We Have Moved!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have moved to new digs! This move was made to better serve you, dear readers.

Amongst the new features at our new home are; an archive of recordings of sermons, a page on church duty rosters, a fancy post/photo slider to highlight certain issues and an improved calender showing church events. You will also be able to see the video of Tony and Ashley Low’s testimony, which they gave at our church last year, under the sermon archives section. The testimony of how God saved this staunch Taoist from his cancer and brought him into a relationship with Jesus Christ and the testimony of his wife’s parallel journey into faith is highly recommended. However, be patient. It is a very long (93 minute) video and may take some time to download.

Just press the big, green button below and we will transport you to our new home.

Special 2013 New Year Meetings

Well, 2012 is drawing to a close and we had some wonderful sharing during the Sunday Church Service when we heard from 3 sisters and 1 brother as they shared how God has been active in their lives this last year and gave thanksgiving to God for His awesome love and faithfulness.  Their stories were truly heartwarming and encouraging and we give God all glory.  Despite many challenges this last year, we have seen God’s guiding hand at work moving us in the direction of His will.

As we get started with 2013, it is only right that we begin by coming together for a Special New Year Service to commit the direction and  work of the church and all its members to the Lord’s will.  The Elders who have been seeking God’s face and guidance will share the burdens that God has placed in their hearts for the church.  This is an important meeting as we want the church to be united in purpose and direction and we would want every member to understand the workings of the church and be excited by a common vision for 2013.

Of equal, if not greater importance, will be the Special First Church Prayer Meeting for 2013.  Prayer is what God uses to bring our heart in line with His will and it is by prayer that we become of one mind and it is by prayer that God’s power is demonstrated in the furtherance of His Kingdom.  If you have not been in the habit of attending the church prayer meeting, make 2013 the start of a new and powerful prayer life for you.  See you there.

 

Special New Year Service 2013

Venue: Bangsar Gospel Centre

Time:  10 – 11.30 am  (There will be food and refreshments after the meeting for a Fellowship Brunch)

 

 

Special First Church Prayer Meeting 2013

Venue: Bangsar Gospel Centre

Time: 8.30 -9.30 pm

 

 

50 + 10,000

Compared to recent years, this last year was relatively uneventful. Well, other than the fact that I turned the big 5 – uh-oh! (that’s 50 years; guess I can’t pass off as a teenager anymore!). Yet while, it has not been as eventful as it has been for sister Chew Peng (see previous post), I too have experienced God’s goodness and greatness. While we often remember God’s faithfulness and grace in the big events, challenges and triumphs in our lives, it is just as wonderful to know His faithfulness and grace in the small things and the mundane things of our lives too. He is our God of our years but He is also God of our days and we can rest assured that He walks beside us each day.

Having stopped full time employment, this year gave me more opportunity to get involved in God’s work and it has been an amazing and rewarding experience. God’s help and guidance was evident in all the little victories and all the many things achieved.  Perhaps I am most thankful for the way God has been changing me and teaching me this year and also for the encouragement of brothers and sisters during this journey.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

Lamentations 3: 22-24

Oh, and did you notice that this website has exceeded 10,000 visitors in its first 10 months?  Praise God.

Calvin Loh

(photo by Calvin Loh; creation by God)

My Cup Runneth Over..

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over… ~Psalm 23:5 KJV

As I remember 2012, I remember my mum who went home to be with the Lord on 27 September – finally free from pain, free from being confined to her bed in her battle with cancer.  I thank God she is now resting in the arms of Jesus.

I remember, too, how I fell from the bicycle at church camp on 31 August and how I fractured my lumbar 3 and how I recovered from a possible transient ischemic attack.  All was in God’s hands – and I thank Him for rallying the church to love and pray so fervently for me.

My cup overflows with blessings!  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever! (Psalm 23:5,6)  ~chew peng

Don’t Miss “Intimately Christmas” with Bangsar Gospel Centre

 Christmas Day, Tuesday, 10 a.m.

@ Methodist College KL, Jalan Tun Sambanthan

Speaker: Calvin Loh

Play adapted and directed by Jonathan Wong

You are invited to join us in a celebration of Christ’s Birth with singing, carols, a play and a sharing of the Christmas message from God’s Word.

 

Map to Methodist College

A Christmas Celebration by JIC 2012

Bangsar Gospel Centre will be holding a special Christmas Day service on the 25th of December at 10.00 am.  All are welcome (details will be up next week).  However, if you would like to attend another earlier service full of songs, sharing and Christmas cheer, you  might consider “A Christmas Celebration” which is a special presentation by Jalan Imbi Chapel on the 15th and 16th of December at Methodist College in Brickfields, K.L.  See below for more info as well as the map to get there.

