Over the Christmas/ New Year period, two members of the pastoral team left St Mary’s and went back to their home states of Sarawak (Rev. Iben Arang) and Sabah (Pastor Sam Chong). Gregory Kong took the opportunity to interview them about their time in St Mary’s, as well as their view of the ministries of which they were a part.

---

• 

• 

Rev. Iben Arang
How did you become a member of the pastoral team at St Marys Cathedral (SMC)?
I was invited by the then-Dean (now Assistant Bishop Rt. Rev. Jason Selvaraj) in September of 2006 to pastor the Iban (and later, the BM) congregation. Prior to that, I was with Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB, or Borneo Evangelical Church). There was – and still is – an urgent need for people coming from East Malaysia to be ministered to in their native languages by someone who understands their requirements and concerns, and I was happy to be able to be part of the pastoral team’s efforts in reaching out to them.

How long were you at St. Mary’s as a member of the pastoral team?
As of December 2014, I had been part of SMC’s pastoral team for just a little over 8 years.

What major areas of ministry did you participate in?
I was the senior pastor of the BM and Iban congregations. The Iban congregation was the first to start, followed by the BM congregation.

How have you seen these ministries grow during your time in St Mary’s?
There are 3 major areas in which I have seen the Iban and BM ministries change over the past 8 years. Firstly, they have developed in terms of community participation. Many of our congregants have gone from just being churchgoers/ attendees or Sunday/ Christmas Christians who come to church for services and go home immediately, to actively involving themselves in their respective ministries and the larger church body. This includes manning the Sunday breakfast sales, as well as joining in church camps, auxiliary body activities and so on.

Secondly, the level of spiritual maturity amongst the Iban and BM congregations has also increased and improved. Many now offer themselves to lead in many aspects of church work and ministry, and have the desire to learn, e.g. study the Bible and attend our training courses (Sekolah Latihan Pemuridan dan Kepimpinan, or Leadership and Discipleship Training School) on Saturdays.

Finally, our congregations are now more stable and disciplined in terms of our financial management and giving, i.e. stewardship pledges and Sunday offerings.

What achievements, if any, do you think most highly of during your time in St Mary’s? 
One of the things that I am most pleased about is that as over time as I have worked here, people in the Iban and BM congregations are having a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, and through that, developing a closer relationship with Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

What do you think of your time as a member of the St Mary’s Cathedral pastoral team?
I love and enjoy being together with all of the pastoral team ministering in SMC. We are all working together towards the same goal, running the same race.

Are there any statements or comments you would like to say to the readers of St Mary’s News?
I urge members of other congregations to please support the BM & Iban ministries in their endeavours to reach out to East Malaysians, both Sarawakians and Sabahans, who are working and/or studying in West Malaysia. They are so incredibly exposed as potential victims of Islamisation through many ways. Without constant and deep support from the Church and each other, it is very hard for them to resist the various temptations to fall away.

Pastor Sam Chong
How did you become a member of the pastoral team at St Mary’s Cathedral (SMC)?
Prior to my joining the pastoral team, I worked for an international banking group for almost 29 years. In 2007, I resigned from my job as I was tired of working 10-hour days, Monday to Saturday, week in and week out. I was only 53 years old then. God has blessed me so much in that I could enjoy my ‘early’ retirement. After quitting, however, I decided that I should offer my time to serving God and building up treasure in heaven. I wasn’t sure what I should do specifically, but I knew I wanted to be a Christian who is a “FATSO” (Faithful, Available, Teachable, Submissive, Obedient to the Lord). After prayer, I felt inspired to equip myself by going to the Seminary.

Upon completing my full time studies at Seminary Theoloji Malaysia (STM) at the end of 2010, I sought the Lord to know how I could best serve Him. Areas of ministry that were prayerfully considered included overseas missions and church planting in partnership with one of our Diocesan Missioners in the Klang Valley. But none of these materialised. I consulted our then-Dean (now Assistant Bishop Right Rev. Jason Selvaraj), who encouraged me to enter the local SMC ministry. As a result, I applied to join the pastoral team and subsequently was licenced by the Bishop of West Malaysia as a Lay Reader and Honorary Lay Pastor.

How long were you at St Mary’s as a member of the pastoral team?
I submitted my application to the diocese in 2011 and was accepted towards the end of the year. I came aboard at the beginning of 2012. By the end of 2014, I had been with the team for 3 years.

What major areas of ministry did you participate in?
I did not have ‘major’ areas of ministry, in that sense. I considered my ministry as serving wherever and whenever there was a need. I am humbled that the Lord allowed me to participate in various ministries, and to serve Him and His people in many areas in St Mary’s. Some of these ministries included teaching, preaching, visiting and administering to the sick at home and in hospitals. Assisting in and taking services, and contacting newcomers. In a way, you could say that I was an all-rounder on the pastoral team.

How have you seen these ministries grow during your time in St Mary’s?
I dare not say how the areas of my ministry have grown, because my contribution was very small and only a minute fraction of those of my colleagues, but I am glad to be part of the greater ministry of St. Mary’s, which has grown in making disciples of Jesus Christ, for which I praise God.

What achievements, if any, do you think most highly of during your time in St Mary’s?
Similarly, I dare not make any claim with regard to achievements — certainly not in the secular sense. I only hope and pray that the things I did, and the words I said, would glorify God, and bring people to trust Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

What do you think of your time as a member of the St Mary’s Cathedral pastoral team?
Though it was a short 3 years, I learned a lot in terms of ministry. For this, I am grateful to all my colleagues on the pastoral team, especially the then Sub-Dean, Rev Dr. Andrew Cheah, and Rev Gordon Kong. I am also appreciative of the support and help of my other colleagues, including the office and non administrative staff, as well as the Cathedral Council members and ministry volunteers.

Are there any statements or comments you would like to leave with the readers of St Mary’s News?
It has been great serving God through serving His people including those who worship at St. Mary’s. I got to know some of you well but there are many of you whom I know only by name or sight.

If I may be so bold as to quote Paul in his letter to the Philippians, let this be my prayer for all of you (1:9-11, ESV): And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

God bless!