3rd Group Meeting

3rd Meeting of CareLink (EFSG)

We had our 3rd meeting at the home of Ninan and Regina Cherian on of August 12, 2009 at 8 p.m.

Present : Ps. Thomas Fang (Group Leader) and his wife, Ninan Cherian (Growth Champion), Regina Cherian (Women’s Champion), Steven Woo (Men’s Champion), Grace (Connect Champion).

Absent with apologies : Joslyn Foo, Fong Heng, Loh Seng Yak and May Seow.

Pastor Thomas talked about working as a team. He shared about how we did the mini teams to get started with things.

The meeting then deliberated on the issue at hand on whether to continue helping the George family. It has been brought to our attention from some pastors that the family had a history of seeking help and they felt that the family was not sincere.

However after much deliberation, it was decided to help a little further especially to help settle Mr. George in his job in Singapore. Ps. Thomas would accompany Mr. George to Singapore to disburse the cost of registration in Singapore. The Champions committed financially to a minimum of RM 700 and opened to the rest of the group to contribute as they felt comfortable.

We are of the hope that this family after having received our help would be a blessing to others as well. We felt we need to give them another opportunity despite negative reports (whether true or not true) of the past.

Ps. Thomas did an object lesson with us using cd cases. He stacked them to three levels and showed that the top (leadership) can go without the whole organization being destroyed. However if the people on the foundation went off, the structure can collapse.

We were also reminded of Richard Rajoo's exhortation that as we involve in the community and get hurt and offended by the very people we help, we need to forgive, forgive and forgive.

We closed with prayer and expressed support one for another.
The meeting ended about 10 pm.

Ninan Cherian

Follow-Up

3rd Visit To The George family.

The family made a trip to The Income Tax headquarters in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur early morning (Tuesday, the 11th August) to collect the income tax release letter and thence to Putra Jaya to collect the clearance letter to work in Singapore. By about 5 pm they arrived at the clinic to see specialist concerning their daughter’s psoriasis condition.

The doctor was sympathetic to their situation and supplied them to the required medication for 1 month's treatment on the strength of their promise to bank in the money on their return to Johor Bahru. Then the family traveled back to Johor Bahru arriving about 1 a.m.

In the evening I visited the family to verify that they the documents had been collected. I requested for photocopies and verified with the original. The following documents were given to me:

1. The Income tax release letter.
2. The Letter of Release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Letter from Ting Skin Specialist Clinic regarding the daughter’s condition and treatment.
4. Bill for the medication taken.
5. Letter of Demand from lawyers of Landlord concerning requiring eviction from house by the 15th of August.

The next stage is for Mr. George to get the Singapore documents and start work as soon as possible. He already has a job in the security line and is anxious to get started.

Ninan Cherian, 12th August 2009

Follow-Up Visit on the George Family

10th August 2009.

Pastor Das Sinnappan (our Prayer Champion) and I did a follow up visitation to the family to get to know them better and to minister to them.

Pastor Das had previously helped this family when they first ran into difficulties. When their son, Peter, was sitting for his UPSR, Ps. Das had blessed him with stationery the night before the exam. Today they came with gratitude and showed the UPSR results - 5As.

We also discovered that in the midst of their problems, they were sharing their meagre provisions with another single mother and children. We were touched by their concern for others.

Mr. George is very eager to go to Kuala Lumpur tonight. Once the documents are collected, he can start work in Singapore by the end of this week. We were unable to help immediately but his needs are as follows:

Trip to KL to collect documents and see doctor RM 200.00

Documentation fees in Singapore plus transport to work SGD 120.00

Daughter's medical treament RM 160.00

2 months rental in arrears RM 1000.00

Utilities bill RM 120.00

Provision and food RM 400.00

If anyone feels burdened to give, please contact me at 012-7878 707 or Ps. Thomas Fang at 016-722 0510.

Before we took leave, Pastor Das prayed for the family that God will restore their financial situation as he blessed Job double fold. He also prayed for healing for the daughter's psoriasis condition.

