INSIDE

• ReflectiononCOCMTrainingMinistryDr Bob Lo

• EquippedtoFighttheGoodFightPing Ting Chen

• ThePurposeDrivenStudyKui Jiang

• MinistryNewsand2010Budgetlink

Issue 2 2010

Chinese Christian churches and fellowship groups in Europe are still in a young and developing stage, they are still heavily depended upon outside help. The mission of COCM needs to support these churches and fellowship groups in areas of discipleship and Biblical teaching. We need to provide training opportunities to encourage church leaders and co-workers to be grounded in the truth and mature in Christ. We must also help to train up some leaders to become pastoral workers and missionaries.

There are now more than 250 Chinese churches and numerous Christian fellowship groups in Europe. We estimate that less than 70% of them are under the care of a pastor or full time ministry worker. Even so, many of these churches are small and spiritually weak. One of the strategic priorities in our equipping plan is to provide training for their pastoral workers and church leaders so they can grow in spiritual maturity. For the churches and fellowship groups without full time workers, we shall continue to seek ways to develop innovative programs to train up lay leaders and support their need of discipleship and truth teaching. Let us pray for Chinese believers in Europe to attain maturity in Christ so they can take up the task of evangelization within their own kind and beyond.

Rev Henry Lu

As we execute our evangelizing plan in the mission field, it is important to remember that mission work does not stop at the

point when people hear and receive the Gospel. The work of equipping must begin immediately among those who are new born babies in Christ.

Much of our hard work to evangelize will go to waste if believers don’t know the truth and have not experienced true transformation. The pressure from unbelieving family members and friends, the temptation of worldly desires, and the encounter of false teachings, all are imminent threats to new converts. If we don’t provide help to strengthen their new found faith, many will fall away quickly. Those who are growing in their faith also need to be trained up so that not only they themselves have a strong faith but they will also pass on the faith to others.

In Ephesians 4:11-13, Apostle Paul told us that God gave some to be evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ, and this is to be carried on until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. God’s children will run into problems if they are left to grow up on their own. They need extra help in knowing the Truth and living it out.

In the pioneering evangelism stage, when we first start a church or fellowship group in the mission field, the work of equipping the believers will initially fall upon the missionaries’ shoulders. As the church becomes more established and Christians become more mature, God will call and raise leaders to pastor the flock and teach the truth. At that point, Leaders of the church will be taking over the responsibility of equipping from the missionaries. The more mature Christians will be equipped to minister to other less mature Christians in the faith. And the church will keep growing by involving each Christian in the work to the building up of the body of Christ.

In the long run, much of the work of equipping will be done by pastors and lay leaders in local churches. But since many

From the General Director

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k The Bible College: Because of the difficulty for those who are not passport or permanent visa holders of E. U. countries to gain such status

and stay in Europe, it is increasingly apparent that equipping local church leaders within Europe to take up pastoral duties is one of the most critical tasks in the mission field. Such ministries at COCM started a couple of decades ago in an informal way, but now exist in three programs.

● The Three-Year Degree Bachelor of Ministry Program This is the most fundamental training program. Courses are designed to help build up the spiritual lives of the students and provide sound and sufficient knowledge of the Scripture, Christian doctrines, and important Christian ministry opportunities including practical training to reinforce the learning. All teaching is conducted in Mandarin in view of the increasingly greater number and percentage of students and immigrants from Mainland China.

The Alliance Bible Seminary in Hong Kong has been the organization that provides us with accreditation status, supervises our program, and grants the B. Min. degree. Graduates of this program are serving in many churches and student outreach ministries in England, and some are serving in Spain and France. Even so, we feel we have contributed no more than a drop in the bucket to help preparing full time workers for Chinese churches in Europe.

● The Two-Year Diploma Program Lay-leaders from local churches who desire more than one year of training, and those full-time ministry candidates who, for some reason, can stay only two years for their training may study under this program. The diploma is issued under the auspices of the Alliance Bible Seminary.

● The One-Year Certification Program Some of the more committed leaders in local churches feel the need to become more

Dr Bob LoOne of the strategic priorities for the mission of COCM is to support our evangelizing plan among the Chinese in Europe by providing various methods and materials of training. This is the

purview of the COCM Training Ministry; presently the scope of its ministry includes the Bible College

program, the off-campus classroom extension program and the correspondence extension program.

Reflection on COCM Training Ministry

Bible College graduates of 2009

Teachers and students

equipped in scriptural teachings and training in order that they may grow more spiritually and may improve their church ministries. This program is designed for those who are able and willing to set aside one year for such purpose. The certificate is issued by COCM.

