The Chinese Methodist Message (CMM)

Brief History of CMM

    Imagine if 55 years ago, our forefathers did not take all the pain and hardship to start publishing the Methodist Message, we would have no trace, no record of what our spiritual heritage was. Now we stand on the shoulders of the giants to continue this legacy.

The Beginning

    The Methodist Message was first published on 21 April 1951 with the name of Methodist Magazine. It had 64 pages and the size was 13cmx19cm. The contents were rich such as local and church news, sermons, articles, testimonies and even 2 pages of advertisements. In the early period, Methodist Magazine was published 4 times a year. Later because of lack of funds and contributed articles, the magazine was sometimes published twice a year or once a year. Apart from this, the Board of Literature produced books such as Survey of the New Testament, Questions and Answers for Church Members and others.

A Period of Crisis and Reform

    In the early 60s, the magazine officially changed its name to The Chinese Methodist Message (CMM). The size was bigger, 19cmx26.5cm. In 1967, with a full time salary-paid editor for the first time, CMM began to grow. However, in the early 70s, the funds from the USA Church had decreased and as the local churches could not make up the deficiency, CMM began to experience a period of crisis. In 1974, the full time editor resigned.
    In 1975, two teachers became part time editors for CMM. Together they bought CMM to another milestone. CMM gradually became a monthly newspaper. They also published books and organised writing workshops.
    In 1992, one or two pages of English articles and news were included in the CMM.

A Period of Awakening

    In 1994, CMM hired Wong Meng Lei as the full time director of the Board of Literature and editor. In the next year, CMM moved to its present office. It also obtained a publishing permit from the government and CMM launched into the era of colour printing.
    In 1996, CMM produced a youth bimonthly magazine called "Beyond". In 1998, CMM changed to a fortnightly newspaper. In 1999, a children's magazine named "Happy Children" was published alternately with "Beyond".

Extending the Territories

    Year 2000 marked a special year in CMM. This year the number of copies of CMM reached 10,000. CMM reached another higher ground. In the same year, CMM introduced a subscription package called "Friend of CMM". Through the support and subscription fee, CMM began to grow financially.
    All through the years, CMM has published over 55 books and many other booklets and gospel tracts. In 2003, CMM changed its format from newspaper to magazine. In 2004, Ling Lee Sing became the editor of CMM. At the beginning of 2005, Connection, the English station of CMM was published separately. (Winnie)

Mum, Margaret and Baby swap

A baby swap? My sister Margaret

This was when Margaret was awarded with her PhD from the University of Christchurch. She did her studies in Lincoln College.

When she was born, Mother’s been fretting and worrying. She has given birth to a child when her husband was away and the baby looked different from the rest of the brood. The nurse had brought a baby who was dark, and had big eyes. She was too different from the others. They all had fair skin, and smallish eyes, especially Ann, whose eyes were so small that they seemed perpetually closed. Call it maternal instincts; Mother wasn’t convinced that this baby was hers. 

 These are my parents John Hiu Fei and Mary Kong.

Everyone says I look like Dad with my broad face, and Margaret looks like Mum.

If you have been following my writing, you would have read the incredulous story that at one stage, people thought that Margaret was a baby swap. She didn't look like the rest of us, mainly she has a sharp face, and we older sisters have broad chopping board face.

As Margaret grew older, she looked more and more like Mum, They both have the sharp face. I emailed the family the above photo, a recent photo my facebook friend sent me last night.

Eldest Sis Rose replied, Margaret looks just like Mother.

This caused Mother a lot of heart ache. Thinking that we had a baby swap.  You have to read the book to see what happened.

Margaret has been teaching at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak.
On Sarawak Governor's birthday in 2010, on this occasion he gave honours to prominent people in the society. Margaret was awarded with a Pingat Bintang Kenyalang (Gold) on the occasion of the Governor's (TYT) birthday. This is the highest level for a government servant for that level. The next level is the Datuk category.

Mum, a war bride

Rewind back to 1945:

It was the second world war, the Japanese soldiers were taking girls to be their comfort women and men to be their soldier. Great Grand Ma, Ah Tai was desperate for a husband for Mum.

Ah Tai wanted the son of this Town family P.

This Town family P. didn't want a country bumpkin girl to be a daughter in law.

It was not meant to be that he should be my dad.

Instead the next best was country bumpkin Dad. 

So Ah Tai chose Dad.

This country Bumpkin was the best choice after all.

He was the first in the region to get a scholarship to study in England, and became a senior government officer.

