The Unfinished Task - NECF Malaysia

VOLUME 12, NO.4 PP5872/12/2000 August - October 2000

AT the invitation of the Billy Graham EvangelisticAssociation, some 10,000 evangelists, theologians,mission strategists and church leaders from more than200 countries assembled in Amsterdam recently to listen,pray, worship and discern the wisdom of the Holy Spiritfor the unfinished task of world evangelisation.

The association is founded by Dr Billy Graham, whohas, for the last six decades, led millions of people aroundthe world to God through his evangelistic preaching. Hebelieves the calling of the evangelist is one of God’sgreatest gifts to the church, and is as important as theministry of the seminary professor or pastor. At the sametime, the church should recognise and dignify the gift ofthe evangelist. From this deep concern came Amsterdam2000—a platform that Dr Graham created for evangelistsand church leaders all over the world to have their firstformal training in evangelism.

The conference was able to provide an excellentopportunity for the children of God from diverse ministriesto celebrate His workings through evangelists around theworld. The participants were encouraged and lifted inthe Holy Spirit to preach Christ more widely and earnestlythan ever before. The plenary and workshop sessionshelped to equip evangelists for better, accelerated outreachin a world of rapid technological change and increasingplurality.

Once again, we were able to affirm our evangelicaldistinctives with love and humility. The special meetingsof the church leaders, theologians and missions strategistswere able to strategise methods and ways to reach themultitudes, who stand on the shore of a new millennium.

A strategic and dynamic international network was createdto communicate together how to accomplish deeper, moreeffective evangelism through sharing of information,methods, prayer requests and spiritual victories.

A significant outcome of the conference was theAmsterdam Declaration, a charter for evangelism in the21st Century. It was presented as a joint report of thethree task groups of mission strategists, church leaders,and theologians. It is commended to God’s peopleeverywhere as an expression of evangelical commitmentand as a resource for study, reflection, prayer andevangelistic outreach. (See page 3.)

The 21st Century has become a challenging milestone.We are confronted with the responsibility of fulfillingthe unfinished task of the Gospel. The 20th Century hasended with over 1.6 billion individuals completelyunaware of Christ, Christianity, or the Gospel. Even withthe accelerated programmes of church planting andevangelistic thrusts of various forms, we are far fromcompleting the task.

If the evangelistic goals at the beginning of the 21stCentury are to be achieved, the Church of Jesus Christneeds to review its priority and emphasis. The globalchurch today, according to Luis Bush, is a sleeping giant.Through the national churches, we now have themanpower and primary ministry resources needed tocomplete the unfinished task of world evangelisation.The Church and Christians need to be mobilised and theavailable resources fully deployed for the completion ofthe task. Then only will we see His return. n

EDITORIAL

TheUnfinishedTaskNECF Malaysia Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong attended theAmsterdam 2000 conference held from end-July to early August.Following is his report.

2 BERITA NECF August/October 2000

NECF Malaysia CouncilChairman:

Rev Datuk Dr Prince Guneratnam

Vice-Chairman:Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng

Honorary Secretary:Mr Kong Yeng Phooi

Honorary Treasurer:Mr Samuel Ang

Committee Members:Miss Goh Poh Gaik

Rev Eddy HoDr Khoo Kay HupRev Dexter Low

Pr Gerawat MaranRev David RamayahMr Chua Keng Seng

Rev Dr John Nagamuthu

Advisor:Mr David Boler

NECF Malaysia StaffSecretary-General:

Rev Wong Kim Kong

Personal Assistant:Chandrasekaran Sabapathy

Confidential Secretary:Ching Bee Gaik

Executive Secretaries:Patrick Cheng (Administration & Church Relations)

Alfred R. Tais (Bahasa Malaysia DAWN)Ann Low (Prayer)

Sarah Yap (Missions & Leadership Development)Kathryn Tan (Finance)

Ong Juat Heng (Communications)Leong Yew Lai (OA Ministry, on leave)

Administrative Assistants:Sangan Mutang

Adeline KohRitha Andries

Thanabalan Vatumalai

EditorialEditor:

Rev Wong Kim Kong

Assistant Editor & Writer:Ong Juat Heng

Address32, Jln. SS 2/103, 47300 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor, MalaysiaTel: 603-772 78227, 772 83157

Fax: 603-772 91139E-mail: [email protected]: www.necf.org.my

JOHN 3:16 says: “God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten Sonthat whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. The Biblesays the wages of sin is death. We have been separated from God because ofour sin which has made us prisoners. The Gospel is telling people that Jesus Christis the sin bearer, and all those who have sinned will be forgiven if they put theirfaith and trust in Him. There is nothing greater than having eternal life in ChristJesus.

We need to quickly sound this out near and far because time is short. Timeis short not just because Jesus will come soon, but because we do not even knowif we will have a tomorrow. Death can come knocking on our door anytime, anyday. The good news is that Jesus saves and the world urgently needs to hear aboutthis.

Very often, we take Missions and Evangelism for granted. We attend worshipservices, give a missionary offering and do some evangelism from time to time.Through the years, these can become routines we perform automatically. We canbecome complacent with this monotony. As a result, the urgency of gettingacross the message of eternal life in Jesus can easily diminish.

There are three things we must realise and be reminded about missions andevangelism.

Firstly, missions begins with your neighbour. “Missions” does not necessarilymean “abroad” or “overseas”. It is anywhere from across the street to across thesea. We need to reach out to those that need the gospel both at home and abroad.

Secondly, missions and evangelism involve sacrificial giving. Reaching outto a lost world cost God His only Son. It cost Jesus His life. What will it costyou? Sin robs you. Sin takes away what you have and messes up what is goodfor you. Sin brings pain, heartache, sorrow, anguish and shame. Are you readyto share what is yours with the person that is lost to sin? Will you reach out evenif it costs you?

Thirdly, missions and evangelism must be motivated by love. Believersmust not only see the need and the urgency; they must be willing to reach outin love and take action. Believers must reach out in love to point the lost to thelove of Christ that will save them. The world does not see the spiritual hurt andsuffering. It is our responsibility to reach out and touch these people for JesusChrist.

There are many today who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Some of these people are living in our homes. They are close to us and they arestill bound in their sin. Somebody has to get to them and tell them the good news.If not, they will die in their sin and be eternally separated from God. If they donot know about Jesus and if they do not come to receive Jesus, there is no otherhope.

If we do not tell the Gospel story, we will be accountable for those who arelost because we had the opportunity and did not do so (Ezekiel 33:8). We needto see the urgency to proclaim the message and we must! n

The Urgency Of EvangelismBy Rev. Datuk Dr Prince Guneratnam,

NECF Malaysia Chairman

August/October 2000 BERITA NECF 3

Mission Strategy and Evangelism At its heart, the mission ofthe church is world evangelisation. Jesus made it clear in his lastteachings that the scope of this work of evangelism demands thatwe give attention to all, including the despised and neglected ofsociety, and those at the ends of the earth. In addition, we affirmthe need to encourage new initiatives to reach and disciple youthand children worldwide; to make fuller use of the media andtechnology in evangelism; and to stay involved personally ingrass-roots evangelism so that our presentations of the biblicalgospel are fully relevant and contextualised.

We pledge ourselves to work so that all persons on earthmay have an opportunity to hear the gospel in a language theyunderstand, near where they live. We further pledge to establishhealthy, reproducing, indigenous churches among every people,in every place, that will seek to bring to spiritual maturity thosewho respond to the gospel message.Leadership and Evangelism We affirm that leadership is oneof Christ’s gifts to the church. Leaders must submit themselvesin humility to Christ, the Head of the church, and to one another.The leaders’ first task is to preserve the biblical integrity of theproclamation of the church and serve as vision carriers of itsevangelistic vocation. Leaders must always be careful not toblock what God is doing as they exercise their strategic stewardshipof the resources which Christ supplies to His body.

We pledge ourselves to seek and uphold this model of biblicalservant-leadership in our churches. We who are leaders commitourselves afresh to this pattern of leadership.Theology and Evangelism Christian theology is the task ofcareful thinking and ordering of life in the presence of the triuneGod and our theology must be measured by biblical teachingfrom which alone we learn God’s mind and will. Evangelists andpastors can help theologians maintain an evangelistic motivation,reminding them that true theology is always done in the serviceof the church. Theologians can help to clarify and safeguardGod’s revealed truth, providing resources for the training of

evangelists and the grounding of new believers in the faith.We pledge ourselves to labour constantly in learning and teaching

the faith according to the Scriptures, and in seeking to ensure (1)that all who preach the gospel are theologically equipped andresourced in adequate ways for the work they have in hand, and(2) that all professional teachers of the faith share a commonconcern for evangelism.Truth and Evangelism Under the influence of modernrationalism, secularism and humanism (modernity), the Westernintellectual establishment has largely reacted into a relativistic denialthat there is any global and absolute truth (postmodernity). Bycontrast, the gospel (which is the authoritative word of the one,true and living God) comes to everyone everywhere at all timesas truth in three senses: its affirmations are factually true, asopposed to false; it confronts us at every point with reality, as opposedto illusion; and it sets before us Jesus Christ, the co-Creator,Redeemer, and Lord of the world, as the Truth (that is, the oneuniversally, real, accessible, authoritative, truth-telling, trustworthyPerson), for all to acknowledge.

We pledge ourselves to present and proclaim the biblicalgospel and its Christ, always and everywhere, as fully sufficientand effective for the salvation of believers. Therefore, we opposeall sceptical and relativising or syncretising trends, whetherrationalist or irrationalist, that treat that gospel as not fully true,and so unable to lead believers into the new divine life that it promisesthem. We oppose all oppressive and destructive uses of God’swonderful truth.Human Need and Evangelism The Bible reveals that all humanbeings are constitutionally in a state of rebellion against the Godwho made them. We humans were made to bear God’s image inan endless life of love to God and to other people, but the self-centredness of our fallen and sinful hearts makes that impossible.Therefore all human beings now face final condemnation byChrist the Judge, and eternal destruction, separated from thepresence of the Lord.

A Charter forEvangelism in the21st CenturyTHE declaration comprises three parts: A Charter ofCommitments, definitions of key theological terms usedin the Charter, and a prayer of supplication. The Charterof Commitments is a statement of tasks, goals andideals for evangelism in the 21st Century. Following isa summary of the subjects covered in the charter andthe pledges made after each subject.

see page 4


We pledge ourselves to be faithful and compassionate insharing with people the truth about their present spiritual state,warning them of the judgement and hell that the impenitent face,and extolling the love of god who gave his Son to save us.Religious Pluralism and Evangelism Today’s evangelist iscalled to proclaim the gospel in an increasingly pluralistic world.It is important that our evangelism be marked by our faithfulnessto the Gospel and our humility in delivering it. We affirm thatthe only way to know God in peace, love and joy is through thereconciling death of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Yet because allpersons are made in the image of God, we must advocate religiousliberty and human rights for all.

