Bario Revival 1973, Revisited

This is a major Revival which happened in Bario, Sarawak which we believe should be told and retold so that what God has done in Malaysia will never be forgotten for generations to come. In fact, it is our prayer that God will revisit us and send us a fresh Revival. As an introduction to the Bario Revival, we found this article which gives a very comprehensive in depth information. Please click on the Title to read the full article. It is worth your time.

MALAYSIAN REVIVALS

by John C. Miller (Peniel International Ministries)

I hope this short report may inspire your faith and praise for our magnificent Redeemer.

Malaysia is divided into two sections: the west occupies part of the peninsula at the south eastern tip of Asia and the eastern section is part of the island of Borneo. Ethnic groups include the Malays, Chinese and Indians.

Among the aboriginal tribes there are the famous ex-head hunters. One of their customs was that, when a youth reached maturity, he should bring back the head of an inhabitant of a neighbouring village. This continued until missionaries took the Good News of the gospel and there were great changes among them.

The people in Borneo were more open to the Spirit than in the western section of Malaysia. Some of the aboriginal tribes of the island had known several revivals accompanied by miracles and signs. The first of these moves took place in the forties.

The Lung Bawang tribe of Borneo was looked down upon by the others. They lived practically drunk, under the influence of alcohol, one hundred days in the year. A book called «Drunk Before Dawn» tells how God intervened in their lives. They were so degraded that, after head hunting was forbidden, they gave themselves over to drinking. A government report said that only the dogs remained sober. Because of there behavior, they became subject to plagues and pests. God intervened when they faced extinction. Christianity brought tremendous changes, today they are the tribe with the highest percentage of professionals.

In the year 1973 another sovereign move of God began in a high school among a group of young people in a place called Bario. This group used to get together at night to pray for hours after class. They were inspired by the book «Like a Mighty Wind» and believed God could sovereignly move among them also. They prayed: "God, if you did it in Indonesia, you can also do it here."

When the answer came from heaven, they were overwhelmed by deep repentance accompanied by crying. Conviction was such that even small things appeared great in their eyes. Impoliteness or arriving late to class was seen as something terrible in the eyes of God. At first the teachers were very put out. The students spent all night praying when they would soon be having their final exams. The Spirit of God began convicting the teachers till they also started to cry out to God. Revival began with a group of 20 or 30 people, but it became so large that it can be read about in government archives.

(To read the full article Click Here : Malaysian Revivals)

This is a recording on the introduction to the first hand witnesses to the Bario Revival.

This is the testimony of Pastor Solomon Bulan, a first hand witness and the teacher then, responsible for the start of the Bario Revival

This is the testimony of Dato' Sri Idris Jala, a first hand witness and a student then, who was present at the start of the Bario Revival

This is the testimony of Osart Jallong, together with Dato' Sri Idris Jala, who were students then, share their personal experiences regarding the Bario Revival

More testimonies on the supernatural signs & wonders of the Bario Revival

Dato' Sri Idris Jala shared on what happened to him after the Bario Revival.

Pastor Solomon's concluding exhortation

This is a book documenting the events that happened in Bario, Sarawak.
The Bario Revival written by Solomon Bulan & Lillian Bulan-Dorai.

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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Solutions to address Bible issue - The Star Online

Sunday April 3, 2011

Solutions to address Bible issue

Press statement by Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, on a 10-point solution.

THE Government confirmed that it has been in dialogue with the Christian groups to look into their specific requests on the Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia Bible and also other religious issues. Taking into account the polarity of views of the different religious groups, including the Muslims, the Government decided on a 10-point solution.

1. Bibles in all languages can be imported into the country, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia.

2. These Bibles can also be printed locally in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This is a new development which should be welcomed by the Christian groups.

3. Bibles in indigenous languages of Sabah and Sarawak such as Iban, Kadazan-Dusun and Lun Bawang can also be printed locally and imported.

4. For Sabah and Sarawak, in recognition of the large Christian community in these states, there are no conditions attached to the importation and local printing of the Bible in all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia and indigenous languages. There is no requirement for any stamp or serial number.

5. Taking into account the interest of the larger Muslim community, for Peninsular Malaysia, Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, imported or printed, must have the words “Christian Publication” and the cross sign printed on the front covers.

