February 1987.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS. GROW BY CARING... The diversity of the work of missionaries in Hong Kong takes us into different sectors of society. The 1987 Annual Mission Conference on Cheung Chau Island gave opportunity for us to come together to rest, to fellowship and to share the different facets of our work. We were especially blessed to invite Dick and Charlotte Worley (missionaries from Thailand) who are now teaching English in Swatow, China. They joined us for a time of re-creation and renewal as Dick led our Bible study on Colossians 2:2-7. The theme was the characteristics of a faithful Christian, a Christian who cares about others and who seeks to grow in the Christian life. He brought us together to reflect on this passage of scripture with each other in small group interaction. Our gathering challenged us to grow in our understanding of each other and in learning ways to care for others in our daily lives. We adopted the ABC theme of GROW BY CARING realizing that we "are the salt of the earth; the light of the world" and so..." let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5) In keeping with this theme we are highlighting ways that Hong Kong Christians GROW BY CARING…. …FOR ELDERLY AND YOUNG PEOPLE
by Harold Schock The Diamond Hill Christian Center entered the fall session of 1986 with a completely new staff. The varied activities of the program have not changed much. But a stronger emphasis on evangelism has become an important goal. Choi Siu Met, our new Center director, has a deep Christian faith and comes with two years experience in Christian Center work. A whole new facet of our ministry in the Diamond Hill area has recently begun. A 1,500 sq.ft. building used by the government as temporary office for the construction of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway was scheduled to be demolished. Our application to acquire it (free) to develop a program for students and senior citizens was accepted by the government. After receiving it we redecorated it and hired a trained Bible woman, Grace Yeung, who formerly worked in one of our Swatow Baptist Churches. A Study room has attracted 110 high school students so far, most of whom are not Christian, but enjoy helping us plan special activities and outings at which time we can present the Gospel. Sixty-five elderly women plus two men have registered and come to the new center to watch TV, chat and join in the special Christmas snake dinner for which each paid US$5. So far we have discovered only one Christian among them, so our task for evangelism is well outlined for us. Diamond Hill sounds like it might be a fancy residential site. But the village market consisting of one narrow crooked street is older than its eldest citizens, and around it has grown up one of Hong Kong's largest squatter areas. Of the four churches in this vast, congested area, the Homantin Swatow Baptist Church is the only one with a Christian Center type ministry. The new Homantin pastor has both a keen interest in and many years of church/Christian Center experience (see article on page 11). So we are expecting a stronger and more vital Christian emphasis in our Center by adding new facets to this important ministry. The Kowloon Baptist English speaking church about a mile away has been ministering to a growing group of Filipino maids of whom Hong Kong has cover 27,000. Over 350 Filipinas have outgrown their church facilities. So our new Center building has been opened to them for Sunday School and worship every Sunday. Since the gate of our new building opens directly in front of the Diamond Hill MTR exit, the 40-50 Filipinas find this new temporary home most convenient. They have their own Filipino pastor who works in Hong Kong as an architect, but has also had seminary training. So they are happy, and of course we are happy to add this new facet to our Diamond Hill ministry and to have the building used this way on Sunday. …FOR CHILDREN
by Linda Tennis Every weekday morning and afternoon nearly 250 enthusiastic and excited kindergarten children participate in the learning activities of the Kowloon Baptist Kindergarten. Approximately half of these children are Caucasian, whose parents are working in Hong Kong. The other half are of Indian and Chinese background. All of them speak English either as their first or second language. Since last autumn, Linda Tennis of the American Baptist Mission has been serving as principal of this kindergarten, which has a staff of thirty-five teachers and assistants. The Kindergarten has two premises. Most of the students study at the centre located in the Kowloon Baptist Church in Kowloon. However, sixty-five students are at the centre on Clearwater Bay Road in the New Territories section of Hong Kong. The purpose of the kindergarten is to give an opportunity for the children to play and learn in a Christian environment. As many of the children come from non-Christian families, it is also seen as an evangelistic outreach of the church. Each week, Linda leads the children in singing Christian choruses and enacting the Bible stories during the chapel periods. "Variety is the spice of life," and the children look forward to the different ways of learning and remembering. Maybe one day they are studying the color "yellow" and so everyone wears clothing of that color for the day, and then the next day may be the color "red". Recently a class learned to make the sound "jo" and so the whole class went jogging. Working with the large staff, the students and their parents at times produces some problems. However, the rewards are great when one is able to share in the enthusiasm of the pupils and see recognition of learning in their eyes. Truly, "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." ...FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
