13 September 2023

Asia-Pacific Region

Hong Kong (SAR)

Hong Kong was occupied by the British in 1841 and was formally ceded by China the following year. On 19 December 1984, an agreement signed by China and the UK set in motion a shift that eventually led to Hong Kong becoming the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the Republic of China on 1 July 1997. This special arrangement was meant to provide autonomy to Hong Kong in all matters, except foreign affairs and defense, that would last for 50 years. Hong Kong has become a financial capital in Eastern Asia. The work of the Church of the Nazarene was officially begun in 1974.

223 Members

3 Fully Organized Churches

3 Ordained Ministers

PRAYER

Pray for eyes to see the nations in our neighborhoods and hearts to love our neighbors.
Pray for effective witness for our Hong Kong churches in a time of political changes.
Pray for wisdom, boldness, and perseverance for our Hong Kong pastors to faithfully lead the church.

PRAISE

We celebrate the 43-year ministry of Rev. Elma Mago and the International Church of the Nazarene in Hong Kong.
We thank the Lord for the arrival of Pastor Janet and pray for her transition to pastoral ministry.
We praise the Lord for two new ordained pastors in March 2023— the first ordinations in more than 10 years.

New ordinands—first in ten years.

Where are the nations for our “making Christlike disciples in the nations”? Often, we may think of global missions or the people who are like us in our neighborhoods. But the nations are moving into our neighborhood! The International Church of the Nazarene (ICN) is a Filipino congregation in Hong Kong. Rev. Elma Mago faithfully shepherded the ICN church for 26 years. She cared for hundreds of Filipino overseas workers who come to Hong Kong to work as domestic helpers, greeting these women as they arrive at the airport, providing COVID quarantine care packages, and a place to gather on Sundays.

INC Church Gathering

Many of the members of ICN are not long-term residents of Hong Kong, only staying to work a few years before moving away. Rev. Mago has sought to equip and send these women to be disciple-makers. In her 40+ years of ministry, Rev Mago has equipped four women pastors, four pastor’s wives (which is an important ministry role in the Filipino culture), and many Sunday school teachers and other church leaders.

Rev. Elma Mago.

This year, Rev. Mago retired and moved back to the Philippines, where she planted a church in her first month of retirement! As for ICN, Rev. Mago was succeeded by one of her disciples. Pastor Janet Olaviaga originally came to Hong Kong as a domestic helper, accepted a call to ministry at ICN, returned to the Philippines for Bible college, and has now returned to Hong Kong as the pastor of ICN. In March 2023, Pastor Janet was given her first district license by the Hong Kong District.

Pastor Janet ministering to recently arrived OFW on airport bus.

Among the millions of Chinese residents of Hong Kong, God is doing an incredible work among Filipino migrant workers through the Church of the Nazarene. The nations are in our neighborhoods!

Could You Serve?

Is God calling you to join in His mission? For more information, click here.

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

17001 Prairie Star Pkwy
Lenexa, KS | 66220 US

This email was sent to trinitycn@gmail.com.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.