“Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matt 4:19

2012 – A Year of Growing

After coming back from 2012 Chinese New Year holiday, my neighbor house was having burglary & they lost many things, gold, money, etc.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)”   I joked with my wife, God gives us a hint that we’re no need to change our old & heavy TV, because it’s too heavy for the thief to carry.  As a traveler on earth, the temporary earth is only a “Hotel” for us to stay and our real home is in Heaven.  We are very smart to prepare many things for ourselves, children & retirement.   But, do we really prepare ourselves into His Kingdom ?   “But, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… (Mat 6:20)”

2011 December, by faith,  GLBC has organized a three day LifeGame church retreat for the youth and adult in a hotel.   Praise God, we have more than 30 non-believers hear the gospel and Holy Spirit has touched their heart and 40% of them accepted Christ as their personal Savior.   Before the event, some worried about the budget of supporting many youths for the event.   By faith, we trust God is our Provider and He really provides all our needs.  I also thank you for all the love offerings & prayer for His Kingdom work.   “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.  (Luke 15:7)”  

After a year of roller coaster in 2011, we thank God for everything and experience Him more and more.   I thank God that those who stand firm for the Lord and they have really grown into the next level of faith, it’s really a great joy !   Now “2012, it’s a year of Growing”.    By faith, we have started different new groups to bring people to His Kingdom.   We have Youth musical group on Saturday, Sunday Bible group before the worship, prayer group, and if God allows, many different weekday outreach groups.   “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ( Mat 6:33)”

You may participate for His Kingdom work by praying for us:
1.  GLBC will still need to raise ½ of the 2012 church budget externally for the new work.
2.  We will start at least 6 new groups for outreach purpose by 2012.
(We have already started  3 new groups last month).

 

Secret Recipe !

It’s really a joy to be a church planter in JB for a year even though there are many NEW challenge, NEW mind, NEW surprise, NEW hope, and NEW future.  I feel like I am in Preschool and begin to know God personally.  Even though I believe God for over twenty years, it’s really a whole NEW chapter in my life.  I am still experiencing & learning the NEW things everyday.  If you really want to expereince God in a “short cut” way, church planting would be one of your best choices.  In Book of Job 42:5 “ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” 

Last week, a new believer Lisa (accepted Christ for few months ago & my wife Esther trained her for a few basic class) shared her testimony how God has changed her life from no peace to have security in Christ.  When the moment she accepted Christ, God has touched her heart & she repented with “full of tears & joys”.  Even until today, she still thanks God with “many tears”.  Here’s the SMS she wrote to me, “Today I went for my orthopaedic check up.  Doctor was surprised that he could hear no more sould after bending my knees.  He said must be due to the medical he prescribed.  I said may be and also told him I had a secrete recipe but I dun have it.  Thank God he is great !”  Wow, she described Jesus Christ as her SECRET RECIPE.  She said she would have more testimony next week.  Don’t you believe that Jesus is your secrete recipe in your life ?

A young graduate SuYin (accepted Christ one month ago), she shared with us that when we prayed for her, she felt the touched of Spirit with full of peace & joy.  She gave thanks to God for comforting her.  Now, she is attending bible study group & even prayer meeting (it’s rare !).  She is now like a good seed fell on good soil.  She is hungering & growing.  She even bought a bilingual bible immediately after she accepted Christ. 

The secret of the Caterpillar to become a Butterfly is to continue to eat the leaves without fail & one day it will DIE & a NEW life begin. .  Thanks God for your prayer, currently many are now eating the spiritual food happily (without force) & they’re even discussing the food daily. 

We need your prayer:  We have just formed a “Solomon Building Team” to raise fund for our very first & new church building.  Please pray for those who are willing to partnership with God for His Kingdom’s work.   If God has touched your heart to give to GLBC, please visit Care & Support

Feb News

At 28^th Feb, we have our very 1^st baptism at the new worship place.  In the past, we did it 2 times near the sea side, 1 time at pool side, and 1 time using other church’s baptism pool.  This time, we have it in our new church.  This “baby baptism pool” was given by our dear pastor Tony from Taiwan.  Amazingly, it was really a foldable & movable baptism pool.  We could baptise people at anywhere and anytime.  God is always doing a new thing beyond our imagination.

 On 28^th Feb (the last day of Chinese New Year), I shared about the story of Lazarus in an old folk home in Singapore.  How you could experience the new life again even when you think it is impossible. “Impossible is nothing” in Him.  When Jesus asked them to remove the stone of the grave, many are unwilling & grumbling with an unbelieved heart and mind “it is impossible ! No miracle! Lazarus is totally dead!” “Nobody can solve my problems”.  When we are willing to open our heart to let God works in it, we could be NEW again.  Nothing is Too Late for Him.  Praise God, an old ladies felt the hope & love of God, she rededicated her life to Jesus again.

Heb.11:6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.  We must learn to believe that He “rewards” and believe a father will always give the best to His children.    

As a new starting church, I need your continuous prayer support & partnership for His Kingdom.  We have begined 2 cell group at Febraury, and will start another 1-2 group at March.  Let’s work togther for His kingdom and let His name be grolified.

