Steve Chong (born November 30, 1978) is the founder and director of the RICE (Renewal and Inter-Church Evangelism) Movement, originating from Sydney, Australia. He rose to national prominence when he appeared on the controversial SBS reality TV series "Christians Like Us." ABC characterised him as a Christian leader who "sees an Asian future for the church Down Under." As well as leading the RICE Movement, he is an itinerant evangelist, preaching and teaching in Christchurch, Vancouver, San Francisco, Perth, as well as home town of Sydney. He has been trained and mentored by American ministers Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller. Early life and education Chong was born on November 30, 1978, in Sydney, Australia to Chinese-Malaysian parents. They converted from Buddhism to the Christianity at the 1979 Billy Graham Crusade. He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Sydney. With the plan of becoming an Anglican minister, he studied for a Bachelor of Theology at Moore Theological College. Ministry career Chong studied 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 Presbyterian Church, Kogarah in Sydney's inner south, throughout which, he founded the RICE Movement. He has been further trained and mentored by American ministers Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller (pastor). RICE Movement Founded in 2002 in Sydney, Australia, Chong formed the RICE Movement in order to share 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—a RICE Rally—held each year in August. Numbers for the rallies appeared to peak in 2008 with an audience of 3,800, tapering to 2,000 people by 2015. 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. While he says many Asian young people suppress creativity and passion, "We love unlocking that." RICE Movement's reach has since expanded from Sydney, to Melbourne, Auckland, Perth, and Sao Paulo 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