December 1984.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

SHUN TIN CENTRE OPENED
by Keith Tennis

The new Shun Tin Christian Children and Youth Centre, for which we have been working and praying for several years, was formally dedicated on July 8th. This is located on the ground floor of a new government housing estate where literally thousands of people live. Representatives from various Swatow Baptist churches and chapels gathered for solemn dedication and consecration of all of our efforts in this new Centre to the glory of God.

The Rev. David Ngai, a young Hong Kong man, who received a scholarship from the Board of International Ministries of American Baptist Churches to study at Northern Baptist Seminary near Chicago, has now returned and is serving as director of this new Centre.

Already, over 2,200 children and young people from the area have become members of the Centre and regularly join in its activates and programs.

The staff of the Centre is developing a wholistic ministry approach to serve the physical, mental and spiritual needs of the people living in the Shun Tin Estate. Besides the usual recreational programs and tutorial classes, opportunities are also being offered for Bible study and worship. The potential for ministry through the Centre is exciting!!

JUNE SUTTON RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA
by Becky Trask

After 181/2 years of dedicated service with the American Baptist Mission Miss June M. Sutton on Mar. 3rd, 1984, left Hong Kong to return to Australia to pursue new opportunities of ministry in her homeland. In 1965 June came to Hong Kong to work with the Swatow Baptist Chinese in Christian education and youth ministry. Her early years focused on rooftop kindergartens, refugee ministry, and children's ministry in the church. This was followed by the development of youth fellowships and a concentrated effort in leadership development. Following her 1981 furlough, she felt God strongly urging her to take steps toward reaching out into the community in evangelism and at the same time to begin in-depth discipleship training in the church.

After sharing her vision with several Chinese co-workers two programs began- -an evangelism ministry in housing estates with three part-time staff workers and a youth evangelism training program (Y.E.T.), a one-to-one discipleship training to help people discover 'more about their faith and share it with another Christian brother or sister. June expressed the joy she felt when leading many to belief in Jesus when she said, "it is a wonderful experience to be used by God to bring a person from darkness into light."

Since leaving Hong Kong, Miss Sutton has been involved in pastoral care counselling training in England and looks forward to using her God given gifts to minister with the people in Australia. She finds strength and peace in her new call and is thankful to God for the many years of a fulfilling ministry with the Chinese people in Hong Kong.

DEACONS' RETREAT HELD

Over 200 deacons from various Swatow Baptist churches and chapels gathered at the Aberdeen Baptist Church on Hong Kong Island for an all-day retreat on Saturday, October 20th. The event was sponsored by the Division of Mission Outreach of the Swatow Baptist Churches of Hong Kong.

The speakers of the day highlighted the necessity of the deacons to be in the forefront of reaching out to the community in the Name of Christ, Besides hearing the challenge of the messages, those attending also enjoyed the fellowship with their fellow deacons from other churches.

WU OI'S BUILDING PROJECT
by Harold Schock

The Hong Kong pattern for church expansion generally means buying a few flats adjacent to each other and redecorating according to the church needs. But Wu Oi's Gospel drug treatment program has been constructing its own building in Long Ke village this year. We continue to use the chapel as a dorm and worship center. But we need more "lebensraum".

On 11/4 acres of land Government has granted us in Long Ke village adjacent to the chapel, we are building 4 small dormitories. Each dorm will house about a dozen men including a staff member. All construction is being done by clients who have come to us for drug rehabilitation. God has been so good in bringing men skilled in carpentry, construction, cement work & cooking. Consequently, our costs have been greatly reduced.

On the other hand we have had the added difficulty of bringing all our supplies except sand, to Long Ke by junk, as no road comes to the village. That means we load ten tons of supplies on a junk, sail for 11/2 hours, unload the material on to dinghies then float it to the beach, and finally carry it to the village some 400 yards distance. When possible, we schedule these heavy cargoes when police training groups or church youth groups come to the village for work camp. They really work!

