an air of excitement as the room overflowed with people keen to experience the historic first PJS1 Zone Prayer meeting. Some drove more than an hour from Klang. Everyone's spirits were lifted. Many leaders who were led by Pastor Moy How rose to the occasion that night." Bridget Lee: "I was amazed by the overflow of people who turned up, surely it was the work of the Holy Spirit. It was a powerful time of corporate intercession and worship." Lana Lim: "The night was simply awesome! The fantastic turnout was very encouraging. Imagine what our new multi-site church will look like!" The night ended the Malaysian way, with supper, a simple but delicious packet of nasi lemak. It didn’t end there though. Within a week, there were testimonies told of a few answered prayers. Indeed, God is working in our midst. Certainly He hears our every prayer. We should therefore stand firm, be faithful and look forward to God's plans for us in our personal lives, our church, our communities and our country.
w
by Alex Tung, PJN1 hat does it mean to be a man? More specifically, what does it mean to be an authentic man? At the recent DUMC’s men's conference entitled Chosen (based on 1 Peter 2:9), men from various churches and denominations across the nation gathered to wrestle, study and pray on these questions.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called your out of darkness into his wonderful light” 1 Peter 2:9 Facilitated by DUMC’s Senior Pastor Chris Kam, the author of Man Alive, Dr Patrick Morley, and Head of DUMC’s men’s ministry, Fong Siew Keong, the 3-day session in October 2016 saw much encouragement, enlightenment and transformation in the lives of those who attended. If at the end of Chosen, an attendee was not inspired, he ought to have his pulse checked! The conference’s attendees ranged from mature grandfathers to school-going boys. The latter’s attendance, when acknowledged by Pastor Chris, was welcomed with a thunderous applause of approval as it is these young men who will stand to reap the most benefits from the life lessons and mistakes of their more mature counterparts. Based on Patrick Morley’s book Man Alive, the conference addressed the pertinent question of how to become authentic fathers, authentic husbands and authentic men. Through the conference’s many heart-wrenching sessions, Pastor Chris and Dr Patrick
took turns to share their personal experiences from their ministry and their own lives in unravelling the epitome of an authentic, godly man. As a testament to God’s faithfulness in his life, Patrick even confessed that “because God is good, my life did not turn out as I planned.” Through Chosen, Pastor Chris and Dr Patrick expounded in great detail the role of a man in his household. If a man fails in his role as a husband, the marriage fails; when the marriage fails, the family unit collapses; when family units collapse, the community deteriorates; when communities deteriorate, the nation is doomed. The sooner we come to accept that we are called to be an extension of Christ in our families, communities, societies, nations and have fallen short of His standard, the sooner we can begin to realign the trajectory of our lives to a God-centred one. In men’s role as husbands, Dr Patrick reminded the men of the “10 Godly Ways to Love Your Wife”. The men were reminded to: • Pray with your wife • Pray for your wife • Spend time with her alone • Listen to her deeply (without giving an overly quick reply) • Touch her (non-sexual) • Accept her unconditionally • Encourage her with words • Take care of her financially • Laugh with her • After God but before all others, make her your top priority On fatherhood, fathers were reminded that while most, if not all, fathers are willing to risk their lives for their children, these same fathers are unwilling to sacrifice
mere hours to invest into their child’s life. Instead, they find themselves prioritising their careers and climbing the corporate ladder. This mismatch in commitment is becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society and is oftentimes cited as the “absentee-father” plague that infects so many family units. While Chosen only lasted three days, the impact it had on the men was profound. Below are brief reflections of two men who attended Chosen.
