We reproduce below a Comment / Testimony posted by a pioneer member of Calvary Church, since the days of Calvary Church's humble beginnings in Jalan Sayor. It is good to remember our roots and to thank God for the way He led the pioneer Pastors of Calvary Church and to recognise the work of those Pastors who guided, encouraged and loved the members of the Church by living a godly example to the Church members back then.
Jalan Sayor migrant said...
History
Guynes was one of our pastors when we were in Jalan Sayor. He did not play a part in the building of CC DH (Calvary Church Damansara Heights).
Pastor Jones and Assistant Pastor Fred Abeysekera (Singaporean) were our pastors in Jalan Sayor who spearheaded CC at DH (Calvary Church at Damansara Heights). We were the English speaking congregation sharing First Assembly in Jalan Sayor.
They caught the vision to purchase DH (Damansara Heights) land at RM2.70 per sq foot, plans were drawn and we built our present church by stages. They shared their vision with us and assured us since God gave the vision, He (God) will supply the money.
This He did - Americans like Gene Martin, Katherine Kuffman foundation and various other people helped to raise funds. Our congregation then was 60-70 and only about 20 were working with limited income. We raised funds by selling cookies, kueh, sew clothes, wash cars - meagre sums but we were all happily doing what we could to contribute.
Mind you there were no faith promise, missions offering, pledges etc. We did what we could - Pastor Jones and family moved in to the back of CC DH (where the Visitor's lounge is) so that he can give his housing allowance for renting of a bungalow to the church offering.
WE MOVED IN DEBT FREE - this made a very strong impression on me - when God desires us to build any churches for His glory, He gives vision to one or two or three - they share, the rest will catch the vision. He provides the funds through others, through us and multiplies. There was no pressure - we sacrificed what we could - God did the rest.
Pastor Jones GAVE what others from abroad gave to Calvary Church for CC building fund.
What others give to PG for CCC from abroad, does he give All back to CCC or his personal account?
PG and PG2 were pastoring in the backwaters of Klang - sure, he did not contribute 1 single cent.
In fact when we employed them as pastors, they came in to a well established church because all of us love the Lord - we also loved the Guneratnams and even gave them an interest free loan to buy their BANDARAYA house and pay their instalments for them as housing allowance.
YET WHAT DID THEY DO? They axed some of the Jalan Sayor crowd. They bite the hand of those who feed them!!
MANY OF US FROM JALAN SAYOR can attest that this is what we went through.
Am sharing this with you because when you are not part and parcel of those who helped to raise funds for CC DH, you will have no qualms even to sell it to ensure CCC comes into being - HJK mentioned this during an EGM.
Wonder whether you guys are ever concerned that in KL it is extremely difficult to get a church land, let alone at DH?
It is where we begun, so we should hold tight to it and not chase after CCC which is really out of the way for many, especially the older ones.
For BOD - godliness with contentment is great gain - do not chase after the wind!!!
This was a Comment posted on April 8, 2011 11:16 AM in the previous artical on Calvaryland -Another Sad Tale
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Showing posts with label History of Calvary Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History of Calvary Church. Show all posts
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Monday, October 27, 2008
Pioneers of Calvary Church KL, We Salute You.
After 47 years since the Lord began the GOOD WORK in Jalan Sayor and after 40 years of worshipping in the beautiful church building we now enjoy each week, Calvary Church has finally acknowledged the pioneering Missionaries and Pastors and the 70 young members who moved over, for their invaluable contributions to the founding of Calvary Church, Kuala Lumpur.
Many church members and friends are finding out for the very first time, the history of our great church in Kuala Lumpur.
Although the church leadership has on October 22, 2008, officially celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Calvary Church's presence in Damansara Heights, Calvary Today salute all our pioneering Missionaries, Pastors, Church Workers and Church Members for keeping to the call of our Lord Jesus Christ, to see to the birth of our Fellowship of Believers which started in Jalan Sayor, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur in 1961. That congregation of believers was then called Calvary Assembly. That was 47 years ago. Yes, our church was FOUNDED 47 years ago.
(Click on photos to view a larger picture)
WHO'S WHO IN CALVARY CHURCH HISTORY...
FROM THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS...
Photo on top left corner shows Pas. Fred Abeysekera at the stone laying ceremony of the Church building.
The completed church building in 1968.
