Ebenezer(dec2017)final

SUNGAI WAY-SUBANG METHODI ST CHURCH

DECEMBER 2017 I SSUE

“He appointed twelve that

they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.”

Mark 3:14-15

SSMC NEWSLETTER

EBENEZER

I NSI DE THI S I SSUE

P3

Being with Jesus: Life Transformation

P7

My Alpha Story: Jesus I s Real

P12

Family Camp 2017 Gallery

P14

Young Adults Retreat: Live Well, Finish Well

P15

Home Visitation Ministry

P18

Be An Advent Gift of Encouragement

For Int ernal Ci rculation

EBENEZER

DE CE M BE R 2017 I SSUE

2017: A Year To Be Treasured & Remembered!

With the twinkling of an eye, 2017 is fast coming to an end.

Much has happened since the last issue of Ebenezer. Our SSMC Family Camp at Grand Kampar Hotel went off without any major hiccups. Many who are relatively new to SSMC were ministered to at the Family Camp and they have shared their testimonies in this issue.

SSMC Family Camp 2018 is already set for 17th – 19th Aug (Fri to Sun) at Grand Kampar Hotel. We have invited Ps John Cairns and his dear wife, Heather, to return and continue sharing the Word, and minister to us. So please mark the dates in your 2018 calendar!

I am not sure how this year has been for you personally, but for me and many SSMCians, 2017 will be treasured, and remembered. A year that is memorable, a year that impacted us because “Being With Jesus” took us through a journey of reading the entire New Testament together as a Church Family. We read in daily bite-size portions, we share and discuss our readings in our weekly Discipleship Groups, and come Sundays, the by now “familiar” Scripture passages are expounded to us. Personally, I have been touched and ministered to in this journey and so have many others in the SSMC Family, as evident by their testimonies in this issue of Ebenezer. Parents who attempted to read the daily portions with their children, have also been touched and ministered to as a family.

What started as an experiment has now become an important fixture in our church life. Asking around, it does appear that no other church has attempted anything similar. It is not so much just reading God’s Word, the Bible, which many of us have already been doing for years. It is reading God’s Word together as a church family, knowing that others are reading the same passages and having something common to share, clarify and discuss. I understand from various DG leaders that DG discussions have become interesting and lively even as God’s Word touches and ministers to different ones. However, there are also a few DGs that still find it hard-going during Word discussion time. I encourage you to persevere, allowing God’s living Word to do what it can and must in the lives of all who prayerfully read, study and seek to apply it.

I hope many of you who have benefited from reading through the New Testament will testify, come Watchnight Service on 31st Dec 2017, and give all glory and praise to the Almighty God. Going forward, we have taken note of suggestions from the invaluable feedback on how “Being With Jesus” can be further improved in terms of format and layout, and this has been incorporated into “Being With Jesus 2018 – Reading Through the Old Testament Chronologically”.

All Glory, Praise and Honor to Him who sits on the Throne!

In His Service, Ps Swee Ming

We have a column where you get the chance to ask Pastor for his views on any issue. Drop us an email at ssmc.pastor@gmail.com! The editorial board reserves the right to decide what questions with reply to published. We look forward to your input and questions.

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STORIES ABOUT

Being With Jesus My Date with Jesus

by SUET PUN

My encounter with Jesus started at the beginning of 2017 through "Being with Jesus". I look forward to my “date” with Him each morning as I take my time to hear Him and talk to Him. This is what I call "Bible study comes alive!“. Here, I learn directly from His Word through the Holy Spirit, at my own pace. And I must say I'm enjoying this journey very much. I've yet to miss a date ... such joy, such unspeakable joy, such peace, an everlasting peace, "Being with Jesus".

by MELISSA KHOO

Over the last few years, we have tried a couple of times to have family altar or family devotion but failed to persevere for various reasons. But I thank God that the church launched “Being With Jesus” at the beginning of 2017. We started reading the Bible together as a family and have persevered to this day.

To my surprise, my two girls obediently gather at the table with their Bibles without any fuss when it’s time for our Bible reading sessions. Both of them know it is the “thing” that the church has asked us to do, and they need to comply.

We know they can’t wait for the sessions to end even as we take turns to read. Yet we trust that through the reading of His Word, the Word deposited into their hearts will surely come alive in their journey of life.

Hallelujah! Praise The Lord for God is good to us. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!

Our Prayer War Room by MARY CHONG Reading through the assigned New Testament passages daily has caused my husband, Sam, and I to: • Be able to relate our past and present experiences to the daily Scripture passages • Be able to quote Scriptures in our prayers according to our prayer needs, and be thankful and grateful to God for how He has wonderfully fulfilled the promises He specifically gave us in the Bible • Be fully determined to be faithful in our Daily Devotion to read the Scriptures • Set up a room in our home as our Prayer/War Room, exclusively to meet Our Lord for Prayer/Intercession/Divine Consultation “ May our dear Holy Spirit help us to be faithful in our earnest desire in Being With Jesus while we are here on earth, even as He prepares us for His Coming to be with Him in heaven. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.”

