May 1977.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

Issued occasionally by the American Baptist Mission in Hong Kong

(This issue of the Peak is particularly about people: church and mission. we hope it will help highlight some of our Swatow Christians, who have served without thought of recognition, but whose lives are an inspiration to us.)

Kwun Tong Oom-pah-pah

Eleven young people from the Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church have created a "first" among our Swatow churches: a band. After 3 months lip training on bugles, these young people graduated to a bunch of second hand band instruments in October 1976. Somewhat under professional standards, they nevertheless made their debut at Christmas and have played for their church worship services once a month beginning in January this year. Under they baton of Harold Schock, they have also accepted several outside invitations including one captive audience-Easter Monday at a local prison.

YOUR GIFTS OF WORK........

The American Baptist Churches donated US$10,000 to Baptist College to furnish the 4th floor of the Christian Education Building, including the partitioning of the Philosophy and Religion program and the conference rooms.

President Dr. Daniel Tse writes, "All of us here are extremely grateful for this gift since it means that we will have adequate facilities not only for the Philosophy and Religion programme which will be housed on that floor but also for conferences and seminars for internal as well as external use. We are sure that with the improved facilities and the office arrangements, our faculty would be more easily accessible to the students who need help and guidance in a distinctively Christian way. We very much hope that our Christian Education Building will become a stronghold for Christian witness on campus and in the city."

A SAINT GOES HOME

A thousand people walking from church to cemetery brought traffic to a standstill. It was a tribute and a celebration for a saint of the church.

What more triumphant passing than on knees in prayer among praying friends!

Mrs. Yiu Lee Choi Chun was where each Saturday night found her: with a large group of women praying for the coming of the Kingdom, when she was taken to her reward.

Born in the Swatow area of China in 1902, she and her husband became Christians when availing prayer of church members brought healing to her husband. At the beginning of the Sino-Japanese conflict in 1937, they came to Hong Kong and was instrumental in founding the first Swatow Baptist Church here. Their early simple home under the shadow of Lion Rock Hill was the center of the Swatow Baptists in Hong Kong (see Mr. Stanley Chen's account). Both of them were deacons in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church.

After her husbands death, Mrs. Yiu continued her unstinted service for the Gospel, working particularly in opening and strengthening the chapels which are a significant feature of the Swatow churches. A "chapel" may have 200 members!

The influence of Mrs. Yiu’s Christian commitment may be seen in the lives of her children who have contributed to society and the church. The eldest son is the influential chairman of deacons in Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church the 'mother' church which she and her husband helped found; another doctor son was a missionary in Africa for several years; Joseph, a graduate of Berkeley Baptist Seminary is the pastor of Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church. other children are equally distinguished.

What a wonderful life of witness.

SCHOCKS ON FURLOUGH

Estelle and Harold left end of May on furlough. They are anticipating attending San Diego Convention and seeing many of you there.

High in their priorities is ample time with their 3 children: Judy, Linda, and Philip--grandson Matthew will have his share too.

Harold was presented with a few departing details to handle during his last week: pump at youth camp on Chu Lap Kok Island didn't work, so no water; Wu Oi Fellowship moved to newly rented premises, so a bustle of furniture-carrying; Burma needs a projector, a friend in Thailand wants a good camera, someone else is thinking of a car, just call Harold the expert--a fairly typical missionary's life.

Harold and Estelle are already booked for quite a lot of speaking in churches and special meetings, so look for them in your church.

HEART’S HOME REVISITED

The first time you go to a new country, with the commitment of settling in for life, you are so busy learning a new language or two, appreciating a new culture, making new friends, coping with new ways of dealing with practical details, you can feel your mind and your heart stretching, racing to meet each new challenge, praying for grace, if you can't yet be useful, at least not to turn people away from the God who sent you, By the time He's guiding you in the work He sets before you, you know your new surroundings, take your new friends and their culture almost for granted. You and they use family terms in addressing each other; differences remain, but everybody knows how to allow for them. what seemed at first sharply new is now normal and predictable. In the course of twenty-odd years, your roots go very deep and you are at home.