Photos of the opening ceremony of Calvary Church in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur in 1968.
We thank the organisers of the 40th Anniversary Dinner for putting together a beautiful souvenir book for those who attended the dinner that night. The above photos are reproduced from the souvenir book.
Last Sunday, after a span of 39 years, we finally got to hear the preaching of one of our pioneering Pastors, Pastor Fred Abeysekera from Singapore. Pastor Fred served in Calvary from 1966 to 1969 as a National Pastor, assisting our Missionary Pastor James Jones.
Many church members and friends are finding out for the very first time, the history of our great church in Kuala Lumpur.
Although the church leadership has on October 22, 2008, officially celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Calvary Church's presence in Damansara Heights, Calvary Today salute all our pioneering Missionaries, Pastors, Church Workers and Church Members for keeping to the call of our Lord Jesus Christ, to see to the birth of our Fellowship of Believers which started in Jalan Sayor, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur in 1961. That congregation of believers was then called Calvary Assembly. That was 47 years ago. Yes, our church was FOUNDED 47 years ago.
(Click on photos to view a larger picture)
WHO'S WHO IN CALVARY CHURCH HISTORY...
FROM THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS...
Photo on top left corner shows Pas. Fred Abeysekera at the stone laying ceremony of the Church building.
The completed church building in 1968.
Photos of the opening ceremony of Calvary Church in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur in 1968.
We thank the organisers of the 40th Anniversary Dinner for putting together a beautiful souvenir book for those who attended the dinner that night. The above photos are reproduced from the souvenir book.
Last Sunday, after a span of 39 years, we finally got to hear the preaching of one of our pioneering Pastors, Pastor Fred Abeysekera from Singapore. Pastor Fred served in Calvary from 1966 to 1969 as a National Pastor, assisting our Missionary Pastor James Jones.
In his sermon, he requested that we, the church members, pray for him & his wife, Rita's up coming trip to Tibet in November to conduct a seminar on the Pentecost. He also requested for prayer for his health as the weather will be minus 10C then. Pas. Fred is 79 years old today but yet, he still preached like one just starting out in ministry.
This is Pastor Fred Abeysekera and his wife, Rita, today.
Click play to listen to Pastor Fred Abeysekera's sermon on 26 Oct 2008.
Title: Moses... The Decision of Faith
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Questions from a Matured Heart
This comment was posted by one of our readers. We post it here with permission.
Dear Administrator,
I give permission to have my comments posted as you see fit. However, I want to stress this and appreciate if you would add it to my comments - that I am not against BOD or any of the pastors and neither am I part of the TT team.
Dear Hong Meng,
Thank you for sharing the history of Calvary Church. However, I believe the motivation that caused you to write this article is actually in connection with the announcement of the Thanksgiving Dinner to be held on October 2008 at the Sunway Convention Centre for the Calvary Family.
My comment is this: I think that whether Calvary Church is 40 years or more, is not the fundamental issue that should be focused on. In the light of the current state of affairs in the church, concentrating on this issue could be a distraction from the main issues that are still not addressed. Besides history is always written from a person's perspective and many times, historians find out that history can be faulty in certain points due to the writer's point of view. Documentaries that we watch in ASTRO, do at times speak about how the truth of a matter is far from the history that we popularly know.
Even in the Bible, the Synoptic Gospels stands as good examples (at least that is what I think I caught from my pastors at BCM.) Each book was written to specific audience and what values that they held dear to their hearts and minds. It also took in their culture which really is not much different in how we deal with the world today. What the apostles did was to enter the world of the audience and explain GOD's truths and principles as they would understand. Let me explain that the authors did not bend God's fundamental truths but used illustrations, object lessons and explanations that their audiences could understand.
I am sorry, Hong Meng, but I fail to grasp what point you are trying to bring across to us in detailing the history. What I fear, glancing from the comments that have been posted in response to your article, is that people have now been left with an even poorer image of Sr Pastor. I am not supporting him but if we were to walk in another's shoes, do we want people to do this to us? In my heart, I hope that this was never your intention and from what I know of you, I don't believe it ever was.
The real issue that I think should be questioned is this:
Why is Calvary Church holding a Thanksgiving Dinner when the church has not settled many outstanding issues and conflicts that are present today?
Can anyone tell me if the steps that the BOD mentioned at the EGM are already in motion? I believe that it has been almost what a month or so since the EGM?
