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RE-IMAGINE
03
RE-IMAGINE
09
RE-IMAGINE
15 & 21
RE-IMAGINE
25 & 29
RE-IMAGINE
33
RE-IMAGINE
41
RE-IMAGINE
63
BE BOLD
Contents here are available online www.hsgmalaysia.org/hsgstories
THE CHURCH
WOMEN
SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
THE YOUTH
THE WORLD
START POSSESSING
© HSG Global Ministires. All Rights Reserved.
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I
t is said that the only constant in today’s world is change. And that certainly rings very true! The world is changing ever so rapidly. To keep up with it, the devices we use, the places we go and the activities we engage in have all evolved accordingly. I can still remember my very first humongous mobile device that felt like a brick in my hand (and weighed as much too)! Compare that with the sleek, light and gorgeous iPhone 6 that I use today. Oh what a difference! That is the reality today – where everything is constantly adapting, evolving, and re-forming. In other words, it is either you evolve or you become extinct! That said, in the same essence, I dare to ask “can the church of Jesus Christ that was commissioned to reach the world remain effective and relevant today without adapting and evolving herself?”
We are not talking about compromising the message of the cross to stay current. Absolutely not! Brothers and sisters, the message is sacred but the methods are not! It is high time we set out to reimagine the church and mold it into the timeless dynamic and effective organism that it was to be when first imagined by the Holy Spirit! So, who and what is the Church? The Webster Merriam dictionary defines the church as ‘a building that is used for worship by Christians’ or ‘religious service’ or ‘a Christian denomination / institution’. However, the word ‘Church’ in the bible refers to something very different. The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “assembly” or “called-out ones”. Therefore, the root meaning of the word “church” itself does not refer to a building, but rather it refers to the people. The Church is the congregation
of God’s people, the Assembly of God’s chosen people for the purpose of worship and conducting the affairs of the Kingdom of God. Now, take note that the secular usage of the word ekklesia often exclusively refers to the public assembly of a group of people or citizens specifically in the political or security business. The secular ekklesia assembled for the purpose of addressing the needs of the community and directing the actions needed to bring change or to resolve the situation(s). Therefore, the ekklesia is a body that stays relevant through its role of constantly engaging and evolving with the changes of situations and community needs.
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Based on the above, we can conclude that the church definitely is not an inanimate structure of bricks and stones, nor is it a religious institution! The church in the words of Apostle Peter, is ‘a spiritual house made up of living stones’! (1 Peter 2:4,5) The church is a congregation of the redeemed, the chosen and the blessed of the Lord. It is within this context, that the church is conveyed to the world as ‘the Light and Salt of the earth’. (Matthew 5:13) When we view life in the church of the 1st century, we see a church that is not so much into religion and religious rituals. Rather we see a Church impacting the world around them with their unique, bold and creative lifestyle with unpretentious and unstoppable faith. Their Christianity was a lifestyle, not just a profession!
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS »» They did not just organize services but were focused on community transformation through active engagement »» They saw themselves as a heavenly body with an earthly function and purpose extending across borders and cultures »» They were a family of believers living in partnership with each other and not just church members »» They saw their weekly gathering not as a religious meeting but a meaningful family reunion for fellowship and mutual edification »» They believed and lived in the total power and provision of the completed work of Christ on the cross
RE-IMAGINE WHAT THE LOCAL CHURCH COULD BE LIKE TODAY:
THE CHURCH NOW
WAITS FOR GOD TO ACT
HOPING FOR THE BETTER
PREPARES FOR HEAVEN
STAYS WITHIN BORDERS
PILGRIMS
REMNANT MINDSET
ISOLATIONIST MINDSET
ECCLESIASTICAL
FEW PEOPLE SERVING
“JUST ENOUGH” MINDSET
HERE TO WIN THE WORLD
FEEDING CENTRE
CHARITY
PROGRAM BASED
HERE FOR SURVIVAL
PRAYS THEN ACT
MAKE THINGS BETTER BY THE POWER OF GOD
PREPARES FOR LIFE
BREAKS BORDERS
LANDLORDS
OVERCOMER MINDSET
ENGAGING MINDSET
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
EVERYONE SERVING TOGETHER
ABUNDANT MINDSET
HERE TO LEAD THE WORLD
TRAINING CENTRE
ENTERPRISE
PEOPLE BASED
HERE FOR SUCCESS
The re-imagined Church puts back the Wow and Life factor into the Message of Gospel and the Life of the church. Church life was never meant to be boring and uneventful. The Church at its birth was powerful, exciting and impactful; because it was a re-imagined body of believers compared to the existing religious order! Let’s get back to our roots, and be what the Lord has imagined us to become in His plan – the Blessed Church!
THE CHURCH RE-IMAGINED
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Do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 1 Tim 2:12 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife,. So let the wives be (subject) to their own husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:22-24
I
was stumped when I first heard these ludicrous perceptions conveyed by well-meaning Christian people or read about them during my latter Christian experience. For me, these ‘perceptions’ do not make sense, nor are they a smart way to relate to one another as man/woman or husband/wife! Growing up in a business environment and being around my parents a lot, I heard about and observed that men were conspicuously making wrong decisions, making mistakes at home, in business, finances and in relationships. And to think that women are to obey their husbands in everything because men are the leaders and boss and authority, simply cannot compute in my mind. Newly
saved and growing up in a church comprising mainly first generation Christian teenagers and baptized in the Holy Spirit, there were no traditional religious practices and cultural norms. Everything was literally Bible-based and Spirit-led. There were no gender-biased issues, nobody told us that a female cannot be a leader or have authority or cannot teach or preach.
11 THE PIONEERING CHURCH IN TAIPING In church, I was the leader for the youth group. I worship led. I taught and preached at the youth services, Christian fellowships. And I was in charge of Easter and Christmas plays. During one of these evangelistic services, my pastor even told me to preach because he had to leave for an emergency in KL. Throughout my junior high to senior high school years, the fire in my bones naturally gravitated me to leadership positions in ministry or activities whether at church or in school.
