Hong Kong church stands firm amid chaos
CE Comment: I continue to be amazed at the steadfastness of the Church in Hong Kong. I recently highlighted the impact Christians are having within this troubled region of China in a small group lesson. American Christians need to watch the Christians in Hong Kong to see how a church can stand in the midst of turmoil and cultural upheaval.
HONG KONG (BP) -- Months of unrest and protests have transformed Hong Kong from a hub of global finance to an unpredictable place of upheaval. Butch Tanner, pastor of Kowloon International Baptist Church (KIBC), sees the wear and tear from the last six months in the faces of his congregation."We've been praying for years that Hong Kong would see its brokenness and boy do they ever now," Tanner says, noting that an overwhelming sense of defeatism envelops the city with every new protest."People have lost faith in the government and even the movement. In the middle of this crisis, some people are looking for answers that they've never looked for before," Tanner says. In the mostly Buddhist and Taoist city, more people have asked him questions about his faith in recent months than in the last few years combined. "If we, in the midst of chaos, can show how you stand firm in your faith, then it helps people see Jesus."