The Chinese population is growing steadily, and Chinese people are migrating to different countries around the world. According to recent studies, four of the top 10 countries with the largest Chinese population overseas are situated within the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD). Adventist Church leaders believe this can open numerous opportunities for ministry in reaching the Chinese people.
According to statistics across the SSD territory, Indonesia ranks first, with millions of Chinese people living in that country. Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore also have millions of Chinese expatriates in their territories.
SSD Interfaith Services director Samuel Wang said he is excited to make the most of this opportunity to reach out to his fellow Chinese expatriates.
“Chinese in general are proud of their history and heritage,” Wang explained when asked about the challenges of reaching out to fellow Chinese people in this generation. “Buddhism, consumerism, secularism, and many other influences have had a great impact on the Chinese all over. Many of the overseas Chinese have lost their language; as a result, the Chinese cultural identity has become blurred. So it is more challenging,” he said.
Wang added that it is necessary to reintroduce many Chinese expatriates to their history and legacy, as well as introduce them to the truth for life found in the Bible. “They are prone to be exposed to the real Chinese origin and legacy, something that can help to easily establish a connecting bridge to the Bible,” he said.
According to Wang, digital evangelism is a providential instrument from God to this generation, as it can break down the walls and barriers of religion and culture. It is something that enables the message of hope to reach households that have been long closed to the truth, he said.
Producing online content that is made available for various audiences is an effective tool for reaching those who are curious and seeking answers, church leaders said.
In January 2022 Wang was invited to join an online Bible discussion about Chinese outreach, produced by the Little Light Studios. More than 18,000 people viewed the material in the first few days since it launched January 29.
Before the program, Wang had been active in producing online content that provides resources on how to reach Chinese people. Content about Chinese heritage presents opportunities to learn more about China’s history, culture, and ethnicity.
Wang intends to produce more online content to reach the 1.44 billion Chinese people around the world, he said.
“People are getting more and more interested in learning and expanding their perspectives on culture, history, and the deep and vast love of God. It also explains the extrabiblical pieces of evidence of God’s love and the authenticity of the Bible interpreted in its ecclesiastical and practical sense,” Wang said. “This type of information and message provides a unique way to reach people’s hearts for understanding more of God’s love and His revelation to humanity. It is expected that this will soften the soil for the seed of the gospel to grow.”
