The Flock Needs a Shepherd

Looking into the need of many Brethren Churches, I must say that the flock needs a shpeherd more than anything else. The flock needs a fulltime shepherd to visit them when they are sick at home, to encourage them when they faced with disappointment of life, to comfort them when they are in sorrow, to minister to them when they are wounded in the spirit etc.

They need someone to come round them when there is a sudden demise of a loved one. They need the shepherd to guide them along the path of life with the elightenment of the Word of God.
They need someone to talk to whenever they are in distress. A shepherd. A fulltime elder who is available anytime to the saints of his church.

Such elder must step out to serve the church in faith. He must be able to teach from the Word. He must be willing to serve the community of believers. He is to serve and not to be served. He must be willing to lead the church in its course to fullfil the goal of the Great Commission. He is stationed in one local church. He is the leader in the Oversight. Other elders and deacons and deaconess are there to assist him to get the work done.

The church may have a fulltime Youth Worker who works under the supervision of this fulltime elder. When the fulltime elder is available, the fulltime worker (a preacher) should be released to preach the Word in other churches. The fulltime worker's responsibility is to nurtured an undeveloped church, equip the saints for leadership and to go on to another when a fulltime elder is appointed. It is the duty of the local churches to support the fulltime preacher so that he can work among the many local churches.

Job Yet Unfinished

Sungai Petani Gospel Hall is an old Brethren Church established by early missionary way back in 1920s. It is built on a piece of land over 40,000sq feet gazetted as a piece of land for reeligious purposes.

Sungei Petani is a fast growing township in Kedah. It has over 30 churches of different denominations and independent churches. During our recent meeting at the Leadership Fellowship for Seberang Perai Brethren Churches, we decided that all the five assemblies must pay attention to assist SPGH. Few of us representing the churches visited the SPGH and had a good fellowship with their leaders on 5th.April 2007.

We have agreed that we will try to help up in their Sunday ministry, and also giving assistance to their youth ministry. One thing struck us was the uncompleted home for the Aged. SPGH hopes to spearhead a Home for the Aged on this 40,000 sq ft land. They had started on the first building, but due to lack of fund it has stopped half way through. It is good to start a caring church in Sungai Petani. The church hopes to reachout to the people through Caring for the Aged people, and to the next of kins of the inmates.

It is time to make good use of the piece of land for the glory of God. They need another RM40,000/= to complete this first unit of home, catering for male and female inmates. It can easily take in 20 inmates when completed, including a hall for fellowship and meeting. It needs wiring, plastering, ceiling board and basic electrical appliances, beds etc.

Hope God will touch your hearts to give towards this uncompleted project. You can send your gift to Nibong Tebal Gospel Hall, ear mark for SP Home Project at the back of the cheque. Address: 1&3 Tingkat Merbuk,Taman Sri Nibong, 14300 Nibong Tebal.SPS

An Effective Light House

AIGC is in short for Air Item Gospel Centre. It is a newly planted assembly in Farlim, the new Air Itam township of Penang. It is just over 11years old. By God's grace, it has grown from a barely 30 membership to over 130 membership. Though its leadership is an English educated groups of leaders, it has initiated a Hokkien Fellowship group with over 50 in regular attendance.

It is a very lively and vibrant church. Looking at its worship hall, and the setup, one can see that it is a church that has a clear direction, a strong desire to win souls for the Lord.

Pray that God will continue to bless this church and to lead them into greater heights for the glory of the Almighty God.

Unity Is Strength

The leaders of five different Chinese Brethren Assemblies from Seberang Perai met at Alma Impian Gospel Centre on 25th.March 2007. The leaders met to discuss over the issue on" What causes the slow down of church growth and development".

After much deliberation they discovered that the major reason for stunted church growth and ineffective church testimony was the lack of drive in the leadership. What made poor leadership? It was suggested that the lack of direct involvement in church ministry, caused the leadership to be indifferent in attitude towards church ministry, and also resulted in lack of visions.

It was also mentioned that Christian parents were putting too much emphasis in their children's education achievement, and could not care of bringing them up in the church enviroment. They would prefer to see their children excel in their studies and lack of knowledge of God. This has resulted in poor spiritual desire among these children. Very often these Christian chidlren skip church services to attend to outside activites.

The leaders also made some review over the development of each assembly represented in the meeting. The Group agreed to adopt the work in Sungai Petani. A sub-committee was formed to visit the Sungai Petani Gospel Hall and to see how we could help to encourage them and to help meeting their needs.

The leaders also planned for some common activites for 2008. The meeting ended up with a simple dinner provided by the host.