45th SCAC
2020 President’s Address / Rev Dr Tie King Tai
Sitting in this brand new Methodist HQ president’s office (no. 505), I begin to write this year’s president’s address. From my level 5 window, I can see the brownish water of the Rejang River, the green of the riverside forests, the colorful roofs of the various shops and houses. I am thankful that I still have the opportunity, in these last few months of presidency, to move in and sit here. At least, it’s probably better than Moses standing on Mt Nebo looking across to Canaan.
I also feel honored because I had 3 different president’s offices in the past 4 years. In the first year or so, I was able to sit in the historical old office of the Methodist Gospel Building. In the next two years, I sat in the magnificent conference room of Masland Church’s Hoover Mission House building. Once again I must thank Masland Church for their generosity and for taking care of their “mother” (SCAC). Now, “mother and daughter” are still neighbors. Over the years, the selfless and generous contributions of Masland Church pastors, leaders, and members (not just an office, but also the 4 offerings each year, the live streaming during the pandemic, etc) have become a most beautiful example to the rest of the churches and future generations.
Besides Masland Church, of course there are around 130 churches, all united in excellent performance in all aspects. Your offerings for the past many years have not only supported nearly 200 pastors to minister in cities and villages, but also over 50 overseas and local missionaries to spread the gospel. You have also supported various hardware and software ministries, including this over RM 10 million new Methodist HQ and the over RM 3 million renovation of Wei Kwok Hall, all by the grace of the accumulated offering funds of the past years.
May God remember and repay all your generous gifts. Allow me to use the words Paul said to the Philippian church, and on behalf of SCAC to say to you: “18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4)
Before I step down from the presidency, let us review the past 4 years together.
THE PAST
1. Fasting and prayer
I remember 4 years ago, when I was consecrated by Bishop Ong Hwai Teck as president, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to learn from Queen Esther to fast and pray for 3 days, to learn not to depend on myself but look solely to God’s leading for the next 4 years. The result was enthusiastic response from fellow pastors and brothers and sisters, all wanting to participate. Initially I only planned to do it once, however in the next 3 years everyone couldn’t stop, so it became an annual spiritual exercise and feast. The number of participating brothers and sisters also increased with each year. This year, I have not arranged an Esther’s fasting and prayer, because we have already accomplished 4 years’ work together. But the weekly Wesleyan fasting and prayer, from after Thursday dinner to Friday 3 pm, will continue.
I thank God that through fasting and prayer, many of us, both pastors and church members, learn to view all things (including food) as dirt, in order to gain Christ as the greatest treasure. We also learn not to live on food alone, but on every word that comes from God, to watch and pray and long for Jesus’ second coming. But there are still many pastors and brothers and sisters who do not really value fasting and prayer. They think that fasting is optional and do not follow Jesus’ teaching. Dear brothers and sisters, let us unite in fasting and prayer and listen to Jesus’ words: “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” (Mark 2:20, Luke 5:35) “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)
2. Meeting efficiency
Because of the organization of the Methodist Church and the many activities, we are famous for our tradition of meetings – never-ending meetings, long meetings, even lasting beyond midnight. So in the first year (2017), when I suggested more efficient meetings, many pastors and leaders responded positively (even other annual conferences also responded positively). Not only did we shorten all the meetings (some from 5 or 6 hours to 1 or 2 hours!), but we also reduced the number of meetings. Even the annual conference meetings have been shortened from 3 and a half days to two days (since this year is election year, it has to be slightly longer). Even though the length and number of meetings have decreased, the quality of meetings still needs to be effectively maintained. It is not shortened for the sake of shortening, nor reduced for the sake of reducing, but so that we all can cherish our time and prioritize our lives. Before the meeting we prepare well, and after the meeting we act immediately. Do not become a person who accomplishes nothing besides meetings, nor be a person dead in activities but be alive in Christ.
3. Appointments reform
Over the years, we have all experienced the thrilling and exciting “appointments night culture”. It brought anticipation, excitement, stimulation, joy, interaction, etc., but also brought tears, insomnia, late nights, arguments, tension, uncertainty, etc. In the second year (2018), we referred to the system of the West Malaysia Trinity Annual Conference, to appoint early and to consult all church pastors and PPRC members via forms. The final decision still lies with the president and the appointment board. Generally, pastors and committee members only see the local church’s needs, but the appointment board is able to see the overall needs of SCAC. In order to take into account the whole situation, sometimes disappointments are unavoidable. I ask everyone for your understanding and forgiveness.