Ninan Cherian, Growth Champion

Next Meeting (3rd)

There will be meeting of our JB-Carelink group at the home of our Growth Champion, Ninan Cherian on Wednesday 12th of August at 8 pm. For address and direction, please contact Ninan on +6012-7878 707. We hope that all members are able to make it.

9th August 2009

Getting started...

Mini Team Visitations:

In the face of challenges to meet together as a whole group and do visitation, Ps. Thomas, our Group Leader, felt that we should at least go on some visitation projects as mini teams within the Small Group.

July 2009

Ps. Thomas Fang and I had the opportunity to visit, encourage and pray for Ps. Dawa, the Nepali pastor who is in our team. Ps. Dawa was recovering from a bad bout of flu.

The second visit was to a couple in Taman Perling. The husband a recent believer had just recovered from a motor cycle accident which caused a fracture of his left leg. The visit was to encourage them in their faith and to pray for their physical health. Ps. Thomas showed a portion of a movie to inspire them to greater faith and works.

August 8, 2009

There was a call for help from Mr. George in Taman Daya. Mr George in seeking help happened to meet a church member of Ps. Thomas Fang.

Ps. Thomas called me to take some of the team members to visit the family and investigate their needs. After a number of calls, the only member who was available was Bro. Fong Heng from Skudai. Most of the others had ministry being a Saturday afternoon.

When we met up with the family we realized that there was a genuine need and the story they told us was backed up with all the documents concerned. Due to some mix-up with another person, Mr. George was barred from leaving Johor Bahru to do his work in Singapore. This happened in Dec 2008 and as a result, he lost two jobs in Singapore. He is currently working in Johor Bahru as a night security guard on a temporary basis earning about RM 25 a day. But now, the documents of release are ready for collection in Putra Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

They seem to be a sincere Christian family (Mr & Mrs George with a daughter and son) without having any church support. In addition to their job problem, the daughter who will be sitting for SPM this year is suffering from psoriasis. We were able to bless them with some finances immediately to take care of urgent provisions. However they need some more financial aid for Mr. George to start work in Singapore and to cover their rental which is two months in arrears. We saw the letter of notice of eviction - they have to vacate their house by the 15th of August. Mr. George has offered to repay any financial help they receive when his job is restored in Singapore. If he can get hold of the documents and about SGD 120 he should be able to start work by next Tuesday.

We prayed for the family. When leaving, we assured them that we would get back to our small group to see ways we can help further.

Ninan Cherian, 9th August 2009.

Hebron Church, Johor Bahru. An EFC Project.

Bro. Steven Woo, our Men's Champion shares a report on an EFC ministry undertaken by his church. This is for our edification and possible participation.

Dear all,

We rolled out Hebron EduCARE campaign "Redeeming Your Time" since November 2008, up to date, we have recruited 11 dropouts and 1 game addict (besides 2 self paid students). The composition of these students are as follow:

1. Number of Dropouts: 12
2. Name: Wan Ting; Justin; Kwok Boon; Kwok Seng, Run Fu; Hui Fang; Tham; Charles; Tong; Luke Teo; Wei Hao; Shu Pei. (Kai Ling & Tian Yuan-self paid)
3. Number of graduates: 7 (+1)
4. Name: Wan Tin, Justin, Kwok Boon; Kwok Seng; Run Fu; Hui Fang; Tong (Tian Yuan-self paid)
5. Working: Justin and Wan Tin
6. Freelance: Kwok Boon, Kwok Seng, Hui Fang & Run Fu (also sitting June/July SPM paper this year).
7. Further Education: Tong (LCCI)

To build and shape a strong personality and good character are among the long term goals of EduCARE. Most of our students are currently going through MLM Leadership Training lessons (Book 1 & 2). We hope Christian Education can be imparted via CG, fellowship outing and game.

Media Production center is a place where graduate students can enhance their skills (in term of quality & production) via outsourcing and marketing activities. A new powerful PC and a scanner serve this basic requirement. In time to come, a LCD will be installed to showcase their portfolios, design and artworks.

