Praying for the Fujianese

Hundreds of Southern Baptists go out to lunch every Sunday afternoon to their favorite Chinese buffet. They gather to fellowship, discuss church events, and catch up on weekly activities, but how many stop to consider the mission field that’s right behind the counter? You see, many Chinese buffet restaurants across the United States are run by Fujianese, a Chinese people group coming from the Fujian province, who desperately need the Savior. 

It’s estimated that 300,000 – 500,000 Fujianese live in the United States with 10,000 more immigrating through New York City each year. Most Fujianese people live in New York’s Chinatown and Brooklyn. However, in recent years, they’ve spread out to almost all of the major cities on the East Coast; opening restaurants and small businesses wherever they find the opportunity, to provide a better life for their families.

Many Fujianese pay up to $70,000 to the “snake head” to bring them to the U.S. A $35,000 down payment is made before leaving China and the remainder is collected when the immigrant arrives in the U.S. To pay off the debt, many have to hold several jobs and work 80 hours a week. Any money left over is sent back home or saved to bring other family members to the States.

The Fujianese place a high value on family. It’s not uncommon for several generations to live together. Many times both the husband and wife will work and send money back to China to support family still living there. Often, parents will send their infant children to China to be raised by grandparents and then bring them back to the states when they’re older.

Most Fujianese families practice Chinese traditional religion, a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, ancestor worship and superstition. However, Christianity is making in-roads with the Fujianese. New immigrants often attend churches when they arrive in New York because they can find help there.

Rev. Sam Wong of Chinese Promise Church in Brooklyn and Rev. Hoshea Huang of the Chinese Baptist Mission of Calvary Southern Baptist Church in Elmonte, California, are reaching out to this people group. Rev. Wong helps new immigrants adjust to life in the U.S. while Rev. Huang uses cell phones to host Bible studies through teleconferences.

In reaching out to Fujianese people, one has to understand their background and take time to develop relationships. Because of their long work hours and financial burden, it’s wise to minister to their felt needs, which include providing ESL classes and assisting them to acquire social services. It’s important to pray for them, because they believe in prayer. But it’s even more important to introduce them to the God who answers prayer. OM

Jeremy Sin is a national missionary for NAMB’s church planting group.