A brief history of the

Methodist International

Church, Hong Kong

1893 – 2013

G. Howard Mellor

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©

Methodist International Church

As part of the 120th celebrations of the life of the MIC, May 2013

Methodist International Church, Hong Kong

271 Queen's Road East,

Wanchai, Hong Kong

www.hk-mic.org

OFFICE: Room 801, 8/F East Town Building, 41 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

tel: (+852) 2575 7817 Fax: (852) 2575 -6493

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Introduction

It is a great privilege to be charged with writing the history, though

inevitably brief, of what was and remains a remarkable Church. It is

a joy to serve MIC and to be part of the small, but gifted, ministry

team.

To have the opportunity to delve into the history of this church as we

prepare for the 120th Anniversary, is a gift and a joy. We know

there are full archives of the Methodist Missionary Society

concerning Hong Kong in London. Maybe one day a fuller version of

this intriguing church might be possible.

The future mission of MIC is inextricably linked to the redevelopment

of the building and this booklet indicates how you can be involved

and support the vision that we have.

Like George Piercy who came to Hong Kong in 1851 we face the

future with a believing heart, a firm spirit…not to be thwarted by

absolute impossibilities.

Please pray with us and join us in this remarkable venture.

Peace and Grace

Revd Canon Dr G Howard Mellor

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Small beginnings

Like a mustard seed – the Methodist community had a small

beginning. None of those involved then could possibly see what a

dramatic future would face the church in Hong Kong and China. It

was the vision of a few people who saw the possibilities ahead but

faced, initially, negative responses from the counsels of the

Methodist Church. That said, in the 1840s the Wesleyan Methodist

Missionary Society (MMS) was already overcommitted across many

of the countries of the expanding British Empire.

The first person to bring the request for a missionary to the attention

of the MMS was Rowland Rees, attached to the Royal Engineers and

stationed in Hong Kong. He held a Class Meeting in his own

home in Stanley for soldiers stationed here. Seeing the need

he wrote, as early as 1844, requesting that Methodist

Missionaries be sent to all the five treaty ports including

Hong Kong, and he sent a subscription for the work. At the

Conference of 1846 the Methodist statesman, Revd Dr Jabez

Bunting, noted the impossibility of such a new and great venture.

It was George Piercy who broke down the reluctance of the

committees. A local preacher from England with a heart for China,

he was determined to go at his own expense. Piercy had grown up

in a farming family in Pickering, a small market town in Yorkshire,

and could turn his hand to many things. He wanted to become a

mariner but this did not work out. He spoke of himself as coming

‘fresh from the plough’, and threw himself into this great adventure.

He had few qualifications, ‘except a believing heart, a firm spirit, and

an inflexibility of spirit not to be thwarted by absolute

impossibilities.’

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Undaunted, he set himself to study

Chinese and sailed for Hong Kong in

the autumn of 1850, probably

working his passage. He arrived on

the 31 January 1851. This fragrant

harbour had, by then, been a British

protectorate for ten years and

Piercy found service men and

government officials who had

Methodist roots and wished to join in worship. It seems that a small

society was formed almost as soon as he arrived and began to

flourish using a building for worship at Magazine Gap.

Inevitably the numbers fluctuated depending on the servicemen who

were stationed in Hong Kong. All servicemen at that time would be

required to attend a Church parade and service on Sunday. Most

would go to the Anglican parish, but Catholics and Methodists who

declared they were Wesleyans when they joined up, would be able

to able to share in worship in Methodist Churches being established

around the Empire.

Piercy’s fiancée, Jane Wannop, followed him out to Hong Kong and

they were married in 1853 in St John’s Cathedral. It is not clear how

he earned his living at this time. He desired to enter mainland China,

but discovered that the Chinese language he learned in Hong Kong

was not understandable even across the water in

Kowloon. So working in mainland China would

require starting all over again.