We pledge ourselves to treat those of other faiths with respectand faithfully and humbly serve the nation in which God hasplaced us, while affirming that Christ is the one and only Saviourof the world.Culture and Evangelism By the blood of the Lamb, God haspurchased saints from every tribe and language and people andnation. World evangelisation aims to see the rise of churches thatare both deeply rooted in Christ and closely related to their culture.This means appropriate cultural identification while guardingagainst equating the gospel with any particular culture. Since allhuman cultures are shaped in part by sin, the Bible and its Christare at key points counter-cultural to every one of them.

We pledge ourselves to be culturally sensitive in ourevangelism. We will aim to preach Christ in a way that isappropriate for the people among whom we witness and whichwill enrich that culture in all appropriate ways. Further, as saltand light, we will seek the transforming of culture in ways thataffirm gospel values.Scripture and Evangelism The Bible is indispensable to trueevangelism. It provides the content and authority for allevangelism. We must proclaim and disseminate the HolyScriptures in the heart language of all those we are called toevangelise and disciple.

We pledge ourselves to keep the Scriptures at the very heartof our evangelistic outreach and message, and to remove alllanguage and cultural barriers to a clear understanding of thegospel on the part of our hearers.The Church and Evangelism In established congregations,regular teaching for believers at all stages in their pilgrimagemust be given, and appropriate pastoral care must be provided.But these concerns must not displace ongoing concern for mission.Further, we affirm that the formation of godly, witnessing disciplesis at the heart of the church’s responsibility to prepare its membersfor their work of service. The church must be made a welcomingplace for new believers.

We pledge ourselves to urge all congregations in and withwhich we serve to treat evangelism as a matter or priority at alltimes, and so to make it a focus of congregational praying,planning, training and funding.Prayer and Evangelism God has given us the gift of prayer sothat in his sovereignty he may respond in blessing and power tothe cries of his children. Prayer is an essential means God has appointedfor the awakening of the church and the carrying of the gospelthroughout the world. At special times in the history of the church,revivals and spiritual breakthroughs have been preceded byrepentance, prayer and fasting. Today, we need a deeperdependence upon God and a greater unity in prayer as we preach

the gospel to all the unreached people groups. We pledge ourselves to pray faithfully to the Lord of the

harvest to send out workers for his harvest field. We also prayfor all those engaged in world evangelisation and to encouragethe call to prayer in families, local churches, special assemblies,mission agencies and trans-denominational ministries.Social Responsibility and Evangelism Although evangelism isnot advocacy of any social programme, it does entail socialresponsibility for at least two reasons. First, the gospel proclaimsthe kingship of the loving Creator who is committed to justice,human life and the welfare of his creation. Second, when ourevangelism is linked with social concern, it reflects the compassionof Christ and may gain an acceptance it would not otherwisereceive.

We pledge ourselves to follow the way of justice in our familyand social life, and to keep personal, social and environmentalvalues in view as we evangelise.Holiness and Evangelism The servant of God must adorn thegospel through a holy life. But in recent times God’s name hasbeen greatly dishonoured and the gospel discredited because ofunholy living by Christians in leadership roles, particularlyevangelists. The church should foster structures to hold evangelistsaccountable and ensure that those whose lives dishonour Godand the gospel will not be permitted to serve as its evangelists.The holiness and humility of evangelists gives credibility to theirministry and leads to genuine power from God and lasting fruit.

We pledge ourselves to be accountable to the community offaith for our lives, doctrine and ministry, to flee from sin, and towalk in holiness and humility.Conflict, Suffering and Evangelism The records of evangelismfrom the apostolic age, the state of the world around us today, andthe knowledge of Satan’s opposition at all times to the spread ofthe gospel, combine to assure us that evangelistic outreach in the21st Century will be an advance in the midst of opposition.Current forms of opposition include secular ideologies that seeChristian faith as a hindrance to human development; politicalpower structures that see the primacy of Christians’ loyalty to theirLord as a threat to the regime; and militant expression of non-Christian religions that are hostile to Christians for being different.We must expect, and be prepared for, many kinds of sufferingas we struggle not against enemies of blood and flesh, but againstthe spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

We pledge ourselves ever to seek to move forward wisely inpersonal evangelism, family evangelism, local church evangelism,and cooperative evangelism in its various forms, and to perseverein this despite the opposition we may encounter. We will standin solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ who sufferpersecution and even martyrdom for their faithful gospel witness.Christian Unity and Evangelism One of the great hindrancesto evangelism worldwide is the lack of unity among Christ’speople. We cannot resolve all differences among Christiansbecause we do not yet understand perfectly all that God hasrevealed to us. But in all ways that do not violate our conscience,we should pursue cooperation and partnerships with other believersin the task of evangelism.

We pledge ourselves to pray and work for unity in truthamong all true believers in Jesus and to cooperate as fully as possiblein evangelism with other brothers and sisters in Christ so that thewhole church may take the whole gospel to the whole world. n

Amsterdam Declaration: from page 3


SOME NEW FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT EMPIRICAL GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY TODAY

9 Christians produce enough evangelism around the world for every person to hear thegospel for one hour every other day all year long.

9 Despite Christ's command to evangelise, 64% of all humans from AD 30 to the presentday have never even heard of his name.

9 Since AD 33, 75% of all Christians have ignored Christ's Great Commission; only 25%have actively sought to obey it.

9 650 million Christians today are active in Christ's world mission; 1,350 million Christiansignore it.

9 Out of 650 million Great Commission Christians, 70% have never been told about the1.6 billion unevangelised individuals in the non-Christian unevangelised world.

9 50% of all Christians today have no contact of any kind with the world's four billion non-Christians.

9 From only three million in AD 1500, evangelicals have grown to 540 million worldwide,70% being Non-Whites.

9 The country with the fastest Christian expansion rate ever is China, now at 20,000 newconverts every day.

9 Non-Christian peoples have 200 million copies of Scriptures in circulation in their midst.

9 124 million new souls begin life on earth each year, but Christianity's 4,000 foreign mis-sion agencies baptise only four million persons each year.

9 97% of all Christian outreach/evangelism targets other Christians in the Christian world(that of church members and professing Christians), cities, peoples, populations or situ-ations.

9 500 unevangelised ethnolinguistic peoples have never been targeted by any Christianagencies ever.

9 98% of all foreign missionaries work among existing churches; only 2% work where nochurch exists.

9 40% of all the church's entire foreign mission resources are being looted by 30 oversat-urated countries already possessing strong citizen-run home ministries.

9 The three least cost-effective countries over one million population for Christian outreachare Japan, Switzerland and Denmark.

9 The three most cost-effective countries over one million in population for Christian out-reach are Mozambique, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

9 Each year, 180 million Bibles and New Testament are wasted, lost, destroyed or disinte-grated, due to incompetence, hostility, bad planning or inadequate manufacture.

9 Everywhere on earth can now easily be targeted with at least three of the 45 varieties ofeffective evangelism methods.

(Source: T. M. Johnson and D. B. Barrett, World Evangelisation Research Centre Briefing)

AD 2000 REALITY CHECK


RECONCILIATION THROUGHTHE CROSS‘Billy Graham of Australia’ out to mendcracks.

THE church has always been inundatedby “party spirit” that has caused manysplits and created tension within the Body.Today, the dissenting spirit continues toplague the church, sowing discordparticularly between the charismatics andthe conservatives. Paul denounced the “I’m of Paul, I’m ofApollos” cries in Corinthians; evangelistDr Bill Newman goes a step further andcalls party spirit the “biggest sin in thechurch”. He likens such bickeringChristians to the soldiers at the foot of thecross, gambling and distributing Jesus’garments while He hung dying behindthem. “That’s what a lot of Christians aredoing in the churches today. They careonly about what they can get out ofChristianity, forgetting the cross,”Newman says.While most evangelistic crusades todayare accompanied by signs and wonders,Newman, who is renown as the “BillyGraham of Australia”, believes that Godhas called him to just preach the cross.“It’s the cross that unites and we have toget back to the simple preaching of thecross,” he urges.While the cross reconciles the lost withGod, it also unites the Body. So, apartfrom a deep burden for the lost, Newmanlongs to bring the Body together,

particularly the charismatics and theconservatives. There is beauty and strengthin each group—the conservatives’ deeplove for and knowledge of scriptures andthe charismatics’ fire and zeal—andNewman hopes to bring healing to theBody by helping both groups to appreciateeach other. After all, “at the foot of cross,the ground is level,” he reminds. Newman appreciates the evangelistic styleof the charismatics where signs andwonders occur but cautions Christians toremember the prime objective of allevangelistic outreaches—to save souls.“Reinhard Bonke once said, ‘It’s good toget someone healed but he can still go tohell.’ So ultimately, it’s the person’s soul,”he says. Newman, who is an associate of Dr BillyGraham, was one of the speakers at therecent Amsterdam 2000 conference. Well-known throughout Australia as a dynamicevangelist, he has appeared on his owntelevision specials and had been heard onmore than 50 radio stations acrossAustralia. The founder of Bill NewmanInternational (BNI), an evangelisticassociation, the interdenominationalevangelist has also authored several booksand contributed to a network of Australiannewspapers. Evangelism without proper follow-throughcare is like a broken net, he says, andfollow-through care will ensure that“decisions are turned into disciples”.Training, is therefore essential for the GreatCommission work to go on and BNI hasdesigned a series of studies to trainChristians to effectively share their faith. “An evangelist brings the spirit ofevangelism to an area. If I have a bigcrusade, that’s the cream of the cake butmy work is to equip the saints for the workof ministry,” he says. “Shepherds don’tproduce sheep. Sheep produce sheep. Mass

evangelism is just the platform to personalevangelism,” he adds.Besides being an evangelist, Newman isalso a popular management trainer in thecorporate circle in Australia. Some maycharge him with having one foot inkingdom ministry and the other in“secular” work. To this, Newman explains:“ I use my motivational talks like a ‘trojanhorse’ where they took it inside the city andlet out the soldiers from the secretcompartment. I have the opportunity toshare my faith through the biblicalprinciples that I teach. I also believe thatour Lord worked in every area includingthe secular world.”Newman was in Kuala Lumpur recently tomeet pastors and church leaders as aprelude to the evangelistic crusade andSchool of Evangelism that he will beconducting here in November. Heencouraged them to continue to boldlyproclaim the cross and to preach ‘Christ andHim crucified’, just as Paul did. He urged them to continue ‘fanning theflame’ and not lose the fire. “Our livesshould attract people to the fire. If we arenot excited about living for Jesus Christ,how can we expect to lead others to havethe fire?” he asked.Prayer is the key to winning souls andNewman also shared a programme called‘Friends Bringing Friends’ which hisministry uses to prepare Christians toidentify and pray for their friends beforehis evangelistic crusades. (The training seminar will be held from23 to 24 November followed by two nightsof evangelistic crusade. Both events areorganised by NECF Malaysia inpartnership with local churches. For moredetails, contact NECF at tel: 03-77278227; fax: 03-7729 1139; and e-mail:[email protected]) n


IMAGINE this: Sixcommitted Christian familiesliving together on a one-thirdacre land. They share acommon recreation andlaundry area and eat togetheronce a week in a common hall,filling the table withvegetables from a sharedgarden. Yet, they each havetheir individual homes wherethey can retreat to for familyprivacy. In this smallcommunity, the aging parentsalso live here, helping to lookafter the young ones while theadults go out to work. InSeattle, a similar home wouldcost US$250,000 and thiswould have jumped to half amillion dollars by the end of a 30-year loan period. But for thesesix families, their homes only cost US$70,000 as they were builtby a wealthy Christian man who sells them at cost. The generousman even allows the families to re-pay him over a seven-year periodwithout interest. So, at the end of the period, the six familieshave settled their debt and are freed to work fewer hours. Theynow have more time to serve their church and community, whichis the main reason why they chose to live this way in the first place.

