History of MSI Professional Services Australia
MSI PS Australia began in 1999 and we sent
our first short term team the following year.
Our Prayer
Right from the beginning we realised that
MSI PS would only flourish if it were supported by prayer, even if only a few came together. For
where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them [Matt 18:20]. This verse was a reality to our
prayer group in Sydney as we often had only two to four people. A similar number also started meeting in
Melbourne around the same time. But
God is faithful and He gradually added to our numbers in both locations and a
prayer group also started in Brisbane toward the end of 2003. Now we consistently have around 8 to 15
people meeting in each city once a month for prayer. We are also thankful that at the end of
2009 a new prayer group started meeting in Perth and a China prayer group in
Adelaide is including some MSI prayer material in its meetings.
Our Workers
Following our first short term team we
continued to organise two to three teams each year – both medical and English
teaching. We were excited in 2005 when
a new door opened for medical opportunities – for medical students to do
electives in China. We had four
students join this programme at that time and another three from Melbourne the
following two years. In December
2005 we organised our first dental team and another followed in December 2006. As the work and strategy developed on
the field, we coordinated an increased number of short-term opportunities,
whether for individual placement or teams, whether for two week short-term or
three to four month commitment.
Our first long-term workers were Seng Hock
& Luba with their children Jesse & Isabel. Seng Hock & Luba, who graduated in
Electrical Engineering and Education respectively, went to the field in late
2002. After one year of language
learning they took up teaching English at a Secondary school in small city
where they learned much about the local people, their culture, and their
education system; their concern for the people has deepened. After a home assignment back in
Australia they have returned to a different city where Seng Hock is the Project
Development Coordinator for new work starting there.
Garry & Maggie with their son Caleb went
to the field in late 2003. Garry is
a family doctor and Maggie an occupational therapist. As God led, they became involved in
establishing an autistic centre in a province with a high percentage of
minority people groups.
Paul was a graphic designer who was willing
to change his career for God’s service in China. He went to the field in early 2005 intending
to be an English teacher and has completed two years of language learning. For the remainder of his first term in
China Paul was on loan to another group project after which he returned to
Sydney to study at SMBC. We hope to
see Paul back on the field after his studies.
Margaret is a retired teacher who went to
the field in early 2008. After 6
months of basic language learning she has been teaching English in a teachers
college.
Kai is a retired civil engineer. He and his wife Pui are doing project
development in a rural area of their province. After a fruitful 2009 they have returned
for one more year.
Our Organisation
In recent years our mobilisation team at
home has included the MSI Australia National
Coordinator and the MSI Queensland
Coordinator. Penny Yip served
in the former role for two years to June 2008 after which Calvin Ma served as
the Acting National Coordinator. Mike Husband continues, part time, in
the latter role. We also have many
volunteers who serve as mobilisers, advocates, advisers, short-term team
leaders, and prayer coordinators. The
MSI Advisory Council meets twice
each year to review operation, discuss strategy, and plan for future Australian
participation in MSI service.
Toward the end of 2009 we began
restructuring MSI Australia. Calvin
Ma, who is about to move on to other ministry, began to step down as Acting
National Coordinator and Mike Husband, the Chairman of the Advisory Council,
took on some of the national coordinating role. We also began to develop small ministry
teams in each state to coordinate prayer, mobilisation, and admin.
Our Service
Our service is to be penetrating – contextualising
to people’s culture and empowering them to help others in their communities.
We seek to mobilise not just individuals
but also groups so as to enable effective service on the field and to enrich
the love of Christ for those at home.
God has indeed blessed MSI PS Australia in
our short history. And we pray for
His continued blessing as we fulfil our goals for Him.
