Till You Sex Change? E Love Boat Fed up with Hypocrisy Harvest of Health Drop Small SacriCe I Met Grace in Chicago 297 Mm

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On e Holy Grail Of Truth Election Euphoria Serve Marijuana – Wonderful Or Problematic? Would You Alter Your Genes? till you Sex Change? e Love Boat Fed Up With Hypocrisy Harvest Of Health drop Small Sacrice I Met Grace In Chicago 297 mm

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EDITOR Note Ms Ong Juat Heng UNDERGRADUATE At a recent lunch with some girlfriends, we talked about GE14 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Dr Chong Kwong Tek, Mrs Goldie Chong, Rev. Loh Soon Choy, and nothing else much. One of them said she was so kan cheong Mr Tan Yoke Tee, Mr Patrick Leong, Mr Danny Cheah, (anxious) during the week before GE14 that she had a mouth full Ms Mary Chan MAJORS of ulcers. ADVISORS including actuarial science, Pastor Dr Chew Weng Chee, Rev. Loh Soon Choy ﬁnance and engineering. Her ulcers have disappeared but sometimes, I still pinch myself to Pastor Dato’ Dr Daniel Ho, Dr Chong Kwong Tek make sure it’s not all a dream that will vanish. How incredibly blessed LEGAL ADVISOR we are to have experienced this moment in our nation’s history, to Mr Steven Fung FINANCE & ADMIN MANAGER secure the desperately-needed change that we had laboured in prayer Ms Cheng Suet Lai of Messiah for but didn’t dare believe in (think GE13). EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE College’s Class CHAIRMAN HON. SECRETARY Praise Almighty God for the peaceful transition and the many stunning Mr Tan Yoke Tee Mr Danny Cheah 98% of 2016 were things that have happened since then. One of the stunners is our VICE-CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS new Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. At a grand old Mr Patrick Leong Ms Mary Chan employed Mr Andrew Tan Yin Full HON. TREASURER Rev. Loh Soon Choy age of 93, he has assumed the rule of not just a nation, but one Ms Loke Che Ching full-time or in graduate that is ridden with a monstrous debt and countless challenges, from the Herculean task of tackling deeply embedded corruption to the PUBLISHER school 6-9 months Persaudaraan Asian Beacon Malaysia. An inter-denominational “simpler” issue of whether we should revert to teaching Maths and Christian magazine that is published four times a year by after graduation. Science in English. Persaudaraan Asian Beacon. A non-profit Christian society. Whatever our misgivings about him when he was prime minister the PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA 19-C, 3rd Floor, Jalan SS22/19 Damansara Jaya, rst time around for 22 years, he deserves our respect and passionate 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia prayers as he attempts to reverse our nation’s downward trajectory. Tel: (603) 7725 4109 Fax: (603) 7726 1740 And hey, he’s 93 years old and running our country! at’s enough Mobile: 012 3931 453 # Email: [email protected] to earn our admiration and earnest prayers. Website: www.asianbeacon.org 55 http://www.facebook.com/AsianBeacon “Best Undergraduate Our PM is the best example of our theme, “Serve till you drop”. PERTH REPRESENTATIVE With whatever energy he has now, he is giving his all in this last Tek and Goldie Chong Email: [email protected] Engineering Programs” lap of his life to the nation. What an inspiration to us to press on DESIGN & LAYOUT in the U.S. Color Bean to the end, all the more since we are serving the everlasting, eternal DISCLAIMER SOURCE: 2017 U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT Kingdom of God. The opinions and views expressed by the various writers and advertisers in COLLEGE RANKINGS this magazine are their own and do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions and is issue, we feature men and women obeying their calling and viewpoints of Asian Beacon. serving tirelessly. ese are the ones who will serve till they drop, CONTRIBUTORS Contributors are welcome to contact us for editorial guidelines. However, like 98-year-old Khor In Tian (page 11). Sometimes, serving God we assume no responsibility to return unsolicited materials. Kindly include demands that we stand our ground, even when the ground yields your email, postal address and telephone number when you send articles, photographs or letters to us. Real-world creativity unpopularity and little support, as in the case of Dr Ron Choong’s PERMISSION FOR REPRINT story on page 8. Copyright Reserved @ 2018. Please contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, photographs and illustrations. May the Lord bless us with good health and passion to serve till we drop. PRINTER Thumbprints UTD SDN BHD Lot 24 Jalan RP 3, Rawang Perdana, Industrial Estate, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Messiah students forge strong connections between Blessed reading, Tel: (603) 6092 9809 www.thumbprints.com.my

theory and practice, learn to innovate and implement, MC admissions counselor: and receive an education they can put to use in the Veronica Yap SUPPORT US 2 REGULAR 2 LARGE 2 XTRA LARGE phone: +60 12 2312316 + Extra Cheese + Extra Cheese + Extra Cheese world, not just later, but right away. email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION AL From only From only From only IGIT at web: messiah.edu D form See what becomes possible when imagination empowers ne n.org/ email: [email protected] FREE .15 .90 .65 phone: +1-717-691-6000 Fill in the onli discipline as Messiah students see anew. tps://asianbeaco Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA ht RM31 RM51 RM72 subscribe/ To keep Asian Beacon magazine going, please make cheques to: SCAN PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA TELL US Know any interesting, inspiring stories HERE about Christians or Christian ministries that BANK TRANSFER or REMITTANCE: sharpening intellect deepening christian faith inspiring action should be featured in Asian Beacon? Do tell us. Write Account Name: to: [email protected] PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA Account No. & Bank Surcharge applies for the following crusts (Cheese Burst & Cheese Tarik), Classics and First Class Pizza range . Illustrations shown are for Undergraduate students: 2,759 • Student/Faculty ratio: 12:1 • 100% of students receive ﬁnancial aid WRITERS NEEDED Write to: [email protected] representation only . Prices shown are inclusive of 0% GST. Athletics: 23 NCAA Division III sports • Majors: 85+ • Study abroad: 40+ locations 315 045 4509 (Public Bank Berhad) 4 asianbeacon.oasianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Contents Editor’s Your Contemporary Christian Magazine July-September 2018 Vol. 50#3 EDITOR Note Ms Ong Juat Heng At a recent lunch with some girlfriends, we talked about GE14 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Dr Chong Kwong Tek, Mrs Goldie Chong, Rev. Loh Soon Choy, and nothing else much. One of them said she was so kan cheong Mr Tan Yoke Tee, Mr Patrick Leong, Mr Danny Cheah, (anxious) during the week before GE14 that she had a mouth full Ms Mary Chan 40 Nation of ulcers. ADVISORS _ Pastor Dr Chew Weng Chee, Rev. Loh Soon Choy Election Euphoria Political Changes Her ulcers have disappeared but sometimes, I still pinch myself to Pastor Dato’ Dr Daniel Ho, Dr Chong Kwong Tek And Implications For A New Malaysia make sure it’s not all a dream that will vanish. How incredibly blessed LEGAL ADVISOR we are to have experienced this moment in our nation’s history, to Mr Steven Fung Post-GE14 6 FINANCE & ADMIN MANAGER secure the desperately-needed change that we had laboured in prayer Ms Cheng Suet Lai for but didn’t dare believe in (think GE13). EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Cover Story CHAIRMAN HON. SECRETARY Praise Almighty God for the peaceful transition and the many stunning Mr Tan Yoke Tee Mr Danny Cheah On e Holy Grail Of Truth 8 things that have happened since then. One of the stunners is our VICE-CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS No stopping is Nonagenarian 11 new Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. At a grand old Mr Patrick Leong Ms Mary Chan Mr Andrew Tan Yin Full No Matter What 12 age of 93, he has assumed the rule of not just a nation, but one HON. TREASURER Rev. Loh Soon Choy Ms Loke Che Ching Out Of Prison 14 that is ridden with a monstrous debt and countless challenges, from the Herculean task of tackling deeply embedded corruption to the PUBLISHER Harvest Of Health 16 Persaudaraan Asian Beacon Malaysia. An inter-denominational 14 “simpler” issue of whether we should revert to teaching Maths and Christian magazine that is published four times a year by Science in English. Persaudaraan Asian Beacon. Issues A non-profit Christian society. 8 Whatever our misgivings about him when he was prime minister the PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA Marijuana – Wonderful Weed or 19-C, 3rd Floor, Jalan SS22/19 Damansara Jaya, rst time around for 22 years, he deserves our respect and passionate 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Problematic Pot? 18 prayers as he attempts to reverse our nation’s downward trajectory. Tel: (603) 7725 4109 Fax: (603) 7726 1740 Sex Change? 20 And hey, he’s 93 years old and running our country! at’s enough Mobile: 012 3931 453 Email: [email protected] Not As Easy As ABC 22 to earn our admiration and earnest prayers. Website: www.asianbeacon.org http://www.facebook.com/AsianBeacon Would You Alter Your Genes? 24 Our PM is the best example of our theme, “Serve till you drop”. PERTH REPRESENTATIVE With whatever energy he has now, he is giving his all in this last Tek and Goldie Chong Email: [email protected] DESIGN & LAYOUT Features lap of his life to the nation. What an inspiration to us to press on Color Bean Raising e Bar 26 to the end, all the more since we are serving the everlasting, eternal DISCLAIMER Kingdom of God. The opinions and views expressed by the various writers and advertisers in e Love Boat 28 this magazine are their own and do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions and is issue, we feature men and women obeying their calling and viewpoints of Asian Beacon. Book A Change 30 serving tirelessly. ese are the ones who will serve till they drop, CONTRIBUTORS More an Just Money 33 Contributors are welcome to contact us for editorial guidelines. However, like 98-year-old Khor In Tian (page 11). Sometimes, serving God we assume no responsibility to return unsolicited materials. Kindly include demands that we stand our ground, even when the ground yields your email, postal address and telephone number when you send articles, photographs or letters to us. My Story unpopularity and little support, as in the case of Dr Ron Choong’s PERMISSION FOR REPRINT Fed Up With Hypocrisy story on page 8. Copyright Reserved @ 2018. Please contact the editor for permission to 34 reprint articles, photographs and illustrations. 30 I Met Grace In Chicago 36 May the Lord bless us with good health and passion to serve till we drop. PRINTER Thumbprints UTD SDN BHD Lot 24 Jalan RP 3, Rawang Perdana, Have God Will Travel 38 Industrial Estate, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Blessed reading, Tel: (603) 6092 9809 www.thumbprints.com.my Missions Bridging Borders, SUPPORT US Crossing Barriers 40 SUBSCRIPTION AL IGIT at Regular D form ne n.org/ Small Sacri ce 42 FREE Why Give? 44 Fill in the onli https://asianbeaco subscribe/ Dear Goldie 46 To keep Asian Beacon magazine going, please make cheques to: 16 SCAN PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA TELL US Know any interesting, inspiring stories HERE about Christians or Christian ministries that BANK TRANSFER or REMITTANCE: should be featured in Asian Beacon? Do tell us. Write Account Name: to: [email protected] PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA WRITERS NEEDED Account No. & Bank Write to: [email protected] 315 045 4509 (Public Bank Berhad) 4 asianbeacon.oasianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 5 Contents NATION July-September 2018 Vol. 50#3

40 Nation Election Euphoria _ Political Changes And Implications For A New Malaysia Political Changes And Implications For A New Malaysia Post-GE14 Post-GE14 6 By Prof. Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria e have just witnessed the unbelievable results of We need to keep reminding politicians that this is the reality Cover Story the 14th general election (GE14) with a change and get them to downplay both race and religion in the choices On e Holy Grail Of Truth 8 W of government from the Barisan Nasional (BN) people make. e majority had voted for change, which resulted No stopping is Nonagenarian 11 to Pakatan Harapan (PH). Most opinion polls, academics and in a peaceful transition that surprised the world, especially our commentators did not forecast the scale of PH victory nor the mass ASEAN neighbours. We must continue to remember that this No Matter What 12 movement on the ground ushering in a new age for democracy change, from South to North – Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Out Of Prison 14 and good governance in Malaysia. Selangor, Perak, Penang, and Kedah – and Sabah in East Malaysia, Harvest Of Health 16 was possible because of the silent Malay voters who switched 14 As one reects on these events, we cannot but acknowledge the from BN to PH. Issues hand of God in events of the world and a response to pray for a 8 just and fair government for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians. Marijuana – Wonderful Weed or With a new government in place at both the Federal and many Problematic Pot? 18 State levels, let us continue to pray for our leaders to govern with Sex Change? 20 justice and fairness and be accountable to the people with the Not As Easy As ABC 22 fear of God in their hearts. Would You Alter Your Genes? 24 As I reect on GE14 and the future, let me highlight three key We can take this peaceful transition for granted but as Christian points that will require Christians as responsible citizens to continue citizens of Malaysia we must play the peace-maker and peace- Features to play their role in society as salt and light (Matt.5:13-14). builder role (Matt. 5:9), ensuring our close relationship with Raising e Bar 26 people of all ethnic communities. We must foster peaceful living Peaceful transition and a greater sense of appreciation of our diversity. We must see e Love Boat 28 It is amazing to see the peaceful transition of power. While the all as God’s creation and the covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:9) as Book A Change 30 Election Commission did not play an independent role nor make a dimension that needs to be captured in Malaysian society so More an Just Money 33 the announcements of election results early, nonetheless by June as to build a rainbow community of all people. 10, 2018, a new Prime Minister had been sworn in and eventually the Deputy Prime Minister and other key ministers appointed Contestation continues My Story to the Cabinet. While PH secured a majority of the parliamentary 30 Fed Up With Hypocrisy 34 seats to form the Federal Government, we must I Met Grace In Chicago 36 In the past, the May 13 bogeyman would be released to instil fear recognise that it secured only 47.9% of Have God Will Travel 38 among the people that any change would result in bloodshed; the popular vote. BN secured 33.8% however, this was not true. Malaysians of all ethnic communities and a majority of the parliamentary voted for change and the majority of parliamentary seats went seats in Malay-Muslim majority Missions to PH. In my assessment, this is not just a Chinese, constituencies while PAS won Bridging Borders, or Indian or Malay or Dusun-Kadazan or Iban 16.9%, also in Malay-Muslim Crossing Barriers 40 tsunami but a Malaysia tsunami and majority areas. Based on popular desire for change. showing, almost half of the voters in GE14 did not support PH. Regular ere are therefore some major Small Sacrice 42 implications. Why Give? 44 Dear Goldie 46 The major one is that PAS managed to form the state government in Kelantan and 16 Terengganu. ey won a signicant number of seats in Kedah and almost became kingmakers in

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 5 6 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 NATION Perak. Altogether, they won 18 parliamentary seats. It was forecasted communication skill and develop an appreciation of the Malay that they would not be able to win a single parliamentary seat. culture. We could engage at both formal and informal levels but ere is a strong Islamic following, which Prof. Shamsul calls the key is building friendship and fostering good neighbourliness. “moral constituency”. is core group, We need to understand especially from the Malay-Muslim the Malay-Muslim community, are ideological supporters narrative and play a of PAS and would not vote for BN role in ensuring that it or PH. Likewise we must recognise becomes a Malaysian that Umno captured a majority of narrative and not an Political Changes And Implications For A New Malaysia Post-GE14 the Malay majority parliamentary exclusively extreme race By Prof. Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria seats in Peninsular Malaysia, i.e. 47 and religion one. parliamentary seats. e have just witnessed the unbelievable results of We need to keep reminding politicians that this is the reality Institutional the 14th general election (GE14) with a change and get them to downplay both race and religion in the choices We need to reect and note that there Reform W of government from the Barisan Nasional (BN) people make. e majority had voted for change, which resulted are dierent aspirations and visions in e new PH government to Pakatan Harapan (PH). Most opinion polls, academics and in a peaceful transition that surprised the world, especially our the remaking of a Malaysian society. has ushered in political commentators did not forecast the scale of PH victory nor the mass ASEAN neighbours. We must continue to remember that this A simple illustration is the threefold and economic movement on the ground ushering in a new age for democracy change, from South to North – Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, aspiration for Malaysia. ere is the Muslim or Islamic dominant institutional reforms. ese were promised in the PH manifesto in and good governance in Malaysia. Selangor, Perak, Penang, and Kedah – and Sabah in East Malaysia, view where the Islamic laws will become supreme over civil law. strengthening good governance, accountability and human rights. was possible because of the silent Malay voters who switched ere is a Malay-Malaysia where the ethnic Malay is dominant e setting up of various special committees is testament to the As one re ects on these events, we cannot but acknowledge the from BN to PH. and others have a place; the other communities will be subservient political will. e major role is one of reviewing the separation hand of God in events of the world and a response to pray for a of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislature in just and fair government for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians. line with the Federal Constitution. In this context, the repeal of With a new government in place at both the Federal and many oppressive legislation and space for democratic freedom is most State levels, let us continue to pray for our leaders to govern with critical. e 1MDB abuses and national debt are other major justice and fairness and be accountable to the people with the challenges for the new government. fear of God in their hearts. to the majority race. Here, ethnicity and religion play a role in Within the Christian community are major talented and As I re ect on GE14 and the future, let me highlight three key We can take this peaceful transition for granted but as Christian an ethno-religious nationalist way. e third is a Malaysia for all professionally qualied people who could volunteer their time points that will require Christians as responsible citizens to continue citizens of Malaysia we must play the peace-maker and peace- Malaysians but one which still holds a Constitutional balance for the institutional reforms. ose with legal expertise, nancial to play their role in society as salt and light (Matt.5:13-14). builder role (Matt. 5:9), ensuring our close relationship with between equality of Article 8 and the special position of Article and banking including investments, audit and nancial controls, people of all ethnic communities. We must foster peaceful living 153 of the Federal Constitution, including Article 153’s legitimate administration and execution could all volunteer for national service Peaceful transition and a greater sense of appreciation of our diversity. We must see interest of others. to strengthen the process of reform. Civil society provides a good It is amazing to see the peaceful transition of power. While the all as God’s creation and the covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:9) as avenue. Civil society organisations (CSO) have created a CSO Election Commission did not play an independent role nor make a dimension that needs to be captured in Malaysian society so We have witnessed the diering views and contestation on the platform for Reform, with KOMAS providing coordination. CSO the announcements of election results early, nonetheless by June as to build a rainbow community of all people. appointment of a non-Malay-Muslim Finance Minister and have organised themselves in thematic areas and have been making 10, 2018, a new Prime Minister had been sworn in and eventually the Attorney General. In both cases, the Prime Minister collective presentations to the Institutional Reform Committee the Deputy Prime Minister and other key ministers appointed Contestation continues went by the guidelines of the Federal Constitution (IRC). At a second level, CSO are also seeking to relate directly to the Cabinet. While PH secured a majority of the parliamentary but not by the sentiments of sections of the with ministries and agencies directing specic matters on women seats to form the Federal Government, we must Malaysian society. and children, security laws, human rights and election reform, etc. In the past, the May 13 bogeyman would be released to instil fear recognise that it secured only 47.9% of among the people that any change would result in bloodshed; the popular vote. BN secured 33.8% Some have said change and On May 28, 2018, I had the opportunity to lead a team from however, this was not true. Malaysians of all ethnic communities and a majority of the parliamentary reform had been too the CSO platform to meet all the ve IRC members. ey were voted for change and the majority of parliamentary seats went seats in Malay-Muslim majority rapid; others had open to hear our views, especially on addressing ethnic relations to PH. In my assessment, this is not just a Chinese, constituencies while PAS won disagreed. and conict, poverty and inequality as well as fostering a human or Indian or Malay or Dusun-Kadazan or Iban 16.9%, also in Malay-Muslim We must be rights culture. Christian citizens could play an active role in tsunami but a Malaysia tsunami and majority areas. Based on popular wise and at the religious freedom issues and concerns for all religious groups. More desire for change. showing, almost half of the voters same time, engage than inter-religious dialogue is engagement and trust building in GE14 did not support PH. with all sections with to resolve conicts. One proposed system could be community ere are therefore some major the right constitutional mediation centres. implications. understanding. Over the years, there has been much distortion As Christian citizens, we can monitor the promises made via the The major one is that PAS managed to of knowledge and understanding. PH Manifesto, 100-day promises, and the institutional reform for form the state government in Kelantan and We must have open conversations but Terengganu. ey won a signicant at the same time, be sensitive to all views “As Christian citizens, we must do what is good number of seats in Kedah and and aspirations. as required by God and act justly, love mercy almost became kingmakers in and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).” Often, Christian citizens are isolated and therefore, we must enter the public space, exercising our democratic rights and engaging with especially Malay and Muslim &RQWLQXHRQSDJH groups. For that we must improve our Bahasa Malaysia 6 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 7 Perak. Altogether, they won 18 parliamentary seats. It was forecasted communication skill and develop an appreciation of the Malay COVER STORY that they would not be able to win a single parliamentary seat. culture. We could engage at both formal and informal levels but ere is a strong Islamic following, which Prof. Shamsul calls the key is building friendship and fostering good neighbourliness. “moral constituency”. is core group, We need to understand especially from the Malay-Muslim the Malay-Muslim community, are ideological supporters narrative and play a of PAS and would not vote for BN role in ensuring that it or PH. Likewise we must recognise becomes a Malaysian that Umno captured a majority of narrative and not an the Malay majority parliamentary exclusively extreme race seats in Peninsular Malaysia, i.e. 47 and religion one. By Ong Juat Heng parliamentary seats. Institutional We need to reect and note that there Reform are dierent aspirations and visions in e new PH government the remaking of a Malaysian society. has ushered in political A simple illustration is the threefold and economic aspiration for Malaysia. ere is the Muslim or Islamic dominant institutional reforms. ese were promised in the PH manifesto in view where the Islamic laws will become supreme over civil law. strengthening good governance, accountability and human rights. ere is a Malay-Malaysia where the ethnic Malay is dominant e setting up of various special committees is testament to the and others have a place; the other communities will be subservient political will. e major role is one of reviewing the separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislature in line with the Federal Constitution. In this context, the repeal of oppressive legislation and space for democratic freedom is most critical. e 1MDB abuses and national debt are other major challenges for the new government. to the majority race. Here, ethnicity and religion play a role in Within the Christian community are major talented and an ethno-religious nationalist way. e third is a Malaysia for all professionally qualied people who could volunteer their time Malaysians but one which still holds a Constitutional balance for the institutional reforms. ose with legal expertise, nancial between equality of Article 8 and the special position of Article and banking including investments, audit and nancial controls, Ron examining the skull of Liang Bua Satu (LB1) at the Indonesian National Research Centre for Archaeology Jakarta in 2015. This Type Specimen of the “Hobbits” discovered on 153 of the Federal Constitution, including Article 153’s legitimate administration and execution could all volunteer for national service WKH ,QGRQHVLDQ LVODQG RI )ORUHV LQ LV QRZ LGHQWL¿HG DV +RPR ÀRUHVLHQVLV D VHSDUDWH interest of others. to strengthen the process of reform. Civil society provides a good human species that co-existed with our ancestors (Homosapiens). avenue. Civil society organisations (CSO) have created a CSO We have witnessed the diering views and contestation on the platform for Reform, with KOMAS providing coordination. CSO appointment of a non-Malay-Muslim Finance Minister and have organised themselves in thematic areas and have been making pologist and theologian of science Dr Ron Choong sciences and world religions. the Attorney General. In both cases, the Prime Minister collective presentations to the Institutional Reform Committee didn’t think he would get past Form 3. But he did, went by the guidelines of the Federal Constitution (IRC). At a second level, CSO are also seeking to relate directly and went on to gather a basket of degrees and vast As an “independent interdisciplinary scholar of Christian theology but not by the sentiments of sections of the with ministries and agencies directing specic matters on women knowledgeA in several disciplines. Between1984 and 2009, he and its relationships with history, philosophy and the natural Malaysian society. and children, security laws, human rights and election reform, etc. earned a law degree while taking degree courses in astronomy and sciences”, Ron’s current research interests include the emergence of economics in London. After a stint practising international law religious cognition, the history of Bible formation, the doctrine of Some have said change and On May 28, 2018, I had the opportunity to lead a team from in London, he moved to New York where he took four degrees creation as well as paleoanthropology and cognitive neuroscience. reform had been too the CSO platform to meet all the ve IRC members. ey were at Princeton and Yale, culminating in a Ph.D. in science and rapid; others had open to hear our views, especially on addressing ethnic relations theology from Princeton Seminary. ese may be bewildering words for the common man; thankfully, disagreed. and conict, poverty and inequality as well as fostering a human Ron is an engaging, magnetic speaker who’s able to simplify highly We must be rights culture. Christian citizens could play an active role in He even received the magna cum laude award for his doctoral complex subjects for mere mortals. It helps too that he’s as regular wise and at the religious freedom issues and concerns for all religious groups. More dissertation in science and theology, Neuroscience, Nolition and as the guy next door and is as comfortable talking about char kway same time, engage than inter-religious dialogue is engagement and trust building Kenotic Moral Cognition. “It surprised me, as it did practically teow and Hokkien mee as he is about Neanderthals and hominids. with all sections with to resolve conicts. One proposed system could be community anyone who knew me as a kid who did not enjoy going to the right constitutional mediation centres. school,” laughed the former student of La Salle, Petaling Jaya. Asian Beacon nally caught up with this Indiana Jones of sorts. understanding. Over the years, there has been much distortion As Christian citizens, we can monitor the promises made via the Not bad for one who only discovered the concept of revising How did you arrive at doing what you are doing now? of knowledge and understanding. PH Manifesto, 100-day promises, and the institutional reform for in Form 5. Until then, he “recalled without remembering” and I was a student of science (biology and chemistry and later We must have open conversations but this later led him to study the nature of memory and how our astronomy) before I became a law student. My goal was to corner at the same time, be sensitive to all views “As Christian citizens, we must do what is good brains manage information. the market and be fabulously rich, earn the respect of my peers and aspirations. as required by God and act justly, love mercy and be considered the best lawyer money can buy. I craved the and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).” In 2003, Ron founded the Academy for Christian ought approval of society. My faith was an added bonus because it Often, Christian citizens are isolated and therefore, we (ACT), a New York-based ministry that seeks to “equip the made me feel that even God approved of my attending church must enter the public space, exercising our democratic church to responsibly explain why we believe what we believe” and serving on leadership committees. rights and engaging with especially Malay and Muslim &RQWLQXHRQSDJH through seminars and written materials that engage the natural groups. For that we must improve our Bahasa Malaysia asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 7 8 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_009-016_Rev1*****Time: 16:31:58*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

COVER STORY

1 My deep interest in building a legal career specialising in the natural

175 2 sciences was based on my deep respect for the two disciplines –

175 their demanding disciplines and intellectual integrity. 4

175 ere are no short cuts to being a good trial lawyer; it’s sheer hard work and you must always learn new things to best represent your client. Law has its dictum, ad fontes (to the sources) and Angle : 15- 45- 0- 75 ***Lpi : 175 everything can be cross-examined to test the logic of claims.

Scientic rigour has no sacred cows to protect any claim – all By Ong Juat Heng theories are tested and if they do not survive, they die.

I then wondered why on the matter of faith in God, I simply inherited beliefs, with no idea of their original sources or veriable truth claims. How did I know what I thought I knew was true? Why did the Church not invite honest conversations to doubt with integrity?

By the time I was 27, I knew that I could not go on pretending to be a Christian if I was not prepared to put my money where my mouth was. I knew that the task I set for myself meant throwing away years of hard work building a career in London. I would have to start my lifelong investigation from scratch and Ron pointing at the only known Manichaean document discovered trust nobody without rst verifying what they say. I knew that at the Taklamakan desert of Xinjiang in western China. Of the 17 ODQJXDJHV RQ WKH &KLQHVH 6LON 5RDG WKLV XQNQRZQ VFULSW DQG if I seriously entertained an honest desire to know about and be language remains the greatest puzzle to modern historians trying connected to God, I had to leave no stone unturned. In 1990, I to reconstruct the story of Christianity as it made its way from abandoned a much loved legal-scientic career and entered the Baghdad to Xian in Tang Dynasty China. unknown world of Christian ministry. unique divine authority and declaring that all others are false. Ron examining the skull of Liang Bua Satu (LB1) at the Indonesian National Research I left London for New York and began to work for a 400-sta

Centre for Archaeology Jakarta in 2015. This Type Specimen of the “Hobbits” discovered on 297 mm WKH ,QGRQHVLDQ LVODQG RI )ORUHV LQ LV QRZ LGHQWL¿HG DV +RPR ÀRUHVLHQVLV D VHSDUDWH ministry to international students. I was amazed by how easy it was For 2018, my expeditions include Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, human species that co-existed with our ancestors (Homosapiens). to enter this world. No one asked about my biblical, theological Russia, Tibet, Chad and Iraq. or historical knowledge of Christianity. With the right key words we all memorised at church, you could go a long way and make e rst three countries involve the New Testament times of Jesus, pologist and theologian of science Dr Ron Choong sciences and world religions. a good economic life for yourself without knowing very much, to understand the Roman empire outside of Rome, the various didn’t think he would get past Form 3. But he did, let alone know if what you know is in fact true. religious inuences of Carthage and Rome before the death of and went on to gather a basket of degrees and vast As an “independent interdisciplinary scholar of Christian theology Hannibal and the rise of the Roman Empire from the Roman knowledgeA in several disciplines. Between1984 and 2009, he and its relationships with history, philosophy and the natural I left the organisation a year later and started my own, determined Republic in 27 BC. is shift in religious history (Rome is all earned a law degree while taking degree courses in astronomy and sciences”, Ron’s current research interests include the emergence of only to share what I believe to be true based on my best eorts about religion) shaped the transition from the Old Testament economics in London. After a stint practising international law religious cognition, the history of Bible formation, the doctrine of to check the facts. In 2003, this organisation morphed into a Judaism to Christianity in the 4th century AD. in London, he moved to New York where he took four degrees creation as well as paleoanthropology and cognitive neuroscience. full-blown research ministry called ACT. In the process, I lost half at Princeton and Yale, culminating in a Ph.D. in science and my nancial donors. To my surprise, very few Christians were In Russia, Christianity was signicantly shaped by BatuKhaan’s theology from Princeton Seminary. ese may be bewildering words for the common man; thankfully, actually interested in the Bible. ey were more interested in Golden Horde. Chinggis’ grandson’s descendants intermarried Ron is an engaging, magnetic speaker who’s able to simplify highly quoting passages out of context. e name of the game was how local slavic women to become the precursors of modern Russians. He even received the magna cum laude award for his doctoral complex subjects for mere mortals. It helps too that he’s as regular many souls you dare to claim you have saved with no verication. Mongolia’s worship of Tengri, the Sky God (inuenced by Chinese dissertation in science and theology, Neuroscience, Nolition and as the guy next door and is as comfortable talking about char kway I could not in good conscience play THAT game. Huang Ti), morphed and took on Zoroastrian Ahura Mazda from Kenotic Moral Cognition. “It surprised me, as it did practically teow and Hokkien mee as he is about Neanderthals and hominids. Iran, to shape a distinct Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which anyone who knew me as a kid who did not enjoy going to So, what do you really do? does not believe in the original sin doctrines introduced by the school,” laughed the former student of La Salle, Petaling Jaya. Asian Beacon nally caught up with this Indiana Jones of sorts. I check the facts of religious claims, starting with Christianity. As North African Christian (Tunisian), Saint Augustine, in the 5th a ministry, ACT researches, teaches and publishes. We want to century AD who served as Bishop of Hippo (Algeria). Not bad for one who only discovered the concept of revising How did you arrive at doing what you are doing now? know if something is true rather than if it merely brings comfort in Form 5. Until then, he “recalled without remembering” and I was a student of science (biology and chemistry and later to people. We are more interested in spirituality than in religiosity. Why Chad? It’s the location where the oldest humans were ever this later led him to study the nature of memory and how our astronomy) before I became a law student. My goal was to corner found. Seven million-year-old fossils! I want to see where they lived, brains manage information. the market and be fabulously rich, earn the respect of my peers So, I do a ton of eld work as well as library research, from the how their current descendants remember their version of God, and be considered the best lawyer money can buy. I craved the Bible and non-Christian religious texts to the archaeology of the creation, salvation and everlasting life. It is also, unfortunately, In 2003, Ron founded the Academy for Christian ought approval of society. My faith was an added bonus because it region, its history and geology. A typical eld expedition takes Boko Haram territory. (ACT), a New York-based ministry that seeks to “equip the made me feel that even God approved of my attending church three years to prepare. en, I monitor the political situation church to responsibly explain why we believe what we believe” and serving on leadership committees. and analyse the physical risks involved. e places of interest are Iraq is where I plan to visit the palace of Assyria’s King Sennacherib through seminars and written materials that engage the natural almost all conict zones, mostly due to each religion claiming of Nineveh (r. 705-681 BC) whose conquest of Israel shaped the

8 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 9 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_009-016_Rev1*****Time: 16:31:58*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

COVER STORY

1 My deep interest in building a legal career specialising in the natural

175 2 sciences was based on my deep respect for the two disciplines –

175 their demanding disciplines and intellectual integrity. When I went to England to read law, I was stunned by how little I 4 really know about my faith. I was defenseless against charges that 175 ere are no short cuts to being a good trial lawyer; it’s sheer Christianity is a phony religion propagating itself with threats of hard work and you must always learn new things to best represent hell re.hellre. is is sense of having wasted so much of my life blindly your client. Law has its dictum, ad fontes (to the sources) and following my inheritance woke me from my spiritual slumber. I Angle : 15- 45- 0- 75 ***Lpi : 175 everything can be cross-examined to test the logic of claims. boiled down my philosophy of life to some basic propositions. e e three most important things are life, health and time. I cannot do Scientic rigour has no sacred cows to protect any claim – all anything about the rstrst but I can certainly take care of my body theories are tested and if they do not survive, they die. and I can most certainly determine how to spend my time well.

