Editorial Comment: The Messenger Magazine, the official newsletter of the Southeast Asia Union Mission, has been published for many years and it has served as a link and inspiration to the constituencies in the union and beyond. Recently, the Executive Committee of the SAUM has requested the Mission College to assist in the production of this newsletter, which hopefully will perpetuate the intended tradition, and the objectives of what this fine magazine is produced. The focus in this issue, is on the work in Singapore Mission (SAM) and Thailand Mission (TAM). SAM, under the leadership of Pastor Toh, is moving rapidly with new innovative ideas in spreading the gospel to the people of Singapore. TAM under the leadership of Pastor Rangsit has also made much progress in its effort to bring the gospel message to the mostly Bud- dhist population in the Kingdom of Thailand. The ad- ministration has just approved a 5-year plan to accel- erate the church growth in the next five years. In this issue also we have included the profiles of Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Tan, former President and Registrar of SAUC for many years. Their lives of sacrifice and con- tribution were tremendous and touched the lives of many people. In the coming issues, we will feature God's work in other parts of the Southeast Asia Union. We will also examine the effectiveness of departments and minis- tries, such as health-care, Voice of Prophecy, et cetera in spreading the gospel. If you have any suggestion, articles, pictures and the like, please send them to us. Many thanks to Mrs. Beulah Manuel, Mrs. Ritha Lampadan and Mrs. Bo Morton for editing the manuscripts for this magazine. Mr. Lee Chin Beng Assistant Editor Contents Editorial Comment � 2 Singapore Mission Healthy Church with Ready People � 3 Training Singapore Youth Leaders � 3 Captain at the Helm of Singapore Mission � 4 Singapore SDA Kindergarten � 5 Good things always come in Small Groups � 6 Jabez Touching People's Lives � 7 The meaning of forgiveness � 7 Thailand Mission Thailand Mission on the move � 8 Education Improvements � 8 Sunday Church Turn Over Church � 8 Youth Camps � 9 New Territories Entered � 9 Eden Valley Academy � 10 Thailand with a Vision and a Mission � 11 Baptism � 11 Bangkok Karen Church � 12 Special Features The Literature Ministry � 13 Church Dedication in Penang � 14 Filling the Rectangles � 15 Reflection on GC 2000 � 15 Profile of Maggie Tan � 16 Profile of Daniel Tan � 17 SAUC Alumnotes � 18 Amazing Grace � 20 Cover Picture: Mr. & Mrs. Tan, see page 16 & 17 Messenger September, 2000 Singapore Mission Healthy Church with Ready People Training Singapore Youth Leaders By Toh See Wei, President � By John Tan, Youth Ministry The Seventh-day Adventist work on the island of Singapore started in 1904, pioneered by Australian Missionaries Griffiths F. Jones and Robert Caldwell. The first baptism was recorded to have taken place in the same year. By 1909, there were twenty some- thing regular members and the first church building was erected on Penang Road. The SDA church not only grew in membership but also in the number of institutions. By the 1980's, there were about 2000 church members and several institutions, namely the division headquarters, Union Headquarters, Youngberg Memorial Hospital, Southeast Asia Union Publishing House, Adventist Book Centre, Southeast Asia Union College, Seventh-day Adventist School, San Yu High School, Seventh-day Adventist Kindergarten, Adventist Child Development Centre, Adventist Home for the Elderly and Adventist Better Living Centre. In 1988 the Singapore Mission was formed to provide administrative help and leadership for the work in Singapore In 1996, the government of Singapore announced the acquisition of our land, on which the majority of our institutions were situated, for the purpose of building a subway rail system. Subsequent closure of the hospital and the publishing house, the moving of the division office to Manila, the college to Thailand and the merger of SDA School and San Yu High School resulted in a big reduction of our presence and influence in the is- land of Singapore. The confluence of these events se- verely impacted the financial and human resource as- pect of the SDA work here. By God's grace, the Singapore membership is slowly recovering from the grieving period of the `loss' and is now poised to do greater things for God. Currently the Singapore Mission has 2253 members worshipping and ministering in seven local churches. The Singapore Mission sent a team of youth leaders to learn first hand the latest techniques in youth work from the people with the know-how. The delegation, comprising youth ministry coordinator John Tan, Jurong English youth advisor Kuah Kah Eng, Jurong Chinese youth leader Aileen Koh, Balestier youth leader June Poh, SDA Community Church youth leader Faith Toh and representative Shimona Kee, together with Adelyn Tan of the CARE Program, visited San Diego, Califor- nia, to attend the National Youth Workers' Conven- tion. The 5-day convention featured 158-hour seminars presented by experienced youth ministry practitioners, and the workshops provided cutting edge information, as well as, time-proven youth ministry skills. There were also seven general sessions which gathered all 4000 participants together and featured internationally renowned speakers, musical and drama talent. A sampling of the seminar titles include, "How to Recruit an Adult Volunteer Team"; "Starting the First 2 Years of Youth Ministry Right"; "The World of the Post-Modern"; "How to Inculcate Spirituality in Youth Groups"; "Effective Ways of Doing Junior-High Ministry." Asked if the expenses involved in funding the team's participation were worth it, team leader John Tan remarked "Anything worth doing well requires some form of investment. In this case, we are investing in a bunch of young people who would use the skills they acquired to directly impact their youth groups. Any- way, the experience at the convention alone, I believe, has life-changing potential for our team members." September, 2000 Messenger 3 Captain at the Helm of Singapore Mission By John Ho, Communication Director, SAM Pastor Toh See Wei is the President of the Singapore Seventh-day Adventist Mission since 1999, but he is no stranger to us. His varied career in the Church started in 1988 when he joined the then San Yu High School (SYHS) as a teacher and chaplain. Barely three years later, he became a church pastor with the West Malaysia Mission. A year and a half later, he returned to teach at the SYHS and in 1995 was appointed the principal. From 1997, he served as the Singapore Mission secretary utill his appointment as the presi- dent. Editor: Pastor Toh, as the leader of the Adventist Church in Singapore, what role do you see yourself in? Pastor Toh: When I accepted the appointment, I was very encouraged by the prayers and visits of many members and colleagues. I see myself as captain of a ship with my fellow colleagues and church members as the crew. It is a team min- istry to reach out to the communities in Singapore with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Editor: What positive area of the work in Singapore would you like to further strengthen and how? Pastor and Mrs. Toh See Wei Pastor Toh: Under the leadership of Pastor Matthew Yuen, the former Mission president, the Church in Singapore has developed a very strong team ministry with a clear direction. This team spirit among the pastors and the unity in direction of the Church is evident in all the local churches through the sermons, and other forms of church communications. I believe this team spirit and unity in direction must be continually fostered and strengthened, so that the whole Church can be energized to move as one body to fulfill the Gospel Commission. Editor: And the weak areas? Pastor Toh: The Church, though weak, is still the beloved object of God's love. An area perceived to be weak is evangelism. There should be a change in our methods and a shift in paradigm. We must use the "small groups" method. In the last couple of years, the Mission has been providing the