All of us were college educated. None of the children of that Townie man went abroad. Whew!!!!

It's March, Mum and Dad's wedding annivesary

Photo of Mum and Dad with cousin James Chan Chok Chung, and Deborah and I visiting Australia from New Zealand.

It is March, and I remember in March, it is Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary. I didn't always know that, In fact, I was very jealous that on sister Margaret's birthday, she always had a big party and Mum cooked up a storm. Grandma Kong, Aunties from the Kong side and Chan side came to celebrate, and Margaret got lots of cash gifts/hung baos.

Was I jealous? Why just Margaret? when there were six of us kids. I can't remember, did I get so upset? I must have and I went to complain.

It was only then, they revealed, that Margaret was born on Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary. As it wasn't the done thing to celebrate wedding anniversaries then, they celebrated on the pretext of Margaret's birthday. Oh! I understood.

My Facebook friend  said it was all FATE. when I told him how mum and dad wedded. It's all in my book, but not this part.

Rewind back to 1945:

It was the second world war, the Japanese soldiers were taking girls to be their comfort women and men to be their solider. Great Grand Ma, Ah Tai was desperate for a husband for Mum.

Ah Tai wanted the son of this Town family P.

This Town family P. didn't want a country bumpkin girl to be a daughter in law.

It was not meant to be that he should be my dad.

Instead the next best was country bumpkin Dad. 

So Ah Tai chose Dad.

This country Bumpkin was the best choice after all.

He was the first in the region to get a scholarship to study in England, and became a senior government officer.

All of us were college educated. None of the children of that Townie man went abroad. Whew!!!!

Mum died as a result of a car accident in 1988. Dad chose not to remarry. To end the romantic story, Dad died 18 years later in 2006, on the same anniversary date as Mum.

There is a Chinese saying, if I can't be born on the same day as you, let me die on the same day as you. A sweet story for us.

 

2016 summaries with photos.

Diary of a Bereaved Mother  吾儿再见：丧儿母亲的日记  ISBN 9780473187095

This is a real life story of losing one's only son. This experience has made the author strong and caring. This tragedy has been a great help for her to help understand other bereaved people. The author is very brave to write this book. It has not been easy and she aims to touch,...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/aucklander/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503372&objectid=11030495

From China to Borneo and Beyond 海外华人的中国魂: 从中国，到南洋，到更远 2013 By

ISBN 9780473239008 English ISBN 9780473309626 Chinese

Link/Page CitationThis book records with humor the life of a busy and active family through World War II, the formation of Malaysia and Confrontation. It is a personal reflection of a way of life that has moved on and provides insight into a family and its relationships. It is most of all a work of love and respect for the Chan and Kong families and for Father and Mother.M M Ann Armstrong

Mail Order Bride 邮购新娘

This book is about the embodiment of the darker side of today's society.

ISBN 978047325414-8

Her third book, Mail Order Bride is the first fiction piece from Ann. She said that the book targets an audience of young adults and that it appeals readers interested in social issues and ills that young adults have to face.

http://borneobulletin.brunei-online.com/index.php/2013/10/15/sibu-born-author-ann-chin-kit-suet-promotes-books/

Cry of Oppressed Women 妇女的哭泣

women suffers from oppression. This story traces the life of Nadine who overcomes her own problems of oppression, grows up to be a social worker and helps women who have suffered from physical and mental violence, domestic violence, rape, pornography, swinging, sex slavery, human ... ISBN 9780473287153 Published 1 July 2014  All ages

Judy Lawson, Counsellor  A book I would use in my work as a reference.

World War II in Borneo, Tales of my Grandpa
ISBN: 9780473339005 (Pbk)

It is seventy years after the end of the World War II, or the Japanese occupation in Borneo. Captain Cheng aka Captain Fong and his Canadian soldiers are remembered in their role of leading the surrender of the Japanese.

I've been reading your book World War Two in Borneo: Tales of my Grandpa. I was a bit hesitant to start it, since it is combined fiction and fact and I didn't want to get the history mixed up in my mind. However, I'm finding it very compelling to read.Canadian documentary maker, Keith Lock.

One roof, two lives

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BGRESX0/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmbTraces the lives of 2 girls. The poor girl is sold to the rich girl as a slave aka mui zai to serve her for ever. Different Chinese Tradition are explained, and tragedy brings them to the South Seas. The Japanese invasion, the slave protects her mistress and is sent to a brothel as a comfort women.