“The time for Chinese as a strategic spiritual language has come”: Pastor Naomi Dowdy on NCW’s first Chinese Women Arise Conference

After 11 years of the Women Arise Conference, held in English, NCW (Network of Christian Women) is holding its very first Chinese Women Arise Conference on October 30 and 31.

NCW was founded by Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy, who recently won Salt&Light‘s Inspiration Award for her faithful ministry that has seen Christians equipped and empowered for Kingdom assignments, and is now co-led by NCW Co-Chair Ho Wan Leng. 

What inspired this move to reach Chinese-speaking Christian women?

Ps Dowdy: This conference is born out of both a felt need and a vision. For the past 11 years, the NCW Women Arise Conference has been conducted in English, but I had a desire to reach the Chinese diaspora living in Singapore.

I shared this desire with Wan Leng.  It resonated with her, and she has taken it higher and broader. 

We held a bilingual night rally during Women Arise for the first time last year, and are looking forward to our inaugural Chinese conference later this month.

We’ve seen a vibrant, growing segment of Chinese-language believers, many of whom feel more comfortable gathering, worshipping, learning, and connecting in their native language. We believe they deserve an event tailored to their language, culture, and experiences.

This move is not about exclusion of others; rather, it’s about embracing inclusion in a deeper way — reaching women where they are, in the language of their heart, so they can fully engage, connect, and be released into their calling.

Why specifically the Chinese-speaking?

Ps Dowdy: In April 2025, NCW has launched the inaugural NCW SG60 conference for women age 60 and above.  

As we expand our vision, Wan Leng and I felt the time is right to intentionally reach out to a broader, more diverse community. The Chinese conference is part of that expansion, to ensure we don’t unintentionally exclude women whose first or preferred language is Chinese.

Ps Dowdy, does being 90 in any way influence or affect your ministry, especially starting something new like Chinese NCW? What are the challenges?

Ps Dowdy: Age is not a limitation. Rather, it’s a testimony of God’s grace. At 90, I don’t see myself as slowing down; I see myself as seasoned for service. The years have not reduced my passion; they have refined my perspective.

Yes, being 90 influences my ministry deeply. It gives me the courage to dream bigger because I’ve witnessed God’s faithfulness over time. It reminds me that when God gives a vision, age is never a barrier. The same God who called Abraham at 75, Caleb at 85, and Anna in her later years, He is still calling us today. 

At 90, Ps Dowdy sees herself as “seasoned for service”.

I’ve seen how God works across decades; how seeds planted long ago can still bear fruit today. So, when the vision for the NCW Chinese Conference arose, I didn’t see it as “starting something new” but rather as continuing God’s story through a new chapter and new generation. 

Of course, there are challenges. But those challenges are also opportunities to mentor, empower, and pass the baton. God plans for succession so that His vision goes beyond one generation, thus becoming generational. 

In NCW, Wan Leng shares the same vision with me. Whether it is this Chinese conference or through our other expressions, the vision of NCW does not stop with me, but has expanded in the last few years and will continue to do so under her leadership, should the Lord tarry.

How will the Chinese conference differ from the English?

Wan Leng: Both conferences carry the same heartbeat, and that is to awaken, equip, and empower women to arise in their God-given calling. But the Chinese Conference expresses that heartbeat through a different language and cultural lens.

In short, the difference isn’t in the vision but in the expression: Same vision (women arising in faith and purpose), but different vessel (reaching hearts through Chinese language, stories and culture). 

Both are parts of one movement — two streams flowing from the same source to water different fields.

What do you hope will arise out of this first Chinese conference?

Ps Dowdy: My hope is to see a new generation of Chinese-speaking women rise up; women who love God deeply, walk faithfully, and serve fruitfully in their own communities. The goal is to see younger leaders finding their voice, speaking in their heart language, and reaching others who might never have been reached through English alone.

At this stage of my life, my role is no longer to run alone, but to cheer others on and to pour out what God has poured into me, so that others may go further.

