For such a time as this

The following article continues the theme of “bridging cultures in the church” begun in the Jan. 7 Herald. It focuses on the Chinese community, as it engages the challenge of the church in North America’s increasingly multicultural milieu.

English ministries may bring back memories for those who remember the transition German–Canadian MB churches navigated in decades past. (Gerald Ediger describes the experience of three such churches in Crossing the Divide: Language Transition among Canadian Mennonite Brethren 1940–1970, published by the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies, 2001.)

For other readers, English ministries may seem to refer to ESL or some other language teaching initiative in the church.

English ministries as I’m using it, however, refers specifically to ethnic churches that are providing services and ministries in more than one language (English being one of them). Vancouver and Toronto are two major centres with English ministries in Chinese churches. Of the 17 Chinese Mennonite Brethren churches in B.C., nine are running English ministries.

An English ministry within our MB Chinese churches finds its entry point in trying to meet the needs of the next generation. That means it usually begins with youth ministries among those raised in the church. It attempts to be relevant to Canadian-raised Chinese whose distinct experiences do not fit the lives of their parents or the mainstream culture. Two independent but related congregations are established under one roof to meet the needs of both congregations; they are seen as two ministries but one church. This is the context in which I serve.

CBC (Canadian-born Chinese) ministries are then established to develop CBC leadership. The two groups may share occasional celebratory bilingual services. Over time the English services begin to attract anyone comfortable in English, from CBC, OBC (overseas born Chinese), international or non-Chinese backgrounds.

As the ministry grows, it draws in young adults and families and necessitates responding to their needs. Within three years of starting an English ministry at Port Moody Pacific Grace Church, for example, we began an adult fellowship and Sunday school class. Within five years we had a full-blown university/career ministry with CBCs.

A providential journey

The opportunity to serve in English ministries has been a providential journey. During my teens and early 20s I was in a church that “daughtered” a Chinese congregation in which I served for about five years in its English ministries in music and drama. Later, after Bible college, my wife Linda and I served as English ministries pastor in her Italian church, working with second and third-generation Italians. For many years I also did pulpit supply for a variety of cross-cultural English ministry congregations.

There are similar issues, “minefields” and principles in the dynamic of establishing any English ministry in a cross-cultural setting. Six years ago, while deliberating on starting what is today an English ministry congregation of some 120 people in Port Moody Pacific Grace Church, I read Luke 10 in The Message. It concluded with, “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of; play it safe and end up holding the bag.” Once more, we decided to say Yes to serving in English ministries. The decision has blessed our lives.

English ministries in our congregation has grown to become intergenerational, with a sizeable number who have come of age since the waves of Asian immigration in the mid-1980s. Although the majority who attend are Western Asians, they are not culturally homogenous. They originate from various countries, and some are CBC or OBC; some are in interracial marriages. Most have a dual cultural identity and have learned to adjust to a bicultural lifestyle. Our common denominators in the congregation are linguistic (English) and scriptural.

One of the greatest challenges of English ministries where I serve is the missing age group of those 30 to 40. In Euro–Canadian churches, that group usually provides a great deal of mentoring, teaching and experience to the congregation. Another challenge is communicating that English ministries is not just about youth or children, but about people who believe God has placed them in this part of the church community.

Bicultural potential

How can Mennonite Brethren churches utilize the bicultural uniqueness and strengths of the CBC or OBC to further God’s kingdom?

There is tremendous potential within the MB Chinese English ministries. CBCs have a unique ability to reach other CBCs, either on the campus or in the marketplace. They understand their struggles, values and particular issues. Statistically, less than 3% of Canadian CBCs are regular churchgoers.

A high proportion of CBCs are musical and play an instrument. Within our churches, this talent is offered as an expression of worship and outreach. The majority of those in the English ministries are bilingual as well as bicultural. This holds significant missions potential. People from our English ministries serve as volunteers with our classes of community ESL outreach and have also done short-term missions to China to teach ESL and do Bible study with academics.

I believe that our Chinese/ English ministries churches are in a unique position to participate not only in Canadian evangelism, but also in the current shifts in world evangelism. The Chinese are one of the five largest unreached people groups in the world. The emerging generation in our Chinese MB churches is quite willing to go to places Caucasian believers would have difficulty going.

How we can help

There is tremendous potential, but also tremendous need to prepare these congregations through discipleship, mentoring, encouraging, developing and equipping gifted leaders. Who will do this?

Several years ago I attended a nationwide conference of Chinese churches with over 350 pastors. One of the matters identified there was the high turnover of pastors who serve in the English ministries of the Chinese churches. This threatens to destabilize the initiative of reaching the CBC generation. Better cross-cultural training is needed to minimize these casualties and promote longevity in the bicultural church.

With over 10% of our Mennonite Brethren constituency in B.C., for example, coming from our Chinese churches, I look forward (with hope and a sense of urgency) to seeing that group represented in the student body, teachers and leaders of our theological training schools. Please remember these churches of our MB family in Conference solicitations, promotions, training, hiring, curricula and prayers, for God has raised them up “for such a time as this.” This is our duty, our grand opportunity, our challenge!

Matthew Todd is English ministries pastor at Port Moody (B.C.) Pacific Grace MB Church.