On the upper floor of Wisma BCCM in Kota Kinabalu, several ladies in their sixties and seventies sit in front of shiny, strange-looking machinery. They are hard at work.
Clad in aprons with beaded initials and embroidered daisies, these seniors are part of a unique, lesser-known ministry: making communion hosts (wafers) from scratch.
Reverend Chong Fui Yung is the coordinator of Jars and Jugs Ministry, a ministry established in 2019 by the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM).
Jars and Jugs derives its name from the story of the Widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17, who received a promise from the Lord through Elijah that her flour would never be used up nor her oil run dry.
“In the same manner, we hope our communion hosts will be a blessing to congregations. As church members partake of the Holy Communion and these sacred elements, we remember how Jesus has declared saying, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 11:35)
And our prayer is that in Christ, they will experience God’s faithful provision in every area of their lives,” Rev. Chong shared.
A retired minister, she leads their group of eight women made up of grandmothers, retired pastors, housewives, retired executives and former church workers.
“Every month, we meet up for 3-4 days to bake communion hosts. Our hosts are made up of just flour and water; how we get the gloss, fresh aroma, and crispness is our secret,” she said with twinkling eyes.
Serving believers sacred elements made with love
Over the few days, this small but mighty team will bake around 29,000 hosts using 25-27 kg of flour. The entire process involves baking, humidifying, cutting, dehydrating and packing.
The hosts, which have a shelf life of around three months, are then sold for a minimal fee to around 200 BCCM congregations in Sabah. Other churches also purchase the hosts for their communion services.
“All of us are volunteers, and our equipment was graciously sponsored by Mission One World of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria, Germany. All income goes to our operational costs,” Rev. Chong said.
In fact, Jars and Jugs was first birthed after a group from BCCM’s Central Pastors Fellowship embarked on a study tour to Germany in 2014.
The group found themselves keenly interested in the Communion Bread making ministry which they visited, and had inspired then-Bishop James Wong to explore the possibility of setting up a similar outfit in Sabah.
A dedicated space at Wisma BCCM was provided for this ministry. Mission One World sent over the equipment: a dough mixer, baking irons, humidifier, racks and cutters. Rev Chong and then bishop’s wife, Connie Wong went for a week’s hands-on training in Germany. In September 2019, Jars and Jugs launched its operations.
Two months later, the ministry was dedicated to God and graced by Rev Thomas Paulsteiner, Mission One World Regional Secretary for Papua New Guinea, Pacific and East Asia.
The communion hosts produced were officially launched for use in BCCM churches at their biennial General Assembly in December 2019.
A ministry unto God and His Church
“Jars and Jugs Ministry is a service unto God and His Church. As it involves the handling of sacred elements, we have a cautious selection process for volunteers,” Rev. Chong explained.
Mimi Quek, a talented baker known in local circles for her pineapple tarts and butter cake, deftly scoops batter onto the baking iron. “It’s a unique ministry, and I wanted to learn this skill so I could serve the Church. Our hosts are tasty and fresh. This is God’s work too,” she beamed.
Next to her, Gwen Pang trims away excess batter with swiftness and precision. Her friends lightly teased the 70-year-old for coming to ‘work’ with hair and make-up done, as though she knew her picture would be taken today (the team did not know we would be visiting).
“I was so happy when I was asked to join this ministry,” she said sincerely. “We really look forward to coming together every month; the work is stress-free, the fellowship is good and this ministry is meaningful.”
In serving God, friendship and purpose meet
In another room flooded by sunlight, retired pastor Chong Syh Mii sits by the window, brows furrowed as she cuts hosts out of large, embossed discs. Across her, Wong Yuk Chu transfers the little discs onto trays, ready for the dehydrator.
“I have no baking experience,” Pastor Chong, in her 70’s, says with a grin. “That’s why I’m here cutting! It feels good to be part of a community and to meet a real need. Plus, this ministry is really not high-stress.”
Yuk Chu, a former church clerk, nods in agreement. “I’m retired now, and don’t have much to do. This work gives us a sense of purpose, and it’s nice to be able to serve together with others.”
The atmosphere is light as the women focus on their individual tasks over breezy conversations in English, Hakka, Cantonese, and Mandarin. All of them also look forward to lunch after work is done, when they can share updates about life, church and family.
It is clear that more than ministry partners, the women of Jars and Jugs are friends waltzing through life’s golden years together.
“This ministry is meaningful to me,” Rev. Chong says quietly. “We are a good team that enjoys each other’s fellowship and doing ministry together. Although we come from different congregations, serving the Lord has brought us together in the bigger BCCM church family.”
Not pictured: Elder Helen Lo
