We All Have a Part in the COM Story Where God’s Strong Hand Leads Page 2 Celebrating 60 Years of COM History Page 10 COM Annual Report Page 12 Together, Giving Christ to China’s Future Leaders

We encourage you to keep CONTENTS this issue of IMPACT in your favorite prayer place that 1 BUILDING A PUZZLE the content may guide you to Daniel Su Reflects on the Pieces of the Story pray steadfastly for our work together in giving Christ to WHERE GOD’S STRONG HAND LEADS China’s future leaders. 2 A Chinese Scholar Called to Ministry 4 SNAPSHOTS OF COM STAFF We All Have a Part How Many Pieces Does It 6 ONE ANOTHER Reflections from Staff Conference Take to Build a Puzzle? 8 NEW STAFF By Daniel Su, COM President 9 MEET PAN PAN! ’M ALWAYS AMAZED by jigsaw puzzles. Growing up in China, I never saw 10 CELEBRATING 60 YEARS a puzzle until I came to America. The first time I saw one, I wondered how OF COM HISTORY each of the seemingly disjunct pieces turns out to be indispensable in forming the final picture. I once asked a dumb question: how many pieces does it take COM ANNUAL REPORT Ito form a puzzle? Well, the answer is: all of them! 12  A higher standard 13 GIFT BEARERS It is the same with COM’s ministry, which includes many pieces—our staff serving a higher purpose the Chinese on campuses, their supporting family members, volunteers, our COM is a member of the board members, leadership and support staff, churches, and individuals that Evangelical Council for 13 DONATING APPRECIATED STOCKS Financial Accountability. pray and financially support our ministries. All these pieces, when put together by the master’s hand, form a picture of the body of Christ working together to give Christ to China’s future leaders. IMPACT is published three times a year by China Outreach Ministries. Chinese names featured in IMPACT may not be You are indispensable in God’s puzzle. Without you, the puzzle would be less real names. Some photos used in IMPACT are stock photos for than complete. Without you, we would not be able to do what we do. We are illustrative purposes only, posed by models, not actual COM participants, for security and privacy reasons. grateful for each of you, for your prayer, support, and volunteering.

555 Gettysburg Pike, Suite A-200 Daniel Su, President As we pray and serve together, we begin to see God’s puzzle being built right Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Tara Miller, Editor [email protected] Geoffrey Isley, Designer before our eyes, piece by piece. Some Chinese scholars may have just arrived in 717-591-3500 America and are amazed by the Christian hospitality they have received; other www.ChinaOutreach.org Please share your stories! Chinese may have begun to open their hearts to receive Christ; still others may How has God given you opportunity to be involved Follow us on Facebook: in the work of China Outreach Ministries? be returning to China ready to share their new faith. And so God continues to www.facebook.com/ChinaOutreach Email Editor Tara Miller: [email protected]. add pieces to the bigger puzzle he is building there in China. n 1 God calls some as volunteers, some as financial supporters, and others to full-time work. This is the story of one young man who found true satisfaction only when he followed God’s call for his life.

really existed, it was a big deal for my life. I had to find the answer. Hope began to grow in my heart. I wondered how wonderful life could be if God were real. After several months of spiritual struggle, by his mercy, “ God revealed himself to me. My world Where God’s Strong changed. I experienced an excitement that I’d never known in my 28 years of Hand Leads life. could not imagine anything else more I started to attend the China Outreach interesting, more exciting, or more By Xin Luan, COM campus staff, Penn State Ministries Bible study group at my meaningful than such a ministry. university. In the following months, I When I was going to graduate, David knew God, Jesus, and salvation were E CAREFUL, Jonah brought a storm when he tried to go away from his counseled me, “I saw your passion was “ all true, but I hesitated to follow. There not in your research, but in ministry. calling.” That was the advice of my COM ministry leader, David, as I was was a day I realized my so-called free- graduating with my PhD. I believed in my heart that the Lord was really How about you join COM?” I was not B dom could only bring me trouble. Sur- ready to answer this question. In my calling me to serve him in full-time ministry. But I thought I needed a salary to rendering to the Lord was the only way mind, the only way for me to survive survive, so I accepted a post-doc research job at Penn State. to change to my life. So I decided to David was right. There was a storm—a storm in my heart. was to have a post-doc position. So, follow Jesus. against David’s advice, that’s when From the first day at Penn State, I strug- Entering college, I started to feel life’s David Sun, the COM leader, soon I decided to go to Penn State. gled about God’s calling. My heart was pressure. A solution I could easily fig- asked Ying and me to help him start not satisfied. Then I passed through ure out was to continue my education. Though the next five years were another campus group. From then, our five years of weakness, struggling, and During my master’s program, I met stormy, God’s strong hand led me still. lives were changed little by little. We temptation. Ying, and we got married when we He helped me overcome my fear. He finished our degrees. A better job did gave me enough faith to follow his call My life had changed so much in recent not come, so, like many other students no matter what the cost. I left my ca- years, and I wanted to help others find from China, my wife and I both came reer in scientific research for the min- this change. I understood the doubts to America to pursue PhDs. istry God had given me. Now, as full- and obstacles for Chinese students time campus staff with COM, I finally and scholars when confronted with In America, it was the first time we know the joy of living out his call for Christianity. I had been one of them. heard about Christianity other than n what we had learned from govern- me. Here is the beginning of my story that ment textbooks. I didn’t believe God Xin and Ying lead a vibrant ministry had brought me to this point. was real, and I was shaken by the first at Penn State with an increasing num- Growing up in China, atheism was Christian I met, a PhD student in ber of students and scholars attending the default value in our education. chemistry. She told me that her God is Bible studies, trips, a mom’s group, Christianity was described as an ene- real. This simple statement made me children’s programs, camps, and out- my of science. I did not doubt atheism, think that there might be something reach events. and I loved science. important that I didn’t know. If God 2 3 SNAPSHOTS FROM OUR WORKERS IN THE FIELD God works in many ways, through many different people, showing his love to Chinese students and scholars. He uses prayer warriors, volunteers, donors, staff, churches, and even our children in accom- plishing his purposes.

