In fact, our vision is very direct, that is, to follow the command of the Lord Jesus' Great Commission and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit, through the moving testimony of brothers and sisters, comforts believers who have experienced the downturn of life and leads non-believers to accept Salvation. Especially during the epidemic, there are many heartbreaking stories in the world such as close relatives cannot meet face-to-face, mental health problems, unemployment, domestic violence and marital breakdowns. We are convinced that the Lord Jesus is the only answer.

Recently, I have often heard a term called 'pandemic fatigue', but our co-workers, volunteers and directors of the SOBEM are not tired at all. Everyone works side by side, hand in hand, to plan programs for the ministry. The coming year marks the 35th anniversary of SOBEM. Thirty-five years are not a short period of time, during which we experienced up and down. Because we have seen the protection of the Father in the past, we are even more confident moving forward. It is very important to receive a vision from God. Our co-workers and directors discuss the needs of this era from time to time, such as the recent wave of immigration from Hong Kong, the possibility of setting up the SOBEM European Office, and the ministry of our next generation English-speaking groups. I pray that the Holy Spirit would give wisdom to SOBEM so that our ministry can continue to break through and expand so as to exalt the Cross of Christ.

SOBEM needs everyone's prayers and support so that we can see more of the Lord's grace during the epidemic and believe that we experience more Grace than challenges.

In the past year, I had the opportunity to visit different churches in Vancouver and Montreal. In almost all of my conversations with the pastors there, they expressed their joy in knowing that SOBEM programs could become a common topic between them and unbelievers. We thank God for allowing SOBEM to act as a bridge between the Church and the seekers.

We give thanks not only for the partnerships developed with different churches, but also for those that have been established with different brothers and sisters as well as other evangelistic ministries over the years. Through their stories, we have seen God's miraculous work and acts of grace manifested time and again in myriad mission fields and families. This great crowd of witnesses has become a driving force for us to keep striving forward.

Building Networks

As the Covid pandemic rages on, social distancing has inevitably led to a disconnection among friends and communities. By God's grace and with the help of our supporters, we launched various new initiatives in the past year in an effort to counter this trend of isolation. Under the theme "Building Networks, Joining as One", we held our first online Cantonese opera outreach concert featuring a group of Cantonese opera-loving Christians, including composer Ms. Yuen Mei, who is still tirelessly dedicated to the art form at the age of 90, and renowned actress from Vancouver Ms. Pak Suet Hung. Through this concert, SOBEM was able to convey a message of peace and hope to our elderly friends who were struggling with loneliness and despair.

Last September, we purchased a time slot from Sing Tao A1 Chinese Radio in Toronto for a brand new Mandarin program called "SOBEM Rainbow". This is the first time that we defy geographical boundaries to work with someone in Malaysia, FM988 radio host XiuLam, on a weekly basis. This program is also uploaded to our YouTube channel and website. Our wish is that it can also be broadcast in other parts of the world.

Due to the pandemic, our local community was in a lockdown for a majority of the time last year. By God's wonderful provision, Covid cases in Ontario went down in November and December, leading to a brief reopening. We seized the opportunity to organize a live outreach event at Pacific Mall in Toronto on Christmas Day. That was our first step in expanding our community evangelism ministry. As the pandemic recedes, we hope to continue our outreach efforts, work with local churches, and bring God's love and blessings to more people.

Long periods of social distancing have led to fear and feelings of isolation. SOBEM's Lifecare hotline has received calls from all over the world and demands continue to rise. In light of the pandemic, the 11th Lifecare Training Course was held online, but that in turn enabled close to 40 brothers and sisters from different North American cities to attend the course. Having received training for over 3 months, these brothers and sisters have started to take calls and minister to those in need with love and prayers. We also began collaborating with Gracious Light Christian Centre in Ottawa this year; as a result, our capacity for receiving calls has significantly increased.

Looking back, God has led us to connect with many groups of people through these ministries in the past year. In the coming year, we hope to forge new alliances with His church and His people in different parts of the world, so that together we can spread His Gospel with concerted strength.

