October 1968.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

One World, One Lord, One Witness

The nations of the world are divided from one another by many barriers. The theme of the 7th Baptist World Youth Conference- - - "One World, One Lord, One Witness" - - - testified to the fact that Baptists believe there can be only One World, as people acknowledge the One Lord and give One Witness to His love and transforming power.

The Asian Baptist Youth Fellowship organized a tour group which consisted of 17 persons, holding 11 different kinds of passports. Miss June Sutton reports: "We left Hong Kong as individuals, but as we travelled together, prayed together, roomed together, and shared the responsibilities of the trip together, we became a closely knit group of friends, a living example of the conference theme. A guide in Egypt said, "You are like a little United Nations," to which one member of the group replied, 'Yes, and bound together by Jesus Christ, our One Lord."'

The group travelled through Thailand, Malaysia, Ceylon, India, Egypt, Greece, and Italy on the way to Berne, Switzerland, the venue of the conference. They returned through Israel or Jordan, Pakistan, and Burma. "In every country we met Baptists and were inspired by their fellowship, and challenged by their devotion to, our One Lord, Jesus Christ. Many are witnessing for Him under very difficult circumstances. In Ceylon there is no Sunday holiday, but Baptists continue to worship and witness for Christ. In Egypt a consecrated pastor told of the difficulty of witnessing to Moslems. In Israel we met some of the 270 Baptists who by means of an agricultural school, bookstalls, and camp facilities are seeking to introduce Christ as Savior to Jews and Arabs. In Burma, where the missionaries have had to leave, we spoke at a meeting of over 300 Baptist seminary students in training for service in local churches.

"At the Berne conference we met thousands of young people from over 60 countries. Many of them are distressed at our divided world, the poverty-stricken lot of the majority of its inhabitants, and the fact that millions have never heard the Christian witness about the Lord who loved them, died for them, and rose again to give each a new kind of life in Himself. As the conference closed hundreds of young people determined that this One World will hear the message about the One Lord; and so they re-dedicated themselves to give One Witness to Christ by their changed lives and spoken testimony."

Music Conference

A four-day music conference held in August attracted 75 young people of our -Swatow Baptist churches. This is the third such conference, the others being in 1965 and 1966. The site, as previously, was Chung Chi College, ten miles from Kowloon. Students stayed in the dormitories which are not luxurious but very nice. All sessions were conducted in the beautiful college chapel, and in its classrooms and meeting balls. Music turned to laughter and the sound of chopsticks and bowls, in the very adequate campus messhall.

Mr. Gabriel Chi who was in charge is not only a professional musician, but a strong Christian. All but one of the teaching staff were Chinese, including business men and the internationally famous soprano, Barbara Fei. Teaching techniques departed somewhat from the traditional lecture method; discussion groups and work sessions gave everyone an opportunity to express himself, and almost everyone did.

The conference demonstrated the unity which is possible among the eighteen ,Swatow Baptist churches and chapels. The students represented most of them, and took back with them not only an understanding of a high quality of music, but as a kind of bonus, the spirit of cooperation within the group.

The day following the close of the conference the students gave a sacred concert in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church. Joining with them in giving the concert were the young people of the "California Caravan" of which Sharon Parks was one who had arrived the day the conference closed. The fact that these young people had given their summer to service in Japan was a tremendous challenge to all who heard them sing.

The suggestion has been made that in another year there might be training sessions for church pianists, and an introduction to children's choirs, giving a vision of the possible ministry through them, for Christ in Hong Kong.

Introducing the Olleys

John and Elaine Olley with their children, David and Linda, arrived on August 23rd from Sydney, Australia, to join the American Baptist Mission in Hong Kong.

Lecturing in Chung Chi College, and in the seminary, will be John's major responsibility this year. He has courses in Biblical Studies, and in Perspectives in the Sciences. Elaine will study Cantonese at the New Asia College Language Centre; John will postpone his language study until the lecturing load eases.

John studied at the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Science degree, and a doctorate in theoretical physics. Subsequently he entered the New South Wales Baptist Theological College, where he was granted a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He was then ordained. Elaine is a daughter of the manse, and has a brother in mission work in New Guinea. Her background is in nursing and children's work. Together they have ministered in churches in New South Wales.

They write, "We have greatly appreciated the friendly welcome given to us by our fellow missionaries, by Chung Chi College, and by the Swatow churches. They have helped us in many ways as we have begun to live in this fascinating place, full of life and contrasts, full of opportunities for serving Jesus Christ."

The coming of the Olley family is by arrangement between the Australian Baptist Missionary Society and the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. In this they join Miss June Sutton, another member 'of the mission staff from "Down Under".

Miss Sharon Parks Joins the Mission Staff

Miss Sharon Parks, daughter of the Rev. Emmett Parks of the A.B.F.M.S. Board will be in Hong Kong for a year. She is already busy teaching English classes at the Student Christian Centre and at Baptist College, helping a group of pastors' wives with English conversation, directing a choral speaking group and a children’s choir.