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Life Transformation by LEE HUI SENG The vision of SSMC is to see lives transformed even as the theme for SSMC this year is “Being with Jesus”.

Life transformation happens when we spend time with Jesus; in reading, in reflecting and in putting His Word into action. Although many of us have been Christians for many years, we are still struggling to read the Word of God on a regular basis. This is true for me as well. To help the entire Church family develop this daily routine of intentionally setting aside time with God to read His Word, the church has come up with the program of reading through the entire New Testament in 2017. It is easy to talk about reading the Word of God and to desire to do it, but to actually get down to it and to persevere is not easy.

Personally, I like this Bible reading program. Although I have been a Christian since young, I am still cultivating the habit of reading the Bible on a daily basis. I am convicted that I must do it and I want to do it, yet from time to time I still fail. If there is a mirror that can reflect my spiritual state, I think I will look rather skinny, pale and under-nourished. Therefore, I am very happy that the church has introduced a disciplined Bible reading program.

In the past, although the Holy Spirit had granted me fresh insights into God’s Word or some convictions of what I need to change, I never took the trouble to record that. But this program has challenged me to do so and I am doing it willingly because I know this will help me to grow deeper in Christ and in the Word of God. Having done this program for the last four months, I have become more conscious of my spiritual wellbeing. I notice that when I do my devotion in the morning, I am more aware of the presence of God throughout the day. I find that my spirit man is stronger and my day is more meaningful. I believe I have gained some weight spiritually after these four months into the daily reading of the Word of God. Sharing our thoughts and responses in DG meetings encouraged me to maintain the discipline and to persevere on. Through the sharing, I have discovered new insights into the Word of God from other DG members. Seeing others remain faithful in reading the Word of God has helped me to persevere. Together we have managed to complete the books of John, Romans, 1 Corinthians and Mark and 2 Corinthians so far.

Since I have read through the Gospel of Mark many times, I was not sure what gems I would discover reading it again this time but as I read, God spoke to me afresh from His Word.

Mark 7 talks about the Pharisees and teachers of the Law from Jerusalem who were upset with some of Jesus’ disciples because they did not wash their hands before eating. As I read this, although I do not know much about the Jewish culture of Jesus’ time, I believe I can empathize with some of disciples for not washing their hands before eating, particularly if they are fishermen eating their breakfast at the beach after a long night of fishing and having difficulty finding clean water to wash their hands before they eat. In the Gospel of Mark, it was recorded several times that the people were amazed at the teaching of Jesus. I, too, was amazed by Jesus’ answer. Instead of defending the disciples against the accusation of the Pharisees, Jesus went straight to the truth about defilement. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that what defiles a man is not what goes into the body but what comes out of the mouth and the thoughts in the heart. In application, God reminded me to be careful of the words that come out of my mouth and the thoughts in my heart. What are the defiling words from the mouth? Four-letter words, belittling words, dirty jokes dirty jokes, falsehood and gossip are words that bring down the name of Christ. Similarly, what are the thoughts that can defile me? Jesus listed out sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. I pray that God will help me guard my thoughts against all these and to be careful with my tongue.

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SIMPLE + REAL

DE CE M BE R 2017 I SSUE

by KHOO MEI LENG

The testimony is that I am reading the Word. Simple and real. No pomp about it.

Previously my reading of the Word was an erratic, undisciplined and chaotic journey. Sometimes reading the Word for reading’s sake and at other times, skipping whole chapters that seem "un-relatable" to my life and at worst of times, not reading at all.

The discipline of going through the Word on a regular basis and slowly munching small chunks has brought me closer to the Author and Finisher of my faith. It is slowly filling me up and has been an enjoyable journey. Yes, there are many questions and many things that are still unfathomable after reading - I mean who can totally understand the mind and heart of God? Sometimes I am glad I don't get all of the Word, it just shows how great and gracious He is. I am astounded by the brilliant writers of the Word, how did they come up with those words and the wisdom and the love behind it all? It surely must be divine.

I always knew that the Word was the way to go and tried to commit to reading the Bible in a year in late 2016. So when the push from the church came for the reading of the New Testament this year, it was a much welcomed move. Thank you SSMC! Going back to the basics, the source of it all, finding the truth that has always been right in front of my face. The miracle is right before me if only I open my eyes. Reading helps to reinforce the unshakable understanding that truth and love always prevails and finally making some sense of this crazy world. Slowly changing the way I see the world, through different eyes, mind and heart.

For the many times that I understood (or think I did), or when the words or verses “pop” or seem to be written just for me, and knowing He sees me, remembers me, and calls me – that’s pure joy!

In the first 3 months of reading, one of the promises that I loved to cling to is 1 Cor 2:9-10, “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” This truly sums up that “the best is yet to come.”

