Blog 10

My recent trip to HongKong

I was glad to be able to visit HongKong recently, after a lapse of some 30 years, this time to attend a Conference entitled M28: Training Summit. The Conference was held at the Baptist Theological Seminary from 27 – 31 March 2012. There were about 25 participants from different parts of the world, each with a common interest in international student work. As we have just started an International Students’ Ministry at our church at CACV, my colleague Rev. Colin and I were assigned to source out the initiative by an organization called International Students’ Incorporated or I.S.I. with its HQ in the U.S.A.

Basically, the I.S.I. has an interesting global vision to reach the nations exponentially, particularly through international students in tertiary institutions, in the first instance through facilitated Discovery Bible Studies (DBS). The process continues with the laying of emphasis on building community and life, commitment to Christ, discipleship, training of leaders, starting new DBS groups and even on to church planting.

The presenters were excellent. What I appreciated most was the Kingdom mindset and missional agenda of the program with its emphasis on the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

What I didn’t appreciate was the ‘facilitated’ approach to bible studies for non-Christians and seekers.  My concern remains that even with close supervision, this “blind leading the blind” mode employed is most likely to cause them to lead each other astray, just at a time when it is crucial for them to lay a firm foundation. All too often we have heard of the mush-rooming of false teachings and cults in places like China, the Philippines and Cambodia, for lack of able teachers and pastors.

I have always held that carnal methods will produce carnal Christians and secular methods will produce secular Christians. The ‘facilitated’ approach, to me, is a post-modern secular approach common in places like Universities, imposed on a fundamental biblical principle of “…entrusting spiritual truths to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Tim 2:2. Also, while the word “teach” or “teaching” appears innumerable times in the bible. I have yet to find a single instance where the word “facilitate” or a word that connotes it appears in the bible.

Hence, not until faith is established through firm and doctrinally correct teaching will I dare to introduce the ‘facilitated’ approach to reading and understanding the bible. I hold that spiritual babies have to be taught first. ‘Facilitation’ is best left to the matured.  

Besides this, I had a few hours of opportunity to get a ‘feel’ of HongKong. I must say that the public transport system with inter-connecting light rail and bus systems was excellent. I was at busy Mongkok with its thriving night market and delectable desserts.  My mind still rings of names of places like Sai Kung (an end of the road village), Shatin, Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun. It was at the latter that I was glad to visit my niece Angeline and staff of YWAM., where I was given a brief on the ministries of the organization, of which I was particularly interested in its Creative Arts Ministry.

Finally, what impressed me most of all with my brief sojourn in HongKong was the youth! Besides my niece who bothered to come all the way to the seminary where I stayed and brought me all the way to Tuen Mun by public transport, a good 20 kms. away, there were two other male youths I approached for directions who, on separate occasions unhesitatingly walked me to a bus-stop and the other, a bus-station and showed me the way back to the seminary. Bravo to the youth, who made my stay in HongKong that much more worthwhile and memorable!

Nelson Koh

24 May 2012