Seminar, praying for the country

May 29, 2014

By Vincent D’Silva
Some 300 people from 10 Christian denominations participated in a two-day seminar themed, Seminar dan Berdoa Bersama Untuk Gereja dan Negara (Seminar: Praying together for the Church and country) held at the St Christopher Anglican Church, May 16-17.

Ten speakers spoke on “The Role of Christians in Nation Building based on Scripture; Issues facing the Sabah and Sarawak Church today; The ‘Allah’ case and other Religious issues in the nation; Reading the Signs of the Times; We are Called, Chosen and Sent for a Purpose and What, after this Seminar and Prayer.

Other topics touched on were: “Sharing of Mission/Pastoral work experiences in Sabah and Sarawak, Sketch on how to evangelize/reach out to the Sabahans and Sarawakians during the Harvest Festival back home and Praying over the Country, especially for the Government leaders in the country.”

It was organised by the Catholic Church Bahasa Malaysia Apostolate of the Melaka-Johor Diocese and Borneo Care of Kuala Lumpur.

Other representatives were from the Anglican, Sidang Injil Borneo, RASULI, Methodist, Full Gospel Tabernacle, Calvary and Presbyterian Churches.

Fr Valentine Gompok OFM Cap, the advisor of the Diocesan Bahasa Lay Apostolate Commission said, “Many participants broke down and shed tears during the praying over session,” adding that they became very emotional when issues about their community and village were highlighted.

Fr Gompok stressed that it was only now that they are aware of their constitutional rights.

Explaining the objective of this seminar, Fr Gompok stressed that it was to bring further awareness on the challenges and the onslaught of Islamization against the Church.

He said the seminar gave a better understanding of God’s plan for His children in a nation, and, “to increase participants understanding of their role as East Malaysians in nation building.”

Explaining further, Fr Gompok stressed that this seminar motivated the participants further on the formation of prayer groups for the concerns of the Church and nation in their respective campuses and hometowns.

He pointed out that this seminar also encouraged students to go on mission programmes to East Malaysia and to evangelize.

Speaking on the East Malaysians here, Fr Gompok said, “This seminar brings the various Christian Churches in Johor together, to show our unity in facing the same challenges in our own Church and nation today.”

He said, “We started with good spirit and team work and will continue with that same spirit.”

He also urged the Catholic Church to take the lead in hosting more of these seminars and prayers. “We need not be afraid as this is not against the government, we are only praying for the Government and Nation as a whole.”

The seminar ended with the Commissioning Ceremony where replicas of the “golden key” were handed to each ethnic group as a symbol that the east Malaysians are the key of transformation in Sabah and Sarawak.