By Angela Beasley-Murray But what do we talk about? Historians are fond of coining phrases designed to capture the essence of the times. Man come of age, space age........ are two examples. Perhaps more than ever before people are engaging in "talk" with their fellow man. I am helping individuals increase skills in speaking English. It also provides the opportunity to perfect their ability to interact with other human beings and for establishing, warm human relationships. The topics? Topics dicussed are often predictable and mundane, sports, the news of the day, relationships between students, student to administration, to faculty, to family and to government. Our talk has direction, it usually proceeds by free association. This should not be interpreted to mean that our casual group talk is unimportant, but very satisfying. The attraction of the group's conversation lies in the intimacy of the human contact and the opportunity for self expression. We often think outloud. We like to speak our minds on any subject and go into the question according to the degree of interest it naturally inspires. "We are fulfilling the two purposes of conversation which are to learn the sentiments of others and to see what they think of ours". I have found it inspiring and educational for myself and have a rare privilege to enter into conversation with the Chinese students at Hong Kong Baptist College, Counseling Center. We have talked and shared on the meaning and purpose of life and things most valuable to ourselves. ... WITH A "PERSONAL TOUCH"
By Becky Trask 1986 was the fourth year of the evangelism training and outreach of Y.E.T.. During the summer over 200 people made decisions for Christ. Individual and small group follow up continues to help these new believers grow in Christ. The perseverance of Christians helping the new Christians to grow in Christ have resulted in much rejoicing. We praise God for four elderly Christians who were baptized at the first of the year and the five youth who are now preparing for baptism in March. The Y.E.T. team leaders have been the key in discipline the young people to witness for Christ. One of the characteristics evident in the leaders of the youth evangelism teams is dedication to the task that God has called them to do. Chan Kwan Chee [Florence] brings to this work a personal touch that only comes from a deep love of the Lord. Florence is a 4th generation Christian from Swatow, China, but everyone knows there are no grandchildren in the family of God. Florence's commitment to caring for the needs of others has resulted in not only her own spiritual growth but in the growth of hundreds of people's lives both young and old. She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and was baptized at the age of sixteen. It was not until she was 25 years old that her faith was truly challenged. Florence became ill near death when she gave herself completely to the Lord. Doctors gave her no hope, but she kept her faith in Jesus to meet her every need. Church members prayed continually until she was able to visit her aunt in Canton. Also a fervent Christian, her aunt prayed for her healing and entrusted Florence to the Lord. From that day on her health improved. During her fight to live she dedicated herself to witness to God's saving grace and the new life that is found in Christ. An opportunity was soon given to Florence to preach in a Vietnamese refugee camp. Many people showed interest to hear the gospel and her visits soon turned into weekly meetings. After two years the camp became a closed camp and few outsiders were allowed to enter. This did not stop Florence's desire to tell people about Jesus Christ. She joined June Sutton to do evangelism in the Shun Lee Temporary Housing area. Old people who had worshipped idols for years began believing in Jesus finding peace and joy in their hearts. To date, 22 people have been baptized into the Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church. Other people of all ages in t using area are believing and growing in their faith in the Lord, too. Florence and her co-workers Grace Lam and Melody Cheng continue to be a presence for Christ in the housing area providing a weekly worship service for the elderly at the Christian Center and doing weekly visitation for special needs. The witness of the many new believers is growing stronger daily as they reach out and care for their neighbours around them. We thank God for Florence, her co-workers and the many new Christians. ... BY TRAINING LEADERS FOR DRUG ADDICT REHABILITATION
By Harold Schock Several significant developments have marked the past six months for Wu Oi. Three should have special mention: Phase 2 of our village building project, a new chaplain, and staff to seminary. In January 1987 we received official permission to construct our new dining hall and kitchen in Long Ke village. Site formation has now been completed, and shipping building materials to Long Ke has begun. We have no road into the village, so the easiest way to transport large items is by a junk. Many generous donations from local people and groups have assured us that all material will be paid for before being shipped. Our goal is to complete these buildings this year. A significant asset to our training program came as Ernest Ang, BA, MDiv, joined our village staff as chaplain. Though not a former addict, he was immediately accepted by the brothers in the village and has been very valuable in helping to train other staff members as well. A Chinese from Penang, Malaysia, graduated from University in Taiwan, and the Baptist Seminary in Hong Kong, Ernest brings to Wu Oi a wide cultural, educational and spiritual background. He speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, and Swatow dialects of Chinese as