The Methodist Missionary Society relented, and in

January 1853, they ordained and sent two freshly

trained ministers from Richmond College, London,

to join Piercy. William Beach and Josiah Cox arrived

carrying a letter of ordination for George Piercy and

elaborate ‘Instructions to the Missionaries

appointed to commence a Mission in China’. He

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was ordained without further training or indeed a furlough but his

contribution in Hong Kong was the establishment of the Methodist

Society among service men. It was in that year that the first Synod of

the Canton District was held. Josiah Cox wrote, ‘It did not seem a

very imposing affair – three young men consulting over certain

papers in a private room.’

So it was that the Revd George and Mrs Jane Piercy set off for

Canton (Guangzhou) where they set up a church, with a school and

girl’s boarding school attached. Piercy learned Chinese, Cantonese,

from Mr Fat Leung, and mastered both speech and writing. He

translated Pilgrim’s Progress into Chinese script. His work was

brought to an abrupt end in 1856 when the Second Opium War

broke out and his family, now with two small children, fled to Macau.

Feelings were running high in Hong Kong with a large fleet and

considerable force of soldiers being amassed for an invasion up the

River Pearl. The situation on Hong Kong Island worsened that year

following a failed attempt by the city's Chinese bakers to poison the

city's European population and its amassed

servicemen! Missionary work across China

was dangerous, not helped by the

expansionist policy of the European nations.

When things were more peaceful, the Piercy

family returned to Canton and he became

Chairman of the District until 1882.

A significant leap forward in the mission of

the church came with the appointment of

the Revd Charles Wenyon – actually the

Revd Dr Charles Wenyon, M.D., M.Ch.,

L.R.C.P. He had trained as a Doctor and

specialised in tropical diseases prior to being

an ordained Methodist Minister. Like many of his generation he was

committed to China for life, forming churches, starting hospitals and

medical stations. Wenyon succeeded Piercy as the Chairman of the

South Canton District based mainly at Canton. He immersed himself

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in the culture of China travelling widely, and in 1896 he published an

account of his travels; Across Siberia on the Great Post-road.

In 1885 Wenyon wrote to the Governor of Hong Kong, requesting a

site to build a Wesleyan chapel for the use of sailors and soldiers, as

well as civilians who were either government officials or merchants.

The reply came eventually from London, written by Frederick

Stewart Esq, the Acting Colonial Secretary: ‘I am directed by the

officer administering the government to inform you that the Right

Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been pleased

to grant your request for a piece of land for the erection of a

Wesleyan Church in the Colony, and I am to request you to be good

enough to forward to

the Excellency a sketch

of the site which you

propose to select for

the purpose.’

Whilst waiting for the

plot of land, the first

missionary was

appointed by MMS to

Hong Kong, the Revd

John A Turner.

Previously no name

had been given to this

appointment in the Minutes of the British Conference, just the

words, ‘One Wanted’. However in 1888 Turner was appointed to

support the mission among the servicemen. The work was

considerable; Turner reported that in 1890 there were 46 Declared

Wesleyans in the army and 229 in the navy plus 30 native Chinese

and 10 foreigners. By 1892 the services were held in the St Andrew’s

Hall of the City Hall and there were 256 Declared Wesleyans in the

army and navy.

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The land for an erection of a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and

Ministers Manse was eventually given in 1892. It was signed off by

the Governor on the 25th December of that year, with a lease of 999

years at one dollar per annum. The Church was opened on Pentecost

Sunday, 20 May 1893. The Revd William Musson was the appointed

minister and he served for six years.

The chapel seated 300 and in torrential rain the opening services

were conducted by the Revd Charles Bone, since Wenyon was

travelling through China to England working on his book. The

building cost ₤514 11s 6d of which the MMS paid ₤300. This Garrison

Church served not only the army and navy personnel but also a few

civilians and missionaries on furlough or travelling to China. From

the beginning, the Church was known as The English Methodist

Church.

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Revd Charles Bone, who succeeded Wenyon as Chair of District,

wrote somewhat prophetically for the MMS Report in 1899:

For all signs of prosperity we thank God. Our heart’s desire is that

the Holy Spirit may be abundantly outpoured upon European and

Chinese staff, and upon all the churches of this District, that

converts shall be multiplied a thousandfold, and the Church of

Christ become a mighty regenerating power and a praise in this

land of China.

