Mobilising Youth

[Annual Report 2011-2012] Mobilising Churches and Christians

youth1Heep Woh students served in the tutorial class for minority ethnic students and learnt about difficulties face by the these students studying in Hong Kong

Review of 2011 to 2012

Last ministry year, we worked with HeepWohCollege to conduct a series of workshop to 15 Form Four and 5 students on concerns for the minority ethnic groups. The students visited the minority ethnic families and provided tutorial class to their children. Clara, one of the participants, used to think the minority ethnic people looked aggressive.  After the five workshops she changed her impression on them and found that they are no different with other people and can be friends.

youth2A group of teacher-to-be joined a workshop to learn how to build a hawker trolley and be a hawker at Sham Shui Po mid-night market

Learning and Prospect

In recent years, we tried to integrate theatre education in our sharing among Christian youth and students, encouraging them to reflect about poverty issues, share their thoughts and give response. From our experience, we found that a good theatre education can make students enjoy the class and lead them to explore new point of views and feeling and think about problems behind poverty through post-drama debriefing.

In coming ministry year, we hope to strengthen and emphasise the link between poverty and Christianity, encouraging the youth to think about the Gospel and mission from different angles. We begin to talk more emphatically about global poverty issues to widen their worldview. Next we will gather youth leaders sympathetic to helping the poor to specially equip them as organisers to mobilise the public to respond to poverty locally and else where.

youth3

youth4We used drama to facilitate the sharing to the youth from Operation Mobilisation (HK)

Hand’s Sharing

‘In past three years, I held talks for the youth. Quite often these talks are not “incarnated”- my talks are not the same as what I do in my daily life. The difficulty of “incarnation” is not only on understanding the different structural sins, it is about whether I can win over my weakness on an appetite for food, fame and power. A pursue of an “incarnation“ education is about a consistency in our teaching and lifestyle, this is a challenge to an educator. It is only by this our sharing can be truthful.’

Integral Alliance

[Annual Report 2011-2012] Networking

Haiti Earthquake

Review of 2011 to 2012

In past ten years, different Christian relief and development organisations around the world started to build up the network among them in order to respond to the increasing disasters and poverty issues more effectively. Under this context Integral Alliance (IA) was formed. In 2011, IA has had a three-year strategic working plan from 2012 to 2015, to provide quicker and proper relief response and post-disaster rehabilitation to any disaster around world through improving the communication system and setting up the relief operating guidelines among alliance’s member agencies.

In May 2012, IA updated the communication systems. Member agencies can now get more updated information and give response to different disasters through the internet platform. In June 2012, member agencies for first time used the new internet platform and communication system to discuss and coordinate the humanitarian relief on Sudan’s conflict.

18 global Christian relief and development organisations join Integral Alliance

Jackson’s Sharing

‘The official launch of the Integral Alliance Disaster Response in May 2012 set a new milestone of a joint international effort among 18 international Christian relief and development agencies of Integral Alliance.  The new process coordinates and facilitates members to quickly disseminate the latest information about disasters and proposals of relief operations to other members for speedy and well-coordinated responses, maximizing resources and minimizing on redundancy. With different specialties and geographical focus, the process secures prayer and tangible assistance from members and their network which may not have the information or channels to do so. This partnership and servant heart among member agencies make Integral Alliance something special.  It is more than being merely functional. There is a spiritual bond and a sense of fellowship that attests to the reality of Emmanuel—God with us.’

IM Forum

[Annual Report 2011-2012] Networking

IMforum

Review of 2011 to 2012

IM Forum was set up in Nov 2011. Since then, the Forum have networked over 50 pastors, co-workers and Christians from churches, Christian organisations, seminaries and social enterprises, to explore ways to practise integral mission that link theology and churches, business and community service.

50 more leaders from churches, Christian organisations, seminaries and social enterprises joined IM Forum

Learning and Prospect

We are happy with the business network that had been developed as part of their strategy. In 2012-2013, IM Forum will focus on mobilising frontline Christian organisations and seminaries to explore how Christian organisations and churches can practise integral mission in the community to provide solid theological support to these frontline ministries.

In addition, we will put together the experiences of churches and Christian organisations from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas to produce materials as tools, teaching and references to provide Hong Kong and Mainland China’s churches to use; and help to develop networks and partnership between different churches, Christian organisations and groups as a way to build the Body of Christ to engage in the global ministry on mission for the poor.

Prospect | Dr CHAN Nim Chung

[Annual Report 2011-2012] Prospect

prospect

> Dr CHAN Nim Chung, Chief Executive

After the exposure monitoring trips and discussions in the past two years, we have finally chosen Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, Myanmar and China to be the focus countries for our projects. We have since strengthened our partnership in these focus countries through cooperation and communication to promote our mutual capability on project operation and management to provide more appropriate and effective assistance to impoverished communities.

In recent years, the Chinese and Nepalese governments have loosened official restrictions on local Christian churches. In addition to reforms in the political process in Myanmar, there is a new turning point for the growth of Christian relief and development work in these countries. CEDAR hopes to seize this opportunity to seek furthering the cooperation of Hong Kong churches with overseas churches and Christian organisations. Project sites in the above six focus countries will become important platforms for Hong Kong churches to participate in appropriate response to global ministry in the practice of integral mission. Hong Kong churches can provide strong support in human and financial resources to these overseas partners engaged in frontline ministries. This way we can develop the partnership between different nations, regions, churches and organisations in better synergy.

As a member organisation of the Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor (the HKCNP), CEDAR will endeavor to mobilise local churches to work with frontline organisations, social enterprises and government, facilitating the development of district network for social concern among churches. We look forward to churches becoming the real neighbour to the poor, giving them timely, suitable and holistic care and assistance.

May God guide our way according to His will.