How exciting to know that there is MORE, so much more!

Renewal of Life

by KEN YAP

I’ve read many good books but none is as alive and effective in changing my life as the Bible. In our DG we read that Heb 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Truly, reading the word of God and trusting each and every bit of its message has eventually set me free! It is so real and so fascinating that I’ve obtained a renewal of life. The hearty welcome that I've received from the church is meritorious. The love and mercies of God supernaturally demonstrated through my spiritual parents, Rev. Ng S. M. and Ps. Ng K.M., is a noblesse-oblige treatment I’ve never experienced before.

Furthermore, I'm a 30 year old chain-smoker, smoking 4 big packs of cigarettes daily for 10 years. This is my 3rd year smoke-free year, after reading the Bible from cover to cover. The impact of reading the Word of God continuously has brought other transformation in me, too. The power of God has also broken the bondage of cynicism which had chained me over a very long period of time. Hence, “Being With Jesus” is truly amazing. I want to give thanks to God and praise the Lord for His awesome partnership.

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Challenging Me to Grow

DE CE M BE R 2017 I SSUE

by MONICA YOON

I was sharing last year on how difficult it was to set aside time each day to read God’s Word. The task seemed daunting as it was hard to step away from the busyness of being a working mum with 3 kids. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t focus. This year SSMC started the “Being with Jesus” daily Bible reading.

Because my children have to do it, we do it as a family. The daily reading assigned for the day was surprisingly easy to follow, and manageable. Explaining to the children the meaning of various verses helps each of us grow spiritually. As I have a child who dislikes and struggles to read, I am amazed that this exercise has improved his reading skills - from “prise” to “priest”, “confy” to “confidence”. By also having this daily check point, I find myself wanting to make right with God, who in His kindness shows me the error of my ways (I can be quite temperament) so that I can seek His forgiveness. And because we do it as a church, our questions are answered promptly as our brothers and sisters in Christ are all on the same page.

The daily sharing of what God speaks to us for the day also motivates us to have our time with our God who is waiting for us.

Whilst time is still a challenge, I do find myself doing “Being with Jesus” first thing in the morning where I can find stillness, peace and reassurance in the Word of God to help me cope better for the day.

Reflecting back, I’m still not an expert in God’s word, but I can say that I am now in a better position than I was before. No matter how little, it’s still a better place.

Thank you SSMC for challenging me to grow.

by THE ONG FAMILY (EVAN, MICHELLE, DILLON & DAPHNE ONG)

When Rev. Dr. Ng Swee Ming initiated “Being with Jesus” as a church at the start of 2017 and subsequently shared in our DG, I was greatly challenged and excited as my devotion and bible reading was somewhat inconsistent.

Then came the second announcement that children would also do “Being with Jesus.” My initial concern was how I could possibly get my children aged 11 and 8 to read the Bible daily.

Nevertheless, we persevered as a family and encouraged the children to read. During meals and whenever we were in the car, we would try to talk to them about the Bible stories we had read. We began with the book of John and eventually the children became interested.

Firstly, It was a struggle for the adults as we were not sure what to write in the notes. As for the children, it was a struggle inculcating in them the discipline to read the Bible. God has His ways and I was proven wrong as the journey became easier as we, the adults, fell into the habit of having God’s Word in our lives.

I find myself more in tune with the Word and looking forward to Friday DG and the Sunday Sermon as what we read was reinforced and became clearer, unlike previously when we were somewhat unprepared and unable to follow.

Truly it is a wonderful journey walking with Jesus, though at times like other families juggling with work commitments, we do lapse one or two days but we do make up for it and go back on track weekly. We also realise that our children have begun to trust Jesus even more, be it in simply praying over meals, or for the rain to stop when they need to go out. In their child-like faith they will simply say, “Mum, let’s pray for the rain to stop.” Our relationship as a family has also grown better and stronger even as the word of God becomes the central focus of our family. All Glory goes to our Lord and Saviour!

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Trusting in the Lord by CELINE KHOO Reading the Bible using the “Being With Jesus” guide has helped me to be more disciplined in my daily reading of God’s Word. Although I may sometimes miss reading the Bible for a few days, I persevere and will still move on to continue reading. Reading the Bible together as a DG has helped me to be accountable. I am finding it possible to finish the NT this year. When I give testimonies and apply what I have read, I learn to be grateful for His grace and love. I am learning from others through the DG and the Sunday sermons and this has helped me to understand and appreciate the Word of God in perspective. The Word of the Lord really binds us together in our spirit, and love blossoms in Christ.

My sister, Alice, my niece, Beth, and I are learning to trust the Lord as we pray together in our family prayer time. Knowing all things come from Him who loves us has helped us to trust Him with our jobs, skills, money and our possessions, and this has helped us to be sensitive to the needs of people around us.

