30 Sept 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-
Asian Beacon is digitizing its content, marking a watershed in its 45 years of print publishing. For the past decades, it has been a power house media for Christian-related testimonies and inspirational pieces.
More than 120 pastors, ministers, and businessmen gathered to witness the launching of Asian Beacon's digital era at Shogun Mont Kiara on 8th of September. Rev Loh Soon Choy, advisor to Asian Beacon, kicked start the event with an opening prayer.
“We wish to digitize Asian Beacon to make it relevant to the young generation,” said Goh Khoon Seng, Chairman of Asian Beacon. “We also want to become an avenue for information about events and openings for churches and Christian non-profit organizations.”
Akin to the Time Out magazine, Asian Beacon will be the central hub in informing believers of upcoming conferences, concerts, workshops, and speakers in Malaysia. In addition, churches or non-profit organizations will also be posting their job vacancies and classifieds there.
“Over the months, after discussing with various advisors, we would go totally free for hard copies and online,” said Khoon Seng.
They have decided to trust the Lord in becoming a full ministry, marking yet another turning point for Asian Beacon.
“After so many decades in publication, going digital is a positive and beneficial step for both Asian Beacon and our readers. We hope to receive increased support, financial or otherwise, from churches, sponsors, and donors,” said Mok Shi-Lynn, editor of Asian Beacon.
Sold previously in various bookstores locally—Canaanland, Gladsounds, Salvation, MPH, Times, Borders— and also overseas to Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, Asian Beacon will no longer sell their printed copies but will provide their printed copies to churches with the help of donations. No longer will their income be supported by subscriptions, but by the goodwill of the body of Christ.
“We are looking for partners to build up Asian Beacon. We want to be a point of information for the Christian community in Malaysian, and hopefully beyond,” said Steven Teo, IT and Marketing Manager of Asian Beacon.
Started in March 2012, the digital strategy began with the revamping of the website by Alex Lam from Integricity. In the Asian Beacon website, you will not only find the most recent issue of the magazine but eventually, all of its archives for the past decades, which are being uploaded continuously.
You can also subscribe to Asian Beacon on your computer, smart phone, and tablets for an added extensive e-library of online magazines from churches or non-governmental organizations, i.e. Bridge, DUMC, Focus on the Family, Grace Assembly, Jubilee Book, KLBC, Malaysian Care, MBS, Nations, and NECF. Living up to its name as ‘Asian Beacon’, you will also find international Christian features in the future, such as Jeremy Lin and Sammi Cheng, provided in partnership with GoodTV from Taiwan.
With so many future plans for Asian Beacon, they are looking for volunteers to give their time and effort in making this hub possible! They look forward to launch a Youtube channel dedicated to interviewing pastors, inspiring businessmen, and entrepreneurs. Besides its presence in Facebook, Asian Beacon also wants to develop a mobile app for easy access into latest events in Malaysia.
With their rich materials of a concentrated Christian powerhouse, it is possible that they can publish daily and build up to 100,000 followers as a social community online.
Among the dignitaries who launched the digitizing of Asian Beacon are Dato Seri Michael Chong as owner of Grand Saisaki Sdn Bhd, Dato George Ting, Rev Loh Soon Choy, Mr Eugene Yapp as Secretary-General of NECF, and Mr Wong Young Soon.
Find out more:
www.facebook.com/AsianBeacon/info
www.asianbeacon.com/home (Subcribe for e-library. Available on tablets and smartphones)
Leave a Reply