User:Balastiere/sandbox

Steve Chong (born November 30, 1978) is founder and director of the Rice Movement, originating from Sydney, Australia. Currently, he works part-time at the Rice Movement and spends the rest of the time as an itinerant evangelist, preaching and teaching at other churches and events around Sydney.

Early Life and Education
Chong was born on November 30, 1978, in Sydney, Australia to a Chinese/Malaysian family.

He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Sydney.

Personal Life
Steve is married to Naomi Chong and together they have 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls.

Ministry Career
Chong went on to study at bible college where he was trained in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney by renowned evangelist John Chapman. He then spent 7 years as a young minister at Kirkplace Church, Kogarah in Sydney's inner south, throughout which, he founded the Rice Movement. He has been further trained and mentored by American minister, Tim Keller (pastor).

Rice Movement
Founded in 2002 in Sydney, Australia, Chong formed the Rice Movement in order to raise up a new generation of people sharing the gospel of Jesus. Initially starting out with only 6 youth groups and around 120 people, Rice has since grown to involve thousands of young people in what is Australia's largest Asian youth movement with annual rallies (Rice Rally) held each year in August.

As a stated nondenominational movement, Rice Rally has attracted thousands of youth, particularly from the Asian Australian demographic, though Chong says that he never set out to start an Asian-focused ministry.

Rice Movement's reach has since expanded from Sydney, to Melbourne, Perth and Auckland in recent years.

In addition to the annual 'Rice Rally', Rice Movement also runs two school focused ministries in the form of Rice Catalyst and Rice Twelve as well as a Grad Program.

Rice Catalyst
Rice Catalyst is a schools based ministry that 'aims to relight the flame of Christian youth by exploring the depths and riches of God’s Word together.' Catalyst runs a conference in addition to the main Rice Rally called Catalyst Conference, which brings youth groups and school Christian groups together in order to 'train, encourage and challenge one another the fundamentals of Christian living.'

The main theme of Rally carries through to the main talk, with additional topical workshops, practicals and Q&A panel.

Rice Twelve
Rice Twelve is a study camp initiative, specifically for Year 12 students, to help them prepare as well as 'provide a Christ-honouring perspective to their work and priorities.'

Grad Program
Rice Movement's Grad Program is aimed at setting 'young adults up for evangelism and ministry in their local church and beyond.' The program has partnered with Ravi Zacharias ministries for apologetics training as well as other local social justice organisations dependant on the city.

Media
In 2019, Steve Chong apppeared on the SBS (Australian TV channel) show 'Christians Like Us'. The show was billed as “10 Australian Christians with vastly different beliefs live under one roof for a week to confront the controversial topics of their faith. They will grapple with what makes a good Christian, and the role religion plays in modern life.” When later describing the experience Chong said, "“Some of the conversations were really intense. And I think that’s to be expected: some of these issues are so personal for people, and go to the heart of people’s backgrounds and hurts they’ve experienced.”