My sister and I have been praying about our spending on big stuff like replacing our car, renovation of our house, going on holidays. We seek Him as we want Him to be the centre of our lives and decisions and we are encouraged because He gives us the best.

We continue to pray for our sister and brother and their families knowing that salvation belongs to The Lord.

We do not lose heart as our lives should reflect God’s love and compassion. I recall 2 Corinthians 6:1, “ For He says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the day of salvation.” Therefore, my spirit within me trusts in the Lord and waits patiently for Him to save.

Growing as a Disciple

by ALICE KHOO

In the beginning, I read the Bible passages in “Being With Jesus” because I needed to share about what I had read in our weekly DG discussions. However, as time progressed, I began to look forward to reading the Bible as I began to understand more about the life of Jesus Christ on earth. Each week I also find my DG having a purposeful and meaningful discussion as all members share their thoughts on what they have read. I have learned so much from our DG discussion.

The daily readings have helped me to be disciplined about my Quiet Time. Previously, I may read the Bible three times or less a week but now, it is on a daily basis. Because I need to read a few times to be able to summarise what I have read, I am finding this most useful as I now have a better understanding of the Word of God. As a result, I am now more conscious of what it means to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and I am more eager to share the gospel with non-believers. From the daily readings I am now spending more time with God and am progressing towards having a closer relationship with God. I have also learned to pray more, not just asking for favours but also to be thankful for whatever I have. At the same time, I am also learning to be generous with my time in helping others in need and doing it in a cheerful manner.

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JESUS IS REAL

DE CE M BE R 2017 I SSUE

by JULIA KER

On 12th March 2016 my two sisters, Kerry and Josephine (Jo), invited me to attend the Alpha Course. Jo has been sharing the Gospel with me for a very long time, but I was not moved. I thought Jesus was only a myth or a created fictional figure, just like the many gods created from historical figures in Taoism and Buddhism (please forgive me Lord) until I learned of Him through the first few sessions of Alpha. There were facts and proofs that JESUS DID WALK ON THIS EARTH more than two thousand years ago.

I wasn’t seeking God when my sis Jo posted the invitation to me. At that time, I thought Buddhism was my destiny and I had even purchased funeral packages for my husband and I to be cremated the Buddhist way.

Probably knowing that I was a hard shell to crack, Jo just asked whether I would want to attend a talk, “Is There More to Life Than This?”. I had no idea that it was about Christianity. I was interested in the topic and wanted to know what more to life there could be beyond my sixty one years’ of life experiences. After the 1st session, I felt this keenness to keep going back for more.

The first few sessions cleared my ignorance about God and the Lord Jesus. I came to realise that the Lord Jesus is real, and God is real. And by Session 8, I could feel the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit.

I totally believe that the Lord Jesus is alive and He is with us. On the morning of 17th May 2016, when I was alone in a park doing my morning walk and thinking about a financial issue which had been bugging me for some time, I decided to pray and seek God’s direction and wisdom on solving my problem. Amazingly, God almost instantly solved my problem through a whatsapp message from my friend. Thank you Lord, you are gracious!

I have accepted the Lord Jesus to be my Saviour, and I have found peace and security in my heart ever since.

Thank you Jesus!

Alpha has helped me to find God, and many new friends, too. I hope my journey in discovering God will inspire those who are still seeking. To those who want to rekindle their relationship with God - come and join Alpha!

Julia with her Alpha friends

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Got questions about life?

MY ALPHA EXPERIENCE

DE CE M BE R 2017 I SSUE

Why do I exist?

Is there more to life than this?

Does God exist? #TryAlpha

by IRENE OH

After attending SSMC for some time with my siblings, it occurred to me that there were many areas about Christianity that I didn't understand. So, I decided to meet up with Pastor Swee Ming and Pastor Kok Moi to "clear" my doubts. They provided answers to my many questions and suggested that I try the forthcoming Alpha.

Without hesitation, I agreed.

As the date for Alpha #8 approached, I started to get anxious. A part of me looked forward to it but another part of me was having doubts. I didn't know what to expect, who the other participants were and fear developed. As much as I wanted to find out more about the Christian faith, I was also worried that the people conducting Alpha were going to "force" me to become a Christian. However, after attending the first Alpha session, I soon realized all my fears were uncalled for.

The hosts of Alpha, Robin and Heather, together with their fellow church members were very welcoming and I could almost immediately feel a sense of belonging and peace. The entire Alpha group was like a newfound family. Very soon, I made new friends with the other participants and found myself always looking forward to the next Alpha session.

The videos and topics discussed were very interesting and informative. I especially enjoyed the interactive group sessions where all were encouraged to share their thoughts, perspectives and even their experiences. Hearing the experiences and different opinions from all the participants really helped me understand the Christian faith better. Reading the Bible is more meaningful for me now. Alpha helped me make sense of things that happened in the past - God was behind me all this while, guiding me, helping me make sensible decisions and overcoming the many obstacles that were in my way.

