Summer 1989.....the Hong Kong Peak is issued by missionaries of the ABFMS.

MISSION CONFERENCE: TIME TO RELAX, REVIEW, AND REGROUP
By Nancy Keesee

Imagine being taken from 24-hour traffic noise right outside the bedroom window to an island without a single car! Ocean waves beating against rock and the slow pace and rich color of island village life--both are the perfect contrast to the insistent demands of city life in Hong Kong.

Before you think that your missionaries have it a little too easy, let me say that much as we would like to, we are not all moving to the island. The mission gathered at a Cheung Chau Island retreat center this year, not to speculate about real estate, but to relax, review the past year, and regroup for the next.

Do missionaries need spiritual revitalization? Yes, at least we city-weary missionaries do! We received much-needed spiritual boost from fellowship with Swatow Baptist church leaders and from Bible study. Rev. Fong's devotional message especially challenged us to invest our energies in matters of eternal significance. Lloyd James reminded us of our total dependence upon God for our lives: for our energy, love, and witness. A review of each missionary's activities of the past year was a pointed reminder of how necessary it is for us to depend on the Lord's strength and guidance.

We were reminded of how full the ministries of Harold and Estelle Schock and John and Ruth Espy have been and how much their absence will be felt as they retire. We will certainly miss them as we see the opportunities next year brings.

A retreat would not be complete without free-time, during which we roamed the island, walked on the beach, and watched the busy and colorful preparation for the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, one of the many religious festivals of Hong Kong.

Back at the retreat center we enjoyed fellowship time, singing, food, and more Bible study. There were even some "camp pranks" up the sleeves of a few. I think we all looked forward to the hour-long slow ferry ride home as a good restful ending to the week-end before we made our way through the Hong Kong crowds back home, ready to face fast-paced city life, jackhammers and traffic noise, and ministry.

HOW WE KNOW THEY CAN GET ALONG WITHOUT US
By Ruth & John Espy

We know who we are, but "they" is a bit vague. "They" may be our colleagues in the Mission or "they" may be John’s students and Ruth’s friends who are blind.

When John began to teach, he learned that every blackboard is/should be equipped with chalk and an eraser. So, his last scrawl on the blackboard has now been erased - a new teacher will pick up the chalk. It's as easy as that.

For the blind friends, Ruth completed the last textbook she was asked to transcribe into braille, and the telephone operators are now receiving computer-produced braille copies of their telephone lists. so her brailling machine is no longer needed - a "computer officer" types new data into the computer, and he isn’t even able to read the braille printout!

As for the American Baptist Mission in Hong Kong, the missionaries have learned not to paint themselves into corners with no exit. Before our plane takes off in August, we expect new staff will pick up our "brushes," dip them into fresher, brighter colors, and stroke the walls with intriguing patterns.

ESPYNERARY – 1962-1989
by Lloyd James

The Espynerary of John and Ruth Espy (a term they used to describe their deputation travels) in Hong Kong from 1962 to 1989 is one that has been characterized by professional competency, concern for the well-being of the people of Hong Kong, willingness to spend themselves in service for others. Or to put it in the words of those with whom they worked at the Chinese University of Hong Kong through the years, John Espy is a "teacher with love, a gracious administrator, and a genuine missionary, willing to take up the role of an assistant and let Chinese colleagues run the operation and make the final decision which is exactly the Bible teaching for missionaries in planting churches", according to Dr. Kam-Hon Lee, Director of the MBA Programme at the University, who wrote this about John in the 1988 annual publication of the University MBA Programme. He also said: "John observed the same principle in planting graduate business education where he produced a crop a thousand times greater than was sown" As for Ruth Espy - the Secretary of the University, Jacob Leung, said the Administrative and Planning Committee of the University was "very much impressed by the care and voluntary service Mrs. Espy had rendered to the handicapped telephone operators of the University over the years" adding that "both of you have in many ways helped enrich the campus life in Chung Chi College as well as at the University."

Behind this praise given as John and Ruth ended their formal service to the University on September 30, 1988, and entered a year of service "in retirement" until September of 1989, lay twentyseven years of American Baptist missionary service in Hong Kong. John, with his penchant for preciseness, would probably protest that it was twenty-four years of service inasmuch as they spent three years in the States from 1967-1970 while John got his doctoral degree from the Harvard School of Business. However, in noting John’s intention in securing the doctoral degree, even that time might be considered missionary service although they were off salary, for he wished to be better prepared to serve his deep concern for the drain of science graduates to the U.S. and Canada while Hong Kong desperately needed management and technical personnel for the sake of Hong Kong's economic survival in the free world of that day. He furthered his crusade upon his return by writing articles in economic publications, visiting representatives of industry, higher education, and government, and also by addressing civic and industrial organizations, in order to stimulate an awareness for the need for competent managerial personnel for the sake of the future of the people of H.K. As John said in 1975, "This might seem a strange missionary endeavor, but it was a job that must be done. The economic well-being of four million people is at stake:' Here we see john's missionary calling at work.

