Reading Books Is Still Revelant #LeadersAreReaders November 2023

People are far more knowledgeable now than they were in the past. With a few phone clicks, people can discover information on nearly everything. They may now learn things more quickly and easily without having to waste time reading something that might not be helpful or relevant to them. With ChatGPT and Google Search on my phone (and internet data), I'm an information demi-god. So do you!

But some things still make reading books relevant. For example, compare books with online articles #1 Books often provide in-depth exploration of a subject, offering comprehensive coverage and nuanced perspectives that online articles may lack due to their brevity; #2 Books also allow for a sustained focus, encouraging deep understanding and critical thinking; and #3 Books present ideas more clearly and thoroughly than the fragmented nature of online content allows.

But perhaps I should add #4 Books can be your friends. There is a vast difference between holding a book and holding a phone to read an online article. "Books are the quietest and most constant of friends," said Charles W. Eliot, "they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." Well, use both tools but be biased toward books.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #ReadingBooksIsStillRevelant #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

20 Pesan Kepada Pelajar Saya: #1 Belajar Menerima Perubahan

Meninggalkan rumah atau tempat tinggal buat pertama kalinya dalam kehidupan seseorang boleh menimbulkan ketegangan dalam diri seseorang. Saya teringat pertama kali saya meninggalkan rumah untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke UiTM Samarahan. Saya berasa tidak selesa dan sangat merindui kampung halaman. Pada hari pertama saya menghadiri kelas, saya agak terkejut kerana semuanya muka baru yang belum pernah saya lihat sebelum ini. Saya merasakan bahawa saya seorang asing di sana. Saya mengharapkan sesuatu yang boleh meyakinkan diri saya untuk meneruskan kehidupan saya sebagai seorang pelajar di kampus.

Saya sangat diberkati kerana muka yang asing pada hari pertama kuliah lambat laun telah menjadi kenalan, sahabat dan rakan setia dalam suka dan duka. Begitulah saya menghabiskan waktu 3 tahun pengajian saya di UiTM. Selain itu, rakan sama melayani di Persekutuan Pelajar Kristian (PPK) di kampus juga menjadi lebih daripada rakan rapat, malah, sebagai saudara dan saudari seiman sehingga sekarang.

Sama ada kita suka atau tidak, hidup kita akan tetap melalui perubahan. Ada perubahan yang merupakan pilihan kita sendiri; ada juga perubahan yang datang secara mendadak. Bila kita mengambil keputusan untuk melanjutkan pelajaran, menukar kerja, atau membeli kereta baru, kita telah membuat keputusan untuk membawa sesuatu yang baru ke dalam hidup kita. Oleh itu, adalah menjadi kebiasaan jika kita mempunyai perasaan seronok dengan yang baru dan perasaan yang kurang senang meninggalkan keselesaan dan kebiasaan dulu. Ada juga perubahan yang sukar diterima seperti kehilangan seseorang yang sangat dikasihi, kegagalan dalam pelajaran, atau menderita akibat penyakit yang tidak dapat disembuhkan sepenuhnya.

Kita tidak boleh lari dari perubahan. Oleh itu, kita perlu belajar berhadapan dengan perubahan. Kita perlu mengenalpasti kekuatan diri untuk mengatasi ketegangan dan tekanan akibat perubahan itu dan kita juga perlu mengenalpasti orang yang boleh membantu kita memberi sokongan, dorongan, nasihat dan juga galakan. Selepas itu kita perlukan satu rancangan tindakan. Contohnya, bagaimana cara kita boleh menyesuaikan diri untuk menghadapi perubahan tersebut? Kita harus mengubah diri untuk mengimbangi perubahan yang telah atau akan berlaku di sekeliling kita.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus welcomes Us to His' Apostolic Theological Seminary (Mark 9:30-37 Enrol Now!)

Study tools: Towels and jar of water

“[Jesus and his disciples] left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it”

(Mark 9:30-33, NIV, bracket mine).

