Chinese-language television programs produced during Solomon Islands for Christ have opened new avenues for mission among Chinese communities across the Pacific.
Pastor Daniel Jiao, president of the Chinese Union Mission, travelled from Hong Kong to the Solomon Islands to record a series of evangelistic presentations at the Solomon Islands Mission (SIM) Hope Channel studio. The programs were broadcast on local television, Facebook and YouTube, with the aim of reaching Chinese people living and working in the Solomon Islands.
“Our goal is to share the gospel message with Chinese people living in the Solomon Islands,” Pastor Jiao said. “Two weeks is very short, but we have been recording a sermon every day.” Rather than preaching at a local site like the other Solomon Islands for Christ presenters, Pastor Jiao preaches a pre-recorded message, which is broadcast live every evening. “Most of the Chinese people here are business owners or are involved in business,” he said. “They’re very, very busy. They open their shops seven days a week. Usually on Saturday or Sunday, shops are closed. But the shops which are open are Chinese shops.”
During their visit, Pastor Jiao and his team visited many small business owners, workers and teachers from different parts of China. Some had lived in Solomon Islands for 20 or 30 years, while others had arrived only months earlier. Many of them hail from Chinese coastal provinces like Guangdong and Fujian. Born in China but now a Hong Kong local, Pastor Jiao said speaking Cantonese or other familiar Chinese dialects helped the team form connections.
“They are very busy as we were talking to them. But I find they are also very eager to talk to people who can speak their own language.”
Pastor Daniel Jiao and Emi Hasebe, associate legal services and stewardship director for the Chinese Union Mission and translator for the Solomon Islands for Christ meetings.
Among the locals Pastor Jiao connected with was a teacher who had moved to Solomon Islands without his family. “I asked him, ‘What do you do in your free time?’ He said, ‘I just get online. I watch some videos.’
“I can sense that he’s probably lonely. So, I exchanged contact details with him and said, ‘We are happy to talk to you.’” Pastor Jiao and the team visited him twice, inviting him and two other teachers to attend a Sabbath gathering and baptism.
“I can sense that he longs for that kind of happiness in his life,” he said after the man described seeing local Christians singing and worshipping together.
Although many Chinese residents had learned Solomon Islands Pijin for business, Pastor Jiao said they often welcomed the opportunity to discuss their families, experiences and the challenges of living away from home. The nightly broadcasts also generated a direct response from viewers.
After several days without receiving feedback, the team prayed that someone would respond to the programs. Soon afterwards, they received a phone call from a group of 10 people requesting the free Bibles Pastor Jiao had offered during the broadcasts. “We were so thrilled,” he said. “This means the message is going out. People are listening and watching and I believe God is going to move many people’s hearts.”
Pastor Jiao said the experience had strengthened plans for longer-term Chinese ministry in Solomon Islands. He has spoken with Solomon Islands Mission leaders about sending a Chinese missionary couple or family to work among the local Chinese community. Similar opportunities are also being considered in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and other Pacific nations with established or growing Chinese populations. “The environment here is very different from China. People have more opportunities, their minds are open and they are more receptive to the Gospel.” Pastor Jiao shared with Adventist Record that while the China Union Mission serves all China, only in Hong Kong can Seventh-day Adventist Christians share their faith openly. “In China, the government places heavy restrictions on what can and cannot be shared, and in what circumstances. Chinese nationals outside of China, however, are subject to no such scrutiny. With China expanding its influence throughout the Pacific, new opportunities for mission are opening up like never before.”
South Pacific Division president Pastor Glenn Townend is excited for the opportunities this could create: “There are thousands of Chinese business people in the Pacific, including the Solomon Islands and Tonga. We have had missionaries in both places in the past—however with limited results and loss of funding. Having the Chinese Union leader see the potential in missionary work amongst the Chinese in the Pacific is important as they gauge interest in Chinese people all over the world. We are very grateful for the insights and partnership and will work to make this mission endeavour work.”
The opportunity is great, as are the challenges. “There are Chinese communities not only here in Solomon Islands, but also in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries. We see many benefits in sending Chinese missionaries to these regions,” said Pastor Jiao. “Because of the restrictions in China, it can be difficult for our pastors there to do certain kinds of ministry. Coming here gives them the opportunity to experience a different culture and environment where they can share the message of Jesus more freely. This is already a valuable experience for them and I see great potential for reaching Chinese communities throughout the Pacific Islands. We have already met with the SIM president and agreed to work together to send a missionary couple to Solomon Islands. We hope to do the same in Papua New Guinea and other countries.
“This works in two ways. First, it encourages our members and ministers from China. When they come here, they are exposed to a broader environment and see the potential to reach people. Second, the Chinese people living here have families back home. Yesterday, we met a Chinese Christian who operates a restaurant. She said she was going back to China to be with her children, who are studying there. When people living overseas accept Jesus, they can influence their families back home. Even though ministry in China can be difficult, relatives living outside China who follow Jesus can bring that message home.
“We see that God is using wonderful ways to share the Gospel message with people in China,” he said. “We pray that God will continue to open doors for us.”