Internship & Employment: To prepare our graduates capability & employability in the market place is the eventual goal of EduCARE. Which such, a new phase of intensive campaign is required to achieve such goal. This new campaign adopts a kind of "social entrepreneurship" program which will allow EduCARE to approach corporate companies/NGOs to join effort to shape and to prepare these graduates to finally adapt to a new working environment and hence forth become part of the working force and good citizens of the community..

Thus, we have initiated the following INTRO Letter:

Corporate Charity Adoption Program
Hebron EduCARE Campaign "Redeeming Your Time" - Battle To Save The Dropouts 「搶救青春，分秒必争」：搶救輟學者大作戰 is a youth community project specially designed to reach out to school drop-out youths of ages between 10-25 in Skudai area especially in the vicinity of Taman Ungku Tun Aminah/Taman Sutera 1 through life skills training, leadership training (Million Leaders Mandate) and Christian education.
To date, we have recruited 12 dropouts and 7 had graduated from this campaign since November 2008. We believe we are able to achieve our goal to train at least 40 students by the end of 2009.
On Sunday (13th June 2009), Hebron EduCARE presented special awards to our 2nd batch of dropout students. Most of them underwent training and are equipped with special skills in Graphic, Web, Photo, Video & Sound Editing, Flash and 2D Animation. Our trained graduates form the special backbone and human resource to businesses and industries such as printed media-publication, advertising and events management; eMedia, Web design, Web development, multimedia advertisement, Sound and Video. digital photo stereo, PA and broadcasting stereo, visual sound production etc.
In this uncertain economic climate, we firmly believe that with the success of these trained "school dropouts", we can make your generous contributions even more rewarding. Having an esteemed organization such as yours participating in this corporate charity adoption program will ensure the success of this noble mission, your effort in community service will surely win recognition and appreciation from the community. Our students can handle most of the design works involving A&P, event management/education/career fairs, sales & marketing activities.
We would like to seek your kind cooperation in allowing our graduate students to join your organization as interns/trainees for a period of 3-6 months.. Such market exposure will definitely enhance and further strengthen their confidence and entrepreneurship despite they being school drop-outs. At the same time, your organization stands to gain from reducing operating cost with their input. There is nothing more satisfying in giving "a second chance in life" to these kids and helping them to become useful citizens of the community.

Your prompt response is much appreciated. May God bless you richly.
Yours faithfully,
Tang Wai Kee
Principal

Lastly, through this campaign, we pray that more funds & jobs can be created; Hebronites and more churches can join hands (taking ownership) or initiate more EFC programs within and beyond Skudai areas. We sought your support and prayers in our attempt to complete this campaign with a perfect score. Glory be unto His Name. Amen!

God bless,

Sin HF
On behalf of EduCARE Campaign Committee

"Leadership Summit" by Ninan

15th June

What I saw and felt:

I felt that it was a historic occasion – to see representatives from small groups from around the country coming together with a new vision and a common purpose - to work towards nation transformation.

It seemed that it was a simple thing but even as we were preparing for the trip, we knew that the hindrances from the enemy were there for the trip. It was not easy to get all the leaders to meet in a church all the way up in Penang. We ourselves (the CareLink champions) had to endure a 10 hour bus ride. Sadly only 3 of us could go though we are so glad we made it. It must have been the fervent prayers and fasting of our leaders and many others within the group that would have made this possible. The faithful and tireless work of Richard, Piek See and also Simon came to fruition. May God bless them and continue to use them.

Apart from making the connections with the other EFSGs in the country, I also had a few impressions.

The testimonies of those involved in the community were an eye opener and encouragement. I came to understand that that small groups may come together from a particular church where someone (Pastor, leaders etc) has a vision to provide a service to the community or it may come as an inter-denominational group, as in our case. Even an individual who sees a need in the community may mobilize a small group to work together on a community project. All these are a part of the Externally Focused Church movement.

Suddenly, I see the ministry of the church as an exciting one. Getting involved in the community and being relevant to the needs of the community is part of the outreach programme of the church. Although we have evangelism as an ultimate motive, it is not the ulterior motive in our ministry to those in need. It is sharing the love of God in an unconditional manner. As for the other vital church ministry of disciple-making, these small groups involved in community service, provide an avenue for believers to have the same compassion and servanthood as our Lord Jesus. Thus evangelism is not so much dragging people to the church but rather that people naturally come in after having received the ministry of the church.

Thus EFSGs have the privilege and responsibilities to be a pioneer in this externally focused church movement. I believe God has given His people a new vision to once again provide leadership in society and nation. It was good to hear from our visiting pastors and leaders of the various ways, God has used this movement in the United States and other places. It was also good to hear of what has been done in our local context.

Ninan Cherian
Growth Champion

2nd Meeting

Our second was held at Cornerstone, Taman Pelangi on Monday, 4th may 2009.

Present:
Pastor Thomas, Ninan Cherian, Regina, Bene Chian, Steven, Grace,

Das Sinapan, Catherine, Joslyn Tee-Foo, Liza, Fong Heng, Mary, May Seow.

The champions met at 6.30 pm while the rest of the group came between 7.00 to 7.30 pm.

Ps. Thomas Fang welcomed us and requested all the champions to recapitulate on their roles:

ROLES:

Team Leader - To lead and cast vision and coordinate group activities.

Growth Champion - To assist Team leader and to stand in in his absence. Also to provide the drive ("engine") for the group and be concerned of the spiritual welfare of the group.

Connect champion - For internal communication.

Bridge Champion - For external communication.

Prayer Champion - To coordinate prayer activities and o seek the unity of the group.

Men's champion - To sprearhead the men's role in the various area of the ministry - e.g. Nepali and Prisoner's ministry.

Women's Champion - To spearhead the woman's role in various areas of the ministry and to be of support to the men.


Name of Group:

After the various suggestions, WeCare, Q-connect, MLMCare, Channels, CareLink etc, it was tentatyively decided to call our group as CareLink.

Leadership Summit in Penang on June 5th, 6th and 7th 2009:

The following has expressed willingness to represent the group for the conference pending the some uncertainities.

Ninan Cherian, Regina Cherian and Bene Chian.

Other members are encouraged to go as well.

There is to be a love offering for the those who are going and will be collected on the 18th May during the MLM meeting.

Visitation project:

Ps. Thomas Fann briefed us on the possible projects:
1. Hospital Visitation
2. Ministry to Foreign workers : Nepalese and Vietnamese.
3. Ministry to Prisoners
4. Ministry to those affected by economic downturn.

After much discussion, it was decided to begin with the hospital visitation ministry and from there go into other areas as opportunities arise.
Meanwhile the Bridge champion will seek the possibility of securing visit passes for the group.

As the discussion was going on, we were getting a feeling of being overwhelmed with the challenges but Ps. Thomas reminded us that we are only going stage by stage and that we will only handle as much as we can.


Next meeting:

22nd June 2009 at the home of Ninan and Regina at:

68 Jalan Mewah Ria 4/9, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru.

Close:

The meeting closed with prayer at 8:10 p.m.

1st Meeting

For our Visitation Group, our first meeting was held at Island Red Cafe at Nusa Bistari on Monday, 27th April at 8 pm.

Present:
Small Group Leader: Ps. Thomas Fang
Growth Champion : Ninan Cherian
Connect Champion : Grace Lee
Bridge Champion : Bene Cheam
Men's Champion : Mary Woo representing, Steven Woo.
Woman's Champion: Regina Cherian

Ps. Thomas Fann briefed us on the possible projects:
1. Hospital Visitation
2. Ministry to Foreign workers : Nepalese and Vietnamese.
3. Ministry to Prisoners
4. Ministry to those affected by economic downturn.

The members came up with some suggestions as to the name of the group:

MLMCare
WeCare

All members, please use you creativity to come up with a good name before we finalize it.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting is scheduled for the 4th of May 2009 at the Cornerstone centre at Taman Pelangi (the same place as our MLM meetings ) at:

6:30 pm : For the champions
7.00 pm : For All Team members.

We hope to see you there.