INTERCEDING TOGETHER

1. A vision and mission statement for International Mobilisation has been drafted. Please pray that we can serve well together, moving in the direction of the vision and mission.

2. Pray for wisdom to mobilise and journey with enquirers and short-termers.

3. Pray for meaningful engagement with participants at Christian Medical Fellowship conferences in different countries.

4. Pray that God will give us wisdom to collaborate with more Christian NGOs and charities in meaningful and effective ways.

5. Pray that more millennials would share our vision and be eager to bring new ideas and energy to our team.

3-Year Mobilisation Goal

Amy – Singapore
By our Father’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s help, we hope to see a vibrant community of disciples and disciplers in Singapore and East Asia, each serving in their various capacities holistically to bless the communities, for the glory of God.

We hope to strengthen partnerships with like-minded fellowships and organisations in order to promote our work and opportunities within the wider Christian community.

We hope to recruit ten professionals a year to serve short-term, adding value to the work of long-termers who are seeking to empower locals. We aim to contact these trippers regularly, and to identify and journey with those who God is preparing for cross-cultural work.

At the end of three years, we hope to have journeyed with, and sent three long-term professionals who model the Lord’s servant heart and are passionate about using their skills to impact and empower the communities they serve.

Almond – Hong Kong
In recent years, many more middle-aged Christians have taken early retirement. Some are able to join and serve in our short-term teams. Sharing by rehabilitation groups at different universities has encouraged the younger generation to participate in short-term service opportunities – about 8 college students have contacted us. During 2018-2019, the pairing up of young people and middle-aged mentors turned out really well.

The short-term service opportunities have expanded to include handicraft production, cooking classes, storytelling time and praise exercise group. We look forwarding to helping brothers and sisters in the following ways:

• To understand the importance of professional Christian service
• To equip and prepare them for ministry, regardless of their age
• To witness for God and respond to His calling

Eric – Canada
Our vision is to establish a community of Christian professionals and marketplace leaders who are committed to leverage their professional experiences and resources holistically to bless the people of China and beyond.

We will encourage and support members of our community to share their lives and God’s love with those we serve. Our goal is to mobilise thirty short-term trippers and one long-term worker during the next three years.

We will continue to build partnerships with churches and Christian NGOs, and find creative ways to collaborate with them for the advancement of the Kingdom. Our goal is to increase the number of partner churches/Christian NGOs by two per year.

We will inspire and equip a new generation of kingdom disciples who seek to integrate their faith and professional expertise, to participate in God’s work in China and beyond.

Please tell us one thing that is currently going through your mind a lot.

• Mobilisation work is in many ways like pastoral ministry. We provide spiritual counsel, encouragement and direction to potential trippers/volunteers so that they can discern God’s guidance and calling.

• Keep praying. Continue partnering in Kingdom work, and carry on to completion until the day He comes.

• I thank God that He is allowing us to learn important lessons through COVID-19. With fear of death and uncertainty looming over unbelievers, God has been reminding me not to focus on what is good or even great, but what is essential for kingdom ministry.

• Like many people, I am wondering how long the current restrictions will last and what the Lord is trying to teach us. And how can we make best use of technology to continue some mobilisation?

• Migrant workers and refugees here are going through an extremely difficult time right now. I am reminded of the Father’s heart for them, and can remember them and be thankful for opportunities to help in small ways.

1. How long have you served as a mobiliser?
2. Can you compare a mobiliser with a particular animal and explain why?

Seng Hock – Australia
About 17 months (since November 2018).
The animal that came to my mind was an eagle. They fly high, see accurately, mostly alone but usually in a pair. They keep their young ones in the nest (to journey with them) before they learn to fly.

Wichai – Canada
About 7-8 years.
We are like “guide dogs”, because a mobiliser’s job is to guide a person to walk in a safe way, and on a good path.

David – United Kingdom
Although there is one sense in which we should all be mobilisers all the time, my own official work as a mobiliser began on 1 March this year.
I think we should be like a Guide Dog: leading people, protecting people, showing them the way and caring for people.

Anna – Canada
I’m not yet an official mobiliser – I am currently in the “job shadowing” phase of the role.
A mobiliser is like an adult wolf: they are part of a pack, and often take turns helping a mother wolf rear their young and train them for future responsibilities. In the same way, mobilisers – along with other believers – walk alongside those seeking to discern their call to mission, guiding them and helping equip them for future service on the field.

