January-February 2008 PP5872/01/2009 (020498) A bi-monthly publication of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Berita of Malaysia NECF Editorial Allah for All here should be no subsequently lifted from 8 of the the Government. SIB is asking copyright in language. words, but remained on the 4 the court to quash the Minister’s Languages evolve over mentioned earlier. decision not to allow the church time as they are used to Some of us will also remember to import four titles of Sunday Tcommunicate and express ideas. the three-week ban in April 2003 materials from Indonesia as well A language is a language because on the Bup Kudus, the Iban Bible as withholding delivery of another speakers understand one another. for containing the term “Allah two titles under the Printing Languages and words are universal Taala” despite the Ibans having Presses & Publications Act 1984. property and should not be used the term for more than 150 It is also asking the court to monopolized by any one religion or years since the first missionaries compel the Minister to return the ethnic group. arrived. It was lifted after Christian consignment of materials which it Therefore it is surprising that leaders met with the Prime claims was “unlawfully detained”. the Malaysian Government, in Minister. And there were the “These publications are meant particular the Ministry of Internal stories of books and CDs being for the religious education of our Security, imposes a ban on the use seized for containing the word children,” SIB Sabah President of the words “Allah”, “Baitullah”, “Allah” which affected mainly the Jerry Dusing said in his statement “Kaaba” and “Solat” by non- SIB churches. Last Aug 15, three in support of the suit. Muslims. In Arabic countries where boxes of educational materials for Pr Dusing contended that Muslims and Christians mingle Christian children were detained from the earliest days of the SIB, freely, such as Egypt, these and by custom officers at the LCCT its Bahasa Malaysia congregations other words which some may think in Sepang during a transit stop en originated from Islam are used route from Surabaya, Indonesia to Continued on page 3... freely by all. “Allah” just means Kota Kinabalu. God, simple as that. No one is More recently, the publisher of “confused”. the Catholic weekly bulletin Herald Inside this Issue But people do get confused in was asked to remove its Bahasa Back to Basics 2 Malaysia, apparently. This issue is Malaysia section or risk losing its a long-standing one. It started in publication permit. The permit A Christian Social Vision for April 1986 when the Ministry of has been renewed but the Deputy nation building 4 Home Affairs issued a letter to Internal Security Minister insisted Current Concerns for your Christian leaders announcing the that the publication would still not prayers 7 ban of 16 Bahasa words, which be allowed to use the word Allah to A nation in prayer 8 the Ministry felt were sensitive refer to God (NST, 31-12-07). Hands off our Bibles 10 to Muslims. The ban was made In order to put an end to on the basis that the words could the constant harassment, SIB Reason for our “silence” 10 cause confusion among Muslims Sabah has filed a suit against the Before you cast your vote 11 and Christians. The ban was Internal Security Ministry and Please promote BK 12 State Spot – Penang 14 www.necf.org.my/html/berita_f.htm NECF Malaysia Council Chairman Rev. Eu Hong Seng Chairman’s Message Vice-Chairman Elder Kong Yeng Phooi Honorary Secretary Mr Samuel Ang Honorary Treasurer Dr Khoo Kay Hup Committee Members Rev. Justin Wan Back to Basics Rev. Dexter Low Rev. Ng Kok Kee Rev. Richard Ong s we begin a new year, I am Disciple Making Rev. Foo Moy Peng reminded of what the prophet – the recent My Rev. Simon Chandran Jeremiah said to the people of Hope emphasis Pr Alfred Phua A Pr Jerry Dusing God, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in is probably Pr Tay Wah Seng the ways and see, and ask for the old one of the best Elder Chua Keng Seng paths, where the good way is, and walk things that has Mrs Grace Hee in it; ….’” (Jer. 6:16a, NKJV) happened in By Rev. Eu Hong Seng Advisor The Church, caught up in the our Malaysian Elder David Boler, K.M.N. culture of change, has become churches. On Rev. Datuk Prince Guneratnam sophisticated, “purpose driven”, the other hand, we discovered few “relevant”, contemporary and are passionate about winning souls, consequently, has forgotten the clear much less making disciples. For too NECF Malaysia Staff Secretary-General blueprint of the Bible. She is distracted long we have ignored the obvious, Rev. Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. by materialism, slow to make disciples, that the number of believers is not Senior Executive Secretary and much of the time, so in awe of synonymous with the number of Patrick Cheng the CEO leadership style, that the disciples, and it won’t be long before Executive Secretaries Church is guided more by surveys and we have a scenario of “more fat than Ann Low (Prayer) Kathryn Tan (Finance) management gurus than prophetic muscles”. Lim Siew Foong (Research) insights, prayer and the Word of God This is partly due to the reckless Cheong Sze Ying (Chinese) We need to go back to the basics, focus on grooming leaders, rather than Alfred Tais (Bahasa Malaysia) and I would suggest four basics for identifying leaders from the available Larry Lee (Youth and Leadership 2008. pool of disciples. We seem so caught Development) Simon S. Arputham (Administrator) Firstly, the Word of the LORD. up with the “sausage production Ong Juat Heng (Communications) Seminars abound but the study of approach” of making leaders – we books of the Bible seems to be no fool ourselves when we think we can Confidential Secretary longer in vogue. After we graduate make “a million leaders” in our “green Ching Bee Gaik from Bible and Sunday schools, we are houses”. This is simply not God’s way Administrative Secretaries Yvonne Chin fed a smattering of Scriptures to the of making leaders. Leong Kit Wah neglect of a systematic study of the Disciple making is a non-negotiable Sangan Mutang Word itself. basic and cannot be hurried. Administrative Assistants We now have more workers who Thirdly, we need to come back to Sally Tan have not read the whole Bible and few Prayer. There are many well-attended Jouslly Buaya actually have an annual Bible reading prayer seminars and conferences but Editorial plan. A new generation is emerging with hindsight, it’s proving to be more Editor that does not meditate on the Word. hype than substance as we note that Rev. Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. Today it’s not uncommon to find the prayer meeting attendance in local Assistant Editor youths who know who Jackie Chan is churches is still a dismal number. The Ong Juat Heng but not the biblical heroes like Joel and average prayer meeting attendance in Address Josiah. most churches is not more than 10 32, Jalan SS2/103, It is the perfect law of the Lord per cent of the membership. Some 47300 Petaling Jaya that converts the soul (Ps. 19:7a). churches have dispensed with prayer Selangor, Malaysia Many lives are not changed for lack of meetings altogether. We must honestly Tel: 603-7727 8227 Fax: 603-7729 1139 His Word in them. Today’s seminars acknowledge and evaluate the sad Email: [email protected],my and conferences are need-based and spiritual condition of the non-praying Printed by Akitiara Corporation too often fail to stress on both the Church. 1&3, Jln TPP1/3, Tmn Perindustrian Puchong effectual working of the Word and the How can we begin to achieve Batu12, 47100 Puchong, Selangor Lordship of Christ. anything significant if the Church is 2 Berita NECF September-October 2007 Berita NECF September-October 2007 3 prayer-less? than continue to serve His Body. on these four foundations if we want Lastly, Servanthood. Emphasis The leader is often glorified whilst to be on solid footing in 2008 and is given to training, mentoring, and the servant, at best, is “merely beyond. It’s time for the Church to making leaders, but not servants. The appreciated”. Servanthood will never take stock and get back to basics. problem is further compounded by go out of fashion – it’s nothing but The attitude of the Old Testament the many “mature” leaders who have good old Christ-like character that Church was lamentable – “... they erroneously “matured and move on” God wants us to nurture till we stand said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ”(Jer. from servanthood onto predominantly before Him in glory. 6:16b, NKJV). We cannot afford to leadership roles. There are simply too The Word, Disciple Making, make the same mistake. many advisors, supervisors, “upper Prayer and Servanthood – these are Have a blessed new year! May He echelon leaders” who discuss and some of the “old paths, where the be pleased with His Church in our dole out the responsibilities, rather good way is”. We do well to build nation. Continued from page 1... printed in Arabic in 1514. Christian making Islam the religion of the comprising mainly native bumiputras catechisms in Malay were published federation and the guarantee that all from the various tribal groups of around 1545,” he said. (“Different religions may be practised in peace Sabah have been using Bahasa faiths, same language”, The Sun, and harmony throughout Malaysia], Malaysia in their worship and religious 31-12-07).