The Soldiers and Sailors Home

The English Methodist Church was the catalyst

for much of the early work of the Methodist

Church, Hong Kong. As early as 1895, Charles

Bone succeeded in hiring two rooms in Arsenal

Street for servicemen who were ‘Declared

Wesleyans’. This work expanded and in 1901 a

Soldier’s and Sailor’s Home was opened at No9

Arsenal Street providing 100 beds, a coffee bar,

reading room, two billiard tables, a prayer room

and meeting room. The Story of the Sailor’s

and Soldier’s Home compiled by the Revd Man

Kwok Wai tells the story in great detail. The

plot of land of the first S&S Home was

repossessed by the Government for road widening and the new

tramway. The new S&S home was completed in 1927 at 22

Hennessey Road with a new manse for the minister at 75 Ventris

Road. The Minster of the English Methodist Church also served the

S&S Home right through until the 1990s.

The ministers of MIC used the S&S Home as a base for their offices,

whilst living in one of 6 flats built by the MMS at 51 Barker Road. It

seems they held services in the mornings with Sunday School, had

Sunday Lunch at the S&S Home and held afternoon fellowship

groups with a Sunday evening service at the Home.

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There were three very significant ministers during this time, Joseph

Sandbach , Edgar Hopkins and Cyril Clarke. They developed the work

and encouraged community involvement.

The Chinese Churches

The first organised Chinese Methodist Church was begun in 1884 by

a retired Chinese Methodist minister from Australia, the Revd Leung

On Tong. In 1910 this church worshipped in a small shop in

Aberdeen Street. In 1920 a house was bought in Caine Road and

adapted for worship. Numbers continued to grow and in 1936 the

Chinese Methodist Church, Wan Chai, was

opened for public worship, with support

from the English Methodist Church. The

architect for all these projects, and that of

Kowloon Methodist Church, was Arthur J.

May who was a local preacher at the

English Church and the S China District

Architect.

On the 26 Nov 1926 the bungalow, No 24

Chung Chau, was handed over by Randall

Vickers and Mabel R Vickers to the

Missionary Society in ‘natural love and

affection’. Now known as Wesley Lodge,

and it is part of the Methodist Church,

Hong Kong.

The Japanese Invasion

The occupation took place on Christmas Day 1941 and the Home and

the English Church were closed forthwith. The Church was in fact

used to stable horses for the Japanese officers, which is why it may

have taken until 1947 to be ready to open again! The home had

various uses but was ransacked at the end of the war. The ministers,

significantly Revd Joseph E. Sandbach, were interned at Stanley with

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many of the leaders of Hong Kong society. Sandbach was appointed

to the management committee for the prisoners and his ministry

was greatly admired. He had come in 1937 and remained until his

retirement in 1960. The selfless service of Revd Sandbach and his

Assistant Minister Revd Alton were an effective and admired ministry

among the 3000 prisoners. Man Kwok Wai notes, ‘Their selfless

service and witness gave credit to Methodism. One of the internees,

Mr N.L. Smith became the Colonial Secretary after the liberation and

he was extremely helpful when Sandbach approached the

Government to apply for a plot of land to build a church and school

in Kowloon (1947-8).’

Education

From the time when Wesley founded his first boy’s school in Bath

(England), education has always been one of the main interests of

the Methodist Church. It is not therefore surprising that Piercy

started a school and boarding house for girls in Canton. In Hong

Kong, by 1896. the Methodists were offering education to 500

scholars in schools supported by a government grant. To lead this

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work a ‘Chinese teacher of more than average ability’ had been

hired. MIC, as it developed, handed the work of education to the

Chinese churches. Today, the Methodist Church, Hong Kong has 8

Secondary Schools, 11 Primary Schools and 12 Kindergarten and Day

Nurseries.

