Mobilizing Others for Ministry

Dear Praying Friends:

The Mandate

“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Jesus’ command to pray for God to raise up workers applies to us as much as it did to His disciples.

Especially since the Lord is obviously doing a great work among the Chinese, the need for qualified men and women to concentrate upon evangelism and edification of the huge numbers of thirsty souls is pressing.

The Means

How can Christians participate in mobilizing a contingent of well-equipped laborers for this field?

First, we should pray daily for God to thrust people out of their comfort zones into the heat of the battle for the souls of millions of Chinese. Other than our personal life with God and with our family, what can be more important than this?

Second, we can set a good example by plunging into the effort with our time and money.

Third, we can support those whom God has moved to offer themselves for service to the Chinese, either in the West or in Asia.

Mobilizing organizations

A number of Christian organizations devote some or all of their attention to mobilization of Chinese ministry workers. Without attempting to be comprehensive, and without seeking to compare, let me introduce you to a few:

Information

ChinaSource (www.chsource.org) offers first-rate resources for those who want to serve God effectively among themselves. For many years, they have put on excellent invitation-only conferences and consultations, both in North America and in Asia, where ministry leaders and others share ideas and learn from each other and from experts.

The ChinaSource Journal presents the best and most current thinking on how to reach China with the Gospel. Beginning with the next issue, it will be available only online. By sure to check the CS web site for this and other publications.

Sending

There are probably hundreds of Christian organizations that deploy workers for ministry among Chinese in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Here are a few:

Both the Jian Hua Foundation and Friends of China enable Christians to live and serve in China working in medicine, education, and other fields of practical help. Educational Resources and Referrals China enlists professors for university posts, while English Language institute China sends English teachers to secondary and tertiary institutions. OMF International offers a wide variety of opportunities for professionals. Mission to the World (MTW), TEAM, and The Navigators have workers in Taiwan; you may want to inquire about openings to serve among Chinese with them elsewhere.

Our mobilization efforts

Aside from direct ministry to Chinese both in the West and in Asia, we expend a great deal of energy trying to help others reach Chinese with the Good News of Jesus Christ. All my books in Chinese, as well as preaching and teaching in Chinese churches, aim to help Chinese-speaking believers to participate in the great harvest. In addition, we direct our efforts towards English-speaking believers in the following ways:

First and foremost, we try to stimulate prayer for God’s work among the Chinese. Both monthly issue-centered letters like this one and a weekly email prayer update aim to evoke earnest intercession.

We also provide information about Chinese culture and society; Christianity in China; and the best ways of bearing effective testimony among the Chinese. China: Ancient Culture, Modern Society, which I co-authored with Dr. Peter Yu, contains brief introductions to many aspects of both traditional Chinese culture and modern Chinese society. Newcomers and old-timers alike will find much useful information in this volume.

We have prepared a 110-page book, Reaching Chinese Worldwide, which outlines basic principles and practical ways for effective service among Chinese. It includes discussion of foundational issues; major methods of reaching Chinese; and a few thoughts on points of contact. Let us know if you want to purchase one.

Our web sites (www.chinainst.org, www.globalchinacenter.org, and www.bdcconline.net) have become recognized as trusted sources of knowledge and analysis. The China Institute site features not only China-related materials, but also devotional meditations, reviews of Christian books, and articles meant to help Christians in their daily walk.

We believe that believers need both teaching and encouragement before they can reflect the beauty of Christ to others. That is why I have also written The Lord’s Healing Words, Jesus: The Complete Man, and Carl Henry: Theologian for All Seasons. Please visit my "author's page" on Amazon to find out more about these works.

Increasingly, we are asked for advice and counsel from individuals, churches, and organizations with a burden for the Chinese.

Finally, we offer an organizational home for more than a dozen committed servants of God among the Chinese in the West and in Taiwan.

Please pray for us, that our attempts to mobilize workers may bear eternal fruit.

Your fellow-laborer,

Wright