Yes, we are to constantly give thanksgiving to God - because thanksgiving is a form of worship. But then, is the Church forgetting the attitude and spiritual criterias that comes with corporate worship? When we give thanks personally, we come before God and acknowledge that all things have come from Him, that He is working all things in our lives. Generally, but not a must, a visible and acceptable expression that follows from a heart that gives thanks - is to lift our hands, sing our songs of praise and worship and also to give of our belongings. I believe that many will agree that these elements are present in both personal and Corporate Worship.
Yet,are we forgetting something else? That love for our brother and making peace is a very important part of the Corporate Worship of which Thanksgiving to God is part and parcel of. Do read the articles from bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/803/Offerings-of-Leviticus-Meal-Offering.htm and cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/809/The-Offerings-of-Leviticus-Part-Four-Peace-Offering.h...
So, right now, my question is this:
Why are we having a Thanksgiving Dinner when there are so many issues outstanding at the moment?
Does one throw a party if there exist conflict in that house? Sure, there will those who say don't look to the circumstances but look to God. Yeah, but are being overly theological (and perhaps overly spiritual?) in saying this. Theology is given to us so that we may internalize the truths of God and put into practice in our daily lives?
So, with questions unanswered and parties not yet answering them satisfactorily; when there are shadows of doubts lurking in the corridors of Calvary Church and in the hearts and minds of the people - will someone please explain why we are having this Thanksgiving Dinner?
To be frank, the issue at hand is about the proper handling of money - in terms of accountability, transparency and integrity. And "giving to God" is one of the outward expressions of worship to God in thanksgiving - how can the members be expected to reconcile this?
Someone please help me understand this?
Next, when there is such a crisis in church, shouldn't we be putting on our "spirit of mourning" and appealing to God to intervene and end the crisis?
When Israel went through "civil war" after Solomon's death - was there a celebration party of thanksgiving? I know that some people will talk about Jericho and so - hey, but I have also been taught by my pastors, that singular events cannot be considered "normative" events.
Again, this is my 2sens worth - I apologise again if I have sounded harsh and this writing offends anyone. I do not write to spite but to ask questions that float in my mind - than let them fester in my heart and to gossip with others.
God bless everyone!
Diana
Dear Administrator,
I give permission to have my comments posted as you see fit. However, I want to stress this and appreciate if you would add it to my comments - that I am not against BOD or any of the pastors and neither am I part of the TT team.
Dear Hong Meng,
Thank you for sharing the history of Calvary Church. However, I believe the motivation that caused you to write this article is actually in connection with the announcement of the Thanksgiving Dinner to be held on October 2008 at the Sunway Convention Centre for the Calvary Family.
My comment is this: I think that whether Calvary Church is 40 years or more, is not the fundamental issue that should be focused on. In the light of the current state of affairs in the church, concentrating on this issue could be a distraction from the main issues that are still not addressed. Besides history is always written from a person's perspective and many times, historians find out that history can be faulty in certain points due to the writer's point of view. Documentaries that we watch in ASTRO, do at times speak about how the truth of a matter is far from the history that we popularly know.
Even in the Bible, the Synoptic Gospels stands as good examples (at least that is what I think I caught from my pastors at BCM.) Each book was written to specific audience and what values that they held dear to their hearts and minds. It also took in their culture which really is not much different in how we deal with the world today. What the apostles did was to enter the world of the audience and explain GOD's truths and principles as they would understand. Let me explain that the authors did not bend God's fundamental truths but used illustrations, object lessons and explanations that their audiences could understand.
I am sorry, Hong Meng, but I fail to grasp what point you are trying to bring across to us in detailing the history. What I fear, glancing from the comments that have been posted in response to your article, is that people have now been left with an even poorer image of Sr Pastor. I am not supporting him but if we were to walk in another's shoes, do we want people to do this to us? In my heart, I hope that this was never your intention and from what I know of you, I don't believe it ever was.
The real issue that I think should be questioned is this:
Why is Calvary Church holding a Thanksgiving Dinner when the church has not settled many outstanding issues and conflicts that are present today?
Can anyone tell me if the steps that the BOD mentioned at the EGM are already in motion? I believe that it has been almost what a month or so since the EGM?