Theological Education by Extension: Not only is there a great need for full-time ministers to labor in the mission field of Europe, many existing churches and Bible study groups have also indicated their urgent need for help in equipping their believers and potential lay-leadership. In response to this, we have designed and run two extension programs.

● Off-Campus Classroom Extension Program We have designed this program with a set of

twelve courses. Anyone who registers for the program must complete 10 of the 12 courses before he or she qualifies for the graduation certificate issued by COCM Bible College.

These courses are mainly biblical and doctrinal studies, with a few life and ministry related subjects. We completed one set of this program in Manchester, and one in London. Both were taught in Mandarin. The second Mandarin cycle is being carried out in London, and we have also started another set of the same program in Cantonese in London due to public demand.

● Correspondence Extension Program For those who have no easy access to the classroom teaching programs, we also have developed a program for study via correspondence. We have in existence an eight-course program and are in the process of expanding it into a ten-course program. There are fully developed material and workbooks for students to study on their own with our staff support. In general, students are expected to complete each course in two-month time. Many from UK, Switzerland, Romania, Finland and other places have completed the program. A large number are actively studying under it.

We are considering the possibility of consolidating our extension programs, so that they will cover similar material regardless of the modes of teaching being classroom or correspondence. We are also planning toward a second tier of more in depth courses that will help lay leadership to develop more depth in their spiritual lives and ministries.

Due to the sudden tightening of immigration control of the British government, the Bible College has lost its ability to issue student-visa to any applicant who is not a British citizen or permanent resident, or a citizen of another E. U. country. This is a serious situation. We are fully challenged and must seek wisdom from God as to how we may continue to provide training to meet the need of the mission field.

The greatest limitation we face, however, is the shortage of coworkers. The harvest and the need are indeed plentiful, but workers are extremely few. Watching someone equipped and functioning well in his/her place of service is surely a great joy. But unless there are more people to catch the vision and be willing to commit themselves long-term in the field putting their shoulders to the plow, such harvesting cannot be sustained. Would you pray for us and labor with us?

Reflection on COCM Training Ministry

Extension class in Manchester

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kEquipped to Fight the Good FightAt the blink of an eye, I have graduated from

COCM for over two years now. Looking back on the past two years of my ministry as

a full time minister, besides giving thanks to our heavenly Father for his boundless grace, I am also very thankful for the great opportunity to be well equipped in COCM.

When I started to respond to God’s calling, I had a deep burden to serve in a Chinese congregation, for I realized that there was a shortage of workers among the Chinese speaking churches. Since COCM has good connections to the Chinese churches all over the UK, we were given opportunities to visit those churches after classroom learning time and meet brothers and sisters from different backgrounds. COCM being the mission center for Chinese in Europe, there are many missionaries coming and going, allowing us to receive first hand information about the harvest field. Over time, I gradually accumulated knowledge of Chinese churches in Europe and I could see more clearly the picture of God’s calling to me.

The church I am serving is called King’s Cross Methodist Church which is located at the center of London. London is like a big performing stage, where people could come to get on and off. Chinese from all over the world have come here to strive and fulfill their dreams. Some gain success while many others fail and become dismayed. How can we share the gospel with these people and how do we love them with God’s love? These are questions I ponder often in my service.

I remember back in September 2006, I began to serve with Pastor Lawrence Law as an intern and participated in the Chinese refugee ministry on weekends and holidays. For me, the experience of doing weekend internship at church during school term was filled with a mixture of love and fear. I loved the opportunities to apply what I had learned in seminary, to transfer the knowledge into action by practicing how to serve in a church, but I feared being treated like a young eagle learning to fly, to be lifted up to the sky and then suddenly to be let go by the parent eagle. I felt like the young eagle that was forced to spread his wings to face the challenges

Ping Ting Chen

Church celebration

Ping Ting and her congregation members

Equipped to Fight the Good Fight

on his own. However, the parent eagle didn’t just leave the young eagle to fall; he was actually watching from afar and ready to rescue the young one when it was needed. Without such training, I believe that I would be knocked down very easily when I am serving. I was blessed to have a group of affectionate teachers and schoolmates to offer me constant encouragement during my internship. They stood by me and were there for me when I faced all sorts of challenges, emotional fluctuations and spiritual struggles. Through those days of training and equipping, my inner battery was fully charged for my future full time ministry.

Over the past two years, I spent much time with ‘refugees’ ranging from the prisoner in jail to the patient in hospital; from the ‘new refugee’ as a ‘gold rush adventurer’ to the ‘senior refugee’ with gray hair; there was also the ‘overseas bride’ flying over to this country to meet the husband; and the new born baby with no nationality due to parental trouble. Carrying a heavy burden, life in England to them is extremely insecure. They have to go underground and are afraid to expose their real names or identities even inside the church.