This concept of cooperative community seems like a dreambut Dr Tom Sine believes that this is the kind of witness neededto challenge the ‘McWorld’ culture that is assaulting the worldtoday. (‘McWorld’ refers to a globalised world and its materialisticvalues.) Sine calls this the ‘Shalom’ way of life that God originallyintended for His people to lead. This radical whole-life faithlifestyle of corporate giving and caring will set us apart as adistinctive people and attract people to our faith.

“We are not effective in evangelism because we’re so muchlike the modern culture around us. We are not distinctivelydifferent. One reason for not living this whole-life faith is that ourfirst allegiance is the aspirations and values of the modern culture.We have allowed the McWorld dream to power our lives.

“We need to find in Scriptures an alternative dream to thedream that powers McWorld. The shalom vision provides thebasis to the alternative dream,” Sine said. Shalom is thebiblical promise of wholeness and its Hebrew meaning is closerto the English word ‘wholeness’ or ‘completeness’ rather than ‘peace’.“Shalom is God’s vision of restoration. It is not a vision forisolated individuals but for the whole community. We aren’tmade whole alone but we are made whole with all the peoplethat are streaming up to God’s mountain,” added Sine’s wife,Christine.

“In God’s shalom, there is a sense of unity, harmony and peace

between God, mankind andHis creation. The visionincludes a whole new politicaland economic system basedon justice and mutual care. Itwas a vision lived out of thefreedom of a transformingrelationship to a loving andpersonal God.”

The wholeness of shalomcan only occur in a loving,caring community where allare working for reconciliationto each other, to God and toHis creation.

In today’s McWorld, theyoung people of the post-modern generation are lookingfor whole-life faith and theyseem to be finding it in other

spiritual faiths such as the New Age Movement. Sine urgedChristians to re-invent their lives and embrace a lifestyle thatrevolves around their faith and reflect God’s purposes.

Tom and Christine Sine were speaking to about 200 peopleat the ‘Mega Trends’ seminar in August organised by the NECFMalaysia Research Commission. Tom is a consultant in futuresresearch and planning for both Christian and commercialorganisations. He is also an adjunct professor at Fuller TheologicalSeminary where he teaches Christian worldview. Christine is adoctor and helped developed and directed the healthcare ministryfor YWAM’s mercy ships.

During the seminar, Sine gave an overview of the megatrends currently sweeping the world. The world is changing at blindingspeed and the church needs to pay attention to the changes so thatwe can find creative ways to meet the challenges ahead. Churchleaders must prepare the young people to face a world of hightechnology and booming consumerism.

“The only way to keep this new boom economy is for all ofus to consume like never before,” Sine said. Therefore, we mustprepare ourselves and particularly, our children, in terms ofstewardship.

Sine called on the church leadership to take the young people(those under 35 years old) seriously. In the West, the church israpidly losing the young people and one reason for this, accordingto Sine, is that they have not been given the opportunity to lead.Recognising this problem, some churches in Great Britain areputting their young people in their councils and mentoring themin leadership roles. “We have to give our young people a senseof ownership,” Sine said. n

(Audio and video tapes of the talks are available from PraiseBook Centre.)

‘SHALOM’ WAY TO IMPACTTHE WORLD

Tom and Christine Sine


THUNDEROUS shouts of‘Jesus is Lord’ boomedacross the grand hall ofWisma MCA, KualaLumpur, on the stroke ofmidnight at this year’sMerdeka Day Prayer Rally.Raising their fists in the air,the 1,400 participants stoodproudly and resolutelydeclared His lordship eachtime the MC (master-of-cer-emony) of the rally calledout the name of a state.

Fourteen times thecrowd shouted, one shoutfor each state. Then comesthe climax—the MC calledout “Malaysia” and thecrowd broke loose allrestraints, proclaiming withall heart and voice that Jesusis the lord of our blessednation.

Soon after, the partici-pants dispersed for home,physically exhausted fromthe four hours of worshipand intercession butrecharged with a greatersense of unity and deepercommitment to pray for thecountry. Earlier, just beforethis lordship proclamation,the participants had joined thousands ofMalaysians in shouting “merdeka” threetimes.

Throughout the evening, the partici-pants thanked God for His mercy on thenation. The attitude of gratitude was fur-ther impressed by NECF MalaysiaChairman Rev. Datuk Dr PrinceGuneratnam who said in his exhortationthat the country’s present peaceful and pros-perous well-being was a result of constantintercession. In the midst of the politicalunrest and economic ills plaguing some ofour neighbouring countries, God has blessedMalaysia with stability and the liberty topractice our faith. Pastor Prince urged

Christians not to take God’s blessings forgranted but instead, to continually pray forHis mercy to protect our land and liberty.

The rally began with a joyous and emo-tional celebration of worship which includ-ed a rousing performance of ‘Handel’sMessiah’ by the Renewal Lutheran Churchchoir. Excitement rose as the clock tickedtowards 10 pm, the designated time to begintele-conferencing with prayer groups in theother 13 states including Sabah andSarawak.

The organising committee had origi-nally planned for all prayer groups to heareach other simultaneously but what turnedout was a confusing array of sounds and

cracklings. Finally, the tech-nical team manning the tele-conferencing facilities savedthe night by connecting toonly one group at a time.Thus, the participants gath-ered at the MCA hall wereable to clearly hear reportsfrom representatives inIpoh, Johor Bahru, Melaka,Alor Setar and other cities.

In between the reports,different representatives ledthe participants in prayer forthe different states. To addfocus to the prayers, the flagof the state was raised whenthe state was being prayedfor. NECF Malaysia Vice-Chairman Rev. Dr Eu HongSeng closed the intercessionwith prayers for the nation.What followed was asolemn candle-lighting pro-cession led by ElderTimothy Phua.Representatives, who hadearlier led in the interces-sion for the states, lined upon the stage, each holdinga lighted candle to symbol-ise our commitment to be alight to the nation.

In line with the rally’stheme of ‘Lighting Up Our Nation’,Christians all over the country also partic-ipated in community projects on MerdekaDay. Carnivals were held in Petaling Jaya,Shah Alam and Kajang; gotong royong pro-jects were carried out in Dungun, Alor Setar,Kota Bahru and Kuantan; and food parcelswere distributed in Rawang, Subang squat-ter homes and the Kangar general hospital.In Kuala Terengganu, Christians visited achildren’s spastics home while in northKuala Lumpur, another group visited thelepers colony. Another group distributedstationery to children in KampungBerembang, Ampang.

MERDEKA!JESUS IS LORD

Christians throughout the country unite in prayer at the largest National Day Prayer Rally ever organised by NECF Malaysia.

The cross being raised just before midnight—Prayer Rally at Kota Kinabalu.Archbishop Datuk Yong Ping Chun is holding the microphone.

see page 13


ISSUE 53

The EmptyingPANIC ATTACK

WHEN the time came for our childrento leave the nest, there was a growingunrest in my heart. What type of careerswould they take up? Would it be ourchoice or theirs? What if they made awrong choice? Have we taught them allthat they need to know? Will they continueto walk with the Lord? Who will theymarry? What surprises are we going toencounter?

As always, these questions were putbefore the Heavenly Father. His promisesin Isaiah 49:25 and 54:13 calmed myanxious soul. I realised afresh that I hadno control over the future of my children.I could not guarantee that they wouldcontinue in the things that we had taughtthem or follow the God we worship. Godis the only one who can follow them tothe end of their days and my job now is topray them though.

A DIFFERENT GENERATIONLooking at the branded clothes,

expensive shoes and the preoccupationwith their friends, I wonder what hadhappened to all the training we had instilledin them when they were young. We hadset the pace for the children during theirprimary days. We had taught each of themto observe Ecclesiastes 3 and instructedthem to make time for everything,especially in the areas of mental, physicalsocial and spiritual development (Luke2:52). We were conscious that collecting“A’s” could become an obsession. Thepolicy in our home, therefore, was to allowfor only two hours of homework per day.Six hours in school was sufficient for allthe schoolwork then. We did not believein tuition at that stage. They played ball,cycled and went for family picnics afterschool. They had time to tidy their rooms,

wash dishes and do odd jobs around thehouse during weekdays or holidays. Theyobserved a complete day of rest from workeven if there was a test on Monday.Tithing started when they received regularpocket money. Although they took overtheir own time management in secondaryschool, chose their areas of interest andgot involved with different activity groups,the boundaries were still set by us – the“curfew” limit at night, monthly expensesand outside involvement. From the“asking permission” stage, they have nowmoved on to the consultative anddiscussion stage. We now allow them thefreedom to make decisions and themistakes that come with them.

Our regular family meetings havebeen a good vehicle for interpersonalcommunication. These meetings areusually called before the start of a newyear, the new semester/term or the end ofterm. They facilitate the planning forholidays and the synchronizing of ourdifferent timetables. We agree onexpenses, household duties, laundry days(each child is responsible for his/her ownroom and laundry), off days, individualand family times etc. A notice board servesto update daily whereabouts and phonemessages. Thus they have been usheredinto the adult world of responsible living!

It is frightening, at times, to see thatthe more freedom we give them, the morethey pull away from our lifestyle. I haverestrained myself, many times, fromcommenting on the things they buy andthe hours they keep. It is not that they areirresponsible; the reality is that we belongto two different generations. We werethrifty, moderate, and desired a simplelifestyle. On the other hand, they wereborn in times of plenty and have neverlacked any good thing. How then will

they live? Although we have given themthe basic foundations, how they build onthese foundations will depend on themand their individual walk with God.

