The Renewal of the Ecclesiastical Self-Centered Church Searching Mission for the City

by Phillip Tang Tat Keung
April 27th, 2017
This paper describes the transformation process of Kei To Church getting renewal in mission from ecclesiastically self-centered position to urban mission oriented.

Most churches in Hong Kong are conservative in theological position and ecclesiastically self-centered lacking the view of Kingdom of God and urban theology. The pastors and the church leaders concern for the growth of their own churches as the main target. In 1980s, Dr. Bakke had visited Hong Kong several times and introduced the concept of urban mission. But some pastors and church leaders up to now still think that urban mission is just a local ministry with social action and they get the impression that urban mission does not put evangelism in the first priority. The term 'urban mission' is more used in relation to overseas mission in the context global urbanization. General speaking, urban mission is still marginal to the Hong Kong Churches.

I am the pastor of Kei To Church since 1991. Kei To Church was conservative in theological disposition, typical of the churches mentioned above. In 1998, I had the chance for further study and to learn about the idea of urban mission under the guidance of Dr. Ray Bakke. I found that there was a broader perspective about church concept and church mission. Hong Kong Churches especially Kei To Church are in need of this vision that the churches may take a proactive approach in caring about the agenda of the city in light of urban theology and renew their mission from church growth to urban transformation. So the project: ' The renewal of the ecclesiastically self-centered church searching mission for the city' (hereafter called the 'Mission Renewal [MR] Project') was carried out to meet three objectives:
1. The congregation of Kei To Church should be made aware of the need to renew the mission of Kei To congregation, and commit to building the church as an agent that can transform the city in favor before God.
2. Redefine the mobilization of the congregation in serving Jesus Christ not only in church gathering settings, but also outside the walls of the church.
3. Make use of the renewal process in the MR project as the reference material that some renewal principles may be drawn for churches similar to Kei To Church.