Dear brothers, sisters and friends,

I enjoy every second and minute of my time in STS. I now know how stressed I was in the past. Though studying involves some level of stress but I am so relieved here. I really spend time reflecting on my ministries in the past as I read the lecturers' recommended good books. All these readings help me to be self-critical. It means I have to ask myself: what is wrong (or right) with my thinking, attitude, actions and behaviour? I need to ask the same questions for my family, my church (especially Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference), and the society I live in (Sarawak in particular and Malaysia in general and the world at large).

Confession of my sin is part of being self-critical. I had a little encounter which is significant for me to share with you. I played ping pong with a lecturer just now. At a critical point when I was just leading by one point, and I was one point away from the game point, her ball actually touched the edge of the table and she could not see it and hear the touch. However, I heard the slight touch on the edge. I did not confess as I usually did. I award the point to myself and therefore, I reached the game point to go on and win the game! My conscience, the Holy Spirit, and Christ, my Lord did not let let me go. I felt guilty even while I was playing the next match. The tension in my heart was to confess to her or not. The accusations of wrong kept coming back to me. I did not want to tell her as I wanted to save my FACE & PRIDE!

GUILT & CONFESSION

At last, the final game was over. The guilt was all the time there as I began walking out of the sports hall and down the staircase to go back to the hostel. I asked myself, "Do I want to live with my guilt? Can I just forget about it? Nobody knew, she did not know, but Jesus knew and I knew. As I walked further down the staircase, the question kept coming back my mind was, "Do I want to live with the guilt or not, or just confess my sin to her?" Praise the Lord, I choose to obey Jesus and I told Him I did not want to live with my guilt. Right there and then, I quickly told myself my face and pride were minor issues, compared to the guilt and unholiness that I am going to live with forever. I choose to be honest with Jesus. I obediently walked up the staircase and confessed my sin to her. She said it must be during the close match! I said so. Though she laughed about it but deep down in my heart, my guilt was gone. My soul was uplifted!

Praise the Lord I am able to practise what Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes. Let your no be no." I pray that you all will join me to be honest with Jesus and obey Him in minute details in our life. Be honest with your conscience and Jesus, our God and master.

A faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(13th February, 2011, at STS, KK)

Posted by Teresa Han

Dear brothers and sisters and friends,

It is with much enthusiasm and excitment in writing this weekly reflection to you!

Praise the Lord I flew back last Friday night as planned and met my family and stayed with them till Tuesday morning before we flew here (KK) to celebrate our CNY. Last Saturday, I conducted a marriage blessing at GMC and preached at Bethel Church on our life goal was to glorify God and be like Christ. Today I preached at Agape Methodist Chruch (KK, Lintas Square) and conducted the monthly Holy Communion. I still preached with fire, passion and conviction on the person of Jesus, praise the Lord.

A few GMC brothers and sisters in Miri asked me about my studies in Sabah Theological Seminary after 1 month. I said it was heaven for me here! Why? The lecturers and fellow students and everything are excellent. We live together as one big, harmonious, and joyful family. The lecturers and librarians are very helpful in my learning. All my prayers on the manpower needed for my thesis were answered. Jesus gave me the needed qualified people to supervise my future thesis on how to be a BM speaking pastor.

I also learn a lot from a fortnightly translation of the seminary's chaplain weekly IN-REACHING & UPLIFTING, from English to BM. It is not only great learning from him but it is also sharpening my skill of translation which I acquired from my university days. I can bless at least 60 indigenous theological students if they read my translation. It is a big bonus for me in STS!

Praise the Lord for granting me and my wife a quick recovery from the virus attack just before the CNY eve! The reunion with my in-laws was very meaningful as I spent time sharing with them. My father-in-law is 94 years old now and we could play Chinese chess together!

Never Give Up

As I do my weekly reflection, attend lectures, read bible and books of all kinds, prepare 2 sermons, observe my family members and society and played Chinese chess these last 2 weeks, I learn a lot about not giving up on doing God's will (what is right).

Abraham Lincoln (a Christian, a former United States President in the 19th century), studied law and experienced a bad business which took him 15 years to pay the debts in 1833. He was elected as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1834, re-elected in 1836, 1838 and 1840, and served in the post until 1842. In 1860, he was elected as the President and he was re-elected for the second term in 1864. On 1st January, 1863, he issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the slaves of the Confederacy forever free. He died a tragic death by gun-shot in 1865. I see this faithful disciple of Jesus who stood by what Jesus desired him to do, through numerous defeats, he never gave up. He knew God's will of setting free the slaves and he stood by it and even paid a dear price of death for it. However, he and others transformed the nation of US. Just because he did not give up on standing for what is right! Can you and I do the same?

I see also in our patriarch, our spiritual fore-father, Abraham, a faith who never gave up on doing God's will. He obeyed God's calling to leave his comfort zone of his hometown to head towards a promised land which was not specifically identified yet. He did not give up on God who asked Him to sacrifice his only son! He did not give up in pursuing the Promised Land when he faced so many enemies and obstacles. Deep down in his heart, I see that he stood by God's will for him. He might make lots of mistakes, and he might be discouraged, disappointed, hurt and defeated many times. Because he stood by God's will, he never give up on God's will. A great character of perseverance and faith which I need to emulate!

Jesus, my Lord and Savior, gives me the greatest boost of what it means not to give up on God's will. With all the sufferings you can imagine right from the days of His early ministry at the age of 30 years old till the crucifixion on the cross, He was faithful to do the father's will to die a sacrificial death to redeem mankind from sin and hell. He overcame all the temptations of giving up to the devil and avoided all the sufferings. Can I and can you, withstood all the sufferings that come with doing God's will?

My father-in-law did not give up on a Chinese chess game which appeared that he was going to lose and finally he turned around and defeat me in a surprise move!

The challenge for your life is this: As you are certain of dsing Jesus' will,do not give up when the going gets tough. Persevere as Jesus is with you all the way.

A faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(6th February, 2011, Sunday, KK)

Posted by Teresa Han

Dear brothers and sisters and friends,

I pray that you are all healthy and strong to make disciples of all nations. Do remember to pay the most attention and love to your immediate family members!

I love Jesus

I am doing my quiet time on Genesis now. I find that our spiritual forefather, Abraham had a very personal relationship with the very God whom we also worship. He could bargain with God if he found certain number of righteous persons, he asked God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. God agreed with his requests but in the end Abraham could not find any righteous persons and God went ahead to destroy the 2 cities.

My point is not the destruction of the 2 cities. My point is Abraham was so closed with God that he could bargain with God. Who was he to do it? Why should God bargain with him, a small human being since He knew for sure the destiny of the 2 cities.

I am amazed by God's willingness to entertain Abraham's redundant requests. God chose to be so close with Abraham that He even allowed him to have a chance to intervene in His plan to destroy the 2 cities.

Brothers and sisters, this same God in the person of Jesus is also available to all of us who are His children, to be close to Him.

There was one time I bargained with Jesus. My grandmother who loved me very much was very sick and almost died. I was in my early 20s, I naively, without much thinking, prayed to ask God to shorten my life to 30 years old and lengthen my grandmother's life. It was my bargain with God which I could still remember today! I am now 44 years old. My grandmother did survive for a few more years after my prayer. I waited for Jesus to take me home as I remembered my so called bargain with Him. In fact, I was serious with Him. Meanwhile, I still got married with Julia at the age of 27. I truly forgot that I was not supposed to marry as I would die at the age of 30. If I had told Julia about it, she would definitely not agree to be my wife. Who would want to marry me for 3 years and then become a widow!

I believe God in the person of Jesus heard my bargain with Him but because He has greater plan for me, so, He allows me to live on. For all the bonus and grace that Jesus bestowed on me, how can I not love Him every day. Jesus matters to me every day as each day of my life is given by Him.

My prayer to God for my life and also a prayer at my ordination is: Jesus, the day you think I have no more value in your sight, you take me home.

A Faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(22nd Jan, 2011 at KK)

Posted by Teresa Han

Dear brothers and sisters of GMC and friends,

Praise the Lord I am able to share with you my reflection this week.

