FOLLOWING MY SIFU

Pax Tan
A name that has been synonymous with Malaysian Care

“The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17) was the battle cry of the Reformation, many hundred years ago which deeply affected me as a young Christian in the mid 1970’s. Clinging on to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I chose to believe that God loved me, and that I was born again to love and serve Him. After my accountancy studies, I worked for a short while, then recruited into Glad Sounds as a film evangelist and promoter of Christian literature, practising, bringing the good news in the media of communications that people could relate and respond to. Life was exciting.

“The righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) continued to spur me to follow God. My Bishop challenged me to take up theological studies and after much prayer, I was in Trinity Theological College, Singapore for 4 years. My biblical framework was moulded and warmed.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1) brought me into the pastoral ministry in the Lutheran church. As a young pastor, I was invited to join Malaysian Care as a board member. A few years later, I became a staff. Life became more challenging, more exciting.

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead” (James 2:17) gave further meaning and reason to keep sharing the good news of Jesus; about His love and sacrifice; His life that evolved around the poor and needy, the sick and cursed, the outcasts and bad people, even the sinners and foreigners. Up and down the peninsula, criss-crossing East and West with my wonderful colleagues in our vans, we spoke and reminded the people of faith and works, beliefs and deeds, doctrine and action like Abraham — “You see that his faith and actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” (James 3:22)

“In Christ Jesus neither circumcision or uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6) kept me going, looking unto Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Seeing His movements, the family He grew up in, the disciples He chose, the people He welcomed, the people who flocked to Him, His friends, His enemies, the places He went to, the people he ate and drank with, whom He defended and advocated for, His kindness towards women and children….all these kept me going and serving with joy and perseverance in spite of the many discouragements, obstacles, self-inflicted woes and failures.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17) rings clear and present in my 30 exciting years in Malaysian Care. I seek to follow the Sifu (Master) and Lord looking to His words of life; His footsteps are my guide and solace, both then, now and forever more. Praise be to God!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God — not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:9, 10)

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FOLLOWING MY SIFU