February 1968.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

Mission Conference

Castle Peak Hotel, about l8 miles from Kowloon, swarms with visitors during the long hot summer. But during the winter this seaside hotel, except for weekends, begs for occupants. December 28-30, 1967, the missionaries of the American Baptist Mission and their children met there for a conference. Although these were almost the coldest days of the winter (42 degrees), good food, lots of coffee, and many rounds of discussion kept everyone warm.

The Espy and Koons families are currently in the United States, but the three new families who arrived during the year swelled the number of missionaries on the field to fourteen, the highest number since 1954 when Edna Smith and the Loren Norens set up an "Interim Station for China Fields" in Hong Kong.

The "veterans" from mainland China pushed our conference off to a meaningful start with historical background. Mildred Proctor, formerly of East China, filled in our understanding of the three extensive fields our Boards opened in China. Loren Noren focussed on the work in South China among the Swatow-speaking people, and then more specifically on the birth and growth of the Swatow Baptist Churches in Hong Kong.

Marion Hackett led us in the Bible study at the conference. We were challenged to review our responsibilities as undershepherds. We must continually remind ourselves of these, as servants of the Good Shepherd.

We envy, in a way, an organism that functions with a minimum of organization. With increasing numbers in the Mission it has seemed necessary to expand the organizational procedures, to ease the administrative pressures by spreading responsibility. So, a committee was appointed to see how we might move into the new patterns of mission program and opportunity that rise ahead of us.

Perhaps no mission gets through a conference without individual reports of some kind. We had them, and they proved to be interesting and enlightening, since the work of our Mission is spread into a wide variety of 
directions: evangelistic, educational, pastoral, literature, relief, work with servicemen, teaching etc.

On Friday night we enjoyed a program of relaxation and entertainment. It took careful planning to squeeze all the talents we had available, into the two-hour program. A dramatic reading by June Sutton in the closing devotional fascinated the children, warmed our hearts, and widened our witness, as some other hotel guests listened also. How good it is to share our joy and our Christ.

We pray that because we left our routines to confer for a while, we might be more effective in representing Christ. This is our task.

Fire on Chu Lap Kok

On January 16 a fire destroyed 8,000 of the trees on Chu Lap Kok, the island on which several Swatow-speaking families are re-settled, and where a Youth Camp is now being developed. All of the people on the island fought it; even the school children and the men who were fishing off-shore, joined in. Finally, after three hours it was extinguished, leaving hillsides of charred and blackened trees.

Hugh Smith, with some government men, flew over the site in a helicopter to assess the damage. Later, forestry officers went to the island. Plans have already been made to reforest the area in February and March. Fortunately, over thirty thousand trees were not affected by the fire.

A New Look for the Student Christian Centre

There is a song which starts, "The times they are a-changing." The Student Christian Centre is no exception. BY the time the PEAK reaches you, remodeling and refurbishing of the Centre, necessitated by changing demands of program, and hard use of furniture and fixtures, will have been completed. The program office has been enlarged, other offices relocated, the library moved, a large lounge created, and a room set aside for counselling.

The Student Christian Centre is the location of a multi-denominational ministry to the university community in Hong Kong. American Baptists have been a part of this ministry since its inception, some ten years ago. Soon they will be furnishing the equivalent of a full-time staff person, as John and Kathie Reed take up responsibilities there.

The program at the Centre includes a variety of activities, such as a drama group, a music appreciation group, a folk dance group, violin classes, and language classes in German, Mandarin, and English. A student forum group provides discussion opportunities on many subjects. A well attended series on Christianity and Science has just been completed; the group plans a seminar on church and industry for this spring.

The Student Christian Centre also supports the Student Christian Movement of Hong Kong with personnel and finances. This group sponsors the annual student prayer-for-unity activities, as well as seminar opportunities. This year they are cosponsors of a passion play.

It is hoped that by fall the centre will be able to provide a counselling program. This is a dream of many years, which we hope will soon come true.

We Go ---By Boat

The latest addition to the Mission's transportation fleet, is a twenty foot Polyglas outboard runabout, piloted by Bill Hackett. It proved very useful at the time of the fire on Chu Lap Kok, in taking the government officers to survey the damage. On another occasion it took a group out to lead, and to share, a communion service with the small Christian group on the island. It will be used more and more in connection with the agricultural work there, as well as with the camping program which is being developed.

Ling Ling Say Say which, broadly interpreted, means Miscellaneous

- - - Not long before Christmas in the Kowloon City Church, 69 persons were baptized. Of these 38 were women and girls, and 31 were men and boys. The youngest was 12 years old, and the oldest was 73. Those between 12 and 19 years of age totalled 38; and 6 were over 60 years of age.

