May 1988.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATES CONTRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC GROWTH

As one of the "Four Little Dragons of Asia" (the others being South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore), Hong Kong continued to enjoy a high rate of economic growth in 1987. Its exports of manufactured goods (garments, shoes, toys, electronic products, watches and hundreds of other items) to Europe and North America grew by 25% over those for 1986, and its two-way trade with China increased by an even higher margin. Over four million tourists visited Hong Kong, many of them going into or coming out of China. Many new office buildings, hotels, and housing projects were completed and others initiated; there is construction everywhere! Hong Kong's status as the "gateway to China" and as a trading and financial center for the Far East continues to grow; its container terminal is now the largest in the world in terms of throughput of containers per year. The Hong Kong Government achieved a budget surplus of more than US$I.O billion for the year, enabling it simultaneously to reduce taxes and increase spending on health, education and social services.

Hong Kong's consistently high rates of growth and of reinvestment over the past forty years have provided its people with the highest standard of living in East Asia after Japan. Almost all of the young people receive twelve years of primary and secondary education, and many are able to continue their studies in Hong Kong's universities, polytechnics and post-secondary colleges. As living standards have improved, the demand for higher education has increased dramatically. For example, over thirty thousand middle-school graduates competed for the seventeen hundred places for first-year students in The Chines University of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government is providing large sums of money to expand its existing institutions of higher leaming and to construct the campus of the new Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. However, it will still be many years before there will be enough places to meet the demand.

Hong Kong's rapid economic and social development has created many opportunities for university and college graduates. During the 1950s and 1960s most graduates became civil servants or teachers in secondary schools. Now the majority of the graduates obtain positions in banks, trading companies and other business organizations. Some of the most promising graduates pursue advanced studies in Hong Kong or overseas, and many of them return to teach and do research in educational institutions; some of the best students during the 1960s and 1970s are now senior teachers in our colleges and universities. Quite a number of the graduates are working for business organizations and educational institutions with close links to China, and they are making significant contributions to China's modernization process. Hong Kong's needs for well-educated and committed people are insatiable; there are opportunities everywhere!

Christian mission organizations began educational work in China more than one hundred years ago, and several of them have been particularly active in Hong Kong since the Second World War. American Baptist missionaries have played an active role in Chung Chi College ("The College Which Honors Christ") since 1953. Rev. Loren Noren served as Bursar and Chaplain during the College's early years and was a member of its Board of Governors until his retirement in 1986. Another missionary, Miss Sarah Downer, taught physics there for several years. Missionaries Ruth and John Espy came to Hong Kong in 1962 and John began to teaching at Chung Chi the following year while Ruth joined the Library staff. They continue to live on the Chung Chi campus while John teaches management subjects in the MBA Division of nw Chinese University of Hong Kong. John is a member of the College's Board of Trustees, and he and Ruth are active in the life of the College.

HONG KONG SWATOW BAPTIST CHURCHES ASSOCIATION

The American Baptist Mission of Hong Kong relates to sixteen Swatow Baptist Churches and Chapels. Since 1835, when William Dean went as a missionary to Bangkok, Thailand, American Baptists have worked among and with the ethnic Swatow Chinese. A large group of Swatow Chinese have lived in Thailand for generations and among the first converts to Christianity by William Dean were people from that ethnic group.

From 1860 until 1949, American Baptists sent missionaries to work in the Swatow coastal area of China. At the time of the revolution and the liberation of China by the communists, the missionaries had to leave. Many thousands of people at that time fled to Hong Kong, among whom were many Christians from Swatow. The Swatow Baptist Churches of Hong Kong invited the Board of International Ministries of American Baptist Churches to send missionaries to Hong Kong to assist them and work with them in their efforts to minister to the influx of people. Missionaries have been privileged to be here working with them since 1952. The Chinese with Swatow background make up approximately 20% of the population of Hong Kong.

For the purpose of fellowship and undergirding one another in the faith, some of the Swatow Baptist Churches with whom we American Baptists relate here have come together to form the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Churches Association. The churches who are a part of this group are the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Church, Homantin Swatow Baptist Church, Castle Peak Road Swatow Baptist Church, Shamshuipo Swatow Baptist Church, Mongkok Swatow Baptist Church, and the Yuen Long Swatow Baptist Church. Their pastors and leaders of their deacons boards come together for a luncheon meeting bimonthly. Semi-annual retreats are also scheduled for their leaders where they study the Bible together and give some thought and planning to ways in which they can strengthen their ministries.