pastors and some members training and materials to this end. This is already starting to bear fruits. However, this effort must be sustained. Editor: During your term of office, what do you envision for the Church in Singapore? Pastor Toh: I envision that the Church will grow both in spiritual maturity and in numbers in the next few years. An immediate goal is to achieve Conference status within a year. Conference status is granted by the World SDA Church in recognition to, among other things, the maturity of a Mission in its financial self-sufficiency and its contribution in personnel and resources to the global work of the Church. I also foresee the emergence of a team of specialist pastors. An example is Pastor Johnny Kan who specializes in discipleship training. The specialized skills will help lay-training to be more effective. It will bring us closer to realizing our goals. Messenger � September, 2000 Singapore SDA Kindergarten By Lina Wee, Principal Located in the heart of Jurong East, the Seventh-day Adventist Kindergarten (SDAK) offers children a transitional experience from home into the primary schools. We have come a long way, from a modest beginning of two classrooms (catering to 50 children) allocated in the building plans for the kindergarten. At the end of our first operational year in 1987, we had 220 children in 10 classes. Today, our kindergarten has an enrolment of 420 children Lina Wee in 16 classes with 154 children in our enrichment programs. This is because God has richly blessed our work! With the mission to make Christ known to the children in the community, and our belief that children are special gifts from God, we have continu- ously striven to improve our programs and services. Working closely with the Jurong English and Chinese churches, we have organised programs such as Character Building School (CBS), parenting seminars and Parents' Day program. We have also started a school newsletter and Parent Volunteer Programme last year. Our chaplain too has been giving Bible Studies to our staff, their children and some of our parents. We are glad that one parent, Mrs Peggy Lee, has given her heart to Jesus and was baptized in January 2000. Presently, we are working on a three-year evangelis- tic and administrative strategic plan to reach out to more parents and children. Quarterly meetings between key people in SDAK and the churches would be held to improve our evangelistic outreach. There would also be more outreach training for church mem- bers and SDAK staff. In fact, this year, we have started a Parent Support Group to meet our parents' needs and help them to feel at home with church members. We are deeply encouraged by the good response and praise the Lord for His guidance and the results. To provide consistent quality services to our children and parents, we started working toward ISO 9002 certification on March 1999 and were very proud to be the first kindergarten in Singapore to receive certification by November 1999. In order to progressively im- prove the quality of our program, all teaching staffs are also sent for upgrading courses and our curriculum now incorporates new approaches to meet the differences in learning styles of children. We have also improved many of our facilities. Learning through play On the whole, the Lord has blessed our work tremendously, and we are indeed very thankful to have committed School Board members, SDAK staff and church members who have continuously given their support and invaluable time to the kindergarten. Messenger � September, 2000 ood things always come in Small Groups G I By Johnny Kan, Small Group Ministry A recent study of 1000 churches around the world in six continents and over thirty-two countries points to the fact that there are eight important qualities that all growing healthy churches need to possess. Interest- ingly, one common denominator that is found in all grow- ing churches is holistic small groups. This does not mean we simply slice our existing traditional churches and break them into small groups. Neither am I talking about a church merely gathering in small groups. I am talking about life-transforming groups that are holistic in na- ture and have a direct impact on the way we live out our Christian life. In a holistic small group, members must experience a "community living" and "life to- gether." Community implies persons with differences coming together for a common life. In the New Testament era, believers met regularly to- gether in houses and synagogues. They openly shared their lives and possessions for the good of the church and ministered first to those in the community (small group). In their spiritual lives members were account- able to one another. They were authentic in their faith and experience with God and with one another. In fact, small groups became the "launching pad" for the early church to evangelize new territory. In times of persecu- tion, they became the "backbone" for the church. Today, we are rediscovering the importance of small groups in the life of the church. We are learning that they have a significant part to play in evangelism and nurture; that they provide the ideal environment for learn- ing and pastoral care; and they give opportunities for individual gifts to be used and abilities exercised. Good holistic groups do not just happen. They require time, energy and application of sound principles. In our setting in Singapore I can think of three major chal- lenges facing the development of holistic small groups. First, there need to be a paradigm shift. Small group has never been the dominant culture of our church. And to make a small group work, it needs to be the prevail- ing culture. Literally, that would simply discarding many of the old ideas of how a church should be run. Second, the level of commitment is high in holistic small groups. When members share their lives together, all Small group discussion aspects of the communal life will be affected. They will be challenged to move out of their comfort zone to be authentic and others-centred in the spiritual, emotional, financial aspects of their lives. Third, struggling to overcome past failures. We need to check the reasons for our past failures and avoid mak- ing similar mistakes in the future. Ellen White wrote about "cottage meeting" (we call it small group or cell group) in her time and she believed more "cottage meetings" need to be expanded in the last days. If we believe small group is a tool to reach out, to nurture and empower, we must endeavor to make our small group life transformational. To many, small group is not everything. But to many, good things al- ways come in small groups. We want to challenge all churches to experiment and experience the power of small groups. Messenger [0 September, 2000 JABEZ Touching People's Lives By Jeffrey Neo Singapore SDA Community Church youth. A motley group singularly focused on one thing-a new worship service-met several Friday nights thrashing out little details from the format of worship to the place of worship. So what is this new service all about? What does it entail? How will it look? Where will it be? How can one join? Planning began with what each one felt to be most important in a worship service. As it progressed it became obvious that one thing preoccupied every- one-introducing Jesus to people. This was the sole con- cern. They believed that for evangelism to be effective, there must be relationship-building-people touching people to change lives. Emerging from the long discussions was a brief definition of the new service. "A movement that is cen- tered on building relationships between ourselves, Jesus and the unreached, whoever and wherever they may be. We are committed to intensive prayer and hard work to complete the task ahead." Why a "movement"? Because instead of com- ing to the "service" to be "fed," all who participate in this new "movement" will be actively seeking (or learn- ing) to influence both non-believers and believers through the sharing of the faith and the love of Jesus. There will be a constant focus on building meaningful relationships with people from all corners oftheir