45th SCAC
Stapang and Selangau Merged
Beginning in 2021, Stapang Methodist Preaching Centre will be merged with Selangau Methodist Preaching Centre.
This proposal is made by Sibu North District because despite many years, the adult numbers at Stapang Preaching Centre have not reached the criterion as stated in the rules.
After the merge, those serving at Stapang will join the Selangau Preaching Center evangelism and membership committee.
This proposal was passed unanimously.
Samariang Methodist Preaching Centre
The setting up of “Samariang Methodist Preaching Centre” in Samariang, Kuching was approved during the 45th annual conference.
The gospel ministry at Samariang began in 2004 when INTI College in Kuching planned to build a campus in Samariang. The Kuching District suggested to the Board of Executive to buy shop lots in Samariang in order to expand the local college ministry. In the same year, the Board of Executive agreed to allocate RM 800,000 to buy 2 units of 3-storey shop lots as a center for student gospel ministry.
In the end, INTI college did not build a campus, so in 2005 Samariang Methodist Center, led by Sungai Maong Methodist Church, focused on indigeneous peoples ministry. In the same year, there were around 60 students in the Chinese Sunday School. Due to geographic reasons, in 2015, Sungai Maong Methodist Church transferred Samariang Methodist Center’s ministry to Matang Methodist Church. Two years later, since the proportion of local Chinese residents was very low, BM ministry for indigenous peoples became more urgent. Thus in 2017, Matang Methodist Church expanded the BM ministry at the Methodist Center.
In 2019, an average of 25 people joined the BM gatherings at Samariang Methodist Center. During the pandemic, since August, an average of 15 people join every week.
Since 2019, a Matang Methodist Church pastor administers Holy Communion and preaches the first Sunday of each month. Sermons for the other 3 weeks are by local preachers, Korean missionaries, and local missionaries.
Samariang Methodist Center has recorded 4 infant baptisms, 5 adult baptisms, and 2 official church members in Matang Methodist Church’s Book of Life. This year, those who have completed baptism classes and are awaiting baptism include 1 for adult baptism, 2 children baptisms, 5 membership confirmations (SIAC baptisms). There are 4 who have believed and are regular church-goers, but are not baptised. In 2020, there were 26 children in the Sunday School name list.
Since January of 2018, a Presbyterian missionary couple has been helping out in Samariang. Local missionary Yu Ai Ling has been working full time on the indigneous peoples ministry since July 2020.
As an electoral district, Samariang has a total of 18,250 registered voters. The town plan covers 5245 acres, of which 600 have been developed, with almost 5000 houses built. The satellite town in which Samariang Methodist Center is located has conservatively about 3000 houses and 172 shops, 1 supermarket, 3 primary schools, 3 secondary schools, 2 public colleges and 7 government offices.
This is a new and developing Kuching satellite town. Housing prices are low, attracting those with lower income. Many indigeneous peoples from longhouses and villages who come to work in Kuching choose to settle down in Samariang. It is a densely populated new satellite town, facing many social and family issues. In 2019, the Board of Executive bought 3.36 acres of land in Samariang for future development of social concern and gospel ministries. The town is a mission field for BM ministry.
Nyelong Grace Methodist Preaching Centre
Nyelong Park Methodist Church local conference decided to upgrade its English ministry into an English preaching centre. It is named “Nyelong Grace Methodist Preaching Centre” and will be under the English District.
Currently, the English Ministry has 51 members (Book of Life). Average attendance is 44 (2019). Since prayer meeting is held after worship service, attendance is the same as worship service.
Monthly average offering is RM 2,600 (2019), SCAC pledge is RM 22,250 (2019). Average cell group attendance is 15 (2019), average K small group attendance is 7 (2019).
Nyelong Grace Methodist Preaching Centre will share all hardware with Nyelong Park Methodist Church: sanctuary, chapel, classrooms, offices, and parsonage.
Petra Prayer Mountain
Petra Methodist Church Prayer Mountain is officially named “Petra Prayer Mountain”, for personal or group use in prayer practice.
Two years ago, Petra Prayer Mountain was successfully completed. This prayer mountain became not only a landmark in the town of Bau, but also a sign of God’s mighty power in this place of many gods and idols.
In order to allow even more people to come to the prayer mountain and experience God’s great grace and blessings, more facilities are planned for spiritual disciplines, and for personal or group use in prayer practice. A spiritual disciplines database will also be established for brothers and sisters to read, meditate, practice, teach.
Chee San PC to be deconsecrated
In 2021, Chee San Methodist Preaching Centre of Sibu West District will be closed with a deconsecration service.
Sibu West District proposed this because members have mostly moved into the town area. Two households (irregular) remain in the parish. Nearby are other parishes including Tieng Ann Methodist Church and Ching Ang Methodist Church. Church attendance is mostly made up of those who drive from the town area.
Also, there is no caretaker for the church and no nearby residents, so it becomes a target for thieves and drug addicts. In two years (2018-2019), the church has been broken into around 10 times. Basic church property such as power lines and electric fans have been stolen and not replaced, in case they are stolen again.
Thus during worship service it becomes very hot and uncomfortable especially for the elderly. Currently worship services are mostly held in the chapel at Ing Hock Methodist Church.
A year’s time is provided before closing this preaching center in 2021, to explain to old members and to transfer memberships.
The sanctuary should be torn down. The wood can be sold, to prevent it from being a hideout for drug addicts and prevent thieves from stealing the wood. Remaining funds of the preaching center can be given to churches in need or given to the church district.
Church memberships can be moved to churches closest to the members’ current residences. The Book of Life can be kept by SCAC.