On December 23, over 4,000 people gathered at West Kowloon Cultural District's Bamboo Grove Park (西九文化區竹翠公園) for the "Starry Night Before Christmas" concert. The event brought messages of peace and comfort to Hong Kong through music and worship.
Home Of Artists HK (藝人之家), celebrating its 40th anniversary, organized the concert. Over 20 groups of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and American Christian artists performed, including Janice Vidal (衛蘭), Teresa Carpio (杜麗莎), Huang Kuo-lun (黃國倫), Nancy Kou (寇乃馨), Jade Kwan (關心妍), Wong Cho Lam (王祖藍), Leanne Li (李亞男), B.O.Z, Ivana Wong (王菀之). American worship group Stream of Praise (讚美之泉), Eternity Music Ministry, and Hong Kong's Worship Nation (玻璃海樂團) also performed. They used songs to convey the themes of faith, hope, and love.
The concert featured over 30 songs. Many were classic popular hits such as "With Love" (《憑著愛》), "Love Story Part I" (《愛的故事上集》), "I Am Willing" (《我願意》), and "Crime and Punishment" (《罪與罰》). Classic gospel songs included "Rainbow Covenant" (《彩虹下的約定》), "All Because of You" (《全因為你》), and "When You Walk Until Exhausted" (《當你走到無力》). Well-known hymns like "Amazing Grace" and "Silent Night" were also performed.
Audience members lit their phones, creating a sea of lights while singing and worshiping together with the performers. Their faces showed emotion and hope, with applause and "Amen" shouts continuing throughout.
Singers and Artists Share Faith Experiences
At the concert, various singers and artists shared their faith journeys. Jill Vidal (衞詩) performed "Shelter" (《避難所》). She shared that she had personally encountered an attack in Israel and hid in a bomb shelter. "At that time, I actually couldn't do anything, could only rely on God," she said. But she had miraculous peace in her heart. She sang songs of worship and prayed together with her traveling companions. "I knew many friends were praying for us, and God would protect us."
Ivana Wong also shared: "In my life, no matter how many mistakes I made, God never left me nor forsook me."
Stephanie Che (車婉婉) said she once sought answers through astrology and fortune-telling, hoping to know what the future held。 But after being baptized in 2017, she found peace in Christ. In 2017, she was baptized to become a Christian and found peace in her soul. "The Lord told me: He has always been watching over me!" she said. She immediately performed "When You Find Me" (《當祢找到我》) and passionately sang together with Kimman Wong (黃劍文), Yanji Chan (陳芷盈), Karen Kong (龔柯允), and others in "When You Find Me".
Natalie Ng (吴文忻), who was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, also appeared at the concert to perform "Rebirth" (《重生》). Without wearing a wig and fighting cancer with a positive attitude, she stated that Lord Jesus led her to release a song, hoping to bring positive energy to people in the midst of difficulties. Qiao Ma AKS Xiao Jinzi (喬媽小金子) and Wong Cho Lam, who have both also experienced cancer, led the audience present to pray together for Natalie (文忻).
Taiwan Artists Huang Kuo-lun and Janet Kou Bear Witness to God's Reality
Taiwanese artists Huang Kuo-lun (黃國倫) and Nancy Kou (寇乃馨) warmly shared their testimony. In 2017, marking Huang Kuo-lun's 25th anniversary as a creator, they decided to hold a commemorative concert. At that time, they couldn't find a venue, only the Beijing Bird's Nest which holds 100,000 people. He laughingly said: "If I were Jay Chou I would still consider it, but I'm Huang Kuo-lun!"
Later he remembered a dream from five years earlier. In the dream, he flew by Jesus to the dome of the Bird's Nest and saw tens of thousands of audience members. He resolutely booked the venue. Although he experienced difficulties throughout the process and continuously had cold water thrown on him and was not regarded favorably, through prayer and faith he successfully held the "Nothing Is Impossible" (《沒有不可能》) concert. Nancy Kou said: "The Bird's Nest concert was God's wonderful miracle!"
