March 1981.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

BAPTIST CHURCH IN SWATOW, SOUTH CHINA, REOPENS

Exciting, news has been received in Hong Kong, that the Memorial Church in Kakchieh, Swatow, was returned by the government to be used for Christian worship. On December 17, 1980, the 3-Self Movement Committee (Self-support, Self-govern, Self-propogate) in Swatow officially received the Church building. A local British friend, who is a Hong Kong Government official, and his wife who is Cantonese, happened to be visiting Swatow in mid-December and saw the Christians in Kakchieh scrubbing and repairing the Church and the pews etc.

The first service was held on Christmas Eve and was a glorious celebration with Carols and Christmas items of all kinds presented by children, youth, women and adult groups. The beautiful Chinese architecture style Church was overflowing with over 2,000 in attendance. Worship on Christmas morning was equally enthusiastic and the first Sunday Morning Worship was on December 28, 1980. For all services Christians from nearby villages and from Swatow City made the journey to Kakcbieh to join hearts and voices in praise and thanksgiving to God.

Undoubtedly, the many home and neighbourhood worship and prayer meeting which have grown so rapidly in numbers will continue. Reports of baptisms different parts of the Teo Chiu area have been frequent during 1980 with number ranging from several tens to two hundred in each baptism.

Two Church leaders, Rev. Sheffield Cheng and Rev. Martin Ho from the Teo Chiu (Swatow) area were representatives at the all-China meeting of the Chin Christian Council held in Nanking in the Fall, 1980. It is anticipated that the Nanking theological seminary will open within a few months. A teacher who we know in the Nanking University Institute of Religious Studies announced course in the basic beliefs of Christianity. He had to find a larger classroom several successive days and ended up in a lecture hall with 800 students in attendance The Schock family had the wonderful experience of visiting their relatives in Shanghai and other cities. Ruth Noren was a member of a group which visited Canton, Haugchow, Shanghai, Nanking and Peking. She was able to make contact with several Christian leaders in different cities, including a visit to the 3-Sel Movement Office in Shanghai. She made telephone contact with a former friend from Swatow who was a member of the group of religious leaders who had visited the U.S.A. a few months before. Most helpful in understanding the present situation was a 2-bour personal conversation with another member of the delegation to the U.S.A. He was the Head of the local and provincial 3-Self Committee and share freely of the hopes and dreams of Chinese Christians in the changing situation in China.

On March 23, 1981, a group of Chinese Christian leaders will come to Hong Kong to further mutual understanding with Christians here. They have been invited by the Hong Kong Christian Council. The desire for fellowship in Christ between Christians in China and Hong Kong was warmly expressed at a Consultation on "The Mission of the Church in Hong Kong in the 80's", which. I was privilege to attend as a member of the H.K.C.C. Executive Committee. We all thank Go for this wonderful news!

by Loren E. Noren

DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS IN VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CAMPS

Last summer over 50,000 Vietnamese Refugees were living in crowded camps around Hong Kong. In Argyle Camps No. 3 and 4 hundreds of children were taught English each morning, but roamed aimlessly around in the afternoons. June Sutton trained teams of Swatow Baptist young people to organize Daily Vacation Bible Schools for these children, ages 7-13. In both camps, the school rooms had desks and seats for 40 children. Each afternoon two sessions were conducted, Monday to Friday, for three months (June to August). Vietnamese children were taught God's love by dedicated Chinese Christians. Fortunately both the children and the young people spoke Cantonese so there were very few language problems.

Friendships were established between teachers and children. Some children wanted to k now how to become Christians. Twenty were counselled after making a decision to follow Christ in a daily follow-up small group. These now had a Friend who would never leave them, even as they re-settle in a new country. Others heard of a God who loves and cares and saw it demonstrated in their teachers' lives.

One teacher said, "It 'was hard work in the heat, but the joy of seeing children learning about God and responding to Him was worth it all".

