Early this month, a team of 28 City Harvest Church members, led by their senior pastor Kong Hee, headed to Hong Kong for a time of “Loving God, Loving People”.
Contributed By Stephanie Chung
PHOTOS: THE PRAISE ASSEMBLY AND GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH.
From Jan.30 to Feb.1, a team from City Harvest Church flew into Hong Kong for a three-day conference—an annual event. Themed “Loving God Loving People, Let’s Arise and Build”, this conference was organized by two churches in Tsuen Wan, New Territories: The Praise Assembly and Grace Community Church. Kong preached six sessions, encouraging the members to build a loving church.
Loving God, Loving People
Kong launched the conference with a powerful message on loving God, drawing from the tabernacle of David. The Bible says that Christians should love God with all of their hearts. Kong shared that it is through worship that love can flow through the heart; loving God with all of one’s soul is done through prayer and loving God with all of one’s mind is through reading and studying the Word of God.
At that evening’s session, Kong capped his day’s work of teaching Christians to love God with a lesson on the Holy Spirit—it is vital for every Christian to love God the Holy Spirit and to be aware of His presence.
The focus of the next day was on “Loving People”. Kong taught attendees how to do outreach to friends and family who were pre-believers, and at a later session, he spoke on the importance of getting to know and bonding with others within the church family.
On the final day of the conference, the members were in for a time of conviction when Kong talked about discipleship and loyalty on the third day of the conference. Kong used the story of Ruth and Naomi to demonstrate to the members what it means to be a loyal Cleaver, not just a Kisser. Because of Ruth’s loyalty to her widowed and childless mother-in-law, she joined the ranks of those whose lineage ultimately brought forth the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Kong ended the conference by encouraging members to stay faithful and loyal to their local church.
The Word was very well-received by the conference attendees. They had a great hunger for the Word and responded enthusiastically at every session. Many of them took time off their work to come for the sessions during the day and spent long hours queuing before the opening of doors. Many members from TPA also availed themselves to serve in the different areas of the conference, and were very hospitable to the team from Singapore.
The Mission Team
The CHC mission team were made up of 28 people who served different needs: some led worship, others helped during altar call. Some of them who are leaders in CHC conducted practical workshops teaching life-skills and imparting know-how for church ministries.
Dean of CHC’s School of Theology, Bobby Chaw conducted two workshops, “Sharing A Message In Cell Group” and “Historical Perspective Regarding Discipleship”; beauty queen and international trainer, Celest Foo taught two classes: “Cultivating People Skills in Your Leadership” and “Leading Different Personalities”; trainer and entrepreneur, Nanz Chong-Komo shared on “How To Share The Gospel Naturally In The Marketplace”; CHC’s worship leader Annabel Soh, and Taiwanese songwriter and artist Chen Wei Quan, who also serves as a cell group leader and in his church’s worship team, shared on “How To Lead Praise And Worship In The Context Of A Cell Group”.
Each day before the conference began, the team held a daily morning prayer meeting, gathering to pray and seek God for the conference.
As each team member availed themselves to serve in the mission trip, every one was in turn blessed by God’s presence during the conference, and touched by the hunger that the local people had. Fanny Tan, 27, a business development manager, said, “I am very grateful and thankful to God and to Pastor Kong. This mission trip was way above and beyond my expectations. The presence of God was so strong and tangible throughout the conferences, and I witnessed many souls being touched by God in TPA. Personally, I received a breakthrough in my walk with God—He renewed my vision. This trip had changed me and brought me to another level with Him. Thank you Pastor Kong for giving me the opportunity to join you for this mission trip!”
Investment consultant Rachel Lim, 30, said, “God is good, He reminded me that as we avail ourselves to serve others, He will water us too. I benefited much from the trip. I had unforgettable encounters with God and His presence was always strong even at times when only a small group of us gathered to pray for the conference in the mornings. I was also very touched when I saw so many people queue for hours outside the hall before the conference started. They had so much hunger for God’s Word! It made me more appreciative of being part of CHC and for having Pastor Kong with us.
“I also made some new meaningful friendships with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The trip was short, but amazingly, I felt God connected many of us together deeply, and it was just as Pastor Kong had been preaching all these months: being a family and being committed to one another, loving one another. I am looking forward to going on another mission trip soon!
Stephanie Chung was a member of the CHC team to Hong Kong.