Many of the lessons were a good reminder for me and offered better clarity on the subject of being a godly man. I can only imagine how much more beneficial it would be for the young men in attendance – theirs is the world to be gained from these lessons learnt at the onset of marriage and fatherhood. CK Tung, 60-years-old
The one thing that spoke to me was the list on the “10 Godly Ways to Love Your Wife”. In particular, the first two points – pray with your wife and pray for your wife. It reminded me that as a man, I have to be deliberate and initiate godly habits with her. This has become our resolution for this year. Joel, 31-year-old
DUMC’s men’s ministry, Men Alive!, meet on the last Saturday of every month from 8.30am to 11.30am. For more information, please visit http://menalive.dumc.my/
21
Alpha
Season Ends by Elea Au Yong, PJN2
A
fter 12 weeks of discussing and exploring the Christian faith together with a group of people who began as strangers, the Alpha Film Series held at DUMC came to a close on 1 December 2016 with a Christmas Dinner. We had all become so connected in different ways, it was difficult to put into words, but we knew it was God’s work. Throughout this journey, many gained valuable experiences. Some received a deeper awareness of what Christianity was all about, some found a greater meaning to life, some found a community that gave them a sense of belonging, some gained a better understanding of their faith, some learned to serve in the community of God and the most exciting thing was when some made the major decision to receive Christ as their Saviour. Here are two testimonies from those who have journeyed through the 12 weeks of Alpha:
Lim Yong Meng (Participant) I come from Seremban and I was a Buddhist because my family were Buddhists. When I was 14 years old, my grandfather passed away. As a result of that incident, I became more of a free thinker because I lost the person whom I loved and respected and I could not understand the pain I was left with I first heard about Jesus from my girlfriend, Pui Lim. She shared with me how she was invited to join Alpha when she was holidaying in Ireland earlier last year. When she came back, she was excited to tell me about Jesus. After hearing her accounts and story of who He is, I knew I wanted to believe in this person called Jesus. However, I did not know how and when I could do that. In August, I was invited by my colleague, Prudence, to attend Alpha at DUMC. I found myself attending almost all the sessions and got to learn more about Jesus, God and Christianity. I have been reading the Bible but sometimes, I do not understand what it is saying and often wonder what it means. At Alpha, we were able to share with people in the group about our thoughts and feelings about God, where we come from and past experiences with Christianity. The discussions were helpful and
22
allowed me to listen to the experience of others in a non-judgemental setting. I felt very comfortable in this environment. In Week 11 of Alpha, I was asked if I wanted to accept Christ. I did not hesitate to say, “Yes”. I was led to pray the Sinner’s Prayer by my group’s facilitator. Since that night, I could feel a joy and freedom in my heart that I had never felt before. I am no longer so conscious about what people think of me for becoming a Christian. Knowing that Jesus is with me, I am no longer the type of person who only relies on himself and I know I am no longer alone on this journey. I praise God for this experience.
Roy Mak (Participant) I was a sinner. I was a compulsive gambler. I remember how I continued to gamble until I lost focus from my job and had many times needed family members to bail me out from debts. Each time I felt I was free but not long after that, before I knew it, I was back in the dark pit. It was a cycle I could not get myself out of. I went to Church and hoped to find help.
Later that day, I realised I had experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit. Amazing things began to happen. After the video sessions, I could suddenly pray confidently and sincerely. I also witnessed miraculous works of God. One of my group members was lying down blissfully on the floor during the prayer session and I just smiled when I saw her looking so peaceful. Another group member of mine received the gift of tongues. The next day, I woke up feeling so much love in me, I texted my wife and told her about my love for her and our daughter. I had not done that since my daughter was born! Looking back, I realize how lost I was before my salvation. Now, I have finally found God. I got back my life through God's grace and the devil has lost his weapon to destroy me completely. I am so thankful I am saved and I will continue to pursue God.
My turning point came when I walked to the front at the end of a celebration and Pr. Kelvin prayed for me. Since that day, something miraculous happened. I just stopped gambling! I lost the urge completely. I just felt my heart transform and I just wanted to seek God. I went to Church to feel closer to Him. On the first day of the Alpha Weekend Away during the Alpha course at DUMC, I had a rough start. I was really grumpy that morning because I only had 2 hours’ sleep due to a work assignment. I nearly missed the opportunity to experience what I did. When I reached the hotel, I met my roommate, and we clicked right away; as though we were long-lost brothers.
23
God’s Mission in Cambodia We went as a team of eight people to Cambodia on a mission trip for 8 days in August of 2016, spending our time in Baray and Phnom Penh. Our objective was to reach out to the Khmer people and build up the local youth leaders and believers in the surrounding areas.
