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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Michael Moorthy and Boys' Brigade in Asia
Well done Michael Moorthy. This article is reproduced from the City Harvest website citynews. An oversight in this article is that it fails to mention that the 1st JB Company is sponsored by the Holy Light Church (English) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and Michael Moorthy's involvement since 1966 is fully sponsored and supported by the church even after he has chosen to worship with City Harvest Church in 1997.
A “Sure And Steadfast” Man
Posted on 05 April 2011Business owner Michael Moorthy serves three posts in the Boys’ Brigade in Asia. He shares his passion for his mission.
Contributed By Nicolette NgMichael Moorthy, 59, is not quite your average business owner.
Moorthy (right) with Singapore’s President S.R. Nathan. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL MOORTHY
Moorthy, the director of Anjung Segar Sdn Bhd, a frozen foods company, is “on call” for the Boys’ Brigade, which he serves as the president of Boys’ Brigade Malaysia, the president of Boys Brigade Asia, as well as the honorary captain of the 1st Johor Bahru Boys’ Brigade company.
The oldest uniformed group in the world, the BB is an interdenominational Christian youth organization, conceived by William Alexander Smith in Glasgow in 1883, which combines drill and fun activities with Christian values.
What sets the BB apart is that its activities not only cater to the physical and mental development of the youth, but also their spiritual development through Christian education classes and activities. This is also where the “graduated” pool of officers who are all volunteers comes in to train the next generation after being blessed by the BB. These people are role models and impact the lives of the young people entrusted in their hands. Their motto: “Sure and Steadfast.”
Having many youths in his care, Moorthy shares that as captain of the 1st JB Company, he is responsible for the overall direction and vision of where the Company is headed in terms of growth and planning their calendar for the year, whilst also ensuring that the weekly operations and meetings run smoothly.
Through a holistic program, the BB instils discipline and the development of three key areas: body, soul and spirit. While updating their programs regularly to mold the character and leadership skills of the youths is effective, Moorthy shares that it is important not to lose sight of sharing Christ with them in the process. The BB’s objective is “The advancement of Christ’s kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.”
It was in 1966 when Moorthy, impressed by the uniforms, badges and the marching band and caving in to the persistent encouragement of his classmates, joined the BB. There has been no turning back since. It was also through the BB that Moorthy got to know Christ as his Savior. It is no surprise that Moorthy’s greatest satisfaction from the ministry is to know that through the BB, they are changing lives and reaching out to young people who are transformed to become better members of the society.Moorthy acknowledges that the success the Companies have had come about because of a group effort. “I’m only as effective and efficient as the team of fellow volunteer officers I’ve had around me over the years, and I have been blessed to have their support.”
The Moorthy family. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL MOORTHY
To date, the 1st JB Boys’ Brigade Company has grown to become one of the largest Companies in Malaysia. One milestone for them was when their marching band played overseas in Thailand and China, and was featured in the Malaysian Book of Records for being the First Youth Marching Band to play at the Great Wall of China.
The City Harvest Church member and his family from JB first encountered the church in 1997. “We just fell in love with CHC, the praise and worship, the inspiring messages by Pastor Kong. The love and care from our friends over the years made us realize that CHC is not just a mega-church but a mega-caring church,” says Moorthy. Since those days of the church at Hollywood Theatre, Moorthy and his wife, Janet, and their four children have commuted across the Causeway every single weekend to attend service. It comes as no surprise that his eldest and second son were also BB members.
His is a life and a family that is dedicated to the cause of Christ. “It is my belief for my family and me, that we are all about tending God’s business, and will do our best to the measure He has entrusted to us.”
A Call to Prayer for the Church & Our Nation Malaysia
To: The Body of Christ in Malaysia
A CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH & OUR NATION MALAYSIA
**********
INTRODUCTION
As Christians and God’s people in Malaysia,
• We are called to pray for our beloved country so that Habakkuk’s vision, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14), will be fulfilled in our land.
As Christians and God’s people in Malaysia,
• We believe that God’s message to His people through Jeremiah, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you … and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7), is also His word for us today.
I. THE CHURCH—HOLY, REVIVED & VIBRANT
1. Humbling Ourselves to Seek God in Prayer
In Acts 1 we read of how a ten-day prayer meeting preceded the release of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Similarly, earnest and persistent prayer led to great revivals which had lasting and world-changing effects. These include the Moravian Revival (1727), the Great Awakening in America (18th century), the Welsh Revival (1904), the Azusa Street Revival (1906) and the Korean Revival (1907).