John came to Hong Kong with a background of having taught chemistry at Robert College in Turkey following his graduation from college with a degree in chemical engineering and electronics and some years working for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y. Arriving in November, 1962, with sons Lincoln and John Mark, the Espys were assigned to work at Chung Chi College where John showed his versatility as he accepted assignments as teacher of industrial chemistry, bursar, and building construction supervisor of the college. Later he became Senior Lecturer, Associate Director of the Lingnan Institute of Business Administration, and concluded his service with the title of Professor of International Business and Associate Director of the Masters of Business Administration Programme. In his "retirement year" he has been Senior Tutor and Associate Director of the Office of Industrial and Business Development.

John’s expertise has been recognized in the board rooms of the largest commercial houses of Hong Kong as he has led numerous seminars on higher echelon managerial skills. It has also been recognized overseas as he was invited to the Mara Institute of Technology in Malaysia in 1973, and to the Northeast University of Technology in Shenyang, China, in 1981 and 1982, in both places to lead seminars in his area of specialization.

A separate article should be written on the work and accomplishments of Ruth Espy, whose work has been done as a volunteer. Sharing her training in library science with Chung Chi College and with the Chinese University, she has given countless hours of assistance in upgrading the quality of service given by those important university functions, as well as working in the college bookstore. She was also asked to share her expertise at the Mara Institute and the Northeast University in Shenyang when she accompanied John. Most of her recognition, however, has come because of her services for the blind through translation of texts into braille and setting up brailled telephone directories for blind students. She has been recognized for her services by the Royal Society for the Blind of Hong Kong, for which she spent many hours of volunteer service. She represented the Royal Society for the Blind at an International Conference on English Braille in Washington, D.C., in 1982.

Perhaps John and Ruth’s service may best be characterized in John’s own words in a letter to the mission offices in Valley Forge in 1977: "Our work is not evangelical, and our Christian witness is made primarily through our willingness to do what others seem unwilling or unable to do, and the way in which we relate to our colleagues and students." In the words of the university leaders quoted earlier, both John and Ruth have eminently achieved their missionary goals.

SCHOCKS-VERSATILITY AND SERVICE
by Eileen James

In the twenty-two years that Harold and Estelle Schock have served as American Baptist missionaries in Hong Kong they have shared their skills and concern in many churches, Christian Centers, women’s meetings, and homes. Travelling all about Kowloon, New Territories, Hong Kong Island, and other islands of Hong Kong, as well as Macau, Burma, China, Malaysia, and Thailand, they have used trains, taxis, cars, ships, junks, ferries, airplanes, and their feet to get to these places.

Before coming to Hong Kong, they were missionaries in Reno, Nevada, USA, for three years serving the Indian Americans. Their prayer to work overseas was answered when they were assi to go to Rangoon, Burma, in 1955. There they were pioneers in developing Christian Center ministries. They also worked with the Telugu and Tamil Indian churches and the Cantonese-speaking Chinese Baptists in Burma. They left in 1966 when the Burmese government required all missionaries to leave.

After much prayer, the Schocks answered the call to come to Hong Kong in 1967 and use their skills in Christian Center work here among the Swatow-speaking Chinese people. This meant, of course, learning another language. Their three children, Judy, Linda, and Phillip, came with them and attended the American-type school in Hong Kong.

After language study, the Schocks worked diligently in Christian Centers in the overcrowded, congested areas of Hong Kong. Harold became director both at Chuk Yuen and also at Moon Lok in Tsuen Wan. He also started a new Christian Center in the Diamond Hill area of Kowloon. These centers had kindergartens and activities for children, as well as sports, classes, and supervised study for youth, and summer camps and outings and of course Bible study and worship. The purpose of their work was reflected in Harold's words early in his ministry here: "When a ministry of love is coupled with a Christian word, a seed may be planted for everlasting life:' (Hong Kong Peak, Dec. 1969, p. 4)

When more space was needed at Chuk Yuen in 1974 to expand the Christian Center program, a building became available which had been built by Church World Service in 1961. It had been a factory for making noodles to feed Hong Kong's refugee children. As Harold wrote: "...Millions of miles of noodles have fed our hungry Hong Kong children. Is it far from Christ's message that having fed the bodies, we should now feed the hungering souls? ... we continually try to adjust our program to the needs of the people." (Hong Kong Peak, Nov. 1974, p.6)