DADDY LEADS THE WAYFrom the start, my husband has always

set the directions for the family and I carrythem out. He insisted that we shouldworship in church as a family (I had tohandle three squirming toddlers with nohelp from him because he was the speaker!).I protested because it would have been easierto leave the babies at home on Sundays.But looking back, I have come to see howimportant those times were. When Godspoke to the church we wanted our childrento be there to hear Him. My husband alsowanted the family to eat at least one meal aday together. This was a real hassle whenthe children were young. It would havebeen much easier to let the children eat attheir own convenience so that I could havesome peace and quiet when he came home.But this family tradition has enabled us toshare our day or pray and read the Bibletogether after each meal. Now when thechildren come home once a month or term,we look forward to sharing that mealtogether. My husband also instituted theonce-a-year family getaways where weclimb mountains, visit places, play games,holiday with good friends or familymembers. Mind you, those family holidayswere no holidays for me! (Mothers neverseem to get their rest during the holidays!).Again, on hindsight, I am glad that I gaveup fighting with him over these matters. Itturned out that such family times wereindeed precious. Presently, with differingcollege semesters, it has become increasinglyharder for the family to have a meal, muchless a holiday together.

see page 10

by Lucy Chua


OBJECT lessons grab the attention ofyoung learners. Attention grabbers aside,they also make excellent teachers.Children’s Church and Sunday Schoolmanuals abound with examples. For objectlessons, props could call for a straw broom,a battery-powered action toy, ice creamand bibs, a mouse trap. The possibilitiesgo on and on. It all depends on what truthyou wish to impart. There’s no knowingwhat Object the creative teacher hasselected, stashed away in her bag whenshe walks into class.

OBJECT lessons aren’t only good foryoung learners. They grab the attention ofolder learners too. Attention grabbersaside, they also make excellent teachers.

I know because just a couple ofmonths back, I went to class. My Teacherused carefully chosen Objects. Believeme, I sat up and took notice. And I learned.

NEST IN THE GARDEN

It was in the month of June. Myhousemate and I discovered this sizeableBees’ Nest in our garden. I don’t know whenthe bees first started to build. The gardenis small and just about everything is inclear view. Up till this point I had notheard the buzzing of bees in activity. Beesbuzz their presence but not this particularcolony. But there it was – clearly a Bees’Nest. Heart-shaped. Careful scrutinyshowed the Nest seemed to be hanging onone of the palm fronds, not exactly thestrongest of structures to build on. TheNest was pulsating with hundreds of beesall packed close together and clinging tothe Nest. Over the next few days wechecked it out daily, until it dawned on usthat the Nest could spell harm and danger.What if the bees were disturbed andbecame agitated? That palm tree happenedto be the one our dog, Krissy, loves tocircle to sniff for creatures and stuff ofinterest to her. Agitated bees could wellgo on a stinging spree and we had no desireto be the recipients of a few hundred stings.Neither did we desire to see Krissy fallvictim to hostile bees.

We would have to get rid of it. Thisheart-shaped Bees’ Nest. Alive withhundreds of bees carrying hundreds ofstings. And stings carried poison. It was

potentially hazardous to keep it there inthe garden. More bees were being addedby the day and the Nest was getting bigger.When we contacted the Fire Station in ourneighbourhood, we were told they do notdo bees. However, they kindly contactedBandarRaya for us. Apparently there is asquad that handles bees. To our verypleasant surprise, the team of four menarrived promptly. We were curious as tohow they would go about the task. Donprotective gear? Complete with masks? Notat all! They tied a big piece of gunnysackcloth to a long stick, doused the clothwith kerosene and set it on fire. The blazewas big enough to engulf the whole Nestand in one quick action, they torched Nestand all. It was over in a few minutes. Wewere left to clean the mess. Branches,leaves and bees, some burnt, some singed,had to be removed.

THE FIRE OF GOD

The Object - a Bees’ Nest. The lesson– I need the Fire of God to burn up theBees’ Nest(s) in my life. Bad attitudes,wrong priorities, a whole lot of me that isstill unsanctified and unsurrendered. Theappalling ugliness of my heart. Etchedmemories of hurts the recall of whichbrings stinging pain. This is poison to mywhole system. It was not a coincidence thatI was then going through a season in mylife where the Holy Spirit was birthing adesire for holiness. My cry: “O God, mysin! My sin!” “I indeed baptize you withwater unto repentance: but He that comethafter me is mightier than I, whose shoes Iam not worthy to bear: He shall baptizeyou with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:Whose fan is in His hand, and He willthoroughly purge His floor, and gatherHis wheat into the garner; but He willburn up the chaff with unquenchable fire”(Matthew 3: 11-12). The fire must comelest the bees break loose in frenzied attackand leave a trail of casualties.

ANOTHER NEST IN THE GARDEN

A few days later, we found another Nestin our garden! Barely 50 metres awayfrom where the Bees’ Nest was, Vickymade a startling discovery when she wasgiving the plants a drink. A Birds’ Nest!

Beautifully crafted and perched on therather fragile-looking branches of abamboo plant. The two baby birds werescrawny, skimpily feathered but definitelywell and healthy. Mistaking our rustle forthe parent bird, they had their mouths wideopen for tasty morsels to be dropped in!This second Nest became my delightfulpreoccupation over the next few days. Iwatched the mother bird fly, food in beak,to the Nest to feed her babies, I watchedher shield them with her body when itrained. My attempts to help scared heraway but she would hover on a nearbybranch and return to the Nest once shefelt the intruder (me!) had gone away. Thefather stayed nearby encouraging his littlefamily with melodious twits and chirps.I peeped ever so often and watched thelittle birds grow. This was a Nest we werenot going to destroy. The baby birds stoodfor new beginnings, for new life. I prayedfor the safety of the babies and the parents.Then one morning I heard a chorus ofchirps. Both Dad and Mum were on thebougainvilla tree near the Nest. SuddenlyI heard a loud rustling. Sensing this was goingto be a significant moment, I grabbed Krissyand sent her into the house. When I lookedinto the Nest I was greeted by two fully-feathered baby birds standing up in the Nest.They were the two darlingest birds I had everseen! The next moment there was a swishof wings and a cacophony of chirps. Andthen I saw the babies fly out of the Nest! Onefaltered for a while, clinging to the wall,before it took flight. My heart didcartwheels as I watched the family fly offinto the wide blue sky.

CLASS IN THE GARDEN

Two Nests. One had to be destroyedwith fire, the other nurtured and treasured.My own attempts to destroy the first onewill be futile; I have to ask for the fire ofGod. Any day I’d rather have the Birds’Nest in my garden. It speaks of life andlove, hopes and new heights to reach inthe Lord.

So, I went to class in my garden. TheMaster Teacher selected Two Nests forthe Object lesson He wanted to teach me.

n

By Goh Poh Gaik


Addressing Abuse of WomenAn Evangelical Responsibility

by Winnie Bartel, Executive Chair, CWC

THE problems of abuse against womenhave been around for centuries. Theevangelical world, as a whole, has notwanted to ‘believe’ that this perpetrationexisted in the ‘Christian’ home. Preachershave not spoken about this issue from thepulpit, and leaders, as a whole, have notbeen willing to discuss this element withintheir sphere of influence. However, at theWorld Evangelical Fellowship’s 10thGeneral Assembly in Canada, May 1997,the issue surfaced, and this time it wasbrought to the attention of the WEF-Commission on Women’s Concerns(CWC) by various men in leadership.They admitted to us that within theircountries, within their churches, theirhusbands even those in pastoral leadership,were abusing women. These men weregenuinely troubled and showed graveconcern. It was at this occasion that theCWC made the decision to address thisissue. As international leaders representingevery region of the world and over halfthe nations of the world, CWC felt thatthey were in a perfect position to be the bodyto take this project on. Since that meeting,CWC has organised a Task Force OnAbuse Against Women – a globalendeavour to address one of the mosthorrific and proverbial issues and concernsthat women face in the 21st century –ABUSE.

THE ‘FACES’ OF ABUSE

While attending the nationalAssociation of Evangelicals (NAE)Convention in the USA in 1998, I spokeon the abuse and injustices womenexperience. After my speech, a WEFleader commented to me stating, “ I justcan’t believe that abuse is going on in thehomes of Christian leaders today.” As wewere talking, a woman came up to us andexpressed her gratitude to me for mypresentation. She broke down in tears asshe continued to express to both of us, theimmense amount of physical andemotional abuse she was experiencingfrom her husband (an evangelical leader).

In our modern world women areincreasingly filling significant roles inbusiness and society, as well as in thechurch and home. However, along with

these greater responsibilities has come aproverbial onslaught of all forms of abuse.

What I have seen since this TaskForce was started two years ago haschanged my life forever: the stories-emails-letters-news prints-faxes-counsellingsessions-photographs and videos-almostmore than I can bear-women brutallybeaten up-cut up-burned-dead-bodiesmangled-breast cut off or dismembered-females being circumcised as a religious‘rite’. And then there is the immenseamount of sexual trafficking around theworld. The flesh trade markets in Asiaalone are so horrific; I hardly could bearthe sight of girls-ages 8 to maybe18-beingforced to sell themselves as sex objects.These girls were ‘purchased’ or kidnappedfor sex trafficking. Over half of themnever reach the age of 20 due to illness,murder or suicide.

There are millions of women, sittingin silent abuse: those who live in bondageto religious oppression-in all faithcommunities. For example, Christianwomen sitting in the pews do not want toexpose their abuse because their husbandsare church leaders and it would not ‘lookgood.’ Whether a country is civilised ornot, abuse and injustice still abound. Ourresearch indicates that one out of fourwomen is abused each day. This factordoes not change, even within the Christianhome.

Why am I so passionate about thisissue? Because I too am a victim of abuse.At the young age of ten during my fifth gradeyear in school, my male teacher took whathe felt were his liberties, and performedviolations on my body. He would takeme out of class informing me that I had‘misbehaved.’ He would then take me tothe back part of the school where therewas a very secluded ‘janitor’s closet.’There, he would lock the door and proceedto violate my body. He would thenthreaten me not to say anything. I darednever say a word because this man was aleader in my church. A year later, thisteacher was caught while molestinganother girl. However, nothing was everdone about it other than he ‘quietly’ movedout of town. It was all covered over andthe church never dealt with it – neither did

the school.

THE WORLD WANTS TORESPOND: BUT IS THE CHURCHREADY?

However, the world IS ready toaddress this abuse problem. Many secularorganisations as well as mainline churcheshave approached me to partner in our TaskForce endeavours. Several leadingSenators and Representatives inWashington DC asked my assistance inaddressing this global atrocity.

Now, what is the Church’s response?Is the Church ready to address this?Perhaps there is resistance by Churchleadership in acknowledging the fact thatthis problem exists. Leaders have madenumerous suggestions as to what ‘women’can do about the abuse problems nevergiving suggestions as to theirresponsibilities. My earnest hope andprayer is that WEF and its leaders wouldbe the body to begin addressing this criticalsin issue so that God can pour out Hisblessing on the Church.

HOPE GIVERS

At a recent global consultation, Iexpressed my pain in being abused by achurch leader as a young woman. At theconclusion of my presentation, one of theWEF leaders shared with the entireconsultation his desire in asking me forforgiveness and making a public apologyfor what another church leader had doneto me. That incredible expression madea remarkable impact on me. I felt a senseof release that I didn’t even know I needed.It seemed to make my past experience somuch less painful. It was so ‘healing’ toknow that the leadership in the Body of Christhad compassion, interest and concern fora woman who had been abused by one oftheir counterparts. Oh, if the churchleadership would only realise the influenceand power they hold in their hands to helpthe hurting and broken lives of abusedwomen around the world! n

This article was first published in theInternational Women’s ConcernsNewsletter Jan-Apr 2000.

When they were younger, the childrencalled more on me than on Daddy. But now,with courses to choose, college fees tosettle and computers to buy, my husbandfinds himself getting more involved intheir lives. He also finds he has a lot ofcatching up to do. The tendency to seethem still as “little children” frustrated andimpeded growth in their relationships. Ioften ended up being the mediator betweenthem. His solution to this problem was tobuild individual “bonding” with each of thechildren (accompanying him on trips tooutstation meetings etc). This is paying offin both ways. They now talk, share andwork through their differences. Thisincreasing input has given the children amore balanced view towards life.

LET US TALKWe were very conscious of the growing

maturity of our children. From the timethey could reason, we invited theircontributions to the family “dos and don’ts”.Wrongdoings and disagreements were talkedout in private. Reconciliation was madeimmediately after discipline. Mediationfrom a third party was by invitation.

At a recent end-of-year familyevaluation meeting, we did two exercisestogether. The first was to share two wayseach family member has been a blessingto each of us. This brought some surprises.The second was to share two incidents inwhich each member has been a “pain in theneck.” (We were not allowed to rebut orjustify our actions. We were just to listen.)It was an eye opener for all of us. Wespoke the truth in love and we forgave andprayed for one another. It has brought usto a new level of communication.

As the children begin to form deeperrelationships outside, we are sharing more

openly ourstruggles anddifferences withthem. We used toshield them fromour personal orchurch conflicts sothat they would notbe forced to takesides. But this ischanging. Theynow sometimeshave the chance tobe our mediatorsand counsellors!Hopefully this willhelp them to better manage their ownrelationships in the future.

MEMORIES AND MONUMENTSGod told the Israelites to erect

“stones” which would serve as remindersof His great works to enable their childrento pass down their faith to futuregenerations (Joshua 4:21-24). Photographshave become for me far better than stones.We have made an album with simpleannotations of all the important instancesof God ‘s leading in our individual as wellas family lives. These include our callinto full-time training and ministry, definiteguidance for our marriage, the births ofthe children, the spiritual significance oftheir names, God’s protection andprovision at crisis points, and the manyanswers to prayer. We also startedindividual albums for each of the childrencovering events since birth. As they grow,they have continued to collect their ownphotographs. These “monuments” will bea lasting spiritual legacy that they will beable to pass on to their children.

PARENTS ALWAYSWhen our son faced the truth that the

course he had chosen to pursue atUniversity was not what he wanted as acareer, he was devastated. He even felt hecould not sit for his exams. He had beenan “A” student all the way to college. Thiswas a great blow even to us. We wentback with him to the drawing board, testingaptitude, interests, God’s guidance, andavailable courses. He finally decided tofinish the course even though it was not hisparticular interest.

Mistakes, failures, and wrong choicesmay be some of the costly lessons for ourchildren at this stage. It brings home thefact that their leaving the nest does notspell the end of our responsibilities asparents. We have become their soundingboards and eventually will act as theirfriends in an adult world. The fact thatthey are spaced within three years of eachother means that the empty nest will be areality for us all too soon…

Meanwhile I shall get on with thethings I had wanted to do but were unableto when the children were young. I shallalso take time to stay in tune with myhusband after all these years of“interruptions.” The nest may soon beempty but our relationship will continueto grow and deepen. n


WOMEN to WOMEN

Women to Women, a project of the NECF Commission on Women’s Concerns, is abimonthly supplement to Berita NECF. It has the broad objectives of :

n educating and raising awareness of social and theological issues affecting women

n stimulating efforts towards networking and dialogue amongst women

n encouraging one another in the use of our gifts and talents for the Lord’s KingdomYour letters and contributions (feedback, suggestions, ideas, articles, poems, cartoons, etc.)are most welcome.

Send to : The Co-ordinator,WOMEN TO WOMENNECF, 32A, Jalan SS 2/103, 47300 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

The views expressed in this supplement do not necessarily reflect those of theCommission or the NECF.

Adviser/Co-ordinator : GOH POH GAIK

Emptying Nest: from page 7

LUCY CHUA is a teacher by training anda graduate of DTC Singapore and MBS.She is married to REV JOHNSON CHUA,a Presbyterian minister heading the OpenDoor Ministry in Malaysia. They havethree children:From Right: EUSOFFE (22) is completinghis 3rd year in MMU, MARIA (19) isdoing her 1st year in Alif College ofGraphic Design, YOSHUA (20) is doinghis 1st year in Monash University Sunway.They live in Klang and serve in thePresbyterian Church.


JOYFUL CELEBRATION IN THEOTHER STATES

THE Prayer Rally was also held simulta-neously in the other 13 states throughoutthe country. Except for Sarawak, repre-sentatives of the NECF Malaysia PrayerCommission were present at all the prayerlocations. The representatives reportedexciting news of a greater sense of unityand bonding among the churches that par-ticipated and a deeper desire to work togeth-er for the Kingdom.

In Seremban, 410 people from 15churches representing at least seven denom-inations gathered at Agape GospelAssembly. There was a “very strong senseof unity and togetherness and the partici-pants were very earnest in affirming theprayers”, reported Charissa Giam. The par-ticipants were specially burdened to prayfor their people, who are working elsewhere,to return to their state to work.

In Ipoh, more than 500 people fromthe English, Chinese and Tamil churchesexperienced the power of praying in oneheart and mind. Pr Irene Lee reported that“there was a great sense of unity in one spir-it and one mind among the participants.”Pr Clement Wong, in his message, urgedChristians to be united so that God’s glorymay be manifested to the city. The night’smeeting at Canning Garden Baptist Churchwas conducted in English with interpreta-tions into Cantonese and Tamil. Participantsprayed especially for the stamping out ofsocial ills plaguing the city (immorality,drug abuse, gangsterism and others) andfor the churches in Perak to be united.

In Kuantan, the rally held at WesleyMethodist Church was attended by about 500people from 14 churches, according toJennifer, Bee Leng and Dai May. Prayersfocused on unity and fellowship amongchurches. There was great joy and pride ofbeing one in the Body. The next morning,about 100 Christians met in Teluk Cempedakto clean up the beach and its vicinity.

In Penang, Patrick Cheng reportedthat the turnout was overwhelming. Thehall at Safira Club, Seberang Jaya Prai, wastoo small and “there was no place even tostand!” Many left and in the end, about 800people including some 20 pastors andchurch leaders were packed inside to cele-brate God’s goodness over the nation. Therewas an air of festivity and jubilance through-out the night as the participants danced andworshipped. At midnight, participants heldup neon-lighted straws as they shouted“Jesus is Lord” 14 times. Church unity andgodliness in the Body were among the major

prayer points.In Sabah, about

500 people repre-senting some 25churches attendedthe rally at ChristChurch, Likas inKota Kinabalu.Irene Chew report-ed a “powerful pres-ence of the Lord”amidst the joyful and‘noisy’ worshipfilled with whistle-blowings and shouts.Despite the poortele-conferencingreception, the participants remained exu-berant and continued in their celebrativemood. Just before midnight, the hall wasdarkened and several men raised a largewooden cross on the stage. At the stroke of12, the participants all shouted and shonetheir torches at the cross, symbolising thatChrist is the light of the world. The youngpeople danced and continued ‘partying’well after the service was over. Present atthe rally was Archbishop Datuk Yong PingChun, the Archbishop of the AnglicanProvince of South East Asia.

In Kota Bahru, about 280 people fromnine churches and three para-church organ-isations met at St Martin’s Church. PrRonnie Yeap observed, from the prayersof the pastors, a sincere desire to worktogether in unity and help each other. Joyfilled the air as hearts united in worship andprayer. There was great excitement whenthe telephone was connected to KualaLumpur and Rev. Wong Kim Kong’s(NECF Malaysia Secretary-General) voicecame on air loud and clear. When the clockstruck midnight, there was an “awesomepresence of God” when the pastors andleaders on stage lighted their candles andthe participants’ candles. The meeting wasconducted in English, Bahasa Malaysia,Chinese and Tamil.

In Johor Bahru, the attendance wasastounding with 1,300 people packed intoFull Gospel Church, reported Ruth Lee.There was great excitement and joy in theworship and at times, the young peoplebroke out in dancing. During prayer time,many moved to the aisle and linked handsas a sign of unity. Glow sticks in green,orange, purple and pink shone through thedarkened hall, creating a stunningly beau-tiful effect. Various pastors prayed for unityamong the churches. Already, the JB organ-ising team is thinking of holding next year’s

rally in a stadium! In Kuala Terengganu, Devadas

Dorairaj reported that 80 people repre-senting nine churches and nine denomina-tions attended the rally at Lifeline AOGChurch. There was a “real sense of unitynot experienced in the past.” A major pray-ing point was the unity of churches in KT.The next morning, about 30 people fromeight churches visited Sinar Harapan, a gov-ernment-run spastic home.

In Kangar, 100 people from sixchurches gathered at Kangar BaptistChurch, reported Pr Ron Hee. There wasintense intercession as the participants brokeinto groups to pray over the city and nation.Ron observed an earnest love of the peo-ple for the nation. There was a good senseof unity among the participating churchesand a desire to come together. The nextmorning, 90 Christians participated in thestate’s Merdeka parade and gave the churcha visible presence in the community.

In Alor Setar, 300 people from sixchurches shouted “their hearts out” at theTrinity Baptist Church, according to PrLeonard Lim. As they cried, they felt theinvisible walls (separating the churches)coming down.

In Malacca, George Martinez said180 people met at Bethel AOG church.Though disappointed that the telephonelink-up was not successful, the peoplestayed on and had a meaningful time ofintercession and worship.

In Dungun, the people gathered cele-brated with dance and joyful songs. Thechildren presented a tambourine dance andflag procession. Though only 53 peoplewere present at Dungun Elim Church, therewas a sense of togetherness and unity,reported Josephine Lu. The people prayedthat the Christians there would rise andshine in their community. n

Young and old cleaning up part of Teluk Cempedak in Kuantanon Merdeka morning.

Merdeka! Jesus is Lord: from page 8


Chinese participants journey back to their ancient past with thehelp of a 76-year old former pathologist and an ex-Hare Krishnaleader.

THE recent ‘Return to Your God’ seminar was an eye-opening experience for many in Penang, Ipoh, Taiping and theKlang Valley, who turned up to hear former pathologist Dr EthelNelson and ex-Hare Krishna leader Samuel Wang. Both arerenown researchers and authors of books proposing that theChinese characters, culture and classics contain Biblicalprophecies, stories and truths. Among their books are God’sPromise to the Chinese and God and the Ancient Chinese.

In each place, except for Taiping, the seminar was held fortwo days followed by an evangelistic dinner the next day. By thetime the event was over, the organiser reckoned that about 10,000people have witnessed the speakers’ ‘evidences’ that long beforeBuddhism and Taoism came to China, their forefathers worshippedShangti—the God who created the heavens and earth.

And, according to Nelson, this Shangti is not one but aGodhead of three Persons! The clue to this disclosure was found

in the oracle bone writing (the most ancient form of Chinesewriting) for the character Shangti where three small trianglesformed part of the character, said Nelson.

