Twenty years ago, we began a journey as a simple response to a need. This has now grown into the Grace Centre Community Learning Centre, a place where migrant children are welcomed, educated, and reminded that they are deeply loved by God. The Grace Centre is located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia, and serves […]

Twenty years ago, we began a journey as a simple response to a need. This has now grown into the Grace Centre Community Learning Centre, a place where migrant children are welcomed, educated, and reminded that they are deeply loved by God.

The Grace Centre is located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia, and serves children from Indonesian migrant families. Many of these children were born in Sabah but cannot attend Malaysian government schools because of their citizenship status. Without an alternative, many would miss out on formal education entirely. The Grace Centre exists so that this does not happen.

Our vision is guided by a simple but powerful belief: every child has the right to education. Education is not only a basic human right; it is also a pathway to dignity, hope, and a future. At the Grace Centre, our desire is that children experience both academic formation and the gift of God’s love through Christian education and community.

Our biblical foundation comes from Jesus’ words in Mark 9:37: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” We also draw strength from Ephesians 2:19–22, which reminds us that we are no longer strangers or foreigners but members of God’s household. At the Grace Centre, children who are often treated as “outsiders” are received as family.

The Grace Centre began informally in 2005 and officially opened in 2006 with 80 students meeting in a small shop lot. As enrolments grew, we moved to a wooden structure with more space for classrooms and play. However, being located in a residential area created tensions, and in 2013 we relocated to our current site, where we remain today.

We are grateful that the Grace Centre operates under the umbrella of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM), which has a long and respected history in Sabah. From the beginning, we have also partnered with mission partners from Korea, whose faithful support and collaboration have now continued for two decades.

In 2016, we took an important step by formally collaborating with the Indonesian Consulate in Kota Kinabalu. Since then, the Grace Centre has functioned as a registered Community Learning Centre, following the Indonesian national curriculum under the Indonesian Ministry of Education. This means our students are officially registered and able to receive recognised certificates that allow them to continue education in Indonesia.

At present, the Grace Centre serves 269 students across primary and secondary levels, taught in nine classes by nine dedicated teachers. Our teaching team includes Malaysian teachers, Indonesian teachers sent by the Ministry of Education, and even former Grace Centre students who have returned to serve as assistant teachers.

All students at the Grace Centre are Christian (Protestant and Catholic). This allows us to offer Christian education openly while navigating a complex legal and social context. Most families are subsistence farmers, domestic workers, or casual labourers, living with limited security and income.

School life at the Grace Centre closely mirrors that of a formal school. Students participate in assemblies, study core subjects including English, celebrate national and religious holidays, and enjoy competitions, performances, and creative activities. Easter and Christmas celebrations are especially meaningful, as students tell biblical stories through drama, music, and dance.

We also hold achievement days at the end of each semester to celebrate progress and encourage motivation for students and parents.

One student’s story remains close to my heart. Femi was a quiet student who stopped attending school after family conflict led her to leave home. We visited her family, listened, encouraged, and eventually she returned. When she joined a school cooking competition and won (not only at school but later at a district level) her confidence was transformed. Today, she is continuing her studies in a culinary vocational program and preparing for a future she once could not imagine.

Other stories are more complex. Some of our students are stateless, with no valid citizenship documents despite being third‑generation residents in Sabah. These cases are emotionally heavy, but even there we continue to offer education, encouragement, and hope.

Our challenges are many. Building character and discipline for children facing instability at home is not easy. Access to our centre is difficult during heavy rain, requiring constant road maintenance. Regulatory uncertainty also remains, as policies around migrant education continue to shift.

This year marks 20 years of the Grace Centre. We give thanks to God for every child, teacher, partner, and prayer that has carried us this far.

As long as children still need a place to learn, belong, and be welcomed in Jesus’ name, the Grace Centre will continue to open its doors.

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner churches in Malaysia (Sabah) at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/malaysia-sabah/