The venue of this year's conference was at the YMCA of Hong Kong as we found church sites are just too challenging to cater lunches and suppers to 300+ delegates if we want to do an excellent job.

The panel of speakers consisted of many of the brilliant and well-known pastors and Christian workers in Hong Kong including Pastor Peter Ho, Senior Pastor of Tung Fook Church, also an Alpha Adviser, who opened the Conference with the first talk of "Principles of Alpha". Pastor Ho's humourous yet meaningful presentation got the Conference to a great start and thus setting the mood of the two-day Conference.

Rev. Peter Ho Rev. Peter Ho

Pastor Eddie Ma, Senior Pastor of Shaukiwan Baptist Church, the National Alpha Adviser, concluded the Conference with a rousing and passionate encouragement to all to step out in faith and to put faith in action. His gently rebuked the trend of attending seminars and conferences without putting knowledge to action. He challenged all to set sail, to go, to dare to take a risk for our Lord.

Rev. Eddie Ma

Dr. Jackie Pullinger gave the talk on the evening of the model Alpha. Jackie also brought along with her 40 brothers and sisters to serve in the prayer ministry and intercessory team. Quoting Winnie Wong of the Hong Kong Baptist Church, "The model Alpha evening on "How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?" was indeed exceptional. Praise the Lord for blessing us with the spiritual gifts. However, "speaking in tongues" was no doubt a little surprising, yet it surely was an "eye", "ear" and "mouth" opener!"

Dr. Jackie Pullinger(L)

Dr. Jackie Pullinger(L)

We had one invited speaker from overseas and that was Fergus Keith of New Zealand who gave the Youth Seminar talk.

Mr. Fergus Keith, Speaker of the Youth Seminar.

We praise God for the wonderful weather during the two-day conference as part of our activities were held at the Garden Podium (about 100 delegates had lunches, supper at the Garden Podium plus that's where the bookstall was located).	Bookstall	Lunch at the Garden Podium
The delegates came from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Macau, Thailand, Mongolia and USA. The medium of languages were Cantonese, Mandarin and English with one language being spoken, one other being translated by an interpreter standing next to the speaker and the third interpreter speaking into a microphone for those who need translation to hear it via headphones. This is quite an undertaking as the number of interpreters involved are large.
The format of the two-day conference also consisted of 4 seminars/workshops in the afternoon which brings the total to 8 seminars. Mr. Fergus Keith, Speaker of the Youth Seminar Rev. Timothy Kwok(R), Speaker of Administration of Alpha Rev. John Pun(L), Speaker of Alpha for Prisons Rev. John Lau(R), Speaker of Prayer on Alpha Rev. Eddie Ma, Speaker of Worship on Alpha Mr. Victor Kwan, Speaker of Alpha for the Smaller Church Mr. John Snelgrove(R), Speaker of Developing Existing Alpha Course Mr. Steve Miller(L), Speaker of Alpha in Business

Comments from some of the Conference delegates: "I was so amazed at how many people were there and what a good atmosphere there seemed. I do hope and pray for great fruit from the conference. Thank you for your commitment, vision and organising skills." - Pastor John Illsley, English-Speaking Methodist Church "The Conference in HK was well run and really good!! Congratulations! I enjoyed every minute of it. As Asdis and I didn't attend the full conference in London I emailed and told her what she had missed in HK. She is quite active with Alpha in Iceland." - A del Mel, lay leader, International Christian Assembly. "It is my pleasure to attend the Alpha Conference. In fact, I have learnt a lot from the speakers. We have just passed a resolution, in the staff meeting this morning, that we will run Alpha twice a year for adult, once for the elderly, and once for the youth. We will do our best to reach the unreached and to preach the Gospel to our neighbour. I deeply appreciate what you have done for the development of Alpha. May God continue to bless your ministry in Alpha." - Pastor Timothy (Kwok) "Just want to say thank you to you and the whole team for preparing the excellent Alpha Conference. God Bless. - Pastor Peter (Ho)" "Congratulations on a well run and well attended conference. I sensed the spirit's presence and give thanks again for your leadership. " Pastor Scott (Lawson) 'During the session of "How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?" and "Ministry on Alpha" the prayer ministry team serves with full of the love of Christ. This has been a blessing to many'. Ng Chun Wai - Deacon - Shaukiwan Baptist Church. "This conference is so well organized! All the speakers are wonderful, the worship is amazing. This conference has well exceeded my expectations. Well done and thank you to everyone who has made this conference the success it is!" - Christine Ma, Youth worker. "The conference was coordinated with excellence to the glory of God. I thank God I have attended it". Pastor Jim Lardizabal, Kowloon Filipino Baptist Church "The worship teams also deserve a lot of praises - they have been perfect guides to lead the congregation into the right state of mind for HIS message". - Alpha leader, The Hong Kong Baptist church.

Dr. Agatha Chan(L), Speaker of Ministry on Alpha Rev. John Illsley, Speaker of Practicalities of Alpha Rev. John Lau(R) & the worship team from Elijah Mission Mr. Simon Ng(L) & Mr. Curtis Jones(R) Mrs. Hannah Miller & the Worship Team from Shepherd Community Fuk Lam Church

Denomination Breakdown:       Lutheran 32   ABWE Fellowship (HK) Ltd. 7 Anglican 29   International Christian Assembly 6 Baptist 27   Ling Liang Worldwide Evangelistic Mission 4 Christians & Missionary Alliance 24   Vineyard 3 Non 24   Cumberland Presbyterian Church 3 China Representatives 21   Evangelical Free Church of China 3 Praise Assembly 20   Evangelical Community Church 2 Methodist 17   St. Stephen's Society 2 Hong Kong Church of Christ in China 16   Kowloon Tong Alliance Church of CCMA 2 Mission to New Arrivals 16   Christian Nationals' Evangelism Commission 2 Shephred Community Church 10   The Hong Kong Chinese Church of Christ 2 Salvation Army 10   Lock Tao Christian Association 2 Evangelise China Fellowship 10   Social Service Organization 2 Pantecostal 7   Unknown 19 Total : 322 Alpha Office Staff

We have given a foretaste of what is to come by announcing and introducing to delegates the concept of an Alpha Initiative in Hong Kong. We are aiming at September 2004 Alpha Supper which we know is very ambitious especially considering the amount of work we need to involve ourselves in the preparation and assistance to launch the Alpha Conferences both in Taiwan and Shanghai in December 2004. However, we felt the Alpha Conference was a good forum and time to at least introduce the concept. The Alpha Initiative concept was well-received with Pastor Eddie Ma encouraging all delegates and participating churches to be bold and step out in faith and be united for the work of the gospel. All in all, a very upbeat, exciting, positive and as Pastor Illsley said, we now need to pray for the fruit of the Conference. We aim to raise the number of churches doing Alpha next year to at least double what we have at the moment, (to 200) and 6 more prisons, (to 12). We can do all things through HIM who strengthens us. Amen. 24 November, 2003