- Circa 1977 — Dr Abraham (Peter) Tong was baptised in the Holy Spirit after his wife, Sarah (Maureen) Tong was miraculously healed of a serious medical condition. His conversion to move in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit was infectious among his close friends including Ang Chui Lai and Koh Eng Kiat. For the Holy Spirit to be manifested in their daily lives Dr Tong started to hold weekly lunch time meetings in his clinic’s waiting room. Working people from not only around the area but also further afield started to be regular at these meetings. Attendance started to increase beyond the capacity of the waiting room.
- 1978 — Dr Tong and his friends rented an office space close to his clinic in the Hwa Li Building and officially started the Abundant Life Centre, probably the first dedicated marketplace ministry in Malaysia. God moved in marvellous ways. International speakers, often uninvited, would somehow appear at the ALC to bless the people there. Signs and wonders followed and attracted more and more participants.
- 1979 — Khoo Onn Theam, the Asian Director for Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) was tasked with establishing the ministry in Asia. After Singapore, it was natural for him to move into Malaysia. It was opportune that Dr Tong was also thinking of formalising the ALC ministry. He responded to the invitation to be part of the worldwide FGBMFI ministry. Together with six others, Dr Tong received the charter from Demos Shakarian, the founder of the FGBMFI ministry, in Singapore for the establishment of FGBMFI Malaysia. Chapters were chartered, first in Kuala Lumpur and then to other major cities in the country; Penang, Melaka, Ipoh and Seremban.
- 1985 — The chapters were loosely and informally held together by Dr Tong. There was no formal structure and the ministry was without a legal identity. A decision was made to form a national body with a legal identity. It was decided that FGBMFI Malaysia should be a company under the Companies Act 1965.
- 1986 — On 14 Feb 1986 Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship Intl. Berhad, a company limited by guarantee without a share capital, was registered with the Registrar of Companies under the Malaysia Companies Act 1965
- 1987 — The company was advised by the Registrar of Companies that since our activities are in Malaysia and not international, the word “Intl.” has to be taken out. This explains why our legal registered name is Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship Berhad. However, our ministry name remains as FGBMFI as in our official logo.
- 1988 — An important alteration was made to the company’s constitution. The Berhad’s board of directors was given the power to set up local committees and chapters. This facilitated the setting up of the National Board and the Council of Elders as committees of the Berhad. The ministry spread its wings and chapters were established in Sabah and Sarawak.
- 1992 — The founder Demos Shakarian passed into glory. The international organization was devolved into two separate but similar ministries, FGBMFI and BMFI, Business Men’s Fellowship International. Each of Demos’ two sons headed up each ministry. Unwilling to be drawn into international politics, Malaysia together with some other nations, decide to be neutral and independent until there is reconciliation and reunification. However, we continued to fellowship and work with national ministries from both international organizations.
- 1993 — In April the first Chinese language chapter was launched in Raub, Pahang. The Fellowship was one of the very few national FGBMFI ministries operating in two languages.
- 1998 — FGBMF Berhad was accepted into membership in the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia. Since then, we have considered NECF to be our umbrella organization in Malaysia and have actively supported their various initiatives.
- 2000 — The first Tamil speaking chapter was launched in Penang. FGBMFI Malaysia was then the only national FGBMFI ministry operating in three separate languages.
- 2000 — Encouraged by Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in August Malaysia organized the First Asian Chinese Convention in the Sunway Lagoon Convention Centre. 1,220 delegates including 420 from China, Hong Kong, USA, Canada, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan participated. In addition, 250 Chinese pastors and full-time workers were invited. Bro Hugo Chan and Andrew Chang both of Hong Kong, Bro Tony Tseng of Taiwan and Rev Oh Beng Khee of Singapore ministered to the Convention delegates. The night evangelistic rallies saw 700 new believers added to His Kingdom. The excitement and enthusiasm generated spurred the formation of more and more Chinese chapters in Malaysia.
- 2000 — Instead of holding an Annual National Convention, Annual Members Conferences were held in each of the then five regions. This reduced the necessity of members from East Malaysia and others in the peninsula from travelling to Kuala Lumpur. Instead, the key national leaders had to travel to all the five regions over 5 weekends from the first weekend of October till the first weekend of November.
- 2001 — In March FGBMF brothers gathered at the Crystal Ballroom, Ming Court Vista Hotel, KL to celebrate 21 years of FGBMF ministry in Malaysia, acknowledging our beginning from the Abundant Life Centre. By then the Malaysian Fellowship had grown to 84 chapters. It was a night of celebration to recognise and honour those men who have over the period contributed to the development and growth of the ministry. It also reaffirmed the FGBMFI Vision and Mission. The key note address was given by Rev.Dr.Prince Guneratnam, the chairman of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship.
- 2001 — The previous year’s convention was so successful that the Second Asian Chinese Convention was organized with the same level of success. FGBMFI Malaysia was once again the host organiser of the Second Asian Chinese Convention held again at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre. The convention was attended by 1,452 delegates of which about 500 were from China, Hong Kong, USA, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan. Among the Malaysians were 200 Chinese pastors and fulltime workers.
