A crescendo of voices can be heard at the second floor of a shop lot singing Christian praise and worship songs such as “Lord, I Offer My Life” and “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”. Kenny the worship leader, is backed by Paul on keyboards leading a group of people during a worship service in the afternoon. Located near one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest highways leading to the district of Cheras, the Good Samaritan Fellowship (GSF) have come a long way in Malaysia. The bilingual Chinese-English service is conducted much like any other church in Malaysia. The difference is, this is the first LGBT inclusive church in the country. And the first MCC branch in Asia.
It started back in August 2007 when openly gay Malaysian-born Reverend Ou Yang Wen Feng, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) based in New York, told the Malaysian media of his plans to set up a church “where everybody felt safe and welcomed”. It was met with protest and opposition from various parties like the Malaysian government and church authorities, and ignited a big debate on homosexuality. It also drew responses from the anti-gay Reverend Allen Tan, along with Pastor Edmund Smith from the ex-gay ministry, Real Love Ministry. Allen Tan attempted to gather protesters at a special MCC service that month, and Edmund Smith used this opportunity to parrot more pseudo-theories about homosexuality and his ministry.
Two months later a Malaysian youth pastor, Joe Pang shared his vision with MCC for starting a new gay-friendly church. That church, the Good Samaritan Fellowship (GSF), started with only 4 members on October 2007, under Pang’s leadership. He then went to MCC, New York (MCCNY) for training at the end of March 2008, and was officially instated as the senior pastor of MCC’s fledging church in Malaysia by Reverend Pat Bumgardner. Reverend Bumgardner also dedicated the GSF as a parish extension of the MCCNY, during the first GSF retreat at Cameron Highlands on the 23rd to the 25th of May, 2008.
Today their membership has grown to 20 regular attendees (including 10 committee members) ranging in age from their 20s to 50s. At times they are joined by some members of another LGBT but predominantly English speaking Christian Group “Credo”. Some members of GSF left, fearing the stigma imposed upon them by the largely Muslim, anti-gay country of Malaysia, but more members are coming in. “This is an all welcoming church. Anyone, regardless whether they are LGBT or straight can join us”, says Pastor Joe Pang, echoing Reverend Ou Yang’s vision of a safe and inclusive church. “But we do screen through new members to avoid complications.” The GSF also receive legal and promotional support from the PT Foundation of Malaysia.
After starting the worship services and care group from a house in June, they had recently leased a shop lot in Kuala Lumpur for two years, where they held the first full worship service on the Sunday 29th of June, 2008. They are currently surviving through donations and offerings. Better things are expected to come as the core church members mature in their walk with God and gain confidence from the affirmation and reconciliation of their identity and sexual orientation with their faith. Kenny, the worship leader shared, “I used to be the worship leader at Hope Church in Malaysia, but felt very uncomfortable. At times I feel if they knew my sexual orientation, they would not judge me with their mouths but will judge me with their hearts. At least here, I can lead the worship service in comfort, in spirit and in truth”.
GSF held their 1st Anniversary Fund Raising Dinner on Saturday, the 13th of September 2008 at Passion Road Restaurant within the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was attended by almost a hundred guests. May they grow and come of age in peace and love.
A special thanks to Pastor Joe Pang and the GSF members for sharing their stories with us.
Thank you for sharing this, Yuki! Your perspective is so valuable, not just because you share what is going on in parts of the world besides the US and Great Britain, but because you write vividly. I could almost hear that congregation singing in my head!
Happy New Year!
Dear Yuki. Thanks for your sharing, and your faith in God despite all the lack and the struggles you went through.
Would it be possible, for an Open Door policy at MCC where one would not need to go to an interview before allowing to visit the church. Gays are very shy and fearful in the context of your society and should be allowed to walk in very discretely even without having to share their name or announced from the pulpit that the visitor today is ……..
I trust that you will make public the location of GSF in Cheras, Malaysia. It will be a very big step filled with risk and outing, but one that reflects the Open Heart of God that all are welcome to His table.
I also admire and congratulate your Pastor Joe for coming out of his church at Bukit Bintang, to take the step the step of faith to be “full time” with no salary and only donations.
And for those who live in Europe and America, where an inclusive church is nearby, this is very rare here in this part of the region.
God bless and have a blessed new year.
“Karna demikian-lah Allah mengasehi isi dunia ini, sa-hingga di-beri-nya Anak-nya yang tunggal itu, supaya barang siapa yang perchaya akan dia jangan ia binasa, melainkan beroleh hidup yang kekal.” ……… barang siapa ……
Jayelle,
Thanks. I am happy to share with everyone the developments of the LGBT community at this side of the world. :- )
survivor,
Unfortunately it is not my call. I have asked Pastor Joe several times is regards of going public, but his answer is the same, and I can understand GSF’s fears, as you should too.
He also requested me to edit his full chinese name out of this article. Being in a muslim country, I believe you would know, “It will be a very big step filled with risk and outing”.
Dear Yuki,
Yes, I should know too….
In God’s time and season.
Survivor,
ps – Just wonder how the saunas are so open in Malaysia, a muslim country.
Unfortunately, they are not that open. These facilities are only advertised on the internet or spread through the word of mouth. But some are already marked by the authorities. They conduct regular raids there, especially those in Penang Isle. Malaysia is not a free country.