It is expected that some Vietnamese refugees will still be in Hong Kong this summer (1981) and similar programs are being planned.

by June M. Sutton

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN HONG KONG IN THE 80's

A recent consultation sponsored by the Hong Kong Christian Council focused on the Mission of the Church in Hong Kong in the 80's. The 120 official delegates representing various churches and Christian organisations, arrived at a consensus on mission priorities for the coming decade. Loren Noren represented the American Baptist Mission in Hong Kong at this Consultation.

Number one on the list of priorities was a continuing mission among the poor-the 80%, plus in Hong Kong who work in factories, who live in public housing estates and squatter areas, the generally non-professional, low-income, working class people-an overwhelming majority of whom are still not found in the churches. Christians must listen to the concerns of the poor, and preach the Good News of resistance against sinful forces, within society and within the human heart.

A second priority has to do with the relation of the churches in Hong Kong to the Church in China. They must seek mutual respect and intercede for one another in the spirit of self - reliance. They will explore ways of relationship towards mutual understanding, and encouragement in the Lord.

A third area of consensus has to do with Christian participation in public policies. It sees a role of the Christian church to enable the masses to know their rights and obligations.

The Consultation stated that the church must have more "person transforming" impact both in formal education and in the values of society in general. The church through the schools it operates, has not fully utilized its numerous opportunities for evangelism and value formation.

The Consultation evidenced a very fine spirit of co-operation among the various Christian churches and groups in Hong Kong. It sees the need to build on this co-operation if it is to effectively minister to the needs of the people in Hong Kong, With God's help the Consultation was a significant step towards unity of faith and mission.

by Keith Tennis.

HOMANTIN CHURCH OPENS NEW CHRISTIAN CENTER

Boy's Brigade in formation at the newly established Homantin Christian Center.

I was disappointed when Ching Ching came empty handed to our final program for the summer. Each interest group in the new Christian Center had been asked to make some kind of presentation. Ching Ching promised to bring the skirt she had made in the sewing class. When I questioned her about the skirt, she proudly responded, "I'm wearing it!"

We pray that this kind of practical value can characterize one phase of a new attempt at reaching the people in the Diamond Hill Community. The Homantin Swatow Baptist Church moved from their former location to this community in 1976. Inviting the American Baptist Mission to assist them, the Homantin Church has now launched a Christian Center type program. They have allotted the third floor of their spacious building for this program, hoping to bring many in the community into contact with the message of Christ.

A six week summer program registered 17 young people from the community as well as about double that number from the church membership, which has to come by bus. A variety of groups from music to drama and accounting attracted the young people.

With school in full swing again, we have declared one large room a study room 'equipped it with desks, hired Christian student monitors, and invited the Diamond Hill community. Immediately 18 "jewels" responded and come regularly. An English class has been added, and a Boy's Brigade program was adopted from Chuk Yuen Center (which has lost its building to redevelopment.)

by Harold Schock

NEWS FROM THE ESPYS

John now has the title of "Professor of International Business" at the Chinese University of Hong Kong but continues to teach management, finance and business policy in the MBA programs and. to serve as Associate Director of the Lingnan Institute of Business Administration.

Living a Christian life in the very secular world of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong, business community is perhaps the most difficult, and the most important challenge which I face.

Ruth still divides her time between the preparation of braille textbooks for the Hong Kong Society for the Blind, Hong Kong Baptist College, Library, and putting the University's telephone lists into braille for the two blind operators who work here.

Our Bible Study Group meets weekly. The discussions serve as a meeting of minds for four Catholics and ten Protestants, with leadership for the meeting rotating among the membership.

by John and Ruth Espy

ALUMNI HONOURED AT CHUNG CHI COLLEGE

At the Convocation of the Chinese University, two of the three receiving Honorary Degrees were from Chung Chi. A former Chairman of the Board was one and the other was Professor YAU Shing Tung, a graduate in Mathematics in 1969. He became a Chair Professor of the University of California at the age of 29, and was granted the most outstanding Scientist of California Award in 1979.

