Bahasa Malaysia version: https://voanews.xyz/dari-borneo-ke-shekinah-api-kebangkitan-masih-menyala/
The Tamil translation of this article is here: https://voanews.xyz/borneo-to-shekinah-tamil/ (இந்த கட்டுரையின் தமிழ் மொழிபெயர்ப்பு இங்கே)
The hornbill holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in Malaysia, where 10 species can be found across both East and West Malaysia. Among them, the Rhinoceros Hornbill, the State Bird of Sarawak, is particularly revered. To the Dayaks and Ibans, hornbills represent the spirit of God and are treated with great respect. When a hornbill flies over or visits a village, it is believed to bring good fortune. It stands as a symbol of strength and courage to the Indigenous Borneo Tribes of Malaysia.
A month before SPARK on February 1st, Pastor JD sighted a hornbill. A week before the March 1st SPARK meeting, in the morning of 22 February 2025, as Pastor Nathan Dunamis of Ipoh was in Sitiawan near the Shekinah Methodist Church, he saw an eagle gliding and hovering over the city, flying very near. Read more here: https://voanews.xyz/eagle-over-sitiawan-a-divine-signal-of-revival/
God is not an eagle, or any other bird, but, God describes Himself as a bird in the Scriptures. Read more here: God’s Presence and Protection: Understanding Biblical Bird Imagery https://voanews.xyz/gods-presence-and-protection-understanding-biblical-bird-imagery/ Read the Tamil version here: https://voanews.xyz/isgodlikeabird/ Just as the Holy Spirit is not a dove, although it descended like a dove upon Jesus at His baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), God is not a hornbill—yet He may send signs in ways that resonate with His people. The Spirit of God descended like a dove, and now, the Hornbill, standing by the Malaysian flag, is a reminder of God’s presence. It is a sign that the Holy Spirit has arrived at Shekinah Methodist Church, the largest church building in Perak, where a national day of prayer is planned and continuous prayer preparations are being led by a group of Indian Christians, supported by many from other races!
The Rhinoceros Hornbill, the State Bird of Sarawak, is a rare and majestic species found only in the forests of Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. However, the hornbill that Rev. Dr. JD sighted was the Oriental Pied Hornbill, a species with the widest distribution of its genus, found across the Indian subcontinent and throughout Southeast Asia.
The Oriental Pied Hornbill is the smallest and most common of the Asian hornbills and is also referred to as the Sunda Pied Hornbill, Indo-Malayan pied hornbill and the Malaysian Pied Hornbill (cf. Wikipedia). The Malaysian Pied Hornbill is known for its adaptability to habitat changes, which is why it is not currently considered a threatened species. However, it remains a rare and remarkable sight!
Yet beyond its earthly presence, the hornbill carries a deeper meaning—a parable of love and sacrifice, beautifully reflecting the nature of Jesus Christ.
“Jesus is Like the Mother Hornbill“
Pastor Dennis Drews vividly describes the habits of the mother hornbill and draws a comparison to its Creator.(https://www.christlutheraneagan.org/posts/meditations/jesus-is-just-like-the-mother-hornbill) In the forests of Africa, the hornbill teaches us a powerful lesson about selfless love. When the mother hornbill prepares to lay her eggs, she willingly sacrifices her freedom. She searches for a tree with a hollow trunk, enters it, and walls herself in, sealing the entrance with mud and dung, leaving only a narrow slot. This protects her chicks from predators, but at the cost of her own freedom and comfort.
Inside her dark prison, she fully depends on her mate, who brings her food, feeding her beak to beak. As her chicks hatch and grow, she does something even more incredible—she plucks out her own feathers, one by one, so that her children are not harmed by them in the tight space. She willingly strips herself of her ability to fly, all for the love and safety of her young.
This is a living parable of Jesus’ love for us. Jesus is like the mother hornbill. He left heaven, choosing to enter time and space, just as the hornbill enters her nest. He sacrificed His power and glory, stripping Himself of divine majesty, becoming fully human, vulnerable, and even bound to die. Just as the hornbill trusts her mate completely, Jesus entrusted Himself fully to the Father for the sake of saving us. He emptied Himself, became an infant cradled in a manger, and walked among us, flightless yet full of love.
A Divine Sign at Shekinah Methodist Church
In preparation for the SPARK National Indian Church Prayer Meeting, a group of pastors and leaders, including Rev Dr. Jayarajan Durairaju (Rev JD), have been travelling from Klang Valley and elsewhere, gathering at Shekinah Methodist Church’s Prayer Tower to pray weekly or even twice every week. Pastor Ching Peh Hoong of Shekinah Methodist Church shared that on Saturday, February 1st, in the morning, Rev JD took a remarkable photo at Shekinah Methodist Church.
On that day, after prayers at 9am, Rev JD and a group of believers prayed, a hornbill appeared and sat, gazing at them for quite some time. They usually prayed on Thursdays, but, they gather that week to pray on Saturday, right after the Chinese New Year holidays, as the church office was closed on Thursday.
