Ministry Milestone: Ordination

On the second and last day of the leaders' retreat, in the first morning session, I showed for the first time in public (among 20 leaders) my ordination certificate on the screen in a slide. It happened that on 6th December 2025 was the 29th anniversary of my ordination as a full-time worker (pastor & elder) of Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Church).

In fact, I was the among the first, together with my three colleagues in Executive Council ordained in the first ever ordination ceremony in our denomination. Rev Keith Napper in his late 70s (BEM leader in 1950-60s) and the Sarawak's SIB President, Rev Gerawat Maran officiated in the ceremony and we were duly ordained by the laying of hands. We, in turn, ordained the pastors and elders who sat on the General Council (Majlis Umum) and thence, commenced official ordination of pastors and elders in our Church. 

I had written in my book, "Anak Panah", human appointment and even ordination by human leaders was not something important for me as I know from my early days, I am ordained by God himself to be His servant and anointed to preach the Gospel and His Word to the nations. I have never sought human appointment beyond what is proper and appropriate like following the Church's rules and regulations but beyond that I refused to kow tow or "menjilat kaki" or kiss the ring to obtain any favour or church office. 

For spiritual offices cannot be traded or given by men, by true servants are Christ appointed and sent out on a mission. Yet, I see my 30th year as an ordained pastor commencing my 2nd half of full-time ministry which may last another 29 years, making me 90 years old if my math is correct. Can one serve God until 90? Certainly if health permits even if it might not as active as it is now, by writing and blogging, preaching like John the apostle in his late 80s he was still preaching seated in his chair.