Green Pastures
‘REGENERATION AND RENEWAL’ CENTRE
Offering Spiritual Help and Therapy
for those with Life-Controlling Problems
(Especially Drug Dependents)
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Sabviour appeared, He Saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy – by the washing of Regeneration and Renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:4-6)
The G.P Rehabilitation (‘Regeneration and Renewal’) Centre was formed in September, 1991. Initially, Dave Bakewell and Chris Sekar were ministering to drug addicts found taking their drugs in and around the St. Andrew’s compound. The possibility of full time ministry – a Drug Rehabilitation Centre, was discussed with Geoff Matthews and his wife Prema during their visit to Malaysia from UK in 1990. Alan Swanson (the incoming pastor) and the Church agreed to help pioneer and support such a Centre and thus corresponded with Geoff and Prema in England, who prayed and decided this was God’s will for them to return to Malaysia and start the work. In September, Green Pastures was begun in Kelang, by Geoff and Prema, with Chris and Sue Sekar, and with the help of a small ‘interim’ Committee of St Andrew’s members, headed by elder Garry Prior, along with monthly financial support from the Church. After one year, Chris Sekar moved onto Bible School. Then, after two and a half years in Kelang, at the end of 1993, the G.P Centre moved to Jalan Kelang Lama in Kuala Lumpur, where it has been since the move.
THE CENTRE PROGRAMME
The leadership believes that the problem of Chemical (Drug) abuse is best seen as (ultimately) a ‘Spiritual problem with a Spiritual answer’. The evidence points to Christian Programmes having the most (and lasting) success, for they bring genuine character change in a sincere person – from within, not just ‘cosmetic’! The ‘leopard’ indeed can and does ‘change his spots’!
THE PROGRAMME is basically based upon the ‘Teen Challenge model’, pioneered in the early sixties by Dave and Don Wilkerson – with Spiritual activities and impartation taking precedence. The student / addict is first and foremost encouraged to believe in and receive Jesus into his life, and taught the ‘Way of Jesus’. As the ‘seeker’ responds through faith and repentance to the message and life of Jesus, he (you) will get a new start to life – a new life, and the ability and help to change!
THE PROGRAMME is highly structured, with its Routines, Disciplines, Activities, Spiritual Therapy daily. It runs for approximately Eighteen Months in Five Phases. The 1st – 4th Phase are the ‘In-house’ Phases, with fairly close supervision. The 5th Phase is the ‘Re-entry’ Phase, with the student either going out to work, or preparing for ‘serving the Lord’’; thus having more freedom. (Still staying in the Centre or the Centre’s ‘House 2’). The Centre can take a maximum of 11 students at one time.
REFERRALS:
· Malaysian Care: Drop in Centre / Rumah Petros Half-Way House for ex-prisoners
· Other Agencies
· Pastors
· Self / Family referrals
· Street Outreach
FUNDING:
· St. Andrew’s
· Other Church donations
· Individual donations
· Student Family sponsorship when possible
· Income from Work Projects (such as Catering, Grass Cutting, House Cleaning, Painting, etc).
STAFF TEAM AT PRESENT:
Geoff (Leader, Co-ordinator) / Prema (Accounts and Overseeing any Catering work) / Cornelius (Overseeing Centre and outside Work Projects) / Thomas (Overseeing Centre and General work) / Elisha (Helper – Overseeing Centre, Grass Cut Projects, and General work).
SOME SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES FROM THE PROGRAMME:
Allan (served on the Doulos ship for 3 years; now married and living, working in Hong Kong) // Paul (due to hereditary illness, later entered a Nursing Home and sadly died there) // Indy (Paul’s brother. Served in India with Operation Mobilisation for a year, and then on the staff team of G.P for a number of years, until the same hereditary illness as his brother incapacitated him) // Harry (served in G.P as a staff member for a few years, then with another Christian Ministry, until succumbing to AIDS which he contracted when on drugs) // Philip (returned back to work with RTM 2 T.V channel. Was already married) // Elijah (now running a business with his brother in Cambodia) // Sam (served on the Doulos ship for a time; got married and returned to Malaysia, and completed 4 years in MBS Bible School, Kelang. Now running a Christian Drug Rehabilitation Centre under DUMC) // Steve (worked in an Outreach Ministry with a Pastor in certain villages in Malaysia. Now with DUMC and runs 2 Drop-In Ministries – PJ and KL – and a Street Feeding programme, etc. Now married) // Chris (returned to his work in real estate with Reapfields Properties. Was already married) // Lourdes (completed a YWAM Discipleship Course, and joined their Ministry in Puchong. He later worked in a HIV / AIDS Ministry. He too sadly succumbed to this disease) // Albert (worked in G.P for a number of months; married; then completed a YWAM Discipleship Course, and continues to work with them) // Michael (served on the Doulos ship for about a year, and later returned to Penang, where he was working)? // Evan (joined Shelter Home for Children and still works there; also doing business. Now married) // Barry (working in a Pharmaceutical Company in K.L. Was already married) // Alex (never fully completed his Programme, but is okay and serving in a Christian Ministry in Johor; has a Kennels business ‘on the side’. Was already married) // Lawrence (never fully completed his Programme, but is okay and serving with Steve in a Drop-In Centre) // Suresh (also helped out in G.P. Then got a job outside. He married a Muslim woman? We are not sure how he is now?)? // Cornelius (serving in G.P still as a full-time staff member) // Thomas (a full-time staff member in G.P) // Andy (Running his own business) // Richard (working with NTV 7). Some problems // Caleb (Working in a Children’s Home run by City Revival Church, Subang) // Casey (Working in the office in Full Gospel Assembly Church near us) // Elisha (Helped in Green Pastures for a time. Now working in Malaysian CARE’s Rumah Petros Half-Way House – for ex-prisoners) // Adam (Serving in Green Pastures Ministry).
These are most of the Green Pastures graduates who have remained free of Heroin, etc, as far as we know (and many of them we are still in touch with. Sadly, some have passed away). Others who left prematurely or who graduated but then fell back to drugs, have had the ‘seed of faith’ planted in them, and can, will return to the Lord, to a Centre (G.P or another Christian Rehab’), and know full freedom from addiction, etc. Some we know are already ‘free’.
PRESENT AND ON-GOING PRAYER POINTS:
· For Leaders and Staff to be upheld by the Lord; for His love, humility, wisdom, guidance, strength, discernment, and spiritual and ministry commitment. For Cornelius to take more ‘daily leadership responsibilities’.
· For the ‘Students’ in the G.P Programme – for ‘Regeneration and Renewal’; for daily strength, application, and protection; for commitment to the Lord and to the Centre and its Programme, and so character change for the better; for physical and mental healing where / when necessary; for good relationships with each other, and with the Leaders and Staff; for grateful hearts; to finish their Programme successfully; to be led of the Lord for the future – Church, work, service.
· For the Lord’s financial provision monthly; for the right work projects to come in. The need is now there for a new or good second-hand van (14 seater ‘people-carrier’).
· For the Lord’s continued guidance – to know His will for the Ministry, be it daily, weekly, or for the future.