With just a few weeks to go, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Malaysia (MAUM) is buckling up for the first event of its kind, titled “Hope for Malaysia.”
“As the country climbs out of the pandemic rut, there is a blaring silent cry for help, healing, restoration, and recovery,” Adventist regional leaders said. In efforts to rebuild, MAUM leaders have responded by launching an outreach series to bring people together in worship with the theme “Revelation of Hope.”
“The Revelation of Hope is an urgent and impactful initiative to prepare people for the second coming of Christ,” MAUM president Abel Bana said. “The time is short. So let us be very intentional with our actions, for they may have eternal consequences.”
With 15 speakers at 13 locations across the country, the series kicks off on August 18 with nightly sessions during eight days within the three Adventist mission regions of Malaysia. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) of the Adventist Church and Adventist World Radio. Speakers from the North American Division (NAD) and SSD will participate. SSD president Roger Caderma is expected to speak at Kuching, Sarawak.
Hope for Malaysia is spearheaded by the SSD’s Ministerial Association and the Nurture, Discipleship, Reclamation, Integrated Evangelism Lifestyle (NDR-IEL) ministry. When asked about the groundwork and preparation for the event, MAUM ministerial secretary Francis Amer reported that leaders offered training programs and seminars in many churches around Malaysia earlier this year. Local churches established care groups and prayer circles or prayer bands who came together to pray for the plans and preparations and the leading of the Holy Spirit to intervene as people are reached.
“The truth still makes an impact, but the greatest challenge is to get people to want a change, because people are comfortable,” Amer explained. “They feel they do not need to change their beliefs.”
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the meetings. “It is our hope that more souls are brought to Christ and that the Advent message will reach all corners of the nation,” MAUM executive secretary Nelson Bendah said.
Malaysia has a population of more than 33 million and a total of 61,302 baptized Adventist members. The ratio of baptized Adventist members to Malaysia’s population is estimated to be 1 out of every 538 people.
“It is not easy. But with God on our side and with prayers, the work will move forward,” Bendah said. “Pray with us for the Hope for Malaysia evangelism.”
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.