On 1st Jan, 2011, the day before I came to Kota Kinabalu, I met a drunken Iban (motorist) with a self inflicted accident on my way with Brother David (with his pick up) to Tudan Methodist Church. We were transporting some furniture for a poor family. We were stopped and I saw him bleeding profusely from his skull. Praise the Lord I learnt some first aid knowledge in the secondary school days. I immediately applied direct pressure to the bleeding wound. The bleeding stopped! I quickly asked Brother David to send us to the emergency department of the Miri Hospital. As I was sitting at the back of the pickup and holding him to my bosom, though my shirt and shorts were all dirtied by the blood, I looked at the blood clot, it was all red! That was it, my mind really thought of all the races of this world at that moment, no matter what color of skin we have, our blood is red! I am reminded to make disciples of all nations and races by this case, because our blood is all red, regardless of our skin color.

Before I came over to Sabah Theological Seminary, KK I had a dream which I want to put down in writings. It was an ordinary and yet very significant as it is an indication that God approves what I am doing. I dreamt that I was mixing with the indigenous people. I was in the midst of the indigenous people. I told someone that I had been doing the indigenous people ministry for so long (more than 10 years), I have not had that kind of dream. That brother said God was confirming His call on me to do the indigenous people ministry!

Praise the Lord, Dr Chung said my thesis is valid. She needs to pass it to the post graduate committee to approve. Do pray that it will be approved in 2 months' time so that I can start to look for material to get ready to write. At the same time, after reading my 10 paged thesis proposal, she asked me to take up 2 subjects by Dr Oy Saik, on Teaching Methods of Jesus and Serving the Adults, which are all relevant to my thesis. Also, I have registered for a subject on Theology of Ministry by a foreign lecturer. It is also related to my thesis.

I am very excited about these 3 subjects as they will equip me not only to do BM ministry in future, but they will also help me as a pastor to minister to people of all kinds. I have registered 7 credit hours and I still need to find another 5 credit hours.

I am going back to Miri on 28th Jan and I shall bring my family over on 1st Feb and we will spend our Chinese New Year here in KK this year with my in-laws. My father-in-law is 94 years old and I praise the Lord he is still okay.

I pray that you all will keep Jesus dear to your heart and honor Him in your life, souls, speech, actions and attitude. May you experience Him every day.

A faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(16th Jan, 2011. KK)

Posted by Teresa Han

Dear brothers and sisters of GMC and friends,


It is my commitment to Jesus to write a weekly reflection about my life every week. After listening to my fellow pastor's preaching on 2nd January, I pray about what to put down for this year's resolutions. My resolutions are:

a. To read through the whole bible in 2 years' time.

b. To do morning devotion for half an hour every day.

c. To encourage at least 2 persons everyday.

d. To help at least one person to come to faith in Christ and be saved.

e. To read more about nurturing sons and daughters.



My thesis proposal is " How a Chinese Bahasa Malaysia (BM) speaking pastor (of Sarawak Chinese

Annual Conference – SCAC) can overcome the psychological and cultural barriers to be an effective pastor to the Ibans (indigenous people) of Sarawak." Please pray that I will have very good working relationship with STS dean of studies and my supervisor and 2 readers. Pray that whoever is chosen to guide me will be very helpful and give very good guidance and produce a thesis that will really help SCAC BM ministry.

As I pray for wisdom for my wife and children on how to help them to grow, this week my wife experience God's help to know how to help our children to grow. My daughter is now to decide to go for Arts stream after much consideration and prayers by us parents.

I pray that all of you will be faithful to Jesus and stand up at your workplace to shine and witness for Jesus.

A faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(KK, 8th January, 20110)

Posted by Teresa Han

Dear brothers and sisters and friends of GMC,

Praise the Lord we are in comunication again after 3 weeks of break. This time I do not write to you as your pastor but as someone who is spiritually linked to you all.

Thanks very much to you all from the bottom of my for organizing a big farewell for me on Christmas (25th Dec, 2010). It was a very memorabble event that would encourage me and my family for life. The video clips contain (done by Peter Yong) all the most powerful words that encouraged me and my wife. We were greatly touched by the missionary song and the dance put up by sister Cheah Hooi on that day. That missionary truly represent our hearts' for Jesus and His children and the lost out there.

