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Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church

Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church
万里望基督教卫理公会
Front view of the main church building
2°8′36.19″N 102°25′30.57″E
Location	Merlimau, Melaka, Malaysia
Language(s)	Mandarin
Denomination	Methodist Church of Malaysia
Website	Official Church Facebook Group Official Church YouTube Channel
History
Founded	20 February 1922 (20 February 1922)
Dedicated	26 November 1923
Clergy
Pastor(s)	Rev. Irene Doh

Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church (Chinese: 万里望基督教卫理公会) is a Methodist church in Merlimau, Melaka. It is affiliated with the Methodist Church of Malaysia. It was founded on 20th February 1922. The church is located on Jalan Muar, along the road which connects to the Pekan Merlimau township.

An additional multipurpose facility behind the main church building began its construction in 2014 and was completed in 2017.

The church is actively involved in areas of social concern, kickstarting its blood donation campaign titled "Share Your Love and Care" (Chinese: 献出爱心与关怀) back in 2018.

It is also home to the 3rd Melaka Boys' Brigade Company, which was established in 1994.

History

The old wooden church building can be seen in the background.

Establishment of the church (1922 - 1941)

In 1922, the church was first founded under the name Methodist Episcopal Merlimau Local Church (Chinese: 美以美会万里望牧区). Back then, Rev. Luo Shi Yue (罗士越牧师) and Bro. Liu Jing Guang (刘景光弟兄) spearheaded the raising of funds to build a chapel in Merlimau. The chapel was then built a year later, with its dedication date on 26th November 1923. The first church building was made of wood. There were only 15 official church members in the beginning.

During the British administration in Malaya, the church leaders asked for a plot of land to be used as its cemetery. The British authorities approved their application and designated a land lot in Merlimau Pasir to be the church cemetery.

On 30th December 1924, Bro. Liu left his post and Rev. Ang Giok Sui (汪玉瑞牧师) replaced him from 1925 to February 1926, formally becoming the first official pastor of the church. In March of 1926, Rev. Chua Lok Han (蔡约翰牧师) took over until December 1927. Then, in January 1928, Rev. Lin Jian San (林兼三牧师) became the third pastor until his departure in 1933. At that time, there were 25 official church members.

From 1934 to February 1935, Bro. Li Fang Zeng (李芳增弟兄) led the church, with Rev. Chua returning to take the role temporarily throughout the rest of the year when he left the post. In 1936, Rev. Li Zeng Hui (李增惠牧师) was appointed as church pastor but was forced to vacate his position in 1941 during the Japanese invasion of Malaya, when church members began to flee for their lives. By then, the official church member count had already grown to 34 members.

Period of difficulty (1942 - 1964)

During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, many church members either ran away or moved to the inner plantations to hide. Consequently, local church members were appointed to conduct weekly worship services. Rev. Lin would occasionally travel from Melaka town to help with the ministry. After the Japanese administration surrendered, Bro. Chen Cheng Lin (陈成琳弟兄) moved back from Sungai Rambai and helped to conduct the Sunday services.

In 1947, Rev. David C. Y. Chang (张坚义牧师) would often come to help with the ministry in Merlimau and Sungai Rambai, assisted by Sis. Li Bi Yu (李碧玉姐妹) and Rev. Goh Sek Leng (吴锡灵牧师). The next year, Rev. Goh was officially appointed as the successor of Rev. Chang in both Merlimau and Sungai Rambai Chinese Methodist churches. In 1949, both churches were combined, with Rev. Chang returning as the lead pastor. There were 35 official church members in that year.

In the following years, branches of the church's ministry began to expand. The church's ladies' fellowship was created in March 1950, while their youth fellowship began in July 1951. A year later, Ps. Lin Bi Zhu (林碧珠传道) became the church pastor and started minor renovations for the chapel, in addition to repainting it. Ps. Lin stopped serving temporarily by the end of 1952, due to illness. Rev. Chang, at the time the pastor of Tangkak Chinese Methodist Church, covered her duties. Ps. Lin came back to serve in 1954, but finally retired four years later, once again due to her poor health. The official church member count rose to 45 members.

Bro. Yan Ci Bi (严慈碧弟兄) took over in 1959, but also has to resign at the end of the year because of illness. In 1960, Ps. Lin Li Zhen (林丽贞传道) served for a full year before leaving her post after getting married. In that year, there was a slight decrease to 41 official church members due to the deaths of many elderly believers.

In 1961, Ps. Qiu Pu En (邱普恩传道) worked as lead pastor for a year with Rev. Chang assisting her. The next year, Rev. Gao Ji Zhong (高季忠牧师) was appointed as the church pastor for a year. In 1963, Rev. Sik Chuan Kit (徐传洁牧师) replaced Rev. Gao for a year also. By then, there were only 30 official church members because several had moved away.

Revitalisation of the church (1965 - present)

Rev. Koo Tiong Ling (高传隆牧师) was posted to Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church in 1965.

The foundation stone in the main worship hall.

As time went by, a brick and mortar church building was completed in 1984, replacing the previous wooden church building. The late Bishop C.N. Fang officiated the consecration ceremony on 14th April 1984, as recorded in the foundation stone.

Side view of the Merlimau Methodist Hall.

In 2017, the multipurpose building was completed. It consists of an open hall (known as Merlimau Methodist Hall), four classrooms for Merlimau Chinese Methodist Kindergarten (Chinese: 万里望卫理幼儿园; Malay: Tadika Methodist Merlimau), a staff room for kindergarten teachers, washrooms, a Youth Centre, a prayer room, a conference room, a library, and a store room for Boys' Brigade equipment.

List of Pastors

Portrait	Name	Pastoral tenure	Notes
	Rev. Ang Giok Sui 汪玉瑞牧师	1925 - February 1926
	Rev. Chua Lok Han 蔡约翰牧师	March 1926 - December 1927
	Rev. Lin Jian San 林兼三牧师	1928 - 1933
Image unavailable	Bro. Li Fang Zeng 李芳增弟兄	1934 - February 1935
	Rev. Chua Lok Han 蔡约翰牧师	February 1935 - December 1935	This was Rev. Chua's second tenure in Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church.
Image unavailable	Rev. Li Zeng Hui 李增惠牧师	1936 - 1941	At the start of the Japanese invasion of Malaya, church members dispersed and Rev. Li was forced to leave his post.
Images unavailable	Bro. Ke Gao Yi 柯高义弟兄 Bro. Hou Fu Gong 侯甫贡弟兄 Bro. Zheng Keng Qiang 郑铿锵弟兄 Bro. Chen Cheng Lin 陈成琳弟兄	1942 - 1946	During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, these local church members were appointed to conduct worship services.
Image unavailable	Rev. David C. Y. Chang 张坚义牧师	January 1947 - December 1947	Rev. Chang was also in charge of the Sungai Rambai Chinese Methodist Church. In July 1947, Sis. Li Bi Yu (李碧玉姐妹) came to provide assistance. In November 1947, Rev. Goh Sek Leng (吴锡灵牧师) also came to assist.
Image unavailable	Rev. Wu Xi Ling 吴锡灵牧师	January 1948 - December 1948
Image unavailable	Rev. David C. Y. Chang 张坚义牧师	1949 - 1951	This was Rev. Chang's second tenure in Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church.
Image unavailable	Ps. Lin Bi Zhu 林碧珠传道	January 1952 - December 1952
Image unavailable	Rev. David C. Y. Chang 张坚义牧师	January 1953 - December 1953	This was Rev. Chang's third tenure in Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church.
Image unavailable	Ps. Lin Bi Zhu 林碧珠传道	1954 - 1958	This was Ps. Lin's second tenure in Merlimau Chinese Methodist Church.
Image unavailable	Bro. Yan Ci Bi 严慈碧弟兄	January 1959 - December 1959
	Ps. Lin Li Zhen 林丽贞传道	January 1960 - December 1960
	Ps. Qiu Pu En 邱普恩传道	January 1961 - December 1961

"Share Your Love and Care" Campaign

Since 2018, the church has started its "Share Your Love and Care" blood donation campaign. This community project partners with Melaka General Hospital to provide for its blood bank. Besides blood donation, the project has also included free hepatitis screening, free eye tests, selling comprehensive health screening packages, educational exhibitions (dengue fever awareness, COVID-19 vaccination, anti-smoking rehabilitation etc.), recycling activities, and many others.