Arise! Walk Through the Land—Reflections from the 14th World Delegates Conference

“Arise! Walk Through the Land!” was the theme of the first session of the 14th World Delegates Conference (WDC), held at the Taiwan General Assembly from March 22–23, 2025. During the same weekend, the International Youth Ministry Committee (IYMC) also convened. Prior to the WDC, the Truth Research Committee (TRC) met on March 18–19, followed by the Holy Work Symposium on March 20–21.

To prepare for this global event, the Taiwan General Assembly held four planning sessions. All coworkers and theological students from various departments were organized into 12 teams based on their roles and responsibilities, each with detailed plans for execution.

Thanks to the Lord’s guidance and the coworkers’ coordinated efforts, all preparations and tasks for the conference were successfully completed. North Taichung church helped by preparing daily snacks and evening refreshments for the international delegates, featuring a variety of authentic Taiwanese treats. They also hosted a three-day hospitality program for accompanying family members, making all feel warmly welcomed.

The WDC gathered a total of 74 official delegates from around the world. Including TRC and IYMC members, observers, and family members, the total attendance reached approximately 140. During the conference, 16 new EXCO members were elected, including Preacher Wang Ming-Chang, who was appointed as the 14th IA EXCO Chairman.

The opening ceremony took place on the evening of Friday, March 21, and featured presentations by the Psalms & Wisdom Philharmonic Orchestra, the West District Dajia River Choir, and the North Taichung Adult Choir. The conference concluded on Sunday, March 23, with a closing ceremony accompanied by songs of praise from the Psalm & Wisdom Philharmonic Orchestra, Luzhou Choir, and the Psalm & Wisdom Singers, marking the end of six days of fellowship and discussion.

Throughout the conference, delegates praised God in their native languages while singing the same hymn melodies—a moving and powerful experience. Even during prayer, though the phrase “In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray” was spoken in various languages, the spiritual tongue that followed sounded like one language, leaving a deep impression.

In addition to updates on the development and challenges of various churches around the world, participants offered valuable insights in support of the theme “Arise! Walk Through the Land!” The following is a summary of key reflections:

I. Current Challenges in Global Evangelism and Pastoral Ministry

1. Faith Challenges Among Overseas Chinese Believers

There’s a saying: “Wenzhou people dare to do anything, Cantonese people dare to eat anything, and Fuqing people dare to go anywhere.”

God has used the Chinese people to spread the gospel of the True Jesus Church to 74 countries. While early missionaries were mainly from Taiwan (and earlier from China), many churches began in Fuqing Chinese communities across the five continents and gradually developed into local congregations.

Most early Chinese immigrants did not move overseas to spread the gospel but to seek economic opportunities. Since they shared a common language, the gospel was more easily received, leading to the establishment of meeting points by God’s grace. This diaspora pattern resembles that of Jews in the apostolic era—though Jews were exiled due to persecution, both communities share a strong commercial acumen and adaptability.

Today, in fulfillment of the prophecy that “lightning comes from the east,” the base of the global gospel is now in Taiwan, from where we shine light to the world and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. However, many new Chinese believers overseas still prioritize making a living, leaving less time and energy for spiritual growth.

To expand local churches, it is crucial to equip Chinese believers abroad with stronger foundations in faith so they can become dedicated workers and support pastoral ministry in pioneering areas. Nevertheless, the challenge of building a firm faith foundation remains significant for many.

2. The Challenges of Preaching Without Gold or Silver

Evangelism has extended into economically struggling regions—such as Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and India in the Eastern Hemisphere, and much of Africa and Latin America in the West, covering more than 50 countries. In contrast to mainstream Christian denominations, some Buddhist or Taoist groups attract followers with material aid. As a result, preachers often face questions of resource sufficiency.

In some pioneering regions, dozens may be baptized in a single year, yet due to remoteness and scattered locations, it may be a year or longer before a minister can return. By then, many newly baptized believers may have left the church, drawn away by financial or material support from other groups.

In recent years, certain splinter groups—heretical—have lured away our members with abundant financial incentives, reaping the harvest sown by our preachers. With limited manpower and lack of time to train local ministers, these believers’ foundations are often like foundations built on sand without the knowledge of the truth, making them vulnerable and unstable.

There have even been cases where locals were eager to be baptized, but ministers found they lacked correct understanding of the truth. When told they needed to study further before receiving baptism, some responded, “If you don’t baptize us now, we might not be here next time.”