At Chung Chi College, Dr. S.W. Tam has resigned as President after five years of excellent leadership. His successor is Dr. Phillip Fu, one of the early graduates of the College and a loyal supporter of the philosophy behind the development of this Christian College, as well as an able scholar and administrator.

Dr. Fu, and Professor Yan and the Rev. Canon Peter Kwoug, also a graduate of Chung Chi and newly appointed Anglican Bishop of Hong Kong, were, honoured at a Chinese dinner hosted by Dr. and Mrs. S.W. Tam.

by Loren E. Noren

PUBLICATION OF THE BIBLE IN TODAY’S CHINESE VERSION

The publication of a new translation of the complete Bible into Chinese is welcome as a notable step forward in bringing the Good News to more than a quarter of the world's population. Celebration of the "TODAY'S CHINESE VERSION" was combined with a thanksgiving service marking the 30th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Bible Society.

Dr. Moses Hsu, a Chinese linguist, who worked on the eight-year long project as one of its leading translators, states that this new translation will communicate the Gospel message fully to all Chinese people, living both inside and outside the mainland China. Dr. Hsu said, "The new Bible is geared for people inside the Church., as well as being a common-language translation easily understood by people outside the Church".

Today's Chinese version contains the same well known illustrations popularized in the Good News Bible. It has been named by the Christian Education Department of the Hong Kong Christian Council, as the official text to be used in religious study courses in church-related schools in Hong Kong. All of us can thank God for guiding this work of sharing His Holy Word.

The Hong Kong Bible Society prepared a ,Scriptures of the World" Exhibition at the City Hall. Students from Christian high. schools were guides. Large crowds attended the exhibition on three days during the observance of the 30th anniversary.

Bill and Marion Hackett and Loren Noren have participated through the years in several aspects of the work of the Bible Society. Having long years of experience in Burma as a Bible translator, Marion is a particularly discerning and knowledgeable person in this field.

by Ruth Noren.

ANNUAL MISSION CONFERENCE

The Salesian House Retreat Center on Rural Cheung Chau Island was the scene of our annual mission conference this year.

The first evening's theme, "A Touch of the Past" was opened by Ruth Noren and then carried through by each missionary giving a synopsis of his/her individual written report of activities during 1980. Evening prayers were led by June Sutton.

Estelle Schock's devotional led off the Saturday morning theme "A Tangle with the Present." The Rev. Bradford Abernethy, a retired American Baptist minister who is presently serving as pastor of the Union Church in Kowloon, Hong Kong, led a very interesting discussion on "Hardening of the Categories," helping us to probe some prejudices and biases that get in the way of our communicating. Business sessions were led by Harold Schock, Chairman of the Mission.

Saturday afternoon dealing with the theme, "A Taste of the Future", Keith Tennis led a discussion of the various directions the ministry of the Church in Hong Kong could take in the 80's.

The setting and the sharing along with some good meals, all added up to a good conference this year, and an especially close fellowship was felt by all the missionaries. We regret that Bill and Marion Hackett weren't able to share in the conference this year, due to Marion's illness.

Amy and Kimberly Tennis, being the official "greeters" at the ferry pier, hiked up the long hill six times, from the pier to the Retreat Center.

by Linda Tennis.

(Left to Right: Keith & Linda Tennis, Estelle Schock, Ruth & John Espy, June Sutton, Harold Schock, Ruth & Loren Noren)

25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HONG KONG SWATOW BAPTIST WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION by Estelle Schock

Under the leadership of Miss Edna Smith the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Women's Association was established in 1955. Some of the emphases through the years have included adult literacy classes, Christian home and family, leadership training, spiritual growth and observing the annual World Day of Prayer. Swatow Women have co-operated in the Asian Baptist Women's Union, joining hearts and hands in a greater fellowship to serve Our Lord.

