Challenges for Youth Ministry in Hong Kong

The City

Hong Kong is a city full of contrasts. On the surface it appears international and westernized; a large portion of the population speaks English; a significant number of people have a western education and seem to understand western customs and mentality. However, below the surface Hong Kong is deeply shaped by traditional Chinese cultural values. It is crucial to gain some understanding of the Chinese cultural values for ministering in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong youth ministry context has some unique challenges.

 

Challenges

 

1.) Extremely high academic expectations:

Unlike western Christian parents Hong Kong parents place extremely high academic expectation on their children. Parents expect their children to be high achievers and to outdo other students in school. Being successful in school is the number one priority from families for their children. This is also can be seen by the amount of money and time that is invested by both parents and children in school, tutoring and extracurricular activities. This priority is also found in Christian families and it often causes their children to not be able to spend time in Christian fellowship. According to the Bible Christian fellowship is crucial for spiritual development and growth.

 

2.) Lack of free time to attend youth fellowship:

Hong Kong youth are extremely busy. After they finish their school work, tutoring and extracurricular activities there is not much free time for anything else, including involvement in church.

 

3.) Lack of clarity when it comes to faith:

Teenagers that come from a Christian home usually attend church. Young Christians experience confusion about their faith; they associate church attendance with having a personal faith. Since families in Chinese culture have a collective identity (versus western individual identity) it is sometimes difficult for the child to come to his or her own terms with the Christian faith since they are simply doing what is expected by their parents.

 

Opportunities

The above mentioned challenges point towards opportunities for ministry.

 

1.) Building Relationships with parents:

Since parents make most decision for their children it is important to know the parents and to help them see the value of their children’s involvement in church and youth ministry. If a trusting relationship is built with the parents they are more likely to let their children attend church.

 

2.) Affirming the intrinsic value of people:

Jesus died for everyone on the cross. My prayer is that I view every teenagers as valuable and as lovable as Christ did. Teenagers are often only affirmed and encouraged if they are successful in school. When school does not work out the way that parents have hoped for they often feel shame. Furthermore, teenagers struggle with low self-worth and contemplated or even attempted suicide. There is an opportunity for Christians to demonstrate love and highlight the intrinsic value of people regardless of academic or financial achievement.

 

3.) Shaping future world leaders:

Since my context provides me with several students that will attend top universities all around the world there is an opportunity to shape future Christian leaders that will hold positions of influence.