daily lives. Many will learn to witness for Jesus with a new passion. At the same time, intensive prayer, corporate and personal, will be pursued, to claim the empower- ment of Jesus Christ. There will be no rest, until the Lord returns, for the "harvest is plenty and the laborers are few." Youth, come and Jabez with us. The Meaning of Forgiveness I discovered that forgiveness is having no more anger against the other party, having new under- standing, having healing experi- ence, having broken relationships strengthened, having the feeling of being loved, and having accepted the faults of others. Dr. Amy !Vg Firstly, I learned that forgiveness breaks and ends the cycle of our pain and tendency to blame others in our lives. Secondly, it breaks the stranglehold of guilt which cripples us. Thirdly, it offers the possibility for new beginnings and changes in our lives even as we forgive others and accept God's for- giveness. Forgiveness originates from God. Jesus has paid the penalty of our sins at Calvary; it is a demonstration of His great love for us. When we confess our sin to God, He writes PARDON on it: FORGIVEN. He looks at us as if we have never sinned. To God we are forgiven sinners; for He has already forgiven our past sins, and will never henceforth hold it against us. As God forgives, we also need to forgive. Forgiveness, though an unnatural act to our human flesh, is the key that sets us free. As we forgive, we can learn to live with people in a new way. I have learnt some meaningful catch phrases like: "Love the sinner, but hate the sin." "Praise with positive affirmation is vital to let others know that they are loved." "We love people because we choose to do so." "We need to choose to act, not react, to what has happened to us." "We choose how we are going to live our life, even as we make the conscious effort to learn and use new habits in our words and in our relationships with others." "We need to be in partnership with God." "We need to give our desire for revenge over to God." "He is the one who can make things right, for the responsibility for ven- geance and justice is the Lord's." We were challenged to make our local churches healing cen- ters where people can come for help, even as we encourage people and uplift them so that they can find wholeness in Christ. I am overjoyed to realize that God wants us to know who we are in Christ, and our authority in Christ as a believer! We are part of God's royal family! We have great standing in the kingdom of God. Christ is our older brother. God is our Father. We are loved, accepted, forgiven and important to God! —Dr. Amy Ng is a GP attending the Balestier Seventh-day Adventist Church in Singapore. She is thankful that she continued to follow the Lord after her conversion experience. Messenger September, 2000 Thailand Mission Thailand Mission on the move Pr. Rungsit Scrtayavaksakool, President We would like to thank God for his goodness in that He has really blest His work here in Thailand. Last year was a good year for Thailand Adventist Mission. We baptized over 800 souls and our tithe income was over 17,000,000 baht which we have never had before. God also blessed our educational institutions with so many students enrolling in our schools until we had to decline their applications for want of space. During the last Thailand Mission Triennial Session we had some significant changes in Mission and Educational Institution personnel. Ekamai International School has anew VP for finance - Mr Johnny Rueh who previously was the Manager for the Thailand Publishing House. He has replaced Mr James Joseph who is now doing further studies in the United States. Mr Danai Akasupa is the new Principal for the Ekamai Thai School. His predecessor Mr Prayuth Rougj irasamee- kool, is now working as the Bangkok Adventist Church School Principal on a full time basis replacing Ms Patchara Chulaphet who is working full time as a teacher at the Ekamai International School. Chiangmai Adventist Academy has a new Manager and Principal. Mrs Buaket Adams is the Manager and Mr Piroon Junrawangyod is the Principal. Mr Elden Smith, CAA Administrator will be leaving in the near future and Mr. David Bell has been appointed as the new administrator. Thailand Mission Office has a few changes also. Pastor Phakdee Tawinno is the Mission Secretary replacing Pastor Boonrat Moolkeo who is now the Chaplain at Bangkok Adventist Hospital. We feel that these changes are for the good of God's work here in Thailand. We would like you to especially pray for our new institutional leaders. EDUCATION IMPROVEMENTS For two years now, Thailand Mission has spent a lot of money on education. TAM gave 1.8 million baht to build the 2nd storey classroom in Hatyai Thep Amnuay School. It will be completed within the next few weeks. This will be a big help for increasing students. The biggest need of the Hatyai school is to fill the compound with dirt and fence the area as during the rainy season it fills with water and people are encroaching and building their makeshift houses on school land. Chiangmai Adventist Academy kindergar- ten and classrooms were completed last May. The kindergarten school classroom was financed by lay people from Finland and the primary classroom block was financed by a Buddhist businessman in Bangkok. A new three storey girls dormitory will be completed within the next few months. The total cost for this building is 7.6 million baht. Thailand Adventist Mission helped with 1.3 million and the rest was covered by Mr Somsak (Ken) Wongchan pen. New CAA Kindergaten on opening day SUNDAY CHURCH TURN OVER CHURCH AND MEMBERS TO ADVENTISTS Early this year, TAM sent a pioneer worker to Mookdahan Province. Many hours and days were spent in looking for a house to rent but there were none available. One of the government teachers had a house but she was unwilling to rent it but she had a friend that had a house available. After placing his family in the city and after six weeks of surveying the town Mr Suradet met with another Christian group and he was invited to preach in their church. The whole group were baptised on April 19 after months of Bible study. In Khampangphet Province a group ofBaptists from the Lahu tribe studied the Bible with the local pastor, Pr Apiwat Siriwong. After two months the whole group decided to become Adventists. Messenger September, 2000 Youth Camp Meeting at the Beach Youth Camps � New Territories Entered Hmong Youth Camp Attendees More than 50% of the church members here in Thailand are young people. This year Thailand Mission Youth Department planned for a variety of youth activities. We are trying to arrange youth camps, pathfinder camps and leadership training for young people. During the month of March and April many youth camps were held through the Mission territory such as Karen Youth camp, Northern youth camp, Northeast youth camp and the Hmong youth camp. The Hmong youth camp had more than 350 young people attend the camp. During Sabbath on April 01, 36 souls were baptised and many of them came from Sunday keeping churches. The Northeast youth camp had over 250 young people and they baptised 24 young people. The young people said that this was the best camp they had attended in a long time. Pastor Phakdee Tawinno, Mission Secretary and Youth Director and Pr Gration Perera, Ministerial Secretary were the leaders. This year TAM has been able to enter into new un-entered areas. � Mr Herbert Perera commenced working in the Surin Province on January 25, 2000. An SDA Community Centre was opened and has begun working among the schools and government officers providing health education seminars and talks. He has also commenced English Language classes. A Bible Vacation School is planned and we are hoping that the work in this province will be successful. TAM sent Mr Amorn Kajornpop a new graduate from Mission College and his family to open the work in Burriram Province. We found that in this province there are many Sunday keeping churches that have worked in this city for many years however, we decided that our church also needed to enter this province. Ayutthaya city is known as the second