Relationships with other Churches

As with many places, the ebb and flow of ecumenical relationships

are dependent on the way ministers of various denominations

actually get on together. During the early days there was a good

relationship with Union Church, but during British negotiations

between Methodism and The Church of England in the 1960/70s,

Cyril Clarke was much closer to the Anglicans. Happily, today the

relationships across the denominations are very good. The

International Pastors Prayer Meeting covers over 40 churches which

reach people groups from across the world who come to work in

Hong Kong. MIC is a full member of the Hong Kong Christian Council,

and the Hong Kong Evangelical Fellowship – so MIC bridges all kinds

of perceived chasms, and therefore its ministers participate in all

kinds of meetings! The most significant relationship, of course, is that

MIC is a full part of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong Methodist Church

In 1987, at the Annual Conference of the British Methodist Church in

Portsmouth, England (where both Revds Lo Lung Kwong and Howard

Mellor were representatives), the negotiations were completed for

what was known as the ‘Hong Kong English District of the Methodist

Church’ enabling it to become a full partner in the Methodist Church,

Hong Kong. Until that time the English Speaking Circuit had

remained under the jurisdiction of the British Conference. Lo Lung

Kwong indicated that ‘because of the language, history, background

of the church members, and also the need to employ pastors from

English speaking countries, this church was under the “one country,

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two systems” umbrella.’ Section 8a of the Constitution of the

Methodist Church, Hong Kong allows for flexibility even today. The

Portsmouth decision paved the way for the incorporation of MIC into

the Methodist Church, Hong Kong from the 1 September 1988.

In recent years there has been a deliberate approach to bring the

policies of MIC closer to that of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is the home, the place of work, the community in which

the mission and ministry of MIC takes place. It is vital that the MIC

sees its future commitment as a full part of the Methodist Church,

Hong Kong.

Over time the change of name of the church has mirrored the

church’s understanding of its mission. First of all this was the English

Methodist Church, also known as the Garrison Church, serving

servicemen. Then as the number of civil servants increased, the new

church in the 1960s was known as the Methodist Church (English

Speaking), acknowledging that there were, by now, many other

Methodist Churches in Hong Kong. In 2006 the church,

acknowledging the change in Hong Kong of 1997, wisely changed its

name to the Methodist International Church Hong Kong through a

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decision made in the Conference. Today we say that we have in our

congregation people from every continent and many nations.

China today

Much is being written about the exponential growth of the church in

China. There are facts about Christianity in China which are both

intriguing and challenging. The Amity Press in Nanjing has just

celebrated printing 100 million bibles, most in Chinese, but also in

many languages to be distributed all over the world. The State

Administration of Religious Affairs keeps a close watch on the

church, but both the Three Self Patriot Movement and the China

Christian Council are flourishing. In November 2012 MIC was

represented by Revd Jesus De Los Santos and Revd Howard Mellor,

as part of a study tour to churches in Wenzhou where about 10% of

the population are

baptised Christians.

We visited large

church buildings

apparently bursting

with Christians. The

picture is of the

then unfinished

church in Luishi,

Wenzhou, which

will seat at least

4,500.

The effect of the growth on Christianity in China with its close links

with Hong Kong means that it is vital to provide Putonghua services

and eventually support for mainland ministers and congregations

groups with training, retreats and pastoral support. The Putonghua

congregation of MIC is just the beginning of what could be a dynamic

future ministry.

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Outreach

The work of the English Methodist Church with service personnel

was typical of the desire of the congregation to reach out to those in

need. It is also part of the Wesleyan DNA, Wesley may have

preached thousands of times in church and open air, often using his

favourite text, ‘Flee from the wrath to Come!’ But he also opened

orphanages, started schools, wrote a book on medicine, Primitive

Physic, and offered it free to the poor, while charging the rich. He

opened what preaching houses they had so women could come in

and weave or knit items for sale and provide for themselves and

their families. This fusion of preaching grace and doing justice is

deep in the soul of Methodists.

Originally of course the focus of the work of the English Methodist

church was among the service personnel who came to Hong Kong.

