|
| |
 |
| |
| |
|
NEWS 2009 - June to August |
|
|
Consecration of
Assistant Bishop - Melter Jiki Tais |
|
Kota
Kinabalu - 14 August |
 |
The Diocese of Sabah
reached another milestone and made history with the
consecration of the first Kadazan-Dusun,
The Rt Rev Melter Jiki Tais on 14 August 2009
as the Assistant Bishop of Sabah. |
|
The historical event was
officiated by The Archbishop of South East Asia, The Most Rev Dr
John Chew Hiang Chea. The service was
attended by both past and present Anglican Bishops from around the
Province of South East Asia. The
participants of the SOMA Conference 2009 Kota Kinabalu were among
those present for the Consecration.
The notables are the Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi of Nigeria, Bishop
Mark Van Koevering of Mozambique,
Rev Canon George Kovoor, Canon Derek Hong and Edwina Thomas all of
whom were keynote speakers in the Conference. Archbishop Stephen
Than of Myanmar and Bishop Peter Tasker of the Diocese of Sydney
were also present. All the priests, pastors and evangelists from the
Diocese of Sabah were also present. The Majlis of all the churches
and mission districts of the Central Archdeaconry turned out in full
force. It was a joyous occasion and the Cathedral was filled to
overflowing. Close circuit video was provided for the overflow
sitting in the front porch and the Pavilion.
The Consecration was followed by a banquet held in the Ballroom of
the Sutera Magellen Resort Hotel.
The sumptuous dinner was served admist presentations and dances all
testifying the goodness of the Lord.
Bishop Melter gave thanks to God recalling his humble beginnings. He
had to leave his village at his young age to go down river to Kuala
Sapi for his studies. He testified how God had provided key people
who shaped his life to prepare him for this task. |
|
|
|
SOMA Conference 2009 |
|
Kota
Kinabalu -
13-15 August |
|
SOMA (Sharing Of Ministries
Abroad) has a presence in South East Asia with the setting up of
SOMA Singapore in 1999. However, the SOMA Conference has been held
in the West and Africa since where it has been successful in
mobilizing missions in Africa. Bishop Datuk Albert Vun invited SOMA
to hold the 2009 Conference in Kota Kinabalu to encourage more
churches and their members to move out into missions.
The Conference began on the 13th evening with a Welcome Dinner and
the Opening Service. 380 participants came from sixteen countries.
It was colorful and exuberant. 4 sessions were packed into the next
morning ending with lunch. The Consecration of the Assistant Bishop
of Sabah which was incorporated in the Conference began in the late
afternoon followed by a banquet. There were 2 more sessions on the
third and last day followed by the Commissioning and Sending Out of
the teams.
160 participants were formed into 23 teams and sent out to minister
to churches in Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, West Malaysia, Sarawak
and to churches in Sabah. Intercessors were mobilized to adopt the
teams that went out. Team members also recruited prayer partners to
pray for them. As the teams returned, the sending churches have been
encouraged to hear testimonies of the mighty working of the Holy
Spirit.
Appreciation is recorded to the clergy, pastors, staff and members
of the Kota Kinabalu churches who were mobilized to organize the
event.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs
of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return
with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6 |
|
From top left: Archbishop
Benjamin Kwashi (Nigeria), Bishop Mark Van Kovoering (Mozambique),
Rev Canon George Kovoor (Bristol), Rev Canon Derek Hong (Singapore)
& Edwina Thomas (USA). |
|
|
|
|
|
BM Lay Readers'
Seminar |
|
Valley Of
Blessing, Telupid - 28-31 August |
 |
The Diocesan BM Lay
Readers Seminar was held in the Valley of Blessing on
28-31 August 2009. Bishop Datuk Albert Vun officiated the
opening session. He preached on
‘Changing Church Atmosphere’, stressing the importance of
the faith level and the attitudes of the leaders in the
building of the spiritual atmosphere of the Church.
