The Rev. Ivy and Emerson work with their IM area director to establish a network of global Chinese churches and Christian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through which the network members will develop and implement common strategic missions, including those from the IM’s strategic planning process, Responding to the Call. Ivy and Emerson also represent IM in relating to church and NGO partners in Hong Kong.

They write – …When we returned to the US in July 2017, we had scheduled more than 100 engagements to share God’s mission work with churches, small groups and individuals. … Our most difficult time was speaking 14 days in 14 different locations. We realized it was not possible for us to have such intensive travels this year if we had not had the Holy Spirit with us. Although we tired easily, we enjoyed visiting churches and had wonderful fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. We treasure their love and passion for God’s mission work.

… We returned to East and Southeast Asia three times in this period. Of the three, the most profound trip was the Yunnan teacher conference in July 2018. We had planned to have this conference since June 2016, but because of many new government regulations imposed on the church in the last two years, the teacher conference had been postponed. We kept praying for God’s leading and preparation.

In late June of this year, we were thrilled to receive a request from our partner in Yunnan, asking us to help in the teacher conference. Our first reaction was as most people do to ask ourselves, “Is this real? How can it be possible to have a conference in the current situation with the tightened regulations?” Then, we suddenly realized that God answered the prayers and He had opened the door. …

Future ministry opportunities – Taiwan Ministry – On 10/1/2018, we will sponsor a weeklong intensive class at Christian Hakka Seminary and then visit other institutes and a seminary in Taiwan. We also plan to have another theological training class at Christian Hakka Seminary on January 2019. Please see our picture at Christian Hakka Seminary. Its purpose is to equip more Christian workers in reaching the world, to serve and build up the churches and to empower them for church planting. There are 4.2 million Hakka people in Taiwan and 80 million in the world. The Christian Hakka Seminary is the only seminary to train Hakka Christian workers to reach out to Hakka people in the world. The students who graduate from this seminary will certainly play a major role in reaching out to their fellow people around the world. This is our first ministry in Taiwan. It shows that The American Baptist Church/International Ministries is reaching out to this island/land. … Our other partners in Taiwan have requested IM to send teaching missionaries to enhance their theological education and grow their campus ministries.

Yunnan Ministry – Since the teacher conference was so successful and effective, we will plan to offer more conferences in different areas of Yunnan province.

Please pray for the following items –
1. That God would call His servants to join this Global Chinese Mission team
2. That God would call His children to support His mission work
3. That He would give us a heart for His ways and discernment to see His direction
4. That He would provide good connections with friends and partners in East and Southeast Asia, they would continue to be fruitful and multiply disciples, and that our time spent together would be mutually encouraging.

Read Ivy and Emerson’s full journal at https://internationalministries.org/new-chapter/