Photo shows a cake-cutting ceremony during one of PBM’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
KUCHING (Aug 14): A total of 1,935 pastors, church leaders, ministry workers, church members, and guests attended the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) Methodist Church’s Bahasa Malaysia Ministry’s (PMB) 25th anniversary celebrations held simultaneously in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri recently.
Themed ‘Thanksgiving and Hope’, the celebrations were not merely an opportunity to look back on PBM’s 25-year journey, but also a testimony of the unity of the Church across districts, ethnic groups, and generations in Christ.
Organising chairman Pastor Kwan Hock Long said all participants shared in fellowship meals, thanksgiving services, praise and worship, historical video presentations, testimonies, cultural performances, and choir presentations, cake-cutting ceremonies, as well as the preaching of God’s Word.
In Kuching, he said 456 people gathered at Trinity Methodist Church, while the livestream recorded 189 views.
The Kuching West District superintendent Rev Tan Chung Kiat delivered a message entitled ‘Thanksgiving and Hope’, highlighting the theme ‘Three Tenses, One Unchanging God’.
Tan reminded the congregation that God has worked in the past, is working in the present, and will continue to work in the future.
During the evening, the Best Anniversary Logo Design Award was presented to Pastor Lovinna Merang from Chin Seng Methodist Church, while the Best Anniversary Theme Song Award was presented to Brother Lionel Jong from Trinity Methodist Church.
In Sibu, 561 people from Sibu South, Sibu North, Sibu West, Sarikei, Bintangor, and Kapit gathered at Masland Methodist Church.
The spirit of unity was clearly demonstrated through the cooperation of churches in preparing food, decorating the venue, maintaining cleanliness, and contributing to singing, choir, dance, and various other aspects of the programme.
Rev Thomas Lau Sie Ngiu shared two key hopes for the PBM ministry – to continue putting the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first through evangelism and discipleship, and that the congregation would experience an abundance of God’s grace, enabling them to do good and live generously towards others.
In Bintulu, 449 people attended the Thanksgiving Service at Gloria Methodist Church, with a total of RM3,953.20 received as a monetary offering.
Kwan said the celebration opened symbolically with three gong strikes and featured a Ngajat dance by the PBM Women’s Fellowship, as well as a children’s presentation by the Methodist Community Service Centre.
SCAC president Rev Dr Lau Hui Ming delivered a message entitled ‘Grace Is Never in vain’, based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
He encouraged the congregation to give thanks in all circumstances, live in holiness, and remain faithful to the Lord.
The celebration also featured the testimony of Brother Bryan Luwes, who shared about the transformation in his life after receiving Christ.
He is currently pursuing Pre-Theological Studies at Methodist Theological School in Sibu.
A total of 469 people gathered in an atmosphere of great joy in Miri where a variety of performances, including traditional dances of indigenous communities, sape music, women’s presentations, and a combined choir, highlighted the beauty of cultural diversity within the unity of the Body of Christ.
Rev Law Hui Seng delivered a sermon entitled ‘The Spirit of Mission’, based on Mark 1:29–34.
He emphasised that believers are not only called to be disciples of Christ, but also to become disciples with a heart for mission—willing to be “go-betweens” who bring others to Jesus.
The testimony of Sister Sayu from Tudan Methodist Church further strengthened this call through her simple yet profound response of faith: “Yes, Lord, use me.”
Kwan said although each location had its own unique emphasis and expression, all four celebrations bore the same testimony, that PBM’s 25-year journey has not been the result of human effort alone, but is the fruit of God’s grace, faithfulness, and guidance.
“Behind the growth of this ministry are countless prayers, sacrifices, offerings, tears, perseverance, and faithful service by pastors, preachers, leaders, ministry workers, and church members who have participated in God’s work,” he said.
Therefore, Kwan said the 25th anniversary is not an ending but the beginning of a new chapter of ministry.
“PBM continues to be called to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, equip the next generation, raise up leaders, strengthen missions, and reach out to the community—particularly BM-speaking communities and indigenous communities throughout Sarawak.
“With thanksgiving, PBM looks back on the 25 years that have passed. With faithfulness, the ministry continues its work in the present. And with hope, PBM moves forward into the future, confident that the God who has led this ministry throughout the past 25 years will continue to guide every step of the journey ahead,” he added.
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