- Home
- Speakers
- Stephen Tong
- There Is Hope
There Is Hope
Stephen Tong
Stephen Tong (March 22, 1940–) is a Chinese-Indonesian Reformed pastor, evangelist, and musician, widely regarded as one of the most influential preachers in Southeast Asia and the global Chinese Christian community. Born in Xiamen, Fujian, China, to Tong Pai Hu, a businessman from a family esteemed by the Qing dynasty, and Tan Tjien Nio (Dorcas Tanjowati), he was the sixth of nine children. His father died when Stephen was three, amid Japan’s occupation, eroding the family’s wealth. In 1949, at age nine, he moved with his mother and siblings to Surabaya, Indonesia, fleeing China’s Communist Revolution. Raised in a single-parent home, he embraced Christianity at 17, beginning a ministry that would span over 66 years. Tong founded the Reformed Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GRII) in 1989, pastoring its flagship Messiah Cathedral in Jakarta, Southeast Asia’s largest Christian church building, which he helped design. In 1978, with Jahja Ling, he established Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministries International (STEMI), preaching to over 37 million people across Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and Africa. A teacher at South East Asia Bible Seminary and founder of theological schools in Surabaya (1986), Jakarta (1987), and Malang (1990), he has trained countless ministers, reportedly calling 450,000 to full-time gospel work. His Reformed theology, inspired by Calvinists like George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon, emphasizes Scripture’s sole authority and evangelism’s urgency. He holds honorary doctorates from La Madrid International Academy (1985) and Westminster Theological Seminary (2008), where a Chair of Reformed Theology was endowed in his name in 2011.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
This sermon emphasizes the contrast between the material comforts of the world and the spiritual loneliness that can accompany them, highlighting the inevitability of suffering and disappointments in life but offering hope in Jesus Christ who has overcome the world's challenges. The speaker shares a personal testimony of transformation and finding purpose through Jesus, inviting listeners to introspect and consider their relationship with Christ as the true foundation of life and meaning. The message encourages a deep love for Jesus, service to others, and active participation in bringing more people to know Christ.
Sermon Transcription
When our exterior is getting more and more comfortable, when our flesh is getting more and more rich, when our substance is getting more and more enjoyable, our spirit is getting more and more lonely, when our inner self is getting more and more difficult to get through the moment of survival, dear friends, this is life. When I was a child, my mother took care of me, but I was very weak. When I was young, I fell down. I fell down. I haven't fallen down for decades. Since more than ten years ago, I started to think about going back to God. What Jesus Christ said to us yesterday, you will suffer in this world, you will be disappointed in this world, you will have tears in this world, you will have sighs in this world, you will have sorrows in this world, you will have unfulfilled wishes in this world, but you can rest assured, because I have survived this world. In the past, I had a lot of problems, but I have overcome them all. This is to make a change in this world. I believe that in the life of Christ, you can find the true meaning of life. In the life of Christ, you can find the true moral foundation of life. In the treasure of the life of Christ, you can find the meaning of your real life. Tonight, I will ask you with all my heart, do you know yourself? When I came here, it was about 8 years ago. Since then, my whole life has changed. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. From this day on, I fell in love with Jesus Christ. My whole life is because of Jesus Christ. He loves me. Seeing such a useless person like me, he also chose me to go back to his people. He helped my whole life because of Jesus Christ. He helped me to know him, so that my life can truly leave sin. I feel that God really uses his woman, Pastor Tang. Every time when she walks the path, she is very touching. When you hear Pastor Tang speak, you will feel that what he speaks and what he does are all for the glory of God. Are you willing to say today, God, I'm starting to live. I want to understand. I want to know what Jesus Christ is. Every time I hear him speak, I have a very deep feeling. So when you encounter some difficulties, or when you serve a low-class person, listen to him. He will inspire you. He will inspire you to love the Lord more and to serve Him better. I often feel that the most important thing of the ministry is that we encourage all low-class people to participate, to actively participate. And we use the ministry to bring people to the Lord. Tonight, on behalf of my Lord Jesus Christ, I encourage you, invite you to the Lord. I wish you all the best. I thank you. We have the opportunity to bring more people to the Lord so that more people can know Jesus Christ. I thank God for using me at this age. Although my knowledge is not high, the grace of God is enough for me. Whenever I have the opportunity, I want to know Jesus Christ. He is the only Savior.
There Is Hope
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
Stephen Tong (March 22, 1940–) is a Chinese-Indonesian Reformed pastor, evangelist, and musician, widely regarded as one of the most influential preachers in Southeast Asia and the global Chinese Christian community. Born in Xiamen, Fujian, China, to Tong Pai Hu, a businessman from a family esteemed by the Qing dynasty, and Tan Tjien Nio (Dorcas Tanjowati), he was the sixth of nine children. His father died when Stephen was three, amid Japan’s occupation, eroding the family’s wealth. In 1949, at age nine, he moved with his mother and siblings to Surabaya, Indonesia, fleeing China’s Communist Revolution. Raised in a single-parent home, he embraced Christianity at 17, beginning a ministry that would span over 66 years. Tong founded the Reformed Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GRII) in 1989, pastoring its flagship Messiah Cathedral in Jakarta, Southeast Asia’s largest Christian church building, which he helped design. In 1978, with Jahja Ling, he established Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministries International (STEMI), preaching to over 37 million people across Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and Africa. A teacher at South East Asia Bible Seminary and founder of theological schools in Surabaya (1986), Jakarta (1987), and Malang (1990), he has trained countless ministers, reportedly calling 450,000 to full-time gospel work. His Reformed theology, inspired by Calvinists like George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon, emphasizes Scripture’s sole authority and evangelism’s urgency. He holds honorary doctorates from La Madrid International Academy (1985) and Westminster Theological Seminary (2008), where a Chair of Reformed Theology was endowed in his name in 2011.