Message from the President

Dear Church Members and Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior!  By His grace we wish you a very happy and prosperous new year!

One year of our lives have gone by quickly.  Now we are at the start of new year.  As we take stock of our lives we ask: What have I been able to accomplish last year?  What were things I had wanted to do but had not be able to do?  What are things I could have done differently?  What things can I do in this new year differently?  What changes do I need to make in my life? Am I ready to make changes?  Or am I satisfied with my life as it is?

You can choose to live your life just as you please, to fulfill your own wishes and satisfy your own desires, to live only for self, or you can choose to walk with God, and to allow yourself to be used by Him to touch others with His love, and bless others with His blessings and joy.

You can choose to live your life after the flesh and in the end reap its awful reward, or you can take life as a great opportunity--to develop a character that is befitting a child of God--a Christlike character that will fit you for God’s kingdom.

You can choose to keep your life to yourself, and lose it; or you can give your life to serve God by serving your fellowmen  and bear fruit unto eternity. 

God is giving us a whole new year ahead of us.  Will you live for self, or for Him?  The choice is yours!  May the Lord find you a true and “faithful sevant.”

Sincerely,

Lawrence Banyie

Message from the Communication Director

A new year has commenced. Really time flies very fast.  What has been the record of the past year in your Christian life?  I entreat you to make an unreserved surrender to God.  Have your hearts been divided?  Give them wholly to the Lord now.  Make a different life history this year from that of the past.  Humble your souls before God.  Happy New Year!  Time flies very fast.  May God continue to bless us as we continue to serves Him. The theme for the Communication Department is ‘Building Bridges of Hope’.  It is our sincere prayer that we will leave this place with the understanding of our mission as communicators of God’s grace and that we will be better equipped to build bridges of hope everywhere.

Sarawak Seventh-day Adventist Mission, 11th Triennial Session, December 7-9, 2001.

The Sarawak Seventh-day Adventist Mission held its 11th Triennial Session on December 7-9, 2001 with the theme “United by the word of God.”    The session elected the Departmental Directors, Executive Committee, Sunny Hill School Board and Sunny Hill College Board for the year 2002-2004.

Departmental Directors

Lawrence Banyie                       -        Global Mission/Family Ministry

Gilbert Tan                               -        Ministerial/Religious Liberty

Sim Nueng                                -        Children Ministry/Personal

                                                          Ministry/Sabbath School

Francis Amer                            -        Communication/Youth

Petrus Ngadan Kuju                  -        Education/Health Ministry

Rose Tan                                 -        Shepherdess International

Vincent Amer                           -        SOP/Publishing

David Ngali Mina                      -        Stewardship

Women Ministry                       -        Maria Banyie

Mission Executive Committee

Ex-officio                       -        Chairman:  Mission President

                                                Secretary:  Mission Secretary

                                                Treasurer:  Clara Ho

Departmental Directors    -        David Ngali, Francis Amer, Sim Nueng, Petrus Ngadan

Mission Industries           -        Wilfred Sim

Institution                        -        James Goh

Pastor                             -        Kuching English Church Pastor

Laymen                           -        Esther Chuang, Rodney Ranyis, Barnabas  Sato

Invitee                             -        Vincent Amer

Board of Directors Sunny Hill College

Chairman                        -        Mission President

Secretary                        -        CEO Sunny Hill College

Director                          -        Gilbert Tan, Clara Ho, Yunus Apok, Petrus Ngadan

                                                James Goh, Lawrence Randig

Sunny Hill School Board

 

Chairman                        -        Mission President

Secretary                        -        Sunny Hill Secondary School Principal

Ex-officio                       -        Mission Secretary, Mission Treasurer,

                                                Education Director, Business Manager,

                                                SHPS Headmistress, SHK Headmistress

Members                        -        Yunus Apok, Arthur Kwok, Hanson

                                                Gumbang, Albert Asui

Invitee                             -        One Teacher, Chaplain

Ordination Service

One of the highlights of the Sarawak 11th triennial session was the ordination of three Pastors namely:  Pastor Chai Mien Seng, Pastor Sim Nueng and Pastor Gibson Siaw.  We welcome them into the ministerial family.

