Plan for 2012

Each year at this period, before the end of the year, Pastor Kiwi has the habit of waiting upon the Lord for guidance and planning into the next year.

Pastor Kiwi is now seeking the Lord to plan for 2012.

One thing is sure, Pastor Kiwi is giving up the Literature Ministry "Fusukang" for good. Pastor Kiwi has come out with two volumns of booklets consisting of all the 13 issues of the magazines produced for the four year terms. These booklets will serve as a guide book for future young leadership. It carries the articles on Brethren Distinctives, pastoral know-how, and also notes for the various church ministries.

Most probably Pastor Kiwi will spend more time back in NTGH, giving priority to preaching ministry. Less traveling in 2012.

Pastor Kiwi will continue to help up in the nearby assemblies occasionally.

Pray for fresh vision and faith to move in steps with the Lord's leading in estblishing new ministries.

Chinese ALC

The Pan Malaysian Chinese Brethren Assembly Leaders' Conference will be held at Berjaya Hotel, Penang from 30th.Aug-1st.Sep 2011.

Pastor Kiwi has been appointed to take charge of the Chinese magazine Fusukang for the last two terms (total of four years). Pastor Kiwi's second term to the literature ministry expires at this ALC. The ALC will nominate another person (group of people) to take charge of it.

This literature ministry was initiated at the 2nd ALC in 1986. It has been going on ever since. Just pray that another person will come forward to take charge of it.

Pastor Kiwi will present a report for the literature ministry at the ALC. This will mark the end of the term and the officil handling of the responsibilty to another.

Happy Birthday Kean Yong

It had been for some times that my chidlren are not back home.....working in KL.

They came back on the 13th.& 14th.august week end.

We took the opportunity to celebrate Kean Yong's belated birthday. We had not been celebrating their birthday for some time.....when we had this one, we were so unprepared, singing the birthday song, lighting up the candle, cutting the card, and taking the photos etc.

Haha.... Happy birthday to my Kean Yong. Move on in life in step with God's guidance.

Fusukang--Assembly chinese magazine

For the past four years I was appointed by the Chinese Assembly Leaders at the ALC to take charge of producing the regular chinese magazine Fusukang. In the past four years, by God's grace, I managed to come out with 13 issueas of the magazines.

The first 7 issues centered in the theme of Assembly Distinctives and Practices. They were finally binded up as a booklet.

The next 6 issues centered around the various church ministries, and the "know-how" of getting the work done. eg.we had one issue discussing over the visitation ministry and managing the funeral arrangement of church members. We binded up as a second booklet.

Both these booklets will be given away to church representatives who will be coming to the next Chinese ALC this august 30th,31st Aug & 1 sept.2011

I hope to leave behind these two handbooks for future young leaders who may be taking over the leadership role in the assemblies.

Thanks for the prayer and support of this literature ministry.

Passing away of a Sister - in -Christ

Sister Lee Siew Lean passed away at the age of 82. She was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday 27th.july 2011. Her body was taken back from BM to Parit Buntar .

I knew our sister from the days of my youth in NTGH. She was the wife of our NTGH deacon our late Mr.Ooi kok Koo. She was a faithful supporter for our NTGH Hokkien Fellowship until she moved over to stay with her daughter Lily in BM.

I was having speaking engagement elsewhere, so much so that I could not avail myself to take any of the wake services. We bid her good bye and may God bless her soul in gloryland.

Church Business Meeting

I was schedule to speak at a Chinese meeting one particular sunday. I thought it was good to go early and attend the English meeting and had some fellowship with the saints before my chinese meeting.

I reached early on time. After the Lord's supper and offering collection, there was the short announcement. At the end of the announcement we were told that " Today we have no speaker, instead the church will adjourned to the coffee corner for church business meeting.".

It was not new to me to see a meeting to end abruptly due to no speaker for the day. But it was new to me to have a church business meeting in place of a Word Ministry on Sunday service.

This is something worth pondering, more so for leaders. A few visitors for the morning would not join in to such church business meeting, instead, they left early.

How are you Kiwi?