MICHELLE LAU, NextGen
This was my first mission trip and no doubt I learned so much that I could not have learned here. The experiences I had taught me about serving God and His people with the Father’s heart. I had a sermon prepared for a youth or adult congregation before going to Cambodia. However, when I reached the church on Sunday morning, I saw that the congregation consisted mostly of children. This was something that I had not anticipated as I had prepared to speak about topics that related to an older audience. I asked my interpreter to enter the church first. I was questioning why God would put me in such an awkward situation as I am someone who prepares ahead of time and never gets into something unprepared. I began to pray and asked God to reveal to me what He wanted to share with the children there. He then led me to Luke 15:11-31 (the parable of the prodigal son). As I went up to share, the words just came out of my mouth. At the end of the service, 22 children responded to the ministry call.
24
I realized that God allowed me to go through that experience so that I would learn to truly rely on Him alone. I learned that when I am faced with the unknown, I should just listen to what the Holy Spirit prompts and let God do His work through me. I praise God for this lesson.
even as I was halfway through the session! Everything turned out perfectly, and all of this could only have happened because of obedience to God’s call. I came back with an inspiring story to share with the many youths of how I was privileged to witness His work through me.
YENLIN LEE, NextGen
KENNETH TEO, NextGen,
This trip to Cambodia has been nothing less than amazing. The simplicity in the Cambodian community was like a strong wind to my clouded mind as I came to realize how blinded I was by all that I yearned to have in this world, without realizing I already have more than what I need. I truly thank God because He gave me peace and wisdom as I shared with the many people who had not even heard the name ‘Jesus’. To be bold to spread the good news so directly to total strangers. God also proved himself so evidently to me as I was preparing to teach in one of the youth camp sessions. He guided me closely even in the final hours where I had to change my teaching. God revealed to me new ideas from my team members,
Stepping out of my comfort zone to serve in this church is one of my resolutions in 2016. This is my call to obedience to God’s Grand Commission as a disciple of Jesus. I feel honoured to be part of the mission team representing NextGen. Before this mission trip, I had a lot of anxieties as I was being prepared to do things I had never done before; to preach in front of a congregation and also share my testimony. Being given a chance to share the gospel with the Khmers is such a privilege. Sharing the word of God and witnessing their acceptance of Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is the best thing I have ever experienced in Cambodia. As we spent time visiting the villages, it was shocking for me to see how most of the houses did not have the basic necessities that we all
take for granted; electricity or even a proper toilet of their own. God taught me how to be truly grateful. I was also touched by the faithfulness and the serving hearts of the youth leaders who assisted us all the way. I thank God for this experience with seven other team members who looked out for one another. Together we brought light to others and in turn, are keeping a strong burning fire in our hearts for God’s people.
YENNIE LEE, NextGen
One of the things that impacted me most was how friendships were built with the people in Cambodia. Unlike the previous trip, this time we had the privilege of getting to know many youths through a youth camp and hostel visitations. Friendships were built as we spent several days together bonding and getting to know each other at their camp. It was the first time I have viewed these people as my friends instead of seeing them merely as people we reach out to. I realised that I learned more from them about life and faith than I could teach them. The youths in Cambodia were satisfied with the simplest things. Playing scissors, paper, stone, or just having biscuits for break time could get them very excited. It made me realise that I have taken many things in life for granted and I did not count my blessings for the luxury I am living in. As I reflected upon this trip, I have realised that life can actually be very simple. We do not need possessions or popularity to satisfy us. I have also learned to be joyful and content with what God has blessed me with.
JULIUS TEOH, NextGen
I always imagined people would plan for ages before embarking on a mission trip. My experience however was a little more sudden, joining the team literally two months before the trip was to take place. Even going for the MCPP-1 (Missions Candidates Preparation Programme) was a sign of God’s perfect timing as my hectic college schedule cleared up just in time for me to register on the last day of registration. Going for the mission trip was an experience like no other. There was a first time for many things; sharing, evangelising, doing skits and even riding motorcycles! The three major highlights for me are the village ministering, the preaching and the
youth hostel visitation. The village ministry was impactful because I got to see the way people live with very little. Children were having so much fun and excitement with simple games like passing a rubber band with straws, a game we thought may have been too simple to entertain them with. God began to imprint into my heart the appreciation and gratitude of the abundance in my life. To have to stand in front of a crowd of strangers to deliver the Word of God was something I never imagined doing. More so was the fact that I had to change my sermon twice! The moments of just flowing with the Holy Spirit and setting aside my plans to follow His really taught me to surrender to God’s plan. It also reminded me that it is for God that I went on this mission trip. Lastly, being able to meet with some young people of Cambodia and to learn about their desire to fulfil their ambitions of helping their country was really encouraging. More so was seeing these youths understand what it was to trust and have faith in God and living it out.