Recently the members of the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Churches Association have given assistance to one another in their development of ministry and social service. The Mongkok Church and the Homantin Church are making specific plans for operating kindergartens and centres for the elderly and have sought the advice and expertise of others within the Association.

This association of churches also sends delegates to the Southeast Asia Swatow Baptist Council on Evangelism, which is an organization set up to enhance the Christian outreach efforts among Swatow Chinese living in the countries throughout Southeast Asia.

SWATOW BAPTIST WOMEN’S RETREAT

In March, 270 Swatow Baptist Women from different churches arrived at Fanling Baptist Garden in charactered buses for a day of our Annual Spring Retreat. These women are most diligent in attendance, faitherful in prayer, loyal in support and generous in giving. Happy and cheerful chattering soon began to quiet down as we gathered in the beautiful and airy new chapel for morning worship. The theme for 1988 is taken from John 15:8 "Be fruitful women". A love gift of HK$3,167.00 was designated to Shaukiwan Church toward their new church building. An announcement was made to encourage women officers to attend the two nights and three days camp in May sponsored by Swatow Baptist Women's Association. We also welcomed warmly the 10 women attending the retreat from Shamshuipo Church.

The afternoon was devoted mainly for the World Day of Prayer program. For a lighter moment, a skit was presented by a lady who dressed up as an old fashioned Chinese bride and recited more than 10 scripture verses by memory. So with a smile on our faces and thanksgiving in our hearts we concluded a happy day in praise, inspiration and Christian fellowship.

MISSION OUTREACH OF THE SWATOW BAPTIST CHURCHES OF HONG KONG

Several of the Swatow Baptist Churches with whom our American Baptist Mission relates here in Hong Kong have joined together in cooperation of the purpose of mission outreach. They are serious about accepting responsibility for the spread of the Gospel message, not only throughout Hong Kong but beyond its borders as well. They are working in various ways to more effectively heed the command of our Lord to "go unto all the world, ... teaching ... preaching ... and baptizing ..."

In recent years this group of churches (present members are Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church, Shaukiwan Swatow Baptist Church, Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church, Brotherly Love Swatow Baptist Church, and Ngau Tau Kok Swatow Baptist Church), has sent young people as short-term missionaries to northern Thailand where they have worked in cooperation with the Chinese churches there. They have sent the Macedonia Choir, which they sponsor, to Guangzhou and Shantou in the People's Republic of China in order to give concerts of Christian music and encourage the choirs in the churches there.

The Mission Outreach group of Swatow Churches are presently sending reference books and Bibles to their brothers and sisters in Christ in the churches in Shantou, China. By request of the church leaders there, they are assisting to build up a library of books which can be helpful in the nurturing of the faith of the Christians in Shantou. In response to a request by the principal of the Kakwang Professional Academy in Shantou, China, they are now seeking to find a single person or a couple who are qualified English teachers who can go to China to teach at the Academy for a year. A stipend for living expenses will be given by the-Swatow Baptist Churches of Hong Kong. They see this as a way not only of providing assistance to the school in China, but also as a means of giving a Christian witness to the people who would be associated with the teacher.

The churches have united in this cooperative effort to enhance their local mission and work as well as their outreach elsewhere. In March, they sponsored a retreat for the deacons and leaders of their churches. Chartered buses took them out to the campus of Chung Chi College in the New Territories where they spent the day in prayer and reflection on the message of the Bible and its challenge to them.

When chapels have been able to get established and purchase their own premises, the Mission Outreach organization of the Swatow Baptist Churches has made a contribution of HK$50,000. to each of them. At their last meeting they voted this amount to the Tsuen Wan Chapel of Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church toward the cost of the premises they are buying in TaiWoHau. Recently, they voted to contribute HK$100,000. to the Shaukiwan Swatow Baptist Church to assist them with the purchase of their new church.

HAVEN OF HOPE HOSPITAL

The Chinese translation of the words from Isaiah 53:11 "After a life of suffering, he will again have joy; he will know that he did not suffer in vain" are inscribed at the entrance to the administration building of the Heaven of Hope Hospital. For the past thirty years many lonely and afflicted people have passed through the Haven of Hope Hospital where they were cared for and loved through the dedicated service and Christian witness of servants of God. The American Baptist Mission has been privileged to be a supporting part of this ministry. A contribution has been given annually for the development of the staff at the hospital and toward the care of the patients suffering from tuberculosis.

