(英文后有中文版)

The word Sea Turtle in Chinese “海龟, hai gui”  sounds the same as the word to return from overseas海归, hai gui”.  Every year thousands of Chinese move temporarily overseas to study or work, and most of them will return home.  All these returning students and workers have been transformed by their experiences overseas and many of them have come to Faith.  

They have blossomed and flourished during their time abroad. A flight of only a few hours will see them back home in China – but “returning” is not as easy as it looks for these new followers of Christ. While they were away, they have changed, and China has changed as well   – they are not going to easily fit back in. 

Sadly, experience shows that when these students return to China, 50-80% of them will eventually leave their faith behind. Considering the faithful discipleship investment made by churches and ministries overseas, this is difficult to accept.  Thriving Turtles is a ministry dedicated to seeing these Chinese Christians make successful transitions back to China, carry on in their relationship with Christ, connect with the body of Christ back home, and be fruitful ambassadors for Christ wherever he leads them. 

Thriving Turtles was started by a group of concerned believers in Australia in 2015.  Since then, the team and ministry has expanded to be global.  Our team members are all reformed evangelical Christians who are committed to helping Chinese Christians on their return journeys, to thrive in their faith and be a blessing to China and the world.  Please see our Vision, Mission and Values statements and Statement of Faith for more information about us. 

This website offers resources and encouragement for sea turtles and the people who are working with and serving them. 

每一年都有成千上万的中国人到海外学习或访学,其中大多数人将来都会回国(“海归”)。 在海外的经历会给所有这些留学生和访问学者带来改变,包括他们中的许多人接触到基督教信仰,成为基督徒。

虽然只需十几个小时的飞行,这些多半信主时间不长的海归基督徒就能回到自己在中国的家,但对他们来说,回国并不是件容易的事。他们在国外时,人生发生了变化,而中国也发生了变化,因此他们回国时会感觉他们不容易重新融入故国。

更可惜的是,这些海归基督徒回到中国后,50%-80% 的人最终会将在信仰实践上”流失“——不再坚持任何基督徒的生活方式。考虑到海外教会和福音机构在他们身上付出的传福音的努力和对门徒训练的投入,这种情况很让人揪心。帮助海归基督徒持守信仰并且灵命茁壮成长是一项重要的事工,我们这个海归基督徒资源网站的宗旨,就是希望能帮助这些基督徒成功海归,回到中国后继续保持与基督的关系,与故乡(或其它海归的城市)的基督肢体建立联系,并在上帝的带领下成为结果累累的基督使者、福音的种子。

本网站最初是在2015年由住在澳大利亚的一群关心海归基督徒的同工发起、创建。到今天,我们的海归事工已扩展到全球。 我们的团队成员都是重生得救的福音派基督徒,致力于帮助海归基督徒在信仰上扎根、开花、结果,成为中国和世界的祝福。 有关我们的更多信息,请参阅我们的异象、使命和价值观声明。

本网站使用中英双语,同时为海归基督徒和海归事工同工提供资源。

Image by Michael Borgers from Pixabay