Jewish Diaspora &
Chinese Returnee
Leading Returnees Ministry in China
Jonathan Li, Dr. Theol.BICF-IMS
I. Diaspora
• Origin of the term– διασπείρω: I scatter, I spread about– διά, between, through, across – σπείρω, I sow, I scatter– διασπορά, an ancient Greek, scattering
Biblical Roots
• Greek Translation of Hebrew Bible (LXX)• Deut. 28:25, thou shalt be a dispersion in all
kingdoms of the earth• Ps 147:2, The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he
gathereth together the outcasts of Israel
Diaspora-Captivity/Exile
Three major captivities in Jewish and Israelite History: • Assyrian Captivity, 722 BC, destroying Israel,
the Northern kingdom • Babylonian Captivity, 587-586 BC (3 times),
destroying Judah and Solomon Temple • Roman Captivity, 70 AD, destroying Jerusalem
Babylonian Captivity
• Captivity 3 times, (605 BC, 597 BC, 586 BC)• During the captivity, Jews developed – Synagogue System: pray and worship– Canonized Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)– Rabbinic Judaism: Revival of Jewish Religion– Scribes (teacher of Torah), Rabbi (sages of
Babylonian)– Babylonian Talmud:Mishna (oral Torah), Gemara
(commentaries on oral Torah), Midrash (commentaries on Tahakh)
Jewish Return
• First Return, Zerubbabel, 538 BC, To build Holy Temple (Ezra 1-3)
• Second Return, Ezra, 458 BC, To build Holy People (Ezra 7)
• Third Return, Nehemiah, 445 BC, To build Holy City (Nehemiah)
Theological Reflections
• Temple — God is with us
• Torah— Word of God is with us
• Jerusalem — Living in God’s kingdom
Rebuilding God’s Temple
• Led by Zerubbabel, Joshua, Haggai, etc• Rebuild authentic worship and prayer life• Worship God: Central of From Solomon
Temple to Synagogue
Rebuilding God’s People
• Led by Ezra, Scribe, Teacher of Law• Ezra 7:10: For Ezra prepared his heart to seek
the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
• Reread the Word of God, to build new generations
Rebuilding God’s Kingdom
• Led by Nehemiah • Jerusalem — territory• City of God• Nation of God• Kingdom of God• Rebuild God’s territory
II. Chinese Diaspora
• Chinese emigration thousands of years ago• The mass emigration– 19th century, economic reasons– 1949, political reasons– 1980s-1990s, economic and political reasons
• Overseas Chinese population 70-80 millions• Northern America, Southeast Asia, Europe,
etc.
Overseas Chinese Christians
• CCCCOWE Research 2011– Churches: 9600-10000– Para church organizations: 3500-4000– Chinese Christian populations: 3 million? – Mission organizations: 100?– Missionaries: 2000?
III. Chinese Returnees
National Bureau of Statistics of China, China Statistical Yearbook, p693
Number of studying abroad and returned students出国留学与回归统计
年份 每年歸國人數2007 44,000
2008 69,300
2009 108,300
2010 134,800
2011 186,200
2012 272,900
20072008 2009 2010 2011 2012
44,00069,300
108,300134,800
186,200
272,900
海歸每年人數
年度 海歸累積人數
2007 44,000
2008 113,300
2009 221,600
2010 356,400
2011 542,600
2012 815,500
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
44,000
113,300
221,600
356,400
542,600
815,500海歸累積人數
Impact to Country Significant Contribution to China• 81% of members of Chinese Academy of
Sciences (Academia Sinica) 中国科学院• 54% of members of Chinese Academy of
Engineering 中国工程院• 78% of university presidents• 81% of professors, 63% of Ph.D supervisors• 78% of heads of research centers and labs
Impact to Church• Urban church’s growtho Although migrant workers had the early
influence in the early 2000so Christian returnees contribute to the urban
church leadership
Christian Returnees 基督徒海归• Leaving China due to various reasons
(education, work, marriage, etc.)• Receiving Christ overseas mainly• Receiving Bible training overseas• Experiencing church life overseas• Becoming church leaders and ministers (some)• Going back to China
Current Situation
• Dropout Rate 流失率o In recent conference concerning Chinese returnee
ministries, a new consensus of 80-90% Christian dropout
o Which means the accumulative of 81,550 Christian returnees (10% of 815,500) is only 8150-16,310 remaining
• Impact to Urban Church is Insignificant
• Impact to Country is Inconsequential
IV. Returnee Ministry
• How to do returnee ministry?• What are church’s responsibilities?
To start Mandarin Service/Church
–BICF International Mandarin Service IMS–Vision • Biggest returnee church (it is)• Strongest Chinese congregation• Healthy model church in China
To Build Returnee’s Network , ICF
• Independent returnee’s fellowship • Local church returnee’s ministry• ICF returnee’s ministry– Receive and follow-up
– Ensure Spiritual Growth and Equipping
– Encourage to Serve
To Reach Locals through Returnees
• Same language• Same culture• Same background• Same people
Concluding Remarks
I am a returnee!
Top Related