Between Singapore & Malaysia

Now that I call Singapore home, Malaysia and Malaysian churches have never been far from my heart and mind. I had two wonderful opportunities to serve in Sabah during Christmas and another in KL on the 2nd January. I did not plan to preach on Christmas. My son and I were back in Singapore and when invited to preach in a church in Sabah I almost declined.

But the church was insistent and offered to pay for my return airfare home. When I saw the love gift after the Christmas service, I think they not only paid for my fare but my son's fare as well. Malaysian churches are generous and SIB churches (at least those among whom I have ministered) are especially generous. Not that I wished for anything from them except that their faith be strengthened but as apostle Paul said of the Macedonian churches though they were poor but they were generous in their giving.

Back in Sabah I preached two sermons in Malay. Initially I had some fears that my Malay would not be so fluent since I had hardly preached in Malay in the past 2 years. But the Lord was good and the messages were well received. I preached for 50 minutes from 10pm to 10:50pm during Christmas Eve service but most of the congregation stayed behind for a while. I guess they expected the service to end at midnight and that the sermon would last for at least 1 hour. The next day, on Christmas I did not disappoint and preached for 65 minutes with the unction of the Holy Spirit. I would not go beyond 40 minutes (most of my sermons in Singapore are about that length or less) unless the congregation is absolutely open and hungering for more of God's Word. This was what I found in Sipitang, a small town some 3 hours' drive from KK. The organizing Chairman went from Sipitang to my house in KK to fetch me and drove me back after the 2 services. I was heartened for such kind and wonderful hospitality. I was welcomed by a group of 30 Lundayeh brothers and sisters in Christ all dressed in uniform and playing their traditional musical instruments as we arrived in Church at 4:30pm on 24th Dec.

On New Year's Day I took a flight to KL and my pastor friend met me at the airport and we enjoyed durians after dinner. The Lord answered my prayers. I said in my heart I must have durians in Malaysia and suddenly my friend stopped over on the road side and bought some durians. The next day, I conducted a 6-hour seminar on the topic "The Relationship between the OT and the NT". Yes, all in Malay. When I flew back to Singapore around midnight as the plane was descending into Changi Airport, my soul felt at rest and I praised the Lord,: "Lord, Singapore is now my place of ministry". I saw many familiar places from the air and the bright lights of Singapore harbour never failed to impress me. But home is where the saints are, whether they are in Singapore or Malaysia for they are my delightful ones.