The Conference of Mennonite Churches in Hong Kong Limited

xxxxx
Location
Contact Information
Date Established
Presiding Officer
MWC Affiliated?
Number of Congregations	xx(200x)
Membership	xxxx (200x)

xxxx is xxx associated with Mennonite World Conference. In 200x, xx had xx congregations and xx members.

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History

Mennonite Central Committee first came to Hong Kong in the 1950s to provide relief work after WWII. This work came in the form of hot meals and the opening of a reading room which provided Christian literature. Dr. Andrew Roy of the Chung Chi College, who knew the workers, suggested that the Mennonites open a mission in Hong Kong. In 1965, James K. Stauffer from Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities goes to Hong Kong to teach about the Bible at a local school and find locals who would be interested in Christ. Next year, two families come to take over the mission work as a part of EMBMC: Allen and Elsie Shirk, and Ira and Evelyn Kurtz. When the Shirks leave in 1967 a replacement family isn’t sent until 1969 in the form of Everett and Margaret Metzler. These families expanded the work into an elementary and preschool program and took over the MCC programs. Interest in Christianity continued to grow slowly in mainly youths through a Bible study. In February of 1976 the Lok Fu Mennonite Church, later called Agape, started having weekly worship sessions and some men are baptized. Two other churches formed, Homantin Mennonite Church, later called Grace, in 1986, and Hope Mennonite Church in June of 1989. These three churches came together in 1991 to form the Conference of Mennonite Churches in Hong Kong Limited and registered with the government.

Timeline

1950s MCC sends relief workers to Hong Kong in response to the wake of WWII and the atrocities which happened in mainland China. Relief comes mainly in the form of emergency material aid and financial aid.

1965 James and Arlene Stauffer from EMBMC arrive in Hong Kong and begin preparation work for expanding the mission work. Mennonites are late to the game in Hong Kong compared to other denominations.

1966 EMBMC sends the Shirks and Kurtz’s to Hong Kong as longer term workers. Begin holding a Sunday school for youths and opened an elementary and preschool. Hong Kong is viewed as the gate for getting Christianity into mainland China and the Southeast Asian area.

1970 Hong Kong hosts the 6th Asian International Reconciliation Work Camp. Hong Kong begins facing difficult times as many people are not interested in staying in the country. Many people move to other countries and are not interested in forming communities in the compact living situations of the lower class.

1976 An economic boom hits Hong Kong from its increasingly popular tourist industry. The wealth gap between the different classes in the city begins to increase. Lok Fu (Agape) Mennonite Church is formed as the first Mennonite Church.

1986 Homantin (Grace) Mennonite Church is formed. The closed policy of China has recently been lifted. The People’s Republic of China begins initiating in trade and attempting to revitalize their economy. This causes Hong Kong to swell even further with trade, and it becomes known as “The Pearl of the East”

1989 Healing Hangs center is opened and focuses on tutoring for high school age students. The “June Fourth Incident” in Tiananmen Square cause many people to worry about oppression from China. About 100,000 Christians emigrated out of Hong Kong because of this, about a quarter of all Christians in the area. Hope Mennonite Church opens its doors as the third Mennonite church in Hong Kong.

1991 CMCHK registers with government to provide insurance that their assets won’t be taken away from them. A Missionary Fellowship group from America comes through Hong Kong to build relationships with their brethren in other countries.

2007 The churches consider combining into one larger church so they could better pool resources. Decide not to so they can focus on different projects and programs that are being supported by the churches.

2011 Jeremiah Choi, the first Chinese pastor of Hope Mennonite Church, is ordained. He also works at Helping Hands Center with his wife.

Electronic Resources

• 2006 Mennonite World Conference Directory for Asia/Pacific