Sharon, whose home is in southern California, is a graduate of Whitworth College in Washington State, and holds a degree of Master of Religious Education from Princeton. Her college major was music education, but she also has considerable experience in drama, speech, and English. She spent two years on the staff of the University of Redlands where she served as advisor to student groups and was also involved in planning a new student orientation program. She has had further experience in a Christian Conference Center where she served as program director.

Sharon travelled with the "California Caravan" a group of thirty or more young people from southern California this past summer, to spend six weeks in Japan taking part in work camps and other close - to - the - people programs. The group came on to Hong Kong and then went to Manila before returning home. Sharon went with them to Manila but then came back, as bad been planned, to give a year of service here.

Hong Kong Christian Service

In 1967 Hong Kong Church World Service and the Hong Kong Christian Welfare and Relief Council merged to become Hong Kong Christian Service. Three departments carry on service operations. One is the Handwork Department which gives Work to 116 workers who because they are handicapped or for other reasons not easily employable would otherwise be dependent on welfare assistance. A second is the College Student Work Project which helps 190 low - income students with college expenses.

The third department handles material resources and services. In the latest year of operation over two and one - half million pounds of high - protein foods were distributed to nurseries, child care centers, old people's homes, and hostels. This was in addition to clothing, health kits, school supplies, and other materials. A TB clinic and dental van are provided, their services available to all needy residents in Hong Kong. The total Department served more than 52,000 people last year through its many forms of outreach.

Hugh Smith serves as director of the Department on Material Resources, with a staff of fifteen persons.

Ling Ling Say Say which, broadly interpreted, means Miscellaneous

- - - - Vacation Bible School leaders of the Swatow Baptist churches held a meeting in June, marking the debut of the new Sunday School Committee. Later a ,one - day retreat for Vacation Bible School teachers brought together over 70 teachers. The sessions included teaching methods, preparation of materials, and practical sessions on handwork. Many said, "This has been wonderful to get together and prepare to serve Christ. Let's do it again."

- -- - - Bill Hackett and his son Bill, who visited Hong Kong after completing two years in the Peace Corps in Micronesia, took a trip into Burma early in September. They were fortunate to have the full 24 hour transit time allowed by the Burma government. In that time they greeted almost 1,000 Christians, both Protestants and Roman Catholics. More young people are in training for full-time Christian service than ever before. Aggressive plans for evangelism in both the heartland and on the borders of Burma, are being carried forward. As has been true throughout church history, Christians are meeting difficulties with new faith and courage, and the whole ,church is vigorously carrying out its functions as leaven in the loaf of Burmese society.

- - - - The annual conference of the Hong Kong mission will be held early in October. The Methodist Conference Center will be the site used. Located on Lantau Island just above the beach about ten minutes walk from the Silverrnine Bay pier, the Center consists of a dormitory, four cottages, a dining and conference hall, and ,a chapel. Further reports on this conference will appear in a later PEAK.

- - - - Mrs. Helen Wigginton will arrive in Hong Kong in October, under appointment as a Special Service Worker. Mrs. Wigginton is well known to American Baptists, having served as chairman of the Foreign Mission Board. She will be in Hong Kong for approximately two years.

- - - - The need for social work in Hong Kong is almost beyond measure. The government provides services through its Social Welfare Department. Among the church - sponsored programs, the Christian Family Service Center, related to the Church of Christ in China, stands very high. The Center maintains a staff of ten social case workers, a health center, a distribution center from which powdered milk ,etc. are given out, and a hand - work project which employs 125 families. The Center is located on the edge of the Kwun Tong Resettlement Estate, two doors from the Kwun Tong Baptist Chapel, in the center of a large Swatow - speaking community. It is our hope that the Swatow Baptist churches may have a closer link with this project, perhaps being represented on its board of directors, and in turn contributing financially to its support. This summer Miss Mildred Proctor gave her mornings during July and August to the Center, during a short furlough of the director, Miss Doris Caldwell.

Progress Report on the Chu Lap Kok Camp

In the PEAK of July 1968 we reported that the Chu Lap Kok Camp was ready for use. Twelve different groups used the camp facilities during the summer. Among these were four young people’s groups from Swatow Baptist churches. We had a total of 1,500 overnight campers, and served approximately 5,000 meals. This is a good beginning; next summer we hope to have twice as many campers.

Mr. David Wong, one of the 1968 graduates of the Chung Chi Theological Seminary, is serving as Camp Secretary. He is now participating in a camping ,course sponsored by the Y.M.C.A. Institute. The course covers camp administration, finance, program planning, work with camping committees, and camp development. The course is taught by Mr. Clifton Drury who has had broad experience in camping in both the United States and Japan. This additional preparation on the part of the Camp Secretary will help us to do a better job.

Missionaries....

Mr. and Mrs. John Espy
Dr. and Mrs. William D. Hackett (Marion)
Rev. and Mrs. Frank Knight (Joyce)
Rev. and Mrs. Alvin D. Koons
Rev. and Mrs. Loren E. Noren (Ruth)
Rev. and Mrs. John Olley (Elaine)
Miss Sharon Parks
Miss Mildred Proctor
Mr. and Mrs. John Reed (Kathleen)
Rev. and Mrs. Harold Schock (Estelle)
Rev. and Mrs. Hugh W. Smith (Ann)
Miss June M. Sutton