Those early years formed the foundation for my own strong identity as a Christian young lady and though there were just a few verses concerning women in the Bible that did not make sense to me. Galatians 3:28, “There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.� was the pillar that held those troublesome contradictions together.
THE REALIZATION THAT IT'S A MAN'S WORLD It was during and after the Bible college years that the unwritten practices, culture and governance which indicated preferences for men, became distinctly defined. It was painfully clear to me that it is male dominated environment especially at the leadership level. These realities stoked my internal personal search to now take these gender-biased passages to task.
I have loved the Lord and the Bible and had made the choice to give my whole life to serve His church and now I had to know what God said regarding who I am as a woman, as minister and as a wife. My personal experiences with the Bible and the Spirit tell me that there is no limit to who I am and what I can do as a woman but the institutionalized Christian world indicated that there
are perimeters which place women at home and at church in a secondary and subordinate position and role. It was a huge personal struggle for me. I feared that I may have made the wrong choice because there was no place for me to grow as a person because of my gender. And to think that I had given up my opportunity for overseas university study towards an empowering future! Potentially doomed to be lesser or limited for His church that I loved, was killing me inside out! The internal turmoil, struggle and regrets were increasingly deep and intense. There was never an issue of prejudice and bias as pastors in our own church. There was never an issue of authoritarian headship in our
marriage. My husband and I were friends and partners. But the Spirit of God inside me and these few difficult passages in the Bible on the issue of gender identity was not coming together. I had to unravel this conflict and disconnect between the Spirit and the Bible. The Lord heard and saw my desperate search for truth. In the journey of obedience and faith to learn how to build a better church, we were led to an incredible unusual women’s conference in the United States and subsequently connected with Dr. Daisy Osborn and TL Osborn. They came to Malaysia because in her own words, she said that the Holy Spirit spoke to her to come when our letter of invitation was in her hands.
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Those few years when she came to HSG with Dr. TL Osborn were very difficult years for her. She was battling cancer in her body but despite that she was not disobedient to her mission in life of bringing the message of Biblical Equality. We only had a few brief years with her before she died. She inundated us with books. She sent us books on the subject. I read and studied those books with the Bible for a few years.
WHAT I DISCOVERED CHANGED & LIBERATED ME
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The sameness of substance, value and worth of woman and man. Both female and male were created in the image of God. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NIV)
2.
Man and woman were created to be co-rulers and co-heirs as stewards of God. Man and woman were divinely ordained for mutuality and equality. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28 NIV)
3.
Jesus’ attitude and actions regarding women were revolutionary in the culture of his era. The oral law of Jesus’s era said, “ Let the words of the Law be burned rather than committed to women...(Sotah 3:4). But Jesus taught women. Jesus declared Himself to be “The Resurrection” (John11:25), thus revealing first to a woman, the central event and message of the Gospel. It was a woman whom Jesus sent first to preach His resurrection (John 20:10-18).
4.
The Holy Spirit in the book of Acts confirmed the Equality pattern by Jesus. Men and women participated in prayer and decision making in the Upper Room. Women were equal recipients of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit held women directly, personally and equally responsible with men to God. Remember Ananias and Sapphira? Women were persecuted and imprisoned as well.
5.
Paul’s central equality proclamation is: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Women were
co-workers or co-labourers with Paul in ministry. Out of the 29 co-workers named in Romans 16, 10 were women. These discoveries and much more were life transforming for me. I felt absolutely affirmed by the written Word, what I knew in the Spirit. There is agreement between the Spirit of God and the Bible. I emerged out of those years of study powerfully convinced about who I am as a woman, a leader and a wife. These convictions empower my determination and pursuit to educate, advocate and promote the dignity and equality of woman in her value and function at home, church and society.
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EAST MALAYSIA PASTORS’ CONFERENCE The third East Malaysia Pastors’ Conference organized by HSGGM was held from 19-20 March 2015 in Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah with pastors in attendance hailing from 15 different denominations.
THE BEGINNING
CONFIRMATION
This initiative began back in 2013 when Pastor Daniel Cheah felt the call of God to do something more for the churches in Malaysia. It was in alignment with Rev. David Cartledge’s prophecy over HSG that we will reach out to as many churches here in Malaysia as we have done in the world. The strategy was to stand alongside pastors and church leaders in Sabah, regardless of affiliation, and help them with the right perspective of church from Biblical principles, as well as practical tools and skills needed to flourish as the body of Christ.
The first confirmation for Pastor Daniel came when he approached Pastor Ariffin, the pastor of HSG Kota Kinabalu with the idea. It was like a puzzle piece falling into place as Pastor Ariffin had felt all along that something needed to be done to help fellow pastors and ministers in his homeland. Inspired by all that HSG has done and achieved, the idea from Pastor Daniel was met with great excitement and enthusiasm.
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THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE
CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE
Taking off with an initial meeting in October 2013 with the intention to gauge the people’s response, the team were encouraged when more than 40 pastors showed up to meet Pastor Daniel for the first time. From then on, the first conference saw a total of 119 pastors coming together for a time of learning and equipping. The second conference had 120 pastors in attendance and the group of leaders that we have reached represents more than 75 different churches across Sabah and Sarawak.
The atmosphere of spiritual hunger and a strong desire to learn was unmistakable. When church leaders take the effort to travel for ten hours from out of state to attend a two-day conference, you know their desire for change and growth is earnest. This conviction was further reinforced as we had the opportunity to talk to some of the pastors and to be inspired by their sharing during the two day conference.
Conference organizing committee
THE PASTORS
Pastor Abraham Lian Pastor Abraham Lian brought his team from Miri, Sarawak and they travelled ten hours by car to get to the conference. Despite the distance, Pastor Abraham saw the value of coming to the conference as it was a time of expanding his network. Before answering the call to ministry, Pastor Abraham was a farmer. Without academic qualifications or even having attended Bible school, he knew that he needed more friends and support.
