Let me get something off my chest first before I begin.
Looking at the list of chaplains, I believe I was the least experienced and qualified chaplain of MPI. Why do I say this? Well, not out of comparison; but because I was appointed chaplain to the students immediately upon graduating from seminary. (Apart from my appointment to a church) Without any inkling of being a chaplain, in fact, without any experience of pastoring, I felt I was thrown into the ocean and expected to swim on my own. Furthermore, I learned that I needed to share in Mandarin for the Religion Period! (It was reverted back to English later in the year. Praise the Lord!) This wasn’t my cup of tea. I don’t even read or write Mandarin. Definitely I was the wrong guy for the job!
Now, this was how I began my 2 years of chaplaincy at MPI. With that aside, let me begin by saying my experience of serving at MPI can be summed up in the 3 following words:
MEANINGFUL
It’s meaningful because we prayed together. I enjoyed the once a week prayer session with the Christian staffs of MPI. It taught me how a Christian organization worked differently from many other organizations around. They rely on God. They commit everything and everyone to God.
Most importantly they don’t hide their faith but practice and profess them in their workplace. From my past experience in the marketplace, this is rare. That’s why it’s a meaningful time praying together. It’s meaningful for the staff, in fact, to take out an hour of their working time just to pray together.
It’s meaningful because of the unforeseen challenges it brought.
Some from inside, some from outside. It seems what we do within had repercussion(s) outside. Comments from parents; comments from pastors; just to mention a few. Everyone was watching. And we are accountable for our words and deeds. But through these challenges, I learned to surrender all to God as long as my conscience is clear before Him. And the Lord has always been kind to me!
PRICELESS
It’s priceless because I witnessed students’ lives changed. It is a great joy to see how life is turned around; how an average youth got serious with his/her walk with God; how their good characters and maturity testified to others around about their true identity in Christ.
It’s priceless because I saw them graduate. Attending their graduation was a memorable experience.
Knowing they would go into the world and contribute to the workforce, my prayer is always for them to be good witnesses for the Lord in the marketplace. I’m excited for what they can offer to the world and how they will encounter God in a new way in the future.
INTERESTING
First, it’s interesting because it’s new ground for me. I’d never done student ministry before. As I served with and among them, I learnt new ideas. I came to see what make youth tick – what they’re attracted to, what catches their attention! I recognized how to use group activities, either indoor or outdoor, as an aide to carry the message across. The result is better, especially for this generation.
It’s interesting because I saw the potential in young people. They are dynamic, energetic and creative. They can relate to the needs of their peers with what was intended. They can utilize the current trend and worldview to reach their own generation. Besides this, they are enthusiastic, always keen to serve and make a difference. They are open to remarks and feedback, which I think is a good learning process to cultivate at this age. This means they are open to improvement now which shows me that they will continue to be so in the future.
Is Methodist Pilley Institute a place where lives are transformed? Well, come and find out for yourselves. At least I know my life was! I pray that God will continue to bless MPI with His favor in the days ahead, as He has in days past. Like the lighthouse in her logo, I have faith MPI will continue to be that beacon of light which shines for the Lord throughout Sibu and beyond. May those who work, serve, study in and graduate from MPI shine for the Light of the World!
By Rev Ngu Lock Tee
Wesley Methodist Church, Sibu