3: Mission Conference Day 2

Yesterday was Malaysia Day - but one of the delegates, John Santhosam, has some concerns. 'All this 1Malaysia talk is all very well but we Christians are not allowed to build churches. There is land for mosques - all over the place - and for Hindu Temples, but not for Christians. We are not happy about this.'

I learn some Inbam, from East Malaysia:
Puji Tuhan - Praise the Lord!
Nama Burita - How are you?
Thanks to Rev Iben Arang for that brief tutorial.

Alongside the devotional, personal and intimate in worship let us be inclusive and diverse, owning corporate pain and injustice. We tend to polarize and stay safe in our zones.

It is so remarkable to be engaging with Mission here in West Malaysia; to encounter a different paradigm, a new landscape. The past missionary heritage is embraced with confidence and gratitude and the new challenges and opportunities in world mission are faced with hope, energy and vision.

On Parish to Parish Links:
According to the Revd Dr Viji Daniel at Klang Church, 'When the links work well they work very well. There's usually a boost after a visit but somehow it then gets neglected alot of the time.....'

"Your Diocese must be a very big one. We find visitors from the Diocese are not knowing each other".

George Tay is Dean of Indonesia when he is not too busy with his own parish ministry! This is an expression of the Diocese of Singapore's commitment to mission, evidenced in the formation of six missionary deaneries which also include Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand. This initiative is supported and 'anchored' by the other Dioceses in the Province of South Asia. We hear of how the Revd John Sim had to flee under cover of darkness having received death threats following his invitation to people on one island to come to this new church. Subsequently he told the local Muslim policeman about it who remarkably gathered the people of that Muslim village together and told them that this man was under his protection!