A Historical Perspective of Evangelism for Overseas Chinese Scholars

By Edwin Su

Evangelism among Overseas Chinese Scholars - an Historical Perspective

The First Wave (China 1945-1950)

Following the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, China witnessed a spiritual revival among university campuses in coastal cities. In July 1945, the Chinese College Students Christian Union was founded in Chongqing. During college students summer retreats held inChongqing in 1945 and in Nanjing in 1947, many students experienced tremendous spiritual revival as they responded to the call of the Lord. At that time, evangelistic work was being carried on in about one hundred college campuses. These Christian college students later became the cornerstones of undercover house churches and leaders of overseas Chinese churches.

The Second Wave (1950, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia)

Following the switch of China's political power, many Western missionaries, Chinese believers and pastors moved to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, directly contributing to the establishment of campus evangelistic organizations like Hong Kong's FES (Fellowship of Evangelical Students) and Taiwan's CEF (Campus Evangelical Fellowship).

 The Third Wave (1960s and 1970s, from Taiwan and Hong Kong to North America)

In the1960s Chinese Bible Study Groups or Fellowships began to flourish in North America. They mainly originated from student evangelism in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Many Christian overseas students became founders of campus evangelistic groups and many others after their college graduation became pastors and ministers of North American Chinese churches. The Lord had planted the seeds and personnel for evangelism in North America, and He had also prepared the field among intellectuals in China.

The Fourth Wave (1978- from China to overseas)

Following China's restoration of its overseas students' policy in 1978, many educated people came abroad and they were freely exposed to the Gospel. Those who had received training in China's undercover churches or those who had served the Lord for many years also began to have the opportunity to come abroad. They participated in campus evangelism along with Chinese or Western churches.

The Fifth Wave (1989- the June 4th Event)

Following the June 4th Event in 1989, overseas as well as China itself witnessed a new surge of Christian faith. Large numbers of Chinese scholars came to the Lord or rededicated themselves to the Lord. Many evangelical organizations targeting Chinese scholars such as Overseas Campus in 1992 and other student fellowships and churches were established. This was a turning point for evangelism among Chinese scholars.

The Sixth Wave (2001- from overseas back to China)

Due to the rapid elevation of China's economic and technological position, due also to its westward development plans combined with the successful application to host the Olympic Games and its membership of the World Trade Organization, many overseas Chinese scholars have become interested in moving back to China. Many Christians have also become ready to move back to China in evangelistic mission, either long term or short term.

The Seventh Wave (2007- from China to the world)

The year 2007 will be the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Protestant Christianity in China. We hope that by then there will be thousands of missionaries from China to follow in the glorious steps of those who once brought the Gospel to China. They will shoulder the mission of "exporting the Gospel from China", and they will join other Chinese churches overseas to form a major force for worldwide evangelism.

May the 21st century become the century of Chinese missionaries !