Spring 1993.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

SEEDS OF FAITH HAVE 150 YEARS OF GROWTH

1992 marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Baptist missionaries in Hong Kong. In 1842, Dr. and Mrs. William Dean, who had begun work with the Swatow Chinese in Bangkok, Thailand in 1835, came to these shores to plant the seed of faith among inhabitants here. Dr. Dean was the first Westerner to learn the Swatow dialect of the Chinese language, and he worked among these people in Hong Kong.

Rev. and Mrs. James Shuck also came in 1842, and they worked mainly among the Cantonese speaking Chinese living here. At about this same time, China "-as opening up to mission work and many missionaries were beginning outreach efforts there. The port of Swatow, located on the China coast 150 miles north of Hong Kong, was opened in 1860, and at that time the mission work started in Hong Kong was transferred there. The Swatow Christians in Hong Kong were assimilated into the Cantonese churches in the territory.

The work of American Baptists in and around the city of Swatow prospered and spread. However, in 1937, the Japanese war started in China and conditions became very unsettled. People began to migrate to the more secure area of Hong Kong. Among them were many Christians, and in 1938 a small group of them gathered together for prayer and Bible Study and began the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church.

With the ending of the war in 1945, missionaries returned to China and began rebuilding the work among the Christians there. However, the communist revolution soon spread across the country and they were again forced to leave. Thousands upon thousands of refugees flooded into the British territory of Hong Kong. The Swatow Chinese Christian laymen shared the Good News of the Gospel message, and two other churches, the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Church and the Shamshuipo Swatow Baptist Church, were begun in 1948 and 1952 respectively.

The leaders of these churches sent a request to the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society to send missionaries fluent in their dialect to come and work with them. In 1954, Loren and Ruth Noren and Edna Smith were assigned to work here. They, together with many dedicated Christians here, worked to minister to the needs of the refugees and people living in Hong Kong. The church grew rapidly.

The Christians have not only been concerned to minister to the spiritual needs of the people, but have made great efforts to attend to physical and mental needs as well. A holistic ministry has been the key to touching the lives of countless individuals.

The Swatow Baptist Churches have grown to where today there are 23 churches and chapels stemming from the three which were here before the missionaries arrived in 1954. The membership in these churches is now well over 8,000.

For fellowship and joint service, the Swatow churches have cooperated in the Hong Kong Swatow Baptist Churches Association and the Mission Outreach of the Shantou Baptist Churches of Hong Kong. Some estimates are that about 20% of the present population of Hong Kong have Swatow background. The Swatow Baptist Churches have also joined with nearly 100 Cantonese and Mandarin Baptist Churches to form the Hong Kong Baptist Convention.

IN RESPONSE TO OUR LORD’S COMMISSION, A VARIETY OF MINISTRIES

Over the years, the thrust of the mission outreach and ministry has changed as it has sought to be responsive to the needs of the people. In the early 1950s after the mission work was re-established here, the emphasis was on meeting the very real physical needs of the huge number of refugees pouring over the border into Hong Kong. Housing, clothing, food and health care were primary needs, and many Christians worked tirelessly to provide as much of these as they could in a spirit of love.

The Mission cooperated with Church World Service in distributing clothing, and even operated a noodle factory to not only provide jobs but food for the people. Along with these efforts, community centers, roof-top schools, and churches were started. At one time, as many as ten roof-tops were being utilized for services for the people and more than 4,000 children were enrolled in the schools operated by the Swatow Baptists and the American Baptist Mission. Gradually, the government was able to provide schools.

The outreach emphasis through social service has now found expression through the operation of Children and Youth Centers, Reading/Study Rooms, Kindergarten/Day Care Centers, and support of drug rehabilitation work.

Through these years, the American Baptist Mission, in cooperation with others, has been instrumental in starting and supporting such fine and major institutions as Chung Chi College (which is now a part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong), Baptist College, United Christian Hospital, Haven of Hope Hospital, and the Wu Oi Christian Center for Drug Rehabilitation.

The American Baptist missionaries today continue this cooperative relationship with the Swatow Baptist and other Christians to make the message of Christ relevant to the lives of the people. They serve as an advocate for Asian migrant workers in Hong Kong, principal of a kindergarten, pastor of a chapel,, and associate in many ministries of the churches. Where there is a need, the ministry is brought to bear.

