Disruptive. But Enriching. That about sums up 2020.
Who would have thought that we would not be able to worship together in person for nine months? Much of what was planned did not materialize the way we envisaged.
But.
There is so much to be thankful for in a year that almost slipped by unnoticeably.
为了建立以福音为中心的教会，以及提醒信徒本身对福音的认识，从而更新，城市福联网借着不同管道，传达理念。他们举办讲座、跟进小组、设立媒体平台，针对我国城市生活的种种课题深切思考、研讨，帮助基督徒领袖回应今日所面对的疑难和需要。
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches and networks all over the world have been reconsidering the way they normally function. Many have had to give up on plans that they had for the year. Gospel City Network (GCN), Malaysia, would attest to that as they had a lot of re-ordering to do when it came to their plans for 2020.
Paul Ling from Kuching, Malaysia, attended the Asia Intensive in Bangkok this March and he went out of the Intensive with much eagerness and passion to start his ministry in Kuching but God had different plans for his life and the pandemic has made him realize that. This is his story narrated in a recent interview with City to City Asia Pacific.
The extent of loss and hardship during this time is beyond measure. I don’t know what you are enduring right now, whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, depression from isolation, a struggle to cope with an addiction…need I go on? Even those who have skated through this pandemic without major losses are possibly, even probably, struggling emotionally or motivationally.
In this interview, Rev. Wong explains why he thinks Chinese Christians should not discard many aspects of their culture. He also suggests ways in which some of these festivals can be redeemed and celebrated.
A new dawn has come to Malaysia. A year ago, for the first time in 61 years, the Malaysian people saw a change in the ruling government of their land. The public turned out in droves — kingmakers and powerbrokers in their own right — bringing to bear the force of the ballot box. Having…
Do you prefer the Marvel Universe or DC Universe? You may or may not care, but my children have strong opinions on this issue and can give articulate reasons for which universe they think is better. It gives me some comfort to know that they know both universes are pure fiction. However, although they are…
As we approach Christmas season, remembering Christ’s birth, let us also consider the implications of the narrative. To say that Jesus was Incarnate Deity, might seem logically problematic for two reasons. Firstly, to say that Christ is both God and man would seem logically contradictory. After all, God is infinite, able to accomplish all that…
When I planted a church and was confronted by other Christians who wondered “why we need another church in town,” what they were really challenging was the authority I had to invade their town with another church. “Who gave you the authority to plant this church?” they asked me. What they failed to realize is…
It is far too common to fall into the trap of thinking that we don’t need to plant new churches. Church planting is a lot of work, takes financial resources, and confronts our selfish, inward-looking, comforts of being part of an established church. However, there are 3 Reasons Planting Churches is of Infinite Value[1] (see…
In 2008 I planted a church in a small, rural town that already had a few churches. Some good Christians in the community were opposed to our new church. A few revealed their insecurities and confronted me asking, ‘why do we need another church in town?’ It was an easy question to answer for both…
Once, while Jesus was in Jerusalem, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of…
Once, Jesus told a story about a widow who pesters a corrupt judge until he gives her justice. Jesus did this to show his disciples, “that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). “Therefore,” the preacher concludes, “this parable teaches us that God is like that corrupt judge. If he does not…
What does it mean to be a transcultural community? South African pastor One Mokgatle defines “Transcultural” as “a community that reflects, embraces and enjoys the diversity of its context, but by the power of the gospel transcends it and creates one new community in Christ”. When we planted Regeneration Church in the city of Monash,…
Living in a harried, busy city kind of life means little time to spend with our children. In between work, school and enrichment classes, our lives are spent mostly on the road driving somewhere or stuck in a traffic jam. The short window of time to interact is often filled with practical stuff like homework…
“The truth of the Gospel is the principle article of all Christian doctrine…. Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually.” Martin Luther. It may seem strange that Christians need to continually be reminded of the gospel. After all, shouldn’t we…
We sit down to read Luke’s Christmas Story and we think we already know it: there’s Joseph and Mary, searching the streets of Bethlehem for a place to have their baby. There’s the mean inn-keeper saying, “no room for you here!” Then there’s the starlight shining on a cozy little stable. Mary gives birth, and…
We had the privilege of having Dr. Jonathan Leeman speak to us about what church Discipline is. To listen to the audio, click below.
The Gospel is for all cultures and subcultures. It needs to be contextualized to reach all peoples and expressed in various forms. Hear A.RON rap the Gospel in under 60 Seconds.
Dr. Jonathan Leeman speaks to us about church membership and structures of the church. To listen to the audio, click below
The Australian Centre for Faith and Work has developed a study guide based on Timothy Keller’s and Katherine Leary Alsdorf’s book “Every Good Endeavour”. Each of the twelve chapters are summarised with discussion questions and further thoughts, making the guide ideal for small groups or individual study. Published in 2012, “Every Good Endeavour” is one…
A Sabbath worksheet to help you develop Sabbath rhythms and practices. Download Your Copy Now (PDF)
Tim Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and the chairman of Redeemer City to City, a ministry which has helped start over 300 churches in 45 cities. This free download explores the redemptive purposes of the city and what we are called to do in them. The text is adapted from the…
Five hundred years ago on October 31, 1517, a German theologian named Martin Luther nailed a protest (with 95 bullet points!) on the door of a local church. Luther’s bold and controversial action spawned a movement that would change the church and the world. This act of “protest” (where we get the term Protestant) was…
Dr. Jonathan Leeman speaks to us about church membership and structures of the church. To listen to the audio, click below
All work is typically done out of a worldview. Everyone has a worldview, a framework through which they interpret reality and answer life’s ultimate questions. The temptation then for the Christian, is simply to plunge into workplaces dominated by secular worldviews and conduct their work lives according to the reigning paradigms, rather than seeing work…
Several months ago I took my children up to a waterfall near Genting. After an enjoyable swim, I accidentally knocked one of my shoes into the swift-moving current. I immediately called out to my kids to help me retrieve it, but our best efforts were in vain. My shoe was gone. I was dreading the…
We had the privilege of having Dr. Jonathan Leeman speak to us about what a healthy church is. To listen to the audio, click below.
At least once a week, I’m asked if I know of any seminary graduates or pastors available to pastor a small or medium-sized church. This week I was asked this question three times. The reality is about to hit the Malaysian church hard. For most churches that still have pastors, retirement is just around the…
It is widely known that more people alive today live in cities rather than the countryside. This is a radical shift from 1900, where only 12 percent of the world was urban. Urbanization is continuing at pace, moving toward a world that will be 70 percent urban by 2050. Malaysia is already 74.7 percent urban…
Did you know there is a new network of churches forming to advance the gospel in Kuala Lumpur? It’s something you should know about and consider joining. Gospel City Network is about something bigger than us.