- 2001 — Since its incorporation, the Fellowship had been managed by the three “wise men” of Dr Tong, Dr J.S. Devaraj as national secretary and Timothy Phua as national treasurer. In 2000 Timothy decide to focus on his growing church, The Word Centre, and was replaced by Lee Gee Koon. Later Dr Stephen Goh succeeded Devaraj. These three were the only officers of the National Board. Desiring to be more inclusive, the National Consultative Council was established for the views, opinions and ideas from the younger leaders to be considered. The establishment of a broader leadership base gave rise to the first edition of the Member’s Handbook.
- 2004 — With the steady progression of his medical condition since 1996, Dr Tong decided to enlarge the leadership structure. The younger leaders were officially recognised as members of the National Board. The three “wise men” continued in their respective positions on the National Board. However, there was the recognition that in the not-too-distant future these positions would have to be taken over by others. This gave rise to the formation of the Governing Council. This body provided spiritual oversight and the necessary checks and balances over the National Board. The Governing Council acted as the proxy for the Berhad Board which is the ultimate legal authority in the Fellowship. The first members of the Governing Council were also the three wise men of Dr Tong, Dr Goh and Gee Koon.
- 2004 — on 10th December Dr Tong was called home to the Lord and the Fellowship entered into a new era. Lee Gee Koon took over leadership of the Fellowship in 2005 and was National President as well as Chairman of the Governing Council.
- 2007 — On 28 April a dedication service was held to thank God for providing us with our own lighthouse, an office unit in Kelana Square, Petaling Jaya. The purchase of the unit without bank loan was made possible through the generous giving of members and well-wishers.
- 2009 — Tan Tek Seng became National President but was not appointed as Chairman of the Governing Council. Since then, the positions of National President and Chairman of the Governing Council were kept separate.
- 2010 — Our first Bahasa Malaysia chapter was launched in Bundusan, Sabah. We are the only FGBMFI national ministry operating in four different languages.
- 2013 — Fong Hoong Heng became the longest serving National President since Dr Tong, at close to 12 years, Dr Tong, until the term limit of a total of 9 years for that position was introduced in the 2022 handbook. Also, the 2013 Handbook clarified for our legal structure to be better understood by our members. It was made clear that the Berhad Board is the spiritual custodian and legal trustees of the Fellowship. The appointment of all the National Board members was vested in the Governing Council upon the recommendation of the National Board.
- 2014 — As part of our Look East Emphasis (LEE), the Bundusan chapter organised two student camps to strengthen the faith of the secondary school students in Sabah. This initiative was adopted by the National Board as a national project to formalise the Persatuan Pelajar-Pelajar Kristian (PPK) in schools. The camps promoted a closer rapport between the local churches with the Christians teachers and students.
- 2015 — Although planned for 1,200 the PPK Conference held on 9-11 June had 1,600 students attending. About half of them have not attended the PPK camps. The two night sessions were opened to the public with many youths from Penampang and Kota Kinabalu attending. An average of 2,300 attended in each of the two nights.
- 2016 — AN FGBMFI/BMF Asia Convention was held at the Majestic Hotel on the theme of "Bonded in His Love”. The objective was to unite the ministry nations in the Asia Pacific region in an environment of love and bonding regardless of our international affiliation. The national presidents from the participating nations including Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore. Australia and New Zealand were invited as speakers.
- 2016 — Later that year, at the Indonesia National Convention, Richard Shakarian, the International President and son of our founder Demos Shakarian, invited Malaysia to be reaffiliated to International. With our reaffiliation Richard and his international team visited Malaysia after the convention.
- 2017 — The Handbook was again revised to improve the governance processes and also to take into consideration our reaffiliation to International. Our National President, by virtue of his position, may be appointed as an International Director by the International President. All other appointments of our leaders by FGBMFI international must have the approval and recommendation of our National Board. The National President was appointed to a renewable term of three years and other leaders to a renewable term of two years.
- 2019 — The Fellowship celebrated its 40th Anniversary in style on May 24th with a Gala Dinner at the iconic Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. About 670 people gathered for a night of fellowship, fun and feasting. Members and their wives from various parts of the globe, together with pastors, friends and well-wishers graced the evening. A new corporate video was launched together with a new official FGB song.
- 2022 — The term limit of nine years on the National President was introduced. The term limit on other leadership positions was limited to eight years in the same position. The roles of the Governing Council and the national Board were further clarified. The process for the appointment of the National President by the Governing Council was specified.
- 2023 — In February, Malaysia as honoured with the responsibility of organizing the FGBMFI international Directors meeting at the Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. We had the honour of witnessing the election of our new International President: Francis Owusu from Ghana. 36 International Directors from 19 nations joined the meeting in person, the rest through Zoom. The meeting received enthusiastic response from all delegates and ended with a farewell dinner. Concurrently an Asia/Pacific Leaders meeting was held at the same location. Leaders from national ministries regardless of international affiliation were invited.
- 2024 — Peter Desmond Wee succeeded Fong as the National President.
- 2025 — The Governing Council was renamed the Council of Elders in this edition of the Handbook. The process for appointment of National President was also amended. Although the ultimate decision is vested in the Council of Elders there remained the desire to involve the National Board in the process. The process allows the National Board to nominate and recommend the candidate to the Council for appointment. The legal, operational and legal structures were explained even more clearly.
FGBMFI Malaysia: Pivotal Events
FGB Malaysia