Encouragement and support is given to the Christians in Hong Kong as they not only minister to needs here, but as they reach out beyond the borders of the territory. Through an interest of the KNvun Tong Swatow Baptist Church, we join in a Community Center outreach in the Portuguese territory of Macau, forty miles across the sea.

Support has been given to the Haven of Hope Hospital in beginning a ministry to terminally ill patients in a hospice care program. Expertise, in the person of Raymond Fung, is shared with the Hong Kong Christian Institute to help the churches explore ways in which they can respond in a positive way to the challenges of 1997, when Hong Kong's administration is assumed by the People's Republic of China. New towns are mushrooming and expanding in the new territories and chapels and social service needs to be provided. The possibilities are limitless as people respond to the call of God to be faithful in service.

LOREN NOREN MEMORIAL SERVICE

On March 3, a memorial service was held to honor the memory and to celebrate the life and ministry of Dr. Loren Noren. This service was held at the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church in their new building. The two associations of Swatow Baptist churches in Hong Kong jointly planned and participated in this beautiful service. The spirit of cooperation in planning this service was a true memorial to Dr. Noren and his ministry to the Swatow people.

Dr. Loren E. Noren, veteran missionary of service in China and Hong Kong, died December 21, 1992, in Claremont, California. A memorial service was held in the First Baptist Church of Superior, Nebraska, the town where Dr. Norcn was born on August 19, 1918. Dr. Noren had been baptised and ordained to the gospel ministry at this church.

Dr. Noren completed his undergraduate studies at Ottawa University in Kansas in 1940, from which he was honored in 1967 with the conferral of a Doctor of Divinity degree. He also earned graduate degrees in theology from Andover Newton, and the Union Theological Seminary. He married Ruth on December 31, 1941.

Dr. Noren, and his wife, Ruth W. Noren, were appointed as missionaries to Swatow, China in September 19, 1945. Their service in China came to an end with the Chinese Communist Revolution. The Noren family left China in November, 1950, but Dr. Noren was detained in China until January 1953. During twenty one of those months, he was held in solitary confinement. In order to cope with the pressure of solitary confinement, Dr. Noren began memorizing hymns. By the time of his release, he had memorized 180 hymns.

Loren and Ruth were reassigned to Hong Kong in 1954, to work among Swatow speaking people, many of whom were refugees at the time. The Norens helped establish several primary schools, two Christian centres, and a youth camp on Chek Lap Kok Island, now well known as the site for the new airport. They helped to establish music programs, and leadership training for the growing number of Swatow Baptist churches. They were also involved in the formation of several institutions including Chung Chi College, the United Christian Hospital, and the Haven of Hope Hospital.

Dr. Noren served as the American Baptist Mission Secretary and Treasurer during many of his years in Hong Kong. He was known as a "Partner to Pastors". He was an active member of the YMCA, and was District Governor of the related International Y's Men's Clubs. He was also known for his love of golf. No doubt playing golf helped him cope with the intense pressures of developing ministries during this turbulent time of Hong Kong's history. The Norens returned to the States in April 1986, after giving more than forty years of their lives to missionary service.

Dr. Noren is survived by his wife, Ruth W. Noren, and three children, Carl R. Noren, Joy N. McRae, and Deborah Fuller.

KOWLOON CITY SWATOW BAPTIST CHURCH DEDICATES NEW BUILDING

After several years of praying, planning, and fund raising the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church celebrated the dedication of their new worship facility on February 7, 1993. The main auditorium of this beautiful worship facility will seat over six hundred persons. An overflow chapel, served by closed circuit television, seats an additional four hundred persons. The building also has a prayer room where individuals can spend quite time studying and praying, facilities for several choirs, excellent sound and recording facilities, rooms for Sunday School classes, fellowship, etc., church offices, and housing for several pastoral staff.

The dedication service was attended by persons representing numerous Christian groups in Hong Kong, including the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, Hong Kong Baptist College, the Hong Kong Baptist Mission (Southern Baptist), the American Baptist Mission, and International Ministries. The featured speaker was Dr. George Wilson, President of the Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary. Representatives of both associations of Swatow Baptists were present on this happy occasion. The dedication service was followed by a traditional Chinese feast attended by several hundred persons.

