Adult Fellowship, 1975–2020

By 2020, our Adult Fellowship had a 45-year history (1975–2020). According to the Chinese Annual Conference's brief history of adult ministry, this work began at Seremban Methodist Church in April 1960, but the initial effort was short-lived. The Conference began actively promoting Adult Fellowship ministry in the early 1970s, when the Seremban fellowship was dormant. On 1 September 1971, the Adult Fellowship of Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Methodist Church was formally established through the efforts of Rev. 方中南, then president of the Singapore–Malaysia Chinese Annual Conference, Rev. 陈恩成, Rev. 林荣民 and a group of devoted brothers from that church. These pastors and members subsequently travelled to churches in other states to encourage the establishment of Adult Fellowships and develop adult ministry. In early 1975, our church's church officers and a group of members who had passed the Youth Fellowship age limit of 24 responded to Rev. 卫连胜, chair of the Chinese Annual Conference Christian Education Department, and his call to establish an Adult Fellowship. A discussion was held at the parsonage on the evening of 2 April 1975. The initiators were Rev. 李前军, church worker 陈秀音, Church officer 洪辉德, 杨昭铭, 朱振兴, 黄为福 and 刘顺荣. The fellowship's inauguration and first general meeting took place in the sanctuary on the evening of 6 July 1975, when its first office-bearers were elected. The Adult Fellowship was formed to give those who had left Youth Fellowship, entered working life or established families a suitable community in which to continue growing as Christians. It sought to build close relationships in Christ's love and unity in the Lord: bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), loving one another earnestly (1 Peter 4:8), encouraging and building one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and helping those in need (the historical account cites Acts 11:14, 28–30). Fellowship would continually equip believers for faithful service to Christ, offering their God-given gifts, building up the church in unity, sharing the gospel, leading people to the Lord, glorifying God and blessing others. Over the years, the fellowship has valued spiritual growth, wider knowledge and social concern. Alongside its scheduled monthly gatherings, it invited different pastors and church leaders to preach and teach, and encouraged members to attend Bible studies, discipleship courses and extension theological courses. Occasional demonstrations of floral arrangement, cooking and handicrafts helped members develop practical skills. Talks covered medicine, law, nutrition and health, further education, and banking and postal services. Social concern included visits to homes for the elderly, prayer for the sick, food sales, and donations to charities and Christian organisations. Members also supported fellow believers' education and medical expenses, individually or through the fellowship. Some quietly counselled young people facing questions about studies, work and relationships. Each Chinese New Year, the fellowship presented academic achievement awards to members' children, encouraging diligence in their studies so that they might one day offer their abilities to the church and society, bless others and glorify the Lord. It often organised church-wide gatherings for special occasions such as Parents' Day and Christmas, bringing believers together in joyful thanksgiving. In this way, the Adult Fellowship became a bridge between different parts of the church, drawing fellowship members closer to one another. The fellowship also participated in Northern District adult ministry, encouraging members to attend district gatherings, family days, anniversaries, talks and singing competitions. These activities strengthened relationships and cooperation with Adult Fellowships in other churches, making their shared service more fruitful. May every member live out the words of 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.” (WEBBE) Adult Fellowship provisional committee, 1975 Adult Fellowship office-bearers, 1995–1996 Adult Fellowship Activities 1975-1995 Group photograph after the Adult Fellowship's first exploratory gathering at 食风楼 in Tanjung Bungah, before its formal establishment, 1975 The Adult Fellowship's first general meeting, 6 July 1975 The president and vice-president cutting the first anniversary cake, 1976