China Outreach Ministries

China Outreach Ministries For more information visit: www.chinaoutreach.org. We offer the gift of Christ's love demonstrated in daily acts of service and taught through the Word of God.

China Outreach Ministries extends Christ's love and truth to Chinese scholars at North American universities by meeting their practical, social, and spiritual needs. China Outreach Ministries has been sharing Christ's love and truth with the Chinese for over 50 years, serving students and scholars from 50 universities. Loving: On university campuses, Chinese students and scholars are far from home

, struggling to adjust to their new lives in America, and wanting American friends. Serving: We provide transportation and host families when the Chinese first arrive, welcome them with social activities, offer conversational English classes, and help them with the challenges of living in a new culture. Equipping: Through Bible studies, special speakers and events, and one-on-one conversations, COM workers lead men and women to Christ. Working with volunteers and churches, we provide discipleship training and personal mentoring that help prepare Christian leaders to live out their faith in China and around the world.

03/30/2026

Faithful in Small Things?

I read about a powerful commencement speech by Admiral William H. McRaven at the University of Texas years ago. I was intrigued, so I watched it recently online. He shared a foundational lesson from his 36 years as a Navy SEAL. I wanted to share it with you because I think his perspectives have significant implications for our ministry.

The most memorable line of Admiral McRaven’s talk was this: "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed!" He explained that, practically speaking, this first task provides a sense of pride and momentum at the beginning of a day. What’s more important is his statement that "If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never do the big things right."

For those of us serving Chinese students on campuses, ministry often feels like a series of “little things”—picking up students at the airport, answering questions about the Bible, or responding to everyday curiosities like, “Why do Americans drive on parkways and park on driveways?” or deeper questions such as, “Is the U.S. functioning and acting like a Christian nation today, if it ever was?”

In the rush of ministry, such little things can feel insignificant and small. Yet in God’s kingdom, nothing is truly small. As the Bible reminds us in Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” These quiet, everyday acts are not distractions from ministry—they are part of it!

Experience shows that Chinese students often remember how we live and conduct ourselves far more vividly than what we say. In this way, the Gospel is not only taught—it is caught through the integrity of our daily lives. When we are faithful in small things, we practice a quiet stewardship that others observe, even when we are unaware.

These disciplines can become the foundation for lasting spiritual impact. What is done in private, seen fully by God, shapes an authentic witness that can gently guide someone on their journey to faith in Christ. So let us be faithful in the small things, trusting that God uses them for far greater purposes than we can see.

Daniel Su
COM President

02/17/2026

What Do You See When
Punxsutawney Phil
Sees Only His Shadow?

On February 2, 2026, thousands of brave souls gathered in the freezing cold at Gobbler’s K**b in western Pennsylvania to consult one of America’s most famous “prophets”: Punxsutawney Phil. With great ceremony, Phil was lifted from his burrow. He glanced around, and—according to his handlers—saw his shadow. The verdict? Six more weeks of winter!

I have a soft spot for this tradition. About twenty years ago, I was actually in Punxsutawney myself speaking in a church there. I remember walking down a street corner and seeing Phil—not in the spotlight, not surrounded by fans—but sitting alone quietly behind the window. Just a groundhog going about his ordinary day. It was a humorous reminder of how much meaning we place on something never meant to bear that weight.

As charming as Phil is, the truth is his predictions are famously unreliable. His accuracy rate hovers around 35–39%, worse than a coin toss. Yet every year, people still hope he’ll tell them what’s coming next.

If we’re honest, we do the same. We long for signs, forecasts, and guarantees—especially in seasons of uncertainty. Many of us face real questions about health, finances, jobs, relationships, and so on. We want clarity.

Scripture points us to a better foundation:
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God does not read shadows. He does not guess. He knows the future because He holds the future—and He holds us in His hands.

Whatever your circumstances, life itself is full of uncertainties. You are not simply lucky or unlucky—this is true for all of us in our shared human experience. As followers of Christ, we want to trust Him, even when the path ahead feels unclear. Our confidence is in the faithful God who walks with us into whatever comes next.

And that’s far better news than any groundhog could ever deliver.


Daniel Su
COM President

01/19/2026

The Road Not Planned

Do you hate detours? Love them? Honestly—who does? Detours interrupt our plans and take us places we didn’t choose. Most of us would rather stay on our planned route. And yet, as the new year begins, I am reminded that detours can sometimes become blessings in disguise.

Beth and I were once traveling with a clear destination in mind when an unexpected road closure forced us to take a detour. Reluctantly, we followed the signs. Along the way, we noticed a small park and decided to stop briefly. We found ourselves enjoying a peaceful river view, and we hiked along the river. Nearby stood a quiet little church with a simple plaque telling the story of its founding—a testimony of faith, perseverance, and God’s faithfulness through its ups and downs. What began as an inconvenience became an adventure.

As I reflect on this detour, I realize that by nature, we resist detours in life. We prefer control and our own plans. Yet life does not always respect our preferences, and God seems to have his own ideas. For us followers of Christ, we need to follow him, regardless of the path he chooses. That means giving him room to interrupt our routes and redirect our steps. Faith allows God to lead us to places and experiences we did not plan for. One day when we look back, we will recognize the detour he leads us on is what’s meant to be.

Scripture reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8–9).


As we enter this new year, may we trust God enough to follow him and embrace the unexpected—even when he takes us on a detour—believing that his ways, though different and puzzling, will turn out to be always higher and always good.

Daniel Su
COM President

12/17/2025

The Christmas Story
That Still Sends Us Today

At this time of year, we often find ourselves busy—shopping for gifts, rushing through crowded malls, and hearing songs like “Here Comes Santa Claus” playing in the background. In the midst of the noise and activity, it is fair to wonder: at Christmas, where is Christ? Sometimes He can be pushed to the edges, even during the season that bears His name. Scripture reminds us of the central message of Christmas: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

Christmas calls us back to the moment when God entered history in humility. The birth of Jesus was not a sentimental event meant only to create warm feelings. It was the decisive beginning of God’s rescue mission. The child laid in a manger was born with a clear purpose: to save His people from their sins.

As followers of Christ, the message we carry today is the same message first announced to shepherds in the fields—good news of great joy for all people. God has not changed His plan; in fact, He has called us to be part of His plan.

As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that our work flows directly from that holy night. The world is still in darkness, yet the Light has already come. Our task is not to create a new message, but to faithfully proclaim the One whose mission began at the very first Christmas.

We continue the mission for which Christ was born—“Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.”

Daniel Su
COM President

11/20/2025

Choosing to Give Thanks
Then and Now

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s worth remembering that giving thanks is a choice—an intentional act of faith. Scripture tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude doesn’t wait for ideal conditions. It’s something we choose to do.

The early Puritans made that choice. Their first year in Plymouth was marked by sickness, hunger, harsh winters, and the loss of roughly half their community. They buried more loved ones than they ever expected. Yet after surviving that brutal season—through God’s mercy and with help from the Wampanoag people—they chose to pause and give thanks. They recognized God’s provision even when life was still difficult.

We aim for that same faith this season. We don’t give thanks only because the holiday appears on the calendar; we strive to be thankful people throughout the year. Still, the Thanksgiving holiday is a needed reminder that gratitude must not slip into complacency, and that taking things for granted is an easy trap for all of us.

May this spirit of gratitude shape our work and strengthen us this Thanksgiving season and beyond.

Daniel Su
COM President

10/24/2025

Mid-Autumn Reflections on the Light

I hope you enjoyed the supermoon on the recent Chinese Mid-Autumn Day, a traditional day for reunion. In one of the most beloved poems in Chinese literature, Su Shi wrote the following poetic stanza associated with the moon festival, and this is familiar to Chinese students:

人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟.

As the moon waxes and wanes,
So too human hearts experience joy and sorrow,
parting and reunion.
Since ages past, our longings have never been fulfilled.
We can only wish that life would endure
And, though miles apart, we could cherish the moment
gazing upon the same beautiful moon.

These lines, from nearly a thousand years ago, capture the deep and timeless longing of the human heart. The poet reflects on the cycles of life—joy and sorrow, union and separation—much like the phases of the moon. Beneath its graceful light and beauty lies a quiet yearning for something lasting in a world that constantly changes.

Though evoking profound emotions, the poem ends with no resolution, leaving a lingering sense of poignancy. The longing remains unfulfilled. This poem speaks for all humanity apart from Christ—those who sense eternity in their hearts (Eccl 3:11) yet cannot reach it on their own.

In contrast, the psalmist declares with confidence, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). What Su Shi could only dream of, we believers know as reality through faith in Jesus Christ, through whom our hearts’ longings are fulfilled.

That is why our mission is so urgent and precious. We are not merely sharing ideas or culture—we are sharing the light that turns longing into hope and hope into eternal life. In pointing students toward Christ, we help answer the deepest yearnings of their hearts.

What a privilege to carry the message of the One who said, “I am the light of the world.” His light never fades!

Daniel Su
COM President

08/06/2025

Bridging the Gap

I recently went to a country fair. I joined a small crowd in the open air, listening to live music. The band was singing “I’ll fly away, oh glory,” while I sat on a wooden chair going nowhere, holding freshly cut wildflowers.

About 15 feet away, a little blonde-haired girl—maybe about two years old—was sitting with her parents. When she saw my flowers, her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she stood up and started running toward me. But halfway there, her parents caught up with her and gently pulled her back.

You could see the disappointment on her face.

So, I pulled out a single black-eyed Susan and walked over to her. She smiled as I offered it. Her parents thanked me for this unexpected act of kindness, and I returned to my seat. A couple of minutes later, I saw the little girl smelling the flower, then looking over and waving at me. I waved back.

It was a small exchange, but it said a lot.

On the surface, the gap between us was wide. She was a little child, and I was an adult. She was growing up in America speaking English, and I grew up in China speaking Chinese. We didn’t speak a word to each other, yet we shared the moment.

But in that brief moment, something unexpected surfaced—trust and goodwill. And a simple moment of connection happened.

Isn’t this also true of our cross-cultural ministry?

As the fall semester begins, Chinese students are arriving on campus—carrying luggage, questions, and quiet concerns. They’re stepping into a world that often feels distant and unfamiliar. Many of them will hesitate to get close. And goodwill often needs to be seen before it’s believed. There is a gap between us and the new arrivals from China. They may want to make a connection but somehow are pulled back—by fear, distrust, or the weight of cultural differences.

I believe God is calling us to notice. To stand up. To take the first step. To show goodwill—freely and without pressure. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). May we be the bridge to help them cross over to God’s embrace.

Daniel Su
COM President

Address

555 Gettysburg Pike, Ste A200
Mechanicsburg, PA
17055

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

(717) 591-3500

Website

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