ALPHA MALAYSIA MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT 2019 Thank you for your support in 2019 4783 97 272 146 325 people Alpha training churches/ churches/ churches/ participated in events were organisations organisations organisations Alpha related conducted were trained to have reported have run Alpha events to be run Alpha to run Alpha for equipped to the first time run Alpha National Director’s Message At Alpha, we believe everyone should have today. Alpha created a place to openly and the opportunity to explore a relationship authentically explore faith and wrestle with with Jesus wherever they are in Malaysia questions and doubts within a community for free. We exist to equip and serve the of friends. One of my friends Janice, then church in its mission to help people discover invited her fiancé to the next round of Alpha, and develop a relationship with Jesus. and he gave his life to Jesus! One of the greatest privileges of my past 7 We believe now is the time for the church to years in Alpha is witnessing how God is at rise up together, and moving quickly, we can work today, building his church in Malaysia. help introduce thousands of young people I have the joy of working with church to Jesus over the next decade. We have only leaders in many contexts (Youth, Campus, just begun. We are at an exciting point on Church, Workplace, Seniors, Prison and our journey, a pivotal moment, where we are Rehab) and languages (English, Mandarin, shaping our strategy and processes for even Tamil and Bahasa Malaysia), where we more growth. Every mission needs a goal and are privileged to partner and support 325 our goal is simple – to equip 900 churches & churches and organisations that ran a total organisations to run Alpha by 2022. of 602 Alpha Courses in the year 2019. Yet, we know that so many people today We’d love for you to join us in this journey. are disconnected from the church and are Please partner with us in the most exciting, unsure of what it means to have a personal practical and relevant opportunity to fulfil the relationship with Jesus. great commission in our nation today. Come and be a part of it. In Malaysia, over *34% of young people are predicted to leave the church. These are young adults, raised in families that call themselves Christians, who will say that they are not. There has never been a greater, Paul Kong more urgent opportunity in the church! National Director, Alpha Malaysia I personally know the impact that Alpha can have. I first ran Alpha in university Datin Kathleen Chew (left) announcing the official handover and have continued to run it ever since. *Data extracted from The Connected Generation of the National Director position from Wini Heron (middle) Last year in 2019, three of my friends from (How Christian Leaders Around the World can strengthen to Paul Kong (right) at REACH 2019 Alpha Malaysia their faith & well being among 18 – 35 year olds) South East my Alpha small group gave their lives to Asia Report, 2020. Fundraising Dinner in October 2019. Jesus! They were searching for meaning and belonging like so many young adults 03 | Alpha Malaysia Ministry Highlights Report Alpha Malaysia Ministry Highlights Report | 04 Fui’s Story Some years ago, I started my own company. I was chasing “the big dream”, so I spent pretty much all my waking hours building and growing the business. The natural consequence of that was that I drifted apart from everything that truly mattered to me, including my wife and family. And ironically, despite whatever successes I had, I didn’t find the life that I was living very meaningful at all. Growing up, I was a non-Christian. But a few years back, my sister invited me to attend Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang (HTBB). I agreed to tag along. At HTBB, I bumped into an old friend. We talked and our conversation ended up with her inviting me for Alpha. I thought “why not”. At first, I felt the whole thing was just, weird. I couldn’t figure out why there were so many friendly, smiling, happy people around me. And they actually looked real. But as things progressed, and after many open and honest conversations about the meaning of life, work and spirituality, I discovered that there was in fact a bigger and deeper meaning in my life. I noticed that my priorities started to shift. Rather than solely focusing on work as I did before (because there was in reality, nothing else), I started seeing all the other beautiful and important things in my life that were right before me. Alpha was impactful as it introduced me to God, and it stirred even more questions. Importantly, I was able to discuss them at Alpha as it was a safe environment to ask questions, reflect and share my thoughts with a community of people who were just like me – people in search of their own meaning. This also helped me to open up more and share my stories and problems with people that were accountable to me. God has helped my wife and I in our relationship. He showed me how to love and care as how He loves all of us. My wife and I started working through our challenges together. She acknowledged and jumped aboard wanting the same change. We also attended the Marriage Course which was very helpful in building back our relationship. Right now, the relationship that we have is literally ten times better than it ever was. And we’re also expecting a baby boy soon. I am truly grateful for what He has done and is doing in my life. Joining Alpha was a huge steppingstone in establishing and crystalizing my walk with Jesus – a life-long journey that I have embarked on. 05 | Alpha Malaysia Ministry Highlights Report Alpha Malaysia Ministry Highlights Report | 06 felt comfortable in sharing and asking any questions. “I was one of the participants who asked plenty of questions,” Ray said. He then accepted Christ during his second time attending the Alpha programme. After experiencing Alpha, Ray and Jacqueline took the initiative to conduct it. During that time, Ray mentioned that Jacqueline was moved by the Holy Spirit. Ray said, “During the Weekend Away, Jacqueline shared that she had been touched by the Holy Spirit. She heard a calling to start this initiative to give.” Ray explained that their motive to give to Alpha was also rooted in the testimony of watching many people that they knew, whom they never imagined would accept Christ, do so through Alpha. “Jacqueline’s mother, who does not even know how to speak English, accepted Christ. Even my brother accepted Christ through Alpha!” he commented. Jacqueline remarked, “Alpha is the greatest evangelical tool that both Ray and I have encountered. We believe that there are so many people out there who should know about Christ. We figured that if we give to Alpha, we could help these people and Alpha to reach out.” She added, “Everyone should be given the chance to attend Alpha!” Ray & Jacqueline’s Last year, when Ray and Jacqueline were discussing how to give to Story Alpha, they became concerned that their business was not doing very well. However, they both believed that God is their main provider and decided they would not be fazed by anything, so they continued to give Ray and Jacqueline have been married for 19 years. The husband and to Alpha. Jacqueline quoted 2 Corinthians 9:7, “God loves a cheerful wife team run a coffee business that also manufactures ice-blended giver” and added that “although we do not know what lies before us, we beverages, supplying local and international cafés and restaurants. trust God and we give nonetheless.” Before attending Alpha, Ray was not a Christian while Jacqueline Both Ray and Jacqueline expressed that they have received abundantly was a first-generation Christian. Prior to accepting Christ, Ray enjoyed from God. Apart from enjoying success in their business, the couple have having friendly debates with his friends over the topic of religion. also received the gift of joy. Jacqueline said, “This joy from God is great One day, their best friend, Angeline, invited them to participate in and beyond anything that can be replaced, even money is unable to Alpha. “To be honest,” Ray quipped, “My attention was hooked replace this joy.” when Angeline mentioned the free buffet at Alpha.” At the time, Ray was questioning who God was, and was moved by what the emcee shared. He added that he enjoyed his time at Alpha because he 07 | Alpha Malaysia Ministry Highlights Report Alpha Malaysia Ministry Highlights Report | 08 Glow U The first Alpha for Campus conference organised by Alpha Malaysia on 2 March 2019. It was for campus students around Klang Valley and had an attendance of 116 delegates from 31 colleges and universities. Glow U’s vision was to inspire and empower the campus students in the area of Entrepreneurship, Talent Development and Faith. Velicham Designed to bring Alpha for Youth in Tamil to the Klang Valley, it ran on 26-27 July 2019. A total of 242 people from 33 churches attended. The vision was to inspire and empower them to share the love of God “Alpha has helped to nurture and grow Alpha for a team of young people that’s willing to to their friends using Alpha. serve, and lives have been transformed Youth & Campus through Alpha” Wei Nie, A DUMC Youth Committee Aaron Anand (Development Manager), Sarath Kumar (Senior Development Coordinator) and Elisia Chan (Development Coordinator) form the most energetic team in Unity in Diversity the organisation - the Youth and Campus team.