The 4th Provincial Gathering of the Anglican Church of the Province of South East Asia took place at the Hotel Niagara, Lake Toba, Indonesia from 18-21 February 2019. The Gathering is held once every four years to foster closer ties between members of the Province, and this time it was organised by the Diocese of Singapore and hosted by its daughter deanery, the Gereja Anglikan Indonesia (GAI). The theme was “Oneness in the Body” and in attendance were 279 representatives from the four dioceses in the Province, namely Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia.

The Gathering began with praise and worship followed by an evening of food and cultural performances by the local Batak people as well as the four dioceses. The team from our diocese presented a Sumazau dance accompanied by a live band. Over the next two days, participants enjoyed solid theological and spiritual input from the speaker, Revd Tony Yeo from Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Singapore, who spoke from the Book of Haggai. The essence of his message was that Haggai contains God’s word for those who are drifting from God’s purposes, discouraged in ministry, defiled by habitual sin and destined for His eternal purposes. In between, there was time for fun and fellowship as the Inter-Diocese Challenge Cup was won by the Diocese of Sabah who performed the best overall at Captain’s Ball, basketball, an obstacle course and Minutes to Win. Participants were also treated to an outing to Samosir Island and an amazing durian feast.

The Gathering was drawn to a close on the final morning with a service of Holy Communion presided over by the Archbishop of South East Asia, the Most Revd Ng Moon Hing and the Dean of Indonesia, the Revd Dr Timothy Chong. The Bishop of Singapore, the Rt Revd Rennis Ponniah preached from the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15), urging all gathered to sow the seed of Gospel no matter what our specific roles may be in the Body of Christ. It was truly a wonderful experience to share in the holy sacrament with brothers and sisters from the whole Province as a reminder of our oneness in Christ.

After the service, delegates departed for the two airports of Kuala Namu and Silangit to fly back to their respective homes. The Provincial Gathering may be over, but the friendships made and rekindled will, by God’s grace, contribute to His mission in the Province of South East Asia in the days to come. All glory be to Him alone.

Praise and Worship on the Opening Night | Pujian dan Penyembahan semasa Malam Pembukaan

Bishop Melter saying grace for the opening dinner. | Bisyop Melter berdoa untuk makanan pada makan malam pembukaan.

Ps Florence Mathew leading worship with Diocese of Sabah music team. | Ps Florence Mathew mempimpin penyembahan bersama pasukan muzik Diosis Sabah.

A shot during Captain’s Ball, Bishop Rennis defending. | Tembakan semasa Captain’s Ball, Bisyop Rennis sedang mempertahankan “jaring.”

Sumazau dance performance from the Diocese of Sabah | Persembahan tarian Sumazau daripada Diosis Sabah.

Perhimpunan Provinsi ke-4 Gereja Anglikan Provinsi Asia Tenggara telah berlangsung di Hotel Niagara, Danau Toba, Indonesia dari 18hb-21hb Februari 2019. Perhimpunan ini diadakan setiap empat tahun sekali dengan tujuan merapatkan perhubungan antara anggota-anggota Provinsi, dan kali ini ia telah dianjurkan oleh Diosis Singapura dengan deanerynya Gereja Anglikan Indonesia (GAI) sebagai tuan rumah. Tema kali ini adalah “Kesatuan Dalam Tubuh” dan seramai 279 wakil daripada empat diosis dalam Provinsi, iaitu Kuching, Sabah, Singapura dan Malaysia Barat, telah menyertai acara ini.

Perhimpunan ini telah bermula dengan pujian dan penyembahan diikuti oleh makan malam yang diiringi oleh persembahan kebudayaan daripada orang tempatan Batak serta empat diosis. Pasukan daripada diosis kami telah mempersembahkan tarian Sumazau diiringi live band. Dalam dua hari seterusnya, para peserta telah diberi ajaran teologi dan rohani yang mantap oleh penceramah, Revd Tony Yeo daripada Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Singapura, yang telah berkhotbah daripada Kitab Hagai. Intipati mesejnya adalah bahawa Hagai mengandungi firman Tuhan bagi mereka yang hanyut daripada tujuan Allah, yang tawar hati dalam pelayanan, yang tercemar oleh dosa yang telah menjadi kebiasaan dan yang ditentukan untuk tujuan-Nya yang abadi. Di antara sesi ini, terdapat juga peluang untuk keseronokan dan persekutuan. Diosis Sabah telah memenangi Piala Cabaran Inter-Diosis setelah memperolehi keputusan terbaik keseluruhan dalam pertandingan Captain’s Ball, bola keranjang, obstacle course dan Minutes to Win. Para peserta juga telah melawat Pulau Samosir dan menikmati jamuan buah durian yang disediakan.

Perhimpunan telah ditutup pada pagi terakhir dengan Kebaktian Perjamuan Suci yang dipimpin oleh Archbisyop Asia Tenggara, Most Revd Ng Moon Hing dan Dean Indonesia, Revd Dr Timothy Chong. Bisyop Singapura, Rt Revd Rennis Ponniah telah berkhotbah daripada Perumpamaan Seorang Penabur (Lukas 8:4-15). Beliau menyeru semua yang hadir untuk menabur benih Injil tidak kira apa tugas khas kita dalam Tubuh Kristus. Peluang untuk berkongsi sakramen kudus bersama saudara-saudari daripada seluruh Provinsi sebagai peringataan kesatuan kami di dalam Kristus memang satu pengalaman yang luar biasa.

Selepas kebaktian itu berakhir, para wakil telah berangkat ke lapangan terbang Kuala Namu dan Silangit untuk pulang ke rumah masing-masing. Perhimpunan Provinsi sudah berakhir, tetapi persahabatan yang terjalin dan dihidupkan semula akan, dengan kasih karunia Allah, menyumbang kepada misi-Nya di dalam Provinsi Asia Tenggara dalam masa akan datang. Segala kemuliaan hanya kepada-Nya.

Dr Lee Soo Tian

Diocese of Sabah delegation with the Inter-Diocesan Challenge Trophy. | Perwakilan Diosis Sabah dengan Piala Cabaran Inter-Diosis.

Diocese of Sabah obstacle course team. | Pasukan obstacle course Diosis Sabah.

Delegates eating durians. | Para wakil sedang makan durian.

Revd Tony Yeo, the speaker for the Gathering. | Revd Tony Yeo, penceramah bagi Perhimpunan.

All the bishops and assistant bishops of the Province with stoles given by the Gereja Anglikan Indonesia. | Bisyop dan pembantu bisyop daripada seluruh Provinsi memakai stole daripada Gereja Anglikan Indonesia.