At the Chuk Yuen Christian Center, a new ministry was born. In seeing the needs of people and feeling constrained by the Spirit of God, Harold Schock began a ministry to young men afflicted by drug abuse. Thus began fifteen years ago what is now known throughout Hong Kong as the Wu Oi Christian Fellowship, a very effective drug rehabilitation program. "Wu Oi" means "mutual love" and its name clearly indicates the strength of this ministry. Its power comes from relying on the Lord Jesus Christ. Wu Oi shows the drug users a better way of life by helping them see that faith in Jesus Christ is the best solution to their problems and by developing guided friendship and fellowship among the Wu Oi Brothers. The program, which is one year long, has remarkable results: about 50 percent of the graduates of the program are non-recidivists. To appreciate more fully the results of Wu Oi's program, one needs to experience Wu Oi by attending a Friday night meeting at the center in Shun Tin and see the radiant faces of the men giving testimony of their new life in Christ. Or walk over the mountain to the isolated village of Long Ke and hear some 50 men sing their original songs of deliverance from misery now that Christ is in their lives. But if you cannot do that, a full and exciting account of this ministry is in the book Once a Drug Addict.... written by Harold Schock just last year (available from him).

The Schocks have continued their interest in Burma and have made several trips there to take much-needed medicine, clothing, and supplies and to encourage the Christian leaders there. Harold has also taken drug-rehabilitation teams to Burma and Thailand to train leaders there. Some years ago the Schocks participated in a ministry to Burmese refugees who had fled to Macau.

Estelle has been a supporter and an encourager of Harold's work in Christian Centers, Wu Oi, and the churches. But Estelle, fluent in four Chinese dialects, is a missionary with her own skills and ministries, particularly teaching Sunday School Bible classes, preaching and working with women's groups in the Swatow Baptist churches. The women’s groups were formed for fellowship, prayer, and training. The Swatow women have been active and faithful for many years in home visitation which became a contributing factor in starting home meetings and chapels. Now some additional new groups of women have started in some of the churches, and Estelle has been active in this endeavor. She has been advisor to the Swatow Baptist Womees Association, helping in their planning and meetings and retreats, as well as in the Asian Baptist Women's Fellowship.

To chronicle all of the saga of the Schocks in Hong Kong and elsewhere is impossible, but life for them has been meaningful and life for many others has been enriched by their service of love.

As they close their full-time work here in Hong Kong, we wish them happiness and fulfillment in retirement as they continue to seek God's guidance for their lives.

HONG KONG AFTER-SCHOCKS
by Harold Schock

When fifteen churches and chapels had three ordained pastors among them, some twenty 20 years ago, missionaries were called on frequently to baptize and administer Communion. Now eleven ordained pastors lead eighteen congregations, and they can handle these ordinances and weddings largely by themselves. Although I preach and give Communion often, I have given baptism in Hong Kong only once since 1972. My English speaking Sunday School class has been taken over by a newly graduated seminarian. Estelle's Swatow Sunday School class continues under the leadership of one of the church deacons. The Moon Lok Christian Centre and Kindergarten have been added-on responsibilities from Keith Tennis in which I have tried to maintain a status-quo situation until he returns in July.

Estelle's position with the Swatow Baptist Women as advisor, counsellor, and respected leader has quite largely been assumed by those she has helped to train and by a whole new crop of seminary-trained "Bible women". Her frequent messages of guidance and spiritual depth to various women’s groups will be missed. But there seems to be no dearth of women ready to preach to women’s groups. However, no one can take the place of her love and dedication to these groups of spiritually maturing women.

Wu Oi has became a strong, independent para-church organization with about seventy men and women in various stages of training and a staff of twenty-six including three seminary graduates for whom I have prepared a syllabus on the "Life of Christ". Johnson Ngai, the director, continues to be our strong leader both in organizational and spiritual development. I have introduced a local pastor and Wu Oi board member to a number of government officers to which Wu Oi frequently relates, and he will assume my contacts at this level. He will also take my place on the anti-drug committee of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Becky Trask has kindly agreed to be responsible for the English translations in the monthly publication of the Wu Oi Tung Sun. Wu Oi has consistently received over 90 percent of its financing from local Hong Kong sources, my salary excluded from any accounting. The need for more prayer and in-depth Bible study continues to have high priority among Wu Oi staff.

Johnson and perhaps a few others in Wu Oi and the Swatow churches will probably miss us, but our departure will certainly cause no great shock waves. So why hang around?

But what will the Schocks do without Hong Kong? In our twenty-two years here, deep relationships have been formed. However, this increasingly common world-wide phenomenon of mobility is an integral part of a missionary career. We anticipate our returning to the States, spending a year as Missionaries in Residence at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, then settling down for retirement in Yakima, Washington, in June 1990. We thank God for the privilege of serving Him for thirty-three years in Burma and Hong Kong. As our years have been filled with joy, excitement, and a sense of God's direction in our lives, so we rely on God's faithfulness to fill the years ahead as He pleases, and may all glory be to His name.

