A pastor encouraged diaspora Chinese believers to preach the gospel to the local groups and then to the surrounding towns.
Organized by Faith Hope Love Mission Center in Malaysia, the 2022 Global Chinese Mission Conference was held online from July 25 to 31 as scheduled on the topic of “Global Mission Opportunities for Chinese Churches in midst of the Worldly Crisis.”
With the purpose of promoting Chinese churches to participate in global mission work, the center was established by the Overseas Alumni Fellowship of Malaysia Bible Seminary in 2017. In the second Global Chinese Mission Conference held online, Christians were encouraged to join the missions such as cross-cultural short-term missions and better understand evangelism in different countries.
With many years of ministry experience, Dr. Joshua Ting, a Malaysian pastor who has served as former General Secretary of the Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (CCCOWE) for two terms, was invited to give a sermon titled "See Universal Mission Opportunities for Chinese Church From Paul’s Letters" as follows.
First, he pointed out the crises and challenges that overseas Chinese churches faced, such as aging, shortage of leaders and staff members, and inheritance of faith and ministries, which he thought should be solved based on theological education. Many rifts occurring in Chinese Christians and churches over the past three years stemmed from differences in Bible study.
Ting said that Paul's epistles contained reflections on the opportunity for worldwide evangelism. He stated, "We Christians should build a solid foundation of faith, which is to know Christ and live out the life of Christ by following Him, as Paul once mentioned the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus. We don’t live for ourselves, but for Jesus who rose from the dead. We have received a new mission to bear witness to Christ. Living out the holy and glorious life given by Jesus, we preach the gospel by following the life of the Lord."
The pastor mainly shared the inspiration that Paul's missionary experience brought to today's Chinese churches. First, Chinese churches could follow Paul's example and encourage diaspora believers to step into local groups and different cultural groups in terms of the same culture and near culture. Second, most of the Diaspora Chinese were proficient in multiple languages which were effective bridges of communication. Third, Chinese churches should motivate believers living scattered in cities to preach in local places and then in surrounding towns.
In addition, he continued that it was impossible for Chinese churches to return to the pre-epidemic condition and did not need to. The epidemic has exposed the original problems of the church, alerting the churches that they should move forward. Regarding the overall lack of enthusiasm for Chinese churches in mission, Ting pointed out, "Come forward to embrace the universal mission which we carry out by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. In our lives, we should focus on Jesus, not just on the mission. Evangelism is the process of exalting Jesus Christ and drawing people to him, resulting in the expansion of His kingdom and the manifestation of his glory."
Finally, the doctor exhorted Christians to understand God's will and the mission of the times, master some principles and strategies based on the Bible, and complete the Great Commission with the power of the Holy Spirit."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