ancient capital city to be built in Thailand. The city inhabitants are very strict about the Buddhist religion. The city is not allowed to have bars and night clubs and Christians find it difficult to go and work in this city. But we know that God wants the people in this city to be saved too so Mr Samran Pimpa, a former sunday keeping pastor was sent to enter Ayutthaya City. He has many friends and relatives living in Ayutthaya and it is our hope that he will be able to make a difference to the work there. The Thailand Adventist Mission strategic plan is over the next 5 years to enter at least five large cities each year. We still have more than sixty cities to enter so please pray for our Global Mission work here in Thailand. We currently have 18 Global Mission Pioneers working in Provinces around Thailand. Messenger September, 2000 Eden Valley Academy By Miss Helen Hall, Administrator Miss Helen Hall with some of her students The school now known as Eden Valley Academy began 16 years ago as Karen Adventist Academy. It began with an enrolment of 79 students in Grades 1 - 6. Being in a very remote location in the jungle made even obtaining food difficult and farming proved well nigh impossible as every plant that poked up above the soil, except Pak Boon (morning glory), was promptly eaten by insects. We were too poor to afford spray so rice and dahl or pak boon were our daily rations. We have moved five times since then, to escape the intrusion of war and are now operating in the Mae Lae refugee camp. This year we have an enrolment of 650 students, about 70 of whom are Thai Karen from up in the mountains along the border. This year has been particularly difficult, as I myself and our Australian volunteer, Nathan Thorpe, have not yet received permission from the government to enter the camp. We hope this will be finalized soon. Meanwhile our Karen teachers run school in the camp for Grades 1 - 11. This year we have chosen to omit year 12, in order to concentrate on an 0 level class. We also have smaller groups of Thai Karen in house dormitories, continuing schooling at home, until we can enter the camp. Our biggest battle each year is to obtain qualified or com- petent teachers. Of our 34 Karen teachers we have two Spicer graduates who teach Maths, Biology and History to the Middle and Senior school. Our pastor and Bible teacher is also a Spicer graduate. We have one teacher who did some time at Spicer and she is filling in with Senior English until such time as we can go into the camp regularly as we did before. We have 10 teachers who have served faithfully for 10 years or more and we are very grateful for their work. All of our teachers except four and Nathan, are graduates of Eden Valley. Our school has been commended for being the best in the camp and some Thai officials have said it is the best in the district. We praise the Lord for faithful teachers over the years. We would like to see more of our students go on to col- lege and train as teachers for our school in the future. It is very difficult for us to send students, as our school has no recognized educational qualifications, so we have to sit 0 level British exams, if we want to send them to Mission Col lege.The second problem is the cost. Neither our Thai Karen nor our refugee students can in any way contribute to the cost of their education. The current costs of a col- lege education are totally out of range of the poor. One term at college is more than the Thai Karen, the ones con- sidered wealthy, see in a year. We hope one day to see some provision made for the poor, so that our Adventist students can get a good education. Your prayers and sup- port will be appreciated. Please direct donations of any kind to Thailand mission for Eden Valley Acad- emy. EVA Students during assembly Students infront of the school September, 2000 E, Messenger Thailand with a Vision and a Mission By Ps Gration Perera, Ministrial Secretary Thailand is a large country comprising 76 provinces, 815 districts, 7205 sub-districts, and 65,022 villages with a popula- tion of over 61,000,000 people. The Adventist work in this great nation began in 1919 and dedicated men and women, to this date, continue to proclaim that Good News of our Lord Jesus. In this predominantly Buddhist nation, the tireless ef- forts of our workers and believers for the last 77 years has resulted in establishing 33 churches, 61 companies and 51 small groups with a membership totaling approximately 10,000 people. However, the Seventh-day Adventist presence is felt only in 14 provinces and in about 25 districts. Recognizing the greatness of the challenge, Thailand Adventist Mission (TAM) has prayerfully laid a 5-year strategic plan to be imple- mented from 2001 - 2005. Eight areas of concerns have been identified as follows: 1. Fulfilling the Gospel commission to all parts of the country. The expected outcome is to increase the number of baptism by 50%, and to establish new congregations in un-entered territories. 2. Involvement of Laity. The expected outcome is to conduct numerous small groups, to translate materi- als, conduct leadership seminars, involve the youth in outreach programs, etc. 3. Revival and Reformation. The expected outcome is to increase church attendance and tithe giving, and experience the joy of worships on Sabbath. 4. Self Support. The expected outcomes are to double the tithe income of the mission and to attain confer- ence status in three years time. 5. Christian Education. The expected outcomes are to increase the number of SDA enrolment in all Mission Schools, have a Bible based curriculum, and to es- tablish several more schools. 6. Discipleship, Nurturing and shepherding. The expected outcome is to increase pastoral visits to members, give more bible studies, and encourage members to become active in soul winning. 7. Leadership Development. The expected outcomes are to train members in leadership skills in order to accomplish basic goals in witnessing, stewardship, education and nurturing, and promotion of healthful living. 8. Emphasis on the Spirit of Prophecy. The expected outcome is to place and make available all Spirit of Prophecy books to all pastors and church members. It is also the hope of the administration of Thailand Mission that these plans be shared to all pastors and members for a speedy and prayerful implementation. BAPTISM AT BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL CHURCH It was a joyous occasion to see sixteen souls baptized at the Bangkok International Church on May 27, 2000. Many persons worked hard to bring these souls to Christ. It was teamwork all the way, especially the personnel at the Bangkok Adventist Church School. Those baptized were students and acquaintances of the school. As Paul said so well in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, "I've helped plant the seed of faith and Apollos has helped water it, but God gave us the seed to begin with and He's the One who made it grow. So the man who plants the seed isn't any- one special nor is the man who waters it. But God is the One who does everything because His power gives the seed its life. This means that the person who plants and the one who waters are merely workers. Every man will be rewarded according to the way he does his work." The names of those precious souls baptized are as follows: Saksit Wechsupaporn, Pansak Wechsupaporn, Alvin Chan, Kachain Vangsrivadhanakul, Nurchanit Laulikitnont, and Varuth Leelasiri were students of BACS. Tatsaneeporn Pumeechaiwong is a teacher at BACS. Sangtean Plybua, Pornsuang Tangwatanarat, Penrampai Wangtavornyanon, Siridom Wangtavornyanon are friends of BACS. Five other souls were from the Bangkok Karen Church. Messenger September, 2000 Bangkok Karen Church (Left to Right) Mu Mu, Shane, Naw Shwe Yi, and Saw Mervin The appointment letter of Thailand Adventist Mission (TAM) president, Pastor Rangsit Sataya vaksakool best describes my duties. It says "...the TAM Executive Committee took an action for you to work among the Burmese group here in Bangkok. I have learned that there are more than 300,000 Bur- mese living in Bangkok. We would like for you to