Some pastors have warned that consulting the churches might deprive SCAC of their authority. Thank you for your advice, we will continue to be careful and learn to submit to one another in ministry. Recently someone mentioned that this system is not fair, because only committee members and not church members are allowed votes. This statement is strange, because those who say such things do not realize that we are already appointing fairly. Besides, the Methodist church system is not congregational but episcopal.
4. Financial reform
In the beginning of 2017, after the MBR embezzlement case, we began a financial reform, establishing internal audit units to help SCAC and churches operate transparently in the financial area. Hopefully it brings an even better future for the church. Other annual conferences have also learned from our system. However, no matter how the system changes, it will not be much use unless the pastors and church members in charge follow the SOP to do audits. We all must also abandon the “trust culture” financially. When dealing with church money, do not trust others, and do not trust yourself. We must follow the Bible’s culture, which is whenever we touch public money, there must be witnesses (2 Corinthians 8:16-24). If we follow the Bible’s teaching, the Bible says, “20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.” (2 Corinthians 8) In other words, in financial matters, we do not only do it in front of God, but also in front of others, to show that we are innocent. In this way, we will not fall into temptation, and others will not be suspicious. For most matters, Jesus says do not be afraid, only believe. But with financial matters, the Bible’s teaching is: Do not be fearless, only be suspicious. Be fearful that you yourself might steal money, also suspect that others might steal money.
5. Family discipleship
In 2018, God gave us a vision through the first D6 convention in Malaysia, to see that family ministry is church ministry, church ministry is family ministry. We followed the commands and methods in the Bible to promote family discipleship, helping families with family altars.
Over the past many years, various boards have been promoting training, for example the Board of Laity promoting discipleship training (In 2018, taking over the original short term missions school in MTS, a full-time director of short terms missions, Rev Kho Leh Yong, was appointed, and also started a short term missions school in southern region-Kuching), Board of Christian Education promoting children and adult education, the Board of Youth Ministry promoting training for youth, Board of Family and Counseling promoting marriage and family training, etc. But each board only emphasizes discipleship under their own department, or training according to age, or different levels. Few are inter-generational family discipleship training. So in 2019, we established a family discipleship task force. We hope to help churches and families to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission more comprehensively.
Family Discipleship is seeking for the lost sheep in the family, as Jesus said, “12 What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18)
The “little ones” that Jesus mentioned are the little children in your home. Oftentimes, we as parents or grandparents neglect their spiritual needs. Handing the children over to Sunday School is already considered quite good, but that is only one hour of teaching a week. What about the other 167 hours in the week? So we will not be wrong in using the Bible’s teaching model, which is teaching anytime and anywhere: “7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6)
To achieve this kind of teaching, we need to start from parents and grandparents. “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” (Deuteronomy 6). Parents and grandparents must first hear (“Hear, O Israel”), believe (“The Lord our God, the Lord is one”), obey (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”), and remember (“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.”), only then it is possible to teach (“Impress them on your children”).
Therefore the church needs to equip parents as disciples, so that parents can teach their children at home to become disciples of Jesus Christ. We can begin from family altar to do family discipleship. Since the Movement Control Order in March, my wife and I have led 4 different families online to do family altar once a week for a total of 20-30 times. Besides that, we have also led some other families to do family worship together once, then they were able continue on their own. If pastors and leaders of each church can lead the members of their congregation to do family altars, church revival is in sight.
Eng Kwang MC in Bintulu has been promoting family altars in the past 2 years, they are a beautiful example. On Facebook you can listen and watch:
Sarawak CCOWE
Disciple life training webinar (7/10/2020)
Case sharing (1): SCAC people group discipleship and pastoring
Case sharing (2): Eng Kwang MC discipleship and pastoring
Over the past years, most gospel organizations have been emphasizing personal discipleship training. In the recent 10 or 20 years, churches have also begun to emphasize personal discipleship. But Eng Kwang MC uses the family as the unit for discipleship training. We should learn from them.
