MIRI: Over 2,500 Christians are expected to gather here from Oct 5-7 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bario, Ba‘Kelalan and Taginambur Revival, a landmark event for the Malaysian Christian community.
The faithful will attend a three-day rally celebrating the golden jubilee of an event whose genesis can be traced back to what is now known as the Bario Revival which reportedly occurred in the remote highlands of Bario, on Oct 4, 1963.
It is believed that a teacher and a group of students of the Kelabit tribe had a divine encounter at about 4pm there that day.
Consequently they started organising prayer meetings in their villages, where families struggling with issues such as alcoholism, feuds and infidelity experienced renewal.
A month later, teams were sent out to other villages on mission trips.
Some went to other tribes such as the Kayan and Kenyah along the Tutoh, Apo and Baram rivers, and to the Lun Bawang in Ba’kelalan and Lawas areas, which witnessed the same spirit of repentance and reconciliation.
In December 1973, there was news that this sense of spiritual awakening had also taken place in Taginambur, Sabah.
Now, 50 years on, organisers hope this event will bring together Christians from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
“The spiritual revival that emerged from Borneo is an important event in the history of Christianity in Malaysia because of its impact on churches and Christians in both rural and urban areas,” said Rachel Bulan, a Kelabit pastor and one of the main organisers in a statement.
It is widely held as a wonderful time in Borneo church history where family disputes and community squabbles were settled peacefully without the intervention of community leaders.
Martha Padan alias Buad Aran, wife of deceased Kelabit Paramount Chief, Gerawat Aran@Ngimat Ayu said during those days, her husband had fewer community disputes to settle under undang-undang adat istiadat (customary law).
“What used to be about three disputes a day decreased to only three every month because people began to forgive one another and work out their differences on their own,” she added.
“We’re very excited to see what unfolds as we mark 50 years since the Bario Revival,” said Bulan, adding, “we have invited speakers from West Malaysia, Sabah, Indonesia, Singapore and of course, Sarawak. There will also be worship services and prayer sessions for healing.”
The rally will be spearheaded by Tribal Gathering, a group of inter-tribal, inter-generational and international Christians who desire to see unity forged among the tribes, the generations and the nations to bring forth healing.
Other organisers of the event are members of the Borneo Evangelical Mission or Sidang Injil Borneo, Cornerstone Borneo churches, Persatuan Kelabit, Saban and Berawan (PKSB) and the Nehemiah Prayer ministry.
Attendance is free and registration is encouraged on Tribal Gathering’s official website: https://www.tribalgatheringborneo.com/.
NOTE: All services and sessions are only meant for non-Muslims.
