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Pastor Michael Liu
Austin Chinese Church (ACC) will host its annual Mission Conference on February 8–9, 2025, with the theme, “Global Mission at My Front Door.” This theme reminds me of the Chinese idiom “so close, yet so far” (咫尺天涯), which describes a situation where physical proximity contrasts with emotional distance or other barriers that make something seem out of reach. This sense of estrangement aptly depicts the current reality of local missions in the United States: while opportunities to serve the harvest fields are right before us, many Christians fix their gaze on distant lands and overlook the souls nearby who urgently need the gospel.
Recent research reveals that while America is experiencing a sharp decline in faith, it also holds tremendous opportunities for the harvest. According to data from the Pew Research Center in 2023, the percentage of Christians in the U.S. has dropped from 90% decades ago to about 63%, while the proportion of the “religiously unaffiliated” (commonly referred to as "Nones") has surged to 30%. Even more alarming is the trend among Gen Z (born 1997–2012), where approximately 45% identify with no religion, making them the group most prominently reflecting the decline in faith. Meanwhile, societal loneliness has reached unprecedented levels. A 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Health reveals that over 60% of adults feel lonely, with the percentage soaring to 75% among Gen Z. Behind this loneliness lies a profound yearning for life’s purpose and belonging. Confronted with this spiritual desert, the gospel is undeniably the most urgent answer—and the harvest field is right around us.
The influx of immigrants and international students presents unprecedented opportunities for local missions. Traditionally, missions have often been understood as “cross-national” or “cross-cultural,” with many believing that missions primarily involve traveling to Asia, Africa, or South America. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 data, immigrants now make up 14.6% of the U.S. population, with many coming from regions still unreached by the gospel, such as the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa. Among them, international students represent a frequently overlooked group. Statistics show that in 2023, over 1 million international students were studying in the U.S., yet around 80% had never been invited to a church or heard the gospel. Additionally, many refugees from countries like Afghanistan and Syria, due to cultural barriers or difficult circumstances, remain the “unreached peoples” right at our doorstep. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) is not only a call to cross borders but also an urgent mission to reach our neighbors.
Emphasizing the importance of those “nearby” does not mean abandoning the mission to reach the “distant.” Over the past few decades, ACC has invested significant resources and energy in overseas missions. From supporting missionaries and mission organizations to sending short-term mission teams, ACC believers have gained firsthand understanding of the needs of various global groups through cross-cultural experiences. This passion and experience in global missions, when combined with a renewed focus on local mission opportunities, can provide fresh momentum and a broader vision for reaching the community nearby.
Jesus is the ultimate model for missions. Though His heart embraced all nations, He also devoted Himself to ministering locally, traveling through towns and villages to proclaim the message of the Kingdom while addressing people’s physical and spiritual needs. After His resurrection, His final charge to His disciples is particularly noteworthy: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This statement not only outlines the progression of mission priorities but also encourages us to discern where our own “Jerusalem” is.
“So close, yet so far” reflects not just physical distance but also an attitude of the heart. The harvest field at our doorstep is often the easiest to overlook because it is so close that we assume the need for the gospel is always “somewhere else” rather than among our coworkers, neighbors, or international students. The 2025 Mission Conference serves as a timely reminder to reassess the importance of those “nearby.” Missions are not solely about the distant lands but also about the calling right at our doorstep. God’s plan is for the gospel to spread from the “near” to the “far,” starting from our own communities and reaching every unreached corner of the earth. The harvest field close by is ready—are we willing to cross the “faraway” distance in our hearts and respond to the Lord’s call?
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