ABOUT US
The Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) (Chinese: 马来西亚基督教巴色会, Malay: Gereja Basel Malaysia) is one of the four Lutheran bodies in Malaysia and a proud member of the Lutheran World Federation.
Presently, the church comprises 190 congregations and mission points across Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia, Perth, Australia, and Madagascar, boasting a membership of 64,500 in Malaysia.
OVERVIEW
The roots of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) trace back to its establishment in 1882 in Lau San Kudat by Chinese Hakka migrants who arrived in Sabah under the North Borneo Chartered Company during British rule.
Today, the church thrives as a vibrant, multi-racial, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural community, embracing three primary language groups: Chinese-speaking under the Chinese General Council, Bahasa Malaysia-speaking under the BM General Council, and English-speaking under the English General Council.
Leading the church presently is Reverend Dr. James Wong Chong Leong, who has served as bishop since 2016, with Mr. Vun Soon Chong serving as president.
HISTORY
During the 19th century, the Basel Missionary Society dispatched missionaries to various regions including Africa, India, and China. Among these missionaries were Reverend Theodore Hamberg and Reverend Rudolph Lechler, who in 1846 became some of the first to venture to China. They focused their efforts on the Hakka tribe in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong, establishing over 200 congregations and 100 schools, with approximately 20,000 members. However, following the Taiping Rebellion, Hakka-speaking Christians encountered suspicion from the Qing government, prompting many Hakka refugees to seek refuge in Southeast Asia.
In 1882, the British North Borneo Company recruited Hakka Chinese Christian laborers from Hong Kong to work in North Borneo. These laborers not only contributed to the development of the region but also held worship meetings in homes on Sundays. Many settled along the west coast, where they were involved in railway construction. The Basel Mission, alongside the Chongzhen Church (Tsung-Tsin Church or 崇真會), actively supported recruitment efforts from Hong Kong. The first settlement in Kudat eventually led to the establishment of the Lau San Church in 1886, marking the inception of the first Basel congregation in the area.
CROSS-CULTURAL MISSION
In 1974, members of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) in Inanam launched the “Preaching the Gospel to the Natives” campaign, initiating active outreach to the Bumiputra community. By 1976, the first Bumiputra chapel was erected in Kampung Penang, witnessing the baptism of 76 Kadazan-Dusun individuals. The mission rapidly expanded, extending its reach to the Muruts in the Pensiangan District by 1978. By 1993, the mission had resulted in the ordination of 20 Bumiputra pastors and the establishment of 80 churches with a collective membership of 11,000. However, faced with constraints in manpower, the BCCM established a center for basic training in Bible knowledge and leadership conducted in Bahasa Malaysia.
BIBLE TRAINING CENTRE
In 1980, the Bible Training Centre (PLAKK) was founded in Kota Kinabalu, utilizing the former church building of BCCM Kota Kinabalu on Signal Hill. The centre made use of two buildings from the Lok Yuk Secondary School, repurposed as classrooms, hostels, a dining hall, and teachers’ quarters. Initially offering a one-year training program supervised by two full-time teachers, Reverend Dr. Thomas Tsen and Reverend Daniel Taie, PLAKK aimed to equip ten students. Over time, the centre evolved into the Sabah Theological Seminary (STS), distinguishing itself as the first seminary in Malaysia to deliver instruction in Bahasa Malaysia.
GROWTH AND EXPANSION
In 1925, the inaugural synod of the Basel churches in North Borneo was convened in Kudat, culminating in the establishment of the Borneo Self-Governing Basel Church under the leadership of Rev. Wong Thien Nyuk.
Following Sabah’s attainment of independence from British colonial rule in 1963, the church underwent a renaming to become The Basel Christian Church of Malaysia. In 1967, the BCCM assumed responsibility for Dr. G. Christopher Willis’ mission among native peoples along the Labuk River in Murok, Sandakan.
Presently, the BCCM has 42 Chinese congregations, 11 English congregations, and 137 Bahasa Malaysia congregations spread across Sabah. Additionally, the church oversees three secondary schools, fourteen primary schools, and numerous kindergartens throughout the region. Furthermore, the church demonstrates its social commitment to education by operating six schools catering to migrant children.
BUILDING THE CHURCH INTO THE FUTURE
The Vision
The vision of the BCCM Central Council is to be “United in Christ for Mission and Transformation of Communities.” It envisions all the diverse communities within the church uniting as one body of Christ, living in love and fellowship (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
The Mission
The mission of the church is to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of all nations, based on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
The Commitment
We are called to be the salt and light of the world, bringing about positive transformation to the communities we inhabit (Matthew 5:13-16).
The Three Self-Principles
Since the 1st Synod meeting in 1925, the church has embraced the following three self-principles to advance the mission of Christ wherever we establish a church:
(1)Self-Governing: We are committed to governing the church of Christ with excellence and professionalism.
(2)Self-Propagating: We are dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples of all nations.
(3)Self-Reliant: We endeavour to be financially self-sufficient to sustain the church’s mission in fulfilling Christ’s mandate.
CONCLUSION
In reflection upon the rich history and remarkable growth of the church, with gratitude and praise to God for His abundant blessings and guidance, we echo the words of Psalm 126:3,
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