- - - A service of dedication for Sunday School teachers was held recently by the enthusiastic Christian group meeting in Tsun Wan every Sunday afternoon. In so doing they recognized the importance of the teaching program in the life of the church. Another step forward is the formation of a Sunday School Committee by the Joint Committee of Swatow Baptist Churches.

- - - In November both Ann Smith and Marion Hackett underwent surgery, and both are recovering very nicely. Marion's war, abdominal surgery, correcting a condition which had troubled her for more than thirty months.

- - - Fenwick Pier has for over ten years been the site of a ministry to American servicemen. But changes are coming. Frank Knight writes, "My daughter has an anxious catch in her voice as she says, 'Daddy, where is your office?' People driving along the familiar waterfront stop and say, 'Where is Fenwick Pier?' The old landmark has been torn down, the old piling destroyed, and the area is being filled in with carth to make way for new road expansion. But three hundred yards away, on reclaimed land, is a temporary Servicemen's Guides building, larger than the old one. This is also due to be destroyed. But a Phoenix will arise! In the fall a permanent building will be started, at a cost of U.S. $200,000. In the end better facilities will be ours to use in serving our servicemen, showing them that we do care about their welfare."

- - The population of Hong Kong at the end of 1967 was officially estimated at 3,877,700, compared with 3,785,300 at the end of 1966. Registered births for the year totalled 88,170. The birth rate has been declining now for seven years. Chinese still make visits to the mainland, especially at the Chinese New Year. This year a total of 69,239 went to China at that time, returning a few days later.

- - -Dr. Bill Hackett began his work at Chung Chi College with the start of the second term, on February 12. He is teaching a three - hour course on the History Of Western Social Thought, to third year students majoring in Sociology.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Choi Yuk Man

A visit to the Shaukiwan Chapel, one of the "daughters" of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church, would enable you to meet Mr. Choi Yuk Man and his bride. Mr. Choi is a small man physically, soft spoken, and quiet. Yet his church is filled every Sunday and the membership has grown from 110 to 360 in the eight years of his ministry.

Mr. Choi was born in Swatow in 1924. He attended an American Baptist - related primary school there. During the Japanese war he went to Shanghai, completing his high school in the Baptist Middle School. From 1943 to 1945 he studied in the Nanking Theological Seminary which at that time conducted a branch school in Shanghai. His study was interrupted for a year which he spent in Thailand. Returning to Shanghai he studied again in the Seminary until the branch was closed in 1949. The next year took him to Canton, and in 1956 he came to Hong Kong. Taking courses in the Hong Kong Baptist Seminary - - related to the Southern Baptist Convention - - he was finally able to complete his seminary training in 1959. The same year he started work at the Shaukiwan Chapel.

Meanwhile, Susan Chan was born in Thailand in a Christian family, her father being an elder in the Yellow Bridge Church in Bangkok. After high school she studied for two years in the Bible School in Bangkok, and then came to Hong Kong for two years of study in the Canton Bible School, being graduated in 1962. Returning to Thailand, Miss Chan served as leader in a chapel there.

Mr. Choi and Miss Chan were married on July 8, 1967 in Bangkok. They now live at the Shaukiwan Chapel, and together give a strong Christian witness.

Illiterate, but Full of Understanding

Hugh Smith visited a refugee family recently in their hut in a squatter area. Two members of the family had recently arrived from the mainland. Even though churches. are no longer permitted to hold services, still Christians hold firmly to their faith. Through their talk the old grandmother listened quietly, nodding her head in agreement. She had never been to school in her life, and could neither read nor write, but when she spoke there was confidence in her voice. With a smile she said, "The Communist think they can wipe out our Christian faith by forbidding Christians to meet for public: worship, but they don't understand at all."

"What don't they understand, old Grandmother?" asked one of the young men.

"They don't know that the life and joy and strength of the Christian do not come from the government, or even from society.

"Where do they come from, Grandmother?"

The old woman's reply was steady and sure. "From the heart," she said. "From within. From the power of the spirit of the living God."

Missionaries....
Mr. and Mrs. John Espy 
Dr. and Mrs. William D. Hackett (Marion)
Rev. and Mrs. Frank Knight (Joyce)
Rev. and Mrs. Alvin D. Koons 
Rev. and Mrs. Loren E. Noren (Ruth)
Miss Mildred Proctor
Mr. and Mrs. John Reed (Kathleen)
Rev. and Mrs. Harold Schock (Estelle)
Rev. and Mrs. Hugh W. Smith (Ann)
Miss June M. Sutton