When I happened to bump into someone I know, mostly from among the churches, people would automatically ask:"How are you Kiwi?"

What they usually mean is that, what are you doing, and how are you getting on?

First of all, I am fine. Am a busy old man too. (Getting old lah!)
I am still in Nibong Tebal, having fellowship and ministry in NTGH English Assembly. I am still actively preaching the Word among the churches (mostly among the Chinese speaking assemblies.)

I am appointed by the Chinese Brethren Assembly Elders Conference to take charge of publishing the Chinese magazine "Fusukang" for a the past four years. A total of 13 issues of the magazine were published during this time. There is this Elders Conference coming up this August 30th-1st.Sep 2011. My term for this job expires at this coming conference.

Circumstances also led me to do tentmaking ministry for the past many many years. During the week I will be busy with mid week meetings as well as running a small business. This helps much in my financial need. However, whenever there is a funeral service or a wedding service commitment, I will have to leave the business alone and attend to the calling of the churches.

Being positive and onward moving, I am also actively overseeing the work among the migrant workers in NTGH. we work with the Vietnamese and Nepali.

Thank God, my three children are working and they are also in fellowship and participating in some ministry as well. They are all in KL.

My wife, Hai yen, is fine. By God's grace, her SLE illness is well under control. She is still on medical treatment and going for routine check up. She is actively participating in the serving ministry in church.

I thank God for good health and positive spirit. Inspite of being forgotten by men, God remembers His servant. God has been good to me ever since I come to trust Him since 12 years old. God is blessing my ministry and providing my need in many special ways ever since I walked in faith into fulltime services since 1977. He is good all the time.Praise the Lord!

I am on my retiring journey of life, passing on many pastoral responsibilities to the church elders, and I am just concentrating on Preaching Ministry. Preach whenever doors are opened to me. Rest and relax when I am fellowshiping with the saints.

So my brethren, Kiwi is fine. He is still on fire for the Lord.

There is a Time for everything

I am presently working on my Fusukang 54 which is mainly a discussion on Missions. Many felt that only big churches are talking about missions not the small country churches. Whereas in fact, every local church should be involved in missions in oneway or other.

When this issue No.54 is done, my assignment of two terms (4 years) for fusukang is up. I will compile issues 49-54 as a booklet. It will be printed out and be distributed to all Chinese Brethren churches at the coming Elder Conference in August 2011. I can see that my involvement in fusukang will end with this final assignment.

As far as working among migrant workers is concern, I am more on the advisory role. The actual doing of the job is more of equiping the migrant believers to run their own services and plan their own work. This is more so with the Nepali works.

As far as the Vietnamese work is concern, God has prepared workers to work among them. Of late we have a sister coming to work among them.

I am also cutting down my itinerary preaching schedule. I can see that it is time to slow down and allow younger people to take the lead.

I strongly believe there is a time for everything. And so be it.

Going to Perdana Gospel Hall

I will be taking a series of meetings this week end----Good Friday & Easter Sunday. I will be preaching in Perdana Gospel Hall,Pusing,Perak.

I am sure God will add His blessing upon the people as they come together to hear His Word. Friday---A Spiritual Awakening. Saturday---- Salvation Belongs to the Lord, it is His gift to man kind. Sunday----Life Transformation In Christ Jesus. Sunday afternoon there is another Youth Meeting---- A Wise Choice In Life

Pray that God will bless the preaching of His Word.

Chinese Fusukang No.53

Admist busy schedule I managed to write articles for Fusukang No.53 In this issue i discuss about Christian funeral and also Church visitation program. In fact, I had Fusukang 42-48 compiled as a book and it is almost finish stork. This compilation carries articles on church doctrine and pratices. Issue 49-54 (next up coming issue) is about the "how to..." in church ministry. God willing, when issue 54 is ready (by end July 2011), I will again compile 49-54 as a book. This time it is about the "how to..." in church ministry. Hopefully these two books will act as a hand book for church leaders in carrying out the various ministries in the local church. If you can read Chinese and would like to have a copy, you can email to me and provide me your mailing address. Or you may go to read from the web-edition at www.fusukang.net Thank you. Kiwi

Years are catching up

It was just like a week ago that I came forth to serve fulltime. But it was not so.It was back in 1977. I was in my 20s. But now I am in my early 60s.