Looking Ahead

As SOBEM turns a new milestone, seeking truth and innovation has become our goal. To reach this end, Soul Lab Media, a multimedia production company that creates refreshing and inspiring contents, will join our production crew. Our first collaboration will be the 2nd FilmSooGood short film competition.

This year, three more directors will join Director Alfred Cheung, Director Henry Poon and Rev. Dick Kaan as our jury. They are Screenwriter-Director Benny Lau, whose films have been featured or nominated at the Busan International Film Festival and Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Awards; Screenwriter-Director Hannah Chang and Screen-writer Director Adrian Kwan, who won awards at the Fukuoka International Film Festival and the Niagara Falls International Film Festival with their film "Little Big Master". This year's competition will also include many new elements aiming to promote our evangelistic vision: "We Are the Story. We Are the Media." For more details, visit SOBEM's and Soul Lab Media's IG, websites and YouTube channels.

In the post-pandemic world, we are faced with not only the need to revive the economy, but also an urgency in evangelism. Partnering with local and overseas organizations and churches, SOBEM will host several online and in-person evangelistic events this year. It is our prayer to bring hope and blessings to the Chinese people and diaspora in all corners of the world.

As the world goes through turbulent times, SOBEM is also concerned about the circumstances that churches worldwide are facing. A while ago, we produced a special on Ukraine, hoping to bring awareness to the situation of the churches there.

The crisis in Ukraine creates political instability and raises concerns for soaring prices and food shortages. All this reminds us of the end-time prophecies mentioned in the book of Revelation. No one in this world can control or predict the time when Christ comes again, but before that day arrives, we as Christians should give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord and faithfully wait for His glorious return—that is still our greatest glory and blessing on this earth. As SOBEM awaits the Lord's return, we will continue to endeavour in His work. Please continue to lift us up in prayer and support us financially. We are committed to advance our ministries in innovative ways so as to pursue the mission for the times that God bestowed us.

Production Development

• SOBEM US is expanding its team of filming and production resource this year to film and produce more videos of local life stories. The team has produced more than 30 episodes of interviews and featured films with different playlists. Audiences can watch these videos on social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook under playlists like: Intersections, MV Sharing Series, Drug Rehabilitation Testimony, Extraordinary Life, etc. 

Expanding to the Younger Generation of English Speakers

• We are pleased to announce the launch of “As I am”, the English branch and extension of SOBEM USA. With the launch, “As I am” has a brand-new website - asiammedia.org, where audiences can watch all the English-language videos of SOBEM USA as well as new social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  The goal is to focus on bringing the Gospel and challenge to the younger generation to explore the intersecting identities of being Christian and Asian American. Please pray that God will guide us in starting this ministry and make great use of this new development direction.

SOBEM USA 23rd Anniversary

• This year's Vision Sharing and Fundraising Event was particularly special due to the instability of the pandemic. We decided to hold a small in-person gathering, and simultaneously online virtual meeting on October 17th. The event’s featured speaker was actor Eddie Chen, who shared his life journey in meeting God. Although he encountered many highs and lows including some of his failures, by God’s grace he was able to go through many challenging times to become stronger with God. We also received good participation and response throughout the event.

“Oversea Chinese” Episodes

• In the past, we have produced more than 60 episodes of Oversea Chinese testimonial stories suitable for broadcast in China. Although we have encountered some obstacles, we can still share these testimonies on several Chinese websites such as Tencent, Sina, Weibo, and Xigua. Please pray for the door of gospel opportunity. Additionally, we invested this year in re-making several of these Oversea Chinese episodes into "gospel" version suitable for broadcasting around the world, so that these testimonies can be spread more widely.

Financial and Resources

• the various expansion of ministry development this year requires more staff and financial resources to accomplish. Even though under the impact of COVID pandemic on the economy, we witnessed the abundant provision from God. This entire year's expenditure is $530,000, we received donation income of $640,000. We appreciate our supporters to believe in our investment and development in the Gospel media ministry. We also believe God’s rich provision shows His heart for us to move forward with faith to expand His Kingdom.

TV Ministry

• Showers of Blessing condensed version is aired on Phoenix TV Hong Kong. Showers of Blessing testimonies continues to air on ViuTVsix English channel, TVB Pearl, and myTV SUPER in Cantonese and Mandarin, with Chinese subtitles.

Radio Ministry

• For ten consecutive years, the Sobem Sojourner radio show has aired every Saturday on FM104 Metro Finance station. Over 500 guests have been interviewed, sharing their life testimony.

Public Transport Ministry

• We have covered the decals of minibuses with uplifting phrases on selected routes that serve our public hospitals. Showers of Blessing condensed version continues to be played on all MTR trains, MTR platform screens, and Green Minibuses.

External TV Broadcast Ministry

• Showers of Blessing is broadcasted in the lobbies TV of 600 commercial buildings and 300 residential buildings in Hong Kong.

Print Ministry

• We continue to publish “SOBEM Journey” in Sing Pao Daily News every Monday. “SOBEM Amoung Us” is published in the Herald Monthly. Showers of Blessing continues to be used as teaching materials in Grade 3 and junior high school Bible classes curriculum.
• During the pandemic, "Rainy Day Blessings" animation and children's picture book were launched to help parents teach their children at home.

New Media Ministry

• Showers of Blessing testimonies and "Rainy Day Blessings" animated videos have been uploaded to the SOBEM mobile app, SOBEM website, Youtube, Facebook, Tencent Video under SOBEM Channel which is free to watch for the public.

Other Broadcasting Channels

• Showers of Blessing testimonies are played in YMCA hotels, clinics, hospitals, schools, elderly centers, and outdoor screens of churches. We authorize local churches, fellowships, and schools to use our content to preach the gospel.

• On SOBEM’s 20th anniversary, "Story of Jesus" evangelistic drama shows were organized in schools for a total of 20 times.

I hope that everyone will seize the opportunity, continue to pray, and support SOBEM to move forward courageously. We are here to fulfill the Great Commission commanded by the Lord to spread the gospel everywhere!

Administration and Operation

• staff take turns on duty in the office (except during temporary closures in accordance with government guidelines)

• Allow cloud office working mode

• Some staff assist in the operation of the ministry on an unpaid basis

• Rev. Calvin Lam stepped down as the General Secretary of Sobem at the end of 2020. Pastor Raymond Kwok took over at the beginning of 2021. Rev. Lam joined the board of directors and continued to serve Sobem as the vice-chairman.

Ministry and LifeCare

• The production team of the radio station, in response to the needs of the people under the pandemic, produced a series of programs called "During the Pandemic..." and continued to invite Christians from all over the world to share their testimonies of life, which were broadcast in the weekly time slot of the radio station "The Sojourners"

• Under the premise of abiding by the pandemic prevention regulations, the TV production team continued to produce TV programs, which were broadcast weekly at contracted TV stations around the world; the production team went to Vancouver to shoot from the end of October to the beginning of November, eight guest stories, will air in 2022

• In response to the needs of the pandemic and the development of the Internet, we plan, promote, and conduct gatherings online. We had a fund raising event in March, celebration of the 34th anniversary in May, and a Cantonese Opera Evangelistic event in July. All were online and video of these events were posted on the Youtube page, allowing more people to view

• In November, Sobem Life Care held a training course, and Vancouver, as part of Western Canada, participated using online format. The course provided telephone and online care training and recruited hotline volunteers for the additional new hotline in Vancouver

• In addition to assisting and participating in the work of the above departments, Vancouver office also continued to cooperate with local churches to hold three online evangelistic gatherings of "Sobem Theatre", inviting our local interviewed guests: Shane Wu, Jackie Cheng, Bernice Taam to share their stories

The biggest impact of the pandemic on Sobem's work is to let all staff learn between the cloud and the entity, adjust their own work styles, and minimize the negative effects on the ministry as much as possible. This learning is still in progress. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, and from the end of the year to the beginning of the year, the vaccine against the Covid-19 has been inoculated for the third and fourth injections. However, news about the side effects of the vaccine on the human body, and rumors that the efficacy of the vaccine is questioned due to virus variants. Immediately for a time, there were many different opinions on the subject. But the word of the LORD came to His people, saying,"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed; for wherever you go, the LORD your God will be with you" (Joshua 1:9)