A Weekend in KL
Recently, our Women’s Ministry Workers, Carrie and Bibianna, had the chance to visit International Church at Mont Kiara (ICMK) in Kuala Lumpur to speak at their women’s event. Bibianna shares about their experience and what was encouraging about this trip.
On the way to KL!
Over a weekend in April, I had the opportunity to travel to ICMK with Carrie and Siew Ting for their women’s event. Carrie and I spoke at their event, while Siew Ting joined us to learn more about how they conducted their children’s ministry. This one-day event focused on how there is none like God, who is unlike us. Over two talks, we focused on how God is holy and is set apart, and how His people too, are called to be holy.
Providence
You might be wondering how this came about. How did the GBC workers end up speaking at ICMK? It was really God’s providential hand at work. This opportunity began when the pastor of ICMK attended last year’s Weekender and heard about women’s ministry at Grace. Upon returning to ICMK, this pastor encouraged two ladies to connect with our us, and they came down from KL to join our Women of Grace event at the end of November. Some of the ladies of GBC hosted them and our visitors from ICMK joined us for a weekend, where they got to meet some of our GBC members too. This friendship eventually led to this invitation and opportunity to speak at ICMK.
Looking back, I am amazed at how God worked through these events. When we planned the Weekender, no one would have imagined that it would result in this opportunity six months later. Indeed, our God sovereignly orchestrated all things.
Preparation
Carrie and I were tasked to do one talk each, and it was a daunting task! I spoke from Exodus 19-20 on how God’s holiness sets Him apart, and Carrie spoke from Romans 12:1-2 as she encouraged the women to live holy lives.
In the months preparing for this, there were many moments of doubt and anxiety. Both of us share a common fear of public speaking and we were nervous even up to the last minute, just before we went up! Carrie would like to add that it was a fearful task for her but through the whole process, she learned to lean on God and trust in His enablement. But God answered our prayers, and we were able to speak with much fear and trembling.
Carrie spoke from Romans 12:1-2 on how we are to be holy.
More importantly, during the preparation process, I was left with a greater reverence for Scripture, and amazed at how rich God’s Word is when I spend time in it. My prayer for this talk was to be able to convey the weightiness of God’s holiness, and the wonderful privilege that we have as women to be able to read, study and apply God’s Word. It was my desire that the ladies at ICMK would behold God through His Word, and be encouraged to dig deeper after the sessions.
Church, this is one way that you can keep praying for the ladies of ICMK, and also at GBC, that the women will be women who build their lives on God’s Word. Pray that we will be like the blessed man in Psalm 1, who is like a tree planted by streams of waters, that yields its fruit in season and prospers as we act in obedience to God.
Partnership
At this women’s event, about 60 women from ICMK were present at this full-day event, and most were members of ICMK. I was very encouraged by this turnout, as this represented half of their membership!
The women were eager to gather, for this was their first women’s event in about 2 years. The women heard the Word taught and also had time to discuss in groups to help each other apply what has been heard. The games and meals also allowed time for the women to get to know one another. Women also pitched in to help with this event – serving meals, contributing food, doing the AV, leading worship, organising games, leading the discussions, putting together the logistics etc.
An encouraging time of discussion in groups!
Carrie, Siew Ting and I joined different groups and we enjoyed the time that we spent with the women. The ladies of ICMK were warm and hospitable, and shared sincerely and honestly about their reflections from the text as well as questions that they had. It was encouraging to hear how God is at work in their lives, and be reminded that our God is at work in the lives of saints in another local church. Though it was our first time meeting them, the gospel united us, and broke down barriers. God also equipped the church with members that had various gifts, and the members used it to build one another up.
We also had the opportunity to join them for their Sunday service, and it was a joy to worship the same God in a different country and church. In our time together, we were also blessed by the generous hospitality of the pastor and his family, the elders and our hosts. They provided accommodations for us, picked us up from the airport and hosted us for meals. I was reminded by the New Testament church, and the ways that they partnered and helped each other for the sake of the gospel. God can use us all, even in the ways that we might think are insignificant, for the gospel.
This experience taught me to marvel at God’s providence and see how He is at work as I worked to complete the task. It also opened my eyes to see how gospel partnership can and is taking place today.
And for you, dear reader, how do you see God at work in your life today, and as your reflect on your journey thus far? What is God teaching you right now, as you endure? Who are the gospel partners that God has placed in your life that you can befriend, help and do life with? May you be encouraged too, to see God’s hand in your life.