I then wondered why on the matter of faith in God, I simply Since money cannot buy time, I privileged time over money…. inherited beliefs, with no idea of their original sources or veriable every time. Apart from these three basic gifts that God gives truth claims. How did I know what I thought I knew was true? all of us, we have secondary gifts – our minds (intellect and Why did the Church not invite honest conversations to doubt emotions), our passions (love and compassion) and our moral with integrity? The original paintings of Nestorian Christian priests celebrating courage (determination to uphold the truth no matter how 3DOP 6XQGD\ DOO ZHDULQJ &KLQHVH VLON GLVSOD\HG DW WKH DQFLHQW inconvenient it is). So I worked hard on honing my mental skills By the time I was 27, I knew that I could not go on pretending WRZQ RI $IURVLDE ODWHU FDOOHG 0DFDUDQGD E\ WKH *UHHNV DQG LV and did self-diagnostics every few weeks to make sure I stayed to be a Christian if I was not prepared to put my money where today the fabled city of Samarqand in modern Uzbekistan. the course. I try to empathise with those who are less fortunate my mouth was. I knew that the task I set for myself meant and be a voice for the voiceless. throwing away years of hard work building a career in London. history of our faith. I would have to start my lifelong investigation from scratch and Ron pointing at the only known Manichaean document discovered Finally, I assessed all my relationships based more on honesty trust nobody without rst verifying what they say. I knew that at the Taklamakan desert of Xinjiang in western China. Of the 17 You seem to pursue knowledge with a vengeance. than on how they can benetbene t me. Hence, I am a dicultdicult friend ODQJXDJHV RQ WKH &KLQHVH 6LON 5RDG WKLV XQNQRZQ VFULSW DQG if I seriously entertained an honest desire to know about and be language remains the greatest puzzle to modern historians trying What drives you? to have, because I will tell you the truth if you ask, and I will not connected to God, I had to leave no stone unturned. In 1990, I to reconstruct the story of Christianity as it made its way from Hah, I’m glad you noticed. have a cut-and-dry answer to your theological questions. Finally, abandoned a much loved legal-scientic career and entered the Baghdad to Xian in Tang Dynasty China. I have been a Christian since birth. But after I learned more I will admit to how little I know despite what people think. unknown world of Christian ministry. about the history of the Christian faith, I felt somehow cheated. unique divine authority and declaring that all others are false. But rather than blame anyone, I took personal responsibility Some of the things you teach are rather controversial. I left London for New York and began to work for a 400-sta for ndingfornding out about God. I was born into a third-generation How has the church at large responded? ministry to international students. I was amazed by how easy it was For 2018, my expeditions include Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, 297 mm Christian household, so I inherited my faith. isis is the most When I went into full-time ministry in 1990, I made a mistake. to enter this world. No one asked about my biblical, theological Russia, Tibet, Chad and Iraq. fragile type of Christian faith because it comes with guilt, obligation I assumed that most believers were like me, desiring to believe or historical knowledge of Christianity. With the right key words and a fear of other religions. In 1976, I joined SEA Park Baptist in God, provided it is true. I learned the painful lesson that this we all memorised at church, you could go a long way and make e rst three countries involve the New Testament times of Jesus, Church, partly because I was attracted to a girl (common story, is not so. Many people look to religion for the freebies it oers,oers, a good economic life for yourself without knowing very much, to understand the Roman empire outside of Rome, the various right?) and partly because I was drawn to the open welcome of a free babysitting services, safe way for their kids to ndnd spouses, let alone know if what you know is in fact true. religious inuences of Carthage and Rome before the death of single couple, Richard and Patricia Toh. ey ey practised Christian comfort in times of illness and death, and community. ere ere is Hannibal and the rise of the Roman Empire from the Roman love so consistently and persistently that I would have become a nothing wrong with all these desires. Just don’t pretend it’s all I left the organisation a year later and started my own, determined Republic in 27 BC. is shift in religious history (Rome is all Buddhist if they had started a temple. about God. only to share what I believe to be true based on my best eorts about religion) shaped the transition from the Old Testament to check the facts. In 2003, this organisation morphed into a Judaism to Christianity in the 4th century AD. full-blown research ministry called ACT. In the process, I lost half my nancial donors. To my surprise, very few Christians were In Russia, Christianity was signicantly shaped by BatuKhaan’s ,Q MXVW PRQWKV EHIRUH actually interested in the Bible. ey were more interested in Golden Horde. Chinggis’ grandson’s descendants intermarried WKH 6\ULDQ FLYLO ZDU LJQLWHG quoting passages out of context. e name of the game was how local slavic women to become the precursors of modern Russians. Ron visited this ancient land many souls you dare to claim you have saved with no verication. Mongolia’s worship of Tengri, the Sky God (inuenced by Chinese and traveled from Aleppo in the west all the way to the I could not in good conscience play THAT game. Huang Ti), morphed and took on Zoroastrian Ahura Mazda from Euphrates River in the east. Iran, to shape a distinct Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which $ORQJ WKH ZD\ KH VWRSSHG So, what do you really do? does not believe in the original sin doctrines introduced by the by Palmyra to visit the great I check the facts of religious claims, starting with Christianity. As North African Christian (Tunisian), Saint Augustine, in the 5th 7HPSOH RI %DDO EXLOW LQ $' around the time of Jesus. Over a ministry, ACT researches, teaches and publishes. We want to century AD who served as Bishop of Hippo (Algeria). IHHW VTXDUH LW ZDV WKH know if something is true rather than if it merely brings comfort VL]H RI ¿YH IRRWEDOO ¿HOGV DQG to people. We are more interested in spirituality than in religiosity. Why Chad? It’s the location where the oldest humans were ever has since been destroyed by found. Seven million-year-old fossils! I want to see where they lived, President Assad’s forces. The Director of Archaeology was So, I do a ton of eld work as well as library research, from the how their current descendants remember their version of God, hanged for trying to save the Bible and non-Christian religious texts to the archaeology of the creation, salvation and everlasting life. It is also, unfortunately, artifacts. region, its history and geology. A typical eld expedition takes Boko Haram territory. three years to prepare. en, I monitor the political situation and analyse the physical risks involved. e places of interest are Iraq is where I plan to visit the palace of Assyria’s King Sennacherib almost all conict zones, mostly due to each religion claiming of Nineveh (r. 705-681 BC) whose conquest of Israel shaped the &RQWLQXHRQSDJH

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 9 10 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * COVER STORY

When I went to England to read law, I was stunned by how little I really know about my faith. I was defenseless against charges that Christianity is a phony religion propagating itself with threats of hell re. is sense of having wasted so much of my life blindly No stopping this following my inheritance woke me from my spiritual slumber. I boiled down my philosophy of life to some basic propositions. e three most important things are life, health and time. I cannot do anything about the rst but I can certainly take care of my body By Chris Quah and I can most certainly determine how to spend my time well. NonagenarianNonagenarian Since money cannot buy time, I privileged time over money…. every time. Apart from these three basic gifts that God gives all of us, we have secondary gifts – our minds (intellect and emotions), our passions (love and compassion) and our moral The original paintings of Nestorian Christian priests celebrating courage (determination to uphold the truth no matter how 3DOP 6XQGD\ DOO ZHDULQJ &KLQHVH VLON GLVSOD\HG DW WKH DQFLHQW inconvenient it is). So I worked hard on honing my mental skills WRZQ RI $IURVLDE ODWHU FDOOHG 0DFDUDQGD E\ WKH *UHHNV DQG LV and did self-diagnostics every few weeks to make sure I stayed today the fabled city of Samarqand in modern Uzbekistan. the course. I try to empathise with those who are less fortunate Residents at the Superfun Old Folks’ Home listening intently to In Tian (facing camera) sharing the gospel. and be a voice for the voiceless. history of our faith. Finally, I assessed all my relationships based more on honesty )LUVWO\ VKH IHOO DQG VXIIHUHG D PLOG VWURNH DW KHU 0HOERXUQH You seem to pursue knowledge with a vengeance. than on how they can bene t me. Hence, I am a dicult friend A family under good spiritual care… Khor In Tian (far left) KRPH RQ 0DUFK $W WKH KRVSLWDO WKH GRFWRUV FRXOGQ¶W What drives you? to have, because I will tell you the truth if you ask, and I will not SUD\LQJ IRU 7DQ &KRQJ .LP VHDWHG ZLWK KLV VRQLQODZ 晩QGWKH FDXVH RI KHU VWURNH VR WKH\ GLVFKDUJHG KHU WKH IROORZLQJ Hah, I’m glad you noticed. have a cut-and-dry answer to your theological questions. Finally, .XDQ /LDQ 6DH 6L DQG GDXJKWHU 7DQ *DLN &KRR GD\ 1LQH GD\V ODWHU VKH KDG DQRWKHU IDOO 7KLV WLPH WKH GRFWRU I have been a Christian since birth. But after I learned more I will admit to how little I know despite what people think. IRXQG KHU VSLQDO FRUG KDG FUDFNHG EXW VDLG LW ZDV D PLUDFOH about the history of the Christian faith, I felt somehow cheated. JH VKRXOG QRW UHVWULFW RXU VHUYLFH -XVW ORRN DW RXU WKDW WKH FUDFN ZDV QRW VHYHUH But rather than blame anyone, I took personal responsibility Some of the things you teach are rather controversial. UHFHQW HOHFWLRQ ZKHUH ZH ZLWQHVVHG D \HDUROG PDQ for nding out about God. I was born into a third-generation How has the church at large responded? $KHOSHG EULQJ GRZQ D SDUW\ WKDW KDG UXOHG RXU QDWLRQ IRU ,W ZDV GXULQJ WKDW WLPH LQ WKH KRVSLWDO WKDW VKH VRXJKW *RG Christian household, so I inherited my faith. is is the most When I went into full-time ministry in 1990, I made a mistake. \HDUV 0RUH VR VKRXOG WKLV KDSSHQ LQ WKH NLQJGRP RI *RG IHYHULVKO\ ³, SURPLVHG +LP WKDW LI +H KHDOHG PH FRPSOHWHO\ fragile type of Christian faith because it comes with guilt, obligation I assumed that most believers were like me, desiring to believe ZLWK WKH HOGHUO\ KHOSLQJ WR EULQJ GRZQ WKH IRUFHV RI GDUNQHVV , ZRXOG XVH WKLV DV D WHVWLPRQ\ WR JORULI\ +LP´ VKH VDLG and a fear of other religions. In 1976, I joined SEA Park Baptist in God, provided it is true. I learned the painful lesson that this Church, partly because I was attracted to a girl (common story, is not so. Many people look to religion for the freebies it oers, *DQGPRWKHU .KRU ,Q 7LDQ LV GRLQJ MXVW WKDW 6KH VWLOO ,Q 'HFHPEHU VKH IHOO DJDLQ ZKHQ VKH WULSSHG RYHU D right?) and partly because I was drawn to the open welcome of a free babysitting services, safe way for their kids to nd spouses, DFWLYHO\ VHUYHV *RG LQ KHU KRPHWRZQ RI $ORU 6HWDU .HGDK WKH EULFN LQ WKH JDUGHQ 7KHUH ZDV QR RQH DURXQG VR VKH FDOOHG single couple, Richard and Patricia Toh. ey practised Christian comfort in times of illness and death, and community. ere is VDPH SODFH ZKHUH RXU QHZROG \HDUROG SULPH PLQLVWHU KDLOV RXW WR -HVXV WR VDYH KHU ³6ORZO\ , PLUDFXORXVO\ JRW XS IURP love so consistently and persistently that I would have become a nothing wrong with all these desires. Just don’t pretend it’s all IURP 7RXFKLQJ QHDUO\ D FHQWXU\ ,Q 7LDQ FRQWLQXHV WR DFWLYHO\ WKH JURXQG FRPSOHWHO\ XQKDUPHG ZLWK QR EURNHQ ERQHV´ Buddhist if they had started a temple. about God. SUHDFK WR VHQLRU FLWL]HQV DW ROG IRON¶V KRPHV DQG FKXUFKHV DQG VKH JXVKHG VKDUH &KULVW ZLWK UHODWLYHV DQG IULHQGV 7KHVH WKUHH IDOOV FRQYLQFHG KHU WR IRUJR WKH JHQHURXV EHQH晩WV ³$JH LV QHYHU DQ LVVXH ZKHQ VHUYLQJ *RG´ VKH VDLG ³$V ORQJ VKH ZDV UHFHLYLQJ LQ $XVWUDOLD WR UHWXUQ WR 0DOD\VLD 6KH QRZ ,Q MXVW PRQWKV EHIRUH DV ZH REH\ +LV FDOOLQJ +H LV PRUH WKDQ DEOH WR VHH XV WKURXJK OLYHV ZLWK KHU \RXQJHVW GDXJKWHU ZKHUH VKH DFWLYHO\ VKDUHV WKH 6\ULDQ FLYLO ZDU LJQLWHG QR PDWWHU KRZ ROG ZH DUH´ KHU WHVWLPRQLHV WR WKH VHQLRUV Ron visited this ancient land and traveled from Aleppo in ,Q 7LDQ FDQ WHVWLI\ WR *RG¶V DELOLW\ WR VHH +LV SHRSOH WKURXJK 7KHUH¶V QR VORZLQJ GRZQ IRU ,Q 7LDQ 6KH SDUWLFLSDWHV LQ the west all the way to the Euphrates River in the east. 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10 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 11 COVER STORY

No stopping this

NonagenarianNonagenarianBy Chris Quah

Award-winning children’s book author Emily Lim tells CHARMAIN SIM her story on battling sicknesses. mily Lim’s voice is noticeably airy, and her words come Residents at the Superfun Old Folks’ Home listening intently to In out like sighs. If you ask her, she’ll tell you about the time Tian (facing camera) sharing the gospel. E when she couldn’t even speak. )LUVWO\ VKH IHOO DQG VXIIHUHG D PLOG VWURNH DW KHU 0HOERXUQH It was 1998. Wedding bells were still tolling a month into her A family under good spiritual care… Khor In Tian (far left) KRPH RQ 0DUFK $W WKH KRVSLWDO WKH GRFWRUV FRXOGQ¶W marriage to Ben when she began losing her voice. “My words SUD\LQJ IRU 7DQ &KRQJ .LP VHDWHG ZLWK KLV VRQLQODZ 晩QGWKH FDXVH RI KHU VWURNH VR WKH\ GLVFKDUJHG KHU WKH IROORZLQJ kept dropping o and air kept coming out from my throat. I .XDQ /LDQ 6DH 6L DQG GDXJKWHU 7DQ *DLN &KRR GD\ 1LQH GD\V ODWHU VKH KDG DQRWKHU IDOO 7KLV WLPH WKH GRFWRU sounded very breathless,” Emily recalled. IRXQG KHU VSLQDO FRUG KDG FUDFNHG EXW VDLG LW ZDV D PLUDFOH JH VKRXOG QRW UHVWULFW RXU VHUYLFH -XVW ORRN DW RXU WKDW WKH FUDFN ZDV QRW VHYHUH In the next six months, her voice deteriorated. “I travelled a lot (PLO\ EDFN URZ WKLUG IURP ULJKW DWWHQGLQJ 3HUWK¶V $:(620( DUWV UHFHQW HOHFWLRQ ZKHUH ZH ZLWQHVVHG D \HDUROG PDQ for work and got a lot of overseas phone calls. It was dicult festival in 2015 as the Singapore guest author. $KHOSHG EULQJ GRZQ D SDUW\ WKDW KDG UXOHG RXU QDWLRQ IRU ,W ZDV GXULQJ WKDW WLPH LQ WKH KRVSLWDO WKDW VKH VRXJKW *RG because people couldn’t hear me.” \HDUV 0RUH VR VKRXOG WKLV KDSSHQ LQ WKH NLQJGRP RI *RG IHYHULVKO\ ³, SURPLVHG +LP WKDW LI +H KHDOHG PH FRPSOHWHO\ ZLWK WKH HOGHUO\ KHOSLQJ WR EULQJ GRZQ WKH IRUFHV RI GDUNQHVV , ZRXOG XVH WKLV DV D WHVWLPRQ\ WR JORULI\ +LP´ VKH VDLG Emily was eventually diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD), believed,” she said. So, she stopped her Botox injections in 2007. where her vocal muscles would go into spasms and pulled apart Amazingly, her voice began to improve. It’s been 11 years since, *DQGPRWKHU .KRU ,Q 7LDQ LV GRLQJ MXVW WKDW 6KH VWLOO ,Q 'HFHPEHU VKH IHOO DJDLQ ZKHQ VKH WULSSHG RYHU D instead of coming together. e hunt for a cure began. She went and her voice is as good as recovered. DFWLYHO\ VHUYHV *RG LQ KHU KRPHWRZQ RI $ORU 6HWDU .HGDK WKH EULFN LQ WKH JDUGHQ 7KHUH ZDV QR RQH DURXQG VR VKH FDOOHG to Chinese sinsehs and took Chinese medicine, underwent German VDPH SODFH ZKHUH RXU QHZROG \HDUROG SULPH PLQLVWHU KDLOV RXW WR -HVXV WR VDYH KHU ³6ORZO\ , PLUDFXORXVO\ JRW XS IURP electrotherapy, and even had regular Botox injections to paralyse After resigning from her job, Emily decided to take part in a IURP 7RXFKLQJ QHDUO\ D FHQWXU\ ,Q 7LDQ FRQWLQXHV WR DFWLYHO\ WKH JURXQG FRPSOHWHO\ XQKDUPHG ZLWK QR EURNHQ ERQHV´ her vocal cords so that they don’t come apart. Meanwhile, Ben writing competition, something totally alien to her. She took it SUHDFK WR VHQLRU FLWL]HQV DW ROG IRON¶V KRPHV DQG FKXUFKHV DQG VKH JXVKHG and some friends pointed her, a young Christian then, to healing as a learning project and read up on writing for children as she VKDUH &KULVW ZLWK UHODWLYHV DQG IULHQGV rallies and church. But there was no miracle and she wondered developed her manuscript. 7KHVH WKUHH IDOOV FRQYLQFHG KHU WR IRUJR WKH JHQHURXV EHQH晩WV if it was because of lack of faith. ³$JH LV QHYHU DQ LVVXH ZKHQ VHUYLQJ *RG´ VKH VDLG ³$V ORQJ VKH ZDV UHFHLYLQJ LQ $XVWUDOLD WR UHWXUQ WR 0DOD\VLD 6KH QRZ To her delight, her book, Prince Bear and Pauper Bear, won the DV ZH REH\ +LV FDOOLQJ +H LV PRUH WKDQ DEOH WR VHH XV WKURXJK OLYHV ZLWK KHU \RXQJHVW GDXJKWHU ZKHUH VKH DFWLYHO\ VKDUHV After years of disappointment, Emily and Ben came to accept competition and was published. It also won the Bronze Medal QR PDWWHU KRZ ROG ZH DUH´ KHU WHVWLPRQLHV WR WKH VHQLRUV that divine healing was God’s prerogative. Now that Emily’s mind (Children’s Picture Books category) at the 2008 IPPY Awards, wasn’t preoccupied with healing, she could focus on listening to the world’s largest independent publishers’ book awards. Emily ,Q 7LDQ FDQ WHVWLI\ WR *RG¶V DELOLW\ WR VHH +LV SHRSOH WKURXJK 7KHUH¶V QR VORZLQJ GRZQ IRU ,Q 7LDQ 6KH SDUWLFLSDWHV LQ God and her faith grew. had found a new purpose and voice. DQ\ VLWXDWLRQ ,Q VKH PLJUDWHG WR $XVWUDOLD ZLWK KHU HOGHVW FKXUFK SURJUDPPHV JRHV WR WKH VHQLRU FLWL]HQ UHFUHDWLRQ FHQWUH GDXJKWHU 'XULQJ KHU \HDUV WKHUH VKH VHUYHG IDLWKIXOO\ LQ &OD\WRQ HYHU\ 7KXUVGD\ WR VKDUH KHU WHVWLPRQ\ DQG WKH :RUG DQG JRHV “One of the Bible verses for that season was Romans 8:1, ‘ere Her subsequent books were as well-received. In 10 years, Emily &KLQHVH &KXUFK RI &KULVW $XVWUDOLD DV DQ DVVLVWDQW FHOO JURXS ZKHUHYHU VKH LV LQYLWHG WR VKDUH KHU WHVWLPRQLHV $OO ZKR FRPH is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ at wrote 30 books and pocketed a handful of awards. Emily naturally OHDGHU XS WLOO VKH ZDV LQ KHU ODWH V DFURVV KHU PDUYHO DW KHU JRRG KHDOWK DQG ]HDO IRU *RG took away my guilt. Another new understanding is about sin – had bigger expectations – new books, new achievements, new that I’m sinful and Jesus saved me, for which I was so thankful.” awards. $V D SHUPDQHQW UHVLGHQW DQG D VHQLRU FLWL]HQ LQ $XVWUDOLD VKH 6R ZKDW LV ,Q 7LDQ¶V VHFUHW RI KHU VSDUNOLQJ KHDOWK DQG ]HDO" KDG D JRRG OLIH WKHUH ZLWK PDQ\ EHQH晩WV VXFK DV SHQVLRQ DQG /LIHVW\OH VKH UHYHDOHG 6KH ZDNHV XS DW DP HYHU\ PRUQLQJ Changing career, winning awards But it was not to be. IUHH ZRUOGFODVV KHDOWKFDUH %XW *RG KDG RWKHU SODQV IRU KHU DQG VSHQGV WZR KRXUV UHDGLQJ WKH %LEOH DQG SUD\LQJ In 2006, Emily resigned from her job, got baptised and enrolled in her church’s discipleship course. At the rst meeting, she explained e big “C” %LJGHFLVLRQ ³7KH :RUG LV P\ VRXUFH RI VWUHQJWK DQG WKH VRXUFH ZKLFK , her condition. One of them approached her later and said, “I In early 2016, Emily was in the shower when she felt a little /DVW \HDU VKH UHWXUQHG WR 0DOD\VLD LQ REHGLHQFH WR *RG¶V XVH WR VSHDN WR RWKHUV 7KDW¶V ZK\ , EHOLHYH *RG KDV NHSW P\ don’t know why I need to tell you this, but you will recover.” lump on her left breast. FDOOLQJ 7KUHH LQFLGHQWV KHOSHG KHU PDGH WKDW ELJ GHFLVLRQ PLQG YHU\ VKDUS DOO WKHVH \HDUV DQG , DP DEOH WR UHPHPEHU ZKLFK DOVR EHFDPH KHU WHVWLPRQLHV LQ VKDULQJ DERXW WKH UHDOLW\ WKH GHWDLOV RI P\ OLIH´ VKH H[SODLQHG DGGLQJ WKDW VKH ZLOO “In the initial years, people used to tell me that, but nothing A full health screening revealed abnormalities, so more scans had RI *RG LQ KHU OLIH FRQWLQXH WR VHUYH +LP IDLWKIXOO\ DV ORQJ DV VKH OLYHV happened and I expected nothing. But this time, I actually to be done. Meanwhile, she was busy with a conference when

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 11 12 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 COVER STORY she had a mastectomy and a 41-cm cut across her chest. And her rst post-surgery meal was a steak!

Although she didn’t suer physical pain, Emily was in emotional and spiritual pain. roughout the nine days in hospital, unresolved issues in her life surfaced.

“Anger, bitterness, unforgiveness. I just buried them all in the heart. When I was in hospital, I thought about my diseased left breast. ere were two lumps and an 8-cm mass around them, all rotting at dierent stages. Everything bad had to be completely removed for me to start afresh. Cancer is bad news but God took the bad and turned it around for good,” Emily reected.

During this season, her writing was aected. She went from Award-winning children’s book author Emily winning awards and taking on writing projects to nothing. Lim tells CHARMAIN SIM her story on battling sicknesses. “If I couldn’t write, where would I be in my faith? I had felt entitled and results-oriented but in 2016, I had to drop everything and mily Lim’s voice is noticeably airy, and her words come remember that my success was God’s favour. God gave, and I had out like sighs. If you ask her, she’ll tell you about the time At the book launch of Finding My Voice (she was in her third to accept that if it’s not my season to write, it wasn’t.” trimester of pregnancy). E when she couldn’t even speak. Over the next six months of chemotherapy and being housebound, It was 1998. Wedding bells were still tolling a month into her something unusual happened. On the rst day of the conference, Emily wrote journals, prayed and worked through her issues. She marriage to Ben when she began losing her voice. “My words she attended a session on writing dicult children’s books, which stopped writing for an audience or applause, and learned to write kept dropping o and air kept coming out from my throat. I mostly focused on one bestseller, entitled No Matter What. On only for God and herself. She learned to die to self. sounded very breathless,” Emily recalled. the second morning, she was in the car park when she felt a prompting to read an e-devotional. It was about sickness and It’s been two years since her surgery. “I’m healthy physically, In the next six months, her voice deteriorated. “I travelled a lot (PLO\ EDFN URZ WKLUG IURP ULJKW DWWHQGLQJ 3HUWK¶V $:(620( DUWV sure enough, the title was “No Matter What”. emotionally and spiritually today,” Emily declared. Her life is for work and got a lot of overseas phone calls. It was dicult festival in 2015 as the Singapore guest author. back to normal. She speaks at and runs writing-related events, because people couldn’t hear me.” e night before her diagnosis, Emily read a book on cancer written cares for her son and volunteers at his school library. Her writing by a friend. At the last paragraph of the book was this phrase: has interestingly taken a testimonial turn as she has been regularly Emily was eventually diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD), believed,” she said. So, she stopped her Botox injections in 2007. “I knew that no matter what, God was going to be with me.” invited to write on her cancer journey. where her vocal muscles would go into spasms and pulled apart Amazingly, her voice began to improve. It’s been 11 years since, instead of coming together. e hunt for a cure began. She went and her voice is as good as recovered. Emily said, “I knew then that no matter what, He was never going ere is a peace and certainty of faith that Emily radiates. Asked to Chinese sinsehs and took Chinese medicine, underwent German to leave me or forsake me.” On June 1, 2016, Emily’s surgeon what the biggest lessons were from her experience with sickness, electrotherapy, and even had regular Botox injections to paralyse After resigning from her job, Emily decided to take part in a con rmed she had early stage but aggressive breast cancer, which she said prayer and spiritual journaling. her vocal cords so that they don’t come apart. Meanwhile, Ben writing competition, something totally alien to her. She took it required surgery. and some friends pointed her, a young Christian then, to healing as a learning project and read up on writing for children as she Emily (centre) with her rallies and church. But there was no miracle and she wondered developed her manuscript. Later that day, another e-devotional popped up on her phone. best friends in July if it was because of lack of faith. e title – “You are Loved, No Matter What”. Emily burst out 2016 at the Children To her delight, her book, Prince Bear and Pauper Bear, won the laughing and was greatly comforted. Cancer Foundation’s Hair for Hope event After years of disappointment, Emily and Ben came to accept competition and was published. It also won the Bronze Medal where she together that divine healing was God’s prerogative. Now that Emily’s mind (Children’s Picture Books category) at the 2008 IPPY Awards, More “no matter whats” came. e fth was in a text message ZLWK KHU KXVEDQG IDWKHU wasn’t preoccupied with healing, she could focus on listening to the world’s largest independent publishers’ book awards. Emily from her niece. e sixth was in a song from her friend. e and three godchildren God and her faith grew. had found a new purpose and voice. seventh was on the day of the surgery, in a prayer-poem from a shaved their heads bald. friend. None of them had known about its signi cance. “One of the Bible verses for that season was Romans 8:1, ‘ere Her subsequent books were as well-received. In 10 years, Emily is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ at wrote 30 books and pocketed a handful of awards. Emily naturally “In the Bible, seven is completeness, restoration. I realised that took away my guilt. Another new understanding is about sin – had bigger expectations – new books, new achievements, new the ‘no matter whats’ were signposts pointing me to Him. And that I’m sinful and Jesus saved me, for which I was so thankful.” awards. because it came so clearly, I knew God was speaking. “God does speak when you take the trouble to pay attention,” she said. “A friend asked, ‘How is it that we can only hear God Changing career, winning awards But it was not to be. “When I had my voice disorder, I struggled with my faith. When when bad things happen?’ I told her only when bad things happen In 2006, Emily resigned from her job, got baptised and enrolled in the cancer happened, I immediately formed prayer circles. I was do we slow down and really hear. Maybe He’s been speaking all her church’s discipleship course. At the rst meeting, she explained e big “C” so certain God was with me,” she said. along but because of the noise around, we’re not paying attention. her condition. One of them approached her later and said, “I In early 2016, Emily was in the shower when she felt a little at rst prompting in the shower caught my attention and got don’t know why I need to tell you this, but you will recover.” lump on her left breast. Everything bad had to go me to slow down and listen.” Initially, Emily prayed for healing. When she wasn’t healed, she “In the initial years, people used to tell me that, but nothing A full health screening revealed abnormalities, so more scans had continued with the surgery and chemotherapy, but was always Today, Emily continues to tune in to God and trust Him – in happened and I expected nothing. But this time, I actually to be done. Meanwhile, she was busy with a conference when assured of God’s presence. ere was no fear and no pain although sickness and in health.

12 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 13 she had a mastectomy and a 41-cm cut across her chest. And her rst post-surgery meal was a steak!

Although she didn’t suer physical pain, Emily was in emotional and spiritual pain. roughout the nine days in hospital, unresolved issues in her life surfaced.

During this season, her writing was aected. She went from winning awards and taking on writing projects to nothing.

“If I couldn’t write, where would I be in my faith? I had felt entitled and results-oriented but in 2016, I had to drop everything and remember that my success was God’s favour. God gave, and I had At the book launch of Finding My Voice (she was in her third to accept that if it’s not my season to write, it wasn’t.” trimester of pregnancy). Over the next six months of chemotherapy and being housebound, something unusual happened. On the rst day of the conference, Emily wrote journals, prayed and worked through her issues. She she attended a session on writing dicult children’s books, which stopped writing for an audience or applause, and learned to write mostly focused on one bestseller, entitled No Matter What. On only for God and herself. She learned to die to self. the second morning, she was in the car park when she felt a prompting to read an e-devotional. It was about sickness and It’s been two years since her surgery. “I’m healthy physically, sure enough, the title was “No Matter What”. emotionally and spiritually today,” Emily declared. Her life is back to normal. She speaks at and runs writing-related events, e night before her diagnosis, Emily read a book on cancer written cares for her son and volunteers at his school library. Her writing by a friend. At the last paragraph of the book was this phrase: has interestingly taken a testimonial turn as she has been regularly “I knew that no matter what, God was going to be with me.” invited to write on her cancer journey.

Emily said, “I knew then that no matter what, He was never going ere is a peace and certainty of faith that Emily radiates. Asked to leave me or forsake me.” On June 1, 2016, Emily’s surgeon what the biggest lessons were from her experience with sickness, con rmed she had early stage but aggressive breast cancer, which she said prayer and spiritual journaling. required surgery.

Emily (centre) with her Later that day, another e-devotional popped up on her phone. best friends in July e title – “You are Loved, No Matter What”. Emily burst out 2016 at the Children laughing and was greatly comforted. Cancer Foundation’s Hair for Hope event where she together More “no matter whats” came. e fth was in a text message ZLWK KHU KXVEDQG IDWKHU from her niece. e sixth was in a song from her friend. e and three godchildren seventh was on the day of the surgery, in a prayer-poem from a shaved their heads bald. friend. None of them had known about its signi cance.

