The largest and oldest Chinese mission group in Europe recently hosted a series of sharing sessions in the major Chinese churches in the New York region, with an aim to recruit workers for the harvest field.

Chinese Overseas Christian Mission (COCM) U.S.A. Board organized "COCM Vision Sharing" at the Oversea Chinese Mission (OCM) in New York City on April 4 evening. COCM General Director Mary Wang presented to believers, missions ministers and pastors the history, development and the future plan of the organization in the light of the changing face of Europe.

Founded in 1950 in London, COCM has expanded into an international network of 10 overseas boards. It operates a wide range of ministries, such as youth, mandarin, training, publication, overseas student, restaurant and intercessory prayer, in order to outreach to all Chinese in Europe. With the vision "Where there is Chinese, there is Christ," the missions in Europe is beginning to spread to the East.

According to Wang, since the 1980’s, China has opened up and many Mainland Chinese rushed in Europe for study or employment. These overseas immigrants have become the target of Chinese churches in Europe. In the past 20 years, the number of European Chinese churches or bible fellowships has raised to 250. However, less than half of them have a full-time minister.

In face of the challenge, Wang said that the COCM has emphasized on leadership training and Mandarin ministry in the recent years so as to nurture full-time missionaries. Wang urged Chinese churches, ministries, short-term mission teams or individuals outside Europe to show their support to the harvest field in Europe by sending financial and human resources.

The call from COCM has been very efficient. OCM, the Chinese church with the largest English-speaking congregation across the U.S., wishes to form a partnership with COCM. It is planning to launch a year-long short-term mission program with an aim to help develop the missions in Europe systematically and consistently.

On April 8, a Prayer and Vision Sharing Meeting will be held at Chinese Baptist Church of Greater Hartford by the COCM U.S.A. Board from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. It targets on church pastors, elders, deacons, mission representatives or those who is interested in European short-term mission opportunities.

The meeting highlights the sharing from COCM U.S.A. board members about their experience of the Year End Mandarin Camp. COCM’s short-term mission schedule 2006 to European countries will be introduced as well.