is a group of Christians who once studied overseas and have now returned to Hong Kong from different churches around the globe (Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and more), and we share the vision of helping returning brothers and sisters to settle in church life in Hong Kong. The Need…
A lot of overseas returnees (we call them “海歸一族”) had regular church lives when they we
re abroad. But when they return to Hong Kong, the pace of life, the different culture, the reunion with family, etc., were often found to be too heavy to bear, and the heartbreaking stories of “not going to church anymore” are all too familiar. As a group of overseas returnees ourselves, our primary aim is to play a part in “connecting” and “networking” these returnees to churches in Hong Kong. By organizing career workshops and sharing sections that would interest the returnees, our hope is to get the returnees to reflect upon and get serious about looking after their spiritual lives in Hong Kong. The aim is simple: to facilitate the returnees to settle in whatever churches in Hong Kong (with correct mainstream bible teaching). Who are the organizers? The events organized by C.O.R.N. in 2012 and 2013 have been officially endorsed by 5 churches in Hong Kong, namely, 北角宣道會, 沙田浸信會, 窩打老道山福音堂, 將軍澳宣基堂 and屯門友愛堂. Dr. Saimond Ip (葉松茂博士, program director for the Diploma in PastoralMinistry (Youth) School of Pastoral & Professional Continuing Education at the Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神學院)) and the Sydney Chinese Christian Churches Association (雪梨華人基督教聯會) founded the initiative and arranged to form the committee, which organized a half-day workshop in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The committee members of C.O.R.N. mainly come from Australia, and are currently expanding to include brothers and sisters from the U.S., the U.K. The committee members belong to different churches in Hong Kong. What has C.O.R.N. done in the past? remains to be a young ministry. In our first workshop organized in early 2012, we invited Christian speakers from different career fields (including partner from a Big Four accounting firm, senior management of a famous civil engineering firm and general manager for human resources of the MTR) to share career tips and encourage returnees to adopt a positive attitude and rely on God as they begin their career lives in Hong Kong. About 70 to 80 people attended the workshop and the 5 churches (mentioned above) shared on how to adopt to church lives in Hong Kong. Here is the page of our 2012 event: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258981400824286/
In March 2013, we held the second workshop in which we invited other Christian speakers (including Executive Director of a Listed Company and an experienced human resource management personnel) and had a lively discussion on career tips and work attitude. About 50 people attended the workshop and had a fruitful time sharing about struggles in adapting to life in Hong Kong. The feedback was that a lot of the attendees were spiritually encouraged. Here is the link to the photos of our 2013 event:-
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.627078603975632.1073741825.238453569504806&type=3
What will C.O.R.N. do in the future? Having settled in different churches in Hong Kong ourselves, the committee of C.O.R.N. knows our own limitations – but there is no limitation for God. Venturing into the future, our vision continues to be playing the “bridge” to help (even a very small part) returning brothers and sisters to settle in church lives in Hong Kong. The current plan is to keep on organizing career workshops with a spiritual message, perhaps more than once a year, to provide a comfortable place for returnees to share about their struggles and be encouraged. The next event is currently scheduled to take place in October 2013. We are aware of our limitations and do not position ourselves as a spiritual home to the returnees. All we wish to do is to give a gentle push of encouragement so that returnees can ponder on their church lives in Hong Kong. As a matter of principle, we welcome returning brothers and sisters to settle in a church of their choice and we are more than happy to see one settle in a church outside the 5 supporting churches as long as they find their own spiritual home. What help do we need from you? We are working hard to get connected with churches around the globe, and we surely wish to get connected and work with you. The primary help we need from you is to help spread the words. If there are returnees around you who will return to Hong Kong to settle down, tell him or her about us and our events. Above all, please remember us in your prayers. Like any other ministry, without God, we are but nothing. Of course, we welcome any suggestion or enquiries. Please see our contact details below:
Email addresses:
1. Heman Lee (Coordinator of 2012 and 2013 events): [email protected]
2. Sam Chor (Pastor of E.F.C.C.- Waterloo Hill Church 中國基督教播道會窩打老道山福音堂 and Committee Member of 2012 and 2013 events): [email protected]
Facebook event page for event in March 2013: https://www.facebook.com/events/370024479756532/
Thank you so much.