I have left Miri on 2nd January, 2011 for Sabah Theological Seminary, Kota Kinabalu to do my Masters of Theology in Bahasa Malaysia. I am doing my orientation now in the seminary. I enjoy speaking BM with the students. There are about 100 of us. 80% are indigenous people, of whom majority are coming from Sabah. A few are coming from Sarawak. For the indigenous theological students of Sabah, majority of them are Rungus, followed by other tribes such as Kadazans, Dusuns, Muruts, Lunbawangs (Lun Dayaks), Duraja, Sino-Kadazans, and Sino-Indons and a few Ibans coming from Sarawak. They are coming from Protestant Church of Sabah, Anglican church of Sabah and Sarawak, SIB and independant churches. The other 20% are Chinese, most of whom are coming from Sabah. A few Chinese like me are coming from Sarawak. Most Chinese here are Hakka.

The whole atmosphere and culture is warm and close. The best part I like is the wonderful fellowship we have.

Do pray for my wife and 4 children back home in Miri. Julia has to take care of the 4 children alone without me. Just to make sure that they go for tuition is already a big challenge.

My new email is lawhuiseng@yahoo.com You may like to communicate with me.

A faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(3rd January, 2011, KK)

Posted by Teresa Han

Dear faithful disciples of Jesus in GMC and friends out there,

This may be my last message to you this year as I may be very busy and not able to write. My heart is full of thanksgiving for Jesus put me 9 years in GMC. This is a very rare pastoral experience. In SCAC, they do not normally do it. The most they give is 6 years. As a result, as I reflect, I have the privilege to experience the following lessons:

Firstly, I am able to see the fruit of my labor – how Jesus has transformed quite many individuals through my preaching, prayer, counseling, visitation, challenge and encouragement. Some begin to do more mission, take up leadership roles, start to teach the word of God, etc. However, their growth is entirely the work of Jesus and His Spirit; many others who are helping them also play very important role. Praise the Lord for the community life in Jesus, in GMC.

Secondly, praise the Lord I can see children who grew up to be youths. Lots of them I baptized and I confirmed. I have the great privilege to make them disciples. I pray that when they set up their families in future, they will remember to apply the word of God which I applied on them. The feeling of seeing them grow up is such a joy.

Thirdly, the small group members who bid me have said something very encouraging and affirming to me. These encouragements I want to record them here to help me in my future ministry. This recent farewell by the youths and advisors on 4th December has encouraged me a lot. The summary of their comments is this. They thank me for spending time with them; teaching them character and a personal relationship with Jesus. I may not have fluent English but I am very passionate for Jesus and for the lost. I remain truthful to what I preach. I do what I preach. I am a person with faith and I persevere despite the odds. I may not be so good as what they say but I definitely work hard for they say. Then, the small group farewell 14th December also gave me very deep compliments which I believe will help me to go very far for my future pastoral ministry. I pray that all these comments about me glorify Jesus. I attribute it to Jesus working in me. The highest comment I receive so far is that they see Jesus in me. Yes, this is exactly what I am living for; I desire to be like Jesus. As I reflect on it, I know I am very far from Jesus because I am still very self-centered. I constantly struggle between my will and Jesus’ will. When I am able to Jesus’ I am so powerful for Jesus. I know when I do it, it requires so much sacrifice. There were others who said that I am passionate; they understood why I weep in my preaching; I am people pastor; I am a mission pastor; I am a church planting pastor; I am available to counsel people whom they referred and I do follow up on them; I care about their family and children; I push them to study the 9 months disciple course which impacted their lives; my personally advice and counseling help them in life decision making, etc. What a privilege to hear. My wife, Julia was also there to hear and felt encouraged.

Fourthly, I am able to build up strong, long and lasting relationship through the last 5 years of 9 month disciple bible studies. We had very good fellowship and we always do heart to heart talk in the bible studies discussion. They opened up and I witnessed with my own eyes how their lives are transformed. I believe I have helped some of them to acquire some skill of life reflections. I always remind them to make decisions that seek approval of 3 persons that is God in the person of Jesus, and others and the self. Is it allowed by Jesus? What do other people say? Can your feel comfortable with your conscience? I strongly believe that these relationships which I built up through last 9 years will not be easily forgotten. They will be with me throughout my life and I will bring them with me into heaven with Jesus!

I pray that my sharing above has made a difference for Jesus.

God bless.

A faithful disciple of Jesus,

Pastor Law Hui Seng

(17th December, 2010)