We thank God that three buildings will be finished by the end of this year. with our fourth one scheduled for Easter 1985. We also thank God that every rock, plank & nail is paid for before we put it on the junk.

During 1984 we have averaged 35 men in Long Ke. We have set as our maximum 70 men when all four dorms are completed. All men who complete the eight months in the village, not only get off drugs, but also accept Christ as Savior. Most men also demonstrate a complete change in life style and attitude. We are grateful to serve our Lord in this important ministry.

Three staff stand in front of one of our Long Ke dorms uilder construction, They also supervise the spiritual development of 30-40 men in search of a new, drug free life.

RETURNED AS A VOLUNTEER WORKER IN THAILAND

Miss Amy Lam, who spent the summer of 1983 working as a volunteer with the churches in northern Thailand, was so touched by her experience and convinced of the need, that she returned for six weeks again this summer to volunteer her services. Amy, and a fellow -seminary student, Miss Chaa Sheu Sam, report that while they were in Thailand, their days began at 5:00 a.m. and continued until 11:00 p.m. They were kept busy visiting in homes, counselling with individuals, assisting with Vacation Bible Schools, leading worship services, and working with youth groups.

Amy wrote of her experiences, "In this trip, I don't feel that I've only given out, but I've learned much more. I deeply experienced God's leading and keeping us, and the love of the brothers and sisters there." Both girls have returned to their studies at a seminary in Hong Kong now and are seeking God's will and direction for their lives as to how they may serve Him following their graduation in 1985.

This is the third year that volunteers from Hong Kong have gone to northern Thailand to work with the churches' there. This program is under the direction of the Division of Mission Outreach of the Swatow Baptist Churches of Hong Kong and in cooperation with the Swatow Baptist Churches of Thailand.

HONG KONG SWATOW BAPTIST WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
by Estelle Schock

The new Victory Aveaue Chapel hosted the annual women's retreat in November. More than 200 attended from various churches and chapels. The morning program emphasized spiritual uplifting, and the afternoon praise and thanksgiving. Our prayer concerns were in the area of China, Asia Baptist Women's work, Hong Kong and 1997, and the Wu Oi Christian Drug work.

We also shared our deep concerns for the needs in Ethiopia, and pray that the offering from our retreat expressed our love toward those suffering people. Love gifts also came in from various women for the retired, faithful Christian workers in the Swatow area of China.

A one minute silence was observed to pay tribute to Mrs. Edna Smith Armstrong who died recently. She was the founder of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Women's Association almost 30 years ago, and gave much help and guidance in the area of women's work. The women remembered her with much warm appreciation.

It was a day filled with inspiration, fellowship and joy. In 3.985, our theme will be "Ye are my witnesses" (Isaiah 14:10). We pray God will continue to bless and strengthen our witness for Him.

EXPERIENCES IN HONG KONG
by Stephen & Angela Beasley-Murray

(Editor's note: Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Beasley-Murray, and their two children, Mark and Philip, arrived in Hong Kong September 4, 1984, to begin their first term of service as missionaries appointed by the Board of International Ministries of American Baptist Churches U.S.A.)

We live in one of many high rise apartment buildings looking out over an industrial area. From our kitchen window we can see a lady sewing on her machine from early morning until evening (a socalled cottage industry). From our front window we me au endless stream of people going to and from the market. Just out of our backdoor are lots of friendly Chinese people who share our apartment complex. They have been particularly welcoming to our children, Mark and Philip.

Modern technology has brought wonders to Hong Kong by making it accessible along with all the pleasures and comforts of modern living which has lessened our culture shock. McDonald's is within walking distance! Perhaps even more extraordinary is the effect technology is having on bridging, the cultural gap between East And West. We wonder whether we should better speak today of a single technological culture binding East and West whilst recognizing the separate roots in history. An obvious example of this is the fast pace of life brought by technology and the attending disposition of busy-ness. Our environment conditions us to rush around doing "our thing" so we have no time for each other or for being just people.

Away from the mad rush of the sprawling big city is a beautiful panorama of mountainous rugged hill arising steeply out of the sea with lush green vegetation at their base. They almost have a numinal grandeur that can serve to remind us that there is more to life than the secular materialistic preoccupations of our age. The contrast between the old and the new is felt most by the youth. This is particularly so in the church.

Our mission here is therefore presently perceived as both helping youth creatively respond as Christians to the realities of their day and equally to help factory workers who suffer most from the negative effect of modern life.

ANOTHER KIND OF HONG KONG EXPERIENCE!
by Ruth Noren

(Editor's Note: Many missionaries teach English conversation classes. Ruth Noren shares ways in which these can be effectively used in communicating the Christian message.)

"Is Christianity a NO -NO religion?" inquired a Chinese youth in one of my small-group sharing sessions. Aware of Hong Kong's alluring attractions, this question aroused many searching comments from long-time Christians in the group.

Other questions among Hong Kong youth grow out of fragmented contact with remnants of traditional Chinese religious. A twenty-two year old girl, from a Buddhist family, asked, "Are the 'fruits of the spirit' (Galatians 5:22-23) something like the values we are taught at home, maybe Buddhist?" Such questions open the way to dialog on basic Christian beliefs, most of all our need for a personal God.

"Do old people in America really like those special homes for elderly?" To respond to this topic we use an anonymous "Case Study" set in an actual Hong Kong situation. Questions included in the lesson are meant to be objectively considered, but occasional tears in the eyes of some group members indicate the feeling-level.

Other probing questions which have provided a springboard for group learning are typical of those in any culture where youth are seeking to live out more fully the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"Why do good people suffer?"

"If we follow Jesus will it affect our career choice?"

"I love my father very much, but how can I learn to communicate with him?"

"Why did you and your husband leave your wonderful, country, and come to learn our difficult language?" I try to turn this questions into a live challenge to Chinese believers to hear the call of Christ to share the Gospel with their own people.

We use a bilingual Bible. Most of my groups converse in both English and Chinese, sometimes beyond my comprehension when they get excited! They learn from each other.

Pray for Hong Kong Missionaries to enable youth to more fully know God, to love and serve him.

SCHOCKS REVISIT BURMA

After more than three years, the Schocks visited Burma again. Although little had changed in the city, and government structures remain the same, great strides have been made within the growing Baptist endeavors. Some new officers have been elected in the Burma Baptist Convention (B B C) including a new General Secretary, Rev. Zau Yaw, a Kachin, well qualified and experienced.

Evangelism continues to be one of BBC's main thrusts. They reported that traveling evangelists in the Chin hills baptised 400; in Nagaland 3,000; among the Kachins 1,498. Good response is reported among the Wa tribe, and the Chius have a plan to reach every Chia family with the Gospel by 1999 - one hundred years after the first missionary to the Chins arrived. To accomplish this they have appointed 25 evangelists who will go from village to village with the Gospel. They claim that about 85%, of all Chias are already Christian, yet there are many remote villages who have never heard of Jesus Christ.

A current BBC strategy emphasizes the total evangelism of the hill tribes around the north, east and west perimiters of Burma. Then the Burmese Buddhists in the Irrawaddy River valley will receive full attention in a drive to win them to Christ.

The Youth Department also has a strong development plan. Included in this area are new visions on how to cope with the growing drug problems in Burma. Many young people in the churches have become addicted to easy-to-get heroin, and the church families and leaders do not know how to handle this problem. (Hong Kong's problem is just the opposite with almost no addicts coming from homes.)

In spite of persistent economic hard-ships in Burma, the churches continue to proliferate, and seminaries fill with students. We must continue to pray that the Burma church might gain added strength through unity in their commitment to the living Christ. Their determination to fulfill their goals of evangelism for the glory of Christ cannot be deterred.

