God in Hong Kong

Actually, the title of this post is misleading: God cannot be confined to place, as He created place. Perhaps, a better title would have been "Seeking God in Hong Kong."

And certainly, that is what I, along with Anna, Sam, Kirstin, and Jason, witnessed on Sunday in Hong Kong: hundreds of servants seeking God. Tucked amidst the hustle and bustle of a city with the vibrancy of ten American cities cramped in one, masses of Hong Kong-ers entered their Holy places to join one another in remembrance of God.

We went to a mosque and church, separated only by a few streets, in Wan Chai. Unlike the classic postcard images of mosques and churches that stand out with domes of gold or statues of stone, these places were marked by plain signs. “Church of Christ” posted across a billboard distinguished this sacred building from its neighboring shops and restaurants. Upon entering the church, however, we found a little hallway that led us up a staircase, and ultimately into a room much larger than I could have imagined from the outside. Similarly, the mosque was one simple white building on the outside, but on the inside, an eight-floor community center, complete with two prayer halls, ablution stations, bathrooms, a library, classrooms, offices, and even a restaurant! But like in the Church, what I found most striking of all in the mosque was the strong sense of community built out of a love for God. On the outside, each building looked like a part of the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, fitting neatly in between the crowded buildings that characterize this cityscape. But on the inside, each building opened up, physically and spiritually, literally, amidst the craziness of city life, into a realm more peaceful and loving than any rural place.

I felt this sense of peace at the church as I listened to verses from the Old and New Testament, and quite personally, when my presence was welcomed publicly (my name was called, I was asked to stand up, and everyone clapped—it was totally embarrassing, but also such a family sort of thing that warmed my heart). I also felt this sense of peace at the mosque when I prayed shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot, alongside believers of all backgrounds, including servants ranging from native Chinese Muslims to Filipino domestic helpers. You can visually get a glimpse of this cross cultural peace that transcends boundaries by checking out the following banners, displayed in the Mosque and Church, respectively—words from Holy books translated to fit every community: