From the General Director
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ur goal in mission is to evangelise all nations of the earth. Obviously, each mission organization, each church, and each of us as an individual cannot be involved in all aspects of the work for reaching that goal. Our specific part of the whole must be clearly defined and carefully planned before we go into the world to fulfill the Great Commission. In order to share the gospel message effectively, we must focus our effort on a specific people or people group within its larger context. Only then can we design and develop a strategic plan to engage in evangelism. We begin to develop our strategy with the task of narrowing down the
Issue 1 2010
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particular peoples and people groups we aim to reach. Peoples and people groups are different. For example, we often speak of Mainland Chinese as the people who live in the People’s Republic of China. We tend to think of them as a Mandarin speaking people. But when we consider them at the people group level, we will start to notice the vast differences among the Mainland Chinese in terms of dialect, geography, and social distinction. Mainland Chinese as an ethnic people are actually made up of numerous people groups with extremely different social customs and attitudes. Whether we are ministering God’s Word directly or through media, we will be most effective when aiming at a specific, targeted audience. We know that Apostle Paul often adjusted his communication depending upon the people group he was speaking to. While he never compromised the content of the gospel, he did give up his own culture and customs so they would not become obstacles for proclaiming Christ. Likewise, when we reach out to the Mandarin speaking people who belong to different people groups, we need to adjust our communication methods and adopt different approaches in order to bring them to Christ. Henry Lupeople groups, there Among the different will be different periods of responsiveness to
the preaching of the gospel. Therefore, our strategy for evangelisation should also include an element of intentional concentration on those who are most receptive, although it is not meant to be done exclusively in the long run. We can easily identify this element in Paul's mission strategy. During his missionary journeys, again and again Paul went to find those men and women who were Greeks with pagan background, who were attracted by the good things of the Jewish religion and were worshiping the one true God in the synagogues. They were the people group most receptive to the gospel in Paul’s time. Today, it is just as important for us to recognize the people group most receptive to the gospel and plan our strategy accordingly. The mission of COCM seeks to evangelise the Chinese in Europe, and through them to evangelise other peoples and people groups in Europe. At this point in time, our strategic priority will be to target three specific people groups among the overseas Chinese in Europe: Mainland Chinese students and scholars; new Chinese immigrants coming to the UK and continental Europe; younger generation of local language speaking ethnic Chinese. We believe that in the near future the overseas Mainland Chinese will continue to be most receptive to the gospel; therefore we should concentrate our attention and resources on these people groups. And it is strategically important that we reach out to the special people group of local language speaking ethnic Chinese, for it is through them that we might be able to fully realize our vision of “Reaching the Chinese to Reach Europe”. Rev Henry Lu
INSIDE • Our Strategy Summary and Priority Specifics Rev Henry Lu • Partnership in the Gospel Rev Edward Wei • Breaking new grounds for the Gospel in Europe Rev Claudia Chan • History Makers, His Story Makers! Dr Wesley Lai • Catching up with our missionaries Shepherding in a Cross Cultural Context Wing Chun Tang
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Our Strategy Summary and Priority Specifics
Rev Henry Lu
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uring the COCM international consultation in Singapore in October 2009, we carried out the final step of our strategic planning process to renew our Vision, Mission, and Strategic priorities. More than 20 participants from most overseas boards attended the consultation meeting and we shared our reports with them. Since then, I have been to many other places to do vision sharing and it is very encouraging to receive the enthusiastic support and endorsement from all as to the setting of our future direction. Below I would like to share with you our strategy summary as well as our strategy priority specifics. Because evangelisation is the central component of the mission of COCM, we will devote this Link issue to cover the three priority target people groups specified in our evangelizing plan.
COCM Strategy Summary: (5 to 10 years) Evangelise the ethnic Chinese in Europe with higher priority for the significant groups that are least reached by existing churches and parachurch organisations. Encourage new cross-cultural evangelism models to reach local language speaking people. Support the developing and established churches with training programmes through the COCM training department (Bible College). Recruit and train potential missionaries and pastoral workers through a practical residential ministry training programme. Build partnerships with like-minded churches and para-church organisations via innovative programmes.
