Coaching for English Ministry in Chinese Churches

Many people ask me questions about English ministry in Chinese churches. Some recent questions include - How do I connect with the congregation in preaching? I know the Bible text but how does it relate to the people? How do I motivate others to dig into the Bible for themselves? How do I balance my life? I would like to provide coaching (answering questions, offering prayer support, providing resources) for this area of English ministry. Also, I am recruiting others who could serve to coach others. I was a full-time English Ministry pastor for 18 years and now teach full-time in Christian Ministries at Tyndale University College for the last 8 years. From 1997-2003 I taught a Fall Tyndale Seminary course, "Introduction to Preaching." I continue to preach and teaching primarily in the English ministry in Chinese churches in Canada and the U.S.

Areas of my "expertise" and experience:
* Preaching in English congregations in Chinese/Asian churches
* Mentoring others
* Balance work/life/family dimensions of life
* Evangelism and outreach
* Short-term missions
* Continuing education - seminars, profession and academic study
* Keeping a physical exercise regimen
* Journaling
* Spiritual disciplines and spiritual practices
* Spending extended time w/ God in personal retreat
* Exploring one's strength and giftedness
* Premarital, post-marital counseling
* Personality and Christian living/ministry - like Personal Profile (DISC) and Keirsey (similar to Myer-Briggs)

ESCM (English Speaking Chinese Ministerial) - this the monthly meeting of English ministry servants on the 1st Wed. morn o the month currently held at the Toronto Chinese Community Church. See more info Click here I am committee member and was a past chairperson for 3 years.

I am currently writing an article on "The Future of English Ministry in the Canadian Chinese Church." Post a comment or send me an email if you have a perspective on this issue. Thanks!

I was a panelist to discuss English Ministry in the Canadian Church based on 350 surveys that were taken on-line from members of English congregations. This was in Calgary in June 2008.

I presented about Second Generation Ministry at the Markham Chinese Presbyterian Church on May 2 and at the English Speaking Chinese Ministerial on May 6. See my section on Speaking for details.

I will be heading to Montreal to help a Chinese Baptist Church there early in 2010.

Some of my resources:
"Toward A Theological Foundation for English Ministry in the Canadian Chinese Churches" Downloadable here Click here

"Preaching in a Multicultural World" in the Mar/Apr 08 "Preaching and Culture" edition of Preaching: The Professional Journal for Preachers Click here

Sermons preaching in a English Congregation in a Chinese church:

"Living from the Outside In" - Podcast of My Sermon at Toronto Jaffray Chinese Alliance Church under Nov. 11 '07 (35 min.) Click here

Here are some top resources:
Cha, Peter, S. Steve Kang, and Helen Lee. Growing Healthy Asian American Churches: Ministry Insights from Groundbreaking Congregations. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006.
Chuang, DJ, ed. Asian American Youth Ministry. L2 Foundation, 2006. See www.djchuang.com
Lin, Tom. Losing Face & Finding Grace: 12 Bible Studies for Asian-Americans. Downer Grove: InterVarsity, 1997.
Ling, Samuel. The Chinese Way of Doing Things. P & R Publishing, 2004
Click here
This is a great starting place for understanding Western and Asian cultures.
Min, Pyong Gap, ed. Second Generation: Ethnic Identity among Asian Americans. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press, 2002.
Yep, Jeanette, Peter Cha, et. al. Following Jesus without Dishonoring Your Parents. Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 1998.

DJ Chuang has noted this site on his L2 Foundation under "How to Do English Ministry in Chinese Churches - Click here

A good resource person who does coaching is Alan Grills, former Tyndale Seminary faculty in Field Education. He is open to personal coaching as well as speaking to groups Click here

-Here is an interesting video on English Ministry in the Chinese Canadian church w/ mostly interviews Click here
-Project Contempo: It is a venture to organize a series of compact but high-impact events across major Canadian centers aimed at helping Canadian Born Asian young Christian professionals to live out their faith in the workplace Click here. The next Toronto event is on Oct. 3 '08 w/ Dr. Paul Stevens.
-A good entry point is by D. J. Chuang Click here
-Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity (I.S.A.A.C.) w/ Dr. Timothy Tseng Click here
-"A Homiletic for Second Generation Korean American Churches" by Matthew D. Kim in Homiletic 32:1 (Summer 2007):1-17.
-30 Days on the Chinese Church - reflections of an English Ministry pastor Click here Kenneth P. Carlson discusses his dissertation at Click here
-Growing Healthy Asian American Churches: Ministry Insights from Groundbreaking Congregations. Edited by Peter Cha, S. Steve Kang and Helen Lee. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006, 221 pp., paper, Reviewed by Daniel L. Wong in Missiology35:1 (Jan. 2007). A quotation is here on the InterVarsity website Click here

My academic writing was related to this area:
"An Exegetical and Theological Study of the 5th Commandment" Th.M. thesis for Dallas Theological Study, 1981. This is on honoring parents" - OT and NT. This is cited in a bibliography on Exodus - Click here

"The Use of a Sermon Feedback Group to Develop Application in Preaching." D.Min. major project, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1989. This was at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church w/ preaching followed by a Sunday School class co-taught on "How to Get More out of a Sermon." This is found in 13 libraries in Canada and the U.S. Click here

I am a committee member of ESCM (English Speaking Chinese Ministerial) that meets on the 1st Wed. morning of the month to fellowship, network, and discuss issues related to this area. All are welcome. Contact me for details. There are those in this group who are open to mentoring and coaching others Click here

Other Resource People:
Rev. Dr. Ted Tham, English Ministry Pastor, North Toronto Chinese Baptist Church
Areas of expertise:
* Small group ministry - Fuller Theological Seminary D.Min. major project on this subject
* Natural Church Growth - he administered and implemented this at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church and North Toronto Chinese Baptist Church
* Integrity and purity in ministry

Matt Silver, BA, BRE
Matt's areas of ministry focus include: Kingdom Principles, Missional Living, Community Building, and the Observation & Deconstruction of Ethnic, Cultural, Societal & Economic Barriers.guest speaker, leadership consultant, personal advisor
See Matt's web site Click here

Dr. Randall Mah, former mission pastor, Richmond Hill Chinese Community Church, missionary to Africa, pastor in various contexts, born in Calgary

Ann Chow, Canadian Operations Coordinator Urbana 09 for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada, graduate of Regent College, Vancouver. Areas of involvement: Urbana, missional living and evangelism

Updated Oct. 14 '09