It was about three years Jesus spent time with His disciples to teach them. These men to whom Jesus said, “Follow Me,” journeyed with the Master throughout Palestine land and all the way and personal encounters was a learning experience for them. This is amazing! Do we need to go to seminary school to study theology? Perhaps, but as for Jesus’ twelve apostles, their Apostolic Theological Seminary was outside classrooms. In the Gospel according to Mark, the writer emphasis on Jesus’ actions. Mark saw Jesus’ seminary as a school that taught by action more than by words. No classrooms and projection screen, just real life situations and on the road teachings. Here in chapter 9:30-37, Mark recorded a mini-lecture Jesus delivered to his twelve disciples…

Doctrine of Future Things 101. Jesus told in plain terms that He would be – delivered into the hands of men – will be killed – but after three days will rise again. Jesus, for the second time, explained the three steps climax to His earthly ministry. But the disciples, amazingly, “did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” Not just they don’t understand and didn’t ask for explanations, they were arguing with one another! Jesus knew that they were arguing about “who was the greatest” among them (Mark 9:33-34). To me, the disciples – like us – we so blinded by their own notion of what the Messiah was supposed to be like. The idea that Jesus could be rejected and killed was unthinkable. Perhaps the thought frightened them to the point that they were unable to ask Him what He meant.

Doctrine of Greatness 2.0. Jesus’ taught his disciples: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all”; and “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me” (read Mark 9:34-37). Because Jesus selected them personally and because they studied at the Apostolic Theological Seminary, they become proud, boastful and self-centred. As for today you can almost hear people say, “I studied at the Methodist Theological School in Sibu!”; “I have Master of Divinity from Sabah Theological Seminary…”; “Ehemmm… I’m a graduate from Malaysia Theological Seminar.” These are just examples of how we can become proud because our distinctions from everyone else. We sometime forget that for us be spiritually great (Yes, Jesus encourages our pursuit to be great in God) is through choosing the lowest position and serving others. To enter the Kingdom of God we must have the humility of a child. Today – even in Christianity – we called someone great because of their educational background and those who great in public speaking automatically become our leaders. This is not so for Jesus’ followers! Greatness in God’s definition is to serve one another and to care about the little ones.

These and many more lesson Jesus taught His disciples one by one, through personal encounters and first-hand experience, by words and practically by His own actions. Do you want to enrol in Jesus’ Apostolic Theological Seminary? If you do, then take heed the Master’s words: “Whoever wants to be my disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me” (8:34); and “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Welcome to Jesus’ school!

First assignment: Read the Word

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity (and Why It Matters)

“This book UnChristian is very disturbing to me. I fully realized that this book is about Christianity in America today but it seems like what happen (or whatever happened) to American Christians there is a reflection of what will happen to any Christians in the world today if we are not alert and wake up from our spiritual slumberness. As if I’m reading the reality of Christianity in Malaysia today. The data and contents, even opinions and wisdoms, of the authors have been formed by research, not vague feelings or hunches. I want to recommend this book to Christians first, though it is also written for outsiders too. The research findings in this book are a solid reminder that Jesus not only commands us to joyfully loving God but also to loving other people. Though we may be good at preaching grace, we have not been characterized as a gracious people. This is fact. God helps us.”

(Richard Angelus)

UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity …and Why It Matters

by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons (Baker Books: Grand Rapids, 2007)

Christianity has an image problem. Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like “hypocritical,” “insensitive,” and “judgmental,” young Americans share an impression of Christians that's nothing short of . . . unChristian.

Groundbreaking research into the perceptions of people aged 16-29 reveals that Christians have taken several giant steps backward in one of their most important assignments. The surprising details of the study, commissioned by the Fermi Project and conducted by The Barna Group, are presented with uncompromising honesty in unChristian. Find out why these negative perceptions exist, learn how to reverse them in a Christ-like manner, and discover practical examples of how Christians can positively contribute to culture.

Get Your Hard Cover Copy of UnChristian for FREE

For this month of March 2015: Free Monthly Book, I would like to offer three copies of this book to anyone who are interested and concern about whatever happen to Christianity today and what you can do about it. All you have to do are; comment below “I want to read this book because…” (no less than 10 words), E-mail me your name, phone no. and postal address for me sends the book. This offer is available until 30^th March 2015.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The 8 Net Generation Norms that Every Youth Worker Should Know

These are 8 Differentiating Characteristics the Net Generation (1977 – 1997) Norms. Each “Norm” is a cluster of attitudes and behaviours that define the generation. These norms are central to understanding how this generation – my generation – is changing work, markets, learning, the family, and society. I, as staffworker in Student Ministry, personally think that these characteristics are very important and helpful for me (and you) to understand the Net Generation Christians and youth in general today. You can read about them thoroughly in Don Tapscott’s Grown Up Digital in which I quotes at length here. I highly recommend this book!