Through the years, the hospital has grown from being just a few, small wooden buildings to the present 300-bed hospital with 375 full-time staff. Through their work and ministry, drug addicts have been won to Christ, the physically ill have been healed, the lonely and afraid have been given spiritual strength, and the dying have been comforted.

Today a great deal of change is taking place in the June Bay area of the New Territories section Of Hong Kong where the hospital is located. The bay is being filled to make reclaimed land upon which are erected multi-storey housing estates. By 1993, the projected population in the junk Bay new town area will be nearly 450,000, a manifold increase over the present number of people there. Those people will need access to good medical service, and the Heave of Hope hospital is ideally situated to provide it. The medical and health department of the Hong Kong Government has made clear to the hospital administration its plan to develop Haven of Hope Hospital into a modem 600-bed district general hospital to meet the needs of the future population.

This brings an unprecedented opportunity to provide Christan witness and love through medical, nursing, social and health education services. At a recent meeting concerning future plans for development of the hospital, one of the government officials said, "A house is not a pleasant and warm place in which to live until the people inside make it a home of love and harmony." The touch which can transform the cold, concrete walls of the hospital into a warm shelter for the sick and infirmed comes through love and concern of the staff working in it. The staff of the hospital are eager to avail themselves of this opportunity.

This past year, the American Baptist Mission has given assistance by providing scholarships for two nurses from the hospital to go to England to study and train for hospice care. One of the services the Haven of Hope Hospital will be providing is for terminally ill patients. Also, we have given a scholarship to a Nurse counsellor to go to Australia to study for one year at a seminary. The head of the Hospital's physcial therapy department has been given assistance for graduate study in England in order to be better prepared for the tasks before him.

The American Baptist Mission will continue its long, supportive association with the Heaven of Hope Hospital, to the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom.

CHOIR TOUR TO U.S.A

Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church will be observing the 50th anniversary of the founding of their church this year. As a part of that observance, and to give praise and thanksgiving for the blessings and guidance of God through these many years, approximately twenty-five members of the choir of the Kowloon City Church will travel to Southern Califomia in the United States to present concerts of sacred music and given their testimony of faith.

The members of the Kowloon City Church are grateful for all of the assistance and support which they have received from missionaries of the American Baptist Mission throughout these many years. They feel that an appropriate way of marking their fiftieth year as a church is for the choir to go to the United States to share in fellowship and worship with the American Baptist Churches there. With the assistance of the Rev. Ronald Raught of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest and Dr. Jane Gabs Wilson of the Los Angeles City Mission Society, details are being worked out for the trip to take place between July 30 and August 12th this summer. They will sing in various American Baptist churches in the area.

Accompanying the choir as their director will be Mr. Gabriel Chi, a deacon of the Kowloon City Church and well-known musician in Hong Kong. Much of the music which will be sung by the choir has been written and composed by Mr. Chi.

This journey is a major undertaking by the choir. it will be very expensive and they have stepped out in faith to plan for it as they seek to raise the necessary finances. The choir members feel very strongly that as a way of expressing their appreciation to American Baptists, they have the responsibility to personally go and share with them their faith through music. The concert will be presented to the congregation of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church before the choir departs so that it will truly be a message taken from the Christians here to the United States.

MOON LOK KINDERGARTEN/COMMUNITY CENTER

One of the most fully utilized social buildings in Hong Kong is located in the Moon Lok Housing estate in the new territories town of Tsuen Wan. Each morning at 7:00 a.m. the teachers of the Moon Lok Kindergarten arrive to have a time of prayer and Bible study before they begin their day of teaching and caring for the 372 children in the kindergarten.

By 8:30 a.m. the children in the morning session is held for an equally vibrant and enthusiastic group of children. These classes continue until 4:30 p.m.  Immediately following the closing of the kindergarten, a group of older children (ages 6 through 13) begin to enter the building to participate in the recreation and handicraft classes of the Community Centre. These then are followed by older youth who come to participate in the tutorial classes held in the evening and to use the facilities of the study hall which are open until 9:45 each evening.

These activities of the Kindergarten and the Community Centre take place each day, Monday through Friday. The Kindergarten also has sessions on Saturday morning. However, on Saturday afternoon, the youth activities of a Chapel which uses the facilities are held. These continue into the evening. On Sunday morning, Sunday School classes are in session, followed by a worship service at 1 1:00 a.m. The deacons and other groups of the chapel hold planning and work meetings in the afternoons on Sunday.

