Daily Express (http://www.dailyexpress.com.my)
1,000 Christians nationwide at Sabah prayer 'do', 17 September 2009
Kota Kinabalu: More than 1,000 Christians from various churches and centres nationwide gathered at the Sutera Harbour Resort's Tennis Court for a special prayer meet Wednesday - the first time in 46 years since Sabah's independence through Malaysia in 1963.
The inaugural event was jointly organised by the National Leaders Gathering, Trinity Heights and Pastors Fellowship of Kota Kinabalu, and endorsed by the Sabah Council of Churches (SCC). It began at 7.30am and lasted almost three hours.
The area reverberated to shouts of "Happy Birthday Malaysia" and "Selamat Hari Jadi Malaysia" as the congregation prayed for the nation and its leaders in four languages - English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil.
They implored the Almighty to bless the nation while singing praises to God. Representatives from the 13 states in Malaysia who brought stones (limestone, granite, etc) from their respective places, also participated in the stone-laying ceremony by symbolically placing them on an altar.
The stones were also to represent the diverse races in Malaysia.
Alex Baskaran of the Gospel Mission Church in S. Petani, Kedah, laid a stone representing the Indian Christian community while Sabah's Jimmy Ginggor whose wife is Pastor Esther Golingi of the Maranatha Church, Penampang, did likewise to represent the many Christian native groups in the State.
Postcards depicting Malaysia, made up of the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, with the message "One United Malaysia, building an altar of worship unto The Creator" were distributed. Commemorative T-shirts bearing this message were donned by young and old alike. On the back, it read Yesus Huguan Siou.
The Malaysian flag, Sabah flag and those of the other states were displayed prominently. Flags of many nations around the world were also hoisted on stage, being recognised as nations that walk with Malaysia.
The worship team also extolled the beauty and peacefulness of Malaysia.
Youths and schoolchildren put up performances. Making their presence felt were the Shofar Horn Team. (A shofar horn is a trumpet made from the ram's horn).
Chairman of SCC, Senior Pastor Jerry Dusing, said the get-together was a culmination of the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting practised by Christians everywhere. He was represented by Bishop Dr Thomas Tsen Lip Tet of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia, Sabah, as he was invited by the Government to go to Kuala Lumpur to meet with the inter-faith committee and the Government.
Organising Chairman Pastor Chin Chi Kiong felt that the historical event would help our youth and children learn to love God and the nation. "We want our children to be patriotic and love the nation in a deeper and meaningful way."
Through the mass gathering, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia (NECF Malaysia) hoped to achieve unity of churches. Its Sec-Gen, Pastor Samuel Ang, said more importantly, it was a prayer for transformation of the nation from the political, social and economical perspectives.
Alex Baskaran from Kedah rated the gathering as a very spiritual and significant event. "I also fasted for 40 days. For the past four years, we have been practising this throughout the country but the gathering was never done before.
"I think God is moving very much in the people. We believe in a God who is a Living God. So we pray and pray because God always does what we want. We may not understand God's purpose but when it happens, we are so marvelled and thankful."
A lot of things are happening in the country, Baskaran observed.
"Politically, there has been a big change. The leadership of the Government has changed. Bad things have been exposed and God is trying to revive and bless this nation. We are certain there is more to come."
Dr Andrew Chong from the Bethel of Glory Church, Penang, noted this was the first time Malaysia Day has been celebrated in this manner by the Christian community with Sabah playing host.
"It's not too late to celebrate the formation of Malaysia by God. We welcome Malaysia and rejoice with God. For starters, we have to confine the gathering to church members. It would be good to open it to the public in future," suggested the former Assoc. Prof. of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
He also welcomed the Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth Movement's request to the Government to consider organising a grander celebration for Malaysia Day, which falls on Sept 16 and normally celebrated in Sabah and Sarawak.
On Monday, its chief, Khairy Jamaluddin had said that Malaysia Day being a celebration to mark the formation of contemporary Malaysia with the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak, the occasion should be celebrated nationwide like the Merdeka Day celebration on Aug. 31.
It is a very historic and wonderful occasion, commented Rev. David Ong from Christian Life Centre, Setiawan, Perak. "To commemorate the formation of Malaysia. This is the beginning, so we hope to carry on from here."
"Excellent and awesome" - that was how Pastor Barnabas Cheah from Kuala Lumpur described the gathering. Pastor Sourimuthu a/l Mudiappen of the Sanctuary of Divine Glory, Kulim (Kedah), said he was here to celebrate Malaysia Day.
"I am proud of Malaysia as a nation and also proud to be a Malaysian."
Pastor William Tan from the Light Centre Church in Bintulu, Sarawak, described it as an opportunity to bring churches together. Singapore's Pauline Beh from the Cornerstone Community Church said:
"I am very happy to be here. It is a significant time, a milestone for Malaysia. I believe Malaysia and Singapore have a destiny.
"Whatever happens in our spiritual life will still have an effect on business, the Government, different spheres and even on our families or our personal lives."
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