Yes, we are to constantly give thanksgiving to God - because thanksgiving is a form of worship. But then, is the Church forgetting the attitude and spiritual criterias that comes with corporate worship? When we give thanks personally, we come before God and acknowledge that all things have come from Him, that He is working all things in our lives. Generally, but not a must, a visible and acceptable expression that follows from a heart that gives thanks - is to lift our hands, sing our songs of praise and worship and also to give of our belongings. I believe that many will agree that these elements are present in both personal and Corporate Worship.
Yet,are we forgetting something else? That love for our brother and making peace is a very important part of the Corporate Worship of which Thanksgiving to God is part and parcel of. Do read the articles from bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/803/Offerings-of-Leviticus-Meal-Offering.htm and cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/809/The-Offerings-of-Leviticus-Part-Four-Peace-Offering.h...
So, right now, my question is this:
Why are we having a Thanksgiving Dinner when there are so many issues outstanding at the moment?
Does one throw a party if there exist conflict in that house? Sure, there will those who say don't look to the circumstances but look to God. Yeah, but are being overly theological (and perhaps overly spiritual?) in saying this. Theology is given to us so that we may internalize the truths of God and put into practice in our daily lives?
So, with questions unanswered and parties not yet answering them satisfactorily; when there are shadows of doubts lurking in the corridors of Calvary Church and in the hearts and minds of the people - will someone please explain why we are having this Thanksgiving Dinner?
To be frank, the issue at hand is about the proper handling of money - in terms of accountability, transparency and integrity. And "giving to God" is one of the outward expressions of worship to God in thanksgiving - how can the members be expected to reconcile this?
Someone please help me understand this?
Next, when there is such a crisis in church, shouldn't we be putting on our "spirit of mourning" and appealing to God to intervene and end the crisis?
When Israel went through "civil war" after Solomon's death - was there a celebration party of thanksgiving? I know that some people will talk about Jericho and so - hey, but I have also been taught by my pastors, that singular events cannot be considered "normative" events.
Again, this is my 2sens worth - I apologise again if I have sounded harsh and this writing offends anyone. I do not write to spite but to ask questions that float in my mind - than let them fester in my heart and to gossip with others.
God bless everyone!
Diana
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Calvary Church – 40 or 47 years old? by HM
This is a SPECIAL UPDATE by HM (29.09.08)
"Met an oldie from Glad Tiding PJ recently. He laughed when he heard that we are celebrating our 40th anniversary. He said GTPJ is celebrating its 45th anniversary and GTPJ was birthed from Calvary Church. How then can Calvary be celebrating only its 40th anniversary? He showed me the GTPJ constitution which was first adopted in 1963. Apparently two years after the founding of Calvary Church in 1961, the Bible Institute was started along Jalan Gasing in PJ. Rev Osgood, its principal, encouraged some members of Calvary Church to use that location to start GTPJ. My oldie friend was one of those who went over.
He was very excited and agreed to my suggestion that in 2011 GTPJ join with Calvary to celebrate our 50th anniversary together."
" The AOG 50th anniversary book given out last year, 2007, has on page 42 this quote from Dr Guynes, "When we left in 1964, Calvary Church Kuala Lumpur was developing into a strong congregation; Glad Tidings in Petaling Jaya was gaining strength..."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I was a little puzzled when it was announced that Cavalry Church would be celebrating its 40th anniversary in October. I remembered reading from the AOG Malaysia website the following:
“January 1961 saw the birth of Calvary Church, the English language division of the Assembly of God Church in Jalan Sayor, Kuala Lumpur. Rev. D.R. Guynes was its first Pastor. Calvary Church is now the largest Assemblies of God Church in Malaysia and has mothered several assemblies in its outreached efforts under the able leadership of Rev Dr Prince Guneratnam (our former General Superintendent) who is faithfully serving as the Senior Pastor since 1972.”
That would make us more than 47 years old, not 40. Then I checked the Calvary website and discovered the following:
“Calvary Church was dedicated to the glory of God on 11th February 1968 through the efforts of dedicated missionaries. Rev. Tan Sri Prince and Puan Sri Petrina Guneratnam was the first Malaysian couple to pastor the Church. From a congregation of 120 in 1968, the church has grown, pioneered and established 27 daughter churches. Today, Calvary Church and her outreaches minister to more than 8,400 people.”
