Faith Expressing Itself in Love

For 144 years God has used China Inland Mission/OMF International as a mighty vessel by which he has poured out his extravagant love upon the peoples of East Asia. God’s clear call for one man and his family, Hudson Taylor, to give of themselves in love to the Chinese people has permeated throughout generations. Now, alongside Taylor’s fourth generation, some 1,600 OMF International members, staff and associates from 30 countries follow the same calling and express their faith in love to the peoples of East Asia.

The vision that motivates these dedicated workers is to establish communities of believers among East Asians in areas where Jesus has not yet been known. Then, to equip these believers to share the truth and salvation they have received with their own friends, family, community and people groups. These workers begin by investing themselves in learning the local language and cultural norms. God frequently uses this process to show the way to relationships and educational, humanitarian and business opportunities.

We invite you to see just a few glimpses of how God has used faithful OMF International workers to establish these communities and bring hope and comfort to the peoples of East Asia:

• Some workers reach out through health education in rural villages. For example, they provide training in basic health, character development, literacy building, small group facilitation workshops and community development sanitation projects.
• Recently a doctor who serves with his family in Southeast Asia humbly shared about the clinic he runs that serves only the “card carrying” poor (making it no threat to the hospital across the street that serves those with enough money to pay). Obvious joy and fondness blanketed him as he shared about the two orphanages they also manage. One photo he shared showed at least 10 orphans who had come through their facilities who now believe in Jesus!
• In Sichuan province of China when the recent earthquake hit, OMF International workers who had established a
  
  local presence and respected medical work for a number of years quickly mobilized relief work in the worst situations.
• Also in China, workers are located in cities like Beijing and reach out to local leaders and highest level intellectuals through training seminars. Teams also meet deep needs by helping families overcome social stigma while learning to help and love their autistic children.
• In Taiwan, working class shopkeepers work so hard that they cannot break free to get to a church, even if they wanted to. Some OMF International workers minister by reaching out to them in their shops, engaging them with the love of Jesus.
• In Thailand, workers carefully and persistently reach out to those entrenched in sex trafficking.
• All through the Mekong region there are those who trek the mountainsides to remote villages to visit isolated believers who daily contend with centuries-old spirit worship, god shelves, rituals and fear. Many workers enter very difficult or restricted locations to help people develop a business - something that is sustainable and has potential to break the poverty cycle.
• Being near for important life events often gives entry into sharing Christ. Workers in Japan stand with new couples as they prepare for marriage and perform Christian wedding ceremonies for those who request them. Often workers in places with few new Christians lead families through their first Christian funerals. In the Philippines workers roll up their pants and work alongside their friends in the rice paddies as they plant.

OMF International workers include Bible translators, seminary teachers, nurses, doctors, accountants, dorm parents, handicraft business managers, orphanage workers … there are even those in the Philippines who drive a vehicle that transforms to provide a basketball backboard for their court outreaches! By God’s grace, they understand that “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Galatians 5:6). God’s good news is delivered, new believers join our family of faith, transformation happens and the gospel continues to go where it hasn’t been.