Other proposals include: Jesus was the manifestation andrepresentative of the Godhead based on the character ‘Holy Man’that Confucius and Lao Zi spoke about; the character‘disobedience’ depicts two trees while the character ‘die’ depictstwo hands, two mouths and a tree, thus pointing to the firstdisobedient act in the Garden of Eden.

The seminar, conducted in English and Mandarin, wasorganised by the partnership of NECF Malaysia,Shangti EMovement, Baptist Theological Seminary and local churches.

While Nelson delved into the Chinese characters andpainstakingly interpreted them in biblical perspective, Wang duginto the ancient Chinese classics and tried to establish the link betweenthe classics and the Bible. Their lectures were extracted fromtheir books (mentioned above) which are available fromCanaanland bookstore.

MISSIONS MANIA TO HIT OUR YOUTHS

CHINESE RETURN TO THEIR ROOTS

see page 15

OUR PERSECUTED BRETHRENS November 12, 2000 has been set aside to remember and prayfor our suffering brethrens all over the world. Join forceswith Christians in 130 countries to uphold our persecutedpartners. The International Day of Prayer for the PersecutedChurch is organised by World Evangelical Fellowship inpartnership with Open Doors Malaysia and NECF Malaysia.For more information, check out the website www.idop.org

YOUTHS smitten by the Great Commission bug. Organisers ofthe National Youth Missions Camp hope that each camper willbe stung by the time they break camp in end-October.

“We want to inspire youths to have a deep passion andcommitment for the Great Commission. The challenge will be foreach camper to live their lives around fulfilling the GreatCommission,” says Alex Lim, Chairman of the NECF MalaysiaMissions Commission which is organising the camp.

For the first time, various mission agencies are joining handsto rally the nation’s youths to missions. Although there is norestriction to age, the camp is targeted at youths aged between lateteen and those in their 20s. “This is the ‘action group’. They havefewer commitments and are ready for action anytime,” Alexexplains.

“Youths are the ones most vulnerable to the pressures oftheir surrounding, such as materialism…They have also becomethe constant target of intense advertising and marketing efforts.As a result, we could ‘lose’ this generation to values and lifestylesthey acquire from their environment. Alternatively, we can impacttheir lives with a higher purpose and passion for the Kingdom,”adds NECF Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong.

While only a few will be called to ‘go’, the rest can play thesignificant role of sending by committing financial, emotionaland prayer support. The organiser hopes that through the camp,the youths will also see the symbiotic relationship of both parties.

The camp will be held at de’Village Resort, Air Keroh, from27 to 29 October. The speakers—Dr James Hudson Taylor (thegreat-grandson of the legendary Hudson Taylor), Dr Ed Poussonand Pastor Christopher Long—will infect the campers with theirlove and zeal for missions.

For more details, contact NECF at tel.: 03-7727 8227; fax:03-7729 1139; and e-mail: [email protected] n


ONE of the great hymns exhorts us to ‘giveof your best to the Master’ by followingthe example of Jesus to ‘join in the battlefor truth’.

Although prayer is indispensable, thespiritual battle we are called to fight isultimately about and over truth (2 Cor.10:35). Sure enough, as we move into the21st Century the battle is not just over‘What is the truth?’ but also ‘What istruth?’ Is ‘truth’ objective and thusabsolute, that is true for and hence, bindingon all people? The response is negativefor more and more people in the West,and soon in the East. Increasingly peopleare saying Christianity may be true to theChristians (“good for them!”) but it neednot be true to others (“leave us alone!”).This new ‘spirit of the age’ is often calledpostmodernism.

Before PostmodernismPostmodernism is ‘post’ to

modernism. It is an (over-)reaction tomodernism. Modernism is the ideologythat evolved in the West, especially in the18th Century, which captured andcaptivated Western thinking until thesecond half of the 20th Century. Thisideology basically assumes that humanreason and the senses alone are capable

of discovering, understanding and thusexplaining every aspect of the universe.This means science can discover andexplain every aspect of reality. This furthermeans that whatever science cannotdiscover or explain does not exist.Modernism rules out the existence of Godand other spiritual realities such as heavenand hell.

But the basic assumption ofmodernism cannot be provedphilosophically or scientifically. In factmodernism has had its (non-Christian)philosophical critics right from thebeginning. In the first half of the 20thCentury, relativistic and quantum physicshave shown that human reason cannotunderstand or explain much of physical(let alone spiritual) reality. But soundphilosophical arguments and validscientific evidence did not bring downmodernism (something else did). Thisshows that once a false and even harmfulidea is entrenched in the mind as astronghold, no argument and evidence candislodge it.

No wonder Paul said in 2 Cor.10:35 that he had to use spiritual weaponsin the battle for truth even at the individual(let alone cultural) level. In the case of thebattle for truth against modernism at the

cultural level, the Church basically lost itwithout really a fight. In fact modernChristianity is itself in some ways builton modernist thinking. (As we shall see,the complaint that the modern Church is“materialistic” is one way of saying it ismodernistic.) If the Church had won thebattle against modernism, there would beno postmodernism today. Unless theChurch in Asia acts fast enough,postmodernism will be a worse enemythan modernism. The Western Church isalready experiencing this.

So what brought down modernism inthe West? And what can we learn from itso that we can better fight the remnantsof modernism and prevent postmodernismfrom becoming a stronghold in the East?

Modernism and Materialism As a result of modernism having

captured the Western mind in the 18thCentury, modernisation or industrialisationhas been underpinned by this atheisticideology. Thus, atheism is assumed notonly in modern science and technologybut also in modern academic, professionaland economic pursuits. Modernity—thephysical and social environment as well asthe way-of-life that modernisation brings

The Battle for Truth in the 21st CenturyHow postmodernism came about

By Dr Leong Tien Fock

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Wang believed that China was even mentioned in the Biblein Isaiah 49:12 as the ‘land of Sinim’. He earlier said that theChinese originated from the Qin dynasty and in Hebrew, Qinwas phonetically translated as ‘Sinim’.

Throughout the lectures, the participants were repeatedlyreminded that Christianity was not a Western religion and thatthe ancient Chinese worshipped the Creator God of Genesis.

The enthusiastic response to the lectures showed thatgenerally, Chinese Christians are interested in their cultural andreligious roots. More importantly, they have a genuine desire tolearn how to evangelise more effectively to their own people,particularly their unbelieving family members. This is also evidentfrom the speed at which the dinner tickets for the evangelistic banquetwere snapped up.

Though some have difficulty following the lectures and

questioned the controversial issues raised by Wang, almosteveryone agreed that the seminar provided them with interesting‘conversation starters’ to sharing the gospel with their non-believing Chinese friends.

From this seminar, the organiser hopes to spearhead inMalaysia an evangelistic movement using the Shangti approach.Explains Steve Oh, who helped to bring in the speakers: “The aimof the Shangti E Movement is to awaken and equip God’s peopleto help the Chinese return to their original God through JesusChrist.”

Among the proposed activities of the Movement are: Producewell-researched papers on Chinese cultural issues and the Christianresponse; organise international symposiums to present thefindings; and develop and maintain a website and provide areference point. n

Chinese return to their roots: from page 14

see page 16


about—is thus an incarnation ofmodernism and atheism.

Under the condition of modernity,unlike pre-modernity, God and spiritualrealities seem and feel awkward.Modernity is energised by a materialisticmood, an emotional impulse that drivesmodern people, including Christians, tolive as if all that matters in this world ismaterial abundance. In capitalisticmodernity, greed, even unrestrained greed,fuels ‘economic progress’. When greedrules, God is dead, Self is king, andimmorality of all kinds flourishes openly.Thus in late modernity, not only does Godfeel unreal, He cannot be allowed to bereal.

But unrighteousness hurts, not onlyemotionally and psychologically but oftenphysically too. Also, humans cannot liveas if there is no spiritual reality. Modernityleaves people spiritually high and dry; apervasive sense of emptiness andmeaninglessness haunts modern people.No amount of material pleasure can soothethese emotional and spiritual pains. Thisset of pains, together with thedisillusionment of World War II, ledWestern culture to begin questioningmodernity and finally to reject modernism.A vicious lie, an anti-God stronghold,unless dislodged by spiritual meansavailable to God’s people, will have to runits full tragic course before it will berecognised for what it is.

If the rejection of modernism involvesonly rejecting reason and the senses as theonly valid means to absolute truth, thenpeople (like those in the former SovietUnion, Eastern Europe and China) wouldbe most open to the Gospel. But in thefree (capitalist) world, modernity has itself

engendered postmodernism, which goesto the other extreme of rejecting reasonand the senses altogether as a valid meansto absolute truth. This means there can beno absolute truth; this belief immunisespeople to the absolute claims of the Gospel.New Age spirituality becomes the onlyattractive spiritual option. But why only inthe free world?

Truths Become RelativeUnder communism, even though

modernism and atheism reigned, there wasno personal freedom. Greed was undercontrol and immorality was not allowed toflourish openly. So what used to beconsidered wrong, such as cohabitationand homosexuality, continued to be viewedas wrong. But this is not the case in the freeworld, where personal ‘freedom’ isconsidered sacred. When immorality suchas cohabitation becomes common openpractice, it is no longer felt to be wrong bythose who practise it as well as those whodo not.

Consciously or unconsciously, whatwas felt to be wrong before no longer feelswrong anymore. Cohabitation may bewrong in a pre-modern village but not ina modernised city such as Kuala Lumpur.This means morality is not absolute butrelative to time and place. This is the firststep towards accepting the idea that thereis no absolute truth.

For if there is no absolute moral truththere should also be no absolute religioustruth, as the two go hand-in-hand. In thefree world, we also find people of allreligious backgrounds living together andopenly professing their faith. Partlyprompted by the feeling that morality isrelative, this consciously or unconsciouslycreates the feeling that religious truth is

also relative.When moral and religious truths are

felt to be relative (and since this suits fallenhuman nature well) the next step is tojustify this feeling rationally. But to beintellectually consistent, this requires oneto first justify that all truth is relative. Hard-core postmodernists have been trying to dothis. However, they face insurmountabledifficulties, one of which is that nobody canlive as if scientific truth (say, gravity) isrelative. Most postmodernists will not goso far as to deny absolute scientific truth.But to deny absolute moral and religioustruths without also denying absolutescientific truth is intellectually inconsistent.Then again, who says an ideology needsto be intellectually consistent or even trueto become a stronghold in human minds?Modernism was a case in point.

In the West, postmodernism is alreadya stronghold. In the East, some places (likeSingapore) are ahead of others (likeMalaysia) in postmodernisation. This timearound, will the Church play its role assalt and light and fight the battle for truthagainst postmodernism? Or will it letpostmodernism run its full (and more)tragic course? Will the Asian Church fightmodernism in the East and stop thependulum from swinging to the otherextreme of postmodernism?

Understanding how postmodernismdevelops out of modernity is crucial tofighting this battle. This article thussupplements the more comprehensive ‘TheBattle for Truth in the Last Days’ publishedin NECF Malaysia’s Watchmen’s Forum2. n

(This article is a contribution of the NECFMalaysia Research Commission.)