FOUR SEASONS COMMUNITY CENTRE ESTABLISHED
by Keith Tennis

As of July 1st of this year we began service at the Community Centre in the Four Seasons Estate in Tsuen Wan, which is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The units of this old government housing estate are home to many hundreds of families who are poor economically and have relatively little education. A department of the government came to the American Baptist Mission and offered us rent-free facilities if we would operate a Youth and Community Centre. After prayerful consideration, we felt led by God to respond to this invitation and challenge, though acknowledging that we are limited financially in what we can do.

A group of volunteers helped to clean and paint and prepare the facilities, and now various interest classes and recreational opportunities are being offered to the youth and children of the area. Over 700 people living in the area participated in the various summer activities. Pray for the staff and volunteers at the Centre as they try to show and share God's love in this new endeavor.

DIAMOND HILL CENTRE OUTREACH
by Harold Schock

The Diamond Hill Christian Centre which is operated in conjunction with the Homantin Swatow Baptist Church conducted a full summer program. But two special activities attracted extra attention: a ministry to the handicapped and elderly, and community open air forums.

On a precarious platform of planks on oil drums two young men demonstrated their skill in handling their wheelchairs. They became instant celebrities in the community. The elderly seemed to generate more facial wrinkles as they laughed and smiled at programs and lively Christian music the Centre provided them. This was the first time they were specially catered to in our area, and they were happy.

Two open air forums attracted large crowds who responded well to the practical issues we presented. The problem was not how to get people to terminate the meetings. Concerns over their housing (most in Diamond Hill are "Squatters" living in wooden buts), fire, the 1997 issue, etc', kept a panel of experts busy until 11:00 p.m., The following week the Centre phone continued to ring with burning questions. It made many aware that Christians are concerned about the total man, and are willing to take action to help in any kind of need.

ANOTHER NEW CHAPEL DEDICATION

In the 1950s many Chinese flooded across the border into Hong Kong. Among these some 20% spoke the Swatow dialect. Struggling Swatow speaking churches in Hong Kong quickly responded to the opportunities of witnessing among the new arrivals.

Government too responded to the needs of the new hordes. So they built some 265 seven-storey "resettlement blocks" on minimum land with maximum human density. Christian and service organizations could contract with government for HK$1 per year the use of a complete rooftop of one of these blocks. Operating a service project or kindergarten was required to secure rooftop space, so the Swatow Churches began three rooftop kindergartens. This gave them a place for worship and prayer on Sundays and evenings. Chapels quickly grew from these beginings and each swelled to over 200 members. Wong Tau Hom Swatow Baptist Chapel was one of these.

As the need for the rooftop kindergartens lessened, the government has been resuming them to develop the space for other uses. For several years they have strongly urged the Chapel to vacate the premises.

In 1983 the Wong Tau Hom Chapel finally found a new building under construction which seemed to be a viable alternative to the rooftop. With the support of the mother church (Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church) and the Baptist Mission they were able to purchase space in the new building. The new location about two miles from their rooftop, and is on the third floor of a 21 storey buildiug on Victory Avenue. The street name sounded good in Chinese as well as English, so they have changed their name to the Victory Avenue Swatow Baptist Chapel. Decoration in the latest style included air conditioning, a new public address system and new pews. They also bought new Bibles and hymnals.

By the first Sunday of July, 1984, everything had been completed, and they dedicated their new sanctuary to the Lord. An over-flow crowd of more than 250 people attended the services.

Evident in the beauty of the dedication and yet hidden from the eyes of all visitors were the countless hours of prayer poured into this project. Joy and thanksgiving swept over all as they shared the fulfillment of Psalm 132: "I will allow no sleep to my eyes till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the mighty One of Jacob."

YOUTH EVANGELISM TEAMS
by Becky Trask

More dedicated Christian young people in the Swatow Baptist Churches volunteered their summer holiday for training and door-to-door evangelism this summer. Au increase to eighteen youth this June and July is evidence of the stronger support being given by the church to this evangelism ministry.

Three part-time staff workers continued in their witness and follow up in temporary housing areas, and also gave invaluable leadership to the Y.E.T. training. The training included evangelism and follow-up techniques, missions, and discipleship. The teams went out to different housing areas near the churches and witnessed over and over the miracle of people receiving the message of eternal life, accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Friend.

