Our History

The History of FGBMF Malaysia.

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship (FGBMF) is generally known and accepted as the earliest of marketplace ministries in Malaysia.  It traces its origin to 1978 when a small band of committed Christian professionals and businessmen were touched by the Holy Spirit and began to believe that they could transform the world. The Abundant Life Centre (ALC) in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, started lunch hour meetings to minister to the marketplace.  Eager to link with other likeminded Christians they attend an evangelistic banquet in Singapore as was introduced to the FGBMFI ministry.  In 1980, under the leadership of Dr Peter (Abraham) Tong, this ministry was formally chartered as the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship Malaysia by FGBMFI Founder President, Demos Shakarian. The original group included banker Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng, Dr Joy Seevaratnam, lawyer Ang Chui Lai, chartered accountant Timothy Phua and a young executive Michael Cheng.   FGBMF Malaysia was formed and its first chapter in Kuala Lumpur was at the ALC.

Within a short space of time chapters were formed in Penang, Melaka, Ipoh,  Kuala Trengganu and Seremban.  In 1985 the Malaysian chapters met in Kuala Lumpur and decided to form a national body for the development and coordination of all FGBMF activities throughout the nation. 

With the incorporation of FGBMF Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, chapters which were previously registered as societies were dissolved in that same year and converted into new chapters. As the ministry prospered and multiplied  Bro. Timothy Phua was invited to join the Board on 11 January 1989.   When Bro. Khong resigned as a director to go overseas, Bro. J.S. Devaraj, a retired civil servant, replaced him on the Board on 18 June 1990.

The National Board from 1990 comprised Dr. Tong as National President, Bro. Devaraj as National Secretary and Bro. Timothy  Phua as National Treasurer  until  Bro. Devaraj was called home on 16 October 1999.  Bro Devaraj was responsible for strengthening the administration of the secretariat as more chapters were formed. He served tirelessly right up to his passing into glory.

Bro. Lee Gee Koon, a retired architect and Dr. Stephen Goh, a retired lawyer and international arbitrator, joined the National Board on 1 July 2000. The Board again lost one of its members when Bro. Timothy Phua resigned on 9 August 2000 to focus on church work.

 Dr Tong, the founder of FGBMF Malaysia ended his labour in the harvest field on 10 December 2004 and the ministry entered into an new era; a Joshua phase where the founder was no more.  Dr Tong had prepared for such an eventuality.  He designed and implemented a decentralized structure based on shared leadership.  The country was segmented into five regions with a regional director managing the ministry in each region.  The National Board was expanded to include the five regional directors with spiritual oversight from a Governing Council. 

With the passing into glory of Dr Tong, Bro Gee Koon took over the helm on 1 January 2005.  Dr Stephen Goh, by then a member of the Governing Council, passed away suddenly on 18 January 2010.   Bro Gee Koon retired as National President at age 75 on 31 December 2008 but remained a member of the Governing Council.  Upon the recommendation of the National Board Bro Tan Tek Seng, a business owner was appointed by the Governing Council as his successor. With this the ministry had been successfully handed over to a new generation. 

Today, FGBMF has more than a hundred chapters throughout the length and breath of Malaysia, ministering in all the four main languages in the country. Although the majority of the chapters minister in English and Chinese, there are presently two Tamil-speaking chapters and one Bahasa Malaysia chapter. In the Klang Valley alone there are more than 50 chapters. Many Christian leaders in Malaysia both in the churches and in para-church ministries came into the faith through FGBMF. They have been nurtured and trained for works like Gospel to the Poor and the Anti-Gambling Ministry. Their testimonies on their spiritual journey towards maturity are usually highlighted in The Flame, the FGBMF newsletter. Another important FGBMF evangelistic tool is the Voice magazine.

Most issues are in English but it is available also in Chinese and Tamil. Each issue contains about seven personal salvation testimonies from FGBMF members. Many have found salvation through reading these life-transforming testimonies.