Diakonia 2025 Volume 1
CBSM Church Revitalization Task Force (CRTF)
Chiew Sai Kee
tcjjj@hotmail.com
The CBSM Church Revitalization Task Force (CRTF) was set up after the ALC 2021 and convened its first meeting on the 2nd of October 2021.
It is specially tasked to study, facilitate, equip, and provide resources to the smaller assemblies, in partnership with CBSM and its board of Trustees. It also seeks to explore the deployment of “full-time” worker/s to small assemblies and to establish a partnership with the Chinese Assemblies Secretariat of Malaysia (CASM) with the purpose of revitalizing small assemblies.
Visitations
Elders in the CRTF started connecting with selected smaller assemblies in the northern and east coast regions, either through Zoom meetings or physical visitations.
As a result of the visitations, we have been able to network with a few assemblies. In collaboration with the CASM-CBSM Full-Time Workers’ Trust Fund, we have helped in the funding of two “full-time” workers at two English assemblies, Bukit Mertajam Gospel Center (BMGC), and Taiping Gospel Hall (TGH). The Workers Trust Fund helps by partially supporting the workers. The Workers’ Fund is also supporting two other believers who are serving at Kuala Kangsar Gospel Hall (KKGH). We appeal to the English assemblies to contribute gifts to the Workers’ Fund above.
In our collaboration with KKGH, we have a CBSM Elder who sits on the committee of KKGH and also serves as one of the signatories. CRTF, networking with Dr. Khong Yoon Loong of Christian STEM Nexus, has been able to run a regular STEM program at TGH, drawing children to the assembly. Dr. Khong has also been running STEM programs at various other assemblies as well.
“Full-time” workers
Besides networking with assemblies, one of the goals of the CRTF in revitalizing small assemblies is by way of equipping, training, and providing full-time workers to be assigned to these assemblies. This is most challenging, and we pray the Lord will call many to come forward and move out to smaller assemblies to serve full-time there. It is encouraging that there are assemblies intentionally educating and encouraging members to consider seriously full-time ministry, as and when the Lord calls them.
CRTF is happy that CBSM, in collaboration with the Australian College of Christian Studies (ACCS), a brethren educational entity, set up the Diakonia Training Institute (DTI), providing accredited courses. DTI, with its board of lecturers from assemblies, has started conducting introductory courses now before it officially opens for student enrolment. On the 17 th June, one such introductory course, “Fact vs Fiction: Empowering Critical Thinkers to Influence and Edify,” was conducted. It is our prayer that DTI will be the platform where assembly members, “full-time” workers, or those considering serving “full-time” can come on board and be trained.
Church Planting
Church planting is another focus of the CRTF. Assemblies in Malaysia have hardly been planting churches over the last ten years. With the focus on encouraging more to consider serving the Lord full-time, providing infrastructure like DTI and financial support, CRTF hopes to be able to network with assemblies in this area. CRTF is beginning to move in this direction by providing some courses on Spiritual Maturity in collaboration with Biblical Eldership Resources (BER). The present cohort with fifty registered participants runs for 6 months and will graduate in July.
Further Networking
CRTF has supported Biblical Eldership courses for elders and ministry leaders with leadership succession goals in mind. At ALC 2023, a booth for the BER School of The Shepherds (SoTS) courses was set up. Many, including non-Elders, have benefited from the courses, learning the biblical principles of the Shepherd Elder. CRTF is also working with another task force, the Youth Revitalization Task Force, reaching out to encourage our younger generation of assembly youth. Since IBCM8, Kuala Lumpur, a group of committed young adults has successfully organized last year’s one-day Youth Rally 2024 at Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall (PJGH). They have planned this year’s three-day Youth Rally 2025 (for youth aged 12-23) in Elim Gospel Hall, Ipoh, this coming June. With the rising cases of mental health issues, CRTF collaborated with Datuk Dr Ang Kim Teng, from SSGC, to run the Mental Health First Aid Course (MHFA). Three such courses have been successfully run, and we had several elders and assembly members who participated.
Conclusion
Many assemblies are reaching out to smaller assemblies to help with their ministries. Such collaboration and networking are helpful. CRTF will continue to help enhance such collaborations, and assemblies can reach out to us. God willing, we can do something together