Malaysian church leader visits Australia

Bishop Aaron Yap of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM) has visited Australia to observe the Lutheran education system, with particular emphasis on early-learning centres.

Pastor Yew Sie Ming, teacher Ms Chiew Jia Gin and Bishop Yap made the 10-day tour in February as guests of LCA International Mission. The stay included visits to Lutheran early-learning centres and kindergartens in Queensland and South Australia, as well as meetings with LCA Bishop John Henderson and church ministry leaders.

Bishop Yap said some congregations in Malaysia were setting up early-learning centres for children aged four to six, but that there was no coordinated curriculum. He said they hoped to learn from the LCA’s experience in early childhood education centres, particularly their mission links with local congregations.

‘There will be a new church facility coming up in Kuala Lumpur, so we are looking at ways to connect with the community with a new church in a new place’, he said.

‘We have come to explore and adopt things that are suitable for us. From there the ministry will not just be
a ministry by itself but also linked to the church which is mission-minded. In the future we dream that this could be used in other congregations and that it could be a blessing.’