What happens when churches realise that their history is at risk of being forgotten? In August, participants from churches and theological institutions across the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Malaysia and Singapore (FELCMS) gathered in Brickfields, Malaysia for an archives training workshop led by Angela Schilling from Lutheran Archives Australia. Supported through LCA International […]

What happens when churches realise that their history is at risk of being forgotten?

In August, participants from churches and theological institutions across the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Malaysia and Singapore (FELCMS) gathered in Brickfields, Malaysia for an archives training workshop led by Angela Schilling from Lutheran Archives Australia. Supported through LCA International Mission, the workshop introduced participants to the basics of records, archives, preservation and access, while encouraging churches to think about why their history matters and how it can be protected for future generations.

For many participants, archives were a completely new field.

Mabel Ong from Sabah Theological Seminary (STS) described herself as a beginner. “We have a lot of old documents and photos, and nobody has really been taking care of the records,” she said. “We are serious about opening an archive department under the library.”

Mabel was approached earlier this year to help establish the archive. Although she trained in library work around fifteen years ago and had previously worked in the STS library, she had no archival experience.

For Mabel, preserving history is about much more than organising old papers. “People are searching for old material and old photos. We need to organise it so it’s easy to find, especially for the next generation. I love history, so it’s good to preserve it because often people just put it aside.”

She believes the story of STS deserves to be remembered. “In Sabah it wasn’t easy to establish STS. It’s a miracle that God opened STS in a Muslim-majority country. It is good to acknowledge God’s faithfulness and remember those who have served the seminary before.”

The desire to preserve history was echoed by Jason from the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM). BCCM’s founding principal was also the church’s first bishop, and many important historical records remain scattered throughout the church and seminary. Jason sees archives as an opportunity for the church to better understand its own story.

“It’s important for us to find out more of our history,” he said. BCCM has both Lutheran and Presbyterian influences. While that story has been passed down through conversations and memories, much of the written history is not easily accessible. “The current church members have the memory passed on verbally through the stories, but they don’t have the written history.”

For Jason, one of the most valuable lessons from the workshop was learning the distinction between everyday records and archival material. “This has helped open my eyes to what an archive is. All archives are records, but not all records are archives.” That concept forms a key principle of archival work. Records are created every day, but archives identify and preserve those with lasting significance for the future.

Others attended because they had already encountered the challenges of lost history. Cynthia volunteered for the workshop after being tasked with helping prepare a jubilee booklet for Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM)’s Luther House Chapel’s 55th anniversary celebration. As she searched for information, she discovered how difficult it could be to locate historical records. “I wanted to learn more about archives,” she said. “I have no previous training or experience.”

Throughout the workshop, participants explored questions such as why churches keep records, how archives support governance and accountability, what materials should be preserved, and how collections can be cared for in tropical climates. They also discussed privacy, access, digitisation and long-term sustainability.

One theme emerged repeatedly: preserving history is not simply about storing documents. It is about remembering God’s work.

Many church stories, photographs, minutes, publications and personal papers remain vulnerable to loss. In some contexts, history has traditionally been passed on orally, meaning valuable records have disappeared over time. The workshop challenged participants to think about how written and visual records can complement living memory and help future generations understand where God has led his people.

As churches across Malaysia and Singapore begin developing archival collections, they are not merely creating storage rooms. They are preserving testimonies of faith, ministry and God’s faithfulness across generations.