Background

Praise the Lord for His guidance, Chinese intellectuals in North America have taken a special journey in the past 50 years. From the first waves from Taiwan and HongKong in 1960s, to the large numbers from mainland China in 1990s, to the younger generations who were born in the 1980s and 1990s, the Chinese Christian population in North America has seen steady incease. We have experienced God’s abundant grace and power, as witnessed by the establishment of so many Bible study groups, fellowships, churches, local and global ministries. At the same time, along with the rapid development of city churches in China, the number of Christian intellectuals in mainland China has also grown significantly.

The growing population of Christians among intellectuals, as well as the development of Christianity on campuses, this group of Christians will likely bring an important influence in mainland China. In North America, the ministries for intellectuals (including student ministries) have a strong impact on churches in their long-term stability and development. In China, as the development of economy, education and urbanization, intellectuals are becoming a majority of city churches, and have a huge impact on church growth and social culture. This group includes students (college and graduate schools), professionals in companies, institutions and universities, postdocs, researchers, and professors. They present their own characteristics, opportunities and challenges in their spiritual growth.

What is God’s calling and mission for these people? How to encourage and assist them in their spiritual growth and equipping? How should churches pastor this group? How do they face the challenges from their family, work, church and society, while at the same time participate in establishing the Kingdom of God in their daily life and work? Through this Forum, we hope to encourage this group to take up God’s calling for them.