“I felt a touch from the Holy Spirit as Pastor Daniel was teaching about the changing of mindsets. When I made up my mind to come for the conference, I was worried because I had no means of transportation to get from Miri to Kota Kinabalu. Three days before the conference, my son-in-law came to me and offered to drive me. It was such an encouragement and I thank God for being here together with my team as well.�
19 Pastor George Timus Growing up in a Christian family, Pastor George Timus from SIB, Keningau has been pastoring for thirty two years. He was rebellious in his teenage years, getting involved in gangsterism and drugs but when he received Christ, his entire life was transformed. Feeling like he was of no use to society because of his past mistakes, Pastor George found grace and forgiveness in Christ, as well as a new lease of life. That was when he decided to go to Bible school and to serve God in ministry.
Pastor Aning Pastor Aning was one of the key persons who connected with many pastors in Keningau and introduced them to the conference. Having attended every conference right from the very first meeting, Pastor Aning has experienced much change in his mindset and the way he does ministry.
“After so many years in ministry, attending the conference by Pastor Daniel was very encouraging. I no longer feel like I am alone in ministry and leadership. At every conference, I am learning something new that is practical and relevant. The mindset of our people has always been to look for employment, to go to Kuala Lumpur and look for a job. Now, we are starting to see many opportunities where we can create wealth even in the villages! We are actually surrounded by resources that can be made into products to generate income.”
“Pastor Daniel’s teaching on Economic Empowerment is something I have never heard of in the many conferences and seminars that I have attended. Money talk is hush hush! Now that I have begun teaching my members, they are starting to see that even though they are poor, they can still invest in the Kingdom of God and pay their tithes. Previously what we did was to pray, pray and pray, but now, we have learnt that we also need to do, do and do! Faith is important, but without action, nothing will happen.”
Pastor Pur Pastor Pur from Nabawan has seen miracles and growth take place in his church in the past two years. Since he started attending the conferences, Pastor Pur has been sharing with his congregation the things he learnt.
“I am happy to report that my congregation has more than doubled in size as I continue to teach and share with them on the importance of praying and also working. I see growth and financial blessings in their lives as well as my own. I had been driving around for years in an old Perodua Kancil but recently I was able to purchase a Toyota Hilux. Miracles are happening in the church. I have a church member who was discharged from the hospital because the doctors said they could not do anything more to help him. He was given only a short time left to live. We came together with him to pray, refusing to give up and today, he is healed, alive and well! Pastor Daniel and Deborah have taught us how to grow close to God in a practical way. And I am so excited to learn more.�
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The Balungao District Jail in Pangasinian consists of 92 male and 16 female detainees – lives which most disregard. But there are a few like Pastor Eric who choose to care so that even those regarded as burdens to society may experience His love and hope.
THIS IS PASTOR ERIC’S RECOUNT OF HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE PRISON MINISTRY In 1997, I was invited by one of my pastor friends to visit one of the prisons that he was ministering at. That was my first experience with the prison ministry. Well, it so happened that the prison was nearby my son’s school. Since I had to wait for my son, I decided to utilise the time to conduct bible study at the prison. From there, I developed a relationship with the prison guard, wardens and some of the inmates. However, I did not see myself being involved in the prison ministry long term. But God had other plans. He spoke to me through Matthew 25:36 – “I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me”. I was convinced that God was in the picture and decided to get serious with the prison ministry. My inner hunger was kindled and so I scheduled to be at the jail regularly. I was filled with passion for the lost and I cried to God to help them. Preaching inside the jail was like planting on parched and dry soil. When I started in 1997 the inmates were not interested in listening and
only a few of them showed respect or paid any attention. The immediate surroundings of the prison did not help either. The walls were scribbled with obscene images and the general environment was filthy. Despite these challenges, I continued to tell them that I did not come to convert them to another religion but to help them have a relationship with God. I organized activities such as a Christmas party for the inmates and their families where we had food, played games and gave away prizes. One thing that kept me going in the prison ministry was the personal relationships I developed with some of the inmates. I had my hair cuts with a good barber inmate and paid him accordingly. Also if my vehicle needed some repairs I would bring it to them; they would fix it and I would pay them a generous amount. By doing so, the walls of the initial challenges were brought down. Years have passed and the huge amount of effort put in began to pay
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OBSCENE IMAGES THAT USED TO VANDALISE THE PRISON WALLS, HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED WITH BIBLICAL WORDS
off little by little. I noticed some improvement among the inmates, not just in their behaviour, but I could see real change in their lives and improvement in discipline. The obscene images that used to vandalise the prison walls have now been replaced with biblical words. Gangsterism has reduced and the unusual sight of inmates working together can be seen in the prison. A worship team has been established and some inmates have even requested to be baptized in water!
A few inmates who after serving their time in prison, even came to the church personally to express their gratitude and thanks. In fact, some even considered their time in prison a good thing, for they would never have known of God’s wonderful undying love for them, otherwise. Recently, the Balungao District Jail was recognized as the Best District Jail-Regional for the year 2013 and Best District Jail-National for 2014.
This only goes to prove that there is a second chance for everyone to attain a fresh start! My encouragement to those who want to go into ministry would be when God asks you to do something, just do it and in His perfect time you will see the result of your efforts. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.� 1 Corinthians 15:58
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FROM EMPLOYEE TO EMPLOYER: AN EMPOWERING JOURNEY “I always tell my colleagues, and even my own children that there’s no such thing as a free ride. Everything requires effort. You must know what you want in life and work towards it.”
