English Version Monthly Prayer Letter 

Monthly Prayer Letter (Dec 2024)

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Dear companions of FES,

During the Christmas season this year, I believe we all had many gatherings with family and friends, and perhaps some of our brothers and sisters in Christ from overseas came to visit us. The fellowship of facing each other in person and sharing our experiences in recent years, and encouraging and supporting each other in the Lord, is truly invaluable. May we all be in the same spirit of anticipation for our encounter with Jesus Christ this Christmas. Luke records a relatively unnoticed meeting when Mary, having received the angel’s report, hastened to visit Elisabeth in the hill country of Judah (Lk. 1:39-45). This “haste” on Mary’s part suggests two things: perhaps she was concerned about the pregnancy of the aged Elizabeth, or more likely, Mary wanted to share the experience of the Lord’s presence with her as soon as possible. Elisabeth’s response was, “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk. 1:43). If the Lord were to come to us today, how would we react? Would we meet the Lord of our lives with great anticipation?

The year ahead is hardly a year of optimism in terms of the general situation of international relations and the prospects of Hong Kong. But where is our strength and hope? Not in the experts who chart or analyze the world, but in the Word of God that comes to us through the messenger, “The Lord should come here”. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!” (Lk. 1:45) The world is to be transformed according to the good promise of the Lord, and at the same time this transformation is to be lived out through those who believe in this promise. If so, the year ahead is still full of hope. May we all see and hear, and always await the Lord’s coming with active anticipation.

Inter-Colleges Bible Camp will be held from December 27-30 and please pray for the 60 students who will be attending. May the Lord bless all the preparations and arrangements, enabling the students to experience the journey of life as a pilgrimage to the Lord. Due to the price increase, the camp had a shortfall in income and expenditure. If you would like to support the Bible camp, please consider filling in the gaps in our operating funds. We trust that the Lord would be pleased with all that we have given to the Bible study ministry for young people. In addition, our Inter-school team schedules a BBQ and DSE Prayer Peer Group after Christmas. May the Lord strengthen the students who are facing challenges in their serving ministry and academic pursuits.

Recently, I often have the opportunity to talk with some pastors and seminary teachers, and they all agree that churches in Hong Kong need to address the deep impact that trauma has had on the church community in recent years. Members are wounded, even pastors are wounded, but the space isn’t there for acceptance and healing with each other. How can we enhance the vitality of the trauma informed community? This may be a pastoral approach that the church needs to explore urgently. We are preparing for a Pastoral Care Seminar on FES Day, March 23, where we will invite New Testament scholars and practitioners to share and respond. We invite you to set aside time to attend and learn together in humility as we face the various struggles and challenges of pastoral care.

I wish you all a new year of renewal, with great faith, peace and hope despite all the trials and tribulations.

Your brother,

Barry Cheung

General Secretary

Donation Methods (Local)

  1. Faster Payment System: (FPS ID: 1915727), transfer to “Fellowship of Evangelical Students (Hong Kong) Ltd.”. Please fill in your donation items and donor number (if any) in the remarks or message column.
  2. Crossed cheque: Please make it payable to “Fellowship of Evangelical Students (H.K.) Ltd.”.
  3. Direct deposit / E-banking: Hang Seng Bank 286-126024-002 / HSBC 108-074980-001

* Please send us the Donation Envelope, enclosing with cheque, bank-in slip or screenshot of successful FPS payment via mail or email (for bank-in-slip and FPS screenshot only).
* Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.

Mailing Address: 11/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building, No. 137-143 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Email Address: [email protected]

Donation Methods (Oversea)

Donors desiring tax-deductible receipts for income tax purposes must give through the following organization to receive the necessary receipts.

  • Cheque Donation
    USA*
    Making cheques payable to “IFES/USA” and send to the following address.
    IFES/USA
    PO Box 46007
    Madison, WI 53744 

    Canada*
    Making cheques payable to “InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of Canada”
    and send to the following address.
    Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship
    1 International Boulevard
    Toronto, Ontario,
    M9W 6H3 Canada
     
    UK*
    Making cheques payable to “IFES” and send to the following address.
    IFES
    5 Blue Boar Street
    Oxford OX1 4EE
    United Kingdom
     * Please mark “H.K.F.E.S.” at the left bottom corner and
    “designation # 100088” at the back of the cheque.

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