“In the Bible, seven is completeness, restoration. I realised that the ‘no matter whats’ were signposts pointing me to Him. And because it came so clearly, I knew God was speaking. “God does speak when you take the trouble to pay attention,” she said. “A friend asked, ‘How is it that we can only hear God “When I had my voice disorder, I struggled with my faith. When when bad things happen?’ I told her only when bad things happen the cancer happened, I immediately formed prayer circles. I was do we slow down and really hear. Maybe He’s been speaking all so certain God was with me,” she said. along but because of the noise around, we’re not paying attention. at rst prompting in the shower caught my attention and got Everything bad had to go me to slow down and listen.” Initially, Emily prayed for healing. When she wasn’t healed, she continued with the surgery and chemotherapy, but was always Today, Emily continues to tune in to God and trust Him – in assured of God’s presence. ere was no fear and no pain although sickness and in health.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 13 COVER STORY Out-of-prison ministry a bridge for ex-convicts

By Chris Quah

hen you hear “prison ministry”, the rst thing that reuniting the ex-prisoners with their families so that they can may come to your mind is going inside the prison restart their lives.” W to share the gospel to a captive audience. But the prison ministry is far more than that. In fact, the real ministering Despite this and many other amazing testimonies, Pr Kuilan begins after the convicts are released, according to Pastor Kuilan admitted the ministry has many challenges. Suppiah, who started Jalinan Kasih Halfway Home in Alor Setar for male ex-prisoners. One main challenge is teaching the ex-prisoners discipline. “All their life they have not learned discipline, such as getting up early

“Running a halfway home is more than just providing the ex- in the morning. It takes time but sooner or later they learn to form 7KH KRPH¶V UHVLGHQWV JHW VRPH ELUG WKHUDS\ ORRNLQJ DIWHU prisoners’ material needs. It is also meeting their emotional, productive habits. Another challenge is the constant concern that WKHVH JXLQHD IRZOV DQG FKLFNHQV 7KH ELUGV DUH SHWV QRW IRU spiritual and mental needs,” Pastor Kuilan of Trinity Baptist these prisoners may be dangerous or steal things. But thankfully, consumption!) Church pointed out in an interview with Asian Beacon. 3U .XLODQ ULJKW SRVLQJ ZLWK $K .XDQJ this has never happened, as the Lord has protected us, plus the D UHVLGHQW RI -DOLQDQ .DVLK love we give them also plays a powerful part in changing them,” would have lasted in the ministry. For example, I had one man is is done by helping the ex-convicts in almost every aspect he believed. staying with me for almost a year before he reconciled with his of their lives with acts of kindness, which lead them to full prisoners. His relationship with them ended the moment he left family.” rehabilitation. Whether it is helping them with marriage the building. “Once outside, my job was done. I only knew the Despite the challenges, Pr Kuilan has persevered in the ministry counseling or even settling their debts with loan sharks, each prisoners super cially.” as it is very rewarding, especially seeing the ex-prisoners reunite He is also thankful for his wife, Winnie, and children – Daniel, act is an integral part of the rehabilitation process. with their families. He has also learned that their behaviour was Rachel and Nathaniel – for embracing the vision God gave to His turning point came when he met an ex-prisoner whose due to the hurt they had suered in the past, and this has helped him and welcoming the ex-prisoners into their home. “Every aspect of the person has to be restored in order for him to family did not want to take him back. “He came to me, but as him to be more understanding towards them. become a fully functioning member of society. Some of these ex- I was very new to the ministry, I tried to dissociate myself from Buying the halfway home prisoners have been rejected by their own families and spouses, so him. I didn’t want to be involved with his personal issues. He Pr Kuilan has lost count of the number of ex-prisoners he has I help rebuild broken families and reunite estranged spouses who must have realised that I was pushing him away because he said helped rehabilitate since he started taking in ex-prisoners into his have been separated by all those years spent in prison,” he shared. something that changed my life,” Pr Kuilan said. home 25 years ago. To accommodate the ever increasing number of ex-prisoners, God directed him 12 years ago to buy over his Pr Kuilan’s assistance to ex-convicts extends to those who are e man’s words were simple but they hit Pr Kuilan like a ton neighbour’s house and turned it into Jalinan Kasih Halfway foreigners. Many of them need help to get travel documents of bricks.“How come the Jesus you preached to me in prison Home. e home can accommodate up to 10 people at one time. from the authorities to return home. is very dierent from the Jesus that is outside the prison walls? e funds needed to purchase the house came from a mysterious e Jesus you said cares for me is so dierent once outside. He is donor as well as some of Pr Kuilan’s savings. Since then, Jalinan “We’ve helped some of these foreign ex-prisoners get the necessary not the caring Jesus outside these walls,” the dejected man said. Kasih has been half funded by Community Friends (Cf), an travel documents to travel back to their home countries. Among A vegetable plot at the home’s backyard keeps the ex-prisoners outreach ministry of Trinity Baptist Church. Funds for the other them is an African. With the help of Trinity Baptist Church, we Stunned, Pr Kuilan realised he had to walk his talk, and thus he occupied. half come from donors. got him a ight ticket to return to his country, Nigeria. If not, launched himself fully into the ministry. he would have languished in a detention centre after coming Another thing he has learned is that while the gospel needs to be In conclusion, Pr Kuilan said the secret of successfully out from prison.” “at ex-prisoner is the rst one I cared for in my own home. I preached to the ex-prisoners, it is experiencing the gospel being rehabilitating ex-prisoners is trust. contacted his family, who were reluctant to take him back, but lived out through him and his family that has moved them to Confronted by his hypocrisy thank God his sister nally came to visit him. Even so, he was embrace Christ. “e perception is that these people do not want to change. e seeds of Jalinan Kasih Halfway Home were sown when Pr still angry with his father for rejecting him. So I visited his father Even their own families don’t trust them. erefore, you have Kuilan met an American minister who was ministering in the and persuaded him to meet his son. He nally did. By then he “Many of the ex-prisoners who come to live in our home would to be the one to believe in them. Pray for them, show them the Malaysian prisons over two decades ago. “I was working in the (the ex-prisoner) was ready to forgive his father because he had burst into tears the rst time they have a meal with us. One man love of God. Once you do so, you can watch the miracle of their marketing line at that time and had a exible job, so I joined become a Christian while staying at my home and had learned told us the last time he had a meal with his family was a year ago. trans formation. him in the prison work,” Pr Kuilan recalled. about Jesus’ love and forgiveness for others,” Pr Kuilan testi ed. Before this, he was eating under bridges.” “is is love in action. Once love changes them, the relatives see In the beginning, it was a routine and clinical aair, where “It was then that I learned that my mission was one of It takes great compassion and love to host the ex-prisoners in the changes and also begin to believe in Christ,” Pr Kuilan said. he would head over to the prison to share the gospel with the reconciliation and not just sharing the gospel. It is also about their home inde nitely. Pr Kuilan said it was God who put the compassion and love in his heart. “If he didn’t, I don’t think I 14 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 15 COVER STORY HARVEST OF HEALTH By Joanna Lee An experienced Malaysian agricultural scientist and his family are training communities on natural reuniting the ex-prisoners with their families so that they can farming methods that re ect God’s goodness, emphasising the importance of being God’s stewards restart their lives.” of His land. Despite this and many other amazing testimonies, Pr Kuilan od is the rst Gardener. He is the creator of every rough organic farming, the Perera family has had the privilege admitted the ministry has many challenges. system and process of plant growth,” said Errol of assisting not only Christians but other communities too, G Perera, a humble, fatherly agriculturist who is much especially the needy ones. ey’ve supported single mothers and One main challenge is teaching the ex-prisoners discipline. “All “sought after for his keen knowledge and expertise in setting up helped a Pahang orphanage to start their own farm, equipping their life they have not learned discipline, such as getting up early organic farming systems. the children with valuable natural farming skills for their future. in the morning. It takes time but sooner or later they learn to form 7KH KRPH¶V UHVLGHQWV JHW VRPH ELUG WKHUDS\ ORRNLQJ DIWHU “We also had a request from OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya – the productive habits. Another challenge is the constant concern that WKHVH JXLQHD IRZOV DQG FKLFNHQV 7KH ELUGV DUH SHWV QRW IRU Errol has advised governments in several Asian countries on handicapped) to develop organic farming systems. Even they these prisoners may be dangerous or steal things. But thankfully, consumption!) sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry want to take part in this,” Errol enthused. this has never happened, as the Lord has protected us, plus the methods. In Malaysia, his family – comprising his wife Tina and love we give them also plays a powerful part in changing them,” would have lasted in the ministry. For example, I had one man daughters Melinda and Caroline – are assisting several private he believed. staying with me for almost a year before he reconciled with his farms and land owners on their organic farm projects. ey’ve family.” also collaborated with Food for the Hungry International’s Asian Despite the challenges, Pr Kuilan has persevered in the ministry branch in Sabah, among many other initiatives. as it is very rewarding, especially seeing the ex-prisoners reunite He is also thankful for his wife, Winnie, and children – Daniel, Another group they’re helping to train are pastors. With rising with their families. He has also learned that their behaviour was Rachel and Nathaniel – for embracing the vision God gave to About 30 years ago, Errol and his group of scientist friends, living costs and shrinking church incomes, this is one way to due to the hurt they had su ered in the past, and this has helped him and welcoming the ex-prisoners into their home. including some who had practised traditional methods of natural help pastors cope. “It’s to give them a means of income while him to be more understanding towards them. living, decided that the modern way of agriculture was wrong. improving their environment.” Buying the halfway home ey then began to develop sustainable, natural and organic Pr Kuilan has lost count of the number of ex-prisoners he has ways to do agriculture. Even as they were “Besides teaching people how to do farming, helped rehabilitate since he started taking in ex-prisoners into his learning to do this, Errol felt they were merely we also want to ensure the project is home 25 years ago. To accommodate the ever increasing number stewards. commercially viable,” Errol said, explaining of ex-prisoners, God directed him 12 years ago to buy over his how each community has to develop its SOP neighbour’s house and turned it into Jalinan Kasih Halfway “ese organic methods are all ordained by (standard operating procedure), processing, Home. e home can accommodate up to 10 people at one time. God. We’re just here to understand them and sales and marketing skills – all done according e funds needed to purchase the house came from a mysterious use them in an organised manner,” said Errol, to God’s principles in the Word. donor as well as some of Pr Kuilan’s savings. Since then, Jalinan who has a background in biochemistry and Kasih has been half funded by Community Friends (Cf), an microbiology. “We’re here to develop the land A calling to plant and harvest A vegetable plot at the home’s backyard keeps the ex-prisoners outreach ministry of Trinity Baptist Church. Funds for the other and teach others to be good stewards also.” Errol sees his family’s mission in natural occupied. half come from donors. farming as a calling that continues what his Spreading organic cheer Anglican great-grandfather, Rev. William Another thing he has learned is that while the gospel needs to be In conclusion, Pr Kuilan said the secret of successfully Errol and his daughters develop systems along Howell, began more than a century ago in preached to the ex-prisoners, it is experiencing the gospel being rehabilitating ex-prisoners is trust. with farmers. ey also help choose and train Sarawak to reach out to the natives of the lived out through him and his family that has moved them to people to operate the farms according to the land. embrace Christ. “e perception is that these people do not want to change. strict conditions and principles they’ve laid Even their own families don’t trust them. erefore, you have down. e aim, he said, is to equip the people It is also a calling that has led his family “Many of the ex-prisoners who come to live in our home would to be the one to believe in them. Pray for them, show them the to be self-reliant. to many countries across Asia, including burst into tears the rst time they have a meal with us. One man love of God. Once you do so, you can watch the miracle of their Sri Lanka during its three-year civil war in told us the last time he had a meal with his family was a year ago. trans formation. “Nature demands that certain places are the early 2000s to advise its government on suitable for growing certain crops, so that law has to be followed,” agriculture. “During that period, God sustained us and supported Before this, he was eating under bridges.” “is is love in action. Once love changes them, the relatives see Errol said. Modern farms usually thrive on one main crop, which us. at really strengthened our family bond,” he said. ey It takes great compassion and love to host the ex-prisoners in the changes and also begin to believe in Christ,” Pr Kuilan said. isn’t healthy for the soil. Natural farming requires diversity in returned to Malaysia just a few days before the 2004 Indian their home indenitely. Pr Kuilan said it was God who put the ora and fauna that exist best side by side. Ocean tsunami. en, they ventured to Vietnam, Cambodia and compassion and love in his heart. “If he didn’t, I don’t think I asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 15 16 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_017-024_Rev1*****Time: 16:13:38*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

COVER STORY other countries before coming home to Malaysia.

175 2 “Organic agriculture is probably the easiest way I know to show

175 people the power of God, who has created the entire earth,” 4 Errol said. 175

“When you are around here (in a mall), everything you see is HARVEST man-made. But when you go into a farm, everything around you Angle : 15- 45- 0- 75 ***Lpi : 175 is God-made,” Errol smiled, explaining how everything relies on God’s providence in the farms.

OF HEALTH Farming for today and tomorrow Organic radish Besides being a natural platform to glorify God, farming can By Joanna Lee prevent Malaysians from over-relying on food imports. “We should take farming seriously not only because the Bible says so An experienced Malaysian agricultural scientist and his family are training communities on natural Lush foliage framing organic long farming methods that re ect God’s goodness, emphasising the importance of being God’s stewards (Gen. 1:29 and 9:3) but also because our country seriously needs beans. of His land. our help to develop our food resources,” Errol said. od is the rst Gardener. He is the creator of every rough organic farming, the Perera family has had the privilege prayers for them to continue their great-great-grandfather’s legacy system and process of plant growth,” said Errol of assisting not only Christians but other communities too, to the next generation. G Perera, a humble, fatherly agriculturist who is much especially the needy ones. ey’ve supported single mothers and “sought after for his keen knowledge and expertise in setting up helped a Pahang orphanage to start their own farm, equipping She has also seen God’s favour on their lives, one of which is the organic farming systems. the children with valuable natural farming skills for their future. family’s good health from planting and eating organic food. Eating “We also had a request from OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya – the a variety of food is also great for health because each season, they Errol has advised governments in several Asian countries on handicapped) to develop organic farming systems. Even they harvest dierent vegetables grown rotationally. sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry want to take part in this,” Errol enthused. Malaysia’s food import in 2015 was RM45.4 billion, almost triple methods. In Malaysia, his family – comprising his wife Tina and of 2013’s RM13 billion bill. “People think organic food is expensive,” Caroline said. daughters Melinda and Caroline – are assisting several private farms and land owners on their organic farm projects. ey’ve ere’s a massive need for food production in Malaysia, he said, “But with economies of scale, it’s not more expensive. When also collaborated with Food for the Hungry International’s Asian adding that the average age of farmers now stand at 60. He also we sold our produce at lower prices, people asked if it’s really branch in Sabah, among many other initiatives. believes that the Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia organic,” Errol laughed. Another group they’re helping to train are pastors. With rising and East Malaysia can greatly contribute to this cause with their 297 mm About 30 years ago, Errol and his group of scientist friends, living costs and shrinking church incomes, this is one way to native land. Besides packing the vegetables, Tina and the girls also educate including some who had practised traditional methods of natural help pastors cope. “It’s to give them a means of income while customers on each vegetable’s nutritional benets and the practice living, decided that the modern way of agriculture was wrong. improving their environment.” It’s also an open industry secret that many conventional farmers of zero-waste concept. ey then began to develop sustainable, natural and organic do not eat from their own crops. In contrast, workers on organic ways to do agriculture. Even as they were “Besides teaching people how to do farming, farms know that plant extracts and essential oils used as natural Spurred by gratitude learning to do this, Errol felt they were merely we also want to ensure the project is pesticides are safe and can even be eaten! “When the people we’ve been training get their rst harvest, the stewards. commercially viable,” Errol said, explaining joy on their face makes me realise what God can do and my heart how each community has to develop its SOP Errol reiterated, “We’re not saying get rid of all chemicals. It’s wells up with praise to Him,” Errol said. “ese organic methods are all ordained by (standard operating procedure), processing, not realistic. But if we look at what God has given us naturally, God. We’re just here to understand them and sales and marketing skills – all done according we’ll be amazed.” use them in an organised manner,” said Errol, to God’s principles in the Word. who has a background in biochemistry and Calling for youths in farms microbiology. “We’re here to develop the land A calling to plant and harvest Caroline and Melinda, science graduates in their early 30s, oversee and teach others to be good stewards also.” Errol sees his family’s mission in natural their farm in Bentong, Pahang, and are used to farming rigours. farming as a calling that continues what his “We don’t have many peers doing this, not even in church,” Spreading organic cheer Anglican great-grandfather, Rev. William Caroline said, laughing at their unconventional career choice. He added that seeing so much gratitude is the biggest satisfaction Errol and his daughters develop systems along Howell, began more than a century ago in and motivation to quickly go and train another group. with farmers. ey also help choose and train Sarawak to reach out to the natives of the Errol said there should be a call for youths to go into farming. people to operate the farms according to the land. Parents too would have to change their mindsets about farming “ e new government has given an immediate order to look strict conditions and principles they’ve laid work as a career. Looking at Caroline and Melinda’s robust into our food industry and agriculture. It’s a good time to be down. e aim, he said, is to equip the people It is also a calling that has led his family countenance and joy, one can sense hope for youths going into involved in this. It’s our duty, and in doing so, we’re really helping to be self-reliant. to many countries across Asia, including farming. ourselves and helping our country,” Errol said. What passion Sri Lanka during its three-year civil war in and patriotism! “Nature demands that certain places are the early 2000s to advise its government on “It’s not a glamorous life, but it’s a fullling job,” Melinda said. suitable for growing certain crops, so that law has to be followed,” agriculture. “During that period, God sustained us and supported Interested to get involved or get their organic produce? WhatsApp Errol said. Modern farms usually thrive on one main crop, which us. at really strengthened our family bond,” he said. ey A mother’s prayers answered them at 018-9034787 or email [email protected] isn’t healthy for the soil. Natural farming requires diversity in returned to Malaysia just a few days before the 2004 Indian Tina admitted it was not easy to see her daughters work in the ora and fauna that exist best side by side. Ocean tsunami. en, they ventured to Vietnam, Cambodia and farm under the hot sun. Yet, she feels God has answered her

16 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 17 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_017-024_Rev1*****Time: 16:13:38*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

other countries before coming home to Malaysia. COVER STORY

175 2 “Organic agriculture is probably the easiest way I know to show

175 people the power of God, who has created the entire earth,” 4 Errol said. 175

“When you are around here (in a mall), everything you see is man-made. But when you go into a farm, everything around you :RQGHUIXO :HHG RU Angle : 15- 45- 0- 75 ***Lpi : 175 is God-made,” Errol smiled, explaining how everything relies on God’s providence in the farms. 3UREOHPDWLF3RW"

Farming for today and tomorrow Organic radish By Dr Timothy Cheng Besides being a natural platform to glorify God, farming can prevent Malaysians from over-relying on food imports. “We should take farming seriously not only because the Bible says so Lush foliage framing organic long (Gen. 1:29 and 9:3) but also because our country seriously needs beans. our help to develop our food resources,” Errol said.

prayers for them to continue their great-great-grandfather’s legacy to the next generation. arijuana is also known as cannabis or more casually One does not play in the rain and complain about getting wet. “weed”, “pot” or “grass” and the list is endless. Its She has also seen God’s favour on their lives, one of which is the M two main uses are recreational and medical. is e high that comes from marijuana is transient and can be family’s good health from planting and eating organic food. Eating article is my own personal view on marijuana, which you may detrimental. It is (usually) taken because of peer pressure and a variety of food is also great for health because each season, they or may not agree with. the need to t into the “cool crowd”. Substitute that with the harvest dierent vegetables grown rotationally. pleasure that comes from hobbies and other activities. Get your Malaysia’s food import in 2015 was RM45.4 billion, almost triple Medicinal use adrenaline rush from a mountain climb. A sports achievement of 2013’s RM13 billion bill. “People think organic food is expensive,” Caroline said. I have not used or prescribed medical marijuana as a doctor. lasts longer and is way more benecial than smoking up. There are certain diseases where medical marijuana, or ere’s a massive need for food production in Malaysia, he said, “But with economies of scale, it’s not more expensive. When cannabinoids, has been used to alleviate symptoms and reduce Steward of your body adding that the average age of farmers now stand at 60. He also we sold our produce at lower prices, people asked if it’s really pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. However, there has been no strong Some would then argue – marijuana is legal in certain countries. believes that the Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia organic,” Errol laughed. scientic evidence to support such usage; and even if there is, But as Christians, rather than ask, “Is it legal?”, we should be and East Malaysia can greatly contribute to this cause with their 297 mm one should only consume it by prescription. asking, “Is it protable?” e Bible is silent on the consumption native land. Besides packing the vegetables, Tina and the girls also educate of such substances, but rather talks about the eects of it. customers on each vegetable’s nutritional benets and the practice ere has been no rigorous drug testing with medical marijuana It’s also an open industry secret that many conventional farmers of zero-waste concept. and side eects can be unpredictable. For example, while it can Using marijuana numbs the mind and distorts reality, which do not eat from their own crops. In contrast, workers on organic be used to control seizures, it can also worsen seizures under is clearly against what the Bible says about sobriety and being farms know that plant extracts and essential oils used as natural Spurred by gratitude certain conditions. Heart/lung diseases can also be aggravated drunk. is applies to alcohol and any other substance that has pesticides are safe and can even be eaten! “When the people we’ve been training get their rst harvest, the by consuming medical marijuana, and it has been associated the same eect. joy on their face makes me realise what God can do and my heart with damage to the developing brain of babies born to mothers Errol reiterated, “We’re not saying get rid of all chemicals. It’s wells up with praise to Him,” Errol said. who consume it. We are called to be stewards of all that God has blessed us with. not realistic. But if we look at what God has given us naturally, That includes our bodies. The first example of stewardship we’ll be amazed.” Driving while high on marijuana (or on anything) or while is probably the entrusting of the Garden of Eden to Adam, distracted (even by the mobile phone) can result in nasty road from which he was kicked out of as a result of disobeying His Calling for youths in farms trac accidents. I personally have had to amputate limbs of command. e parable of talents also illustrates what happens to Caroline and Melinda, science graduates in their early 30s, oversee people in such situations. My advice as a doctor – stay away from those who do not take care of what God has blessed them with. their farm in Bentong, Pahang, and are used to farming rigours. marijuana unless you want to dive into the sea of drug overdose, “We don’t have many peers doing this, not even in church,” toxicity, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal/homicidal As mentioned earlier, the long-term eects of even small amounts Caroline said, laughing at their unconventional career choice. He added that seeing so much gratitude is the biggest satisfaction thoughts and the list goes on and on. of marijuana are not completely known to us, so consuming it and motivation to quickly go and train another group. would be poor stewardship of the bodies that God has given us. Errol said there should be a call for youths to go into farming. One may say, “I can control myself and will never overdose.” As a result, we only have ourselves to blame if our bodies react Parents too would have to change their mindsets about farming “ e new government has given an immediate order to look e fact is, no one can completely stay in control, so why expose adversely to it. work as a career. Looking at Caroline and Melinda’s robust into our food industry and agriculture. It’s a good time to be yourself to the possibility? countenance and joy, one can sense hope for youths going into involved in this. It’s our duty, and in doing so, we’re really helping Addictions to whatever is not right, as mentioned many times farming. ourselves and helping our country,” Errol said. What passion Death sentence in Scripture. From computer games to shopping, anything that and patriotism! Get caught in Malaysia with more than 200 grammes of takes up so much time in our lives – displacing God, family and “It’s not a glamorous life, but it’s a fullling job,” Melinda said. marijuana on you and it’s the death sentence. at’s a waste of friends – is denitely something we should stop. is applies Interested to get involved or get their organic produce? WhatsApp youth – why throw your life away for a few hours of pleasure? to other things such as electronic gadgets, sports and even the A mother’s prayers answered them at 018-9034787 or email [email protected] Some may argue that the death sentence is too harsh, and I “beneficial” things we do. Marijuana tends to fall into that Tina admitted it was not easy to see her daughters work in the might agree with you. But if that is the law of the land, don’t addictive category. farm under the hot sun. Yet, she feels God has answered her break it and then complain when you’re sentenced to death.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 17 18 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * COVER STORY

:RQGHUIXO :HHG RU 3UREOHPDWLF3RW"

By Dr Timothy Cheng

At the end of the day, I’d say whether to consume marijuana or Me personally? I wouldn’t do weed. Not worth the risks, and not is a personal choice. One can easily justify it by saying, “It’s too many other better things to spend my time and money on. allowed by law, I’m taking it once a week (like a glass of wine), and it boosts my concentration and focus, and energises me. I’m not addicted and there’s no danger.”

arijuana is also known as cannabis or more casually One does not play in the rain and complain about getting wet. Some may even say “marijuana to the glory of God” (which is “weed”, “pot” or “grass” and the list is endless. Its really stretching it). Dr Timothy Cheng, born and bred in Petaling two main uses are recreational and medical. is e high that comes from marijuana is transient and can be Jaya, is an orthopaedic surgery trainee M currently serving in Sabah. He worships at article is my own personal view on marijuana, which you may detrimental. It is (usually) taken because of peer pressure and By all means go ahead, but bear in mind the consequences and Basel Chris�an Church of Malaysia (KK) and or may not agree with. the need to t into the “cool crowd”. Substitute that with the dangers that you are opening yourself to. believes that life is too short to be wasted. pleasure that comes from hobbies and other activities. Get your Medicinal use adrenaline rush from a mountain climb. A sports achievement I have not used or prescribed medical marijuana as a doctor. lasts longer and is way more benecial than smoking up. There are certain diseases where medical marijuana, or cannabinoids, has been used to alleviate symptoms and reduce Steward of your body pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. However, there has been no strong Some would then argue – marijuana is legal in certain countries. IURPSDJH scientic evidence to support such usage; and even if there is, But as Christians, rather than ask, “Is it legal?”, we should be one should only consume it by prescription. asking, “Is it protable?” e Bible is silent on the consumption Today, my research is my personal quest for God. A small percentage love of Jesus in ways I could not have imagined. God’s creation of such substances, but rather talks about the eects of it. of it comes out in my ministry teaching but I know the bulk of continues to inspire me to gratitude. ere has been no rigorous drug testing with medical marijuana it is not welcome in many quarters, so I keep silent. and side eects can be unpredictable. For example, while it can Using marijuana numbs the mind and distorts reality, which Why should Christians have inquiring minds? be used to control seizures, it can also worsen seizures under is clearly against what the Bible says about sobriety and being By 2010, all 48 of 49 churches and organisations had stopped Because the human mind is God’s greatest gift to THIS mammal certain conditions. Heart/lung diseases can also be aggravated drunk. is applies to alcohol and any other substance that has supporting me nancially. In 2012, I was politely invited to who learned to cook food. by consuming medical marijuana, and it has been associated the same eect. leave my own church of 22 years. But this puried my faith with damage to the developing brain of babies born to mothers and now my belief in God is completely independent of any ree things made humans dierent from all other animals – who consume it. We are called to be stewards of all that God has blessed us with. organisational approval. No one has ever successfully challenged we walk upright full-time, we eat cooked food, and we learned That includes our bodies. The first example of stewardship me on the facts. So I am at peace with both God and man. to speak. Walking allowed us to migrate to every corner of the Driving while high on marijuana (or on anything) or while is probably the entrusting of the Garden of Eden to Adam, planet. Cooking made digestion easier and reduced food poisoning, distracted (even by the mobile phone) can result in nasty road from which he was kicked out of as a result of disobeying His You are a man of science (and many other things). giving us more time to think and learn. Speaking led to writing, trac accidents. I personally have had to amputate limbs of command. e parable of talents also illustrates what happens to Has science ever challenged your faith? allowing us to pass on knowledge through time and space, thus people in such situations. My advice as a doctor – stay away from those who do not take care of what God has blessed them with. Science, philosophy and history have increased my awe of God and giving rise to collective learning. Our science, technologies and marijuana unless you want to dive into the sea of drug overdose, medicine are the fruits of these marks of humanity. Finally, all toxicity, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal/homicidal As mentioned earlier, the long-term eects of even small amounts three give us the power to think about and desire to know God. thoughts and the list goes on and on. of marijuana are not completely known to us, so consuming it would be poor stewardship of the bodies that God has given us. One may say, “I can control myself and will never overdose.” As a result, we only have ourselves to blame if our bodies react e fact is, no one can completely stay in control, so why expose adversely to it. Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this article do not yourself to the possibility? necessarily represent the views of Asian Beacon. Addictions to whatever is not right, as mentioned many times Death sentence in Scripture. From computer games to shopping, anything that ACT is mostly funded by the courses Ron teaches in New York and online, and donors. Ron can be contacted at actron@mac. Get caught in Malaysia with more than 200 grammes of takes up so much time in our lives – displacing God, family and com and actministry.org marijuana on you and it’s the death sentence. at’s a waste of friends – is denitely something we should stop. is applies Check out Ron’s interviews on BFM 89.9 as well as his Burgess youth – why throw your life away for a few hours of pleasure? to other things such as electronic gadgets, sports and even the Lecture at Luther Seminary at Some may argue that the death sentence is too harsh, and I “beneficial” things we do. Marijuana tends to fall into that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOUe-rpGgNg A quick lunch at the Syrian desert on his way to the Iraqi border in might agree with you. But if that is the law of the land, don’t addictive category. 2010 You can also subscribe to his YouTube channel at break it and then complain when you’re sentenced to death. youtube.com/c/AcademyforChristianThought

18 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 19 ISSUES Sex change? At the end of the day, I’d say whether to consume marijuana or Me personally? I wouldn’t do weed. Not worth the risks, and not is a personal choice. One can easily justify it by saying, “It’s too many other better things to spend my time and money on. allowed by law, I’m taking it once a week (like a glass of wine), and it boosts my concentration and focus, and energises me. I’m What Do You ink Of Sex Change For ose Who Feel not addicted and there’s no danger.” Trapped In e Body Of e Opposite Sex? Some may even say “marijuana to the glory of God” (which is We threw this question to Christians and here are some responses. really stretching it). Dr Timothy Cheng, born and bred in Petaling Then, we asked DR HERA LUKMAN to weigh in. Jaya, is an orthopaedic surgery trainee By all means go ahead, but bear in mind the consequences and currently serving in Sabah. He worships at KH, 43 Fong Siew Keong, 52 Basel Chris�an Church of Malaysia (KK) and dangers that you are opening yourself to. believes that life is too short to be wasted. I think people with a sexual identity crisis struggle perpetually. People thinking of a sex change operation must ensure they’ve at’s debilitating. But will changing sex set them free from exhausted all other options as there’s no turning back. I don’t claim such deep-seated conicts, or give them a second chance in life. to understand the struggles they face but I’m sure that anyone I believe sex change does not really change who we are in the seeking such a drastic course of action must be crying out for deepest sense. Our DNA cannot be changed. Our inside will still help. Jesus never turned anyone away, and He always sought to function by default male or female. hear them out. We should do no less. IURPSDJH Samuel Ng, 31 Adeline Lum, 32 Today, my research is my personal quest for God. A small percentage love of Jesus in ways I could not have imagined. God’s creation I don’t agree with a sex change despite how much a person is All of us have dierent struggles, including feeling trapped in of it comes out in my ministry teaching but I know the bulk of continues to inspire me to gratitude. proven to be of the opposite sex as I’ve personally experienced another gender’s body. We seek for freedom from the things that it is not welcome in many quarters, so I keep silent. this problem. Although I was born a man, my emotional state trapped us, such as changing our environment, partner or sex. Why should Christians have inquiring minds? and psychological placement is that of a woman’s. Also, the But only Jesus Christ can set us free, for when the Son sets us By 2010, all 48 of 49 churches and organisations had stopped Because the human mind is God’s greatest gift to THIS mammal occasional mood uttering and disposition of handling courtship free, we can be free indeed (John 8:36). at is the true freedom supporting me nancially. In 2012, I was politely invited to who learned to cook food. and role in a relationship are those of a more female role. But from sin. We can overcome in Him. Sometimes what we need leave my own church of 22 years. But this puri ed my faith the idea of changing one’s sex is changing what God has created is a change of heart. and now my belief in God is completely independent of any ree things made humans dierent from all other animals – and therefore goes against His will. organisational approval. No one has ever successfully challenged we walk upright full-time, we eat cooked food, and we learned umbelina, 22 me on the facts. So I am at peace with both God and man. to speak. Walking allowed us to migrate to every corner of the Annie, 71 I wouldn’t encourage sex change because of the cost and pain. planet. Cooking made digestion easier and reduced food poisoning, Some are said to be born transgender. I don’t know how much Plus, it says you don’t accept who God made you to be. However, You are a man of science (and many other things). giving us more time to think and learn. Speaking led to writing, of this is inuenced by external factors such as biased literature, we have a freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. Has science ever challenged your faith? allowing us to pass on knowledge through time and space, thus a misguided sense of liberal thinking and adventurism, ere’s In the end, it’s the choice of the person. As Christians, we can Science, philosophy and history have increased my awe of God and giving rise to collective learning. Our science, technologies and so much hurt in those facing this problem. I’ve seen this happen show love to these people and not be too judgmental. medicine are the fruits of these marks of humanity. Finally, all to a close friend. As a Christian, I told this friend that this is three give us the power to think about and desire to know God. not natural, that God created man and woman. e person Jeremy Tan, 34 underwent sex change, looks dierent and is sulky most of the I believe we are all made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). Sex time. e family is so broken and suers a lot of pain. I’m sure change, in my opinion, is saying that God made a mistake, as God is grieved too. the intention is altering what God had intended. I can’t agree Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this article do not with sex change as I believe He did not make a mistake when necessarily represent the views of Asian Beacon. Melissa Tan, 31 He made us who we are at birth. ose who do feel trapped should have the courage to nd out ACT is mostly funded by the courses Ron teaches in New York the reasons why they feel the way they do, the reasons why God K, 22 and online, and donors. Ron can be contacted at actron@mac. com and actministry.org made them the gender they are and the purpose we are to fulll. I believe that provided there are adequate controls, adults with When they know who He is, why and how He created them, sound minds should have the autonomy to make their own Check out Ron’s interviews on BFM 89.9 as well as his Burgess Lecture at Luther Seminary at they’ll then be able to resolve their identity crisis. After all we decisions which do not harm themselves or others. So, yes to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOUe-rpGgNg should never be dened by how we feel but who we are meant sex change. A quick lunch at the Syrian desert on his way to the Iraqi border in to be. A sex change takes away the journey of self discovery of 2010 You can also subscribe to his YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/AcademyforChristianThought who God intends us to be.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 19 20 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 ISSUES Eugene, 33 A.H., 18 Why is the question even being asked? I believe it’s about sex. I I think being trapped in a body of a gender you don’t want is think changing gender is about having sex dierently. God created like being imprisoned within yourself. However, a good support sex in order to create the next generation. You may have issues system and openness to alternative ways would be a good rst step that make you think you are of a dierent gender, but then what before the person goes through a sex change since this process is is the main reason for changing your gender? Is it for pleasure? irreversible. For me, I think sex change is a gift for the modern A lot of people in this generation are about living for pleasure. society. It has helped people. But for people who do not have Sex So, having sex nowadays is not to have children but for pleasure. access to or information about this procedure, they just have to Being infertile defeats the purpose of sex, especially after a gender accept their body. change? change and is against logic and reason. Step Into eir Shoes By Dr Hera Lukman for gender incongruence. is “Nurture Camp” proposes that What Do You ink Of Sex Change For ose Who Feel the person’s environment and his/her socialisation processes are Trapped In e Body Of e Opposite Sex? efore responding to the above question, it is necessary to key contributors to his/her experience of gender incongruence. Bclarify a few terminologies so that we are all on the same We threw this question to Christians and here are some responses. page. In my view, although this question involves sex, it is While both camps have contributed signicantly to a greater Then, we asked DR HERA LUKMAN to weigh in. more about gender identity (see table below). understanding of gender incongruence, the current consensus among experts studying gender identity informs us to take note KH, 43 Fong Siew Keong, 52 Recognising Assumptions: of three crucial ndings: 1) We don’t yet know the mechanism I think people with a sexual identity crisis struggle perpetually. People thinking of a sex change operation must ensure they’ve A Good Start Towards Engagement behind gender incongruence; 2) e likely explanation for a person at’s debilitating. But will changing sex set them free from exhausted all other options as there’s no turning back. I don’t claim ere are many assumptions regarding gender identity. ese with gender incongruence involves an interaction of multiple such deep-seated conicts, or give them a second chance in life. to understand the struggles they face but I’m sure that anyone assumptions may not necessarily be true even though they biopsychosocial factors; and 3) Even if we identify the cause for I believe sex change does not really change who we are in the seeking such a drastic course of action must be crying out for appear intuitively logical. I would like to explore two common one person’s gender incongruence, this should not be used as deepest sense. Our DNA cannot be changed. Our inside will still help. Jesus never turned anyone away, and He always sought to assumptions I have come across. a template to understand the cause of another person’s gender function by default male or female. hear them out. We should do no less. incongruence. Gender identity issues are varied in experience Assumption 1: We Know the Cause of Gender and presentation. Samuel Ng, 31 Adeline Lum, 32 Incongruence I don’t agree with a sex change despite how much a person is All of us have dierent struggles, including feeling trapped in Despite the lack of evidence to support a robust explanation for Given the above observations, it is clear that there is no one-size-ts- proven to be of the opposite sex as I’ve personally experienced another gender’s body. We seek for freedom from the things that gender incongruence, i.e. inconsistency between one’s biological sex all explanation for gender incongruence. erefore, we must resist this problem. Although I was born a man, my emotional state trapped us, such as changing our environment, partner or sex. and gender identity, some people believe that gender incongruence using a broad-brushstroke approach to portray someone’s struggle and psychological placement is that of a woman’s. Also, the But only Jesus Christ can set us free, for when the Son sets us stems from an innate biological problem. is school of thought with gender identity because doing so is not only presumptuous, occasional mood uttering and disposition of handling courtship free, we can be free indeed (John 8:36). at is the true freedom is often referred to as the “Nature Camp”. it trivialises the person’s lived experience. If our intention is to and role in a relationship are those of a more female role. But from sin. We can overcome in Him. Sometimes what we need engage, we must accept that we don’t know what we don’t know the idea of changing one’s sex is changing what God has created is a change of heart. An alternative perspective provides a psychosocial explanation and therefore, we must do a lot more listening and less assuming. and therefore goes against His will. &RQWLQXHRQSDJH umbelina, 22 Annie, 71 I wouldn’t encourage sex change because of the cost and pain. Some are said to be born transgender. I don’t know how much Plus, it says you don’t accept who God made you to be. However, Terminology of this is inuenced by external factors such as biased literature, we have a freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. Biological indications of being male or female a misguided sense of liberal thinking and adventurism, ere’s In the end, it’s the choice of the person. As Christians, we can Sex (Biological Sex) (e.g. chromosomes, internal reproductive systems, external genitalia, etc.) so much hurt in those facing this problem. I’ve seen this happen show love to these people and not be too judgmental. to a close friend. As a Christian, I told this friend that this is Sexual Attraction Feelings of sexual or emotional interest in another not natural, that God created man and woman. e person Jeremy Tan, 34 underwent sex change, looks dierent and is sulky most of the I believe we are all made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). Sex An enduring pattern of attraction to another based on sexual desires time. e family is so broken and suers a lot of pain. I’m sure change, in my opinion, is saying that God made a mistake, as Sexual Orientation God is grieved too. the intention is altering what God had intended. I can’t agree with sex change as I believe He did not make a mistake when Sexual Identity Act of labelling oneself with reference to one’s sexual preference Melissa Tan, 31 He made us who we are at birth. (e.g. heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc.) ose who do feel trapped should have the courage to nd out Psychological, social and cultural aspects of being male or female the reasons why they feel the way they do, the reasons why God K, 22 Gender made them the gender they are and the purpose we are to fulll. I believe that provided there are adequate controls, adults with When they know who He is, why and how He created them, sound minds should have the autonomy to make their own Gender Identity How one feels/thinks as male or female they’ll then be able to resolve their identity crisis. After all we decisions which do not harm themselves or others. So, yes to (e.g. how masculine or feminine) should never be dened by how we feel but who we are meant sex change. Gender Role Adoption of culturally expectations for maleness or femaleness to be. A sex change takes away the journey of self discovery of (e.g. girls are gentle and nurturing; boys are tough and less emotional) who God intends us to be.