#1: The Net Generation want freedom in everything they do, from freedom of choice to freedom of expression. We all love freedom, but not like this generation. Choice is like oxygen to them. While older generations feel overwhelmed by the proliferation of sales channels, product types, and brands, the Net Gen takes it for granted. Net Geners leverage technology to cut through the clutter and find the marketing message that fits their needs. They also expect to choose where and when they work. They use technology to escape traditional office constraints and integrate their work lives with their home and social lives. Net Geners seek the freedom to change jobs, freedom to take their own path, and to express themselves.

#2: They love to customize, personalize. When I was a kid, I never got to customize The Mickey Mouse Club. Today’s youth can change the media world around them – their desktop, Web site, ring tone, handle, screen saver, news sources, and entertainment. They have grown up getting what media they want, when they want it, and being able to change it. Millions around the world don’t just access the Web, they are creating it by creating online content. Now the need to customize is extending beyond the digital world to just about everything they touch. Forget standard job descriptions and only one variety of product. As for government portals, they want “my government” customized online.

#3: They are the new scrutinizers. When I was young, a picture was a picture. No more. Transparency, namely stakeholder access to pertinent information about companies and their offerings, just seems natural to the Net Gen. While older generations marvel at the consumer research available on the Internet, the Net Gen expects it. As they grow older, their online engagement increases. Businesses targeting the Net Gen should expect and welcome intense scrutiny of its products, promotional efforts, and corporate practices. The Net Gen knows that their market power allows them to demand more of companies, which goes for employers as well.

#4: They look for corporate integrity and openness when deciding what to buy and where to work. The Internet, and other information and communication technologies, strip away the barriers between companies and their various constituencies, including consumers, activists, and shareholders. Whether consumers are exposing a flawed viral marketing campaign or researching a future employer, Net Geners make sure company values align with their own.

#5: The Net Gen wants entertainment and play in their work, education, and social life. This generation brings a playful mentality to work. From their experience in the latest video game, they know that there’s always more than one way to achieve a goal. This outside-the-box thinking results from 82 percent of American children aged 2 to 17 having regular access to video games. It’s a fast-growing industry: in the United States, video game sales were $8.4 billion in 2005, with worldwide sales expected to hit $46.5 billion by 2010. This is a generation that has been bred on interactive experiences. Brand recognition alone is no longer enough, something leading companies recognize.

#6: They are the collaboration and relationship generation. Today, youth collaborate on Facebook, play multiuser video games; text each other incessantly; and share files for school, work, or just for fun. As evidenced by sites such as Yub.com, they also engage in relationship-oriented purchasing. Nine out of ten young people we interviewed said that if a best friend recommends a product, they are likely to buy it. They influence each other through what we call N-fluence Networks – online networks of Net Geners who, among other things, discuss brands, companies, products, and services.

#7: The Net Gen has a need for speed – and not just in video games. In a world where speed characterizes the flow of information among vast networks of people, communication with friends, colleagues, and superiors takes place faster than ever. And marketers and employees should realize that Net Geners expect the same quick communication from others – every instant message should draw an instant response.

#8: They are the innovators. When I was young, the pace of innovation was glacial. Today it’s on hyperdrive. A twentysomething in the workforce wants the new BlackBerry, Palm, or iPhone not because the old one is no longer cool, but because the new one does so much more. They seek innovative companies as employers and are constantly looking for innovative ways to collaborate, entertain themselves, learn and work.

*Quote without permission from Don Tapscott’s Grown Up Digital: How the Generation is Changing Your World (McGraw-Hill: New York, 2009), 35-36

Freedom. Customization. Scrutiny. Integrity. Collaboration. Entertainment. Speed. Innovation.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Students Need to Experience Something Beyond Church

Eight out of ten students participate in church during their teenage years, but most of them will take a permanent detour from active faith at some point soon after they get their driver’s licenses. That’s right: only two out of ten of those celebrated teenage converts maintain Christian belief and practice between their teens and the end of their twenties.