The completion of this new worship facility marks a new beginning for this historic church. The church leadership has the a vision of becoming a mission sending church. The church has plans to develop a chapel among Swatow speaking persons working in the nearby Portuguese colony of Macau. There is an interest in sending pastors to work among Swatow speaking persons who have immigrated to other countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States. There are also plans to exchange pastoral staff with the Chinese Baptist churches in Thailand. A separate article in this issue will feature the cooperative partnership between the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church and the Thailand Baptists (12th Pahk churches) for mission outreach to Thai persons living in Hong Kong. These kinds of ministries demonstrate the development and maturity of the Hong Kong churches.

BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE
Rev. Teddy H. C. Chan

I grew up in a Christian family. My mother is a pious woman. She deeply influenced the growth of my spiritual life. When I was twelve years of age, I believed in Jesus and accepted Him as my Saviour and Lord. Later, I attended Sunday school, church choir and the youth fellowship. I enjoyed the Church life with the young people very much. In 1978 while attending a summer camp, the Lord called me and I decided to dedicate mv life to serve Him. Four years later, I studied at the Hong Kong Bethel Bible Seminary.

Martin Luther quoted a scripture in Jeremiah 1: 10. He said,. "From our inside all things which we liked, they were rooted out, and pulled down, and destroyed, and thrown down, but from our outside and in Christ all things would be built and planted." I liked this scripture very much, as it was suitable for my spiritual life. God refined me to be a vessel that was proper for His use. He equipped and trained me in spiritual knowledge and life. He taught me to be humble, honest, loyal, how to love and serve and love other people.

Following my graduation from the Seminary, I began serving in my mother Church--Victory Avenue Swatow Baptist Church, in 1986. I took part as the minister-in-charge (the person who leads the ministry of the Church). As I was a young man, I felt great anxiety about these heavy responsibilities, but I knew that I could do everything through Christ who would give me strength (Philippians 4:13), for His grace was sufficient for me, for His power was made perfect in weakness (II Corinthians 12:9), so I prayed and accepted the position with very much pleasure.

From 1986 to now, I have discovered that through the loving support and encouragement of the deacons and members of the Church these many years, we can share valued strength and fellowship.

The 14th August, 1988, was an important date in the life of our congregation. Our Church became an independent and autonomous Church. The Church grew and God prepared a new place for the expansion of the Church in April of 1991. In 1992, we now have over 300 members with steady growth. On the 29th of November, 1992 I was ordained. Meanwhile, we have a vision for planting new churches. We are beginning to pray, and look forward to more developing opportunities as we ask God to lead. During my six years of service, His grace has been abundant and we are learning the importance of keeping the unity of the Holy Spirit in the Church. We can love and respect one another as the Lord teaches us, in order that the Church continues to grow.

With the approaching of 1997 and the uncertainties of the future of Hong Kong, we must know the needs of the congregation and provide the faith and the Word to them. They want to be well prepared, equipped and trained from the ministries. This is our most important duty and mission. At this time we face the challenges bravely in order to fulfill His commission. "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..... (Matthew 28:18-20)

HONG KONG CHURCHES PARTICIPATE IN DEDICATION OF CHURCH IN CHINA

A group of some 150 persons representing the Swatow Baptist and Swatow Christian churches in Hong Kong attended the dedication services of the new West Church in Shantou City, China on 18 April 1993. This large delegation included a seventy-five member choir representing several different churches from Hong Kong. The choir, directed by Mr. Gabriel Chi, former director of Baptist Press, and Chief Editor of the hymnal, New Songs of Praise, performed a special cantata, The Prodigal Son, written by Mr. Chi.

More than 3,000 persons attended the Sunday morning worship service on 18 April. Another 3,000 attended the choral concerts held on Saturday and Sunday evening. These services were a tremendous witness to the people of Shantou City, the visiting delegation from Hong Kong, and to the numerous representatives from the government of the People's Republic of China.

This new church, encompasses over 3,000 square meters, and is reported to be the largest church in China. It is a beautiful structure, made possible by the sacrificial giving of persons in China and Hong Kong, as well as, persons living abroad. The church with its cross provides a beautiful testimony for Christ in this rapidly developing city and New Economic Zone, and is visible proof of the vitality of the Church in China. It also provides evidence of both the interest in helping and the benefits of cooperation between the churches in Hong Kong and China.

The Church in the Shantou area of China is among the most thriving and vital in all of China. Although the Shantou district represents only a small fraction of the area of Guangdong Province, it is home to more than 50% of the Christians in this southern province. Many of the students in the theological seminaries and Bible schools are from the Shantou area. Please pray that financial resources might be found to develop a theological seminary in the Shantou area. The need and opportunity is great.

