Projects
An overview of all Bonisa Mission projects.
The projects are comprised of Training, Church, Literature, Education and Diaconal categories.
PASTOR AND TEACHER MENTORING
PROJECT 2024-31
NEEDED $ 5,000
Small, remote churches among ethnic minorities which speak their own language are often neglected. This project supports training among them. It includes training in leadership, teaching the Bible, and providing general mentoring for these remote churches.
BIBLE STORIES LEADERS’ HANDOUT
PROJECT 2024-128
NEEDED $ 11,000
Sound Biblical instruction is a pressing need in the growing churches in China. This Bible Story project provides Biblical instruction to the children of the young churches. The splitting up of churches into small groups makes it very important to distribute these lessons with handouts to guide the group leaders. Many Sunday school teachers have requested Biblical teaching materials. The project involves developing 383 lessons based on Mrs. G. Ingwersen’s Bible Stories for both children and adults, which is already available in Chinese. Over 260 lessons have already been prepared and distributed to churches and parents. They are also put on a Bible app and on social media. Online training on how to use these handouts combined with opportunities for asking questions and sharing experiences has been provided for people. So far over 160 people from more than 40 cities in 19 provinces have benefited from this online training. Feedback on the Bible stories has been positive. They enjoy the detail as well as how the stories relate to Christ.
PURITAN PROJECT
PROJECT 2024-129
NEEDED $ 37,000
This project supports the preparation and distribution of audible, digital and printed media. Portions of The Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms, the Ten Commandments, Apostles Creed, Pilgrim’s Progress, Augustine’s Confessions as well as Puritan articles, poetry and biographies are posted on social media, distributed via a network of church groups, and spread via internet. Audio resources are also made into videos so they can be uploaded and made available on more websites. Several people are involved in responding to feedback and further questions generated by what people read and hear. Some of these materials are used as training material among ethnic minorities. Works such as God Willing by John Flavel (on providence), All of Grace by Charles Spurgeon, The Mortification of Sin by John Owen and some of Frans Bakker’s books are being distributed as well.
MISSION TRIPS FOR LISU, MIAO, WEI AND ZANG
PROJECT 2024-130
NEEDED $ 4,000
There is a great need to educate children from the Bible, provide supporting Reformed literature and transmit basic Biblical values. The Bible, Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed and Pilgrim’s Progress are being used as the main resources. Bible Stories for Children, a copy of the Pilgrim’s Progress for children and other Vacation Bible School resource materials and the necessary training will be provided. Two workers will be trained for minority ministry. The Audio Players are also given out and training on their use is given. Two mission trips to the different minority groups are being planned.
DIACONAL SUPPORT
PROJECT 2024-131
NEEDED $ 40,000
This project is to support a church and school which have faced very difficult circumstances over the past years. By God’s grace they have been upheld and are in the process of rebuilding. The church provides tuition relief for needy families and is also developing Chinese textbooks which can be used by other Christian schools as well. We are thankful to assist this church whose members already sacrifice so much for the sake of Christianity.
SEMINARY SUPPORT
PROJECT 2024-132-136
NEEDED $ 105,000
These projects aim to provide support for ongoing Reformed theological teaching and to expand the existing library of sound Reformed resources for theological students. Student enrollment has increased to 172 students: 77 full-time students and 95 part-time students. Since students are quite spread out, eight graduates are appointed to provide part-time tutoring and mentorship to local groups of students. There are also technology expenses to facilitate online learning methods. Instructors from our support base are teaching online courses to expound Reformed Doctrine to theological students and church leaders there.
REFORMED CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
PROJECT 2024-140
NEEDED $ 32,000
Christian School Education is needed for children of local Reformed churches. In 2022 one such school operated in four locations with four classes, grades 1 to 8, one class for Junior Middle School and one class for Junior High. Once a week they come together for Physical Education and socializing. This project provides assistance for costs relating to facilities, teachers, textbooks, supplies, training and furnishings, as well as the development of curriculum and teaching strategies that can be shared with other schools. Local churches take part in providing funds for these programs as well.
TRAINING FOR SEMINARY PROFESSORS
PROJECT 2024-141
NEEDED $ 2,000
This project involves supporting seminary students while they obtain theology degrees. The project covers tuition, food, travel, and lodging. There is a great need for Reformed, educated preachers in China and therefore to assist in training men who may train others in Chinese seminaries.
BIBLE APP
PROJECT 2024-142
NEEDED $ 55,000
In recent years, buying a physical copy of God’s Word has become more challenging in China. To promote the distribution of the Bible in digital format, an app has been developed that provides the Word of God online in the Chinese language. The app comes in an easy-to-read, high-quality format and is freely accessible to the public in China. The mission of this app is to encourage the Chinese population to read, listen, study, meditate, and live by God’s word. It also aims to equip the church with high-quality Bible study materials and tools with innovative technology and design. With the Bible at its centre, it also provides a platform for other digital books, such as The Everlasting Word by Rev. Frans Bakker.
CHURCH CHINA MAGAZINE
PROJECT 2024-143
NEEDED $ 30,000
This 100-page-per-issue church magazine includes helpful Biblical material for lay-people, and good instruction for general church life. Various issues were published this year. Some of the covered themes included: Firmness of Faith for Children of Christians, Gospel, Pastoral Care and Mission, and Reflections on Church Government and Pastoral Care. It is encouraging to see that the magazine has an average of 150,000 PDF downloads per year and over 1,000,000 visits. Presently there are over 2600 subscribers to the magazine.
CHINA EDUCATION FUND
PROJECT 2024-144
NEEDED $ 25,000
Many Chinese Christians are teaching children in small schools or in homeschool settings. This project supports the many courageous parents and educators by developing a high quality, Bible-based curriculum, specifically designed for these types of educational settings. This curriculum is comprised of 105 integrated units including student textbooks, teacher guides, sample lesson plans and accompanying teacher training videos.
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
PROJECT 2024-145
NEEDED $ 5,000
Due to the current situation, it is important to keep Christian schooling out of the public view. The current strategy is to have a teacher teach small numbers of students from different grade levels across multiple subjects. Teachers and schools are continuing to use digital resources like Bible Doctrine books and other needed Christian material.
Training and materials cover subjects such as Biblical Marriage, History of Redemption, The Lord’s Prayer, and the Beatitudes. Since it is difficult to impossible for graduates from underground schools to attend a Chinese university, this project also look for ways to open opportunities for students to attend Western schools and universities.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS BY ISAAC AMBROSE
PROJECT 2024-147
NEEDED $ 25,000
The book Looking unto Jesus by the Puritan author Isaac Ambrose (1604-1664) will be published and distributed digitally, given the ongoing challenges involved in printing hard-copy books in China. Ambrose writes: “In this knowledge of Christ there is an excellency above all other knowledge in the world. There is nothing more pleasing and comfortable, more animating and enlivening. Christ is the sun and centre of all divine and revealed truths: we can preach nothing else as the object of our faith, which doth not some way or other either meet in Christ, or refer to Christ. Only Christ is the whole of man’s happiness. He is the sun to enlighten him, the physician to heal him, the wall of fire to defend him, the friend to comfort him, the pearl to enrich him, the ark to support him, the rock to sustain him under the heaviest pressures, as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of waters in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Only Christ is that ladder between earth and heaven, the Mediator betwixt God and man; a mystery into which the angels of heaven desire to pry.” Desiring to see many Chinese led (further) into the knowledge of Christ, Bonisa Mission is in the process of preparing this 715-page treasury for distribution in Chinese.
THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL THEOLOGY BY P. VAN MASTRICHT
PROJECT 2024-148
NEEDED $ 16,000
Petrus van Mastricht wrote many theological works. His best known one is his Theoretical-Practical Theology. It was published in Latin, then translated into Dutch. Recently a new edition in 6 volumes totaling 4400 pages has been published in Dutch and is currently being translated into English and Korean. Now, Bonisa is privileged to support its translation into Chinese. This is a massive undertaking but it is well worth the effort, especially for the benefit of the many growing Chinese seminaries.
The six volumes cover:
1) Faith in God
2) The works of God and the depravity of man
3) Redemption through Christ
4) The application of salvation and the church
5) The history of the church
6) Obedience to the law and the practice of piety
This project involves the translation, editing, digital publication and the printing of hard copies of this work. Volumes 1 and 2 have been translated and the final editing is being done.
BOOK TRANSLATIONS
PROJECT 2024-149
NEEDED $ 71,000
Chinese churches are asking for more Puritan works in the Chinese language. Currently ten books are being translated and edited. These include Gospel Worship and A Treatise on Earthly-Mindedness by Jeremiah Burroughs, The Path of True Godliness by Willem Teelinck, A Spiritual Appeal to Christ’s Bride by Jodocus van Lodenstein and Walking Humbly with God by John Owen.