20 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 21 Eugene, 33 A.H., 18 ISSUES Why is the question even being asked? I believe it’s about sex. I I think being trapped in a body of a gender you don’t want is think changing gender is about having sex di erently. God created like being imprisoned within yourself. However, a good support sex in order to create the next generation. You may have issues system and openness to alternative ways would be a good rst step that make you think you are of a di erent gender, but then what before the person goes through a sex change since this process is is the main reason for changing your gender? Is it for pleasure? irreversible. For me, I think sex change is a gift for the modern A lot of people in this generation are about living for pleasure. society. It has helped people. But for people who do not have So, having sex nowadays is not to have children but for pleasure. access to or information about this procedure, they just have to Being infertile defeats the purpose of sex, especially after a gender accept their body. change and is against logic and reason. By Reuben Chan and Chan Yen Ping

teenager once told one of the writers, “Next time I’ll send challenge for some schools to o er. Step Into eir Shoes my children to a Chinese primary school, and then to an international secondary school!” en there is the cost of tertiary education after completing By Dr Hera Lukman for gender incongruence. is “Nurture Camp” proposes that A secondary education. Private higher education is denitely much the person’s environment and his/her socialisation processes are Education in Malaysia has evolved since the time of mission costlier than public universities. For example, a private medical efore responding to the above question, it is necessary to key contributors to his/her experience of gender incongruence. schools and sekolah pondok. For a long time, public schooling was programme costs RM350,000-RM750,000 while a public medical Bclarify a few terminologies so that we are all on the same compulsory for all as it was seen to increase social equality among programme costs only RM12,000. page. In my view, although this question involves sex, it is While both camps have contributed signicantly to a greater Malaysian children. Today, the declining quality of government more about gender identity (see table below). understanding of gender incongruence, the current consensus schools has led to the mushrooming of various schooling choices, In Luke 14:28, Jesus said “… Suppose one of you wants to build a among experts studying gender identity informs us to take note primarily for those who can a ord private education. In fact, tower. Won’t you rst sit down and estimate the cost to see if you Recognising Assumptions: of three crucial ndings: 1) We don’t yet know the mechanism Malaysia is reported to have the most students in international have enough money to complete it?” Applying biblical principles, A Good Start Towards Engagement behind gender incongruence; 2) e likely explanation for a person schools in Southeast Asia ( e Star Online, 10 March 2017). parents need to sit down and carefully plan for their children’s ere are many assumptions regarding gender identity. ese with gender incongruence involves an interaction of multiple education before choosing and regretting when it is too late. assumptions may not necessarily be true even though they biopsychosocial factors; and 3) Even if we identify the cause for On the surface, one may say there’s nothing wrong with this appear intuitively logical. I would like to explore two common one person’s gender incongruence, this should not be used as situation. Malaysians seem blessed to have such a wide range of Polarised assumptions I have come across. a template to understand the cause of another person’s gender educational choices – government schools in di erent language ere are also national and societal concerns when selecting an incongruence. Gender identity issues are varied in experience mediums, private schools o ering either the national curriculum education system. For instance, if we take a closer look at the Assumption 1: We Know the Cause of Gender and presentation. or IGCSE, international schools with a variety of syllabus, and current demographic of the various school types in Malaysia, Incongruence even home schools (usually more exible American syllabuses) there is a similar trend throughout all schools. Despite the lack of evidence to support a robust explanation for Given the above observations, it is clear that there is no one-size-ts- taught by parents at home or assisted by tutors at centres. gender incongruence, i.e. inconsistency between one’s biological sex all explanation for gender incongruence. erefore, we must resist On the one hand, students attending private/international schools and gender identity, some people believe that gender incongruence using a broad-brushstroke approach to portray someone’s struggle Isn’t it good to have choices as there’s something for everyone. After tend to come from auent backgrounds. ey mainly converse in stems from an innate biological problem. is school of thought with gender identity because doing so is not only presumptuous, all, isn’t the goal of education student centered? However, there English (sometimes with imported accents) and there is a smaller is often referred to as the “Nature Camp”. it trivialises the person’s lived experience. If our intention is to are more layers to consider in choosing an education pathway. number of the majority race in these schools. Home school centre engage, we must accept that we don’t know what we don’t know students are often monolingual (English) as vernacular languages An alternative perspective provides a psychosocial explanation and therefore, we must do a lot more listening and less assuming. Consider these before deciding are seldom taught in-depth at these centres. Many home school &RQWLQXHRQSDJH One important point to research is the education qualication. centres are in fact run by churches, attracting students with fairly It is true that most international examination boards are widely similar worldviews. Values such as patriotism and love for the recognised. However, they may not meet certain national national language are rarely emphasised. Terminology requirements, especially if they involve professional communities. Meanwhile, Malay-medium national schools are becoming Biological indications of being male or female Sex (Biological Sex) For example, SPM Bahasa Malaysia (or its equivalent) is listed as increasingly mono-cultural as more minority groups in Malaysia (e.g. chromosomes, internal reproductive systems, external genitalia, etc.) a requirement for medical housemanship and legal examinations are bailing out of the system. In 2016, Malay Mail reported there Sexual Attraction Feelings of sexual or emotional interest in another (CLP) in Malaysia. Although not explicitly stated in their were 4% non-Malay student populations in Malay-medium qualication requirements, many other professional careers primary schools, contrasting with 18% non-Chinese students involve dealing with government bodies which require a reasonable in Chinese-medium primary schools. An enduring pattern of attraction to another based on sexual desires Sexual Orientation command of the national language. Students who grow up without learning the Malay language may struggle to learn the language If this trend of cultural segregation in Sexual Identity Act of labelling oneself with reference to one’s sexual preference at an older age, or risk jeopardising their career. (e.g. heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc.) education continues to grow, the very fabric of our multicultural society may eventually Secondly, the school facilities. While many international and Gender Psychological, social and cultural aspects of being male or female be torn by disunity, distrust and intolerance private schools are well-furbished and well-equipped with the due to ignorance of our fellow Malaysians. necessary learning facilities (often at exorbitant prices), smaller Gender Identity How one feels/thinks as male or female learning centres may not have adequate facilities. Science labs are (e.g. how masculine or feminine) expensive to build. Sports facilities require sucient grounds for How can we expect our children to trust and care for their fellow students to run around (commonly lacking in centres operating Malaysians from di erent racial backgrounds if they have never Gender Role Adoption of culturally expectations for maleness or femaleness in shop lots). It is worth weighing between academic rigour and learn and grow together? e cliché saying, “To know Malaysia (e.g. girls are gentle and nurturing; boys are tough and less emotional) more explorative or spatial forms of learning, which may be a is to love Malaysia”, is true if we know the history and have

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 21 22 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 ISSUES

a general knowledge of Malaysia. e lack of emphasis on Malaysia as opposed to, for example, the curriculum of American history will only promote more of our children to love other countries more than our own, and potentially encourage more young Malaysians to want to migrate to other countries.

By Reuben Chan and Chan Yen Ping Nevertheless, we cannot overlook the valid reasons that prompt parents to withdraw their children from Malaysian public schools. e rapid decline in its education quality and the systemic struggles teenager once told one of the writers, “Next time I’ll send challenge for some schools to o er. of teachers to freely educate students have often led parents to my children to a Chinese primary school, and then to question whether their children are receiving any form of education an international secondary school!” en there is the cost of tertiary education after completing at all! ere are also negative inuences from classmates and the A secondary education. Private higher education is denitely much fear of Islamisation in public schools, which persuade parents Education in Malaysia has evolved since the time of mission costlier than public universities. For example, a private medical to make a sometimes nancially dicult decision to pull their schools and sekolah pondok. For a long time, public schooling was programme costs RM350,000-RM750,000 while a public medical children out of the government education system. compulsory for all as it was seen to increase social equality among programme costs only RM12,000. Malaysian children. Today, the declining quality of government So, where do we go from here? It is likely that the various forms schools has led to the mushrooming of various schooling choices, In Luke 14:28, Jesus said “… Suppose one of you wants to build a of private schooling are here to stay. Neither is it easy to alter primarily for those who can a ord private education. In fact, tower. Won’t you rst sit down and estimate the cost to see if you government schools overnight as it is a nationwide system. Here Malaysia is reported to have the most students in international have enough money to complete it?” Applying biblical principles, we wish to o er a few suggestions as a better way forward for schools in Southeast Asia ( e Star Online, 10 March 2017). parents need to sit down and carefully plan for their children’s education in our nation, primarily in the private school realm. education before choosing and regretting when it is too late. On the surface, one may say there’s nothing wrong with this e way forward situation. Malaysians seem blessed to have such a wide range of Polarised e private school arena, freer from bureaucracy, is able to cater educational choices – government schools in di erent language ere are also national and societal concerns when selecting an to the needs of di erent learners and achieve noble causes in send as many votes back to Malaysia mediums, private schools o ering either the national curriculum education system. For instance, if we take a closer look at the education. via human delivery, coined under or IGCSE, international schools with a variety of syllabus, and current demographic of the various school types in Malaysia, a term all Malaysians learned in even home schools (usually more exible American syllabuses) there is a similar trend throughout all schools. Subjects such as character formation and school – gotong-royong. Such is taught by parents at home or assisted by tutors at centres. service learning are also as important as the Malaysian spirit in a unied On the one hand, students attending private/international schools other more academically-driven subjects. language. Isn’t it good to have choices as there’s something for everyone. After tend to come from auent backgrounds. ey mainly converse in all, isn’t the goal of education student centered? However, there English (sometimes with imported accents) and there is a smaller However, private, international and home schools need to take Lastly, to reduce socio-economical are more layers to consider in choosing an education pathway. number of the majority race in these schools. Home school centre one step further by actively playing a part in the Malaysian segregation, private education students are often monolingual (English) as vernacular languages society instead of isolating themselves from the local community. institutions can consider setting aside Consider these before deciding are seldom taught in-depth at these centres. Many home school ey must equally share the burden of fostering patriotism and a fund to assist the underprivileged One important point to research is the education qualication. centres are in fact run by churches, attracting students with fairly national unity among their students. children. is will allow students with di erent It is true that most international examination boards are widely similar worldviews. Values such as patriotism and love for the backgrounds to study under the same roof and promote recognised. However, they may not meet certain national national language are rarely emphasised. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbour. Do our better empathy. requirements, especially if they involve professional communities. children know their neighbours? Do learning centres provide the Meanwhile, Malay-medium national schools are becoming opportunity for their students to learn and experience Malaysia Evaluating and building education systems in Malaysia is not a For example, SPM Bahasa Malaysia (or its equivalent) is listed as increasingly mono-cultural as more minority groups in Malaysia and Malaysians? Or do they focus on language, cultures and one-dimensional task. ere are many layers to consider – from a requirement for medical housemanship and legal examinations are bailing out of the system. In 2016, Malay Mail reported there history of another country? For more Christian-based learning the interest of the individual, family, society and nation. erefore, (CLP) in Malaysia. Although not explicitly stated in their were 4% non-Malay student populations in Malay-medium centres, instead of teaching our children how the 50 states of it is the responsibility of all, both the parents selecting schooling qualication requirements, many other professional careers primary schools, contrasting with 18% non-Chinese students America were formed, perhaps we can look into curriculum choices and those who are administering education services, to involve dealing with government bodies which require a reasonable in Chinese-medium primary schools. on the history of why towns like Sitiawan are predominantly think carefully and contribute in ensuring a sustainable education command of the national language. Students who grow up without Christian, and who the Christian forefathers of Malaysia were. system for all strata of the Malaysian society. learning the Malay language may struggle to learn the language If this trend of cultural segregation in is knowledge would seem more relevant to our children in at an older age, or risk jeopardising their career. education continues to grow, the very fabric building our Malaysian Christian heritage. of our multicultural society may eventually Secondly, the school facilities. While many international and be torn by disunity, distrust and intolerance Also, if learning centres, regardless of curriculum, can teach private schools are well-furbished and well-equipped with the due to ignorance of our fellow Malaysians. Bahasa Malaysia to a procient level, it can reduce major roadblocks necessary learning facilities (often at exorbitant prices), smaller in the students’ education journey. From a national perspective, learning centres may not have adequate facilities. Science labs are this will help break down racial barriers, giving Malaysian citizens expensive to build. Sports facilities require sucient grounds for How can we expect our children to trust and care for their fellow a common language to communicate in. students to run around (commonly lacking in centres operating Malaysians from di erent racial backgrounds if they have never in shop lots). It is worth weighing between academic rigour and learn and grow together? e cliché saying, “To know Malaysia Communication is the rst step to understanding other people Reuben Chan and Chan Yen Ping work at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. more explorative or spatial forms of learning, which may be a is to love Malaysia”, is true if we know the history and have groups in Malaysia, helping us to unite as fellow countrymen. In He’s the Marke�ng Manager while she’s a Chemistry lecturer. the recent GE14, many overseas voters collaborated to gather and 22 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 23 ISSUES a general knowledge of Malaysia. e lack of emphasis on Malaysia as opposed to, for example, the curriculum of American history will only promote more of our children to love other countries more than our own, and potentially encourage more young Malaysians to want to migrate to other countries.

Nevertheless, we cannot overlook the valid reasons that prompt parents to withdraw their children from Malaysian public schools. e rapid decline in its education quality and the systemic struggles of teachers to freely educate students have often led parents to question whether their children are receiving any form of education at all! ere are also negative inuences from classmates and the fear of Islamisation in public schools, which persuade parents to make a sometimes nancially dicult decision to pull their children out of the government education system. A Christian view of genetic engineering By Jeremy Lim So, where do we go from here? It is likely that the various forms of private schooling are here to stay. Neither is it easy to alter government schools overnight as it is a nationwide system. Here enetic engineering (GE) is the direct manipulation of an cell manipulation, therapeutic germ-line manipulation, non- we wish to oer a few suggestions as a better way forward for Gorganism’s DNA to alter its characteristics in a particular therapeutic somatic cell manipulation, and non-therapeutic education in our nation, primarily in the private school realm. way. is new scientic frontier is seldom discussed among germ-line cell manipulation. We shall come back to this after Christian circles. Its acceptance is understandably dealt with discussing the biblical principles. e way forward caution for the looming possibility of the freaks the process e private school arena, freer from bureaucracy, is able to cater may cause. Biblical Principles to the needs of dierent learners and achieve noble causes in send as many votes back to Malaysia e Bible does not have any direct teachings on this topic education. via human delivery, coined under While it is almost tempting for Christians to dismiss GE as but there are biblical principles to guide us in evaluating the a term all Malaysians learned in “playing God” and to ban all aspects of GE, there may be dierent categories of human GE. Subjects such as character formation and school – gotong-royong. Such is some benets such as in the treatment of many painful, fatal service learning are also as important as the Malaysian spirit in a unied and currently untreatable diseases. Instead of having knee- 1. e Bible speaks of the importance of health and the role of other more academically-driven subjects. language. jerk reactions to GE, we should carefully examine it based on medicine. Certain activities can restore an individual’s health. theological and ethical reections. Apostle Paul says our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; However, private, international and home schools need to take Lastly, to reduce socio-economical therefore, we need to take good care of it. When Timothy was one step further by actively playing a part in the Malaysian segregation, private education For an appropriate Christian response, I will summarise the sick, he encouraged him to take medicinal action (1 Tim. 5:23). society instead of isolating themselves from the local community. institutions can consider setting aside dierent possible categories of GE for humans, and discuss Scripture exhorts us to care for the physical wellness of ourselves ey must equally share the burden of fostering patriotism and a fund to assist the underprivileged them based on the Bible’s teachings. and others. national unity among their students. children. is will allow students with dierent backgrounds to study under the same roof and promote Di erent Categories of Genetic Manipulations 2. God has charged us to be good stewards (Gen. 2:15). e As Christians, we are called to love our neighbour. Do our better empathy. ere are two important distinctions in human genetic Holman Bible Dictionary denes Christian stewardship as children know their neighbours? Do learning centres provide the engineering. “utilising and managing all resources God provides for the opportunity for their students to learn and experience Malaysia Evaluating and building education systems in Malaysia is not a glory of God and the betterment of His creation”. Like many and Malaysians? Or do they focus on language, cultures and one-dimensional task. ere are many layers to consider – from 1. erapeutic vs non-therapeutic other technologies, GE is morally neutral, and it is entirely history of another country? For more Christian-based learning the interest of the individual, family, society and nation. erefore, erapeutic application, or genetic repair, is the treatment up to the scientists to decide how to use it. It can be used to centres, instead of teaching our children how the 50 states of it is the responsibility of all, both the parents selecting schooling to remove genetic defects and develop techniques that will create biological weapons to achieve evil goals or cures for the America were formed, perhaps we can look into curriculum choices and those who are administering education services, to address existing diseases such as cancer, AIDS, Parkinson’s and betterment of God’s creation. on the history of why towns like Sitiawan are predominantly think carefully and contribute in ensuring a sustainable education Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease. Non-therapeutic Christian, and who the Christian forefathers of Malaysia were. system for all strata of the Malaysian society. treatment is an enhancement therapy that uses GE to alter 3. From the Christian worldview, human beings are unique is knowledge would seem more relevant to our children in normal inherited characteristics such as hair or eye colour. because we alone are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). building our Malaysian Christian heritage. is means human lives have both dignity and sanctity – “the 2. Somatic vs germ-line cells dignity calls for respect, the sanctity for reverence”. is is the Also, if learning centres, regardless of curriculum, can teach Somatic cells do not play a part in the production of sex cells, reason why murder is such a heinous crime (Gen. 9:6). No Bahasa Malaysia to a procient level, it can reduce major roadblocks whereas germ-line cells do. If the genes of somatic cells are matter how damaged a person might be, he/she is still made in in the students’ education journey. From a national perspective, altered resulting in good or bad eects, only that individual the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity. this will help break down racial barriers, giving Malaysian citizens would be aected physically. However, the alteration of germ- a common language to communicate in. line cells is riskier because it would physically aect not only the 4. Genetic diseases exist in the rst place because of the Fall. individual but subsequent ospring. e world we live in is fallen, and all of us are subjected to Communication is the rst step to understanding other people Reuben Chan and Chan Yen Ping work at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. When the above two distinctions intersect, there are four possible death. However, this suering is only temporary because in groups in Malaysia, helping us to unite as fellow countrymen. In He’s the Marke�ng Manager while she’s a Chemistry lecturer. categories of human genetic manipulation: therapeutic somatic the incarnation and resurrection of Christ, the created order the recent GE14, many overseas voters collaborated to gather and asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 23 24 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_001-008_Rev1*****Time: 09:06:17*****Date:04-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

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A Christian view of genetic engineering 5. Jesus’ rst and second greatest commandment is love God As for non-therapeutic germ-line therapy, a wide acceptance and love others (Matt. 22:37-49). is is generally considered of it could possibly lead to eugenics, where our human race By Jeremy Lim as the essence of Christian morality. According to Neil Messer, is redesigned to have absolute control over our future destiny. “the precept ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ clearly provides Such action signi es de ance to God’s sovereignty over us. e enetic engineering (GE) is the direct manipulation of an cell manipulation, therapeutic germ-line manipulation, non- a strong motive for trying to relieve human suering and Babel tower story in Genesis 11:1-9 shows us that men could Gorganism’s DNA to alter its characteristics in a particular therapeutic somatic cell manipulation, and non-therapeutic seeking whatever promotes human ourishing”. erefore, this be deluded into thinking that they can exalt themselves over way. is new scientic frontier is seldom discussed among germ-line cell manipulation. We shall come back to this after principle of love can be a platform that supports medicine and the Creator. When therapy is intended to be enhancement, Christian circles. Its acceptance is understandably dealt with discussing the biblical principles. medical research. we have stepped beyond the boundary which God has given caution for the looming possibility of the freaks the process to us as stewards of his creation. erefore, both forms of may cause. Biblical Principles Christian Response to Genetic Engineering non-therapeutic gene manipulations are unacceptable from a e Bible does not have any direct teachings on this topic Considering the biblical principles above, let us now return to Christian’s perspective. While it is almost tempting for Christians to dismiss GE as but there are biblical principles to guide us in evaluating the the various categories of human genetic engineering. “playing God” and to ban all aspects of GE, there may be dierent categories of human GE. Conclusion some benets such as in the treatment of many painful, fatal e rst category – therapeutic somatic cell manipulation – is We have seen that there are four categories of human genetic and currently untreatable diseases. Instead of having knee- 1. e Bible speaks of the importance of health and the role of ethically the least problematic because the intention behind this manipulation: therapeutic somatic cell manipulation, 297 mm jerk reactions to GE, we should carefully examine it based on medicine. Certain activities can restore an individual’s health. is to cure genetic diseases. Most genetic diseases are so severe therapeutic germ-line manipulation, non-therapeutic somatic theological and ethical reections. Apostle Paul says our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; that it could inhibit the ourishing of a person and obscure cell manipulation, and non-therapeutic germ-line manipulation. therefore, we need to take good care of it. When Timothy was the image of God in them. For example, some genetic diseases In my argument in support of curative reasons, the rst and For an appropriate Christian response, I will summarise the sick, he encouraged him to take medicinal action (1 Tim. 5:23). could isolate a person from normal human relationships and second categories are deemed consistent with Christians ethics dierent possible categories of GE for humans, and discuss Scripture exhorts us to care for the physical wellness of ourselves perhaps deprive him/her of opportunities for learning to give but not so with category three and four. them based on the Bible’s teachings. and others. and receive love. Such deprivation may make it harder for him/ her to receive the love of God and make a response of love to As God’s people, while we realise the immense potential of Di erent Categories of Genetic Manipulations 2. God has charged us to be good stewards (Gen. 2:15). e God. In many cases, gene therapy may be the path to pursue as GE in eliminating human suering, we ought to be cautious ere are two important distinctions in human genetic Holman Bible Dictionary denes Christian stewardship as it’s the only cure. about stepping beyond the boundary of stewardship, and other engineering. “utilising and managing all resources God provides for the philosophical and social considerations. glory of God and the betterment of His creation”. Like many e second category – therapeutic germ-line cell manipulation 1. erapeutic vs non-therapeutic other technologies, GE is morally neutral, and it is entirely – can eradicate inherited diseases such as Down Syndrome To conclude, let me quote Dr Ray Bohlin, a renowned Christian erapeutic application, or genetic repair, is the treatment up to the scientists to decide how to use it. It can be used to and haemophilia. However, due to the risks aecting future scientist, on how one should view GE: “We are to play God in to remove genetic defects and develop techniques that will create biological weapons to achieve evil goals or cures for the generations,greatcautionistobeexercisedinitsimplementation. the sense of imitating Him as we apply the truth of being created address existing diseases such as cancer, AIDS, Parkinson’s and betterment of God’s creation. Some people may see this as similar to eradicating diseases in His image and in exercising our appointment as stewards Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease. Non-therapeutic such as small pox. e late John Stott describes therapeutic over all He has made… Our creative abilities should be used treatment is an enhancement therapy that uses GE to alter 3. From the Christian worldview, human beings are unique GE as “art restoration” and explains that “technology, such as to enhance the condition of men and women as we struggle in normal inherited characteristics such as hair or eye colour. because we alone are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). genetic manipulation or stem cell therapy, which is intended a fallen world. Genetic technologies can and should be used to is means human lives have both dignity and sanctity – “the to be restorative, recreating a damaged length of DNA... seems help alleviate or even cure the eects of genetic disease.” 2. Somatic vs germ-line cells dignity calls for respect, the sanctity for reverence”. is is the consistent with ethical practice”. Somatic cells do not play a part in the production of sex cells, reason why murder is such a heinous crime (Gen. 9:6). No whereas germ-line cells do. If the genes of somatic cells are matter how damaged a person might be, he/she is still made in e third and fourth categories – non-therapeutic gene altered resulting in good or bad eects, only that individual the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity. manipulation for both somatic and germ-line cells – are certainly Jeremy Lim has a degree in Biochemistry would be aected physically. However, the alteration of germ- objectionable, owing to its primary intention for anything from Ohio State University and a Master of line cells is riskier because it would physically aect not only the 4. Genetic diseases exist in the rst place because of the Fall. other than curative purposes. Examples are enhancing sports Divinity from Seminary Theology Malaysia. individual but subsequent ospring. e world we live in is fallen, and all of us are subjected to performance or delaying the ageing process. Furthermore, the He is currently serving in Petaling Jaya When the above two distinctions intersect, there are four possible death. However, this suering is only temporary because in manipulation of normal human characteristics would put us Evangelical Free Church as the pastor in charge of mission and outreach. categories of human genetic manipulation: therapeutic somatic the incarnation and resurrection of Christ, the created order in danger of redesigning ourselves or others in conformity to subjective whims and prejudices, thus contradicting our 24 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 25 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_001-008_Rev1*****Time: 09:06:17*****Date:04-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

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RaisingBy Joanna Lee the bar

is vindicated and ful lled. God has redeemed his fallen people Christian love that requires accepting people with all their and will continue to do so until the time of our full deliverance. individuality and peculiarities. If Secondly, you have a passion for MCKL looks for students 5. Jesus’ rst and second greatest commandment is love God As for non-therapeutic germ-line therapy, a wide acceptance education as a career and have been who are active in extra-curricular activities, and love others (Matt. 22:37-49). is is generally considered of it could possibly lead to eugenics, where our human race accepted into a top international university to do an have leadership qualities and love people. “We want lecturers as the essence of Christian morality. According to Neil Messer, is redesigned to have absolute control over our future destiny. education-related course but do not have the nances, you may be who are interested in and willing to interact with students,” Ms “the precept ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ clearly provides Such action signi es de ance to God’s sovereignty over us. e inclined to throw away the oer. ankfully for Chan Yen Ping, Moey pointed out. (Yen Ping not only teaches chemistry but a strong motive for trying to relieve human suering and Babel tower story in Genesis 11:1-9 shows us that men could her college, Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL), came to leads the Student Council as lecturer advisor and co-advises the seeking whatever promotes human ourishing”. erefore, this be deluded into thinking that they can exalt themselves over her rescue. (Read her story in our April-June 2018 issue.) MCKL Christian Fellowship with other lecturers.) principle of love can be a platform that supports medicine and the Creator. When therapy is intended to be enhancement, CEO Moey Yoke Lai and Director of Institutional Development medical research. we have stepped beyond the boundary which God has given Mr Khoo Teng Sooi talked to Asian Beacon about the various “Finally, applicants must be students of calibre, have maintained to us as stewards of his creation. erefore, both forms of education scholarships oered by MCKL. good grades and done well in their exams.” Christian Response to Genetic Engineering non-therapeutic gene manipulations are unacceptable from a Considering the biblical principles above, let us now return to Christian’s perspective. In 2013, when Yen Ping was nishing her Ms Moey added that the scholarship covers only the university’s the various categories of human genetic engineering. A-levels at MCKL, the college heard about tuition fees. Conclusion her passion for education and encouraged e rst category – therapeutic somatic cell manipulation – is We have seen that there are four categories of human genetic her to apply to Cambridge University. Postgraduate scholarships in education ethically the least problematic because the intention behind this manipulation: therapeutic somatic cell manipulation, 297 mm “We came up with a scholarship scheme, MCKL provides another scholarship to its lecturers who have is to cure genetic diseases. Most genetic diseases are so severe therapeutic germ-line manipulation, non-therapeutic somatic not only for her but for any young taught for three years. Under the United Board Scholarship, that it could inhibit the ourishing of a person and obscure cell manipulation, and non-therapeutic germ-line manipulation. persons who have a calling (in teaching) lecturers receive USD$10,000 for a master’s programme. the image of God in them. For example, some genetic diseases In my argument in support of curative reasons, the rst and to support them,” said Mr Khoo. And could isolate a person from normal human relationships and second categories are deemed consistent with Christians ethics so the MCKL Teaching Scholarship was MCKL also oers lecturers the MCKL Faculty Scholarship. perhaps deprive him/her of opportunities for learning to give but not so with category three and four. born. at year, MCKL sponsored Yen Ms Moey Yoke Lai “While they study, we give them full paid leave to help them and receive love. Such deprivation may make it harder for him/ Ping’s quest at Cambridge University with expenses. ey still get sta bene ts with insurance. is her to receive the love of God and make a response of love to As God’s people, while we realise the immense potential of and Zara Kim Khoo’s degree in Early will help them with their board and lodging,” Mr Khoo said. God. In many cases, gene therapy may be the path to pursue as GE in eliminating human suering, we ought to be cautious Childhood Education at University of Gloucestershire. it’s the only cure. about stepping beyond the boundary of stewardship, and other “At least they can concentrate on their studies and don’t have to philosophical and social considerations. So far, MCKL Teaching Scholarship has sponsored eight students, worry about money,” Ms Moey chipped in. e second category – therapeutic germ-line cell manipulation including Claire Tan who is pursuing Education in English in – can eradicate inherited diseases such as Down Syndrome To conclude, let me quote Dr Ray Bohlin, a renowned Christian Cambridge, Elizabeth Tan at Wheaton College, US, for a physics MCKL has other partnership scholarships and haemophilia. However, due to the risks aecting future scientist, on how one should view GE: “We are to play God in degree, Christina Chan at the University of Sydney for economics with local universities, such as Heriot- generations,greatcautionistobeexercisedinitsimplementation. the sense of imitating Him as we apply the truth of being created and Catherine Bakewell who’s pursuing Education in English Watt University and Monash University. Some people may see this as similar to eradicating diseases in His image and in exercising our appointment as stewards at York University. While going through their names, Ms Moey “For a moderate college like ours, God such as small pox. e late John Stott describes therapeutic over all He has made… Our creative abilities should be used and Mr Khoo showed much care and concern for each of them has blessed us tremendously. So we GE as “art restoration” and explains that “technology, such as to enhance the condition of men and women as we struggle in as they had taken each student’s story and struggles to heart. want to pass this blessing on to younger genetic manipulation or stem cell therapy, which is intended a fallen world. Genetic technologies can and should be used to people who can lead the college in future. to be restorative, recreating a damaged length of DNA... seems help alleviate or even cure the eects of genetic disease.” Ms Moey said MCKL Teaching Scholarship aimed to ful l We certainly hope that through this consistent with ethical practice”. MCKL’s need for graduates equipped with the best teaching continuous eort, we’ll always have well- quali cations from top international universities and who are Mr Khoo Teng Sooi trained Christian lecturers,” Ms Moey e third and fourth categories – non-therapeutic gene passionate about the teaching career. concluded. manipulation for both somatic and germ-line cells – are certainly Jeremy Lim has a degree in Biochemistry objectionable, owing to its primary intention for anything from Ohio State University and a Master of Criteria for MCKL Teaching Scholarship With the various scholarships that have been carefully thought other than curative purposes. Examples are enhancing sports Divinity from Seminary Theology Malaysia. Firstly, the applicants should be Christians, according to Ms through, MCKL appears to be an academic institution that is performance or delaying the ageing process. Furthermore, the He is currently serving in Petaling Jaya Moey, who expressed concern over the dwindling number of serious about raising competent, passionate educators who will manipulation of normal human characteristics would put us Evangelical Free Church as the pastor in Christian educators in schools. “We want to encourage young in turn raise high quality students. charge of mission and outreach. in danger of redesigning ourselves or others in conformity people to take up teaching as a career,” she said. to subjective whims and prejudices, thus contradicting our asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 25 26 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * WE OFFER

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS including actuarial science, ﬁnance and engineering.

