Happy New Year!
Despite the economic downturn, pray that all Christian Action’s (CA) board members, staff, families, friends and supporters will be well protected and provided for; and we would persevere to serve with a humble and joyful heart. Amen!
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

CA’s “Season of Love” Charity Cookie Drive 2023-24 has been launched till the end of this January. This collaboration combines healthy oatmeal and raisin cookies; and the illustrations on the gift box were designed by Alice B, a popular local illustrator. May God bless our marketing team with strength and passion to sell the cookies, and raise enough funds to support our ministries for the impoverished families, the needy children and their carers. 

Some children under the care of our children and youth programmes will take their mid-term internal school examinations this month. Pray that all of them will concentrate on their studies and work hard to achieve their best results and understand what they have learnt.

Starting from next week, around 40 donation boxes will be placed in a chain fast-food restaurant till March 2024. Pray that we can be connected to more shops and commercial outlets for placing our donation boxes; so as to diversify the fundraising income in this challenging moment.

This month, our Training Services Division will host two community carnivals sponsored by the Housing Authority in our vicinity. Pray that we continue to promote community integration and environmental conservation across the city through our constant advocacy.

Today about 30 children from our Mong Kok Service Centre will visit Lamma Island. Pray that all participants will cherish this precious opportunity to enjoy nature created by our God and feel loved and cared for by the community.

Our EM youth ambassador team will run regular game nights for EM clients; including board games and sports activities like dodgeball. Pray that the EM youth will feel empowered and quickly adapt to the environment with vigor and hope. Amen!

CA is launching a new round of Season of Love ‘till the end of February: cookies are for sale and to encourage sponsors to purchase the ‘Blessing Bags’ to give to the poor.  These Blessing Bags are given directly to disadvantaged families, the elderly and street-sleepers. Pray for inspiration and energy for our marketing team and enthusiastic responses from: - our sponsors, sales booths and outlets, as well as on-line sales; so that we can reap a rich harvest to finance our campaign, to bless the most vulnerable including the elderly. Amen!

25 of our Child Development Fund (CDF) mentees will attend 2 career talks hosted by “Teentrepreneur” consisting of startup founders and slashers this month. Pray that the young people will be empowered to choose the right life path through our ministry that will help and support them to widen their scope.

Some Christians from a Sheung Shui Church will visit our Café corner for health carers in our Sheung Shui Centre. Pray that we will partner with different parties to deliver light and hope to the carers who undergo much stress.

We have applied for a funding for the “Diversity Hub” at Chung King Mansions, in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong to set up an archive museum about ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. Pray for the success of this programme to sustain our ministry to enhance cross-cultural understanding and community cohesion. Amen!

Our Information and Technology Department is busy preparing the online platform for our Charity Walk to be held in March. Please pray for smooth communication among the related departments to render a successful launch of this fund-raising initiative so that more needy are blessed.

Last month, our government commenced public consultation on the upcoming Budget 2024-25 in a bid to plan a smart and prudent budget for the city. Pray for divine wisdom and sensitivity for the government authority to make the right policy to provide the grassroots people a better quality of life. May God also nurture their spiritual well-being. Amen!

This week sees 2024 Week of prayer for Christian Unity (from 18 to 25 January), themed “You shall love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself…” Luke 10:27. The event will be attended by hundreds of clergy and staff members from different denominations, churches and Christian organizations. Pray for the smooth implementation and presentation of unity for Christ’s church and to be a witness of Our God.

To address increasing youth suicides at school, our Long Ping Service Centre will host a workshop using board games to promote mental health. Pray that we strive to instill Godly values and positive thinking in the young generation, so that they will grow better and stronger.

Our Ethnic Minorities (EM) Youth Ambassador team will organize a BBQ activity today for the young clients in a bid to help the EM children to mix well with their local counterparts. Pray that we thrive to equip our clients to adapt to the community more easily. Likewise, our local counterparts have the chance to understand the EM community more.

This Sunday some Child Development Fund-On Tai Service Centre (CDF-OTSC) Mentorship Programme participants, including mentors, mentees and their parents, will visit T-PARK, a sewage sludge treatment plant in Tuen Mun. Pray that we continue to broaden their life horizons through our activities and endeavors; and they learn to treasure our Earth, His creation.

Some mentees from the Child Development Fund-Long Ping Service Centre (CDF-LPSC) will visit Mind Space at Castle Peak Hospital today. Pray that the participants will learn more about mental illness, the history of HK mental health and related services rendered; and that they will enjoy their experiences, and come away with a richer understanding of mental illness and mental health; and cultivate empathy towards the children with mental illness.

Last week our EM youth ambassador team conducted a talk for some social work students to raise cultural sensitivity towards the EM sector. Pray that we continue to foster community cohesion through our persistent effort and advocacy.

Our OTSC organized a certificate course on First-aid last week for the clients on welfare benefits. Pray that they will acquire more knowledge in self-help and aiding others in case of emergency; and gradually they will re-enter the job market with colour and confidence.

Our China Team Programme is concluding its 2023 overall programme review and reports. Pray that we will uphold the conviction as mentioned in Philippians 3:13b-14 : “... Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. May our ministry be blessed to deliver love and care for the children and youth in need on the Tibetan Plateau.

Praise God!
The first government-led ‘community living room’ officially opened its doors to 500 underprivileged households in Sham Shui Po last month in a bid to ease the pressure of living in cramped sub-divided units. Pray that more people would be blessed by this Pilot Programme of the Community Living Room; and our government will continue to draft more feasible policies to alleviate poverty. Amen!

This month, our Social Enterprise Department is conducting several green collection initiatives in various private housing estates in our vicinity. Well-chosen good-quality items will be sold in our outlets. Pray that public awareness will be significantly aroused to support our ministry; and understand this is also a means to fulfill charity work.

Please continue to pray in unison for our China programme that we will raise enough funds for setting up the children’s centre in Tongren prefecture Qinghai, that will offer after-school care service for disadvantaged children. Pray for seamless communication during the set-up stage; successful implementation and that together we help them to eradicate the poverty cycle.

Our EM Youth Ambassador Team continues its regular outreach activities in different parts of Hong Kong twice a week. Pray that we strive to build a community that upholds cultural integration, mutual respect and understanding. Amen!

Our Social Enterprise Department has co-organized several community carnivals with the Housing Authority in public housing estates in our neighbourhood this month. Pray that our advocacy effort would further arouse the sense of belonging and social cohesion in the community.

Mrs. Cheung, in her capacity as Chairman of the new term of the Justice and Social Concern Committee (JSCC) being elected again under the HKCC, will hold the first meeting this afternoon. May God guide her steps; and continue to use JSCC as His channel of peace and justice in this city. Amen!