PRINTING OF BOOKS
PROJECT 2024-150
NEEDED $ 60,000
There is a great need for Reformed Experiential Literature in the growing churches in China. Good Puritan materials are available and there is willingness to receive them by the churches. Both printed and electronic versions of the books will be supplied to individuals, lay preachers or house churches through a network of contacts.
The project entails the printing of 5000 copies of the following books, which are in the editing stage:
– Faith Seeking Assurance by Anthony Burgess
– The Heart of Christ by Thomas Goodwin
– Letters of Samuel Rutherford.
We have also been encouraged to receive a special request for a reprinting of: The Everlasting Word by Rev. F. Bakker, The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson, Glory Veiled and Unveiled by Dr. Gerald Bilkes and Godly Sorrow and Christ’s Ministry in the Christian by Prof. Gerard Wisse. The requests for reprints show the demand for these writings. Pray God may continue to bless them.
AUTISM AND REHABILITATION CENTRE
PROJECT 2024-155
NEEDED $ 98,000
Bonisa currently supports the needs of patients, disabled children, and orphans through a physical therapy centre. Many of these children come from poor families from remote mountain regions and many suffer from Cerebral Palsy. In 2023, thirty-two children received help in this centre. The main strategies to carry out this work involve providing professional rehab for the children as well as training caregivers in rehab skills so they can continue the training once they are home again. The local community highly regards this center for its excellence and professionalism. An intentional network with local churches allows them to share the Gospel through this rehab center while providing care and support through a loving community of staff and volunteers. Like these Chinese Christians, may we also seek to be a light and a blessing to those around us by God’s grace.
MEDICAL CLINIC
PROJECT 2024-156-158
NEEDED $ 77,000
These projects will finance the wages of the staff and provide for the medical care and needs of patients and orphans in a Medical Services Clinic. The clinic serves the poor and the marginalized in the area, who cannot afford to pay for medical care. Additionally, some Chinese physicians receive training and education in providing trustworthy, compassionate, western-based health care. The workers are dedicated Christians who desire to be a light in a dark world.These projects will also finance the travel expenses of previous staff to provide mentoring and reporting for the medical car operations and administration needs of the medical clinic.
ELDERLY SUPPORT
PROJECT 2024-157
NEEDED $ 18,000
The Chinese population is aging dramatically. The proportion of the population aged 60 years and over is 18%, whereas 20 years ago it was just over 10%. It is expected to climb to over 26% in the next ten years! Major concerns include the increase in heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and immobility. Modifiable factors linked to these conditions include physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary risks and obesity.
To address these needs, Health Education and Health Promotion (HELP) for elderly was started.
The project operates in a community where 24% of the people are over 60 years old. The project seeks to improve the knowledge on healthy aging and promotes a healthy lifestyle. It also builds a friendly peer support among seniors. Monthly health lectures are given and reinforced by bi-monthly small group activities. Monthly home visits to homes open possibilities to share the gospel which testifies of the need for and gift of true life that sickness cannot ruin. The project will finance the wages of the staff and cover the costs of lectures and home visits.
COLLEGE STUDENT SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTION
PROJECT 2024-180-181
NEEDED $ 57,000
This new project entails the support of some full-time theological students at a college outside of China. A scholarship foundation has been established which will be used to cover the tuition fees of those students that are in need of financial support.
Bonisa Mission has been asked to provide instructors for this same College to teach courses to expound the Reformed Doctrine to the theological students. This will also provide an opportunity to develop Chinese contacts for future projects. Bonisa will cover the costs of instructor teaching fees plus all travel expenses for in person teaching.
DIGITAL BOOK DISTRIBUTION
PROJECT 2024-190
NEEDED $ 2,000
A website has been designed to distribute sound Christian literature in the Chinese language. Making these materials available via PDF/E-book is a very efficient means to distribute them. The books included on this website are available free of charge and have been translated and published via donated funds. We hope that these books will be used by God’s grace to the strengthening and edification of the Church in China and the conversion of many souls.
PREGNANCY SUPPORT
PROJECT 2024-196
NEEDED $ 40,000
China suffers from the second highest abortion rate in the world with 36% of known pregnancies ending in abortion. Bonisa is supporting an organization that provides pregnancy crisis intervention and many other prolife needs. Their approach to bio-ethics training, pregnancy crisis intervention and after-abortion trauma counselling are heavily influenced by their Christian faith and theological convictions. This organization also works together with pastors and house-church leaders to further spread prolife convictions. For some women who have already had an abortion, the guilt and grief experienced has been an entry point for counselors to speak of the Gospel and forgiveness for sinners.