From July 2-4, pastors and co-workers from several Cantonese churches here went to Hong Kong to study a talk-show style evangelistic rally called Yeah Show 2010. The Yeah Show is held once a year in Hong Kong and had been doing so for the past ten consecutive years. In our 3 days of packed itinerary we met with the executive producer of the show, the back stage crew, the administrator as well as the originator of the show, Rev Enoch Lam. We learnt from them the production of the entire show, and how by working with a professional theatre troupe high standards of concert performance can be achieved. The preparatory work is stringent and takes up to one year. The deepest impression made was in attending the Yeah Show on site; enjoying the performances, testimonies, the message and taking in the atmosphere at the venue. It captured everyone’s attention; drawing acceptance and responses from both Christians and pre-believers alike, thus breaking the mould of the general perception of an evangelistic rally. Subsequently the feedback of pre-believers who attended the show indicate that they can accept this way of getting to know Christianity and they would be willing to attend again similar events.

Through this study trip all the pastors and co-workers have experienced a breakthrough in our thinking regarding outreach work. It is that in the areas of content and design, we must give greater emphasis to the thinking and needs of the pre-believers. To re-align the methods and direction of the church’s outreach work so that the entry point is via something that pre-believers find acceptable. Only by this way can we remove barriers, hasten friendship building and truly bring people into the presence of God. “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Col. 1:28)

Pastor Emily Man