But then suppose all foreigners have to leave? You are in a very real sense a displaced person, an exile, for those roots ramain behind. You wonder sometimes whether your memories are accurate: are you perhaps exaggerating all the best, and ignoring the worst? The letters you receive deny any such idea, but the scanty news sources tell terrible tales of a mismanaged economy and much suffering among the people.

If after eleven years you were allowed to go home for a week, you'd hardly know what to expect. Maybe only if you were going home to Burma would those few days be such a glorious family reunion, such a cup running over with joy.

Mind you, the news reporters had done their homework. We took in quantities of medicines and other unavailable commodities. one of our closest associates was wearing a new longyi ( a sarong worn by men on the plains; in the hills, men wear trousers) for which he had paid fifty kyats. (Pronounce chuts, rhyme with cuts.) That’s about US$8. His monthly salary is eighty kyats.

Shortages are taken for granted; illness is a catastrophe; travel is difficult and dangerous except on the regular tourist loops, and expensive everywhere, unless you come up with the simple and obvious solution, and walk. But the people! - those cheerful, easy-going, ingenious, loving, above all devout people are irrepressibly themselves.

There were our 'brothers' and 'nephew' who waited hours at the airport, and immediately made our family status abundantly clear. There were our old friends on the staffs of the Bible Schools and Seminaries near Rangoon, and a new generation of students who turned out en masse to greet us with a concert. There were church leaders, Convention leaders, YMCA and Gideon leaders, representatives of many language groups, most of them personal friends. There were the beloved Christians with whom we had worked so long up-country. There was a Christian hostel (village schools rarely provide more than four years of schooling) most of whose children hadn't been born when we left - but we were their Auntie and Uncle in Christ. There was my brother-in-law, whom my husband's mother had brought up in the Moulmein Christian orphanage along with her own four boys. There were leaders of other denominations, who received us most graciously. And of course there were the younger men and women who had come into responsible positions since we left.

All of them were eager to talk about how their churches were growing, how the Bible School and Seminary enrollments were the largest ever, how they were sending evangelists into hitherto unreached tribes, even in the turbulent border areas, how gospel teams from schools and churches were somehow being built, though materials were so hard to get, how more and more lay people want to witness and teach and preach.

My memories, far from being exaggerated, had been inadequate. We were given new appreciation of people strong in the Lord, ignoring hardships, happy and laughing and loving in their families, eager to bring others to their Jesus. He must have had them in mind when He said, "Ye are the light of the world."

by--Marion Hackett

MACEDONIA CHOIR TOURS SE ASIA

The Macedonia Choir of the Swatow Baptist Churches was established only in January 1976 yet on April 24, 1977 it gave a concert in the City Hall, sponsored by the Urban Council. Accompanied by the orchestra of Baptist College, the choir sang to full house.

The rapid success of the choir is largely due to its organiser and director, Mr. Gabriel Chi, a deacon of Kowloon City church and Executive Music Editor of the Baptist Press. Mr. Chi and the choir feel their most important function is in witnessing and evangelising, and toward this purpose Gabriel writes and compose many of the numbers the choir sings.

In August the choir will be making a 10 day tour of SE Asia. They have been raising money and saving toward this tour for a year. Rev. Joseph Yiu will accompany them as Chaplain.

Mr. Chi (Ki Tiak-seng) is perhaps best known for his hymn-book, "New Songs of Praise", brought out first in 1973 and now in its 4th printing. This successful hymnal is widely used by Chinese churches not only in Asia and SE Asia, but also in USA, Canada and Australia. In response to popular demand, an English version was produced in 1976.

