Cover Story
01 Jan 2015

One Church One School 1 Hour 1 Need

Announcing a new Methodist Church in Malaysia (General Conference) project....

OUR VISION:
"Every Methodist Church touching and transforming children of promise of this generation and the next"

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name" means for us as a Methodist Family to reverently demonstrate putting God in His rightful place by our daily worship life as His people in Malaysia.

We need to "re-dig the wells" of the pioneer missionaries who fulfilled the above - living up to this confession of faith in God by their intentional sacrifices in the field of education and in doing evangelism. That work that spread the Gospel and help build this nation began more than a century ago in our fair land.

Malaysia today needs God's people called Methodists to once again bless this nation by intentionally and sacrificially touching and transforming children of promise - of this generation and the next...

To God be the glory in this nation.

Bishop Dr. Ong Hwai Teik
January 2015

Befriending your neighbourhood schools
Begin by noticing, praying, connecting and visiting the nearest school, with priority given to our mission schools.

Bless that school
With 1 hour (at least) of involvement especially in meeting 1 need that can become a ministry for you and your local church.

Where there is no opportunity to do “spiritual” activities, let us start by showing love and compassion by social concerns and taking care of needs. There is much we can do to be the face of Jesus here on this earth.

Helping the poor and needy in a school
There was no Mission School near my shoplot church but we decided to adopt a school nearby. We wanted to bless them just as God has blessed us.

We contacted the School Head who linked us with the School Counsellor. We said that we had a small budget and wanted to help some poor students by buying some school things that they need. She found about ten students and listed their needs, like, school uniform, school badge, t-shirt, track bottoms, school bag, exercise books, calculator, and the like.

So we did some shopping and made a presentation to the students at the Principal’s office one morning. They were very grateful for the gifts and we were happy to give.

The Counsellor told us of another need, among many that were faced by the students in that school. One Form Five boy faced financial problems at home because his father was incapacitated and his mother got some income by taking in laundry. There were other younger siblings. The Counsellor suggested that we support the family until the boy completed his SPM exams. We did, through the Social Concerns committee, and the boy managed to finish his schooling.

- Life Methodist Church Puchong

Begin with what is practical and "do-able"
Such as meeting the specific and practical needs of the pupils e.g. those who are poor who need food, fees, school equipment, academic help.

Building up towards. . . 
• SCHOOL CHAPEL
School Chapel used to be a distinctive in Mission Schools. It was an assembly with hymn singing and prayer and a talk on a bible story or Christian value or principle.

I thank God for His provision through The Wesley Methodist Church, Ipoh, and the school Christian Fellowship for bringing back the School Chapel last year, 2014. The objectives of the School Chapel is to spur the school Christian community to live a victorious Christian life in school, be effective witnesses, examine our thinking, attitudes and actions in the light of God’s truth and ways. Let there be more bonding and encouraging one another on towards love and good deeds. Last but not least, I would like to quote Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”. Let us all continue to pray for the School Chapel that it will bring greater glory to God.

- ACS Ipoh Principal, Mr Lee Weng Woh
 
To start Chapel in the school today ...
Engage... Board of Governors / Managers, Chaplain Get Support from church / Christian community Trust and goodwill of School Head / Support of Teachers, Parents, committed Students

Other programmes can include celebrating Christmas and Easter; remembering Founder’s Day; Prayer Blessing Service for Exams; Religious Emphasis Week. We can also remember the different cultures in our nation and celebrate our unity in diversity.

• GIRLS’ BRIGADE & BOYS’ BRIGADE
Start, restore, assist in the Girls’ Brigade and the Boys’ Brigade in the Schools.

• CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

CF comes under School Clubs and Societies, the Registrar of which is the School Head.

With 15 or more student members, Christian parents can request for the CF to be formed.

As a society, CF can do more in terms of evangelism, discipling and making a difference in someone’s life. They often need the support of the local church.

Your Involvement will go a long way
SMK Kai Chung in Bintangor, Sarawak, wanted to build a modern, multi-functional stadium which would be a significant landmark and pride of the people in the town. Help came in the form of an old boy who not only assisted in getting the neighbouring piece of land but also personally donated a large amount of the RM3 million stadium. Datuk Hasmi bin Hashim had been so touched by his former principal, Madam Chen Ling Mei who had helped him both academically and financially. He wanted to express his gratitude by giving generously towards building the stadium named after Principal Chen who had so encouraged and motivated him to be the successful man he is today.

- Rev. Tony Chieng

Our MISSION is:
Making Jesus known
Instilling Christian values
Seeking to provide holistic education
Serving the needs of children
Involving the local church
Overcoming weaknesses
Nurturing for heaven

In Mission Schools, the Board of Governors are the Custodian of the Character and Ethos of the school. They are guardians to preserve the essential identity of the institution for continuity and the preservation of tradition like prayers, teaching of Bible Knowledge, Chapel services, Christian Fellowship / Clubs and Societies, Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade, etc.

The local church must come in and involve herself in the school to realize this ideal.

• TEACHING OF BIBLE KNOWLEDGE
Teachers are needed to teach Bible Knowledge (BK) classes in the school. There is provision for the teaching of BK in the school, albeit outside school hours. The local church must leverage on this for the Word of God to go forth and achieve its purposes by responding to be teachers and encourage our students to take up the subject.

For further information:-
Contact the Methodist Council of Education,
Ms Tay Choon Neo,
Tel : 603-79565310
or email to taychoonneo@mcoe.edu.my