Recruitment Drive at Tamil Methodist Church Brickfields

On one fine Sunday, 17th January 2016, a handful of us conducted a Recruitment Drive at the Tamil Methodist Church, in Brickfields. Yes, it is that time of the year again when we go aggressively recruiting members. Just the day before, 23 Senior Section recruits and 8 Junior Section recruits came to the YMCA. It was a good start, but there was certainly need to push harder to spread the goodness of the BB to the community. 

Getting ready to give out brochures after service

It was certainly quite an experience being in a Tamil service, a beautiful language, especially when sung. In terms of understanding, I guess there was no difference compared to times when I'm in a Chinese service (I can't understand church-Chinese. It's too advanced). During worship, I'd try to sing along to anyway following the "translations" or pronunciation of Tamil words spelled in alphabet. 

Mr. Ng taking time off to message GF

So why do recruitment in this particular church?

I've passed by this church for YEARS and have countless times thought about how great it would be to start a BB company here (yes, I strangely think about this kinda things as a teenager.. no surprise why I eventually ended up in full-time). Even in 3rd KL, there have been countless talks about asking for an opportunity to do recruitment here, but it was mainly lip service.

LCpl. Justin Lum manning the BB booth

Opportunity presented itself when new YMCA Director, Rev. Victor Vethamani, who is also 3rd KL's new Chaplain, who served and worships in the church, introduced us to Rev. Justin, the church's pastor and district superintendent, who allowed us to speak to the church. 

The first phase is to recruit Boys as 3rd KL members. Once a stable membership exist, officers can then be trained from the church and perhaps one day, we will see a revival of the BB in the Tamil Methodist Church. In the past, there were two companies up north which existed in the TAC (Tamil Annual Conference), 1st Sungai Petani and 4th Penang Company. Both had since went defunct. 

I was given the opportunity to speak at both main services to introduce the BB. Fortunately, the 2nd service was in English, which enabled me to participate more wholesomely in the worship. At the end of service, brochures will be given out and we got the opportunity to engage with several parents. at the end of the day, we had 10 sign ups, which to me is a very good start!

I also got a chance to meet several ex-BB members from 1st Klang, 1st Ipoh, 1st Kuantan, 1st Sungai Petani, and of course, 3rd KL itself. Which such a BB presence already existing, perhaps starting a BB here in the future is not a far fetched idea at all, God willing.

Special thanks to those who helped out today and sacrificing some sleep; LCpl. Rishi (who attends the church), LCpl. Justin Lum, SSgt. Chan Kai Mun, Mr. Jarod Kok, Mr. Ng Jiehan, and Ms. Ruth Boh.