Neither statement is untrue. Just that the emphasis and the impression created in the minds of the readers would be very different. So I decided to talk to a couple of “oldies” from those years to know a little more of our history before we moved in 1968 to the present location in Damansara Heights. How did it all start?
For starters and to help me follow the story, I was given a list of the missionaries who pastored Calvary Assembly of God in the early years.
Delmer R Guynes 1956 – 1959
Cyril G Francis 1959 – 1961
David H Baker 1961 – 1963
Delmer R Guynes 1963 – 1964
James W Jones 1964 – 1968
Victor Trimmer 1968 – 1969
James W Jones 1969 – 1972
They were assisted by the following local pastors (including Singaporeans):
Allan and Rosie Leong 1963 – 1964 as assistant pastors to Ps Guynes
Anthony Chong 1965 as special assistant to Ps Jones for Light for the Lost follow up
Fred and Rita Abeysekera 1966 – 1969 as assistant pastors to Ps Jones and Ps Trimmer
Johnny Yeoh` 1969 to 1970 as youth minister under Ps Jones
The story goes like this. Ps Guynes came in 1956 as pastor for First Assembly of God, our mother church in Jalan Sayor. He noticed that the children of the Chinese speaking believers in the Church were growing up and was making up a greater and greater proportion of the congregation. There was a need for an English service to cater to the needs of the younger generation who were educated in English. Therefore in 1957 he started an English service on Sunday evenings. The Christ Ambassadors (CA) programme was started at about the same time. This went on for a few years until in 1961 it was decided that a separate English speaking church be established under the name of Calvary Assembly of God. Although the idea of an English speaking church was mooted by Ps Guynes, it was Ps Baker who had the honour of actually officiating in its establishment. In January 1961 Calvary AOG was birthed. Robert Ng remembered that day most fondly, “It was a Sunday night service, about 50 or so of us marched proudly up to the pulpit and signed on a beautiful document - The Chartered Members Roll of Calvary Church”. Sadly it is believed that the roll is now missing although Ps Jones said he had left it in good condition in the church when he left.
It had been said that it was only a youth group. Although younger, they were by no means just youth. The oldest charter member was 28 and Robert Ng was 18. Tony Lee was 22. They had a simple charter (or constitution if you like). Robert remembered that because 70% to 80% were young adults there was even a provision in the constitution that the President of the CAs would automatically be a member of the Board of Calvary AOG. He should know as he was then the president of the CAs.
Robert remembered that during the pastorate of Guynes and Jones there were three major door to door tracting campaigns. In April of 1965 in the first campaign, 25 “Invasion Teams” saturated almost all of the residential areas of Kuala Lumpur with 50,000 pieces of Light for the Lost salvation literature. In those days there were no restrictions. Tracts were given to all households regardless of race or religion. The campaigns were the result of the massive revival in both the Chinese and English speaking congregations brought about through a series of evangelistic meetings in 1963 by a famous Hong Kong actress with the stage name of Mui Yee. The harvest would soon follow; some sow, some water and some reap but all to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was Ps Jones who felt the deep burden that the English speaking congregation must have its own church building. Together with the leadership in this young church they embarked on a building project. They bought 25,000 s.f. of land in Damansara Heights, then an undeveloped ex-rubber estate. The purchase price was $67,500.00 or $2,70 p.s.f. (In those days it was called the Straits dollar and not the Ringgit.) As Robert puts it, “The young congregation through God’s divine motivation and much sweat and sacrifices managed to raise sufficient funds to purchase the piece of church land in Damansara Heights.” I was privileged to sight the official receipts issued by Selangor Properties to the Church. There was one for $5,000.00 being the first payment for the purchase of the land dated 7 December 1965. The second payment of $25,000.00 was dated 4 February 1966.
The church building with a seating capacity of 300 would cost around $147,000.00. From the start the church was blessed. The Kathryn Khulman Foundation through Evangelist Rev Gene Martin pledged to match dollar for dollar of funding raised by the church members. And the members raised the money needed. Robert related a story when he went to sell bricks in the rich Lower Ampang area of KL. The man who came to the gate told him that he would buy some if Robert would wash his cars. Robert agreed not knowing that the man had six cars. Although it took him almost the whole day to wash the six cars he was hopeful that the man would buy at least a few bricks. The Lord was good. That man bought all the bricks Robert had. He reported back to Ps Jones the wonderful blessing of God. And as all good pastors would do, the next weekend Robert was given a double allocation of bricks to sell. Others volunteered to do overtime at work to earn overtime pay which could then be contributed to the building fund. That was how the money was raised to pay for the building of Calvary Church.
Ps Jones himself made personal sacrifices for the Church. He offered to contribute the housing allowance he was receiving from America to support the church. Instead he and his family would make do by staying in the small extension at the back of the Church. Finally the church building was dedicated in early 1968. In those days Damansara Heights was very inaccessible. The Church had to hire two buses to ferry worshippers from the Bangkok Bank bus-stop to the Church.
So are we 40 years old or 47? Both answers can be correct. It depends on whether you take it from the date the present church building was dedicated or the date when a group of young believers came together and committed themselves with their pastor that they would be a congregation of believers under the name of Calvary Assembly of God. It depends on what you value more, the building or the people making up the body of Christ. It depends on your understanding of what the Bible says is the “church”.
Without the sacrifices of the early missionary pastors and the dedication and commitment of the young believers we would not have the building or be able to celebrate our “40th” anniversary. Let’s not forget those who went before us.
Wong Hong Meng
5th September 2008
"Met an oldie from Glad Tiding PJ recently. He laughed when he heard that we are celebrating our 40th anniversary. He said GTPJ is celebrating its 45th anniversary and GTPJ was birthed from Calvary Church. How then can Calvary be celebrating only its 40th anniversary? He showed me the GTPJ constitution which was first adopted in 1963. Apparently two years after the founding of Calvary Church in 1961, the Bible Institute was started along Jalan Gasing in PJ. Rev Osgood, its principal, encouraged some members of Calvary Church to use that location to start GTPJ. My oldie friend was one of those who went over.
He was very excited and agreed to my suggestion that in 2011 GTPJ join with Calvary to celebrate our 50th anniversary together."
" The AOG 50th anniversary book given out last year, 2007, has on page 42 this quote from Dr Guynes, "When we left in 1964, Calvary Church Kuala Lumpur was developing into a strong congregation; Glad Tidings in Petaling Jaya was gaining strength..."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I was a little puzzled when it was announced that Cavalry Church would be celebrating its 40th anniversary in October. I remembered reading from the AOG Malaysia website the following:
“January 1961 saw the birth of Calvary Church, the English language division of the Assembly of God Church in Jalan Sayor, Kuala Lumpur. Rev. D.R. Guynes was its first Pastor. Calvary Church is now the largest Assemblies of God Church in Malaysia and has mothered several assemblies in its outreached efforts under the able leadership of Rev Dr Prince Guneratnam (our former General Superintendent) who is faithfully serving as the Senior Pastor since 1972.”
That would make us more than 47 years old, not 40. Then I checked the Calvary website and discovered the following:
“Calvary Church was dedicated to the glory of God on 11th February 1968 through the efforts of dedicated missionaries. Rev. Tan Sri Prince and Puan Sri Petrina Guneratnam was the first Malaysian couple to pastor the Church. From a congregation of 120 in 1968, the church has grown, pioneered and established 27 daughter churches. Today, Calvary Church and her outreaches minister to more than 8,400 people.”
Neither statement is untrue. Just that the emphasis and the impression created in the minds of the readers would be very different. So I decided to talk to a couple of “oldies” from those years to know a little more of our history before we moved in 1968 to the present location in Damansara Heights. How did it all start?
For starters and to help me follow the story, I was given a list of the missionaries who pastored Calvary Assembly of God in the early years.
Delmer R Guynes 1956 – 1959
Cyril G Francis 1959 – 1961
David H Baker 1961 – 1963
Delmer R Guynes 1963 – 1964
James W Jones 1964 – 1968
Victor Trimmer 1968 – 1969
James W Jones 1969 – 1972
They were assisted by the following local pastors (including Singaporeans):
Allan and Rosie Leong 1963 – 1964 as assistant pastors to Ps Guynes
Anthony Chong 1965 as special assistant to Ps Jones for Light for the Lost follow up
Fred and Rita Abeysekera 1966 – 1969 as assistant pastors to Ps Jones and Ps Trimmer
Johnny Yeoh` 1969 to 1970 as youth minister under Ps Jones
The story goes like this. Ps Guynes came in 1956 as pastor for First Assembly of God, our mother church in Jalan Sayor. He noticed that the children of the Chinese speaking believers in the Church were growing up and was making up a greater and greater proportion of the congregation. There was a need for an English service to cater to the needs of the younger generation who were educated in English. Therefore in 1957 he started an English service on Sunday evenings. The Christ Ambassadors (CA) programme was started at about the same time. This went on for a few years until in 1961 it was decided that a separate English speaking church be established under the name of Calvary Assembly of God. Although the idea of an English speaking church was mooted by Ps Guynes, it was Ps Baker who had the honour of actually officiating in its establishment. In January 1961 Calvary AOG was birthed. Robert Ng remembered that day most fondly, “It was a Sunday night service, about 50 or so of us marched proudly up to the pulpit and signed on a beautiful document - The Chartered Members Roll of Calvary Church”. Sadly it is believed that the roll is now missing although Ps Jones said he had left it in good condition in the church when he left.