God has stirred the hearts of Swatow Baptist Women with the message of caring for those in need. Locally, giving and visitation included orphanages, old folks home, TB hospital, the Leprosarium, and the Hong Kong Billy Graham Crusade. Last year being the UN Year of the Child, we visited and contributed to the work at the Sunnyside retarded chi.1dren's home. We have also been reaching out to many countries around the world, such as, the Far East Broadcasting Company in the Philippines, refugee work in Bangladeshand Thailaad, ministry in Burma, relief work in Nigeria and Nicaragua. The offering from the 25th Anniversary celebrations on November 16, 1980, went to some of the former pastors and Christian workers in the Swatow area of China who are in need.

Our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and praise for God's goodness. In this spirit we climaxed the 25^th Anniversary celebrations with three nights of spiritual - uplift services.

Prayers focused not only on gratitude for the past, but also on guidance in the days ahead that with His grace and strength we may be better witnesses for Him.

HIGHLIGHTS IN 25 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY TRAININGby Ruth Noren.

Swatow women frequently relate the unique experiences of the beginnings of their Christian faith in the China mainland Swatow area. They thank God for His guidance in their families through times of distress. Most of them grew spiritually while seeking financial security, education for their children, and opportunities to serve the Lord.

From the time when Edna Smith (now Mrs. Bea Armstrong) organised the women into an Association, we started training in Christian home life. We encouraged families in more effective communication. Swatow parents and children gathered after factory hours to see an entertaining two-act play, which illustrated Christian methods to help resolve family tensions in crowded living situations. A Christian nurse advised parents on home hygiene.

The Swatow Baptist women are well-known for their Home Visitation and "Neighbourhood Worship". Rapid growth in church membership has largely resulted from consistent efforts by women who walk long distances, ride crowded buses, and climb high stairways to witness to families.

Through the years we co operated with the Hong Kong Family Planning Association. Field workers came to show films regarding birth control and introduced mothers to clinics located in their own neighbourhoods.

A Swatow Doctor helped with other training events which focused on family health. We showed a colored film produced by the Food Study Committee of the Council of Social Service. Basic information on nutrition was thus taught at the level of the average Swatow housewife.

WU OI GETS NEW TREATMENT CENTER

One question always asked of Wu Oi that is never asked of a church, is, What is your success rate" That is, how many of your drug addict converts have remained clean? Because Wu Oi has recently closed a three year chapter of drug rehabilitation in Sba Lo Tung village, we can give a few statistics. In the three years ending in August 1980, approximately 250 people walked into the Center in Sha Lo Tung Village hoping to be able to walk out drug-free. But only 30 stayed the full 6 mouths required to receive a graduation certificate. Of these 30, at the time of this writing 25 still remain drug-free, active in the Wu Oi fellowship program and faithfully attend a church of their choice.

Falling to Hong Kong's insatiable appetite for economic development, the Sha Lo Tung village and beautiful valley will be transformed into a modern hotel, golf course and other symbols of "progress".

So Wu Oi has had to move. But God's faithfulness provided us with a large 2-room house in which we have put 14 bunk beds. A local church built several large houses for refugees some 20 years ago in a small fertile valley named Ha Kan on Lautau Island-Hong Kong's largest island. An adequate water supply, laud to cultivate, and a small sandy beach just one minute run from the house make our new location truly a gift from God.

We thank Him for the opportunities that surround us in our wituess to this socially handicapped segment of Hong Kong Society-the drug abusers.

by Harold Schock.

GREEN LAKES MEETING OF BAPTIST COUNCIL ON WORLD MISSION

Dynamic delegate representing Swatow Baptists at Wisconsin meeting of The Baptist Council was the youngest overseas person to attend. Chanse Kwok presented an impressive report of the challenges open to Hong Kong churches. Among his suggestions concerning urgent needs was the hope that church leaders could be given more training to help families live as Christians in our complicated commercial environment. Traditional strengths in Chinese family life are threatened by the demands of a highly competitive and sophisticated urban setting.

Hong Kong is ten percent Christian, but we pray for stronger influence of the churches in daily life and work.

