HKBTS Fifty-fifth Anniversary Celebration
It is God who has continued to lead the seminary throughout its fifty five years of theological education.
Our fifty-fifth anniversary celebration is a time of humble worship as we recall how God’s grace has been at work in the seminary.
In our last issue, we covered the Fifty-fifth Anniversary Thanksgiving Worship Service held on March 18. We want to thank the many supporters and donors who have been walking with us over the years. Honorable guests came to Sai O campus that day and, together with our faculty, staff, and students offered up to God their worship and praise.
Other celebration activities include the HKBTS’s Fifty-fifth Anniversary Concert of Thanksgiving and Praise on April 9, the Belote Lectures in October and the Graduation Ceremony for the academic year 2005-06 in November. This will be the first graduation ceremony to be held at our Sai O campus.
Let our Voices of Thanksgiving and Praise Keep On Ringing Out: The Fifty-fifth Anniversary Concert of Thanksgiving and Praise
“It is through the unceasing grace of these fifty five years that we witness the glory of God. Tonight we bow in humility before God in His glory and lift our voices to sing in thanksgiving and praise… May our voices of thanksgiving and praise keep on ringing out.”
President Alfred Kong
On the evening of April 9, the seminary presented a musical concert at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Center. Through the music, we expressed our praise and thanksgiving to God.
The performers that night included our students in the Seminary Choir, the Alumni Association Choir, and the Faculty and Staff Choir. Two solo items by alumnus Rev. Chan Bak-hung and President Alfred Kong intertwined with grand congregational chorus singing. The concert included songs of praise such as “Let the Whole World Rejoice and Sing before Jehovah,” “Praise the Lord God on High,” “Thanks Be to Thee,” “A Thanksgiving Prayer,” “The Great God who is All-wise and Almighty.” Interspersed with the music were seven thanksgiving testimonies from our trustee, alumnus, professor, students, and staff in praise of God.
Each of the speakers recounted God’s grace and blessings: describing how God established HKBTS and led the way in each of its phases of development; enabling graduates to follow the One who called them to a life of full time ministry and study, recognizing His loving kindness in leading students to learn and grow through their seminary preparation; and enabling the professor and staff to overcome difficulties in teaching and in daily routine work as they learn to rely on Him.
Even these seven unprecedented thanksgiving testimonies could not fully illustrate all of the Lord’s blessings to the seminary throughout these fifty five years. As President Kong rightly said: “It is through the unceasing grace of these fifty five years that we witness the glory of God. Tonight before God in His glory, we bow, give thanks and praise.”
Even though there are bound to be high mountains and small hills to cross in the future, our voices of thanksgiving and praise will continue to sound forth.