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RaisingBy Joanna Lee the bar

If Secondly, you have a passion for MCKL looks for students education as a career and have been who are active in extra-curricular activities, accepted into a top international university to do an have leadership qualities and love people. “We want lecturers education-related course but do not have the nances, you may be who are interested in and willing to interact with students,” Ms inclined to throw away the oer. ankfully for Chan Yen Ping, Moey pointed out. (Yen Ping not only teaches chemistry but her college, Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL), came to leads the Student Council as lecturer advisor and co-advises the her rescue. (Read her story in our April-June 2018 issue.) MCKL Christian Fellowship with other lecturers.) CEO Moey Yoke Lai and Director of Institutional Development Mr Khoo Teng Sooi talked to Asian Beacon about the various “Finally, applicants must be students of calibre, have maintained education scholarships oered by MCKL. good grades and done well in their exams.”

In 2013, when Yen Ping was nishing her Ms Moey added that the scholarship covers only the university’s A-levels at MCKL, the college heard about tuition fees. her passion for education and encouraged her to apply to Cambridge University. Postgraduate scholarships in education “We came up with a scholarship scheme, MCKL provides another scholarship to its lecturers who have not only for her but for any young taught for three years. Under the United Board Scholarship, persons who have a calling (in teaching) lecturers receive USD$10,000 for a master’s programme. to support them,” said Mr Khoo. And so the MCKL Teaching Scholarship was MCKL also oers lecturers the MCKL Faculty Scholarship. born. at year, MCKL sponsored Yen Ms Moey Yoke Lai “While they study, we give them full paid leave to help them Ping’s quest at Cambridge University with expenses. ey still get sta bene ts with insurance. is and Zara Kim Khoo’s degree in Early will help them with their board and lodging,” Mr Khoo said. Childhood Education at University of Gloucestershire. “At least they can concentrate on their studies and don’t have to So far, MCKL Teaching Scholarship has sponsored eight students, worry about money,” Ms Moey chipped in. including Claire Tan who is pursuing Education in English in Cambridge, Elizabeth Tan at Wheaton College, US, for a physics MCKL has other partnership scholarships degree, Christina Chan at the University of Sydney for economics with local universities, such as Heriot- and Catherine Bakewell who’s pursuing Education in English Watt University and Monash University. at York University. While going through their names, Ms Moey “For a moderate college like ours, God and Mr Khoo showed much care and concern for each of them has blessed us tremendously. So we as they had taken each student’s story and struggles to heart. want to pass this blessing on to younger people who can lead the college in future. Ms Moey said MCKL Teaching Scholarship aimed to ful l We certainly hope that through this MCKL’s need for graduates equipped with the best teaching continuous eort, we’ll always have well- quali cations from top international universities and who are Mr Khoo Teng Sooi trained Christian lecturers,” Ms Moey passionate about the teaching career. concluded.

Criteria for MCKL Teaching Scholarship With the various scholarships that have been carefully thought Firstly, the applicants should be Christians, according to Ms through, MCKL appears to be an academic institution that is Moey, who expressed concern over the dwindling number of serious about raising competent, passionate educators who will Christian educators in schools. “We want to encourage young in turn raise high quality students. people to take up teaching as a career,” she said.

26 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 WE OFFER

Editor’s Your Contemporary Christian Magazine

FEATURE

Hold fast WR*RG¶V promises… Joanne Teh urges Christian singles. By Valerie Lam & Ong Juat Heng

alking about singlehood may unnerve many Christian age group were the ones actively seeking committed relationships. singles who are at a marriageable age. Not for Joanne “But we will lower the age criterion to 28 for future events, Teh though. since the feedback received after the rst gathering showed that T those aged 28 were already struggling in their journey to nd Like many singles, Joanne, in her 30s, has had to face the social life partners.” pressure of her singlehood and the reality of her ticking female biological clock. And like them, her prospects of meeting single To keep the momentum going and create more opportunities Christian men are con ned to her church. If she is fortunate, for Christian singles to meet and mingle, Joanne plans to hold she might meet them through work-related events. As she looks the singles event twice a year. e next one is slated for between around her, the many Christians of marriageable age still not October and November, so help her spread the word, will you? married compounds her concern. (Contact Joanne at 016-656 0560.)

So, when her senior pastor challenged the congregation at this Hard to nd year’s New Year sermon to do something dierent for God’s Do Christian singles face more obstacles in nding life partners kingdom, an idea struck her – why not give single Christians today than previous generations? Joanne noted that many Christians from various churches a platform to meet one another? Soon are migrating to other countries, especially after their tertiary came the inspiration of organising a singles get-together event. education. She is concerned that Christians are compromising Joanne didn’t hesitate – the rst Christian Singles Interactive their faith by settling down with non-Christians out of desperation. Day was held in Klang two months later. She encouraged Christian singles to “hold fast to God’s promises” even when the going gets tough. Organising the event was no simple aair, even with the help of her cell group members, and even though it was a simple At such times, the older generation can be invaluable by walking luncheon with some ice-breaker activities. e bigger issue was alongside the singles, she said. “e older generation can encourage breaking the mindset that such singles gatherings were for “the Christian singles by praying for them and mentoring them, desperate”. Joanne admitted her fear that no one would sign up especially the men. ey can also help by introducing the singles because she felt many Christian singles were shy about attending to other singles.” such a gathering because of the stigma attached to it, despite it being a church-type gathering. ankfully, four brave men and Joanne also urged churches in Malaysia to give attention to the eight women from eight dierent churches turned up and had issue of singles and perhaps, collaborate by organising joint a splendid time. gatherings to provide plenty of opportunities for singles to meet.

e unbalanced male-female ratio was not unexpected. “e Asked if she’s getting nearer to nding a life partner, she said, woman participants felt that their male counterparts were too “Where and when will he appear?!” Perhaps she’ll meet him at shy to sign up for such an event, whereas the men felt that the the next singles event, just like what happened to Chew Sue Lee, age criterion (to participate in the event) should have been below who met Jonathan Wong at a singles event and married him 30 years. some 18 months later.

“Nevertheless, everyone agreed that this was a good place to meet Unexpected love story other Christian singles from other churches,” Joanne shared. In 2012, Sue Lee attended a singles event called Rocking Singles (organised by several churches in Petaling Jaya) after much She explained the age limit of the participants was set at between persuasion from her late father. “I disliked big social gatherings 30 and 40 years as the organising committee felt the singles in this and preferred to stay at home. But he gured the more people

28 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Contents Editor’s Your Contemporary Christian Magazine July-September 2018 Vol. 50#3 EDITOR Note Ms Ong Juat Heng At a recent lunch with some girlfriends, we talked about GE14 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Dr Chong Kwong Tek, Mrs Goldie Chong, Rev. Loh Soon Choy, and nothing else much. One of them said she was so kan cheong Mr Tan Yoke Tee, Mr Patrick Leong, Mr Danny Cheah, (anxious) during the week before GE14 that she had a mouth full Ms Mary Chan 40 Nation of ulcers. ADVISORS _ Pastor Dr Chew Weng Chee, Rev. Loh Soon Choy Election Euphoria Political Changes Her ulcers have disappeared but sometimes, I still pinch myself to Pastor Dato’ Dr Daniel Ho, Dr Chong Kwong Tek And Implications For A New Malaysia make sure it’s not all a dream that will vanish. How incredibly blessed LEGAL ADVISOR we are to have experienced this moment in our nation’s history, to Mr Steven Fung Post-GE14 6 FINANCE & ADMIN MANAGER secure the desperately-needed change that we had laboured in prayer Ms Cheng Suet Lai for but didn’t dare believe in (think GE13). EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Cover Story CHAIRMAN HON. SECRETARY Praise Almighty God for the peaceful transition and the many stunning Mr Tan Yoke Tee Mr Danny Cheah On e Holy Grail Of Truth 8 things that have happened since then. One of the stunners is our VICE-CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS No stopping is Nonagenarian 11 new Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. At a grand old Mr Patrick Leong Ms Mary Chan Mr Andrew Tan Yin Full No Matter What 12 age of 93, he has assumed the rule of not just a nation, but one HON. TREASURER Rev. Loh Soon Choy Ms Loke Che Ching Out Of Prison 14 that is ridden with a monstrous debt and countless challenges, from the Herculean task of tackling deeply embedded corruption to the PUBLISHER Harvest Of Health 16 Persaudaraan Asian Beacon Malaysia. An inter-denominational 14 “simpler” issue of whether we should revert to teaching Maths and Christian magazine that is published four times a year by Science in English. Persaudaraan Asian Beacon. Issues A non-profit Christian society. 8 Whatever our misgivings about him when he was prime minister the PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA Marijuana – Wonderful Weed or 19-C, 3rd Floor, Jalan SS22/19 Damansara Jaya, rst time around for 22 years, he deserves our respect and passionate 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Problematic Pot? 18 prayers as he attempts to reverse our nation’s downward trajectory. Tel: (603) 7725 4109 Fax: (603) 7726 1740 Sex Change? 20 And hey, he’s 93 years old and running our country! at’s enough Mobile: 012 3931 453 Email: [email protected] Not As Easy As ABC 22 to earn our admiration and earnest prayers. Website: www.asianbeacon.org http://www.facebook.com/AsianBeacon Would You Alter Your Genes? 24 Our PM is the best example of our theme, “Serve till you drop”. PERTH REPRESENTATIVE With whatever energy he has now, he is giving his all in this last Tek and Goldie Chong Email: [email protected] DESIGN & LAYOUT Features lap of his life to the nation. What an inspiration to us to press on Color Bean Raising e Bar 26 to the end, all the more since we are serving the everlasting, eternal DISCLAIMER Kingdom of God. The opinions and views expressed by the various writers and advertisers in e Love Boat 28 this magazine are their own and do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions and is issue, we feature men and women obeying their calling and viewpoints of Asian Beacon. Book A Change 30 serving tirelessly. ese are the ones who will serve till they drop, CONTRIBUTORS More an Just Money 33 Contributors are welcome to contact us for editorial guidelines. However, like 98-year-old Khor In Tian (page 11). Sometimes, serving God we assume no responsibility to return unsolicited materials. Kindly include demands that we stand our ground, even when the ground yields your email, postal address and telephone number when you send articles, photographs or letters to us. My Story unpopularity and little support, as in the case of Dr Ron Choong’s PERMISSION FOR REPRINT Fed Up With Hypocrisy story on page 8. Copyright Reserved @ 2018. Please contact the editor for permission to 34 reprint articles, photographs and illustrations. 30 I Met Grace In Chicago 36 May the Lord bless us with good health and passion to serve till we drop. PRINTER Thumbprints UTD SDN BHD Lot 24 Jalan RP 3, Rawang Perdana, Have God Will Travel 38 Industrial Estate, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. Blessed reading, Tel: (603) 6092 9809 www.thumbprints.com.my Missions Bridging Borders, SUPPORT US Crossing Barriers 40 SUBSCRIPTION AL IGIT at Regular D form ne n.org/ Small Sacri ce 42 FREE Why Give? 44 Fill in the onli https://asianbeaco subscribe/ Dear Goldie 46 To keep Asian Beacon magazine going, please make cheques to: 16 SCAN PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA TELL US Know any interesting, inspiring stories HERE about Christians or Christian ministries that BANK TRANSFER or REMITTANCE: should be featured in Asian Beacon? Do tell us. Write Account Name: to: [email protected] PERSAUDARAAN ASIAN BEACON MALAYSIA WRITERS NEEDED Account No. & Bank Write to: [email protected] 315 045 4509 (Public Bank Berhad) 4 asianbeacon.oasianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 5

FEATURE

And the girls soon came. Sue Lee gave birth to their third daughter in March.

Hold fast WR*RG¶V promises… Joanne Teh urges Christian singles. By Valerie Lam & Ong Juat Heng Met at singles event and married after 17 months’ courtship… Chew Sue Lee and -RQDWKDQ :RQJ RQ WKHLU ZHGGLQJ GD\ alking about singlehood may unnerve many Christian age group were the ones actively seeking committed relationships. singles who are at a marriageable age. Not for Joanne “But we will lower the age criterion to 28 for future events, I met, the higher were my chances of meeting someone,” she And with today’s women being more independent and self- Teh though. since the feedback received after the rst gathering showed that recalled. So she went, just to humour him. sucient, men have to tiptoe around women because of dierent T those aged 28 were already struggling in their journey to nd expectations. “Some women want men to be chivalrous and open Like many singles, Joanne, in her 30s, has had to face the social life partners.” ere, she met Jon (Jonathan Wong), whom she found to be a doors, but another woman might think ‘I can totally do it on pressure of her singlehood and the reality of her ticking female “little bit nerdy”. Jon was at the event to accompany his cell group my own, I don’t need you to treat me like a damsel in distress’,” biological clock. And like them, her prospects of meeting single To keep the momentum going and create more opportunities members. And no, there was no spark at their rst meeting. “I Sue Lee said. Christian men are con ned to her church. If she is fortunate, for Christian singles to meet and mingle, Joanne plans to hold think that only happens on TV, but I was interested to get to she might meet them through work-related events. As she looks the singles event twice a year. e next one is slated for between know Sue Lee more after the event.” It doesn’t help that some Christian singles have misconceptions around her, the many Christians of marriageable age still not October and November, so help her spread the word, will you? about dating. “We think dating must lead to marriage. So the married compounds her concern. (Contact Joanne at 016-656 0560.) Jon checked her out on social media and upon evaluating that guys are afraid to ask the gals out. But dating can also mean asking she was “stable enough”, he asked her out. Sue Lee, then 31 years, someone out for a drink to get to know her,” Sue Lee pointed out. So, when her senior pastor challenged the congregation at this Hard to nd shared that during the date, Jon made up for his “nerdiness” with year’s New Year sermon to do something dierent for God’s Do Christian singles face more obstacles in nding life partners a fair bit of chivalry, such as opening doors for her. Jon emphasised that singles need to know the issues faced in kingdom, an idea struck her – why not give single Christians today than previous generations? Joanne noted that many Christians marriage and to know how to love, which can be understood from various churches a platform to meet one another? Soon are migrating to other countries, especially after their tertiary He quickly added that he tried to be “himself” around her but through the Person of Christ. All these, he said, would help clarify came the inspiration of organising a singles get-together event. education. She is concerned that Christians are compromising still had to put in some eort to impress her. e eort paid expectations when the couple are dating. “I also think that having Joanne didn’t hesitate – the rst Christian Singles Interactive their faith by settling down with non-Christians out of desperation. o; Jon, 35 then, eventually became Sue Lee’s rst boyfriend. a checklist for the other person is sel sh and unrealistic. Instead, Day was held in Klang two months later. She encouraged Christian singles to “hold fast to God’s promises” Seventeen months later, they got married. we should work on being the right person.” even when the going gets tough. Organising the event was no simple aair, even with the help Obstacles As to how the older generation can help Christian singles, Sue of her cell group members, and even though it was a simple At such times, the older generation can be invaluable by walking Sue Lee, who writes for Asian Beacon, pointed out that Christian Lee replied, “I think young people need better role models on luncheon with some ice-breaker activities. e bigger issue was alongside the singles, she said. “e older generation can encourage women have diculties meeting eligible Christian men due to how to be a good spouse. Most of us grew up seeing couples who breaking the mindset that such singles gatherings were for “the Christian singles by praying for them and mentoring them, the higher female to male ratio in church. “People used to ask argue a lot. e older generation need to mentor and guide the desperate”. Joanne admitted her fear that no one would sign up especially the men. ey can also help by introducing the singles me why I wasn’t dating. I would tell them, ‘Hello, it’s not like younger generation on healthy relationships.” because she felt many Christian singles were shy about attending to other singles.” I have a line of guys asking me out and I’m rejecting them. I’m such a gathering because of the stigma attached to it, despite it waiting for someone to ask me out!’,” she laughed. Back to the singles gatherings, Sue Lee advised people attending being a church-type gathering. ankfully, four brave men and Joanne also urged churches in Malaysia to give attention to the such get-togethers to be open and not rule out anyone. “It’s not eight women from eight dierent churches turned up and had issue of singles and perhaps, collaborate by organising joint Empathising with men, Sue Lee said that men are more hesitant shameful or embarrassing to go for these events. It’s just a platform a splendid time. gatherings to provide plenty of opportunities for singles to meet. to ask women out for fear of rejection and their perception that to meet someone and it doesn’t have to be stressful. Don’t try to girls have lofty ideals that they can’t attain. “It takes guts for men be someone else so as to impress the other. Just have fun! You e unbalanced male-female ratio was not unexpected. “e Asked if she’s getting nearer to nding a life partner, she said, to ask women out.” may not meet your future life partner... or you just may woman participants felt that their male counterparts were too “Where and when will he appear?!” Perhaps she’ll meet him at nd the right person, like what happened to Jon and me!” shy to sign up for such an event, whereas the men felt that the the next singles event, just like what happened to Chew Sue Lee, age criterion (to participate in the event) should have been below who met Jonathan Wong at a singles event and married him 30 years. some 18 months later.

28 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 29 Contents NATION July-September 2018 Vol. 50#3

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 5 6 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018

And the girls soon came. Sue Lee gave birth to their third daughter in March.

By Joanna Lee

Met at singles event and married after 17 months’ courtship… Chew Sue Lee and -RQDWKDQ :RQJ RQ WKHLU ZHGGLQJ GD\

I met, the higher were my chances of meeting someone,” she And with today’s women being more independent and self- recalled. So she went, just to humour him. sucient, men have to tiptoe around women because of dierent expectations. “Some women want men to be chivalrous and open ere, she met Jon (Jonathan Wong), whom she found to be a doors, but another woman might think ‘I can totally do it on “little bit nerdy”. Jon was at the event to accompany his cell group my own, I don’t need you to treat me like a damsel in distress’,” members. And no, there was no spark at their rst meeting. “I Sue Lee said. his children’s library is far, far more than books. On the eve From just books for the children, the library has spun off think that only happens on TV, but I was interested to get to of Mother’s Day recently, a group of children worked eagerly a playgroup for parents with young children to gather as a know Sue Lee more after the event.” It doesn’t help that some Christian singles have misconceptions on “sweet ower bouquets” and salads at their playgroup support group. In turn, the playgroup has evolved to another about dating. “We think dating must lead to marriage. So the Tsession while toddlers threw themselves into toy construction and programme that enhances children’s learning experiences. is Jon checked her out on social media and upon evaluating that guys are afraid to ask the gals out. But dating can also mean asking kitchen sets. At another corner, a small crowd of children were highly interactive and engaging project is led by computer scientist she was “stable enough”, he asked her out. Sue Lee, then 31 years, someone out for a drink to get to know her,” Sue Lee pointed out. mesmerised at the animated storytelling session. Meanwhile, it’s Dr Ng Kher Hui, a church member whose expertise is designing shared that during the date, Jon made up for his “nerdiness” with a dierent world next door where children browsed bookshelves learning experiences. a fair bit of chivalry, such as opening doors for her. Jon emphasised that singles need to know the issues faced in and pored over books in blissful silence. marriage and to know how to love, which can be understood us far, the playgroup has organised workshops such as DIY He quickly added that he tried to be “himself” around her but through the Person of Christ. All these, he said, would help clarify Welcome to the Children’s Library run by City Discipleship Cardboard Car Workshop, Mini Olympics and the Little Boss still had to put in some eort to impress her. e eort paid expectations when the couple are dating. “I also think that having Presbyterian Church (CDPC) Puchong (in Selangor). Charity Carnival where children learned entrepreneurial skills o; Jon, 35 then, eventually became Sue Lee’s rst boyfriend. a checklist for the other person is selsh and unrealistic. Instead, Listed as one of the 10 best libraries in the Klang Valley ever to raise funds. ey’ve also started an Art Science Play series Seventeen months later, they got married. we should work on being the right person.” since its inception in 2011, the Children’s Library boasts of 5,000 where kids and parents learn problem-solving skills through books, mostly award winning ones, thoughtfully sourced from hands-on tasks. For example, one session on the principles of Obstacles As to how the older generation can help Christian singles, Sue around the world. oatation and construction had participants building a boat to Sue Lee, who writes for Asian Beacon, pointed out that Christian Lee replied, “I think young people need better role models on save a gingerbread man. With a heart to “love the city by loving its families”, CDPC women have diculties meeting eligible Christian men due to how to be a good spouse. Most of us grew up seeing couples who “ ere’s wholesome, great learning and play experience for the higher female to male ratio in church. “People used to ask argue a lot. e older generation need to mentor and guide the Puchong founding pastor Rev. Wong Fong Yang was praying over how they could serve the local community when he chanced families, including songs with music movements, story time, me why I wasn’t dating. I would tell them, ‘Hello, it’s not like younger generation on healthy relationships.” free play and craft stations that provide sensory play,” Dr Ng said. I have a line of guys asking me out and I’m rejecting them. I’m upon a book titled 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before waiting for someone to ask me out!’,” she laughed. Back to the singles gatherings, Sue Lee advised people attending You Grow Up. He was then inspired to start the children’s library She added it’s about providing opportunities for kids to develop such get-togethers to be open and not rule out anyone. “It’s not with the help of the pioneer church members. physically, emotionally and socially in a wholesome, safe place Empathising with men, Sue Lee said that men are more hesitant shameful or embarrassing to go for these events. It’s just a platform “Study after study has shown that children who read for pleasure for the entire family. to ask women out for fear of rejection and their perception that to meet someone and it doesn’t have to be stressful. Don’t try to will succeed in life,” said Rev. Wong, whose family members are With so much good going on in the library, you can expect lives girls have lofty ideals that they can’t attain. “It takes guts for men be someone else so as to impress the other. Just have fun! You avid readers. to have been impacted. Rev. Wong shared just one story. Jessica to ask women out.” may not meet your future life partner... or you just may Over the past seven years, the library has seen many children is a 4-year-old child of migrant worker parents, who learned nd the right person, like what happened to Jon and me!” picking up the reading habit as the library membership swelled how to read in and speak English at the library. She can read to a few hundred families. (It helps that annual membership fee very well now and play with the other kids. starts from as low as RM10.) Dr Ng added, “It’s very rewarding to see the kids grow. Some Storytelling has become an integral feature of the library, with came in timid and shy but after a few sessions, they became more weekly Saturday sessions at 11.30am. “Reading stories help re condent. Some have become more creative. at’s important up children’s imaginations and they can learn through hearing because for our nation to develop, our kids must be able to the stories read aloud to them,” Rev. Wong said. come up with ideas and take initiatives.” Many members from the church take turn to serve in the library, Check out the Children’s Library’s upcoming activities on its which opens every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Facebook page.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 29 30 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 NATION Perak. Altogether, they won 18 parliamentary seats. It was forecasted communication skill and develop an appreciation of the Malay that they would not be able to win a single parliamentary seat. culture. We could engage at both formal and informal levels but ere is a strong Islamic following, which Prof. Shamsul calls the key is building friendship and fostering good neighbourliness. “moral constituency”. is core group, We need to understand especially from the Malay-Muslim the Malay-Muslim community, are ideological supporters narrative and play a of PAS and would not vote for BN role in ensuring that it or PH. Likewise we must recognise becomes a Malaysian that Umno captured a majority of narrative and not an Political Changes And Implications For A New Malaysia Post-GE14 the Malay majority parliamentary exclusively extreme race By Prof. Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria seats in Peninsular Malaysia, i.e. 47 and religion one. parliamentary seats. e have just witnessed the unbelievable results of We need to keep reminding politicians that this is the reality Institutional the 14th general election (GE14) with a change and get them to downplay both race and religion in the choices We need to reect and note that there Reform W of government from the Barisan Nasional (BN) people make. e majority had voted for change, which resulted are dierent aspirations and visions in e new PH government to Pakatan Harapan (PH). Most opinion polls, academics and in a peaceful transition that surprised the world, especially our the remaking of a Malaysian society. has ushered in political commentators did not forecast the scale of PH victory nor the mass ASEAN neighbours. We must continue to remember that this A simple illustration is the threefold and economic movement on the ground ushering in a new age for democracy change, from South to North – Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, aspiration for Malaysia. ere is the Muslim or Islamic dominant institutional reforms. ese were promised in the PH manifesto in and good governance in Malaysia. Selangor, Perak, Penang, and Kedah – and Sabah in East Malaysia, view where the Islamic laws will become supreme over civil law. strengthening good governance, accountability and human rights. was possible because of the silent Malay voters who switched ere is a Malay-Malaysia where the ethnic Malay is dominant e setting up of various special committees is testament to the As one re ects on these events, we cannot but acknowledge the from BN to PH. and others have a place; the other communities will be subservient political will. e major role is one of reviewing the separation hand of God in events of the world and a response to pray for a of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislature in just and fair government for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians. line with the Federal Constitution. In this context, the repeal of With a new government in place at both the Federal and many oppressive legislation and space for democratic freedom is most State levels, let us continue to pray for our leaders to govern with critical. e 1MDB abuses and national debt are other major justice and fairness and be accountable to the people with the challenges for the new government. fear of God in their hearts. to the majority race. Here, ethnicity and religion play a role in Within the Christian community are major talented and As I re ect on GE14 and the future, let me highlight three key We can take this peaceful transition for granted but as Christian an ethno-religious nationalist way. e third is a Malaysia for all professionally qualied people who could volunteer their time points that will require Christians as responsible citizens to continue citizens of Malaysia we must play the peace-maker and peace- Malaysians but one which still holds a Constitutional balance for the institutional reforms. ose with legal expertise, nancial to play their role in society as salt and light (Matt.5:13-14). builder role (Matt. 5:9), ensuring our close relationship with between equality of Article 8 and the special position of Article and banking including investments, audit and nancial controls, people of all ethnic communities. We must foster peaceful living 153 of the Federal Constitution, including Article 153’s legitimate administration and execution could all volunteer for national service Peaceful transition and a greater sense of appreciation of our diversity. We must see interest of others. to strengthen the process of reform. Civil society provides a good It is amazing to see the peaceful transition of power. While the all as God’s creation and the covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:9) as avenue. Civil society organisations (CSO) have created a CSO Election Commission did not play an independent role nor make a dimension that needs to be captured in Malaysian society so We have witnessed the diering views and contestation on the platform for Reform, with KOMAS providing coordination. CSO the announcements of election results early, nonetheless by June as to build a rainbow community of all people. appointment of a non-Malay-Muslim Finance Minister and have organised themselves in thematic areas and have been making 10, 2018, a new Prime Minister had been sworn in and eventually the Attorney General. In both cases, the Prime Minister collective presentations to the Institutional Reform Committee the Deputy Prime Minister and other key ministers appointed Contestation continues went by the guidelines of the Federal Constitution (IRC). At a second level, CSO are also seeking to relate directly to the Cabinet. While PH secured a majority of the parliamentary but not by the sentiments of sections of the with ministries and agencies directing specic matters on women seats to form the Federal Government, we must Malaysian society. and children, security laws, human rights and election reform, etc. In the past, the May 13 bogeyman would be released to instil fear recognise that it secured only 47.9% of among the people that any change would result in bloodshed; the popular vote. BN secured 33.8% Some have said change and On May 28, 2018, I had the opportunity to lead a team from however, this was not true. Malaysians of all ethnic communities and a majority of the parliamentary reform had been too the CSO platform to meet all the ve IRC members. ey were voted for change and the majority of parliamentary seats went seats in Malay-Muslim majority rapid; others had open to hear our views, especially on addressing ethnic relations to PH. In my assessment, this is not just a Chinese, constituencies while PAS won disagreed. and conict, poverty and inequality as well as fostering a human or Indian or Malay or Dusun-Kadazan or Iban 16.9%, also in Malay-Muslim We must be rights culture. Christian citizens could play an active role in tsunami but a Malaysia tsunami and majority areas. Based on popular wise and at the religious freedom issues and concerns for all religious groups. More desire for change. showing, almost half of the voters same time, engage than inter-religious dialogue is engagement and trust building in GE14 did not support PH. with all sections with to resolve conicts. One proposed system could be community ere are therefore some major the right constitutional mediation centres. implications. understanding. Over the years, there has been much distortion As Christian citizens, we can monitor the promises made via the The major one is that PAS managed to of knowledge and understanding. PH Manifesto, 100-day promises, and the institutional reform for form the state government in Kelantan and We must have open conversations but Terengganu. ey won a signicant at the same time, be sensitive to all views “As Christian citizens, we must do what is good number of seats in Kedah and and aspirations. as required by God and act justly, love mercy almost became kingmakers in and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).” Often, Christian citizens are isolated and therefore, we must enter the public space, exercising our democratic rights and engaging with especially Malay and Muslim &RQWLQXHRQSDJH groups. For that we must improve our Bahasa Malaysia 6 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 7

By Joanna Lee

his children’s library is far, far more than books. On the eve From just books for the children, the library has spun off of Mother’s Day recently, a group of children worked eagerly a playgroup for parents with young children to gather as a on “sweet ower bouquets” and salads at their playgroup support group. In turn, the playgroup has evolved to another Tsession while toddlers threw themselves into toy construction and programme that enhances children’s learning experiences. is kitchen sets. At another corner, a small crowd of children were highly interactive and engaging project is led by computer scientist mesmerised at the animated storytelling session. Meanwhile, it’s Dr Ng Kher Hui, a church member whose expertise is designing a dierent world next door where children browsed bookshelves learning experiences. and pored over books in blissful silence. us far, the playgroup has organised workshops such as DIY Welcome to the Children’s Library run by City Discipleship Cardboard Car Workshop, Mini Olympics and the Little Boss Presbyterian Church (CDPC) Puchong (in Selangor). Charity Carnival where children learned entrepreneurial skills Listed as one of the 10 best libraries in the Klang Valley ever to raise funds. ey’ve also started an Art Science Play series since its inception in 2011, the Children’s Library boasts of 5,000 where kids and parents learn problem-solving skills through books, mostly award winning ones, thoughtfully sourced from hands-on tasks. For example, one session on the principles of around the world. oatation and construction had participants building a boat to save a gingerbread man. With a heart to “love the city by loving its families”, CDPC Puchong founding pastor Rev. Wong Fong Yang was praying “ere’s wholesome, great learning and play experience for over how they could serve the local community when he chanced families, including songs with music movements, story time, upon a book titled 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before free play and craft stations that provide sensory play,” Dr Ng said. You Grow Up. He was then inspired to start the children’s library She added it’s about providing opportunities for kids to develop with the help of the pioneer church members. physically, emotionally and socially in a wholesome, safe place “Study after study has shown that children who read for pleasure for the entire family. will succeed in life,” said Rev. Wong, whose family members are With so much good going on in the library, you can expect lives avid readers. to have been impacted. Rev. Wong shared just one story. Jessica Over the past seven years, the library has seen many children is a 4-year-old child of migrant worker parents, who learned picking up the reading habit as the library membership swelled how to read in and speak English at the library. She can read to a few hundred families. (It helps that annual membership fee very well now and play with the other kids. starts from as low as RM10.) Dr Ng added, “It’s very rewarding to see the kids grow. Some Storytelling has become an integral feature of the library, with came in timid and shy but after a few sessions, they became more weekly Saturday sessions at 11.30am. “Reading stories help re condent. Some have become more creative. at’s important up children’s imaginations and they can learn through hearing because for our nation to develop, our kids must be able to the stories read aloud to them,” Rev. Wong said. come up with ideas and take initiatives.” Many members from the church take turn to serve in the library, Check out the Children’s Library’s upcoming activities on its which opens every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Facebook page.