COCM Strategy priority specifics: Evangelising Plan Target groups: Mainland Chinese students New immigrants in Continental Europe and UK Local language speaking ethnic Chinese Equipping plan Target groups: Leaders from established/existing churches and fellowships Potential COCM Missionaries and Pastoral workers in the mission field Encouraging (Mobilisation) plan Target groups: Mission minded churches, groups, and individuals worldwide
Utilise the COCM mission centre as a key base for evangelism, prayer support, training support, literature support, church consultation and mission mobilisation with Gospel camps, Bible camps, STM and voluntary service. Develop a healthy and supportive infrastructure for the mission. Build a strong UK council to provide guidance to the mission. Strengthen Overseas Boards’ support, networks and realise resources.
Praying for COCM
Rev Tin Chung Wong
Evangelising Plan Target people group: Mainland Chinese students
Partnership in the Gospel
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Chinese students in UK
niversities in the UK continue to attract large number of students from China. Among them, it is said that there are around 50,000 studying for a Bachelor, Master or Ph D degree. This figure could well be rising, since we have noticed the higher attendance at welcome parties and activities organised by Christian churches and fellowships in autumn 2009. The church in Liverpool alone attracted more than 300 students for their gathering. Reaching out to the Chinese students coming to the UK is one of our strategic priorities. As most of them are only here for one or two years, we must get in touch with them as soon as they arrive and seize the opportunity to present the gospel to them. This urgent and challenging task demands us to carry it out in fruitful partnership with like-minded churches and para-church organisations. Praise God that many non-Chinese churches and organisations such as Friends International (FI), OMF and Global Connection all share our burden for reaching the Chinese students and scholars with the gospel. In Nottingham, our missionary worker Grace Li is very much accepted as part of the team consisting of FI workers and associates, the chaplains, as well as Christians from the Cornerstone Church and other churches. Together they serve the 1000+ Chinese students in Nottingham University by offering friendship, organising pre-evangelistic and gospel events. Interested seekers and new Christians are encouraged to link up with Grace and join the fellowship meeting in her home. Bible study sessions in Mandarin help deepen their understanding of the Scriptures, and through topic discussions they learn how to face special issues like relationship with ancestors, Communist Party membership, and parental expectations, and at the same time they also learn to discover and exercise their gifts in serving others. In Luton, there has been a genuine spirit of cooperation for over 15 years. Luton Chinese Church and Christians
Rev Edward Wei
from Central Baptist Church, Stopsley Baptist Church, St Mary’s Church of England and others often meet in the university chaplaincy for sharing, prayers, and seeking ways to support one another. In the past year, over 40 students and scholars came to believe in the Lord. New Mandarin believers often meet with Consultation other Christians to be built up and to learn to express their faith in their own language and cultural context. When she studied in East Anglia University, Shoo Yang attended Norwich Chinese Christian Fellowship (NCCF) supported by our missionary worker, Oiling Lam. After Shoo Yang completed her studies, she remained in Norwich to serve as a “Reach worker� for FI. Through her ministry, NCCF and FI have been working closely together. Shoo Yang will introduce new students to English friends in FI activities, and also invite them to CCF meetings. When NCCF moved their meeting location back on campus, it provided the students a spiritual home away from home where they can grow and develop a solid foundation for their faith in Christ. The partnership also allows Shoo Yang to draw encouragement and support from both groups. The challenge of reaching out to so many Chinese students and scholars is definitely beyond our abilities. We need more workers. And we need more effective ways of working together with our partners in the gospel. We pray that God will bring more workers into the harvest field, and we long to see closer partnership being established in all the 60+ cities and 100+ universities, so that many more can know Christ through our ministry among them.