TRACEY PEH, NextGen
Since the beginning of 2016, one of my resolutions was to go on at least one mission trip. I wanted to expose myself to a different environment. Not having much of an idea which mission trip to go on, I prayed to ask God to guide me. When I found out that NextGen was sending a team, I somehow knew that this was the one that I would be going for. During the first few days we visited many homes in different villages to share the Gospel and our testimonies with them. Initially, I felt uneasy about having to share the Gospel. I was not sure what to expect and how it would turn out. But as we went from house to house, it became easier. Many of them were genuinely eager and responsive to accept Jesus. However, there were a few that weren’t as well, but I hope and pray that these people will one day come to know Christ's great love for them. God impressed upon me that this was the real work that I should be doing as a Christian. I found a lot of joy and satisfaction seeing more people come to know Christ. There was also a sense of urgency when I realised for myself that there are many people out there who have no clue of who Jesus is and what the Gospel is all about. To see Christians
there and how they lived out their own faith was humbling. The people there live such a simple life; they don’t have very much and because of that I could see their relationship with God is “uncluttered” and how real it is to them.
JACQUELINE TAN, NextGen
This is my first time stepping into the mission field. I thank God for His faithfulness, His mercy and His grace. What a privilege it was for me to join the NextGen Cambodia trip! However, the time before the trip was traumatising. I worried whether I could make it on the mission dates, about finances and resources and most of all, what if my testimony would not touch people's life? Praise the Lord for He is God The Provider, my exam ended four days before the mission trip. God is in control. I learned when I stepped out of my comfort zone, God will do the rest. I felt embarrassed to share my unholy and broken past in front of people but I found the courage in knowing that He died on the cross for me and saved me from the dark. I know my shame has already been paid by His sacrifice on the cross; all for His glory and Him alone. It was so over whelming to witness people responding ‘yes, I am willing to accept Christ as my Saviour. It’s amazing to see people in Cambodia having so little, yet they are still joyful in the Lord. They would pray and believe that no matter how hard life is, God is still with them because God is real. This really impacted me and reminded me of the comfortable life I have, yet I still want more. God taught me to be content and have gratitude for everything He has provided me with. Find out more about Missions at the church information counter or website Find out more about Missions at the church information counter or website Website http://dumc.my/ministries/missions/ FaceBook https://www.facbook.com/groups/DU MC.CrossFields/ PIC email missions@dumc.my
25
God’s Call to Short Term Missions by Elea Au Yong, PJN2
W
When the eight of us responded to God’s call to be a vessel for His use in the Myanmar mission team from 26 August to 2 September 2016, we knew we would be in for something amazing. But what our Sovereign God had in store for us was something even greater that was beyond our imagination. It was an unforgettable journey and we saw God’s Hand guiding us throughout. At the Sunday celebration on 21 August 2016 when the Church prayed for us, Pastor Michael Ngui preached about the fall of the walls of Jericho. Two days before we left for Yangon, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Central Myanmar destroying many temples. Our friends through various platforms of communication expressed concern about the status of our trip. Praise God that our trip was not affected. We jokingly told our
26
friends that God had broken down the strongholds and it was time to take hold of the lost for Jesus Christ and we went on the mission trip with peace in our hearts.