well as Malay and English. We thank God for this gifted, dedicated servant. For 13 years Johnson Ngai has been the No. 1 man in our Wu Oi program. He is now 39 and tired . So when he asked for a year's study leave and rest the Board agreed. This meant a shift in leadership. But because leadership training has always been an integral part of our program, Wu Oi suffered no severe trauma in its change of leadership. Lee Fai Ping, a six year Wu Oi staff has nicely assumed Johnson's village responsibilities. So Johnson now attends seminary. His two full years in primary school, five years on heroin and 13 leading Wu Oi qualified him as a special seminary student for a one year concentrated course. He not only profiting from his studies, but is also enjoying more time with his fine family of three growing children. But Johnson is not the only Wu Oi staff in seminary. Five other quality men, all graduates of Wu Oi's gospel drug rehab program, all drug-free for at least three years and all Wu Oi staff for at least two years, now also are enrolled in seminary. They attend three different seminaries. One is studying in his 3rd year, one 2nd year and three 1st year. Having lived below the legal and social line, then stepping into the elevating brilliance of Christ’s love and redeeming grace, they become prime communicators of the Christian gospel. If two or three of these men will return to Wu Oi after completing their seminary studies, what a boost it will give our program! How good God has been to Wu Oi these 13 years!! Pray that these six seminary students may all excel in this phase of their spiritual training. …FOR THE BLIND
by Ruth Espy During the past year The Hong Kong Society for the Blind has moved into a new building designed for its own needs. The ten-story building (plus basement) provides five floors of housing for the aged, blind, mentally retarded young blind adults and administrative staff and one floor for a rehabilitation and training center. Another two floors provide space for a communications center and library (braille books and "talking-book" cassettes). The remaining floors contain a low-vision clinic, an auditorium, a centralized braille production center, a canteen and kitchen, a reception lobby and several carpark spaces. All facilities in the building are managed by The Hong Kong Society for the Blind, whose funds come from the Social Welfare Department of the Hong Kong Government, the Hong Kong Community Chest, the Royal jockey Club of Hong Kong and various religious organizations and private individuals. The Society is the main braille producer in Hong Kong and the Braille Production Centre centralizes the work done by government agencies, voluntary organizations and individual volunteers. The Society also maintains a collection of "talking-book" cassettes, and this collection is now growing rapidly because of the increasing availability of book titles on cassettes and their decreasing costs. The individual volunteers transcribe textbooks (in English, for the most part) into braille using the American machine called the Perkins brailler. They learn a "language" of dots that represent the letters of the alphabet, certain common syllables (like "-ton" and "-sion", "-er" and "-ar", "-ing", "-ally"), numbers and punctuation. They then "type" the text with the brailler, and the machine produces the pages of text in the form of coded dots which can be read tactiley by blind people and others who have learned to read Braille. Just as French and German are different from English, so Chinese (with its different dialects) has its own specific arrangements for the braille dots. Chinese is a complex language, and Chinese braille is even more complex: hence, there are fewer braillists to transcribe Chinese texts here than those who can transcribe the English ones. Blind people who learn to read and write braille develop a hunger for new books. Of course, they listen to "talking-books" too, but they prefer the braille editions for textbooks and other serious reading material. In Hong Kong blind young people are encouraged to learn to read English braille and to get as much education as possible so as to qualify themselves for useful employment. Some even enter one of the two universities or other institutions of higher learning. Our Hong Kong community now has several blind people employed as social workers in government and voluntary agencies and others as computer programmers and systems analysts. Others are in the process of preparing themselves for professional positions in Hong Kong's service-oriented economy. The Lord blesses those who help themselves. How? Well, one way is by nudging sighted people to give a helping hand to their low-vision and/or blind "neighbours." ... FOR LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
By John Espy In many of the poorer countries of the world there is a critical shortage of competent and capable political and business leaders who are seriously concerned about the welfare of their fellow-citizens. The highly competitive and rapidly changing international business environment makes many demands on senior managers of all types, and the well-being of people in the poorer countries depends to a large extent on the abilities of those senior managers to cope with these demands. Unfortunately, many well-educated people who obtain responsible positions seem to be concerned primarily with amassing wealth for themselves and advancing their own status in society. Hong Kong has no natural resources whatever; it must depend almost entirely on the ability of its entrepreneurs and businessmen to manufacture consumer products and sell them to the advanced countries in North America and Europe. Fortunately, Hong Kong's workers are intelligent, industrious and flexible; they make it possible for Hong Kong to compete