CHAIRMAN MESSAGE FOR 2026 DIOCESAN WELFARE SUNDAY
Shalom and my warmest greetings to dear brothers and sisters in Christ in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here we are, once again, the month of June 2026 is our Diocesan Welfare Sunday Week. All Board members from our Diocesan Welfare and Disaster Relief Board (DW&DR) heartily acknowledged and thanked all your prayers and financial contributions throughout the year of 2025. Your immense generosity has enabled our Board to continue with our mission and ministry in a simple but yet meaningful way to assist those in need in our Diocese. Our Almighty God has been gracious and merciful in leading us at all times as we seek His wisdom and guidance in this ministry. Indeed, we hope and strive to do even better than last year.
1) The ministry of the Seguntor Alternative Learning Centre under the care of St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Sandakan has been involved in community educational ministry amongst the undocumented children of foreign workers in the Seguntor area for many years. This learning centre operates with quite a large annual budget and most of the time it is running at a deficit. However, their vision is steadfast and purposeful. The DW&DR Board has been faithfully allocating an annual grant of RM80,000.00 to them for quite a number of years already. May we continue to strongly support the vision of this learning centre.
2) Sabah Prison Fellowship – the DW&DR Board has been giving an annual grant of RM30,000.00 to support their work and ministry amongst fellow prisoners in Sabah prisons. Their vision and mission are very important and commendable as they assist former prison inmates to reintegrate into our society following their release.
3) Education – the DW&DR Board received more than twenty applications for one-time Student Study Grant to local institutes of higher learning and had approved twenty of them last year. We strive to assist more in this area so that more students, especially from the interior, can have better opportunities for higher learning and a better future. Last year, the DW&DR Board utilized a total sum of RM30,500.00 for this worthy cause.
4) Financial Assistance – the DW&DR Board also provided various financial assistance to disaster-stricken members within our diocese throughout last year. We approved over RM98,000.00 of Flood Relief Funds to affected families in areas of Kota Marudu, Segama, Sandakan, Nangoh, Pitas, Silabukan, Keningau and Beaufort during the severe floods last February. We also provided Family Welfare Aid Funds to a few needy members in Kolombong, Papar and Sook Mission. After the devastating 7.7 Myanmar earthquake last April, Bishop Melter Tais appealed to our Diocese to pray and assist our brothers and sisters in Christ through the Myanmar Earthquake Relief Fund. As a gesture of goodwill and through the generosity of our Diocesan members, a sum of over RM126,000.00 was raised and handed over through the DW&DR Board.
As the DW&DR Board endeavors to reach out to assist and bless more people, may I encourage every Diocesan member to give willingly and sacrificially for the extension of God’s kingdom. While doing so, please also continue to uphold the Welfare Board wholeheartedly in prayers.
You may contribute through online transfer, QR or normal envelope and indicating “Welfare”.
Boost: Freewill
Online Banking Transfer: Public Bank: 3091827035
Please send a copy of bank-in / transfer slip to: 011-5995 4101
May the gracious Lord bless us with abundance as we gladly serve those who need our assistance. My Board members and I would like to say “THANK YOU VERY MUCH” for your faithful contribution. Praise the Lord!!