30 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Perak. Altogether, they won 18 parliamentary seats. It was forecasted communication skill and develop an appreciation of the Malay COVER STORY that they would not be able to win a single parliamentary seat. culture. We could engage at both formal and informal levels but ere is a strong Islamic following, which Prof. Shamsul calls the key is building friendship and fostering good neighbourliness. “moral constituency”. is core group, We need to understand especially from the Malay-Muslim the Malay-Muslim community, are ideological supporters narrative and play a of PAS and would not vote for BN role in ensuring that it or PH. Likewise we must recognise becomes a Malaysian that Umno captured a majority of narrative and not an the Malay majority parliamentary exclusively extreme race seats in Peninsular Malaysia, i.e. 47 and religion one. By Ong Juat Heng parliamentary seats. Institutional We need to reect and note that there Reform are dierent aspirations and visions in e new PH government the remaking of a Malaysian society. has ushered in political A simple illustration is the threefold and economic aspiration for Malaysia. ere is the Muslim or Islamic dominant institutional reforms. ese were promised in the PH manifesto in view where the Islamic laws will become supreme over civil law. strengthening good governance, accountability and human rights. ere is a Malay-Malaysia where the ethnic Malay is dominant e setting up of various special committees is testament to the and others have a place; the other communities will be subservient political will. e major role is one of reviewing the separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislature in line with the Federal Constitution. In this context, the repeal of oppressive legislation and space for democratic freedom is most critical. e 1MDB abuses and national debt are other major challenges for the new government. to the majority race. Here, ethnicity and religion play a role in Within the Christian community are major talented and an ethno-religious nationalist way. e third is a Malaysia for all professionally qualied people who could volunteer their time Malaysians but one which still holds a Constitutional balance for the institutional reforms. ose with legal expertise, nancial between equality of Article 8 and the special position of Article and banking including investments, audit and nancial controls, Ron examining the skull of Liang Bua Satu (LB1) at the Indonesian National Research Centre for Archaeology Jakarta in 2015. This Type Specimen of the “Hobbits” discovered on 153 of the Federal Constitution, including Article 153’s legitimate administration and execution could all volunteer for national service WKH ,QGRQHVLDQ LVODQG RI )ORUHV LQ LV QRZ LGHQWL¿HG DV +RPR ÀRUHVLHQVLV D VHSDUDWH interest of others. to strengthen the process of reform. Civil society provides a good human species that co-existed with our ancestors (Homosapiens). avenue. Civil society organisations (CSO) have created a CSO We have witnessed the diering views and contestation on the platform for Reform, with KOMAS providing coordination. CSO appointment of a non-Malay-Muslim Finance Minister and have organised themselves in thematic areas and have been making pologist and theologian of science Dr Ron Choong sciences and world religions. the Attorney General. In both cases, the Prime Minister collective presentations to the Institutional Reform Committee didn’t think he would get past Form 3. But he did, went by the guidelines of the Federal Constitution (IRC). At a second level, CSO are also seeking to relate directly and went on to gather a basket of degrees and vast As an “independent interdisciplinary scholar of Christian theology but not by the sentiments of sections of the with ministries and agencies directing specic matters on women knowledgeA in several disciplines. Between1984 and 2009, he and its relationships with history, philosophy and the natural Malaysian society. and children, security laws, human rights and election reform, etc. earned a law degree while taking degree courses in astronomy and sciences”, Ron’s current research interests include the emergence of economics in London. After a stint practising international law religious cognition, the history of Bible formation, the doctrine of Some have said change and On May 28, 2018, I had the opportunity to lead a team from in London, he moved to New York where he took four degrees creation as well as paleoanthropology and cognitive neuroscience. reform had been too the CSO platform to meet all the ve IRC members. ey were at Princeton and Yale, culminating in a Ph.D. in science and rapid; others had open to hear our views, especially on addressing ethnic relations theology from Princeton Seminary. ese may be bewildering words for the common man; thankfully, disagreed. and conict, poverty and inequality as well as fostering a human Ron is an engaging, magnetic speaker who’s able to simplify highly We must be rights culture. Christian citizens could play an active role in He even received the magna cum laude award for his doctoral complex subjects for mere mortals. It helps too that he’s as regular wise and at the religious freedom issues and concerns for all religious groups. More dissertation in science and theology, Neuroscience, Nolition and as the guy next door and is as comfortable talking about char kway same time, engage than inter-religious dialogue is engagement and trust building Kenotic Moral Cognition. “It surprised me, as it did practically teow and Hokkien mee as he is about Neanderthals and hominids. with all sections with to resolve conicts. One proposed system could be community anyone who knew me as a kid who did not enjoy going to the right constitutional mediation centres. school,” laughed the former student of La Salle, Petaling Jaya. Asian Beacon nally caught up with this Indiana Jones of sorts. understanding. Over the years, there has been much distortion As Christian citizens, we can monitor the promises made via the Not bad for one who only discovered the concept of revising How did you arrive at doing what you are doing now? of knowledge and understanding. PH Manifesto, 100-day promises, and the institutional reform for in Form 5. Until then, he “recalled without remembering” and I was a student of science (biology and chemistry and later We must have open conversations but this later led him to study the nature of memory and how our astronomy) before I became a law student. My goal was to corner at the same time, be sensitive to all views “As Christian citizens, we must do what is good brains manage information. the market and be fabulously rich, earn the respect of my peers and aspirations. as required by God and act justly, love mercy and be considered the best lawyer money can buy. I craved the and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).” In 2003, Ron founded the Academy for Christian ought approval of society. My faith was an added bonus because it Often, Christian citizens are isolated and therefore, we (ACT), a New York-based ministry that seeks to “equip the made me feel that even God approved of my attending church must enter the public space, exercising our democratic church to responsibly explain why we believe what we believe” and serving on leadership committees. rights and engaging with especially Malay and Muslim &RQWLQXHRQSDJH through seminars and written materials that engage the natural groups. For that we must improve our Bahasa Malaysia asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 7 8 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_009-016_Rev1*****Time: 16:31:58*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

COVER STORY

1 My deep interest in building a legal career specialising in the natural

175 2 sciences was based on my deep respect for the two disciplines –

175 their demanding disciplines and intellectual integrity. 4

Scientic rigour has no sacred cows to protect any claim – all By Ong Juat Heng theories are tested and if they do not survive, they die.

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Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_033-040_Rev1*****Time: 08:19:37*****Date:04-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

FEATURE

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By Jason Law

Prosperity… learned to Tsu Ee… MoneyLife is Mary… learned to receive. think before giving instead about an encounter with of giving without thinking. *RG QRW MXVW DERXW PRQH\

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 33 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_009-016_Rev1*****Time: 16:31:58*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

COVER STORY

1 My deep interest in building a legal career specialising in the natural

175 2 sciences was based on my deep respect for the two disciplines –

Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_033-040_Rev1*****Time: 08:19:37*****Date:04-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

FEATURE MY STORY

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Prosperity… learned to Tsu Ee… MoneyLife is Mary… learned to receive. think before giving instead about an encounter with of giving without thinking. *RG QRW MXVW DERXW PRQH\

asting positive change can only come from within when Among these are understanding the hope of Christ and the purpose we discover more deeply about ourselves, including our of investment according to His calling, what the Bible says about weaknesses, and start to take proactive decisions to change. saving and why it is important to start young, and discovering L at’s the essence of what participants learned at the 2018 January the spiritual meaning of receiving and giving. intake of MoneyLife nancial management course. A 22-year-old youth ventilates her frustrations about her Mary Chan had no problem in giving but through the course, Prosperity Tissa joined the Bible-based course, which recently she learned about receiving! She recounted how dicult it was church’s youth leadership. This is her personal sharing about ended, during a dicult time in her life when her relative was to receive when God sent people to bless her nancially or when her one church and not reflective of all or the majority of 297 mm hospitalised. she was struggling alone with restructuring her workplace and churches. Still, there may be others who share her views and people oered help. “MoneyLife showed me that the Bible has advice for every decision frustrations. We hope readers read this opinion piece with in my life, and this lls me with hope, especially during dicult From the course, Mary learned to be humble and be willing to an open, prayerful heart and willingness to look out for and times. One of the most encouraging things was learning from receive. She illustrated her lesson about receiving in an incident. the other participants and knowing I was not going through my One day while she was getting out of her car to pick up her engage with their youth. problems alone.” grandson from school, she felt ‘nudged’ to take a sunshade along. She was puzzled as she could just take the two umbrellas in her She added, “I used to give things to others a lot but I did not put car. Nevertheless, she obeyed. As she was walking back to her much thought into them. I learned about giving premeditatedly, car with her grandson, it started drizzling. She saw a boy waiting very year, we hold meetings to discuss the “phenomenon” up losing their connection to other people praying about our gifts before giving them.” for his transport and promptly gave him the sunshade. A week of young people leaving the church. We say “keep the who know that ambiguity is there – no one later, on a rainy day, Mary saw the same boy and his friends back door closed” and re-do our youth halls like hipster will just admit it, and we end up looking When Tsu Ee joined the course, she thought it was just another huddling under that sunshade. “If that boy had not taken the Ecafés to attract the youth. We try our best to mimic youth’s silly and dishonest.” one about savings and investment. She was pleasantly surprised sunshade, he would not have been able to shelter his friends from gestures and lingos in order to relate to them, and comfort to nd that the course was also about an encounter with God the rain,” she said. ourselves with thoughts like “at least we are doing something”. We tiptoe around church issues because we want and drawing close to Him. to be peacemakers, but we end up with lots of things MoneyLife Malaysia’s founder Tan Yoke Tee concluded, “ ere But every year, the same thing happens – young people leave. As unsaid. Our meetings are lled with words and prayers, but “I learned about spiritual values such as saving and giving are people who make decisions without knowing why they made a youth, I’m so tired of this “phenomenon”. I’m sick of hearing we keep silent on things that matter. Our words are lled with generously,” Tsu Ee shared. “ roughout the whole course, them. Others know the decisions they should make but sit on people say that it’s normal. It’s like Christian nihilism. “Ah it’s vague notions that only rub on the surface. Our lack of courage every week, I continued to learn something new and the sharing them. And there are others who do things with good intention ok. It doesn’t matter. ey’ll leave anyway. We’ve just got to do to be honest with ourselves ultimately leads to dishonesty at from the others was very inspiring.” but without the correct understanding. In order to make the our best and God will do the rest.” We’re masters of coming up meetings, which translates into everything we do. right decisions, we need to understand ourselves and see how with excuses to comfort ourselves with the reality that’s hitting Learning to receive God sees us. Ultimately, that’s how the MoneyLife course helps our churches. When this happens, young people see through our lack of A comprehensive course brings into the discussions related issues participants to think through these. It’s not just about nancial transparency and hypocrisy. One teenager told me that church such as how to use your nances eectively, the real problem of management.” We’re also afraid of saying what we really think. In his blog leaders nowadays are trying to “climb the social hierarchy” and debt and how to deal with it, and how to nd joy through work. under the section “Most Unpopular Beliefs”, Pastor Don asked me if these leaders were truly genuine when they asked More importantly is bringing all that they had learnt through MoneyLife is affiliated with Crown Ministries Asia. To find out more, Bryant writes: “ e advice I have heard is shout your beliefs and questions about our well-being or if they were just “asking for the lens of the Kingdom of God to see deeper spiritual truths. visit their page at www.crown.org or write to [email protected] whisper your doubts… that is not good advice. It just produces the sake of asking”. a lot of whispering Christians. ey can’t process and they end

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 33 34 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * COVER STORY

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MY STORY When young people lack genuine support, care and guidance, express suggestions and disagreements, they’re accused of not some will inevitably turn to entertainment and the world outside “obeying” God by not submitting to the leaders. Other times, to distract themselves from the emptiness within. en, they instead of listening to the young people’s feedback, the leaders’ can’t help but talk outside the church about the “dirt” inside rst reaction is to deect the suggestion or disagreement the church. It’s not unusual these days for Christian youth to go by asking if they (the youth) have been hurt. is sort of from their youth meeting straight to a pub to drown themselves manipulative tactic is so hard to catch because the response is in alcohol. e dierences aren’t stark between a church and veiled in a question of concern. Leaders don’t seem to know a pub when the church prioritises entertaining the youth how to listen and aren’t appreciative when respectful feedback is instead of serving as a lighthouse to our generation’s increasing given, and would rather have everyone agree with them instead. confusion in navigating the meandering road of life. e reason why we get so defensive when others disagree with In his post titled “Engaging the Culture’ Doesn’t Work Because us is that our identity is rooted in our ministry instead of Christ. Christian Beliefs Are a Mark of Low Status” on the faith- We forget that unless and until God builds the house, the based site Patheos, Dean Abbott writes, “Many evangelicals… builder builds in vain. e result of this is that we stop seeing responded as though the problem were a matter of style rather members as individuals, but tools to further our ministry. than content. … e result was churches that had rocking worship bands, superb lighting, a million cool programs Church has also become an avenue for competition. We look and no cultural impact.” We are desperate for the good on the outside, but are spiritual deserts within. We are world to like us, while neglecting the fact that like celebrities who are so concerned about our external image Jesus said that the world will hate us. that we’ve lost the sense of who we are and what really matters within. e crumbling reality is that we have lost the essence of We think we know what’s best for young what it is to be church, and it might be too late before we come people, just like how politicians and big to our senses. corporate companies think they know what is best for our education system. e data and trend of young people leaving church is an indication that we really do A 22-year-old youth ventilates her frustrations about her not know best. And we forget that what young people want and need are two church’s youth leadership. This is her personal sharing about dierent things. We say our education her one church and not reﬂective of all or the majority of system makes students like a cog in the churches. Still, there may be others who share her views and machine, but how many of us can say that our church is any better when it comes to frustrations. We hope readers read this opinion piece with discipling young people? an open, prayerful heart and willingness to look out for and Desperately needed: Leaders who engage with their youth. REALLY care “Our meetings are lled with Young people need church leaders who truly words and prayers, but we keep and genuinely care for not just their salvation very year, we hold meetings to discuss the “phenomenon” up losing their connection to other people but their being. But the sad reality is that some silent on things that matter.” of young people leaving the church. We say “keep the who know that ambiguity is there – no one leaders who actually invest in young people’s lives back door closed” and re-do our youth halls like hipster will just admit it, and we end up looking have been accused of creating division and “wanting Ecafés to attract the youth. We try our best to mimic youth’s silly and dishonest.” to do things their own way”. ose who have left When I look back at the history of those who fought and died gestures and lingos in order to relate to them, and comfort have had their fervent passion turned to nothing more for the sake of the gospel, I often wonder why we invest our ourselves with thoughts like “at least we are doing something”. We tiptoe around church issues because we want than cynical resentment. Young people today are hungry energy in things that really don’t matter. If these individuals to be peacemakers, but we end up with lots of things for God, but are disillusioned with church because we allow were alive today, what would they say about the way we practise But every year, the same thing happens – young people leave. As unsaid. Our meetings are lled with words and prayers, but glory-seeking, calculating leaders to be where they are. the faith that they bled and died for? a youth, I’m so tired of this “phenomenon”. I’m sick of hearing we keep silent on things that matter. Our words are lled with people say that it’s normal. It’s like Christian nihilism. “Ah it’s vague notions that only rub on the surface. Our lack of courage Some of the leaders are in it not because they have a vision for e polarity between us Christians and the world outside has ok. It doesn’t matter. ey’ll leave anyway. We’ve just got to do to be honest with ourselves ultimately leads to dishonesty at the next generation but because they are better at hyping things narrowed as we become more like the world each day, and it is our best and God will do the rest.” We’re masters of coming up meetings, which translates into everything we do. up. Others are in it because they just submit blindly without likely and worrying that we may not nd the narrow gate. with excuses to comfort ourselves with the reality that’s hitting questioning. We say God has placed individuals in leadership our churches. When this happens, young people see through our lack of positions because He wants them there, but who are we kidding? We must stop the hypocrisy, be transparent, put aside our transparency and hypocrisy. One teenager told me that church Yes, God gives us the freedom to elect dierent individuals and selsh agenda, start caring – really caring – for our youth and We’re also afraid of saying what we really think. In his blog leaders nowadays are trying to “climb the social hierarchy” and there are times when He specically calls someone to that role, be like Christ to them as Christ has been to us. at’s the way under the section “Most Unpopular Beliefs”, Pastor Don asked me if these leaders were truly genuine when they asked but we’re not exempted from the consequences of our mistakes. to keep the back door closed. I can’t see a future bleaker than Bryant writes: “ e advice I have heard is shout your beliefs and questions about our well-being or if they were just “asking for one where God is “alive” in our words and buildings, but dead whisper your doubts… that is not good advice. It just produces the sake of asking”. Our leaders today are so caught up with their ministries that in our hearts. a lot of whispering Christians. ey can’t process and they end they put their methods before the mission. When members

34 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 35 COVER STORY

No stopping this

NonagenarianNonagenarianBy Chris Quah

When young people lack genuine support, care and guidance, express suggestions and disagreements, they’re accused of not MY STORY some will inevitably turn to entertainment and the world outside “obeying” God by not submitting to the leaders. Other times, to distract themselves from the emptiness within. en, they instead of listening to the young people’s feedback, the leaders’ can’t help but talk outside the church about the “dirt” inside rst reaction is to deect the suggestion or disagreement the church. It’s not unusual these days for Christian youth to go by asking if they (the youth) have been hurt. is sort of I met grace in from their youth meeting straight to a pub to drown themselves manipulative tactic is so hard to catch because the response is in alcohol. e dierences aren’t stark between a church and veiled in a question of concern. Leaders don’t seem to know By Joel Lai a pub when the church prioritises entertaining the youth how to listen and aren’t appreciative when respectful feedback is instead of serving as a lighthouse to our generation’s increasing given, and would rather have everyone agree with them instead. Some believe it is only great power that can When it came down to stomach or stunning confusion in navigating the meandering road of life. hold evil in check, but that is not what I museum, the writer and his pharmacist mother, e reason why we get so defensive when others disagree with have found. It is the small everyday deeds of Swie Peng, chose to quell their gnawing hunger In his post titled “Engaging the Culture’ Doesn’t Work Because us is that our identity is rooted in our ministry instead of Christ. pangs. With heavy hearts they turned away Christian Beliefs Are a Mark of Low Status” on the faith- We forget that unless and until God builds the house, the ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. from the Museum of Science, Industry and based site Patheos, Dean Abbott writes, “Many evangelicals… builder builds in vain. e result of this is that we stop seeing Small acts of kindness and love. technology to seek food elsewhere, but not responded as though the problem were a matter of style rather members as individuals, but tools to further our ministry. before taking some shots for the album. than content. … e result was churches that had rocking – J.R.R. Tolkien( e Hobbit) worship bands, superb lighting, a million cool programs Church has also become an avenue for competition. We look and no cultural impact.” We are desperate for the good on the outside, but are spiritual deserts within. We are world to like us, while neglecting the fact that like celebrities who are so concerned about our external image t was past 5.20 a.m. on Feb. 23. Twenty hours earlier, we meal overlooking a stunning vista of the lake. On arriving there Jesus said that the world will hate us. that we’ve lost the sense of who we are and what really matters left Vancouver, Canada, by bus for Seattle. We spent the rest however, we found it largely deserted. e lake we found was within. e crumbling reality is that we have lost the essence of I of the day there at the airport before catching our ight to shrouded in fog and our food options were limited to McDonald’s We think we know what’s best for young what it is to be church, and it might be too late before we come Chicago in the evening. After breezing through the formalities and a few smaller eateries. A shrouded lake and limited food people, just like how politicians and big to our senses. at the Chicago airport, we now trudged our way to the “L” – a options led us to end our sojourn there prematurely and no sooner corporate companies think they know subway line that linked the airport to the heart of the city. than we had arrived, we took a bus to our next destination – the what is best for our education system. e Museum of Science, Industry and Technology. data and trend of young people leaving Sitting at a window seat in the wood-panelled train-carriage, I church is an indication that we really do glazed over a paper map of Chicago on my lap. “14 stops from We disembarked 45 minutes later, shortly before noon. not know best. And we forget that what here to Grand,” I mumbled. It had been eight hours since our Unbeknownst to us, the museum complex (the largest of its kind young people want and need are two last meal and we were famished. in the western hemisphere) was situated in a largely residential dierent things. We say our education neighbourhood at the city’s fringes. Under normal circumstances, system makes students like a cog in the After an uneventful 45 minutes, we arrived at Grand. At the paying the USD$21 admission fee to the museum would have machine, but how many of us can say that concourse, turnstiles blocked the two separate exits that led to been a no-brainer but we were desperately looking for food. our church is any better when it comes to the street level. e choice was simple – east or west. We quickly discipling young people? realised that the map was insucient and noticed the strangely With heavy hearts, Mum and I decided to skip the museum empty concourse hall. and head back to the city centre to resume our quest for food. Desperately needed: Leaders who One misfortune followed another and despite mustering all our REALLY care “Our meetings are lled with “How can I help you both?”, a smartly-dressed sta shouted out to remaining energy to return to the bus stop, we arrived one moment us as she emerged from what we had thought was an unattended too late to see the bus rolling away. Young people need church leaders who truly words and prayers, but we keep security booth. We scurried over and handed her a printed sheet and genuinely care for not just their salvation bearing our hotel’s address. It was now close to 1.00 p.m. and 16 hours since our last meal! but their being. But the sad reality is that some silent on things that matter.” leaders who actually invest in young people’s lives She scrunched her eyes in focus, laughed and pointed us to the Changing tides have been accused of creating division and “wanting ight of steps where we had come from moments ago. It then Another bus arrived 20 minutes later. to do things their own way”. ose who have left When I look back at the history of those who fought and died became clear to us that neither east nor west would have been have had their fervent passion turned to nothing more for the sake of the gospel, I often wonder why we invest our right. Downtown Chicago had not one, but two stations named Retracing our short-lived journey in the opposite direction, we than cynical resentment. Young people today are hungry energy in things that really don’t matter. If these individuals “Grand”! ey were two stations apart, on entirely dierent lines. stumbled into more familiar and friendly surroundings just after for God, but are disillusioned with church because we allow were alive today, what would they say about the way we practise 2.00 p.m. ankfully, we ended up in Chicago’s renowned “Loop” glory-seeking, calculating leaders to be where they are. the faith that they bled and died for? “Common mistake tourists make”, she chuckled empathetically. district, where we encountered Grace a second time. We thanked her for her “timely” intervention and arrived at the Some of the leaders are in it not because they have a vision for e polarity between us Christians and the world outside has other Grand station soon after. While scanning the surroundings for food, we spotted an the next generation but because they are better at hyping things narrowed as we become more like the world each day, and it is establishment that stood out for the sheer number of people up. Others are in it because they just submit blindly without likely and worrying that we may not nd the narrow gate. us was our rst meeting with Grace. patronising it. questioning. We say God has placed individuals in leadership positions because He wants them there, but who are we kidding? We must stop the hypocrisy, be transparent, put aside our Futile quest Knowing Mum’s disinclination towards Mexican food, I dismissed Yes, God gives us the freedom to elect dierent individuals and selsh agenda, start caring – really caring – for our youth and We arrived at our hotel shortly after 8.00 a.m., much earlier the idea of eating there. She volunteered we give the place a try, there are times when He specically calls someone to that role, be like Christ to them as Christ has been to us. at’s the way than the designated check-in time of 3.00 p.m. As we sipped our I grabbed the opportunity and we made our way to the start of but we’re not exempted from the consequences of our mistakes. to keep the back door closed. I can’t see a future bleaker than complimentary cup of tea and shed our 20kg luggage after our the queue of at least 15 people long. one where God is “alive” in our words and buildings, but dead exhausting lengthy journey, we were in unspeakably good spirits. Our leaders today are so caught up with their ministries that in our hearts. Revived from the little rest, we walked to Navy pier, situated on Our turn came in a matter of minutes. And then I saw a sign they put their methods before the mission. When members the banks of Lake Michigan, where we yearned for a warm, hearty previously hidden from our sight. It read: “Payment by card only.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 35 36 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 COVER STORY she had a mastectomy and a 41-cm cut across her chest. And her rst post-surgery meal was a steak!

Although she didn’t suer physical pain, Emily was in emotional and spiritual pain. roughout the nine days in hospital, unresolved issues in her life surfaced.

12 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 13

MY STORY Gratitude and faith Such is Grace – the unmerited favour given to one completely undeserving of it. Having died for our sins, Jesus embodies God’s I met grace in abundant grace to us. “ere are no free lunches in this world”, so the saying goes. Here, By Joel Lai I must disagree as Jesus’ sacrice, besides my account above, is the e meal that Grace gave. strongest evidence that shows free lunches do exist in this world. Some believe it is only great power that can When it came down to stomach or stunning hold evil in check, but that is not what I museum, the writer and his pharmacist mother, “Free lunches” exist because a good, benevolent and gracious Swie Peng in front of the shop Swie Peng, chose to quell their gnawing hunger God steers the wheels of this world. have found. It is the small everyday deeds of where they met Grace. pangs. With heavy hearts they turned away ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. from the Museum of Science, Industry and We often attribute to chance or fortune, many of the good things Small acts of kindness and love. technology to seek food elsewhere, but not that unfold in our lives, but often, they are the works of our before taking some shots for the album. gracious God and it is vital that we recognise them. – J.R.R. Tolkien( e Hobbit) Acts of love and kindness, however small and insignicant, are priceless to the recipients. At 3.30 p.m. on February 23, 2018, t was past 5.20 a.m. on Feb. 23. Twenty hours earlier, we meal overlooking a stunning vista of the lake. On arriving there No cash accepted on premises from Monday.” 18 hours after our last meal and 36 hours after our last bath, we left Vancouver, Canada, by bus for Seattle. We spent the rest however, we found it largely deserted. e lake we found was met Grace and were overwhelmed. I of the day there at the airport before catching our ight to shrouded in fog and our food options were limited to McDonald’s Dismayed, we removed ourselves from the queue. Chicago in the evening. After breezing through the formalities and a few smaller eateries. A shrouded lake and limited food at the Chicago airport, we now trudged our way to the “L” – a options led us to end our sojourn there prematurely and no sooner “What can I get you guys?” a voice from behind the counter subway line that linked the airport to the heart of the city. than we had arrived, we took a bus to our next destination – the beckoned us as we were moving o. He conrmed cash was not Museum of Science, Industry and Technology. accepted, apologised and added, “But don’t worry man, we’ve Joel Lai is a fresh medical graduate and Sitting at a window seat in the wood-panelled train-carriage, I got you guys covered this time.” currently awai�ng housemanship pos�ng. His interests include travelling, reading glazed over a paper map of Chicago on my lap. “14 stops from We disembarked 45 minutes later, shortly before noon. and acquiring new skills and knowledge. here to Grand,” I mumbled. It had been eight hours since our Unbeknownst to us, the museum complex (the largest of its kind Relieved, we interpreted his statement thus: “We’ll make an last meal and we were famished. in the western hemisphere) was situated in a largely residential exception for you guys and accept cash.” neighbourhood at the city’s fringes. Under normal circumstances, IURPSDJH After an uneventful 45 minutes, we arrived at Grand. At the paying the USD$21 admission fee to the museum would have He proceeded to take our orders. “Would you like cheese on that?”... greater openness, transparency, accountability and fairness to concourse, turnstiles blocked the two separate exits that led to been a no-brainer but we were desperately looking for food. “Toasted?” Interspersed with the usual questions, he explained all communities. We need to pray for the Cabinet, all members the street level. e choice was simple – east or west. We quickly apologetically, “We stopped accepting cash for security reasons.” of parliament, and members of the judiciary as well as the civil realised that the map was insucient and noticed the strangely With heavy hearts, Mum and I decided to skip the museum service (1 Tim. 2: 1-2). Let us pray that all will carry out their empty concourse hall. and head back to the city centre to resume our quest for food. We had little time to digest that statement before we were quickly services without fear or favour. Imperative is that we abide One misfortune followed another and despite mustering all our ushered down the line to the next station. “Which sauce?” “Rice by the advice of a mother as found in Proverbs 31:8-9. We “How can I help you both?”, a smartly-dressed sta shouted out to remaining energy to return to the bus stop, we arrived one moment or beans?” “Minced beef or slices?” We struggled to keep up with must become the voice of the voiceless, irrespective of ethnicity us as she emerged from what we had thought was an unattended too late to see the bus rolling away. the bullet-speed process. and religion. More well qualied Christians should apply for security booth. We scurried over and handed her a printed sheet government service and play an eective role as Joseph (Gen. bearing our hotel’s address. It was now close to 1.00 p.m. and 16 hours since our last meal! Grace at its nest 41:39-40) and Daniel (Dan. 1:18-21). At the payment counter, Mum re exively handed a 100-dollar She scrunched her eyes in focus, laughed and pointed us to the Changing tides bill over to the cashier, who reiterated, “We don’t accept cash Many of us can see the rise in patriotic feelings for the nation, ight of steps where we had come from moments ago. It then Another bus arrived 20 minutes later. ma’am, debit or credit cards only.” especially in the way Malaysians have been responding to the became clear to us that neither east nor west would have been Government’s crowdfunding initiative, Tabung Harapan Fund. As right. Downtown Chicago had not one, but two stations named Retracing our short-lived journey in the opposite direction, we Utterly perplexed, Mum repeated the words of her colleague citizens, we can do our part in assisting the Federal Government “Grand”! ey were two stations apart, on entirely dierent lines. stumbled into more familiar and friendly surroundings just after that “they’ve got us covered” and added for good measure that in settling its debts caused by the previous administration’s 2.00 p.m. ankfully, we ended up in Chicago’s renowned “Loop” we were tourists. mismanagement of funds. Whether big or small, we can respond “Common mistake tourists make”, she chuckled empathetically. district, where we encountered Grace a second time. through this vehicle, and also be found faithful as Scripture We thanked her for her “timely” intervention and arrived at the e cashier replied, “Ahh... I understand. Not to worry then guys.” instructs us to pay our taxes (Rom. 13:6). other Grand station soon after. While scanning the surroundings for food, we spotted an Mum instinctively returned the 100-dollar bill to the cashier, establishment that stood out for the sheer number of people who again declined her money. But most of all as Christian citizens, we must do what is good us was our rst meeting with Grace. patronising it. as required by God and act justly, love mercy and walk humbly “How now?” we asked sheepishly. with our God (Micah 6:8). May God give us the vision and Futile quest Knowing Mum’s disinclination towards Mexican food, I dismissed strength in our responsibility as citizens of Malaysia. We arrived at our hotel shortly after 8.00 a.m., much earlier the idea of eating there. She volunteered we give the place a try, Grinning, the cashier handed us a brown paper bag and said, than the designated check-in time of 3.00 p.m. As we sipped our I grabbed the opportunity and we made our way to the start of “Enjoy your meal, guys. It’s on the house today.” Denison Jayasooria is Practice Professor for public advocacy complimentary cup of tea and shed our 20kg luggage after our the queue of at least 15 people long. & Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, exhausting lengthy journey, we were in unspeakably good spirits. Nothing did we oer them in return but our heartfelt gratitude; UKM. He and his wife, Datin Rose Cheng Jayasooria, worship Revived from the little rest, we walked to Navy pier, situated on Our turn came in a matter of minutes. And then I saw a sign indeed, no words suced. at DUMC, PJ where he is advisor of the Citizens Network for a the banks of Lake Michigan, where we yearned for a warm, hearty previously hidden from our sight. It read: “Payment by card only. Better Malaysia

36 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 37 she had a mastectomy and a 41-cm cut across her chest. And her rst post-surgery meal was a steak!

Although she didn’t suer physical pain, Emily was in emotional and spiritual pain. roughout the nine days in hospital, unresolved issues in her life surfaced.

During this season, her writing was aected. She went from winning awards and taking on writing projects to nothing.

Gratitude and faith Such is Grace – the unmerited favour given to one completely undeserving of it. Having died for our sins, Jesus embodies God’s abundant grace to us.

“ere are no free lunches in this world”, so the saying goes. Here, I must disagree as Jesus’ sacri ce, besides my account above, is the e meal that Grace gave. strongest evidence that shows free lunches do exist in this world. “Free lunches” exist because a good, benevolent and gracious Swie Peng in front of the shop God steers the wheels of this world. where they met Grace. We often attribute to chance or fortune, many of the good things that unfold in our lives, but often, they are the works of our gracious God and it is vital that we recognise them.

Acts of love and kindness, however small and insigni cant, are priceless to the recipients. At 3.30 p.m. on February 23, 2018, No cash accepted on premises from Monday.” 18 hours after our last meal and 36 hours after our last bath, we met Grace and were overwhelmed. Dismayed, we removed ourselves from the queue.