As he shares his life and work experiences, there is an air of quiet confidence and gratitude about Joseph Chan. From the days of choosing the wrong course and failing subjects in university, to having difficulty in finding his career path and failed businesses along the way, Joseph is now the owner of Xynapse-Asia, an IT development company which provides IT security solutions to banks, telecommunication services and large government agencies. When he found a job after he graduated, he thought that was it in life; all those years of mismatched decisions and studying were over. He would become an employee with a safe job. In the beginning, Joseph struggled as an IT programmer and eventually his boss called him in and asked if he
would be interested to switch to a sales job instead. Knowing he should take on a different path, he grabbed the opportunity. From then on, he learned the art of selling. The experiences he accumulated along the way helped him as he went on to work at a few different IT companies in the years that followed. All this while, he had dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. His strong desire to own a business fuelled the flames of entrepreneurship in him. The break came when the major shareholders decided to exit the company that he was running. Joseph then seized the golden opportunity to take over the business. He was, at that time, not merely an employee, but one who was heading the company and was responsible for its sales revenue and operations.
Joseph with his lovely wife Huy Ping and his three children—Krystal, WIlliam and Brandon.
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“I put in a lot of work to make sure everything was running smoothly. And when the company was making losses, I even took pay cuts, as much as 50% at one point. But I think that paid off,” Joseph reflected as he shared a snippet of what would be a precursor to him securing the ownership of the company. He began to meticulously work out plans for repayment. Faced with hurdles and challenges along the way, he persisted. Slowly but surely, the company broke even and the rest is history. When asked about how the message of economic empowerment had impacted him, Joseph’s response
was a rarity found among business owners. While many business owners would feel indifferent, Joseph views paying salary and giving out bonuses with a sense of gratitude and gratefulness. He understands that this is where he is empowered to add value and improve lives by providing his employees and their families with a quality life. In a bigger sense, he views being able to provide employment a huge privilege. “Business is about making money, and we shouldn’t shy away from the fact that yes, we can make the money, but what is the real purpose of doing this?”
BUSINESS IS ABOUT MAKING MONEY, AND WE SHOULDN’T SHY AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT YES, WE CAN MAKE THE MONEY, BUT WHAT IS THE REAL PURPOSE OF DOING THIS? We must realize that we are doing a great deed to our community and the world and in a way, we are helping God’s cause – which is to keep people from poverty by providing employment. I remember Pastor Daniel preaching about poverty. Poverty can lead to many illegal activities and if people have employment and income, that would keep them out of poverty and off the streets. Moreover, the more jobs we create, the more revenue and business we will generate. That changed my whole perspective of doing business. Since then I had no qualms about expanding my business.” Now the owner of a successful business, Joseph believes in giving opportunities to others. He is convinced that his role has changed from just managing a business to building leaders, giving his team of managers liberty to run things independently. After being in the industry for more than 24 years, Joseph believes maturity develops with failure. “Of
course, failure is not something favourable, but what matters most is how you react to it. You pick yourself up and try again. You keep trying, grab opportunities that come your way and make an informed decision to be committed and passionate about your work. You must love what you do. Where there is passion, money will follow,” he offers. Joseph feels strongly that the young generation ought to be empowered to build their characters as they pick up invaluable experience along their career paths, to eventually owning a business. As someone who has seen many failures, he knows how life can be tough sometimes, but if one is prepared to pay the price when the opportunity arises, only God knows how far one can go. “I don’t think anybody is born with a lack of passion or brimming with it. I believe it’s all in us and it’s up to us to activate the passion.”
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WHAT YOU BELIEVE, YOU CAN ACHIEVE Pastor Rebecca and Pastor Clarence have been married for 30+ years and have been living in Keningau where they have built a ministry together for the past 20 years. In 2008, they decided to join HSG Global Ministries and attended their first Project Barnabas Conference. This was where their dream of owning their own business began—with the message of Spiritual Restoration and Economic Empowerment. The message completely redefined their understanding of God’s plan
for their lives. Spiritual Restoration starts with restoring your relationship with God. Your relationship with God is the point of connection that links an individual to access all the abundant provision and grace that God has intended for us. Economic Empowerment has always been a controversial topic in the Christian community. The thought of a pastor succeeding in business is unheard of in common “religious” thinking. This notion is derived from the conventional idea that equates a church worker with
someone on the brink of poverty— content to get by on just the grace of God and charity. However, that is not what God intends for His people. He has created and designed an abundance of resources around us to fulfil our goals for His glory! “The two-fold message of Spiritual Restoration & Economic Empowerment heard during the Project Barnabas Conference, realigned our thoughts and we absorbed as much as we could, to take back to our community.
The teachings we received at Project Barnabas did not end when we left Kuala Lumpur. We were sure in our hearts that this message will rejuvenate and be a blessing to our community in Keningau”. They brought back CDs and DVDs to Keningau so that they could learn as much as they could from the teachings. They understood that knowledge was not going to be gained over a week but through thorough learning and understanding of the contents.
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Only then would they be able to share with their community all that they had learned. When Pastor Rebecca and Pastor Clarence grasped the concept that Economic Empowerment is the byproduct of Spiritual Restoration, they were even more encouraged. Their inspiration was further enhanced by the shared testimonies of economic successes from countries such as India and Myanmar. They adopted the mindset that if others could succeed, so could they! Thus, the idea of owning their own business began to form. Pastor Rebecca started out her business journey as a joint venture with
a friend. Seeking wisdom from God and with constant motivation from Pastor Clarence, she learned about business for the first time. She had to deal with business people and wholesalers with whom she had little experience. Looking back, she could not have done it without God, the support of her community and her husband’s motivation. However, a joint venture business was not what God had planted in their hearts at Project Barnabas. They had always wanted to own a business of their own without being saddled with debts or loans. And so, Pastor Rebecca and her friend decided to end their joint venture.The husband and wife team then started making
Pastor Rebecca & Pastor Clarence was able to purchase a Isuzu D-Max (4 wheel drive) as a result of the financial blessing of Oikos Mart. The church in Keningau has also experienced growth concurrently.
The message of Spiritural Restoration and Economic Empowerment has not only touched their lives but the lives of their members plans for their dream. It would be easy to think that the process was all sunshine and roses, and happened overnight. But in truth it took time, and it was incredibly challenging. After three years of building, learning and trials, their perseverance finally paid off. In December 2014, Pastor Rebecca and Pastor Clarence became owners of their very own loan-free family mart, named Oikos Mart which occupies two lots. Today, they have a total of 6 employees and provide job opportunities to the community. The message of Spiritual Restoration and Economic Empowerment has not only touched their lives but the lives of
their members as well. What’s more, one of their church members has been inspired to start a hair salon business in Keningau. Pastor Rebecca and Pastor Clarence hope that this story will not only be a testimony of what God has done in their lives, but it will also show that God has a bigger plan for every individual. “Don’t limit yourself. Too many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as God has intended for you. What you believe, you can achieve”.
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A few of our youth took up the challenge to embark on their very first mission trip. This experience was new for some, but yet it affirmed that age is a not a limiting factor when one avails themselves to be used by God. We took some time to interview them regarding their experiences and here are their answers: VICTOR LAI Education: Mass Communication Experience: First Mission Trip Location: Youth Camp at Nha Trang, Vietnam Duration: 7 days 6 nights Role: Facilitate ice-breakers and share testimony
WHAT EXPECTATIONS DID YOU HAVE BEFORE THE MISSION TRIP?
Hearing from people who came back from mission trips sharing how God worked through them, I embarked on this trip having the expectation that God will use me as His vessel. Furthermore, I was going with a bunch of people who served in ministry, it was certainly going to be an impactful trip! WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE THERE?
It was the hospitality provided by the Vietnam team, like how the HSG team would be a host during Project Barnabas. Except this time, we were at the receiving end of it, which felt great. This made me feel that the scale of our church’s hospitality has left an impact around the world.
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WHAT WAS ONE MOMENT YOU ENJOYED DURING THIS MISSION TRIP?
One moment I enjoyed was the “holiday” part – the short window to relax and enjoy Vietnam.I enjoyed the shopping, the talks over the coffee, the food—Banh Mi (“subway” sandwich), Pho (Beef Noodle). Vietnam Coffee. Awesome Food + Friends = Winning experience.
HOW HAS THIS MISSION TRIP IMPACTED YOU AS A PERSON?
I felt more confident after this trip, experiencing God using me in ways I never expected. The testimony I shared inspired someone and the ice-breakers I planned created a fun atmosphere. From a place of disbelief, I can now say I believe God can use me.
JASMINE CHEAH Education: Secondary School Location: Pampanga, Philippines Duration: 10 days 9 nights. Role: Keyboardist
AFTER COMPLETING THE MISSION TRIP, WHAT WAS SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU GAINED THAT YOU BROUGHT BACK WITH YOU?
It is the sense of joy and freedom to be able to praise God in whatever way I want without caring about the people around me. Worshipping there became a personal experience between God and I. The experience of worship left a mark on me, and I would want to bring that experience back to our church. WHAT WAS ONE MOMENT YOU ENJOYED DURING THIS MISSION TRIP?
I was not expecting much, except to see the presence of God in other parts of the world. I wanted to know what God is doing in our global churches, and this simply gave me the conviction to go for this mission trip.
My favourite moment was during the prison ministry. I remembered a statement mentioned there, “people who are physically locked up are spiritually free, and those who were physically free are spiritually locked up”. Lives were changed because of the pastors. To be able to see the love of the pastors for the people, truly reminded me why I love God and the church.
WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE THERE?
HOW HAS THIS MISSION TRIP IMPACTED YOU AS A PERSON?
The hospitality – the people there were so friendly and outgoing. The services were so memorable – the people there have a deep love and were passionate for God. Worshipping with them gave us a sense of unity. It didn’t matter if we were adults or youth, we are one family with one purpose, which is to give God praise.
Being able to see lives changed personally proved that God’s love was so apparent and amazing. I was able to bring back with me so much more than I had ever expected. The bond with the people, the church, the local food, and many more great experiences made the entire mission trip an amazing one.
WHAT EXPECTATIONS DID YOU HAVE BEFORE THE MISSION TRIP?
37 BAILEY WOON Education: College Student Location: Pampanga, Philippines Duration: 10 days 9 nights. Role: Sound Crew
WHAT EXPECTATION DID YOU HAVE BEFORE THE MISSION TRIP?
Expectations were one of the things I was oblivious of, but I constantly kept an open mind as much as possible. This is my first mission trip and I did not know what to expect of it, just a constant faith that this mission trip would be a fun and mind-blowing one. WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE THERE?
Pastor Lani’s faith. During our trip there, Pastor Lani’s father passed away and yet the church kept their
spirits up and continued the service and the events that they had planned out. What an unbreakable faith. WHAT WAS ONE MOMENT YOU ENJOYED DURING THIS MISSION TRIP?
One of my favourite moments was spending time with the youth in Philippines after serving. We were taking pictures, chatting and exchanging conversation during dinner. It felt like there were no geographical differences. Whether we were from Malaysia or
Philippines, we shared the same interest and passion for God. HOW HAS THE MISSION TRIP IMPACT YOU AS A PERSON?
The impact left on me was to never put myself first, but to put others before me. To be selfless, as well as to maintain my faith in God no matter how bad a situation is. Having faith is to believe that everything is in God’s hands, and simply because of that everything will eventually turn out great.
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CHUA BOON KEONG Education: Secondary school student Location: Pampanga, Philippines Duration: 10 days 9 nights. Role: Drummer
WHAT EXPECTATIONS DID YOU HAVE BEFORE THE MISSION TRIP?
I was expecting to experience the different culture while working with the people in the Philippines church. WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE WHEN YOU REACHED YOUR LOCATION?
Their technology wasn’t as good as what we have in Malaysia but I was in awe of their love for people and God despite that. HOW HAS THIS MISSION TRIP IMPACTED YOU AS A PERSON?
I came to realize that we should not complain or compare our resources when it comes to praising God or impacting the world. All we need is the right heart and intention of wanting to impact people’s lives.
THE NATIONS, OUR ADVENTURE Experience the joy and significance of nation building today by joining one of our mission trips. For more information on the various mission trips lined up and how you can be a part of them, please contact Nancy @ 603-79805001.
