Hi, my name is Mac, 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.

This helpful PrayerCast video provides a succinct window into Malaysia and its people:

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. However, with Islam as the state religion, the country has been challenged with how religious minorities can be accommodated harmoniously. For Muslim refugees in particular (especially from Yemen and Myanmar), it is an accessible land of opportunity. 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?

I am really excited to go on this trip and have a chance 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 she serve and evangelize under Islamic restrictions? What are the issues that obstruct healthy ecumenism? Given a rich history, what is the role of foreign missions today, and Presbyterian missions in particular? What is the vulnerable church’s responsibility in care and justice for the poor? 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.

12/14 of our freshman Maclellan Scholars class:

Expenses:

The cost to participate in this trip is approximately $3000 per person, including transportation and all on-site expenses. We have committed to raising this money by March 15, 2024.

Please consider donating to help make this trip a reality for our class!

Thanks,

Mac Messer