210 participants came from all over Sabah. The seminar
covered areas on ‘Leadership Motivation’, ‘Anglicanism’,
‘Start Right’ and ‘ISEE (Interior Socio-Economic
Empowerment) Ministry’. Bishop Melter Tais, Canon Lidis
Singkung, Canon Musa Ambai and Ps Augustine Saang were the
speakers. During the closing session all the participants
gathered to pray for Malaysia on our National Day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BM Women's Conference |
|
Epiphany
Mission District, Tongod - 24-26 August |
 |
The Diocesan BM
Women’s Conference was held in Epiphany Mission District on
24-26 August 2009 with the theme ‘Wanita Unggul Dan Misi’
(Women of Excellence and Mission). A total of 949
participants attended the conference. The opening session
was officiated by Bishop Melter Tais. He gave a challenge
from Acts 16:13-15. Canon Sylvia Jeans and Ps Judy Berinai
were the speakers for the conference. The topics covered
were ‘Wanita (character of women)’, ‘Unggul (women of
excellence)’, ‘Dan (things more than a woman could do)’ and
‘Misi (what was mission and becoming a missionary)’. The
participants were encouraged to get involved in the works of
mission from the story of Abraham and the Woman |
|
|
of Samaria. Participants
came with prepared hearts and had a deep hunger for the Lord. Many
were touched and ministered to by the word of God. 12 responded to
serve as missionaries during the Mission Night. More than 100 made
decisions to dedicate their children for the work of missions. |
|
|
|
|
|
40th Anniversary of
Christ Church Likas |
|
Kota
Kinabalu - June |
 |
Christ Church was
consecrated in 1969 and for many years there was no
residential priest. The Rt Rev Datuk Albert Vun in his
anniversary message to the church reminded them of the hard
times and the difficult lessons learned in their 40 years’
journey. The lessons were like the mustard seed of Mark
4:31-32 which was planted
and has grown into a big tree. He called the church to have
‘big branches’ providing shade for the birds of the air.
He challenged Christ Church to serve as a sending church so
that faith is sustained and passion for the lost
continues to flourish. |
|
|
Archdeacon John Yeo shared
three thoughts from Hebrews 12:1-3 with the theme ‘Soaring at 40’:
|
First, they are not
alone as they have a cloud of witnesses who have finished the race
and are waiting at the finish line cheering them on.
Second, they are to continue the race as the baton has been
passed on to them. They are to throw off
everything that hinders.
Third, the key to soaring high is to fix their eyes on Jesus. |
|
The month-long celebration
included a group of musicians from USA. They were featured in a
musical concert called ‘Fly High’. About 1,000 turned out for the
concert and it raised the awareness of Christ Church among the
residents of Likas. Seminars on Prayer, Revival and training for
musicians involved in worship was also conducted in conjunction with
the celebration. Some of the former in-charge clergy of Christ
Church came back to join in the celebration.
Rev Gordon Boughton and his family came all the way back from
Australia. Rev Herbert Tong and Kathrina Tong and Bishop Yong Ping
Chung and Julia Yong were also present at the Anniversary and
Thanksgiving Dinner. |
|
|
|
|
Mission To Thailand |
 |
We give thanks to
God for the completion of the first round of Alpha. 5 (1
working adult and 4 youths) persons accepted Christ. The
second round of Alpha started on 4 September for 10 weeks.
Pray for Chook, Ci, Somsat, Nong, Keng, Malaaiwan, Ti, Oin
that they will commit to attend every session and hearts
open during the course. |
|
|
 |
The new converts
are Anne, Lita, Ploy, Tang Mo and Pop. Anne is joining the
adult cell group whereas the other 4 youths are joining the
youth cell started in September. |
|
|
 |
SOMA short term
mission team ministered at
Rangsit Outreach Anglican Center and Christ Church,
Bangkok on 15–24 August 2009. The team led by Clark Smith
(USA) included Jack & Jane Irvine (USA), Venewza Hiu and
Cynthia Kong (Kota Kinabalu). The team ministered to Christ
Church Thai Congregation, gave training to the full time
staff and the church members. They also did prayer walk, led
cell group meetings and helped with the preparation of the
Alpha Course in Rangsit. The team went out every day to make
new friends and gave out Alpha pamphlets to those they met.
The team has been a great encouragement. |
|
|
|
|
January
2009 |
|
|
February
& March
2009 |
|
|
April
& May
2009 |
|
|
May &
June
2009 |
|
|
|
|
