Lutheran Theology and Spirituality in a Global Context: Communicating the Gospel thr ough Preaching and Modern Media

Communicating the Gospel in the Malaysian Context by Sivin Kithttp://sivinkit.net/

Introducing Malaysia & myself My name is Sivin Kit, man of one wife May Chin, and father of four children. They are Gareth (9), Elysia (6), Ewan (4) and Anja (2 Months). Since February 2011, I am doing my PhD in Religion, Ethics and Society with the University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. Its refreshing to have a pause from 14 years of being a pastor. Especially the last 11 as the founding pastor of Bangsar Lutheran Church. My sincere thanks to Mission OneWorld for giving me the chance to share my experience and some lessons. It has been a learning experience for me to look back as well with new eyes. Bangsar Lutheran Church re-started in the year 2000 Kuala Lumpur. I called it the resurrection project because the church was born previously during the times of the missionaries to Malaysia in the 70s, but unfortunately had to close down. So, a small group of about 12 of us started this adventure together. Now, Kuala Lumpur (KL) is the capital of Malaysia. Its perhaps a total opposite of what Neuendettelsau is with heavy traffic and a packed population of about 1.4 Million (2010). Bangsar is very close to the heart of KL and known at one point for its pubs and rich residents. But when we went there, our focus was less on that but more on the existing relational networks we had, and slowly to get pass the stereotype of Bangsar and allow the church to organically grow. So, we saw the church premises more like a base or home, rather than a church building in a traditional sense where people could walk in. Because even the Bungalow house we renovated was located more on the edge of Bangsar, rather then the center of Bangsar. When I started with the early group, I was 29 years old just got married, and so were most of them. The only children we had were three then toddlers. So the group was mostly young adults in our late twenties and early thirties. Its important to highlight this background, because first, whatever I am going to share is very much based on this history and context. It assumes the first group which gave ourselves a lot of freedom to explore and experiment with ideas. The church leadership of that time, the previous Bishop Gideon Chang, and current Bishop Philip Lok have been supportive throughout. And we had no hindrances in trying new ideas. Second, I want to stress the uniqueness of each person, each congregation and each context. So, what I share is not offered as something others should copy but perhaps more like a witness of how we embody the Gospel in our given situation, and trust in the leading of the Spirit. Having said that, I however, do believe that, in the midst of reflecting together, the listeners might be able to hear what is most appropriate for their situation given the limitation and resources that they have. Third, especially on technology like social media. I obviously do no take the position of a NJ pastor who blamed adultery on Facebook. And I would be very much be close to our Icelandic pastor whom advocates the use of technology. However, as I will be talking about specifics, I do not believe technology or technical know-how is the solution to our problems. E.g. if I start a blog, or have a facebook account, use twitter, then I would automatically be successful in reaching out and preaching the gospel. I do not see technology as neutral as well. There are many assumptions about technology which we can talk about later, but for starters it assumes

someone has access to a computer for example, and that itself assumes a certain economic standing in society. Another thing is the obvious dangers of technology, and the illusion that we have community when we dont. These are complex discussions which we can deal with perhaps though the Q & A. Fourth, I think the emphasis on Theology and Spirituality is very important from the theme. Because underlying our discussion on communicating the Gospel today, theology and spirituality gives us the form, the content and the discernment needed in a world which I assume to be quite messy! Two Interests I have been asked to share on first, the How and the What I have done thus far. I will no doubt add the Why along the way. And because the learning journey has also been a very personal one. There will be quite a strong autobiographical dimension. 1. The way you are communicating the gospel on the more technical side. How are you doing it (Sunday service, evangelization, through the internet, visits, twitter etc.) How do you reach the people? Sunday Worship Gathering& Other Worship Experiences I learnt a lot during the first few months in 2000, because we had to meet in our parsonage before moving back to assigned premises in Bangsar. And in between we borrowed a little chapel when we grow from 12 adults to about 20 people. This was very much the DNA of the church which is about the people more than the place. And yet, the place is important, because when you are in a home, its harder to be very formal, and in a home we somehow are more relational. As we moved to the chapel, and then the Fathers House (as I like to call it), there was more structure but then the relational dimension was very much in our minds. So that informs the way we do our rituals so to speak. For me, it was never a debate between using modern songs or hymns, or debates about liturgy or free style. As a former youth pastor and worship leader/musician, I had come to the conviction that these debates distract us from the main focus of worship, God, and how a community needs to work out dynamically different ways in which people connect with God. So, for the main Sunday Worship we use a simple fourfold model, Gathering, Word. Meal/Response, Sending, to guide the flow of the service. And following the Christian year to guide the themes of preaching and focus, besides more specific emphasis on special topics of concern. How this was done for example was (using some resources from the internet), encouraging creativity with classic and contemporary resources:
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Overview: http://textweek.com/ Preaching: http://www.workingpreacher.org/

Our congregation were generally very creative people, and my job was just to give people space to try within the framework we have, i.e. the 4fold model and the Christian year. We were also open to use what we have within us, e.g. our use of powerpoint and music, our own photos, input on how things can be done with content supplied to them. Another examples areSpecial services for the year:
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Stations of the Cross http://sivinkit.net/archives/stations_of_cross.pdf Maundy Thursday Meal (Adapted): http://sivinkit.net/2009/04/10/maundy-thursday-a-ritual-ofremembrance/ Tenebrae Good Friday: http://sivinkit.net/2006/04/14/good-friday-tenebrae-tonight/ Prayer for Children at Risk: http://sivinkit.net/2007/06/02/world-weekend-of-prayer-for-children-at-risk/

Small groups Now it is clear that, the bigger gathering on Sunday now is seen as a cluster of not just individuals, but of smaller groups of relationships, first families and then friends, and newcomers. To balance what we experience as One Church, we too learn to experience church in smaller settings. As far as the format and content is concerned, we tried all the following:
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Using lectionary text with guides : http://catechumenate.org/index.php?page=bible-studie Free Resources from ELCA http://www.elca.org/ Reading a Book Together Reading long passages of Scripture together (e.g. 20 chapters a week)

It became very challenging as families grew, and the children were toddlers needing attention. So, some met weekly, others fortnightly. Children As the church was a young growing one as young families, we also needed to pay attention to what it means to be Intergenerational and how we can help children connect to God. e.g. Reclaiming the Gift We Typically Ignore http://cpc.ymtoday.com/articles/2070/reclaiming-the-gift-we-typically-ignore
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Godly Play http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/ Faithinkubators http://www.faithink.com/

Social Media as extension of self to others (and vice versa)

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Blog http://sivinkit.net/ I have used my blog mainly as a personal blog, a mixture of confessions, meditations, random thoughts, linking and sharing of pictures. I do not use it as direct evangelism, but as an authentic witness of how I live my life (as much as I can and willing to share it ). It the early years this was my primary way beyond the local to the global. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sivinkit For FB, it started of first as place to collect my photos, and compile my books, but its also extended now to sharing and spreading ideas, and concerns. It also shows like my blog what I am concerned about. Twitter https://twitter.com/sivinkit I use this mainly to share short spurts of idea, and links to people. 140 characters! Its been good to keep me from being longwinded! Blog reader: http://www.feedly.com/ This is how I keep up with blogs from friends and church members.

Internet as resource and new field The main benefit of the internet as shown above is the vast resources available. But sometimes, it can be overwhelming too. Furthermore the quality of the resources depends on each case. There for having a theological and spiritual grid is important.

2. What are the contents, when you are communicating the gospel? What are you telling the people so that they become Christians? What are the most important points of Christianity in the cultural context of Malaysia? The starting point of sharing is who I am, and how I am living and struggling with what it means to be human, a Christ-follower, earlier as a pastor and now as a PhD student in todays world. At first, this may sound very individualistic and the danger is really there. But the fact is we have no other starting point, if we want to be personal or relational. This doesnt mean telling everything about ourselves. I still keep a personal journal for very private thoughts. But when I blog, or use FB, or Tweet for example. Im very aware that not only there are people directly reading, there maybe others eavesdropping. Perhaps, what is more important is what do I talk about, what is the content? First, in hindsight, I noticed, where I have gotten most response is when I am reflecting on very human and common themes, from then most personal and especially in later years of my blogging the social and even political. E.g. the joys and struggles of family life, my experience of civil disobedience, and reflections on the struggles in Malaysia. Second, I share occasionally and in between what I talk about above, God and the what being a Christian means for the human themes I mentioned above. Some times very explicitly in posts which are more meditative with relevant scriptures or texts, other times more subdued implicitly with a phrase or two. Perhaps, in the early years of BLC, when I joined a club called Toastmasters, I had to learn to speak like a normal human being again. Sometimes, Christians do come across with a language no one understands.

