March 1976.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

GOD-IN OUR YESTERDAYS ---
A senior missionary looks back
by Loren Noren

When we look back over the 21 years that we have been in Hong Kong, the changes that have taken place seem unbelievable:

-The 'Christian Noodle Factory' which produced-a couple tons, daily for distribution in the food lines has been closed. It's no longer needed.

-The large quantities of used clothing from Church World Service which we formerly distributed are no longer required. "Sweaters for Hong Kong' can now be sent to Northern Thailand.

-Refugee families of rural origin resettled on Chu Lap Kok island are now self-supporting. In addition, a youth camp is being developed on the island. It is housed in Quonset-huts which used to be the temporary quarters for the Kowloon Police Station, purchased at a big discount.

-Chuk Yuen Christian Center has developed from nothing into a center with a full range of community, religious, and youth activities.

-The Swatow Baptist Women's Association has celebrated its 20th anniversary. The women continue to be a great strength in the life of the churches. -Independent, self-supporting Swatow Baptist churches have increased from 3 to 8. They also operate chapels which have increased from 1 to 9. Total membership has grown from about 700 to over 6,000. All 8 churches now have their own ordained ministers. From modest beginnings, all now have quite adequate premises for their work and worship.

-The tiny but happy church group and kindergarten which began in a leaky, wooden hut in 1955 in Tiger Tail Village later moved to premises on the rooftop of a resettlement building in Kwun Tong, and then a few years ago into their own new beautiful church building. The church now has about 500 members, an exceptionally fine music program and an excellent Sunday School and junior church.

--The Hong Kong Christian Council which began about the time we arrived in Hong Kong is now a strong ecumenical body related to the big majority of churches in Hong Kong, It has a full range of projects, committees, and programs in both mission and service.

-Chung Chi College, including the Theological School, has grown from a small night school to a high standard college and is now one of the constituent colleges of the internationally recognized Chinese University of Hong Kong.

-The Christian Study Center on Chinese Religion and Culture for the first time in its history has been able to invite as its director a highly-qualified Chinese who has as his associates two able Chinese and one parttime missionary.

-The Chinese Christian Literature Council has almost achieved full self-support and has increased its sales several times over. A recent series of kindergarten lesson books has sold over 400,000 copies in the last 4 years.

-Loren recently participated in the closing ceremony for the Leprosy Mission project at Hay Ling Chau, which was begun about the time we went to Hong Kong. Leprosy patients in Hong Kong are now being treated in a regular hospital, which is a pioneer situation.

-Haven of Hope T.B. Sanatorium began just over 20 years ago. From a few dedicated staff and and practically no equipment or buildings the hospital grew to 300 beds fully occupied. What a joy it was a few years ago to close the ward for babies because of lack of patients. Now our interdenominational committee is also in serious discussion about the use of the beds as we gradually conquer the incidence of T.B. in Hong Kong.

-From a dream and an ad hoc committee, the United Christian Hospital in the newly developing community of Kwun Tong has become a reality. The 550-bed acute general hospital with a nurses' training school was dedicated in December, 1973. Help from church bodies around the world, the Hong Kong Government and practically every congregation in Hong Kong provided the capital funds to build the hospital. It is a pioneer in its developing community health program.

These are only samples of the tremendous ways in which individual lives have been changed and how the church has significantly affected society through the power of Christ. But as we look ahead to the problem and opportunities in the decades ahead, we anticipate even greater need for faith, courage, energy vision and especially for the support and prayers that we have known in-the past.

YOUR MISSIONARIES REPORT

Hong Kong Baptist Mission Conference, Jan. 20, 1976

WILLIAM HACKETT'S REPORT

Marion and I have spent almost 8 years at Chung Chi College, and it had been a most rewarding period in many ways. However, when Hong Kong Baptist College requested me to consider accepting the responsibility of Department Head in Sociology and Social Work, we saw an opportunity to widen our service in a growing and developing Post-Secondary College with a strong Christian emphasis. So my official resignation was accepted by Chung Chi on May 31, 1975. My department is large with more than 450 students registered as Majors, and another 800 who take courses in the department. It covers two Major fields, sociology and Social Work, and 3 minor fields, Psychology, Criminology, and Recreation. In addition, many opportunities for contacts with members of the staff (30 in our department alone), and students arise.

I still get out to Chu Lap Kok island about once a week but, as the settlers have now received leases from government for their -holdings, we only deal with them as friend and advisor,- or we help them to get help and/or resources for developing their plots. The work in Macau still takes a few hours one weekend per month. We make contacts with quite a large number of young people and the number of Christians in the Burmese community is increasing slowly. On Dec.22nd, out of 13 baptized from the 4 churches and chapels, 5 were from the Burmese speaking community.

Marion has been able to be more active this fall participating in activities for the first time in many years. Thanks be to God!

Its been a good year, and we look forward to 1976 and its challenges with great anticiption. We believe that God has much for us to do in Hong Kong in the few years remaining to us before retirement.