Bee Kim, PJN4
My experience in Myanmar was a life-transforming journey of faith with my LORD. During the home visitation, as Vincent was sharing his testimony with a pre-believing family, he was interrupted by the mother saying that when her church-going son met with an accident, the church did not render any help. Determined that nothing should stop us from sharing the good news, I asked Vincent to finish his sharing. While sharing the gospel with them I told them not to look to man as man will fail them but to look to God as our relationship is with God. The
mother said “yes” when I challenged her to accept Christ and to my surprise when the pastor led her in the sinner’s prayer, the whole family, except the youngest child, prayed along.
is life even after a HIV-positive diagnosis. The Bible in Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Grace Toh, KL
Joyce Choy, PJN5
It seemed unbelievable initially when the people that we came across were so receptive to the gospel. But we were reminded of our prayers for God to go before us and prepare the way. It was such a privilege and honour to witness God working in the hearts of the people and to be a part of His plan. They lived simply and didn't have much, yet were so open and ready for the God of hope, whereas we in our comfort and plenty became self-dependent. Truly, I received so much more than I gave. This experience has blessed me tremendously.
Shirley Chiang, PJN2
One thing I remembered most about the mission trip was when a lady wanted to wash my muddy feet. It was a humbling experience. As the lady was about to wash my feet, I even tried to stop her as I felt that I didn’t deserve to have her do that for me. I was very moved by what she did. It was a symbolic gesture that demonstrated her humility and servanthood. We have much to learn from the people of Myanmar who are mostly kind and gentle. We must all adopt the attitude of servanthood, serving others gladly regardless of who they are.
Vincent Young, PJN2
Myanmar is growing rapidly, huge infrastructure development on the one extreme yet immensely poor on another. I recall thinking while walking through the slums of Seikkyi Island that this country needs spiritual growth as much as it needs economic progress. However, we cannot deny the faith and love of the believers for Jesus is overwhelmingly encouraging. I encountered God in the midst of worship by the believers in the Rainbow Home, in a language that I cannot comprehend. Though they appear to be lacking in many areas, God is just so real to them, and that alone is sufficient.
Charmaine Chin, PJN4
I am very thankful and grateful for the privilege of sowing seeds in the hearts of the Myanmar HIV patients. HIV did not stop them from living a happy and fulfilling life. With the right treatment and support, some of them live as long as an average person. I learned from them that everyone’s life is different. How you cope with your diagnosis and how you move forward is unique. There
I have read many articles about "Appreciation" but it only hit home after seeing it from the perspective of an old lady and the poor in Myanmar. My life was changed and it touched my heart to see how the poor survived on the little that they had. While we were giving away pre-loved clothes in the Lighthouse Church, I saw an old lady wearing a worn-out white t-shirt with both her legs shaking walking very fast towards us with the aid of a walking stick. She looked disappointed when we couldn't find a suitable blouse for her. Later, when we found one that suited her, she gave us a million dollar smile. It was just a piece of clothing but to her it was a lot more, there was new hope in her eyes.
Khoon Lan, PJS1
Who would have thought that a little desire to do something for God would birth into a life-transforming experience for me? We prayed for each team member to have a personal encounter with God. Our Heavenly Father enabled me to see His people through His eyes. As I was sharing my testimony in Mingaladon, the Holy Spirit touched my heart and tears just came streaming down. I knew deep in my heart that if it was not for God’s grace and enabling, I would not have been able to reach out to the people in need of God’s love. Praise God for his grace and mercy!
Benjamin Yong, PJN4
This mission trip was a memorable one for me. I was encouraged to see a team of mostly newbies in the mission field with different strengths and abilities working together to achieve great things for God. When our focus is on Christ, our personal agenda becomes unimportant in the light of God’s love. I was also reminded of the verse in Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.....”. Hallelujah! Our time in Myanmar has opened our eyes to see the Father’s heart for His people. We can indeed testify that strongholds were torn down and the people just hungered for God as their response to the gospel was beyond our comprehension. All glory to Jesus. We challenge everyone to make a decision to participate on a mission trip for at least once. We guarantee that your walk with God will be transformed forever!
