Page 53 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

DIVISION OF SERVICE

HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE

"In response to all He has done for us, let us outdo each
other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing
good." (Hebrews 10:24)

The new Hong Kong Christian Service of the Hong Kong Christian

Council was formally inaugurated on Wednesday9 January 2 1 , 1976.
The inauguration service was held at the Methodist Church, Gascoigne
Road, Kowloon. The new Hong Kong Christian Service is the result of
the merger of the former Lutheran World Service, Hong Kong with the

Hong Kong Christian Council's unit for Christian service.

Lutheran World Service, Hong Kong is part of a world-wide
Christian service organization, based in Geneva. It began its work
here in 1952. About the same time, another internationally involved
Christian service organization, Hong Kong Church World Service based

in New York City, also began work in Hong Kong. These two groups
worked side by side with the then Hong Kong Christian Welfare and
Relief Council, a locally governed co-ordinating social service
office.

In 1967 Hong Kong Church World Service merged its work with
the Hong Kong Christian Welfare and Relief Council. Out of the
merger came the Hong Kong Christian Service, a locally directed

organization which had an auxilary states with the Christian Council.
In 1973, Hong Kong Christian Service became the Christian Council's
service unit in its Division of Service.

The new Hong Kong Christian Service will continue the services

of the two former bodies. Its Executive Committee is appointed by
the Hong Kong Christian Council.

The formation of the new Hong Kong Christian Service points
up two important developments. First, it is evidence that the