Chanse's work in H.K. is with a company which investigates copyright and label infringements. He is Chairman of the Deacons in the Shaukiwan Swatow Baptist Church. He has a very fine wife and two young children.

by Ruth Noren

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

Ruth Noren organized a Family Life Seminar for young Chinese couples, held at The Chinese Y.M.C.A. One wife from the Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church said it was the first time she had ever taken time to go and hear what can be said in a public meeting about married happiness.

Dr. Daniel Chow (faculty member at Chung Chi Theology Department) and his wife Mrs. Nancy Chow (formerly related to A.B. work with Hakka people in South China) were the featured speakers. Both are well known in the field of Christian home life. Nancy has written books on this theme.

MACEDONIA CHOIR

More than thirty young singers from Swatow churches presented two nights of special music for youth audience in a Baptist church on Hong Kong Island. Ten new believers responded with their intention to follow Jesus Christ as Lord.

The first evening included a life of Christ in music. The second night the group sang Gabriel Chi's original cantata "The Prodigal Son". Loren Noren conducted the choir both nights.

AT MOON LOK COMMUNITY CENTER

Mr. Albert Choi has accepted the position of Program Co-ordinator. He is a Swatow Baptist with a B.A. in sociology from the University of Saskatchewan. His coming has meant an increase in programs offered by the Center and contacts made with people in the community.

A recent highlight was the commencement by Mr. Choi and Miss Daisy Lam (under the Tsun Wan Swatow Baptist Chapel's sponsorship) of a Junior Youth Fellowship for 9-14 year olds as a result of the summer programs. There are 30 members and 10 have, made decisions to follow Christ.

by June M. Sutton

HONG KONG/BURMA SEMINAR

The Burma Baptist Convention invited Harold Schock to bring a team from the Wu Oi Christian Center in Hong Kong to assist them in ' developing a program for their spiralling number of drug addicts. So the first week of November, 1980, Wu Oi's Director and Assistant Director, Mr. Ngai and Mr. Chan, together with Mr. Schock went to Burma to conduct a five - day seminar on a Christian approach to drug treatment and rehabilitation.

Some 30 representatives from many parts of Burma attended the Rangoon Seminar, and concluded with a decision to begin immediately 4 "Fellowship Centers" as a first stop in their attack on this problem. Many expressed their hopes for a follow-up session next year.

by Harold Schock

SAD NEWS FROM SWATOW

The Rev. Martin Ho died in Swatow on February 16, 1981. He was the former executive Secretary of The Ling Tong Baptist Convention.

When be preached on Chinese Now Year Day in the Kakcbiell. Church, the crowd was so great that some had to stand outdoors. Ten days later he "went home forever". About three thousand Christians attended the funeral in the Memorial Church in Kakchieh.

MOSES AND MARIA CHUNG

Associate Pastor of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church Moses Chung in addition to varied pastoral duties, is responsible for Christian Education and Youth Work. This may mean Daily Vacation Bible School, or youth worship and Bible study in a rooftop room under Hong Kong's airplane approach, or summer conferences at a peaceful campground.

Moses was ordained in the Kowloon City church last spring, along with Pastor David Chib. (see H.K. PEAK April 1980 issue). In the same service, eight deacons were "ordained" for further commitment to the work of Jesus Christ.

Moses was born in 1943 in the Swatow area of South China, graduated from high school in Canton, received a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Evangelical Theological College in Hong Kong. His parents were both.. full-time church worriers near Swatow. His mother was an early graduate of The Baptist Women's Training School, operated by American Baptist missionaries in Kakchieh.

Moses was in charge of Hong Kong's Chuk Yuen Chapel and Christian Center for five years. Maria also has a noteworthy history at Chuk Yuen, having served their as Principal of the Chuk Yuen Kindergarten. Maria's mother is a church deacon, and former chairlady of The Swatow Baptist Women's Association.

Moses and Maria have one daughter and one son. While diligently preparing for a school exam in Biblical knowledge, both children agreed, "We want to get 100, so Mom and Dad will not be ashamed of us!"

