A Council for World Mission (CWM)-supported ministry in Malaysia is helping refugees, migrant workers, and vulnerable families rebuild their lives through education, protection, and community empowerment, offering a practical Christian response to modern-day slavery.
Supported through The Onesimus Project (TOP), the ministry, “Provide Holistic Solutions and Strengthen Support Systems to Counter Modern-Day Slavery Among Vulnerable, Marginalised Communities in Malaysia,” brings together Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia (GPM), Klang Presbyterian Church, and ElShaddai Centre.
The partnership is rooted in the recognition that contemporary slavery is no longer defined simply by chains and captivity. Malaysia’s dependence on migrant labour, together with the precarious situation of undocumented migrants and refugees, can create conditions in which exploitation flourishes.
Since 2008, the partnership has responded to the growing vulnerability of refugees, undocumented migrants, and marginalised communities facing exploitation, forced labour, human trafficking, and statelessness.
Empowering communities, transforming lives
Guided by the vision, “Empowering Communities, Transforming Lives,” the ministry has provided education, safe shelter, advocacy, discipleship, and practical assistance to vulnerable communities, particularly Rohingya refugees, migrant workers, and women and children who have experienced human trafficking.
Over the years, the ministry has helped more than 40 women and girls access safe shelter, supported 35 vulnerable individuals through community placement, and provided scholarships for 24 students.
Another 100 students received daily school meals, while 61 children obtained birth registration, helping to reduce their risk of statelessness. The ministry has also assisted 104 individuals with travel documentation and supported 12 people through repatriation and reintegration.
Beyond these forms of assistance, the partnership has placed particular emphasis on empowering communities to shape their own futures.
Former beneficiaries have moved into leadership, teaching, and community support roles, while others now serve as mentors, extending the same care they once received to people facing similar circumstances.
For ElShaddai Centre founder Andrew Ng, the decision to join the ministry grew from a personal calling to serve God among refugees and marginalised communities, grounded in the conviction that every person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity, safety, opportunity, and hope.
Strengthening partnerships for lasting change
During a visit to the ministry in Klang, CWM TOP Coordinator Rev. Wellington Mthobisi Sibanda met with GPM General Secretary Elder Lim Kar Hor to learn more about the partnership’s impact.
Lim emphasised the importance of solidarity and collaboration, noting that the challenges of modern slavery, migration, and refugee protection cannot be addressed by any single organisation.
The visit also highlighted the ministry’s emphasis on practical accountability, community participation, and Christian witness among people living on the margins of society.
Through practical action and shared responsibility, the partnership continues to support vulnerable communities as they move towards dignity, belonging, and renewed hope.