WATCHMEN’S FORUM 2

A compilation of articles on current issueswith an eschatological perspective writtenby NECF Malaysia Research Commissionmembers. Topics include postmodernism,science and technology, mass deceptionand the New Age Movement. Availableat the NECF office at RM10 each.

HANDBOOK ON MISSIONSAGENCIES

A local resource booklet containing

information on the mission agenciesoperating locally. The first of its kind inMalaysia, the handbook also has somestatistics and data on the state and needsof missions worldwide. Published byNECF Missions Commission andavailable at the NECF office at RM8.00each.

OTHER BOOKS AVAILABLEFROM NECF MALAYSIA

Preacher, Prepare Yourself! (TowardsBetter Preaching) by Tan Jin Huat atRM28 each.

Into the 21st Century Asian Churchesin Mission (a compendium of the AsiaMissions Congress II) published byEvangelical Fellowship of Asia at RM16each.

Uncharted Waters (an account of C.Hudson Southwell’s work among thepeople of Sarawak in the early 1900s) byC. Hudson Southwell at RM50 each.

Treasure in Jars of Clay by ClaudioFreidzon at RM35 each.

The battle for truth in the 21st century: from page 15

Sharing Resources


THE current rhetoric is all about self-improvement. Buzzwords such as “re-inventing” and “re-investing” in oneself are bandiedabout. Underlying this secular aspiration is an avowed belief thatknowledge is power. And so the game of ‘one upmanship’ is selfishlyplayed out with the current obsession with computer technologyas a power tool towards more knowledge and social leverage.The battle is, as always, ongoing for the mind.

It is therefore timely that Bro. Lee Chin How’s scholarlythesis “The Mature Christian Mindset” is published. Based onhis extensive research, this exposition of Paul’s epistle to thePhilippians encourages believers—then as now—to adopt a newmindset as Christians. This paradigm shift is especially cogentas our nation is being propelled into the 21st Century after therecent millennium send-off. The modern Christian needs to knowhow to think and act accordingly at such a time as this.

Chin How’s special contribution is to unlock Paul’s masterlytreatise on right thinking. The key is found in Paul’s chiasmicuse in presenting his arguments. Once this framework isestablished, the main thrust of Paul’s argument is evident: the attitudeof concern not only for self becomes pivotal, a worldview thatPaul himself encourages in Phil. 3:15: “All of us who are matureshould take such a view of things”. And it is easier to see howthis main view is obtained—through identification with Christ asthe role model for ourselves and others. Maturity is thus notmeasured by a believer’s age or the accumulation of Biblicalknowledge; it is a believer’s ability to think and to act as Christwould—selflessly in the interest of others in true agape love.

To obtain this new mindset, Paul encourages the practice ofseveral spiritual disciplines such as:l Praying for others (1:3–8). Praying for oneself is thus

relegated to a secondary basis; andl Discipling and mentoring believers in their spiritual growth

(1:9–11). Experience is the best teacher, and in Phil. 1:9, ChinHow carefully points out that the word for knowledge usedhere is ‘EPIGNOSIS’ in Greek which means experientialknowledge, and not ‘GNOSIS’ which means intellectualknowledge. True knowledge of God’s love is pro-active—sharing it freely with others.In his final comment on knowing Christ (3:1–14), Paul sums

it up that to really know Christ is to participate in His sufferingsand resurrection (3:10–11). This is borne by his own missionaryexperiences, and serves as a culmination of his teaching—that itis Christ’s resurrection power over the physical and spiritualworld that enables us to overcome adversities.

The ultimate mature Christian is one who lives as Christ didwith His mind and heart set on a heavenly and eternal perspective.Christ-likeness, concern for the things of Christ, and knowing Himintimately are the goals of a mature Christian. Then only can truelove be shared and given to others.

Thanks to Chin How’s exposition, the timeless advice inPaul’s epistle to the Philippians is repeated not just in the Malaysiancontext but from a world-view perspective. I cannot think of abetter exposition to counter the polemical barrage of the relentlessmedia.—Reviewed by Pr Chris Choo

BOOK REVIEW

THE MATURE CHRISTIAN MINDSETAuthor: Lee Chin How

Animated Jesus FilmGoes National in The

USAFOR the first time, the story of Jesus isbeing portrayed in a full-length animatedfeature film, with national cinema release.

The Miracle Maker is a 90-minutefilm showing Jesus’ ministry from thepoint of view of Jairus’ daughter. It featuresthe voices of William Hurt and JulieChristie among others. Archibishop ofWales, the Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams,described the film as a “superbdramatisation of the gospel narrative.Accessible, theologically literate, and oftenquite moving. An outstanding vivid andauthentic script.” He added, “The firstcentury detail is excellent.”

More people flocked to the cinema

to see The Miracle Maker than Love’sLabour’s Lost on the weekend when bothfilms opened. The Miracle Maker ranked11th while the other movie ranked 12thin terms of revenue from ticket sales –even though The Miracle Maker wasshowing at 100 cinemas compared to 200for Love’s Labour’s Lost. —Renewal n

Prayer Revival inBritain

CHRISTIANS across Britain are literallymaking room for prayer. But they’re notjust juggling their diaries; they’re settingup places for intense intercession.Anything from a simple room to a hugepurpose-built centre will do. It’s not a newphenomenon. But the past couple of yearshave seen a growing interest in houses orrooms for prayer. Linked to that isincreasing involvement of Christianorganisations and churches in 24-hourprayer initiatives.

“There is an increasing number ofnetworks committed to both general andspecific prayer,” said Brian Betts, ResidentDirector of the Ashburnham ChristianTrust. In parallel with this—and on aworldwide basis—God seems to have putin people’s hearts the vision to establish‘houses of prayer for all nations’.

That’s a key concern for Sunderlandchurch leaders Ken and Lois Gott. Theyhad a vision for a 24-hour prayer room onthe top floor of their building, CrownHouse, with intercession for revival aroundthe clock. The room overlooked the NorthSea and the European continent, and wasadorned with maps and flags of the world.

Ian Cole has a vision of establishing aprayer centre similar to that of the WorldPrayer Centre at Colorado Springs, USA.Son of an Ulster minister, Cole helpedlaunch Birmingham-based ministriesCornerstone Christian Charity and Pray forRevival. His dream is for a 60 million poundWorld Prayer Centre – possibly built onsought-after land near the NEC serving as

FOREIGN NEWS


the nation’s heartbeat of prayer. The centre’smain focus would be to encourage anddevelop corporate and individual prayer.The latest communication and informationtechnology would be used to link to otherinitiatives, including the Colorado Springscentre.

Pete Greig of Revelation Church,Chichester, has been discovering manyChristians are prepared to pray – even for24 hours. He organised a one-month prayermovement and set aside a room for theprayer meeting. The initiative lasted threemonths but it did not stop there. Wordspread about Revelation’s non-stop prayer.Other churches wanted to follow suit.Suddenly a separate wider movement wasbeing born. A professional designer drewup a website free of charge. Now the 24-7 initiative has become a massive, non-stop prayer meeting across many nationsand Christian traditions, focused on youngpeople. Participating groups pledge to pray24 hours a day in a fixed location foranything between a week and a month.“We have now filled every hour of thisyear with non-stop prayer – all linked bythe website,” said Greig.

Betts added: “There does seem to beacross the nation a new awareness and anew commitment to prayer.”—Renewal

n

Hell Isn’t Obsolete,Brits Say

The reality of hell, and the teaching thatit is “occupied to some degree,” isreaffirmed in a 140-page report publishedin April by the Evangelical Alliance ofthe United Kingdom.

The report, produced by a five-member working group, was prompted bythe increasing number of those inside andoutside the church who regard the doctrineof hell as “indefensible and obsolete.” Thereport also responds to an ongoingargument among evangelical theologianson whether those in hell are subject toeternal punishment or eventuallyannihilated. Both are legitimate positions,the report says, although the latter is aminority view.

But hell “is more than mereannihilation at the point of death. Rather,death will lead on to resurrection and finaljudgment to either heaven or hell,” thedocument emphasises. It also cites thegrowing popularity of Eastern doctrinesof reincarnation, and the humanist rejection

of any life after death, as requiring areaffirmation of Christianity’s traditionalview of hell.

British evangelicals commend“sensitivity and discernment” in presentingthe message of hell, “particularly to thosefor whom commitment to Christ isuncertain or unrealised.” Becauseredemption is guaranteed only by Jesus, thereport adds, “It is inadvisable for us topronounce unequivocally that a specificperson is in hell.”—Religion News Service

n

OSCAR LinksMissions Overseas

A new Internet-based service has beenlaunched for missionaries. Called OSCAR(an acronym of the One Stop Centre forAdvice and Resources), the website isbilled as “the UK Information Service forWorld Mission”.

OSCAR is part of a resource project setup in cooperation with Global Connections(formerly the Evangelical MissionaryAlliance) to look at new and different waysof resourcing missionaries. Mike Frith, whohas spent the last 10 years working as apilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship,manages the project. You can visit OSCARat www.oscar.org.uk – Renewal n

Persecution in ChinaLEADING relief agency ReleaseInternational has announced that Christiansin China are facing a fresh wave ofpersecution from the authorities within thecountry, according to Renewal magazine.Although the United States recentlysubmitted an article to the United Nations,calling for China to be censured on accountof their continued abuse of human rights,Chinese pastor Li Dexian has again beenarrested for “illegal preaching” of theGospel.

Pastor Li Dexian, pastor of a growingchurch in Hua Du, has now been detained13 times during the past six months. Inspite of persecution, he is determined to seethe Christian message preached. He toldRelease International, “I want to continueto tell people of the love of Jesus. I do notwish any harm on the people who havearrested me but I know I must followGod’s calling to preach his Gospel.”

Meanwhile, World Pulse reports thatChina’s government has sharply revisedupward the number of Protestants in thecountry. A January Religious AffairsBureau meeting estimated the total at 25

million. According to Compass Direct, thePublic Security Bureau estimates there are35 million Protestants. These latest figuresfar surpass the state-sanctioned ThreeSouth Patriotic Movement estimate of 13.3million. Some China watchers put the truefigure at anywhere from 30 to 60 millionor more. n

Discipleship Classesfor Ex-guerrillas

IN 1999 alone, over 300 Colombianchurches were forcibly closed and over45 pastors murdered by rebel guerrillas inColombia. Open Doors teams working inthe worst affected areas report vastnumbers of refugees flooding into the citiesas people flee the violence.

Open Doors runs a series ofdiscipleship training seminars in theseareas—often attended by ex-guerrillas.Fausto is a typical example. He turned upat the Open Door seminar with a Bible inhis bag, explaining how he used to carrya gun around all the time, but now his onlyweapon was the Word of God. After theseminars, Fausto returned to his formercomrades with a supply of Bibles. So manyof them converted to Christianity that therebel leaders grew angry with Fausto andhad him killed.

