Rev Mee Fang Njoo is a pastor in Indonesia. She is a former participant of Langham Preaching training and now serves as the Langham Preaching Associate Regional Coordinator for East Malaysia and East Timor. Recently Level 1 training was run in East Timor, and it was the third ever training run locally.
Called to serve – pastor and now coordinator
Mee Fang was raised knowing about God and it was as a teenager that she began to think about ministry. She reflects, “My mother made sure I went to regular Sunday school as a child. But I came to know Jesus personally through youth camp when I was twelve. At the age of 15, I received a call to give my life fully to be a servant of the Lord.” She followed this call and became a pastor!
After several years of ministry, Mee Fang learnt about Langham Partnership through some friends. She says, “My friends got involved in the [Langham Preaching] Level 1 training when it was held for the first time in Indonesia.”
Eventually, Mee Fang went through the training herself. She was initially interested because it taught the art of preaching simply. Doing the training has changed how she preaches as a pastor! She explains, “Langham’s training helps me to preach more faithfully, clearly and relevantly.”
After doing the training as a participant and finding it so useful, Mee Fang then got involved as a volunteer for Langham Preaching. After doing training in Indonesia, now Mee Fang is involved in training in East Malaysia and East Timor as the Associate Regional Coordinator!
She shares, “Now as a facilitator, I want to teach training materials to students and to many other preachers in the region.”
A local ministry planted and growing
Langham Preaching training in East Timor began in 2020 and was initially run online during the pandemic. Now training is running in person and it’s an exciting indication of the growing enthusiasm in the region. Most recently Level 1 training was run in Baucau, East Timor with 44 participants!
The need in the region is huge, with a lack of resources and inadequate local theological education. Mee Fang explains, “East Timor does not yet have a formal academic seminary. Pastors who want to go to theological school go to seminaries in Indonesia, and not many get this opportunity. Many become servants of God with only a short course.”
This makes the work of Langham Preaching even more crucial, as most pastors are poorly equipped and don’t have the opportunity or access to any significant training before taking on their role in church.
Mee Fang says, “The presence of Langham’s training answered the need for preachers who could preach expositions from the Bible. The training method is taught simply and practised repeatedly until the participants understand.”
Being involved with Langham has changed things for Mee Fang and is also making positive ripples through many pastors and different churches.
Mee Fang explains, “Langham’s preaching ministry helped me see God’s work in many places. Many churches need preachers, and few preachers preach biblical preaching. It brings me great joy when the trainees become more familiar with the Bible and love the preaching ministry.”
By Ngaire Buckley, Langham Partnership Australia