This full utilization of the building for Christian ministry and outreach has been continuing for more than twenty years, since the American Baptist Mission was given opportunity to operate the Kindergarten/Community Centre there by the Hong Kong Housing Society in 1965. The non-profit kindergarten is operated as a service to the families living in the govemment-subsidized housing estate. Through these years, many thousands of children have been influenced by the loving care of their Christian teachers. Visitations have been made to the homes of the children and the Gospel message has been shared with their parents and families.

The Kindergarten, Community Centre, and Chapel have cooperated in many endeavors to introduce the children and young people to Christ and the fullness of life which He offers. At a recent Fun Fair held by the Community Centre, over five hundred children and youth and their parents participated in the Bible games and quizzes, viewed the Christian film, and perused the Christian literature made available for them.

KOWLOON BAPTIST CHURCH KINDERGARTEN

In the early 1970's Kowloon Baptist Church Kindergarten responded to a need among the children of Hong Kong who only spoke English. Although the numbers were not great, there was a real need for these children to have some sort of preschool educational opportunities. The Kowloon Baptist Church started a kindergarten for these children and now has 210 students with two branches.

The Kindergarten is a mission outreach of the church which feels that the teaching of Christian principles is an essential part of healthy child development. These principles include concepts such as loving one another, understanding that we are special to God, being thankful for and aware of our world and knowing that our all-powerful God loves and cares for us.

Not only is the kindergarten helping three and four years olds, it is also helping their parents to better cope with the hectic and fragmented pace of Hong Kong life. We know that if the children are happy the parents are better able to adjust to the varied problems involved in moving to and living in an international city.

Our goals include that of having a positive attitude about school and a positive self-image, along with developing socially and emotionally. Self discipline, a respect for rights of others and an appreciation for the aesthetic world are also aims of the kindergarten. A variety of activities each week which include an all-together time for chapel highlight each week. We feel it is important to maintain a student teacher ratio of 1 0: 1 in order for each child to have the opportunity to grow into all that he/she was meant to be. It is our aim to give them some building blocks that will have a positive influence in their lives. Linda Tennis has been principal for the past two years.

SHUN TIN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN & YOUTH CENTRE

The Shun Tin Christian Children and Youth Centre is a volunteer organization sponsored by both the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church and the American Baptist Mission. The goal of its service is based on the Christian Gospel - through many kinds of activities, to develop youth's virtue, wisdom, health, social life and spirit in establishing a wholesome character.

The aim of the twelve-member staff, all of whom are Christians, is to help the more than 2,300 members who participate in the Centre's activities, to grow as individuals. When working with the young people, they seek to cultivate the spirit of volunteering, nourish responsibility, and help them to develop their individual potential. In relating to the youth, they seek to take a holistic approach, encouraging harmonious family life by assisting them in dealing with crises and relieving personal and family pressures. The members of the Centre's staff have taken an active part in the life of the community and have helped to foster a sense of belonging among the residents of the Shun Tin housing estate where the Centre is located.

The contribution of the Centre to the betterment of the community has been well-received by the residents. They have been very receptive to its Christian message and outreach. Many of the young people have responded to the witnessing of the staff and now participate in the weekly Bible study sessions and attend the Sunday morning worship services. Each Sunday morning, nearly 100 engage in worship and study there, which, when one considers that the worship services were only started three years ago, is very good growth. We praise God for the blessings and jgudiance of His Spirit.

This year, the Shun Tin Centre was accepted as a member agency of the Community Chest of Hong Kong. With this acceptance comes recognition of the valued service of the Centre and financial assistance for some of its activities. They have just received a grant of HK$28,000, toward programming from the Community Chest, and will be able now to apply for additional help. As a social service agency, most of the yearly HK$900,000. (US$115,000.) budget for the Shun Tin Centre comes from the Hong Kong Government. However, The Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church and the American Baptist Mission make contributions toward its Christian outreach ministry and work.

The operation of a Children and Youth Centre provides many opportunities to reach young people who would never paricipate in the activities of a church. By expressing God's love in Christ through a needed service to the community, the young people respond by enquiring about the motivation of those working in the Centre and considering the values which they teach.

STUDENT TUITION EXPENSE PROGRAM (S.T.E.P.)

