DIOCESAN MISSION SUNDAY (FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING)

Diocesan Mission Sunday beginning from 22 November 2009

The Christian Calendar year begins at the fourth Sunday before Christmas which is known as the Advent Sunday, and completes at the last Sunday of Pentecost/Trinity which is the Sunday of the Feast of Christ the King where Christ is lifted and honoured as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Every year our Diocese has designated the last Sunday of the Christian Calendar year i.e. the Sunday of the Feast of Christ the King, as the Diocesan Mission Sunday. Incidentally, it is also been adopted as the Provincial Mission Sunday beginning 2010. This hopes to set off the tone for mission from now till the next Sunday of the Feast of Christ the King throughout the whole of 2010.

What do we do on the Mission Sunday?
 

1.  Churches are encouraged to designate this Sunday as their Parish Mission Sunday. Of course, some churches due to their own schedule and commitments might wish to choose another Sunday or Sundays as their own Parish Mission Sunday or Mission Month.
2.  Churches are encouraged to invite the preacher to preach on Mission.
3.  Churches are to encourage more prayer focus on mission work, mission workers, mission field, etc.
4.  Churches are encourage to take an offering for mission of the church and the diocese.

What do we hope to achieve with the Diocesan Mission Sunday?
 

1.  We hope to see all the churches in the Diocese seriously engaging in mission works. This is the way forward and it can avoid maintenance mode.
2.  There is still a lot of work to be done both locally and abroad - “the harvest is plentiful“.
3.  We hope to create mission awareness and eventually hope to raise workers for the mission fields of the Lord.

How do we plan for a long term Mission Awareness in the parish?
 

1.  PCCs are encouraged to include in the PCC Agenda an item on Mission & Evangelism.
2.  PCCs are encourage to set a budget for mission.
3.  PCCs are encouraged to appoint a person as Parish Mission Coordinator.
4.  Churches can circulate information on mission works in the parish, diocese and foreign mission agencies among parishioners.
5.  Churches can organise Mission Awareness Week.
6.  Church can organise Mission Prayer Week.

How do we get our parish started in mission work?
 

1.  Invite speakers who can speak on Mission, preferably some who have done mission themselves.
2.  Organise short mission exposure trips or join such trips which are organised by other chuches or the diocese.
3.  Start a Mission budget and have a Mission Coordinator.

What is the aim of this 2009 Diocesan Mission Sunday?
 

We aim to raise RM500,000 for the Diocesan Mission Fund. Don’t be frightened by the amount. If every member gives a minimum of RM1.00 per week to the mission fund (on top of your regular offering), we have no problem reaching the target. For example, we have 10,000 adult members who attend church regularly and each member gives RM1.00 per week, we will have RM520,000 per year. If each member gives RM2.00 per week, we will have RM1 million annually for mission fund.

What is the Mission Fund use for?
 

1.  Next year 2010 is our Diocese 40th year of formation. We wish to bless 40 children homes throughout the country. We have planned every Saturday in the Month of May for a Children Carnival in 4 places, namely, Penang, Ipoh, Klang, Johor Bharu. In each place, we will identify 10 children homes and invite our children and the children of the homes to the one day Children Carnival for games and recreation. After which we will present each home with RM5,000 either in kind or cash. This will amount to RM200,000.

2.  We have planned for 3 overseas mission exposure trips, February to Tiruchi, India; July to Taiwan (to the affected areas); October to Bangladesh. This will amount to RM50,000.

3.  We will continue to help the Church of the Province of Myanmar in the setting up of the School of Mission and Evangelism (SOME). Our aim is to train altogether 100 evangelists within three years in all the different dioceses in Myanmar. This will amount to RM50,000.

4.  We are anticipating and continuing in our efforts of Relief, Emergency And Crisis Help (R.E.A.C.H.) to the affected areas. We will also be organising a Crisis Relief workers training camp next year. We are still assisting Myanmar in the rebuilding of houses in the Delta regions and medical care; Philippines in the rebuilding of houses and churches due to a couple of tyhoons; Padang in West Sumatra in the rebuilding of houses and medical care. So far we have helped in the areas - Myanmar (2008), Sichuan (2008), Orissa (2008), Gaza (2009), Zimbabwe (2009), Sri Lanka (2009), Philippines (2009), Taiwan (2009), Padang (2009). This will amount to RM100,000.

5.  We will be supporting and expanding our assistance to the Orang Asli and Anglican Village Ministries. We are working together to see that the ministry will expand to other regions. The priority will be on the raising and training of workers for these ministries. This will amount to RM40,000.

6.  We will be embarking on the ministry of Intentional Discipleship. We hope to see all members of the Diocese is motivated and in active service for the Lord’s service. We are hoping to raise many disciples and from them train and raise 400 Lay Pastors and 400 Lay Readers by the year 2020. This ill amount to RM20,000.

7.  We are working with and through the Diocesan Missioners and Boards to identify strategic areas throughout the Diocese to be targets of evangelistic concentrations where we can plant churches, develop social outreaches and training centres. We hope to saturate the nation with the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. This will amount to RM20,000.

8.  We are working with the Diocesan Boards and Committees in the development of young people especially school leavers and campus youth, in the area of evangelism, discipleship, Christian formation, leadership, Christian spirituality. We are developing the Caleb Steps, the Anglican School of Disciples (ASOD) and Vocation Camps for both young men and ladies. This will amount to RM10,000.

9.  We are engaging in the mission works in the Province in the countries of Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, with particular emphasis and attention is given to three places, namely, Medan (Sumatra), South Thailand, Phnom Penh (Cambodia). This will amount to RM20,000.

Will you be praying for the Diocesan Mission involvement? Will you be giving to the Diocesan Mission Fund? Will you be involved in the mission programmes? Will you be considering to be a mission worker of the Lord?

Please make all donations and offerings by cheques payable to “DIOCESE OF WEST MALAYSIA” (please write Diocesan Mission Fund at the reverse side of the cheque) and send to the Diocesan office at 16, Jalan Pudu Lama, 50200 KL.

All glory to God in the Highest!!!

(November 22nd, 2009 posted in another blog)