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Unseating “Little Napoleons”: Malaysia’s Mission Leaders Unite to Tackle Mission Priorities

By Joshua Snyder

Malaysia’s mission leaders outlined actions steps to respond to eight mission projects in a 17 July meeting of the Malaysian Center for Global Ministry (MCGM). MCGM billed the meeting as a “roundtable dialogue with mission leaders.” An estimated ninety-five percent of Malaysia’s mission agencies attended the meeting.

“If the Church in Malaysia is to play a meaningful role in the work God is doing in Asia, we have to learn to work together. That is what this network is all about,” said Bishop Hwa Yung of Malaysia’s Methodist Church.

Reverend David Packiam, Chairman of MCGM, echoed these sentiments, “We want to be an example to Malaysia and other nations as well. We can choose to work together.”

“We see a clear, definite and committed network,” commented Bishop Yung in his closing remarks. “I am very happy.”

MCGM is intended to unseat “little Napoleons” (a reference to a statement by Malaysia’s Prime Minister that local leaders wield too much personal power) in Malaysia’s mission work by creating a forum in which the different agencies can work together.

Prior to the meeting the MCGM had identified six projects: World Evangelical Alliance’s Tentmakers International Congress hosted by Malaysia from 9-11 July 2007, missionary training through the Malaysian Cross-Cultural Missions School (MCMS), church mobilization, Outreach to Foreigners (O2F), member care and a missions hub. Mission leaders identified two additional projects during the meeting: youth mobilization and missions education as being priorities.

Working groups defined action steps toward the fulfillment of each project over the next five years and facilitators were chosen to help carry on these steps.

Tentmaker’s International Congress
The priority is to create awareness among Malaysian Christians of tentmaking as a viable alternative to traditional missions work, in particular among young Malaysians who will not go as full-time missionaries but will go as professional tentmakers. The working group will propose to the Board of Tentmakers International topics and speakers for the conference, establish the number of Malaysian participants and form an organizing committee to address this issue.

Missionary Training and Missions Education
This group consolidated missionary training and missions education and declared that missions education in the Malaysian Church is vital and a “prelude to missions awareness.” A missions education structure is therefore essential. MCGM will examine training courses such as World Outreach’s Kairos. The working group suggested that the Malaysian Cross-cultural Missions School seek accreditation by local seminaries. MCMS is designed to train missionaries and tentmakers called to serve among the unreached peoples of Southeast Asia.