Imelda – Philippines
Six years as a mobiliser (formally), but ten years including those years when I was mobilising more informally.
A wolf! Wolves howl to communicate with their pack members. I think this is one of my roles as a mobiliser – to communicate the task of bringing the good news to the nations. Before I was involved in mobilisation, I thought that serving in church and sharing the good news to people around me was enough. I did not understand the great commission until someone “howled” it to me.

Debbie – Malaysia
More than three years.
We are like birds – sharing opportunities to be involved, encouraging others to fly (serve) together in different places and sharing and supporting fellow birds. We also have times of rest, reflection and waiting – planning our next steps when the weather or landscape changes.

Sally – Australia
Officially I have been a mobiliser since October 2018.
As a mobiliser, I feel like a “Kangaroo”, hopping from place to place meeting up with people.

International Mobilisation
David Leung – Executive Director for International Mobilisation

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:3-4) – NASB

For the past twenty-five years, MSI’s long and short-term workers have praised God and worshipped Him in Southwest China through the integration of our professions, skills, and faith while meeting the holistic needs of those we serve. One of my great joys serving as MSI’s Director for International Mobilisation is to hear these stories. A co-worker recently said, “The Lord used EVERYTHING in our lives – our professions, our skills, and even the difficulties in our family – for His work and witness.”

You’ve likely heard these stories as well, probably through that special group known as MSI’s mobilisation team. These are the committed colleagues in each regional centre who inspire people to commit time, prayers, and resources for God’s work through MSI.

About twenty of us mobilisers met in January to worship, share stories, and strategise on how we could more effectively challenge others to enter into this work and worship. As we shared, it once again became clear that we need the next generation to join us. We came up with the following summary:

• Vision – We aim to see skilful kingdom disciples across generations and nations inspiring local partners to holistically bless China and beyond.
• Mission – Inspire kingdom disciples to integrate their faith, professions and skills to participate in China and beyond.

Curious? Interested? Inspired? Contact the mobiliser in your area, and they would be happy to explain it to you!

Our Time in HIS Hands
Joyce Lau – MSI President

“Are you willing to do this long-term?” “You must be kidding, Lord!” The year was 1994. It was a sweltering 40 over degrees in rural Pakistan. I had just vomited after suffering a heatstroke. A fresh graduate who was raring to make my first bucket of gold in the marketplace, I had signed up for this short-term missions trip out of obligation as the missions secretary of my varsity Christian fellowship. Compounded by culture shock, my rejection to God’s call firmly reverberated in my heart and mind.

“I would go but please give me five years.” I felt the Lord was pleased. It would take me seven years before I entered China. The Lord ensured none of these seven years were wasted. I worked for five years in strategic planning, organisational change, human resource and project management, all of which proved invaluable in my work in MSI. After one year of seminary studies and internship in church, I was ready to go but what should I do and who should I go with? Armed with an introduction from a former work supervisor, I knocked on the doors of MSI.

“How long are you thinking of going to China?” “I thought all callings were for a lifetime.” I saw the shock on the faces of my MSI interviewers, especially when they discovered I had never stepped on Chinese soil. They speedily arranged for me to accompany an experienced MSI member who was heading to Sichuan. I struggled to keep up with her in the snow. It was my first winter and the cold and dreary weather was depressing. Yet the hospitality of MSI members warmed my heart. What impressed me even more was how they were endeavouring to live out the Gospel in and through their lives and work. Holistic missions was what the Lord had been preparing me for. I signed up on the dotted line… .

“How long have you been with MSI?” For 19 years, I have served as an English teacher, liaison officer, office manager, Deputy Chief Rep and Chief Rep spanning Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. I also obtained a Master’s in Public Policy in Peking University and Master’s in Cultural Studies in Singapore Bible College. There have been ups and downs; times when I was seized with pure joy as I witnessed people grow and develop, times when I wanted to throw in the towel as I faced disappointments and conflicts. Yet throughout this adventure of twists and turns and rollercoaster rides, God has never let me down or let me go. I have experienced His amazing grace, bountiful provision and constant presence, especially during turmoil and upheavals. I have no regrets. I am grateful for His calling and am assured He would continue to lead MSI and me in the days ahead. We value your prayers and partnership.