Methodist Church

100 overseas alumni return for Sibu Methodist School’s 105th anniversary

SIBU – The Sibu Methodist School celebrated its 105th anniversary as well as the 35th anniversary of the Sibu Methodist School’s Alumni Association (SMSAA) recently.

More than 100 alumni from all over the world came back here for the “World Methodist Alumni Homecoming” celebrations over two days on July 7 and 8, 2007. Other than those from the region, they came from as far as Canada and the United States.

The Thanksgiving Service was held at the school hall on July 7. The Rev Dr Tie King Tai, in his sermon, gave thanks to God for “the missionaries who came to this land and blessed us”.

“We could also become a channel of blessings to others,” he said.

Special guests at the service included Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Finance II and Minister of Urban Development and Tourism, Sarawak, Mr John Ting, SMK Chairman of the Methodist School Board of Management, and Datuk Hii Yii Chiong, founding Chairman of the SMSAA.

The two-day programme included an “Outstanding Alumni Forum”; “Down Memory Lane”, an exhibition of historical pictures and students’ craftworks; “The Alumni Conference” and “The Fellowship Banquet”.

Datin Judy Lau, Chairman of the SMSAA, said: “The two days might be short but I got to meet up with some old friends whom I have not seen for a long time. It is simply wonderful.

“It is our desire to build up the networking with our alumni all over the world. We are thankful for the sacrifices of the missionaries and now we can enjoy the fruits they bore,” she added.

The Sibu Methodist School was established by missionary Rev James Hoover in 1903.

The school has since evolved from a primary school to a secondary school, from the Chinese medium of instruction to English and to the national language. It has grown from a mere 100 pupils to 2,750 and with 147 teachers today.

At the Alumni Conference, a resolution was passed to renovate the school library and the two old wooden cabins at the school. The alumni hope to raise M$3 million (S$1.4 million) for this project. – Connection, The Chinese Methodist Message, Sarawak.

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Chinese Methodist Churches meeting draws 1,200 participants

SIBU (Sarawak)

SOME 1,200 delegates from Chinese churches in various parts of the world attended the 5th Mission Conference of the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches (WFCMC) here from June 21 to 25, 2007.

They came from England, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, West Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

There were two special guests – the Rev Dr John Barrett, Chairman of the World Methodist Council, and Bishop Dr Hwa Yung of The Methodist Church in Malaysia.

The theme for the 5th Conference was “In Mission, We Connect & Unite”. The keynote speaker was the Rev (Professor) Lo Lung Kwong, President of The Methodist Church, Hong Kong.

Morning devotions were led by the Rev Dr Ezra Kok Hon Seng, Principal of Seminari Theologi Malaysia.

The other speakers were Bishop Dr Hwa Yung, the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot, President of the Chinese Annual Conference, Singapore, and the Rev Dr Su Chii Ann, President of the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference.

At the closing ceremony, the Sabah Provisional Chinese Annual Conference and The Chinese Methodist Church in Australia were admitted as members of WFCMC.

The WFCMC comprises The Methodist Church, Hong Kong; The Methodist Church in Taiwan; the Saraawak Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Malaysia; the Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Malaysia; and the Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

The conference is held once in five years and hosted on a rotational basis by the five WFCMC members.

The first conference was held in Taipei in 1987, the second in Hong Kong in 1992, the third in Singapore in 1997, and the fourth in Penang in 2002. The recently-concluded fifth conference in Sibu marked the completion of a cycle.

The sixth conference will be held in Taiwan again in 2012. The exact location has yet to be decided.

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