How desperately they need to feel the love of Jesus, to have inner peace and joy. If I were to say such ministry was

an easy task, I would be lying. There are times when I felt weak and was occasionally overcome by Satan. I had thought that I was powerless and without use in ministry. In moments like this, God would strengthen me by reminding me the love I had received in COCM and the encouragement from pastors, brothers and sisters at church. I was able to renew and truly accept myself again.

I am also grateful for the Mandarin young adult fellowship’s development. Only 4 showed up at the first meeting in 2006, now there are over 20 people. Most importantly, this group not only grows in the fellowship, but also devote themselves as a living sacrifice for God. Now members from this group are taking up half of the church work, serving as deacons, Sunday school teachers, and choir leader. One sister even pursues full time ministry and is studying in seminary. Looking back to the time when I was following my teacher to visit student fellowships, I used to complain about the unbearable hard work. It was only after I entered the ministry and saw the fruitful bearing with my own eyes that my heart was full of joy and sweetness. It is all worth it! I appreciate the examples my teachers at COCM had set for us.

Two years of full time service is just a start on this road of ministry. I believe the future ahead will be full of adventures and challenges. But, as it says in the song we sing, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back; the world is behind, the cross is ahead, no turning back, no turning back!’

With classmates at Bible College Graduation

On a Short Term Mission trip

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kKui Jiang

To equip the lay church leaders, COCM Bible College began to offer an extension program first in London in 2006, then in Manchester

in 2007. Since its inception, this program has been in great demand, for it offers many students an excellent opportunity to receive theological training systematically while working as professionals and serving in their local churches. Recently, I spoke to two graduates over the telephone, and would like to share their testimonies with everyone here.

Hong-Dong Liu is a graduate of the first class in London. She attends an international church planted by a Korean brother in Bournemouth. There is a Chinese group within this church, and they meet separately after the sermon to fellowship and share. Because many Chinese students come to study at the local university, Hong-Dong feels the burden to bring the gospel to her kinsmen.

“I became a Christian when I was in China and I looked for opportunities to be equipped to serve God’s people. I didn’t know that God would provide pastoral care and theological training opportunity for me in the UK. In 2005, I went to COCM for a church leadership training seminar and I learned about the extension program in London.” Hong-Dong recounted the details with excitement, “The distance between London and Bournemouth isn’t that far, yet the whole trip would take five hours. Back then I worked the second shift on Friday; early Saturday morning I would sleep on the bus all the way to get to my class. After the class, I would go to work the second shift again. It was really tiring and I had health problems sometimes. But God was gracious to me, I often got cheap bus fare around 2-3

pounds. Last year, I enrolled again because I found some new and interesting courses to take.”

“I was by myself when I first came to the UK; I worked very hard, and experienced many setbacks. Every day I prayed continually; God carried me through all the trials.” Hong-Dong wanted to stay in the UK to serve God because she saw the great need here. She said, “My parents are Christians, they often urge me on the telephone to not worry about them, and to remember that the best is to follow God’s way.”

Hong-Dong just had an operation at the time I talked to her. But at the mention of God, I felt that she was dancing at the other end of the phone. When I asked what to pray for her, she said her 21 year-old son was baptized recently and was getting theological training in China. May God use her son.

Jessica Guo took the extension courses in Manchester. She serves at the York Chinese Christian Church. Founded in 2004, the church had a couple to provide full time pastoral care initially but later they moved elsewhere. Jessica and her co-workers had to take up the various tasks to carry on the ministry of the church. She was full of doubt when facing such heavy responsibilities, “We were all very young and inexperienced, our faith was not mature in many ways. We ran into all kinds of problems in ministry. With more than thirty people coming to church every week, I wondered how we could take

The Purpose Driven Study

York Chinese Christian Fellowship

York Chinese Christian Church 5th Anniversary

good care of this church. Besides, most in our congregation were students; we had been trying to find out how we could reach out to the local families and professionals.”

So how did Jessica learn and become equipped for such important role of shepherding the people at the York church? She said, “I would take every opportunity to attend the camps and seminars offered by COCM; I treasured the time to meet and talk with pastors and spiritual elders when I stayed there. Each trip to COCM mission centre wasn’t easy, but I always felt like going back home when I saw their familiar faces again. I wasn’t ready to enter full time ministry, but when I heard about the extension program in 2007 I was so happy that I enrolled right away. I knew I might forget the classroom teaching, but I could bring back to church new thoughts and a broadened vision. Most importantly, God has been my shepherd and leading me all the way.”