visit with these people, give them Bible studies and invite them to church...." One of my responsibilities is to minister to a group of 70 young Adventist Burmese worshipping every Sabbath at TAM conference room. Several of these young Adventists graduated from Chiangmai Academy in Maetang and others came from Helen Hall's Eden Valley Academy. I usually visit a Burmese camp built on a 20-rai land by UNHCR called Burmese Student Center at Maneeloi in Ratburi prov- ince. There are about 3,000 Burmese in the camp, 35 of whom are Adventists. It was here that five people were baptized in November, 1999. Currently, 10 people are having Bible studies. A large number of Burmese are working not only in Bangkok but also at various places in Thailand. , The work is overwhelming. Yes, the field is truly teem- ing, but the workers are few. Please pray for us. This picture is the first group of those baptized in November, 1999 from Maneeloi Camp Left to right: Pastor Gration Perera, Hla Turn 0o, Tamla Htoo, Aye Aye Myt, Ruby Win, Ma Sein, Esher, Mervin, and Ham Shwe YL This Picture is the second group of those Baptized in June, 2000 from Rungsang Plastic factory and Bangkok Karen Church. Form Left to Right: Ko Kyaw Aung, Saw Soe Latt, Chit Phyo Lwin Win, Thep (Saryut), San San Maw. Messenger September, 2000 Ef One Church Club in Sabah. Waldenses in Sabah 55 1,400 500 500 2,500 7 Special Features The Literature Ministry By A.JOberholster, Publishing Director More than one hundred thirty literature evange- lists are now serving the population in the territory of the Southeast Asia Union. Some of them are full-time, while others are part-time and some-time. They are all dedi- cated children of God with a passion for souls and a sin- cere longing for Jesus to come soon. Among these literature evangelists there are a group of young people called, Waldenses. They are young people who became literature missionaries for a twelve- month period. Some of them did this immediately after they left school, while others gave up their regular em- ployment for one year. They were sent out into un-en- tered areas to visit the people in businesses, schools, shops, homes, and in any other possible and impossible place, to talk to them about the love of Jesus and to get them to invest in good gospel books. Their enthusiasm runs high, and their love for souls even higher. In the year 2000 alone these Waldenses were responsible for the baptism of more than 180 souls. Since the Waldenses group came into being at the end of 1998, these young people helped in starting five new congregations, with two more to be organized soon. Jaibi Ogou, a credentialed literature evangelist in Sabah, are involved in running a Church Literature Evan- gelist Club. She gets the local pastor to support her in organizing the members to go out on Sundays to un-entered villages in the area, bringing the gospel to them through books. The club proved to be very successful thus far. Below is a report of their activities in just six months: Club Members Free Tracts given away Voice of Prophecy Enrolments Prayers in Homes Bible Studies Baptisms as a Result Many members ofthe Church Club are not older then twelve, and some even younger. The loyal support of the local pastor is an important factor in the success of the club as well as that of the Waldenses. They are the assistant soul-winners of the pastor and are making his work easier for him. Pastors, do you need assistants to help you in your soul-winning? In Southeast Asia we appreciate our full-time literature evangelists very much. We have several of them with ten, twenty, and more years of service. They were responsible for 998 souls being baptized since the begin- ning of this quinquennium. But we are at the same time opening our eyes to new ways of taking the gospel to a dying world around us. People need the gospel in our books. They need it desperately. We need to try new ways in the literature ministry to reach the lost. Come and join us. Messenger � September, 2000N Church Dedication in Penang Today is a historic day for the present membership of the church in Penang. We thank our friends and guests who are garthered here to join us in dedicating this new sanctuary to the Lord our God. The work of Seventhday Adventists in Penang has gone a long way from its humble beginnings. The spiritual aspect of its work began together with the medical work, which was first begun in Dec. 1924, almost 76 years ago. In the building located at the junction of the road a medical clinic serving the poor was established. The waiting room of this clinic served as the first meeting place for the tiny group of believers, most of whom were workers in the clinic. A group of less than 10 individuals including interested patients met regularly. Within a couple of years about 50 persons were baptized and became members of the church. The first pastor was Pastor Ng Hong Boon who was also chaplain of the medical clinic. The land on which the present church stands, was acquired in 1939 but not until 1950 was a church built when enough finds were raised by Pastor Mountain and Pastor Phang. It was dedicated in September, 1951 and had served the membership well until the early 1990s when there were clear indications that there was a need for expansion of its facilities - a multipurpose hall, more classrooms, and a larger sanctuary. So funds were raised and plans were submitted for a multipur- pose block and a new church to be built. Building began in 1994 and the multipurpose block was com- pleted in 1995. The old church was demolished at the end of 1999. The membership of the church has grown over the years, and just a few years ago, two groups of members have gone out to found the Hospital Church and the Farlim company. It is our sincere prayer that with the dedication of this new church, it will continue to serve as a refuge for individuals who need help, a place of comfort and rest for weary souls, a sanctuary of healing for sin-sick people, and a place where God meets and blesses His people. By Pastor James Wah at the new church dedication cerenony on July 15, 2000 Messenger September, 2000 Reflections on GC 2000 Filling the Rectangles By John Ho, Communication Director, Singapore Mission I am sure you have seen them in stationery stores or offices. They come in different sizes. Some in handy-sized diaries, others in a large sheet one can display on the wall. Rows and columns of 366 empty rectangles-one for each day of the year—caught my eyes as I was browsing in a bookstore recently. I have seen planners, used planners, and thrown away plan- ners but never looked at them quite the way I did that day. We are just a couple of months into the end of the year and there are still many empty rectangles left unfilled. What would I fill in the rectangles? I suddenly thought. Are they things that might have to do with spending time with someone we have neglected? Or things that have to do with getting back on track with knowing Jesus better? They don't have to be all those heavy stuff, you know! Those remaining rectangles could be filled with things like starting an exercise program and sticking to it - really putting serious effort to do something about our health. We don't have to join a classy gym or run a mile. What are our priorities among the 101 things that seem to occupy our time each day? What about making our aging parents happy during their remaining years? Or we can spend more quality time getting to know our little ones and let them know us-instead of substituting with kitty toys. For our older children, we can show them more support and understanding of the battles they daily face in their own world. For husbands and wives, why not find ways to show love and not take it for granted? With what are we going to fill those remaining rectangles today? It's not too late! For 10 furious days the Adventists came to town and took over. They crowded the broad sidewalks in a surging river of humanity, choked hotel lobbies with hugs and animated con- versation, made vendors and restaurants think vegetarian. With some 70,000-80,000 people in town for the Sabbath extravaganzas, it