The History of Christianity in Malaysia

Christianity has its roots in the yesteryear when the British and Dutch had their presence felt in Malayan soil. The centuries have past. The colonial masters have long left for home but Christianity stayed behind and thrived. The shadow of the cross stretches across the peninsula from past to present.

TWO millenia ago, a Nazarene emerged in the land of Judea and Samaria. He
told parables simple and profound, and conveyed wondrous messages of love,
kindness and compassion. Life on earth and hereafter were elegantly told
that touched the hearts of many.
The man they called Jesus, proclaimed at that time by many to be the
Messiah, met his end on the cross. As dramatic as it was in the time of
the Roman Procurator of the land, Pontius Pilate, the crucifixion of Jesus
set the stage for the beginning of one of the worlds greatest religions.
About 1,500 years passed before the followers of Jesus stepped onto the
shores of Malacca as conquerors. The Portuguese brought with them their
culture, their politics and their religion. The Word of the Bible slowly
spread.
This is the truth be told of Christianity in our land which began about
450 years ago. The routes which the early missionaries and early
Christians took are many, and the denominations that sprang up thereafter
wherever towns grew are as historical and colourful as the men of the
cloth who came to spread the Word.
Christianity in Malaysia is a collection of papers by ecclesiastical
scholars, clergymen and academicians who have recorded for posterity the
historical journey which many missionaries from many lands had walked for
their faith.
There are 14 contributors to the book. Most if not all are eminently
qualified to deal with the subject. The professions of the various authors
range from a University Malaya professor to a bishop to a lecturer at the
Bible College of New Zealand.
Robert Hunt, Lee Kam Hing and John Roxborogh, the trio who edited this
volume, have produced a commendable piece of work.
The chronological approach to the subject, beginning with Roman
Catholicism in the 16th Century and then moving across the centuries to
the advent of the Dutch Anglicans in the 18th Century, is both instructive
and informative.
The first 10 denominations which planted their roots (founding year in
bracket) are: Roman Catholic (1511), Anglican (1809), Christian Brethren
(1859), Presbyterian (1881), Basel Christian (1882), Methodist (1891),
Evangelical Lutheran (1907), Seventh Day Adventist (1911), Mar Thoma
(1926), and True Jesus (1927).
The historical beginnings in Malaysia of groups such as the Scot
Presbyterian movement or the Malayalee Ma Thoma Church are quite a
revelation.
So too the pastoral duties of the denominational founders, pastors and
fathers, and the chronicles of those who made significant contributions to
the field of education in this country. Olcomendy, Sir Song Ong Siang,
D.P. Samuel, S.S. Pakainathan are but a handful of a multitude of names.
The history of Christianity in Malaysia runs parallel to the history of
education. The pioneers in this field were missionaries who came not only
to spread the Word of God but also to educate the masses.
Schools with long fine traditions like Penang Free School, Anglo-Chinese
School, La Salle Christian schools, and Methodist schools initially began
as education centres to serve a social need. Later, these institutions
were to establish themselves as some of the premier learning centres in
the country.
In 1814, Robert Hutchings was appointed the Anglican chaplain of Penang.
A scholar of Malay lore, he was involved in the publication of a Dutch
Malay Bible in Jawi. In 1816, he founded the Penang Free School.
Sophia Blackmore, the first Methodist missionary in Malaysia, is also
the pioneer of womens education. Her holy mission in starting schools was
to rescue young girls from slavery and prostitution. Numerous Methodist
girls schools throughout the peninsula today are a tribute to Blackmores
untiring efforts.
The social problems of the churches and their growth patterns are also
well recorded. Robert Hunt from the United Methodist Church in the United
States presents the social problems and gives examples of the shifting
focus of Christians here since the 19th Century.
Special mention must also go to John Roxborogh, a former lecturer on
church history at the Seminari Teologi Malaysia, who writes on The Story
of Ecumenism. His paper is well-conceived and enlightening in its
perception of the social milieu that surrounds the subject.
A table in the last chapter, Brief Note on Church Growth in Malaysia,
reveals the existence of no fewer than 20 denominational groups excluding
independent churches. The brief descriptions of the growth of these
churches are fascinating.