Source/Author: Reported by: Kam Fui Yee Translated by: Tan Chee Mun

News from CAC

“To the Ends of the Earth” – Mission Camp 2013 of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) of the Methodist Church in Malaysia was held in Mahkota Hotel, Melaka from 23 – 25 July 2013. About 264 ministers and members under the Annual Conference from different parts of the country attended the camp.

For this grand occasion, the Annual Conference had specially invited Rev. Dr. Tie King Tai, Principal of Methodist Theological School, Sibu, Sarawak; Bro. John Ling Tung Chuang (Sarawak), Chairman of Board of Mission and Evangelism of World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches (WFCMC); Pastor Brian Cheng from Food for Hungry Ministry, Hong Kong; and Pastor Thutsanti Prakit, missionary in Nambang, Myanmar to personally share their years of valuable practical experience in order to bring upfront, enlarge, motivate and renew believers’ concept towards mission work.

At 3:15 p.m. on 23 July, Dr. Ng Wing Kee, Chairman of Mission Camp, in honour invited President of the Annual Conference, Rev. Boh Che Suan to come on stage to deliver his message entitled “Nurture Disciples, Seek Talent, Spread the Good Work”. President Boh emphasised that as born again believers, we have the responsibility to spread the gospel and to provide the three-pronged physical, psychological and spiritual needs, being the three major human needs. Nurturing disciples is the foremost important task to expand the church, but “where there is church, there is school” remains the mission strategy of CAC. While rescuing souls, human physical needs are satisfied too, just as Jesus and his twelve disciples, and the apostles did to the needy ones. Following that, the President declared Mission Camp officially open in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

On the same night, Rev. Dr. Tie King Tai delivered the first theme message entitled “A Missionary God” based on Acts 1:6-8. Rev. Dr. Tie said that the Bible has recorded many stories which present a clear message, which is “salvation and mission”.

The core content of “salvation” is God’s work through Jesus Christ in bringing all nations to the Lord; while “mission” points to God’s work through Jesus Christ, using you and I to impact all nations to return to the Lord. Way back in Genesis 1:26-28, God clearly revealed that He placed Adam in the Garden of Eden with the purpose to govern over all creatures, and He blessed him to be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Similarly, God wanted to bless all nations on earth through Abraham.

The next morning, Bro. John Ling shared a special message on the ministry of WFCMC by referring to Ephesians 3:8-21. He passionately described in detail on the development process of home churches in China, its strength and weaknesses; which enabled the congregation to understand more about the establishment models of home churches and the challenges involved. He said that families are the foundation of a nation. Similarly, when churches on earth suffer, do believers follow the teachings of the Bible, to intercede for the believers, to do something for the future generation?

After that, Rev. Dr. Tie delivered the second theme message entitled “A Missionary Individual” based on Luke 24:45-49. He expressed that a healthy church life should include: united worship, persistence in learning the Word, relate to another with love and evangelise with love, with the purpose of testifying Jesus’ great love and authority before the world. The place where we need to spread the gospel is the mission field where we work, but the mission field is so huge, yet workers are few, especially among the Chinese churches, which only lack boldness! He mentioned “Five Go” models to support mission work which includes oneself who goes, children go, prayer goes, money goes and go with a vocation.

Rev. Dr. Tie in the third theme message entitled “A Missionary Church” referred to Acts 13:1-3. He said that the responsibility of the churches in mission is a role given by God, in which all churches must bear and carry up the ministry within and outside the church. “Mission”, which is to send out, a special noun, which means to send people to places beyond the church boundary, to where the gospel has yet to reach, to declare the Good News of the Lord, so that people will turn to God the Father. The one being sent must proactively cultivate and establish functional churches which are able to multiply fruits, so that the local community or the country, even to the ends of the earth will produce fruits of the gospel!

Besides, Rev. Dr. Tie emphasised the “7Ps of Mission”, namely “Prayer chain powered”, “People sending goal”, “Pastor sending strategy”, “Partition of local and overseas missions”, “Pooling system of support”, “Persisting in doing missions” and “Pondering continuously as the direction”.

There were four items presented during the night session. Rev. Wong Kong Hoo shared on Northern Thailand mission work, Rev. Chu Vee Ping and Rev. Tay Kian Huat took turn to share on India mission work, Pastor Thutsanti Prakit shared on Nambang, Myanmar mission work, and the launching of the DVD entitled “Building a City of Glory – Nambang, Myanmar” (officiated by President Boh).

On the third day, Bro. John Ling continued to share a message on WFCMC’s work. Following that, Pastor Brian Cheng from Hong Kong shared the journey of his wife’s cancer treatment, his no regret and no turning back experience in the winding road of mission work which moved the audience deeply.

Rev. Yeo Teong Loke was the speaker of the camp closing ceremony. He reflected with the congregation on the serious topic whereby mission cannot wait. Next, the master of ceremony, District Superintendent Chin Kim Fatt invited Rev. Yin Tong Joo to say a prayer of blessing for the congregation. The congregation returned home after being served with a sumptuous lunch.