Mandarin gospel camp
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Evangelising
Breaking new grounds for the Gospe Rev Claudia Chan
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he number of countries in Europe has increased from thirty plus to over forty since the breaking up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. These former communist countries established liaison with China many years ago and have kept their friendly relationship. Therefore their doors remain open to China. Many of them have recently joined the European Union so travelling between them becomes much easier. Their business people are enterprising, as they go to various countries to trade for high quality, low cost merchandise. This leads to a situation nowadays where Eastern Europe has become a pot of gold for good business. Chinese business people flock to this region; even the crash in the financial tsunami hasn’t stopped them from going. Most Chinese traders migrating to Eastern Europe are redundant workers and non city dwellers. Seeing how difficult it is to make a living in China, they hope to do big business overseas and so they come to Eastern Europe. At the same time, those who are already in Italy, Hungary or similar countries have seen their own business dwindling, and they also start moving their business to where development is just starting. Eastern Europe and the Balkans are their first ports of call. Chinese churches came to exist in Europe as early as in 1951. During the past 50 years, Chinese churches have been established in most of the 40 Happy memory after baptism, Romania
Rev Claudia Chan
or more countries, leaving only a few countries without any Chinese churches or fellowships. These countries were formed after the breaking up of Yugoslavia. Slovenia and Croatia are countries with more freedom, their economy is better and their people enjoy peaceful and secure living. Therefore, there is no restriction to the preaching of the gospel. Shortly after Serbia became open, two Chinese churches were formed there. Because many Chinese traders locate in this area, it is a good field for spreading the gospel. In the 90s, when Soviet Union broke up, COCM saw many Chinese migrate into Students in Aachen, Germany
g Plan
el in Europe
Target people group: New immigrants in Continental Europe and UK
different Eastern European countries. So it sent workers to investigate the need to evangelise the Chinese scattering in Eastern Europe. Subsequently, our mission called and led many short-term mission teams from North America and Hong Kong churches to work in Hungary, Czech Republic, etc. By now COCM has a wealth of experience in gospel work among the Chinese traders in Europe. COCM’s strategy is to go first to places where no Chinese churches or fellowships have been established, few missionaries are working in the area, and potentials to spread the gospel are high. These factors also come into our consideration to reach out to the countries in the Balkans as our priority. Recently, we learned from members of the Chinese church in Romania, that some of their Christian relatives are trading in Croatia and they don’t have a Chinese church there. This network of relations gives us a good opportunity to explore new mission fields. Pioneering evangelism and church planting require a lot of resources. If we were to expect fruitful results in pioneering work, we must put in resources continuously within a short period of time. Normally we would send one or two missionaries to settle in a new mission field for at least 3 to 5 years. During the first year they would arrange for 3 or more short-term mission teams to do outreach work and discipleship training. This will help to establish the first stage of pioneering work. Therefore before entering a new mission field, we must carefully consider how much human resources, supplies, time and money to put in. If we are short of resources at present, we need to wait and put in more preparation to get ourselves better equipped. Besides lacking in resources, we also have difficulties in gathering news about Chinese people in Eastern Europe. Information from news reports, websites, and Chinese embassies tends to be one-sided, so it is hard to gather enough facts about Chinese in Eastern Europe. This means we have to do our own on site survey. There are other hidden concerns about entering a new mission field. Some countries in the Balkans have been through years of civil wars and the strife has not been completely settled. Politically,
Dr Enoch Wan paid a visit to Romania with Claudia
these areas are unsafe. Also, some countries do not have clear policies on immigration, business and trade, security, etc. Local people also have preconceptions towards Chinese. This can have a big impact on their policies towards Chinese people. These factors will directly affect the migration and movement of Chinese businessmen and will affect the future development of our pioneering work in these countries. Moreover, some countries do not permit other religions and the religious policy of these countries will also affect our spreading of the gospel. To human eyes there are many difficulties in doing pioneering evangelism and church planting in the Balkans, especially when we are lacking in manpower and resources. Yet we see that this is a strategically important location. It can be a starting point for our vision to spread the gospel among people of different cultures. Therefore we have to come to the throne of God to offer more prayers. Do pray that God will continue to open doors for the gospel, that He will give us courage and strength. We trust that by the mighty power of God, the impossible will become possible, and the gospel will spread from the West to the East and to the whole of Europe.
