Yesterday, we went to The Vine Christian Fellowship for our Sunday Celebration. It is an expatriate international church. The interesting part of the whole experience is that a lot of the things that happened throughout the celebration are familiar. We had a good time of worship with songs that were familiar. The Word of God was relevant and the response time was powerful.
I am noticing a trend throughout many of these international churches in the global cities. Many of these churches are able to contextualize the experience that fits into a culture full of people who have left their home country (for whatever reason) or they have been abroad for studies or work. It is a unique group of people that in some ways have their own culture.
The key is trying to give this mobile community a vision to reach the people of their host country and for the national to reach their own people. It is important that they are equipped and empowered.
After the service, we had lunch with Dale Kauffman and his wife, Carol. They are the key founders of King’s Kids International, which is part of the Youth With A Mission ministry. It was a blessing to just here all the things that God is doing in China.
After I shared a little bit of what God laid in our hearts with the campus church planting and eventually planting international churches, Dale shared with us a trend that is happening in China. He said that one of the fastest growing movements right now in China (more than the House Church Movement) is the Chinese who have studied aboard and then come back to their country to work. They are reaching out to the various part of China’s society (similar to the Transformasphere Movement). They are reaching out to the business sector, the movie industry, the healthcare field, and etc. by starting up home fellowships.
It was so encouraging to have some of the things that we have always hypothesized about get confirmed from a giant on the field.
Then, after our meeting, we walk around the city; but this time we went to the island. It was good spending time with Dave and getting to hear all the various things that God has been doing in his life.
We capped off the night by taking the Peak Tram up to the mountain side to get a panoramic view of the whole city. It really caused you to stand there in awe of God. I was thinking how incredible it was to think that God knows and loves every single person in this city. It was humbling to also remind myself that God has been working in this city long before any “missionaries” arrived on the seen.
The words of Bluetree’s song, “God Of This City” came to my mind as I looked out and prayed for the city of Hong Kong. I know that Chris Tomlin made it popular, but I stood corrected by one of our musicians that Chris Tomlin did not write the song – you can find out more information on this song here. Also, here is the Bluetree’s version of the song.
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You Are
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here
You’re the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You’re the King above all Kings
You Are
You’re the strength in our weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
You Are
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here.
We took a ferry in the morning to get to the island for Sunday Celebration
We had lunch with Dale and Carol Kauffman
This is center of the whole city
Had some coffee with David as he shared about God’s faithfulness
Hong Kong is BUSY!
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no… it’s just Hong Kong!
We couldn’t resist
A view from above… we were literally in the clouds