Having flown half way around the world to address homosexuality to a primarily Chinese population, the trip recently ended after an interminable flight.

Homesick

Nineteen days away from the closest’s and sweetest’s relationships in this world (Lisa and our three girls) made me more homesick than ever.  As my laptop sat in my Hong Kong lodging one evening, it automatically slipped into slideshow.  In the stillness of a 39th floor apartment – reading from Luke’s gospel, my attention was diverted as the slideshow appeared. 

Lisa, Clare, Gracie and Ellie’s pictures began to fade in and out on the monitor.  One glimpse at that photo of Lisa standing beside a towering tree moved me to tears.  Her eyes gazed directly at me through the laptop screen – over eight thousand miles away.  It’s moments like that remind me that a husband’s love for his wife is like Christ’s love for His bride – the Church.

Lisa has been a single mom for these nineteen days.  I have climbed to one of the highest peaks in Hong Kong and stood mesmerized at a city housing over 7 million people.  I ate in more Chinese restaurants than I wish to remember (don’t get me wrong – the food is great...at times; at right are squid and a bird).  I delighted in visiting marketplaces, lovely gardens, and conquered Hong Kong’s intricate mass transit system, but as much as I enjoyed those wonders I kept thinking, “how wonderful if Lisa and the girls were with me.”  I can imagine how an eight, five and four year old would shout with glee as such sights.  I pray God provide more opportunities like this.

Incarnation: entering another world

During my second evening in Hong Kong I spoke to a group of men who, though from varied backgrounds, all have homosexual attractions.  They think I have come to speak on this issue and I do, but in truth - homosexuality is my “cover” for talking about a Lord who left His world to enter ours. (Read my article “What the Incarnation Teaches Us about Reaching the Homosexual”)

These men listen as if their existence depends on it and indeed it does.  Within ninety seconds of my speaking, we have connected and they know “this American guy is literally telling my story.”  This meeting sets the stage for the rest of the trip.

A day later, a Hong Kong TV reporter interviews each speaker (the two other speakers are Dr. Nancy Heche [left]– mother of actress Anne Heche and Dr. Keith Vennum [right - with wife Pauline]– a retired anesthesiologist).  These interviews are televised the following week.

Parents in Pain

On my first Saturday afternoon, I visit with parents of strugglers for over two hours.  The meeting would have stretched into three – had my hosts let it.  Broken hearts, heavy faces, crying eyes. As in the USA, these parents have nowhere to turn; they dare not share their hurts with their church. It ought not to be that way and with God leading, IT WILL stop!  How have Christian churches come to this point where the deepest hurts cannot be shared with community?

Later in our trip, we meet with more parents of strugglers for dinner and extended conversation and fellowship.  Almost thirty people fill a side-room in a restaurant.  These parents digest every word we utter.

A Novel Way to Decrease HIV Transmission

We meet with Dr. Wong Ka-hing - Hong Kong’s AIDS consultant - to discuss an option in reducing the transmission of HIV among Hong Kong’s gay men.  How?  By helping those men who have unwanted same-sex attraction leave homosexuality.  But Dr. Wong is unaware of such individuals.  I ask the hypothetical “If you were aware that many such men wish to be free from same-sex attractions, would you consider the possibility of allowing us to help?”  The kind doctor declines to answer my question directly.

Gordon Truscott, (back row, 4th from left) the director of Caring Friends, arranged this meeting. As we depart, I shook Dr. Wong’s hand firmly and expressed our sincere gratitude for his taking time to talk with us.  (We have a foot in the door.)

I made many friends who helped plan this trip.  They work for some of the following organizations:
www.truth-light.org.hk
www.sexculture.org.hk
www.newcreationhk.org

Teaching Christians to Fish

One of the highlights of this trip is my training counselors who work with homosexuals.  This is the “give a man a fish and feed him for one day; teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime” technique which Jesus personified.  This training takes on two dimensions – informal classroom training and allowing counselors to observe me talking with strugglers in a counseling session. In both settings, I notice the counselors take copious notes.  I later learn from my host that these counselors tell him they are astonished at the insights I offer.  I am pleased.

(Tim answers a question while, l-r, an interpreter, Drs. Heche and Vennum listen)

The Power of Love

The three day conference is titled ‘The Power of Love’; the third day of the event features Cross Ministry’s MORE THAN WORDS (MTW) conference.  More than 100 people attend the 3 day event – music, testimonies and teaching. During MTW, a host of youth packed the church.  Determined to build rapport with a youthful Chinese crowd, I took a gamble.  Through my interpreter I asked the youth to turn to a friend and say “you need a breathe mint.”  As they followed my instructions, I threw handfuls of Mentos at them.  My gamble paid off; they loved it and listened to every word I spoke.

Throughout the 19 day trip, I speak privately with many homosexual men.  With each one I tell them “God has a purpose for your life.”  They are reluctant to believe it, but when I tell them what God has done in my life, I note facial expressions that seem to express “maybe Tim is right, that God loves me and has a purpose for me.”  One young man who typically wears a conspicuous smile furrows his forehead and asks “how do you know God has a purpose for me?”  I read from Jeremiah 29:11.  “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

streaming video

Mastering chopsicks

Hong Kong at night