Other News
Help for Pakistan Flood Victims
NECF Malaysia Secretary-General Sam Ang handing over a cheque for US$10,000 to Crisis Relief Services and Training (Crest) Executive Director Lana Wong for Pakistan flood victims. CREST will use the money, which comes from the NECF Emergency Relief Fund, to buy food and medical supplies, and cooking equipment for the victims in Khyber Pasthunkwa region.
The floods, the worst in Pakistan in 35 years, have killed thousands of people, devastated over three million people's lives and destroyed vast areas of crops.
Join 100 million Christians on 10.10.10 to pray for the poor
Micah Chalenge is a global coalition of Christians responding to the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals). The MDGs were agreed by 189 nations in 2000 to reduce extreme poverty by 50 per cent by 2015.
Micah 2010 is the campaign for this year, culminating in a day of prayer for the poor on 10.10.10 (October 10, 2010). Some 100 million Christians worldwide are expected to pray for the leaders of the 189 nations to remember thier pledge to bringing half a billion people out of extreme poverty.
As a sign of the promise, participants will raise their hands in promise, and then make a special handprint. Hands mean worship, hands pledge support and we use our hands to demonstrate God's love.
Politicians need to hear that people care and that they will be held accountable to their pledge. Handover of handprints will remind them that they have only five years left to fulfil their promise.
In Malaysia, churches may give their handprints to Malaysian Care who will then hand them over to a Minister.
Malaysian Care and NECF Malaysia are excited to be part of Micah 2010 and invite churches to participate.
For more information, check out Malaysian Care website www.malaysiancare.org and www.micah2010.org
Helping pastors and leaders to handle church finances responsibly
Church governance is seldom taught in Bible seminaries, but it is a subject that is increasingly needed to equip pastors and ministers to better manage their churches' finances.
As churches grow, they need a good sound structure and processes to ensure a healthy environment for stewardship and accountability of the resources provided by God through the community of believers.
Unfortunately, churches have been mired in controversies, as highlighted in a recent newspaper report (The Star, 10 June 2010) where some churches and other religious bodies were accused of committing "unholy acts" of factional feuds, non-compliance on procedures of fund withdrawals and non-adherence to their by-laws and constitutions.
While churches that are registered with the Registrar of Societies or Registrar of Companies have external laws to regulate proper governance procedures, the non-registered ones may fall prey to such problems.
Realising the critical need for good governance and leadership to present the Church as "blameless and above reproach", NECF Malaysia and Malaysia Bible Seminari decided to collaborate to offer a course on "Church Governance and Spiritual Leadership".
This first-of-its-kind five-session course runs over five weeks beginning Sept. 7 at the NECF conference room. Course participants will learn what church governance and leadership are in the context of the physical church, and the proper processes to be established for elected leaders to be accountable for their financial decisions.
Among the things participants will learn from the course are:
- The different types of registration of a church available under Malaysian laws, and the right thing to do, if does not want to be registered;
- The difference between legal structuring as compared with Biblical structuring of the governing body (elders, deacons, ministers/pastors and board members); and
- Simple keeping of financial records, preparation of financial statements and reports.
The course is facilitated by Cheah Foo Seong, a retired company secretary with over 20 years' experience in corporate advisory services relating to secretarial practice, accounting and tax.
Pastors and leaders who missed out on the first intake are strongly urged to register for the next intake.
Shah Alam Christian Cemetery Opens
After 10 years of countless meetings with the authorities, Shah Alam churches - both Roman Catholic and Protestant - finally have their own cemetery.
The Shah Alam Christian Cemetery was officially opened on July 29 by Shah Alam Mayor Dato' Mazalan Md. Noor.
The cemetery was earlier dedicated last Oct 24. It contains 1,132 burial plots for adults and 100 plots for children.
Organised by Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), the opening ceremony was attended by MBSA officials, members of Shah Alam Christian Fellowship (SACF) and representatives from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), Other guests included SACF founder member Rev. Fr. Raymond Pereira and former SACF committee members.
The Christian cemetery is an inter-denominational cemetery reserved for the burial of Christians residing in Shah Alam. It is managed and maintained by MBSA while SACF acts as "Friends of the Cemetery" and assists MBSA in maintaining the area. SACF too assists in endorsing the burial forms of the deceased Christians.
Guests were later treated to tea sponsored by Nirvana Memorial Park. SACF chairman Pastor David Tham expressed his gratitude to all involved in realizing the dream of having a cemetery for Shah Alam Christians.
Book - Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflections and Case Studies for the Marketplace in Asia
Author: Bishop Dr Hwa Yung
The external pressures faced by Christians in the marketplace in Asia are the same as those faced by Christians worldwide. Few of us have sufficient inner spiritual strength and pastoral support to deal with the relentless power of sin as manifested in the corporate world.
Increasingly too in a globalised economy, there is a need for Christians in the West to understand the ramifications of working in Asia.
This short book is one attempt to respond to the need to help Christians in Asia find a biblical response to the real pressures they face in the marketplace. It takes seriously both the Scriptures and the context in which Asian Christians function.
In order to provide a holistic look at the issues involved, Bribery and Corruption begins with a theological framework for grappling with real-time problems, continues with responses from various theologians on the framework presented, and concludes with actual case studies from the marketplace.
Available at all Glad Sounds outlets.
All-expense paid holiday for PKs and MKs
December 7–9 : Swiss Garden Resort Kuantan
Calling pastors' and missionaries' kids (PKs and MKs) aged between 15 and 25 years. Register quickly for an all-expense paid holiday at the beautiful beachside hotel, Swiss Garden Resort Kuantan.
Besides all the fun-filled but meaningful activities, sumptuous meals and Spirit-lifting messages, there are many grand prizes to be won, including Ipads and Netbooks.
This treat is made possible through the generosity of Christians who want to appreciate PKs and MKs. After all, life for them can be tough with high expectations on their behaviour - dress holy, talk holy, act holy.
This retreat is an opportunity for PKs and MKs to unload their burdens (if any) among people who empathise with their struggles, and then be ministered to by speakers from the US, Australia and Malaysia.
This rare retreat jointly organised by NECF Malaysia and Impact Pastors, Impact Nation (IPIN) Australia. We pray that through this retreat. God will raise up a new generation of pastors and church leaders. |
