5 July 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-
A missions pastor in FGA KL since 1993, Pastor Dorai Manikam was exposed to many friends from various nations and races even before he became a Christian.
When he was a student and subsequently a lecturer in UPM (Universiti Pertanian Malaysia) Serdang, he had many Malay and Chinese friends. And when UPM sent him to Oregon University in United States, he had friends from many nations such as Americans, Chinese, Iranians, Thais, Vietnamese, Africans, Pakistanis and also Japanese to name a few. Interestingly, Dorai was saved in Sarawak amidst the natives in 1984.
Evidently, The Lord has placed him in the melting pot of races and nations!
When he returned to the Peninsular Malaysia after accepting Christ in Sarawak, he became a missionary leader in FGA KL, in addition to being a lecturer at the Royal Priesthood Bible College (RPBC) in 1990. A zealous servant for the Lord, he was in eight ministries before God knocked on his door to serve full-time.
“I wanted to do my PhD. but Jesus Christ came to me in a vision, asking me if I would lay down my PhD. for him,” said Dorai. That vision came in 1988. He stepped into fulltime service three years later after completing his 13-year scholarship bond awarded for his Bachelor’s in Forestry and Master’s degree in Forest Engineering.
By that time, he had already responded to the altar call for full-time ministry in church three times; first in 1985, then in 1986 and 1987.
“Every time I responded to the altar call, I felt more convicted. I told myself ‘when the time comes, I will say yes to Him,’” said Dorai.
Hence, he said ‘yes’ the Lord in 1992 and worked full-time as Missions Pastor in 1993 for four years, before becoming the Missions Director in 1997 for 14 years. Since 2011, he became the Divisional Head overseeing ‘Missions, Satellite Churches’ and the ‘Family Life’ ministry that is headed by his wife.
“If you look through the Bible, you will see that God is a God of missions, from Genesis right up to Revelation,” said Dorai whose passion lies in fulfilling God’s mission- The Great Commission.
While we think missions means “mission trips,” Dorai said that it is much more than that. It includes having prayers, giving education, giving support services, publicizing, training, advocating, mobilizing, managing finances, researching about people groups, coordinating strategies, and also church planting.
“Everybody should be a missionary in their own field!” said Dorai. If a person knows the mission of God, he or she can adjust his or her life to work towards God’s mission. For instance, when Dorai was still a lecturer in UPM, his college students became his mission field.
“It is does not happen automatically. You need missionary training or preparation to see your work place as a mission field,” said Dorai.
“In church, our main work is to mobilize people, that is, to awaken them, grow them and keep them moving, until they find their strategic places in world evangelization.”
Young people who are filled with zeal and energy should be guided into the mission of God, which is a cause larger than them.
“If the church can provide such an avenue, I believe the world would change. The mission of God is to draw people who don’t know Him to become the people of God,” said Dorai referring to Revelation 7:9.
Revelation 7:9
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
In this overarching purpose of God, there is a specific and unique role for everyone to play.
How do you find your purpose? Perhaps, taking ‘The Perspective Course’ in FGA KL could help you find your purpose in your life!
“Few embark on missions because many equate it with poverty, hard life and leaving home,” said Dorai explaining a misperception.
But they don’t know that they are missing the greatest blessing in life brought down from Abraham, as Pastor Dorai’s favorite bible verse says, ‘… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’ (Genesis 12:3).
Do you want God to bless the people around you through you? Not only would he bless you and your family but also generations after you, if only you’re in His Mission.
Find out how you may become a Mission Warrior by taking an upcoming Perspective ‘Course’in FGA KL, taught by Pastor Dorai Manikam and his Missions colleagues. He holds a Certificate (Perspectives) from the US Center for World Mission.
For more information, please visit http://www.fga.my/web/ or contact 603-7981 4755 (9 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday)
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