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This Thanksgiving

October 8, 2018 | 0 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving from Hong Kong! History has it that the first official, annual Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated on 6 November 1879, though Indigenous peoples in Canada have a history of celebrating the fall harvest that predates the arrival of European settlers. It is indeed a great time to pause and thank God for his bountiful blessings. For us at ISMC, we speak of a harvest of a different kind, one that should last for all eternity: a harvest of souls.

Over the last year we have witnessed a coming together of a dozen North American international student ministries (ISMs) collaborating to form a net(work) across the continent to make a significant catch of souls together. That collaboration is what took us to Hong Kong, where our North American consortium of ISMs also joined hands with our Chinese counterparts to work together to minimize the sad phenomenon of post-harvest losses of souls after students who have come to know the Lord in Canada/USA return home (sometimes as high as 80% lose their faith!)

This thanksgiving, I am grateful for this collaboration and even a declaration of unity in mission that we as leaders from East and West are calling the “Hong Kong Consensus.”

With two former Chinese international students at the Returnee Summit in Hong Kong, who are now co-harvesters/staff with us.

ISMC and I are thankful for your partnership in making and keeping the harvest of souls to the glory of God. When you, in gratitude, make a Thanksgiving offering this season, do remember us. Give thanks to the Lord here.