Zi Yang Chew
Training to be a pastor at Evangelical Theological College Asia, Singapore
One out of 10 Chinese in Malaysia are Christians, and many of them thirst for God’s word. The church in Malaysia is growing. Christians comprise 9.1% of the population (as of 2020), compared to only 5.3% in the 1970s. In particular, the Mandarin-speaking churches make up a quarter of the three million Christians in Malaysia. However, resources for equipping leaders in these churches are limited. Many pastors lack the training to teach God’s word effectively to the church.
In a majority-Muslim country where proclaiming the gospel to Muslims is illegal, faithful Christian witness in everyday life is vital.
We need more gospel workers in Malaysia who can handle God’s word well and equip others to live boldly for Christ. I got to know Evangelical Theological College Asia (ETCA) through the pastors in The Crossing Church in Singapore – a church that yearns to see the Bible preached faithfully in Southeast Asia. As ETCA offers a strong emphasis in expository preaching in addition to systematic theology, I can be trained to serve as a pastor, and hopefully in the long-term, raise up more gospel workers in Malaysia.
Tell us about what you hope to be doing?
I hope to be trained and then serve long-term in a Mandarin-speaking church in Malaysia. I long to see many get excited about preaching the gospel through words and actions in their own contexts. I hope to see many lives changed through the hearing of God’s word preached.
I was born in a Christian family, with my parents and relatives raising me in Christ since I was a child. Coming to the UK as a university student has opened my eyes to see how faithfully preaching God’s word can change people’s lives. This led me to become a ministry intern at St Andrew the Great Church, Cambridge. During my time in ministry there, I have had the privilege of seeing many people grow in their love and holiness for Christ.
I will be heading to Singapore in July 2023 to start a 3-year Master of Divinity course with Evangelical Theological College Asia. In Singapore, I plan to join a Mandarin congregation and serve in a small group there.
We need more gospel workers in Malaysia who can handle God’s word well and equip others to live boldly for Christ.