Development of Divine Work in Sarawak, Malaysia

1. Development of Divine Work in Sibu

“A man’s heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.” (Prov 16:9)
Paul in addressing the Areopagus added that God has determined men’s pre-appointed times and the boundary of their habitation (Acts 17:26b). The seed of the gospel was planted in Sarawak, the largest state of Malaysia in 1962 in Miri town and in its capital Kuching in 1979. However, growth was stunted until 1989.

In a resolution of the South East Asia Evangelical Center in 1989, the general assemblies of Sabah and Indonesia pooled their manpower to send a preacher to pastor the believers in Miri, Kuching townships every alternate month. By the grace of God and His blessing, Kuching Prayer House was strengthened and eventually purchased a permanent 4th-floor shoplot at Stutong Jaya Commercial Center. This worship venue was dedicated to the Lord’s use on May 30, 2004. 

The Asian Financial Crisis that started in July 1997 was a sequence of currency devaluation. Malaysia’s GDP contracted from 7.3% in 1997 to -7.4% in 1998. The export of the commodity of logs was severely affected by a lack of foreign buyers and a steep price drop. 

The Chang Family (consisting of 15 siblings and their widowed mother of Brumas, Tawau in Sabah) solely depended on the logging contract business. However, due to losses incurred during the lean years of 1997 to 2002, the family business was liquidated to pay its debts.

During this financial crisis, God opened a way for His beloved faithful children. Sis. Yong Su Qing, the widowed mother, was steadfast in faith. She led the entire family to pray every night. 

“… Love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. … I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes our God is merciful.” (Ps 116: 1-5). 

A business friend from the state of Sarawak introduced Bro. Francis Chang to work as a contractor with the most established timber and plantation company in Sibu, Sarawak. While contemplating whether to accept the offer, his mother, Sis. Yong prayed for God’s guidance. The Holy Spirit said, “Just go, and I will bless you there.” One of the younger brothers questioned whether his mother had an illusion. So Sis. Yong went into her room to pray again. The Holy Spirit answered clearly again: “Just go, I will bless you there.” Having heard the reassurance of the Holy Spirit, Sis. Yong and 6 sons relocated to Sibu in 2003 to undertake the logging contract job with the Rimbunan Hijau Group. The gracious Lord Jesus’ arrangement was unprecedented – the job was offered to a contractor with equipment provided subject to a monthly equipment cost deduction from contract proceeds earned. The contract business lasted for 6 years in Sibu hinterland.

There was no place for Sabbath service during the initial years at Sibu. Occasionally, the Chang Family would drive 397.6 kilometers to Kuching Prayer House to observe the Sabbath. Later, with the collaborative effort of the Sabah General Assembly (GA) and the Indonesia GA, Sibu House Service held its first home worship service on June 12, 2006, at the Chang’s residence. There were 7 church members and 6 truthseekers. 

On August 15, 2006, Preacher Yakobus Andi and Preacher Thomas Fung visited Bro. Chang Vun Chong and his family in Kapit Monjong Camp. At that time, Bro. Chang’s two-year-old son had difficulties walking and speaking due to infantile paralysis. Upon seeing this, Preacher Yakobus Andi and Preacher Thomas Fung helped him up. In faith, Preacher Yakobus Andi pronounced, “In the name of Jesus, rise and walk.” Unfortunately, progress was not as evident as hoped for. Before their departure, they encouraged Bro. Chang to bring his entire family for baptism. 

By God’s grace, the little boy and his mother were baptized in Kuching Prayer House on September 3, 2006. One month after their baptism, God’s grace became evident in the boy. He began to walk slowly on his own, though not very steadily. However, a few years later, he could walk, speak, and attend primary school.

2. Church Growth at Bintulu (1 Cor 16:19) 

In 2009, the Chang Family shifted to Bintulu Town to venture into an oil palm plantation and maintenance contract with another conglomerate company in Suai, Miri, 4th Division of Sarawak. In December 2013, Sabah GA assigned two preachers every month to pastor the believers in Bintulu and Sibu. By God’s guidance, the believers from Sabah who moved to Bintulu District were successfully contacted. Members gathered at Bro. Chang Vun Chung’s home for worship. Religious education classes, truth seeker classes, and the distribution of gospel leaflets were carried out every week. Believers in Bintulu purchased a new car for the exclusive use of preachers in Bintulu and Sibu, and on July 14, 2014, they rented a shophouse unit for use as a place of worship (Heb 10:25).

Compelled by the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:14), Bintulu brethren gave a helping hand to renovate a shoplot in Sibu Jaya as a worship venue. The Sibu Prayer House Committee was established on February 14, 2015. There are now 38 members, including 8 indigenous members who were newly baptized.

3. Reflection 

(A) Although the Chang Family went through financial difficulties, God had a higher purpose, which is to prosper the gospel of salvation in the neighboring State of Sarawak. 

“There remains very much land yet to be possessed.” (Josh 13:1b) 

(B) Acts of Apostles records the work of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were lowly educated (Acts 4:13) but the Holy Spirit worked mightily to prosper the gospel. 

(C) “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” (Acts 8:1) 

“Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4) 

“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:26–31)

4. Fertile Ground for Evangelism 

Sarawak is a multi-cultural and multi-religious state with a population of more than 2.9 million people (2020 Census Report) as evident from the data below:

Before His ascension, the Lord Jesus commissioned the church to preach “in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). Indeed the fields are “already white for harvest” (Jn 4:35).

Let us pool together our resources, complement each other to strive for the gospel, and be constant in prayers, so that God would open to us a door to proclaim the word (Col 4:3) throughout Sarawak as soon as possible to save more souls from sin (Lk 1:78-79) and exalt the holy name of Jesus Christ.