About 150 people attended last December NECF Thanksgiving Tea (Klang Valley region), jointly organised by the NECF Prayer and Research commissions. The yearly gathering was initiated by the NECF Prayer Commission in 2001 as an occasion for Christians involved in the ministry of intercession to gather for reflection and thanksgiving.
Last year, the Prayer Commission felt that the partnership of the Research Commission would make the occasion more beneficial to participants. At the gathering, Research Commission chairman Steven Wong explained that knowledge of current issues would lead to more specific and accurate intercession.
The Research Executive Secretary then presented a short talk on religious liberty in Malaysia. She touched on the various state laws that restrict the propagation of religions and the difficulty civil courts are encountering in exercising impartiality when hearing conversion cases. She also highlighted several current court cases that relate to the individuals' rights to practise the religions of their choices, such as the Lina Joy case
Participants then gathered in small groups to pray over the various issues raised. The meeting concluded with a time of fellowship over traditional Malaysian tea-time snacks. One participant shared, It's so easy to forget that all we have come from the Lord. This Thanksgiving Tea is a reminder to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Lord.
A week after the Klang Valley tea gathering, the Kuantan pastors fellowship held its own Thanksgiving Tea attended by some 70 people from seven churches. The gathering was in line with NECF's plan to make the yearly NECF Thanksgiving Tea a regional affair outside of the Klang Valley. Prayer Executive Secretary Ann Low and the Research Executive Secretary were at the Kuantan gathering to share what God had been doing the whole year.
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