Report
on the:
2004 Hong Kong Youth Alpha Conference
The first ever Hong Kong Youth Alpha Conference took place on Tuesday (22nd June) and Wednesday (23rd June), 2004. Union Church Hong Kong was used as the venue for this year's conference as the facilities offered a good place to cook and cater lunches and suppers for 260+ delegates and 50+ Conference helpers.
We praise God for our wonderful partnership with Shaukiwan Baptist Church. Rev. & Mrs. Eddie & Louisa Ma brought a youth group of 40 people to help at the Conference - including worship leaders, prayer ministry team members, photographers, ushers and task force helpers. We marvelled at their hard work, their love and passion to serve God, their genuine prayers and tears¡K our hearts were touched - how amazing for us, as Youth workers, to see young people coming out to minister to other young people, to lead worship with great anointing and faith, serving humbly and independently. This is the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. We were reminded of the importance of bringing young people to know God and to experience the Holy Spirit personally.
The panel of speakers consisted of many brilliant and well-known pastors and Youth Christian workers including Dr. Wing-tai Leung, General Secretary of Breakthrough Ministry. He gave the opening address, bringing us new insights on the "Image of the Youth". Pastor Eddie Ma, Senior Pastor of Shaukiwan Baptist Church and also our National Alpha Adviser gave the first talk on "Principles of Alpha". His experiences were valuable to many pastors and his humorous approach also set a casual mood for the two-day Conference.
We had 3 seminars/workshops on the afternoon of the first day to look at 3 particular topics: (a) Alpha at Day Schools, (b) Praying for your course; and (c) Worship at Alpha. Alpha at Day Schools is a new topic to us. It inspired many of us who are teachers to start Alpha courses in our schools.
The 3 streams of Youth Alpha presented the talks on the Holy Spirit and these were followed by a time for ministry. We enjoyed both the excellent presentations and the real application during the ministry time. Many people wrote on their questionnaires that they experienced the Holy Spirit and felt so empowered and refreshed after that time. The three talks on the Holy Spirit were given by very experienced and lively Youth Alpha speakers, including Elaine Ngan of The Praise Assembly (Alpha-active), Matt Snelgrove of The Vine Christian Fellowship (Alpha-lite) and Chris Darnell of the New Zealand Alpha office (Alpha-tech). Chris is very precious to us since he has been involved in the production of the Youth Alpha resources. He also led another brilliant seminar on "Leading small-groups & Pastoral Care".
Furthermore, we thank God for bringing Pastor Jaeson Ma from California to lead 2 ministry sessions and to speak on the topic "Young People and the Church". At only 23 years of age, his talk was inspired and addressed challenging issues relating to the youth of our generation. With many anecdotes, he spoke of God's great plan for this generation and for revival. His youthful energy and powerful prayers also ministered to us with great anointing.
We praise God for the wonderful weather during the conference. There was heavy rain on the two mornings but it stopped when the Conference began! Marquees covering the sandwiches and buffet supper became shelters against the sunshine instead of the raindrops!
The
delegates came from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Macau. We are excited
as members from "Greater China" joined together to learn to
use a new tool to reach the young. Rev. Daniel Su from Taiwan Lutheran
Church wrote to provide us very positive feedback after the Conference:
"Joining the Youth Alpha
Conference in Hong Kong was a very joyful experience. We received plenty
of good food there - both physically and spiritually. We are always excited
by overseas seminars. This time, my first harvest is to know that we need
a really big heart to start a youth ministry. We also need patience and
strength and to be tough, otherwise the young people will overwhelm us
very quickly. I really admire the Youth Alpha course. It is so concise
yet very pure. I am moved by the loving hearts of the authors of the Youth
Alpha Resources towards the young people and their ability to present
the truth more clearly. Please pray for me since I'm going to share with
the young people in a summer training camp. I want to apply what I have
learnt from the Hong Kong Youth Alpha Conference, hoping that we can constructively
interact with these young people."
Comments
from some of the Conference delegates:
"The Conference not only helped me to gain
power from the Holy Spirit, but also relieved my enormous intrinsic pressures.
That certainly is beyond my expectations. Thank you¡K
The best hospitality I have ever been treated with. Every small detail,
from the banana to the Delegate pack, I believe all the participants feel
the sincerity." Rainbow Wong, Open Door
Baptist Church
"I love the lively Worship led by the young people. The speakers gave good talks - to the point, and very substantial. Ushers are fantastic and the environment is so comfy. Thank you!" Jan Ng, Pentecostal Church of Hong Kong Sau Mau Ping Chapel
"Appreciate all of you for your sincere services. The information is so sufficient. I also appreciate and enjoy the worship very much. My heavy burdens were released during the time. The talks are also very systematic, together with the speakers' experiences, and the lively atmosphere¡KI'm extremely impressed by the Conference. I believe that God must use Alpha greatly." Yuk-Ling Cheung, Hung En Lutheran Church
"The
conference is wonderful. I really want to be involved in the work of the
Holy Spirit. The conference meets exactly my expectations, especially
on the principles of Alpha. It refreshed my mind conceptually and brought
me many new ideas."
Pastor Suet-Yan Cheung, Lock Tao Christian Association
Shatin Church
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Denominations that took part at the Conference consist of:
Lutheran, Hong Kong Church of Christ in China, Baptist, Ling Liang Worldwide Evangelistic Mission, Anglican, Hong Kong Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, Evangelise China Fellowship, The Praise Assembly, Hong Kong Evangelical Church, Christians & Missionary Alliance, Methodist, Evangelical Community Church etc.
All glory, honour be to our God.
Prayerfully
submitted,
Hannah Miller
1 July, 2004