Peninsular Malaysia Mission’s Public Campus Ministries, spearheaded by Youth Director Pr. Tan Weoi Siong, hosted a retreat at Che Foo Centennial Centre, Cameron Highlands, from 8 to 10 November. The program brought together students from public campuses to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Public Campus Ministries.
Themed “My City, My Mission” the event drew 200 participants, including leaders and their families. This inspiring gathering aimed to encourage young people to embrace their role as missionaries within their communities and campuses.
The attendees represented a diverse group of students from public universities and colleges such as UPSI, UKM, UTM, IPG Perlis, USM, UITM, UniKL, Manipal University College Malaysia, MMU, and UTeM. And our very own, Adventist College of Nursing and Health Science (ACNHS) from Penang.
The weekend program began on Friday, 8 November, with participants from the central region arriving first, followed by those from the southern and northern regions. Some arrived throughout the middle of the night or early in the morning. The final batch to come was from the ACNHS Penang. They arrived early on the Sabbath morning.
As the session began on Friday evening, Peninsular Malaysia Mission President, Pr. Tan Meng Cheng welcomed the attendees with words of encouragement, reminding them of the purpose of this ministry and their role as Seventh-day Adventists on their public campuses. In line with this thought, MAUM Youth Director Elder Farrel Gara further expounded on this theme in his devotional. He challenged students to become missionaries on their respective university campuses, emphasizing the role of public campuses as “unreached territories,” quoting after Pastor Pako Mokgwane, GC Associate Youth Director.
The evening evolved into a more personal session of united prayer with people gathering in small groups for a meaningful time of prayer, connecting and promoting togetherness. Before leaving the hall, the attendees were invited to participate in Sticky Connection, a weekend-long activity in which they wrote meaningful messages to their new friends, reinforcing relationships created during the event.
On Sabbath morning, as the Penang group arrived, a lively worship session set a reflective and cheerful tone for an enjoyable and profound Sabbath program. A Town Hall Forum, which is customary at PCM conferences, aroused young people’s interest. Mrs. Wong Kai Fern, a partner in a local law firm, Mr. Immanuel Tan, a consultant for Gamuda Cove, and Dr. Tan Min Min, a former academician now working in pharmaceuticals, participated in a dynamic panel discussion that addressed interesting and relevant audience questions, fostering deep engagement on mission-related topics within the public campus context.
In the afternoon, Pr. Weoi Siong led a pinning ceremony acknowledging the students for their faithful service in the public campus ministry while expressing gratitude and appreciation to leaders and other participants. The ceremony ended in a commitment and dedication prayer session offered by Elder Farrel Gara.
During the afternoon plenary session, Pastor Renie delivered an inspiring talk focusing on refocusing missions and the importance of cross-cultural outreach, highlighting strategies for impactful service. He urged and encouraged students to reach peers on their campuses, inviting them to worship and Sabbath activities. Meanwhile, Pr. Maclan and his team led the late afternoon plenary session and sundown worship program. The evening group activities was supervised by Pr. Caleb and his team. The students enthusiastically participated in teambuilding activities while fostering lasting friendships.
Even though the weather was wet and cold, the warmth of the atmosphere in the hall was sufficient for the attendees as joy and laughter filled the hall. The “My City, My Mission” program successfully equipped and inspired participants to embrace their calling as missionaries. The combination of spiritual reflection, interactive discussions, and practical insights made it a transformative experience, reminding everyone that mission work begins in their immediate surroundings. This gathering underscored the potential for collective action in fulfilling the gospel commission, ensuring that the light of Christ reaches even the most overlooked corners of society.
Reported by Hazel Wanda Ginajil-Gara, MAUM Communication Department
28, November 2024, Thursday.