Around the World
You Can’t Plan This Stuff: INSTE Taiwan Graduation Ceremony
By Ricky Poon
On January 23, 2021, the fourth annual INSTE Taiwan graduation ceremony was held at the mother church of Open Bible’s Grace Ministries in the Daxi District of Taoyuan City. Grace Ministries is the name given to our group of Open Bible churches in Taiwan. It grew out of the Taiwan Pentecostal and Charismatic Movement of the 1970s and 1980s.
The Daxi church was founded in 1988 by five Christian elders from three Tayal tribal families. It provided a place where yuan zhu min (原住民) (original inhabitant) Christians in an urban setting can gather to worship and serve. In December of 2015, Grace Ministries and Open Bible Churches joined in affiliated fellowship because we share a similar global vision. It was through this association that INSTE Chinese became a key component of Grace Ministries’ Discipleship Training School.
At this special graduation, 27 students in Taiwan and 10 students in Shanghai received a Certificate of Christian Ministry. Several factors made this graduation distinct. Because of the pandemic it had to be held virtually. Just a few days before the ceremony, the public health authorities in Taoyuan City ordered strict limits on social gatherings. As a result, only the students from the Daxi church were able to attend in person. Thankfully, many others were able to participate as well because the event was livestreamed over Facebook. Grace Ministries provided English interpretation for the entire event. You may view this event at http://bit.ly/INSTEceremony
When we decided to hold the graduation online, missionary Mike Lumbard, the director of the School of Global Leadership in Trinidad, and I explored the idea of inviting Open Bible Churches in Trinidad to participate. I had connections with Trinidad since I had accompanied former missionary Dr. Don Bryan to Trinidad on several occasions with the hope of introducing INSTE to Chinese Christians there.
(Left) Long Gang Church Graduates
Rev. Benjamin Agard, the National Director for Trinidad Open Bible Churches and Rev. Cecil Quamina, Director of Missions and senior pastor of the First Church of the Open Bible in San Fernando, Trinidad, sent video congratulations to our graduates. The Gates Praise worship ministry provided special music for the event, which included a video of “Hope of Nations” with Chinese captions. The common theme from Trinidad was that they would welcome Chinese missionaries. The Chinese nicknamed Trinidad and Tobago “Te Duo 特多,” which literally means “great abundance.”
On my most recent trip to Trinidad, I connected with Pastor Mark Chen, the pastor of one of only two Chinese congregations in Trinidad at that time. As it turned out, Pastor Chen’s wife provided the translation of Rev. Agard’s greeting for the ceremony. I reconnected with Pastor Chen and gave him introductory material on INSTE Chinese to consider using. The first question Pastor Chen asked was “Do you have INSTE Chinese online?” This is now a priority of the INSTE Chinese ministry.
INSTE graduates in Shanghai hold a special place in our hearts because we know the commitment and sacrifice that were required under their circumstances. They have a missionary mindset to reach those in the rural areas, to the ethnic minorities and beyond, with the Gospel.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”
(Romans 8:28, ESV)
The natural reaction to all that transpired would be, “You can’t plan this stuff!” It is another proof of the Lord’s faithfulness.
About the Author
Ricky Poon is a member of the Board of Directors of Inste Global Bible College (IGBC) and IGBC’s Assistant Dean of Chinese Ministries. He also served as a member of the University of Oregon President’s Diversity Advisory Community Council.
In parts of Nigeria today, land is no longer just a livelihood – it’s a battleground. In search of increasingly scarce water and grazing land, semi-nomadic Muslim herdsmen are moving their flocks south into areas already inhabited by Christian farmers. This encroachment has intensified conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, increased kidnappings, and deepening ethnic tensions. This is the environment in which Open Bible’s ministry continues day after day.
Despite these challenges, the Gospel is advancing.
Okon Obot, Open Bible’s Superintendent in Nigeria, shared the following story with me:
Recently we held an evangelistic crusade in one of the affected regions. Despite security concerns, people came looking for hope and peace. Evangelistic crusades remain a powerful and effective way to share the Gospel in village communities where fear and uncertainty are a part of daily life.
The theme of the crusade was “Arise and Shine,” and over 300 people gathered. By the end, sixteen people had given their lives to Jesus and fifteen were immediately baptized and welcomed into the church, each a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
A high point of the crusade was the reconciliation of a family of brothers divided for five years. Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God was shared, they chose forgiveness and were restored to one another. They returned to their homes with joy and peace.
In response to God’s work in their lives, the brothers donated a large piece of property in their village, Mbabuu, for the construction of a church building.
This is where the 2026 Global Harvest Offering, “Build Hope for Africa,” comes in. When we reach our goal of $200,000, Nigeria will be one of the recipients. Open Bible will partner directly with Pastor Okon to build a new church building in a place like the village Mbabuu.
This is more than a construction project – it is the next step of what God is doing. Despite hardship, churches in Nigeria are growing and new buildings are needed to serve expanding congregations and reach their communities.
Your gift to “Build Hope for Africa” can help provide a visible witness of Jesus in a region marked by instability and equip local leaders like pastor Okon to continue evangelizing where the need is great.
In a place where land is fought over, God continues to build His Church!
Snapshots of the vibrant ministry happening in Nigeria:
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Have you ever wondered, What in the world are our Open Bible missionaries doing now? We wish we could visit every church or sit down over coffee and share what God is doing where we serve—but that isn’t always possible.
So this month, we’ve gathered brief notes from missionaries around the world. As you’ve read these updates from around the world, we invite you to pray for our missionaries—their families, their ministries, and the communities they serve. Please also share these stories with your church so others can join in prayer.
Use the interactive map below to see the updates:
Trouble seeing the map? Click HERE
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Ask Open Bible pastors in Africa what the biggest problem in their church is and most reply with one word: REVIVAL! Just as Saul once ravaged the early church in Acts 8, our African brothers today face similar conditions: harassment, arrest, and even death for following Christ. But in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations. They’re calling for our help, not to alleviate the suffering, but to build new church facilities to serve their expanding congregations and communities.
The Global Harvest Offering of 2026 is “Building Hope in Africa,” and it is our opportunity to participate in this revival. In this initiative, we will partner with our missionaries and national directors to fund thirteen new church building projects across the continent. God is using faithful missionaries and nationals to plant churches, raise leaders, and reach communities with the hope only found in Jesus!
… in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations.
Our missionary partners are many: the Godwins, the Kopps, the Parkers, Okon Obot, Peter Mahoye, the Moores, the Welches, and our brothers and sisters throughout the Antioch Network.
Thirteen churches.
Thirteen countries.
One goal:
to raise the $200,000 needed to
cover the costs for all thirteen projects.
With over 230 Open Bible churches in the United States, we can meet the financial goal of the Global Harvest Offering if each church gives $875. Alternatively, just 2,000 people giving $100 this year would meet the goal. Your support in this effort helps build more than walls; it builds hope, community and the Kingdom of God. Look for the QR code or this link to give to Building Hope in Africa today. Thank you for your partnership to build hope for Africa.
