NECF Foundation Update

Since NECF Malaysia launched the ministry two years ago, the foundation has approved over RM170,000 in donation and interest-free loans.
The foundation has also established a panel of professionals who provide their services to full-time workers free of charge or at special rates. NECF is continually on the lookout for professionals to join the panel.

Last year, the foundation initiated a group insurance scheme underwritten by Great Eastern (GE). The scheme is targeted at full-time workers, but to fulfil the minimum number for the scheme to take off, the foundation extended the scheme to Christians who are attending NECF member churches. NECF is given a two percent-rebate of all premiums collected and the money is used to help full-time workers who cannot afford to pay the full premium.

Financial Aid Given
Since May 2004, 15 people have received financial assistance from the foundation. Of the total, four are still getting aid subject to annual review. Total amount approved for disbursement is over RM170,000.

Breakdown of the aid given:

• Interest-free education loan – 9 recipients (RM104,300);
• Medical (donation) – 4 recipients (RM19,500); and
• Welfare (donation) – 2 recipients (RM16,875).

MELAKA

• Dr Au Mun Kit (Eye Surgeon)
  Hospital Pantai Ayer Keroh
  Free consultation for three patients per month
• Dr Lim Boon Aik (Cardiologist/Physician)
  Mahkota Medical Centre
  Free consultation, medicine from clinic at cost
• Dr Lau Yoke Phan (Female Paediatrician)
  Lau Child Specialist Clinic
  Free consultation
• Dr Ding Choo Chang (General Surgery)
  Dong’s Surgical Specialist Clinic
  Mahkota Medical Centre
  Free consultation.Ipoh
• Dr Teoh Soong Kee (O & G)
  Ipoh Specialist Centre / Perak Community Specialist Hospital Ipoh
  Free consultation
• Dr Yoong Fook Ngian (ENT)
  Suite 8, Ipoh Specialist Centre
  Free consultation for two patients per month.
• Dr Lam Fook Shin (Consultant Eye Surgeon)
  Ipoh Specialist Centre
  Free consultation for ten patients per month
• Dr C. S. Koh (Cardiologist/Physician)
  Suite 8, Perak Community Specialist Hospital
  Free consultation
• Dr Ting Cheh Sing (General Surgery)
  (1) Suite 10, Ipoh Specialist Centre,
  (2) 19-21, Jalan Kampar, Ipoh
  Free consultation
• Dr Adeline Tan Ai Lin (Paediatrician)
  Kilnik Kanak Kanak David
  Ipoh Specialist Centre
  Free consultation

Spiritual Healthcheck

The NECF Research Commission has initiated a survey to identify variables in spiritual development that contribute significantly to spiritual formation.Churches that participate in the “Christian Spiritual Formation” survey – by getting their members to fill in the questionnaires – will be able to gauge the level of spiritual maturity of their congregation. Hence, the survey will greatly benefit the leaders in long-range planning.
The survey is one of the projects under the commission’s two-year study on “The Spiritual Healthcheck of the State of the Church in Malaysia” (the theme of the study).

Specifically, the survey data collected will help provide prescriptive information for effective counselling of their members by:

• Identifying the spiritual style of individual members and the predominant spiritual typology of the congregation;
• Identifying strengths and opportunities;
• Suggesting ways to care for the unmet spiritual needs of members, such as counselling and coping methods in adverse circumstances;
• Helping members to reflect on their theological understanding of spiritual growth and maintain necessary psychological adjustments in stressful events; and
• Helping members to understand one another as unique individuals, and contribute to the group’s well-being. Samples of the questionnaires together with reply forms have been sent out to NECF members. The response has been encouraging, with some churches asking for several hundreds of questionnaires for their members.

Survey on kampung churches

The Chinese Commission has sent out questionnaires to about 500 churches in the rural areas (defined as places without town councils) throughout Malaysia in its first survey on kampung (village) churches.The survey hopes to identify the needs – material or otherwise – of village churches, to help the commission in its long-term plan to empower village churches with training and practical help.The survey will cover the nation including Sabah and Sarawak but for this year, the commission will focus their efforts on empowering village churches in the peninsular east coast – Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu.