Special Outreach Activities:

The radio programs of SOBEM do not only interview guests and invite them to share their life stories, but also have mini-series where audience can learn about Christianity from various topics. They also invite speakers to share current affairs and produce festive specials for broadcast.

Under God’s gracious guidance, SOBEM USA commemorated its 25th anniversary this year—a significant milestone for which we praise God. This year’s Vision-sharing and Thanksgiving Dinner was held on September 24th, with the attendance of over 460 guests from various churches and supporters. Our keynote speaker Dr. Szeto, a prominent Christian business leader from Hong Kong, shared his impactful testimony from his business experiences, and provided encouragement and challenges for us to seek a greater vision for the next 25 years.

Reflecting on 2023, SOBEM co-workers have diligently expanded media work in various aspects. Here are some of our updates:

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” – Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

From our humble arrival in Hong Kong back in 2001 till now, Showers of Blessing Evangelistic Ministry has gone through many twists and turns, enabling us to learn and grow through our challenges. Though the pandemic has presented many difficulties with our ministerial activities, we pray that the Lord will continue to provide for us. “With crisis comes opportunity” – we believe this is the perfect time for God’s wonderful plan for us to be revealed!

Highlights of our ministries:

1. Television: “Showers of Blessing” TV programme continues to be broadcasted on TVB Pearl and ViuTVsix channels with both Cantonese and Mandarin audio options and Chinese subtitles. Episodes are also available on-demand through TVB’s myTV SUPER streaming platform. Additionally, condensed versions of “Showers of Blessing” are shown on Phoenix TV’s Hong Kong channel.
2. Radio: “Sobem Sojourner” radio show continues to air on Metro Finance FM104 every Saturday, with over 620 guests sharing their testimonies with the audience.
3. Digital media: We utilize a variety of platforms to broadcast SOBEM programming, including through our mobile app, website, YouTube channel, Facebook page, Tencent Video channel, and other online services.
4. Telephone hotline: Through 22 years of operation, the SOBEM hotline has engaged with over 120,000 callers, with over 500 callers dedicating their lives to Christ.
5. Public transport: We continue to air condensed versions of “Showers of Blessing” on MTR trains and platform TV screens. Also we have covered the decals of minibuses with uplifting phrases on selected routes that served our public hospitals that encouraging Hong Kong residents as they pass by.
6. External TV Broadcast Ministry: Condensed versions of our “Showers of Blessing” TV programme continue to broadcast in the lobby TV of 600 commercial and 300 residential buildings. Additionally, short clips from “Showers of Blessing” are shown on 250 TV screens in various restaurants and bars across Hong Kong.
7. Print Media: We continue to publish our full-page testimonies “Sobem Friendship” in Sing Pao Daily News every Monday and “Sobem Alive” in Herald Monthly. SOBEM testimonials are also utilized in both Grade 3 and secondary-level Bible class curricula in schools.
8. Other broadcast channels: “Showers of Blessing” testimonies continue to broadcast in YMCA hotels, clinics, hospitals, schools, senior citizen centres, and churches, and permission is given for churches, fellows, and schools to use “Showers of Blessing” in their ministerial activities.
9. Creative Media Ministry: We have successfully broadcast our animated series “Rainy Day Blessings” on train and platform TVs on Shenzhen Metro Lines 1 and 4. Short clips from “Showers of Blessing” are also shown on lobby TVs of 100 residential and commercial buildings in Shenzhen.
10. Campus Ministry: Over the Christmas season, we successfully performed 19 shows of drama “The Life of Jesus”, engaging with over 5,000 students and parents.
11. Outreach Ministry: SOBEM gospel-themed “Fai Chun” continue to be distributed for free or for donation each year, and they continue to be popular with the public.

