What, Why, and How
November 2023
“Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).
These final words of Jesus to his disciples continue to express his will for the church as a whole, and every member of it. In this letter, I would like to share with you what we do, why we do it, and how we are going about the task.
WHAT
Briefly, we are seeking (1) to share the good news of Christ with ethnic Chinese around the world, and (2) to encourage and equip others to participate in this part of God’s great work of making disciples of all nations.
WHY
Simple obedience to the command of Christ demands that we endeavor to make disciples of people from all nations. More than that, however, we seek God’s greater glory by helping Chinese people come to know Christ, grow in him, and then “proclaim the praises of Him who called [them] out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Further, we are told to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). As a recent article in The New Yorker explained in detail, hundreds of millions of people in China, including the younger generation, are confused and hopeless, despairing of ever enjoying a meaningful life. [1] On Taiwan, less than two percent of the population follow Christ, and everyone faces the imminent danger of losing basic freedoms at any time. In the West, several million ethnic Chinese likewise have “no hope and are without God in this world” (Ephesians 2:12).
How can we not do all in our power to bring to them the saving gospel of Christ?
HOW
Prayer
The Apostle Paul wrote that we must be “praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . . for all the saints – and also for me” (Ephesians 6:18-19). Accordingly, we make prayer our highest priority.
In addition to our own individual and family times of prayer, I try to mobilize others to pray for God’s work among the Chinese by writing weekly prayer updates and monthly prayer letters like this one. Over the decades, we have seen God respond to the petitions of his people, and I regard these letters as the most important feature of our ministry.
Publications: These include online materials:
Our websites: China Institute;[2] and Global China Center;[3]The Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity;[4] Articles posted on academia.edu;[5] and my personal blog,[6].
Books
The twenty-volume series Studies in Chinese Christianity contains a wide variety of books that together present a unique resource for understanding what God has done among Chinese over the past several hundred years.[7]
Over the years, God has enabled me to publish ten printed books and another ten that you may access online at https://www.reachingchineseworldwide.org/books.
Personal relationships: Of course, we could not have done all those things alone. China Institute and Global China Center have been blessed with a dedicated Board of Directors, capable assistants, and outstanding associates. I try to keep up with these friends, as well as several dozen Chinese and Western friends around the world. Most of all, we rely on your prayers and financial support. Thank you!
Proclamation: Twice a year, I have given lectures on theological topics by Zoom to university professors in China and to members of the Chinese Evangelical Theological Society.
Would you ask God to use us to bless many people around the world?
Yours in his grace,
Wright
[1] (www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/10/30/chinas-age-of-malaise?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us
[2] reachingchineseworldwide.org
[5] independent.academia.edu/WrightDoyle1.
[7] https://wipfandstock.com/search-results/?series=studies-in-chinese-christianity