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VU Research Portal Lam Chi-fung's Transformative Role in Shaping Hong Kong Baptist Life between 1950 and 1970 To, A.K. 2018 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) To, A. K. (2018). Lam Chi-fung's Transformative Role in Shaping Hong Kong Baptist Life between 1950 and 1970. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. E-mail address: [email protected] Download date: 26. Sep. 2021 VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT Lam Chi-fung’s Transformative Role in Shaping Hong Kong Baptist Life between 1950 and 1970 ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof.dr. V. Subramaniam, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van de promotiecommissie van de Faculteit Religie en Theologie op dinsdag 4 september 2018 om 11.45 uur in de aula van de universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105 door Alex Kammoon To geboren te Hong Kong promotoren: prof.dr. W. Janse dr. T. Pilli Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................. 7 Lam Chi-fung: Preliminary Remarks ..................................................................... 8 Research Question and Motivation .......................................................................10 Relevance ..............................................................................................................12 Research Review: Lam Chi-fung ..........................................................................15 Research Review: History of Hong Kong Baptists ..............................................18 Sources ..................................................................................................................19 Definition of Terms and Chinese Transliterations ...............................................21 Hong Kong .........................................................................................................21 Macau .................................................................................................................21 Hong Kong Baptists ...........................................................................................21 Hong Kong Baptist Church ...............................................................................22 Hong Kong Baptist Association ........................................................................22 Southern Baptist Convention and American Baptist Convention .....................22 Church, Chapel, and Outstation .........................................................................23 Names in Chinese and Transliteration ...............................................................23 Hong Kong Baptist Monthly ..............................................................................23 Limitations ............................................................................................................24 Structure ................................................................................................................26 Chapter 2: Hong Kong Baptist Story (1842-1900): From Missionaries Acting Alone to Chinese Taking Part ..................................................................................28 Introduction ...........................................................................................................28 Preparing the Way: Pioneer Efforts before Reaching Hong Kong .......................28 Joshua Marshman in India .................................................................................29 William Dean in Siam .......................................................................................30 Jehu Shuck and Issachar Roberts in Macau ......................................................32 Hong Kong Baptist Story: Missionaries Acting Alone (1842-1860) ...................33 The Shucks and Cantonese Churches ................................................................34 William Dean and Swatow Churches ................................................................36 Issachar Roberts in Stanley ................................................................................37 Departure of Pioneer Missionaries ....................................................................39 Hong Kong Baptist Story: Chinese Taking Part (1860-1900) ..............................43 A Tui and His House Church ............................................................................43 Tang Si-deng: A Chinese Baptist Pastor from Swatow ....................................46 The Dawning of a Self-governing Church ........................................................49 Conclusion ............................................................................................................51 Chapter 3: Hong Kong Baptist Story (1900-1950): The Context in Which Lam Emerged As a Lay Leader ........................................................................................54 Introduction ...........................................................................................................54 The Birth of the Hong Kong Baptist Self-governing Church ...............................54 Self-governing and Self-supporting...................................................................55 Pioneering Indigenous Movement .....................................................................57 Fifty Years of Outreach ........................................................................................59 1900-1910 ..........................................................................................................59 1910-1930 ..........................................................................................................61 1930-1950 ..........................................................................................................63 Church Growth......................................................................................................65 Emergence of Lay Leaders ...................................................................................67 Notable Lay Leaders ..........................................................................................67 Wong Kwok-shuen (1880?-1974) ..................................................................68 Ho Hing-chuen (dates of birth and death not known) ....................................68 Wong Tong Chung-ling (1883-1952) .............................................................69 Tam Hay-tin (1894-1980) ...............................................................................70 2 Lam Chi-fung (1892-1971) ...............................................................................70 Lam’s Involvement and Contribution ...................................................................75 Education Ministry ............................................................................................75 Swatow Baptists .................................................................................................78 Hong Kong Baptist Association ........................................................................81 Conclusion ............................................................................................................82 Chapter 4: Lam’s Role in Seeking Mission Support to Meet the Changing Needs of Hong Kong (1950-1970) ..........................................................................................85 Introduction ...........................................................................................................85 Changing Political Context ...................................................................................86 Increasing Needs Due to Population Surge ..........................................................89 Attitude of Mission Agents towards the Change ..................................................91 Lam’s Way of Responding to the Change ............................................................96 Initiating the Invitation of Missionaries ............................................................96 Direct Request for Missionaries .....................................................................97 Through Missionaries in Hong Kong .............................................................97 Through the Hong Kong-Macau Mission ......................................................98 Inviting Help from American Baptists .........................................................100 Making Overseas Trips to Solicit Foreign Support .........................................102 London Baptist World Congress in 1955 .....................................................102 Brazil Baptist World Congress in 1960 ........................................................104