Malaysia Vision Trip 2024: Tennyson Prater

Hi, my name is Tennyson, and I am fundraising for a vision trip to Malaysia in May of 2024 through the Maclellan Scholars program at Covenant College. This is a vision trip -- a chance to learn from Malaysian Christian leaders and their American partners in ministry and to explore how this country interacts with contemporary Christianity in the public and private squares.

Background:

Malaysia prides itself in being a land of cultural and religious diversity with a natural beauty and relative stability that draws from around the globe. Oil-riches, low costs, and a well-educated workforce has propelled Malaysia forward economically. It is also an education hub, drawing university students from all over Asia and Africa. The church finds its roots in Portuguese, then Dutch, then British colonization. Later, Indonesian and Australian missionaries evangelized the East Malaysian tribes. But the most pervasive root system is early 20th Century immigration of Christians from China. The rich missionary history stretches back to Francis Xavier arriving in 1545 and a Bible translation project by a Dutch missionary begun in 1612 (only a year after King James authorized the enduring English translation).

What Do We Hope To Gain?

It is such an opportunity to learn about what Christianity looks like in other cultures Some of the questions our group will be asking are: What is Christian fellowship like that transcends all social barriers? What does the church look like in a religiously diverse society? How does it serve and evangelize under Islamic restrictions? And how is the Spirit moving miraculously and powerfully in other cultures? Given a rich history, what is the role of foreign missions today? What does it mean to live a life that is all out for Jesus? The rest of the class and I are excited to experience a culture and people different from our own and grow in our appreciation for the unique ways that God is working around the world.

Expenses:

As a part of our leadership scholarship, we have been asked to reach out and raise money for this trip. The cost to participate is $2750 per person, including transportation and all on-site expenses. We have committed to raising this money by March 15, 2024.

I am extremely thankful for those who can aid financially.

Prayers:

The thing I am desperate for most is prayers. I am so excited to see where the Lord leads us and what new things He shows us as we walk in whatever He has planned for us.

Above all else, I ask for prayers for revival in our scholarship group and in the people we will come into contact with. God is not done working and is not done moving. He is returning for His Bride, and longs to be with us again.

Thank you for prayers!

Tennyson Prater