The vast majority will cross over to the other side: pronouncing Christianity boring, irrelevant, and out of touch. We’ve tried too long to educate their minds instead of engaging their lives. The more we try to change the way we do church so this generation will join us, the more they seem to stay away. Although we’ve tried many ways to keep church from being boring, our best efforts are doing little to improve the image of the church.

Some of us are convinced the system is fundamentally flawed because we don’t know what our goal is. We creatively market our programs, design innovative and relevant productions, and organize events that will capture the student imagination so we can get them into church. What if our goal should be not to get them into church? What if the same energy could be applied to mobilize them to be the church?

We have discovered a short window of time during the teenage years when students need to experience something beyond church as a spectator sport. If a young person is not challenged by hands-on personal ministry, their faith will likely be side-tracked and even sabotaged. For some, that hands-on experience is a mission project across the ocean. For others, it’s a role in a family production or a place behind the ladle at a soup kitchen.

Students moving from the teenage years to their own college and post-college lives want to try out what they’ve been learning. They don’t want to practice being better church people for when they grow up; they want to start now. We all know that our faith grows when our faith is challenged to do something (for Christ).

Reggie Joiner

Founder, ReThink

Quote from Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Fermi Project (Baker Books, 2007) pg. 142-143

Original title as ‘Do Something’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Be a Generation that Wants to Make God Happy

I am hopeful about the future of Christian engagement because I think Christians are merging faith and action more than ever. I’ve been reading a book called What Have You Done for Me Lately? that documents the history of Christian contribution to culture. Anyone who is a serious student of history would have to say that Christianity and its underpinnings have been, in most cases, the fuel in the engine of social revolution.

Even though Christians have historically been at the forefront of these kinds of movements, I believe in these days it is being embraced as much as ever – it’s all about faith plus works. You will show me your faith by your works… it is the merging of these two things together that brings amazing power.

Our organization, Passion, recently hosted a global gathering in Atlanta of over 23,000 college students who consider themselves Christians. Instead of the typical Christian conference with a consumerist appetite for great speakers and music, we made the centrepiece of these four days the “Do Something Now!” campaign. We put eight global opportunities on the table and said to students, “We think you have money in your pockets to change the world.”

And sure enough, they responded.

Those poor college students pledged or gave over one million dollars to build fifty-two wells in Africa, to provide New Testament translations for six people groups of Indonesia, and to combat the human sex trafficking industry.

It is clear to me that something significant has absolutely shifted with this generation. I think it is God’s great kindness stirring our hearts to show his great kindness to the world. With this behind us, the students at Passion aren’t the ones who look good, and this generation doesn’t look like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something generation. God looks good. And God looks like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something God. I think that is what this generation wants – an action-based worship. There is nothing wrong with jumping to a David Crowder tune and telling God he is great – that is worship. But worship is also doing the right thing and sharing with others in need. Those are the things that make God happy, and this is a generation that wants to make God happy. They demonstrate this by moving in action to touch the last and least of these in the world.

Louie Giglio

Pastor, writer and founder, Passion

Quote from Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Fermi Project (Baker Books, 2007) pg. 143-144

Original title as ‘Emerging Faith and Action’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus, Only Jesus

My Expended ‘Edition’ from FES Praise & Prayer letter (March-April 2015)

I had a student-friend in college who allowed himself to get side-tracked spiritually by a dangerous line of thinking. He told me and some other friends that he was having a hard time believing that Christianity was true. He thought, why Jesus doesn’t appear to him physically personally, why God doesn’t send an angel to prove that the Bible is true, why he don’t feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when he prayed, why, why, etc. He was serious. So we talked for over an hour and I tried to assure him that the Christian life is a walk based on faith, not on superficial physical manifestations or a visit to heaven. We opened the Scripture and also point to him historical facts. Pray. But our conversation ended eventually and he walked away disillusioned.

Later I discovered that three other student-friends had each talked with him on the same subject. When I asked them, I learned that each of us had counselled him in the same way: cling fast to Jesus Christ as the Bible revealed Him. But our friend didn’t listen to us. This story says so much about our generation today and the people who actually had experienced Jesus the Son of God first-hand. People of Jesus’ day “asked him to show them a sign from heaven.” But Jesus answered, “No sign… except the sign of Jonah” (Matthew 16:1-4). Then Jesus went away.