6. In the spirit of 1Malaysia and recognising that many people travel between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, there should be no prohibitions and restrictions for people who bring along their Bible and Christian materials on such travels.

7. A directive on the Bible has been issued by the Ketua Setiausaha (KSU) of the Home Ministry to ensure proper implementation of this Cabinet decision. Failure to comply will subject the officers to disciplinary action under the General Orders. A comprehensive briefing by top officials, including the Attorney-General (AG), will be given to all relevant civil servants to ensure good understanding and proper implementation of the directive.

8. For the impounded Bibles in Kuching, Gideon, the importer can collect all the 30,000 Bibles free of charge. We undertake to ensure the parties involved are reimbursed. The same offer remains available for the importer of the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang, which have already been collected by the Bible Society Malaysia (BSM) last week.

9. Beyond the Bible issue, the Govern­ment wishes to reiterate its commitment to work with the Christian groups and all the different religious groups in order to address inter-religious issues and work towards the fulfilment of all religious aspirations in accordance with the Constitution, taking into account the other relevant laws of the country. In order to bring urgency to this work, the Prime Minister will meet the representatives of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) soon to discuss the way forward.

10. The Christian ministers in the Cabinet will meet on a regular basis with representatives of the various Christian groups in order to discuss their issues and work with the relevant ministries and the PM in order to resolve them.

I hope this 10-point solution will be received positively by the Christian groups as being fair and reasonable. We have to look for a solution that deals with the Bible issue and also put a way forward to handle other issues raised by the Christian groups.

I think the Bible issue is very unfortunate, and in the spirit of Lent, it is time for sacrifice, reconciliation and forgiveness.

In our history, as a young nation, we achieved a lot in a short period of time, but we have our shortcomings.

The Government and our civil servants are not perfect as indeed all human beings are “beautifully imperfect” in the eyes of God.

And for all our shortcomings in handling the Bible issue, I hope the Christians would find it in their hearts to forgive us.

In my Church at SIBKL, we have been praying for a Christian revival to take place in our country. For all the hurt that exists as a result of our differences, I believe that we need healing, forgiveness and reconciliation in this country.

The Bible says in Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Green light to import and print the Bible locally in all languages - The Star Online

Sunday April 3, 2011

Green light to import and print the Bible locally in all languages

PETALING JAYA: The Government has decided to allow the Bible in all languages, including Bahasa Malaysia and Indonesia, to be imported into the country.

The Bible can also be printed locally in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak and in indigenous languages such as Iban, Kadazandusun and Lun Bawang.

For Sabah and Sarawak, there will be no conditions attached to the importation and local printing of the Bible in all languages, with no requirement for any stamp or serial number.

For Peninsular Malaysia, the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia, imported or printed, must have the words “Christian Publication” and the cross sign printed on the front cover.

No restriction would be imposed on people who bring their Bibles and Christian materials on travels between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

These were part of a 10-point solution announced in a statement yesterday by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who said the views of the various religious groups, including Muslims, had been considered.

For the impounded Bibles in Kuching, the importer The Gideons International could collect all the 30,000 Bibles free of charge, he said, adding that the same offer was applicable to the importer of the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang.

Articles on the New Stamp for BM Bibles Detained.

Just added on 28 March 2011.

This is an interesting read written by someone not a Christian regarding the Stamped BM Bibles. Click on the link to read : 

Bible desecration shows puerile insensitivity — NH Chan (loyarburok.com)

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This is the latest news taken from The Star Online. Click on the title for the original link.

Wednesday March 23, 2011

New stamp for Bible copies

By P. ARUNA
aruna@thestar.com.my

Full text of the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala is below:

PETALING JAYA: The 35,100 impounded Bahasa Malaysia Bibles will be released without the need to be numbered, but will be stamped “For Christianity”, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

The announcement is a major move as the Home Ministry had earlier used the stamp “For Christians Only” on copies of the Bible held at Port Klang and Kuching.

Church groups had protested against the decision, saying it would be unconstitutional and deprive people of other faiths from reading the Bible.

“The Government has agreed to issue a directive so that future Bibles in Bahasa can be brought in, as long as they have the words “For Christianity,” Jala added in a statement yesterday.

