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 past matters and how it can be protected for future generations.

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

Many participants came with little or no experience in archival work, but each brought a growing awareness that their church’s valuable history could easily be lost if they were not intentionally retained.

Among them was Mabel Ong from Sabah Theological Seminary (STS). STS holds a significant collection of historical documents, photographs and records gathered throughout its history. Recognising the importance of preserving this heritage, the seminary has begun establishing an Archives Department to organise, document and make these resources accessible for the future.

Earlier this year, Mabel was invited to assist with this work. Although she received library training around fifteen years ago and previously served in the STS Library, archival management was a new area for her.

“Sabah Theological Seminary has an important heritage,” Mabel shared. “STS was established through the cooperation of different church denominations working together under God’s guidance. These documents and photographs aren’t just historical materials. They remind us and future generations of God’s faithfulness in the life of STS and in the lives of the people who’ve studied, taught and served there over the years.”

A similar desire to preserve history was expressed by Jason Leong from the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM). STS’s founding Principal was also BCCM’s first Bishop, and the church and seminary hold many records that reflect their shared journey.

BCCM has both Lutheran and Presbyterian influences. While much of that legacy is remembered through conversations and memories, the written record isn’t always easy to access. “The current church members have the memory passed on verbally through the stories, but they don’t have the written history,” he said.

Jason’s observation reflects a wider challenge faced by many churches across Malaysia and Singapore. Stories, experiences and traditions have often been shared through oral culture and passed from one generation to the next. While these living memories remain valuable, photographs, minutes, publications and other historical materials can be easily lost if they are not intentionally safeguarded. The workshop encouraged participants to consider how written and visual records can complement living memory and capture the ways God has guided, provided for, and been present to his beloved children throughout the life of the church.

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

Others attended because they’d already experienced the challenges locating historical information. Cynthia Chin volunteered for the workshop after being asked to help 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 and recognised the need to learn more about archives.

For the churches represented at the workshop, archives are about more than organising documents. They are a way of caring for the stories of faith, ministry and service which God has entrusted to his church.