Apr 20: China, Hong Kong

Challenges for Prayer

Christian leadership is in short supply, with only two-thirds of congregations having a pastor. Emigration contributes substantially to this, so that a much younger and less-experienced generation of leaders is forced to emerge. Pray for these:

a) The 35 Bible colleges, with more than 1,200 students, have shaped the outlook of many thousands of former students now pastoring, ministering or in the laity.

b) Key seminaries, such as the Alliance Bible Seminary, the Baptist Theological Seminary and the China Graduate School of Theology.

Commitment to missions is high, with around 60% of congregations consistently engaged in or supporting mission activity. Pray for:

a) Wisdom in serving the burgeoning Church in the PRC. Many congregations, ministries, colleges and seminaries long to facilitate further growth, maturation and training of the mainland Church, which already dwarfs Hong Kong’s Church in size but not in history or resources. Many Hong Kong churches and ministries believe that their role is to support the massive missions movement emerging from mainland China.

b) The Hong Kong Association of Christian Missions is a focal coordinating point for 30 agencies, 15 denominations and many congregations that are channelling over 400 missionaries overseas.

c) The foreign mission body in Hong Kong has significantly reduced as HK and PRC Churches mature and take on a greater ministry load and as organizations relocate their regional offices away from Hong Kong. But many expats remain here in a host of roles – from church planting to media to PRC-focused work.

     For an additional 11 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.