He said copies of the Bible were not being singled out and that imported copies of the Quran were also checked to see if they were authorised copies and stamped with serial numbers before they were released.

The minister, who is a Christian, said the Government urged Chris tian groups to collect copies of the Bible at the ports.

“The focus should be in getting the Bibles into the hands of people who want to read them,” he said.

Jala added that the groups could choose to put a sticker “For Christianity” over the serial number and the stamp “For Christians Only” in the impounded copies of the Bible, and the impound costs would be paid by Christian sponsors.

Alternatively, Christian sponsors would pay for the import of new copies with the words “For Christianity” printed at the source, he said.

“This is a fair and reasonable solution from the Government and with the help of Christian donors, all 35,100 copies are to be released at no cost to the importers,” he said.

According to the statement, a special Cabinet committee had met on March 17 to find a solution to the matter, taking into account the polarity of views between Christians and Muslims.

Jala said he and the Attorney-General had met with Christian groups the following day to present the proposed solution, adding that the Government wanted to resolve the issue amicably in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia.

On his role in helping to sort out the matter, Jala said he was requested to discuss with the Christian groups in his capacity as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (not as CEO of Pemandu), as a Christian and more importantly as the only Cabinet minister who was not a member of any political party.

THE following is the full press statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala on the Bahasa Malaysia Bible issue:

The Government wishes to reiterate that, since March 15, it had given the directive to release all Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia which had been impounded in Port Klang and Kuching.

However, to date, the Christian groups who imported the Bibles have yet to collect them because they do not accept the stamps and the serialisation on these Bibles.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein mentioned that the act of stamping and serialisation was standard protocol.

For example, Qurans imported into the country are also checked to ensure they are authorised, and are stamped with serial numbers before they are released.

Qurans which are not authorised are impounded and destroyed.

The act of stamping and serialisation of the Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia and the Qurans should not be perceived as desecration of holy scriptures.

A special Cabinet committee on this matter comprising the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister, Unity Minister, Minister in the PM’s Department

(Law and Parliamentary Affairs), Religious Affairs Minister and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department/CEO of Pemandu and the Attorney-General (AG) met on March 17 to discuss the issues at hand and find a fair and amicable solution.

The solution should take into account the polarity of views between the Christians and Muslims within the context of the existing laws of the country.

Subsequently, on March 18, Jala and Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, the Attorney-General, met with representatives from the Christian Federation of Malaysia, the Council of Churches of Malaysia, and other relevant Christian groups together with their legal advisors.

At this meeting, Jala said: “AG and I presented on behalf of the Government what we believe is a workable solution for all parties.”

The solution put forward by the Government is as follows:

> The BM Bibles currently impounded in Kuching and Port Klang will be released with the words “For Christianity” stamped clearly in Arial font, size 16, in bold. No other words or serial numbers will be stamped on the Bibles.

> To ensure that there is no misrepresentation in its implementation by civil servants, the Government will issue a directive from the director-general of the Home Ministry.

As with all similar directives, failure to comply with this directive will subject the relevant officers to disciplinary action under the General Orders.

> To highlight the Government’s commitment to resolving this issue amicably, the Government has received an offer from Christian donors

who are prepared to pay for the cost of all the Bibles that have already been stamped and serialised.

These BM Bibles can either be released in their present state (with stamps and serial numbers) or arrangements can be made to put stickers with the words “For Christianity” to cover the existing stamps and serial numbers. The choice is for the importers of these Bibles.

In the event they do not wish to take possession of these impounded Bibles in the present state, the Christian donors will pay for the full cost of new Bibles to be brought in with the words “For Christianity” printed at source or stamped with these words “For Christianity” by the Home Ministry at Port Klang and Kuching.

At the end of this meeting, the representatives from Christian groups requested time to meet and discuss, and have advised the Government that they would revert on their decision as soon as practicable.

Jala said: “In presenting the above solution, the AG and I have been authorised by the Prime Minister and the special Cabinet committee to convey the Government’s proposed solutions to the Christian groups.”

