Launch Sunday A Success!
Tseung Kwan O has a New Church!
Faith Family Church—TKO!
“Launch Sunday” by the numbers:
440 people attended the combined services
67 were children
662 people viewed the live-stream on Facebook
86 people made a decision for Christ!
62 HKDI students volunteered (most all were unsaved)
Nearly everyone who visited came because of the city-wide advertising on Billboards, Buses, Subway Trains, and Mailers.
Thanks so much to all who gave towards this launch, making the advertising possible!!!
The launch morning greeted us with a cold and rainy day, but visitors got out their umbrellas and came anyways. Most had never been to a church service ever in their lives, and a few others that had said they’d never been to a contemporary service like this.
There was a strong connection made with many families. We believe these families will be the foundation of the church. Parents shared how they felt like everyone was so loving and their kids didn’t want to leave.
A young lady who attend the service with her sister, shared how she had been praying for a church. She was contemplating suicide, feeling totally unwanted. Now she and her sister are looking to connect with the church and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
The “church launch phase” is not over! Over the next few weeks the attendance is expected to drop. But after about a month it should stabilize and we’ll have a core group of people who will “stick” and then growth will continue from there.
A school has allowed us to temporarily use their school hall for services for the next month. We are still searching for a long-term location (which we sent an email about a couple of weeks ago). Please keep this in prayer!
We’ll keep you updated as things progress!
Thanks again to all of you who prayed and gave to help make this possible!!!
Blessings from Hong Kong,
Steve and Sharmin Fischer and the Fischer Family
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One of the greatest miracles since FFM arrived in Hong Kong over 15 years ago JUST HAPPENED!
IT’S OURS!!!
Church Launch Facility Approved
March 4, 2018!
We’ve just received the go-ahead for launching Faith Family Church at the most outstanding and strategic location in Tseung Kwan O—the “Hong Kong Design Institute” (HKDI).
For three months we painstakingly applied for every Sunday from December to April and were methodically turned down each time. After spending countless hours on the phone and making multiple site visits we began to make headway with the venue rental department personnel as we kept sharing the “Why” for the church launch. Several began to get excited with us as they saw the win-win benefit for everyone.
Unexpectedly, one of the venue personnel discovered that the Sunday on March 4, 2018 was only reserved but not booked. So, on our behalf, they pursued the potential party and requested they confirm—of which they then (mysteriously) declined! They immediately gave us the “reservation” (even though others were interested) and we immediately accepted and confirmed!
Last month we sent an email asking for prayer…”that doors would be open for us”—and they literally were!” We deeply thank all of you who responded and interceded! We don’t believe this would have happened without prayer paving the way!
The next totally unexpected surprise is that the HKDI requires their (7000) students to get 40 hours of outside “internship experience” while attending school. And how perfect would it be to help a church launch right on their own campus! Students are learning to work with lights, sound, cameras, promotional advertising, design—and even Child Care! With the help of excited HKDI instructors we are now rounding up a team of these students to help us in all of these areas. And of course, you know what benefit they will receive in return—an opportunity to meet Jesus himself!
This dream has now become reality, but we need your help to finance this amazing opportunity!
We only have $97,000USD towards our Launch Budget goal of $200,000USD. We must raise just over a hundred thousand dollars in the next month to ensure that every part of the strategic ARC launch strategy works.
The INVESTMENT:
- $200,000USD
- One family of twelve (and 2 more on the way) willing to lay down their lives to bring this to pass.
- A lot more prayer…
The RETURN:
- A district of 400,000 people will receive a life-giving church (only one of its kind in TKO).
- A church that can then reach out to the other 7 million in HK that is only 5% Christian.
- A base that can then launch Chinese and Western missionaries into Mainland China to reach the over 200K who’ve never heard the name of Jesus even once.
Will you help us?
Below is a breakdown of the expenses for the pre-launch, launch day and portable church location. If you have any questions I would be more than happy to give you a call or answer an email.
Thank you for standing with us and helping to carry the vision to reach Hong Kong and China for Jesus!
Blessings from Hong Kong,
Steve and Sharmin and the Fischer Family
Hong Kong, China
P.S. If you haven’t seen the 3 minute promo video for the church launch, watch it here.
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HK Church Launch: Progress Update Nov 2017
WE NEED PRAYER!
Right now is a critical time in the church launch phase. Like Paul said “pray for us…that doors be opened for us…” Hong Kong, has few options for rent that will work for a church launch the size of what God has put on our hearts.
But in one particular University that God has put on our hearts, we are working with department heads, lecturers, and students that are excited about the opportunity to help us launch a life-giving church right here on their campus! However, the auditorium we’d need to use is in heavy demand. But after searching for many months, we believe there may be an opening in early 2018.
We believe all obstacles can be overcome through prayer. Would you stand in agreement with us in prayer this facility would be opened up for the church launch?
This is a photo of the HKDI building, Hong Kong Design Institute, and we are one approval away from making this our launch point!
This aerial view photo of Tseung Kwan O will help you get the idea of how tight and competitive the battle for space is (the green areas are actually quite mountainous.)
Launch Budget
We are excited to update that approx $85,000 has come in towards the church launch! A big thank you to all who’ve already given. These donations have come in from over 60 different pastors, businessmen, and individuals from across the USA and Hong Kong.
We still need help! If you have already committed to give to the launch—please send it in. If you haven’t considered it we just ask you to ask God if He would have you do anything to help us, then do it!—no pressure.
This is the largest step our family has ever undertaken in the last 17 years of full-time ministry and it will have unmeasurable effect. The people in Hong Kong and China are so open to the Gospel. The harvest is ripe and now is the time to act!
Thank you for standing with us and helping to carry the vision to reach Hong Kong and China for Jesus!
Together,
Steve and Sharmin and the Fischer Family
Hong Kong, China!
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A Christmas Eve Miracle
A Christmas Eve Miracle!
1,100 people had the opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ and experience His love at the Christmas Eve Outreach!
This Christmas Eve Outreach succeeded at sharing Jesus in a big, obvious way to many who came to the park. This outreach was empowered by you who prayed and gave financially and the 70 Faith Family Church (FFM’s church plant) volunteers who gave up their regular Christmas Eve activities to serve in this all-day event!
Starting at 3pm, there were free children’s games, free snacks and many other free activities for the whole family.
Left photo: Faith Family Church(FFC) volunteers working at the prize booth. These two sisters actually received Jesus through one of FFC’s outreaches in previous years at this same location! Right photo: Children visiting the Christmas Eve outreach event.
This was followed up by two concerts, one at 8pm and another at 10pm. To kick off each concert, the FFC band played an explosive Carol of the Bells with lights, snow and fog. (photo below)
To draw in the young people and families Pastor Sharmin dressed in full costume as Elsa from the movie “Frozen” and sang “Let It Go” in a beautiful wintry setting. (photo below)
After a number of Christmas songs and an awesome synchronized light show, the Gospel was presented through a powerful drama showing the challenges and addictions individuals face in Hong Kong.
The people were impacted by the drama and an estimated 150 people prayed the sinners prayer, led by Pastor Steve, to receive Jesus as their Savior! (photo below)
Also as a result of this Christmas Eve outreach, 26 new visitors came to Faith Family Church the following day for the Christmas Sunday service!
Fund Raising Campaign
Over $2,000 (of the $15,000 goal) was raised in December to cover some of the expenses of the outreach. The actual amount spent for the production of this outreach was over $10,000. Even though the goal was not reached, FFM still continued with the outreach and was very pleased with its success.
FFM was not, however, able to do much advertising and promotion for the event because of the lack of funding. We believe more families like the ones who came would have been reached with proper advertising. Our desire is to continue to make an impact in this area of Hong Kong. We believe the next outreach will be even larger with greater impact. With your prayer and support, we believe this will happen!
Thank you so much to all you who played a huge part in this event by giving of your prayers and support! You helped give the gift of Jesus to Chinese Families in Hong Kong on Christmas Eve 2016! We’re planning future outreaches and looking forward to the many more who will come to know Jesus in this new year of 2017!
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival from Hong Kong!
This month on September 15 is the Chinese holiday, Mid-Autumn Festival. On this festival day, family members gather to eat mooncake(a cake made from lotus seed), light lanterns, and wish each other good fortune. In some legends, appreciating the bright full moon and even offering sacrifices to the moon is the core reason for this holiday.
Mid-Autumn Festival at Hoi Bun park, a park just two blocks away from our church and a site for many of our outreaches.
For the past two years during this festival, our daughters, Jasmine and Jael, have gone to Hoi Bun park to celebrate! Jasmine and Jael were amazed at the many who flocked to this place just to have an open place to sit and enjoy each other’s company. Most Hong Kong houses are too small to host parties for more than 8 people. Our girls made new friends and shared the gospel to them! Some even came to our church and received Jesus!
Jasmine, our daughter, at the park with youth from our church on Mid-Autumn Festival!
Little girl enjoying the crowded celebration at the park.
Huslting and bustling on Mid-Autumn Festival.
We continue to thank God for you! Because of you our family is able to serve on the mission field! Thank you for your prayers and support! We love you!
Much love,
Steve and Sharmin and the Fischer Family
Hong Kong, China
