Roberts - The Life and Times of Charles A. Roberts

wealth of Dr. Keller's library had helped to keep him up-to-date while teaching in Changsha for 20 hours a week for H.B.I. He felt he had matured a great deal, especially during the traumatic war years and post-war years. In 1949, the Communists took over all of China. The H.B.I. property became the headquarters of the Communist government in Hunan Province. Twenty-five years later, because Charles had carefully protected all property deeds and receipts, the Communist government under pressure from the U.S. government agreed to compensate Biota over $250,000. This was part of Henry Kissinger's negotiations with China. Charles was.glad he had rescued and registered the documents with the American government but never received any acknowledgment from Biola for this important achievement. In September 1949 Charles returned to Hong Kong with three million refugees from all parts of China escaping the Communists. Many millions more moved to Taiwan. A British doctor, Dr. Clift and his wife, who had established a church and medical clinic in Kowloon Hong Kong wanted to retire. They had been under house-arrest during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and asked Charles if Biola would be willing to take on the responsibility of a small church, Emmanuel Church, and a bookroom on Nathan Road in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Biola agreed. The church was English speaking although more than half of the members were refugees from China. These highly educated people with wealth and fortune were forced to escape with what they could carry out themselves leaving the rest to the Communists. Emmanuel Church reached out in support to these many Christian refugees who hoped to make a new start and eventually emigrate to the West. With great enthusiasm Charles took over the small church and began a program of Bible studies incorporating his experience of the past thirty years. For he, too, had lost two homes, furnishings and goods, and library to the Communists and he well understood their tragic losses of family as well as goods. Grace returned in the summer of 1950 and organized youth meetings, a choir, and managed the bookstore sales. During the week both Charles and Grace were available in the bookroom to talk and counsel and console with many refugees who knew not what to do nor what direction to take next. Charles lectured at summer Chinese YEARS IN HONG KONG

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