BLESSINGS OF THE LORD
By Becky Trask

In the last issue of the PEAK there were several articles rejoicing over the Lord's blessings in the Swatow Baptist churches. The churches have grown and matured and their members continue to seek ways to serve the Lord in Hong Kong.

One of these blessings is a growing work of evangelism and redevelopment in the Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church. About six years ago, a vision to reach people for Jesus Christ grew out of a burden for the unreached in housing areas near the church. It wasn’t long before the zeal of bringing people to new life in Christ encouraged others in the church to seek God's blessings, too.

Blessings of the Lord poured out on His people are frequently followed by a renewed commitment to serve Him. This was exactly what happened. As the church members' faith was strengthened, the Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church put into action a new ministry structure. These changes are now allowing increased growth within the church fellowship and growth in the mission outreach of the church.

Along with the joy of growth and change come sorrows and tears, and a challenge to greater growth. In the last three years pastors, deacons, and members have sown in tears, in order to reap the blessings of the Lord. Rejoice with us in these blessings. The Kwun Tong church has started a new chapel in Shatin. They have also completed Phase I of three phases in a beautiful new building reconstruction. Fueled by a fresh vision, church leaders have implemented a new department of missionary outreach. The evangelism department is starting a new church planting plan.

These all give us great cause for rejoicing in the blessings of the Lordl

Please pray that the church in times of both triumph and difficulty will be united remembering the words in Psalm 126: 3, 5-6. "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him:'

SHAUKIWAN CELEBRATES AND DEDICATES

March 19, 1989, was the date on which the Shaukiwan Swatow Baptist Church celebrated its 35th Anniversary as a group of worshipers. At the same time the church dedicated its beautiful and spacious new facilities, for which Keith Tennis had cut the ribbon last June 19th, as reported in the December, 1988, PEAK.

The church was filled with over 300 members and visitors to hear the Macedonian Choir and their own choir offer praises to God. Leaders gave reports of their history, and Lloyd James spoke a word of encouragement to the church to continue to exercise the faith they have shown to this point by serving the many people who will be living in the large housing estates on the hill behind the church.

BREAKING DOWN WALLS
by Becky Trask

For many Christians the challenge to move outside the safe, comfortable confines of church walls to talk about Jesus seems too risky. This challenge has been no less risky for some Hong Kong young people from several Swatow Baptist churches since the summer of 1983. Even so, for these ninety-plus young people the desire to respond to their burden to share Christ with the unchurched people of Hong Kong's overcrowded population keeps them coming anyway.

Training for youth evangelism teams (known as YE.T.) started in 1983 with the churches to provide a training outreach for church youth during their summer holiday. The youth saw "the fields ripe unto harvest", and their enthusiasm encouraged churches to start evangelism teams that could witness throughout the year and help with the follow-up of the many new believers. Many new believers found their lives changed in Christ and have been baptized. Some have also become valued members of the teams and go out to witness to Jesus Christ.

During my home assignment in the States last year, I prayed asking God to keep alive in the churches the burden to reach out and train more young people in evangelism. True to God's faithfulness, Christians committed to seeing change in the churches continued to reach outside the walls of the church for Christ. Through God's grace and power four churches continued evangelism team outreach, and the Kwun Tong Swatow Baptist Church provided a summer training experience for their youth to strengthen the churches outreach into the community.

For this summer the Kwun Tong church is planning another six-week training outreach and is inviting other churches to send their young people who have a burden for evangelism to join the training. During this time the church teams will go out into the housing areas near their own churches to witness.

*Please pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen the young people to take the risk of reaching out in evangelism and to follow-up new Christians as they begin their new lives in Christ.

*Please pray for God to break down walls and energize the churches' commitment to this vital ministry of evangelism in the Swatow Baptist churches.

*Please pray for God's love to be evident in Hong Kong and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare people's hearts to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

BAPTIST COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Four students have been selected by the Hong Kong Baptist College to receive scholarship grants from the American Baptist Mission in Hong Kong. Once a year Baptist College holds a special tea to recognize and thank the donors, and to get the donors and scholars together. This year our four scholars are young women who expressed their great appreciation to the American Baptist Mission for their financial assistance. Only the tallest girl in the picture is a Christian, so this also gave an opportunity to encourage the other three to include a personal knowledge of Christ in their college education.

Missionaries....
Dr. John and Ruth Espy
Rev. Donald and Nancy Keesee
Rev. Keith and Linda Tennis  
Rev. Becky Trask
Dr. Stephen and Angela Beasley-Murray
Drs. Harold and Estelle Schock