As for case sharing (1), it is the model for people group discipleship training written by Board of Laity director Rev Dr Jonathan Wong. It is also the model that most modern churches have long neglected, yet our church has been inadvertently doing this for the past century. In Jesus’ Great Commission of Matthew 28, “make disciples of all nations”, “nations” (ethne) actually refers to “people groups”. In the past we have emphasized “Foochows”, “Hakkas”, “Ibans”, and other people groups. They are the “nations” among “all nations”. To reach all people groups, we need to plant churches among them, so that they can multiply. In the past century, churches for the Foochow have been planted from Sarawak to Sabah, even to Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, etc. Later churches were also planted among the Hakka, in various districts in Kuching. Last year we even appointed our first Hakka missionary. Recently in the past 20 years we have also planted churches among the indigenous peoples, establishing 25 BM worship services and adopting over 110 longhouses.
These people group discipleships are all based on the Great Commission. But we must remember that people group discipleship requires a combination of both “personal” and “family” discipleship in order to grow roots and produce fruit, and pass on our faith from generation to generation.
6. English District
10 to 20 years ago, we had the vision of establishing an English District. Last year, during annual conference, it was officially founded. During the pandemic this year, this district gathered strength under the new district superintendent to minister online and serve with creativity and efficiency, including multiple women’s and men’s seminars, XEE training, local preacher training, combined live-streaming worship services (including interactions and prayers before and after services), etc. This year 2 new local conferences are established. The vision for this district is to one day become a missions conference, a provisional annual conference, and finally an annual conference.
7. Pandemic breakthrough
In March of this year (2020), we held a family discipleship seminar. God allowed the coronavirus pandemic to come, stopping all church activities. But it also prepared us to enter a time of family discipleship, to learn to do family altar at home and lead the whole family to join in online worship service, prayer meeting, fellowship, small group, etc.
Through the pandemic, God taught us three things: the three trans- (please refer to President’s Desk).
During this time, of all the meetings that I joined, it was the senior brothers and sisters of the senior fellowship and women’s fellowship who were the bravest and first to use cloud technology for their meetings. The senior learning center even started online classes. During the senior conference, over 1000 people registered to attend online! It is very admirable.
The ICB and IT unit provided a lot of timely help to each conference board and church, including this year’s combination of physical and online annual conference, and especially with the online voting system. We thank these brothers and sisters who have worked so hard behind the scenes. They are the silent heroes of this pandemic.
In the past we heard about cults actively recruiting online, but the church was very slow in learning to use the Internet in doing discipleship. Two years ago I heard that it was possible to do Bible study online, but I did not feel there was a need. The pandemic forced the church to go online to minister, but we still often hear this phrase, “after the pandemic, we will do this and do that.”
The Bible says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13) Brothers and sisters, let us not wait after the pandemic is over before we serve. We should live a normal Christian life today.
Thank God, many churches did not wait for the pandemic to be over. They went online to do live-streaming worship service, evangelism training, discipleship training, small group Bible study, family altar, family visitation, even Sunday School etc.
During the past 2 months or so, I joined the online XEE class hosted by Wesley MC and English District. We experienced a mini-revival. Allow me to tell the story:
My XEE team had 4 persons (usually is 3), with 2 trainers and 2 trainees. The first time we went to evangelize, we brought a father to Christ online. Later we also brought his wife and his two children to believe in Jesus. How precious to see the whole family coming to Christ! Next, our prospects were the 3 relatives of a team member. They lived in Kuching. Two were almost 80 years old, one was 40+ years old. We thought it would be very difficult for them to believe in Jesus, because they were Hakka with idol worshipping background. But when we asked if they were willing to trust in Jesus, from the eldest to the youngest they nodded their heads! Hallelujah! Now they are preparing to be baptized. The next prospect was also a Teochew relative almost 80 years old. He warmly welcomed us into his home, and we shared the gospel with our masks on. He understood everything and was sincerely willing to trust in Jesus! Hallelujah! Besides the elderly, we also talked to youth. 2 of them trusted in Jesus! Hallelujah! To date, we have shared the gospel with 10 people, and 10 have accepted Christ. This is the first time I have experienced such a perfect 10 in sharing the gospel. I call this experience “supernaturally natural”. Supernatural, because it is God’s work. Natural, because those who believed very naturally said, “Yes”, without any hesitation. They were all very willing.
