Editor's note: Pastor Mark Chan, a Malaysian Chinese pastor and descendant of Chinese immigrants, has served across Southeast Asia for more than 13 years. In an exclusive interview with China Christian Daily, he traces his journey from inherited belief to personal calling, offering reflections on ministering in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Speaking to the spiritual challenges faced by multigenerational Christians and emerging churches in the region, he emphasizes the urgent need to recover a full understanding of salvation and embrace discipleship not as an option, but as a joyful calling. His admiration for the perseverance of Chinese believers serves as both encouragement and challenge for the global church.
China Christian Daily: Could you briefly share your personal journey?
Pastor Mark Chan: My great-grandfather immigrated from China to Malaysia and settled there, and I was born and raised in a Christian family in Malaysia. While I attended Sunday services regularly growing up, it wasn't until my university years that I truly made my faith my own. I came to understand that faith is not merely something to preserve—it is a transformative force. God's word changed my life, and I felt a calling to pass it on, so that others, too, might grasp the true significance of faith.
After graduating, I worked for over a year before enrolling in a local evangelical, interdenominational seminary to pursue a Master of Divinity. During that time, I restructured my understanding of faith. After graduating, I spent more than three years church planting in Kuala Lumpur, primarily ministering to university students and young professionals. Later, I served as a missionary in the Philippines and Thailand.
China Christian Daily: Could you share your experience from church planting in Kuala Lumpur? What were the characteristics of the people you served and the challenges you faced?
Pastor Mark Chan: It wasn't difficult to get university students and young professionals to attend Sunday services. The real challenge lay in helping them go deeper in their relationship with God—through studying the Bible, participating in outreach, and living lives rooted in Scripture.
From my observation, many Malaysian Christians are second- or third-generation believers. They live comfortable lives, and their faith is largely inherited. Many don't fully understand why they believe in Jesus, why the Bible matters, or why a life of faith is important. They don't see sharing the gospel with others as a calling but as an optional activity.
Many Malaysian Christians lack a complete understanding of salvation. Most only grasp justification and Christ's saving work. While they're grateful and strive to maintain their faith, they have limited understanding of sanctification, glorification, and the cost of discipleship. As a result, many settle for being Sunday Christians, treating discipleship as an option rather than a necessity. That is one of the biggest pastoral challenges here.
Over the years, I've seen some people come to faith, but few have committed themselves fully to serving God. Interestingly, it was a few Chinese international students who became actively involved in the ministry.
China Christian Daily: Tell us about your experience in the Philippines.
Pastor Mark Chan: Going to the Philippines was a turning point in my faith journey. At first, I struggled to understand why God would call me there—wasn't the Philippines already a Christian country? But once I arrived, I was shocked. Although the country is largely Catholic and many claim to know Jesus, they often have no real relationship with Him.
Once, while preaching, I asked people to open the book of Genesis. Some began flipping from the middle of the Bible, others from the back—it reflected their unfamiliarity with Scripture. Their knowledge of Jesus was more cultural than personal.
To address this, we conducted a series of Bible studies after Sunday services—mainly on the book of Romans—to help people truly understand salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification. As they studied, many experienced real transformation.
China Christian Daily: What about your experience in Thailand?
Pastor Mark Chan: When I first went to Thailand, I knew very little about the country. It was a step of faith. The language barrier was a big challenge, but I found Thai Christians were incredibly kind and passionate. The challenge, however, was commitment.
Even after many years of ministry, it was hard to help people take the next step. The culture is very comfortable and laid-back. Many were eager to participate in gatherings and outreach, but hesitant to fully embrace discipleship.
Another challenge is that it's very difficult to convert Buddhists in Thailand. In their national identity, to be Thai is to be Buddhist. If one is no longer a Buddhist, they feel they're no longer truly Thai. In this way, ethnicity and religion are deeply intertwined.
China Christian Daily: Could you briefly describe the situation in Indonesia?
Pastor Mark Chan: Indonesia is relatively more open compared to other Southeast Asian countries. From what I've observed, there are people with a heart to serve God, but few opportunities to do so.
One theology graduate I worked with shared how, in his former church, he was mainly asked to clean and lead worship, but was rarely given the chance to preach. Many large churches in Indonesia emphasize praise and worship—similar to American megachurches—but some are weaker in their focus on Scripture.
One believer told me that many churches in Indonesia now meet in shopping malls. People often attend Sunday services with the mindset of hanging out afterward. He said he joined our church because we focus on the word of God. It's not that other churches don't value the word, but sometimes they emphasize fellowship and music more.
China Christian Daily: Have you had any experience working with Muslim-background believers?
Pastor Mark Chan: I haven't worked with them directly, but I've met several people serving among Muslim communities. It's very difficult for Muslims to convert to Christianity. First, there's family rejection. Second, depending on the country's laws, especially in areas close to extremist groups, converts may face the threat of violence. Even starting a church in such places can draw opposition.
One important factor in discipling Muslim-background believers is community. Muslims are used to strong communal support. But after conversion, especially in churches shaped by Western individualistic models, they often lack this sense of belonging. As a result, some eventually return to Islam because they lack a supportive community.
China Christian Daily: What are some challenges you've encountered throughout your years of ministry?
Pastor Mark Chan: In Southeast Asia, one of the most important tasks is helping believers understand what it means to pay the price of discipleship. As I mentioned earlier, many don't have a full or correct understanding of salvation. I used to be the same.
As a second-generation Christian, I fully accepted that Christ died for me and trusted in God, but I didn't know how to reconcile the fact that I was saved but still sinned. The answer lies in Romans—in understanding the difference between justification and sanctification. When this is taught clearly, many Christians experience a breakthrough and begin actively walking the path of sanctification rather than passively living their faith.
Once the message of salvation is established, the next step is teaching about discipleship—not as an option, but as a natural response to our relationship with Jesus. Seeing oneself as a disciple makes walking that path joyful and willing.
In Malaysia, many believers—myself included—are multi-generational Christians living comfortably. The previous generation struggled and sacrificed to build everything, both financially and spiritually. This generation enjoys the fruit of that labor but often lacks the drive to sacrifice for their faith.
Many Christian parents are happy when someone else's child says they want to serve God, but hesitate when it's their child. From what I've observed, parents in Myanmar are more supportive of their children entering ministry. In contrast, many Malaysian parents worked hard to give their children a better life, and they fear that serving God means giving up comfort and wasting those efforts.
When I first stepped into full-time ministry, my parents couldn't even say I was a pastor—they would just say I was a "volunteer" at church. Thankfully, they now fully support my calling, and I'm grateful for that.
China Christian Daily: What message would you like to share with Chinese Christians?
Pastor Mark Chan: It's very challenging to hold on to faith in China, but Chinese believers have lived out the spirit of the early church. Despite hardship, they persist in their faith, witness to others, and share the work Christ has done in their lives. That is something the church in Southeast Asia can truly learn from.
(Mark Chan is a pseudonym for safety reasons.)
