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http://www.necf.org.my/html/berita_f.htm PP5872/1 /2008 MARCH – APRIL 2007 EDITORIAL t was St. Paul who wrote: “Here is a sins and purify us from all mous local church setting but the basic trustworthy saying that deserves full unrighteousness.” While confession and principles apply to more complex or Iacceptance: Christ Jesus came into the repentance does not negate the denominational settings. world to save sinners...” (1 Tim. 1:15) If consequences of sin, a person who Jesus came to save sinners, we who model confesses is nevertheless purified in a Accusation & Thorough our ministry on His must do the same. spiritual sense from all impurities and Investigation We are to “save” sinners. unrighteousness. This is properly the first step because so Here is where the Church has been The sinner who has confessed and often, there is no repentance until the sin found wanting, especially with regards to repented must ideally come to such a place is discovered. leaders who fall. In the last editorial, we where he knows for sure he has been When an accusation is brought against looked at accountability and the forgiven by God, accepts himself and is a leader, an inquiry should be set up to avoidance of pitfalls. Here, we examine accepted by the same community where investigate the matter thoroughly. The the appropriate response when a leader the sin was committed and found out. leader should be convicted only if there falls despite every precaution taken. The sinner does not have to hide is sufficient proof of wrongdoing. away. The stigma should not stick to the FORGIVENESS person forever. Often, when a leader • SEE PAGE 3 The basic issue is forgiveness. What is falls, the church’s first reaction is damage forgiveness and what does it entail? The control. While the well-being of the INSIDE theological underpinning comes from 1 sheep and the reputation of the church THIS ISSUE Jn. 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is must be protected, the welfare of the • It’s time to invest............... 2 faithful and just and will forgive us our fallen leader is worthy of equal concern. The ultimate aim is not • Toxic Leaders: How.......... 4 not to lead to punish but to restore the fallen person. The • The right to profess.......... 5 following are a number of practical steps towards • Joni Eareckson to join..... 7 celebration in Malaysia restoration. We assume an autono- • Theological Education..... 10 Crisis A leader who has fallen should not be left alone to • Safeguard rights of all 12 deal with his sin(s). The Malaysians church should come alongside to help restore • State Spot – Selangor....... 14 him to wholeness. NECF MALAYSIA COUNCIL Chairman Rev. Eu Hong Seng It’s time to invest Vice-Chairman Elder Kong Yeng Phooi Honorary Secretary By Rev. Eu Hong Seng Joshua had made great strides during Mr Samuel Ang Honorary Treasurer Chairman, NECF Malaysia his generation but unfortunately failed to Dr Khoo Kay Hup hand on the baton to the next. The result Committee Members S I write, we are witnessing a – many years of leadership instability and Rev. Justin Wan flurry of activity on international spiritual demise. Rev. Dexter Low stock markets as investors seek My constant prayer is for spiritual Rev. Ng Kok Kee A to ‘take profits’ after steady gains over fathers to rise and invest in the next Rev. Foo Moy Peng Rev. Simon Chandran the last few months. I am always amazed generation. And please, no more mere Pr Tay Wah Seng at the urgency and diligence with which “amens!” Nike has a lot to teach us – Elder Chua Keng Seng stock-holders monitor their investments, “Just do it!” Mrs Grace Hee acting swiftly to prevent losses or Like Joshua, we are in severe danger Advisor capitalise on gains. of succeeding in this generation but Elder David Boler, K.M.N. And as we rapidly approach the last having no spiritual legacy in the next. We Rev. Datuk Prince Guneratnam days, I am reminded about God’s call are not going to live forever…but there for us to be urgent and diligent in tasks is still [just!] time, I believe, to determine NECF MALAYSIA STAFF pertaining to the advancement of His whether we are going to leave behind a Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. kingdom – particularly that of Joshua or a Judges generation. Executive Secretaries investing in the next generation. At NECF, as we embark on a nation- Ann Low (Prayer) The problem is, an often repeated building policy, we must not neglect to Kathryn Tan (Finance) truth becomes an empty slogan – its focus on the group who will be the pillars Patrick Cheng (Leadership repetition slowly inoculates us into a mode to sustain