This morning, church service was certainly different to me as far as I was concerned. Firstly , I was moved to the core of my being with a great sermon from Prof.Dr.Maniam who was the keynote speaker of the day. He not only challenged my thoughts and my heart today in fact he challenged the very core of my own personal walk and faith with GOD. No need to make police report just because he put his life in the hands of Jesus Christ, the true and living GOD while he inspired me to want this GOD,ok? I must say that what he preached was the core essence of my faith and the faith of millions around the world. A simple message of good, love and the ways of GOD. I was inspired and encouraged in so many ways. Earlier , on Saturday morning, SLing, SYuen and myself had attended a seminar from Prof Dr.Maniam on "Handling Stress and Distress". I appreciated the insights he had given to the attendees that morning.
Coming back to Sunday morning events, then came the turn of Sister Susanna Liew, the wife of the abducted servant of GOD, Pastor Raymond Koh to speak a few words. When she shared her experience of what they family had gone through, I swear that there wasn't any dry eyes among the congregation that Sunday morning. It was heart wrenching and sad to hear her speak of the abduction and events that had been ongoing without any updated news nor feedback from the authorities. It is the deafening silence from the authorities that many questions were raised about the abduction itself. The abduction was done professionally with 3 SUVs, 2 cars and 2 motorcycles. I often wonder that with our Malaysian advance IT technology and super corridors and whatever house corridors, is it not possible to identify the abductors? I must admit that I have seen the abduction so many times that I often wonder who these professionals were. I must admit that it certainly raises a lot of questions especially the use of SUVs and the whole modus operandi of the abduction that took less that 60 seconds. Small frame man in the built of Pastor Raymond Koh required 15 professional abductors to do the job?
I am most glad that despite of all these questions, Sis. Susanna took the positives from this abduction whereby candlelight vigils held all over the country had helped unite the Christian community, unite the general pubic in seeking answers for such atrocious act of abduction and the solidarity of the NGOs on this matter were solid too.
Tonight, as my family and I attended the candle light vigil at our church, CCC Melaka, I could not help feeling proud of my fellow Malaysians that had turned up for such a cause. I am proud too for doing my part and support this candle vigil. About 60 to 70 people attended the candle light vigil tonight but boy, we sang our hearts out when we sang " Sejahtera Malaysia" because we love our country , Malaysia but we hate the atrocities that are being thrown to the Malaysians as though we are some uneducated fools and need to digest every bit of untruth that had been hurled to us.
Tonight, we stand against all forms of intimidation to people professing their faith and to be able to practise our faith freely without fear and intimidation. Tonight, we stand against such blatant lack of protection and security for the people in Malaysia especially men and women of GOD. Tonight , we stand against all forms of suppression of information and the right to update the families and victims of such cases. Tonight , we stand against the lackadaisical efforts to allocated resources to bring these abductors and culprits to justice.
Tonight, as I stood in line with my brothers and sisters on the road, I noted that there was SB personnel monitoring our activities. There is no animosity towards this personnel as he was just doing his job and in fact, some of us took pictures with him as we stood in our candle light vigil tonight. I often wonder how the authorities could get such information of our candle vigil so fast and yet could not use these same resources and technology to track down and locate Pastor Raymond Koh and the rest of the people who had mysteriously disappear over the years? It often makes you wonder if the same treatment is given if some Datuks, YBs or self made or self proclaimed Datuks are missing. Hmmmnnnnn....I am being cynical, ain't I ? Well, I can't help it. I even joked with my wife that if I am missing next for what I write, just remember that someone else before me had suffered the same fate. I guess, I will be having "nasi kari" next, huh? I can safely tell you that you need not fear when you stand on the truth of your faith. Sure, persecution would come , unfairness would be uncurtailed but standing on the truth of your faith gives you the assurance and the peace of GOD.
I often wondered too that if the hostages taken by the bloody pirates and moronic abductors in Semporna and the parts of Tawau and Sandakan could be freed and found, could not the same intelligence and technology be used to help locate Pastor Raymond and the rest of the missing people like Pastor Joshua & Ruth Hilmi and activist, Sdr. Amri Che Mat? I am sure the families of Pastor Joshua Hilmi, Ruth Hilmi and Amri Che Mat were as anxious and felt helpless like Sis. Susanna and the family. Afterall, their waiting days had been much longer than that of Sis.Susanna. BTW, if ever the authorities are going to spin any obnoxious hogwash lies about the life of Pastor Raymond and what he does for the community, please remember that he helped the community when these people had been turned down flatly by their own community and every community for that matter. For your information , Pastor Raymond and his family provided Harapan Komuniti for the HIV community, the core poor, single mothers including giving hope to prisoners to start over with in their lives. Yes, do not spin lies about this man of God just to justify as usual. Afterall, the rot does start from the very top! Just do your work, locate and free the man! Use all the satellites, China made parabola dishes or even telecommunication 1001 towers to help locate these missing people. That would be most helpful relief for the affected families.
It has been 98 days and counting since Pastor Raymond Koh had been abducted. 98 days of anxiety, pain , suffering and mental anguish for the family of Pastor Raymond Koh. Praise God for churches, NGOs and well wishers for helping the family to cope mentally, physically , emotionally and spiritually. It is never easy when one goes through that uncertain news of a loved one. I pray that Sis. Susanna and daughter, Elizabeth would be strengthened in courage, faith and spirit by the small gesture and part played by our church , CCC Melaka today. Let us not kid ourselves as I say that persecution is right at our doorstep. It will come and it will happen. We need to steadfastly hold unto our faith and walk that faith when it mattered most and be willing to lend a supportive hand to our fellow brothers and sisters including all Malaysian from all walks of life and faith.
I often wondered who else is going to be missing next. I do sympathized with their families and the unthinkable anguish one has to go through this ordeal. So, please, spare a thought for Pastor Raymond and the rest of the people that had been abducted. Please pray for their safety and a safe return to their families. We can all stand in unity and in faith for the safe return of these people.
Remember, I am often reminded of this quote : Evil triumphs every time when the silent or good does nothing!
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