Edmund and Lisa are the key leaders here in this church. They have been married 5 years. They are in their mid 30's
Edmund is the pastor of the church. He has much on his shoulders. Before I left the church began to structure the ministry around small groups. Cell groups are not optional like it might be in the church in the US. It is expected that to be a part of the church means that you a in a cell group. For that reason there now are more people in the cell groups than there may be in the worship service. Currently they have 20 cell groups with 10 in each group. Many of them meet at the church but some meet in people's homes (which previously they would not have done because it is not the custom to visit in homes but gather at the restaurants). Sunday we had 90 in the morning worship on Sunday and we were told 50+ on Saturday afternoon (mostly junior and senior high students) The four of us will be going to the afternoon service today. I have been asked to preach. The service is much shorter than the one on Sunday. It lasts 1 1/2 hrs instead of the usual 2 hours + on Sunday!!! (People in the US get squirmy when the service goes past 1 hour)
One of the strategic plans was to begin to train pastors in training. 4 people have already started this training. One will graduate this year. All four of them are paid by the church. In turn, they are committed to study, assisting with the groups and being with the other leaders for instruction and guidance. Then they go to seminary for training. Two people in the church have a burden for China and want to become missionaries. Edmund is the spiritual leader for this group that will lead the growing church here in Hong Kong. It is their expectation that the church will double in size (to over 400) in just a few years.
Over the past twenty years, the church has operated three social centers in order to have facilities to do ministry (make contacts and have worship and cell group meetings). Two of those centers have been open up to now. One was a study room for secondary students to study. It opened in 1989. The other was a family center for social programs for the entire family. It was opened in 1994. Both will be closing by the end of this year. In their place the church has purchased a space on the second floor that is very close to the train station in Tai Wai. It is approx 2,000 sq. feet, the same size as the family center that the church operated. This new facility will be able to be divided into small rooms for groups as well as be open for worship. The price tag? US $ 1.2 million dollars. Patrick and Jamie helped raise US$300,000.00 from churches in the States for a down payment. The rest will the mortage will be paid by this young but growing church. (One week after buying the property they were approached and told that someone would give them US$300,000.00 more than what they purchased. They had not done any renovation or would need to do anything than what existed when they purchased it to make the deal - they turned it down). The renovation was to cost US$70,000.00 which was not in the budget. Edmund and the board asked the 14 families that tithed if they would give extra money to cover this cost. Many gave from the profit they had made from their home or the little saving that they had. The renovation started last week. We toured the place after the Sunday Service. It was remarkable to see this unfold. It was remarkable to see a youth group church to accept the challenge to grow and move to the next stage for ministry.
Lisa is a leader in her quiet spirit and deep faith. She is also living with three tumors behind her eyes and nose that doctors do not know if they are maligant because it is too dangerous to do a biospy or to have surgery. She had cancer 11 years ago in her throat that was taken out and she went through chemo and radiation therapy. These growths were discovered when a growth had formed in her nose. Each time they did an MRI they discovered more growths. As she said, "the news kept getting worst each time the doctor talked to us." She went into the hospital because she had fainted and they were not sure of the reason. She kept it quiet from friends and family because she did not want them to worry. But after being in the hospital a week, she knew that she had to tell her family and friends. She was afraid of her parent's response. She did not want them to go to the Buddhist temple to pray for her or to insist on other treatments. During the first time of having cancer as she shared with her parents they agreed to pray with her and her sister. This was a major victory for her even though they had not accepted Christianity personally as she had, they were open to receive her experience of faith. This time as she shared they acknowledged that they believed that there was a God and was trusting him to care for her.
As I sat with her and listened she shared from her heart of the pain and hurt that this had brought to her life. But what she shared was not what I expected. Her pain was that she was not able to do what she had done in the past at the church and that many people were worried about her. They would often ask what they could do for her or how she was feeling and she could not answer them. The Lord has given her a peace but there has been a silence from him in her knowing what she is suppose to do. She said "Lord, whatever you want to do in me or for me to do for you, just tell me." No direction has come to this point. But she senses the Lord's presence near her. She asked the Lord for specific things. She did not want to go through the painful experience of biopsy and did not want to have to decide whether to have surgery to remove it. The doctors told her that it was not possible to do either because it is close to the central nerve going to the brain and is close to the artery that supplies the brain. She smiled at me and said, "God answered my prayer!" She also said that she has been pleased to see that her parents are starting the journey to discover God. Jamie told me that when she had cancer the first time, she asked God for 12 years more on her life so that she could see her parents accept Christ.
I asked Edmund during a time together what has been the highlight recently for him. He thought for a moment and said, "When my mother was baptized two years ago. I was able to witness that in person. I have 8 brothers and sisters and half of our family is Christian. My older brother is also a pastor."
We all have gotten older. I remember them as young people but they were strong in their faith and love for Christ even then. God has used that faith and love to lead others since I have left. I am fortunate to have had parents and grandparents who were followers of Christ. I do not know what it means to be the first generation Christian in your family - to wait and long to have your parents understand your Christian faith and to experience that as well. I have had experiences since I have left that has taught me about grace and mercy from God and has helped build character in me and to form the likeness of Christ in my daily life.
Wednesday night we sat and ate Chinese food. They asked me what I wanted and I said to surprise me and they did - Ribs with peace and pinapple, ground beef with bean curd, vegetables and mushroom and pork. What an enjoyable meal and time together. How great to hear their story and to share mine. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
This afternoon I will be going to the center for the afternoon worship. The room will be filled with junior and senior high students. As I look over the group gathered for worship, I wonder who will be the "Edmunds and Lisas" in this group that God will fashion lead and use for his work in the coming years. Jesus said, "Behold the fields are ripe for harvesting." How true that is here in the church and in this exciting city of Hong Kong.
Partners in His service,
Edmund is the pastor of the church. He has much on his shoulders. Before I left the church began to structure the ministry around small groups. Cell groups are not optional like it might be in the church in the US. It is expected that to be a part of the church means that you a in a cell group. For that reason there now are more people in the cell groups than there may be in the worship service. Currently they have 20 cell groups with 10 in each group. Many of them meet at the church but some meet in people's homes (which previously they would not have done because it is not the custom to visit in homes but gather at the restaurants). Sunday we had 90 in the morning worship on Sunday and we were told 50+ on Saturday afternoon (mostly junior and senior high students) The four of us will be going to the afternoon service today. I have been asked to preach. The service is much shorter than the one on Sunday. It lasts 1 1/2 hrs instead of the usual 2 hours + on Sunday!!! (People in the US get squirmy when the service goes past 1 hour)
One of the strategic plans was to begin to train pastors in training. 4 people have already started this training. One will graduate this year. All four of them are paid by the church. In turn, they are committed to study, assisting with the groups and being with the other leaders for instruction and guidance. Then they go to seminary for training. Two people in the church have a burden for China and want to become missionaries. Edmund is the spiritual leader for this group that will lead the growing church here in Hong Kong. It is their expectation that the church will double in size (to over 400) in just a few years.
Over the past twenty years, the church has operated three social centers in order to have facilities to do ministry (make contacts and have worship and cell group meetings). Two of those centers have been open up to now. One was a study room for secondary students to study. It opened in 1989. The other was a family center for social programs for the entire family. It was opened in 1994. Both will be closing by the end of this year. In their place the church has purchased a space on the second floor that is very close to the train station in Tai Wai. It is approx 2,000 sq. feet, the same size as the family center that the church operated. This new facility will be able to be divided into small rooms for groups as well as be open for worship. The price tag? US $ 1.2 million dollars. Patrick and Jamie helped raise US$300,000.00 from churches in the States for a down payment. The rest will the mortage will be paid by this young but growing church. (One week after buying the property they were approached and told that someone would give them US$300,000.00 more than what they purchased. They had not done any renovation or would need to do anything than what existed when they purchased it to make the deal - they turned it down). The renovation was to cost US$70,000.00 which was not in the budget. Edmund and the board asked the 14 families that tithed if they would give extra money to cover this cost. Many gave from the profit they had made from their home or the little saving that they had. The renovation started last week. We toured the place after the Sunday Service. It was remarkable to see this unfold. It was remarkable to see a youth group church to accept the challenge to grow and move to the next stage for ministry.
Lisa is a leader in her quiet spirit and deep faith. She is also living with three tumors behind her eyes and nose that doctors do not know if they are maligant because it is too dangerous to do a biospy or to have surgery. She had cancer 11 years ago in her throat that was taken out and she went through chemo and radiation therapy. These growths were discovered when a growth had formed in her nose. Each time they did an MRI they discovered more growths. As she said, "the news kept getting worst each time the doctor talked to us." She went into the hospital because she had fainted and they were not sure of the reason. She kept it quiet from friends and family because she did not want them to worry. But after being in the hospital a week, she knew that she had to tell her family and friends. She was afraid of her parent's response. She did not want them to go to the Buddhist temple to pray for her or to insist on other treatments. During the first time of having cancer as she shared with her parents they agreed to pray with her and her sister. This was a major victory for her even though they had not accepted Christianity personally as she had, they were open to receive her experience of faith. This time as she shared they acknowledged that they believed that there was a God and was trusting him to care for her.
As I sat with her and listened she shared from her heart of the pain and hurt that this had brought to her life. But what she shared was not what I expected. Her pain was that she was not able to do what she had done in the past at the church and that many people were worried about her. They would often ask what they could do for her or how she was feeling and she could not answer them. The Lord has given her a peace but there has been a silence from him in her knowing what she is suppose to do. She said "Lord, whatever you want to do in me or for me to do for you, just tell me." No direction has come to this point. But she senses the Lord's presence near her. She asked the Lord for specific things. She did not want to go through the painful experience of biopsy and did not want to have to decide whether to have surgery to remove it. The doctors told her that it was not possible to do either because it is close to the central nerve going to the brain and is close to the artery that supplies the brain. She smiled at me and said, "God answered my prayer!" She also said that she has been pleased to see that her parents are starting the journey to discover God. Jamie told me that when she had cancer the first time, she asked God for 12 years more on her life so that she could see her parents accept Christ.
I asked Edmund during a time together what has been the highlight recently for him. He thought for a moment and said, "When my mother was baptized two years ago. I was able to witness that in person. I have 8 brothers and sisters and half of our family is Christian. My older brother is also a pastor."
We all have gotten older. I remember them as young people but they were strong in their faith and love for Christ even then. God has used that faith and love to lead others since I have left. I am fortunate to have had parents and grandparents who were followers of Christ. I do not know what it means to be the first generation Christian in your family - to wait and long to have your parents understand your Christian faith and to experience that as well. I have had experiences since I have left that has taught me about grace and mercy from God and has helped build character in me and to form the likeness of Christ in my daily life.
Wednesday night we sat and ate Chinese food. They asked me what I wanted and I said to surprise me and they did - Ribs with peace and pinapple, ground beef with bean curd, vegetables and mushroom and pork. What an enjoyable meal and time together. How great to hear their story and to share mine. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
This afternoon I will be going to the center for the afternoon worship. The room will be filled with junior and senior high students. As I look over the group gathered for worship, I wonder who will be the "Edmunds and Lisas" in this group that God will fashion lead and use for his work in the coming years. Jesus said, "Behold the fields are ripe for harvesting." How true that is here in the church and in this exciting city of Hong Kong.
Partners in His service,
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