Monday, April 4, 2011

Ba' kelalan Revival, 1984 Revisited

We received a copy of the recording of the first hand witnesses share their testimonies to the Ba' kelalan Revival. We believe that this is a heritage that we as Christians in Malaysia should know about and to be proud of. Let this Revival be told again and again and let it never be forgotten for generations to come. Let us listen to the recordings and pray for God to send another Revival to us.


There is a book "DRUNK BEFORE DAWN" written by Shirley Lees documenting this Revival and the book is sold in most of the major Christian bookstores in Malaysia. This book has also been translated into Bahasa Malaysia called, "MABUK SEBELUM FAJAR MENYINSING" by Evelyn Tan







After searching through the net, we found this write up on the Bakalalan Revival which happened in Sarawak in 1984, from Ps Dr Philip Lyn's blog. Click here for original source : Skyline

Ba’kalalan is a cluster of village located near the Sarawak/Sabah/Kalimantan border, some 2700 feet above sea level. Named after the Kelalan river which flows through the fertile area, it is home of the hospitable Lun Bawang people (formerly called Muruts),


once fierce head-hunters given to excessive drinking and quarrels in the days of the Rajah Brooke. The early British colonia government had more or less left them to die out as a tribe because they were often “drunk before dawn”, plagued with diseases and deemed unsalvageable as a people. When the gospel reached them 60 years ago, their lifestyles changed. Prized heads inherited from their ancestor were destroyed. The drinking stopped. So did their animistic practices. Wholesale conversion of longhouses and villages took place. However, over the next thirty years, the fire dimmed and the Lun Bawang people became spiritually complacent and dry.


In 1984, an outpouring of the Spirit took place in the villages of Bakalalan. This visitation was accompanied with unusual signs and wonders; water changed to oil, rice to flour, fireballs and stars of fire lit up in the sky. There were angelic visitations. Central to this was a man of prayer and much humility called Agung Bangau. Just as God used Evan Roberts in Wales, William J Seymour in Azusa, Pak Agung (as he was known) was used of God as the point man. He used to foretell the appearance of many of the signs that appeared during the years of 1984-85. Both the timing and the nature of these unusual manifestations together with the prophetic words released by him brought the people into an awe and reverence of God and led to widespread repentance and worship. Some of the most beautiful singing you will ever hear in Sarawak are from this part of the world. It reminds you of what God did in Wales when new songs flowed from the softened hearts of previously crude, hardened coal miners.


Today we look at what God did in Bakalalan over 25 years ago. I had just arrived in Sabah then and had heard of revival but did not have the heart or means to visit Bakalalan. Today we won’t miss out. With us this morning is Roland Satu, a school principal in the days when the revival broke out, who will share with us a first-hand account of what God did. Also to give us a glimpse into the heart of his father, who went to be with the Lord in 1992, is Jeffry Agung, (son of Agung Bangau), now a pastor of a church near Kuching. Catch the fire of what God can do in our nation again. We are of all people, most blessed to have had revival, not just once, but twice since the formation of Malaysia. Do it again, Lord and start with us!


Ps Dr Philip Lyn


INTRODUCTION TO THE BAKALALAN REVIVAL



FIRST HAND TESTIMONY BY THE WIFE OF THE MAN WHOM GOD USED TO SPEARHEAD THE REVIVAL - IBU BULAN DAWAT




FIRST HAND WITNESS ROLAND SATU UKAB'S TESTIMONY ON THE BAKALALAN REVIVAL



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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It is truly good to hear the relive of this once magnificent glory of God. I was a very young believer then and read so much of this happenings.