successfully on world markets. Hong Kong also has a good number of well-educated, capable and committed people who occupy senior positions in the government and private sectors. Much of Hong Kong's success in improving the living standards of its people (in spite of large numbers of immigrants from China) over the past forty years can be attributed to good Government and to effective and profitable business organizations. A continuing supply of well-educated and motivated young men and women who are committed to "serving the people of Hong Kong" is essential to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. In 1966 The Chinese University of Hong Kong initiated a two-year, full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program in order to prepare some of Hong Kong's young men and women for responsible positions in local business and government organization. This program began with only five students but it has developed steadily and now produces about forty MBA graduates per year. There is a strong demand for these graduates, and almost all of them obtain attractive positions which provide them with additional training and ample opportunities for promotion. In 1977 several Hong Kong businessmen raised an endowment fund to Support a part-time evening MBA program for managers and executives who have had at least three years of experience. This new program drew 747 applications for admission to its forty places! It now accepts sixty new Students each year. The drop-out rate is very low; over fifty-five students complete the program each year. Since these graduates are already employed, they need not seek new positions; most of them receive promotions after completing the program. Many of the University's MBA graduates are already holding senior positions in multinational business organizations and in local business firms. A Small but growing number are running their own companies, some of which are doing extremely well. Several graduates are administrative or executive officers in the Hong Kong Civil Service, and some are holding teaching positions in Hong Kong's universities, polytechnics and post-secondary colleges. Many of those working in financial institutions and trading companies are involved in joint activities with organizations in The People's Republic of China. The number of MBA graduates is growing by almost one hundred per year and the University now plans to expand the two MBA programs significantly. It is indeed a great privilege to be able to work closely with many of Hong Kong's best-qualified young men and women and to help them prepare themselves to become the leaders of tomorrow. ...FOR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHINA
By Estelle Schock The Macedonian Choir of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Churches went to China at the invitation of the church in the Swatow area December 25-30, 1986. With 35 choir members and 10 church representatives, they sang in two churches in Shantou (Swatow), one church in Kakchieh, and visited another one in Kikyang. The biggest Praise Musical evening was on December 26th in one of the churches in Swatow, where 1,700 people crowded into a church which normally seats 800. The choir presented 16 songs in five different languages, viz: Swatow, Cantonese, Mandarin, English and Latin. The local choir joined the Macedonians for the concluding two anthems raising 135 voices singing Gloria and The Hallelujah Chorus, thus climaxing a thrilling evening of praise to God. The churches in Swatow city have five choirs ranging in age from young people to middle age or older. They take turns singing in different Churches. They sing well and enthusiastically serve God, and are eager to learn new things. However, they indicated their need for more training in reading notes and the need for new anthems and choral books. The Macedonian choir held informal sharing and demonstration sessions for them and gave their choir music to the local choirs. Besides musical presentations, joint ventures and informal sharing, this tour brought friendship, better understanding and rich fellowship in Christ. It was agreed that more of this kind of exchange should be arranged in the future. SERVICE OF DEDICATION AND RECOGNITION FOR NGAU TAU KOK SWATOW BAPTIST CHURCH
By Keith Tennis 176 individuals were happy to hear their names read off as charter members of the Ngau Tau Kok Swatow Baptist Church when it was officially recognized as an autonomous church on Sunday afternoon, December 7th, 1986. The service of dedication brought renewed commitment from them to be faithful and zealous in their service and outreach for Christ. They boldly step out in the knowledge that God has guided them in the past and will continue to undergird their ministry. In 1966, a small group of believers formed a Bible study and worship group in a roof-top school in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Later the school closed, but the group had caught a vision of what could be, and with the sponsorship of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church, in 1971, formed a chapel and purchased a place for worship in the Ngau Tau Kok area of the city. That small group steadily worked and shared their faith. Others have since joined them, adding strength and dimension to their ministry. This very happy occasion when they are recognized as an independent, autonomous church marked another step in their growth as servants of Christ. They are grateful for the assistance and nurture they received front their brothers and sisters in Christ in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church. However, now they are anxious to accept the full responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel and serving others in Christ's Name. On Dec. 7th, twenty members of the choir of the church raised their voices in an anthem of praise to God for His faithfulness. Representatives from the Division of Mission Outreach of the Swatow Baptist Churches of Hong Kong attended and participated in the service, sharing in the joy of the occasion. As a part of the happy celebration, a feast was held following the service. In January of 1987, the Church called Mr.Daniel Cheung Muk Yau to serve as their pastor. Rev. Keith Tennis of the Hong Kong Baptist Mission has been invited to serve as advisor pastor for this year. YUEN LONG SWATOW BAPTIST CHURCH RECOGNIZED AS AN AUTONOMOUS CHAPEL