He further clarified: “I was requested to discuss this matter with the Christian groups in my capacity as Minister in the PM’s Department (not as CEO of Pemandu), as a Christian

and, more importantly, as the only Cabinet minister who is not a member of any political party.

“The Government wants this matter to be resolved amicably in a non-partisan manner and in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia. The AG’s involvement is obviously necessary because we have to ensure that the solution must be in the context of the existing laws of the country.”

The Government urges the Christian groups to collect the Bibles immediately for three reasons:

> The focus should be on getting the Bibles into the hands of people who want to read them; it has been established that the Home Ministry is not singling out the Bibles

for stamping and serialisation because this is also the same practice as they appear in the Quran.

> Notwithstanding (1) above, an arrangement has been made by the Government with the help of Christian donors to pay for the cost of all 30,000 impounded Bibles in Kuching and the 5,100 Bibles in Port Klang.

The importer can take these Bibles completely free of charge. If the Christian groups do not wish to take the Bibles, then the Christian donors have agreed to pay for the cost of bringing in new Bibles as replacement and these will be printed or stamped with the words “For Christianity”.

> The Government has agreed to issue a directive so that future Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia can be brought in as long as these have the words “For Christianity” in Arial font, size 16 either printed at source or stamped at the receiving port.

Finally, Jala said: “This is a fair and reasonable solution from the Government and with the help of Christian donors, all 35,100 Bibles are to be released completely free of charge at no cost at all to the importers.

“In addition, by virtue of the Government directive, there is an assurance from the Government that future Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia can be imported and released with the words ‘For Christianity’.” – Bernama

CFM MEDIA STATEMENT - HOLY SCRIPTURES DESECRATED

CHRISTIAN FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA

(PERSEKUTUAN KRISTIAN MALAYSIA)

Address: 10, Jalan 11/9, Section 11, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Telephone: (03) 7957 1278, (03) 7957 1463, Fax: (03) 7957 1457

Email: cfmsia@yahoo.co.uk

17th March 2011

CFM MEDIA STATEMENT

HOLY SCRIPTURES DESECRATED

The Christian community in Malaysia is deeply hurt that the Government has desecrated and
defaced the Bible.

Initial news that the Government had agreed to release copies of the Bible in Bahasa
Malaysia which had been impounded in both Port Klang and Kuching was greeted with joy.

However, this joy soon turned into grief and mourning when it was discovered that the
release was subject to certain conditions. Each copy has to be stamped with a serial number,
the official seal of the relevant department of the Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan Dan Teks Al-
Quran, and the words “by order of the Minister of Home Affairs”.

This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word
of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians.
Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action.

The Christian community in Malaysia has always acted in good faith and with great patience
to find amicable solutions without compromising our fundamental beliefs. But that good
faith has not been reciprocated by the Government. It is the Government that has moved the
“goal posts” over the years through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and
restrictions.

We have never agreed to any wording to be endorsed on Bibles to say that it is only for
Christians. The 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act 1960 did not state that any
form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.

The latest letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 15 March 2011 is therefore a set of
new conditions imposed on the release of the impounded Bibles which is wholly
unacceptable to us. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of
God to us is sacred.

We also wholly reject the Government’s contention that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is
prejudicial to the national interest and security of Malaysia, and treated as a subversive
publication.

As Christians we wonder how our Holy Scriptures can become a national security threat
where countless number of us find it helpful in bringing hope and healing to broken lives and
homes which we can testify to. Besides it commands us to be better citizens of our beloved
nation.

We therefore insist that the Government withdraw the conditions imposed on the release of
the Bibles impounded in Port Klang and Kuching. Given that copies may already have been
endorsed, we will NOT take delivery of those endorsed copies.

We call on all Malaysians, from Semenanjung and in Sabah and Sarawak, and from all walks
of life, to come together in unity to reject any attempt to restrict the freedom of religion in our
beloved country.

We invite all Christians in Malaysia to remain calm and to continue to pray for a dignified
and respectful resolution of this issue. As Sunday 20 March 2011 marks the 2nd anniversary
of the impounding of the Bibles at Port Klang, we call on all those in Malaysia and elsewhere
to dedicate themselves to a day of prayer and quiet reflection.

Bishop Ng Moon Hing
Chairman and the Executive Committee,
Christian Federation of Malaysia