–          Joshua, The Lampstand Family-

Jan 10, 2010 : GLBC Open House

It’s such a wonderful time “10/1/10”  to have 6 pastors & their family to witness the opening event at GLBC.  Total attendence is about 50.  Dr. John Massey preached on Book of Joshua Chapter 3 “We have the presence of God & all the resources in him… follow him step by step”.  Dr. Ian Buntain encouraged us as a church planter to focus on God rather than human resources.   To God be the glory !

Welcome Friends

Welcome to Golden Lampstand Baptist Church in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.  中文请按此 
Homepage: www.glbc.org.my

欢庆圣诞节Christmas Celebration & Evangelical Meeting 
Date: Dec 18 (Fri) &19 (Sat), 2009 Time: 7:30pm @ GLBC
Special Speaker from Taiwan : Pr Tony

 

金灯台浸信会
Golden Lampstand Baptist Church
112A, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Worship Service: Every Sunday -10:00am

Giving to New Worship & Training Place

Golden Lampstand Baptist Church (GLBC) welcomes any churches or individuals who would like to give to a new Baptist church GLBC basic renovation of the worship & training place at Sutera, Johor Bahru.  We will begin to use the place by 1 Dec, 2009.

 

 

Basic Estimate Cost of Renovation GLBC worship & training place
Chairs/ Tables – RM 4,000
Sound System – RM 6,000   
Air-Con (4 units) – RM 10,000
Computer & LCD Projector – RM 4,000
Stage & curtain – RM 2,000
Carpet Floor – RM 4,000
Electric & lighting – RM 1,500    
Baby Room – RM 1,500
Painting – RM 1,500
Office Equipment – RM 1,000
Musical Instrument (Drum & Base) – RM 3,500
Estimate Renovation Cost:  RM39,000

Our 1st year budget is RM140,000 (with min. RM40,000 renovation).  Thanks God, we have already raised internally about 35% of renovation.  It’s always a challenge for our new church (20+ worshippers & 60% of them are new believers). 

Beside the renovation, we still need to raise 50% of the general operation fund externally.  However, we trust that our Lord will support our needs from time to time.  If you would like to give to our new mission work, pray & do as the Lord leads you. 

Amazing Grace…40% increase

God is good, all the time…
After last Sunday of 1 day basic disciple training for 10 believers, we have received “One fruit per day” for continuous 4 days.   People starts to share their testimony & gospel to their family members & friends.  When we pray & obey, God make a way !  We thanks God for their obedience.  Praise the Lord !

Pastor’s Testimony

Dear Family & Friends,

I never think of one day I will go to Singapore Baptist Theological Seminary to study Master of Divinity (After graduation from US, I told myself I am a free man ! But now I am His servant).  I never think of one day I will become a full time pastor (I told God that I could do any job except pastor.  My desire is to be a successful businessman to serve God but now I am doing God’s business directly!). I never think of one day I could preach on the pulpit (Sometime I had hard time to express my thought clearly).  I never think of planting a new Baptist church (Golden Lampstand Baptist Church) in JB, Malaysia without supporting from a mother church & I need to put my little faith on God fully (I know the difficulties of planting a new church.  I could have choose to work under some ‘rich church’ ! “why I need to choose the tough way”  I just can’t believe it ! ).  God always works in our life beyond what you think or believe.

As one of my mentors said that the one who choose to plant a new church is having ‘mental problem’.  I remembered that one of my family members told my wife that I am a bit crazy for the Lord.  Are you crazy to serve the Lord ?  If you are not crazy for the Lord, you might crazy for something else.  Matt 22:37, Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

This month, I have a fruitful short mission trip to China.  By God grace, we have total four OU Sooner (Tony, Leon, Paul, & me) together to minister to the local leaders.  Amazingly, I had no bathing for four days in my whole life !  In this training, I learned the power of prayer & walk closer to God is the secret to effective ministry.  After the few days of training for the ruler people, I was left alone on the fifth day to give a whole day session to another city group in town (I called it advanced training). 

 I also thank God for the opportunity to do it alone so that I need to depend on Him fully.  In fact, I never expect people will bring three non-believers for the disciple training.  It is a real exercise for our faith.  In front of the people, I ‘force’ to use these ‘three real non-believers’ to train people how to witness & share gospel.  Praise God !  He honored His name.  All of them confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.  God puts a fire into their hearts !  Are you on fire ?  John 15:8 My true disciples produce much fruit.  This brings great glory to my Father.

 Joshua Tham, The Lampstand Family

4. Send

In this part of the Golden 12 cell group strategy, the Christian begins to lead his own open cell, is invited to join a Golden 12 group and works towards developing his Golden 12 group (made up of leaders whom he will mentor).

We believe cell group is one of the most effective way of multiplication is done through the cells thereby allowing each leader to reach his spiritual potential. The cells fulfill Jesus’ statement;

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” Matt 18:20.

Within the cells, members will role model after their leader to evangelize, edify, form character and form values. A new believer joins the open cell and goes through the stages of Win, Consolidate and Disciple till he is ready to lead his own open cell ( Send stage). Once he catches the vision, he is in turn invited to join a Golden 12 group.

Golden 12 group. This is a leadership development group. It is made up of people who are currently leading cells. Up to 12 of these leaders will be grouped together and mentored by a leader who helps them to disciple their own group of 12. Golden 12 meetings are held once a week with the emphasis on mentoring.

Open cells. The main emphasis of the open cell is evangelism. It is made up of a leader and several members who are committed to meeting on a regular basis to evangelise, thus forming Christian character and values in the process.