The work of the Holy Spirit continued to touch the lives of people from the ages of 8 -100 years old as these young Christians joyfully led 258 people to Christ. Follow-up of these new Christians is vital to their growth and the young evangelists have not ceased in this aspect of the outreach. Small groups for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship are helping to reach these new friends. But with so few workers and the growing number of new Christians, there is an urgent need for more mature Christians to join in helping to lead these people to a stronger foundation in their faith.

As more catch the vision of reaching out, taking time to share the Gospel with people from different walks of life, the joy of seeing "new life" being born is a wonderful time for rejoicing. As one old woman said, "I used to not like my neighbor but today, I prayed for her when she went to the hospital sick. It's good to have peace in my heart and know that God loves me." A twelve year old boy told of hearing about Jesus in school, but never believed He could be His Savior and Friend.

Y.E.T. members learned this summer that "prayer is the key that makes the difference!" Please pray for Y.E.T. as it continues to make a difference in Hong Kong, and in the Swatow Baptist Churches.

NURSING SCHOLARSHIP

Highly recommended by Nursing Administrator at Haven of Hope Hospital, Margaret Ching is at Garnett College in London, taking a Certificate Course in advanced nurses' training. She is on study-leave for ten months. She will then return to Haven of Hope Hospital located at Junk Bay.

Founded and supervised by the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council, Haven of Hope provides nursing care and convalescent facilities for 296 residents. Included are wards for rehabilitation, tubercular patients, elderly with special problems, drug addicts with tuberculosis, and orthopedics. The Council also supervises a home for retarded children, located near Haven of Hope. Loren Noren has served on the Board for more than twenty years.

Margaret Ching has written from London saying, "I want to convey my sincere gratitude to American Baptists for sponsoring me financially. I shall do my best in my studies. I know as God has planned it for me He will provide His strength. I am ready, with the goal in mind of training more Christminded nurses."

CHURCH RENEWAL PROGRAM

Through special prayer meetings, leadership training sessions, and discussion groups, the leaders and members of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church and its five chapels are engaged in a church renewal program. It began Nov. 4th and continues through June of 1985.

Special emphasis is given to such areas as "Disciples' work today", "Education for Christian life", "the Growth of the Church", and "Christian Commitment."

NEW EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH

The Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church has accepted the challenge of evangelistic work in the now town of Shatin. Massive government housing projects are under - way in Shatin and within the next few years it will be a city with a population of nearly 700,000 people.

Presently, more than twenty families who are members of the Kwun Tong church are living in Shatin. They are serving as leaders in the evangelistic thrust into the community. Small groups are meeting weekly in their homes for bible study and prayer and once a month they gather in one of the homes for worship. As many as sixty people have crowded into a small apartment for the worship experience.

The Kwun Tong church is presently seeking to raise funds and look for suitable premises which can serve as a chapel. All are much in prayer to know God's leading in this endeavor.

JOHN AND RUTH ESPY PARTICIPATE IN THE SHANGHAI MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This past summer the Department of Extra-mural Studies of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, in cooperation with Jiao Toug University in Shanghai, offered a twelve-week management development program for seventy senior managers and administrators of enterprises and government organizations in Shanghai. Sixteen teachers from Hong Kong went to Shanghai for periods of one to two weeks each to conduct courses in general management, human relations, organizational development, financial management, marketing, international business and other topics.

John Espy, who serves as Associate Director of the Two-Year MBA Program at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, went for a two-week period to teach financial management. Case studies of Hong Kong firms and other teaching materials were translated into Chinese prior to john's arrival, and au interpreter was assigned to facilitate communications. The participants proved to be eager and enthusiastic students; they particularly wanted to learn about business practices outside of China. They asked many questions, and John gave five additional lectures on topics of particular interest.