the current move of God in our Development ) of inaction, apathy and complacency! land. The Joshua generation will be Lim Siew Foong (Research) Cheong Sze Ying (Chinese) At some point we mentally assented people with the energy to “take” the new Cheong Sze Sian (Chinese) to the statement’s validity, and at the same territories that God is calling the churches Alfred Tais (Bahasa Malaysia) Simon S. Arputham (Administrator) Joshua had made great strides during his Ong Juat Heng (Communications) generation, but unfortunately failed to hand on the Rev. Lai Moo Him (Special Projects & baton to the next. Let’s not make his mistake. Church Relations) Sandy Tan (Secretary-General’s Office) Confidential Secretary Ching Bee Gaik Administrative Secretaries Yvonne Chin Leong Kit Wah time figured that we had taken it ‘on of Malaysia into. Sangan Mutang Administrative Assistants board’. But as time goes by, the initial No doubt, as older men, we should Sally Tan urgency diminishes and we are left with have accumulated wisdom, experience Jouslly Buaya a slogan. and connections, but like Moses we also EDITORIAL Israel was blessed to have a leader need the energy, strength and “push” of Editor like Moses, who took the trouble to the younger men to bring God’s work Rev. Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. groom a godly successor in Joshua. to completion. Assistant Editor & Writer However, every generation must adopt In my recent travels to Europe, I Ong Juat Heng the same mindset. We must intentionally noted sadly that more than 80 percent ADDRESS set about identifying, training and of the churches there have congre- 32, Jalan SS2/103, grooming the next generation because as gations where the number of young 47300 Petaling Jaya we see at the beginning of the book of Selangor, Malaysia people is less than 10 percent of the Tel: 603-7727 8227 Judges, there was no one to carry on membership. Fax: 603-7729 1139 Joshua’s good work and build on the My concern for the nations, as for E-mail: [email protected] ‘gains’ that he had made. • SEE NEXT PAGE Printed by Akitiara Corporation 1 & 3, Jln TPP1/3, Tmn Industri Puchong Batu 12, 47100 Puchong, Selangor 2• Berita NECF MARCH – APRIL 2007 • FROM COVER: A FTER THE F ALL, WHAT? When the requirements of counselling of view this cannot be verified and a and repentance have been fulfilled, negative decision could have been made However, not every accusation ought another special congregational meeting earlier. So there is practically no way for to be entertained. 1 Tim. 5:19 says: “Do should be held to formally accept the the person to return to ministry (at least not entertain an accusation against an elder full recovery of the fallen leader. This in the same place). unless it is brought by two or three meeting ought to be conducted at the The tragedy of King Saul should be witnesses.” That’s the starting point. church where the sin was committed and a warning for all of us not to take things discovered, and not at another church for granted. An unwillingness to repent Confession & Repentance whose members did not bear the pain at the earliest opportunity may not only If found guilty of the alleged sin, the leader should resign from the position “While the well-being of the held. He is also expected to confess and sheep and the reputation of the repent. He confesses in word and church must be protected, the repents/turns from the sin in deed. welfare of the fallen leader is The sin has hurt the entire Body and the confession must be public, for worthy of equal concern. The example in a special service for church ultimate aim is not to punish but members only. The fallen leader asks for to restore the fallen person.” forgiveness from the church and his family. The church in return pledges to of the leader’s fall. Of course, once this bar the door to future ministry, it may extend forgiveness. is done, the leader may serve in another also cause our own hearts to harden. church at a later time. There is a larger issue. How do we Restoration to Fellowship It is essential that the counselling select our leaders? Is it based on the The fallen leader is then restored to the process balances sternness and grace. Too characteristics mentioned in 1 Tim. 3:1– fellowship of believers. He may be many hurdles or red tape discourages the 13 and Titus 1:5–9, or based on personal required to stay away for a period of sincere person who wants to go through charisma? Sometimes churches are so time for reflection and intensive the process. In the end, rules cannot help eager to rush their wounded leaders back counselling, but he remains very much a anyone.

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