Through specific gifts received by the missionaries from churches and women's groups via the Board of International Ministries of American Baptist Churches, we are able to offer scholarships fbr children seeking to obtain their primary and secondary school education. Education is provided free of tuition charges to all children through the ninth grade. However, fees for books, uniforms, supplies, etc. necessary for study are the responsibility of the student. If a child wants to study beyond the ninth grade and is not able to gain entry into one of the limited number of government schools, then he must seek a place in a private school and pay the tuition charges.

All applicants for scholarships in S.T.E.P. have been recommended by the pastors and/or leaders of the -Swatow Baptist Churches. For the 1987/88 academic year, we awarded scholarships amounting to more than US$5,000. to twenty-six students. Of this number, eighteen are seeking to complete their secondary education in private schools. The average award given to a secondary school student is US$28. per month. We are also giving some financial assistance to children who are in elementary schools, but whose families cannot afford the costs of the books and supplies. Help is also given toward transportation costs where children have to attend schools some distance from their homes. This year we have applications for US$9,700. in scholarships, but had to limit the amount which we could give in grants.

Among the students being helped this year is one about whom we have had a particular concern. He is an eight-years-old boy. The father deserted the family and refused to give any support to them. The mother is trying to work to support their two young children. Consequently, the boy was left to wander the streets and was getting into difficulties. The decision was made to enroll the boy in a Christian Boarding School out in the New Territories area of Hong Kong. This was done with the motive of removing him from this poor environment and to enable him to get a good education. This decision, of course, also entailed extra expense, but we felt that we should not pass this chance of helping to stear this young life in a better direction.

We are glad to have the opportunity to encourage young people in their pursuit of education, and feel a responsibility to support them in their efforts. Scholarship grants are made entirely on faith that churches will send gifts, as we are dependent upon contributions from the United States to underwrite this program.

TEACHING ENGLISH

"Conversation In English" is not just chit-chat in English! In Hong Kong the emphasis is now on the students' ability to express themselves, to communicate clearly distinctly their ideas and feelings in English. It is now believed that this approach is more vital than the traditional tests of finding what words the student does not know. The conversation groups are designed to meet this demand.

Through the use of technique of values clarification and awareness discussions, students are given the opportunity to experiment with words and thoughts, and to give expression of how they personally interact with these ideas deciding which are most important to them. By providing a non-judgemental atmosphere, students can feel free. to talk about diversity and develop mutual respect for each other and for people who are different from themselves. Through being listened to, students can feel that they are valuable.

Understanding myself, who am I in relationship to my future, my career, my family, my teachers, a future marriage mate, to men, to women, to my purpose in life, to creation, to Hong Kong, to China and to the world? We have discussed the nature of prejudice, and its effects on the individual. Students are interested in what the American culture is likecustoms, national festivals, music, and how Americans feel about Chinese immigrants.

Through all of this, friendships and relationships are being developed. In the Kwun Tong Community Church a group at about 40 mothers are eager to learn English to help their children, or not to be left behind by their children. April Lai, a trained social worker, has organized this group. We are trying to teach P. 4 English but more importantly to communicate care and concern for these women. By coming together the women have developed friendships and have found a resource for expressing their needs and concerns. Of course we hope they will eventually come to know the Christ who loves them.

A peer group support system is being set up at the church for victims of industrial accidents and their families.

TOURISTS AND TOUR GROUPS

Nearly four and a half million tourists visit Hong Kong each year. A certain percentage of this number are American Baptists, among whom are many who would like to see some of the work of the America Baptist Mission here. Each year the missionaries are host to several hundred people who visit the churches, centres, colleges, and kindergartens with whom our Mission is related.

It is always helpful when advance notice has been given to the Mission that someone from an American Baptist Church will be visiting, and when there is genuine interest and concern the missionaries are glad to accommodate the requests to be shown the work and introduced to some of the leaders of the Baptist churches here. It is felt that this is a part of ministry as the visitors accept the responsibility of sharing a report of what they see and hear with their fellow American Baptists in the United States. However, it must be remembered that a missionary is not always available at the exact time a tourist would find more convenient.

This year, besides the many individuals who come as a part of other tours, there will be some large tour groups of American Baptists who visit. Later this year a Board of International Ministries Mission Encounter Tour will be coming here, and a group led by Rev. Allan Anderson, World Mission Support minister of American Baptist Churches of the Northwest will be visiting. We welcome them and others and will try to impact an understanding of the ministry and work of the missionaries and Christians here in Hong Kong.

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