Gifted with delightful sense of humor, Moses and Maria are affectionately known as a couple chosen by God, dedicated workers of integrity and spiritual depth. Join us in prayers for their continued effectiveness as they love and care for God's people "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life" in the congestion of Kowloon City.

by Ruth Noren

HONG KONG's STEP PROGRAM

Linda Tennis has taken over the responsibility of the S.T.E.P. program of the Mission from June Sutton. Presently we are providing scholarships for fourteen students. Seven of these are completing their high school education (which is not provided free by the Government), and seven young people are receiving scholarships to study piano. These latter are young people who showed potential for assisting in their churches and youth groups.

BIBLE STUDY IN NEW CHINA

K.H. Ting, well-known scholar and Christian leader in contemporary China, has written "How to Study the Bible". Philip Wickeri of Tao Fong Shan Ecumenical Center in Hong Kong, wrote in the preface, "this short pamphlet may afford us a better understanding of the significance of the Bible for the Chinese church. As I read the manuscript for the first time, I continually found myself moving back and forth between the theological insights of an individual Christian and the social context of Christianity in new China, on the one hand, and the eternal message of the Bible on the other."

PARTNERS IN GOD'S VINEYARD

Bill Jarvis, Treasurer of B.I.M., brought from Valley Forge in November, the twenty-five year service awards for Harold and Estelle Schock. Recognition of their work, and prayers for their continued effectiveness in the Lord's plan for their lives, were led by Loren Noren. The presentation was followed by a Chinese Dinner for the Mission "family".

TENNIS IN A NEW COURT

Having achieved considerable proficiency in use of the Cantonese language, Keith Tennis is doing more preaching and relating to youth in the churches.

He has been appointed to the Chaplaincy Committee of United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong, working with new Chaplain Ralph Lee.

HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE

Bill Hackett teaches nine hours weekly in the Sociology Department at Baptist College. The College has begun a new complex which will provide about 40 staff apartments, n e w laboratories, further classrooms and office space.

JUNK BAY

I preached to patients and nurses at the annual Christmas service at Junk Bay, held in the Church of Haven of Hope T.B. Sanitorium. Ruth and I were touched during the program following, to see a young man in a wheelchair joyfully playing Christmas carols on his harmonica. Several months ago, depressed with the hopelessness of his illness, he asked the court for mercy killing. The recommendation was a referral to Haven of Hope. There be found Christ and hope and love and once again it was showed that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation".

My sister and her husband (Rev. and Mrs. John Blythe of First Baptist Church, Winfield, Kansas) were in Hong Kong for the celebration of 25 years work of The Junk Bay Medical Relief Council. A few of us were recognized for serving on the Board for more than 20 years.

by Loren E. Noren

HongKong People.....................

David Ngai is studying Urban Ministries at Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago, in preparation for future work in Hong Kong... Akheto Sema is now taking course in Church Music at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, appropriate for his work in Nagaland ... Mrs. Lorena Presley at H.K. Baptist College has organized an Orientation Program for visiting professors and non-Cantonese speaking students, to assist with housing, transportation, food, and advice on how to make the most of a short stay in our fascinating city... Loren Noren bad a Phone-a-Mission from his home church -in Superior, Nebraska, while celebrating its 100th Anniversary ... David Y. K. Wong (immediate past presidentof BWA) shot his fourth hole-in-one at Fanling Golf Course... the Tennis girls report that Kowloon now has 33 flavors of ice cream, along with the traditional popsicles made of red beans... Linda Tennis assists in teaching English in a nearby Vietnamese refugee camp... Marion Hackett is convalescing after recent hospitalization...

Missionaries....
Dr. and Mrs. John Espy (Ruth)
Dr. and Mrs. William D. Hackett (Marion)
Dr. and Mrs. Loren E. Noren (Ruth)
Rev. and Mrs. Harold Schock (Estelle)
Miss June M. Sutton
Rev. and Mrs. Keith Tennis (Linda)