Features
01 Nov 2015

The Dedication of the Transparent Church Building - A Pearl in the Jungle

Source/Author: Reported by Lee Sing • Translated by Christina

SCAC News. Article taken from Connection 25 October 2015

It was a lively and vibrant season at Adang Christian Village during early September 2015. Around 380 guests from all around were invited to the Dedication and Anniversary ceremonies. That included 70-80 Penans from Adang Christian Village, 147 Penans from the five neighbouring villages, some 10 Lun Bawangs, about 60 members from BEM Lawas Chinese Church together with their President Rev Justin Wan, about 85 short term mission team members from SCAC Methodist churches led by Rev Ling Biu together with President Su Chii Ann and the Superintendent of Miri District Rev Ting Chu Yih.

The crowd thronged the hill slope before four o’clock on 4th Septermber, awaiting the Dedication ceremony to commence. The ceremony was declared open by Rev Ling Biu of Miri Tudan Methodist Church. It was followed by the signing on the inscribed dedication commemorative board by SCAC and BEM, represented by SCAC President Su Chii Ann, BEM President Justin Wan, Pastor Lau Meng Chai of BEM Lawas Chinese Church and Rev Ting Chu Yih the superintendent of SCAC Miri District, signifying that both parties jointly presented the new church building for the glory of God.

The ceremony of opening the entrance door was very Penan style. The representatives of both churches were given a sumpit (blow pipe) to hit the balloons hung above the doors. Then there was the cutting of the ribbon to enter the four paneled doors. Before entering the church building everyone needed to take off their shoes as the sanctuary was a sacred place. It was followed by the ushers who brought in the Bibles, the cross and the sacrament holder to be placed at the Altar. After this, SCAC President Su and the Building Committee members led the congregation to dedicate the sanctuary to the Lord to be a house of prayer and praise, a place for spiritual nurture and the centre to spread the Gospel. Everyone, the Chinese, the Penan, the Ibans and the Lun Bawangs, shared from the same cup of wine and bread in Christ.