Were there any significant moments for me throughout the course? I have not really experienced any significant moments but I know God has a plan for me and when the time is right, He will reveal it to me.

I've had many of my questions answered through the group sharing sessions. Joining Alpha has given me an opportunity to speak my mind, ask about matters that I was unsure of and share what little I know of the Christian faith. I know what I have shared has created an awareness in some of the participants, just as I was also awakened and inspired by the sharing of their personal experiences with God. With the conclusion of Alpha #8, I discovered that Alpha is not just beneficial for non-believers. In fact, it is for: • Anyone who seeks to know more about the Christian faith.

• Anyone who has doubts about Christianity.

• Anyone, even Christians who feel lost at some point. Attending Alpha will help them get back on track and renew their faith in the Word of God. Yes, I would definitely recommend Alpha to my friends. I would also recommend it to those who have already attended it before because each course sees a different set of participants who will be sharing different views and experiences with God. I am now attending Alpha #9 and I'm extremely happy to share that on 29th October 2017, I received Christ as my Lord & Saviour. I am just as eager and excited about it as when I first started. Do come and join us for Alpha #10 in Q1, 2018 and share with us, and inspire us as to how God has blessed you and your loved ones. God Bless!

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#TryAlpha

Look out for our next Alpha Course in 2018 by clicking on our website www.ssmc.com.my

ALPHA TALK

with KEN YAP

Who brought you to Alpha?

Pastor Ng & Robin. Pastor spoke to me about Alpha in our DG when I first came back from China in Nov 2015. Subsequently, Robin also encouragingly gave me some highlights about Alpha.

When you first came, where were you in your "journey" eg. seeking God, interested in the Christian faith or already a Christian but wanting to know more?

I was already a Christian, though a pretty young one. Yes, the reason that I attended Alpha was because I wanted out more about God. Why do find I exist?

there moreDidto life this?

Alpha helpthan you in that "journey"? If yes, how? If no, any reason?

Yes, Alpha has help me a lot Does God exist?in understanding more of Christianity. Truly, the small group sharing sessions where all of us were free to ask questions about God were really helpful. At least I knew I was not alone#TryAlpha in the journey of seeking of God. Were there any significant moments for you throughout the course?

I love the topic "How Does God Guide Us”. The 5Cs (see below) that Nicky shared shaped my thinking subsequently ... I can actually partner God and the Holy Spirit in my daily decision-making.

That’s something I’ve never done before! It's so awesome!

At the end of Alpha, what did you discover?

Before joining Alpha I've read the Bible once from cover to cover just for the sake of reading it. After 12 weeks of attending the Alpha course, my desire to read the Bible increased and became a daily must. My understanding of Scriptures improved.

Would you recommend friends to Alpha ?

Sure! I'm now volunteering as a helper in the Alpha course. Lately, I managed to convince a young married couple to join Alpha#9 held in the second half of 2017 in SSMC.

HOW DOES GOD GUIDE US? THE 5Cs: • • • • •

Commanding Scripture Compelling Spirit Common Sense Counsel of the Saints Circumstantial Signs

Discover more at the next Alpha Couse in SSMC! Please visit our website for more information.

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OUR FIRST FAMILY CAMP by SAM NG My wife and I have been in SSMC for almost a year now. Having been in the church for a while and not knowing too many church members, we decided to register for the Church Camp.

I currently work as a System Engineer in a public listed company, and decided to take half day’s leave to drive up with my wife for the church camp. It was a nice slow drive and it had been a while since we took a “road trip” up north. Traffic was fair until Bidor and we decided to take the slow drive off the North South Expressway. Apart from the slight congestion near Tapah, the journey was smooth and we arrived at Grand Kampar Hotel safely around dinner time. We proceeded to register and checked in before heading down to the hotel restaurant for dinner.

At dinner, camp attendees were encouraged to sit with different people. This helped us and others to start talking to each other after introducing ourselves. The sessions were good, and it was a good time to get to know people we see each Sunday but are hardly acquainted with.

After the morning sessions, and after lunch, I rested for a while but ended up missing the sports activity in the afternoon as I was working till the wee hours of the morning. Nevertheless, we still got to know a few more families from other DGs as they sat near us during some of the sessions.

On Saturday night after the sessions, we hung out with our DG members. I was working in a rotating night shift job prior to my current job and we had missed many DG meetings. It was a good opportunity we make up for the fellowship we had missed.

Overall, the sessions were good; focusing on spiritual growth and touching on issues such as our identity. The speaker used interesting anecdotes and stories from his own spiritual and family life. One of my take-back points was from the final session about church, culture and passion - the picture of “being at home” where you are “most yourself”. Such a church, one that has God’s presence, requires reflection and action on our part. Just like how we take things home “to make it our own” from what we see from our interaction with people around us, needs to be reflected, sometimes localised and/or contextualised. This is done with the help of the Spirit towards the goal to continually make us more like Jesus.

