Hong Kong today has 900 vibrant churches with young pastors (the average age being 30) who are willing and prayerfully ready to face the challenges of 1997 and beyond. The efforts of earlier missionaries, who established dozens of church-related schools as well as churches, have borne much fruit. Beginning in the early 1970’s, western denominations and mission boards turned over church and seminary leadership to indigenous pastors. Church statesmen/theologians like Philip Teng (of the Christian and Missionary Alliance) and John Pao (of the Evangelical Free Church) have provided sterling leadership to their respective denominational Bible colleges and have represented the Chinese church well to the international community.

During the 1970s, the church came of age. Hong Kong took off as a modern international city, eventually becoming the world’s 3rd largest gold market and 3rd largest container port. Hong Kong Christians studying abroad returned to launch innovative ministries such as Breakthrough, a youth ministry reaching 1/12 of Hong Kong’s population each month; the China Graduate School of Theology; and the Chinese Coordination Center of World Evangelism. Among university students, the cry of the early 1970’s was gan she ren zhu: to show concern to society and identify with our motherland (mainland China).

In the 1980’s, mainland Chinese officials moved to take up residency in Hong Kong in large numbers. By 1982, the 1997 issue had become an item for reflection and preparation (since many business properties are based on 15-year leases). Around the time of the signing of the Sino-British Agreement in 1984, evangelicals in Hong Kong prepared a “Convictions” declaration. They re-affirmed the Lordship of Christ in history; the duty of the church to worship, to witness, and to be salt and light in any society; the relationship of Christians to the government; and Hong Kong Christian’s concern for China’s future. A whole host of resources and activities pointed Hong Kong’s youthful Christians to prepare for 1997. The older generation, however, immigrated to North America in large numbers. Then, in 1989, the June 4th tragedy dampened the spirits of Hong Kong Christians. As they look forward to 1997, this is an unhealed wound.

In the 1990’s, Christians continue to deepen their commitment to remain in Hong Kong after 1997 and to renew and transform the church to be effective as part of the church in China. The Hong Kong Church Renewal Movement has provided effective leadership to pastors from the various districts in the territory to implement church growth strategies. Much exchange has taken place between the church in China and the church in Hong Kong.

With 1997 just around the corner, three issues confront the church in Hong Kong and threaten her unity. First is the question of whether Christians should serve as delegates to the Selection Committee which will ostensibly choose not only Hong Kong’s new governor but also (if China has her way) the region’s legislature. The concept of a new legislature was not included in the Basic Law for Hong Kong’s governance after 1997. In the face of wide-ranging Christian debate on the issue, the Hong Kong Christian Council is trying to present a united Protestant response to China.

Secondly, Christian leaders have been called upon to celebrate October 1st, the PRC’s national holiday commemorating the Communist Revolution of 1949. Some evangelical leaders are planning an alternative Christian national holiday celebration and are seeking to determine the level of grass-root support and pastoral consensus.

Finally, some church leaders are planning a rally in June 1997, on the eve of the takeover, to “pray for blessing” (qi fu). Yet there is some confusion over what exactly Christians will give thanks for in 1997: perhaps for the way in which God has used the church in Hong Kong to be salt and light during the past century and a half?

These issues are causing Christian leaders in Hong Kong to reflect deeply on their future role as part of the larger church in China and as citizens of a nation under socialist rule.

Christians in the west should be cautioned not to interfere with the Hong Kong church as she is seeking to sensitively and faithfully respond to each turn of historical events. The Lord has gifted the church in Hong Kong with talented and intensely committed leaders. Any activity which might jeopardize the church’s role in the new post-1997 social context would do harm to Christ’s name and to the Body of Christ in Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, it is the consensus of Hong Kong’s church leaders that foreign Christian bodies have seldom sought their advice when planning ministry initiatives in China and Hong Kong. As 1997 nears, now is the time to make a commitment to submit to their wisdom, to seek to serve in partnership with Hong Kong churches and organizations, and to quietly and unobtrusively pray for them, that they may remain bold, faithful and creative as Christ’s representatives.

Samuel Ling is Consulting Director of the Institute for Chinese Studies and also directs China Horizon, a ministry to Chinese students and scholars.