The Esther fast and pray was only supposed to be a one-time event. Now it is a church-wide movement, far beyond President Rev Dr Tie King Tai’s expectations.

“Initially this was just a personal action, so that through 3 days of the Esther fast and pray, I might have the wisdom to lead SCAC in the coming 4 years. I never expected it to grow like this and move so many people to respond and participate. I can only say that God’s grace cannot be measured.”

President Tie wanted to emphasize that this is all God’s grace. It is not from him; the glory is all God’s.

Now, the Esther fast and pray movement is headed by a pastor and a lay leader, with around 600 participants. From over 200 in the first year, it grew to 400 in the second year and increased to 600 in the third year.

This is incredible. “Of course, prayer is drawing near to God. Maybe through prayer, everyone received unexpected results, so it encouraged even more people to join.”

Family worship
President Tie said that through fasting and prayer, they saw the importance of family discipleship, and understood that church ministry and family ministry is connected as one. Hence they began to promote family worship.

“Promoting Family Discipleship cannot be just in word, so this year we need to improve the work in this area. We need to focus on training parents who are willing to die for God, and make sure everyone shares the same vision.”

The last verse in Malachi reads, “He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” President Tie warned that if we do nothing, God’s curse will come upon us. This is a terrible consequence.

At the same time, divorce rates in today’s society are rising. Hence the church needs to encourage its members to turn their hearts to the home, to build up families, parents and children after God’s own heart. “Parents need to be a good example, only then can they equip their children. Unfortunately parents today only emphasize one thing, which is to bring their children to Sunday School, and wrongly consider their responsibility done.”

Rev Tie raised the question in his “President’s Desk” column (CMM 1234) whether the church still needed Sunday School. His answer was yes. Sunday School cannot be cancelled because Sunday School helps children from non-Christian families build their faith from a young age.

In today’s changing world, the church has taken over discipleship training from parents. In fact, the church should first train parents who in turn train their children. In recent years, SCAC has been actively promoting family worship ministry, hoping that parents will again pick up the baton of training disciples.

“In fact family worship is not as difficult as you imagine. The important thing is whether you can sustain it.” President Tie praised CMM chief editor Wong Meng Lei’s family worship as a successful example. The Wong family began family worship in 2013 and continues weekly taking turns in each of the 5 brothers’ homes.

As for material, President Tie said that any material is usable. “Daily Living Water” is an option. “CMM’s liturgies for Qing Ming and Chinese New Year Eve dinner are also very good materials.” He also suggested that the Board of Literature work with the Board of Worship and Music as well as the Board of Family and Board of Counseling, to publish similar weekly liturgies for family worship.

Appointments are most troubling
Since he became president in 2017, he made changes to the SCAC appointment system. Appointments are no longer a “one-night” matter. Instead, in June, survey forms are sent to churches and pastors. The survey forms are returned before the 15th of August. Then the results are discussed in small groups until the official meeting of the Board of Appointments in October. The appointment list is released then, allowing pastors and church members one month to consider it before the official release. “Actually this system is not new. The Trinity Annual Conference already started practising it many years ago…”

Rev Tie said that the Board of Appointments can only try not to make too many changes. It cannot appease
everyone, so it is inevitable that some that must compromise. He said with a wry smile that this matter is the most troubling in his 3 years of presidency. Some pastors have objections, but they are in the minority. Mostly it is church members who have greater objections.

Starting the Esther fast and pray, implementing the new appointments system, and promoting Family Discipleship training, are the main accomplishments of President Rev Dr Tie King Tai in his 3 years as president. 2020 will be his fourth year as president.

What has he planned for this year?
In 2020, SCAC will continue to promote Family Discipleship, starting from passing on the vision, so that when it is carried out, it will not cause opposition. So during pastors’ school from March 3 to 5, there will be an 18-hour seminar on Family Discipleship. All church leaders, board members, and SCAC co-workers are invited to participate and discuss the ministry.

Besides this, President Tie also challenged churches across Sarawak to encourage members to start family worship and “seek the lost sheep”. Worship attendance in Bintulu Eng Kwang Methodist Church increased rapidly in 2019 thanks to the above ministries.

In this last year of his term, President Tie said that he will have a light and happy heart, because God will continue the work that God himself sees as important.

Interviewee: Rev Dr Tie King Tai
Interviewer: Menglei
Recorder: April
Translator: Joy Tie