n How does God use prayer and studies with her. We have been tak- community to bring people along the ing her to church services for weeks journey to Himself? Let’s take Wynne and have given her Christian litera- as an example. Volunteers Rob and ture and Bibles. Many, and I really do Marcia have invited her to concerts, mean many, have prayed for her. walks, and to Marcia’s home— showing We All Have a Part in the her kindness and sharing the Lord The result of this community of love? with her. The Chinese church invited We are now rejoicing with the angels her to a retreat. Sara, a Chinese- of heaven because Wynne believes COM Story American volunteer, explained the and has asked Jesus to come into her gospel in her heart language. Susan heart. n My earliest memory of my mom’s ministry is when she would have Bible stud- has taken her to volunteer with inner — Danny and Susan Forte city youth. Danny has done Bible ies at our little apartment in China. The students from the university or other COM staff, New York places would gather for a few hours on Wednesday mornings. I also of course remember them saying how cute and adorable I was. I am really happy and hon- ored to have grown up in a family that believes in God and helps show the people around us how wonderful he is.

After we moved to the US, a lot of times on Friday nights I have helped out at the Chinese Bible study that my mom organized at our church. I either take care of the children or join in cleaning up. I have also helped with cook- ing for the outreach activities, and I’ve even helped with make-up parties for the ladies. It’s truly an honor just getting to help people, which is what I’m passionate about. I can’t wait to do even more when I’m older!

— Faith Hoyle, Now a teenager, ministry has been daughter of COM staff member a part of Faith Hoyle’s life as long Meiyun Hoyle, Washington, DC as she can remember.

4 Danny and Susan Forte and COM volunteers celebrate Wynne’s new faith. 5 Spurring One Another to Love and Good Deeds Reflections from 2019 COM Staff Conference “Attending staff conference . . . was like being at a family reunion.”

ODAY, 80 STAFF MEMBERS serve with COM. Most of these are cam- “It was incredibly encouraging to be “One of the most helpful and insight- pus staff on the frontlines with students and scholars. Others are at our first COM staff conference, and ful benefits of the conference has also serving those campus staff through administrative and leadership roles. we were blown away by the camarade- been enduring — Richard’s very detailed T rie among the staff and how obviously and comprehensive study guide of In April, the COM staff gathered for Some Highlights of the Week passionate every single person is for Romans. It is wonderful!” the annual staff conference, meeting “When Richard Hogue shared about the work of COM.” —John Zondlo this year at Country Lake Christian suffering, it was very moving to hear —Mike and Brianna Reynolds Colorado State University Retreat in Indiana. Reverend Dr. Richard of some of the ways that my co-work- University of Kentucky Hogue ministered to staff as Bible ers in COM have suffered for the sake “Attending staff conference this year “The one thing that always impress- teacher. Guest presenters gave updates of this mission, and for the sake of the was like being at a family reunion be- es me at the conference is that this is and insights related to ministry among gospel. It is hard to understand it, but cause we were able to connect with the most loving organization I’ve ever Chinese. COM leadership offered staff Jesus not only tells us to expect suffer- geographically distant brothers and known. We begin early each day with training and enrichment on topics ing, but that we are blessed by it, as it sisters in Christ and also receive wis- prayer and end each day, long after the ranging from support raising to puts us in company with Christ.” dom from our fathers in the faith, es- last teaching session, with conversa- mobilizing volunteers to evangelism —Nick Romanin pecially Richard Hogue, whose teach- tion, laughter, and games in informal and more. Purdue University, Indiana ing about the theology of suffering not gatherings around the retreat center. only changed me but also how I hope A favorite memory from this year’s to prepare our Chinese brothers and conference is playing a Pictionary-like sisters who return home to uncertain game late into the evening. Our staff’s circumstances regarding their faith.” abundant love evident at the confer- —Dorothy Boothe ence is a reflection of their abundant University of Georgia love for Chinese students and schol- “I was inspired by Richard’s testimony ars, love that comes from the Lord.” of how his faith has made a difference —Myrna Hines COM Mobilization “Our staff’s abundant love . . . comes in his real life situations.” from the Lord.” —Daniel Su COM President 6 7 NEW WORKERS IN THE FIELD

