Note: This is a lightly edited version of a testimonial article contributed by Nityasri Angeline, an active participant and member of One Gen, presented on Christianity Malaysia as a feature.
The Journey of 1Gen – In a world that is filled with distractions and uncertainties, the young people seek for a sense of purpose, direction and belonging. One Generation, also known as One Gen or 1Gen, is a vibrant community of youths from Kajang Assembly of God, prominent for their zest for life. They serve as a community that is here to journey alongside the local youths and to ensure that this rising generation find a place that they can call home. 1Gen is more than just a church youth group – it is a community that values life and is on a mission to grow in faith as a body of Christ. The mission of 1Gen has always been to build their foundation and to grow as a family based on principles and values that Christ has taught us through His word.
Over the years, One Gen have engaged in various events and activities that connects our young people not only to Jesus but also to build strong connections among themselves which lead to long-lasting friendships. 1Gen has three categories of connect groups known as “Powerhouse” which are the young people in high school, “Lighthouse” which are for the youths in campus and “C2C” (Campus to Career, Career to Calling) consisting of young adults who have just embarked into the working world. These three categories of groups are formed to cater to the needs of the local youths and to ensure they engage with their own peers. 1Gen’s youths are actively encouraged to share their thoughts openly and develop their gifts and talents according to their own abilities.
The connect groups meet up on a weekly basis where they have deep dives into various topics that suits our youths in their day-to-day life. Additionally, there are also days where they foster connections with one another through game nights and mamak sessions. On top of this, to deepen their knowledge and grow in faith, their connect groups have bible studies, and often have prayer and worship encounter nights as well.
Nityasri Angeline, key member of 1Gen shares; “It’s amazing to see how the Lord is working in the hearts of many young people through our connect groups. Recently, the Lighthouse community has connected with nearby universities such as UKM and UTAR to foster in young people who look for a community to be a part of and for a church to attend to. I believe in such a time as this, the Lord is looking for people who have the heart and love for Him.”
Heartfelt Messages from 1Gen’s Leadership:
Michelle Tan (Powerhouse Sectional Leader)– Powerhouse is part of 1GEN, a ministry for teens aged 13-17. Within Powerhouse, we have two connect groups – STARS (Standing Together as Redeemed Servants) and Amplify. These connect groups provide a safe and welcoming environment where youths can grow in their faith, character, and community. Through regular gatherings, they are encouraged to deepen their faith by reading the Word of God, participating in small group discussions, and praying together.
It is also a space where they can share personal testimonies, encourage one another, and develop Christ-centered friendships. In addition to our regular connect sessions, the Powerhouse leaders also attempt to build bond and connect on a deeper level with the members through a Buddy System, where each leader is assigned several members for weekly follow-up. Additionally, Powerhouse also hosts monthly Bible studies led by our Missions Pastor, Pastor Kala. These Bible studies focus on practical and biblical topics that are relevant to youths, helping them build a strong foundation in God’s Word.
Beyond spiritual growth, Powerhouse also emphasizes building a sense of community and belonging through fun and engaging activities. Throughout the year, we organize exciting events such as Powerhouse outings, annual Christmas celebration, and special occasions like Newbies Night – an event dedicated to welcoming and integrating new members into the Powerhouse family. These events are also where youths are encouraged to bring their oikos (pre-believers) friends. While there are challenges, the team is deeply committed to walking alongside the youths in every stage of their journey, to support each youth to grow into the person God has called them to be.
Agnes Cham (Lighthouse Leader) – Lighthouse Connect is a group for college and university students. Our ministry focuses on discipleship, modelled after Jesus’s three-year ministry with His disciples – guiding and mentoring them before empowering them to continue His work and expand God’s kingdom. Just like in our campus ministry, our focus is on sowing. During their 3-4 years with us, we mentor, equip, and empower them – helping them to grow deeper in the Word and in their relationship with the Lord. This season will be a time of growth and preparation before they step into their next phase of life. Whether they remain with us, return to their homeland, or move overseas, they will carry with them the work that God is doing in and through them – spreading what they have experienced and learned and expanding it wherever they go. We may not see the fruit immediately, but as we journey with them, we trust that these years will shape and mould them. With Christ as their foundation, they will become the salt and light of the world – people of influence who make a difference. That is the future we envision.
One Gen is a very active community with various ministries that extend beyond just connect groups. These diverse ministries ensure that the young people have a platform to serve God according to their passion and interest. Some examples of these ministries are worship ministry, missions ministry, banner ministry, sports ministry, social media ministry, hospitality ministry, prayer ministry, catalyst ministry, and their most recent addition, the podcast team.
