The RBTC Fund


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Appeal for Contribution to the RBTC Fund

1 Introduction

Churches of various denominations began to appear in Malaysia from over three hundred years ago, when the Christian faith was brought here by missionaries from the West. The Federated Malay States of Malaya gained independence from Britain in 1957, and was joined by Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia in 1963. Singapore withdrew from Malaysia to become a republic in 1965.

Historically, there had been two major groupings of Baptists, viz. the General Baptists and the Particular Baptists. They had their origin in Britain in the 17th century and spread to America and other parts of the world. The Particular Baptists are known today as Reformed Baptists. While sharing much in common with the General Baptists, the Reformed Baptists differ from them in holding to a Calvinistic doctrine of salvation instead of an Arminian one, to covenant theology which is not adhered to by most General Baptists today, and to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith while the General Baptists hold to their own confessions of faith. Unlike the General Baptists who have existed in Malaysia for a longer time, the Reformed Baptists made their debut only in 1983.

Apart from planting churches locally and in the surrounding nations, the Damansara Reformed Baptist Church (formerly known as the Sri Hartamas Church) has been training pastors and preachers from 1991. This has been done in an informal, church-based way, as and when there were men who needed training. Sensing the increasing need of preachers and Bible teachers, it is deemed right to begin the training of such men and women on a formal basis.

2 Aim & Objectives
Our aim is to establish a not-for-profit, church-based, theological college for the training of men and women for service to God in planting and building up local churches.

The objectives include:

  • to provide theological training to men who are, or may be, called by God to the gospel ministry.;
  • to provide theological training to men and women in supportive capacities of the gospel ministry;
  • to provide the opportunity of earning an accredited Graduate Certificate, BA, BA Honours, Post-Graduate Diploma in Theology, MTh, and PhD degrees.
  • to provide an environment of encouraging and nurturing personal godliness, spiritual fruitfulness, and academic excellence.

3 Approach
A theological college will be established as a joint ministry of the Reformed Baptist Churches in Malaysia (RBCM). It will be called “Reformed Baptist Theological College” (RBTC). The Board of Governors will be made up of two messengers from each church, two of whom will be registered as the trustees of RBTC. One of the trustees will act as company director of RBTC Enterprise, a sole proprietorship company to be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. RBTC will hold at least 60% of the stake in the company, the other 40% or less being held by one or more individuals invited to be members of the Advisory Board of RBTC. Operational costs will come from the 60% or more share of RBTC, while the 40% or less share will not be used, apart from the bank interest it yields.

RBTC will apply to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to offer degree programmes. RBTC will also seek partnership with other theological institutions to run its postgraduate programmes. The organisational structure of RBTC is as shown below.

rbtcstructuresep2016

4 Teaching Staff
RBTC will invite qualified teachers from other theological colleges and churches to share in the teaching as needed. The bulk of the teaching can be handled immediately by the following persons:

(i) Boon-Sing Poh

  • PhD in Theology, North-West University, South Africa, in co-operation with Greenwich School of Theology, London, UK (2012).
  • Diploma in Religious Studies, Cambridge University, UK (1982).
  • PhD in Electronics Engineering, University of Liverpool, UK. (1981).
  • B Eng (Hons) in Electronics Engineering, University of Liverpool, UK (1978).
  • Lecturer at UPM for six years (1982-1987).
  • Founder of over ten Reformed Baptist churches in Malaysia and other SEA countries.
  • Pastor of Damansara Reformed Baptist Church from 1986 to the present time.
  • Published ten scientific papers and more than ten Christian books.

(ii) Jeff Riddle

  • PhD in Theology, Union Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, May 2002.
  • MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, May 1990.
  • BA, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, May 1987. Magna Cum Laude. Double major in English and Religion.
  • Assistant Professor of Humanities, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2012—present.
  • Self-employed ordained ministry, 1992-present. Minister of Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, 2010-present.
  • Visiting Instructor, Hungarian Baptist Theological Seminary, Budapest, Hungary, 1990-92.
  • Editor of two books. Published over 100 articles and book reviews in various academic, ecclesiological, and popular publications.