Proud to call Gabriel a friend of 40 years, the Capens recall the teenager years ago in Chaoyang who came to the home to help Louise with conversation or for youth meetings. His father, Rev. Ki Kang, was pastor of the church. Gabriel had further education in Shanghai, specialising in music. In 1947 he returned to Swatow to teach in Luk Hwai Academy, and came to Hong Kong in 1958. He was music director in Chung Chi College from 1959-65 and joined the Baptist Press in 1968.

In 1962 he married Florence Chan, a lecturer in Chung Chi, and they have one son, Victor. Florence comes from Malaysia and received both her BA and MA from the International Christian University of Japan. She is presently teaching in Hong Kong Christian College (secondary school).

"Not the same man…"

Ron Kirstein, a long time friend of the Schock family, graduated from Seattle Pacific University last June, and planned to enter seminary. But he accepted the Schock's invitation to spend a while in Hong Kong. So he came in September 1976 and stayed 5 months. He worked in the International School and helped the Schocks in English classes and the Wu Oi Fellowship at the Christian Center. Having returned to the States, he plans to enter seminary this fall. His pastor writes that "Ron is not the same man he was when he left Yakima." He now considers missionary service as a real option in his life.

THIS IS HONG KONG

ASIA Week in its latest edition reported the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club made a record turnover of $3,225 giving million for the season ending on May 28th.

RHKJC cash flow has thus for the first time exceeded total government spending on education, medical and health service, housing and social welfare which is put at $2,935 million.

"At this rate of increase the turnover will take just three years to surpass all government spending in 6 every sector of the economy," Asia Week said.

More from Pomona

"In the event that you haven't hear, I know you will be interested to know that David Wong and his family are settled here in California and he is working with Chinese people in the Los Angeles area. It is a joy to have David among us again.

You might be interested to know that here in our church we have a Sunday School in Cantonese every Sunday afternoon for about 50 Chinese refugees from Vietnam. We are blessed to have a former teacher from a Hong Kong seminary in our congregation. She teaches the adults and a wonderful group of young people from a Chinese Evangeliscal Free Church in Los Angeles come to teach the children. It is an exciting thing for us to have our worldwide ministry going on in our own facility. You might also be interested to know that our church gave approximately 105,000 dollars to American Baptist missionary enterprises this past year. We became the first church to break the 100 thousand dollar barrier. We praise God for this and we want to continue to increase our giving, not only the total but the per capita giving."

Yours in His Love, A. Maureen Brians, (Miss) First Baptist Church Pomona, California

UNTO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION

The small country village church of Khou Khoi in the Chaoyang region of Swatow, China has produced an astounding number of sturdy Christians and church leaders. Rev. John Chen of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Church and Rev. Simpson Shih, formerly of Bangkok and now working among Chinese in Temple Baptist Church of Los Angeles, are outstanding examples of today. For 7 years members and their families have met the 3rd day of Chinese New Year to thank God for His blessings and celebrate together. Above are some of these Khou Khoi Christians meeting in the Kwun Tong Church, February 20th,1977. Rev. Carl Capen, under whose ministry in China, many of these were baptised was the speaker.

Next to Carl is Yap Sok Lang, past president of Swatow Women's Association, deacon of the church, daughter-in-Christ of Edna Smith Armstrong, dedicated Christian.

MILDRED PROCTOR WRITES

My "small doings" seem very small when I think of the schedules and programs being carried on by each one of you. I have been trying to write a story of my life and that of my parents as they were in China, and that has taken a lot of time. I have been going over copies of letters written to members of the family. So many memories come back, and I become so immersed in them that when the telphone rings I scarcely know where I am! I do not expect this 'story" to be published, for it is more suited to family interests than to those of general public, but I am glad to have had the fun of doing it.

Phyllis and the Hamburger

Phyllis and Ward Miller (formerly of Redlands) have for the past five years been serving Baptist College in a splendid way. Ward has been acting head of the English department and Phyllis assistant to the President-a position Helen Wigginton before her filled so ably. These ABC women.