If you know the "case study method" of teaching, you can understand how different and exciting it was to the Chinese students. Classes in China are usually taught by lectures, often as dry and factual as the first paragraph of this article. At the first session, John told the participants to read the case to themselves; then he divided them into small groups to discuss what they would do if they had to deal with the problem in the case. Soon the room buzzed with their discussions, then some voices grew louder. The interpreter became alarmed. "Professor, the students are unruly. They should not behave like this." But John said to him, "What are they saying?" He listened to one group, and then to another. "They are arguing about the problem in the case. They cannot agree on an answer." When John finally called the class back to order and asked for their answers, the interpreter was a very busy man, presenting the students' ideas in English and the teacher's questions in Chinese. All class sessions were lively, and cordial relations developed in spite of differences in language, culture and background.

Ruth accompanied John and participated in many of the extracurricular activities arranged by Jiao Tong University. John and Ruth attended services at the International Christian Church twice and were much impressed by the size, enthusiasm and friendliness of the congregation. Their two weeks in Shanghai were a satisfying and memorable experience.

VISITS TO FORMER CHINA MISSION FIELD

Experiencing China is fun as well as educational. The really deep joys, however, are encounters with individuals, their warmth and openness, their winsome humor, and appreciation of simple things.

The churches we visited had new Bibles printed in China in shelves on the back of church pews. Bibles are also available for families to use at home.

A few themes we heard during the two return-visits to Swatow were life on earth as a period of Holy learning, "living water", the joy which follows rekindling of the spirit within each of us.

During the summer of 1984 one Swatow pastor baptized nearly nine hundred people in various parts of the Swatow area. After years of restraint the time is right for baptism of those who have come to know the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.

A retired teacher in padded jacket, leaning hard on his rustic cane, mused in poetic Chinese on "those years of turbulent water flowing under the bridge." But we saw no bitterness. Long-time Chinese Christians recognize a pervasive urgency in their own people to grasp hold of what is dependable through every kind of "climate".

The ties of tender kindness through Jesus Christ are intact. Forty percent of church attenders in Swatow area, are under thirty years of age. (Speaks well for personal witness and family nurture when you consider that the church doors were closed for worship during the period these young people grew up!)

When you ponder the "why" of distressful situations, take heart from faithful Christians in China today.

S.T.E.P. CONTINUES TO HELP
by Linda Tennis

In the early 1960's Hong Kong did not have free public education. Out of the concern of the American Baptist Missionaries here at that time S.T.E.P. (Student Tuition and Expenses Program) was started.

In 1964 one of the young students we helped with elementary education was Lam Yin Fong. She finished her Public schooling and went on to a Bible training college. For the past several years she has served as the Bible Woman (in liu of a pastor) at one of our chapels. This year she has returned to seminary so that she could further her training in counselling- -her chosen field. It is encouraging to see the results of someone the S.T.E.P. program has helped and the fine leader she has become. It has been a privilege to have been able to help many others through your contributions to S.T.E.P.

Times have changed and with them the needs of our students. Now Hong Kong does have a free public education for students up through the ninth grade, but the students still need help with book and uniform fees as well as transportation. We are also now able to help some students who would like to get courses (piano or leadership education) that will help them become leaders in our Swatow Baptist churches. We are thankful for your concern shown through your gifts and prayers.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Swatow Baptist Churches in Hong Kong held a Memorial Service to honor Edna Smith Armstrong, on November twentyfifth, in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church. Edna died on September 22. 1984, at Pilgrim Place in Claremont, California, at the age of 89,

Edna was an American Baptist missionary for more than forty years. She was much loved by the Teo Chiu Chinese people, both in Swatow, South China, and later in Hong Kong. She became well-known as a kindergarten specialist, training teachers, and working with families as well as the children With Bibles in rattan suitcases and a hand-accordion for teaching Gospel songs Edna hiked hundreds of miles in rural areas sharing Christ with the villages.

In Hong Kong, Edna worked with needy refugee families, and in general church evangelism. She is known as the spirit behind the formation of a Swatow Baptist Women's Association, with strong emphasis on leadership training.

