Mission Conference - - 1969

Members of the Mission including the children met together for two and a half days in October, for fellowship and discussion of mission and church matters. Morrison House, formerly a residence hall of Hong Kong University, is now a conference center run by the Church of Christ in China, and proved a most suitable place for us. The excellent food and the swimming pool added to the enjoyment of the conference.

Discussion was based upon summaries of work and plans for the future which each one had been asked to write in advance for early circulation. It was not our purpose to reach many decisions, because our work is to aid the Swatow Baptist churches, and to participate in other Christian ventures of an interdenominational nature. Nevertheless, the sharing of thoughts and insights was most valuable. The evening discussions centered on "leadership training", and "evangelism and social involvement."

Bill Hackett led the Bible study sessions, giving us a survey of the letter to the Ephesians. His comments on our mutual life in Christ were an inspiration and a challenge. John Olley led the evening devotions, taking as his theme, "Praying Together." These led into times of corporate prayer. Frank Knight's leadership of the Sunday morning worship, and Loren Noren's message on "Words" made the service a time of spiritual refreshment.

The children were not neglected. Helen Wigginton led their devotional periods drawing her lessons from "Peanuts". Hugh Smith led two periods of singing in which we all, children and adults, joined together in fun songs. During the day the children enjoyed interesting programs of activities planned and supervised by Judy Schock and Debbie Noren.

We left Morrison House to return to our homes and our varied work with the confidence that through this conference and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we were the better able to serve Christ together in Hong Kong.

Castle Peak Road Chapel

The Castle Peak Road Chapel no longer sits on Castle Peak Road. Its present premises are its third; in each of them it has carried on Christ-honoring work. Some 12 years ago Mrs. Chen Pak Bung began her enthusiastic Work in an area of Kowloon where many Swatow-speaking people live. Soon the group of interested persons was large enough to begin regular services. Mrs. Chen's son-in-law, Mr.Wang Siau Bo, a graduate of the Hong Kong Bible Institute, became the preacher. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wang teach school, but give much time to the chapel. Mr. Wang preaches, Mrs. Wang helps with the Sunday School, youth program, and music, and Mrs. Chen rounds up the congregation. Of the three, only Mrs. Chen has received any salary for this work. On an ordinary Sunday about 75 people come to worship; on Communion Sundays about 100 come. But on October 26th, when they celebrated the 12th anniversary of their chapel, the room was jammed with 150 people. Pastor C.T. Lee, the senior Swatow pastor in Hong Kong, brought the message, and the choir, led by Harold Schock, presented special music. A fine Chinese feast followed the worship service.

While they are still a chapel related to the Homantin Church, they have mothered another chapel of some 30 people in Tsun Wan, about five miles from their own place of worship. They have pioneered also in starting a men's fellowship which meets monthly.

Thanksgiving Day in Hong Kong

On Thanksgiving Day the American community attended a Thanksgiving service at the Kowloon Union Church. This is the only affair during the year when the entire American community has the opportunity of sharing together as Americans, with a common heritage. Through the years the Protestant chaplain at Fenwick Pier has been in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Edwin Martin, consul general, read the president's proclamation. The splendid choir from the International School sang. The Rev. Gordon De Pree, a former chaplain at Fenwick Pier, and now working in an educational ministry, preached on "Thanksgiving in an Impossible World". The Rev. Frank Knight participated in the service. Sometimes we wish that there were more opportunities for Americans to gather together. We are glad that the Thanksgiving Day church service does offer us this opportunity, that we may give our thanks to God for "America the Beautiful."

Meet This Leader: The Rev. John Chen

The Rev. John Chen is pastor of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Church. He was born in 1922 in a village near Swatow, the third in a family of eight children. It was a Christian family. His father was one of the pioneers in the lace industry in that area, the produce of which has become justly famous. When John was thirteen his father took him to Shanghai for his high school education. At the age of nineteen he dedicated his life to the Christian ministry.

During the Japanese occupation he worked in the Rev. John Chen youth movement of the Church of Christ in China. After the war he was licensed to preach, and was called to the pastorate of one of the largest churches in the Ling Tong Convention made up of Swatow-speaking churches of that area.

Just before the government on the mainland was taken over by the Communists, John made his way to Hong Kong. He gathered a group of eight church members, and they started the church which he still leads. The congregation has grown to more than five hundred members, and has outgrown four different premises. They now have a fine church building which American Baptists helped to finance. Mr. Chen was ordained in 1951.