Looking for ways to raise funds for the College, Phyllis cozened McDonalds into printing special chits - half of which went to Baptist College. And how she flogged those tickets. The College received almost $40,000 from these. Impressed with her driving enthusiasm, they made her a consultant and asked her to cut the ribbon at the opening of their 5th enormously popular restaurant.

CONVERSION AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

Of Mr. Stanley Chen Luen-fong

(At a church dinner, I once heard Mr. Chen sing a Chinese translation of 'Sweetly Sings the Donkey' which he had learned as a boy of 10 from Rev. Randall Capen. Charmed with this and other reminiscences, I asked him to write something of his life. Mr. Chen gave the eulogy at the funeral of Mrs. Yiu, mother of the outstanding Yiu brothers.)

Born in 1909 in Kityang, northwest of Swatow, Mr. Chen was educated in Baptist missionary schools -- in Hakka under Rev. J. L. Bjelke and in Kak Kuang Academy under Rev. Randall Capen. He completed his senior middle school education in Munsang College, Hong Kong under Mr. Rufus Hwang, father of the well-known Rayson Hwang, Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, and became one of the first graduates in 1930. His first job was as film promoter in Amoy for only a few months. Due to Japanese disturbance, he returned to Munsang College, Hong Kong, as the school secretary and teacher till the Japanese occupation in December 1941.

Compulsory church attendance for years, however, had hot made him a Christian, till the solid fact of life's problems made it necessary for him to seek for the peace of God. One evening in 1935 he was invited to a prayer meeting in which only the boy Rayson, his brother Raymond, his sister Rayann and a Bible woman (prayer leader) were present. one by one, each was called upon to pray; and being the last, he found himself uttering a prayer which was completely strange and new to his ear. He then found God's guidance through answer to his prayers and moved his residence from Kowloon City to a rural hut in Po Kong Shan at the foot of the famous Lion Rock Hill. He began his tithe offering which became the first sum offered in building the first Swatow Baptist chapel, opposite to his hut; Mr. Ng See-tak offered the second and Mr. Yiu Kin-man, the third, with twenty silver pieces each. Mr. Ng See-tak, first preacher of the Po Kong Shan Baptist Chapel, was receiving a salary of 15 silver pieces a month. His offering of 20 pieces of silver was meant for travelling expenses to Vietnam; but the Holy Spirit led him to change his mind. Yiu Kin-man's twenty pieces was obtained by selling his dwelling's shed--the ducks had been wiped out by an epidemic. The group had been meeting in the wooden hut of Mr. Yiu, father of Joseph, the present pastor of 2000 member Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church.

Mr. Chen was secretary of the Chinese YMCA, Hong Kong (Feb. 1947-Aug. 1964) In 1948, he was ordained as deacon of Swatow Baptist Church, Kowloon City. In Spring 1950, he was called to help in developing of the Swatow Christian Chapel (non-denominational) at a borrowed premises at Tai Po Road, Kowloon. He shrank from the icy cold Sunday Service with eight adults and twelve children. But the Holy Spirit was very manifest in the fact that a choir of twenty-seven (including a leader and two pianists) was enlisted in one visitation, and with the facilities (robes and hymn sheets) which a Y secretary found at hand, the choir was at once ready for Sunday Service and added much life to the chapel. In less than a month the chapel had reached its capacity of 150. The chapel purchased a 3-storey building in spring 1952, and in a solemn ceremony seven deacons were ordained, and the Chapel dedicated to the glory of God, and is now the well-established Swatow Baptist Church, Shumshuipo, Kowloon. Mr. Chen was the chairman of this Church from spring 1950 to December 1960.

Mr. Chen served in 1948 as one of the founders (being secretary of church council) of the Tsimshatsui Swatow Baptist Church, No. 28, Lock Road, Kowloon (which became the Lock Tao Church spreading in various districts with over a thousand members). In the same year he also served as one of the founders (secretary of church council) of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Church, No. 64 Connaught Road, W. 2nd floor, Hong Kong.

Mr. Chen is now retired and serves as life deacon in the Kowloon City and has been vice-chairman of this Church for the past three years. He preaches from time to time in the three churches (including one in Shaukiwan and one in Kwun Tong) and six chapels as a lay preacher.

Mr. Chen obtained his Bachelor of Theology degree in the year 1962 from Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary.

STEP

For several years the Students Tuition and Expenses Program has helped many tens of Swatow young people secure an education to fit them to serve their church and community.

Some of them are already in university or seminary in further preparation for life work.. Here are two of them:

CHAN KWONG KEUNG lives with his grandparents. He is a delightful young man who is developing leadership skills in the weekly Junior Youth meeting of the Kwai Chung Chapel. Last year he commenced teaching in the S.S. Even though he has been learning the piano for only a short time, he is able to play hymns for the Sunday School. This is a great help as this chapel has only two persons able to play the piano for the many meetings held each week. The scholarship through STEP has enabled Kwong Keung to learn to Play the piano and use this skill in God's work.

CHOI BING BING has been a STEP piano scholarship student for several years. She is an active and helpful member of the Shaukiwan Baptist Church. Recently she has entered Baptist College where she hopes to major in English, but combine this with her music, so that she can use her music in service of the church. She believes God has called her to serve Him in Christian leadership among the Swatow Baptist Churches with her music.

Bing Bing is the happy recipient of a memorial scholarship from First Baptist Church of Toledo, Ohio. It is to honour Agnes F. Cordill. A living memorial to bear witness.

CASTLE PEAK BAPTIST CHURCH DEDICATION

A spirit of Jubilant celebration characterised the dedication of the church. 'God is so good,' the pastor kept ejaculating.

This congregation of 240 had not thought that eight months earlier they could do it, but on that Sunday after Easter, the treasurer announced with a modest smile a surplus of HK$40 after all expenses, fees and furnishings had been paid.

No one had much, but how they gave. One house-bound widow of no means managed over several years to save HK$700 and insisted it all go to the building fund. Thirty-five young people filled coin boxes, and by contributing almost all their Chinese New Year 'red packets' (children and young people are given money in red envelopes at new year) reached a munificent HK$3,000.

One church member at seminary in USA by taking on extra jobs was able to send back, bit-by-bit, about HK$3,500.

The congregation radiates its happiness at being at last in adequate premises. The pastor reminds them they cannot relax in witness.

SWATOW BAPTISTS IN SE ASIA

For some years the Southeast Asia Swatow Baptist Council of Evangelism has had a concern for Swatow Chinese scattered in pockets around the area. They are usually except in Thailand - a minority group among other overseas Chinese. However no group has a stronger concern for evangelisation.

Many of them have come from Swatow itself - a city reputed to have had the highest percentage of Christians in China - and can recall the main street of the city filled with Christians walking to church with Bibles in the hands.

The Swatow Baptist Council has had several projects to promote fellowship among Swatow Baptist and to reach the unchurched.

For the past year the emphasis has been on a church for the Swatow Chinese in Taiwan. Property in Taipei has been secured, a preacher invited, and it is hoped that many who have not found a 'heart's home' there will respond to a church of their own dialect.

Mr. Samuel Kho of Bangkok is Chairman of the Organisation, and the Kee family of Bangkok and Taiwan generous supporters of the Taipei project.

"If you are thinking of a year ahead

Plant a seed,

If you are thinking 10 years ahead

Plant a tree,

If you are thinking of 100 years ahead

Educate the people."

3rd Century BC Chinese poet quoted from CCA News.

1947-77

South China Mission at a mission conference in Kakchieh—across the bay from Swatow. They are standing on the steps of the memorial Church. Of the group five are 2nd generation missionaries, six are still on the mission field.

