Berita NECF Newletters

Making BREAD Together

Description: 2011 was challenging with many issues confronting Christians in both East and West Malaysia. There was never a dull moment and each month saw the church dragged into the social and political arena...

Making BREAD Together

2011 was challenging with many issues confronting Christians in both East and West Malaysia. There was never a dull moment and each month saw the church dragged into the social and political arena.

Despite this, we continue to persevere in faith that God has a destiny for Malaysia, taking comfort in Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

For 2012, there are positive as well as negative outlooks. Some say the financial collapse in Europe will hit us around the second half of the year. Others have implied that Malaysia's 13th General Election will have surprising results. There are other more sinister predictions including that the world will end this year.

How does NECF as a national organisation chart our direction for 2012?

We need to go back to basics. For NECF, it is to be the handmaiden to the local churches and to provide an evangelical voice. Our nation building agenda will be an on-going mission but we want to re-emphasise that we need to partner with the local church.

That was exactly what the apostle Paul did. He went to Philippi as part of a team when he was refused entry into Asia. He considered the believers he met in Philippi as partners who were able to provide him with resources and understanding of the local context. That was why in Philippians 1: 4-5 Paul penned these words "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..."

Partnership is the ability to accomplish more together than separately. It recognises that a team is stronger than an individual. Mother Teresa said, "You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together, we can do great things." John Wooden, perhaps the greatest basketball coach of all time, reminded his team, "The man who puts the ball through the hoop has ten hands."

Call it whatever term you want - teamwork, association, synergy - partnership is the remarkable ability of two or more people working together to accomplish more than what each could have done alone. When we work together in harmony, our combined talents and gifts minimise our respective weaknesses and shortcomings. Together, we become a stronger unit.

The model NECF strives for is one of "servantpartnership". We see ourselves as a partner to churches even as we carry out the role of handmaiden by providing resources, guidance and fellowship to empower churches both spiritually and in facing national issues of the day. And we rely on churches to be our partners, for it would not be possible for NECF to conduct these servant roles without the resources provided by the churches.

How can we strengthen our partnership? We don't desire to exist or function alone at the top, or in a vacuum. To be an effective partner, we continually need to hear and understand the needs of the local church. We need to hear what God is doing within your community, so that we can share resources and testify that God is at work in our nation.

What do we desire from our partnership? To work with you for the Gospel and be involved in good works. To share God's heart for this beloved nation so that you can join us corporately and pray in alignment with His will. To see both East and West Malaysia as one Church, the Bride of Christ. She is a reminder of our covenant relationship with God and that our physical existence on earth is meant to bring Him glory. We are not yet perfect but we are a work in progress.

Let us stay united, drawing strength and wisdom as we journey and co-labour for God's glory. Have a Blessed 2012.



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