Mr. Chen is much in demand as a speaker, not only in Baptist churches, but in various evangelical meetings in the colony. He has toured South East Asia on preaching missions. He has a deep concern for youth, and is an advisor to the Student Christian Fellowship at Hong Kong University. He and Mrs. Chen have four children, talented, and active in the life of the church.

Mr. Chen will represent the Swatow Baptists of Hong Kong at the meetings of the Baptist World Alliance in Tokyo in July of 1970. You may meet him there!

New Building for Work with Servicemen

More than two million servicemen have passed through the doors of Servicemen's Guides since 1955. A letter from the Seventh Fleet was received in October commending the Servicemen's Guides Association for its fine work.

The office and program have recently moved from an old wooden structure into the completed part of their new building. The old building which had housed them temporarily was razed to the ground, and on that land the remainder of the new building is going up. It is hoped that all will be finished by February 1970. Frank Knight reports, "Even though we are operating from temporary quarters once more, the work has been made easier due to the increased space. We are looking forward to the day when the building is finally completed."

Hugh Smith to Vietnam

As a guest of the Protestant chaplains in the Saigon area, Hugh Smith spent the first week of November in Vietnam. The report which follows is in his words. It was far more than a routine preaching assignment. Before it was over it became a deeply-felt episode in my life. I preached several times at the Protestant services in the Base Chapel at Ton San Nhut Air Base, and in addition led two one-day retreats in the International Servicemen's Center in Saigon. The men who attended the retreats reflected an earnest Christian concern. One sergeant asked, "How can I maintain discipline and be a competent leader of soldiers, an at the same time be a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ?" Among the Army and Airforce chaplains there was a sincere concern for the well-being of the men. .Most of the chaplains had served in the pastoral ministry before enlistment.

One night I accompanied one of the chaplains to the medical receiving station where battle casualties are brought in, awaiting transfer to Japan, or to State-side hospitals. This is where the real cost of war is to be seen in the tragically shattered bodies of courageous young men.

Chuk Yuen Christian Center

The Chuk Yuen Christian Center building has just been painted, inside and out, and looks very nice. And even though the former director left in August, the program moves on.

The Kindergarten has 152 students this year, divided between a morning and an afternoon session. Three teachers handle this program. A Boy Scout troop of 12 boys is led by a Chung Chi College student; another troop will begin in January. A fine Christian woman who is an excellent seamstress, has begun a sewing class. Tuesday and Thursday evenings the hall is open for supervised study. A Baptist College student is ready to help the High School students who come.

One problem is to get the workers to realize that somewhere in an evening's activity some word of witness for Christ could make the evening doubly significant. When a ministry of love is coupled with a Christian word, a seed may be planted for everlasting life.

Theology Building Opened

Founders' Day at Chung Chi College was celebrated on October 31st. Following the service in the chapel, faculty members and guests walked to the new theology building. After a brief dedication service Dr. C. T. Yung, president of Chung Chi, unveiled the plaque which reads in part, "To the glory of God for the purpose of theological education."

The left-hand end of the building as pictured below, is for teaching facilities, library, and administration. The middle section will accommodate 48 students, 16 women and 32 men. Six faculty apartments are built into the right-hand end of the building. The John Olley family has moved into one of these. 

Although there is a small room set a part for meditation, the theology students will join in the chapel services and other religious activities with other students on the campus.

The total cost of U. S. $205,000 has been met by donations from churches in Hong Kong, mission boards, and many Christian friends.  American Baptists have donated U.S. $33,700, signifying their realization of the importance of theological education in South East Asia

Ling Ling Say Say which, broadly interpreted, means Miscellaneous

- - - - Mrs. Henrietta Agustin Nolido spent a month in Hong Kong observing social agencies and welfare work of all kinds. Mrs. Nolido is director of the Bacolod Christian Center in Bacolod City in the Philippines. Her tour which included Japan, and Taiwan also, was made on a study-grant from the Foreign Mission Society.

- - - - John Espy has spent three months in Hong Kong gathering materials for his dissertation for his doctoral studies in Harvard. He will be home with his family in Newton Centre, Mass., for Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Espy expect to return to their work in Hong Kong in August 1970.