Post-pandemic life of young people in Hong Kong

“Many people in our congregations have stopped going to church and a lot of them are still afraid of attending any social activities,” says Rev. Ida Law, ELCHK’s secretary for church ministry. “Other families have emigrated from Hong Kong and this is causing a lot of new challenges for us,” she adds.

Over 200.000 residents left Hong Kong over the past two years, the largest population drop since records began. This is partly the result of strict quarantine policies during the pandemic, as well as continuing political and social unrest inflamed by a national security law introduced by the government in 2020.

“It was so difficult here during the two years of lockdown and many young people in particular are struggling to recover,” Rev. Law notes. “We want to encourage them to connect with the church and to rediscover a shared sense of identity and belonging.” She continues: “Through these videos, we hope to inspire some of them to consider training as pastors and raise up a new generation of leaders to serve the church."

The first episode, published on 17 April, features 22-year-old musician and YouTuber Leung Sze Nga, a Creative Arts and Culture graduate currently working in the church’s worship ministry. A new video will be published every Monday and Thursday until 3 July on the YouTube channel of the ELCHK’s Youth Department https://www.youtube.com/@youthelchk3012

LWF’s Program Executive for Youth Savanna Sullivan welcomed the launch of the video series, describing it as “a great way of showcasing both the challenges and the creativity of young Christians in Hong Kong.” She added: “I urge all our youth to share these videos widely within their networks to inspire others and to pass on the sense of hope that that they hold for the future of our church.”