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Evangelising History Makers, His Story Makers! Dr Wesley Lai “
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ut you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1Peter 2:9
I remember sharing this verse with the leaders in the Leaders’ Retreat in August, as we prepared ourselves for this summer’s PHAT camp – History Makers. It reminds us why we serve in PHAT camp, the purpose of doing what we do - because we are chosen, we are set apart to declare His praise, to lead people to Praise Him All Together. This is what PHAT ministry is about, and I believe in it. This is the reason why I keep coming back to serve in PHAT. At the end of PHAT Winter last February, Rev Henry Lu held my hand and asked me if I would take on the role to coordinate PHAT Summer 2009. Even though I had little idea at the time of what it means to be a camp director, to organise a camp of this scale, I answered the call without any hesitation. Just as Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!” That was it. I had no idea of how great the challenge was ahead. It turned out to be a huge undertaking for me personally, and as someone who is normally disorganised and poor with time
management, I struggled and at times even doubted whether I am the right person for the mission. But God was faithful and merciful. He provided a great team of leaders, 24 in total, the exact number we needed, and reminded me that it was not about what I can or cannot do, but what He can do through me, if only I learn to let go and trust in Him. I can testify, along with everyone who attended the camp, that God has done great and amazing things. It was an awesome experience for me, and I have learned so much from it. I am truly humbled and honoured to be part of this ministry. The theme for this year’s PHAT summer camp was History Makers. It was very fitting as this summer PHAT was the first PHAT camp led by an all UK team. In the past PHAT camps were coordinated by
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Target people group: Local language speaking ethnic Chinese
short term mission teams from abroad (Canada, America, etc.) together with some UK local helpers. But this year we have leaders from all over the country to serve and lead, because we have a vision: to build a strong army of Christian leaders in this nation, who have a heart for the next generation, a burden to spread the love of God to the young people and strengthen their faith. We believe that PHAT is not merely just one or two Christian camps a year in which youths gather and learn about God, and when they return home they would go back to the way they were before. PHAT is an ongoing ministry, a partnership between COCM and local churches. That is why we need local youth leaders, people who have a heart for the youths and to follow them up after the camps, to encourage and inspire them to continue to grow in their faith. Another new thing in this year’s PHAT summer was the focus on Discipleship and Leadership Training. We see a great need and urgency of rising up a new generation of young leaders, so that they can take the baton and serve in future youth ministries, whether in PHAT or in their own local churches and communities. We know many young Christians who have a heart for God and His people, and we have seen how their faith has grown in previous PHAT camps. All they need is guidance, support
and encouragement. Therefore this year we organised a Leaders’ Retreat at COCM mission centre just before PHAT camp, and we invited a group of young potential leaders to come for training, to learn about leadership and servant hood. They were then paired with another leader to lead a small group during PHAT camp. It was a great success, and I saw how God had used them mightily in the camp and even after the camp, as they continued to grow in Him and allow Him to work in their lives. We also see a need for a network of support and fellowship between the leaders, so that we can learn from each other and encourage one another. My prayer is to see more Leaders’ Retreat in the future, and more leaders rising up for His kingdom. A few months have passed since PHAT summer History Makers. We have indeed made history, but this is only the beginning. Let’s continue to make His story and make it known. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 Amen!
Catching up with our Shepherding in a Cross Cultural Context Wing Chun Tang
was for me to trill my Rs in order to sound really Dutch in my early learning of the language. During my first two years in the Netherlands, I tried to communicate with Dutch customers when I worked with my brother in the restaurant. Later, my father gave me the opportunity to complete my secondary and university education. Thus, Dutch became my second language. During my 30 years in the Netherlands, I met Chi Ming and we got married. Our two children were born and grew up in the Netherlands. Over the years, I have become familiar with the national health and social welfare systems. This proves to be helpful to my pastoral ministry among the Chinese in the Netherlands. In April, 2009, when Alice and Rudy Hung, missionaries to Den Bosch Chinese Christian church completed their term and went back to Hong Kong, the church was without a pastor. After much prayer and discussions with the