“What a joy!” exclaimed Rev. Dr. JD, his heart overwhelmed with awe and wonder as he captured photos and videos of the majestic hornbill. In that sacred moment, standing on Holy Ground after morning prayers, he felt an undeniable stirring in his spirit—as if heaven itself was affirming the prayers and intercessions being lifted at Shekinah Methodist Church for the revival of the church and nation. A species of Sarawak’s State Bird, the hornbill, stood beside the Malaysian flag, gazing at them—a profound and rare sight. It was as though God had orchestrated this divine moment, reminding His people of His presence, His guidance, and His promise of revival.
Could this be more than just a coincidence? Could the presence of the hornbill, the sacred bird of Sarawak, standing by the Malaysian flag, be a divine confirmation that the Holy Spirit is moving in this land?
As we reflect on the parable of the hornbill, we are reminded of Jesus’ great sacrifice and His deep love for His people. And just as the hornbill symbolizes divine presence to the Dayaks and Ibans, perhaps this hornbill was a heavenly sign—a reminder that God is with us, guiding us into revival.
Echos of Borneo Revival: A Series of Remarkable Revivals
The Borneo Revival was a series of the most remarkable revivals in the history of Malaysian Christianity. Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this movement brought about a large influx of Christians across Sarawak, Sabah, and even parts of Indonesia’s Kalimantan region. The revival was marked by waves of united, continuous prayers, miraculous signs and wonders, and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit among the people. It was not just an emotional movement—it was deeply rooted in Bible teaching from local Malaysian and Indonesian Christian leaders, who discipled and strengthened the faith of new and old believers.
The presence of the hornbill, the State Bird of Sarawak, serves as a profound reminder of this revival. Just as the Dayaks and Ibans believe the hornbill is a divine messenger and a symbol of blessings, its presence today calls us to remember what sparked that great awakening—a hunger for God, relentless intercession, and bold faith in His power. The Borneo Revival transformed entire Borneo communities, bringing deep repentance, supernatural healings, and a passion for evangelism. From remote villages to towns, people turned to Christ in large numbers, and the fire of revival spread rapidly. Once a dying tribe with fewer than 5,000 people left after a devastating smallpox epidemic, the Lun Bawang were known as fierce warriors and a people lost to drunkenness. But, they experienced a gospel awakening so profound that it reshaped their destiny. Their story is one of redemption, resilience, and revival—one that continues to impact Malaysia today. Born in Ba’kelalan, Datuk Mutang Tagal, a lawyer and former President of the Malaysian Senate (Dewan Negara) was one of the most prominent Lun Bawang leaders. Pastor Sandra Tagal shared their testimony here: https://voanews.xyz/the-lun-bawang-a-people-transformed-by-revival/
This revival was not dependent on foreign missionaries alone, but was carried forward by the indigenous people themselves. The Ibans, Bidayuhs, Orang Ulu, and other local believers took up the mantle of evangelism, boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Churches, house churches and prayer groups multiplied, and the impact was so powerful that the revival still influences Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s Christian landscape today. Adherents of Christianity represent a majority (50.1%) of the population in Sarawak, which is Malaysia’s largest state by land area. About two-thirds of Malaysia’s Christian population lives in East Malaysia, in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Now, as a hornbill stood by the Malaysian flag at Shekinah Methodist Church, could this be more than just a coincidence? Could God be reminding us of the power of united prayer and revival? Just as the Holy Spirit moved mightily in Borneo decades ago, stirring hearts and bringing transformation, He is still moving today, calling His people to return to fervent prayer, bold faith, and deep surrender.
Let the hornbill’s presence be a sign that God is at work once again. Revival is not something of the past—it is still unfolding before our eyes. As the believers gathered in prayer at Shekinah Methodist Church, perhaps God was confirming His desire to bring revival once more—to stir up a new generation of prayer warriors and five-fold ministry workers (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Corinthians 12:28), a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6;1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10, faithful disciples who disciple others (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2) all united in faith and hunger for His presence.
The question is: Are we ready to respond?
A Divine Invitation: “Come and See”
In response to Rev JD’s testimony, Rev. Dr. Leow Hong Too declared that, “Only God can make this up. Glory to God, Amen and Amen!” He shares a powerful testimony of God’s leading to travel from the States to Sitiawan for the SPARK
He and his wife, Zona, will be staying at Shekinah Methodist Church (SMC) from February 26th to March 6th to soak in the loving presence of God, our Lover Jesus. As he prayed and sought understanding on why God has brought them back to SMC Sitiawan Manjung so early in the year, the Lord simply spoke: “Come and See”.
Rev. Dr. George Annadorai is often asked: Will Malaysia be able to fulfill its God-given destiny? He firmly believes the answer is yes, for there is a time and season for everything (cf. Ecclesiastes). Dr. George sees March 1st as a key moment in stepping into that destiny.
Though many odds are stacked against Malaysia, God’s promise remains steadfast. Zechariah 3:9 declares, “See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” Likewise, 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Many believe that March 1st is the day that God will heal Malaysia. Let us come together in united prayer, believing that this is the time for Malaysia to turn the corner and step into its divine calling. The time is now. We must pray together as a family! 🙏🔥
Our hearts swell with gratitude and anticipation, sensing that many events that have happened prior and after the Asbury Revival was no mere coincidence. Just as the Borneo Revival was ushered in through waves of prayer and surrender, there is an overwhelming conviction that God is moving again. “Come and See”— is an invitation to witness the supernatural unfolding before our eyes as we pray and obey.
God was near. Revival is here.
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