The Boys’ Brigade Regional Elementary Officers’ Training Course (EOTC) 2025 at Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa

July 21, 2025

BB EOTC — “The advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among members and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian Character.” (BB Object Since 1883)

KOTA SENTOSA — The Sarawak Southern Regional Council of The Boys’ Brigade (BB) in Malaysia organised the Elementary Officers’ Training Course (EOTC) 2025 on Saturday, 21st June 2025, at the Seminar Room of Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa. This course was held for the new Boys’ Brigade officers and volunteers from Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa; St. Stephen’s Church, Bau; the 10th Kuching Company of First Baptist Church; and the 13th Kuching Company of Tabuan Trinity Methodist Church.

The organisers and facilitators of the training course were from various BB companies across the region, namely:

Captain Clement Sii, 11th Kuching Company of Blessed Sacrament Church
Lieutenant Griffin Gelengan, 1st Kuching Company of St. Thomas’s Cathedral (Anglican Church)
Honorary Captain Edmund Wong, 7th Kuching Company of Chin Dao Methodist Church (Deputy State Commissioner)
Honorary Captain Hii King Ong, 7th Kuching Company of Chin Dao Methodist Church (Deputy Brigade President)
Honorary Captain Obed Sim, 4th Kuching Company of Faith Methodist Church
Captain Desmond Chan, 16th Kuching Company of St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Ms. Lillian Law, 11th Kuching Company of Blessed Sacrament Church

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)

Starting a new BB company is merely the simplest part of the journey. Sustaining the company requires consistent commitment from officers and a focus on the holistic growth of members in accordance with the BB Object. This is the most enduring challenge, and therefore, it is crucial for officers to be consistently equipped and refreshed with the fundamentals of BB knowledge and its core values.

This full day EOTC focused on the following core topics:

BB History & Pioneering
BB Method & Traditions
Uniform & Paying Compliments
Officer’s Roles & Responsibilities (Code of Conduct)
BB Organisation & Structure
Constitutions & By-Laws
Starting a BB Company (Planning & Budget)
Brigade Training
Your Calling in BB

In addition to instilling the core objectives of the Boys’ Brigade movement and sharing the methods and traditions passed down since 1883 as the oldest interdenominational Christian uniform youth organisation in the world, the one-day course also highlighted the importance of character development and leadership training for today’s youths. It also explored how the Boys’ Brigade can partner with churches and schools to nurture holistic youth development.

Participants were equipped with step-by-step procedures on forming a BB Company in a local church and ways to plan weekly programmes for their members. The training also encouraged the new officers’ involvement in the ecosystem of National Brigade Training, Regional NCOs Training Courses, and Officers’ Training Programmes. The course concluded with a session of spiritual reflection, allowing participants to consider whether the Boys’ Brigade ministry is their calling—just as Moses was called at the age of 80 while fleeing from the authorities of his time (Exodus 3:1–12)—and to reflect on the purpose of God’s calling.

The Boys’ Brigade is built upon the twin pillars of Christian Faith and Discipline, focusing on the Educational, Physical, Spiritual, and Social aspects of youth development. This mission is inspired by Luke 2:52:

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

For this ministry to grow organically within the church, we invite men and women aged 18 years and above, who have a heart to serve, to join us on this life-changing journey—especially in the following parishes: