KUALA LUMPUR – The Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) of The Methodist Church in Malaysia celebrated its 70th Anniversary on Nov 17 last year at the end of its 31st Session. It jointly held a Thanksgiving Service for the completed extension of the church sanctuary.
The dual event, held at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Methodist Church, was followed by a joyous celebration dinner of 150 tables at the Grand Hall of the Confucian Independent School.
The guests-of honour included Bishop Dr and Mrs Hwa Yung; the Rev Koo Tiong Ling, a past President of the CAC, the Rev P. Tevaraji, President of the Tamil Annual Conference, the Rev Dr Su Chii Ann, President of the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, the Rev Ling Heu Uh, President of the Sabah Provincial Annual Conference, the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot, President of the Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore, and Bishop James Ha Chang Hua of the Chinese Methodist Church, Australia.
In his message, Bishop Dr Hwa Yung recalled God’s delight and love for His people. Basing his text on Isaiah 62:1-7, he exhorted the church to pray for its revival “in order to bring hope to the country as we face difficult and perilous times”.
Only a revived church can give a nation a real future, for without God there is no hope, he said, adding that he believes that God has blessed CAC these past 70 years and will continue to pour His blessings not only on the Methodist Church but every church as well.
The Rev Boh Che Suan, President of the CAC, noted that CAC is growing not only in structure but also in numbers, all through God’s blessings.
He reminded everyone that the church has to reach out to the neighbourhood, to participate and serve the community, for example, through the ministries of Beautiful Gate to the disabled community.
The 31st Annual Conference Session, held at the Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur, saw 315 delegates come together. Six Deacons, one Local Deacon and two Elders were ordained by Bishop Dr Hwa Yung. Six others were received as Members-on-Trial.
In conjunction with the 70th Anniversary Celebration, the CAC raised funds for the refurbishment of Wisma Methodist which has served the conference the past 32 years. The much-needed renovation will give it a modern design and will enable it to serve the churches in an expanded ministry in the future.
These 70 years have seen God’s blessings on the CAC, which has given the church the experience, the ministers and the structures to meet the challenges of the future to come.
Praise be to God! – Pelita Methodist.