AG News
Leading Through Crisis Zoom Conference
Leading Through Crisis was a virtual leadership conference held on the mornings of 23rd and 24th of February 2021. Approximately 180 church pastors and leaders across the globe came together via the internet to learn skills in overcoming the new normal. Both days began with a time of worship led by Rev. Ignatius Anandharaja &Pastor Shirley Cheng respectively. Rev. Ong Sek Leang, General Superintendent of AG Malaysia gave an opening speech to encourage us to develop a new mentality, to learn new and innovative ways for our ministries, and to be cautious of our own health.
Day 1 continued with our speaker from Grace Assembly of God, Singapore, Rev. Wilson Teo on Pastoral Leadership in the New Normal. Based on Isaiah 43:16-19, Rev. Wilson shared that the pandemic is a means of change for us to reshape our ministries. He encouraged us to reframe perspective, redefine success, reinforce essentials, and rekindle learning.
Rev. Jeff Hartensveld, the Asia Pacific Director of the AG USA World Missions reminded us of our values as leaders. His session, Leading in Crisis, referred to 1 Peter 5:1-11, bringing out how the elders of the church should lead God’s people. An Elder leads by sharing in His glory, by caring, by living, by humbling themselves, by giving, by watching, by standing, and by their calling.
To close the first day, Rev. Bill Snider, Director of Asia Pacific Media gave us tips through his session, Digital Ministry in the New Normal. Quoting Rev. Bill, “In times of crisis, we are pushed to innovation”. He taught us to progress forward by exploring the ground of digital ministry, using technology and social media as a tool to leave impressions of Christ into the lives of people.
To start Day 2, psychologist and TEDx Speaker, Dr. Fred Toke taught us Self-Care for Mental & Emotional Health. He briefed us on the 4 dimensions of health: the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social aspects of health in order to be an overcomer in this season. Weaving psychology and theology together, Dr. Fred reminded us of the importance of self-care and how to do so.
We then moved to Pastor Benny Ho, Senior Pastor of Faith Community Church, Australia, who shared about Making Disciples in the New Normal. Returning us to the heart and principles of discipleship, Pastor Benny shared with us the methods and significance of disciple-making. The key focuses of effective discipleship through small groups are the content, the community, and the consecration.
In the session, Evangelism/Outreach in the New Normal, Senior Pastor of Skyline SIB, Sabah, Ps. Dr. Philip Lyn challenged us all to up our efforts in evangelism, despite the pandemic. He shifted our perspective to see the current situation as one of our greatest opportunities to evangelize. It is time to modify our old strategies and step out of our comfort zones to reach others for the Kingdom of God.
The conference ended with Rev. Ong Sek Leang giving the General Superintendent’s perspective on the pandemic and the encouragement to progress together. The participants were engaged in the sharing and probed further in the Q&A segments. It was truly a refreshing time for all participants with the reminders, eye-openers, plus fellowship.
Written by Nicholas Thong
AG Ordination 2019
Our AG Ordination Service for this year was held in Agape Community Church, Seremban, on 6th October, 2019. Special thanks goes out to Rev. Benjamin Yeoh and his team who warmly welcomed the candidates, their families and crowds of well-wishers to the venue. This round, 22 pastors were selected for ordination as Ordained Ministers, the highest credential given to full-time ministers of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia.
The ceremony began with praise and worship, redirecting the congregation towards God who has called and set apart His servants for ministry. With this focus, the Southern District Superintendent, Rev. Christopher Mun next brought the Word of God in a message entitled “I Charge You”. Drawing from 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Rev. Christopher drew attention to the 5 “Ws” and 1 “H” (Who, What, When, Where, Why & How) of God’s calling, planting seeds of revelation in the hearts of all present that God has deposited divine calling and purpose in each of us.
Following this, the 22 ordination candidates were then called out to be prayed for by the Executive Committee of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia, who laid hands on them, anointed them with oil and prophesied over them. Our General Superintendent, Rev. Ong Sek Leang then presented the newly-ordained ministers with their official certificates as a token of the community’s approval of their life and ministry.
The special service closed on a fitting note, reminding all of us of God’s hope shining upon Malaysia even as He is actively calling, equipping and shaping more of His people to live out a life worthy of the gospel.
written by Nicholas Thong
DNA of a Leader
The ‘DNA of a Leader’ Conference was held at Glad Tidings Petaling Jaya, on 1st October, 2019. The event was a condensed version of the original two-and-a-half-day training conducted by Pastor Al Toledo. The Conference equipped leaders with the keys to develop healthy disciplines for resilient public leadership.
