East Coast Trip: Final Reflections

The recently concluded East Coast Roadshow gave us an opportunity not only to catch up with our alumni for mutual encouragement, it also provided us an excellent insight into the ministry of the church particularly in the state of Kelantan. For my earlier posts on our East Coast Trip, please click here.

As Kelantan is my home state, I have always had a soft spot for this region. Not only is the state one of the poorest in Malaysia, it is also a state which has the least Christian presence.

As such, we recognise that Kelantan is not the most comfortable place to be in the service for the Lord. Most congregations are small, and some have been around for decades, but growth is barely minimum. Many of the young adults move to bigger cities in the West Coast seeking better career opportunities. In addition, because of the vastness of the geographical area, many congregations are scattered throughout the state. Couple with the lack of express highways linking various cities, towns and rural areas, it makes pastoral care a very demanding and difficult task to be carried out. As such, most ministers would have to spend a large number of hours travelling from one place to another.

As such, I would like to pay my tribute to all the faithful servants of the Lord serving in various churches in Kelantan:

I salute you as the unsung heroes, faithfully ploughing the ground to prepare for the seed of the gospel to be planted.

I salute you because the ground of the field you toil is hard, and this is a laborious task that not many are able to endure.

I salute you because you labour continuously and work strenuously, not knowing whether you would be able to taste the fruit of your labour.

I salute you because you choose to remain faithful in your labour even though you are constantly confronted with discouragement, frustration and loneliness as you work in the field for your Master.

Together with you, we as your partners in ministry, join you in hoping and praying for an abundant harvest for your ministry in the state of Kelantan.

If you are able, would you spend a moment to remember the Church in Kelantan in prayer?

East Coast Trip: Food...Food...Food

One of the highlights of our East Coast Trip is the opportunity to taste different varieties of delicious food found exclusively in Kelantan. It's no wonder all of us felt slightly heavier upon returning home.

Enjoying coconut water and boiled sweet corn by the beach (The beach was known as Beach of Passionate Love (Pantai Cinta Berahi) when I was growing up in this town - this is a bit too "passionate" and "lustful" for the state government - so it is now renamed and called Beach of Moonlight (Pantai Cahaya Bulan)

Ohh....Look at how my colleagues feast! Ayam percik, akok, sri kaya, and other kuih muih.

The making of ayam percik

Coming up next: My final reflections on our East Coast Trip.

East Coast Trip: Ezra Buying Roast Pork in Kota Bharu

During our East Coast trip, Ezra Kok, my principal, was rather excited to find that pork is easily available in Kota Bharu, the capital city of the state of Kelantan, which has been under the rule of the Islamic state government for many years. For many who have yet to visit Kelantan, the typical impression is that since the state is under the rule of the Islamic government, pork is not easily available.

Ezra insisted that I should take this photo of him buying roast pork in the pork market, much to the amusement of the roast pork seller.

East Coast Trip: Churches in Kelantan - 3

After Kuala Krai, we drove to Wakaf Bharu for a short visit to the Wakaf Bharu Presbyterian Church, before proceeding to Kota Bharu for our 2-night stay in the state capital. Rev Teo, who has been the minister of the church for more than 25 years, is a faithful minister. She started her ministry here after her theological studies at Trinity Theological College, Singapore.

From right: Dr Tan, Dr Kok, Rev Teo and Rev Tee.

We preached in the Kota Bharu Chinese Methodist Church, Kelantan Chinese Presbyterian Church and St Martin's Anglican church.

Kota Bharu Chinese Methodist Church

For the rest of my posts on our East Coast Trip, click here.

East Coast Trip: Back to My Alma Mater

During our recent East Coast Trip, I decided to pay a visit to my alma mater - Chung Hwa Secondary School. This is one of the biggest secondary schools in Kelantan.



This visit brought back many happy memories. It also brought to light some of my not-so-glamorous past to my colleagues.


I had never been a good student when it comes to languages. Learning Chinese was extremely difficult for me. On hindsight, I empathised with the teacher who taught me Chinese in school. He was so frustrated with me for not being able to grasp and follow his classes. As such, for many occasions, I was on the receiving end of his wrath. In one particular instance, he decided to punish me by sending me out of the classroom and forcing me to stand in the dustbin for not being able to answer his questions correctly.

I reenacted the scene for my colleagues in the following photo, standing next to a bin outside the location of the former classroom which had since been demolished and is now a school canteen.