 

Word from the Elders (December 2012)

^{The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few}

 

Matthew 9: 35:    Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

 

2013 is only a month away. We thank God for His wisdom and courage bestowed upon Bangsar Gospel Centre’s leadership to “tidy up the house” in 2012. As we listen, discern and prepare for the new year, our Lord has brought us to His very own words uttered when He saw the crowds who were helpless and lost. His vision of them led Him to have compassion for them. He called His followers to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Their intercession would cause Him to bring about a great mobilisation of workers into His harvest field.

Similarly, our vision for the community of Bangsar and its vicinity has stirred within our hearts compassion for the people. Thus, we continuously pray to our Lord Jesus Christ to move the hearts of every member of Bangsar Gospel Centre to say, “Here I am, wholly available” and ready to be mobilised to embrace the Great Commandment and to obey the Great Commission.

Will you say, “Here I am”? If you hear His voice calling you, come 2013, there are five possible areas in which you can be involved on a weekly basis. They are the Children’s ministry, Kids’ Church, Youth Fellowship, Marketplace and Seniors Fellowship. Do not hesitate. We pray and hope that many will step forward to be serve with gladness in these fivefold outreach in Bangsar. Please contact the following ministry leaders quickly.

Children’s Ministry : Mabel Dunn

Kids Church : Sunny Lee & Yvonne Chong

Youth Fellowship : Ee Soon Seng & Terence Ng

As for the new outreach i.e. Marketplace and Seniors Fellowship, please contact the elders. It is our prayers that you will “put your hands in the plough” together with us as we trust Him to lead us to further His kingdom in Bangsar and beyond. The harvest is plentiful, come and be a worker.

Moving? Need a Hand? Lend a Hand!

We had to go through the difficult process of moving house just last month.  There was a lot of packing to be done and before even that, there was a lot of things that we had to decide to get rid off or give away as we were moving into much smaller accommodation.

One of the problems we faced was getting a reasonably priced but reliable movers.  The first two movers we approached turned up to be most unreliable – either trying to introduce new charges above and beyond what was agreed to or not showing up at all.

Eventually, God led us to two Christian organisations which gave us a helping hand with our move and allowing us to give a helping hand to others at the same time.

First, there is “Shuang Fu” or “Double Blessing”.  This organisation was established in Malaysia in 2001 and aims to help disabled persons achieve independence through providing vocational training and helping them find employment.  One of their activities is recycling.  They are willing to come to your home and take away anything that you may want to throw away.  Useable items may be given to churches or other charitable organisations.  Other items may end up in their Second-hand Shop with the proceeds from their sale helping to fund the organisation activities.  Of what remains, paper, glass and plastics are recycled if possible.  They will also dispose of rubbish for you as part of the service.  Find out more on their Facebook or call at 603-79831842/43.

The second organisation is Kenosis.  Kenosis is not unknown to some of us as they are assisting our outreach work in Taman Desa by providing space at their premises.  Kenosis is a Christian Drug Rehabilitation Program with ex-addicts reaching out to current addicts.  Addicts are required to take part in a 4 stage process that may take at least 2 years and is aimed to lead them away from drug addiction towards being avble to live independent and productive lives.

As their website explains;

“The word “Kenosis” comes from the Greek term, “kenos” which means “empty”, or “kenoun”, which means “to empty”. Used by Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:7, the word refers to the ‘self-emptying’ of Christ in order to share human life and death.

‘ Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.’

– Philippians 2:5-8 (GNB)-

Why this name? “Jesus gave up His all for us, are we willing to give our all for Him?” That was a question that lingered in the minds of three ex-drug addicts (Richard Lee, Bob Leong and Elvie Ho), who believed their rehabilitation could not be possible without the power, love and direction of God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Son of God who is perfectly holy, just, merciful, righteous and loving has ’emptied’ and ‘humbled’ Himself, died upon the cross for to save mankind. He has ’emptied’ His life utterly to become the transparent medium in which God dwells and through which people or mankind can see God.Hence, this self-emptying Christ in Philippians 2:5-8, has become an attraction for Richard, Bob and Elvie which caused them to ask : “How much are we willing to “give up” or to “kenoun” for the Lord whose love and power have saved us from the bondage of drug abuse?” And the answer to that question had led them to establish Kenosis Home in 2001.The idea of setting a non-profit Christian drug rehabilitation center in Kuala Lumpur began to take shape when they felt the calling of the Lord to reach out to male addicts with a ministry specially “for drug-addicts from ex-addicts”. With assistance from the leaders in Gethsemane Centre, Kepong, a Christian drug rehab center, they founded Kenosis Home.”

