01 Mar 2006

March 2006 - Growing into Trilingual Church

Sabah Methodist Provisional Annual Conference

Sabah Methodist Provisional Annual Conference (SPAC) has a total of 20 churches and preaching centres with an average attendance of 2,483 every Sunday. It has 11 Chinese churches, 7 BM Preaching centres and 2 English congregations. When compared to 1,706 Sunday worshippers in 2002, the Church has had an increase of 777 people in 3 years’ time.

The largest Chinese congregation in SPAC is Shen En Church with 416 members. It has the second largest BM ministry with 51 members. The largest BM congregation is Lokan Preaching Point in Sandakan with 70 members. Agape English Church has 67 members and is the largest English congregation in SPAC. Kingfisher Park Preaching Centre concentrates on Campus ministry and has an English congregation of 32.

Rev. Ling Heu Uh, President of SPAC, heads the Conference. It is divided into two districts: West Sabah with Rev. Shia Siek Hing as the District Superintendent and East Sabah with Rev. Mo Mee Kiu as the District Superintendent. SPAC has 13 Chinese pastors and 5 BM pastors (Marey, Cecelia, Markus, Tihronny and Jaraning) in 2006.

Overseas Missions on the Door-step
In his presidential speech, President Ling expressed that Sabah is a unique city. Because of the open door policy of the government, a lot of foreign workers from different countries come in. It is like a foreign mission field right on the doorstep. The mission ministry of the Conference mainly concentrates on foreign workers from Mainland China, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Rev. Ling continued to point out that SPAC needed to develop a strategic way to reach out to urban youths and professionals. A plan is being worked out to start a youth centre in the shopping mall for the youths.

Rev. Ling reminded all to pray and keep watch against all the new technologies and new waves such as success theology, mega church, abuse of internet, the confusion of spiritual power, etc. He emphasized the importance of grounding oneself in the Word of God and prayer.

In the area of finance, since the Conference is a new and growing Church, it needs a lot of human resources as well as financial support. The Special Fund will be increased from 1 million to 3 million. Rev. Ling also called upon all church members to follow the teachings of God in tithing so that the house of God will have enough.

BM Ministry Began in 1996
The BM ministry started with the indigenous people in the palm oil plantation in Lokan, Sandakan. Since then 5 preaching points have started. According to the Rev. Ha Hi Fah, Chairman of the BM Ministry of SPAC, “We usually care for the people in the forest, but recently many indigenous people have moved to the town. We also need to show concern to them in the city especially giving them a helping hand with physical and spiritual needs.”

The five BM preaching centres are Serudung Laut, Lokan, Sipina, Mononood and Shen En BM ministry.

Translated and summarized from Chinese Methodist Message 582 by Winnie