As a reflection: I could only say, we must fill in the gap where God made us fitted in. We will be there as long as we are needed. Sooner or later we must be replaced.

Today as I look around us, I have only one question to ask: where are our young people? Who will continue our work? How was our equipping and discipling ministry? Instead, I can see many elderly leaders are still struggling to lead the local churches. Is it effective? Is the congregation growing?

We like it or not, it is time to let go. Let go while we are still able to provide the counsel and while we are still around to guide the new leaders.

Thank God for those passing years of ministry and for the many many of you who have been my prayer supporters and in fellowship with me.

Christmas Greetings

This year I was busy preparing for the series of activities so much so that I have no time to send each individual their Christmas greetings.

Just to say:::::::: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my prayer partners and supporters. :-)

In NTGH we had most of our Christmas activites done before 25th.Dec 2010. And for the first time, I had a good rest on Christmas Day itself.

My three chidlren are away in KL. My wife, hai yen, had also left for KL to attend to a relative's wedding function. I was left alone in Nibong Tebal for Christmas! First time in these 34 years.

Thank God for the rest. I have to pray and plan for the year 2011.
God bless you all.

A Challenge to the Mindset

I had the opportunity to attend a wedding service in another church in KL lately. Relatives and friends attended the service were amazed at the facilitites in the church hall.

The good sound system, the double LCD projections and a reflecting LCD screen for the singers. No one has to hold a song sheet. Not even the song leader need to hold a song sheet. Everything is on the screen. The presentation and the song leading were so natural.No one need to turn their head to read from the back screen, it is just right infront of them.

The service order was superb. Many non church going relatives were impressed by the church wedding. One of them even shouted "bravoo" at the end of a very impressive presentation.

Something worth thinking about. Something worth reviewing and worth investing into. It shows how much the leaders wanted to give the best to GOD in their presentation and worship.

Getting People Into the Church?

Where did the people go on Sunday? What are they doing on Sunday morning instead of going to church? How could the church attract these people to the churches?

Due to my late night travelling, I had to rest till late morning. I made myself free that Sunday morning because of such family matters and late night long distance travelling.

I visited the Hypermarket and took some snap shots and I had these many questions in my mind. I had this prompting in my heart. I had this thoughts flowing through my mind.

Here parents took their chidlren for breakfast and early shopping.
Here the crowd was entertained by professional entertainer for Chrstmas season.
Here the sound system is so much better than many churches.
Here there is laughter and joy.
Even the elderly find it relaxing, and spending their Sunday morning just watching people passing by.
Here you see young people laughing and have good fellowship, shopping and eating their meals.
Of course they missed God and His Word.

But how often Christians complained that they could not understand what was preached in the meeting. Some felt neglected by people. Others had unforgiveness in their hearts. Children felt boring attending unprepared lessons etc.

Oh! May God speaks to our hearts from the scene of a Hypermarket. May God's churches improve themselves in their presentation and in their teaching sessions. Churches must also invest into good sound systems and good visual aids presentation etc.

Bidor Fellowship and Speaking Engagement

Kiwi was invited to speak at Bidor Gospel Centre on Sunday 5th.Dec 2010.

Kiwi and wife set off their journey at 6.00am from Nibong Tebal. They had a smooth journey to Bidor. They stopped at one of the shop for breakfast before dropping in to the church.

They joined the church for worship and fellowship. Kiwi was asked to speak on John 1:1-3 The heavenly origin of our Savior Christ Jesus.

He reminded the church to recall the mission of the Lord when He was sent into this world. The true meaning of Christmas. He came to seek and to save the lost.(Lk 19:10) He emphasised that Christmas is the time to re focus the vision and mission of the church. Mere celebration without checking our purpose of such celebration is just a religious festival. However, celebrating Christmas with a clear evangelistic vision, and refocusing the church in the vision of seeking and saving the lost will bring life into the congregation. Sets in a revival.

Having leading the thought of the Lord's heavenly origin, Kiwi challenged the christians to fully trusting the Lord with their ambitions,life and hope. Allowing the Lord, our potter, to work through us, the clay in the potter's hand.

After the simple fellowship lunch, they drove back to Nibong Tebal. It was a meaningful trip and a smooth journey. Praise the Lord.

Aunty Mary Rest In The Lord

She had not been well for some time. Nevertheless, she loved to host cell group meeting in her house. Though she cant see, she can sing from her memory many of the choruses and hymns.

She was called home to be with the Lord this morning.
Thank God, we had a very menaingful wake service this evening. Many church friends and neighbours turned up for the service.

May the peace and love of God be to her as she meet up with God. May God comfort the children and blesses the family.

Daughter's Teacher Posting

Chia Hoey graduated in May 2010. She is the joyful girl,enjoying the fellowship of both fellow university friends and church friends.

Immediately after her graduation, she joined the PKA camp as a helper. A camp catering for the U-students. At the end of the camp she took up a temporary work in a factory for five months.
God's timing, at the end of her five month contract, she joined the Emmaus Bible School's Youth Camp as a helper.

While at the camp in KL she was called up to report for teaching. She reported to the kementerian and also reported at her posted school: SM Chong Wah,Setapak,KL. She would be officially report to the school on 13/12/2010 (Requested by the Principal).

Thank God, her camp ends on 10/12/2010 just in time for her to report to school. Praise the Lord.

God is good to her. God is good to us as a family. Praise the Lord !

Kiwi's Preaching at Seremban Gospel Hall

Kiwi was invited to take some meetings at Seremban Gospel Hall recently. He drove all the way from Nibong Tebal to Seremban on Saturday 20/11/2010. He had fellowship with the fulltime worker, and was taken for a steam boat dinner.

Kiwi preached on Sunday morning service on: Role of Local Church in Missions.

After the session, a group of their youth presented a song item. There was a simple lunch provided to church members immediately after the morning worship service.

Kiwi was asked to speak at a special Youth Meeting after lunch. Thank God the youth who came for the worship service, came over to attend this special meeting. As soon as the meeting was over, Kiwi had to drive to Nilai Gospel Hall to drop his daughter who was going to help up in a Youth Camp, and at the same time to pick up a Christian member who wanted to take a lift back to Nibong Tebal.

Kiwi stopped at Ipoh for dinner. Immeidately after dinner he drove back to NT.

Thanks for praying and thank God for a smooth journey. Praise the Lord.

LIM gone to be with the Lord.

In my memory, he was actively serving God in the days of his youth. He was a jolly person, easily get along. He was kind and caring towards those who need help. However, age caught up with him. He was 76 when he was called to be with the Lord.

Not many were at the night service as well as his funeral service. He wanted it to be simple and he stated that he wanted his funeral to be done in low profile. May be because of this, few came for his services.

Whatever it may be, Mr.Lim, rest in peace. God remember your every good deed done in His name. He was cremated on 16/11/2010

Following Christ

How would you follow Christ? There is only one way-----denial yourself, take up your cross and follow the Lord.

I was speaking at BRGH Penang on 31/10/2010. I specially emphasised on following Christ in God's way----self denial, take up our cross and follow Christ.

Unless we are prepared to do so, we can annot expect any breakthrough in our spiritual life. More so, we cannot expect spiritual revival among the churches.

Self denial---- is to allow Christ be the Lord of our life. Emptying our self, and be humble before God. It has the sense of obedience to God and to walk in God's will.

Take up the cross --- to suffer and to die for preaching and standing up for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Willing to be humiliated and be thought as a fool by the world for the gospel sake. It is a willingness to minister to others in the love of God.

The church needs to stand up again for the gospel of Jesus Christ. More young people must be willing to offer themselves for the ministry----- to reachout to the lost for the Lord. More Christians must be willing to live a simpler lifestyle and to pastor and equip the saints of the Lord.

Pray for revival to come into our lives.Amen.