The spread of Christianity began in the first century. It continued steadily as different missionaries traversed various continents globally. Activities such as crusades and campaigns significantly influenced the success of the spread of the religion which started in Northern Europe before proceeding to other continents. Among the earliest regions to receive Christianity were northern Africa, the Middle East, and Asia during the medieval time which lasted 476 to 1500. The advancement of Christianity is still going on in various countries regardless of it starting early globally. Among them is Malaysia in the Asian continent. From its introduction into the country to its current state, Christianity has developed in the country to encompass different denominations, missions, and institutions.
The spread of Christianity in Malaysia dates back to the 16th Century. It was first introduced by the Military Crusade Order of Christ through the Portuguese who conquered a Muslim sultanate in the then commercial capital of Malacca. The Portuguese first landed on the southeastern coast of India before traveling to various countries around the region such as Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia (Nickens, 2020). The Portuguese collaborated with the Sultans and the Dutch in the 17th Century in spreading Christianity in Borneo. Arguably, Christianity at this point was aimed at enabling the Portuguese and the Sultans to gain an advantage in establishing their trades in the majorly Muslim area. Christianity came to Malacca through the Portuguese who ceased it in 1511 (Ng, 2012). The spread of Christianity in the Malay Peninsula was reinforced in the 18th Century when the English East India Company settled in Penang to secure its trade with China.
The establishment of Penang as a Christian base by the British led to the immigration of various other missionaries such as the French missionaries. This led to the development of churches and various institutions such as the College General in 1809. The settlement of the British in Penang led to the start of missionary work in Malaysia in the late 18th Century. The setting up of schools was the most successful endeavor. It raised a generation that was at ease with Christianity in the region despite the initial upheaval by Muslims. The mission work done by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British among others lay the foundation for the present Christianity in the country.
Numerous denominations have sprung up in the current state of Christianity in the country today. From the recent statistics, 9% of Malaysia’s total population is Christian in contrast with the 63% that are Muslims, 20% Buddhists, and 7% Hindu (Mutalib and Suleiman, 2017). Among Christians, the Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Methodists are the most spread denominations in the country. There are diverse missions and churches in the country such as St. Michael’s church in Penampang, and St. John’s cathedral in the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur. Over the years missions such as the Borneo Church Mission have enhanced the presence of Christianity in the country. There are Bible colleges and seminaries in the country such as. The Bible College of Malaysia, Sabah Theological College and Seminary, and Methodist Theological School among others. These institutions have enables the rise of Christianity in the country. As much as the country is predominantly Muslim, the presence of Christianity is gradually being felt with the development of institutions such as Bible colleges and seminaries.
Bibliography
Mutalib, Marina Munira Abdul, and Mashitah Sulaiman. “Understanding Religious Pluralism in Malaysia: A Christian and Muslim Debate.” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2017.
Ng, Peter Tze Ming. “Globalization and Religion: The Case of Malacca and the Work of Robert Morrison.” Religions 3, no. 4 2012: 075-184.
Nickens, Mark. A Survey of the History of Global Christianity. B&H Publishing Group, 2020.