Kyler Westerfeldt Spreading Hope and Happiness Wisconsin By Jesse Burns, Mobilization/Human Resources For several years Kyler Westerfeldt has been involved HE GIANT PANDA BEAR holds great significance to the Chinese with an InterVarsity campus team reaching interna- people and their culture. Considered a symbol of peace, harmony, and friend- tional scholars. As a volunteer, he has led Bible studies Tship, the panda is regarded as a national treasure. Sending a live giant panda (they and organized group events, and now he is learning are all on “loan” from China) is seen as a quite auspicious gift and a great honor. the Chinese language. A resident of Madison, Kyler is From Bai Yun in San Diego, to Lun Lun in Atlanta and Tian Tian in Washington, currently raising support toward becoming a full-time DC, these wonderful creations of God link the United States and China, transcend- staff member working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joins COM ing politics and cultural differences. from a career in insurance, and with a degree in biology, he has also worked in scientific fields. n So, imagine how grateful we were when God blessed COM with our own giant panda! We were delighted to introduce our new mascot at our spring banquets this Jim Randall year. And at our annual staff conference in April, the COM staff voted to name her Alabama “Pan Pan,” which means “hope” in Chinese. What a fitting name, as COM is shar- With a background in communications, Jim Randall’s ing the hope of Christ with Chinese students and scholars! career history includes real estate brokerage, home Next time you see Pan Pan, be sure to stop and give her a big BEAR hug. (And building, commercial leasing, and publishing. Jim and some bamboo is always appreciated, too!) n his wife, Karen, have been volunteering with their church’s international student ministry in Birmingham, teaching ESL and leading events in partnership with A Day in the Life of Pan Pan others. He has also served as an officer with various civic organizations. After completing his initial support raising, Jim will be serving at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. n As You Pray od is writing a story in your life. God may do much more than just GAs you pray for something, God is answer your specific prayer. He is using that prayer in other ways beyond weaving the details surrounding that our imaginations—to write his story. particular request—transforming lives and circumstances and building his Recently our staff had the opportunity Kingdom. to participate in a webinar with Paul Miller, author of the highly-respected God also works through prayer to bring book, A Praying Life. We were chal- us into his story in new ways. Perhaps lenged to think about how God is at as you pray for COM ministries, he is also leading you to take a new step in work through prayer, writing the COM your involvement. As you pray for your story as part of his grand narrative for Chinese friend, maybe God is also us- his Kingdom. ing this relationship in your life in un- When you pray for a COM staff mem- expected ways. We rejoice at how he is ber or for a Chinese student or scholar, writing his story in you! n