“The end of this story is even morepowerful,” commented OD UK Director,Peter Cowell. “At Fausto’s funeral, ourOpen Doors co-workers were approachedby Fausto’s widow and brother. They wereasking us for more Bibles so they couldcontinue Fausto’s work amongst theguerrillas.”—Renewal n

Euro Directive andReligious Liberties

A new EU anti-discrimination Directive isset to damage religious liberties, accordingto The Christian Institute. The Institutehas obtained legal advice from JohnBowers QC, and Mark L.R. Mullins, whichargues that church schools and religiousorganisations will have to open up theirstaff posts to atheists and practisinghomosexuals.

The UK government has alreadyindicated its approval of the draft directiveand is expected to endorse the final versionthis summer. Colin Hart, Director of TheChristian Institute, said: “The directivewill have wide-ranging implications forreligious bodies. Contrary to what theForeign Secretary promised two years ago

Foreign News: from page 17


(November 12, 1997), church schools willhave to open up their staff posts to atheistsor practising homosexuals as teachers.Only the posts of religious educationteachers are likely to be reserved forChristians.

“While churches will be allowed torequire ministers to hold to the teachingsof the church, the same will not be true ofall the other posts, such as vicars’secretaries or vergers. Churches will beforced to employ staff who reject theirbasic beliefs.

“Christian organisations who carryout social work such as the Salvation Armyor the Shafteshury Society will be forcedto employ unbelieving staff. Hospices willbe forced to employ doctors who believein euthanasia. This is a major attack onreligious liberties and the freedom ofassociation.”—evangelicals now n

India: Tribe Took 100Years to Find Christ

TRIBAL people in India who rejectedChristian missionaries 100 years ago areready to hear the Gospel. More than 1,500members of the Mao tribe in Manipur stateprofessed faith in Christ during a three-day visit by five American missionariesin March. Manipur is in eastern India onthe Myanmar border.

The missionaries held evangelisticmeetings and services in Mao churches, BrentKnapton of Houston-based Window ofOpportunity told Religion Today. About5,000 people attended the daily meetingsheld in a large field, and 2,000 attended thechurch services, he said. About 900 peoplereceived dental and other medical care.

The Mao were challenged to forsakespirit worship to follow Christ. “We didn’tmake it easy on them,” Knapton said. “Wetold them that they must renounce theirold religions and that they would facepersecution. We weren’t interested inhaving a large response, but in the eternaldestiny of each person.” The team’s visitis an answer to prayer for a small numberof Mao who have been asking God to bringa spiritual revival, Knapton said. In a seriesof ‘divine coincidences’, Knapton metPfozhe, who took his application papers tostate officials. The application was denied,but Pfozhe appealed until it reached thestate’s second-highest official who is aChristian. He approved the applicationand, in an unprecedented move, agreed tolet them travel into the mountainous area

to visit the Mao village. Additional tripsare scheduled for later this year and comingyears, he said.

It has been a slow awakening for theMao. American Baptist missionariesWilliam and Elizabeth Pettigrew firstbrought the Gospel to them in 1894.—evangelicals now n

Bridging the Gulf inQatar

CHRISTIANITY is seeping subtly intoIslamic countries in the Middle East. Inthe small peninsular nation of Qatar, whichadjoins Saudi Arabia, Minister of ForeignAffairs Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaboral-Thani has given formal permission forthe building of the first Catholic churchin the oil-rich country.

“Reportedly, a plot of land is expectedto be allotted for use as a Christian churchcompound in Doha. The property wouldbe divided by common agreement amongthe various Christian communities toconstruct individual church facilities,”states a Compass Direct news story filedin Istanbul in January. Wahhabi, a rigidbranch of Sunni Islam, is the state religion;Christian witness for the purpose ofconverting Muslims is prohibited.However, the Gulf Times newspaperpublished in Qatar, reports that thegovernment has not cracked down onCatholic, Orthodox, and Protestant groupsthat hold private worship services afternotifying state officials of their intent. AnAnglican church already exists in Qatar;other non-Muslim groups meet in homesfor worship and fellowship.

An estimated 420,000 of Qatar’s600,000 population are expatriates, mostof whom are involved with the country’svigorous natural gas and oil industry. AQatari information service reports that thepopulation increases by 9 percent annually.Almost two-thirds of Qatar’s population livesin the capital of Doha. Many expatriateworkers come from other unreachedgroups in Iran, Africa and South Asia.

An AD2000 and Beyond Movementreport on the Arab region states that thereis a notable Christian presence in thepeninsula, which also includes Bahrain,Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Ifthere are evangelical Christians among theindigenous Qatari, they are silent abouttheir faith.

“In Qatar, churches are meetingunderground and Bibles are probibited.Yet the OM ship was allowed to come.Qataris carried off basket loads of Christian

literature, and people recognised that thepeople on the ship have something theydon’t,” states an AD2000 and Beyondreport.—Pulse n

12 Millions March onJesus Day

RECORD numbers are believed to haveparticipated in the last-ever global Marchfor Jesus on 10 June. An estimated 12million Christians took to the streets aroundthe world to proclaim their faith.

Andy Butcher of Charisma Newsreports: “The largest single involvement wasin Brazil, where organisers were expectingmore than two million people across thecountry to take part. The most ambitiousevent staged was in Australia, where about40,000 gathered in Sydney’s OlympicStadium for a 24-hour celebration thatincluded prayer, youth concerts, andreconciliation between white andaboriginal youth.

“Thirty thousand people alsocongregated in London—birthplace in1986 of the first March for Jesus—for amarch that ended at the famous Greenwichmeridian line. Among the walkers was theArchbishop of Canterbury, George Carey,whose closing address challenged peopleto be more direct in sharing their faith withothers.”

UK marches also took place inLiverpool and Cardiff with Christiansprayer walking through Edinburgh andgathering to praise God together in Belfast.About 5,000 people from 100 cities acrossRussia took part in a walk in Moscow,gathering opposite Lenin’s Museum. Oneof those who spoke was a formerunderground-church leader arrested 18years ago not far from the rallying point,and twice jailed for his faith. One of thesmallest events took place in Andorra,where about 30 Christians—about one-third of the known church in the Europeanstate—turned out despite cold and rain topray in front of the Parliament buildingsin the capital, Andorra la Vella.

About 450 events were held acrossthe United States, with the focus shiftingfrom celebration to collaboration. Localchurches joined forces to take part in awide range of practical-care projects fromfood distribution to hospital visiting. —Renewal n

Foreign News: from page 18


Printed by: CALVARY CHURCH PRESS

KOREATHE amazing Church growth in Koreaduring the late 1900s has reached aplateau over the past decade. Fewchurches are continuing to increase anddecline is most marked among youngpeople. Changes in Korean society,especially in the pursuit of pleasure, hascaused interest in spiritual things toplummet among young people. Thosewho do seek a religious experience aremore likely to be attracted to Buddhismrather than Christianity, which issometimes seen as a Western import.Pray for the Lord to revive the KoreanChurch again and for the young Koreansto find Christ as the real answer totoday’s society.

ANGOLAA Bible Society millennium project inAngola is resulting in 500,000 Scriptureportions being distributed to children’shomes. Pray for God’s Word to bring helpand healing to youngsters left orphanedand homeless by two decades of civil war.Ps. 119:105

INDONESIAONE of the biggest challenges to Bibletranslation groups such as Wycliffe isIndonesia. Its 3,000 islands are home topeople of 517 language groups who mayneed a Scripture translation–more thanany other country in the world. Indonesiais in turmoil, so pray for peace, for thesafety of Christians there and for moretranslators from among them. Isa. 6:8

KENYARED, the colour of blood, is very importantto the Maasai people of Kenya. The MaasaiNew Testament has a red cover and villageelders started to fear it when it began tochange lives. They noticed that whenpeople read it they began to act differently.Young warrior stopped stealing cattle, forinstance. Pray for God’s red book tocontinue to change Maasai lives. Eph.1:7–8

ORISSATHE upsurge of Hindu militism in Indiais largely in reaction to so many peoplebecoming Christians. Many of the Kuitribe, who mainly live in Orissa state, areturning to Him. Radio broadcasts and audiocassettes have proved to be keyinstruments, while the Indian EvangelicalTeam has over 1,500 preachers, evangelistsand missionaries dedicated to winning theKui to Christ. Pray for the work. 2 Cor. 5:18

MECCAWITH a population of under a million,Mecca is hardly one of the world’s largestcities, but its influence is enormous. It isthe focal point of Islam and a fifth of thisplanet’s people look on it as their mostholy site. Generally, Christians are barredfrom Mecca. Pray for a Gospelbreakthrough there. Pray for SaudiArabia’s city religious leaders and religiouspolice (mutawa) to have miraculousencounters with Christ. Ps. 99:2–3

SENEGALDAKAR is a major African city of nearlytwo million people. There are very fewchurches but missions strategy has beendeveloped to reach poor villagers whocome into the city to buy fruit andvegetables or move there to try to makemoney to send back to their families. Prayfor these people to receive Christ—andtake the Good News back to their villages.

TANZANIAMISSIONS can be hit financially quitesuddenly—like when Tanzania’sgovernment removed the duty-free statusfor religious organisations importinggoods, including food. Duty is now 20%plus 20%VAT for most products. Pray forthe Lord’s provision for missions throughthe world-wide Church. Phil. 3:6–7

HANOICHILDREN play happily in the hillsidevillages around Hanoi, north Vietnam, ableto smile properly for the first time. That’s

because a specialist Christian Vietnamesedoctor has been able to repair harelips whichafflict many youngsters in the area. Financefor Operation Smile is provided by UK-based AsiaLink. Through it children andtheir parents are hearing about the fullhealing and peace that Jesus can give them.Pray for Operation Smile. 2 Cor. 3:3

AFGHANISTANTHERE is no visible Church in Afghanistanyet, but people are receiving Jesus as theirSaviour. Letter response to FEBA’s Daribroadcasts is growing. There is now aweekly programme for new Christians. Prayfor the Lord to build His Church inAfghanistan—and among Afghan refugeesin places like Pakistan. Matt. 16:18

IRELANDONE of the poorest countries in WesternEurope not very long ago, Ireland isenjoying an economic boom. People inthe Republic are becoming richer andmuch more materialistic, breaking withtraditional values. A positive side to thisis an increasing openness to newerchurches—and personal faith in JesusChrist. Missionaries are finding innovativeways to help Irish people come to faith, suchas Bible lectures in a Wexford hotel. Prayfor evangelism in the Irish Republic.

PUNJABIT is India’s bread-basket and mainlyinhabited by Sikh adherents. But in recentyears many of them have been turning tothe Bread of Life—Jesus. Pray for the Lordto build His Church in Punjab. Low casteMazbi Sikhs and high caste Jat Sikhs havebeen responding to the Gospel inheartening numbers. John 6:48

IRANAUTHORITIES here are determined toprevent Muslims from hearing the Gospeland forcing those who have becomeChristians to return to Islam. Christianshave “disappeared” while others have beenforced to flee the country. Pray for ourbrethrens in Iran. Eph. 6:13

The Unfinished Task - NECF Malaysia

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