OMF Bungalow

In 1933, Towkay Leong Sin Nam (梁桑南) built a residential bungalow at Cameron Highlands. The site is 1530 meters above sea level. Picture shows Sir Shenton Thomas with the owner at the front of bungalow.

The name Yi Yun Court “怡云阁”, which means “enjoying panoramic views of clouds atop the pavilion”, greets guests at the entrance gate on the road leading to the bungalow.

The bungalow had been built with a unique architectural design. He inscribed on the building the congratulatory message “情良中心”（Love Center) given to him by the Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (马来联邦钦差大臣,海峡殖民地总督金文泰).





Picture shows the original bungalow without the added upper floor over the covered walkway linking the main building and the tower. A network of hidden underground tunnels, below the rooms' wooden floorboards in the main building and the tower, allowed escape and food stockpile for the occupants during emergencies. Leong Sin Nam was pro-China during the raging Sino-Japanese war.

The first Chefoo School was opened in China in 1881. It moved to Cameron Highlands in 1952. From 1954 to 1959, Chefoo School used the bungalow as a missionary school for children.

In 1964, the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) bought the bungalow and used it as a place of rest and spiritual renewal for members of OMF as well as local pastors and missionaries from other Christian organizations. The bungalow is now called the OMF

Breathing Well is a choice.

To live we need to be able to breathe.  Breathing is natural and automatic.  Breathing well however is a choice because we need to exercise the respiratory muscles and also treat any underlying disease that causes airflow obstruction or impairment of gas exchange.  

There is a saying that goes; "when you can't breathe, nothing else matters".  How true!  

Build Each Other Up

 

1. Principle 1: Focus on Relationships v19 “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church…” 

Harmony is not when there is no argument. Harmony is when people are pleased with each other and agree with each other, when people relate well with each other. 

Relate: Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. To relate is to understand the other person. The first step is to be a great listener. 

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. (James 1:19 NLT) 

2. Principle 2: Invest In Others v19 “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” 

Building each other up involves investing in others. God gave all of us 3 types of resources: Time, Energy, Money. 

We start by choosing 1-2 person whom you are close to, someone we can relate, and meet regularly to talk about 3 things: Personal life, Spiritual life, Organizational Life. 

3. Principle 3: Encourage Others v20 “Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat…” 

The focus of this verse is not about eating, but about not tearing apart the work of God. The Work of God is faith building. We do so by encouraging others. 

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Adapted from Sermon by Rev Jonathan Chan on 11/6/22.