June 1964.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

Industrial Evangelism:  Is the Church Where the People are?

     Alvin Koons was one of a group who made a two-week tour of cities in Taiwan to observe industrial evangelism. The Industrial Evangelism Committee of the Hong Kong Christian Council made the arrangements for the tour. Chinese Christians of Taiwan actively reach out into factories, bringing men and women into contact with the Gospel of Christ. Some call this outreach "Church and Society". Others speak of 'Occupational Evangelism." All are concerned that the Church grasp the meaning of the words, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself."

     As the group toured factories, both large and small, they saw laymen conducting Bible classes, holding morning prayer groups. They saw local pastors counselling workers. They found Christians concerned for better working conditions and salary. They found one lovely chapel built by the factory owner for Christian worship in his factory. Students from the seminary in Tainan visit factories and carry on personal witness in the cafeterias, on the job, and in the clinics.

     These Christians are asking, "Is the Church where the people are?" Too often the answer is "No!" Instead we say, "Come to the ghetto."

      As the group returned and viewed the hundreds of factories in Hong Kong, they felt that these challenges must be faced, or the Church may miss the opportunity to reach the world in which She lives.

     Mr. Koons and his family have just moved to a new apartment in the newly developing industrial city of Kwun Tong, to the east of Kowloon. The Swatow Baptists already have a strong witness in Kwun Tong. (See the October 1963 Peak.) They expect to secure a site on which to construct a church building. Thousands in Kwun Tong labor in factories in the area. "We pray." says Mr. Koons, "that we may accept the challenge, together with these Chinese Christians, to proclaim Jesus as Lord and King to the thousands who labor each day in the factories of Hong Kong."

Chung Chi College News

. . . . Mr. Robert N. Rayne and his wife and daughter arrived at Chung Chi College from England on February 15. Mr. Ravne, with an M. A. degree from Oxford, has taken over the Vice-Presidency of the college, a position left vacant by the retirement of Dr. Leslie G. Kilborn in 1963. He will work with Dr. C. T. Yung, who has been President of the college during the past several years.

      Mr. Rayne served as a bomber pilot with the Royal Air Force during the war. He was for some time a prisoner of war in Germany. Since 1950 he has taken an active part in establishing and developing the University of Keele where he served as a lecturer in classics. Mr. Rayne and his family are active members of the Church of England. We welcome them to their important work at Chung Chi.

. . . . Chung Chi College is one of three colleges forming the new Chinese University of Hong Kong. This exciting development has been reported previously in the Peak. (June 1963.)

      In January 1964, Dr. Li Choh-Ming was inaugurated as Vice-Chancellor of the new university. The Chancellorship, an honorary position, rests upon the Governor of the Colony. Dr. Li came from a position at the University of California in Berkeley, where he was concurrently Professor of Business Administration, and Director of the Center for Chinese Studies.

. . . . Dr. Chow Lien Hwa of the Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary returned to Chung Chi for the second year, as leader of Religious Emphasis week. His leadership last year was very effective and this year it was no less so. Dr. Chow lived on the campus, addressed classes in several departments, and conducted a worship service each morning. He had luncheon appointments with students and staff, participated in discussion groups each afternoon, and held interviews in the evening.

      The relevance of Dr. Chow's message was proved by the large numbers of students who attended the services, and participated in the discussions. Real Christian concerns were expressed by those who talked with him privately.

Comings and Goings

. . . . Miss Mildred Proctor leaves Hong Kong early in June for a short furlough. Her work on the South East Asia Chinese Sunday School Curriculum will be carried on in her absence by her co-editor, the Rev. Samuel Wu, with the part-time assistance of Miss Margaret Lawrence of the Disciples Church. Mildred starts her furlough by participating in a three-week conference in Lucerne, Switzerland, planned by the World Council of Christian Education for those working on similar curriculum projects in all parts of the world.

Consultation Carry-Over

     The Consultation on World Mission which took place in Hong Kong at the turn of the year created interest far beyond the group of delegates and observers appointed by the Swatow Baptist Churches. The deacons of all the Swatow Baptist Churches have planned a one-day retreat to consider the issues presented during the Consultation. All major papers are being translated into Chinese. These church leaders are being challenged by the implications of the messages, as they think in terms of their own people.

Judson Sesuicentennial Remembered

     No delegates from Hong Kong were able to attend the Sesquicentennial Celebration in December 1963 of Judson's arrival in Burma. However, the mission in Hong Kong arranged for the translation into Chinese of "Judson of Burma" by Prof. B. R. Pearn, and "The Book in the Pillow" by Pat Yates. The former was translated by Jen Yu-Wen a Chinese scholar who also has translated a life of Robert Morrison. Copies of the books were presented to the Burma Baptist Convention, and to the A. B. F. M. S. Chinese Christians have been much inspired through reading the story of the life of this pioneer missionary to Burma.

     During the week when the Joint Baptist Convention was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the American Baptist missionaries in Hong Kong invited the Southern Baptist missionaries to a joint prayer meeting and fellowship hour. The service was held in the new chapel at Chung Chi College.

Urban Church Growth Study

     A sixty page study of the growth of the Protestant churches in Hong Kong from 1958 to 1962 has been completed by the Rev. Loren E. Noren. It follows two previous studies made by Dr. E. H. Cressy with the assistance of Mr. Noren. This last study shows that there has been an 11.3% increase in church membership each year since 1955. There are 344 churches or places of worship. Of these 95 have over 300 members.

Missionaries....
Mr. and Mrs. John Espy
Rev. and Mrs. Alvin D. Koons
Rev. and Mrs. Loren E. Noren
Miss Mildred Proctor
Rev. and Mrs. Hugh W. Smith