So far, 27 have graduated from our extension program; they are now serving more effectively in their local churches.

Hong-Dong Liu serves fervently and her faith encourages others in her church. She has started to lead a fellowship group for mothers; learning from the extension courses help her to prepare and lead the Bible study. Hong-Dong is seeking God’s will and timing for serving full time. At York, Jessica Guo and her co-workers are providing their own discipleship training course in their church; each class attracts more than ten people. Within three weeks time toward the end of 2009, 5 from their congregation came to Christ—a miracle indeed.

The extension program offered by COCM Bible College is strategically important in equipping the more mature lay Christian leaders. Through these graduates, the body of Christ is being built up in many parts of UK where fruitful results are evident.

(Kui Jiang came from Qing Dao. She became a Christian in 2007 in the UK and has served as a leader in the Luton Chinese Student Fellowship.)

The Purpose Driven Study

COCM sent a Short Term Mision team from USA to York

Jessica

ContactsChinese Overseas Christian MissionGeneral Director: Rev Henry Lu

2, Padstow AvenueFishermead, Milton Keynes MK6 2ESEngland, UKTel: +44-(0)1908-234100Fax: +44-(0)1908-234200E-mail: cocm@cocm.org.ukWeb Site: http://www.cocm.org.uk

HONG KONG OFFICERev Tang Chi-MingRm522, Metro Centre II, 21 Lam Hing Street, Kowloon Bay,Kowloon, Hong KongTel:+852-2549-5288Fax:+852-2549-5155E-mail:cocmhk@cocm.org.hkWeb Site: http://www.cocm.org.hkChairman: Rev Cham Nai-Bun

MALAYSIACOCM BERHAD OFFICEMr David LiewUnit 693-1-3, Desa Kiara,Jalan Damansara,60000 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTel: +60-(0)3- 7722 3670Tel/Fax: +60-(0)3- 7722 3680email: cocmkl@tm.net.myWeb Site: http://www.cocmsea.orgChairman: Mr Bryan Lee

SINGApORE COCM SINGApORE OFFICEChairman: Mr Alan Wong420 North Bridge Road #05-07 North Bridge Centre Singapore 188727Tel: +65-6314-4910Fax:+65-6314-4739Email: cocmsing@myrealbox.comWeb Site: http://www.cocmsea.org

USA BOARD COCM USA OFFICEChairman: 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 LuEditor: Ling LuTranslators: Yun Ku, Jay Lam

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

During the days between Christmas 2009 and New Year 2010, our mission centre was packed with people coming to attend the two year-end Mandarin

camps. The first camp attracted families living in the UK, many of whom needed spiritual nourishment and help with issues of marriage, parenting, professional work and serving in local churches. For students who were far away from home, the second camp was a gathering and celebration with the greater family of God. They were inspired by the testimonies given by members of the short term mission team representing 12 churches and organizations across the USA and China.

It was a great opportunity for campers from different places to fellowship together. We shared their joy as they told about being healed of past hurt and regaining hope for the future. 35 of them entered the New Year with new life in Christ. Many young believers and small group leaders, as well as short term mission team members also went home with transformed lives. We praise the Lord for all He has done and pray that they will continue to grow in their faith.

In April 2009, we hosted a mini pastoral retreat at the COCM mission centre. It was well received and many expressed their interest in having more opportunities like this to learn, reflect and fellowship with other ministry workers. This year, we will

expand it into a two-day Pastoral Retreat on April 26-27 for all Chinese pastors, missionaries, and full time ministers in the UK.

Rev. Rennie Tsang will be the speaker at this retreat. Rev. Tsang is a retired professor of Hong Kong Alliance Bible Seminary. He will speak in Mandarin and talk about topics including how to maintain a pastor’s spiritual health, how to develop healthy self-image, how to deal with the pressure of balancing ministry and family.

Ministry News

We are delighted to share with you our budget for this year.

Your faithful giving and prayer support continues to encourage us and we prayerfully look to God to provide all our needs.

We commend our budget to your prayers and we want to place on record our grateful thanks to you for being our faithful partners in the gospel.

Derek Hall, Treasurer

Budget for 20102010

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTSHeadquarters Administration 35,000

Mission Centre Operations 102,000

Newsletters, Magazines & Publicity 48,000

Sub-Total 185,000

STAFF TEAM & MINISTRY COSTS

including allowances/pensions & expenses

Administration & Centre 224,000

Field Ministries 485,000

Other Ministries 166,000

Sub-Total 875,000

TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE YEAR £1,060,000