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RE-IMAGINE THE WORLD
GHANA NIGERIA
VIETNAM MAL AYSIA PHILIPPINES
INDIA CHINA MYANMAR THAIL AND INDONESIA
HSG GLOBAL MINISTRIES IN A NUTSHELL
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Producing dynamic, healthy, caring, Kingdom-minded, God-loving Christians globally
8 Cultures Pursuit of Excellence Belief in People Benevolent Generosity Joyful Enthusiasm Faithfulness Inspiring Vision Vibrant Faith Prayer Focus
The Vision: One church in many locations
The Mission
The Dream
Taking the message of spiritual restoration and economic empowerment to the nations by building and networking strong local churches
“You are a Man of War. As these ships sailed the oceans of the world, so will I take you to the nations of the world and where you go, I will release the treasures of the nations� Prophecy received by Pastor Daniel (President of HSGGM) in 1995
Symbolism The flowing wave and dove represents the twin message of Spiritual Restoration and Economic Empowerment sweeping across the nations like a wave powered by the Holy Spirit. The green symbolizes life and growth.
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INDIA
NAMASTE! GREETINGS FROM HSG INDIA! Top, Middle Left, Middle Right: Pastor Samuel Thilak’s Church. Bottom Left and Bottom Right: Pastor Prince David’s Church.
EVOLVING OUR WORSHIP Yes, this is what the stage and praise and worship looks like at HSG India now. This amazing transformation began during Pastor Samuel Thilak’s visit to HSG KL last year. A wind of inspiration came upon him and active steps were taken to make things better. The lighting system was upgraded and a fog machine was installed.
Pastor Prince David got some bright ideas and decided to add light effects. Whoa! A little certainly can go a long way…. and it’s true. Our congregation now enjoys an enhanced ambience and atmosphere, especially during praise and worship.
WE’RE EXPANDING
Bhadson, India
HSG India is also undergoing our 3rd phase of expansion— construction of the church office and a children’s church. We are proud to say that we have also started our first vision faith promise collection in 2014. We believe that God will further
empower members of HSG India for the expansion of His kingdom. We are also happy to report that two of our HSGGM India churches have started constructing their church buildings, with the promise of a new place to gather and worship.
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Orissa, India
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY: THEIR ‘BUSINESS’ IS OUR BUSINESS Yes, indeed. An interesting way of engaging our community is through our ‘Ready-made Mobile Toilet’ project – where we identify needy families in our community and provide them with free ready-made mobile toilets. So far, we have given out three of these ready-made toilets to three widows. Some of you might find this a trivial matter,
but to these families it is a very real need. Pastor Benny Moses has even opened a grocery shop to help generate funds to support the project. This project has even gotten the affirmation of the local authorities! Our long-term goal is to provide 1000 toilets to 1000 homes.
HELLO THERE, OR AS WE SAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, “MABUHAY”!
PHILIPPINES WE’RE GROWING CAVITE, PHILIPPINES
With consistent attendance and the recent addition of new members, the church in Cavite is now preparing to launch our 2nd service on Sunday! Our youth has also recently multiplied into two carecells!
Also, Pastor Eric’s involvement in schools on the prevention of drug abuse has received great response from the police department and we believe his work there will further impact the lives of the younger generation!
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FAITH MEETS ACTION: MAKING THINGS HAPPEN PAMPANGA, PHILIPPINES
The church in Pampanga is now planning further expansion of the present Sanctuary, with the purchase of land next to the church. As the church walks in faith and obedience to purchase the land, Pastor Lani experienced God’s hand moving, seeing how ownership has become a part of her church members’ lifestyle. The church members are eager to contribute to the expansion, not only in their giving of finances but also in their expertise and time. As a church, we have organized fund raising functions such as mini concerts, family dinners, selling fabric conditioners, even soaps and perfumes!
We are looking into the very real possibility of building a café on the ground floor, which would be a source of income to the church. What’s more, we plan to rent the halls for functions, blessing the community, whilst being an additional income stream for the church. “Being part of HSGGM changed my understanding on how we should serve God. It is not just praying, fasting and believing (which are important) but it is more about doing, believing, taking steps to realize our dreams and making things happen by using the resources and potential that God has given to us.”—Pastor Lani
NEW ADDITIONS TAGUM CIT Y, PHILIPPINES
The installation of new window grills and two additional rooms were the latest addition to Tagum City’s church construction. A newly added area also provides a space for members to rest whenever there are church activities plus a 4 meter-long dish washing area.
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NIGERIA
ADAPTING TO CARECELLS PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA
The initial implementation of the carecell system in Nigeria had a bumpy start with some church members facing difficulty adapting to the system. However, Pastor Joseph Uzomba continued to persevere and was eventually rewarded with success as the church experienced steady growth. There was added encouragement with increasing members
responding positively to the carecell system. “Many are beginning to see the carecell system’s purpose and what we do is in line with the Kingdom of God”—Pastor Joseph. The church continues to pursue growth through the carecell system; connecting with their members on personal levels.
QUICK NEWS
CHINA
Besides classes, the school in Guogan China also organizes other activities to encourage students to interact with one another. One of such activity is Sports Day, which created much excitement among the students. The church in China has also been constantly engaging with their community, through concerts and outdoor events.
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MALAYSIA GREAT STRIDES IN CARECELLS KOTA KINABALU, EAST MAL AYSIA
Our church in Kota Kinabalu now has three carecells and the youth cell is showing great signs of growth. There has been tremendous response from the youth carecells as they were able to rally their friends to participate in carecell activities, eventually integrating their friends as part of the carecell.
Pastor Ariffin who is currently leading a carecell of twelve people has been seeing great changes in his church members’ lives, especially his leaders. “Some were promoted in their jobs or got salary hikes while they are committed to lead carecell and serve God in their carecells.”
EDUCATION BRINGS HOPE HOPE LEARNING CENTER
Under the care of Pastor Michael Liman, Hope Learning Center currently has about 430 students from ages five to eighteen. With the hope of improving the quality of education offered, Pastor Michael has arranged to have trainers from Goducate Philippines to train the teachers and to upgrade the teaching materials.