(iii) Debra Si-Mui Sim

  • PhD in Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, UK (1984)
  • BSc Hons in Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, UK (1980).
  • Lecturer at Universiti Malaya (1984-1993)
  • Associate Professor at Universiti Malaya (1993-2006)
  • Professor at Universiti Malaya (2006-present). Retiring soon from Universiti Malaya.
  • Published about 70 papers in peer-reviewed academic journals, 25 of which are on medical education.
  • Contributed 11 chapters to books on pharmacology and medical education.
  • Co-editor of a book on pharmacology.
  • Won 17 awards and study fellowships.
  • Extensive experience in leading and teaching BSF meetings.

5 Expected Enrolment
The yearly intake of students is conservatively expected to average five persons at the beginning. It is expected to increase to about twenty when the arrangement for the procurement of visas for foreign students is in place.

6 Expected Commencement Date
Preferably by January 2017, depending on whether there is sufficient funding.

7 Facilities
Classes may commence immediately using the premises of the Damansara Reformed Baptist Church. Minor renovations to the premises will make it more conducive for teaching and learning.

8 Problems encountered
8.1 Financial needs
The two churches that come together to start RBTC are small, each with a congregation of about 70 people, out of which about 20 are formal members. Together, we have been supporting national pastors on a monthly basis in Myanmar (3 persons), Indonesia (2 persons), and Nepal (1 person).

Despite our small number, we have been involved heavily in disaster relief, raising funds and sending teams of helpers to the ground, including: tsunami relief in Indonesia and Sri Lanka (in 2005), earthquake relief various parts of Indonesia (in 2005 and 2008), cyclone relief in Myanmar (2009), earthquake relief in Nepal (2014), flood and hailstorm relief in Myanmar (2015 and 2016). We have always operated on a shoestring budget.

8.2 Socio-political hindrances
We desire to co-exist peacefully with the majority Muslim population of the country, despite the fact that some sectors among them have been active in Christian-bashing. The Constitution of the country provides for freedom of religion – a right which we desire to pursue despite the difficulties that we face. We desire to contribute, in our own ways, to society by operating the proposed college.

8.3 Meeting a need
It is known that there is a dearth of training centres among Reformed Baptists worldwide. Known seminaries can be numbered on the fingers of one hand. The need is particular acute in Asia. We intend to operate as a not-for-profit institution in which no tuition fee is charged. Fees are charged only for lodging and food, procurement of student visas, textbooks, and the like. The churches from which the students come are urged to make voluntary contributions to RBTC according to their ability.

9 Appeal for contribution
The RBTC Fund is started to operate RBTC. The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) requires that RBTC have a startup capital of RM1 million (USD250,000.00). Friends and well-wishers are requested to contribute towards the sum of RM600,000.00 (USD150,000.00) which is 60% of the start-off capital needed. Money will be needed immediately for the following:

Processing fees to be a university-college: RM20,000.00
Approval fees for courses of study: RM10,500.00
Finished renovation to premises, soft loan: RM290,000.00
Ongoing renovation, estimated: RM30,000.00
Text books: RM5,000.00
Two laptop computers (MacBook Air): RM8,000.00
One electronic projector: RM2,000.00
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Total : RM365,500.00 (USD92,000.00)

Contributions may be sent to our bank account, the details of which are shown below. Please email to Pastor B S Poh at rbcpoh@hotmail.com to state the amount sent, and the purpose viz. the RBTC Fund.

Account name: Damansara Reformed Baptist Church
No. and Street: 52 Jalan SS 21/2, Damansara Utama
City: Petaling Jaya
State: Selangor, Malaysia
Zip Code: 47400

Bank Account Number: 3178054332
Bank Name: Public Bank, Damansara Utama Branch
No, and Street: 49, 51 & 53, Jalan SS 21/60, Damansara Utama
City: Petaling Jaya
State: Selangor, Malaysia
Zip Code: 47400
SWIFT Code: PBBEMYKL

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