It had been said that it was only a youth group. Although younger, they were by no means just youth. The oldest charter member was 28 and Robert Ng was 18. Tony Lee was 22. They had a simple charter (or constitution if you like). Robert remembered that because 70% to 80% were young adults there was even a provision in the constitution that the President of the CAs would automatically be a member of the Board of Calvary AOG. He should know as he was then the president of the CAs.
Robert remembered that during the pastorate of Guynes and Jones there were three major door to door tracting campaigns. In April of 1965 in the first campaign, 25 “Invasion Teams” saturated almost all of the residential areas of Kuala Lumpur with 50,000 pieces of Light for the Lost salvation literature. In those days there were no restrictions. Tracts were given to all households regardless of race or religion. The campaigns were the result of the massive revival in both the Chinese and English speaking congregations brought about through a series of evangelistic meetings in 1963 by a famous Hong Kong actress with the stage name of Mui Yee. The harvest would soon follow; some sow, some water and some reap but all to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was Ps Jones who felt the deep burden that the English speaking congregation must have its own church building. Together with the leadership in this young church they embarked on a building project. They bought 25,000 s.f. of land in Damansara Heights, then an undeveloped ex-rubber estate. The purchase price was $67,500.00 or $2,70 p.s.f. (In those days it was called the Straits dollar and not the Ringgit.) As Robert puts it, “The young congregation through God’s divine motivation and much sweat and sacrifices managed to raise sufficient funds to purchase the piece of church land in Damansara Heights.” I was privileged to sight the official receipts issued by Selangor Properties to the Church. There was one for $5,000.00 being the first payment for the purchase of the land dated 7 December 1965. The second payment of $25,000.00 was dated 4 February 1966.
The church building with a seating capacity of 300 would cost around $147,000.00. From the start the church was blessed. The Kathryn Khulman Foundation through Evangelist Rev Gene Martin pledged to match dollar for dollar of funding raised by the church members. And the members raised the money needed. Robert related a story when he went to sell bricks in the rich Lower Ampang area of KL. The man who came to the gate told him that he would buy some if Robert would wash his cars. Robert agreed not knowing that the man had six cars. Although it took him almost the whole day to wash the six cars he was hopeful that the man would buy at least a few bricks. The Lord was good. That man bought all the bricks Robert had. He reported back to Ps Jones the wonderful blessing of God. And as all good pastors would do, the next weekend Robert was given a double allocation of bricks to sell. Others volunteered to do overtime at work to earn overtime pay which could then be contributed to the building fund. That was how the money was raised to pay for the building of Calvary Church.
Ps Jones himself made personal sacrifices for the Church. He offered to contribute the housing allowance he was receiving from America to support the church. Instead he and his family would make do by staying in the small extension at the back of the Church. Finally the church building was dedicated in early 1968. In those days Damansara Heights was very inaccessible. The Church had to hire two buses to ferry worshippers from the Bangkok Bank bus-stop to the Church.
So are we 40 years old or 47? Both answers can be correct. It depends on whether you take it from the date the present church building was dedicated or the date when a group of young believers came together and committed themselves with their pastor that they would be a congregation of believers under the name of Calvary Assembly of God. It depends on what you value more, the building or the people making up the body of Christ. It depends on your understanding of what the Bible says is the “church”.
Without the sacrifices of the early missionary pastors and the dedication and commitment of the young believers we would not have the building or be able to celebrate our “40th” anniversary. Let’s not forget those who went before us.
Wong Hong Meng
5th September 2008