By Keith Tennis October 25, 1986, was a bright and glorious day for the members and friends of the Yuen Long Swatow Baptist Chapel. They crowded into the chapel at 3:00p.m. for the special service whereby they were officially recognized as an autonomous church. Prayers of dedication were offered, joyous hymns of praise were sung, and solemn commitments of service were taken. Ten years ago, Rev. Tse felt the call of God to begin work with the Swatow people living in the Yuen Long area of the New Territories of Hong Kong. Through these years he has faithfully guided the people in their Bible study and worship together. It has been a struggle, but they have stayed true to their commitment of serivce to the Lord. With advancing years and failing health, Rev. Tse has relinquished his responsibilities of leadership to a young man, Mr. Wan Kin Chuen. Mr. Wan and his wife are both recent graduates of seminary, and have brought new vitality to the outreach and ministry of the chapel. Two years ago, the group of worshippers in Yuen Long asked the Homantin Swatow Baptist Church to become their Mother Church, feeling this would give added strength. They readily agreed to do so and have assisted the Yuen Long Chapel in their leadership and programming. Now, with more than eighty members, and prospects of greater growth, the Chapel felt strong enough to be on their own. With the blessing of their mother church and their friends and fellow workers in Christ the service of dedication was held. Representatives from the member churches of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Churches Association attended and participated in the service. Rev. Keith Tennis of the American Baptist Mission delivered the sermon for the occasion. Following the service, a Chinese feast was held in a nearby restaurant, and then that evening the Rev. John Chen of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Church brought the message for an evangelistic service. All continue to seek God's guidance that His Word and His Love may continue to be expressed through this new church. NEW PASTOR IN DIAMOND HILL FACES NEW CHALLENGES
By Becky Trask An eager expectancy that something is about to happen is growing amongst the Christians of the Homantin Swatow Baptist Church in Diamond Hill. Our Mission and the church work together to provide a Christian ministry of church and center in an area surrounded by squatter huts. Changes in this church and Christian center bring new faces to the leadership of each. There will also be major sociological changes as the government begins clearing away the squatter huts to make way for high rise housing estates. All of these changes bring fresh new challenges to the ministry. Along with new leadership in the center, the Rev. Simpson Shih, became the new pastor of the church, but he is not completely new to the congregation. Simpson came to Hong Kong from Swatow, China in 1949 and attended seminary. In 1952 he was the first pastor to begin work with a group of Swatow women and young people in the Homantin area, hence the name Homantin. The fellowship soon became a church in 1954. Enthusiasm is shared by church members, center staff and missionaries alike for the new leadership. Simpson's past experience in church and Christian center work in Thailand and his recent pastoral experience in the United States will give added strength for the ministry in this very needy area of Hong Kong. A lot has happened in the history of the church over the past 35 years as the Christians have struggled in their desire to grow in their understanding of what it means to be a visible witness in the name of Jesus Christ. The church has experienced many difficulties in deacon leadership and adequate leadership for consistent ministry to children and young people alike. Even in their weaknesses they give thanksgiving to God for His abundant grace in their lives. The Homantin Christians realize the gap between the elderly and the young people needs to close to bring unity to the fellowship that will bring glory to God. It is hoped Rev. Shih can give the spiritual leadership that is needed in accomplishing this task. Please pray for Simpson as he leads the church that all may work together as they keep their eyes fixed on Christ Jesus. One important factor in strengthening this Christian ministry for effective evangelistic outreach will be to develop a better working relationship between the church and the center. Harold Schock has been supervisor of the Diamond Hill Christian Center for the past four years. A recent decision was made for Simpson to take up the supervision of the center, bringing closer ties between church and center. Harold will continue to work closely with Simpson in developing a bond that will strengthen the witness of both the center and the church together. Pray for the present and future ministries of the Church and Center that the Christians take up the challenges facing them with a commitment to building unit for an even stronger evangelistic outreach. Missionaries....
Dr. Stephen and Angela Beasley-Murray
Dr. John and Ruth Espy
Drs. Harold and Estelle Schock
Rev. Keith and Linda Tennis
Rev. Becky Trask
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