This is important realization for me that today many people are seeking for and false teachers will appear, especially among our students, to perform miracles, signs and wonders to ‘prove’ the validity of Christian faith but they lack of “the sign of Jonah,” that is the fact truth and the accomplished work of Jesus in his death and resurrection. Oh pray that we will be faithful and “resolved to know nothing… except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Yes, I do believe in miracles but the miracle that I want most in students is the miracle of life-transformed and the difference the living Christ makes in their lives. In Bible Study, Christ. In our call for Jambatan Anak Malaysia (JAM), to be agent of transformation and reconciliation, Christ. In friendship evangelism, Christ. Even in our failures, pray that we will refocus on Christ. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

All the Best in Your Exam!

When a Student Asked, to Tattoo or Not to Tattoo

I know this student. He don’t like religious answer. He likes common sense and logic. I said that faith and logic doesn’t have to be enemies. But since he already familiar with Biblical arguments in regard to tattoo (‘grey area’ of teaching, I call it), I decided to just let him think for himself. This is for you too. There are many reasons why both of you might be attracted to the idea of getting tattooed. But you need to consider a number of important points before taking the plunge. Hopefully, these facts will guide you in making this important decision. I know it helps my student to think deep before making one. I hope it will do the same to you.

1)    Getting a tattoo is possibly the most radical form of self-expression. Using your own body as a piece of art can convey any message you wish. You may choose to express your beliefs, emotions, or interests. One thing is for sure: you will make a statement.

2)    If done by a trained and responsible professional tattoo artist, the process is not nearly as dangerous as you are sometimes led to believe (but of course, it is expensive and you’re just a student). On the other hand, most tattoo artists are not regulated, licensed, or inspected, so you run the risk of infection and other complications, with little or no recourse if something goes wrong. Yes, I know because I’ve seen how it is done especially in the rural areas and villages as mine. There’s even the possibility of contracting Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS if sterilized equipment isn’t used. Be careful!

3)    Getting a tattoo hurts. If you don’t mind getting stung repeatedly by a wasp (or needle) you may be able to handle getting tattooed.

4)    Because most pigments used in tattooing are derived from metals, there is always the risk that your skin may have an adverse reaction, or even major rashes. Red pigments used in the tattooing process contain mercury and may result in skin inflammation (but I’m not sure about today’s new technology). Scarring of the tattoo site may even occur as time passes.

5)    If someday you want to remove your tattoo, know that it can be extremely costly. The deeper the tattoo, the more difficult and expensive it will be to have it removed.

6)    Fashion trends can change and usually do… you know about this right? Think long-term and wisely.

7)    Tattoos carry a social stigma; potential employers who haven’t had a chance to get to know you can easily be turned off. Christ may accept you as you are and look at your heart, but human being judge through your appearances.

And then I let my student ask himself this non-religious but very logical and wise question:

Now that you are a Christian and know better, does it glorifying God to tattoo your body?

[P.s: Know that, even if you decided to tattoo your body – I’m okay. It’s your choice]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Dear Students, Remember this: "Small Choices, Big Results"

It’s easy to trick yourself into believing that small impulsive actions don’t have any long-term consequences. By impulsive I mean, as the Oxford dictionary defines, ‘likely to act suddenly and without thinking; without careful thought’. But over time, the small things add up. I often said to my student-friends, “Spending those few extra minutes reviewing class notes before an exam OR texting and updating social network statuses can make the difference between achieving and not achieving success in study.”

Delaying gratification (reward) doesn’t mean punishing yourself. Instead, it means choosing a later, bigger reward over a more immediate, smaller one. Focusing on the bigger reward – glorifying God in your study – helps you put things in perspective. I have a suggestion, when you feel an impulse coming on, stop yourself, think, and make a measured decision:

§  Stop. Realize that you are about to act impulsively, without careful thought.

§  Think. What will I gain in the short term by acting on this impulse? And what will I lose in the long term by acting on this impulse?

§  Decide. Given the short term and long term consequences, is it worth it?

