Yesterday, Wednesday, January 16th, 2013, saw the official launching of Ministry Asia Pacific (http://www.maplink-web.org/)'s new premises, together with the dedication of the David Boler lecture hall which will house training under the auspices of MAP Evangelism Leadership Institute, and finally, the official launching of Rev Ooi Chin Aik's second book, Final Reward in Paul's Thoughts (MAP, 2012).
This posting is my reflection of the above event.
It was very, very good, and heart-warming to see the leadership of the evangelical church of Malaysia present. Rev Eu, the Chairman of NECF and CFM was present and said a few words and prayed. Senior leaders of the Brethren assemblies in KL/PJ were present. SIB KL was represented. A Senior Pastor of an Assembly of God church as well. Well respected Pas David Goh of Banner of Love church in Kota Damansara was present, as well as Pas Kenneth Chin of AYA. There were other leaders from Malaysia Bible Seminari and Seminari Theoloji Malaysia at the event too.
One of the songs we sang that night was 'Great is Your Faithfulness'. Once again, I was deeply moved as we meditated collectively, through song, on the finished work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is the apex of God's faithfulness to such unfaithful servants of His.
I realized that indeed as the Apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 1, verses 16 and 17, the Gospel 'IS' the power of God unto Salvation, to all who believe. Even when the truth of the Gospel is in the songs we sing, it has power to move the heart.
Rev Ooi and Rev Daniel Ho then shared their experiences of their partnership with the late Mr David Boler, a foremost statesman of the evangelical movement in Malaysia in the 70's, 80's and 90's, and also Chairman of the Board of Council, MAP. Their sharing of their experiences with this gracious man was moving. Indeed, the late Mr Boler seemed to have embodied the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. This can hardly be said of much Christian leadership in the Malaysian Christian community these days.
Sadly, there are vast segments of Malaysian Christian community with leadership which still borders on arrogance, and of 'lording over the flock' type of leadership, and of leaders who have yet to experience what our Lord said of 'wheat falling to the ground and dying', and what Paul spoke of in Gal 2:20, about crucifixion with Christ.
So we ended the night by renewing fellowship with many other faithful brethren whom Jessie and I had lost touch with in the busyness of life.
My questions that night were, 'what now for the coming generations of believers who seem to have lost touch totally with the truth of the Gospel, and its application in life'? Indeed where is the leadership in Gospel Evangelism? Will we still boast about the thousands who 'accept Christ' without being 'born again' or regenerated? What about the multiplied thousands who sit in our pews, and the hundreds who preach from our pulpits, who have yet to 'carry their cross', and follow their Lord and Savior in total doulos spirit?
As much as I left yesterday night's event with warmth and thanksgiving to the Lord for His work in the Gospel, I also left with a sad heart about the future of the Gospel in the church of Jesus Christ in Malaysia.
May the Lord of the Harvest bring about a mighty Gospel-initiated and Gospel-sustained revival in our land, for His glory.
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