Reconciliation opportunities with Tibetans and Uyghurs in Canada

CY Yan knows what it is to be a displaced person. He came from Hong Kong to Canada more than 30 years ago.

He still remembers transitioning from the honeymoon stage in the new country to being foreign. Now he is a ministry consultant about reconciliation, especially people from opposite sides of conflict living in close proximity, he explains in a recent episode of the podcast All Things Reconciled.

Yan relates a story about a group of Chinese and Japanese pastors – ancient enemies – spending three months praying together after Japan suffered an earthquake and tsunami. At one point, a Japanese pastor stood up and apologized for Japan’s treatment of Chinese people during wartime.

Extending forgiveness is important, says Yan, and asking for forgiveness is often more important. He lives this out by regularly visiting a Tibetan restaurant and befriending the owners. In his personal capacity Yan has apologized for the mistreatment Tibetans experienced in their homeland, which has begun to build a bridge with the family.

There are “eight thousand to ten thousand Tibetans living in Toronto, but only perhaps ten are Christians. A mission field right here,” says Yan.

Of course, other Canadians have been persecuted by Chinese officials. Yan cites Canadian government estimates that up to 10,000 Uyghurs will immigrate in the next five years. “How will the Chinese community respond?” Yan asks. “What can I do? How can we help them settle in the new country and begin to reconcile with them?”

Listen to the full podcast episode at TheEFC.ca/DisplacedReconciled.

The World Evangelical Alliance Peace & Reconciliation Network does its work through the generosity of donors. Connect with the PRN or donate. Invite Canadian director Joel Zantingh of Guelph, Ont., or global director Phil Wagler of Kelowna, B.C., as a speaker. Read more of these blog posts at FaithToday.ca/AllThingsReconciled.