Such urgency stems from harsh conditions—war, famine, disease, and financial uncertainty leave them uncertain about tomorrow. While the church today is better funded, financial-based evangelism brings lasting complications. Striking a balance between using and abstaining from material support remains one of today’s key questions.

3. Shortage of Ministers and Language Barriers

Although English is a global language, most TJC believers are ethnically Chinese, so Mandarin remains widely used. Ministers of local GAs or CBs who are bilingual in Mandarin and English are able to serve in a wider range of pioneering areas. Conversely, those without either language face serious limitations in mission assignments.

For example, Singapore CB has only four full-time preachers, but because they are fluent in both Mandarin and English, they are frequently dispatched abroad. Often, preachers from Taiwan GA are sent to Singapore to support short-term pastoral work. In contrast, some GAs lack workers who are proficient in Chinese and English, making it difficult for the country’s manpower to support diverse overseas missionary efforts.

Besides language, a major challenge is the global shortage of full-time workers. Many countries that have long assisted the IA in its overseas missions, such as Taiwan, have seen their preachers aging and retiring. However, the number of churches continues to increase, making it difficult for local preachers to meet internal demand. Moreover, sending preachers abroad to support the ministry often puts local manpower under pressure.

II. Strategic Reflections on “Going Throughout the Land”

1. Religious Education in Pioneering Areas

Among overseas Chinese immigrants, early marriage and spousal separation due to work are common. Many parents leave their children in China while working abroad, depriving them of parental care and instruction. The parents usually go overseas to earn a living. To sustain themselves or start businesses, some borrow heavily, working long hours without Sabbath awareness.

In some pioneering areas, local churches are established, but without long-term pastoral care, many new believers fall away quickly due to external influences.

If evangelism is about “broadening” the boundaries, then religious education is about building “deep” into the truth. With deep roots, the church can endure. Many of the converts who receive the truth initially are adults. Their original religious beliefs and values will still affect their thinking and judgment after believing in the Lord. If local children accept the gospel and cultivate the truth in their hearts through religious education, they can practice the teaching of “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” In time, they will become local young workers, serving as future preachers in their native tongue who are better equipped for internal training and external evangelism.

Families who are in the Lord should be encouraged to live together and invest in religious education, helping them withstand this morally challenging age. Of course, developing religious education in a pioneering area requires that a large number of teachers join the ministry. Therefore, believers can be encouraged to start by establishing a family altar. In the early stages, each country can cultivate youths to have the willingness to participate in long-term RE ministry in pioneering areas, and to assist the local church in conducting family altar with each family as a unit. Over time, these children—nurtured from a young age—can become essential local workers.

2. Training Local Ministers and Religious Workers

During the Holy Work Symposium, many countries emphasized the need for ministers to improve their language skills. In Spanish-speaking Argentina and French-speaking parts of Africa, language barriers make communication difficult. Relying on translators can significantly affect ministry effectiveness.

The Korean GA requires its ministers to learn both Mandarin and English. Similarly, Indonesia GA encourages its ministers to study Chinese, which helps them attend theological courses in Taiwan GA and equip themselves with spiritual strength. But in over 50 African nations, training local ministers remains urgent and vital for training in the truth and long-term pastoral care. 

3. Integrating Global Mission Resources

Pioneering areas in the Eastern Hemisphere include Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and India. In the West, efforts span over 50 countries in Africa, Latin America, much of Europe, and Russia. The Western field is far broader in scope.

Eastern countries currently able to send missionaries include Taiwan, Korea, Japan, West Malaysia, Sabah, Singapore, and Indonesia. New Zealand and Australia also provide stable support. In the West, only the U.S., U.K., Canada, and a few European countries offer external mission aid.

To fulfill the vision of “going throughout the land,” the Eastern and Western Hemisphere Department of World Missions under the International Assembly may also consider deeper cooperation and resource integration across hemispheres.

Conclusion

The call to “Arise! Walk Through the Land!” is not only a promise God made to Abraham—it is His promise to the True Jesus Church today. Therefore, our reliance on the presence of the Holy Spirit is essential. We believe that the Lord will fulfill His promise through this gathering of frontline preachers of the true church from around the world, who stand united in the Lord, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Bible, and grasp God’s promise that the true church will rise.

The conference has come to an end, and the coworkers in the Lord from around the world have set out again, looking forward to their next meeting at the Sabah GA in 2027.