Let’s say you are studying for an exam when a friend asks with a tempting invitation to play with you your favourite computer games. Before you say yes, stop and ask yourself what you are about to do. This gives you a moment to think. What are the short term consequences (or logical effects of our actions) of playing addictive computer games? You’re sure to have fun, and this is the normal way for you and your friend to ‘release tension.’ Maybe playing games is just the study break you need (I smiled. When we are really tempted to do something, it’s amazing how many good excuses we can think up!). I know, I know, people don’t like to think logically nowadays, but you students should!

Before you put those notes and books aside, however, ask yourself about the long term consequences. Since you won’t have as much time to study, your grade this semester may suffer. If your grade suffers, you might not get 3.0 and above pointer result that you have been dreaming of. You might have to repeat a subject or two next semester. And that doesn’t glorifying God in your life at all. The reality is that there just isn’t room in your life today for ‘junk’ activities and outing. Not now. Looking at the long term consequences of your actions helps you to pick the path that is best for you. Stop and think, then decide wisely.

Of course, controlling your impulses doesn’t mean eliminating fun from your life. Instead of playing addictive computer games or watching a movie or hang out with friends the night before exam, a half-hour study break might give you a chance to relax while still being productive. Use long term thinking – stop, think, decide – to tackle one of your impulses. Sometime, most of our life problems can be avoided by simply doing these three steps: STOP or pause, THINK short term and long term, and DECIDE by asking “Is it worth it?” PRAY also for wisdom from God. Logic and faith doesn’t have to be enemies, they are mutual friends. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Students Making a Difference: TCS CF Shows "Perfect Love: We Care, We Share"

“If [faith] alone and includes no actions, then it is dead” (James 2:17, GNB)

What would happen if Christian Fellowship act seriously on what they have heard and learned from the Scripture? What would happen if they decides to do community service in their campus? This is what definitely will happen: they will make a different! One thing to learn, if you’re ministering to students in campus, is that they are passionate and energetic and willing (if we give them a change or show the way) to make a different in the community. This is exactly what Technology College Sarawak (TSC) Christian Fellowship (CF) was doing last Saturday morning, 11^th October 2014.

Together with their advisor and college’s maintenance staffs, they organized a co-operate gotong-royong with CF members and staffs. Their main objectives is to experience first-hand the challenges of maintenance works and to create awareness in keeping the campus clean. That is why the theme was very suitable; “Perfect Love: We Care, We Share.” Indeed, as participant of this heart-touching event, I observed God’s love was really in each one of them. Some of the members were having class that day, so, they either come before or after class to help whatever possible and get involved with the activity. I bet students outside CF that saw their witnessing in campus and even staffs themselves were inspired by their willingness to sacrifice time (Saturday morning, remember?) and energy (without payment or award) to make a different in campus. Christian Fellowship (CF) is boring? Never!

Here are some pictures:

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

What Campus Students can Contribute towards the Life of the Church?

Picture taken from: http://www.aletheiachurch.com/

What are some areas where students can contribute towards the life of the church? Consider the following:

1) Teaching the Sunday school class or helping the Youth Fellowship (YF). The challenge here is especially great for men. In many Sunday schools or YF, there is a shortage of male teachers. It is probably because of this that churches often find it difficult to retain boys once they have finished their secondary school education.

2) Helping to counsel young people. In a way, this is related to the above. Having just undergone the struggles of adolescence themselves, students can better empathize with younger friends now going through theirs.

3) Literature work. Students can either write articles for the church newsletter, recommend books that they have found helpful or load their books for others. It may even be possible to run a book table by making appropriate arrangements with a bookshop. The reading of good books leaves a lasting impact on young lives.

4) In the course of campus life, students gain experience in doing the Lord’s work, for example, leading Bible study groups, learning to share one’s faith, planning a term’s programme, and so on. These experiences can be shared with others in the church.

5) Students’ secular studies can also be put to good practice. Those doing accountancy can help to streamline church accounts and specialists in education can help to upgrade Sunday school teaching.

6) Students can share items about campus life and witness during the church’s prayer meeting. In this way, others will be encouraged to see them as the church’s “missionaries” on campus. Those who study in campuses away from their home towns can keep their church leaders informed of their activities through occasional letters or better through – social networks.

