Conference on Work with Service Men

For three and a half years Frank Knight has directed the Servicemen's Guides program for American servicemen who pass through Hong Kong. Hugh Smith is a member of the local committee. So it was that in April, Frank and Joyce Knight and Hugh Smith went to Yokohama, Japan, for a conference with others doing the same kind of work - - - in Japan, Korea, Okinawa, and Thailand. The six directors and six committee representatives discussed all aspects of their work, with Dr. Raymond Gray of the staff of the National Council of Churches in the United States, with responsibility for the Ministry to Service Personnel in the Far East. Hugh reports, "There is a deep concern on the part of those involved in this program that the ministry of the various centers in addition to providing information, counselling service, and wholesome recreational activities, should also relate American servicemen to the life and work of the indigenous church of the Asian community in which it is set." There is much talk about the American image abroad; we are concerned also with the Christian witness abroad. There is need to study further the social and economic issues related to the presence of American servicemen overseas, including the questions of mixed marriage, and of fatherless children. Much excellent work is being done, but problems still abound.

It Has Been Good

Sharon Parks has been serving as a special service worker with the American Baptist Mission. Having completed her work, she is leaving late in June. The following are her comments.

A young college girl presented me with an engraved pair of chop-sticks, and said, "I chose these because they are an integral part of Chinese life; and even though you are leaving, I hope we can be close like the chop-sticks are close to the Chinese people. You are so concerned about us. I have so much to learn from you." This is a little of the reward I have experienced in my year as a special service worker. My time has been spent primarily in teaching English. I have learned something of the feelings and way of life of the people, for we have talked much together as they learn to communicate in my language - - which can be so exasperating with all its irregularities but which is now so important to their future.

The experience of living in Hong Kong has been fun, amazing, at moments frustrating, and deeply enriching. I shall miss shopping in open market, frequent crossing of the fascinating harbor, traveling on the crowded double-decker buses, the wonderful Chinese food, and the delight of finding something new to learn in every happening of an "ordinary day." But some things that have become a part of my life here I shall carry with me. They are a greater sense of the urgent need for better communication and sharing between East and West, a little idea of how religious superstition holds and controls a people even in a modern industrial society. I have received inspiration from watching Chinese Christians work with untiring dedication, and understand better the real work, frustrations, and joys of being a missionary. I trust that I also take with me a bigger heart filled with thankfulness for the privilege of having served for a short time here.

CELT of EACE

A committee on Christian Education and Lay Training (CELT) has been set up by the East Asia Christian Conference (EACC). Fifty -representatives from all parts of East Asia except Burma, gathered in York, a village near Perth, Western Australia April 10-20, to confer together. The Rev. David C. P. Lew who is a member of CELT, and Miss Mildred Proctor -represented Hong Kong. There was no attempt to issue any statements or even, at this stage, to set up a program. It was a consultation on such questions as:

1. What is meant by "laity"?

2. Why are Christian Education and Lay Training put together in one committee? What is the relation between them?

3. What is the church's task in the world? What is the Christian mandate?

4. How are these questions being solved? How might effective "training" be carried on? Who are the trainers, and who should be trained? Is "training" the right term? What does the church hope to accomplish?

5. How can CELT be most useful?

On the last question it was thought that the opportunity to share ideas was a most useful service. This could be in area consultations, through dissemination of information regarding available materials, through exchange programs on the levels of both students and leaders.

The Camp Story

The camp on Chu Lap Kok island, has been used by a number of groups during the past months. That there have been experiences of work as well as fun, is shown in this picture. Fuller reports will appear in later issues of the PEAK.

Two Seminary Graduates

Two Baptists were among the eight who were graduated from the Chung Chi Theological Seminary in May.

Mr. Chan Hap-Sang is the son of a retired Swatow Baptist minister, the Rev. Chen Siang-Chio. He came as a refugee to Hong Kong and completed his high school studies here. For the past five years he has been studying in the seminary and doing field work in several of the Swatow Baptist churches. Beginning July 1st, he will be the director of the Moon Lok Christian Center and Kindergarten, which is located in the newly developed industrial area of Tsun Wan. At the same time he will be the pastor of a new congregation which has been formed in connection with the Christian Center program.

Mr. Harry Wu came to Hong Kong from Rangoon in 1963. He had started his seminary training in Burma, and so entered the Chung Chi Theological Seminary as an advanced student. It happened that he was the only student in his class. This was one reason why he started to do half-time work, in 1964, with the Audio Visual Evangelism Committee. His ability and the need for staff personnel soon changed this into full-time work, part of it given to AVEC and part to the Burma Christian broadcast program which had been interrupted when the Burma government no longer allowed tapes to be shipped out of Burma. Realizing the need for completing his seminary course, he went back to school this spring. Now, having completed the course, he will be giving full-time service to the planning and production of programs for Burma. He will live in Bangkok, and prepare the materials there for broadcast from the radio station in Manila, into Burma.

