East Asians on the Move: OMF Diaspora Returnee Ministries

East Asians on the Move: OMF Diaspora Returnee Ministries

God intended that people, wherever they find themselves, would reach out for Him and find Him, because He is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17). 

Migration is one of the great realities of our era, and Diaspora Returnee Ministries (DRM), a global field within OMF International, is responding to this reality. Our unique focus is East Asians outside their homeland, especially those who will return home or move on further. As East Asians meet Christ, grow in Him, and prepare to thrive back home - or elsewhere - our prayer is that their people and other people will be blessed through this global mobile mission movement. DRM also works with local churches around the world, including the UK and Ireland, facilitating training for Christians wanting to communicate the gospel with East Asian friends in an accessible, understandable way.

DRM currently works in USA, Canada, Kenya, Germany, Netherlands, France, UK, Ireland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia. We serve among 6 people groups - Mainland Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Malay. 

The Bible inspires us with many returnee stories - Naomi’s return home to Bethlehem with Ruth from Moab at a time of famine; Joseph and Mary’s return to Nazareth after a refugee life in Egypt; Onesimus going back to Philemon after being a runaway slave; Paul’s lifetime journey as apostle after being an ‘international student’ from Turkey in Jerusalem. 

Jump forward to our current world. ‘Dan’ knew that there were Christians in his homeland, but he wondered how to begin to find them. What would be the cost of his new faith to his own safety, security or prospects? He had heard about persecution and pressure. Through a Bible study for overseas researchers, God had answered burning questions he had carried in his heart for years. He’d valued the open homes of local Christian families and the church fellowship he had become part of. 

As he understood God’s love for all nations, he shared the gospel with other international colleagues, and also with some locals who surprisingly didn’t know much about Jesus. Shortly before returning home, a programme gathered together others like him for a time of fellowship and orientation to life as a follower of Jesus back home. He was filled with joyful expectation as onward connections were made. This support and preparation of heart and mind for the changes ahead increased his confidence in the Lord: someone would connect with him at home, and God’s family would keep praying for him. 

Whilst overseas, Mariko decided to believe in Jesus, repent from her own ways and live God’s way. She returned to Japan keen to live for Jesus, but her family were very unhappy about her Christian faith and tried to stop her attending church. Although Mariko found a job and a place to live independently, her new boss put constant pressure on her to socialise and drink more than she wanted to, and to join colleagues in praying at the shrine for the company’s success. She also ended up in a church where the Bible teaching was confusing and she started feeling discouraged. Having connected to our DRM colleague in Japan, Mariko found support in praying and thinking through how to respond to her boss. She decided to do what was right before God, and after some time things in work began to improve. Mariko also was able to get help in finding a Japanese church where she is now actively involved. 

As the Lord moves East Asian people around the world, the Holy Spirit is stirring God’s people everywhere to action. Ruth, for example, grew up in Uganda and had always dreamed of visiting China. At university, she started to understand the need for the gospel in different nations, and her love for Chinese people grew into a desire to see them come to know Christ. Soon, Ruth felt the Holy Spirit calling her clearly towards work with the Chinese diaspora in her home country. Through time with the DRM team in Kenya, Ruth started to learn Mandarin and got involved in a variety of activities that helped her build relationships and trust with Chinese people, and subsequently share the gospel. 

In another part of Africa, Victor felt the Lord leading him to pray daily for Chinese people. As he prayed, his burden increased and he was able to go to Kenya as a DRM intern, gaining valuable experience in being part of a mission team and reaching out to Chinese people. Victor is now back in his home country training others to go out and reach East Asian people. 

How might God’s Spirit lead you and I to respond to East Asians in our community? 

Pray... 

- That East Asians living in your area will meet Christians and trust Jesus while they are here. 

- For those who will return or already have gone back to challenging home contexts. 

- For the Lord to raise up full-time and part-time workers for East Asians – in Asia, and overseas. 

- Using the OMF Diaspora Returnee Ministries daily prayer feed on PrayerMate App. 

- and consider joining an OMF prayer group: contact nathaniel.jennings@omfmail.com 

Engage... 

- Look into developing skills to chat and have a conversation with East Asians when you encounter them in your neighbourhood, your workplace and your church, with the intention of inviting them for coffee or to your home. 

- Join DRM full-time, as a co-worker (voluntary), or short-term (OMF Serve Asia). 

- Organise training with local churches alongside DRM. 

- Explore opportunities: 

www.opportunities.omf.org/opportunities-search