8 9 With President Earnest tional capacity, and the ministry con- 1982 Hummer taking the helm in tinues to grow. 1982, a new direction soon began to take shape. With the influx God continues to bless of thousands of mainland Chinese 2019 COM’s ministry. Currently, graduate students and scholars to US we are setting a priority on and Canadian campuses in the 1980s, training to enhance our ministry. COCM recognized an unprecedented We have developed multi-faceted opportunity. ministries including friendship evan- gelism, hospitality, Bible studies, In 1988, the organization 1988 began placing staff at major ESL classes, discipleship training, university campuses with translating and publishing resource large numbers of Chinese students materials, and holding retreats and and research scholars. conferences. Though there have been tremendous changes in culture, tech- The organization then was nology, and globalization over the last 1993 renamed China Outreach 60 years, COM remains steadfastly The Story Continues Ministries (COM) in 1993. committed to the core of the Celebrating 60 Years of COM Ministry When Glen Osborn became original ministry — sharing God’s 2001 the third President in 2001, love with the Chinese. We believe God has a wonderful plan for the Chinese HEN JAMES HOWELL PYKE I and his wife, Annabel, set sail from COM had 32 staff on 20 America on a slow boat to China on their wedding day in 1873, could campuses. Under his leadership over people. The best is still yet to come! they have possibly imagined the story that God was writing? the next 15 years, those numbers grew W to 75 staff on 52 campuses. COM “My great-grandfather James Howell Pyke began a legacy of mission work among the The Pykes’ legacy continued as In 1959, Fred and Frances dedicated a new headquarters office in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in Chinese in 1873. Now, 146 years later, COM their son Fred and his wife, Frances, 1959 Pyke and their son, James, founded the American branch 2008, and the leadership and support is carrying on that legacy with its thought- became missionaries in China. of the Chinese Overseas Christian staff expanded to include a Director ful and loving ministry to Chinese students of Development, Campus Ministry Fred and Frances were followed Mission (COCM). This new story that and scholars in the United States. Having began 60 years ago continues today Director, Mobilization Directors, by their son, James, and his wife, served on the board of COM for many through China Outreach Ministries. Certified Public Accountant, and addi- Margaret, making three generations tional administrative office personnel. years, I have seen the impressive changes of missions in mainland China. The Under the leadership of Rev. By God’s grace, the financial strength and strategic initiatives that COM has Donald McIntosh in 1969, of the organization also increased fostered in this great challenge of helping Pykes were forced to leave China 1969 COCM/USA began raising through key capital campaigns and to reach 1.4 billion Chinese with the good funds to facilitate Christian significant special gifts. after the Communist takeover, but news and hope of Jesus Christ. radio broadcasts into China through the vision carried on in their hearts the programming of Far East Broad- In 2017, COM installed Daniel Now under the capable leadership of and lives. Their dream was to con- casting Company and later through 2017 Su, the first President of Daniel Su, we continue to pray for COM ethnic Chinese background. tinue the ministry they had devoted Trans World Radio. Chinese mission- as it moves forward in meeting its great aries were supported and sent out to In the past two years since his install- challenge.” their lives to — reaching the Chinese their own people in countries outside ment, COM has further built up its with the saving gospel of Christ. of China. leadership personnel and organiza- —Bob Pyke, son of James & Margaret Pyke

10 11 CHINA OUTREACH MINSTRIES ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Please join us in praying for the continuation of work in 2019, especially as our staff and volunteers welcome new students and scholars to campus this fall. God at Work through Your Gifts

Gift Bearers Special gifts and contributions to the ministry of COM

63,228 In Memory of Chinese scholars and students on campuses where COM staff are located Mr. Dennis Anthony Dushu Wu Dr. & Mrs. Glendon Osborn Jingzhi Huang & Lily Feng Suzanne Cassidy Dr. & Mrs. Glendon Osborn In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. Earnie Hummer 7,214 123 Daniel Su & Suatping Khoo Dr. & Mrs. William Oberman Chinese exposed New Chinese Christians Mrs. Mildred Fetters to the gospel returning to China Dr. & Mrs. Glendon Osborn Dale Voelker Yacong Yuan Mr. Marvin Hendrix Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Whisler Zhu 304 77 Earnie Hummer Mr. Simon Zhu Chinese students received Chinese Christians returning to Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sullivan intentional discipleship China committed to making an Mrs. Mary James Hummer Memorial Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Cilderman Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Ison impact for Christ 824 220 100 Volunteers Professions of faith Baptisms

Donating Appreciated Stocks Can Be Better Than Cash 2018 Sources of Support Distribution of Funds Individuals 2,030,731 In light of the stock market so far this year, we wanted to let you know of one way Directors 65,380 Campus 2,662,253 you can give that can be a blessing both to you and to COM. If you own long-term Staff 139,457 Returnees 28,586 stocks (longer than one year) that have appreciated since you purchased them, Churches 765,999 in most cases you’d likely save taxes by donating the stocks directly to COM in- Foundations 127,450 Development 249,476 stead of selling the stocks, paying the taxes, and sending the remainder to COM Businesses 51,643 Administration 529,276 as a cash donation. This is also good Christian stewardship. An additional benefit Organizations 34,477 is that you will receive a tax-deductible receipt for the full value of your donated Other 19,029 Total 3,469,591 amount (value on the day you transferred the stocks). Total 3,234,166 Please consult your tax advisor for a professional opinion. If you have any The official registration and financial information of China Outreach Ministries, Inc. may be obtained questions about how to give appreciated property like stocks or other proper- from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999, or by ty, please call Kirk Zuercher, Director of Development, at 717-591-3500 or email visiting dos.pa.gov/charities. Registration does not imply endorsement. Contributions are tax-deductible for federal tax purposes. [email protected]. Thank you! n 12 13 NONPROFIT ORG. China Outreach Ministries onFacebook! and ministry highlights,follow For more articles, updates, U.S. POSTAGE PAID MECHANICSBURG, PA PERMIT NO. 227

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We AllHave aPart in the COM Story Celebrating 60Years of COM Annual Report Strong Hand Leads COM History Where God’s Page 10 Page 12 Page 2