Third, key themes I think have been constant for me have been, the following: a) Luthers Solas as a model. Christ alone the focus on Jesus and not just his uniqueness, but his relevance to my life and our life in general. Grace alone this has been a key message in a works driven country like Malaysia. Grace here is not just Gods unconditional love, but also Gods initiative in all things, and how spirituality is important in a world where its easy to forget that. Faith Alone Trust, taking risks to believe, and hope, I love the phrase Jump first, fear later! Scripture Alone This is where I connect with meditations on specific texts or theological themes. Not so much of direct exposition or exegesis, but more reflections and devotional. b) Community life as a church, and Christians in general. Stories from Bangsar Lutheran Church, and loose network called Friends in conversation, and wider denominational and ecumenical interactions. c) Socio-political concerns: a. Interfaith relations b. Religion and the State &Islamization c. Justice and peace themes, Democracy and Human Rights d) Random fun stuff and interests: music, movies, technology, leadership, etc.

Sivin Kit on The Good News

04.17.2009

Illustration by Nidhi Balwada from India

This entry is a part of an on-going blog series called The Good News, which is taking place throughout the Easter Season, from Easter to Pentecost. A full list of the contributors can be found here. Sivins local city newspaper is The Sun of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia . Here is Sivin Kit on the Good News. THE GOOD NEWS There has been a lot of bad news in Malaysia for quite a while. Perhaps more will come. The fabric of Malaysian society in public and in private are faced with forces pulling people apart and pulling people down, crushing dreams and aspirations, and sowing seeds of distrust or destruction. We are moving into the 6th By-election in the coming month after a roller coaster ride in Malaysian politics since the last 12th General Elections March 8, 2008. Corruption, power play, law suits, racial religious sentiments played up, political coups and turmoil occupy our newspaper every day until I have concluded subscribing to cable TV is a waste of money when reading the front page has more twists and turns. We have had a new prime minister sworn in during April 2009. But we dont know whether it means we are geared to a better future. That is front page news. Out of the sight of the public eye, there battles with cancer, struggles with credit card debt, shaky marriages, children at risk, no job security, refugees on the run, the list goes on and on. Life must go on, somehow. Of course, there are those who will say it is not that bad. Maybe, but we have to tell it as it is. In all honesty, we all know it is not that good either. Lets agree it is a mixed bag of news for now. So, What is the Good News for our city? What is the Good News for the people living in Malaysia? The story is not over yet. As a Christ-follower, I do not want to and cannot slip into hopelessness, numbness or worst cynicism. On Easter Sunday, I heard the good news again in the form of a personal reflection after meditating on the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to a young church found in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:1 11). Everything can change, will change, or more precisely has changed because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every change we desire, or better God desires for the good of the world and all people works through us not out of obligation but from an overflow of the grace of God in us, and w orking out through obedience and an ongoing re-orientation to the reality of our Living Lord.

It is good news when after I sat and listened to my new Buddhist monk friend share about how and why she became one, the parting words were, How did you become a pastor? We will continue this conversation again as we work together to share strategies on Religion and Society for common good in a project directed to the government and the public. It is good news when more than a few Muslim friends who are unhappy with the way Islam is used for political mileage in our country, have begun to sit down and work things through with respect in small steps. It begins as simple as an email exchange on a controversial topic on the use of the word Allah to translate God in the national language Bahasa Malaysia which we have done for ages. It is good news when two car loads of people could sit with new friends who ran away from their home country and have been stuck here for the past 5 years weaving palm crosses celebrating Christ and God who has not abandoned them. There was no short term possibility yet, mere presence of people who cared enough to be there was sufficient for now. It is good news when the life story, convictions and dreams of my 23 year old friend andfellow Christfollower, Markus impacted almost every sphere of society that is fragmented by race, religion, national identity, economic standing, and politics. He died in his sleep on February 4, 2009. Yes, even death cannot stop this change where glimpses of the kind of world God is dreaming of is caught by those who stop and take notice. A fresh look at Christs resurrection invites us to stop and take notice of the influence and ongoing impact of this person Jesus Christ his life, his death and most of all his resurrection, whos story is not frozen in the past but continues in the present. Theres something good in this story of Jesus. The good news is there is something good which can and will happen here and now even in the midst of a world full of bad news, death and destruction. God is not finished with us yet. I think the good Archbishop of Canterbury says it quite well: Resurrection has started. How do we know? Not by working it out and adopting it as well -founded opinion, not by deciding that this idea suits us, not by getting all the arguments straight, but because we are dimly aware of something having changed around us.

Sivin is the Husband of one wife May Chin, and Father of three children Gareth (7), Elysia (4) and Ewan (1). Hes the pastor ofBangsar Lutheran Church, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which was resurrected in 2000. He finds some time to be involved withFriends in Conversation and The Micah Mandate. He is wondering whether he will ever finish his part-time Masters of Theology with The South East Asia Graduate School of Theology. Finally, He is addicted to Potato Chips and blogging athis garden. He needs prayer is all areas

Whats next?