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CAMP-FIRE AT KAMPAR FAMILY CAMP by SOO KEONG & SIEW CHENG We were looking forward to this year’s Family Camp at Kampar. We made our way to Kampar around 11 a.m., taking a leisurely drive and reaching the hotel around 2.30 p.m.

Nice quiet town with a bit of traffic around the town center. We were greeted by the camp registration team with nice smiles and a refreshing welcome drink. Nice lobby and clean spacious rooms. Welcome to the Grand Kampar Hotel!

We checked out the surrounding area that had a few rows of shops and food, of course, just in case we got hungry in the evening. There is a big Econsave Supermarket just across the road.

Dinner time arrived soon enough and we sat at large round tables and got to meet new friends and old friends alike over hot food. Yes, yes, we didn’t talk with our mouths full. The food was good and though not lavish, was appropriate for the occasion. Queues were not long and there was more than enough to eat.

Needless to say, the fellowship was better than the food. Good food, good fellowship and looking forward to the worship and hearing the word of God. Apa lagi kita mahu? Ha, ha. Truly, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live together in unity (Ps 133:1).

We made our way to the Treasure Hall upstairs and worshipped the Lord with His people and asked the Lord to reveal His Word to us through the speaker, John Cairns. He is a Brit but now residing in Australia and has a fantastic testimony of how God worked in his life. Really encouraged us. He was humorous though sometimes a little offbeat in his jokes. But when he shared the Word, the Lord opened our eyes to new things. Things which we are doing now and things we are not doing and the need to change. The need to trust God and have faith and know that He is faithful and will accomplish through us, all that is required to expand his kingdom purposes.

The introduction of the song, Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here, was refreshing and prepared us to be ministered by the word as we worshipped. At the end of each session, as we reflected and meditated on the message, we felt ministered to by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. It reminded me of the scripture in Luke 24:32, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Yes, there was a fire in the camp, which happened in our hearts. Not a physical fire but a spiritual fire that burns for Him as we learned from His word and rejoiced in the presence of the Lord.

Many were prayed for as we sought the Lord together. John Cairns spoke as the Lord directed him, both forth-telling, that is, sharing directly from the Word and fore-telling, that is, speaking prophetically into the future of those prayed for. All were blessed as we rejoiced in the blessings and the prayers spoken over us.

Mark 2:1 says that “when Jesus again entered into Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home” and miracles happened as the people sought Him. Likewise, when Jesus is present and at home in our lives, everything is possible. We need to have Jesus “at home” in our lives for the transformation to happen. This greatly encouraged us and we will try harder to let Him feel at home in our lives. Often we neglect the presence of the Holy Spirit and now we have learned that we need to invite him to build His home in our lives.

We made our way back on Sunday afternoon and proceeded to Kampar town to savor the original Kampar noodles. It was really yum-yum. Not to be missed. Yes, we still have a few weak areas that we are working at. One of them is food. Ha ha! As we reflect back on the camp, we realize we have learned a lot and were encouraged by the many friends we have made in camp. We were ministered to by His people and His presence. For those who were not able to attend, you may be wondering if the speaker was any good. Well, he is invited to be the speaker for the camp next year as well. Go figure.

Do join the Family Camp next year and be blessed.

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SSMC FAMILY CAMP 2017

PHOTO GALLERY

FAMILY CAMP SNIPPETS

by STEVEN LEE From my participation in the Family Camp at Kampar:  I enjoyed the sessions  All the arrangements were well done. The distribution of room keys and identification tags was done smoothly  Buffet lunch was good The most important, however, was THE BONDING AS A FAMILY OF GOD. I got to know quite a number of people and I really enjoyed the closeness in the Family Camp.

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SSMC FAMILY CAMP 2017

PHOTO GALLERY

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MY YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT EXPERIENCE

by CALVIN CHRISTIAN

Hello, my name is Calvin Christian and I am very happy to share with you my first SSMC Young Adults Retreat experience. We had our retreat at MyNature Leisure Farm in Sepang. It’s a large place surrounded with beautiful green grass and trees. The cabins are painted to match nature, too!

Our theme for this retreat was “Live Well, Finish Well”. Jory shared about how we ought to live our lives based on Paul’s words to Timothy in Scriptures.

Because life is short and time never goes back, we need to live our lives well in order to finish well.

According to 2 Tim 4:6-8, Paul urges us to:

1. Fight the Good Fight “The greatest fear in life is not failure but succeeding in things that do not matter”. We need to know what we value most in life so that we know which “fight” we should fight.

2. Finish the Race We are not competing with someone else in this life, but we are competing with ourselves. Help each other to get to the finish line!

3. Keep the Faith • Read & apply God’s commands in your life • Know what God calls you to do. We are called to love our family. Being a disciple and making disciples is our general calling. There is a specific calling that you uniquely have too!

