News from CLiMB

Current Newsletter

News from CLiMB

CliMB has been busy over the past months in its mission to promote outreach and evangelism among Chinese.  We have been in prayer for the churches and missions in North America.  Church leaders have been working together to support one another in new ministries.  We have been planning ways to develop our churches in North America and play a greater role in planting churches both locally and abroad. 

New Work in San Francisco

Over the past few months Rev. David Chan has been working with the Peninsula Asian Mission Society to assist the food pantry program at Bethel and Grace in San Francisco.  Bethel and Grace are two congregations who have united to reach out under the leadership of Pastor Terry Chan.  Through the work of the San Francisco Nehemiah Project, a food pantry was begun at Bethel and Grace that successfully reached many new Chinese families.  An opportunity arose to begin incorporating a Bible Study into the Saturday food pantry program, and soon 100 people were gathering on Saturday mornings for Bible Study.  Revs. David and Terry Chan have been careful to keep the food pantry and Bible studies somewhat separate so that people are not using the Bible study to gain privilege at the food pantry.  Still, the people continue to come.

Please keep pastors Terry Chan and David Chan in your prayers as they continue to follow up with those attending the Bible Study.  Pray that the Spirit would work powerfully through them to begin a new church or transform an existing church into a life-giving Body of Christ in the heart of San Francisco. 

Mission Trip

Pastor Shiu Ming Lau is planning to lead some members from his congregation on a ministry trip to China this summer.  This is an exciting development as churches grow in their vision to reach not only Chinese living here in North America, but also focus ministry on God’s amazing plan to bring millions of souls in China to faith in Jesus Christ. 

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Worship in Concord

Concordia Publishing House worked diligently to supply Chinese churches with a valuable Bilingual worship resource “Worship in Concord”.  The hymnal is not only rich in worship aids such as hymns and liturgies, but the book is also filled with Lutheran theology.  “Worship in Concord” explains the Lutheran theology of worship in ways that bring in our great Law/Gospel Sacramental Theology. .  The explanation are helpful as we explain the differences between our Lutheran and other Christian denominations and traditions.  Worship in Concord makes a great Baptism gift.

In order to promote the use of this resource, CLiMB is offering a $5 mail-in rebate for every copy ordered by your church.  To get a rebate form, just email our treasurer, Terry Tse at ttse@statestreet.com .  Our goal is to get this valuable resource into the hands of God’s people.  With this rebate offer, you cannot afford NOT to buy it!     

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Rebate Request for Worship in Concord Hymnals

1.  To order at the discounted price of $8 per copy, churches must call Elissa Fowler at 314-268-1050 or Rev. Hector Hoppe at 314-268-1038.  The discount price is not available through the CPH website.  This discount price is available until December 31, 2006. 

2.  In addition to this great price of $8, we are offering a $5 rebate per copy.  Please cut and the paste the following into a word document, print and mail to:  Wollaston Lutheran Church, 10 Edward Street, Canton, MA 02021-2304

Questions?  Contact Terry Tse at 781-302-5070 or ttse@statestreet.com or Rev. Shiuming Lau at 415-661-1120 or jlau128@yahoo.com.

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2007 Annual Conference

This year CliMB’s Chinese Ministry Conference will be held in San Francisco April 26-28.  The Peninsula Asian Mission Society will host the conference with help from Holy Spirit congregation in San Francisco, Hope congregation in Daly City and other nearby Chinese churches and ministries. 

The training topic will be Reaching Out from Inside the Gospel Box.  A panel of experienced pastors and outside speakers will address many questions we face as Chinese congregations and missions as we each seek to grow both numerically and spiritually.  Topics will also address how to grow self-supporting financially.

The hands on evangelism project will include some assistance in following up with families from the food pantry ministry.  There are also plans to visit and pray for another site for ministry in South San Francisco.  Registration materials and more information about the site will be coming soon.

Mission Statement

CliMB’s mission is to:

1. Promote outreach and evangelism to Chinese in North America and Asia.
2. Assist and encourage our church body and the Center for Asian Missions and Evangelism.
3. Provide support and a sense of common purpose among  existing Chinese congregations and missions.

Chinese Ministry FAQs

• The Chinese make up nearly one fourth of the world’s population.

• About 50,000 Chinese-speaking immigrants come to the U.S. each year.

• Over 100,000 Chinese students currently study in American universities.

• Over half of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. put their faith in Jesus Christ.

• Over half the Chinese Christians in the U.S. have no church home.

• Chinese are open and looking for Christian friends in America.

Contact Information

Please contact Rev. Shiu Ming Lau @ Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 2400 Noriega St., San Francisco, CA 94122 or email him at _____ for the following information:

• if you'd like more information on CLiMB
• if you'd like to receive CLiMB's quarterly newsletter
• if you will pray for CLiMB
• if you would like to support CLiMB with a one time gift or monthly pledge

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Sun Dawei Wonders ...

The Encouragement of a Brother

Since getting involved with CLiMB, I have often wondered: who are these Chinese Lutherans in Mission Building (CLiMB), and what do they do?  I am Chinese enough to know that anything with the word Chinese in it has something to do with food and eating.  But what is different about this group?  Sometimes our meeting addresses this topic.  But mostly our meetings are centered on doing ministry than just talking about it.  Let me explain.

On Monday evenings our church hosts an outreach to restaurant workers and others who work on Sundays.  The group meets from about 9 to midnight.  I love the ministry.  The encouragement and gratitude offered by these construction workers, massage workers, Chinese teachers and restaurant workers are a blessing to me.  But I often wonder if I am doing things right. 

Is the group Lutheran enough?  Am I Chinese enough?  What about the Cantonese speakers whose Mandarin is limited?  Are people in this group considered members of the same English church that meets on Sunday?  Do I baptize people too quickly or do I make them jump through hoops? 

During our recent meetings, Rev. Andy Wu mentioned he had worked with Restaurant Fellowships.  Even though I had made arrangements not to attend the Restaurant Fellowship during our CLiMB meeting, I asked Andy if he would come visit our group.  It meant a 50 mile round trip from San Francisco to Fremont, but Andy agreed. 

When we arrived at our fellowship at 10:00 p.m., the group was studying Romans 7.  Andy observed our group and then shared both in Mandarin and in Cantonese.  People were touched.  One woman confessed faith in Christ and asked to be baptized.  And I was encouraged.

Who are CLiMB?  CLiMB are people who are willing to give up half a night’s sleep after a long day of meetings and drive fifty miles in order to help and encourage a brother or sister.  Be a CLiMB.        

Rev. David Wilson

Kingdom Feast Chinese Ministries

Communications Director for CLiMB

Fremont, CA   

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