Following the end of National Service around 1960 the energies of

the church were channelled in other directions. The congregation

was encouraged to participate both as individuals and as a church in

needful causes within the community such as clinics and schools in

the Kowloon Walled City, or at the developing Epworth, Asbury and

Wesley Villages built for refugees fleeing conflict in mainland China.

The archives also indicate that members of the church were involved

in the Leper Colony on Hay Ling Chau Island; the Heep Hong Society

for Handicapped Children and the Rennie’s Mill Student Aid Project

which later became the H.K. Student Aid Society. Some former

members came back to visit MIC in March 2013 to celebrate 30 years

of their group. These charities were enthusiastic about the

commencement of the Methodist Study Trust started in 1984 by

Barrie Wiggham and which continues to this day, helping students

from poor families to access education.

This legacy of outreach continued with ministry to various national

groups. There is photographic evidence of a fellowship for Indian

Christians which must have been in the 1970s. Similarly the

commitment to assist as the Vietnamese boat people arrived in Hong

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Kong, all flow from this understanding of the gospel in truth and

action.

When the Vietnamese boat people came to Hong Kong the Revd

Barry Prior encouraged the church to be involved in caring for the

refugees. The Minutes of the Church committees reveal the way the

church came alongside the imprisoned communities and sought to

help them. There are copious notes and a considerable

correspondence with government officials seeking permission to

allow the church to take Vietnamese children from High Island Camp,

Sai Kung detention centre, on outings.

Filipino Christian Community

The Minutes of the Annual Church Meeting indicate that in 1980

there was a ‘Filipina Fellowship’ which the following year reported

50 women involved. It is clear from personal accounts, that it was

the desire of the Revd Norman Dawson and his wife Marion to reach

out to the growing number of Filipino Domestic workers. His sudden

death in November 1981, after only 15 months in Hong Kong, slowed

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the process down. The archive shows that the work began on or

even before 1980 but it was led by Europeans. The Filipino

Fellowship marked the beginning of the work in 1984 which was

when the leadership, and therefore its ownership, was passed to a

Deaconess, Ruby Lamigo who was working as a domestic worker.

The history of the Filipino Fellowship written for the 25th Anniversary

of the Filipipno Fellowship, 2009, highlighted the contribution made

by Urduja Rhors and Cecilia Rodriguez. The work grew quickly and

the Filipino Fellowship developed its variety of service and ministry.

Working in Hong Kong was Revd Daniel Arichea who with his wife

Grace supported the fellowship. It was in 1991 that the Revd

Anacleto Castillo was appointed as an ‘In-bound Missionary’ from

the United Methodist Church in the Philippines to serve as Associate

Minister at the Methodist Church Hong Kong and appointed to lead

the Filipino ministry at MIC. During the 1990s there was a home

called ‘Harmony House’ in the Hamilton Block, 42c Kennedy Road,

for the use of Filipino women whose employment had been abruptly

terminated.

The Filipino Fellowship developed a system of governance which was

parallel to the Church, though not under the governance of the

Church Council. Under the guidance and leadership of Associate

Minister Revd Jesus De Los Santos, and under the authority of the

Church Council, the Filipino Ministry of MIC was developed. This has

resulted in a significant growth of the work among the Filipino

community in the last few years.

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As a result of wide-ranging consultations leading up to the ACM of

2013, it has now been decided to bring to a close both the Filipino

Fellowship and the Filipino Ministry and to form one united ministry

for Filipinos called the Filipino Christian Community (FCC). The

proposal had been discussed by the Filipino Leaders, which included

both groups, and was placed before the General Assembly of all the

Filipino Members of MIC in April 2013. The decision to formulate the

FCC with five focus groups considering Discipleship, Outreach,

Fellowship, Education and Worship was agreed unanimously. The

Annual Church Meeting of MIC, in May 2013, concurred and the new

united approach was instituted with immediate effect. The newly

formed FCC leadership will meet for the first time on 2 June 2013 but

its anniversary will recognise the heritage of over 29 years. This

decision draws on the work of, and is a significant testimony to the

ministry of, Revd Jesus De Los Santos over the last nine years.

