Samaritan Ministries
One of our biggest ministries is the Samaritan Ministry that originally started as a street feeding project in Brickfields but now covers three main areas:
Street Feeding
Trinity Centre
Myanmar Assistance
Street feeding
1. Brickfields
The street feeding project started in August 2007 as a joint effort between the YMCA KL, Kenosis Home and TMCPJ. The YMCA provides the space and facilities within its compound, Kenosis Home provides the logistics and cooking of the food, and TMCPJ the volunteers, funding and management.
From the launching on 27th August 2007 when we had only 18 guests, we hit 100 guests within 3 months and we are now consistently getting 130+ guests every Saturday. While in the early days we had a lot of visually challenged people resulting in us laying out tables and chairs for them, the demographics today have changed and we are getting more street people.
A typical Saturday would start with volunteers turning up before 1.00 p.m. followed by a briefing for them at 1.15 p.m. This is followed at about 1.25 p.m. with worship and a short message in English and Bahasa Malaysia. Occasionally translations into Mandarin and Cantonese are done.
We now have our own sound system and guitar and we also have a growing number of East Malaysians joining us on Saturdays with songs of praise in Bahasa Malaysia.
Our medical assistance programme caters for up to 30 patients every week. We regularly have volunteers from the Methodist College Kuala Lumpur who come in to do their Community Service over 10 hours.
2. Pasar Seni
A second street feeding site is below the Pasar Seni LRT station on Thursday evenings commencing at 7.30 p.m. As this is actually on the street we make use of our Meals@Work mobile kitchen with the food prepared by Morning Glory Home. This project started in March 2011 and we regularly have at least 130 guests. In this project we work together with the Agensi Anti Dadah Kebagsaan, who send their staff to assist in counseling our guests.
Trinity Centre
This centre is located at 54A Jalan Padang Belia, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, just behind the YMCA. We opened the centre in June 2008 to cater to the homeless and street people in Brickfields and to provide:
- A place to rest, shower facilities, a change of clothing (if needed)
- Counselling services
- Spiritual support through prayer, Bible studies and worship services
- Drinks and snacks
- Assistance for entry into rehabilitation centres for alcoholism and
drug addiction, AIDS centres and old folks’ homes - Assistance for welfare aid, medical treatment, etc.
The centre is open every day of the week from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. excluding Sundays, and is staffed by three full-time staff provided by Kenosis Home. The number of visitors to the centre has been steadily increasing and average 800+ per month..
Regular programmes are:
| Day | Time | Programmes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9.00 – 11.00am | Handicraft Classes, Worship and Fellowship |
| Tuesday | 7.30pm | Worship & Fellowship |
| Wednesday | 2.30pm | Worship & Fellowship |
| Friday | 7.00pm | Movie Night |
| Saturday | 2.30pm | Bible Class |
We are pleased that in this centre we have been able to assist a number of people to get jobs, be admitted to homes for rehabilitation and obtain medical assistance in the hospital. We are looking forward to initiating more programmes but we need volunteers who can come in during daylight hours as that is when all the visitors are present.
Myanmar Assistance
There are tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees in the Klang Valley and our ministry is only with a small community of about 400 people living in the Wangsa Permai area. Since June 2009 we have started a medical clinic on alternate Thursdays between 10.00 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. to provide basic medical treatment. This project would not be possible without the co-operation of the Zo Christian Fellowship in Wangsa Permai who have allowed us to use their premises for the fortnightly clinics.
Childrens’ Ministries
The Social Concerns Committee is always on the lookout for childrens’ homes or ministries that are in need and presently there are several on-going projects:
- Assistance in both in cash and kind to one children’s home
- Assisting in funding a children’s tuition centre cum day care
centre - Paying for the schooling of three underprivileged children
- Paying for the kindergarten schooling of one deserving child.
Assistance to those in Need
Social Concerns provides assistance to those who make application to it and after investigation are found deserving of assistance. Although the application process appears tedious, it ensures that only the needy get assistance.
Finally,
Article X of the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church states:
“Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, …….. yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ…..”
We will continue to do His works, showing love and compassion to all, irrespective of race, colour or creed, knowing it is pleasing to Him who rules over all.
