Christian Courses

Dr. Jonathan Chao was the founder of China Ministries International, an institution dedicated to the research, development, and growth of Christianity in modern China. He received his B.A. from Geneva College, a M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Chao served as a missionary to China for 25 years, teaching his faith and tracking the development of Christianity in that country under Communist rule. Beginning in 1978, he traveled to China more than 100 times to train ministers to lead the Christian “house church” movement. He also served as director of Chinese Church Research Center in Hong Kong and was the founder of the Chinese Mission Seminary. By the time of his passing, he was considered the leading expert in the world on the church in China.

In addition to his extensive research, Dr. Chao helped establish several training centers near China, including the Graduate School of Theology in Hong Kong, where he taught courses in Theology and Chinese Religious History. He also taught or lectured at several other seminaries in Asia and the United States including Calvin Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Reformed Bible College (now Kuyper College), Wheaton College, William Carey University, and the Seminary of the Air. He often lectured on the house church movement at conferences and in churches across the United States and Canada.

Among his publications are numerous articles and books including A History of Christianity in Socialist China, 1949–1997, China Mission Handbook, and Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves: Christians in China Tell Their Story (interviews by Dr. Chao).