Together, these various ministries also play a vital role in the spiritual growth, personal development and community building of the young people. Angeline expressed that collectively they are a body of Christ empowering one another. At the heart of this body is also a team of young, dedicated leaders, driven by their love for Jesus. Each of them faithfully leads their various ministries, pouring their heart and time to equip the upcoming generation.
One Gen’s mission ministry actively reaches out to different communities and outreaches every year, both locally and internationally. “Locally, our mission team has reached out to communities such as the Orang Asli Community in Kampung Tekir, Labu and we have upcoming events such as 1Gen Community Day that focuses on reaching out to the refugee children community,” the 1Gen mission team shares. The mission team also visits partnering outreach churches of their parent church, Kajang Assembly of God, to minister and share testimonies.
Every year, the team conducts mission trips abroad. “Our team has gone on mission trips to various places such as Medan, Indonesia and Sibu, Sarawak. Out of experience in the mission field myself, I can say that God is touching many lives out there,” Angeline conveyed joyfully. “And to see how the lives of our youths in 1Gen have been transformed through mission trips, it is fair to say God is moving mightily through missions. I believe that all God wants to see is a heart and passion for the lost. Additionally, the team also organizes Missions Month, a time dedicated to create awareness and encourage involvement in missionary work.”
The initiatives include field outreach, engaging with local communities through acts of service and evangelism. Additionally, the team conduct seminars to equip individuals with the knowledge and passion to serve in missions.
Apart from that, One Gen has a powerful worship ministry that is empowered to lead the even the main congregation of the church into deeper encounters and intimacy with God through worship encounters. The worship ministry play an important role in helping their young people to shine forth their gifts and talents through singing, playing music instruments, and serving in the media team. This team has given various opportunities for our young people to step up and serve God through worship. Over the years, this ministry has developed wonderful and amazing worship leaders, singers, instrumentalists, musicians and a PA team.
The sports ministry is another ministry under 1Gen that has brought together many young people. Through the various sports activities, the young ones feel more connected and engaged with one another. Some of the activities that has been held are bowling, Game On, Captain Ball, and badminton. This ministry has created a space for fellowship, teamwork, and outreach through sports. These activities have given them the opportunity to reach out to friends, family members, and students from various learning institutions.
Besides the aforementioned ministries, One Gen also has an energetic prayer ministry. This ministry gathers in church for monthly prayer meetings, fostering a culture of intercession, spiritual breakthrough, and unity in seeking God’s guidance. In addition, their talented hospitality ministry plays a key role in welcoming people during Sunday services, making newcomers feel at home, and helping them integrate into the church family. The creative team from their social media ministry ensures that 1Gen stays connected online by providing updates on events, sharing beautiful pictures, and creating engaging reels that inspire and encourage the community.
Recently, God has blessed One Gen with two new ministries. The first of these is the Banner ministry. This ministry expresses worship through prophetic dance and banner worship, using creative and symbolic movements to glorify God and usher in His presence. 1Gen have had workshops that has successfully trained young talents to become wonderful prophetic dancers. The second of these ministries is the Catalyst ministry. Catalyst is a dynamic team that actively engages in various church events, such as Chillering and other initiatives, playing a vital role in the church setting. Chillering is an event that combines all different sections of the church’s youths where they gather to have fellowship and build friendships with one another.
Very recently, they have begun to form their very own podcast team. The podcast, “1Gen Talks A lot” has just only kicked off with their first episode on Youtube with the topic of “Season to Season”. The podcast is a platform that has been created for deep discussions on various themes and topics, featuring individuals who share their testimonies, work and experiences in their life. The main purpose of this podcast is to provide encouragement, inspiration, and insight to the listeners.
More than just a church youth group, it is clear that One Gen encompasses a much larger vision of being a true community of passionate young individuals committed to growing faith, saying ‘yes’ to the calling of God in their life, and making a lasting impact. As they continue to serve and reach out, 1Gen remains a beacon of hope, inspiring others to live out their faith boldly and wholeheartedly. “We believe as God’s word says in 1 Timothy 4:12; ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity’,” Angeline shares.
“We strongly encourage our young ones to be a part of a community that helps them grow not only in Christ but also as an individual. Together we grow in faith, we stand in unity, we walk in love and to fulfil the mission of our church which is to “Grow, Glow and Go”.
One Generation has its genesis in Kajang as the youth segment of Kajang Assembly of God. As a fruit of its active engagement, it is growing rapidly and starting to reach out to the neighbouring districts and regions. To find out more and how you can be part of the growing community of 1Gen, you may contact Jesh at 017 – 682 8010.
Christianity Malaysia expresses our heart-felt thanks to 1Gen for their hospitality and generosity of sharing their story and ministry as a blessing.
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