Page 19 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

INTER CHURCH AID

In response to the world Council of Churches emergency appeals
for:
1. East Pakistan cyclone
2. Biafran needy people

The Council together with the Hong Kong Christian Service sent
appeals to local churches and Christian schools, and a total of
HK$86,981.76 (HK$65,396.55 for East Pakistan and HK$20,383.21 for
Biafra) had been raised and channelled through the World Council of
Churches to help relieve the suffering.

VISITS OF CHURCH LEADERS FROM OVERSEAS

During the year, the Council had the privilege of meeting some
200 church leaders from five continents and had opportunities of
sharing views, opinion, and experiences with each other and to
discuss matters of common interest and concern.

WORKS OF THE DIVISIONS AND COMMITTEES

DIVISION OF INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS

The Division of Inter-Church Relations is directed towards the
Church itself and its understanding of its task. It aims to achieve
closer unity among the denominations and considers matters of faith
and organization that will further unity.

1. Church Growth

A seminar on Church Growth in Hong Kong, held June 22, 1970,
reported the following facts:

Year No. of No. of Ave. No. of % Church Total
Churches Members Baptisms per Attendance Baptisms
Church
1958 282 70,100 42.6 47% 5,840

1968 470 159,000* 21.3 3 7 % 7,191

% inc.
or +67$ + 8 . 6 % - 5 0 % -10% +23%
% dec.

* Probably closer to 175,000 = 4. 3% of Hong Kong population.

Nine denominations, accounting for less than half of the
total number of churches, and for just a little more than 60%
of the total membership, have over 5,000 members each. Over
half of all the churches have less than 150 members each.