The center has also recently organized a health talk for parents on topics such as drug addiction and family planning. A total of 275 parents participated and expressed their gratitude for organizing the talk. For some, it was their first time attending a talk of such nature.
MYANMAR GREETINGS FROM BURMA! “MINGALAR BAR” OR “HAVE GOOD THINGS UNTO YOU”. LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTEST IN THE DARK Unfortunately the update from Burma starts with some rather sad news. My wife Josephine @ Htay Htay Htun went home to the Lord on 19th July 2014 Saturday morning 4:50 am.
indeed a huge encouragement to our family. Richard brought with him a short video clip featuring Josephine’s involvement during Project Barnabas, which was such a comfort to my family.
I received words of comfort and condolence from HSGGM immediately. I understand HSGGM could not attend the funeral service on Monday, the 21st of July because there was insufficient time to apply for a visa as it was the weekend.
A few months later, Pastor Deborah and Nancy came to visit my family and we brought her to Josephine’s grave. They prayed for us, showing us much kindness and compassion. They also encouraged me to have dinner with my daughters at least once a month at a restaurant to help me through this difficult period. It was a great and practical suggestion, too.
We were so glad though when Richard Tan and his wife Florence from HSGGM, managed to make it for the memorial service. The act of coming and supporting us with a love gift was
My family and I are very thankful to HSGGM for your love, support and encouragement. Thank you.
Pastor Joshua
VIETNAM THE MIRACLE OF HEALING There have been many wonderful reports from Pastor Joshua (Vietnam), but this particular encounter is proof that our God is real and He is a God of miracles. Pastor Joshua has often prayed for the sick, but this was the first time a lame woman came to the altar call for healing. In his mind, he so was afraid that if the woman remained unhealed after praying, it would be extremely awkward and perhaps a little embarrassing. However, he was reminded from the bible that God is the one who does the healing and all he needed to do was to believe that God can do that through
him. So he just laid his hands and proclaimed healing in Jesus’ name. Amazingly, the woman, who was sitting in a wheel chair stood up and started to walk slowly! People around who witnessed this miraculous healing were astonished, including the woman’s four family members who were present. With such an astonishing display of the power of God and the ultimate conviction of the realness of Jesus, her family immediately accepted Christ!
Q&A HSGGM CONNECTIONS
HSGGM and Project Barnabas have been established with the purpose to equip and empower nations. We are here to serve and to join hands in creating a positive difference in the world. Over the last 18 years, many pastors and nations have been reached through HSGGM.
Today, HSGGM’s family spans across 10 nations and continues to grow. Three amazing pastors—Pastor Lani, Pastor Joseph and Pastor Esther share about linking with the HSGGM family and the impact of that connection on their ministry and personal growth.
PASTOR JOSEPH & AGNES UZOMBA
PASTOR LANI I. CUENCO
(Port Harcourt) Nigeria
(Pampanga) Philippines
Senior Pastor of God’s Arm
Senior Pastor of Sanctuary
Deliverance Mission Intl. Inc.
of Glory, Philippines
#8 years with HSGGM
#18 years with HSGGM
PASTOR ESTHER & PASTOR CIPRIANO MARINAS (Tagum City) Philippines Senior Pastors of Sanctuary of Glory Praise Center
#4 years with HSGGM
Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST CONNECT WITH HSGGM AND WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT HSGGM? Pastor Lani I got to know about HSGGM through my former Pastor Reynaldo Cayanan. Our church was one of the pioneers in the HSGGM family as we were connected since the very start of HSGGM till today. I have no regrets being a part of this amazing global family which has brought a lot of positive changes in me as a person and as a pastor. Pastor Joseph & Agnes Our first contact with HSGGM was in 2007 through a pastor from Nigeria. We were formally introduced when we attended our first Project Barnabas Conference. Pastor Daniel noticed us and interviewed us out of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It was right there in his office, where we were given a certificate of affiliation and also the welcome pack! The meeting left a deep impression on me concerning Pastor Daniel. It was the impression of a man who walks with the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Esther & Cipriano It was in 2012 that we came to Malaysia for a training. That was when we attended our first church service in HSG. We experienced a wonderful welcome by Pastor Daniel, Pastor Deborah, and Mr. Richard Tan. It was during that visit that we were invited to attend the Project Barnabas conference. The visit to HSG made the trip a memorable experience.
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CONNECT TO HSGGM?
Pastor Lani Since the initial meeting with the senior pastors, I have been inspired by their strong leadership and the leadership team. As a part of HSSGM, they are always God driven, strong and faithful in their commitment. The exemplary leadership showed me their generous spirit in serving those around them.
Pastor Esther & Cipriano We were inspired by the hospitality, messages and overall experience we encountered in our first Project Barnabas Conference in 2012. It was from that visit that we first connected with HSGGM. Pastor Joseph & Agnes We were initially inspired to connect to HSSGM by our desire to look for mentors who could add value to our church’s ministry. The first connection with HSGGM ended my search. We were encouraged by the down to earth approach of Pastor Daniel, Pastor Deborah and Mr. Richard.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST IMPACT YOU’VE EXPERIENCED AFTER CONNECTING WITH HSGGM? CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE IMPACT/GROWTH EXPERIENCED? Pastor Lani The biggest transformation I encountered was the growth I had from being an ordinary public school teacher to being an influential pastor serving and making a difference in my country through the church. My life transformed because the church leadership trusted and believed in me as they continued to mentor and support me over the years. I have a clear direction now and I know where I am heading in my future. Pastor Joseph & Agnes The teaching methods we got from HSGGM have helped my ministry significantly. Before this, we tried many different teaching models. They did not give us the satisfaction and results we wanted. Now, the church is more mature. Our attitudes
have changed and the gap between knowledge and behaviour has been addressed through the Project Barnabas teachings. Our church has grown spiritually as well as in numbers. We are looking to the future with newfound confidence and direction. Pastor Esther & Cipriano In June 2012, our church council showed Mr. Richard the lot where we were planning to build our church. By October 2012, we started building our church even though there was not enough funds. However, through Mr. Richard, we were granted the funds we needed from HSGGM. This enabled the continuation of our construction efforts. It is definitely an unexpected favour from God to be connected to HSGGM.
