A Lifeline for China
by Helen Goody
communications manager, John Stott Ministries
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About 1.4 million people make up the contingent of the Chinese Filipinos in the Philippines, a group that is primarily strong in its Christian faith. Interestingly enough, many of the churches in that community are self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propogating, getting little help from foreign missions. It is this indigenous strength that’s key for the growth of the church in China itself. And it is why building a biblically sound study program for local pastors is a crucial strategy for the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines (BSOP), led by Seminary President Joseph Shao. BSOP’s commitment to deeply rooted biblical training has helped grow congregations from hundreds to thousands.
Established in 1957, BSOP has always strived for wholistic Christian
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BSOP students on a mission trip in the Philippines |
training to develop students in spiritual growth, biblical knowledge, and ministerial skill. BSOP serves primarily Chinese-Filipino students and is an anchor for training leaders in the church. And with recent growth of Christians in the Chinese-Filipino community, BSOP feels the need more than ever to strengthen the indigenous leaders.
Most important is the outreach that serving those communities has had created for the church in China. BSOP has many Chinese students who return to establish the church in their regions. Acting as a lifeline for the church in mainland China is crucial to the seminary’s role in God’s kingdom.
“It is only by God’s grace that we are able to draw a strong contingent,” says Joseph. “We have partners who introduce key students to us. We have some key pastors who endorse our ministry and send important leaders to us. Our alumni are endorsing students. We have focused on the basics in our training ministry, in the proper interpretation of the Word, correct doctrines, Christian education, and caring counseling methods.”
The church in China today is comprised primarily of these four churches:
• Open Church (recognized and sanctioned by the authorities)
• Registered Church (registered but not controlled by the open church)
• House Church (not official; congregations meet in houses and offices)
• Returnees Church (comprised mainly of believers who return from overseas)
BSOP has served participants in all four churches and continues to see God at work and alive in China. “We have learned that churches are growing, due to the faithful teaching of the Word of God. One church grew from 300 members to 1,000 attendees, while another grew from 400 to 1,000 attendees,” says Joseph. “One particular alumnus was asked to lead a revival meeting upon his return to his hometown, and 2,000 believers gather to hear him. One couple in the northeast region is in charge of 500 cell groups. Outreach ministries flourish due to the involvement of some of our alumni.”
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The high standard of biblical education and focus on indigenous church leaders is why up-and-coming professors such as Langham Scholar Samson Uytanlet are key to the future of the impact BSOP has on the the Chinese-Filipino church.
“Even in the past, the Chinese Christian community had this desire to reach our kinsmen who live in the mainland. What happened several years ago, with the opening of Chinese department in BSOP, was really a breakthrough,” Samson says. “[Now], locals can remain in the Philippines to serve in the Chinese churches there, yet at the same time we are not neglecting mission work to China because the Chinese from the mainland are going to BSOP to be trained so that they can serve there.”
Samson is currently completing his doctorate at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., and will return to teach at BSOP in a few years. He represents the hope that the ministry of BSOP will continue as it strengthens the Chinese and Filipino Christian communities to grow in numbers.