Closer to home, the several waves of revival experienced by the SIB have often been preceded and sustained by prevailing prayer and holy living. This has resulted in SIB being the fastest growing church in the country in the last few decades, with whole tribal communities being holistically transformed along the way.
a. Pray that the Malaysian church will seek the face of God together earnestly and with perseverance, so that He will open the heavens, reveal His glory and pour His power upon our nation. Let us claim His promise that “if my people … humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
2. Emphasising Holiness and Righteousness in the Church
The Malaysian church can only be a prophetic community, impacting society, when we live authentic and vibrant Christian lives. Only then the church can act and speak with credibility and moral authority, and be taken seriously by the world.
a. Pray that pastors, church leaders and members will strive to live godly lives at home, in church, and in the market place and the public square.
b. Pray that every church will provide systematic teaching on holy living from the pulpit, in our small groups, and at every level of church ministry.
3. Fostering Church Unity and the Ministry Of Reconciliation
We live in a society where ethnic tensions and divisions have deteriorated badly. But for the church, God has already brought peace and unity through the cross (Ephesians 2:14ff).
a. Pray that Christians will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit, embracing reconciliation within the Christian community.
b. Pray that as Christian leaders, local churches and whole denominations learn to live in unity, through forgiveness and reconciliation, we will model ethnic reconciliation powerfully in our nation.
4. Teaching Christians the Cost of Discipleship
We must be intentional in teaching that Jesus taught clearly that there is always a cost in following him as true disciples (Luke 9:23). One consequence of our failure here has been the mass exodus of Christians leaving the country through emigration, which has weakened both the church in Malaysia and our contribution to nation-building.
a. Pray that Christians will understand what true discipleship means, and be willing to take up their cross daily and suffer for Christ.
b. Pray that many Christian professionals and countless university students studying abroad will return with a clear vision to build both the church and nation.
c. Pray that Christian parents will encourage their children to come home or to remain in Malaysia to serve God here.
5. Developing Godly Leadership for Our Churches
There is a great need in our time for godly leaders who model Christ-like servanthood. Further, as Paul advised Timothy, “what you have heard from me … entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Timothy 2:2), we must intentionally disciple younger leaders.
a. Pray that church leaders, both pastoral and lay, will grow in depth and maturity as true shepherds of Christ. Pray that they will have a real hunger for God’s Word, a firm commitment to God’s truth and to live by it, and the courage to teach the same to their flocks.
b. Pray that the present generation of leaders will strive to lay strong foundations for churches and Christian organizations in our country, to model godly and humble servanthood, and to manage succession plans well, as they gradually hand over the baton of leadership to younger people.
6. Empowering Bumiputra Churches, Especially Those in East Malaysia
Based on Government Census of 2001, Bumiputras form some 60% of the Malaysian church. Their churches lack financial resources and are often weak due to insufficient teaching material. They have also been a major target of certain parties seeking to draw their members away. Many of the children and youths have been converted away from their Christian faith and heritage.
a. Pray for the increasing availability of both the Bible and discipleship materials in Bahasa Malaysia.
b. Pray for a growing and effective partnership in ministry and mission between the churches in West Malaysia and in East Malaysia.
c. Pray for the increasing emergence of strong churches among Bumiputra communities in our land, and the rising up of bold and God-fearing leaders among them.
II. THE ECONOMY—STRONG & GROWING, WITH A FAIR SHARE FOR ALL
7. Being “Salt and Light” in Our Nation
The church cannot remain silent, neutral or unmoved by the vital issues confronting us in our country’s economic development, especially if we are to fulfil our calling to “seek the welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7) of this nation.
a. Pray that God will continue to bless our nation with strong and steady growth of the national economy so that all citizens will be blessed. Pray for the equitable sharing of the wealth of this nation among all races.
b. Pray against the twin problems of badly formulated policies and prevalent corruption, both of which combine to adversely affect national economic growth.
c. Pray that the smaller and economically weaker communities will not be marginalised. In particular, pray that the rights and means of livelihood of the native people of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Orang Asli in West Malaysia will be legally recognised and safe-guarded, especially their land rights.
d. Pray that the church will take the lead in reaching out with concrete acts of love and compassion to the poor, including refugees and migrant workers, regardless of race or religion.
III. POLITICS AND THE GOVERNMENT: STABLE, CLEAN, DEMOCRATIC & JUST
8. Defending the Supremacy of the Federal Constitution and Fundamental Human Liberties
The defence of the supremacy of our Federal Constitution, fundamental human liberties, the principles of democracy and the rule of law in our country has now become increasingly critical. This is because of repeated and continuing efforts to undermine them, in particular, through certain Islamisation policies, which effectively marginalise believers of other faiths.
a. Pray that the church, civil society and the rakyat in general will defend the Federal Constitution so that fundamental liberties of all citizens, especially religious freedom, will be upheld.
b. Pray that the government will genuinely seek to uphold the principle of equal citizenship rights for all Malaysians, which had been forged originally against a diverse background of race, religion and culture. Pray against all efforts made at asserting ethnic and religious supremacy which, if unchecked, will destroy the foundations of our nation.
c. Pray that the democratic processes and institutions will mature and, if necessary, be revitalised in our country, especially the Parliament, State Assemblies, the Judiciary and the Civil Service.