Redevelopment in the 60s and 70s

The need to expand the 1893 premises had been a growing

realisation. The original building was a ‘low lying but grand old

building in Chinese

style’ with its main

entrance in Queen’s

Road East, a kind of

porch with two

rooms off to the side

which were used by

the Sunday School,

and then the main

body of the church.

The windows along

the side were

relatively tall and narrow and carried heavy shutters for use in the

event of a typhoon. A door behind the pulpit led to a small

courtyard and the caretaker’s flat.

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Originally the church had a number of large hanging, swinging fans,

fixed to the ceiling, called ‘punkahs’ which were pulled by people

outside the building by means of a rope from side to side to create

cooling air in the building during the hot weather. Eventually

electric fans were installed.

In the 1960s Cyril Clarke indicated that ‘This Church is not, and has

never been, wealthy.’ He noted that the British Methodist Church

had assisted the church financially, though after 1946 it had become

self-supporting, ‘though only just’. The cost of the new church at

that time was estimated to be HK$250,000, and this was clearly a

significant amount. The Revd Cyril Clarke oversaw the final

preparations for the demolition and rebuilding. The new building

was completed in 1965 to fanfares in the community of Hong Kong.

The MIC Retreat at the Methodist Retreat Centre. March 2013

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Ministers appointed to serve MIC

Superintendent Minsters

1888 Revd John A. Turner

1893–1898 Revd William Musson

1898-1915 Revd Charles Bone

(from 1902 Chair of District but

involved between appointments)

1902-1905 Revd William Bridie

1908-1910 Revd J.A.A. Baker

1911-1913 Revd John Temple

1915-1919 Revd Thomas Robinson

1919-1910 Revd Charles Gimblett

1920-1925 Revd C. Clouston Porri

1925-1927 Revds H. Rossiter and

Ernest Bastin

1927-1931 Revd J.C. Knight Anstey

1931-1936 Revd Donald B. Childe

1937-1960 Revd Joseph E. Sandbach

1960-1963 Revd Edgar J. Hopkins

1963-1980 Revd Cyril Clarke

1980 Revd Edgar Hopkins

1980-1981 Revd Norman V. Dawson

1981-82 Revd Ewing Carroll

1982-1988 Revd Kenneth P. Anderson

1988-1994 Revd John White

1994-2002 Revd Barry W. Prior

2002 Revd Ewing Carroll (May-Sept)

2002-2011 Revd Dr John Illsley

2011- Revd Canon Dr G. Howard Mellor

Associate Minsters

1939-1941 Revd Eric Moreton

1952-1953 Revd Clifford Cook

1952-1954 Revd Peter Philipson

1955-1960 Revd Edgar J. Hopkins

1991-1992 Revd Anacleto Castillo

1993-1995 Revd Cicilio Basan

1997-2001 Revd Dr Solito K. Toquero

2002-2004 Revd Nathaniel Tabelisma

2004-2013 Revd Jesus N. De Los Santos

2007-2010 Revd Dina Chamberlain

2011- Revd Marybeth Asher-Lawson

The MIC choir at the Sacred Music Festival

Looking Forward to the next 120

Why should we develop the church building after only 50 years? The

Church envisaged in the 1960s could not have foreseen the immense

changes to Hong Kong, becoming one of the foremost international

cities of the world. This really is one nation and two systems in

which the Christian Church has flourished, and in this context English

speaking churches have grown significantly. The critical factor for

our User Group is to ensure that we have a scheme which will be

flexible enough to meet the demands of the present and future

church.

The Building is not the Church; the church is the meeting of the

ekklesia, the people of God. However, architects and designers

agree that buildings can affect and shape the way people feel and

interact with each other as they use the building. In that sense, in

building a Church we are designing sacred space; it is a spiritual

exercise as well as a designed construction.

