Pray for the Church in Malaysia
Design: Wong Ee Yuing
Dr Alex Tang, a church elder and an EAST adjunct faculty, recently wrote of how the church in Malaysia has responded to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and made a call to prayer as Malaysia faces another wave of the pandemic.
In it, he noted how the past year has been “the great reset” for Malaysian Christians: churches going digital, a revitalised body life centred around small groups, Christians seeking to know the Scripture and Christian theology more, “flourishing partnerships” among churches, innovative ministries to the needy affected by the pandemic, and a deeper dependence on God. With that as a backdrop, Dr Alex urged continuing prayers for the Malaysian Church as they now face an unprecedented State of Emergency declared by the Malaysian government valid until August 2021 due to the renewed intensity of the pandemic.
Worldwide Day of Prayer Over Zoom
Sketch hand-drawn by Patrick Ng, an EAST alumnus
Worldwide Day of Prayer (WWDP) is an event held bianually, usually in April and October. The event is a collaboration between CRU and EAST to set apart a day to spend in prayer.
For the first time, the event was held digitally instead of in-person. Over Zoom, the theme of the event was aptly named “Renew” in view of the renewal of leadership both locally at Cru Singapore level and globally under Cru International.
The community received greetings from the newly appointed Cru International President Steve Sellers. There was also a segment within the event where the entire community prayed over the new incoming Country Leader Goh Hock Chye.
Hear My Cry, O Lord
Photo: Guillaume de Germain. Design: Jonathan Yao
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!” (Psalm 27:7, ESV)
As David wrote Psalm 27, in verse 7, he pivoted from praise to prayer. There is a sense of plaintiff cry for help in verses 7 to 14. In the original language, verse 7 is succinct and direct: “Hear, O Lord; with my voice I call; pity me, and answer me” (Pulpit Commentary).
Blessed to be a Blessing
On Pentecost Sunday (31 May 2020), The Blessing Singapore premiered on YouTube, sung by 772 singers from 177 Churches and Movements in Singapore. These Christians have come together “to sing a blessing over our land” based on Numbers 6:22-27. The Bible reminds us that as we have been blessed, we need to be His channel of blessings to others. According to The Blessing SG YouTube channel,
It has been beautiful to see how the Singapore church has risen to love and care for the city, from supplying thousands of meals, masks and giving donations, to opening their churches for the homeless, and to the many unseen acts of love and kindness. As we continue to do so, it is on many of our hearts to now gift to the nation a prayer and a song, to bring hope and speak blessing.
An EAST staff is among those who sang it together with the larger community of Christians. Can you spot Agnes? Click the photo above or the video below to watch the blessing being sung. Shalom.
Be Still: An Invitation to Prayer in A Time of Crisis
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46.10 (ESV)
Cru’s Call to Prayer, 10 Apr 2020, 9 am, SGT (9 Apr, 9 pm, EDT)
Join the global Cru community in a time of intercession on Facebook and YouTube. (Click the links to view videos of the event which has ended.)
This special event, BE STILL, kicks off a 40-day, 24-hour prayer chain. This is a time to lift our eyes to Jesus and fervently seek Him together as the COVID–19 pandemic disrupts and damages our lives and our world. We join together from our homes to be still, to consider what the Lord is saying to us personally as well as globally, and to pray individually and in our communities.
Learn more at cru.org/mycampus/bestill/.
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