was Toronto's largest convention ever, estimated to add $50 million to the city's coffers. But should we even think of more of these blockbuster events? Along with others, I have wondered whether it's time to scale back, to reduce the large outlay in funds and personnel required to stage such assemblies. Toronto settled that issue for me. The 57th session was a high-energy event that seemed to galvanize everyone who attended. We heard powerful preaching, listened to marvel- ous music, viewed inspiring reports each evening from around the world. There was a "sweet, sweet Spirit" in Toronto, and we knew it was God's. If you had seen the thousands of shining faces streaming from the Dome, if you had felt the warmth of Christian love and fellowship as friends, colleagues, and alumni met and embraced, the issue would be settled for you also. Here is the point: the people want it. The vast majority of those who came to Toronto came at their own expense. They wanted the experience; and I suspect that very few returned home disappointed. In a uniquely Adventist manner, the General Conference session gives us a sense of who we are. These sessions started out small and, since they are at heart business meetings, could conceivably still be modest events. But as the church has grown to be a global family, these convocations have expanded in complexity and function. For most of those who now come, the business is secondary, even incidental. I know of nothing in the Adventist Church that comes close to experiencing a General Conference session. Every Adventist needs to attend at least one. You come away-as I came away from Toronto-feeling good about God and proud to be part of this amazing people among whom He is doing wonders today. I left Toronto with a clear impression-this is a church focused on mission. As never before in my experience; the Adventist Church has a clear, confident sense of who we are and why we are here: to tell everyone the good news of a God who loves us and sent Jesus, our Saviour, Lord, and soon-coming King. This is a church with pulsing vitality, a powerful, dynamic movement. © 2000, Adventist Review. Messenger .5eptemher, 2000 PROFILE OF MAGGIE TAN Maggie Tan (third from left), poses with her granddaughter, Lyndsay Oh (wearing leis). Ms. Oh received her speech-language pathology and audiology degree. During the ceremony, Dr. Hopp gave a tribute to Mrs. Tan, who is retiring with 22 years of service with School of Allied Health Professions' Admissions Department. Mrs. Tan was recognized for helping organize School graduations for 21 years, and for recruiting students from Southeast Asia. Also pictured are Madge and Ronald Oh, Lyndsay's parents. Daniel & Maggie Tan Family at their granddaughter's wedding Maggie Tan was born and raised in Singapore. Her father, Low Kok Chong, taught briefly at Malayan Seminary before he joined Robinson & Co as a much-sought-after furniture designer, working till his 80's before he finally retired. Maggie received her elementary and secondary schooling at the Methodist Girls School. She married Daniel Tan in 1949 and went with him to Philippine Union College where she received the Elementary Teacher's Certificate in 1951. Later obtaining her Associate in Arts degree in Office Administration from Southeast Asia Union College in 1961 while teaching in the elementary school. She continued her education at Andrews University where she earned the B.A. degree in Office Administra- tion in 1965 and the M.A. degree in Education, with emphasis in Supervision & Guidance, in 1966, graduating summa cum laude from both academic programs. She began her professional career in Singapore at Southeast Asia Union College. Her twenty-six plus years of service to this institution (1951-77) included being teacher in the elementary school, dean of women and food director, college registrar, college faculty member, and chair of the Office Administration Department. She was a contributing editor to the Messenger, official organ of the Southeast Asia Union Mission; and editor of Contact, the mission's overseas fellowship news bulletin. In 1977 she joined Loma Linda University as assistant to the dean, School of Allied Health Professions. In 1978 she was appointed to the position as Director of Admissions & Records, a position she held for 22 years. Her school roles expanded to include special academic counselor to Singapore transfer students, academic adviser to prospective and current students, school articulation officer (liaison with SDA and non-SDA institutions who all appreciated the transfer patterns of Allied Health course prerequisites she made up for each college), and graduation coordinator for the two annual Allied Health graduations from 1978-1999. Maggie Low-Tan was honored at the Conferring of Degrees for the School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, in 1995, when she was presented with the Distinguished School Service Award in appreciation of her Dedication to the Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship which has distinguished her contributions on behalf of the Education Mission of the School of Allied Health Professions. At her retirement, she was presented with a desk plaque decorated with a significant crystal globe, in recognition of her 22 years ofservice to Loma Linda University. Much of her time is dedicated to her extraprofessional interests, including fostering the spiritual life of her church as hostess, pianist, church leadership roles, and wedding coordinator. Her personal, professional, and spiritual contributions continue to enrich the lives of those within her sphere of influence even after her retirement in 1999. She is particularly proud of her SAUC students, all of whom have built successful careers and leadership roles in the medical, dental, educational, business, and mission fields worldwide. She feels amply rewarded whenever her former students hail her as their mentor, and is thankful to God for leading her to the two institutions where she could best serve Him and enabling her to enjoy such a rich harvest of successful students whose lives she has touched. Messenger September, 2000[1 3 Daniel & Maggie Tan at their 50th Wedding Anniversary PROFILE OF DANIEL TAN Daniel Tan was born in Kuching, Sarawak, in 1920 to Amy Chan and Tan Soo Meng. He began his early schooling at Sunny Hill School located in the church building his grandfather, Pastor Chan Thiam Hee, had built after the White Rajah of Sarawak had given permission for the operation of an Adventist Church which had hitherto been closed to Adventist work. He continued his education at the Malayan Seminary, finishing his 2-year Junior College course in 1939 after which he taught at Sunny Hill School in Kuching. He returned to Singapore at the end of the war and when Malayan Seminary re-opened in 1947, he was invited to join the teaching staff. He married Maggie Low in 1949 and they went to Philippine Union College where he obtained his BSE degree and his wife received her ETC degree in teaching. Upon their return to Singapore, both taught at the Malayan Seminary, later re-named Southeast Asia Union College (SAUC) when Junior College classes were offered. Daniel was appointed acting President in 1962. He and his wife were sent to Andrews University in August of 1964 for graduate studies. He obtained his MA in Administration and his wife received her BA and MA degrees in Secretarial Science Administration and Education. They returned to teach at SAUC in January of 1966. After his appointment as President of the college, he was ordained to the ministry, and served as President until the end of 1975 when he was appointed Southeast Asia Union Mission Secretary after K. T. Kong retired. He held this position until October 1977 when he retired after serving the denomination in various capacities for 38 1/2 years. He and his wife migrated to the United States in 1977 to be with their three children who were pursuing advanced studies at Loma Linda University. He worked as Supervisor of the Loma Linda University Library, Public Service Department, until his second retirement in 1998 after serving another 21 