CG Christmas Thanksgiving Lunch cum Birthday Celebration 2025

For the past two years, our CG Christmas cum Birthday celebrations were held at my home (Read here for 2023) and (Read here for 2024). This year - 2025, our CG leadership decided to do something different by holding the gathering at a local restaurant. The celebration took place in the early afternoon of 19.12.2025 and was attended by twenty-two people, including Monica, an ex-member who joined us as a guest.

Seeing Monica again after the passing of her late husband, Gerald, on 30.09.2025 (Read here), was heartwarming. Her thoughtful contribution of two home-cooked dishes of Bai Zhan Ji (white cut chicken) was a pleasant surprise which complemented the food we had ordered and was very much appreciated by everyone.

As the years pass, we have grown more aware that organising gatherings at new locations - especially those involving longer drives and more walking - has become increasingly challenging for many. 

That afternoon, we were fortunate to be the only customers inside the restaurant’s air-conditioned section. Once everyone was gathered and comfortably seated, we sang the familiar Christmas hymns, exchanged warm greetings, and the air was filled with joy and laughter, heightened by the Christmas season. In that timeless moment, it felt as though the years had gently faded away.

White cut chicken from Monica.

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Taking advantage of the gathering of the full CG, my wife expressed her heartfelt thanks on behalf of SIEC (Sabah Inter-denominational Education Council) for the monetary gifts extended by our CG to two of its staff members in year 2025.

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As with the previous two gatherings, the group encouraged me to share again my thought and reflection written in my blog posts. Though hesitant at first, I agreed. During my sharing, I mentioned a recent gathering with old friends who had once served in the church Children Sunday School and later in the Praise Kids ministry (Read here). To my surprise, I discovered that among our CG members were former Praise Kids teachers and van drivers.

This naturally brought back memories of the van drivers, including the late Vincent Lee (Read here). They were a dedicated group who served faithfully behind the scenes. Every Saturday afternoon, they would start early, driving across a wide area of Kota Kinabalu to pick up children from their homes. After the gathering, they would send the children back, return the vans to the church compound, and only then head home themselves. They were always the last to leave, quietly serving with commitment, sacrifice and love.

On a more personal note, I also shared about my grandson’s very first shave on 21.11.2025 - a small yet significant milestone marking his transition into adulthood. This drew spontaneous laughter from the audience as they marvelled at how swiftly time has passed. The little boy they once saw when my daughter returned to KK for the holidays from WA is now stepping into adulthood, a poignant reminder to all of us of just how quickly the seasons of life move along.

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Left photo: With Jessie, a former teacher of Praise Kids.

Right photo: Former van drivers: Hyen Siong, Peter Tai and Jimmy Wong.

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Each year, we hold several rounds of birthday celebrations, grouping members according to their birth months. This round, we honoured members born between October and December, with the exception of my wife - an August baby - who was given the honour of a belated celebration as she was unable to attend the earlier gathering.

Reuniting Over Lunch: Praise Kids Old-Time Volunteers

These days, whenever invitations from old friends arrive, whether for a simple meal or an informal get-together, we are far more inclined to accept them. As the years pass, such gatherings take on added significance, becoming precious opportunities to reconnect, remember and reflect on a shared past.

So, when friends who once served as teachers and helpers in our church’s Praise Kids ministry invited us to lunch at Hoola Hoop Cafe on 15.12.2025, we did not hesitate to join them.

Before this gathering, the last time some of these former teachers and helpers came together was at Kerry Lo’s home on 09.04.2023, where we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner. Each reunion, separated by years rather than months, serves as a gentle reminder of the passage of time and the enduring bonds forged through years of service.

It is only natural that, on such occasions, conversations turn to memories of our days in Praise Kids, formerly known as Children Sunday School and renamed as Praise Kids Celebration in 1999. Those years were not merely programmes or weekly routines, but a formative period marked by dedication, sacrifice and a shared sense of purpose.

The transition from Children Sunday School to Praise Kids Celebration represented an important chapter in the ministry’s history. It signalled a shift in vision and approach, accompanied by significant changes in manpower mobilisation, deployment and involvement. What had once been a largely church-based teaching ministry expanded into a broader outreach, intentionally drawing in children beyond the church community. Over time, activities and events were held in various venues, including halls and church buildings, and on one memorable occasion, at the auditorium of Wisma Berjaya - later acquired by SESB.

The ministry also became a place where young people were nurtured into service. Many teenagers, including our two sons, Samuel and Paul along with their peers, schoolmates and friends, were roped in to assist during major events. Among the most fondly remembered was the Super Space Party in the early 2000s, which brought together enthusiastic volunteers whose youthful energy added life and colour to the ministry.

The most recent get-together of former and current teachers and helpers on 15.12.2025.

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An earlier gathering at Kerry's residence on 09.04.2023.

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As with any reunion, it was only natural that old photographs were taken out, shared and fondly revisited with those who once laboured together in the ministry. Each image stirred memories of laughter, dedication and shared purpose. Yet woven into these moments of remembrance was a quiet sadness, for some among us have since departed and are now present only in memory.

