Call To Prayer on the Allah Issue

 http://www.necf.org.my/newsmaster.cfm?&menuid=43&action=view&retrieveid=1517
Tommorow 22nd Aug 2013 is an important date for all Christians in Malaysia.  It is very important to East Malaysians Christians because the majority of Christians in the two states of Sarawak and Sabah use Bahasa Malaysia
( Malay language ) in their Bibles and also their worship.

The Malaysian government is appealing against the court decision earlier to allow the Catholic Herald to use the word "Allah" to mean "God" in their publications.  The government maintained that only the Muslims have exclusive rights to use "Allah" to mean God and no other religion in Malaysia has the right to use this word to refer to their "Gods".  Despite historical and theological evidence against the logic of Malayisan Muslims, they insisted that they have the exclusive rights to the word "Allah".

All Christians in Malaysia do not agree that the word "Allah" is eclusive to the Muslims because this word predate Islam, and have been in used in the Malay Peninsula before the creation of Malaysia.  It has not been an issue for decades untill recently.  Banning the use of this word will have a great impact to East Malaysian Christians because more than 80% of the Christians use Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language) Bible and also worship in this language. This Bible contains the word "Allah" to mean "God".

On 22nd Aug 2013, between 9 to 12 noon the court of Appeal will be deciding on this case, and all Christians are urged to pray and fast during this period when the court will be in session.  We pray for God to grant us favours, and to enable Malaysian Christians to worship freely and to use the word "Allah" in our Bahasa Malaysia Bible without any hindrance from the authority.  We pray against parties trying to take away the rights of Malaysian Christians rightfully granted in the Federal Constitution.

Man may has his ways but it is God ways that prevail.  Hallelujah!

Proverb 19:21

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (ESV)

FBC Church Camp 2013

On 9th Aug to 10th Aug our church had our annual church camp at Damai Puri, a seaside resort about 35 KM from Kuching.  On the morning of 9th Aug 2013, all partcipants gathered at our chruch building to start the event.  From our church many of us participated in a treasure hunt going from Kuching to Damai beach where the hotel is located.  On the way we had to stop in various spots to locate what we were suppose to locate as instructed in the rules of the treasure hunt.  Thank God that the weather was fine and there was no rain. On the way there we passed by Pasir Panjang beach resort which is very beautiful.  Many of our members have not been there before, so that was an adventure for us.  Most participants reached the hotel around 1 pm.

By 1.30 pm our first seminar started.  This year we had Bro. Bernard Chan from Sinapore.  He is into family mentoring and discipleship training.  Our camp main theme was "Discipleship" so his talks were appropriate. The first session lasted until 4.00pm.  At 4.30pm four members of our church were baptised in the hotel pool.  Bro.Neslon, his wife Sis. Hwei Choo, Bro. Andy, and Sis. Nancy were baptised in the pool witnessed by members of our church. Bro. Nelson and Sis Hwei Choo attended Senior Alpha last year.  Thank God for their salvation!

We had our dinner just outside the resort.  There is a commercial building just outside the hotel where we had our dinner.  This place is also near to the beach, and its surrounding was very pleasant.

The the evening we had another session starting from 7.30pm to 10pm.  By then many were exhausted, but some fellowshiped till the early morning.

The following day our last session started at 10am and ended at 12 noon. 

the message from Bro Bernard was encouraging especially the subject of community in a church and how we can foster closer relationships with one another in our church.  Praise God for a fruitful church champ!  Hallelujah!  Praise God!

FBC Church Camp 2013 - slideshows