Ps Dowdy and Wan Leng share a vision for women in the Chinese-speaking world to be released into their God-given calling.

Wan Leng: We envision NCW becoming a beautiful platform where Chinese-speaking women from different nations, dialects, and backgrounds worship God together in unity — Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and the wider diaspora. Different accents, one voice. Different cultures, one Spirit.

If this conference can ignite that unity and awaken that next generation, then we have fulfilled our mission, which is to see women arise and nations transformed for His glory.

Tell us about the speakers and why you have chosen them for this event?

Wan Leng: For this inaugural Women Arise Chinese Conference, we sensed the Lord’s leading to gather voices that reflect the beautiful diversity of the Chinese-speaking world.

Ps Adriana Chen comes from Taiwan, Ps Ray Zhou originates from mainland China, and Ps Wang Xizuan, also born in China, now serves as a Singaporean Pastor. I am a Malaysian Chinese, and our guest worship leader Charis Chua of Kua Music is Malaysian, now residing in Taipei.

Plenary speakers at the upcoming Chinese conference.

There is a clear pattern: They represent the next generation of Chinese-speaking believers from different nations, dialects, and backgrounds. Each one carries a distinct story of God’s call and a heart to see Chinese-speaking women arise in faith and unity. Together they embody our conference vision: That from every nation and tongue, the daughters of God will worship, serve, and shine for His glory.

What is the Lord saying about the Chinese-speaking world?

Wan Leng: This is what we believe God is doing:

Firstly, a season of voice and language is dawning

God has always used language as a vehicle for revelation, worship, and mission: Hebrew in the Old Testament, Greek in the New Testament, and later the expansion of English as a global lingua franca. Now, we sense a shift; a season where Chinese will carry new authority in spiritual realms, especially over the Chinese-speaking peoples across the globe.

This is not about replacing English or other languages, but God raising another strategic language through which He will speak, heal, commission, and unify.

Worship leader Janet Tang at Women Arise bilingual night rally in August 2024.

Secondly, God is bridging divides — across diaspora, generations, dialects

The Chinese-speaking world is not monolithic. It spans dialects, regional cultures, diaspora communities, generations. God is raising leaders who can bridge Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, and others; people who understand Chinese culture, and yet are globally-minded.

Through them, God is knitting together Chinese people in Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, China, etc, so that the “Sinophone world” (Chinese language world) will become a unified spiritual front rather than fragmented lands.

Thirdly, a prophetic gate is being opened over the earth

Because Chinese is so widely spoken and deeply tied to identity, God is inviting us to prophesy: “I open a gate in heaven over the Chinese language where Your Word will go forth richly, Your voice will be heard, and Your Kingdom will advance among those who speak Chinese.”

Ps Dowdy: I believe God is saying that the time for Chinese as a strategic spiritual language has come. Chinese is already among the top languages globally, with over a billion native speakers and rising influence. Historically, God has used language to carry His command (Hebrew, Greek, then English). Now, He is raising up Chinese-language vessels, from diverse nations and dialects, to carry the Word, worship, and mission across the Chinese-speaking world and beyond.

NCW’s first Chinese Women Arise Conference happens October 30-31. Walk-in registration on October 30, 8.30-10.30am at Trinity Paya Lebar (nearest MRT: Tai Seng).

ABOUT REV DR NAOMI DOWDY & HO WAN LENG

Originally from the USA, Rev Dr Naomi Dowdy came from the Marshall Islands to Singapore to pastor a small struggling church in 1975. By the time she handed over in 2005, Trinity Christian Centre had grown into a church of global impact. She also founded Teen Challenge Singapore in 1976, and TCA College in 1979 and remains its Chancellor today. She founded Network of Christian Women in 2014, at the age of 79.

Ms Ho Wan Leng is the Founder and CEO of Optimal Consulting Group, which operates across five Asian nations. She has served as President of NCW since 2023, and Co-Chair of NCW since 2025. She also serves on the Executive Church Board of Grace Assembly of God. A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, she preaches regularly in Singapore and overseas.

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