Reminder: The above list is not exhaustive but time is an important constraint. Students will have to strike a balance among various commitments to church work, campus witness, studies and family life. Situation will vary. In churches where there is a lack of capable personnel, students obviously will find themselves tied down with church work. But those who want to take on leadership positions in student work must first carefully think through their priorities. For a period of time at least, students may not be able to do as much for their churches as they wish. Hopefully, their church leaders will be understanding and can be encouraged to see the exceptional possibilities that exist on the campus. The students are their churches’ missionary representatives there. As in FES Malaysia, we encouraged students to embrace their missionary identity in campus! Amen.

Think Big. Start Small. Go Deep.

A Plea to My Students: Translating Our Faith into Social Action

When I hear Christians, especially Christian students, a lot of them, deep down inside their hearts, want to be heroes, who long to change the world for Jesus. But many get burned out and discourage after a while because they don’t feel one person can make a difference. This is the truth that I want you who think the same to understand that: Jesus saved you and me so that He could work through us to accomplish things that He want to have done in this world. Jesus saved us in order that we might be agents of reconciliation, justice and mercy in the world. Jesus saved us to make a difference.

After someone knew that I work fulltime in student ministry he said to me, “I know that today’s young Christians could change the world.” “Yes,” I responded. Then added, “But they don’t know how to do it. Theology without methodology is ineffective. We must teach them what, why, and how.” Open our eyes! Whether you realize or not, today we actually have more opportunities than ever before to get involved in social action of some kind. There are lots of opportunities to show to the world that our faith in Christ is alive and God is living in and with us through social actions. “Love God” which is invisible to the unbelievers’ eyes must be translated by (or is the motivation to) “love our neighbors” which can be seen.

We can do this through local church or through Christian organization or perhaps side by side with non-Christians through secular charity or through your Christian fellowship in university and campus. Students know that university and college campuses are a focal point for young, idealistic people (like you) to organize and try to effect change. Organize awareness about deforestation in Sarawak, defend the right for every Malaysians to study in the local university and campus, be the voice for domestic violent against women and children, stand up for justice and against corruption in the country by distributing literatures or brochures or setting booth every week, initiate peaceful debates over religious and social issues in Malaysia. Or visit the orphanage and play with them, distribute food for the homeless, paint, repair and build houses for the poor, be volunteers, start a Bible Study group, etc. There are lots of opportunities for us to make a difference today.

Unfortunately, many Christian people feel too busy with college, work and church commitments to get involved in social action. Other than that, if you ask me, I would dare to also add that we are so preoccupied with ‘spiritual’ activities. For examples, young Christians always relate worship with heavy blast of music and no more. Older Christians on the other hand think that the Bible is mainly for study and meditation (just that). Confuse Christians assume that the ability to speaking in tongue is the most important and the highest experience of all. Average Christians assume that going to church every week is enough. And Good News is preached to Christians only (which doesn’t make sense). I know that I’m over generalizing people here, but the main point is that, if we only think that Christianity is only an inside job and faith is exercises within the circle of our comfort zones only, then we really can’t make the different in this world. No wonder young Christians feel discouraged, burn out – and almost hopeless.

I’m not reducing Christianity to some simplistic social gospel. What I’m trying to do is to plea all of us to translating our faith in Christ (if it’s real) into social action. People need to be saved from sin and people need to know that only through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior by God’s grace that they can be saved. This salvation is the ultimate reason (or Kingdom’s agenda) behind all our social actions. But how can they know if the faith that we are proclaiming is real or not? How can they be interested to hear let alone receive the Good News if it doesn’t effect change? Real faith will produce fruits of the Spirit. Real faith will translate into actions. Real faith will make a different in our lives and people’s lives around us.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus calls us to move beyond a desire for personal piety to a desire to serve others. To have our hearts broken by the things that breaks the heart of God. To be filled with righteousness, justice and merciful heart over people around us and the world. Jesus is with us, therefore we can effect change around us.  We need to be willing to stand up and make things happen for God. Jesus reminds us in the Scripture that if we cannot respond to those whom we can see, it is impossible to respond to a God whom we cannot see. Remember: Jesus saved us to make a difference. Yes, we can make a difference!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.