Open Doors: Chinese Missionaries Need Training for World Mission

By Eunice Or

Following the great revival of Christianity in China that has been pushing forward by the underground house church movement, Chinese Christians are envisioned with the Great Commission to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Recently, a minister with Open Doors Johnny Li has spoken to Mission News Network (MNN) about his opinion on the issue.

The remarkable vision of "Back to Jerusalem" has influenced many Christians, particularly Chinese around the world. It is a dream of Chinese house churches to evangelize the major unreached nations of the world, conclusively known as the 10/40 window, where Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism has dominated the land.

House churches in China have long been growing and have a great passion for world mission, yet, the minister with Open Doors USA Johnny Li said, they are still young and they lacks resources and training.

Li told the MNN that churches in China do recognize their insufficiency in skills for going to the wider world. Therefore, many ministers are trying to learn English and training for themselves.

Li says, "… mentally, we are in the preparation, and we have a great desire, but slowly. And for us, sending out 10 missionaries today is a big job already."

Open Doors, an international ministry which has been supporting persecuted Chinese Churches for the last 30 years, has tried to help on this aspect. Official statistics show it took 2.5 million training books, study Bibles and other pieces of literature into China last year. It offered training to 6,500 Christians in China as well.

Li said to MNN he knew around ten Chinese missionaries that were already on the world mission field, but added that there were actually more than 100-thousand people behind the scene. Li had a great hope on them.

"...In July I was in a class, and I asked all the students, every student raised up their hand, 'The reason why we're here because we want to learn mission, we want to prepare ourselves, we want to bring the Gospel to the world,' and out of China, I think the desire is within the church of China," Li shared.

Lastly, Li concluded that the world mission movement is not outside, but an inside thing, boiling up from within the church in China. The Chinese church hopes to make other believers worldwide aware of this movement, Li told MNN.

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo