Rev Dr Bernard Wong
President
S Y King Associate Professor (Theological Studies)
CGST

CGST: A Theological Movement

At Westminster Theological Seminary, USA, in 1960s, God inspired four Chinese seminarians with a vision to establish an evangelical, contextual, inter-denominational and graduate level theological institution for the training of university graduates to serve the Chinese church and to evangelize around the world. This vision quickly gained momentum and support globally in the late 1960s and early 1970s, leading to the founding of China Graduate School of Theology (CGST) in 1975 in Hong Kong. In the past 50 years, CGST has trained over 3,000 graduates who have served faithfully as pastors, missionaries, theological educators, counsellors, and church leaders all over the world. Tens of thousands of Christians also benefited from lay-person programs such as Theological Education by Extension (TEE) and the Word of Life (WOL) ministries. Besides, research, publications and public lectures have always been part of CGST’s ministry to impact the church and society.

While based in Hong Kong serving churches in its vicinity, CGST is also a global theological movement. For instance, CGST had collaborated with Fuller Theological Seminary in Los Angeles, Regent College in Vancouver, Ontario Theological Seminary (the precursor of Tyndale University) in Toronto, and The University of Edinburgh in the UK to offer graduate-level courses and programs. Our Lay Leaders Training Certification (LLTC) Program was offered to Christians in North America¹ between 1998 and 2005. In the past 15 years, the WOL ministry has made strong impacts on Chinese churches in many different countries. Since 2021, CGST has been providing free Sunday school materials to further support Chinese-speaking churches in delivering quality Sunday School programs.

Vision and Mission of CGST Toronto

The world has experienced rapid changes in the past few years. The pandemics, shifts in geopolitics, the rise of social media and artificial intelligence have led to a more interconnected – but at the same time highly fragmented – world. With the new waves of Hong Kong immigrants arriving into countries such as Canada, UK and Australia in recent years, CGST has received a vision to partner with the overseas Chinese churches so that we may be equipped to face the future challenges together. After much prayer and discernment, we have decided to establish in the Greater Toronto Area an office named “CGST Toronto”, whose mission is:

To collaborate with the overseas Chinese churches,
offering context-relevant theological education and carrying out research,
so that the churches may fulfill the Great Commission in their locality.

Elaborating on this mission statement, the characteristics of CGST Toronto include:

Collaboration
As society is becoming more complex, it is beyond the ability of one person or a single organization to face all challenges and to offer effective solutions. In a collaborative community, all members need one another, where each person says, “You have the knowledge and resources that I don’t have, but I also have something unique to contribute. Let’s collaborate to achieve our common mission.” Undoubtedly pastors and church leaders of the overseas Chinese churches know their own contexts the best. For CGST Toronto, we will draw resources from CGST faculty and seasoned alumni – in particular our experiences and resources on theological education and research – to contribute to our common mission.

Context-Relevant Theological Education
CGST Toronto believes that theological education is crucial to the health and development of the church. Theological training not only aims at imparting biblical and theological knowledge, but also on understanding the contexts and transforming lives such that Christians and churches can bear witness to the Gospel in their own contexts.

Context-Relevant Research
Although the Christian faith is unchanging, our context is. CGST Toronto will conduct research on the overseas Chinese churches to assess the current situation and to suggest way forward for ministries and development of churches. Research will focus on congregational and intergenerational studies, and the impacts of secularism and cultural pluralism on the church. Results of the research will be implemented in churches through publications, training, and academic programs.

Context-Relevant Research
Although the Christian faith is unchanging, our context is. CGST Toronto will conduct research on the overseas Chinese churches to assess the current situation and to suggest way forward for ministries and development of churches. Research will focus on congregational and intergenerational studies, and the impacts of secularism and cultural pluralism on the church. Results of the research will be implemented in churches through publications, training, and academic programs.

Great Commission
CGST Toronto’s education and research efforts aim at serving the church, who is called by our Lord to carry out the Great Commission – “make disciples of all nations.” The overseas Chinese churches must set our eyes upon our neighbors of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Carrying out this Great Commission is imperative for the churches to thrive in the generations to come. CGST Toronto is established upon this forward-looking vision, partnering with the overseas Chinese churches for the decades to come.

Locality
CGST Toronto is located in the Greater Toronto Area, serving our immediate neighbours in the region. Yet the internet and efficient means of travel allow us to extend our ministry to all of North America and beyond. Our research also covers Chinese churches in the whole of Canada, USA, Australia, and UK. While CGST Toronto emphasizes context and locality, we also embrace a global vision of serving Chinese churches worldwide.

Future Plans

By God’s grace, CGST Toronto has been incorporated as a non- profit organization in November 2024. We are now planning our first research project, which will start in the next couple of months. The inauguration ceremony of the CGST Toronto office will be held on June 21, 2025. Theological Education for All Christian courses will be offered in Toronto in the last quarter this year. Please pray for us, that God will guide us forward and use CGST Toronto as an instrument to equip the church.