Speaker Pastor Al Toledo poured out his heart and experiences from over 25 years of ministry. What God had instilled in his heart was to train leaders to lead wherever He has placed them.The sessions revolved around the core message of “privately healthy + publicly fruitful”, which emphasised on the need to maintain self-purity in order to bear fruit for Christ. It served to remind church leaders that it is not only about the ministry and work we are doing, but that we have to dive deep into the centre of it all – the reason why we serve and lead. This emphasis on the heart and intentions helps us to shape the example we portray, which is ultimately the person others would follow.
The teaching also explored the leadership statement in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” to a personal level. There must always be a focus on how we pray, believe, seek God, and live out our lifestyle as a follower of Christ. Without doing this, we will not be able to lead others to Christ, nor will we be able to lead a church.
We are all God’s children, so His holiness is in our DNA. The session was a great reminder to leaders to come back to what matters at the core, and to allow God to lead from the inside out. Through living a personal life of purity towards God, leaders and pastors will then be able to lead others and their churches in a fruitful manner.
written by Nicholas Thong
COACH Event
Come Out & Come Home (COACH) was a 4-day conference organised in English (2 days) and Chinese (2 days) by the Assemblies of God of Malaysia, in partnership with Bible College of Malaysia (BCM) and Pursuing Liberty Under Christ (PLUC) to equip the church with the knowledge to reach out and minister to people struggling with same-sex attraction, from a Christ-centred viewpoint. The conference was informative, containing both psychological and cognitive theories and real-life ministry examples, which really gave deep insights to benefit the participants.
The two key speakers,psychologists Dr. Melvin Wong and Dr. Hong Kwai Wah taught about the psychological state, potential causes and interventions to be used with regards to sexuality. Their sessions, “Raising a Gender Confident Generation” and “Understanding Transgenderism” revolved around family, parenting and guardian care. Dr. Hong Kwai Wah encouraged the church on how to care for the families of strugglers, in his session “Church’s Role in Pastoring the LGBT affected Families”. Dr. Melvin Wong then continued, teaching about the root of hurts in people in his session on “Traumas and Recovery”.Pastor Ian Toh of 3:16 Church in Singapore next highlighted the heart of pastors, as well as how the church should approach those struggling in his session entitled “Strategies in Dealing with the Impact of Gender Revolution”. He then encouraged the church in “Church’s Response to Gender Revolution through Media” about how they can utilise the power of media to offer hope to strugglers.
Rev. Tryphena Law closed the conference with a personal note in “Listen to Our Heartbeat”, where she shared about what those struggling have to face, and how the church can minister to them. Overall, Come Out & Come Home was a great initiative to provide the necessary information to leaders and parents to navigate the Gender Revolution. It has certainly helped more people to understand the call to lead and minister to the same-sex attracted with both truth and love.
written by Nicholas Thong
AG Ministers Retreat
Church Planting Symposium
The Assemblies of God of Malaysia is well noted for their burden to win the lost and their passion to plant churches. With this in view, a strategic Symposium was organized by the AG Church Planting Commission to reignite and revive the Church Planting fervor among our church workers, pastors, and ministers.
We have Central & KL-East District (Combined) held at GLAD TIDINGS PJ on 17th Jan 2019 with a total of 57 participants from various churches and we have Southern District held at CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH, MELAKA on 18th Jan 2019 with a total of 55 participants.
Our facilitator and speaker was Rev. Jeff Hartensveld, the AG World Missions Regional Director for Asia Pacific. He comes with much experience, having served as a Bible School lecturer, Pastor, Missionary, and Church Planter for many years in Indonesia.
At the close of the event, a sum was donated by Rev. Jeff Hartensveld, on behalf of the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) to AG Malaysia Church Planting Commission to promote and support our Church Planting initiative.
Looking forward to many more church plants throughout our nation in days to come.
To God be the glory!
Ordination 2018
The Assemblies of God of Malaysia (AG Malaysia) recently held their biannual ordination service on the 7th of October, 2018 at Subang Jaya Assembly of God. This time around, 21 candidates were consecrated, in recognition and affirmation of their calling, and accorded the highest credential given to full-time ministers of AG Malaysia – the title “Reverend”.
The service kicked off with an energetic dance by the youth of Peace Charis which set an atmosphere of celebration and joy for the candidates, as well as their family members and friends who came to witness the ordination ceremony.
Guest speaker, Dr. Alton Garrison, who serves as the Assistant Superintendent of the AG in USA, gave a timely exhortation to the candidates to always seek and honour God’s anointing. This happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to do more through us than we can do by ourselves. Following this powerful word, the candidates were introduced and invited forward together with their spouse to receive their ordination charge. The AG Executive Committee (EXCO) then anointed each candidate with oil and prayed for them by the laying on of hands, witnessed by all who were present.
We heartily congratulate each of our 21 ordination candidates and pray for God’s favour and strength upon them as they continue to serve Him faithfully within our AG community.
