HISTORICAL REVIEW OF WHITE FIELDS ASSEMBLY, SEREMBAN

written by Dr. Tan Yee Beng on 27th. October 2008 
further input by Elder Lim Swee Boon on 24th. September, 2010

1. Started by a group of Christians who were touched by the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship.

2. Attracted to FGA KL by:
a. Presence and reality of God
b. Spirit led and Spirit powered ministry
c. Mature lay leadership
d. Team ministry

3. Continuously encouraged to start ministry in Seremban, Branch of FGA KL. Dr. Tan Yee Beng and Nellie were finally convicted by the Lord to plant FGA Seremban. Their fears were allayed by the Lord through Judges 6: 16.
It was indeed by a leap of faith, accompanied by fear and trembling, that preparations began of the launching of the new Church in the latter part of 1985. The Elders of FGA, KL, Dr. Koh Eng Kiat and Elder Ang Chui Lai, laid hands on Tan Yee Beng and Nellie during service to send them back to Seremban to plant a daughter church.

4. Church started with a series of Prayer meetings initially held in Dr. Tan’s home.Among those who attended were:
a. Dr. Tan Yee Beng
b. Nellie Tan
c. Tan Hock Chye
d. Mabel Tan
e. Michael Tham
f. Chow Swee Lin (Dr. Chow was then still not a Christian)

5. Although both Hock Chye and Swee Boon were part of the initial founding group they could not officially join until they had sorted out the existing membership and commitments in their previous churches. Members of the first Oversight Committee as follows:
a. Dr. Tan Yee Beng – Elder
b. Sister Nellie Tan
c. Lt. Col Tan Hock Chye
d. Sister Mabel Tan
e. Brother Lim Swee Boon
f. Brother Michael Tham

6. Dr. Ng Soon Gan from FGA KL gave love gift for purchase of piano. Chin Teng Lum also gave a love gift that was used to repaint the Sanctuary.

7. The First Sunday Service was held on 2nd November 1985 above Dr. Tan’s Surgery at the First Floor, 166 Jalan Templer, Seremban. The premise was previously used as the Full Gospel Centre by FGBMF Seremban.
The Centre had been closed about a year previously and for a few months was used as an Outreach Point by Tabernacle of Worship before being vacated. There was strong support from FGA KL at the Opening Service, led by Elder Ang Chui Lai.
A large number of FGBMF members and other Christians also attended. Bro. Ulrich Huyssen, missionary to the Philippines, gave the message on “The shaking we face in life”.

8. Uncle Timothy & Mrs. Poi were visiting Australia during this period. Upon hearing of the planting of the new church they immediately sent a card to Dr. Tan saying they were looking forward to joining us on their return.
And so they did! Bro. Hooi Hong Kong & Sis. Swee Ying also joined early.

9. Mabel Tan started the Children’s Ministry.

10. Start of Chinese ministry. The need of reach out to spouses who could not understand English led to the launching of the Chinese Ministry by Lim Swee Boon.
The use of ear-phones with simultaneous interpretation began on 12th Jan 1986. A separate Chinese Service was launched on 17th February 1987.
Lim Swee Boon was subsequently appointed co-elder of the church in 1989.

11. God blessed Church in spite of us no experience in Church management or Bible School Training. Complete dependence on Holy Spirit rather than human skills & knowledge.

12. Church Planting & Outreach:
a. Sponsored Batu Pahat for branch affiliation with FGA KL under John Lee.
b. Segamat FGA started as branch of FGA Seremban under Steven Wong.
c. WFA Bukit Pelandok – First service on 15th August 1999 following Nipah Virus outbreak.

13. New Premises:
a. End 1987 – Rented present premises in Jalan Zaaba.
b. 1990 – Purchased present premises for RM 850,000.
c. No fund-raising campaign, no fun fair – God provided the finance, Praise The Lord.

14. White Fields Assembly on 10th Anniversary of Church
a. KL released all branches – Penang, Taiping, Ipoh, Seremban, Batu Pahat.
b. Legally independent but spiritual networking continues.
c. Full Gospel Plus Fellowship launched in November 2005.

15. Recent Developments:
a. Sim Say Khim appointed additional Elder in December 2005.
b. Lim Swee Boon assumed appointment as full time Senior Pastor in January 2006.
c. Dr. Tan Yee Beng steps down as Chairman Elder and Lim Swee Boon takes over on 1st Jan 2008.