C.I.T.M. BEGINS FIRST TRAINING SESSION

The Christian Institute of Transformation Ministry (C.I.T.M.) was jointly founded by drug treatment centres from several countries in Southeast Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The objectives of this regional training centre include training leaders and workers for effective Christian drug rehabilitation ministries, conducting research and studies on subjects related to the treatment of drug addicts throughout Asia, developing and publishing pertinent literature, establishing an Asian resource centre of information related to drug rehabilitation, establishing a network between drug rehabilitation centres throughout Asia to facilitate the formulation of strategies and provide direction for Christian transformation ministries, and providing a setting for personal retreat and vision renewal for those involved in drug treatment ministries.

The opening dedication service and ribbon cutting ceremony for C.I.T.M. was held on Saturday, 27 February 1993, at the present site for the training Centre, Bliss Lodge on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Hong Kong government, the news media, directors of drug treatment ministries throughout Southeast Asia, as well as, other interested individuals. The first training session began on March 1 with eight students representing five countries.

The second training session will begin in July 1993. This course, consisting of four months campus study and an eight month practicum, will offer a Diploma of Christian Drug Rehabilitation. Instructors at the centre represent different drug treatment facilities in Asia, Hong Kong educational institutions, and foreign mission agencies. While providing related information and resources is important, the main emphasis of C.I.T.M. is on the spiritual development of the individual, and the spiritual basis and foundation for Christian drug rehabilitation programs.

Long range goals include the development of additional training sites in other Asia countries. Please pray that the Lord will raise up individuals to provide the needed leadership and financial resources for the further development of this much needed training facility. As there are several million drug addicts in Asia, there is a great need for additional Christian rehabilitation ministries. As some countries are closed to traditional missionary efforts, drug treatment ministries may provide a means to share the gospel with Asia's lost millions.

PARTNERSHIP FOR MISSION OUTREACH TO THAI

Hong Kong is truly an international city, and home to large numbers of persons from other countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Canada, the United States, Great Britain, and others. Some of these groups represent large numbers of persons. There are nearly 100,000 Filipinos, 60,000 Indonesians, 12,000 Thais to cite a few examples. Many of these persons are unevangelized. Most of the Thai workers are from Buddhist families, while the Indonesians are from Muslim families. Many of the Indian workers are from a Hindu background. Some of these countries are now closed to traditional Christian missions. The Christian Church represents only a tiny fraction of the population in most of these countries.

The majority of the Filipino, Indian, Thai, and Indonesian workers serve as domestic helpers for the growing middle class in Hong Kong. Although some of these persons have college degrees, they have left their homes, families, and friends, in pursuit of a better paying position in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Sometimes, in addition to the loneliness of separation from their loved ones, these persons experience discrimination, and abuse at the hands of their employers. Sometimes these workers are forced by the Triads (Chinese Mafia) to become prostitutes. Too often they find few advocates to assist them with their problems. Such conditions often cause these persons to be more open to receive the gospel when it is presented in a loving and caring way.

Over the past few months, discussions have been held with church leaders in the Chinese Baptist churches in Thailand (12th Pahk), and the Swatow Baptist churches in Hong Kong, about the possibility of forming a working partnership for Ministry to the Thai workers living in Hong Kong. It now appears that the 12th Pahk churches will be sending a Thai missionary couple to work with the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church in Hong Kong to develop a ministry among Thai speaking persons. The churches in Thailand will provide the salary of this couple, while the church in Hong Kong will provide housing and other expenses. We praise the Lord for the development of this cooperative partnership, and anticipate that it will bear much fruit for our Lord. Please pray that additional similar partnerships for ministry will be developed in the future to minister to other ethnic minorities living and working in Hong Kong and Macau.

FROM SCHOOL KITS TO SCHOLARSHIPS

In the early 1960s, thousands of "Schoolmate Kits" were donated by American Baptists to be distributed to the children in Hong Kong. These kits were made by pinning a small hand towel into the shape of an envelope; then pencils, a ruler, crayons, scissors, paper, soap, toothpaste, and a toothbrush were put inside. These brought joy to the children in the roof-top schools and community centers as they were necessities not available to them otherwise.

The kits formed bonds of love between Christians in different lands, and gave practical expression to the teachings about the love of God in Christ. Many-lives were touched and changed because of this caring.

