Take 2: Wong Hong Meng

This is Wong Hong Meng, he goes by the abreviation of HM.

This person also forms the core TTG or shall we say, the TTG Council.We will identify him as TTG Chairman.

He is very charismatic and flows easily with the young people.

He also gets invited to many bible schools in Malaysia to speak about Finance Management. A frequent speaker at BCM.

Note from NowStand admin: Says alot on the BCM scrutinization process.

The impact of conflict and how to fight back

by: Thomas Hammond and Steve Wilkes 2/4/2009

Conflict can start at any moment in any church. A disagreement over the color of carpet, program schedule, or a committee’s role can result in a dispute that reaches biblical proportions.

A 2004 Christianity Today survey of pastors revealed the top six sources of conflict as:

Control Issues…………....85 percent
Vision/Direction………....64 percent
Leadership Changes......43 percent
Pastor’s Style…………....39 percent
Financial………………....33 percent
Theological/Doctrine…..23 percent

Sadly, conflict is a common occurrence in congregations of every denomination across America. It happens to traditional, blended and contemporary churches for a variety of reasons, with the capacity to reach extreme levels of intensity.

In a recent national survey of more than 14,000 congregations, 75 percent reported some level of conflict in the past five years. While the conflict experienced in each of these churches might have varied greatly, it was still significant enough for church leaders to remember it, even after five years.

Leadership losses

A minister friend of mine (Steve) was pastor of a thriving church in Arkansas. The church used "ministry-evangelism" to help people and to win them to Christ. The church doubled. They started a daughter church nearby. Then, lay people rose up against the pastor, and he resigned. For a while, he helped the new church, but today he is not in full-time ministry. This is a great brother who was wounded by conflict—after church growth—and today he is working in the secular world.

I'm afraid his story is common. A church grows, conflict occurs, and preachers and lay people are hurt deeply. I can sometimes spot the "walking wounded" when they visit our seminary after graduating several years earlier. They, too, are victims. Some members leave their churches disillusioned, while others lose trust in church leadership and become less faithful in their attendance and service. These casualties may find it difficult to become personally involved in another church for fear of another disaster.

Ministers are leaving the ministry and their pulpits in record numbers. An estimated 1,500 pastors (all denominations) leave their positions each month.
Churches struggle within their fellowship to regain a sense of stability and harmony. Leadership must cope with a damaged reputation, possibly in the church, but certainly in the community. There is also the unavoidable reality that they are not fulfilling their purpose for existing.

How does conflict affect evangelism?

Several years ago, I (Thomas) began serving as interim pastor with a church that recently had forced their pastor to resign. During the first meeting with church leaders, I asked to see their numbers for the past several years. Needless to say, they were not good. Money...down, attendance...down, baptisms...you guessed it, down as well. One significant fact about this church is that they were located in the second-fastest-growing county in America. In the middle of a population explosion, they were in a terrible freefall.

As I looked closer at the numbers, I noticed the chart did not go straight down. In fact, there were several high peaks over the years. After questioning one of the lay leaders about the reasons for the decline after the growth, he pointed to each and embarrassingly admitted that the growth stopped because of "fights." He was even able to recall what the different "fights" were about. While these "fights" left emotional scars across the congregation, they also served as a deterrent.

To say it plainly, conflict stops evangelism. Any momentum a church might be experiencing through outreach almost always comes to a screeching halt at the slightest hint of a brouhaha. In Acts 6:1, we find the early church still exploding with growth. However, we know that the church stopped evangelizing when conflict arose because of one word in verse seven—"then." Verse seven says, "Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem."

So between verse one, "the number of disciples was multiplying," and verse seven, "the number of the disciples multiplied greatly," a conflict "arose."

Why do conflicts stop evangelism?

There are many reasons why the disease of conflict prevents a church from growing. C. Peter Wagner identified a classic growth problem. He called it the "Pioneer vs. Homesteader Conflict." The pioneers are the people in the church who have been there for many years. The homesteaders are the newcomers who have joined the church within the last few years. When the homesteaders begin to grow because the church is growing, the pioneers often feel threatened. They know that soon they will be outnumbered and lose control. Thus, some of the pioneers cause trouble in the church, causing the growth to slow down or stop.

A conflict also diverts the focus of church members from the fields of harvest to discovering who is on whose side. The energy that is needed for ministry, missions, and witnessing is siphoned from the body and spent on forming battle lines. Communication breaks down and critical decisions are made in secret, causing mistrust and alienation. The unity of the fellowship is broken into factions of "us" and "them" and prevents anyone from inviting a lost person to a ministry event or Bible study. Morale plummets with staff members and lay leaders as evangelistic events are canceled or poorly attended. The hope of impacting the community with the gospel in the future fades as word of the fight begins to seep into the community. It is hard to save a drowning man if everyone holding a life preserver is arguing so loudly they cannot hear his cry.

Conflict management or resolution?

Managing conflict is only a part of a leader's responsibility. This job is not complete until there is resolution! This is exactly what "the twelve" did in Acts 6. They did not ignore the complaint, hoping it would go away, or label the widows as troublemakers. They asked the church in Jerusalem to choose men to deal with this task. What task was that? Was it just to oversee this distribution of food as many believe? No! The task was to deal with the conflict at hand—the conflict between the Jewish and Greek widows. Talk about an explosive issue! This has to be at the top of the list of problems which could keep the church from growing and making progress in other areas.

