CHRISTMAS JOY AND PEACE
FROM THE REIGNING KING OF KINGS
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| At Istanbul March 2012 |
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| At Cappadocia March 2012 |
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| At Penang December 2012 |
Christmas
is a time of giving and sharing. It is a great joy for all of us to be in the
position to and also willing to share our joy and peace with those loved ones
who are around us and abroad, our friends and neighbours, our community, and
those who are less fortunate than us. Let us carry on sharing God’s love and
blessings with each other and especially those who are in need. Do remember the
Anglican Care which is a diocesan caring department which covers a whole range
of social services from children homes, food for the hungry, soup kitchens,
people with disabilities, people who are visually, physically and mentally
challenged, senior citizen homes, etc. Of course, we should not forget the
needs of the rural villages and kampungs of the Anglican Village Ministries and
the Orang Asli ministry.
We
can hear many Malaysians talking about and guessing of the date of the 13th
General Election of the nation especially in the kopitiams and after church
services and at mamak stalls. Many believe that this GE is a watershed and may
mark the transformation of the nation permanently. We wish to pray that the
Christmas Joy and Peace shall prevail among the different parties of the
nation. Many believe that the Lord has placed our nation in a very special
position within the region of South East Asia and beyond for a purpose – a
giver of Joy and Peace. We seek your constant prayers. A group of concerned
Christians has set aside the 24 – 26 January 2013 as the 3 days of fasting to
discern God’s direction for our nation. Let us also bring our nation to God
Almighty in prayers.
At
the end of July 2012, we have moved into the newly completed Rumah Bishop in
Ampang. It is a huge building but there are only two of us while Joshua and
Sarah are in Singapore, and Charlotte in Texas. Joshua is presently working as
an IT Officer, Sarah is planning for her marriage and not working yet, and
Charlotte is doing her final year in Texas. Bisfe Siew Lan is very busy with
her Malaysian Indigenous Clinical Pastoral Education (MICPE) and Theological Education by Extension (TEE) courses. I am as usual running around visiting churches and
attending diocesan, national and provincial meetings.
The
diocese is growing steadily though not without challenges. Praise the Lord for
the number of non stipendiary workers and ministers who have answered the Call
of God to ministry over the last five years. The number of full-time workers
being trained is still coming in slowly. We thank God for the encouraging
response of many lay people who have attended the Lay Pastors and Lay Readers
Schools. The third stage that the diocese is moving towards is the Discipleship
Training. We have begun this year with the Introductory to Discipleship
Training and we will bring this Introductory Seminar to the regional level for
next year. Hopefully we can begin the full Discipleship Training seminar in
2014 and eventually to see many disciples of Jesus Christ who can transform the
church and the nation.
Wishing
you all a very blessed and meaningful Christmas and New Year!
May
the Almighty God continue to lead and guide you in His footsteps daily!
Shalom Christmastide 2012
The Son
of God became the Son of Man
so that
the sons of man can become sons of God.