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Vision for the future

The building at 271 Queen’s Road East is now too small – we have

eight congregations which meet on four sites. The Minutes of many

meetings over the last 20 years are testimony to the desire of the

congregation to enlarge the building.

The need of the Methodist Conference offices for space means that

we can have a joint scheme for the Church, the Conference and

some accommodation for church staff.

Wan Chai is a changing place, and if we are to be a church for the

21st century then now is the time to make significant change.

The new building will need to accommodate a variety of

congregations operating in different languages; a kidzone for

dynamic children and youth work; spaces for discipleship groups,

seminars, livelihood training and of course kitchens. BBQs are a must

and the raised gardens are essential. Above all it will be a welcoming,

accessible building designed to meet present needs with in-built

flexibility for the future mission of the church.

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Making a reality of that vision

We are privileged to have the opportunity in our life-time to work

with the Methodist Church Hong Kong to shape the future mission

and ministry of the Methodist International Church. At one level we

are contributing to the design of a building, but at a deeper level we

enabling and encouraging the mission of this church for future

generations.

We have a responsibility to use this opportunity wisely and

creatively, working with professionals to ensure that the church will

meet our contemporary needs and is flexible enough to embrace the

future. The MIC Annual Church Meeting welcomed the appointed

architect, Mr Rocco Yim and his associates. The initial design concept

was greeted with sustained applause.

The task now involves considerable hard work as we share with the

Conference in ensuring we take full advantage of this gospel

opportunity to develop a building which speaks of the grace of God,

the serving ministry of the church, and the welcome and hospitality

offered to all ages and all backgrounds.

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How can we do this?

Praise God - we do not do this on our own! We will commit to

prayer, we will give sacrificially but we are delighted to be sharing in

this with the Methodist Church, Hong Kong. We have been

somewhat overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support received

from the Chinese Methodist Churches. We are partners in this

project and we both shall benefit enormously from it.

We fully expect that the construction work will take 3 years starting

in the summer of 2014. We shall be a displaced congregation for

that period. The task for this summer is to identify a base for the

office, from which the team can work and where small groups,

prayer and praise can meet. In addition we need a hall and multiple

small rooms for Sunday activities of worship in three languages

(English, Tagalog and Putonghua), adult education, Sunday school

and youth group. This suggests a school or similar venue.

Some of our Sunday school children

We are delighted that Ms Wan Hung Yu, Virginia, has been

appointed as the Project Coordinator for the Redevelopment of MIC.

She has worked for the Conference Office with distinction for some

years. It will be good to have her working with us to ensure the

delivery of this amazing project.

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One of the groups at the Putonghua Fellowship

We are not a wealthy church. We may have, in 2013, just over 1,400

regularly worshipping with us, but over 800 are part of the Filipino

ministry of the Church. We will all have to step up to the plate to

take our share of this project. We are partners in this with the

Methodist Church, Hong Kong who have already shown themselves

enthusiastic for the development. The full cost of the project is likely

to be about HK$400million and our target at MIC is to meet 25% of

that. I am asking the church to tithe for the Sunday offerings and to

give beyond that, as means allow, to the redevelopment scheme.

There are special envelopes for that

purpose. It is my judgement that

the years from now to 2017 are the

key years for fundraising and that

we shall be delighted if the whole

amount is met by 2020.

Stanley Lam, 90 at the MIC

Anniversary (Chinese counting!)

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Our community

Worship on

Palm Sunday

The ‘Hoppers’

and their Mums

Children sharing at the Retreat!

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Many nations from every continent and

lots of young people.

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Rejoicing and Renewing

Today MIC is bursting at the seams with eight services in four

locations and, we think, just over 1,400 people coming through each

week for worship. It is remarkable that a small team of three

ministers, one administrator and a caretaker have facilitated this

fantastic work.