Pastor Dannie Lee, the key motivator and guiding force during the pioneering years of Praise Kids in 1999 to 2001, was called home on 14.02.2019. Her encouragement and commitment laid a strong foundation for the ministry and left an enduring mark on all who served alongside her.

We also remembered Chio Cheng Leng, one of the two male teachers who faithfully served in those early days until early 2020s when illness prevented him from further service. He passed away on 10.03.2023. His presence, dedication to the children, and willingness to serve steadfastly are still fondly remembered by many.

Group photo of the whole team of teachers, helpers and volunteers after the Outer Space Party. 

Photo of my wife taken with Pastor Dannie Lee at the Outer Space Party.

A young boy who asked to have a photo taken with the "magician".

Final briefing just before the commencement of Outer Space Party.

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The major shift from the traditional children’s Sunday School format to the Praise Kids Celebration lay in a renewed emphasis on teaching through object lessons and creative presentation. Lessons were no longer confined to the classroom alone. Instead, they were brought to life through narratives, dramatizations and performances that enlivened special occasions while gently imparting values and faith-based teachings. Together, these creative expressions marked a significant transformation in the ministry, reflecting a deliberate effort to make learning joyful, impactful, and memorable, while remaining rooted in visual, interactive and engaging approaches that left a lasting impression on young hearts and minds. 

Teachers would sometimes dress up in costumes that complemented the theme of the lesson, transforming themselves into characters that vividly illustrated biblical truths in a lively and relatable manner. These visual cues not only captured the children’s attention but also helped make the messages easier to understand and remember.

Magic shows were occasionally incorporated as another creative teaching approach, not for mere entertainment, but as a meaningful tool to illustrate spiritual principles in ways that resonated with young minds. Out of necessity, I volunteered and stepped into the role of a magician, using simple illusions to convey timeless lessons. To this day, some of those children, now grown, still greet me fondly as “The Magician” whenever we meet - a reminder of how deeply those moments stayed with them.

Puppet shows were also held from time to time, serving both as an effective storytelling medium and as an outreach effort to draw in new children. Through humour, dialogue and simple yet engaging performances, biblical truths and moral lessons were conveyed in a way that was easily understood and warmly received by young audiences, while remaining firmly rooted in their spiritual purpose.

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Year 2000 Christmas celebration at Basel Hall.

Pastor Dannie Lee.

Chio Cheng Leng and Alfred Lee, the only two male teachers in this ministry.

Object lesson through magic show.

Puppets show.

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In 2002 during the Harvest Festival holidays at the end of May and early June, the Praise Kids ministry’s outreach extended beyond the city when an out-of-town trip was organised to Nabawan, with a stop at BCCM, Keningau. Looking back today, these moments stand as milestones in the history of Praise Kids, memories of a season when faith, friendship and service intersected, leaving an enduring legacy in the lives of all who were part of it.

Above two photos: At BCCM, Keningau.

Above two photos: At BCCM Nabawan.

A Morning at J Borneo Native Village

Fresh from exploring the elevated treetop walkway at Signal Hill just a day earlier, we decided to visit another place the following morning - J Borneo Native Village in Lok Kawi.

Our trip there began with a simple mission. We had been looking to buy stingless bee honey and contacted The House of Stingless Bee, which we had visited in August 2024 (Read here). Unfortunately, their stock was sold out. A friend then told us that stingless bee honey could be found at J Borneo Native Village. With this information, we decided to make our way there to try our luck.

When we arrived at the site along the old Penampang–Papar highway, I was surprised to discover that it stood right next door to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, which we had visited just two months earlier with our granddaughter Maddie and her father from Singapore (Read here). We had not realised then how close this place was.

I later learned that J Borneo Native Village was originally set up largely to complement the presence of the wildlife park. It served as a convenient place for park visitors to rest and eat before or after their visit. Families, tourists, and local visitors found it an ideal stopover, and the cafeteria soon gained a reputation as a welcoming roadside eatery with a distinctive traditional ambience.

In its early days, the main structure was essentially a modest eating place built from timber and salvaged materials. The founder reportedly collected wood from old houses and natural sources, using them to construct buildings that reflected the texture and spirit of a traditional Bornean kampung. This was not intended to be a museum-style reconstruction of a historical village, but rather a living, functional space inspired by indigenous architectural aesthetics. At that stage, chalet units were still being developed, and the primary focus was simply to provide food, shelter and a place to relax.

During our visit that morning, we noticed that the food served at the eateries consisted mainly of familiar Malaysian fare such as fried noodles, fried rice, chicken dishes, and local kuih. We did not see indigenous-inspired dishes or kampung-style cooking such as hinava (fresh fish salad), grilled fish, bambangan-based condiments, traditional soups, or stir-fried jungle vegetables. These may perhaps be featured during festive periods, such as the Kaamatan Harvest Festival, when cultural elements are more prominently showcased.

Although the venue functions primarily as a restaurant and event space, we also noticed quite a number of small stalls selling handmade crafts that reflect Sabah’s indigenous heritage. These included beadwork accessories, woven fabrics, rattan handicrafts, small decorative ornaments and books written local writers. 

We were not disappointed, it was in one of these stalls, that we were finally able to find the stingless bee honey we had set out to buy.