As part of the process, advanced residents take part in Kenosis work programs which include the following services;

1.     Home or office moving
2.     Painting
3.     Renovation works/welding
4.     Lorry transport services
5.     Grass-cutting

We found their service really good, reliable and they were very careful in handling the furniture.  It was also good to get to know them better and to participate in their journey to recovery.  You can contact them at 603-7987 1820 or at kenosiscenter@gmail.com .

So, if any of you have use of these services, we fully recommend using these two organisations.  Need a hand? Lend a hand at the same time.

Church Prayer (November 2012)

Despite the rain, about 20 of us made our way to church on Wednesday 28th November to pray and worship God.

The church Elders shared their vision for God’s work and the church in 2013 in the area of the outreach efforts of the church and they identified 5 target groups for the outreach focus. These are;

1. The Children’s Ministry
2. Kid’s Church
3. Youth Fellowship
4. Marketplace Ministry
   1. “come & see” (Alpha Course)
   2. “go & show”   (reaching out in offices and schools)
5. Senior Citizens.

Prayer was requested for workers to be raised to go into the harvest field and that as a church, we will share the  Vision, have love and Compassion for those around us, be driven to Intercession and heed the call to Mobilisation.  The Elders also indicated that the will share the bigger Vision for the church during the New Year Service on 1st January 2013.

We also prayed for the two mission teams going out this week, for preparations for the Christmas Service,  for the Youth Camp (15-18th December), for those who are not well ( Susan, Mrs. Thomas, Chew Peng, and Jey), and also for the nation.

If you want to be awestruck by God’s hand at work in our church, come and join us in prayer partnership.

Kenny Gan – Shining for Jesus

Kenny Gan Eng Huat, was called home to be with the Lord on the 17th of November 2012.  We here at Bangsar Gospel Centre have had the privilege of enjoying his fellowship and blessed many times by his teaching ministry and by his life testimony.

Brothers Jeffrey Tan and Kim Seng went down to Singapore to attend Kenny’s funeral and Wake Service.  They carried with them a message of condolences from our church to Kenny’s wife and daughter, Bee Lee and Debbie, for their loss.

However, we also gave thanks and praise to God for Kenny’s amazing life that was such a “great blessing to  countless people from all across the world”.

Kenny had a very friendly and universal face which made people find him very approachable and easy to relate to even though they often are confused about his nationality or his origins.  For example, he has been thought to have been a Thai, a Spaniard, a Malay, a Mexican, a Filipino, an Eskimo and an American Red Indian.

In fact, Kenny was born in 1954 to a Chinese family in Singapore who was of Taoist/Buddhist descent.  His father was abusive, a drunkard and a member of the criminal Triads.  His mother was a gambler. He grew up in the company of drug pushers and got into drugs and alcohol himself from an early age. He started smoking at 5 and took to drugs at 13; progressing from marijuana to heroin use.   His life was out of control.  The drugs was making his life a mess and making him feel lonely but he found solace in going deeper into drugs. He would end up being arrested and imprisoned in Thailand.

But God had a plan and purpose for Kenny and he would become a great testimony of God’s love and grace.  Kenny started a new life when he gave his life to the Lord through the Hiding Placeministry in Singapore in 1977.

He started with serving full-time with a Christian halfway house two months after conversion.  He then joined  Operation Mobilisation (OM) in 1979 and served there for over 30 years of which 17 years was spent on the M.V. Doulos in various capacity (advance preparation personnel, conference coordinator, evangelism coordinator, conference speaker, ministry and training, etc).

Kenny has been married for 27 years to Bee Lee (whom he met on the Doulos in 1979) and have a daughter, Deborah, who is now 25 years old and married to Jacob Choi.

Since 1996, served as Assistant to the Director, Partnership Development Manager, as Area Representative of OM East Asia & the Pacific and main conference & seminar speaker and also responsible for special leadership training & mentoring.

Kenny discovered he had late stage cancer in 2009 but continued to serve as an itinerant speaker for OM.  He continued to travel around the world in God’s service impressing people with how he handled his illness without complaint and with steadfast faith in God.  His last sermon was in Manila, Philippines just the weekend before.

God graciously enabled Kenny to attend his daughter’s wedding in June this year.

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”   Kenny has truly  ‘fought the good fight and finished the race.”  Now he is enjoying his rest in God which is so richly deserved.

 

View Kenny give his testimony in the following 3 videos.