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE PROJECT BARNABAS IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND HOW HAS ATTENDING PROJECT BARNABAS IMPACTED YOUR MINISTRY/CHURCH? Pastor Lani I look forward to attending Project Barnabas every year as it has always been a time of rebuilding my passion and commitment to God and my ministry in my country. Project Barnabas has made a remarkable impact on all the Filipino pastors, leaders and workers. I know that who I am today is through the great impact HSGGM and Project Barnabas have had in the leadership of my ministry and my personal growth. Pastor Joseph & Agnes From the first moment we attended Project Barnabas it has been an enriching life experience. There has never been a dull moment. The Project Barnabas teachings were wonderful. We see a deliberate plan built into Project Barnabas, targeting
the development of the attendees. We never remain the same person after attending Project Barnabas. The experience has also taught us to transfer growth to our church with passion through the dedicated teachings from Project Barnabas. Pastor Esther & Cipriano Project Barnabas has always been the big highlight of our year. The first Project Barnabas visit connected us to HSGGM. Since then, we have been blessed by the different keynote speakers and can testify that Project Barnabas is indeed a different program from any we have ever attended. We are empowered both spiritually and economically through the application of what we learnt in Project Barnabas.
Q: HOW WOULD YOU WISH TO ENCOURAGE OTHER PASTORS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING MEMBERS OF HSGGM? Pastor Lani I can only encourage others to join in and realize that the foundation of every success is the meaningful connection of true God-given relationships, which the HSSGM family has given me. Strong relationships help you realize financial support is no longer an issue when you have seen and experienced the spirit of a family who is always willing and ready to stand with you in every journey of ministry. Pastor Joseph & Agnes We would advise all pastors to seize the opportunity of connecting with HSGGM and learn from the Project Barnabas
conferences in growing and expanding both themselves and their ministry. Pastor Esther & Cipriano Attending Project Barnabas is an unexplainable level up in our experience in the ministry. Since we connected with HSGGM, we have never regretted our decision. We believe everyone who connects with HSGGM will receive the same growth as we have.
BE BOLD, DREAM BIG, THINK BIG. START POSSESSING
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HAVE THE COURAGE TO PURSUE IT WITH YOUR ACTIONS, RESOURCES AND PRAYER
“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal...”Thomas Jefferson The Re-Imagine name directs us to Re-Imagining ourselves the way God intended, as people of success, influence and boldness. And it requires boldness to start and run with that re-imagined vision for our lives, for our families and for our communities. It also requires boldness to take a step towards believing we are each, very
much capable in making a positive difference in our lives and in the world. This year’s Re-Imagine issue wishes to remind readers to never lose hope and to be inspired to Boldly Possess our God envisioned Future. With that, I would like to thank the ReImagine Team; who have dedicatedly put together the stories and articles of amazing people who continue to inspire us with their perseverance in faith and boldness to be the positive change they wished to see. Written by: Laureen Foo
SEE, I HAVE GIVEN YOU THIS LAND. GO IN AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND THE LORD SWORE HE WOULD GIVE TO YOUR FATHERS—ABRAHAM, ISSAC AND JACOB— AND TO THEIR DESCENDANTS AFTER THEM. Deuteronomy 1:8
I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS PUT GIFTS AND TALENTS AND ABILITY ON THE INSIDE OF EVERY ONE OF US. WHEN YOU DEVELOP THAT AND YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU’RE A PERSON OF INFLUENCE AND A PERSON OF PURPOSE, I BELIEVE YOU CAN RISE UP OUT OF ANY SITUATION. Joel Osteen
65 RE-IMAGINE TEAM 2015
EDITOR IN CHIEF
EDITOR & ADVISOR
CONTENT ADVISOR
LAUREEN FOO
RAJA RASWAN
REBECCA LEE
WRITER
WRITER | PHOTOGRAPHER
WRITER | PHOTOGRAPHER
WRITER
WRITER | PROOF READER
DESIGNER
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER
MATTHEW HAW
CHRISTINA CHEAH
JYE MIIN
ISAIAH SAW
KELLY
THOO SUEEN
NICKI LEE
WRITER
SHEM AMALAYA
PROOF READER
HOW HUY PING
Special thanks to our Senior Pastors who believe in us and provided the guidance, resources and input throughout the duration of the project; church members who took time to share with us their stories & experiences; and HSGGM Pastors who contributed photos and contents of their churches and ministries.
CONTACT US What’s HSGGM?
Share Your Stories
If you are pastoring a church and would like to be connected or know more about HSGGM, please contact:
Your stories can be the fuel of inspiration to see more people building and impacting the nations together. We are ready to assist, should you be interested in contributing your stories and experiences. Please contact:
WONG LEE CHU
National Missions Director for ministries within Malaysia E: lcwong7@gmail.com
E: bigrichtan@gmail.com
T: +603 7980 5001 E: reimagine.hsggm@gmail.com A: HSG GLOBAL MINISTRIES No. 10, Jalan Awan Berarak, Taman Yarl, 58200 KL, Malaysia W: www. hsgmalaysia.org/missions
Join a Mission Trip
Feedback
Our mission trip schedule are available upon request. Should you decide to join us in reaching the nations, please contact:
Tell us what you think about Re-imagine 2015!
RICHARD TAN
International Missions Director for ministries beyond Malaysia
E: reimagine.hsggm@gmail.com
NANCY WOON T: +603 7980 5001
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in form of by any means without the prior permission of HSG Global Ministries.
LOOK A S FAR A S YOU CAN SEE IN E VERY DIRECTION. I AM GIVING ALL THIS L AND, A S FAR A S YOU CAN SEE. GENE SI S 13:14 -15