By Patrick Nachtigall

In January 2008, the Hong Kong Church of God (HKCOG) moved into its new building located on the main street of the Hong Kong suburb of Tai Wai. It was the end result of a three-year effort to raise the funds for the 30 percent down payment on the $1.2 million property. The purchase of the building, making the HKCOG property owners for the first time, was challenging because Hong Kong is one of the world’s most expensive cities in which to purchase property. In addition, the Hong Kong Church of God is a very young church: 80 percent of the church is under the age of twenty-six. Finances have always been a challenge for this young church, but the level of commitment has been outstanding. Fundraisers have been known to yield as much as $10,000 (U.S.) in one shot. But the new building simply would not have been possible without the greater Church of God.

More than twenty-six churches, including the Church of God in Germany, gave substantial donations to the Hong Kong building project. Countless individuals from Bartlesville to Bolivia also joined in the effort. The HKCOG is deeply touched by all the support it has received from around the world.

During the building campaign, missionaries Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall had the opportunity to visit the Church of God in Chelyabinsk, Russia. While there, they learned of the many similarities between the Russian church and the Hong Kong church. Both congregations are less than twenty-five years old, consist mostly of first-generation Christians, are involved in an extremely difficult building campaign, and are very isolated by distance from other Church of God congregations. A decision was made to make sure that the 10 percent tithe on the Hong Kong building fund would go to Church of God congregations around the world that find themselves in a similar situation as the Hong Kong Church of God.

To this end, the HKCOG has distributed its tithe to three different locations around the world. A large portion has gone to assist the Chelyabinsk church with their new building as well as for reaching out to youth (the HKCOG’s area of specialty). Another substantial gift has gone to the Church of God in New Zealand led by Chad and Diane Daveneport. This church, like Hong Kong, is very young, isolated from other Church of God congregations, and in need of support. A group of youth from the New Zealand church in Auckland participated in a joint mission trip with the Hong Kong youth into a nearby Asian country. The ties between our congregations are strong. Lastly, the HKCOG will be helping fund the 2009 All-India Youth Conference in Siliguri since we greatly believe in what youth can accomplish.

In order to celebrate our ability to bless others with the blessing we have received, we had a special time during our building dedication in which we read the names of every church and every individual that donated to the Hong Kong building fund. We then announced the locations where our tithe would be distributed.

But the highlight of it all occurred a few weeks later when the three Russian pastors from Chelyabinsk and missionary Dwayne Goldman flew to Hong Kong at the invitation of the HKCOG to observe our youth ministry in action and to take in the sights and sounds of our wonderful city. For eleven days, the Russians enjoyed getting to know the church and discussing ministry opportunities. This is an example of the Church of God cooperating globally and making sure that the ties in our movement remain strong. We are much stronger as one body, and we are grateful that God has brought us all together

To learn more about the mission work of Patrick and Jamie Nachtigall in Hong Kong, click here.