To all our students who are now struggling with Greek in seminary, aren't you glad that none of you are made to do what I had gone through? There is still hope!!

East Coast Trip: Churches in Kelantan - 2

After our visit to Gua Musang, we travelled to Kuala Krai to meet up with our alumni, Yesudasan, who is pastoring a small Tamil congregation of about 25-30 in this town. He is also involved in pioneering work among the Indian and migrant families in Kelantan.



Kelantan has a very small Indian community, estimated to be about 550 families. This group of community is very much neglected and marginalised. Yesudasan's church, Pusat Misi Immanuel (Immanuel Mission Centre), is the only Tamil speaking church in the entire state of Kelantan.



We had a good time catching up with Yesudasan and his family for mutual encouragement. They are in need of our encouragement and support, as this particular ministry is one that is lonely, difficult, and often not met with encouraging results.


For the rest of my posts on the East Coast Trip, click here.

East Coast Trip: Churches in Kelantan - 1

The main street in Gua Musang, with the railway station at the far end.

In our recent East Cost Trip, we visited several churches in Kelantan. Our first stop was Gua Musang, a strategic town located in rural southern Kelantan. Gua Musang is the main hub linking the state capital, Kota Bharu, to other parts of West Malaysia. There are excellent road connections to Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, and Kuala Lumpur.

Gua Musang is a growing town. The limestone hills surround this town, giving it a very interesting character rather similar to Ipoh, the state capital of Perak.

Limestone hills surrounding Gua Musang

The Presbyterian church in Gua Musang, the only church in this district, was established during World War II. Despite having a small congregation of about 25-30, this is a rather vibrant and warm church. Without a pastor for many years, a senior minister from Wakaf Bharu travels to this church every week to minister to the congregation here.

The interior of the Presbyterian Church Gua Musang

From right: Rev Dr Tan Jin Huat, Dr Ezra Kok, Rev Teo (the minister from Wakaf Bharu who travels to Gua Musang weekly, Deacon Chua of Gua Musang church, Rev Tee and myself

Is there any one out there who hears the calling of the Lord to be a shepherd for the the flock in Gua Musang?

East Coast Trip: the State of Kelantan

During our recent East Coast trip, we spent 3 nights in the State of Kelantan. Located on the north-eastern part of the Peninsular Malaysia bordering southern Thailand, Kelantan is one of the poorest states in Malaysia. It is presently under the rule of the conservative opposition Islamic party known as PAS. It is also my home state - I was born in Kota Bharu, the state capital; and that makes me an anok kelate.

Known as the Cradle of Islamic Civilisation, Kelantan has a population of approximately 1.5 million where the large majority are Muslims (over 94.5%).

What about the Christian presence in Kelantan? What is the state of the church?

A very small minority of Christians (less than 0.2%) live in Kelantan. In a recent article (March-April 2008 issue) Berita NECF reports the following about the state of the church in Kelantan:

"Churches are few and are confined to urban areas with a high proportion of Chinese, such as Kota Bharu. There is a serious lack of leadership and church growth has been slow. Some churches do not have full-time pastors and depend on full-time workers from outside Kelantan."

"The turnover rate for full-time workers is said to be quite high. The outflow of young people can be a source of discouragement."

"There is generally a lack of passion for the lost, and a need for local leaders to be trained and empowered not only to lead their congregations but also in evangelism."

"As a whole, the Church is lacking of manpower and resources. Much effort is also needed for unity among different denominations. Certain parts of Kelantan, especially the rural areas are totally devoid of any Christian witness."

For further reading of a recent brief write-up on the state of Kelantan by National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), please click here.

Back from East Coast

Kota Bharu: Entrance to the Cultural Centre

After 5 days on the road covering a distance of more than 1200km, I arrived home late last night. It was a very tiring trip visiting, preaching and teaching in several churches in Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Kota Bharu, and Wakaf Bharu in the state of Kelantan, and Kuantan in the state of Pahang.

I will post some photos and updates on the trip in the next couple of days.

Off to East Coast

From May 7-11, together with my colleages, Rev Dr Ezra Kok, Rev Dr Tan Jin Huat, and Rev Tee Heng Peng, we will be visiting several churches in the East Coast states of Kelantan and Pahang of Peninsular Malaysia. Beginning from Gua Musang, Kelantan, the East Coast Roadshow will take us to the cities of Kuala Krai, Kota Bharu, Wakaf Bharu, and Kuantan. We look forward to mutual encouragement with the churches and our alumni in the East Coast.

For details of our itinerary, please click here.