Welcome To Our New Country Director
We are very excited to announce that Caroline Ong Yee Mein has been appointed the next Country Director for Our Daily Bread Ministries Malaysia. Based in our Subang Jaya office, Caroline’s role will be to provide leadership to the Malaysian team in accordance with Our Daily Bread’s global vision. Her appointment came into effect on 1 April 2021.
A little background
As an Economics graduate and having spent many years in the corporate world, Caroline had never thought that she would enter the world of Christian ministry. She had a secure career, but more importantly she enjoyed her work and the colleagues she worked with.
Then came the invitation to consider serving in a Christian ministry. She spent time in prayer, saying, “I took time out and began to write in my journal what the Lord had impressed on my heart. Everyday I read portions of scripture, prayed and reflected over my next steps.”
Our Board Member, Rev. Gary Yeoh leading in the commissioning with Caroline Ong
Rev. Tan Meng Poo with a word of encouragement
She also needed to talk to her husband and two sons. First of all, there was to be a pay cut. Secondly, as the main office of Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODBM) is in Johor Bahru, that meant commuting would be needed since she and her family are based in Petaling Jaya.
We were thrilled when Caroline said yes to the invitation! We know that she will be a strong addition to the team, working with and leading a staff of 28 based in Johor Bahru, Subang Jaya and Kota Kinabalu.
The way forward
With resources in all four major languages – English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia and Tamil – plus a significant digital push for the way forward, Caroline will be instrumental in providing strategic support, digitising our distribution channels and implementing more local resources for Malaysian readers.
It has been a period of adjustment for Caroline, however. In talking to her, she is deeply convinced that this is a clear leading from the Lord. In a way, her past experience in sales, human resources, leadership and coaching has prepared her for her new role in ODBM today.
In the past few months, Caroline has solidly planted her feet on the ground, interacting with the team remotely. As interstate travel is not yet permissible, she sometimes conducts 5-6 conference calls in a day.
Apart from the staff, she has also started to reach out to friends who have skill sets in different areas that will be of great help to ODBM. She has said that many Christians are happy to provide time and effort in volunteering, provided it is meaningful to them.
Volunteering and Church Engagement
As such, volunteering will be an area we’ll give special attention to. Caroline has also expressed amazement at the strong support from pastors, church leaders and readers who enthusiastically use our resources for personal and group study. This area of Church Engagement will be another one that we hope to give more effort to.
Caroline Ong with her husband, Hwa Sze Kai
Caroline was asked if there are one or two verses that she is holding on to as she steps into her new role. Isaiah 43:1-3, she says, is dear to her heart:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour…”
Please join us in congratulating Caroline in her new role, and pray with us as we stand together with her and the Malaysian team of staff and volunteers as they seek to fulfill the mission to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.
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