By Rev. Ong Hwai Teik

This has indeed been an extraordinary year filled with events of "earth shaking impact". Early this year, on 11 March 2011, a devastating 9.0 earthquake and tsunami brought great destruction to the nation of Japan. Other countries like China, New Zealand and Turkey have also experienced earthquakes of gigantic proportion. Thailand, recently experienced severe floods. The newly coined "Arab Spring" uprising, saw the overthrow of autocratic regimes in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. The govern-ments in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain were also rattled. These uprisings powerfully remind us that people yearn to be free from oppression, intimidation, manipulation and corrupt governance!

In the local "Church and State" front, the Malaysian Church had to contend with very serious issues as well. The use of "Allah" issue (2009) is still pending a final ruling from the Court of Appeal, as the Christian community insists that "Allah" has been traditionally used by the Malaysian Church, especially in East Malaysia.

The Catholic publication, The Herald, had won the case against the Home Minister’s revocation order of its publication permit. The import of the Alkitab, at least for the time being seems to be permissible. This is after strong protestations from the Christian community in March when 30,000 copies were impounded at Port Klang and Kuching. Then there was the "Utusan Malaysia had reported on the gathering of priests in Penang recently that allegedly discusses making Christianity the official religion of the country" (New Straits Times 13 May 2011) saga. Then came the unprecedented Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) "search" on the 3 August 2011 of the Damansara Utama Methodist Church premises, when a Thanksgiving Dinner organised by Harapan Komuniti was taking place. The Sultan of Selangor had effectively intervened to defuse the situation. Let us as a community remain vigilant as we are also facing other serious issues such as the implementation of Hudud law in Malaysia.

As an Annual Conference, we continue to pursue our General Conference theme of Spreading Scriptural Holiness, Transforming the Nation supported by our own TRAC 4 essentials below. Our 39 local churches are “together on the same page” with the GC vision and goals, albeit variation on emphases and types of action and programs are to be expected.

A. LIFELONG DISCIPLESHIP-Following Christ, Becoming Like Christ
As we pursue lifelong discipleship as an AC - we continue to give priority to spiritual transformation. This is the lifelong process in which Christ is formed in us for the glory of God. 

The essential place of small groups shall continue to be emphasised in our AC life for training, spiritual health, tracking accountability, renewal, and community building .There was an increase of 7 prayer groups in TRAC as at June 2011 to 119 compared to 2010. The TRAC Pastors Intercession Retreat (#2) with 13 attending also took place. We are also glad that a TRAC Intercession Team has been started in Penang (Northern District) this year.

The ICM continues to spearhead our discipleship and spirituality thrust through the Spiritual Formation and Leadership weekends, Contemplative and Silent Retreats, and the Soul Talk series.

B. WHOLESOME FAMILIES-Growing Strong Families in Christ 
More of our TRAC churches are organising Alpha Marriage, Alpha Parenting and Pre-Marital courses.

As an AC we recognise the importance of the family as the cornerstone of society and the church. The Board on Youth work has set - To empower parents for working with youth and creating an open atmosphere for engagement of youth issues at home - as one of their goals. Let us all be reminded that included in our strategies for this Essential are: Setting up Family Devotion in every home and Introduce inter-generational Family Worship services regularly every year.

C. A VOICE TO OUR NATION-Seeking our Nation's Welfare in Christ
There is a noticeable increase this year in the number of our churches organising talks by politicians and political analysts, and accompanied by a voter registration exercise.

Let us not underestimate our own position and role as believers in advocating for and effecting changes in nation building as responsible and proactive citizens.

D. A VISION FOR THE WORLD-Embracing Local & Global Missions for Christ 
We continue to emphasise planting churches as well as migrant community congregations.

TRAC continues to partner the Lower Myanmar Methodist Church in the coming years - helping to rebuild the areas affected by the Nargis cyclone 3 years ago. 

The Persidangan Missi Sengoi Methodist continues to pursue Wawasan Berdikari 2020. This vision is gaining incremental momentum, in which there is renewed emphasis on praying and planning towards PMSM being self-governing, self-propagating and self-supporting.

The PMSM collectively fast and pray on the 1st of every month for WB 2020, even when it is during their Annual Conference Session.

One of the significant ways to strengthen the indigenous Bumiputra Church is to help identify and finance translation projects of Christian education books and teaching materials that will strengthen the majority segment of the Malaysian Church. This is a TRAC mission priority.

Conclusion 
TRAC Organisational Leadership Module (OLM) is a significant training module designed to provide basic understanding of our Methodist structure/polity, direction, unity, operational competency and to en-hance our cohesion as an AC body.

We are glad that the emphases on the youth and college ministries have begun to bear fruits by the grace of the Lord. This year Kampar Wesley has dedicated a Ministry Home on Easter for KTAR and UTAR students ministry. We have seen our Jeremiah School program started 9 years ago producing Christian vocation workers and facilitators for our other youth events.

We are glad to share that TRAC has developed and dedicated on 2 Oct 2010 the Parit Buntar Methodist Centre for training, retreats and reflection groups (see http://w ww.pb-mc.org). This is a smaller place that can accommodate up to 78 people. For more information and booking, do contact Mr Stephen Chew (012 5724559 or email pbmcbooking@gmail.com). 

John Stott, a great man of faith who had finished the race faithfully outlined 4 ways in which Christians have power to influence the world.

Firstly, there is power in prayer. Stott reminds the Church that our "first duty toward society and its leaders is to pray for them" (1 Tim 2:1-2). He goes on to call the Church to take with “increasing seriousness the 5 or 10 minutes of intercession in which, as a congregation, we bow down before God and bring to Him the world and its leaders, and cry to Him to intervene.”

Secondly, there is the power of truth especially the truth of the Gospel that “brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Stott states thus, "All God’s truth is powerful. God’s truth of whatever kind is much more powerful than the Devil’s lies... Truth is much more powerful than bombs and tanks and weapons."

Thirdly, the Church has the power of example. Stott goes on to say, “Truth is powerful when it’s argued. It’s more powerful when exhibited. People need not only to understand the argument. They need to see the benefits of the argument with their own eyes.”

Fourthly, the Church has the power of group solidarity. The power of a dedicated minority is enormous! Stott strikes a common but powerful chord with those of us who believe in the power of "dedicated godly networks" – especially for Malaysia. John Stott says, "There is a great need for dedicated Christian groups committed to one another, committed to a vision of justice, committed to Christ; groups that will pray together, think together, formulate policies together, and get to work together in the community…" 

We may be living in an "earth shaking" season both locally and globally, but let us also never forget that our God is the one who can so command that "the sun stood still, and the moon stopped". May we al-ways live to His glory and for His purpose.

Rev. Dr. Ong Hwai Teik
President
Trinity Annual Conference
The Methodist Church in Malaysia