As early as the time when the Asiatic Division (亞屬總會) was organized, the Island of Hainan (海南岛), the southernmost part of China’s territory, which became a province of the People's Republic of China on April 26, 1988, was already a part of the South China Union in the 1910s.However, no specific plan was made to establish work in that island during that pioneer period. It was on January 9, 1920, D. E. Rebok (李博), South China Union publishing secretary, made the following brief report. “Literature has pioneered the way into a new territory of the world field. Recently, one of our Chinese canvassers met with good success in the island of Hainan, off the coast of South China, selling our books and papers. He reports that the people are ready to read the message and to buy the literature freely.” At that time the island had a population of 1,500,000. (Asiatic Division Outlook, February 1920, p.5; February 1922, p.2.)
The diversity of dialects might be one the reasons to delay the entrance of the Advent message to Hainan. There are now eleven main dialects spoken in Hainan. (1) Hainanese (海南話) is widely spoken with different variations in phonetics by five million people; (2) Li dialect (黎語) is mainly spoken by Li tribe; (3) Lingao dialect (臨高話) is spoken by half million people mainly in Lingao County; (4) Qiongshan native dialect (瓊山土語) is spoken by 110,000 people in the Yangshan district (羊山區) and the western outoutskirts of Haikou city, which is north of Qiongshan; (5) Danzhou dialect (儋州話) is spoken by 700,000 people living in Danzhou, Changjiang (昌江), and the coastal areas around Dongfang (東方); (6) Jun [soldier] dialect (軍話) passed on by former soldiers and officers from mainland China, is spoken by about 100,000 people in Changjiang (昌江), Dongfang (東方), Danzhou (儋州) and Sanya (三亞) at the southern most of the island; (7) Miao dialect (苗語) is spoken by 50,000 Miao tribe living in central and southern part of the island; (8) Gelong dialect (哥隆話) is spoken by 80,000 people living in Dongfang (東方) and both banks of the lower reaches of Changhua River (昌化江) in Changjiang county (昌江); (9) Huihui dialect (回輝話), passed on by the Hui tribe (回族) who came to Hainan during the Yuan Dynasty (元朝), is spoken by their descendents, about 6,000 in number, living in Huihui (回輝) and Huixin (回新), the two villages in the city of Sanya (三亞) and the minority tribes in Wanning county (萬寧); (10)Mai dialect (邁話), which is quite similar to Cantonese, andis spoken by some people living around Sanya (三亞); (11) Danjia dialect (蛋家話), a type of Cantonese, is spoken only among the Han Tribe (漢族) living in Sanya.
Dr. H. W. Miller (米勒耳), the first president of the China Division, never forgot that the most important part of our mission in China was to extend the gospel work everywhere including the borderlands. C. C. Crilser (蒯思樂), Division secretary, sharing the same spirit, launched the campaign of beginning new work in the borderlands in China. In Chinese, “到邊疆去” became the watchword. When Crisler went to Canton [Guangzhou] (廣州) to attend the South China Union Mission meetings, he talked much about reaching out to all areas of China. Everyone in that meeting was moved.
Recalled Henry Luke (陸慶雄), “I still remember that at the MV meeting on Sabbath afternoon, our MV leader, Mr. Cheung Chun Lun (張振倫),designed a unique map, showing Hainan Island, which was also called Kingchow [Qiongzhou] (瓊州). He said that the location of that island was the most southern part of China. The whole island was divided into 13 districts and one special territory for the mountain people of Lai [Li (黎)] in the center of the island. It had tropical whether and all kinds of tropical fruit trees and is rich in minerals and oil. He also talked about the number of fishing ports around the island. The most important point, however, was that there were many precious souls needing the love of Christ. He encouraged the young people and church members to accept the call to help in this campaign. Our watchword fittingly became ‘Reaching out to Kingchow (到瓊州去).’
