Jesus said, "Greetings". (Mt. 28:9)
Under the joint venture of Jireh Fund and Hong Kong Campus Crusade for Christ, the "Seek Peace for the World" Prayer Conference under the "Do This" Million-Hour All Nations Prayer Movement was held on March 30 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The attendance for the evening was around 3,500. At the end of last year, the conference committee sent an official invitation to the Office of the Chief Executive, inviting Mr. Tung Chee-wah, our former Chief Executive to attend the meeting. However, as Mr. Tung was no longer the Chief Executive, our Acting Chief Executive Mr. Donald Tsang attended the meeting instead. Mr. Tsang arrived at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at 7:10pm. He visited the stall at the foyer and particularly showed interest in our Youth and Young Adults' Seed Planting Project. He even shook hands with some of the members in the project. He proceeded into the meeting hall as the congregation welcomed him. After the arrival of the Acting Chief Executive, a brief video was shown testifying how God responded our prayers over the past seven years as He led Hong Kong out of its famine years. Dr. Philemon Choi, the honorary General Secretary of Breakthrough, talked about the concept of "peace". Seven guests came on stage and encouraged the congregation to take up the challenges of "Seek Peace for the World". These guests included Mr. Ambrose Siu-kwong Lee, Mr. Stephen Sui-lung Lam, Mr. Moses Cheng, Rev. Dr. Ping-kwong Li, Dr. Thomas Sze-tong Chan, Dr. Bambang Budijanto and Rev. Daniel Ng. Later on, Mrs. Fan Chan, the General Secretary of Jireh Fund, led the congregation to pray for world peace.
Toward the end, Mr. Donald Tsang, the Acting Chief Executive was once again invited to go on stage and introduced to the prayer quilt with over 3,000 names of intercessors written on it. Mrs. Chan presented a special booklet to Mr. Tsang with a collection of special words from over 500 believers, which were words of blessings and encouragements toward Mr. Tsang and the SAR government. Mr. Tsang was very moved when he received the booklet into his hands. He humbly bowed to the congregation in response to their kindness and this was reciprocated with applause from the audience.
This year the committee invited pastors from various countries to participate in the prayer conference. These pastors blessed their nations with Numbers 6:24-26, "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." This was followed by the words of blessings from the congregation. In particular, Mrs. Chan invited three pastors from Kyrgyzstan to go on stage and prayed for peace to come upon Kyrgyzstan. At that time there were media reports about the country, including political instability, protests, forced resignation of the prime minister and street lootings. Coincidentally the three pastors were in Hong Kong to participate for the "Seek Peace for the World" prayer conference. We believe that it was God's will that we prayed for Kyrgyzstan. Amazingly, after the meeting ended we never heard such news coming out from Kyrgyzstan anymore. God bestowed peace upon the countries through the prayers of His people. Praise the Lord!
In addition, the committee assigned Mrs. Fan Chan to pray for the issue of homosexuality with special emphasis given to the protection of those who were disoriented about their sexual orientation. We also pleaded God to stop the legislation procedure regarding the "Sexual Orientation Discrimination Legislation", hoping to provide a way out for the homosexuals. Toward the end, Mrs. Chan called upon those who were willing to adopt a prayerful lifestyle. Those who were willing to take up the commission to preach the gospel to all nations, or to become intercessors were invited to walk up to the stage. In fewer than two minutes the crowd filled the front of the stage. For those who were willing to intercede in the countries where they resided, they were invited to stand in their seats. The entire hall was packed with people who sought to pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
