Ministry / Board meeting highlights #2: Outreach to expat Chinese

Board meeting highlights #2: Outreach to expat Chinese

316NOW’s ministry to expatriate Chinese began in earnest following the restrictions China imposed on religion as part of its response to COVID-19.

Since it became harder to train house church leaders in China, 316NOW designed a strategy for raising up house church leaders from among the 50 million Chinese who don’t live in China. The approach is to invite the Christians among those 50 million Chinese to train to become house church leaders wherever in the world they live. Our Bible institute is already positioned to train expatriates as house church leaders.

The plan was to start with a smaller group of expatriates, learn everything we could about inviting them into our Bible institute, and then expand the program. Because there are Confessional Lutheran churches in Vancouver, San Jose, and San Diego, marketing efforts were focused there. To date, the Spirit has granted these achievements.

• Professional marketers have helped focus our branding, created online advertising, and improved our Bible institute’s website. 316NOW enjoys the additional blessings that these people are Confessional Lutherans.

• 316NOW’s outreach strategy benefits from the help of denominational entities that are also working to share the gospel in China. Team members meet regularly for coordination and sharing of insights and materials.

• Our advertising on Google and Facebook brought over 500 people to our website in May.

• We continue to test and improve our approach to marketing, our online ads, and our website, aswe learn more about our Chinese audience,.

The goal is to connect Chinese Christians we trained to shepherd house churches with local Confessional Lutheran congregations. In that broader group of believers, their house churches will receive fellowship, spiritual support, and encouragement.