L to R: (front row) Carl Capen, Keith, Connie, Louise Capen, Louise Giffin, Allison Osborn, Louise Campbell, Millicent Engel, Edna Smith (Armstrong); (2nd row) Frances Giedt, Dr. Marguerite Everham, Elsie Kittlitz, Enid Johnson, Dr. Clara Leach, Ruth and Loren Noren; (3rd row) Emmanuel Giedt, Alice Giffin, Beatrice Ericson, Abby Sanderson, Marion Bell (Azure), Ruth and Bill Sutte.rlin.

SOME THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON CHINA (China Notes Fall 1976)

But there are, I think , four points at which the encounter between Christians and Marxists is not yet over. The first is the battle line drawn by the Marxists themselves from the beginning. A Christian cannot join the Communist Party, and be a leader in a Marxist society, they say, because he is insufficiently liberated. This is not a provisional conflict that can be removed by Christians as they prove themselves good servants of the People. It is fundamental.

Second, the Christian is committed from the roots of Biblical reality, to a different picture of human nature. For the Christian human life is not realized in collective units but in the exploration and cultivation of relationships.

Third, the Christian can never give the place to class conflict and to hatred of the enemy, which also the Maoist version of Marxism demands, because the Christian cannot objectify sin so neatly in social forces. The heart of the Christian message is the power of God in the risen Christ to forgive all our sins and to overcome the powers those sins have generated.

Fourth, we must return to the question of the transcendent. It is not a question of a beyond outside of the normal business of life, but of a mystery beyond human control, in the midst of life. This is what the presence of Christ means. It is always, and must be, disturbing to humanist ideal.

by Charles C. West, Professor of Christian Ethics, Princeton Theological Seminary

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

Loren and Ruth Noren (above) who have been missionaries in since 1954 - in fact to many American Baptists they are Hong Kong will be returning in mid-July, to the rejoicing of their numberless friends in all areas of HK life. Loren has very effectively headed the World Hunger Campaign for ABC and may feel slightly embarrassed to be pictured eating. The Capens (below) are also eating as Chinese like any excuse for that…

Connie Gates is back in HK for 2 months doing her practicals for Public Health degree at University of North Carolina. Says her parents, Pearly and June have finally settled in Mystic – only they are off again: vacation supply, cruise, then there’s the boat Pearly wants to get…

Cecil Carder Sr. visited his son who was completing his junior year in Chinese University. While here gave Capens a preview of Thailand affairs ...

John Espy was understandably gratified to have the radio announce there had been 747 applicants for the 30 available places in the 3 year part-time Master of Business Administration program introduced this summer by his Lingnam Institute of Business Administration of Chinese University. "But", he says plaintively, "the 717 won't stay rejected." Edythe McCarty and Mary Leypoldt of Valley Forge were in HK briefly on a tour of Baptist missions, in time for an all Baptist (Conservatives Southern, American) prayer meeting and fellowship ...

Brenda Chu, who has been a member of the Espy family for years, married Tocher Mitchell in a lovely ceremony in Chung Chi Chapel and is now in Bangkok ...

Joy Noren married John McRae in Denver on her parents' 35th wedding anniversary, even using the same color scheme. Lovely ...

Joan Thatchner, responsible for the regional insert for TAB (The American Baptist Magazine) for California, is in Hong Kong on mixed tour and mission fact-finding trip for 2 weeks. ...

Carl and Louise Capen (below) will be leaving HK Aug. - lst for a further year's assignment in Thailand. They reopened this 2nd oldest ABM field in 1952 and served there 12 years before going to Malaysia for 2 years and Singapore for 10. Carl was born in China and returned with Louise for the first 15 years of service, so counts it joy that al1 42 years of missionary have been with Swatow Chinese. Louise was born in Korea. Carl will be going back to same job of Field Correspondent, but now he has 3 bosses, he says: Australian, Swedish and American Baptists! - Capens have been in HK 18 months. Dean, Kirkwood complains they've made him break a precedent and get out a new pensketch for people 2 years beyond retirement ...

Editing: Louise Capen

Missionaries....
Rev. and Mrs. Carl Capen (Louise)
Dr. 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