“Two student colporteurs accepted the challenge and left voluntarily for Hainan where they subsequently spent many years laboring many years for the Lord. One was Tso Wing Kei (曹榮基), father of Stephen Tsao (曹靈從) and his younger the late George Tsao (曹靈光). The other was Leung Wah Yau (梁華有), father of Mary Su (梁籍基) and Elsie Chan (梁籍恩).Because of them a number of students were enlisted from Hainan to attend South China Middle School in Canton. Some stayed two and more years and went back to work as colporteurs. Some stayed on and completed their studies. Wan Chung Kie is one of them. He worked as a laboratory technician in our hospital in Canton. Wong Tak Shan (王德山)returned to Hainan and worked for the church a number of years, later laboring in Macao. Other students like Tai Kwok In and Wan Chi Yun went back to work in Hainan. Hui Hung Sum(許鴻森), now [1990]in Kuala Lumpur (吉隆坡), Malaysia, was a good student from Hainan, neat and straight forward. He married Ko Sui Wan (高瑞雲), an adopted daughter of Dr. D. D. Coffin (高清瑞), who served in Nanning (南寧), Guangxi (廣西). (South China Reflections 1990 (憶華南三育), pp. 74, 75.)
In 1932, Dr. H. W. Miller (米勒耳), president of the China Division, in his opening address before the Quadrennial Council held in Shanghai, declared, “During the year now closing, those in responsibility throughout the field have gone forward steadily in their plan of entering every province hitherto unoccupied; and that at the close of the year, we are able to report that the Seventh-day Adventist Mission is permanently established in every province of China. During 1932 we have entered for the first time in a permanent way the provinces of Jehol (熱河), Suiyuan (綏遠), Kansu (甘肅), Chinghai (青海), Sinkiang (新疆), and Ninghsia (寧夏). Nearly a hundred new hsiens[counties], also, have been entered, as well as Hainan (海南), and outlying districts in Kwangsi (廣西), Kwechow (貴州), and Yunnan (雲南). For these and many like advances we thank God, and gather courage for the labors of the New Year.” (The China Division Reporter, November and December, 1932, p. 1.)
In January 1933, during the Officers’ Council, of the China Division Committee, held in mid-winter, various union superintendents gave brief reports of the work undertaken and accomplished during the year 1932. O. A. Hall (韓尚理) of the South China Union reported, “Recently the island of Hainan was entered by a resident colporteur who is supporting himself by the sale of his literature, while carrying on missionary activities. It is hoped later to send an evangelist to this island. Brother Milne (米倫義), who recently visited the island, brought back a map showing a network of automobile roads over almost the entire island. Almost every city along the coast is accessible by automobile service.” (The China Division Reporter, February, 1933, p. 9.)
As regards this matter, during the annual conference of the Cantonese Mission held in Canton (廣州), July 13, 1932, A. L. Ham (許華欽), the director, reported, “We sent a colporteur [Tso Wing Kei (曹榮基)] and family to locate in the island of Hainan, as you know. He has had a place for holding meetings, and he writes me of a very good interest there. Because of lack of funds and workers with which to man so many evangelistic efforts at one time, we have been unable to put on a large effort in Hainan in the beginning; but there are nearly twenty in attendance at the Sabbath meetings, and some are anxiously inquiring after Bible truth.” A. L. Ham further reported that young people society of the mission training school was giving its offerings each quarter for opening work in Hainan Island. In early 1933, A. L. Ham, in company with O. A. Hall and others, spent some time in Hainan. They came in contact with some very nice people. Hoihow [Haikou] (海口)and the eastern section of the island seemed progressive, and the people ranked well with those of South China.(The China Division Reporter, April and May, 1933, pp. 6, 8.)
In January 1934, during the Winter Council of the China Division Committee, O. A. Hall gave further details of his visiting Haikou with A. L. Ham in 1933. They arranged for permanent chapel work. An evangelistic born in Hainan but for fifteen years a resident in Singapore, was in charge. In the summer of 1933, workers from Guangdong (廣東) went to Haikou, the port of entrance to the island of Hainan, to hold a series of evangelistic meetings, which was well attended, and resulted in the baptism of six, —–first fruits of the work in the island. The pioneer colporteur then moved southward to establish work for the tribes-people of the mountains of the interior. The funds for the opening of the work in Hainan had been largely raised by the Y.P.M.V. society of the school in Canton. (The China Division Reporter, March, 1934, p. 3.)
In mid 1934 Tso Wing Kei wrote from central Hainan, “On the twenty-second of January we left Hai Kou for Namfun [Nanfeng] 南豐), which is in the central part of Hainan. At our first Sabbath service there were seventeen in attendance; on the second Sabbath twenty-one, and the third, being near the Chinese New Year, there were but thirteen present. On the fourth Sabbath we were glad to see one hundred and ten persons at the service. Out meeting was held in an upstairs room. The prospects for the work seem to be very good.
“At Wu Tau Ti, another man whose wife is dead, has closed his business and comes to meeting every Sabbath. His mother and his two daughters also come with him.
“The landlord of our chapel, a carpenter, has given up his idols, and believes in God.
“On the 14thof February, we began having meetings every night. From fifteen to twenty-five attend.” (The China Division Reporter, June, 1934, p. 22.)
In the later part of 1934, Tso Wing Kei, who engaged part time in evangelistic work, reported the winning at Nanfeng of a Hainanese by the name of Wen Chung Shuen, who volunteered to enter the colporteur work, and during his first five days, under the tutelage of Brother Tso, secured sixty-eight subscriptions for the Chinese Signs, besides selling some small books. (The China Division Reporter, January-February, 1935, p. 6.)
During the quadrennial session of the South China Union, January 25 to February 2, 1935, P. L. Williams (衛理思), director of the Cantonese Mission, in his report touched on the work in Hainan. “Brother Ho Wai Yee (何韋如), while teaching full time at the [South China Training] Institute, is also Y.P.M.V. secretary, and has done faithful work, with most encouraging fruitage both in soul-winning lines, and in fostering new work in the Island of Hainan….
“Within the past two years the island of Hainan has been entered, and there are now 35 baptized believers there, —–17 at Hoihow [Haikou] (海口) and 18 at Namfung [Nanfeng] (南豐). The beginning of this work was brought about by the efforts of the young people’s society of ‘Tungshan (東山)’ and Canton. Their missionary spirit spurred them on to undertake great things for God, and their efforts have been blessed. This work in Hainan has been carried on for two years without any regular budget appropriations; but now all the funds that the young people and their friends raised have been used up, and some adequate and more permanent provision should be made in behalf of that great island with more than three million inhabitants.” (The China Division Reporter, January-February, 1935, p. 6.)
To strengthen the work in Namfeng, Woo Tak Shun (胡德纯), associate director of the Cantonese Mission, and Chiu Sik Kwong (邱世光) were sent to Namfeng to conduct a three-weeks series of evangelistic meetings. In connection with these meetings, a ten-day Bible class was conducted.
A preacher of another mission had been studying the truth for a time, and was very favorable to it; but because of much opposition from his family and others, he stopped coming for his studies. However, when the special evangelistic meetings began, he took new courage, and in spite of persecution and reviling, he wholeheartedly investigated the truth. Then he decided to accept the message and gave himself to the work of self-supporting preaching of the word.
At the conclusion of the meetings there was a baptism of sixteen people. After the close of the meetings in Nanfeng, the workers went to Haikou to hold a week’s revival meetings. Six were baptized following these meetings, making a total of twenty-two baptisms in Hainan at that time.
During the meetings in Nanfeng, Chiu Sik Kwong contacted a very serious illness as a result of his being bitten by mosquitoes. He developed a very sever fever, and was taken to a hospital of another mission about thirty li(ten miles) from Nanfeng. After being in the hospital for two days, the doctor telephoned saying that his condition was very critical, and he held out little hopes for his recovery. Being much perplexed, Pastor Woo called together the workers and believers, and they engaged in an earnest season of prayer that the life of this worker for God might be spared. After that prayer, word came from the hospital that he had improved some, so that there was new hope of his discovery. “Grateful praise was given to our Heavenly Father for thus nearing and answering prayer.” (The China Division Reporter, December, 1934, p. 21.)
During the biennial session of the South China Union, January 25 to February 2, 1935, there was a reorganization of the Cantonese Mission. The island of Hainan and two lower counties of the Leizhou Peninsula (雷州半島) were set apart to form a separate mission—– the Hainan Mission with headquarters at Haikou. Woo Tak Shun was the director, secretary and treasurer. There were one church and four companies with a total membership of 45. Seventeen baptized members were in Haikou and eighteen in Nanfeng. (The China Division Reporter, January and February, 1935, p. 6; 1936 SDA Yearbook, p. 118.)
On May 27, 1935, A. L. Ham (許華欽), superintendent of the South China Union, wrote of his visit to Hainan on his way to Hong Kong. He said, “I have a very interesting time in Hainan. While in the southwestern part I came into contact with the tribes-people, some of whom attended our meetings. I doubt whether they understood much of what was said. Our nearest station at present is not far enough into the interior, and we anticipate that shortly we shall have out-stations farther inland, in close touch with the tribes-people in their own villages. Pastor Woo and his associates on the Hainan Mission Committee are looking closely after the interests of the cause in the island. While with them, we were able to complete the organization of the mission and to appoint secretaries of departments. A number of people in Hainan are now awaiting baptism, but are in need of further instruction, which Pastor Woo plans to give them earlier. He has recently moved his family down to Hoihow [Haikou (海口)]in order that he may spent as much time as possible with those who have been sent to out-stations.” (The China Division Reporter, July, 1935, p. 24.)
In early 1936 A. L. Ham gave more details of the beginning of the work in Hainan. “The Hainan Mission was organized last May, at the time of their first annual delegate meeting. This followed an action taken by the South China Union Mission in biennial session authorizing this Island field being set apart as a local mission. Pastor Woo Tuck Shan [sic] was made the director, and later a committee and departmental secretaries were elected, and a new mission was added to the other six in the South China Union.
“The work in the Island was first carried on by occasional visits by our colporteurs until Brother Tso Wing Ki [sic] moved his family here to take up definite work as a self-supporting worker. The expenses connected with opening a chapel and locating Brother Tso were paid by the Tungshan (東山) Church Y.P.M.V. society [in Canton].They have continued their interest and support right up till the present time. It has been three years since Brother Tso settled here. He is now locating at Nam Fung [Nanfeng] (南豐) in the southwest part of the Island, where he is in touch with the tribes-people; and recently a small piece of land has been purchased in the Pak Sha(白沙)district [a mountainous district], which is 45 miles farther inland among the tribes-people. Brother and Sister Wang [Wong Tack Shan (王德山)], natives of the Island, who speak five dialects are to locate there and begin a new mission station for these poor, needy people
“Three new counties have been entered definitely by this mission during the past year, and plans are now being made to enter a new county early this new year. Brother and Sister Lung are now in Hoihau [Haikou] (海口) studying the language and then will take charge of the new station. That will establish our work in the north, south, east and west portions of the Island, from which points other places can be reached and worked. This will make six counties entered in Hainan Island Mission Twenty-nine have been baptized during the past year, and there is a nice group of young people accepting the message. Five students from this field are now attending the school at Canton, while there is an enrolment of 35 children in our school in Hoihau.
“Harvest Ingathering results this year were $230, which is considerably in excess of their goals. Each station and workers took an active part in raising these funds.” (The China Division Reporter, February, 1936, p. 4.)
From the 1935 Harvest Ingathering Funds Projects, $1,000 was allocated for Laolung Church (老隆教會) and $175 for Haikou Church, both were in the South China Union.
At the South China Union annual meeting, March 17-23, 1937, Pastor Woo gave a review of the work of 1936 in the Hainan Mission. Before Hainan became a mission a mission school was started. Chung Wai Poh (鍾惠波) was the teacher. He began with ten students, and later the number increased to forty. However, in the winter of 1936 he was transferred back to the Cantonese Mission. Though the islanders were poor, the colporteurs worked hard and they went over their goal of $1,000 by 80 dollars. (The China Division Reporter, May, 1937, p. 17.)
In 1937 Wong Tack Shan (王德山) gave a report of his one year’s work in Pak Sah (白沙). He said, “Before entering Pak Sha, we opened a chapel in the border of Nam Fung (南豐). The following year (1935) we started to penetrate into the tribes’ district. A hut was secured in Pak Sha, which was converted into a church building, the work being completed in August of last year. It has meant hard labor to awaken an interest in this darkened land, among peoples not far from barbarism. Conditions have been much improved, however, since government administration has been set up here. Devil worship prevails among the tribes people, and much time is occupied in such worship which should be used for other purposes.
“The Lord has chosen a family as His first-fruits among the tribes. This family have boldly accepted the truth in face of opposition and ridicule. Though they have not yet received baptism, they faithfully keep the commandments and follow out the health reform advocated by us as a denomination. Particularly they refrain from the habit of smoking and drinking. In the spring this brother was sent by the government for a sight-seeing trip to Canton and Hong Kong. He returned to Hainan with a greater determination to serve God, and is witnessing mightily for Him among his friends and neighbors. His son is receiving a Christian education under my care. Only eleven years of age, he is quick and eager to learn, and I do not consider it tedious to teach one boy in a class, but sincerely hope that this boy may grow up into Christian manhood to serve his own people. I plan soon to open a free night school for the people.
“The dialects used in Pak Sah are very complicated and add to the difficulty of our work. Those who attend our meetings may speak the tribes language or the Tam dialects; some speak Lam Ko or Hakka. Several families are interested in the truth.” (The China Division Reporter, November, 1937, p. 5.)
Though the tribes-people were generally poor, they showed their love for the cause of God. In 1938 when the South China Union was promoting the project of building the Pioneer Memorial Church in Hong Kong, a poor tribesman in Hainan urged that he be allowed to contribute to this building funds.
At a mid-week prayer meeting during the Spring Council of the China Division in Hong Kong in 1938, Pastor Woo Tak Shun (胡德纯) gave an interesting talk on Hainan. “In Hainan the automobiles have to be adapted to special conditions. The least number of persons permitted to ride in a car is fifteen. Sometimes they carry as many as twenty-four. In addition to this, there may be two thousand pounds of other things piled on. If one looks at the car from behind, it does not appear like a car at all, but like a pile of goods; and when in motion, it looks as though the goods were moving on the road, as the car is practically hidden. When you visit Hainan and wish to ride in an automobile, be sure to wear old clothing and carry old luggage, for very frequently there will be some mishap to the car, such as a punctured tire. And when you start out you can never be sure when your destination will be reached. Very frequently, the car may breakdown in the middle of the journey, and you have to stop whenever that may be, perhaps over night, and you may have to go hungry for a day or two. These breakdowns occur very often.
“Another problem is that of the water supply. In some parts of the island it is necessary to dig down one thousand feet to get water, and in others one has to dig but three feet.
“In spite of the obstacles and difficulties, we are happy in this place. There are many good things about the island. Our work is doing well there. The beginning of out work in Hainan was made by a group of student colporteurs. After working in the island in vacation time, these student colporteurs would return to school and give excellent reports of their work. These reports stimulated the idea of opening up the island to our work. The island was first opened through the efforts of a company of our young Missionary Volunteers, and the mission finally sent one of their leaders to open a school. Later, because of the poor communications between the province of Kwangtung [Guangdong (廣東)] and Hainan, this island was set apart as a separate mission.
“The language on this island is very complicated. Every district had a different dialect. The island of Hainan is about four times the size of Formosa, and has about two and a half million people on it. We are very much interested in the tribes-people of this island. On account of the language difficulties, it took us a whole year to establish a church among them, It is hard to get a worker from among these tribesmen to work among his own people. One has to know at least six or seven dialects before he can work among them. Frequently in church, the preacher has to speak in several dialects.”
However, the written Chinese language is understood by all literate Chinese. And the people in Hainan welcomed our literature. Pastor Woo said, “Last year I made a study of the length of time people had taken our paper. The study revealed the very interesting fact that most of our subscribers have taken The Signs of the Timesfor more than ten years,and many others for five or six years. It seems they are not willing to be without the magazine after they have once had it. Very often when I visited the shops, the ones in charge would complain that their paper was delayed in coming. This shows that they are very eager for our paper.” Last year I made a study of the length of time people had taken our paper. This study revealed the very interesting fact that most of our subscribers have taken The Signs of the Timesfor more than ten yeas, and many others for five or six years. It seems that they are not willing to be without the magazine after they have once had it. Very often when I visited the shops, the ones in charge would complain that their paper was delayed in coming….
Pastor Woo continued his report, “The people of this island have some very bad habits, among which are drinking and smoking. They can get along without rice, but they have to drink and smoke. Their habits of drinking are different from other people, who usually drink but from three to four ounces. Once I watched two people eating. A large basin of something like water was brought in. Another bucket or tub of soft rice came next, then a few small fish that had been roasted in the fire. When I looked at that large basin, and saw them scooping up the liquid inside and drinking it, I inquired if it were water, but was told that it was an alcoholic wine. When I asked if they were going to drink all of all that in the basin, they just laughed. They went ahead and soon drank all that liquid. After that they started in and ate the tubful of rice, the noodles, and fish.
“I am glad to tell you that our believers have overcome most of these bad habits. They now wear proper clothing, do not drink or smoke, and are more careful about their food. They are learning to sing, and best of all are learning of God and Christ. It is very difficult to teach them because they have never studied and applied their minds before. They say it take them a whole year for them to learn a few characters, or even one character.
“Our main work has been established on the island for almost three years, and we now have seven churches with 122 members. I just received a letter today from this island, saying that there are forty persons in a certain locality, who have decided to keep the Sabbath. They have also started a little school for more than forty pupils, and are now asking for a teacher…. Most of our believers are farmers, and many of them are between forty and sixty years of age. When they come to our services they have to walk from twenty to sixty li(里). A liis 1/3 of a mile or 1/2 kilometer.
“There is something else that I am very happy to tell you about, and that is the interest which the people take in the Investment Fund for the Sabbath school. An Investment can is out in a convenient place, and every Sabbath each member drops a few coins or coppers in this can. Practically every member takes an interest in this offering, which shows that they are really very enthusiastic about their belief.” (The China Division Reporter, April, 1938, pp. 7, 8.)
In the later part of 1938, A. L. Ham wrote that the South China headquarters received a very interesting letter from Pastor Woo, director of the Hainan Mission. He quoted the following: “The situation in Hainan is serious, and the people here have expected trouble at any moment. The government has ordered evacuation from Hoihow [Haikou] (海口) and other coastal towns, with the result that the people have become more fearful, and all phases of our work are seriously affected. But notwithstanding these difficulties we are pressing on. We have been holding evangelistic meetings in Lok Ki [Luoji] (洛基) the past few days, with a full attendance, and from which we expect to see good results. After this meeting closes, we shall try to carry on in other sections. We thank the Lord for making it possible for us to raise $360.00 in Harvest Ingathering funds under such conditions.” The receipts are larger than for any previous year.
A later letter from Pastor Woo said, “Conditions here have greatly changed. The people are panic stricken; but as servants of God we must press on and carry the responsibilities that are ours at this time. Will you pray for us, that the Lord may give us strength and fortitude for our task. You will be glad to know that we have reached our Harvest Ingathering goal of $400. We are indeed thankful that this has been possible. Will you not rejoice with us over this?” (The China Division Reporter, January, 1939, p. 6.)
In 1939 Japanese soldiers invaded Haikou, and soon the whole Island of Hainan fell into the hand of Japan, and they occupied the island until 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allied Nations. During the occupation, the Adventist Church and its affiliated primary school in Haikou had to halt their operation. Subsequently, Pastors T. S. Woo and his associates had to leave Haikou for Tamchow [Danzhou] (儋州), north of Nanfeng, and began work there. In Danzhou, they purchased a large retail shop building to serve as the meeting hall and there were 20-30 followers attending the weekly service.
Gving more details of the work in Hainan, Pastor A. L. Ham (許華欽)wrote, “The Hainan Mission was the last mission to be organized in the South China Union. It has its beginning about four years ago [1935] as a mission project of the Missionary Volunteer Society of the South China Union Training Institute. The first worker to go down there was Brother Tso Wing Ki [sic], a colporteur. At a union meeting held that year in Canton when a call was made for volunteers to go to that island, Brother Tso was present and was on his feet almost immediately to answer the call. Going to Hainan as a self-supporting missionary, Tso Wing Ki opened a chapel, gathered a few people into a Sabbath school, and then went out to sell literature, supporting himself thus for many months. Later on, he was taken into mission employ as a salaried worker; and still later he was appointed to open a station in the interior of the island. Of the 3,000,000 people living on the island, one third, or 1,000,000, are tribes-people. It was arranged that Mr. Tso go to Namfeng [Nanfeng], on the border of the tribes-people’s country.
“Later I went down with Pastor Woo to visit the work in this section. We boarded an old, overloaded Ford car (I think there were 17 passengers) and started for Namfeng. The passengers were crowded on the running board, on the top of the car, and in the front. The freight was tied on,—–all manner of freight—–on the sides and the front; and thus we started on our 140-mile journey. There were many ‘accidents’ along the way and several narrow escapes from being overturned in the gullies along which the road often passes; but eventually we reached our destination safely.
“We were met by Brother Tso and his family. At a meeting held while we were there Brother Tso pointed out to me two aged persons, perhaps eighty years of age, who were in the audience, related the circumstances of their acceptance of Christ. This man and his wife had been idol worshippers all their lives but through the effort of Brother Tso had become interested in Christianity. They became sick and sent for him to come and pray for them. But as Brother Tso looked about on the images to idol worship on the wall and shelves of the house, he said to them, ‘Can we expect God to hear our prayers while all these false gods remain, and while we worship them?’ ‘Won’t you take them away?’ they asked. This he did, and then kneeling down prayed that the Lord would heal their sickness and establish their faith in Him as the only true God. The Lord answered that prayer and honored the faith of these aged believers. I thought as I talked with them in the chapel at Namfeng that I had never looked into happier faces. The memory of that meeting and of their bright faces which was plainly written their faith and confidence in God, will never fade from my mind.
“The Lord is taking care of His work in Hainan. Since the occupation our workers there have moved further inland and are carrying on. We have been unable for many weeks to get any money to them, but God has put into the hearts of friends there to meet their need for the time being.” (The China Division Reporter, September 1, 1939, p. 5.)
When the Island of Hainan was occupied Pastor Woo was attending a union committee in Hong Kong and was unable to return to his station for almost a year. Later he reported that all but two of the mission stations had been destroyed, but the work was going on. There were no baptisms reported for the year, as Pastor Woo could not return and there was no other ordained minister on the island. No lives had been lost through the hostilities, though many had suffered great personal losses. (The China Division Reporter, May 1, 1940, p. 3; July, 1941, p. 2.)
In the later part of 1940 Miss Bessie Mount, Sabbath school secretary for the China Division, made the announcement that a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering overflow on December 28 1940 was to benefit the needs of the six union missions in China, and for the South China Union it was for providing the headquarters building for the Hainan Mission. (The China Division Reporter, October 15, 1940, p. 8.) Subsequently, there was a promotion for the projects in every issue of The China Division Reporter.
In 1941, as T. S. Woo became director of the Hakka Mission (客家區會), there was no director in the Hainan Mission. As secretary-treasurer of the mission, Tso Wing Kei held the fort of the work in Hainan. In 1942 Tso Chiu Nam (曹昭南) became acting director of the Hainan Mission. A year later K. T. Khng (康克典) succeeded as mission director. In 1944 Y. T. Chue (徐xx), missionsecretary-treasurer became acting mission director as well. In 1946 Tshi Tsok Phien (徐卓鹏) was appointed superintendent of the Hainan Mission, with Y. T. Chue remained as mission secretary-treasurer. In 1947 Lawrence Chan Lim Shang (陳廉生) succeeded Y. T. Chue as mission secretary-treasurer. A year later Woo Man Yin (胡文彥)[a son of T. S. Woo (胡德純)] was appointed the mission secretary-treasurer.
On September 1, 1949, the territory of the South China Union was trifurcated into a smaller South China Union, and two new union missions, namely, the Southeast China Union and the South China Island Union. The Hainan Mission then was part of the last-named union, which also included Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. (The China Division Reporter, September, 1949, p. 6.)
Soon C. H. Davis (戴天德), president of the South China Island Union, paid a visit to Hainan. He wrote, “It has been my privilege recently to visit with our workers in the Hainan Mission for sixteen days, enabling me to spend three Sabbaths with the church in Haikow [Haikou]. In that city we have a newly acquired chapel, which is serving as headquarters for the Hainan Mission. This chapel has been in use for about only one year, but during that short time a church of about thirty members has been raised up. The workers are now planning a strong evangelistic effort to be held in Haikow, beginning November 21 and continuing several months into next year. In addition to the public meetings, much time will be spent in taking the message into the homes of the people, introducing to them our literature and the Voice of Prophecy Bible lessons.
“It was a pleasure to greet at our church a fine young man who has almost completed the Voice of Prophecy Bible lessons, and who is now keeping the Sabbath and preparing for baptism. Surely as a result of personal work and promotion of the lessons during the coming effort we shall see more of this kind of fruitage.
“Our Ingathering work was well received in Haikow. It was our privilege in most of our calls to present some phase of our truth, and we had the unique experience of working for the first week without a single turndown. The gifts were also large, considering the type of people solicited. The mission has raised three times its goal of SU$200, and is continuing the work….
“Our work has only made a beginning on the island of Hainan. It is a very important island, producing gold, silver, copper, lead, coal and other minerals, in addition to its agricultural crops of rice, sweet potatoes, and tropical fruits. It also exports large shipments of pigs, mostly to Hong Kong.
“The island has at present 225 market towns, with an average population of over eight thousand. The largest of these is the important city of Haikow, which has a population of 150,000. The Haikow dialect carries to all these market towns.”(The China Division Reporter, December, 1949, p. 2.)
According to the 1950 SDA Yearbook, the lineup of the Hainan Mission leaders was as follows:
Officers:
President, Tshi Tsok Phien (徐卓鵬).
Secretary-Treasurer, Woo Man Yin (胡文彥)
Mission Committee:
T. P. Tshi (徐卓鵬), Woo Li An (胡xx ),Woo Man Yin (胡文彥), Wong Tak Shan (王德山).
In the 1951 SDA Yearbook, the lineup was as follows:
Officers:
President, Tshi Tsok Phien (徐卓鵬)
Secretary-Treasurer, Hsien Li Chien (冼利堅)
Mission Committee:
T. P. Tshi (徐卓鵬),Chan Ying Bun (陳xx), Hsien Li Chien (冼利堅), Lam Kwok Wah (林國華), Wong Tak Shan (王德山).
Departmental Secretaries:
Home Missionary, Lam Kwok Wah (林國華)
Publishing and Sabbath School, Tshi Tsok Phien (徐卓鵬).
After 1951, just as all other local missions and union missions as well as all the institutions in the China Division, there was no official record of the organization and work of the Island of Hainan.