Fasting For God

Ex-minister to fast to save his people

Former Sabah minister Conrad Mojuntin has chosen a drastic life-threatening path to compel the government to address immediately the state's perennial social and economic problems.

PENAMPANG: Disillusioned former Sabah minister, Conrad Mojuntin has decided to fast until death ‘if it is the will of God’ in his bid to force the government to re-examine its duty to the people of Sabah.

He started his fast today.

“I will start fasting today (Friday, June 17), five days after Pentecost Sunday, in my family’s prayer room.

“I will completely abstain from taking food. I will drink only water, until I die if it is the will of God,” he said calmly, adding he will spend most his time praying for solutions.

Mojuntin, 64, is the younger brother of the revered Kadazandusun leader Peter Joinod Mojuntin who died in the controversial 1976 plane crash that took the lives of Chief Minister Fuad Stephens and half of the state cabinet.

The father of six said he had lost all confidence in the authorities to alleviate the problems plaguing the state.

Spewing his frustrations in a six-page handwritten statement, Mojuntin expressed his angst over the marginalisation of his native Sabahans and the fact that his children were unable to get scholarships, study loans or get into the public service while scores of illegal immigrants’ offsprings were granted government assistance.

“It’s ironical. I stood as guarantor for many Sabahans to get study loans but now I am blacklisted by Sabah Foundation.

“Not one of my sons and daughters could get a Sabah Foundation loan to continue their studies”.

Mojuntin, who was the former Culture, Youth and Sports Minister during the Berjaya regime which ruled from 1976 to 1985, is hoping that his sacrifice would inspire the government to address problems in the state.

Mojuntin said his family and community as well as other Sabahans felt like they were being persecuted for not adapting to Malayan politics and especially its Islamic ideals.

A devout Catholic, Mojuntin, 64, recounted the many torments he experienced, both before and after he left public service, including an effort by some in the 1980s to convert him and his family to Islam.

At times appearing frustrated, Mojuntin, whose pension has been stopped since March last year, poured his heart out over his predicament and his inability to do anything about it.

To Be Pleasing God and True Fasting « Kelly Kang – Gracepoint ...

According to this passage, Israel appears to have a very demanding attitude towards God. For these people, God is someone that they are going to temporarily serve or bow down to in exchange for something that they want from him.  And, their fasting did not seem to make a bit of difference in the way they conducted themselves in the world.

Being a Christian means to be on the same page with God’s desires and agenda.  It seems from the bible that the greatest thing on God’s mind is saving his lost children from sin’s bondage and oppression.  As our will conforms to his, we cannot help but be captured by a heart of evangelism; to care about the things that God cares about—people who are far from him.

As I was thinking about a life that pleases God versus a life that pleases me, I think the main difference is care for others.  Many people are attracted to a life where we are not burdened by anything, not caring about anyone else, not bothered by anything.  But the word of God tells us the following:

Isaiah 58:6-7

Just this past week, we found about 4 children living all by themselves. The mom is out of the picture, and the father recently left the country seeking a jog, leaving the 4 children to fend for themselves. One of our teachers found out about this whole situation because the kids were eating way more than usual.  It turned out that they have been really hungry because no one had been taking care of them. As God brought this situation to our attention, what should be our response?