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The MTS 22nd Graduation Service
The MTS 22nd Graduation Service (since it’s reopening of Degree Courses) was held on October, 24 at 9 am in the morning at Masland Methodist Church, Sibu. The Principle, Rev. Dr. Khoo Ho Peng conferred degrees and diplomas to the 17 graduating students. To comply with the SOP, only a limited number of participants were allowed to attend the ceremony, with a pre-recorded sermon by Rev. Dr. Dennis Raj and real time broadcast on the web.
In his sermon, “New Beginning”, Rev. Dr. Dennis Raj, President of the Tamil Annual Conference of the Methodist Church of Malaysia, reminded the graduates that they would be facing new challenges as they moved into a new phase of life. He reminded them to trust and look to God, asking God to give them the strength to overcome all temptations.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Raj quoted from Joshua 1: 6-9, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
He said that the background of this passage was that God asked Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land. That was after the death of Moses and Joshua succeeded Moses. The Israelites were disobedient and there were enemies around them. So God told him to be strong and courageous for God would be with him.
“Now you are just like Joshua at the time. When you were in the seminary, you were under the lecturers and you had your classmates to help you. Soon you will be shepherding the church. You may feel uneasy and may worry about your new life. “
He advised them that being strong and courageous can help them to overcome the pressure of ministry, financial pressure and life pressure. “You do not expect a smooth journey in full-time ministry. On the contrary, you may be encountering more pressure and discouragement. You need the power from the Lord to accompany you through all difficulties.”
This strength can also be a blessing to others, helping and inspiring others. “When you are in trouble, you can ask the elders or someone with experience for help. In time to come, you will also become elders and you will then help the younger pastors. Of course, you have to be strong so that you can help others. Where can you draw this strength? Only from God and we can’t do anything without God.”
This strength can help us to overcome all temptations. He emphasized that there are always all kinds of temptations on the path of ministry. Some are greedy for fame, some are discouraged, some are greedy for power, some are jealous of others and the most worrying are those who are self-righteous.
“You are called because of loyalty, not because of reputation, power, or wealth. Greed and jealousy will only make you bitter. We, including me, are all challenged when making up our mind to go full-time. And the worst are those self-righteous people, most often they think they can overcome all these temptations but at the end they are the ones who stumble in faith.”
Rev. Dr. Dennis Raj reminded the graduates not to succumb to these temptations. God will be with them to overcome all these. They have to trust God and be guided by God.
Of the 17 graduates, 3 of them are under the Master of Ministry Program. They are Leong Hui Fung, Sii Tiing Seng and Yap Li Chin.
As for the bachelor degree program, Finsen Wong Lee Ying is only Bachelor of Theology graduate this year. Chuo Quan Wei and Liu Yu Hang from China graduated with Bachelor of Divinity. Dorothy Yet Yung Fong (Major in Missiology), Eric Su Chii Mou and Yong Leong Chai are under the Master of Divinity.
For the Theological Education by Extension program, there are 8 graduates: Diploma of Christian Studies – Chua Geok Chin, Jenny Lim Chia Jing, Khoo Choon Sing, Lee Ngan Chiew and Tiong Mee Hung; Master of Christian Studies – Wong Kiing Hung and Wong Leong Teck; Diploma in Family & Counseling Ministry program – Law Han Lin.