Besides the meaningful sessions and Q&A session, I enjoyed the games sessions. One of the games we had was Amazing Race where we had to drive to various locations and accomplish tasks at each location. It was fun! We got to see the beach, we ate fresh dragon fruits, we got to know new people, and much more! In addition, we played board games during our Free & Easy time at night.

I hope my sharing above truly encourages you to realign your life’s direction! Oh, and do join us for next year’s Young Adult Camp 

REFUGE | REST | RENEWAL | REVIVAL JOIN US AT OUR COMMUNITY

WEEKLY YOUNG ADULTS DGs

THURSDAY | 8:30PM | BANDAR UTAMA SATURDAY | 7:30PM | SSMC, KSKA

http://crosalind.wixsite.com/ssmc-young-adults

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HOME VISITATION MINISTRY The Home Visitation Ministry was revived more than two years ago and we have 20 members who have volunteered to be a part of this ministry. This Home Visitation Ministry is distinct from the Hospital Visitation Ministry in that primarily, we minister to members, relatives of members, and oikoses who are home-bound and, thus, unable to come to church for Sunday Celebration.

There are occasions whereby we do make hospital visits in coordination with the Hospital Visitation Ministry.

Each Monday, members will indicate whether they are available to be rostered that week. We will then contact our visitees and make the necessary arrangements to visit them, be it in their home or in Nursing Homes.

Each week we break into 2 to 3 teams and as of Aug 31 2017, we have made 48 visitations just this year alone, averaging about 7 visitations per month. We hope to increase this to 10 visitations per month.

At these visits, there will be a time of worship, the ministering of the Holy Communion, sharing of the Word and prayer. On some occasions, we will have a meal with our visitees.

Ask any of our volunteers and invariably, they will declare, “I go to be a blessing and each time I am fully blessed in turn.” You will be surprised how just one’s very presence encourages and lifts the spirits of the visitees.

If you would like to be part of the group (Thursday mornings, 10.00am - 12.00noon) please WhatsApp Henry and Evelyn Wong at 016-3233101. You are not obligated to go every week if you have other commitments. We look forward to more members joining us on our Thursday visits!

Some of the dear brothers and sisters who bless us each Thursday …

MR & MRS HOOI

MR & MRS QUAY

MR & MRS CHEW

MR & MRS LEE

AUNTIE ROSIE

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Make This Christmas Unforgettable for Your Children CHRISTINE HOOVER | www.desiringgod.org

My happiest Christmas memory is the time each year that my aunt Nancy directed my cousins and me in a reenactment of the nativity. The youngest among us — a girl — was always baby Jesus, and as Mary, my main job was not dropping her when I placed her in the manger (and avoiding wayward staffs twirled by the ragtag band of boy cousin shepherds).

When I reflect on those memories, the principal player was my aunt Nancy. The yearly play was her idea, so of course we looked to her to take the lead and to direct us as to when to proceed solemnly into the living room for our performance. But more than that, we followed her lead because she cared. She was enthusiastic about the story we were reenacting, so we naturally were too.

My happiest memories as a child, and the ones imprinted most indelibly on my heart, typically involve a happy or enthusiastic adult — a teacher who taught my class to dance the Virginia Reel during our Civil War unit, a softball coach who infused fun into every practice, and a band director who loved his job.

But the happiest of happy moments always involved my parents. When my dad laughed or my mom got excited about something, time stood still and my heart threatened to burst. I delighted to see them delighted; their enthusiasm and joy instantly and naturally transferred to me because I loved to see them happy.

Kids learn to love what brings their parents delight.

I see it in my own kids all the time. My oldest son brings me the Sunday comics, points out a good strip, and waits for my laugh. All of my sons are adamantly loyal to my college team only because they know that I am.

And when I ask them what they’re thankful for, they’ve learned to add a spiritual element, because they know Who I love.

So what does this speak to me and to all parents during this Advent season?

This year I have felt this pressure acutely, as my sons have moved beyond board books, crafts, and toy nativity sets. I want to make Christmas special and say all the right things that will imprint its meaning on their hearts. I imagine, however, that what they’ll remember about this Christmas and all the Christmases of their childhood combined will not be coloring sheets or books or a lit candle on the Advent wreath. If they are like their mother, I imagine that what will have the most impact are the happy and enthusiastic adults in their lives, namely my husband and me, who have the story of Jesus joyfully tumbling around in their hearts throughout the year and the Christmas season.

Am I happy in the story of Jesus? Am I contemplating what His coming has wrought?

Am I looking expectantly for His return? Am I enthusiastically speaking of it as I sit with my children in our house, and when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up?

It is my joy in Christ that our children will remember about Christmas, long after the presents are opened and the Advent calendar is put away.

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We are a people of promise.

For centuries, God prepared people for the coming of his Son, our only hope for life. At Christmas we celebrate the fulfillment of the promises God made—that He would give a way to draw near to Him. Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25, sometimes in the last weekend of November, sometimes on the first Sunday in December.