years. His wife was the Director of Admissions & Records in the School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, a position she held for 22 years. His connection with the educational arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for almost 60 years, and his wife for almost 50 years in the educational field was a fulfilling and a rich and rewarding experience for them as they witnessed to the many students coming from non-Christian backgrounds and who were influenced to join our church. Their combined influence on all their students has been far-reaching as many are now filling important leadership positions in denominational service world-wide— throughout Southeast Asia, Far East Divisions, England, Australia, Canada, and in all parts of the United States including positions in the General Conference. Many ministers and church leaders are graduates of SAUC. It is also heartening to see other alumni who have made successful professional careers in the medical, dental, educational, and business fields supporting the spread of the Gospel work, not only financially but also in church work. He and his wife are justifiably proud of their students' accomplishments and feel well rewarded for having had a part in their initial training and guiding many to a knowledge of God in their journey to the Heavenly Home. Truly, a teacher's influence is far-reaching indeed, and the reward of a teacher is boundless. Messenger September, 20005 SAUC ALUMNOTES JOHN BAN KIAW ('73 science) received his Certificate in Electronic Technology from Ryerson Polytechnic University, is a member of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineer- ing Technicians & Technologists, and is a certified Docu- mentation & Internal Auditor and Notary Public. He is the general manager at Mitsubishi Electric in the product safety division and does much travelling abroad in connection with his work. Wife LEE LEE HWA ('75 Secretarial Science) was an office supervisor in a financial company for 16 years before becoming president and founder of ReSave Technol- ogy, a company specializing in reworking, refurbishing, and repairing of electronic and telecommunication devices. John attributes their success to the fine education they received at SAUC and are so thankful for encouragement from their teachers. They praise God for His continued blessings on them. Both are active in church work in Toronto, John as elder, deacon, and Pathfmder Director and Lee Hwa as assis- tant coordinator for Sabbath School classes. They have four children: Kevin has a B.S. in kinesiology from Lake- wood University, Canada, but decided to become a commer- cial pilot and is currently working with Toronto Airways. Ryan is in Grade 13 and plans to major in computer science. Twin daughters Joann and Leann (10) are accomplished pia- nists winning many awards annually. JENUS BENGGON ('85 Business) completed his M.A. in Database Engineering at Andrews University and is currently on the Database Administration at La Sierra University. Wife APPY NINOY ('84 Office Adm/B.A. Business) is now taking nursing at Riverside Community College. They have two children: Kelsie-Anne, aged 5, and Ashli-Jane, aged 2 1/2. BIRTHS CHAN ('80 Business) worked at Youngberg Adventist Hospital for several years in various capacities. His last position at YAH was Director of Personnel until 1983 when he and family migrated to Canada. He launched into the cabinet business for a while and is currently the Director of Development and Risk Management at the Ontario Con- ference in Canada. Wife Dinah Quijada graduated with a B.S.M.T. degree from Philippine Union College and is cur- rently working at Barstow Community Hospital in California. They have two grown sons: Rodney is a nurse in Toronto and Rainer is a medical technologist in Florida. ELVIN CHONG ('72 Science) took his pre-med studies at Philippine Union College and completed his medical course in 1981, Cebu, Philippines. He took his residency in internal medicine in Taiwan and is currently in private practice in Sabah. Wife PATCHARA KOZERVANICH ('74 Frinratinnl worked as a literature evangelist and received her M.S.B.A. in business administration from St. Carlos University. She was a teacher in Taiwan and also served as manager in the dental clinic of Taiwan Adventist Hospital. They have three children: LA VONNE ('98 Computer Science) is taking medi- cal technology at Andrews University; Methuselah is in Form 5; and Switzerlyna is in Pr. 5. JAMES HO ('60 Liberal Arts) was the Patients Business Manager at Youngberg Adventist Hospital after receiving his Certified General Accountant Diploma in Singapore. In 1966 he and his family migrated to Toronto, Canada. He earned a Fellowship in Canadian Banking at Queen's Col- lege and worked in a bank for five years. He went into the real estate business after he obtained his salesmanship/ broker's license and appraisal diploma, then he went back into accounting and became comptroller of a furniture retail company. He and wife Christine started a nursing agency, supplying nurses to hospitals, nursing and private homes from 1980 to retirement in 1995. Christine first took her nurs- ing course at the Singapore General Hospital, then went to Australia to finish her general nursing and midwifery. Upon her return, she worked at YAH, Thomson Road Hospital, and later at Branson Hospital in Toronto. They have two grown children: Alden and wife Lyne Warren have three children: an 8-year-old boy and year-old twin girls. Alden has an M.S. in Youth Ministry and served as a youth pastor in North Carolina. He is currently the senior pastor in Hous- ton, Texas. Althea has her B.S., M.A., and Ed.S. in psychol- ogy from Andrews University and is the school psycholo- gist at the Berrien Springs Intermediate Board. She and hus- band Derrick Collins have a year-old daughter. The James Hos maintain two homes. In summer they live in Toronto and in winter they enjoy warmer weather in Florida. EUNICE SEE-LEE KWEE LAN ('72 Theology) earned her advanced degree in Child Development at Lake Michigan College. She worked as an educational specialist for the Michigan Migrant Head Start Program from 1994-1999 and is currently serving as acting principal for the Sam Yuk Chi- nese School at the Toronto Chinese Church and keeps her- self busily involved in church activities. Husband John Lee Kum Hong has a doctorate in World Mission from Andrews University and is currently pastoring the Toronto Chinese Church. They have two grown sons: CALEB studied briefly at SAUC and earned his physical therapy degree from Andrews University; Joshua is a senior in engineering at Lake Michigan College. Messenger � September, 20001 IRENE LUM SUET LIN ('97 General Studies) received her B.A. in Communications from Andrews University in 1999 and is currently a sales and marketing executive in Singapore. She enjoys singing, swimming, and shopping. JAMES & PATRICIA NGtaught at SAUC from 1982-1991. Patricia taught business courses while James taught biol- ogy. He studied at Sunny Hill School and obtained his B.S. degree from Mountain View College in the Philippines. They went to Andrews University from 1980-82 for graduate stud- ies; he received his M.S. in biology and she received her M.B.A. After leaving SAUC, they migrated to Canada where Patricia, now a CPA, is teaching business at Canadian Uni- versity. James plans to finish up a degree in secondary education to fulfill his goal in leading young people to the Lord besides imparting academic knowledge to them. They have two grown daughters who also attended SAUC in the early 1990s. LILIBETH is a computer systems technologist and SHERYLIN is an RN in Portland, Oregon. SHEE SOON CHIEW ('79 Theology) took the education course and received his B.S. in social science in 1982 from Hong Kong Adventist College where he also taught for eight years. After completing his M.A. at Andrews University in 1991, he went back to serve at SAUC for seven years until the college was officially transferred to Muak Lek. He is currently being sponsored toward a doctoral degree at La Sierra University. He completed his Ed.S. in• psychology in June, 