Some of the participants at the Annual Members Conference (AMC)

Once again the National Board went on the road to fellowship and encourage the brothers in our more than 100 chapter throughout the country. In his last presidential message, Bro Lee Gee Koon, reminded all the members that the vision of Demos Shakarian intensifies. FGBMF is still relevant and we must not lose our focus. Character and integrity must be our hallmark. The ultimate vision is the transformation of our nation. Unplanned but the messages from the invited speakers reinforced our central theme of “Advancing the Kingdom of God in the Marketplace”.

Beginning with Pastor Bernard Tay in Taiping he told us that he remembered that when he first started as a pastor some 24 years ago he was advised by older pastors to “guard” the men in his church. If the men are too involved in outside ministries they would not be loyal to the church. He was glad he did not follow this well meaning advice. Over the years he had discovered these are the men who are motivated to do excellently for God both in and outside the church. Not only are they an inspiration to him, they helped enlarge his own vision. Business men have big dreams and big visions. And they act to bring the dreams and visions to pass. He gave a recent example. Whilst the churches in Taiping continued to talk, discuss and deliberate on starting a work for the Vietnamese workers it was three FGBMF men who after much prayer got it moving. Initially with just two Vietnamese workers the fellowship grew to more than 70 within a few short months. With no intention to start a church they then handed the fellowship to the Taiping Pastors Fellowship. Pastor Bernard gives all glory to God for the Vietnamese church in Taiping. “When man works man works. When man prays God works. And when God works He works supernaturally.” His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Pastor Benedict Rajan reminded the southern brothers that fruitfulness is our spiritual birthright. (John 15:16). When we work together with God we shall achieve great fruitfulness. (Psalms 127:1,2). But like the sons of Issachar (I Chron 12:32) who led the Israelites to do what they ought to do, we must be ‘strategists’ to know the time and season. Failing to know the time and season will lead to unfruitfulness. In the 1980s and 1990s, the ministry was the ministry place. Churches, preaching points, outreaches and ministry-based works were the lamp stands and arks of the season. From the 1990s to 2004/2005, the lamp stand was shifted to social works. However, from 2005 onwards the marketplace has become the new lamp stand of God. In this new season of the marketplace, we need to take back what satan had stolen from us. These include the areas of judiciary, politics, science, medicine, entertainment, music, trade etc. The Christlikeness in us shall be the giant that will emerges to make the difference to the nation. The prophetic call and promises are found in Isaiah 60:1-5. Three things are promised in this new season: transfer of souls, transfer of wealth and transfer of skills and talents. Prov 11:11 says that “through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted….” Christians in the marketplace will be the cause for the shift. The ministry place cannot take Malaysia for Christ. But the merger of the ministry place and the marketplace will do it. The nations shall recognize this shift and it shall happen in the next 10 years.

In the central region we were blessed by Pastor Daniel Ho’s exaltation. To be missionaries in the workplace we must know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ filled with the Holy Spirit out there in the marketplace (Matt 28:18-20). We are called to be His salt and light (Matthew 5: 13, 14). Therefore we are to be influencers and impacters. To be influencers we must manage the 6 Ps of finishing well: Pride, Position, Power, Purse, Passion and Practices. Pride is the biggest danger that can easily lead to a downfall. We must never misuse our position for our own gain or glory. The abuse of power can creep on us unknowingly. Focusing on money would draw us away from God. Our passion must be under control. We need to watch what we do and how we do them. As impacters we must make a difference and leave a mark in whatever we do.

Bro Dr Thomas Chung took the last two conferences in Miri and then in Kota Kinabalu. Quoting Isaiah 27:1-13 he prophesized that in 2009 God will be working very hard in the individual lives of FGB members. But we must build up our spiritual discernment. In Isaiah 27:11 the Jews went astray because of lack of discernment; to know the mind of God and the time of the Holy Spirit. As the line that divides the power of the Holy Spirit and those of other spirits is very thin we need the whole counsel of God to distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit. In the absence of the genuine there can be no counterfeit. The ultra-violet light for this is an adequate knowledge of Biblical truths and the wisdom in understanding the Word of God.

Our leaders and participants at one of the Conference

FGB must go through a process of tearing down and building up. Tear down what is wrong so that a good foundation can be built; renewing and restoring. Put in what has been taken out and put right what has gone wrong. FGB has survived and its ministries prospered because God has continued to water FGB. God will protect FGB as we put down deeper roots for greater fruitfulness. Dr Tommy warned against thieves, robbers and wolves. These exist even in FGB.

In Kota Kinabalu, he reminded us that the FGB banner and our blowing of the shorfar are symbols of war. We are to keep on fighting the spiritual war. From Isaiah 58:12 there are four things that FGB is prophetically involved in. We are to: rebuild the ancient ruins and the waste places bound by spiritual forces; dormant, neglected or ignored. The dry land will be glad and the desert will bloom again. We are to raise up the name of Jesus as our foundation. The presence of Jesus must be in everything that we do. The breaches and gaps in the churches must be repaired. We not only must stand in the gaps but also to repair the gaps as guardian of the truth and custodian of the sacred flame. The paths, streets and dwellings must be restored according to the will; of God. Otherwise detours and diversions will lead us to cul-de-sacs. We are to look for the old paths and not take short cuts. We shall arise and shine for Your light has come (Isaiah 60:1).

2009 shall be a most exciting year as the Lord begins a new work in FGB Fellowship Malaysia. As stewards of this ministry we shall be found faithful and shall do the work He entrusted to us with all diligence and excellence.