Page 58 - Malayan Story
P. 58
MALAYAN STORY
CHAPTER 18 SPIRITUAL WARFARE
There had been itinerant evangelism carried out in Malaya, notably the team led by Paul Contento,
so when Hayden Mellsop left Malaya in 1953 and bequeathed his van to the South Malayan Field
to be put to whatever use we wanted, this opened the door of opportunity for us. The van needed
some attention, but there were Christians developing in many of the villages who could be trained
as part of an itinerant evangelistic team.
Mr. and Mrs. Percy King were put in charge of the van and it was prepared for its new life. The
back opened up to form a speaking platform and the van contained its own amplifying equipment.
Percy King’s report of his first evangelistic tour in the van spoke of large numbers attending the
open air meetings. He went through Rawang town as well as Rawang village, and also included
Kuang, Kundang, Batu Arang and Ulu Yam, most of which had no resident missionary. He felt the
harvest was ripe but the labourers were few.
The next trip was to the North Malayan Field. The Kings continued this work until 1958 when they
went on Home Assignment and for another year the Tarrants carried it on until they too went on
Homa Assignment. It is a specialist type of work and it is not easy to find people called to do it.
As the churches began to grow and mature, it was a great encouragement to see the number of
young people who were putting their trust in the Lord. In 1956 the first camp for young people was
held at a seaside resort. The camp site was on the coast about 50 miles from Kuala Lumpur, at the
spot where allied troops landed at the end of the second World War to take Malaya from the
Japanese. The camp had a kitchen, dining room and assembly hall ideal for our purpose.
The first camp was such a success that a second camp was held in 1957 when over 80 young people
attended. There were reports of real blessing amongst the young people. Mr. Yap Swee Lian
attended as a leader and the Secretary of the camp, but the Lord spoke to him as well. He was the
first convert and a leading deacon of the Sungei Way church. While he was at the camp he
confessed to the Lord that he had been the cause of lack of blessing in the little church. He
confessed to having been wrong in his attitude to his brother and also that in years gone by, when
he was a boy in his own home, he had stolen money from his father. He promised the Lord that he
would make his confession and restitution when he returned home.
However, from that moment the devil counter attacked and it was over 10 days before he was able
to see either his brother or his father and confess as he felt the Lord wanted him to. One thing after
another happened to hinder him. It seemed as if the enemy came in like a flood, even attacking his
body until he was so ill that he was hospitalised for a few days. When finally he did speak to his
brother and his father, Satan began to tell him he was no good and he could never be used by God
again. Eventually he came to Kuala Lumpur where we took turns praying with him and reminding
him of the promises of God. We felt that we were in the midst of a spiritual battle and in the end it
was the Word of God and prayer that won the battle. It made me realise that Satan is not happy that
these people in the villages, who have for so long been under his control, should now be free and
being used by God for His purposes.
58
CHAPTER 18 SPIRITUAL WARFARE
There had been itinerant evangelism carried out in Malaya, notably the team led by Paul Contento,
so when Hayden Mellsop left Malaya in 1953 and bequeathed his van to the South Malayan Field
to be put to whatever use we wanted, this opened the door of opportunity for us. The van needed
some attention, but there were Christians developing in many of the villages who could be trained
as part of an itinerant evangelistic team.
Mr. and Mrs. Percy King were put in charge of the van and it was prepared for its new life. The
back opened up to form a speaking platform and the van contained its own amplifying equipment.
Percy King’s report of his first evangelistic tour in the van spoke of large numbers attending the
open air meetings. He went through Rawang town as well as Rawang village, and also included
Kuang, Kundang, Batu Arang and Ulu Yam, most of which had no resident missionary. He felt the
harvest was ripe but the labourers were few.
The next trip was to the North Malayan Field. The Kings continued this work until 1958 when they
went on Home Assignment and for another year the Tarrants carried it on until they too went on
Homa Assignment. It is a specialist type of work and it is not easy to find people called to do it.
As the churches began to grow and mature, it was a great encouragement to see the number of
young people who were putting their trust in the Lord. In 1956 the first camp for young people was
held at a seaside resort. The camp site was on the coast about 50 miles from Kuala Lumpur, at the
spot where allied troops landed at the end of the second World War to take Malaya from the
Japanese. The camp had a kitchen, dining room and assembly hall ideal for our purpose.
The first camp was such a success that a second camp was held in 1957 when over 80 young people
attended. There were reports of real blessing amongst the young people. Mr. Yap Swee Lian
attended as a leader and the Secretary of the camp, but the Lord spoke to him as well. He was the
first convert and a leading deacon of the Sungei Way church. While he was at the camp he
confessed to the Lord that he had been the cause of lack of blessing in the little church. He
confessed to having been wrong in his attitude to his brother and also that in years gone by, when
he was a boy in his own home, he had stolen money from his father. He promised the Lord that he
would make his confession and restitution when he returned home.
However, from that moment the devil counter attacked and it was over 10 days before he was able
to see either his brother or his father and confess as he felt the Lord wanted him to. One thing after
another happened to hinder him. It seemed as if the enemy came in like a flood, even attacking his
body until he was so ill that he was hospitalised for a few days. When finally he did speak to his
brother and his father, Satan began to tell him he was no good and he could never be used by God
again. Eventually he came to Kuala Lumpur where we took turns praying with him and reminding
him of the promises of God. We felt that we were in the midst of a spiritual battle and in the end it
was the Word of God and prayer that won the battle. It made me realise that Satan is not happy that
these people in the villages, who have for so long been under his control, should now be free and
being used by God for His purposes.
58