At that time, Hong Kong did not have free public schools, and even though fees were low, many families could not afford them. In response to this need, individual American Baptists began sending contributions to help pay tuition, and to buy school uniforms and supplies. This evolved into STEP (Student Tuition Expense Program). In 1965, seventy children were helped. This grew to 140 children, mostly attending primary schools, by 1969.

Today, all schools through the ninth grade are free and many secondary schools are now free. The need still outstrips the availability of school facilities and so some students are enrolled in private secondary schools. The STEP program now assists children whose families, through ill health or death of a breadwinner, are not able to purchase the uniforms and books needed for their primary education, and secondary students completing their schooling in private schools.

Through the specific gifts contributed by individuals and churches of American Baptists in the United States to the Hong Kong STEP program, more than US$8,000. is being given as scholarship grants this academic year.

HONG KONG CHANGES EXEMPLIFIED BY CHANGES ON CHEK LAP KOK ISLAND

As anyone who visits Hong Kong periodically can attest, radical and rapid change is always taking place in this territory. In the midst of change, we serve a Changeless Lord, and are always seeking to meet the challenges and widen the vision of service.

Perhaps no where is this change more evident than it has been on Chek Lap Kok island. Named after a fish whose shape it resembled, it was one of the more than 235 islands which comprise the territory of Hong Kong. Like much of Hong Kong, it is marginal land, mountainous, rocky, lacking water, on which little would grow.

In the 1950s, a committee was formed to attempt some pioneer work in developing marginal land for production of food. The theory was that if farmers who were streaming into Hong Kong as refugees could be placed on such land and given some support.. perhaps they could help it to produce.

At the beginning four families were settled on the south side of the island of Chek Lap Kok. Each family was given a small hut, some tools, a few chickens, and a pig or two. Each family was given a living allowance for one year, and a partial subsidy for an additional half year.

Other families joined them, and a small chapel/school, donated by American Baptists, was built. In 1960, an ecumenical work camp built a pier, and Australian Baptists donated eight cottages. The families worked hard and planted more than 40,000 trees. Because most of these families were from the Swatow area of China, American Baptists helped to direct the project and work with them. In the late 1960s, a youth camp was started on the island. Quonset huts, formerly used by the H.K. Police Dept. in Kowloon, were dismantled, moved to the. island and reerected. Many thousands of young people utilized the facilities of the camp through the following years.

Then, in the late 1980s, the decision was made to build Hong Kong's new airport on the island. Settlers there were relocated in other areas of the territory, the camp was closed and buildings razed. The island itself is now being levelled and the sea separating it from a larger, neighboring island is being filled to make a large, flat area for an airport.

We are now looking at other possible sites in Hong Kong which might be suitable for a camp ministry. Our prayer is that God will give us the vision and help us to find the support from the government and foundations to provide facilities for this kind of ministry which is so sorely needed in Hong Kong.

NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST MISSIONARIES

Hello, let us introduce ourselves, because in the future a couple of strange people from New Zealand might feature in the Peak. That's us, Murray and Norma Beck. We have been sent by the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society to work as partners with your Missionaries and the Swatow Churches in Hong Kong.

Murray has served in the Baptist ministry for over 26 years in inner city churches and has specialized in church based social service and community ministry. Norma is a qualified Medical Laboratory Technologist, who most recently worked in the-hematology section of a childrens' hospital. We have three adult children, Kathryn, Michael and Joanna, who are still living in New Zealand.

We arrived last August and so we're adjusting to life in Hong Kong and spending a lot of time learning the Cantonese language. Even though we lived and worked in a "city" in New Zealand, life in Hong Kong is very different. We are having to adjust to living in an apartment, constant crowds, higher noise levels, as well as, a totally different culture. The population of Hong Kong is about double the population of New Zealand and is packed into an area of under 1% of New Zealand's total area.

We're finding Hong Kong a fascinating place in which to live. There is a life and vitality here that is attractive. We're enjoying getting to know Chinese people, and developing new friendships and relationships. There is also a sense of being in a strategic part of the world where events taking place now and over the next few years could effect the rest of the world.

Wilbur, Sheila, Keith and Linda have mad e us feet very welcome and have helped us tremendously in our settling in period. We're also looking forward to meeting and getting to know Becky and Ace Trask when they arrive back. Already we're feeling as if we're part of the team here and look forward to the time when we can take an active part in the life and work of the Churches.

Missionaries....
Rev. Murray and Norma Beck
Rev. Wilbur and Sheila Stone
Rev. Keith and Linda Tennis  
Rev. Becky Trask