HOPE KUALA LUMPUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY

Hope Kuala Lumpur 15th Birthday, 2008 – For Such A Time As This

This September 21, 2008, Hope of God Kuala Lumpur turned 15. Starting as a child through a few humble pioneers, today Hope of God Kuala Lumpur has become a vibrant teenager with several centres in the Klang Valley, towns and cities around Malaysia, and branching to other parts of the world as well. The celebration was held at Dewan, Mutiara, situated amongst the rustic areas of Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. The theme for this anniversary “For Such a Time as This” was very timely in view of the many troubling events happening both locally and around the world. It was a time to celebrate and remember God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout the 15 years that this movement was established.

It was a nostalgic event with some slides featuring rarely seen photos of veteran Hope members; some dated back to the mid-90s, kick-started the event. The anniversary was a celebration of diversity with a blend of world cultures. The first event was a dance to the song “Shalom, Shalom Alechem, Havenue Shalom” (Greetings of Peace unto You), Malaysian style with a Middle Eastern music blend. A group of African brothers and sisters from Hope Serdang gave their rendition of praise songs in three languages (Igbo, Setswana and English) with an African beat. Like other African-style music with its pulsating beats, these songs made us feel like swaying and tapping along too. Next was the Hope of God PKC children came on stage to express praise to God through body gestures to the song “Hallelujah to the Lamb”. Indeed, it is amazing how God can work through a community of people from different backgrounds, cultures and ages.

We are certainly blessed to be part of this international movement. Thanks to technology we are able to hear greetings from Hope families and friends all over the world; from Kota Kinabalu, Singapore to beyond: such as Somata, Ibai, and Tukara. Even though we are physically separated by distance, we are close to one another in heart and spirit, with the same love and vision for our Lord. We appreciated all our leaders for their love and efforts to God and His people. It was indeed their hard work that has seen many members remain faithful after all these years. There was also an awards session for members in the Hope of God Movement that have been with us for 10 and more years. Each recipient was given a plaque as an appreciation for their time being spent growing with the family. It was encouraging to see so many members who’ve held on to the family vision for so long.

There are still many tasks that need to be done in the times before Christ’s return. The sermon once again reminded us to recognise our purpose and destiny in God, using the story of Esther to encourage the congregation to plan for the years to come. After the sermon, the congregation was presented with a multimedia, “Looking to the Future” which depicted life going through its different seasons. The rendition of Whitney Houston’s “When You Believe” was indeed pertinent for present times and the seasons ahead.

Overall, this celebration was a tribute to our Lord who has so faithfully blessed us in so many ways throughout our time with the movement. Starting as a seed in Hope KL, it has branched out to touch many lives. We will continue to remember His blessings for the coming years. Once again we give praise to our Lord.