Chinese Overseas Christian Mission
General Director: Rev Henry Lu
2, Padstow Avenue Fishermead, Milton Keynes MK6 2ES England, UK Tel: +44-(0)1908-234100 Fax: +44-(0)1908-234200 E-mail: cocm@cocm.org.uk Web Site: http://www.cocm.org.uk HONG KONG OFFICE Rev Tang Chi-Ming Rm522, Metro Centre II, 21 Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel:+852-2549-5288 Fax:+852-2549-5155 E-mail:cocmhk@cocm.org.hk Web Site: http://www.cocm.org.hk Chairman: Rev Cham Nai-Bun
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he Netherlands is situated in NorthWestern Europe bordering the North Sea, Germany, and Belgium. It is well known for its dikes, windmills, tulips, and Gouda cheese. The country has also become known worldwide for its liberal policies and social tolerance towards legalising drugs, prostitution, euthanasia, and homosexuality. Dutch is the language in the Netherlands, which is a mixture of French, German and English. Dutch people also speak English fluently. So what connected me to this country? In the 1970s, my uncle hired my oldest brother to the Netherlands as a waiter in his Chinese restaurant. Later my father ‘jumped ship’ in Rotterdam and joined my brother. In 1973, my father applied for my mother and our five brothers and sisters to immigrate to the Netherland. Dutch pronunciation requires rolling of the tongue. I still remember how difficult it
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deacons, Chi Ming and I decided to be the voluntary ministers at the Den Bosch church. Erica is a Dutch sister who teaches children’s Sunday school once a month at the Den Bosch Chinese church. Her husband has heart disease and often goes to the hospital for check-ups. Chi Ming and I visit them regularly. They are genuine Dutch, kind and easygoing, who love to help others. Although some in the Chinese church are not fluent in Dutch, the love of Christ is the foundation for us to love one another. A Dutch brother in our congregation used to be a neighbor of Missionary Hung, and a Roman Catholic. Recently he experienced God’s presence and guidance so one day he phoned me to say that he wanted to be baptised and be a follower of Christ. Earlier this year, there were a lot of conflicts in his life, and it was good that we could provide him support and help him to regain his faith to face the future. He is now serving in the church as a guitar player in the worship team. Praise the Lord! We also have a Dutch-Chinese married couple in our congregation, so apart from the worship service conducted in Dutch on first Sundays, I provide Dutch translation for our Dutch speaking members on other Sundays. Another Chinese-Dutch couple planned to get married so Chi Ming and I provided pre-marital counselling for them. I must mention the shepherding of our next generation. They have a culture of their own. Mixed with different family background, upbringing, and influence of Netherland’s liberal society, they form and hold different viewpoints. Consequently, we need to communicate with young people in the language that they can best express themselves. As a missionary, no matter where you are and what kind of people you are called to serve, it will be most beneficial to minister to the people in their local language. That is the amazing deeds of God that we have seen among both the Chinese and the Dutch members in our congregation.
MALAYSIA COCM BERHAD OFFICE Mr David Liew Unit 693-1-3, Desa Kiara, Jalan Damansara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +60-(0)3- 7722 3670 Tel/Fax: +60-(0)3- 7722 3680 email: cocmkl@tm.net.my Web Site: http://www.cocmsea.org Chairman: Mr Bryan Lee Singapore COCM Singapore Office Chairman: Mr Alan Wong 420 North Bridge Road #05-07 North Bridge Centre Singapore 188727 Tel: +65-6314-4910 Fax:+65-6314-4739 Email: cocmsing@myrealbox.com Web Site: http://www.cocmsea.org USA BOARD COCM USA OFFICE Chairman: Rev Daniel Chan c/o Lily Chuang 38 Stonegate Drive Wethersfield CT 06109, USA Tel: 860-257-3986 Email: info@cocmusa.org Web Site: http://www.cocmusa.org PENANG Contacts: Dr Tan Chong-Guan SABAH Contacts: Mr. Nicholas Pang SARAWAK Contacts: Mr Chang Jih-Ren AUSTRALIA BOARD Chairman: Mr Michael Wong CANADA VANCOUVER BOARD Chairman: Mr Lawrence Chen Editor-in-Chief: Rev Henry Lu Editor: Yin Ling Leung yinlingleung@cocm.org.uk Sub-editor: Ling Lu Translators: Ling Lu, Kim Olley and Connie Yu COCM Link is a bi-monthly publication reporting on the work among Chinese in the UK and Europe, free upon request. We welcome you to visit our website at http://www.cocm.org.uk. Published by the: Chinese Overseas Christian Mission. Registered Charity No: 232651