What kind of church does God call us to be? This is all the more

important to discern as we plan for the new building. Here is one

way of thinking about it – that we should be a:

praising church with inspiring God centred worship,

relevant and deep preaching, urgent in prayer and constant in

commitment.

caring community that is welcoming and people centred,

nurturing children, young people and adults in faith, being

compassionate to those who are in need, be it spiritual,

emotional or physical.

serving people who are looking beyond our boundaries to

support community development and action for justice in Wan

Chai, through charities serving in Hong Kong and in other parts

of the world in need.

proclaiming church by giving voice to the gospel of Jesus

in the public space and working ecumenically to speak

prophetically to the community and encouraging more disciples

of Jesus Christ.

learning community which seeks to develop its work and

bring additional skills and graces to all staff and volunteers. One

that offers support beyond our church to those who are serving

God to develop their service and ministry.

witnessing people seeking to follow Jesus, in the power of

the Holy Spirit and sharing the good news of God’s saving grace.

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Hospitality

Table fellowship is a significant aspect of our church, with many

opportunities for sharing in small groups and on Sunday. There is

always a reason to celebrate!

A lunch with Revd Horacio (Ray)

Sison and his wife Vida.

Picnic in the park

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What could the new Church look like?

It may be like this image below. Think of images of living water, or

pastoral design. What do you see in it?

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How can you help?

Please pray for us

Consider your gift to us

As a one off gift

As a regular donation for the next one to five years.

Some of you will want to make an outright donation and an envelope

is included with this booklet which will ensure your donation comes

to the Treasurer and the money placed in the Redevelopment Fund.

Others may wish to spread their donation over the next few years.

The fund raising window for this significant amount of money is from

now to 2020.

Offering can be made by:

Crossed Cheque

payable to ‘Methodist International Church, Hong Kong’.

Direct Deposit - to ‘Methodist International Church, Hong Kong’,

HSBC HK A/C #048-054605-001

Please forward the bank pay-in slip to the MIC office.

Standing Instruction - Autopay authorizations to the above account

are available from your bank. Please use the enclosed envelope to

indicate the frequency and amount.

Additional redevelopment envelopes are available from the MIC

office. A tax-deductible receipt will be issued for donations of

HK$100 or above.

‘Everyone shall give as are able, according to the blessing of the

Lord your God which he has given you.’ Deuteronomy 16:17

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120 Souvenirs

You can take advantage of our stylish umbrella and comfy cushions.

Umbrella

‘The Lord our God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust’

In the summer rains everyone needs lots

of umbrellas – so there is no need to

search the flat – ‘where did I put it?’ Have

one at home, in the car an in the office!

Beautifully coloured in blue with the MIC

120 logo.

Cushions with a message

‘Comfort ye my people’

Cushions for home, car, boat etc. Comfy,

colourful and each one telling a story of

faith. These make a great gift.

Book of 120 Prayers

‘Pray without ceasing’

A unique book, with drawn prayers by

children, prayers crafted by the young

people of MIC with prayers written by

members of the congregation and some

ancient prayers which have nourished

generations of Christians.

This is a book to treasure and use regularly

to enhance our own prayers and help us to

flourish spiritually. Available mid-June 2013.

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Revd Canon Dr G Howard Mellor, with Revd Jesus N. De Los Santos

and Revd Marybeth Asher-Lawson.

Thank you for sharing with us during this 12Oth Anniversary and

taking time to read this booklet. It is a story of people of faith and

vision. We share the hope expressed in 1899 that the rebuilt MIC will

have a significant mission and ministry for Hong Kong and beyond.

‘For all signs of prosperity we thank God. Our heart’s desire is

that the Holy Spirit may be abundantly outpoured upon … all the

churches of this District, that converts shall be multiplied a

thousandfold, and the Church of Christ become a mighty

regenerating power and a praise in this land of China.’

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Join us in building

for future generations

to the Glory of God

and the mission and ministry

of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong

Methodist International Church, Hong Kong

271 Queen's Road East,

Wanchai, Hong Kong

OFFICE: Room 801, 8/F East Town Building,

41 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

tel: (+852) 2575 7817 Fax: (852) 2575 -6493

admin@hk-mic.org www.mic-hk.org