9. Electing Politicians Who Are Competent and Genuine, and Committed to Integrity and Justice
Whilst the church does not identify herself with any particular political group, all Christians have a responsibility in a democracy to elect candidates who are competent and sincere in serving the rakyat, and who are noted for their integrity and commitment to justice.
a. Pray that our citizens will have the discernment and wisdom to elect sincere and politically competent leaders who will govern the nation with compassion, integrity, righteousness and justice.
b. Pray that Christians will take their responsibility as voters seriously and do what is right.
c. Pray that in the up-coming Sarawak State Elections on 16 April, and the General Elections which may follow shortly, that God will so overrule that governments which will be faithful to the mandate to rule for the good of the nation will come into power. Pray specially against the work of unseen spiritual powers that seek to keep the nation under their control through evil of all kinds.
10. Making Malaysia a Model Nation
The Malaysian church has an unprecedented opportunity in our generation to be used by God to bring about a powerful transformation which will result in blessings for all the peoples of our land.
a. Pray that Malaysia, by God’s grace, will develop into an advanced economy and a stable and harmonious democracy, in which all citizens are equal, with fundamental liberties protected by the Constitution and a legal framework which protect the weakest and the least. This will make Malaysia a model nation for others.
**********
CONCLUSION
As Christians and God’s people in Malaysia, we live, pray and labour in hope to be a blessing to our country!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
for list of Christian leaders endorsing this call,see here
sign petition here
The A Call to Prayer for the Church & Our Nation Malaysia Petition to The Body of Christ in Malaysia was created by and written by Pray4Malaysia Administrator (info@pray4malaysia.org).
.
A CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH & OUR NATION MALAYSIA
**********
INTRODUCTION
As Christians and God’s people in Malaysia,
• We are called to pray for our beloved country so that Habakkuk’s vision, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14), will be fulfilled in our land.
As Christians and God’s people in Malaysia,
• We believe that God’s message to His people through Jeremiah, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you … and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7), is also His word for us today.
I. THE CHURCH—HOLY, REVIVED & VIBRANT
1. Humbling Ourselves to Seek God in Prayer
In Acts 1 we read of how a ten-day prayer meeting preceded the release of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Similarly, earnest and persistent prayer led to great revivals which had lasting and world-changing effects. These include the Moravian Revival (1727), the Great Awakening in America (18th century), the Welsh Revival (1904), the Azusa Street Revival (1906) and the Korean Revival (1907).
Closer to home, the several waves of revival experienced by the SIB have often been preceded and sustained by prevailing prayer and holy living. This has resulted in SIB being the fastest growing church in the country in the last few decades, with whole tribal communities being holistically transformed along the way.
a. Pray that the Malaysian church will seek the face of God together earnestly and with perseverance, so that He will open the heavens, reveal His glory and pour His power upon our nation. Let us claim His promise that “if my people … humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
2. Emphasising Holiness and Righteousness in the Church
The Malaysian church can only be a prophetic community, impacting society, when we live authentic and vibrant Christian lives. Only then the church can act and speak with credibility and moral authority, and be taken seriously by the world.
a. Pray that pastors, church leaders and members will strive to live godly lives at home, in church, and in the market place and the public square.
b. Pray that every church will provide systematic teaching on holy living from the pulpit, in our small groups, and at every level of church ministry.
3. Fostering Church Unity and the Ministry Of Reconciliation
We live in a society where ethnic tensions and divisions have deteriorated badly. But for the church, God has already brought peace and unity through the cross (Ephesians 2:14ff).
a. Pray that Christians will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit, embracing reconciliation within the Christian community.
b. Pray that as Christian leaders, local churches and whole denominations learn to live in unity, through forgiveness and reconciliation, we will model ethnic reconciliation powerfully in our nation.
4. Teaching Christians the Cost of Discipleship
We must be intentional in teaching that Jesus taught clearly that there is always a cost in following him as true disciples (Luke 9:23). One consequence of our failure here has been the mass exodus of Christians leaving the country through emigration, which has weakened both the church in Malaysia and our contribution to nation-building.
a. Pray that Christians will understand what true discipleship means, and be willing to take up their cross daily and suffer for Christ.
b. Pray that many Christian professionals and countless university students studying abroad will return with a clear vision to build both the church and nation.
c. Pray that Christian parents will encourage their children to come home or to remain in Malaysia to serve God here.
