Kota Kinabalu Bible-Presbyterian Church

A Report by Pr Kong Sing Soon

This year, 2025, marks the 10^th year of Kota Kinabalu Bible-Presbyterian Church. We thank God for His sustenance over the past decade. As the Psalmist testifies: “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing” (Ps 34:8–10).

We pray that this ministry will continue to be a testimony of God’s work in Sabah. This report focuses on the highlights of the first half of 2025.

10^th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service

The 10^th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service was held on 16 March. We thank God that Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo, Principal of Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) and Pastor of True Life B-P Church, was able to come and deliver a thanksgiving sermon on Psalm 100 entitled A Thankful People. He also conducted the Lord’s Supper during the service.

On that day, we recorded an attendance of 32 people. We are grateful that the service and celebration went smoothly. Dr Khoo and his family’s visit encouraged us greatly; this was their second visit, the previous being on 1 September 2024. We thank God for the opportunity to reconnect with Dr Khoo and the B-P Church.

Attendees and Visitors

On special occasions, our Sunday worship usually sees higher attendance. For instance, during the Sunday of Chinese New Year, we celebrated both the New Year and the birthday of a Filipino woman’s daughter after the Worship Service. Her husband, who is not a Christian, also attended for his daughter’s birthday. That Sunday, we had 20 attendees.

At the end of February, some brethren from True Life B-P Church visited us. We thank God for the wonderful time of fellowship; it is always encouraging when like-minded brethren visit.

We are also thankful for the consistent attendees from the start of this year. Two ladies from Sabah Evangelical Mission Church (SEM) attend worship regularly, along with occasional visitors from SEM. The elderly lady with mild dementia, whom we met during evangelism last year, frequently attended both our Sunday Service and Sunday School.

On Easter Sunday, 23 people attended, including three visitors from Hong Kong. One college student from the Rungus tribe stopped attending at the end of April after deciding to join the Roman Catholic Church. In June, he came during lunchtime to bid farewell to a girl who was going to Labuan for her studies.

At the end of April, a family of five from the United States joined our church regularly until the end of June. They left because there was no ordained minister, believing that a gathering without one could not be considered a church for observing the Sabbath. We explained that the word church literally means “the called-out ones,” referring to the assembly of believers, and that an ordained minister is not required. Nevertheless, they disagreed and left. We thank God for the two-month opportunity to minister to that family.

The two sisters we met during evangelism continue to attend frequently. Please pray for them that they will grow in their desire for God and His Word. We are thankful for every opportunity to minister to people God sends to worship with us.

Chinese Bible Study and
Children’s Programme

By God’s providence, in early June we began a Wednesday Chinese Bible Study at 7 pm, held both in the church and on Zoom. This was started to help the Chinese-speaking community spiritually, as our Worship Service is usually bilingual (Chinese and English). For the convenience of those attending in person, we provide dinner. Two persons attend regularly in person, while on Zoom there are two to three participants. We are currently studying the miracles of Jesus.

We thank God for the opportunity to teach His Word. Our two-day children’s programmes took place in February and June during the school holidays. The activities included Bible lessons, arts and crafts, animated Christian videos, and games. In June, the programme concluded with an outing to Tanjung Aru Beach after lunch. We thank God for the children He sent to us.

Our prayer meeting is still attended by Su Shiang and myself. Additionally, our online ministries continue as usual, including a Wednesday devotion with an elderly woman, an afternoon ladies’ Bible study, a Thursday devotion with a disabled brother, and a Sunday Bible study with my mother and brother. We thank God for every opportunity to serve Him.

Special Highlight

A special highlight in the first half of the year was the invitation from Dr Khoo and True Life B-P Church to join their church camp in June. We thank God for the wonderful time of fellowship with the brethren of True Life Church, who were loving and kind. We also express our gratitude for their love gift and for all the brothers and sisters in Christ who have supported this ministry financially and through prayer.

May God help us to remain vigilant in these last days, as Peter says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Please continue to pray for this ministry. Thank you, and God bless.

Bible Equipping School of Theology (BEST)

A Report for the School Year 2024-2025 by Ms Theya Lagapa

The LORD has been faithful in seeing the Bible Equipping School of Theology through another school year. Each school year consists of three semesters, with each semester lasting three months. We thank God for a humble increase in online students, especially following the Graduation service that was held together with the Young People’s Bible Conference (YPBC) in December 2024. This sparked the interest of some college students, and we are grateful that they have continued to take subjects in subsequent semesters. Though the Graduation saw ten ladies receive their certificates, we praise God that more men have taken up the challenge to enrol while being the breadwinners of their homes.

The first semester of the school year ran from 9 September to 29 November 2024, with twelve enrollees. The series Ang Pagsusuri Ng Bibliya (A Survey of the Bible) began with its first part, covering Genesis to Deuteronomy, taught by Rev Jose Lagapa. The other two subjects offered were the second parts of the series Malachi by Pr Yahui Li and Women Missionaries – 1 by Mrs Crisa Li.

The second semester began on 13 January and ended on 4 April 2025. Ang Pagsusuri Ng Bibliya (A Survey of the Bible) continued with the books of Joshua through Chronicles. The subject Women Missionaries – 2 by Mrs Crisa Li offered its final part. Introduction to Christian Education, taught by Ms Thessa Lagapa, was re-offered; this subject was first introduced in the early days of BEST, back in 2021. With new students joining, it was made available again to assist those serving in the teaching ministries of the church. Lastly, the series Modern Attacks Against Christianity returned, focusing on attacks against Fundamentalism. This series is a simplified version of the Contemporary Theology course taught at FEBC, aiming to alert believers to the present attacks in these last days. This semester followed the Graduation and enrolled 22 students, nine of whom were new, mostly attendees of YPBC.

The final semester of this school year ran from 12 May to 3 August 2025, with 22 students, five of them new. Three new subjects were offered during this semester. Rev Jose Mangco conducted a book study on the Epistle of Jude. Ms Gyzza Dandoy taught Teaching Tiny Tots in Church, focusing on how to instruct preschoolers during Sunday School. The third new subject was Systematic Theology (Theism), offered in Cebuano by Rev Jose Lagapa. Ang Pagsusuri Ng Bibliya (A Survey of the Bible) also continued, covering I Chronicles through the book of Psalms.

We thank God for all the students who have enrolled thus far. It has been an encouragement to the school to see more lay members of the mission churches in the Philippines setting aside time to study God’s Word, even amid their tight work and family schedules. Some students do not have the luxury of reliable internet access and therefore have to download the lecture videos. Nevertheless, they persevered and did their best to complete the course by watching, studying, and taking the exams. We also praise God for the wisdom and health given to the lecturers to record their videos. Though there was a season of doubt about whether to continue this programme, we thank God for preserving and encouraging the school to “…commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Testimony of Mrs Hazel Rule

The course Teaching Tiny Tots in Church by Ms Gyzza Dandoy has been a great help to every Sunday School teacher. I am grateful to have been one of its beneficiaries.

As a Sunday School teacher in our church, I face many challenges, especially when teaching the tiny tots, who cannot remain in class for long. Some ask for water, some need to use the toilet, some keep standing, and others find it difficult to focus.

Through the course, I have learned the basic foundations of teaching tiny tots by understanding them as unique individuals with different behaviours. Though very small, they are also loving, affectionate, and sweet.

[Ed: Praise the Lord for the Christian education that BEST is providing to Bible-believing Filipinos serving in their local churches in their native tongue.]