ALDERSGATE CONVENTION 2006 brought blessings to many people, including visitors from various parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, India and England as well as new friends from Christian churches outside our Methodist denomination.


The four-day annual convention saw more than 1,000 people of God coming together from May 24 to 27 to give praise and thanks to our Lord and worship Him, and to learn more about Him through our Methodist tradition.


The convention, held at Barker Road Methodist Church and Oldham Hall in the Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) Campus, had as its theme "Shaped by the Word". The keynote speaker was the Rev Dr M. Robert Mulholland Jr, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary and an authority on spiritual formation.


The convention opened with the Aldersgate Service on May 24 with the Rev Dr Mulholland preaching the sermon "Having the Word of God and the Witness of Jesus". This was followed by three evening talks, which also touched on the theme of ensuring how Christian discipleship is to be shaped by the Word of God.


The Aldersgate Service was preceded by the Rev Dr Mulholland's talk to the Glowing Years Ministry (GYM) at Barker Road Methodist Church. More than 150 GYM members stayed behind for the Aldersgate Service after the talk.


The last day of the convention saw a record 290-plus participants turning up for the Christianity Explored seminar, an evangelism programme based on Marks' Gospel, at Oldham Hall. The highest number of participants ever registered for an Aldersgate Convention seminar, it doubled the Convention Steering Committee's target of 150 participants.


Many participants found the programme to be "a good evangelistic tool" and have expressed the desire to get their churches to launch the course, which was developed by the Rev Rico Tice, Associate Minister at All Souls Church in London. The Rev Tice himself, assisted by Mr Barry Cooper with support from Ms Sam Shammas, conducted the seminar here on May 27.

METHODIST MESSAGE PICTURES
BY DANIEL LIE

The Rev Dr Mulholland joining the pastors in the procession into Barker Road Methodist Church at the Aldersgate Service. With him, on his right, is Bishop Dr Solomon.	The seven Indonesian guests being introduced at the Aldersgate Service.
The Combined Children's Choir, under the direction of Ms Mary Gan (left), presenting an item at the evening talk on May 27 evening.	The Methodist Combined Orchestra, under the baton of director Jusuf Kam, welcoming the guests as they stream into Barker Road Methodist Church for the Aldersgate Service.