Before we arrived at our ministry site, we learned a few things. We couldn’t pray or worship loudly, and we couldn’t openly talk about Jesus. Malaysia is a Muslim country and it is illegal to evangelize the indigenous Malay people. Additionally, there has been violence in recent days against Christians; including eight church bombings in December. So needless to say, if you are a Christian, you have to be careful. I must admit, I was a little confused and curious as to how ministry was going to go down if we couldn’t outright tell the Gospel to people.
Our ministry this month is to teach English at a community center for a few days during the week, to build relationships with the people around town, and to pray. Our contact encouraged us to make declarations for the people and so we have been praying scriptures over this town every day, and worshipping and interceding for a few hours every morning and night. What we have been learning over and over is that prayer is not just something that you do before you do your “real” work. Prayer is the work.
Through intercession alone, our host has told us so many cool stories, including a woman who came into his center and couldn’t stop remarking how, “something was different when she walked in,” and she kept asking what it was. Streetlights have even been erected in multiple areas where they declared the light of God to come.
In Psalms 22:3 it says that God is enthroned on the praises of His people. So when we praise and worship God, we are building a throne for Him to come and dwell upon. As we proclaim Him as King here, His presence will dismantle any other powers or authorities over this place. We are convinced that prayer is changing the atmosphere here. I truly believe that the presence of God, and encounters with Him, are what will win these Malaysian hearts. In fact, a majority of the Islamic world comes to know Jesus through visions, dreams, and other supernatural encounters with Him.
One thing we’ve noticed about this town is that it is very peaceful, almost eerily so. It kind of reminds me of the movie, “Pleasantville.” The people seem asleep. But the reality is that the Spirit of God is already here and moving, we just pray and declare that the people will wake up and see how glorious and amazing He is. Jesus has already died and risen from the dead. It is finished, sin is paid for and His forgiveness and grace has come!
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” [2 Corinthians 6:3]