Dr. Russell E. Brown Visits Hong Kong

Dr. Russell E. Brown, Regional Representative of the A.B.F.M.S., with responsibility for Hong Kong, spent the first two weeks of March in the colony, as part of a tour of his entire area of responsibility. At the same time, Board representatives from several other denominational groups were here. The Hong Kong Christian Council set up a one-day consultation at which many questions of concern to all were discussed. The Chung Chi Theological Seminary situation and plans were considered by the same group in another consultation, lasting a day and a half. Dr. Brown talked with each of the members of the American Baptist Mission staff, and met with them as a group also. At that time there was an effort to look ten years into the future, as we thought in terms of guide-lines for mission policy. Needless to say, Chinese leaders of the Swatow Baptist Churches had many opportunities to confer with Dr. Brown, and gladly showed him the work being done.

Ling Ling Say Say - - which, broadly interpreted, means Miscellaneous

- - - - Ann Smith has been putting her librarian's training to good use by cataloguing the books in the Student Christian Centre library. Earlier she helped the Kowloon Union Church in the same way. One morning a week she goes to the library of the Kowloon Junior School, where several of the mission children attend.

- - - - A recent Mission Fellowship Meeting was led by three guests. One was Dr. Raymond Gray who is mentioned elsewhere in this Peak. Another was the Rev. Jack Collins who is on the staff of the East Asia Christian Conference, working with American laymen overseas. The third was Mr. Al Ginkel, an American business man in Hong Kong, who is also an effective Christian layman. What American laymen are doing abroad in Christian witness and service, and means for challenging them and opening up opportunities for them were the topics discussed.

- - - - The position of Field Secretary and Mission Treasurer which has been held by Loren Noren, is now being assumed by Hugh Smith. Loren's other responsibilities will continue, but he had asked to be relieved of the heavy office' work in order to have more time for some research projects which he has long wanted to complete.

- - - - The Rev. J.D. Williams, General Secretary of the Australian Baptist Missionary Society, spent a few days in Hong Kong in May. He had just visited Assam, India, where Australian Baptists are working in areas north of the Brahmaputra River. Due to the increasing difficulty in obtaining permits to live there, the missionaries plan to withdraw to take up work elsewhere. Mr. Williams had thus visited other countries in Asia, examining possibilities for future involvement by Australian Baptists.

Family Life Workshops

Preparation for Christian marriage in a framework of changing Chinese customs was the theme of a workshop sponsored by the Hong Kong Christian Council's Committee on Family Life. The emphasis was on methods by which church leaders can strengthen youth and parents in the confusions of Hong Kong life. Two pastors and a youth worker representing the Swatow churches, were among those who attended.

Another recent workshop was on Family Nutrition. This was sponsored by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Six women from the Swatow churches and Ruth Noren attended. They learned how to purchase low-cost rich protein foods at the local Chinese markets. A Chinese housewife demonstrated how to prepare and cook pork tongue, and inexpensive fish chowder. Although these dishes are of very high food value most Chinese are reluctant to try them. At the workshop these two and several other common foods were served to the several hundred persons present. A Chinese hospital dietician introduced basic nutrients, and this was followed by a doctor's comments on family attitudes regarding daily menus. Two students from the University of Hong Kong, baskets on their arms, presented a short skit, in which they were looking for the best bargains in nutritious foods.

The Women's Societies in the Swatow churches are now repeating the marketplace skit, and other parts of the workshop program, as they consider the importance of good health in the Christian home. They have also invited the doctor to repeat her lecture at their annual autumn retreat.

Easter - - - 1969

For the mission "family" Easter started with a sunrise service on Tao Fung Shan. Gathered at the foot of the great cross, high above the Shatin Valley, we felt very close to the cross of Jesus. Then looking out over the magnificent view of mountains and water, of busy highways and the railroad, of homes and -markets and tiny farms, of the Buddhist pagoda nearby and the red-pillared church behind us - - - we rejoiced that Christ arose - - - for this!

The day was filled with a variety of responsibilities and after breakfast as a group, each person went his own way. Until the evening. In the evening we gathered again, this time in the Kowloon City Church. Stephen Smith and Linda Schock were baptized in a serene and meaningful service. The two fathers performed the ceremony, and John Olley brought the message.