5. Developing Godly Leadership for Our Churches
There is a great need in our time for godly leaders who model Christ-like servanthood. Further, as Paul advised Timothy, “what you have heard from me … entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others as well” (2 Timothy 2:2), we must intentionally disciple younger leaders.
a. Pray that church leaders, both pastoral and lay, will grow in depth and maturity as true shepherds of Christ. Pray that they will have a real hunger for God’s Word, a firm commitment to God’s truth and to live by it, and the courage to teach the same to their flocks.
b. Pray that the present generation of leaders will strive to lay strong foundations for churches and Christian organizations in our country, to model godly and humble servanthood, and to manage succession plans well, as they gradually hand over the baton of leadership to younger people.
6. Empowering Bumiputra Churches, Especially Those in East Malaysia
Based on Government Census of 2001, Bumiputras form some 60% of the Malaysian church. Their churches lack financial resources and are often weak due to insufficient teaching material. They have also been a major target of certain parties seeking to draw their members away. Many of the children and youths have been converted away from their Christian faith and heritage.
a. Pray for the increasing availability of both the Bible and discipleship materials in Bahasa Malaysia.
b. Pray for a growing and effective partnership in ministry and mission between the churches in West Malaysia and in East Malaysia.
c. Pray for the increasing emergence of strong churches among Bumiputra communities in our land, and the rising up of bold and God-fearing leaders among them.
II. THE ECONOMY—STRONG & GROWING, WITH A FAIR SHARE FOR ALL
7. Being “Salt and Light” in Our Nation
The church cannot remain silent, neutral or unmoved by the vital issues confronting us in our country’s economic development, especially if we are to fulfil our calling to “seek the welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7) of this nation.
a. Pray that God will continue to bless our nation with strong and steady growth of the national economy so that all citizens will be blessed. Pray for the equitable sharing of the wealth of this nation among all races.
b. Pray against the twin problems of badly formulated policies and prevalent corruption, both of which combine to adversely affect national economic growth.
c. Pray that the smaller and economically weaker communities will not be marginalised. In particular, pray that the rights and means of livelihood of the native people of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Orang Asli in West Malaysia will be legally recognised and safe-guarded, especially their land rights.
d. Pray that the church will take the lead in reaching out with concrete acts of love and compassion to the poor, including refugees and migrant workers, regardless of race or religion.
III. POLITICS AND THE GOVERNMENT: STABLE, CLEAN, DEMOCRATIC & JUST
8. Defending the Supremacy of the Federal Constitution and Fundamental Human Liberties
The defence of the supremacy of our Federal Constitution, fundamental human liberties, the principles of democracy and the rule of law in our country has now become increasingly critical. This is because of repeated and continuing efforts to undermine them, in particular, through certain Islamisation policies, which effectively marginalise believers of other faiths.
a. Pray that the church, civil society and the rakyat in general will defend the Federal Constitution so that fundamental liberties of all citizens, especially religious freedom, will be upheld.
b. Pray that the government will genuinely seek to uphold the principle of equal citizenship rights for all Malaysians, which had been forged originally against a diverse background of race, religion and culture. Pray against all efforts made at asserting ethnic and religious supremacy which, if unchecked, will destroy the foundations of our nation.
c. Pray that the democratic processes and institutions will mature and, if necessary, be revitalised in our country, especially the Parliament, State Assemblies, the Judiciary and the Civil Service.
9. Electing Politicians Who Are Competent and Genuine, and Committed to Integrity and Justice
Whilst the church does not identify herself with any particular political group, all Christians have a responsibility in a democracy to elect candidates who are competent and sincere in serving the rakyat, and who are noted for their integrity and commitment to justice.
a. Pray that our citizens will have the discernment and wisdom to elect sincere and politically competent leaders who will govern the nation with compassion, integrity, righteousness and justice.
b. Pray that Christians will take their responsibility as voters seriously and do what is right.
c. Pray that in the up-coming Sarawak State Elections on 16 April, and the General Elections which may follow shortly, that God will so overrule that governments which will be faithful to the mandate to rule for the good of the nation will come into power. Pray specially against the work of unseen spiritual powers that seek to keep the nation under their control through evil of all kinds.
10. Making Malaysia a Model Nation
The Malaysian church has an unprecedented opportunity in our generation to be used by God to bring about a powerful transformation which will result in blessings for all the peoples of our land.
a. Pray that Malaysia, by God’s grace, will develop into an advanced economy and a stable and harmonious democracy, in which all citizens are equal, with fundamental liberties protected by the Constitution and a legal framework which protect the weakest and the least. This will make Malaysia a model nation for others.
**********
CONCLUSION
As Christians and God’s people in Malaysia, we live, pray and labour in hope to be a blessing to our country!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
for list of Christian leaders endorsing this call,see here
sign petition here
The A Call to Prayer for the Church & Our Nation Malaysia Petition to The Body of Christ in Malaysia was created by and written by Pray4Malaysia Administrator (info@pray4malaysia.org).
.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
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