Seasons is a Lutheran discipleship resource published in English by the Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM) in 2017 as a contribution to the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. A year later, a Chinese translation followed. Both versions have been well received by members and congregations of the four Lutheran church bodies in […]
Seasons is a Lutheran discipleship resource published in English by the Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM) in 2017 as a contribution to the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
A year later, a Chinese translation followed. Both versions have been well received by members and congregations of the four Lutheran church bodies in Malaysia and those in other parts of South-East Asia.
The next goal is to publish a translation in the Malay language (Bahasa Malaysia) and to launch it in October 2020, at the meeting of the Federation of Evangelical-Lutheran Churches in Malaysia and Singapore (FELCMS). Your support is needed for the translation of this essential resource.
Seasons was written by three LCM pastors as an initiative of Bishop Aaron Yap. The title refers to the journey of Christians growing in faith and experiencing times of joy and sadness through the seasons of life, from young to old age. Going beyond the basics of the Christian faith, the book considers the context of South-East Asia and distinctive features of Lutheran beliefs and practices practices in relation to the commonly shared Christian faith. The units of the book are related to the seasons of the church year and focus on topics specific to these periods.
The book contains both spiritual and informative messages to inspire an active life devoted to Christ, be it in personal, professional or congregational contexts. It is suitable for individuals to use for personal devotion or for use in small groups. The text of the book is supplemented with additional information, illustrations and art from Asian Christians, as well as questions.
Seasons offers the reader a way of developing greater maturity in faith as it draws together Lutheran and Asian perspectives. There has been a lack of such crucial contextual resources, especially for young Christians in South-East Asia.
Now the publication of the resource in Bahasa Malaysia – which is spoken by indigenous people in both West and East Malaysia and also in Indonesia – is underway. Translating Seasons into this national language is essential for reaching out to and equipping indigenous Christians in Malaysia.
It’s an awesome thing to learn more about the word of God by reading it in your own heart language. It not only personalises the relationship you have with God but symbolises how God loves us all, irrespective of our race, cultural background and social class. It makes Jesus real in a language that can be understood, felt and shared by a community.
This story was also published in the April 2020 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.
If you would like to support the translation of the book Seasons, please contact LCA International Mission.
Read more stories about our partner churches in Malaysia at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/malaysia-peninsula/
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