Edna's hundreds of friends in Hong Kong send their love to he sister in New Jersey, and to dear friends who were like family, at Pilgrim Place.

CONFERENCE IN TIANJIN, CHINA
by Loren E. Noren

Had this Conference been held in another place, it would have been quite ordinary. But the fact that 70 college students from the U.S.A. went to Tianjin (formerly Tientsin), China in July, 1984, for a 12 - day Conference on The Bible was certainly unusual, and a wonderfully unique opportunity for those privileged to attend. Besides lecturers from the U.S.A., 11 outstanding Chinese Christian leaders had been invited to speak at two sessions each day. The depth, integrity, freshness and humble confidence of their witness to their Christian faith made a deep impression on the students and leaders from the U.S.A.

The Conference was arranged by an organization in California called "Encounter with Christ". The students and adults who attended were from a limited portion of Christian academic life but like so many Americans needed a clearer understanding of modern-day China and the situation of religion and Christianity there.

I was one of about 20 adult Christian leaders invited to attend. The Washington D.C. Office of the Baptist World Alliance asked me to go on their behalf.

Besides the lectures and extended personal conversations, we worshiped together on two Sundays in a local Christian Church. One evening a group of Nanjing Theological Seminary students joined us and presented a choral concert of recent Chinese Christian music, accompanied by a Chinese instruments orchestra.

In one session Bishop Ting of the China Christian Council gave the fascinating story in China of the "3 - Self Movement" - Self support, Self - administration, and Self -propagation. While this concept for Church development was first conceived by a missionary in 1850, it has been emphasized in recent years, and can be described under three headings: 1949-1966 Self-hood in the Making; 1967-1976 Self-hood in Trial; 1976-to present Self-hood in Thanksgiving.

"There have been trials and troubles but the most precious blessing of God in the last 35 years has been our ever present faith in the Risen Christ!... We have wondered whether perhaps Christianity was breathing its last breath for the fourth time in Chinese history ... But sown in weakness, it is raised in strength... We are perplexed but not to despair ... We refuse to accept defeat, humiliation ... The Joy of the Resurrection is our life and our strength."

"The concept of One Church and Mutuality is extremely important in this 'Post-denominational' period of Chinese Christian history ... We honor one another and try to accept and understand each other."

PERSONAL NOTES.....................

Rev. Charles Olsen, General Secretary of the Australian Baptist Missionary Society, was in H.K. Oct. 1618, 20-21, to see the work and discuss the possibility of Australian missionaries coming to work.

Rev. Donald Ng, of Board of Educational Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA, was here to meet with staff Nov. 1-3 concerning the projected youth tour in 1986.

Arthur Quey, of Pasadena, CA. is studying at Hong Kong Baptist Seminary this year and giving assistance with the Christian Centre work for which the Mission has responsibilities.

Dr. Raymond Bakke of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, conducted sessions on "Urban Evangelism" here in June.

John and Ruth Espy enjoyed a brief furlough in the United States this summer.

Board of International Ministries staff who have visited Hong Kong recently have included Cecil Carder, Russell Brown, Patricia Magdamo, Ray Jennings, and Ronald Brown.

Harold Schock attended a drug abuse conference in Manila, the Philippines, earlier this year. He and Estelle also enjoyed visiting their daughter and son-in-law, Mike and Judy Kuiper, and family who serve as missionaries in Iloilo.

Hugh and Ann Smith, former missionaries in Hong Kong, early in the year visited friends here and also made a trip to Swatow, China, accompanied by Ruth & Loren Noren. Their son, Stephen, also came and had fun introducing his wife to places he used to live.

Becky Trask and son, Ace, enjoyed attending the annual conference of the Thailand Baptist Fellowship in August.

Missionaries....
Dr. Stephen and Angela Beasley-Murray
Dr. John and Ruth Espy
Dr. Loren and Ruth Noren
Drs. Harold and Estelle Schock
Rev. Keith and Linda Tennis 
Rev. Becky Trask