Visiting parents from China: their conversion experiences in America and contributions to Christianity at home

Abstract

This study focuses on elderly parents from Mainland China who visit their adult immigrant children in the United States. Since the 1990s when Chinese economy was well into its take-off period and restrictions on travel have eased for Chinese citizens, a great many elderly Chinese have visited their offerings in the United States in increasing numbers. Most of the information regarding this population is anecdotal: there is no in-depth study devoted to this group. This study does not claim to be that, in that it does not examine the Chinese seniors at a national level nor use a rigorous statistical analysis. It does, however, seek to move the conversation beyond the anecdotal by examining the visiting Chinese seniors in the context of the Chinese-American immigration history, the history of Christianity in China, and China's tumultuous modern history; and by employing a case study method. The study focuses on a group of visiting Chinese elderly who has worshiped at First Chinese Christian Church in Plano, Texas, where I serve as senior minister. Partly on the basis of the interviews conducted with these seniors, the study makes the argument that American Christian Churches--especially those with Chinese background--should provide ministry to visiting Chinese seniors because such ministry is needed by the seniors, because the seniors are receptive to the Gospel ,and because upon returning to China, the seniors--whether as converts or those favorably disposed to the faith--can make positive contributions to the development of Christianity in China.