Huang Kuo-lun also shared about a song he wrote, "I Am Willing", which became explosively popular when sung by Faye Wong, becoming a legend in the Chinese music scene. "I said to Jesus: 'I am willing!' But Jesus said: 'You got it backwards, it's I am willing!' It's Jesus who was willing to humbly come to the manger. He was willing to bear all of our sins and be nailed to death on the cross! Because Jesus was willing, the suffering world has hope!" The couple together sang "I Am Willing", "True Love for Life", and "Nothing Is Impossible" (《沒有不可能》).
Home Of Artists HK 40th Anniversary: Sending Stars to "Those in Heaven"
The concert reviewed the 40 year long history of Home Of Artists HK. The organization gathered friends from different entertainment circles to support and encourage each other, resulting in overwhelming response and united service. Cho Lam mentioned that some Home Of Artists HK members today can no longer be physically present with us. He invited thousands of people present to sing together "Rainbow Covenant" (《彩虹下的約定》), "sending stars to those in heaven." The screen displayed photos of Qiao Hong (喬宏), Law Kai-chi (廖啟智), Johnson (戚劍豪), Esther Wan (溫裕紅), Sai Gwa-Pau/Lim Gan (西瓜刨/林根), Jacqueline Law (羅慧娟), and others.
Xiao Jinzi, the widows of deceased artists Qiao Hong, Tomi Wong (黃愷欣), and Chan Man-yee (陳敏兒) also genuinely shared their longing for their husbands. Xiao Jinzi mentioned becoming engaged to Qiao Hong on Christmas Eve 68 years ago. She accepted salvation because Qiao Hong said: "Each of us has done wrong things. You have accepted the salvation of Jesus Christ, and when you pass away in the future, Lord Jesus will receive you back to your heavenly home." Today she is 96 years old, and she is still proclaiming this salvation on earth.
Chan Man-yee also reminisced about Dick Liu (智叔), saying: "Separation does not represent the end of a relationship. Our love will continue through my life. Therefore, we will live well!"
Stream of Praise and Worship Nation Lead Singing Together, Stirring Up a Climax
Stream of Praise, who came specially to Hong Kong from America, caused a stir throughout the venue as soon as they appeared, bringing the concert to a climax. Sandy Yu (游智婷), Zheng Maorou (鄭懋柔), Andy Chen(陳麒安), and other singers familiar to Chinese believers, together with Hong Kong's Worship Nation (玻璃海樂團), led the singing of multiple songs including "Open the Heavens" (《將天敞開》), "Peace" (《平安》), "Stream of Praise" (《讚美之泉》), and others, pushing the atmosphere to a climax. Home Of Artists HK stars sang Christmas songs in a grand chorus, with believers below singing together as one body, creating a moving atmosphere.
The organizers stated that this time there were audience members from many places around the world, including America, Canada, Taiwan, and others, with some even taking 20-hour flights specifically to come. Leanne Li disclosed to this newspaper that originally 4,000 seats were prepared, but unexpectedly the response was extremely enthusiastic, with not only sold-out tickets but also "scalper tickets" appearing. On site, a certain proportion of mainland Chinese people could be seen participating.
Besides music worship, the market also had food stalls and gospel organization booths, including Alpha Course, the film "King of Kings," HEYMEN, Stream of Praise, and others, allowing attendees to access gospel resources.
Concert Renamed to Honor Fire Victims
This concert was originally named "Universal Joy Starlight Night" (普世歡騰星光夜), but was renamed in response to the Tai Po Hung Fuk Court fire. The name change symbolized that in difficult times, Home Of Artists HK and many Christian artists walk together hand in hand, using the power of music and faith to light the lamp of hope for this city.
Wong Cho Lam shared at the event that the Hung Fuk Court fire was heartbreaking, and the team once considered canceling the concert. But after receiving encouraging messages from brothers and sisters from various places, they decided to continue holding it. On site, there were also victims of the Hung Fuk Court fire and firefighters in attendance, hoping they would receive heartfelt intentions from all sides.
