The impact of the ministry of Rev John Young Wai among early Chinese residents in Sydney

Abstract

Rev. John Young Wai (1847-1930) came to Australia looking for gold in the Gold Rush, but ‘instead of gold, he found Christ’ and through his ministry, many looking for gold also found Christ. His contribution to the multi-cultural shape of the Sydney Evangelical scene is significant because he was among the first to effectively reach the Chinese in Sydney with the gospel. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the extent of the impact of his ministry. The first part of the paper will establish what he did. Then the second part will demonstrate the impact of those ministries. It will show that he was both effective as a missionary in his time and also instrumental as a pioneer of Chinese ministry for today. The lives of three prominent converts—Ma Ying Piu and the two older Gock brothers—will be examined to show how God used the ministry of John Young Wai to shape these men. This will explain how the ministry of John Young Wai made an enduring impact in Sydney and beyond.