The leaders of the church in Acts worked together to carefully develop a plan and communicate it to the entire church. After sharing it with the church, "the saying pleased the whole multitude."

The Acts church chose seven leaders, and I believe they were the first deacons. They were good men, full of the Holy Spirit, and men with a good reputation. Much conflict in churches occurs because pastors and congregations fail to observe these biblical mandates. Someone who is not obviously full of the Spirit should never be selected to be a deacon. And the first task of a deacon should be to watch for and quietly handle any conflict.

A strong immune system

Having a strong immune system is essential in the fight against infection and disease. The body of Christ has an immune system as well—an essential part of controlling conflict. Its presence is evident in the first church in Acts. Though they experienced all types of conflict, they were continually used by God to accomplish amazing results.

A church’s immune system can be strengthened by each member enjoying a daily, healthy diet of the spiritual nutrients of the Word of God. They must spend sufficient time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin that needs to be confessed, and praying for God’s will to be accomplished in their life and church.

It is important for each member of the body to avoid all selfish attitudes and bad behavior. Focusing their attention and energy on the needs of others allows them to serve as a source of encouragement. Finally, every member needs to exercise his faith and gifts. This keeps everyone’s faith healthy and strong and helps insure that conflict does not destroy a church.

Adapted from an article originally published in the Spring 2008 issue of the Journal of Evangelism&Missions, published by the Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Reprinted with permission from editor Steve Wilkes.

Take 1: Datuk Lim Kim Chuan

This is Datuk Lim Kim Chuan, or more famously known as KC Lim. This person forms the core TTG or shall we say, the TTG Council.

We will identify him as TTG CEO.

The StarMetro Article - Crisis Rocks Calvary Church

The whole of klang valley has read the StarMetro article on Calvary Church in PJ, however the 1st time I read it, my heart almost stopped. Why are people - learnt men - doing this to the body of Christ - where is love and where is humility?

As I expanded my search in the Internet I came across a blog called calvarytoday.blogspot.com. It seems that the TTG (not sure what is the abbreviation stands for) is on a smear campaign agaist their own church and their leaders, it's like throwing cow dung at your parents and the house that you grew up in.

Well as the saying goes, even if you bath and clean a pig, once you open the door it would run out searching for mud. This is what some christians are: Swine mentality. We have cow disease, swine flu, swine worm and swine diet and swine banning. But now we see Swine Mentality among Christians. Not to degrade swine the animal, the meat taste wonderful. We are humans, and even better we are cleanse by the blood of Jesus. How are we suppose to act like? As pigs? or are suppose to show gratitude and humilty? To be honest I am not sure what is the whole issue is about in Calvary Church - a Church known for its mega Christmas presentations.
One thing I know is those people who called themselves the TTG are against the will and ways of God.

Starting from this week, we will expose the people behind the TTG group by posting their picture in this blog - which is also one of our objectives.
From email that I have received, the TTG council consist of the following:-
1. Wong Hong Meng
2. Datuk KC Lim
3. Liza Low
4. Dr. Lum
5. Siew Chyuan
6. a couple of others

Also there's a high-end government consultant involves as well as an advisor named Vijayan.

Why am I going this? Simple Reason: Rebellions needs to be exposed.

How much should your pastor be paid?

NECF Malaysia has posted an interesting article:-

http://www.necf.org.my/newsmaster.cfm?&menuid=2&parentid=21&action=view&retrieveid=1125

Dear Readers - if you have any comments or suggestion, do email us at nowstand@gmail.com.

*We do not accept anonymous comments, if you wish to be anonymous, indicate your preferance in your comments or email.

Thanks

Calling All Christians in Malaysia

This blog was created to address the issues of rising rebellions in many churches in Malaysia. Christians are mere mortal albeit saved and sanctified.

Most pastors/ deacons and leader are clueless on how to handle this rebellions in their local churches.
The trend was this kind of rebellion was normally seen in mega churches and the end is simple - what mega church!!??

This blog will be based upon the following scripture:-

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NKJV):-
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

These people who rebel are totally ignorant of the consequences of their actions. They choose to be ignorant of the many lives that have been hurt, the missed chance of touching another person with the truth of Jesus and creating stumbling blocks all along the christians walk for many new and "old" christians. It is very sad.

Young christian as precious as they are are also taking the path of rebellions, thinking that they know better.

What are we trying to achieve here:-
1. Create a voice for the silent majority.
2. Enable the pastors to exhange thoughts.
3. Provide encourgement for the leaders.
4. Expose these rebels.
5. Provide an avenue for mediation, collabration and negotiation.
6. Assess the impact of rebellion in the local church.
7. Assess the impact of the rebellion in the general public.

We welcome your comments, however we will not accept strong worded comment and anonymous comments. You may however choose to be anonymous by indicating that you do not prefer to be identified.

You may also email articles and thoughts to the following email address:-
nowstand@gmail.com

We hope and pray that this day will be the start of a great journey for all of us - the Christians in Malaysia.

God Bless.