VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/15/11)—Emerson and Ivy Wu have been endorsed by American Baptist International Ministries (IM) to serve in Macau, a special administrative region of China, with the supportive partnership of Evangelize China Fellowship (ECF).
As IM Development Workers, the Wus strive to bring a new spirit to Macau. For a long time, Macau was known for its gambling casinos. Drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, crime and prostitution were rampant in this small congested region in which less than 1% of the population is Christian. However, under the new government, many changes are taking place. Better education and social service are two major areas that are creating opportunities for the younger generation. The Wus will serve in outreach to youth and college students and in the orphanage’s after-school program.
The couple’s home church is Karl Road Baptist in Columbus, OH. They have two grown children, Jack and Jessica, who will remain in the U.S. Emerson and Ivy are U.S. citizens and first-generation Taiwanese immigrants. Emerson currently works as Information Technology Manager at the Ohio Department of Taxation; Ivy is Pastor of the Taiwanese Christian Church in Columbus, OH. They will continue in these roles until the completion of their appointment period. The Wus have been Bible Study leaders and teachers with international students at Ohio State University since 2007. They are bilingual in English and Mandarin, and will also learn Cantonese for their ministry in Macau.
“There are lots of opportunities to share the gospel with people in Macau and with visitors who speak Mandarin. We know we may confront many uncomfortable zones such as cultural difference, casino environment, the language barrier and the possibility of rejection,” described Ivy. Yet they are strengthened by the gospel. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
When asked why they believe they have been called by God to this ministry, Ivy responded, “The Lord uses the hunger in my heart for His Word to feed others wherever there is spiritual hunger.” Emerson added, “He keeps opening doors for us to serve the Chinese community. God’s direction guides us to see His leading in being a part of His great commission. That is why we firmly step up to IM’s mission.”
“The American Baptist Churches of Ohio is blessed to recognize and support Emerson and Ivy for missionary service in China under the auspices of IM,” commented Dr. Lawrence O. Swain, ABC/Ohio Executive Minister. “The Wus are active members of the Karl Road Baptist Church in Columbus where their gifts are both recognized and used in the church’s ministry. Emerson and Ivy have demonstrated faithfulness in their Christian life, and a clear sense of God’s call and giftedness for missionary service. The Wu’s will become another mission couple that ABC/Ohio will be proud to call ‘their own.’ ABC/Ohio has a long supportive relationship with IM and a number of Ohio-based ABC missionaries who serve in many locations around the world,” Dr. Swain added. “I am pleased to lend my blessing and support to the Wus as they develop their Partnership Team.”
As endorsed development worker candidates, the Wus will be working in the months ahead to build their Partnership Network. They will be inviting individuals, groups, and churches to partner with them by committing to share the spiritual, relational, and financial support needed for them to enter their ministry in Macau. They are now establishing their Partnership Team, the small group of volunteer coworkers who along with IM staff will assist them in building their Network. When their Network has demonstrated commitments of sufficient financial support, the Wus will be appointed and commissioned as development workers and shortly thereafter will depart for Macau.
Please join IM in celebrating this new endorsement and praying for Ivy and Emerson as they invite others to join them as active “partners in the gospel” (Philippians 1:6). You may send words of encouragement and communicate directly with the Wus at Wu@internationalministries.org.
American Baptist International Ministries, organized in 1814, is the first Baptist Mission organization formed in North America. We serve more than 1,800 short-term missionaries annually, bringing U.S. and Puerto Rico churches together with partners in more than 70 countries to help people come to Christ, grow in Christ and change their worlds with Christ.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.