I was concerned. Something was missing! The conference was sponsoring a major evangelistic series in a city of more than 5 million; a large hall was rented, but not one handbill, not one newspaper ad, not one radio or television spot, had been prepared.
With considerable apprehension I went to the auditorium the first night. One thousand empty seats met me! As the team made final preparations, the managers opened the doors at 7:00. Soon I heard the sounds of people. Attendees came in small groups and sat together. Each person had a re served seat. As I stepped to the micro phone at 7:35, the hall was filled with a warm, receptive audience!
On the first evening I extended a call for accepting Jesus as Saviour. Having preached previously in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, I expected only five or six to respond. However, more than 50 came for ward! In four nights more than 200 responded.
On the fourth night a specific call went out for baptism. Fifty roses were ready to be handed to the candidates. As the flowers disappeared, James Wu, coordinator for the meetings re marked, "Our faith was too small." As these lines are written, 57 persons have been baptized. Many more are in preparation.
Cell groups are the secret
In recent years the local conference had sponsored several major crusades. Advertising drew large crowds but yielded meager results. Curiosity seekers had come for the multimedia programs, the archaeology, or the music. Much of the audience was new every night. What made this 1993 meeting so different?
Three years previously, the Hong Kong-Macao Conference had organized and equipped an evangelism center with James Wu as director, assisted by Johnny Yip. Prayerfully the team planned and prepared mate rials. The main thrust of the evangelism program was the development of small cell groups.
Twelve months ago 50 volunteers joined five cell groups in a pilot project to test new materials and concepts, make adjustments, and share results with all the churches in the colony. The following activities were recommended:
1. Each cell group would operate for three months, after which the unit would divide into two groups.
2. Groups would focus on three areas:
- Gospel activities: Bible study, prayer bands, studying and experiencing righteousness by faith.
- Support activities: developing friendships and supporting each team member, since many converts were the only Adventists in their families and needed loving support.
- Witnessing activities: group members sharing their faith.
3. The three-month cycle was divided thus:
- Weeks 1 -3 for organization and securing members,
- Weeks 4-12 for developing bonding among members and spiritual growth witnessing,
- Weeks 13 -16 for preparing cell division and securing new members.
4. Cell groups would engage in three types of meetings:
- A weekly cell meeting where the group shares a light meal, Bible study, and fellowship prayer bands.
- Monthly social meetings: fellowship dinner, picnic, hiking, and/or other social activities. Sometimes two or three cell groups would band together for a social.
- A quarterly celebration of praise and testimony where members from all cell groups in the city come together.
5. A monthly newsletter would publicize experiences, plans and testimonies among all members.
6. The evangelism center stocked several training videos and Bible videos for the cell groups to borrow.
7. The evangelism center developed a data bank.
- Hong Kong was divided into various areas, each assigned to a team.
- Each team received names and addresses of the following persons: active members, missing members, radio interests, seminar attendees, etc.
- Team members personally visited each of the interests. All were invited to join a cell group.
- The evangelism center targeted unentered sections of the city for new cell groups with the goal of entering every part of the city with the gospel.
Results were remarkable. One year ago, only five cell groups existed. By the fourth month we expected to have 10 groups; instead we had 12. The 12- month goal was 40 cell groups; we reached 60.
Churches revived as well
Those 60 cell groups made the difference in our four-day harvest meeting. During the previous 16 weeks, members had developed personal relationships with missing Adventists, relatives, friends, and other interests. The groups enjoyed Bible study, witnessing, and sharing activities.
The 1,000-seat auditorium was filled with "hot" interests. What a thrill to speak to hundreds of non- Adventists already closely tied to church members. No wonder there was such a good response. No wonder the audience applauded when their friends came forward to express their decision for baptism.
As my wife and I departed Hong Kong, peace filled our hearts. We knew the newly baptized persons plus all others who came forward would each join a cell group. They would be nurtured. They would continue Bible study. They would be sup ported in their new-found faith. The number of dropouts would be minimal.
And so it has been. Follow ing the meetings in the auditorium, the conference invited the entire group to a camp meeting. Four additional topics were presented to follow up the crusade. Conference president Chapman Wong reports that it was the best-attended camp meeting in their history. The cell groups not only brought in new members, but helped revive churches as well.
On December 4, 1993, all cell groups including new members, congregated for the quarterly celebration. What an experience of testimony, praise to God and wonderful fellowship! If caring cell groups can bring success in Hong Kong under the Holy Spirit's blessing, I believe that any city in the world could enjoy a new experience in evangelism.
