MIRACLE MANSION (PART 2)
By Christopher Quah
In our last Part of Miracle Mansion (Part 1) Rev Justin and Pastor Jac, were face with a dilemma. God, through a dream had revealed to Jac that he wanted them to search for a property, which was a mansion on a hill to start something. But the agent they contacted was unable to find the specific area. Not wanting to give up, and staying faithful to the dream, the couple persisted on to keep searching.
Finally Justin found an advertisement on the internet while doing property searches. This place was found without the help of the agent. Curious they took a drive to Taman Desa.
He adds that when they felt as though the Lord was telling them this was the place.
“True enough when we walked in for the first visit here, the owner said, “well when can you move in?”. Still cautious we went around the bungalow to check it out. To our amazement the place was already renovated in a way that we did not need any work to be done for the mission school. We had finally found our dream place,” Justin quipped.
Jac adds that to confirm this they had a sense of peace the moment they walked in and just knew God was saying this was the one.
“Before this we had gone to see 4 or 5 bungalows because the estate agent we said there were many bungalows on hills, so he kept dragging us around Bangsar area, and every hill you can think of in KL. We were driving and looking at every bungalows but the feeling of peace wasn’t there. But the minute we stepped into this place there was just a sense of peace and the assurance that this is the place that God wanted us to have. And everything fit perfectly like we wanted 3 classrooms. We wanted a sitting area. We wanted the gifts section. Everything was perfect,” Jac explains.
She adds that the other bungalows had rooms which were too small and congested. But this one met their requirements exactly, with a huge living room and on top of that, the rental rate was way below their budget.
“We don’t know why the rate was so low. Even the agent was surprised as he told us that this area was a high end and the neighbors are datuks and datins. We found out the owner did not want to sell the home but was working in Singapore. Because of this he decide to rent it out for some income but he did not want to be dependent on the income because he is working in Singapore,” she explains.
Justin said after that everything fell in place.
“Everything went smoothly and we signed the agreement. Everything was perfect, and we even told the owner what we would use it for and he agreed. We also informed the neighbours and none of the neighbours had any problems with it. In fact they were so happy that the Christians have come. They had no problems and were in fact very supportive. When we had our open day, they came to give their support, despite being non believers,” Justin explained.
Jacqueline said she had a hard time believing it was true.
“It just came like that. That is what really surprises me because most of the places we saw where the rental was low was in really bad condition. Broken parts everywhere. There was a lot of work to be done. But for this house there was hardly any work to be done. We only removed the carpet in one room, and left everything else as it was,” she says.
She adds that when they told their friends and everyone, they knew for the past 10 years many congratulated them and volunteered to help with the furnishing.
“It was like oh, finally you are opening your school, good. I am so excited, and congratulations. We were wondering when you were going to do it. They were very supportive. Everything in the school is donated. Although the furniture is not brand new but second hand, people gave us the best of the best in everything. Even in the garden, the chilies were donated by the people,” Pastor Jacqueline said.
The couple have since decorated and furnished the place into different sections each for a specific purpose and meaning.
The main living room is now used as a gift shop. Here visitors and students alike can buy Christian souvenirs and items to raise support for the ministry of the couple here in Malaysia and overseas.
“These are all Christian theme gifts. We also help sell books and other things for other people. When we go for mission trips to other countries, we see the local Christian community produce their own items which are unique, so we buy it from them it back as a form of support for them and ourselves. So, when students come for class anytime, they can just come and view the things and place their orders. All commissions are for the ministry. So the gift ship is like a one stop centre itself people will come here for anything they need. If they want to pick up gifts for different occasions, they can pick it up from here,” Jacqueline explains.
The gift shops sell everything from Christian plaques, cups, water bottles, books and cds.
She adds that some of the books and cds are the result of the couple labour of love.
“We have written about 3 books and made our own worship albums. We have 2 more books coming up this year. Our worship albums are all English songs. The first one we ever produced was in 2009,” Jacqueline states proudly.
Among the centerpieces of the living room is a real set of bow and arrow which the couple had gotten during missions. There is a symbolic biblical meaning to it as Justin explains. It is an understanding that we just want to encourage people to know that they are like arrows based on Isaiah 49:2.
“He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.”
This means that they can be sharpen and ready for use. All of us are like arrows which God can use. The only question is how he wants to use us. Whether we want to discover what our gift and talent is and serve him. That is what the mission school will do. Help you discover your talent, sharpen you, get you ready for use just like arrows,” Justin related.
Upstairs of the school are two classrooms. There are also rooms for counselling and prayer.
“The counseling room is called the Chadash room, which to renew or reveal. The other is the Miskhan which means tabernacle room which is the prayer room. Each room is called after its purpose. Pastors are always welcome to use this room as a prayer room. But of course, it is only for prayer use and not for resting or sleeping,” Jacqueline says.
At the middle for the stairs which leads to the second floor the couple hang flags of the various nations which they have been. This serves as a reminder for them to also pray continuously for the said nations.
Jacqueline adds that since everything has been done, and the launching already happen, the first intake of students will be in February. That will be the first semester. And then in May there will be another intake, second intake.
There are also Saturday programs for pastors and leaders, who want to train for missions.
“We want them to become mission minded because it is when only the pastors and leaders are mission minded, they can raise their church to be mission minded. So, the Saturday programme is only for pastors and leaders, who are interested in creating a mission minded church,” she explains.
For those who are interested in coming or registering with Isaachar Academy, they may came to visit at No.15, Jalan Meeru, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