27
The Land of the Simple-hearted A
After landing at Kota Kinabalu Airport, my husband, Kim Leong and I began a 3 hour drive to Tenom. We were warmly welcomed by Irene, the Superintendant and her husband, Kok Tuck Kow, the Headmaster of Dream Hostel at Tenom. We received a warm reception by the students who greeted us with smiling faces and shook our hands. This hostel houses students from Form 1 to Form 5 from the surrounding villages. These children are from broken homes and all are Christians. However, their knowledge of the Word requires much enhancing. Most of the children are from the interior of Sabah and are not familiar with modern day living. When they first came to the hostel, they did not know of beds, so they slept on the floor. Hygiene was a serious issue as they were not used to proper toilet facilities. They are given the opportunity to attend normal Government schools. Each day, they would return to the hostel to a simple yet nutritious lunch prepared by Irene. At night after dinner, Tuck Kow would tutor them and help them with their homework. Initially, during class, they would slowly slip down from their chairs and lie on the floor. School marks were below 20! It was an uphill task for both Tuck Kow and Irene who persevered through the love of Christ to bring a new meaning to life to these children.
28
Such a contrast from then to today! This trip we saw a group of children who wake up at 5.30am to get ready for school. Irene would lead devotion with them every morning before breakfast. They were not only using the toilet and bathrooms
by Julie Goh, KL
appropriately but they also helping to keep them clean – a task that instils responsibility and ownership. They now sleep ON the beds. The amazing thing is that school marks have risen to 85! Even their school teachers are puzzled! All glory to God for the hearts of loving and patient 'foster parents', Tuck Kow and Irene. And all this was achieved within a year by just being a hostel for the less privileged. After school, they would complete their homework. They are now so orderly at mealtimes, they queue up for meals as two of them would take charge to dish out the food and they would take turns to wash the dishes and sweep and mop the floor. They are allowed a certain limited time to access the internet weekly and! their love for music is apparent! After dinner one evening, we were treated to a delightful performance of song and dance. They sang in their different dialects, Bahasa and English. Some even composed their own songs. There were no musical instruments, just their melodious voices as they sang happily and danced gracefully. They are such a talented lot! Their hearts and minds were centred on the Lord as they gave thanks to God at the end of their performance. Everything we ate was organic because the people there cannot afford pesticides and fertilizers. They eat what they plant. Chickens are reared for dining and are extra tasty when cooked. There is such an abundance of fruits – all organic, naturally sweet and affordable compared to the Peninsula. If you visit, make sure you sample the local Tenom coffee.
Sabna, the mother of one of the students, came to indulge me with a massage. I had never experienced such a unique massage. When I asked her how she learnt the art of massage, she told me that the Lord gave her the talent. She goes everywhere and manages fourteen clients a day; giving glory to God for her strength! After the massage, I felt immensely relieved from my neckache and backache which I had been suffering from for the last two years. The aches were now all gone. I realized that the Lord had healed me! Praise and thank You Lord! I never even asked for healing and You healed me! We returned home, elated and so fulfilled yet a little sad for the children. They are so contented and are always so cheerful despite having so little. They are inhabitants of the land of the simple-hearted. They are evidence of God’s work in the hearts of people who turn to Him in obedience. Cell groups are encouraged to go there for a few days to experience the simple lifestyle, eating organic fruits, vegetables and chicken, not forgetting the local coffee and also the gourmet coffee. The best experience is to listen to the children’s testimonies and maybe to also to share yours with them. You can also taste the local cuisine, visit the market and feast your eyes on the authentic local produce. Morning walks are a must, to watch the sunrise right in front of your eyes! Tuck Kow and his faithful companion, Scoopy, a beautiful, friendly and loving Labrador would be accompanying you every morning!
EVENTS CALENDAR
FEBRUARY S 5 12 19 26
3 4
MARCH
M
T W
T
F
S
6 13 20 27
1 7 8 14 15 21 22 28
2 9 16 23
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
NextGen Teens NextGen Teens DESTINATION2017 7 Leaders' Meeting 14 Church Prayer Meeting 18-19 World Day of Social Justice 24 Twenty35 -The Walking Run
S 5 12 19 26
7 14
APRIL
M
T W
T
F
S
S
M
T W
T
F
S
6 13 20 27
1 7 8 14 15 21 22 28 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
Leaders’ Meeting Church Prayer Meeting
4 11 18 25
4 Leaders’ Meeting 9 Baptism & Membership 11-13 3 Days Fast and Prayer
2-4