RUTH AND JOHN ESPY'S REPORT

John

I continue to divide my time between teaching, administration, counselling, public relations for LIBA (Lingnam Institute of Business Administration), activities outside of LIBA. The year 1975 was a good one for LIBA; we continued to attract a large number of well-qualified applicants, and our graduates obtained responsible positions in local and foreign-owned companies. In addition to my teaching and administrative work, I try to put as much time as possible on planning for the future. We expect to increase the enrollment in our current 2 year full-time M.B.A. program and to add a 3 year, part-time program by next September. In November 1975 I assumed the responsibilities of the Mission Treasurer when Rev. Hugh Smith left Hong Kong to take up his new position at Valley Forge.

Ruth

In the fall, I was asked to teach braille to women volunteers, and so the proportion of time for the two jobs was reversed; three days per week for braille, two days for the Library. In March, the Hong Kong Society for the Blind decided to take the braille program under its overview and assigned an office in the Society's building for my use. One project that engulfs me, somewhat like jumping into a deep snowdrift is brailling the University's telephone list for our blind operators. It is especially pleasing to me that two of our Missionaries have followed me into the braille program. Elaine Olley has completed one year and is helping me with the class in braille; Estelle Schock is a member of the braille class which started the course in October.

ELAINE & JOHN OLLEY'S REPORT

Chung Chi College Theology Division has been the focus of most of our time and effort. 1975 has been a good year which has shown that the Division is on a solid footing with increasing acceptance by the churches. One sign of this is the response to the first 'Theology Day’.held in October. Over 100 attended, mainly pastors and all commented on the spirit of the occasion, as 7 graduands were commissioned and 9 new students welcomed. John has been asked to be Head of the Theology Division for 2 years. While this means the inevitable desk work he sees this also as a way to enable the Chinese faculty members to be freer for the work they can do in church contacts and involvement in writing Chinese material. Rev. Alan Chan as newly-appointed faculty member responsible for Pastoral Studies brings the wealth of his experience and a firmness of vision to this teaching and the Division. John has also been involved in many discussions relating to possible changes in university structure and administrative and academic structure to which it relates. Again this year John has concentrated in N.T. teaching, including the supervision of 2 M.Div. theses and in addition he teaches "Philosophy of Science" in the general education programme.

Earlier in the year Elaine received her Certificate of Competency in Braille and has now almost completed 3 volumes (out. of 4 required for one book). This involvement has also led to regular meetings and conversations with Miss Esther Mak, one of the university's blind telephone operators. John continues on the Scripture Union Council and later in the year again became chairman of the English language promotion committee. A recent U.S. Activity was a "Bible Camp" at which 135 upperform students met for 21/2 days for guidance in-depth Bible study (as a sign of their seriousness $2,000 worth of Bible study aids were bought or ordered). A report of the year's activities must include the fact that after much prayer and long thought we accepted an invitation to join the faculty of the Western Australia Baptist Theological College upon the completion of this term of service (due 1978). Many factors were involved including both the "success" of the Theology Division and the increasing availability of well-qualified Chinese teachers. American Baptists have much to praise God for in the present strength of the Division and its future potential-the contribution to the wider church of Jesus Christ in Hong Kong and beyond is great.

JUNE M. SUTTON’S REPORT

For me 1975 has been the culmination of four years, work I have grown more confident that the materials that I am writing and producing are able to effectively teach junior young people Biblical truths and develop their potential as Christians and future leaders for the Church. I have also been able to see the formation of a satisfactory plan to carry on the production of materials for junior youth groups and the training of leaders during my extended furlough which will commence in, April, 1976. My assistant, Miss Esther Lam and I have almost completed a four year curricula geared to the needs of Chinese Junior young people and teaching Bible truths and principles by using creative learning methods. I am also writing activities for weekly meetings for small children aged four to eight years. Among other activities, I have also been related to Daily vacation Bible Schools and special summer programs, such as Junior Youth Camps, children's Bible Clubs, Happy Day Camps. For all these new types of programs special materials have been prepared and leaders were given training for working with small groups and using the creative methods for teaching the Bible. message.

I have continued as acting supervisor of the Moon Lok Kindergarten. Total enrollment for this current year is 400 students. Mr. Chih is an excellent principal who has spent-time and energy on providing relevant teaching aids and training the teachers to use these. I have had the administration of Student Tuition and Expenses Program which remains a means of giving financial help to families in time of crisis, educating future Christian leaders and helping promising pianists with fees for piano lessons so that they can play for church programs.

For the last six weeks of 1975 I served as 'interim administrator in the American Baptist mission office until the arrival of Carl Capen from Singapore to take over this responsibility. 1975 has been my best year of missionary service yet.

LOVE CHANCES LIVES
The Wu Oi Fellowship of Chuk Yuen
-by Harold Schock

A two year old program in the Chuk Yuen Christian Center is the Wu Oi Fellowship. Wu Oi means mutual love, and quite correctly describes the attitude of its members. The purpose of this group is stated on the membership card: "To show young drug users a better way of life, to help them see that faith in Jesus Christ is the best solution to their problems, and to develop guided friendship and fellowship among young people with similar problems."

