80 / 20 Rule

This 80/20 rule is not only happening in the corporate world, but in our churches this is also happening. Does not matter whether the church is big(mega) or small. Usually 20 % of the church members are actively involved in some ministries and the other 80% are not involve at all and they may or may not attend church regularly. This situation is also happening in Malaysian churches.

Our church is also facing this issue and the leadership is trying to engage the congregation to be active in church's activities in order to build relationships with one another. Of late our church leadership is embarking on re building relationships in our church one a one-to-one basis because we want to build deep relationships and not superficial relationships. Like anything new in church, this is challenging but the leadership feels that we need to start somewhere.

As reported in the US, some churches concerntrated so much on evangelism that they neglected those in their congregations. Many realized that they have to do something to engage the rest of their members otherwise they may leave their churches. Most probably balancing between evangelism and spiritual growth of the congregation is important. The teaching of Jesus is that even one sheep is important to His Kingdom. Unlike, the humanistic world, majority is more important than an individual.

In the end, discipleship of church members are more important than the numbers in the church.

To read a story click on the title of this post.

Top Threat to Christianity: Secularism

Secularism is about separation of state and religion. The state should be independent of religous belief.

Over 70 % of evangelicals attending the Lausanne Congress of World Evangelism said that secularism is the top threat of Christianity and not Islam. When all threats are combined 91% said secularism is a top threat compared to 81% for Islam. However, in US 92% of evangelicals said secularism is the top threat in their country.

In fact, this threat is real and it is there all over the world. This state of affair is worsening by consumerism, materialism and the popular culture of sex and violence that is happening around the world. The young generation seem to be caught in this situation and many do not know God.

In the Malaysian context, our country is also facing this problem. Not only is secularism encroaching into society but the minority Christians are facing Islamization in this country and also the persecution of Christians like forbidding Christians to use "Allah" to refer to God in their Malay language Bible. This is an outstanding issue in our country.

Christians cannot take lightly the problem of secularism because it is subtle. Theologian Francis Schaeffer commented that secularism is more dangerous than direct persecution.

It is important to defend our faith and to evangelize to the lost. Despite up hill battles, we must not lose heart. The battle is of the Lord and not ours.

To read further click on the title of this post.

Watch this video about secularism.

Restoring the Altars of Our Lives

This Sunday, our Church had the honor of Pastor Christina Tan from Houston, USA. She is a pastor in International Full Gospel Fellowship (IFGF), Houston. She is also a cousin of Bro.Gary of our Church. Pastor Christina has a long connection with our Church and she shared that she was baptized at FBC in 1977. Therefore, this is like her home coming.

Pastor Christina's sermon is called "Restoring the altars of our lives". She refered to Genesis 8:20-22, the story about Noah building an altar and sacrificing clean animals to God. In the past people built physical altars, now we have our altar in our hearts. We need to build a personal altar as well as a family altar where the whole family pray together.

She asked whether we realize that when we come to God, He set us apart from the world. Yet most of the time, we Christians acted like non believers. Now we have to rebuild our altars and come back to God. Let outsiders see that we Christians are different from non believers.

God also want us to be holy. In many passages in the Bible He repeated, "Holy, Holy, Holy", that is three times. This is because He wants us to be holy. Therefore, we need to be aware,that since we are set apart and called to be holy, we are to examine our lives on a daily basis. Ask are we living holy lives each day? If not repent and strive to live a holy and godly live. If there are things not right in our lives asked God to help us to set things right before Him.

Are You a Citizen of Heaven? This is the title of the book written by Pastor Christina after she had a dream.

Watch a video

Alpha Workplace - KTS Group

Alpha Workplace is an Alpha course specially designed to evangelize to people in the working world.

KTS Group, a local company with businesses throughout Malaysia launched their very first Alpha Workplace course in their corporate HQ in Kuching during lunch from 12noon to 1 pm yesterday.

This Alpha Workplace introduction was attended by about 150 members of KTS Group located at their HQ at Crown Plaza, Kuching. Initially only 131 registered to attend but eventually about 150 staffs attended. It was very encouraging. Sister Cynthia, the Coordinator from Alpha Malaysia was there to guide and encourage everyone. She commented that it was one of the largest workplace turnout she has experienced.

From KTS Group, Bro. William and Bro.Yap were leading this Alpha Workplace assisted by around 15 Helpers. Other local churches like Trinity Methodist, Faith Methodist and First Baptist Church also sent their members to help out as Hosts of the small groups.

Thanks to Sister Mee Yen from First Baptist who initiated this Alpha Workplace at KTS Group through her networking with the people at this company.

This large turn out is very encouraging to all of us who are involved in Alpha Course. According to Bro. William eventually may be about 80 staffs will stay for the whole course. Nevertheless, we pray that many will decide to stay and complete this course.

Sister Cynthia from Alpha Malaysia was there to guide and encourage the leaders at KTS to ensure smooth implementation of Alpha Course in their company. At the end of the one hour session, Sister Cynthia gave a debrief to the Hosts, and Helpers. Rev. Lau, from Trinity Methodist Church closed in prayer.

We give glory to our Lord for this opportunity to share the good news with non believing staff of KTS Group. We uphold them in prayers and pray that the Holy Spirit will move mightily among them to bring them to Christ.

A Floating Church

Yes, we have a floating church in Long Jawe,upper Rejang River, Sarawak, Malaysia. Because in that vicinity the land had been floored to build Bakun dam and as a result the village was flooded. The devout Christians there have deep faith and they came out with a clever idea to use empty oil drums to float their church! The villagers are looking for a permanent location for their church.

Praise God, for the villages strong faith in our God ! Our prayers go to them, and we pray that they will be well in this difficult times where the villagers have to moved to higher ground. May our Lord be with them. Amen.

"Everything is possible for him who believes". Mark 9:23

To read the news report click on the title of this post.

Social Media Saves Lives

Social media like Face Book has been used very effectively empowering people to unite to change governments. In this process, many lives are saved, otherwise many would have died in the hands of oppressive governments. Of late, we witness such phenomenon in the Middle East like Egypt, Syria,Libya, Lebanon and Yemen. Many oppressive governments have been overthrew or in the process of being overthrow. Tools like Face Book has enabled many people to connect for a common cause, which they could not do previously. Although other medias can be used but they do not have the speed of social media like Face Book.

In other parts of the world, this media is used for other purposes like pursuing a cause or promoting an idea among the people in a country or community. Like anything that is meant for good can be used for bad purposes. Like in Malaysia recently, the police caught members of a gang of motorcycle thieves who used secret codes in Face Book to communicate and to organize their motorcycle stealing activities. Praise God that they were caught early! Several months ago it was aslo reported that a pastor in the US instructed his congregation to close their Face Book accounts because there were many cases of infidelities discovered among Face Book using church members.

Read a report of this issue by clicking the title of this post.

Christian Doctors Testify of Miracles

Many people do not believe in miracles, but many Christians do because we know the power of God in miraculous healing.

There is a group of Christians doctor coming under the World Christian Doctors Network recently met in Brisbane for a conference to hear testimonies by doctors of miraculous healing and to study their results. Testimonies of doctors are powerful because people can easily relate to these doctors, after all they are medical doctors who know their work better than non medical professionals.

Dr.Sean Thomas George of Western Australia gave a remarkable testimony of how he died and came back to life again after being prayed for.(Read the full article by clicking the title of this post).

Nothing is impossible for God. When science cannot solve the problems God can.

Below is a video of a miracle of a foot growing 1.5 inches recorded as it happened!
Note: this video is not related to the above conference).