NOEL PIPER

1 Peter 1:10-12 is a clear description of what we look back to during Advent.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12) For four weeks, it’s as if we’re re-enacting, remembering the thousands of years God’s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of God’s salvation, for Jesus. That’s what advent means—coming. Even God’s men who foretold the grace that was to come didn’t know “what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating." They were waiting, but they didn’t know what God’s salvation would look like.

In fact, God revealed to them that they were not the ones who would see the sufferings and glory of God’s Christ: They were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.

They were serving us. We Christians on this side of Jesus’ birth are a God-blessed, happy people because we know God’s plan. The ancient waiting is over. We have the greatest reason to celebrate!

Each year end, we look forward to host our community at our Christmas Open House!

We invite you to be a host to our friends in the community as they join us to celebrate on the 17 Dec (Sun). If you are able to help as a volunteer, please inform the church office.

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Be An Advent Gift of Encouragement

JON BLOOM | www.desiringgod.org

The first Advent was certainly anything but peaceful. It began with a contemplation of divorce, was accompanied by numerous confusing, unplanned detours, and was consummated in a stable of desperation. The Prince of peace brought a lot of turmoil with him when he came. And I think this implies that, in God’s judgment, what we may need at Christmas is not less turmoil, but more trust.

The Beautiful Busy-ness of Love It really is a beautiful thing that the season of Advent is a season of giving. And as Jesus demonstrated by his life and his death, true giving, the kind of giving born of love, is costly. It makes life more complicated and messy and busy. But that’s okay, for there is a profound blessing in the busy-ness of love: “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). And God loves a cheerful giver and promises to make all grace abound to us when we cheerfully give grace to others (2 Noel Piper Corinthians 9:7–8).

What to Give This Christmas That’s what we want especially to give to others this Christmas: grace. And one particular grace to focus on in our Christmas giving this year is encouragement. What if we seek not to merely ask what our loved one or neighbor would like, but what would most encourage him or her?

Courage is our resolve to face a fearful threat. And courage comes from hope — a hope in something stronger than what we fear. Discouragement sets in when our hope is leaking out. It’s a surrender to our fears. When discouragement happens, and it happens often, what we need is an infusion of hope. That’s what encouragement is — a hope-infusion that helps us keep fighting the fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). To give another the gift of encouragement is extending to them a kindness that seeks to point them to the God of hope (Romans 15:13).

Giving This Gift Is Not Easy But giving the gift of encouragement is not easy. It will likely add to our seasonal stress because it is spiritual warfare. If we’re going to encourage anyone else, we have to fight Satan and our own sin to do it.

The devil is constantly trying to discourage us. He’s the “the accuser of [the] brothers . . . who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10). And his minions are frequently throwing “flaming darts” of condemnation and jealousy and resentment at us (Ephesians 6:16). Resist them (1 Peter 5:9)!

And our sin nature often wants to discourage others. It desires self-exaltation more than anything. So it relishes focusing on others’ weaknesses, foibles, mistakes, and sins out of arrogance or envy. Pride is why so much of what we think or say or interpret or hear about others is negative and uncharitably critical.

If we’re going to encourage anyone else, we have to fight Satan and our own sin to do it. But the “God of . . . encouragement” (Romans 15:5) has given us the weapon that is designed to defeat these enemies: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The Bible was “written for our instruction, that . . . through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). And when we have hope, we have courage, and we’re able to give the grace of encouragement to others who need it.

So encouraging people soak in and store up God’s word (Psalm 119:11) and by doing so are better able to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). And when they talk they seek to speak only what “is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

Be a Generous Encouragement Giver!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to give the grace of encouragement to everyone who hears from us this Advent season? No, we won’t do it perfectly. But if we make this form of love our aim (1 Timothy 1:5), it’s possible that we could give out twice or three times as much encouragement as we otherwise would. Why not try?

God loves encouragement, generosity, and cheerful giving. So let’s be generous, cheerful givers of encouragement this Advent, even if it means the additional busy-ness of love. Let’s be on the hunt for those who need hope-infusions. And let’s ask the Father for Spirit-empowered discernment and Scripture recall so that we leave whomever we interact with this season more encouraged than we found them.

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HELLO

december 17 DEC

SUN | 10AM

17 DEC

SUN | 6:30PM

25 DEC

MON | 10AM

31 DEC

SUN | 9PM

BAPTISM & MEMBERSHIP SERVICE

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION SERVICE followed by Pot Bless Lunch

COVENANT WATCHNIGHT SERVICE

Being with Jesus READING THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT 2018 Will be on sale from mid-Dec 2017 onwards!

RM5/copy

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SUNGAI WAY-SUB ANG METHODI ST CHURCH Lot 1044, Jalan Cempaka Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor T +603-77269172 E ssmethodist@gmail.com W www.ssmc.com.my

If you have a story to share, write to us at editorial.ssmc@gmail.com! We’ll love to hear your stories 