“What can I get you guys?” a voice from behind the counter beckoned us as we were moving o. He con rmed cash was not accepted, apologised and added, “But don’t worry man, we’ve Joel Lai is a fresh medical graduate and got you guys covered this time.” currently awai�ng housemanship pos�ng. His interests include travelling, reading and acquiring new skills and knowledge. Relieved, we interpreted his statement thus: “We’ll make an exception for you guys and accept cash.” IURPSDJH He proceeded to take our orders. “Would you like cheese on that?”... greater openness, transparency, accountability and fairness to “Toasted?” Interspersed with the usual questions, he explained all communities. We need to pray for the Cabinet, all members apologetically, “We stopped accepting cash for security reasons.” of parliament, and members of the judiciary as well as the civil service (1 Tim. 2: 1-2). Let us pray that all will carry out their We had little time to digest that statement before we were quickly services without fear or favour. Imperative is that we abide ushered down the line to the next station. “Which sauce?” “Rice by the advice of a mother as found in Proverbs 31:8-9. We or beans?” “Minced beef or slices?” We struggled to keep up with must become the voice of the voiceless, irrespective of ethnicity the bullet-speed process. and religion. More well quali ed Christians should apply for government service and play an eective role as Joseph (Gen. Grace at its nest 41:39-40) and Daniel (Dan. 1:18-21). At the payment counter, Mum reexively handed a 100-dollar bill over to the cashier, who reiterated, “We don’t accept cash Many of us can see the rise in patriotic feelings for the nation, ma’am, debit or credit cards only.” especially in the way Malaysians have been responding to the Government’s crowdfunding initiative, Tabung Harapan Fund. As Utterly perplexed, Mum repeated the words of her colleague citizens, we can do our part in assisting the Federal Government that “they’ve got us covered” and added for good measure that in settling its debts caused by the previous administration’s we were tourists. mismanagement of funds. Whether big or small, we can respond through this vehicle, and also be found faithful as Scripture e cashier replied, “Ahh... I understand. Not to worry then guys.” instructs us to pay our taxes (Rom. 13:6). Mum instinctively returned the 100-dollar bill to the cashier, who again declined her money. But most of all as Christian citizens, we must do what is good as required by God and act justly, love mercy and walk humbly “How now?” we asked sheepishly. with our God (Micah 6:8). May God give us the vision and strength in our responsibility as citizens of Malaysia. Grinning, the cashier handed us a brown paper bag and said, “Enjoy your meal, guys. It’s on the house today.” Denison Jayasooria is Practice Professor for public advocacy & Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Nothing did we oer them in return but our heartfelt gratitude; UKM. He and his wife, Datin Rose Cheng Jayasooria, worship indeed, no words suced. at DUMC, PJ where he is advisor of the Citizens Network for a Better Malaysia

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 37 COVER STORY Out-of-prison ministry a bridge for ex-convicts

By Chris Quah

MY STORY

we held hands around the table and sought God’s help. e “nice to meet us. Another “What if?” thought that I pushed away. dinner” now consisted of toast that choked on the throat, and an assortment of things no one had any interest in eating. Our mustard seed faith was being stretched to its dear limit. Dear God, You are the King of Kings. Have you not said, “ e king’s e father-of-the-baby-with-no-BC then said he was going to heart is like a stream of water in your hand that you channel nd out more about the revalidating costs. We sipped at coee toward all who please you?” Have God that seemed to have turned bitter and sour, and waited. After some time, we decided to join him at the counter. Where is your birth certi cate? e same questions met us. e same explanations were made. To our amazement, he was getting ready to sign an indemnity e lady at the counter signalled for another sta to seek advice. form for the Emirates! Before us were three people who had just He came. After much mulling over the situation, he announced, By Goh Bee Lee come on their shift duty. ey decided we could y out at our “We can let you in, sir. But…. we cannot guarantee you can get will travel own risk. out of the country. So during your stay here, you have to get to the “NO… NO… NO! NO..O..OOO!” Drama at Changi embassy to get papers proving your fatherhood to this boy, ok?” My broken shrieks got louder and more Feb. 12 saw me making my way from Batu We arrived back at check-in counter to drop the luggage. One desperate. Pahat, Johor, to Changi Airport, Singapore. went in. Of course, it was OK! Never mind that the embassy was in Pretoria Jimi works in Sabah. We were to meet up to 1000km away. We ran into the embrace of family members, who e animal bounded hungrily towards y to Cape Town at about 1 a.m. on Feb. “Mummy, don’t y. Please ask Jimi not to y! If they deport were anxiously waiting for us to appear. Everyone was in a state his morning snack. Me! 13. We had planned to have a nice dinner you, you will have to spend more to buy expensive tickets home,” of euphoria and incredulity. I turned and ran, almost tripping on my with my two nieces and Jimi’s buddies Frank, my son-in-law in SA, pleaded desperately on the phone. ip-ops. before ying o. We only had 10 days to get the needed documents. ey spanned “But our luggage is already going in.” two weekends. ough Frank knew someone on the SA side, I looked back. God! Help! It was almost e nice dinner was never to be. neither side (Malaysian and SA) is exactly famous in the world upon me. “Get it out again. Don’t y. We have seen too many people for work eciency. Firstly, the ight from Sabah was delayed. deported already!” Suddenly, I stopped and turned. Why, Supposed to land at about 6 p.m. but they Frank began his ordeal at the computer, going back and forth, I don’t know. But it was now right in touched down nearer to 9 p.m. Hungry “Sorry, Frank. Jimi has decided we are ying.” sending many documents, signatures and what-have-you’s. To front of me. I screamed at it. Did I sound though everyone was, we thought it best our utter amusement, we learnt that the ambassador himself had erce? I don’t know. Certainly I was the to check in our luggage rst. From then on, many knees were bruised in prayer in SA. Church run afoul of the same law and forgotten to bring his child’s BC! more petried. But it too stopped. Glared. friends and family members were mobilised to pull heavenly So at least we had an empathetic ocer. Curled its ugly lips. Never in all my years To the Emirates counter. Passports check cables on our behalf. had I laid eyes on a more evil-looking was uneventful. en the Chinese sta at But this time, our faith had muscled. We went on to enjoy a creature. the counter stopped, looked up, smiled and How long more to landing? wonderful vacation with dearly loved ones, knowing that God said, “Can I have the baby’s birth certicate?” It was my 10th trip to SA and the rst time ying with no was in total control. A full-grown pit bull! Unforgettable vacation… Bee Lee (seated 2nd idea what the end of my journey would look like. How would from right) and Jimi (standing far right) with “No, sir. We have his MyKid (Malaysian deportation look like? Feel like? No, I pushed the thought out God showed up again in all His grace and glory. at letter Eyeball to eyeball now. Pitted against a Frank towering over the rest of the family at children’s ID).” of my tired mind. nally arrived – the day before we were to leave for Cape Town. 6’ 5”. killer canine. I let out more screams. “No, sir, I need his BC.” “But why?” Look, if God had against all odds opened the way for us to y, And nally, yes, the immigration ocer at Cape Town who let Suddenly, it turned and padded back the “It’s the new law in South Africa, sir. No He could denitely open the way for us to enter SA. My mind us in had actually smiled at us. way it came. Once or twice it turned, as if unsure. Perhaps I did minor can cross immigration without his original BC. I’m afraid thus set, I surrendered everything to Him. not come on as a succulent snack. Or, perhaps, like Balaam’s I can’t issue him his boarding pass.” By the way, I was told, when chased by a dog, one donkey, it had seen my angel! “But, this is the equivalent.” We transited at Dubai and hopefully embarked on the last leg should stand still and not look it in the face! “I’m sorry it isn’t, sir. It doesn’t say here you are his father.” of our journey. I almost collapsed from relief. But I wobbled o in the opposite “His BC is in Kota Kinabalu! Can you please check with your direction. ocer in charge?” Didn’t someone say, “To travel hopefully is better than to arrive”? is did not seem to be what he/she meant. When I came to my family and gushed out the incident, everyone e helpful man went on the rst of a few trips to the oce paled. All my son, Jimi, could say was, “Your heart is still strong, to nd a way for us to y. No, there was no way we could y. e ight seemed longer than usual. Nearing landing, I felt the Mum.” He began to oer advice on when and how, and the cost of nervousness eating into us. I announced bravely to my son (to revalidating our tickets. reassure myself), “Son, we will enter SA, in the mighty Name We were on a strawberry farm in George, South Africa (SA). It of Christ!” was Chinese New Year and Jimi, with his wife and young son, en, he apologised that he could not help us anymore as he and I were visiting my daughter. was going o shift. I secretly asked God that we will meet with a friendly immigration sta, who might even wave us in with a smile! But rst, let me get to our journey there. It was a scare on Dismayed and in shock, luggage still on the trolley, we decided another level. to sit down at the nearest kopi tiam to eat and think. But rst, e daughter in SA would be driving ve hours to Cape Town

38 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 39 COVER STORY HARVEST OF HEALTH By Joanna Lee An experienced Malaysian agricultural scientist and his family are training communities on natural reuniting the ex-prisoners with their families so that they can farming methods that re ect God’s goodness, emphasising the importance of being God’s stewards restart their lives.” of His land. Despite this and many other amazing testimonies, Pr Kuilan od is the rst Gardener. He is the creator of every rough organic farming, the Perera family has had the privilege admitted the ministry has many challenges. system and process of plant growth,” said Errol of assisting not only Christians but other communities too, G Perera, a humble, fatherly agriculturist who is much especially the needy ones. ey’ve supported single mothers and One main challenge is teaching the ex-prisoners discipline. “All “sought after for his keen knowledge and expertise in setting up helped a Pahang orphanage to start their own farm, equipping their life they have not learned discipline, such as getting up early organic farming systems. the children with valuable natural farming skills for their future. in the morning. It takes time but sooner or later they learn to form 7KH KRPH¶V UHVLGHQWV JHW VRPH ELUG WKHUDS\ ORRNLQJ DIWHU “We also had a request from OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya – the productive habits. Another challenge is the constant concern that WKHVH JXLQHD IRZOV DQG FKLFNHQV 7KH ELUGV DUH SHWV QRW IRU Errol has advised governments in several Asian countries on handicapped) to develop organic farming systems. Even they these prisoners may be dangerous or steal things. But thankfully, consumption!) sustainable agriculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry want to take part in this,” Errol enthused. this has never happened, as the Lord has protected us, plus the methods. In Malaysia, his family – comprising his wife Tina and love we give them also plays a powerful part in changing them,” would have lasted in the ministry. For example, I had one man daughters Melinda and Caroline – are assisting several private he believed. staying with me for almost a year before he reconciled with his farms and land owners on their organic farm projects. ey’ve family.” also collaborated with Food for the Hungry International’s Asian Despite the challenges, Pr Kuilan has persevered in the ministry branch in Sabah, among many other initiatives. as it is very rewarding, especially seeing the ex-prisoners reunite He is also thankful for his wife, Winnie, and children – Daniel, Another group they’re helping to train are pastors. With rising with their families. He has also learned that their behaviour was Rachel and Nathaniel – for embracing the vision God gave to About 30 years ago, Errol and his group of scientist friends, living costs and shrinking church incomes, this is one way to due to the hurt they had su ered in the past, and this has helped him and welcoming the ex-prisoners into their home. including some who had practised traditional methods of natural help pastors cope. “It’s to give them a means of income while him to be more understanding towards them. living, decided that the modern way of agriculture was wrong. improving their environment.” Buying the halfway home ey then began to develop sustainable, natural and organic Pr Kuilan has lost count of the number of ex-prisoners he has ways to do agriculture. Even as they were “Besides teaching people how to do farming, helped rehabilitate since he started taking in ex-prisoners into his learning to do this, Errol felt they were merely we also want to ensure the project is home 25 years ago. To accommodate the ever increasing number stewards. commercially viable,” Errol said, explaining of ex-prisoners, God directed him 12 years ago to buy over his how each community has to develop its SOP neighbour’s house and turned it into Jalinan Kasih Halfway “ese organic methods are all ordained by (standard operating procedure), processing, Home. e home can accommodate up to 10 people at one time. God. We’re just here to understand them and sales and marketing skills – all done according e funds needed to purchase the house came from a mysterious use them in an organised manner,” said Errol, to God’s principles in the Word. donor as well as some of Pr Kuilan’s savings. Since then, Jalinan who has a background in biochemistry and Kasih has been half funded by Community Friends (Cf), an microbiology. “We’re here to develop the land A calling to plant and harvest A vegetable plot at the home’s backyard keeps the ex-prisoners outreach ministry of Trinity Baptist Church. Funds for the other and teach others to be good stewards also.” Errol sees his family’s mission in natural occupied. half come from donors. farming as a calling that continues what his Spreading organic cheer Anglican great-grandfather, Rev. William Another thing he has learned is that while the gospel needs to be In conclusion, Pr Kuilan said the secret of successfully Errol and his daughters develop systems along Howell, began more than a century ago in preached to the ex-prisoners, it is experiencing the gospel being rehabilitating ex-prisoners is trust. with farmers. ey also help choose and train Sarawak to reach out to the natives of the lived out through him and his family that has moved them to people to operate the farms according to the land. embrace Christ. “e perception is that these people do not want to change. strict conditions and principles they’ve laid Even their own families don’t trust them. erefore, you have down. e aim, he said, is to equip the people It is also a calling that has led his family “Many of the ex-prisoners who come to live in our home would to be the one to believe in them. Pray for them, show them the to be self-reliant. to many countries across Asia, including burst into tears the rst time they have a meal with us. One man love of God. Once you do so, you can watch the miracle of their Sri Lanka during its three-year civil war in told us the last time he had a meal with his family was a year ago. trans formation. “Nature demands that certain places are the early 2000s to advise its government on suitable for growing certain crops, so that law has to be followed,” agriculture. “During that period, God sustained us and supported Before this, he was eating under bridges.” “is is love in action. Once love changes them, the relatives see Errol said. Modern farms usually thrive on one main crop, which us. at really strengthened our family bond,” he said. ey It takes great compassion and love to host the ex-prisoners in the changes and also begin to believe in Christ,” Pr Kuilan said. isn’t healthy for the soil. Natural farming requires diversity in returned to Malaysia just a few days before the 2004 Indian their home indenitely. Pr Kuilan said it was God who put the ora and fauna that exist best side by side. Ocean tsunami. en, they ventured to Vietnam, Cambodia and compassion and love in his heart. “If he didn’t, I don’t think I asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 15 16 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018

MISSIONS we held hands around the table and sought God’s help. e “nice to meet us. Another “What if?” thought that I pushed away. dinner” now consisted of toast that choked on the throat, and an assortment of things no one had any interest in eating. Our mustard seed faith was being stretched to its dear limit. Dear God, You are the King of Kings. Have you not said, “ e king’s e father-of-the-baby-with-no-BC then said he was going to heart is like a stream of water in your hand that you channel nd out more about the revalidating costs. We sipped at coee toward all who please you?” that seemed to have turned bitter and sour, and waited. After some time, we decided to join him at the counter. Where is your birth certi cate? e same questions met us. e same explanations were made. To our amazement, he was getting ready to sign an indemnity e lady at the counter signalled for another sta to seek advice. form for the Emirates! Before us were three people who had just He came. After much mulling over the situation, he announced, come on their shift duty. ey decided we could y out at our “We can let you in, sir. But…. we cannot guarantee you can get own risk. out of the country. So during your stay here, you have to get to the A brave young woman travels to a distant land to live with strangers so that they can know God’s love. embassy to get papers proving your fatherhood to this boy, ok?” We arrived back at check-in counter to drop the luggage. One went in. Of course, it was OK! Never mind that the embassy was in Pretoria 1000km away. We ran into the embrace of family members, who “Mummy, don’t y. Please ask Jimi not to y! If they deport were anxiously waiting for us to appear. Everyone was in a state you, you will have to spend more to buy expensive tickets home,” of euphoria and incredulity. Frank, my son-in-law in SA, pleaded desperately on the phone. We only had 10 days to get the needed documents. ey spanned By Anna Teoh “But our luggage is already going in.” two weekends. ough Frank knew someone on the SA side, neither side (Malaysian and SA) is exactly famous in the world “When people sing in their mother tongue, they express themselves best “Get it out again. Don’t y. We have seen too many people for work eciency. and worship from their hearts.” deported already!” Frank began his ordeal at the computer, going back and forth, “Sorry, Frank. Jimi has decided we are ying.” sending many documents, signatures and what-have-you’s. To our utter amusement, we learnt that the ambassador himself had hen I heard that Salome (not her real name) was university. A fairly new Christian then and with her parents From then on, many knees were bruised in prayer in SA. Church run afoul of the same law and forgotten to bring his child’s BC! going to be in town, I knew I had to meet her. Aside being unbelievers, it was dicult to obey her heart’s tugging. friends and family members were mobilised to pull heavenly So at least we had an empathetic ocer. from a few brief email exchanges, the only thing I Upon graduation, she did what a good daughter would do – cables on our behalf. knewW about her was that she serves an underground church returned to Malaysia and commenced her career in banking. But this time, our faith had muscled. We went on to enjoy a overseas. How long more to landing? wonderful vacation with dearly loved ones, knowing that God During this time that she was back in her hometown, she was It was my 10th trip to SA and the rst time ying with no was in total control. Salome touched down in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night, and tempted to remain in her comfort zone and ignore the Lord’s idea what the end of my journey would look like. How would met with me rst thing the next morning. She was to catch that calling to her to missions. She thought of marrying someone deportation look like? Feel like? No, I pushed the thought out God showed up again in all His grace and glory. at letter evening’s ight back to her hometown to vote at the upcoming who did not have a heart for missions and investing in a of my tired mind. nally arrived – the day before we were to leave for Cape Town. GE14 (on May 9). It was apparent immediately that this down- property, which would mean being tied down to a long-term to-earth lady with a gentle demeanour had a singular focus and nancial commitment. But every time, she would hear a still Look, if God had against all odds opened the way for us to y, And nally, yes, the immigration ocer at Cape Town who let an unwavering faith. small voice reminding her, “You will not be staying here long, He could denitely open the way for us to enter SA. My mind us in had actually smiled at us. people out there are waiting!” thus set, I surrendered everything to Him. Asked how a typical day on the mission eld is, she says on By the way, I was told, when chased by a dog, one a regular morning, she goes to her work desk, turns on her So, she kept updated to the needs in the mission eld, knowing We transited at Dubai and hopefully embarked on the last leg should stand still and not look it in the face! computer, and continues her Bible translation work, which she in her heart that it was where God had called her to be. ree of our journey. works on with the locals. It is a tedious process with lots of years after returning home, she took up her calling after she back-and-forth coordination and verication checks. heard a small voice saying, “It is time to go.” Didn’t someone say, “To travel hopefully is better than to arrive”? is did not seem to be what he/she meant. Over the past 13 years on the mission eld, Salome has created e next conrmation came from her church leaders. When literacy materials to teach the locals how to read and write in she expressed her desire to go into full-time missions, within e ight seemed longer than usual. Nearing landing, I felt the their mother tongue. is will later enable them to use the the same week, they agreed to give her full nancial support. nervousness eating into us. I announced bravely to my son (to translated Bible. Salome has also dedicated time to composing e nal hurdle was her father. He strongly opposed Salome’s reassure myself), “Son, we will enter SA, in the mighty Name worship songs in the local language as well as started poverty decision, saying, “You are so silly to give up such a good job to of Christ!” alleviation projects to help the poor and needy, including go where you have no future.” But she told him, “It is God’s handicraft and water projects. All these support her humble, yet call, I have to go!” In His time, the Lord softened her father’s I secretly asked God that we will meet with a friendly immigration visionary life mission, which is to touch lives with God’s love. heart and he relented. To her surprise, he even gave her a brand sta, who might even wave us in with a smile! new suitcase for her long journey ahead. From banking to missions e daughter in SA would be driving ve hours to Cape Town Salome felt called to the mission eld in her nal year of It was time to pack her bag.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 39 40 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_017-024_Rev1*****Time: 16:13:38*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

COVER STORY other countries before coming home to Malaysia.

175 2 “Organic agriculture is probably the easiest way I know to show

175 people the power of God, who has created the entire earth,” 4 Errol said. 175

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MISSIONS

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Driven by passion God speaks to the people through dreams, the sick experience A brave young woman travels to a distant land to live with strangers so that they can know God’s love. It is no easy feat learning a completely new language. But healing, the disabled and old folks nd their prayers answered. Salome’s strong conviction that people need the Word of God God speaks to her through His spirit, sending encouragement has kept her persevering all these years. She recalled that back in times when she is hurt, has little faith, and when she faces when she was a young believer, it was reading the Word that persecution. helped her experience God personally, grow in her faith, and experience total deliverance from evil spirits. Her desire is for “God is in control,” she adds. e people group she serves face everyone to have access to God’s Word, to hear Him speaking social problems such as gambling, adultery, and delinquent to them. children (left in the care of grandparents) spending their days By Anna Teoh at cyber cafes. Reality can seem daunting at times, but she has e Word reveals truths. e Word has power to convict sin and learned to surrender and create space for God. ere have been “When people sing in their mother tongue, they express themselves best transform lives. How can people grow and stand rm through times when the authorities knocked on her door to do spot and worship from their hearts.” persecution if they do not know the Word? How can they know checks and interrogations. One missionary assured her that if the Word if they cannot read it? How can they read the Word if it’s not time for her to leave, no one can do anything – “ e it does not exist in their language? door God opens, no man can shut.” (Rev. 3:8)

hen I heard that Salome (not her real name) was university. A fairly new Christian then and with her parents ere is also a great need for worship songs in the local dialect. Salome asserts that God has been faithful in keeping His going to be in town, I knew I had to meet her. Aside being unbelievers, it was dicult to obey her heart’s tugging. When people sing in their mother tongue, they express promises all these years. He has enabled her to do tasks that are 297 mm from a few brief email exchanges, the only thing I Upon graduation, she did what a good daughter would do – themselves best and worship from their hearts. So, Salome beyond her human abilities, and provided for all her needs. In knewW about her was that she serves an underground church returned to Malaysia and commenced her career in banking. works with the locals to compose and record songs in their own the midst of challenges, God has enabled her to experience so overseas. language. With these, the people can learn on their own and much of His grace and presence. During this time that she was back in her hometown, she was pass on valuable truths to future generations without depending Salome touched down in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night, and tempted to remain in her comfort zone and ignore the Lord’s on visiting missionaries. Asked about her dreams for the future, she expresses hopes that met with me rst thing the next morning. She was to catch that calling to her to missions. She thought of marrying someone the minority people she serves will mature in Christ and catch evening’s ight back to her hometown to vote at the upcoming who did not have a heart for missions and investing in a Simple people, simple faith the vision to continue the work of translating the Bible in their GE14 (on May 9). It was apparent immediately that this down- property, which would mean being tied down to a long-term “God is amazing,” she says. On the mission eld, miracles own language, and that this translated Word will transform to-earth lady with a gentle demeanour had a singular focus and nancial commitment. But every time, she would hear a still happen more often than she had ever heard of back home. many lives. an unwavering faith. small voice reminding her, “You will not be staying here long, people out there are waiting!” Asked how a typical day on the mission eld is, she says on a regular morning, she goes to her work desk, turns on her So, she kept updated to the needs in the mission eld, knowing LIFE LESSONS FROM THE MISSION FIELD computer, and continues her Bible translation work, which she in her heart that it was where God had called her to be. ree works on with the locals. It is a tedious process with lots of years after returning home, she took up her calling after she o you feel called to world missions? Salome shares some 3. Have a humble and teachable heart back-and-forth coordination and veri cation checks. heard a small voice saying, “It is time to go.” Dessential qualities a missionary should have. You must be willing to lay aside your pride and worldly titles, and do insignicant tasks with love and patience. Remember, Over the past 13 years on the mission eld, Salome has created e next con rmation came from her church leaders. When 1. Have a close personal relationship with God we are to model servanthood to those we serve, just as Christ literacy materials to teach the locals how to read and write in she expressed her desire to go into full-time missions, within It may be tempting to rely on your own human wisdom and modelled it for us. their mother tongue. is will later enable them to use the the same week, they agreed to give her full nancial support. experiences, but only the Lord can move the hearts of people. translated Bible. Salome has also dedicated time to composing e nal hurdle was her father. He strongly opposed Salome’s Let God direct you to be His hands and feet. 4. Have a clear mission calling worship songs in the local language as well as started poverty decision, saying, “You are so silly to give up such a good job to Don’t sign up to be a missionary just because it is a good thing. alleviation projects to help the poor and needy, including go where you have no future.” But she told him, “It is God’s 2. Have team spirit First, ensure that it is God’s calling for you to go; otherwise, you handicraft and water projects. All these support her humble, yet call, I have to go!” In His time, the Lord softened her father’s One of the top reasons workers leave the mission eld is may give up when challenges or more attractive things come visionary life mission, which is to touch lives with God’s love. heart and he relented. To her surprise, he even gave her a brand not being able to get along with other team members. To be your way. If you feel called, ask the Lord for conrmation. new suitcase for her long journey ahead. eective in missions, a missionary needs to be exible and And while waiting, start volunteering with local causes where From banking to missions value the team over self. you are, stay updated on world missions, and study the Word Salome felt called to the mission eld in her nal year of It was time to pack her bag. so that you are ready when the time comes for you to step out.

40 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 41 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * Job Name :AB Magazine 2018 Vol50 No3_017-024_Rev1*****Time: 16:13:38*****Date:03-Jul-18 *Ink :Cyan Magenta Yellow Black*****Operator : kamsing@bs_server (H)297.0mm x (W)210.0mm 210 mm

other countries before coming home to Malaysia. COVER STORY

175 2 “Organic agriculture is probably the easiest way I know to show

175 people the power of God, who has created the entire earth,” 4 Errol said. 175

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REGULAR

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By Pastor Chris Kam

Driven by passion God speaks to the people through dreams, the sick experience It is no easy feat learning a completely new language. But healing, the disabled and old folks nd their prayers answered. Salome’s strong conviction that people need the Word of God God speaks to her through His spirit, sending encouragement has kept her persevering all these years. She recalled that back in times when she is hurt, has little faith, and when she faces “When we begin to recognise the depth of God’s love for us and the sacri- when she was a young believer, it was reading the Word that persecution. ces He had made, any sacrice we make will pale in comparison.” helped her experience God personally, grow in her faith, and experience total deliverance from evil spirits. Her desire is for “God is in control,” she adds. e people group she serves face everyone to have access to God’s Word, to hear Him speaking social problems such as gambling, adultery, and delinquent hen I was asked to write something about my own allow us to do that. to them. children (left in the care of grandparents) spending their days personal sacri ces in obeying God’s call to full-time at cyber cafes. Reality can seem daunting at times, but she has ministry, there was a hesitation on my end whether In 1994, when I joined DUMC, I was 34 then, with a 4-year- e Word reveals truths. e Word has power to convict sin and learned to surrender and create space for God. ere have been IW can write such an article. I will be entering my 25th year of old son. My wife and I had a desire to have maybe two or three transform lives. How can people grow and stand rm through times when the authorities knocked on her door to do spot work as a career pastor. I have now the advantage of hindsight more children (we have three sons eventually) and our dreams persecution if they do not know the Word? How can they know checks and interrogations. One missionary assured her that if wisdom and perspective, which would be dramatically dierent for a family, primarily to be able to provide adequately for our the Word if they cannot read it? How can they read the Word if it’s not time for her to leave, no one can do anything – “ e from the earlier years. I hesitated because I have to ask myself, children in terms of their education and some of life’s little it does not exist in their language? door God opens, no man can shut.” (Rev. 3:8) having experienced what I had in the last 24 years, were there luxuries, were no dierent from anyone else. any “real” sacri ces that I had made? ere is also a great need for worship songs in the local dialect. Salome asserts that God has been faithful in keeping His In discussing my employment nancial package with the elders, When people sing in their mother tongue, they express promises all these years. He has enabled her to do tasks that are 297 mm Maybe these are the thoughts of a man entering the senior the church then with a small congregation of 200, could only themselves best and worship from their hearts. So, Salome beyond her human abilities, and provided for all her needs. In years. Just unraveling life lessons from Song of Songs, Proverbs pay us the amount that was the bare minimum that would works with the locals to compose and record songs in their own the midst of challenges, God has enabled her to experience so and Ecclesiastes tells you of a man who had seasoned through allow us to pay our bills and expenses each month that our language. With these, the people can learn on their own and much of His grace and presence. the ups and downs of life to conclude that at the end of the day, combined salaries could aord, without any savings at the end pass on valuable truths to future generations without depending nothing on earth will ever satisfy except to nd our purpose and of the month. I needed to take a 70% pay cut from what I was on visiting missionaries. Asked about her dreams for the future, she expresses hopes that signi cance in God. e journey of Solomon – vacillating from getting as an engineer. But I was glad I could take a 70% pay the minority people she serves will mature in Christ and catch wisdom, vanity and satisfaction – reminds us how unpredictable cut, suggesting a lifestyle we had adopted in preparation. Some Simple people, simple faith the vision to continue the work of translating the Bible in their our hearts are. No wonder Jeremiah lamented in Jeremiah 17:9, Christians had lived beyond their means of a pay cut when the “God is amazing,” she says. On the mission eld, miracles own language, and that this translated Word will transform “e heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who calling came. is would be my advice to those contemplating happen more often than she had ever heard of back home. many lives. can understand it?” He goes on to say in verse 10, “I the LORD a call from God to full-time Christian work. search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds So, it was a step of faith with questions that bothered me as a deserve.” father and husband. What about the future of our children? LIFE LESSONS FROM THE MISSION FIELD eir education? Will they end up disappointed with our Hence my struggle with saying, with a straight face, about nancial position of not being able to live and enjoy the o you feel called to world missions? Salome shares some 3. Have a humble and teachable heart sacri ces that I had made in serving Him because He knows privileges like their peers? ank God for a wife who too Dessential qualities a missionary should have. You must be willing to lay aside your pride and worldly titles, my heart. understand the calling of God and we both plunged into this and do insignicant tasks with love and patience. Remember, uncertain yet exciting journey of faith and ministry. My wife 1. Have a close personal relationship with God we are to model servanthood to those we serve, just as Christ e call continued to work in her corporate job and the Lord blessed It may be tempting to rely on your own human wisdom and modelled it for us. e call to serve Him was a call to obedience in my university her over the years. experiences, but only the Lord can move the hearts of people. years in Melbourne during a mission conference in the local Let God direct you to be His hands and feet. 4. Have a clear mission calling church I was attending. I committed myself to be willing to What sacrice? Don’t sign up to be a missionary just because it is a good thing. obey whatever He was calling me to, whether to serve in my Twenty-four years later, the only conclusion we can make is 2. Have team spirit First, ensure that it is God’s calling for you to go; otherwise, you professional calling in the corporate world or to full-time this: that God is no man’s debtor. Jesus clearly reminded us to One of the top reasons workers leave the mission eld is may give up when challenges or more attractive things come Christian ministry. Interestingly, my wife-to-be also responded look at the birds of the air and the owers of the eld and not not being able to get along with other team members. To be your way. If you feel called, ask the Lord for conrmation. to the same altar call although at that time we were not in a to worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, or about our eective in missions, a missionary needs to be exible and And while waiting, start volunteering with local causes where relationship yet. I was trained as an engineer and for nine years body, what we will wear (Matt. 6:25-34). It was time then to value the team over self. you are, stay updated on world missions, and study the Word after graduation, my wife and I lived a lifestyle in such a way put what we know from our head into our hearts. It had been so that you are ready when the time comes for you to step out. that if God should call me, our nancial commitment would an incredible journey of seeing the growth of the church, the

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 41 42 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 * Note - Colour Proof is not final and is for colour reference only * COVER STORY

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By Dr Timothy Cheng

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REGULAR provision of God for my family and the spiritual journey of bodies.” (1 Cor. 6:19–20) maturity for all of us as a family. I leave this prayer with you for your reection, that in What we need to be clear about is not what we want or desire considering a lifetime of service to God, it is about obedience, for ourselves. Rather, it is about nding out what God desires wherever He calls you, to be faithful. of our lives. King David is called a man after God’s heart not so much because of what he did for God, but rather at every Wesley Covenant Prayer turn of event in the battles of his life, he inquired of the Lord. It I am no longer my own but yours. suggests an intimacy with God such that he could genuinely say, Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” put me to doing, put me to suering; (Ps. 84:10) let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, By Pastor Chris Kam exalted for you, or brought low for you; When we begin to recognise the depth of God’s love for us let me be full, let me be empty, and the sacri ces He had made, any sacri ce we make will pale let me have all things, let me have nothing: in comparison. It is no longer a sacri ce on our end to serve I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things Him, but a privilege to serve this Living God. ere are just no to your pleasure and disposal. sacri ces too big compared to what He had done. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy “When we begin to recognise the depth of God’s love for us and the sacri- Spirit, ces He had made, any sacrice we make will pale in comparison.” Hence, I nd it awkward to start listing down the sacri ces I you are mine and I am yours. had made in this journey. Were there sacri ces I had to make in And the covenant now made on earth, let it be rati ed in matters of dying to my eshly dreams and desires? Yes of course. heaven. Amen. hen I was asked to write something about my own allow us to do that. But I would not exchange them for what I had experienced up personal sacri ces in obeying God’s call to full-time to this point of my life. ministry, there was a hesitation on my end whether In 1994, when I joined DUMC, I was 34 then, with a 4-year- Chris Kam is the Senior Pastor of Damansara IW can write such an article. I will be entering my 25th year of old son. My wife and I had a desire to have maybe two or three I have been using the Wesley Covenant Prayer as a renewal Utama Methodist Church and was instrumental work as a career pastor. I have now the advantage of hindsight more children (we have three sons eventually) and our dreams prayer in our Watchnight services. is is a prayer used in in the transi�oning and development of the church as a cell church. Married to Stella, they wisdom and perspective, which would be dramatically dierent for a family, primarily to be able to provide adequately for our the Methodist liturgy for the Covenant Renewal Service. is have three sons: Ian, Shaun and Ashton. An from the earlier years. I hesitated because I have to ask myself, children in terms of their education and some of life’s little prayer reects the words of Apostle Paul: “Do you not know electrical engineer by profession, Pastor Chris having experienced what I had in the last 24 years, were there luxuries, were no dierent from anyone else. that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, is passionate about training people to achieve any “real” sacri ces that I had made? whom you have received from God? You are not your own; their poten�al in life. In discussing my employment nancial package with the elders, you were bought at a price. erefore honour God with your Maybe these are the thoughts of a man entering the senior the church then with a small congregation of 200, could only years. Just unraveling life lessons from Song of Songs, Proverbs pay us the amount that was the bare minimum that would Just present this issue of Asian Beacon to the cashier to get these and Ecclesiastes tells you of a man who had seasoned through allow us to pay our bills and expenses each month that our 20% DISCOUNT FROM CANAANLAND books at the discounted price. Prices shown are before the discount. the ups and downs of life to conclude that at the end of the day, combined salaries could aord, without any savings at the end nothing on earth will ever satisfy except to nd our purpose and of the month. I needed to take a 70% pay cut from what I was signi cance in God. e journey of Solomon – vacillating from getting as an engineer. But I was glad I could take a 70% pay A Time to Advance: Understanding the Signiﬁcance of the Hebrew Tribes wisdom, vanity and satisfaction – reminds us how unpredictable cut, suggesting a lifestyle we had adopted in preparation. Some and Months our hearts are. No wonder Jeremiah lamented in Jeremiah 17:9, Christians had lived beyond their means of a pay cut when the Chuck Pierce Robert & Linda Heidler “e heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who calling came. is would be my advice to those contemplating RM30.00 can understand it?” He goes on to say in verse 10, “I the LORD a call from God to full-time Christian work. Learn how God orders your steps throughout the year when you study the Hebrew search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person tribes and months. according to their conduct, according to what their deeds So, it was a step of faith with questions that bothered me as a deserve.” father and husband. What about the future of our children? eir education? Will they end up disappointed with our Choose Love: The Three Simple Choices Hence my struggle with saying, with a straight face, about nancial position of not being able to live and enjoy the By Stormie Omartian sacri ces that I had made in serving Him because He knows privileges like their peers? ank God for a wife who too my heart. understand the calling of God and we both plunged into this RM52.90 uncertain yet exciting journey of faith and ministry. My wife Transform your heart, your relationships, and your future as you press into God’s love. e call continued to work in her corporate job and the Lord blessed e call to serve Him was a call to obedience in my university her over the years. years in Melbourne during a mission conference in the local church I was attending. I committed myself to be willing to What sacrice? obey whatever He was calling me to, whether to serve in my Twenty-four years later, the only conclusion we can make is Compelled By Love: How to Change the World Through the Simple Power professional calling in the corporate world or to full-time this: that God is no man’s debtor. Jesus clearly reminded us to of Love in Action Christian ministry. Interestingly, my wife-to-be also responded look at the birds of the air and the owers of the eld and not By Heidi Baker RM30.00 to the same altar call although at that time we were not in a to worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, or about our A powerful true story that chronicles the 27-year ministry of Heidi and Rolland Baker in relationship yet. I was trained as an engineer and for nine years body, what we will wear (Matt. 6:25-34). It was time then to war-torn, poverty- and disease-stricken Mozambique. after graduation, my wife and I lived a lifestyle in such a way put what we know from our head into our hearts. It had been that if God should call me, our nancial commitment would an incredible journey of seeing the growth of the church, the

42 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 43 ISSUES Sex change? At the end of the day, I’d say whether to consume marijuana or Me personally? I wouldn’t do weed. Not worth the risks, and not is a personal choice. One can easily justify it by saying, “It’s too many other better things to spend my time and money on. allowed by law, I’m taking it once a week (like a glass of wine), and it boosts my concentration and focus, and energises me. I’m What Do You ink Of Sex Change For ose Who Feel not addicted and there’s no danger.” Trapped In e Body Of e Opposite Sex? Some may even say “marijuana to the glory of God” (which is We threw this question to Christians and here are some responses. really stretching it). Dr Timothy Cheng, born and bred in Petaling Then, we asked DR HERA LUKMAN to weigh in. Jaya, is an orthopaedic surgery trainee By all means go ahead, but bear in mind the consequences and currently serving in Sabah. He worships at KH, 43 Fong Siew Keong, 52 Basel Chris�an Church of Malaysia (KK) and dangers that you are opening yourself to. believes that life is too short to be wasted. I think people with a sexual identity crisis struggle perpetually. People thinking of a sex change operation must ensure they’ve at’s debilitating. But will changing sex set them free from exhausted all other options as there’s no turning back. I don’t claim such deep-seated conicts, or give them a second chance in life. to understand the struggles they face but I’m sure that anyone I believe sex change does not really change who we are in the seeking such a drastic course of action must be crying out for deepest sense. Our DNA cannot be changed. Our inside will still help. Jesus never turned anyone away, and He always sought to function by default male or female. hear them out. We should do no less. IURPSDJH Samuel Ng, 31 Adeline Lum, 32 Today, my research is my personal quest for God. A small percentage love of Jesus in ways I could not have imagined. God’s creation I don’t agree with a sex change despite how much a person is All of us have dierent struggles, including feeling trapped in of it comes out in my ministry teaching but I know the bulk of continues to inspire me to gratitude. proven to be of the opposite sex as I’ve personally experienced another gender’s body. We seek for freedom from the things that it is not welcome in many quarters, so I keep silent. this problem. Although I was born a man, my emotional state trapped us, such as changing our environment, partner or sex. Why should Christians have inquiring minds? and psychological placement is that of a woman’s. Also, the But only Jesus Christ can set us free, for when the Son sets us By 2010, all 48 of 49 churches and organisations had stopped Because the human mind is God’s greatest gift to THIS mammal occasional mood uttering and disposition of handling courtship free, we can be free indeed (John 8:36). at is the true freedom supporting me nancially. In 2012, I was politely invited to who learned to cook food. and role in a relationship are those of a more female role. But from sin. We can overcome in Him. Sometimes what we need leave my own church of 22 years. But this puri ed my faith the idea of changing one’s sex is changing what God has created is a change of heart. and now my belief in God is completely independent of any ree things made humans dierent from all other animals – and therefore goes against His will. organisational approval. No one has ever successfully challenged we walk upright full-time, we eat cooked food, and we learned umbelina, 22 me on the facts. So I am at peace with both God and man. to speak. Walking allowed us to migrate to every corner of the Annie, 71 I wouldn’t encourage sex change because of the cost and pain. planet. Cooking made digestion easier and reduced food poisoning, Some are said to be born transgender. I don’t know how much Plus, it says you don’t accept who God made you to be. However, You are a man of science (and many other things). giving us more time to think and learn. Speaking led to writing, of this is inuenced by external factors such as biased literature, we have a freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. Has science ever challenged your faith? allowing us to pass on knowledge through time and space, thus a misguided sense of liberal thinking and adventurism, ere’s In the end, it’s the choice of the person. As Christians, we can Science, philosophy and history have increased my awe of God and giving rise to collective learning. Our science, technologies and so much hurt in those facing this problem. I’ve seen this happen show love to these people and not be too judgmental. medicine are the fruits of these marks of humanity. Finally, all to a close friend. As a Christian, I told this friend that this is three give us the power to think about and desire to know God. not natural, that God created man and woman. e person Jeremy Tan, 34 underwent sex change, looks dierent and is sulky most of the I believe we are all made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). Sex time. e family is so broken and suers a lot of pain. I’m sure change, in my opinion, is saying that God made a mistake, as God is grieved too. the intention is altering what God had intended. I can’t agree Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this article do not with sex change as I believe He did not make a mistake when necessarily represent the views of Asian Beacon. Melissa Tan, 31 He made us who we are at birth. ose who do feel trapped should have the courage to nd out ACT is mostly funded by the courses Ron teaches in New York the reasons why they feel the way they do, the reasons why God K, 22 and online, and donors. Ron can be contacted at actron@mac. com and actministry.org made them the gender they are and the purpose we are to fulll. I believe that provided there are adequate controls, adults with When they know who He is, why and how He created them, sound minds should have the autonomy to make their own Check out Ron’s interviews on BFM 89.9 as well as his Burgess Lecture at Luther Seminary at they’ll then be able to resolve their identity crisis. After all we decisions which do not harm themselves or others. So, yes to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOUe-rpGgNg should never be dened by how we feel but who we are meant sex change. A quick lunch at the Syrian desert on his way to the Iraqi border in to be. A sex change takes away the journey of self discovery of 2010 You can also subscribe to his YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/AcademyforChristianThought who God intends us to be.

