MTS Newsletter
A Note from the Principal
During the recent pandemic, all works of life were suddenly divided into essential and non-essential! The categorization was clearly based on physical needs and economic purposes. We were caught in such dilemma as we were being “categorized” as non-essential. This unearth a number of questions related to our identity and calling to serve in full time ministry. Do we consider our calling and our services to God and others essential? What actually made them essential even though the world may classify our calling and services as “non-essential”? Our convictions:
The calling. In MTS, we still hold on to the biblical teaching that it is the calling from God (e.g. Ex. 28:1, Mk. 1:16 – 17, Acts 13:2) which makes our full time ministry an essential to all. This involves the individual subjective response to God’s calling (cf. 1 Tim. 3:1), and the objective decision, affirmation and guidance of the home church (cf. Acts 13: 1 – 4, Gal.2:9) and the familial support (cf. 1 Tim. 3:1 – 7).
The person. In the first place, the individual who is called by God to MTS has personally experienced God’s redemptive act through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior, and continue to experience the act of life-transformation of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:12, Titus 3:4 – 7). The individual is called by God to continue bringing others to experience such new relationship with the living God.
The ministry. MTS motto is PROCLAIM CHRIST (Col. 1:28 – 29). This is both the goal and core for our theological education to prepare men and women for this lifelong full time ministry. In the words of John Wesley: “……to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness and without which they cannot see the Lord.” Saving souls involved preaching the gospel, bringing God’s love and justice to the world and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
We believe these tripartite convictions continue to make our calling and ministry essential to the world that is seeking for fulness of life.
On 18 March, we are forced to send all the 120 short-term missions school students and about 20 of our theological students back home as the Movement Control Order began. Thank God that He has opened up new ways for us to continue to connect with and to shepherd these students. Despite the many challenges of this period, God is faithfully at work. He is still calling men and women after His own heart to come to MTS and to get ready for His essential work in this fallen world. We are filled with joy as we welcome the first three Bahasa Malaysia Pre-Theological Programme students this June. They are preparing themselves for our Bahasa Malaysia theological programme which will commence in 2021. Besides, we also welcome two Iban Pre-Theological Programme students and eight Methodist Short Term Missions School College students to MTS.
Join me to offer our praise and thanksgiving to the God who continue to call people to participate in His essential work to the world!