Of course, success in sharing the gospel is not only when someone believes in Christ. Success in sharing the gospel is “simply taking the initiative to share only Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God” (Bill Bright). So no matter the result, as long as we share the gospel, we are successful.
The Apostle Paul said, “16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. … 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Corithians 9)
As Christians, our calling is to witness for Christ and share the gospel. How much more for pastors and church leaders! We need the zeal and the actions of the Apostle Paul, so that our lives are not wasted. We know that without Christ, life is empty. But how many brothers and sisters who believe in Christ know that without sharing Christ, life is also empty? Therefore I invite everyone to affirm that:
Without trusting in Jesus, life is meaningless. Without sharing Jesus, life is meaningless.
THE FUTURE
From the past, we see topics that still need attention in the future, including fasting and prayer, meeting efficiency, appointment reform, financial reform, family discipleship, English District, evangelism, etc. Of course, we must also continue to pay attention to the 6 functions of the church: worship, education, equipping, social concerns, evangelism and missions.
Let us see what other works we should focus on in the future:
1. Methodist Private School
For many years, even before my presidency, news about the Methodist Private School always seemed to be full of sound and fury, with no result.
Praise the Lord for raising up Madam Sandra Chiew (wife of the late Brother John Ling), full of vision to lead the Methodist Private School team in setting up a 5 year goal. The goal is to establish Methodist Private Schools in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, to raise up talents as future pillars for society and the church.
The latest news is that we have found a beautiful 15-acre piece of land in Kuching. May the Lord continue to lead in all the preparatory work and to lead the educational development in the other 3 cities. May the Lord’s will be done in Sarawak, as it is in heaven.
2. Social concern work
In 2018, SCAC appointed a full-time Board of Social Concerns director, Rev Pauline Ling. In 2019 a full-time chaplain for Methodist Pilley Institute, Rev Debbie Yek, was also appointed, in order to care for this community. This year, MPI has begun a training program for social workers. Hopefully it contributes to the future society.
In early 2018, SCAC also took out 10 million ringgit from accumulated funds of previous years, hoping to finish using them before the end of 2020 in showing concerns for local and foreign groups in need. Every year when facing natural or man-made disasters, we have made every effort to donate, including this year’s Wuhan and Malaysian pandemic, where we have donated over 500,000 ringgit. Our pastors and church members have participated fully in disaster relief work. In the days ahead, in a world full of disasters, we must stand firm and continue to serve society faithfully.
Thank God, last year the brand new Victory Home was completed. We appointed a full-time chaplain, Rev Wong Kok Siang, to pastor together with the hardworking Rev Ting Diu Kiong (volunteer) and supervisor Brother Tan Kok Hua. The Board of Christian Social Concerns has already decided to use the old Victory Home as a rehab center for women, called “Elim Centre”. Hopefully in the future it will serve people in need.
Besides the youth centre in Sibu, this year the youth centre in Bintagor was also completed, serving the local youth. The Board of Youth Ministry hopes that in the future each city will have a youth centre.
3. Historical Archives Center
SCAC has already rented the 4-storey building at Jalan Osman from SIAC as a future historical archives centre. Hopefully in the next one or two years renovation will be completed and it can be used.
Final Words
During the devotional time this year for the 11 District Conferences, I used the Apostle Paul’s final words to say goodbye to everyone. I used 2 Corinthians 13 as my exhortation:
“11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Through these final words, I encouraged everyone to rejoice in the Lord during this pandemic time. We must depend on God in our daily devotion and regular evangelism as we move towards perfection. As Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on” (refer to Philippians 3:12-16). This is the “Christian Perfection” that our founder John Wesley emphasized.
During this annual conference, allow me to use another “final words” from Paul to say goodbye to everyone:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)
By ourselves, everything we do will feel difficult. But with God, nothing is impossible.
How can we depend on God (“in the Lord”)? Ephesians 6:11-17 tells us that we must put on the armor of God. Every part of the armor is related to the Bible: truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, sword (word of God). In other words, to depend on God is to let the word of Christ dwell richly in our hearts (Colossians 3:16).
How do we depend on God? Ephesians 6:18-20 tells us that we must “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people…” In other words, depending on God is to depend on the Holy Spirit to watch and pray.
Depending on God is to depend on the Holy Scriptures and depend on the Holy Spirit anytime and anywhere.