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provision of God for my family and the spiritual journey of bodies.” (1 Cor. 6:19–20) REGULAR maturity for all of us as a family. I leave this prayer with you for your reection, that in By Rajen Devadason What we need to be clear about is not what we want or desire considering a lifetime of service to God, it is about obedience, for ourselves. Rather, it is about nding out what God desires wherever He calls you, to be faithful. of our lives. King David is called a man after God’s heart not 1. He understood the motivating power of love (1 Cor. 13:6-7) so much because of what he did for God, but rather at every Wesley Covenant Prayer 2. He knew the loving disposition and proven predisposition of turn of event in the battles of his life, he inquired of the Lord. It I am no longer my own but yours. God to bless His people with incalculable bounty, particularly suggests an intimacy with God such that he could genuinely say, Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; when they are grateful to Him and heed His guidance. (Consider “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” put me to doing, put me to suering; Malachi 3:10-12.) (Ps. 84:10) let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; It isn’t dicult for us to understand in our spirit that God loves When we begin to recognise the depth of God’s love for us let me be full, let me be empty, a cheerful giver because we see parallels all around us in the way and the sacri ces He had made, any sacri ce we make will pale let me have all things, let me have nothing: people give and take and relate to one another. at microcosm in comparison. It is no longer a sacri ce on our end to serve I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things of daily experience informs our perceptions of the in nite God Him, but a privilege to serve this Living God. ere are just no to your pleasure and disposal. who chose to make Himself known to humanity through Jesus, sacri ces too big compared to what He had done. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy His Son. Spirit, Hence, I nd it awkward to start listing down the sacri ces I you are mine and I am yours. What is tougher, though, for us to comprehend is that while God had made in this journey. Were there sacri ces I had to make in And the covenant now made on earth, let it be rati ed in his or her taxes. However, across the world, we see that if there loves a cheerful giver, He owns everything anyway. matters of dying to my eshly dreams and desires? Yes of course. heaven. Amen. is a rising level of trust in any particular government, people But I would not exchange them for what I had experienced up will nd it easier to part with some of their hard-earned income Looked at that way – against the broadest possible backdrop of to this point of my life. to contribute to the public coers for the well-being of society. Creation – we experience a paradigm (mental model) shift that Chris Kam is the Senior Pastor of Damansara dilates our eyes to one inescapable truth: I have been using the Wesley Covenant Prayer as a renewal Utama Methodist Church and was instrumental Bottomline: When there is a high level of trust in the ruling prayer in our Watchnight services. is is a prayer used in in the transi�oning and development of the government of the day, people nd it easier to smile, at least a We can’t truly ‘give’ God anything because everything in the church as a cell church. Married to Stella, they the Methodist liturgy for the Covenant Renewal Service. is have three sons: Ian, Shaun and Ashton. An tiny bit, when they pay their taxes. universe (or perhaps the multiverse, as suggested by quantum prayer reects the words of Apostle Paul: “Do you not know electrical engineer by profession, Pastor Chris mechanics) belongs to Him. Everything! Actually, make that that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, is passionate about training people to achieve Intriguingly though, if we as Bible-believing Christians shift ‘almost everything’... whom you have received from God? You are not your own; their poten�al in life. our gaze from the secular to the spiritual, which in this context you were bought at a price. erefore honour God with your boils down to moving away from focusing on human taxes to eologians for millennia have grappled with the tension between contemplating our core reasons for giving God our tithes and predestination (Eph. 1:5, 11) and free will (John 7:17). It doesn’t Just present this issue of Asian Beacon to the cashier to get these love oerings, we can discover some rather profound conclusions seem logical that both concepts can be true at the same time, 20% DISCOUNT FROM CANAANLAND books at the discounted price. Prices shown are before the discount. from Scripture and the physical world. yet the Bible is replete with Scripture verses that support both views. I would nd that dichotomy even more jarring had God Let’s begin within the context of the church: It is said that God not left us discoverable traces that help us accept simultaneous, A Time to Advance: Understanding the Signiﬁcance of the Hebrew Tribes loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Here is a grace- lled lesson seemingly conicting, realities. and Months from Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, where he lovingly points Chuck Pierce Robert & Linda Heidler out that we Christians shouldn’t give anything grudgingly or Here is an example from school: RM30.00 reluctantly to our churches. Learn how God orders your steps throughout the year when you study the Hebrew God created light as both a wave (with a speci c amplitude and tribes and months. Paul underscores his statement by reminding us not to bend under frequency) and a particle (the photon).* coercive pressure from outside forces to give of our resources. While such resources can and do include our loyalty, talents We understand the idea of spread-out waves when we stand on Choose Love: The Three Simple Choices and physical strength, in this context Paul was clearly referring a beach and contemplate its breakers crashing the shores. We By Stormie Omartian to money. also perceive the solidity and position of a particle like a pebble in our shoe. RM52.90 at’s understandable because what is true today was true two millennia ago – we need money to pay our bills. at applies Yet how can light be both a wave and a particle at the same time? Transform your heart, your relationships, and your future as you press into God’s love. to us, our businesses, our countries and our places of worship. It makes no sense! Yet it’s been proven by a grand sequence of scienti c advances marked by multiple Nobel prizes.** As with any other institution, a church requires cold, hard cash to pay its utility bills and salaries; maintain its physical structures Our universe is not as straightforward as we think it is, and neither Compelled By Love: How to Change the World Through the Simple Power and grounds; and, most importantly, contribute to the well-being is its unbounded, in nite Creator, our loving Father (Job 36:26). of Love in Action of the community at large as well as to the local body of believers. By Heidi Baker RM30.00 With so much complexity to grapple with, what should regular A powerful true story that chronicles the 27-year ministry of Heidi and Rolland Baker in Giving what is His in the rst place Christians focus on to make sense of our world and to help us Despite the pressing nancial needs of the early church, I think get through just one more day? war-torn, poverty- and disease-stricken Mozambique. the often tough-talking Paul adopted his gentle approach here for two reasons: Jesus.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 43 44 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 ISSUES Eugene, 33 A.H., 18 Why is the question even being asked? I believe it’s about sex. I I think being trapped in a body of a gender you don’t want is think changing gender is about having sex dierently. God created like being imprisoned within yourself. However, a good support sex in order to create the next generation. You may have issues system and openness to alternative ways would be a good rst step that make you think you are of a dierent gender, but then what before the person goes through a sex change since this process is is the main reason for changing your gender? Is it for pleasure? irreversible. For me, I think sex change is a gift for the modern A lot of people in this generation are about living for pleasure. society. It has helped people. But for people who do not have Sex So, having sex nowadays is not to have children but for pleasure. access to or information about this procedure, they just have to Being infertile defeats the purpose of sex, especially after a gender accept their body. change? change and is against logic and reason. Step Into eir Shoes By Dr Hera Lukman for gender incongruence. is “Nurture Camp” proposes that What Do You ink Of Sex Change For ose Who Feel the person’s environment and his/her socialisation processes are Trapped In e Body Of e Opposite Sex? efore responding to the above question, it is necessary to key contributors to his/her experience of gender incongruence. Bclarify a few terminologies so that we are all on the same We threw this question to Christians and here are some responses. page. In my view, although this question involves sex, it is While both camps have contributed signicantly to a greater Then, we asked DR HERA LUKMAN to weigh in. more about gender identity (see table below). understanding of gender incongruence, the current consensus among experts studying gender identity informs us to take note KH, 43 Fong Siew Keong, 52 Recognising Assumptions: of three crucial ndings: 1) We don’t yet know the mechanism I think people with a sexual identity crisis struggle perpetually. People thinking of a sex change operation must ensure they’ve A Good Start Towards Engagement behind gender incongruence; 2) e likely explanation for a person at’s debilitating. But will changing sex set them free from exhausted all other options as there’s no turning back. I don’t claim ere are many assumptions regarding gender identity. ese with gender incongruence involves an interaction of multiple such deep-seated conicts, or give them a second chance in life. to understand the struggles they face but I’m sure that anyone assumptions may not necessarily be true even though they biopsychosocial factors; and 3) Even if we identify the cause for I believe sex change does not really change who we are in the seeking such a drastic course of action must be crying out for appear intuitively logical. I would like to explore two common one person’s gender incongruence, this should not be used as deepest sense. Our DNA cannot be changed. Our inside will still help. Jesus never turned anyone away, and He always sought to assumptions I have come across. a template to understand the cause of another person’s gender function by default male or female. hear them out. We should do no less. incongruence. Gender identity issues are varied in experience Assumption 1: We Know the Cause of Gender and presentation. Samuel Ng, 31 Adeline Lum, 32 Incongruence I don’t agree with a sex change despite how much a person is All of us have dierent struggles, including feeling trapped in Despite the lack of evidence to support a robust explanation for Given the above observations, it is clear that there is no one-size-ts- proven to be of the opposite sex as I’ve personally experienced another gender’s body. We seek for freedom from the things that gender incongruence, i.e. inconsistency between one’s biological sex all explanation for gender incongruence. erefore, we must resist this problem. Although I was born a man, my emotional state trapped us, such as changing our environment, partner or sex. and gender identity, some people believe that gender incongruence using a broad-brushstroke approach to portray someone’s struggle and psychological placement is that of a woman’s. Also, the But only Jesus Christ can set us free, for when the Son sets us stems from an innate biological problem. is school of thought with gender identity because doing so is not only presumptuous, occasional mood uttering and disposition of handling courtship free, we can be free indeed (John 8:36). at is the true freedom is often referred to as the “Nature Camp”. it trivialises the person’s lived experience. If our intention is to and role in a relationship are those of a more female role. But from sin. We can overcome in Him. Sometimes what we need engage, we must accept that we don’t know what we don’t know the idea of changing one’s sex is changing what God has created is a change of heart. An alternative perspective provides a psychosocial explanation and therefore, we must do a lot more listening and less assuming. and therefore goes against His will. &RQWLQXHRQSDJH umbelina, 22 Annie, 71 I wouldn’t encourage sex change because of the cost and pain. Some are said to be born transgender. I don’t know how much Plus, it says you don’t accept who God made you to be. However, Terminology of this is inuenced by external factors such as biased literature, we have a freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. Biological indications of being male or female a misguided sense of liberal thinking and adventurism, ere’s In the end, it’s the choice of the person. As Christians, we can Sex (Biological Sex) (e.g. chromosomes, internal reproductive systems, external genitalia, etc.) so much hurt in those facing this problem. I’ve seen this happen show love to these people and not be too judgmental. to a close friend. As a Christian, I told this friend that this is Sexual Attraction Feelings of sexual or emotional interest in another not natural, that God created man and woman. e person Jeremy Tan, 34 underwent sex change, looks dierent and is sulky most of the I believe we are all made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). Sex An enduring pattern of attraction to another based on sexual desires time. e family is so broken and suers a lot of pain. I’m sure change, in my opinion, is saying that God made a mistake, as Sexual Orientation God is grieved too. the intention is altering what God had intended. I can’t agree with sex change as I believe He did not make a mistake when Sexual Identity Act of labelling oneself with reference to one’s sexual preference Melissa Tan, 31 He made us who we are at birth. (e.g. heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc.) ose who do feel trapped should have the courage to nd out Psychological, social and cultural aspects of being male or female the reasons why they feel the way they do, the reasons why God K, 22 Gender made them the gender they are and the purpose we are to fulll. I believe that provided there are adequate controls, adults with When they know who He is, why and how He created them, sound minds should have the autonomy to make their own Gender Identity How one feels/thinks as male or female they’ll then be able to resolve their identity crisis. After all we decisions which do not harm themselves or others. So, yes to (e.g. how masculine or feminine) should never be dened by how we feel but who we are meant sex change. Gender Role Adoption of culturally expectations for maleness or femaleness to be. A sex change takes away the journey of self discovery of (e.g. girls are gentle and nurturing; boys are tough and less emotional) who God intends us to be.

20 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 21

REGULAR Choose wisely warmth of Jesus and to permit our hearts, our minds and our Once we zero in on the Son, we better understand the Father wallets to respond to Almighty God with love, gratitude and joy. through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). By Rajen Devadason Admittedly, we will never fully comprehend our in nite God with our nite brains. But we can choose to love Him more and *https://www.google.com.my/amp/s/phys.org/news/2015-03- 1. He understood the motivating power of love (1 Cor. 13:6-7) more as we draw closer to Jesus each day; or not! particle.amp 2. He knew the loving disposition and proven predisposition of God to bless His people with incalculable bounty, particularly at choice hinges on our precious free will. **https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/themes/physics/ when they are grateful to Him and heed His guidance. (Consider ekspong/ Malachi 3:10-12.) Too often our will is what causes us to veer away from God. (You know what I mean!) ankfully, like the patient father in Jesus’ © 2018 Rajen Devadason It isn’t dicult for us to understand in our spirit that God loves parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), God loves us more a cheerful giver because we see parallels all around us in the way than we love Him and even more than we love ourselves. Even Rajen Devadason, CFP, is a Licensed people give and take and relate to one another. at microcosm when we are approaching Him and still far from Him, He runs Financial Planner, professional speaker and author. Read his free ar�cles at of daily experience informs our perceptions of the in nite God toward us (Luke 15:20b). www.FreeCoolAr�cles.com; he may be who chose to make Himself known to humanity through Jesus, connected with on LinkedIn at h�ps:// His Son. So, while we retain our ability to choose to live for God or not, www.linkedin.com/in/rajendevadason, and whether to give to God or not, the wise response – since God [email protected] You may follow him on Twi�er @RajenDevadason What is tougher, though, for us to comprehend is that while God can be trusted completely (Psalm 9:10) – is for us to bask in the his or her taxes. However, across the world, we see that if there loves a cheerful giver, He owns everything anyway. is a rising level of trust in any particular government, people IURPSDJH will nd it easier to part with some of their hard-earned income Looked at that way – against the broadest possible backdrop of to contribute to the public coers for the well-being of society. Creation – we experience a paradigm (mental model) shift that Assumption 2: Gender Identity Is All About Choosing the meaning and purpose of their gender incongruency – their dilates our eyes to one inescapable truth: To Be Male Or Female sexuality, their role in their community, and if the person is a Bottomline: When there is a high level of trust in the ruling Many may assume that people who struggle with gender identity Christian, how God ts in all of the aforementioned. government of the day, people nd it easier to smile, at least a We can’t truly ‘give’ God anything because everything in the ultimately want to have a sex change. In reality, most do not tiny bit, when they pay their taxes. universe (or perhaps the multiverse, as suggested by quantum automatically opt for surgical interventions due to the multiple For these individuals, gender identity is not just about being male mechanics) belongs to Him. Everything! Actually, make that physical, psychological and social implications associated with or female. It is about making sense of their personhood. It is no Intriguingly though, if we as Bible-believing Christians shift ‘almost everything’... such procedures. Having said this, many people who struggle wonder that well intended legalistic instructions such as wearing our gaze from the secular to the spiritual, which in this context with gender identity issues experience great distress. For some, the the gender-appropriate clothing, behaving in gender-appropriate boils down to moving away from focusing on human taxes to eologians for millennia have grappled with the tension between distress is overwhelmingly debilitating, even after a sex change. manner, adhering to stereotypical gender roles do little in bringing contemplating our core reasons for giving God our tithes and predestination (Eph. 1:5, 11) and free will (John 7:17). It doesn’t resolution or the much needed relief and comfort. Instead, such love oerings, we can discover some rather profound conclusions seem logical that both concepts can be true at the same time, simplistic responses tend to create more burden, alienation, and from Scripture and the physical world. yet the Bible is replete with Scripture verses that support both loneliness. We must stop assuming that gender identity is about views. I would nd that dichotomy even more jarring had God doing. It is not. Gender Identity is about being. It is always a Let’s begin within the context of the church: It is said that God not left us discoverable traces that help us accept simultaneous, good discipline to examine our assumptions because doing so loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Here is a grace- lled lesson seemingly conicting, realities. sharpens our intellectual and moral integrity. from Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, where he lovingly points out that we Christians shouldn’t give anything grudgingly or Here is an example from school: How would you respond to the above question now that we have reluctantly to our churches. explored the two common assumptions on gender identity? I must God created light as both a wave (with a speci c amplitude and confess that I still make many knee-jerk assumptions that cause Paul underscores his statement by reminding us not to bend under frequency) and a particle (the photon).* pain to others. I am very much a work in progress. May the LORD, coercive pressure from outside forces to give of our resources. Who gives wisdom generously to all who ask without nding fault, While such resources can and do include our loyalty, talents We understand the idea of spread-out waves when we stand on guide us into all truth and may He teach us how to love Him and and physical strength, in this context Paul was clearly referring a beach and contemplate its breakers crashing the shores. We to love our fellow man. to money. also perceive the solidity and position of a particle like a pebble ose of us who don’t experience such struggles must refrain in our shoe. from assuming that gender identity is simply choosing to be at’s understandable because what is true today was true two a male or female, or that it is as straightforward as turning a Dr Hera Lukman is a registered Chartered Health Psychologist with millennia ago – we need money to pay our bills. at applies Yet how can light be both a wave and a particle at the same time? switch on and o. the Bri�sh Psychological Society. She to us, our businesses, our countries and our places of worship. It makes no sense! Yet it’s been proven by a grand sequence of obtained her BA (Hons) at Simon scienti c advances marked by multiple Nobel prizes.** Having a clear gender identity may feel eortless for most of us Fraser University, Canada, her MSc at the University of Sheﬃeld, UK, and As with any other institution, a church requires cold, hard cash because there is a congruency between our biological sex and gender her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK. to pay its utility bills and salaries; maintain its physical structures Our universe is not as straightforward as we think it is, and neither identity. Hence, for most of us, gender identity is an automatic For the past 15 years, Hera has taught and grounds; and, most importantly, contribute to the well-being is its unbounded, in nite Creator, our loving Father (Job 36:26). process that occurs outside of our awareness. ere is no need Psychology at several universi�es in the of the community at large as well as to the local body of believers. for a conscious deliberation of our maleness or femaleness and UK and Malaysia. She is currently the Head of Psychology and Learning Centre With so much complexity to grapple with, what should regular how our gender contributes to our personhood. at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. Giving what is His in the rst place Christians focus on to make sense of our world and to help us As a Chris�an psychologist, Hera is Despite the pressing nancial needs of the early church, I think get through just one more day? However, for people who experience gender incongruency, the passionate in integra�ng psychology the often tough-talking Paul adopted his gentle approach here process of making sense of one’s gender can be an existential tsunami with biblical principles in understanding personhood and one’s iden�ty in Christ. for two reasons: Jesus. experienced on a daily basis. Some may wrestle incessantly with

44 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 45 Eugene, 33 A.H., 18 ISSUES Why is the question even being asked? I believe it’s about sex. I I think being trapped in a body of a gender you don’t want is think changing gender is about having sex di erently. God created like being imprisoned within yourself. However, a good support sex in order to create the next generation. You may have issues system and openness to alternative ways would be a good rst step that make you think you are of a di erent gender, but then what before the person goes through a sex change since this process is is the main reason for changing your gender? Is it for pleasure? irreversible. For me, I think sex change is a gift for the modern A lot of people in this generation are about living for pleasure. society. It has helped people. But for people who do not have So, having sex nowadays is not to have children but for pleasure. access to or information about this procedure, they just have to Being infertile defeats the purpose of sex, especially after a gender accept their body. change and is against logic and reason. By Reuben Chan and Chan Yen Ping

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 21 22 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018

Choose wisely warmth of Jesus and to permit our hearts, our minds and our REGULAR Once we zero in on the Son, we better understand the Father wallets to respond to Almighty God with love, gratitude and joy. through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Admittedly, we will never fully comprehend our innite God with our nite brains. But we can choose to love Him more and *https://www.google.com.my/amp/s/phys.org/news/2015-03- more as we draw closer to Jesus each day; or not! particle.amp

at choice hinges on our precious free will. **https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/themes/physics/ ekspong/ Too often our will is what causes us to veer away from God. (You know what I mean!) ankfully, like the patient father in Jesus’ © 2018 Rajen Devadason parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), God loves us more than we love Him and even more than we love ourselves. Even Rajen Devadason, CFP, is a Licensed when we are approaching Him and still far from Him, He runs Financial Planner, professional speaker and author. Read his free ar�cles at toward us (Luke 15:20b). www.FreeCoolAr�cles.com; he may be connected with on LinkedIn at h�ps:// Dear Goldie, So, while we retain our ability to choose to live for God or not, www.linkedin.com/in/rajendevadason, and whether to give to God or not, the wise response – since God [email protected] You may I was thrilled when three persons accepted Christ in the Alpha follow him on Twi�er @RajenDevadason can be trusted completely (Psalm 9:10) – is for us to bask in the course that I was leading. However, one of them, a young lady, has disappeared. I emailed her but got no response. ere are IURPSDJH also other disappointments serving in this ministry. Firstly, I Ask God to forgive you for being critical and complaining. was put o by the non-committed attitude of some volunteers Forgive and pray for those you don’t like. No matter in what Assumption 2: Gender Identity Is All About Choosing the meaning and purpose of their gender incongruency – their who signed up as leaders but only appeared a few times. And environment, be open to what God is trying to teach you To Be Male Or Female sexuality, their role in their community, and if the person is a we were told from the start that we had to serve for the entire and preparing you for more service in the future. Focus on Many may assume that people who struggle with gender identity Christian, how God ts in all of the aforementioned. course! Secondly, I can’t stand some arrogant people who lack accomplishing the goals set in the group, giving your best. ultimately want to have a sex change. In reality, most do not team spirit. ere’s no joy working with them. I’ve decided Most importantly, pray for the participants. Let praise and automatically opt for surgical interventions due to the multiple For these individuals, gender identity is not just about being male to stop serving in this ministry although I’ve been urged to thanksgiving drive away negative attitudes and thoughts so physical, psychological and social implications associated with or female. It is about making sense of their personhood. It is no continue. that the joy of serving the Lord will return and strengthen such procedures. Having said this, many people who struggle wonder that well intended legalistic instructions such as wearing you. with gender identity issues experience great distress. For some, the the gender-appropriate clothing, behaving in gender-appropriate Disappointed distress is overwhelmingly debilitating, even after a sex change. manner, adhering to stereotypical gender roles do little in bringing Believe that wherever you are, you can contribute in some resolution or the much needed relief and comfort. Instead, such way, so pray about how and where God wants you to serve in simplistic responses tend to create more burden, alienation, and Dear Disappointed, this season of your life. loneliness. We must stop assuming that gender identity is about doing. It is not. Gender Identity is about being. It is always a I commend you for faithfully carrying out your responsibility Let me tell you about 24-year-old Albert McMakin. Being a good discipline to examine our assumptions because doing so and being rewarded with seeing three persons enter God’s new Christian, he couldn’t do much in the area of serving sharpens our intellectual and moral integrity. kingdom. e angels in heaven are rejoicing with you. As for but he had a ute and during an evangelistic campaign in his the young lady, don’t give up. Continue to pray for her and town, he loaded his ute with his friends and drove them to the How would you respond to the above question now that we have reach out to her. In my experience, people usually respond if meeting every night. One of his friends who went was a young explored the two common assumptions on gender identity? I must someone persistently contacts them. man who became a Christian that week. at young man was confess that I still make many knee-jerk assumptions that cause Billy Graham! You just never know that your contribution pain to others. I am very much a work in progress. May the LORD, It’s a pity that some uncommitted people have discouraged you. may bear a thousandfold eventually. So do your part and God Who gives wisdom generously to all who ask without nding fault, eir reasons may really be legitimate. So instead of blaming will commend you, “Well done my good servant… you have guide us into all truth and may He teach us how to love Him and them, maybe you should nd out their diculties, pray for been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten to love our fellow man. them and even help them. But their failure should not stop you cities.’’ (Lk. 19:17) ose of us who don’t experience such struggles must refrain from serving. As Paul says, ‘’Whatever you do, work at it with from assuming that gender identity is simply choosing to be all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you We are not called to be like other Christians; we are called to a male or female, or that it is as straightforward as turning a Dr Hera Lukman is a registered know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a be like Christ. Remember you are not doing this in your own Chartered Health Psychologist with switch on and o. the Bri�sh Psychological Society. She reward.’’ (Col. 3:23, 24.) When Peter asked Jesus about John, strength; you can ask the Holy Spirit to empower you with obtained her BA (Hons) at Simon “What about him?’’, Jesus reprimanded him, “If I want him to divine ability. Having a clear gender identity may feel eortless for most of us Fraser University, Canada, her MSc at remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow the University of Sheﬃeld, UK, and because there is a congruency between our biological sex and gender her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK. me.’’ Don’t look at what others are doing; you just do what Jesus Goldie identity. Hence, for most of us, gender identity is an automatic For the past 15 years, Hera has taught tells you. process that occurs outside of our awareness. ere is no need Psychology at several universi�es in the for a conscious deliberation of our maleness or femaleness and UK and Malaysia. She is currently the Have a positive attitude; thank God for the opportunity of Do you have an isssue you need advice on? Write to Asian Beacon’s Head of Psychology and Learning Centre how our gender contributes to our personhood. serving in Alpha with your skills and experience. ank Him Goldie Chong at h�ps://asianbeacon.org/dear-goldie/ for her godly at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. counsel. As a Chris�an psychologist, Hera is for the leaders who have entrusted you with this responsibility. However, for people who experience gender incongruency, the passionate in integra�ng psychology ank Him for each and every one of the personalities you work Selected ques�ons may be featured in this column. If you leave an process of making sense of one’s gender can be an existential tsunami with biblical principles in understanding with, even those you don’t like. Understand that everyone is at a email address, you will have your ques�on answered, whether it’s personhood and one’s iden�ty in Christ. experienced on a daily basis. Some may wrestle incessantly with dierent level of maturity and God can use anyone at any level. published or not.

asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 45 46 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 ISSUES

REGULAR

Dear Goldie,

I was thrilled when three persons accepted Christ in the Alpha course that I was leading. However, one of them, a young lady, has disappeared. I emailed her but got no response. ere are also other disappointments serving in this ministry. Firstly, I Ask God to forgive you for being critical and complaining. was put o by the non-committed attitude of some volunteers Forgive and pray for those you don’t like. No matter in what who signed up as leaders but only appeared a few times. And environment, be open to what God is trying to teach you we were told from the start that we had to serve for the entire and preparing you for more service in the future. Focus on course! Secondly, I can’t stand some arrogant people who lack accomplishing the goals set in the group, giving your best. team spirit. ere’s no joy working with them. I’ve decided Most importantly, pray for the participants. Let praise and to stop serving in this ministry although I’ve been urged to thanksgiving drive away negative attitudes and thoughts so continue. that the joy of serving the Lord will return and strengthen you. Disappointed Believe that wherever you are, you can contribute in some way, so pray about how and where God wants you to serve in Dear Disappointed, this season of your life.

I commend you for faithfully carrying out your responsibility Let me tell you about 24-year-old Albert McMakin. Being a and being rewarded with seeing three persons enter God’s new Christian, he couldn’t do much in the area of serving kingdom. e angels in heaven are rejoicing with you. As for but he had a ute and during an evangelistic campaign in his the young lady, don’t give up. Continue to pray for her and town, he loaded his ute with his friends and drove them to the reach out to her. In my experience, people usually respond if meeting every night. One of his friends who went was a young someone persistently contacts them. man who became a Christian that week. at young man was Billy Graham! You just never know that your contribution It’s a pity that some uncommitted people have discouraged you. may bear a thousandfold eventually. So do your part and God eir reasons may really be legitimate. So instead of blaming will commend you, “Well done my good servant… you have them, maybe you should nd out their diculties, pray for been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten them and even help them. But their failure should not stop you cities.’’ (Lk. 19:17) from serving. As Paul says, ‘’Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you We are not called to be like other Christians; we are called to know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a be like Christ. Remember you are not doing this in your own reward.’’ (Col. 3:23, 24.) When Peter asked Jesus about John, strength; you can ask the Holy Spirit to empower you with “What about him?’’, Jesus reprimanded him, “If I want him to divine ability. remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’’ Don’t look at what others are doing; you just do what Jesus Goldie tells you.

Have a positive attitude; thank God for the opportunity of Do you have an isssue you need advice on? Write to Asian Beacon’s serving in Alpha with your skills and experience. ank Him Goldie Chong at h�ps://asianbeacon.org/dear-goldie/ for her godly counsel. for the leaders who have entrusted you with this responsibility. ank Him for each and every one of the personalities you work Selected ques�ons may be featured in this column. If you leave an with, even those you don’t like. Understand that everyone is at a email address, you will have your ques�on answered, whether it’s dierent level of maturity and God can use anyone at any level. published or not.

46 asianbeacon.org 50#3 July-September 2018 ISSUES a general knowledge of Malaysia. e lack of emphasis on Malaysia as opposed to, for example, the curriculum of American history will only promote more of our children to love other countries more than our own, and potentially encourage more young Malaysians to want to migrate to other countries.

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Till You Sex Change? E Love Boat Fed up with Hypocrisy Harvest of Health Drop Small SacriCe I Met Grace in Chicago 297 Mm

Till You Sex Change? E Love Boat Fed up with Hypocrisy Harvest of Health Drop Small SacriCe I Met Grace in Chicago 297 Mm