Welcome to Pastor Sim Nueng

Pastor Sim Nueng began his denominational work with Sarawak Seventh-day Adventist Mission for 13 years as teacher in Ayer Manis School, district pastor, Sunny Hill School chaplain and at the same time Pastor of Kuching Bahasa Church and then Miri district Pastor until recently he was appointed as Departmental Director for Personal Ministry, Sabbath School and Children Ministry at the 11th triennial session.  Welcome Pastor Sim and family to the mission staff.

 

Farewell to Pastor Lawrence Randig

Pastor Lawrence Randig had been departmental director for the past nine years taking care of different departments such as Sabbatth School, Personal Ministry, Communication, Education and Children Ministry.  This year his new assignment as a district pastor for Miri District that was formerly taken care by Pastor Sim Nueng.  He is also attached to Brunei and Limbang new work The Mission would like to thank him for his long dedicated service.  We pray that God will bless him as he continues to serve Him.

Teleconference Session with the GC President, Jan Paulsen

January 3, 2002

In a unique teleconference with some 3,000 church leaders and laity, Jan Paulsen, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church wished the church “to do well and for the Lord to be appealing and attractive through everything we are and do as a church.”

In his message Paulsen shared four wishes for the world church at the outset of the new year and early in the new millennium.  Referring to the three principal values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—growth, unity, and quality of life—he spoke of a need for “you as leaders to take time to look after your own personal spiritual needs.”  He also referred to the church’s principal task of clearly articulating the vision of the church to its members.  “It is important that this vision for the church does not die or need to be rediscovered every time we ‘turn around’ or elect new leaders.”

Paulsen called for greater inclusiveness within the church. “I am referring particularly to the trust and roles we give to the youth, young professionals, and women in our churches.”

There is so much creative energy, “ he said.  “The church needs them.  Bring them in from the spectator stands and let them function—let them lead—in the life of the church.”

The Adventist world president also appealed for the church to become more visible in society at large.  He listed the church’s contribution to society including education, health, personal and religious freedom, justice and aid to the poor and developing countries.  “But beyond that we have a message from God to bring, and that surely must make us bold and unapologetic.”

Concluding his message, Paulsen said, “The last three to four months have been very unsettling for the whole world.  In spite of that I hope that we are able to meet the future without anxiety.  The church will succeed; not because we are so wonderfully able, but quite simply because this is of the Lord.”

Concluding his message, Paulsen said, “The last three to four months have been very unsettling for the whole world.  In spite of that I hope that we are able to meet the future without anxiety.  The church will succeed; not because we are so wonderfully able, but quite simply because this is of the Lord.”

The message was short, clear, precise, and to the point.  It was also pastoral as well as spiritual.

(Source:  ANN- Adventist New Network issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters & Direct teleconference session (Pr. Francis Amer, Communication Director) with the GC President).

Pastoral Practic Training/PREACH Seminar for Minister

Dr. James A. Crest, the Ministerial Association Secretary of the General Conference conducted the Pastoral practice training on Church Administration and Leadership for pastors from Sarawak & Sabah Mission.  The training was conducted from January 15-17, 2002.

At the same time, Dr. Phoon Chek Yat, the Union Ministerial Secretary also conducted the Survival Tactics cum Principles of Evaluation for Pastoral ministry.  These two topics are conducted in connection with the Hongkong Adventist College extension school for Pastors.

The courses explore the different aspects of church leadership and administration for a local church pastor and also the survival tactics for the pastors.  It also includes principles of evaluation for the pastoral ministry.

Another seminar for ministers organized by the Association of Churches in Sarawak held at St. Thomas Parish Hall on January 16, 2002 at 7:00-9:00 p.m.  The speaker was Dr. James Cress.  The seminar focused on “Spiritual Discipline.” 

Theme for year 2002 “United in Worship of God”

1st Quarter Events for 2002

Leadership & Witnessing Christian Seminar (CLAWS)

Date                                Place

February      15-16           Mongkos/Tebedu District

Serian/Baki District

Padawan District

February      22-23           Simunjan District

Sebuyau District

Lundu District

March          1-2              Julau District

Lubok Antu District

Bintulu District

Youth Week of Prayer 2002

The whole month of March is dedicated to Youth Week of Prayer.  The young people will meet in their respective churches.  They can choose any week of the said week to conduct this special meeting.  Adults, friends and visitors are encouraged to join.

CONDOLENCE

Our deepest sympathy to Charlotte and the family on the sad demise of their beloved mother Mdm. Chen Chow who passed away on February 15 at the age of 87 years old.