Our team continues to strengthen our faith-based media programmes through adapting to technological advances and continued collaborations with our ministerial partners. We strive to comprehensively provide evangelical broadcasting across all avenues, allowing the word of the Lord to reach the masses in achieving the Great Commission!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalms 136:1)

Those who have survived the pandemic of the century and experienced COVID-19 safely do not know what else to say except gratitude! At the beginning of the New Year 2023, everything was renewed. The market was rejuvenated, and people flew again. People regained their confidence of the past, shook hands, and even hugged each other. His love does endure forever! The ministry of Vancouver SOBEM also responded to the theme of “Reconnect” at the head office and started physical gatherings, no longer just online:

Outcome of events

• In January, over 600 people attended the two sessions of Wong Cho Lam’s “Ever-changing Life” Mandarin evangelistic meetings, and 70 people believed in the Lord.  Seeing believers picked up the cross and held it high, was a really touching scene.
• In April, over 300 people attended the two sessions of Channels’ “Reconnect” Cantonese evangelistic meetings, and 5 people believed in the Lord.  As for our Annual Thanksgiving and Fund Raising Dinner, we had almost 400 people attended the event. People reunited after a long separation and chatted non-stop. It was another touching scene.
• In June, Dr. Matthew Kwok shared his testimony during the “SOBEM Live - Real People, Real Story” event at Peace Gospel Church, the event also attracted many people to attend.

Ministry and LifeCare

• In May, HQ's TV production team visited Vancouver and Seattle to film a total of eight testimonial stories, scheduled to be broadcast from January to April 2024.
• In October, two ministry administrative colleagues attended General Secretary Pastor Raymond Kwok's reverend ordination ceremony in Toronto and participated in CCCOWE's “Reimaging Future Church” meeting. They also held meetings with various departments at the head office to discuss the SOBEM ministry.
• For radio recording, guests were being interviewed every month at the studio of Fairchild Radio. The interviewed guests this year included Phyllis Man, Ivy So, Andrew Ling and many others.
• For LifeCare, experienced volunteers continue to answer calls from transferred lines all over the world every Tuesday and Saturday. The original volunteer team of seven has now increased to nine people.  We really appreciate their faithfulness in caring and listening to the callers.
• As for the needs of local churches, our office continues to distribute SOBEM's custom designed caring cards, New Year banners, and TV stories USB to our supporting churches through VCEMF. We also participate in meetings held in churches, setting up booth and introduce our ministry!

We have seen the enduring love of our Lord throughout the whole year. Especially at the end of the year, we have seen the launching of YouTube Shorts initiated by Vancouver SOBEM. We have seen these one-minute videos being widely circulated and recommended. We are truly grateful to our Lord for keeping us in touch with the pulse of this versatile social media platform, so that we're not only just viewers of the Net but also net catchers, reaching people who have yet to believe in the Lord, and help them hear the gospel.  Amen!

It has been a relatively quiet year, even though the pandemic is receding. For many years, a faithful brother has been helping us design the SOBEM banners for the Australian TVB Monthly; but due to his health, the banners are now designed by another sister and she has taken over the responsibility smoothly.

Some of our radio gospel listeners still request DVDs of our broadcasts, so we continue to distribute the last small amount of these old but still valuable resources.

SOBEM(AU) Committee

• Chairman: Rev. Kephas Wong
• Treasurer:  Rev. Stephen Li
• Secretary: Barnabas Chan

Greetings from NZ!

SOBEM NZ continues to seek God’s direction and “be still” to pray for how we can serve Him next after the impact of Covid pandemic.

However, we did not stand still. Between Feb and Mar 2023, the filming crew from HQ came and shot a few testimonies of local Christians here. It is now also confirmed that the filming crew will be returning in 2024 for more episodes.

A few of the committee members have resigned their roles in Sobem NZ effective 1 April 2024. we would like to thank them for their commitment over the past years and pray that God’s blessings and guidance be with them whereever they serve. Meanwhile, we keep our sigths on God and look forward to seeing new members to be part of our SOBEM family.

We thank everyone of you for your support in 2023 and please keep us, especially our needs and challenges in your prayers and may God’s showers of blessings be with us all in the years to come.

CANADA OPERATIONS 2023 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND 2024 BUDGET (ACCRUAL BASIS)

OPERATING FUND is $826,450
RESERVE FUND is $1,050,000

NOTE: ACTUAL GENERAL DONATIONS INCLUDES DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, COMPANIES & CHURCHES AS WELL AS SPECIAL FUND RAISING PROJECTS.

REMARK: THIS IS A CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND BUDGET FOR BOTH TORONTO AND VANCOUVER.