In 2019, news outlets around the world exploded with images of massive crowds in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had never seen such huge demonstrations in its streets. People were protesting the new laws China forced the Hong Kong government to adopt. For weeks, the news cameras showed the amazing sights of crowds with umbrellas (for protection) standing in the shadow of massive skyscrapers voicing their outrage. As a result, thousands of protesters were arrested. By 2022 it was obvious Hong Kong, a special independent free district of China would become – well – just another city in China. As a result, tens of thousands of Hong Kong people started leaving Hong Kong. Because of Hong Kong’s status as a former British colony, many ended up in the United Kingdom of Great Britain (UK).
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has ten churches in Hong Kong as well as several schools. In the past, the fastest-growing presbytery in the denomination was Hong Kong Presbytery. Some of those emigrating to the UK were Cumberland Presbyterians. They quickly gathered other Christians and started meeting. Within a year there were four Hong Kong Christian CP mission churches, two in Scotland and two in England. All four mission churches have Hong Kong CP pastors.
This year our Gift to the King Offering will go to help the new CP churches in the UK. Although the churches are young and growing, they still have many needs. Most of the immigrants from Hong Kong arrive with very few belongings. It takes time to find employment and find the stability they had while living in Hong Kong. The Gift to the King Offering will go to these CP churches to help them cover the costs of paying pastors and doing ministry. They are all currently renting space to worship, some in UK churches and others in community centers.
Please prayerfully consider supporting our brothers and sisters laboring to share the love of Christ in the UK by supporting this year’s Gift to the King Offering. Your offering will be used to help support pastors and ministries in these different churches. It is our hope that by the end of 2023 our new mission churches will be well on their way to self-sufficiency.
