SEALINK CONFERENCE IN MYANMAR

After a trip to Yangon, Myanmar I realized that I must be fully appreciative of my homeland Malaysia. I may not like a lot of things that are happening here. I may not be happy with the inflation, the rising cost of living, and the price hike of petrol. I certainly am frustrated with corruptions, violence and injustices. Yet, I am thankful I am a Malaysian. I am thankful that there is still freedom and peace in this country. Myanmar is trapped in the 70s. But I am sure that if the government of the day in Myanmar continues to work towards greater democracy, greater freedom and peace they will rise up to be a great nation. What about Malaysia?

I saw much unemployment and much poverty in Myanmar - people living in just basic sustenance. In Malaysia we have so much food, so much resources and luxury. Let us not fall into the trappings of affluence and become blurred in our vision of the future – lackadaisical and laissez-faire, no longer visionary and far-sighted. As Christians we need to think beyond the NOW and be prepared for the near return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Are we ready? Are we willing to sacrifice to see the Gospel of the Kingdom spread to the ends of the earth? Passion without sacrifice is just selfish passion but passion with sacrifice is the fuel that the Lord can use to set the world on fire – the fire of revival.

Years ago, in my younger days, I was so fired up for missions. I travelled quiet a fair bit to East Malaysia and Thailand for missions. I have long forgotten the adrenalin rush of missions. I am too contented with the “ministry” back home in Penang. Yeah, I do attend mission conferences and consultations but somehow it has become academic and rhetorical. I realized, after SEALINK in Myanmar, that I could no longer be a champion of Global Mission from a purely philosophical-rhetorical verbiage but to start getting my hands dirty – to be holistically involved in societal transformation with the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. I pray that I will begin to walk the walk and not just talk the talk till the cows come home (they never do – period!)