There are moments in the life of the Church when you witness something that reminds you just how big and bold God’s mission truly is. The story of Rev. Chris Yang and his wife Jenny is one of those moments — and it starts right here in the Southeastern District.
The LCMS is pleased to announce that Pastor Chris Yang, most recently of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Falls Church, Virginia, has accepted a call to serve in the LCMS Asia region. He and his wife Jenny will serve together as he takes on the role of church planter and theological educator in Chiayi, Taiwan.
A Mission Field That Needs Workers
The numbers tell a compelling story. Only about 3.9% of Taiwan’s population identifies as Christian, and in China that number is less than 2%. Chinese-speaking Lutheran pastors are rare — not just in Asia, but even here in America. The need is real, and the harvest is plentiful.
This is not Chris’s first chapter in this mission. By God’s grace, he helped establish a small Lutheran church in Beijing, China between 2015 and 2018. That congregation continues its ministry today through online worship and teaching. Now Chris is being sent again — this time to help build something new.
What This Call Looks Like
Through LCMS-Asia, Chris will serve in several capacities as they work to establish a new Chinese seminary. His roles will include teaching pre-seminary and seminary level courses, serving as a church planter and provisional pastor, mentoring future church workers, and traveling across Asia to identify and recruit potential students.
It is a wide and demanding call — and exactly the kind of work the Church needs in this corner of the world.
Invite Them to Your Congregation
Before Chris and Jenny depart for Taiwan, or even while they are on their mission, they are available to connect with congregations across the district to share about the incredible work God is doing in the Asia region. This is a wonderful opportunity for your congregation to be inspired, informed, and connected to LCMS international mission firsthand. Reach out to Pastor Yang directly to arrange a visit: chris.yang@lcms.org
How You Can Pray
Chris and Jenny ask for your prayers as they step into this new chapter:
- Safe travel as Chris visits congregations to raise awareness of Lutheran international mission
- A God-pleasing transition from pastoral ministry in Virginia to missionary work in Taiwan
- That God would open the door of the Gospel in China and among Chinese people in Taiwan and across Asia
An Urgent Prayer Request — Please Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters in China
House churches in China are currently facing increased persecution. We ask that you specifically pray for all house churches under pressure right now, and especially for the LCMS congregation in Beijing that Pastor Yang helped establish. These are real brothers and sisters in Christ facing real hardship. Please lift them up by name before the Lord.
How You Can Support
Prayerfully consider partnering financially with Chris and Jenny as they serve. You can give securely at lcms.org/givenow/yang, make a check payable to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with “Yang-Taiwan” in the memo line, or call a donor care representative at 888-930-4438. You can also view Pastor Yang’s full LCMS missionary profile and stay up to date at lcms.org/yang.
To be added to the Yang family newsletter mailing list, reach out to Chris directly at chris.yang@lcms.org.
Interested in Serving Overseas?
If you or someone you know feels called to serve as an overseas missionary through the LCMS, visit lcms.org/missionary-service or contact the LCMS mission recruitment team at mission.recruitment@lcms.org.
The Southeastern District is cheering Chris and Jenny on. What a joy it is to watch one of our own go — and what a privilege it is to pray for them and the Church they leave behind.