Chinese Bible Mission’s Enduring Commitment
Partnering with Christian Ministries in the US, China, and Southeast Asia
The enduring legacy of Chinese Bible Mission (CBM) is the fruit of intergenerational work by Sen and Tim Wong. Dr. Peter Wang, the Executive Director of CBM shares more about the history and vision of their work.
Highlights:
A Legacy of Church Planting and Youth Ministry – Founded in 1952 by Pastor Sen Wong, CBM has spent over 60 years planting churches and mobilizing youth among Chinese communities.
Mission Shift to International Outreach – In 2017, CBM pivoted from focusing solely on second-generation Chinese Americans to become a global missions agency.
Rapid Growth in Asia – CBM’s work in China and Taiwan flourished and established Linkou International Church in Taiwan.
New Opportunities in Southeast Asia – CBM launched new evangelism and church planting initiatives in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur
Looking to the Future – Under the leadership of Executive Director, Dr. Peter Wang, CBM is committed to equipping Chinese Christians to meet the evolving needs of the Chinese diaspora.
CBM’s Mission
CBM is a global organization that has ministered the Gospel message to Chinese people for over 60 years. Founded by Pastor Sen Wong in 1952, CBM has a rich history of planting churches and mobilizing youth among the Chinese in North America. We continue to be passionate about Pastor Sen’s vision by expanding our reach to Chinese globally.
The period from 2014 to 2016 marked a significant transition for CBM as the organization reevaluated its mission and model in response to changing demographics and ministry needs. Here's an overview of the key events and developments during this time:
Context of Change (2014-2016):
By the mid-2010s, it became increasingly clear that CBM’s original model of church planting, which was focused on reaching second-generation Chinese Americans in English-speaking churches, was becoming less effective. The Chinese American community in California, in particular, was becoming more diverse and racially inclusive, with many second-generation Chinese-Americans choosing to attend multi-ethnic or culturally diverse churches. As the social landscape shifted, the need for a distinct "English-speaking Chinese church" diminished.
Despite this, CBM’s passion for youth ministry, church planting, and leadership development remained crucial. These were still significant needs within both the local Chinese American community and globally. This realization prompted a reevaluation of CBM’s mission and outreach strategies.
Leadership and Vision Shift:
During this transitional period, CBM leaders such as Pastor Alan Ginn, who had long been involved with the organization and had become a missionary training pastor in Asia, played a pivotal role in guiding CBM through the process of evaluation and vision revision. Along with Dr. Peter Wang, they led the CBM board through a time of reflection and strategic planning.
Through these discussions, it became clear that while the ministry to second-generation Chinese Americans was no longer the focal point, the need for youth ministry, church planting, and leadership development in the global Chinese community remained urgent.
The Pivot to International Missions (2017):
In 2017, CBM made a crucial decision to pivot and become an international missions agency. The new vision was to reach global Chinese populations with the gospel and empower Chinese Christians to minister to the world. This shift marked a significant turning point for CBM, with the organization now aiming to serve Chinese people worldwide, rather than focusing solely on Chinese Americans.
Dr. Peter Wang was invited to become the next executive director, bringing with him experience in both church planting and working with the Chinese-speaking world. Tim continued to lead the operations from the U.S., while Peter moved to Taiwan to pioneer new opportunities in Asia.
CBM in Asia
CBM’s work in Asia began to grow rapidly, particularly in China. Due to the intense persecution in the country, the number of churches and workers involved in the ministry was hard to track precisely, but there was clear growth and fruitfulness. A team of 3-5 staff worked inside China, engaging in church planting and leadership training through online platforms.
In Taiwan, where Dr. Peter Wang relocated in 2017, the ministry took on a more structured form. In 2020, a church plant (Linkou International Church) was established that grew to about 200 members. Along with this, CBM launched a summer camp for children and youth, a missionary home stay program, and a nonprofit organization focused on youth outreach. By 2023, the CBM Taiwan team had grown to 10 missionary units working out of the Taipei office.
New Opportunities in Southeast Asia:
As the years progressed, a new wave of opportunities began to emerge. In recent years, there has been a significant outflow of Chinese citizens, particularly from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with millions of middle-class families migrating to Southeast Asia. Cities like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta have seen an influx of Chinese migrants seeking better academic opportunities for their children.
CBM identified this as the next great opportunity for evangelism and church planting among the Chinese people. During a vision trip to Southeast Asia in May 2025, CBM witnessed God opening doors for ministry in this region. Within weeks of returning from the trip, CBM had added five new team members to launch a new project focused on reaching Chinese-speaking populations in Southeast Asia.
Building on the success of the bilingual church plant in Taipei, CBM began envisioning similar church plants in cities across Southeast Asia where Chinese migrants are settling. The vision for the next decade is to plant 10-15 churches in key cities, including Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Pangnang, Jakarta, and Hanoi, and to reach the large numbers of Chinese-speaking children attending international schools in the region.
CBM Moving Forward:
With the growing presence of Chinese communities across Southeast Asia, CBM is poised to expand its influence and outreach in these regions. The development of bilingual churches, youth camps, and leadership training programs are central to this effort, and CBM is committed to empowering local Chinese Christians to become missionaries in their own right.
As CBM moves forward into the next decade, it is committed to leveraging the opportunities God has opened in Asia and beyond, while continuing to adapt and refine its approach to meet the needs of a changing global landscape. The organization's goal is to continue its work of church planting, youth outreach, and leadership development, with a focus on reaching the global Chinese population and equipping them to impact the world with the gospel.
Future of CBM Asia
Dr. Peter Wang is the Executive Director of Chinese Bible Mission. A graduate of Western Seminary and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (doctorate), he has planted churches and served as the youth and English pastor in several Chinese immigrant churches over the span of 20 years. A few years ago, Peter answered the call to reach the Chinese overseas, and is passionate about growing CBM’s outreach globally.
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