2000, and will be receiving his Ed.D. degree in psychology by June, 2001. He will then join the teaching staff in Muak Lek. He and wife MONICA LIM ('76 Secretarial Science/Education) have a 9-year-old daughter, Mei Xian. Monica also received her B.S. in social Science from HKAC in 1982. She was a church school teacher and • also served as secretary to the HKAC academic dean and registrar as well as working at SAUC administrative office and library. She is currently taking graphic design in adult school SIROJSORRAJJAKOOL('81 B.A. Theology) has his M.A. in Religion from Andrews University and a second M.A. in Theological Studies and Ph.D. in Theology & Personality from Claremont School of Theology. He is currently an as- sociate professor of religion at Loma Linda University. Wife LEE HUI LING(' 81 B.S. Education) has an M.A. in Educa- tion from Andrews University and an A.A. in Nursing from San Bernardino Valley College. She is a R.N. at LLU Medical Center. They have a 13-year-old son, Chanchai, who is in the 8th grade. Siroj will be teaching two intensive religion courses at Muak Lek in January, 2001. EDWARD ALOYSIUS WONG('50) attended Malayan Semi- nary from 1948-50. He received his B.A. in Foreign Relations from the University of California at Berkeley. He was the data manager at Naval Air Station, Alameda, until his retire- ment in 1990. Wife Nancy Woo finished her schooling in Hong Kong. They have an only son, Ulysses, who is a marketing manager for IBM. Daughter-in-law is a pharma- cist. The Edward Wongs have two grandchildren. TOMMY WONG ('52), younger brother of Edward Wong, studied at Malayan Seminary from 1950-52. He has been living in the United States since leaving MS in 1952. He attended high school at Pacific Union College and received his A.A. degree in business from City College in San Fran- cisco. He retired from the US Postal Service in 1992 after 33 years of service. He and wife Lily have two children and are blessed with two grandchildren. He keeps busy maintaining a 7-unit apartment building that he owns and enjoys playing tennis four times a week to keep fit. STEPHEN WU worked in the Malayan Signs Press/SAU Signs Press from 1948-50, then worked as SAUM shipping clerk before going into private business in photography. He went to India for a year of training at a British company making printing ink. Upon his return, he worked for KD James Chen & Co, manufacturing fine printing inks for five years before migrating to Ontario, Canada. (Compiled by Mrs. Maggie Tan at Loma Linda Univer- sity.) Messenger September, 2000 [9 SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MISSION TEL: (65) 355-2700; FAX: (65) 355-2701 789 Thomson Road, Singapore 298186 Email: saum@pacific.netsg DIRECTORY President, ADRA � R. D. Riches Secretary, ASI, Stewardship, � Joshua W. Mok Trust Services Treasurer, Retirement � Thomas J. Massengill Youth, Health, Communication � Lawrence Banyie Ministerial, Global Mission � Dan Walter Personal Ministry / Sabbath School � Samuel Money Publishing, Spirit of Prophecy � A. J. Oberholster Education � Wong Yew Chong Family, Women, � Dorothy Walter Children Ministries, Shepherdess Local Mission Directory CAMBODIA, Box 488, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: 855 (23) 368-082; Fax: 855 (23) 880-493 Email: sdacam@connet.com.kh Director � Bruce Bauer Secretary � Lim Teng Pheng Treasurer � PENINSULAR MALAYSIA. 22 — 1 Jalan 2/114, Kuchai Business Centre, Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: 60 (3) 784-7795; Fax: 60 (3) 784-4600 Email: sdapem@po.jaring.my President � Francis Lajanim Secretary � Terrence Sim Treasurer � Lai Swee Chan SABAH. Box 7,89257 Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia Tel: 60 (88) 782-346; Fax: 60 (88) 782-240 Email: sdasab@tm.net.my President � Mansor Gingging Secretary � Nelver Sikul Treasurer � Lim See Him SARAWAK. Box 41,93700 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: 60 (82) 242-340; Fax: 60 (82) 242-343 Email: sakmissi@tm.net.my President � Edmund Liah Secretary �Gilbert Tan Treasurer ........Clara Ho SINGAPORE, 90 Jurong East St 13, Singapore 609648 Tel: (65) 561-0022; Fax: (65) 562-4923 Email: adventis@pacific.net.sg President � Toh See Wei Secretary � Danson Ng Treasurer, � John S. K. Ho THAILAND. Box 234 Prakanong, Bangkok 10110 Thailand. Tel: 66 (2) 391-3595 ; Fax: 66 (2) 381-1928 Email: sdatam@loxinfo.co.th President � Rungsit Satayawaksakool Secretary � Phakdee Tawino Treasurer � Solomon Agdon VIETNAM. 224 Phan Dang Luu, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tel: 84 (8) 844-0179 ; Fax: 84 (8) 844— 7602 Email : sdavn@qtic.com.vn President � Iran Cong Tan Secretary / Treasurer � Duong Thuong LAOS, P.O. Box 689, Vientiane, Laos Tel : 856 (21) 421— 01 ; Fax : 856 (21) 421-701 Church Director � Singkham Vijith Institutional Directory COLLEGE Mission College � Siripom Tantipoonvinai HEALTH FOOD Mission Health Food Company � Nathan Gazsik HOSPITALS Bangkok / Phuket Adventist Hospital.. � .Robert Burchard Penang Adventist Hospital � Ted Mohr PUBLISHING HOUSES Southeast Asia Publishing House � David Leoh Thailand Publishing House � EDITORIAL STAFF Publisher & Editor � : Joshua W Mok Assistant Editor, Layout : Lee Chin Beng Circulation Manager � : Lucy Ho Editorial Board �: Mission College Messenger is produced quarterly by the Southeast Asia Union Mission of Seventh— day Adventists. Letters, inquiries and manuscripts are welcome and should be directed to The Editors, Messenger, 430 Pitsanuloke Road, Bangkok 10300 . Email : mcadm@mission—net.com Printing by Thailand Publishing House Amazing Grace By Saw Mervin There are several instances in my life that demon- strate the power of prayer. The most miraculous one is God's answer to my prayer for a recovery. When I was younger, I was an athlete who was good at soccer, track and field like 100 and 200 meter sprint and hurdles. However, when I was 37 years old, I developed asthma. For about 17 years, I had asthma attack almost every day, triggered by overeating, sleeplessness, dust and annoyance. The intensity of the attack was quite overwhelming. Once I had asthma, I would battle with stubborn cough, runny nose, hot sensation and drenching perspiration all over my body. I also struggled to breathe. Death seemed very near. Such was the daily asthma attack for 17 long years. One day, I received an invitation from a pastor in Korea to teach at his language school. The $1,000 salary and benefits were attractive: a house complete with a fridge, warming system, and other facilities plus a car! However, I was hesitant to accept the invitation be- cause of my asthma. How can an asthmatic work in a cold country like Korea? How can I survive? I was at a loss. Then my wife suggested, "Why don't we ask God for His help? He is all powerful." Then she added her favorite Bible text of Isaiah 59:1, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy, that it cannot hear." That night, we knelt down and prayed together asking for miraculous deliverance from asthma. That night there was no asthma. It has been almost eight years since I had my last asthma attack. With the psalmist I can proclaim, " Praise the Lord, 0 my soul! All my being, praise His Holy name! And do not forget how kind he is. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." (Psalm 103:1- 3) Friends, God answered my prayers. He will answer yours too. Urgent Need for English Teachers The English Department of Mission College, Muak Lek Cam- pus, Thailand, is urgently in need of English Teachers for the Thai and International Programs. Teachers who are interested may apply directly to the Dean of Arts & Humanities. 1. A Seventh-Day Adventist 2. M.A. or Ph.D. in English 3. A native speaker of English (preferably) 4. At least two years of teaching experience at the college level (language or literature subjects) 5. Good team player 6. Married or single 7. Ready to start work for the second semester of this school year (October, 2000) Free Books Dr. Helen Sprengel has written a book entitled "God's Miracle". Interested readers may request for a free copy by writing to the Assistant Editor. September, 2000 [ Messenger