Ken Chin slips in quietly, making his way to the elevated sound booth carved into the back wall of the hall. He settles down in the lone chair and looks around at the church he’s loved since he was a little boy.
Oasis SIB is a local church in Seremban, the capital city of Negeri Sembilan and an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur (KL). Known for beef noodles and siew bao, this city is Ken’s home.
“I was born and raised in Seremban, so truly a Seremban boy,” he says with a grin. The 30-year-old recently moved back to serve full-time in church, after spending several years working in the humanitarian and corporate sectors.
It was a move that raised eyebrows, but the young man felt a tugging in his heart to return to where he started.
Raised in a home where faith was a personal choice (his father was Hindu-Taoist, his mother a free thinker), Ken felt little when it came to religion for most of his childhood.
He was first introduced to Christianity at eight years old through a Vacation Bible School (VBS), a children’s camp held over school holidays. Invited by his neighbour, his mother had allowed him to attend.
“However, after the camp when they invited me to church on Sundays, the timing clashed with my cartoon time,” he laughed. “I think it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!”
The years flew by. When he was 14, his schoolmates invited him to church. The offer of free food and a hang-out with friends was too attractive to pass up, so he stepped into Oasis SIB for a movie night. To this day, he still remembers the popcorn.
Two years later, Ken remembers having a vision of God gently putting His hand on his shoulder, acknowledging his burden, and offering to take the boulder Himself.
It was a powerful, poignant moment for the teenager, who was struggling with loneliness and the weight of responsibility. At that camp, he decided to invite Jesus in.
Now, Ken is back at the place where his journey began. “This is where I grew up. Here is where I got all my nourishment,” he reflected, looking around the hall. “Who I am today, is because of this place.”
He honours Pastor Timothy Chew, the senior pastor and his spiritual father who mentored him, teaching him leadership, being a disciple, and knowing God’s heartbeat.
Today, the young man does a little of everything, a common job scope in a smaller church.
“I assist my pastor with administration, event coordination, [oversee] youth and lead young adults, set up sound, lead worship, give announcements, communicate with leaders,” he listed.
Ken has also been drawn to the Alpha course, and earlier this year conducted the first cycle in their church.
His two-year stint with Malaysian CARE further opened his eyes to the many under-resourced churches and organisations in towns and villages.
Oasis SIB now regularly sends a team of volunteers to an addiction recovery centre in Pedas, a 40-minute drive away. There, they minister to residents, share testimonies, and offer a hand of friendship.
“As I’m turning 30, the struggle is more daily surrender and obedience,” he said thoughtfully. “Sometimes, you look at your peers, they’re doing well and [you think] you should be this or that, have this or that.”
He’s learning to focus less on the now, and more on what lies beyond.
“I just have to make sure where my eyes are focusing. Do I really have an intimate relationship with God? I think that's my biggest homework at this point,” he ruminated.
These days, he finds joy in seeing lives finding hope, joy, and fulfillment.
“I am mentoring two young people. When I see them make progress, sometimes they go backwards, but I'm okay. As long as they are willing and taking steps. That’s one of my greatest joys,” he says proudly.
One day, perhaps they too will invest in others, pay it forward and continue the journey of helping people discover the Love that changes everything.
This hope is what keeps him going.