"Faith-in Christ" rates high as a basis of helping young people on drugs. With this ingredient, people don't just quit taking drugs; their I are changed. "Friendship and fellowship" must stand right next to faith in Christ, because as these men spend most of the day together, eat, pray, sing and play soccer together, they quickly learn that the Christian way of life relates to the total person. We seldom use the word "cured" as we talk about these young people who have excluded heroin from their daily menu. But we have quite a group of fellows whose lives are radically different from one year ago.

Several charts cover our office walls one interesting chart points out graphically the various areas of our concern. One section has names of men who have registered with us to quit drugs. Another section lists our friends who will soon appear in court, and another those in jails.

No written rules govern the Wu Oi Fellowship. But some basic understandings cannot be violated. The taking of drugs or substitute drugs or smoking of any kind will not be tolerated. The judgment of our staff determines who will be accepted into our program. anyone in the building at meal time gets a genuine invitation to eat with the men. But those who eat are expected to stay for the 45 minute time of prayer and singing after the meal. One who decides that prayer, Bible study and other forms of Christian fellowship are not important, soon discovers he doesn't really belong. It's a rigid discipline, but within 3 months every man can stand before a group and tell how Christ has changed his life so completely.

One of the unique features of our program occurs between 10 pm and midnight every Saturday. After the weekly Wu Oi Fellowship meeting is finished, each Christian finds one of the new-comers, discovers his need, reassures him of our support and then prays with him. This personal concern usually guarantees the young man will return. We all agree that this element of our program is fully as important as the well polished sermon.

What ultimately happens to these men? Of course each situation is different. That helps to keep it exciting. Some stay to work with us, most return to society, return to jobs--if they have proper jobs. We keep Close tab on all who have come through our program and many of those who have become Christians and truly learned the meaning of "Wu Oi", return to the center for a few hours to be strengthened in their struggle.

CAPENS TO HONG KONG

Coming to Hong.Kong after 40 years of association with the Teochew (Swatow) people in China, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore seems to me to be a natural and fitting way to round out, a missionary career. Although most of my time is taken up in administrative responsibilities as Acting Mission Correspondent and Treasurer, I have the added joy of meeting old friends from China days and those I had known during previous visits to Hong Kong. As I preach nearly every Sunday in one of the Swatow Baptist churches, someone will express appreciation for what my parents meant to them in days gone by in Swatow. And many Chinese friends had known my wife, Louise, and me in our early years in the Teochew area on the southern coast of China. Not infrequently a church member will remind me that I baptized him or her at one of the inland village churches. All these experiences fill our lives with meaning and purpose as we endeavor to serve Christ in this year and a half before our retirement.

HERE IN HONG KONG........

Rev. Robert Johnson, Area Secretary for Hong Kong of the Board of International Ministries, was with us for 10 days in February. Although arriving from Thailand with a bad cold, he gallantly fulfilled a heavy schedule. We feel encouraged and strengthened by his supportive counsel.

June Sutton leaves April15 for a 17 month home (Australia) and study (Wheaton College) leave.

Schocks hope to have all of their children come back to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary and Philip's graduation from high school.

Rev. Lee Chun-Tsek -was taken to the hospital with a mild stroke, but made a quick recovery. Says it’s God's warning to slow down and obey the doctor.

John Ollev has kindly agreed to add further chores to his work load by taking Carl Capens responsibilities while Capons take a 6 weeks rest and visit to disappointed children who'd expected them to retire this month.

Homantin Church is enthusiastically renovating former school property recently acquired. It will give amle space for growth and expanded community program. Dedication June 20....

Espys' 2 months' home leave wi11 include their son John's graduation and marriage (good planning that).

Swatow Baptist Women gave HK$1550 to Guatemala earthquake victims on world Day of Prayer.

The Hong Kong Mission felt devastated by the departure in rapid succession of its 2 Chinese-work missionaries: Loren Noren on extended furlough to coordinate the world hunger campaign for American Baptist Churches, and Hugh Smith to become Secretary of Public Relations for BIM.

The Lutheran World Federation Department of World Service has merged with the HK Christian Council to operate under the name of Hong Kong Christian Service with Mr. K.L. Stumpf as Director.

Elbert and June Gates will be leaving July 4th on a 5 month land and sea trip to USA. 'Not a single plane', says June firmly. They will much missed by the Kowloon Union church and the Mission.

Edna Smith Armstrong's friends will rejoice to hear she-is out of hospital and recovering well. Ruth Noren recently went east to attend a workshop on Teaching English as Second Language of which her daughter Joy was a coordinator.

Missionaries....
Rev. and Mrs. Carl Capen (Louise)
Mr. and Mrs. John Espy (Ruth)
Dr. and Mrs. William D. Hackett (Marion)
Rev. and Mrs. Loren E. Noren (Ruth)
Rev. and Mrs. John Olley (Elaine)
Rev. and Mrs. Harold Schock (Estelle)
Miss June M. Sutton