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July 2000GREETINGS
As we begin the second half of the year 2000, we are rejoicing that Y2K didn’t
materialize and God’s work has continued unhindered by technical matters. The first
half of the year has seen many advances in China and with Chinese work around the world.
The second half promises to be filled
with many exciting things.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY IN BIBLE SCHOOLS AND SEMINARIES
From the e-mail letter of two Nanjing reporters comes the following thrilling account of
the impact schools and seminaries are making in China today. On July 8 at Jinling Union
Theological Seminary in Nanjing, 48 students graduated. There were 43 in the undergraduate
program and 5
in the graduate program. Of the undergraduates, 24 are men and 19 are women. They come
from 18 provinces of China and represent at least 4 of China’s ethnic people’s
groups. There is much cause for rejoicing because most will return to their own provinces
to begin their ministry in the
churches. Some will go to other provinces to pastor churches and a few will serve in the
seminary. As they marched into the chapel they sang “I Surrender All” and
“Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken.”
The Hunan Bible Seminary has graduated 137 students since it’s opening in 1991 while
another 400 have completed short term courses. The new five story dormitory accommodates
120-160 full time students in two and three year programs. They are preparing to work in
the more than 2,000 churches and meeting places in the province!
In Jiangsu Province, the Bible School which was established in 1998 has enrolled 85
students ranging in age from 19 to 35. Upon graduation, these students will join 123
pastors and 67 non-ordained seminary graduates and over 5,000 lay-leaders as they minister
to more than 1,000,000 believers
in 3,000 registered churches and meeting places!
This is an exciting report which should cause you to raise your voice in praise to God for
the miraculous events taking place in China today.
NYACK COLLEGE
From the newsletter of the College comes the exciting report that in October of last year,
three educators from the People’s Republic of China chose Nyack College as the college they
wanted to partner with in establishing cross-cultural relationships. In May, the agreement
was
finalized with Zhejiang Normal University in Jinhua, China. This is the educational
university for 20,000 students in eastern China. Right now (July 3 to August 13, nine
students are on campus teaching English in the mornings to elementary and middle school
students. In the afternoons,
they study Chinese. Next year, 15 students will be on campus, and in future years Nyack
faculty may also go to teach advanced English to Chinese teachers. While Nyack College
students will not be free to engage in overt evangelism, they will be encouraged to answer
any questions students may raise. This openness on the part of the administration reveals
the depth of their search for truth.
THE AMITY FOUNDATION
For those interested in doing further research on China, go to The Amity Foundation web
site: www.amityhk@pop.pacific.net.hk At this location, you will find
many interesting articles and reports about the Church in China today. China’s policy
on religious freedom requires all
churches to register, yet in some places they find it impossible to do so. The reason
given is that some cadres are lazy or over-anxious or even ignorant of the rules and
regulations. The authors of the article, Xu Shengyi and Li Xinwu state that there is a gap
between the requirement to register and in some cases, the ability to do so. There are
thousands of house churches which refuse to be registered because they feel it would be a
compromise of their faith. Unfortunately, the unregistered churches suffer reprisals
because they are looked upon as illegal and unsupportive of the government. Pray that each
church leader will be given wisdom in guiding the churches through this difficult but very
fruitful period.
GANSU PROVINCE EYE CLINIC
Each year for five months, US ophthalmologists travel to Gansu Province to work with
Gansu, Inc which provides free cataract eye surgery to thepeople of the province. This
group is headed up by the grandson of an early Christian and Missionary Alliance
missionary, William Christie, who
pioneered the area. This grandson eye surgeon writes an interesting report of services he
attended at the local church. The second floor meeting place is too small for all who want
to attend. The overflow crowd meet in rooms on the first floor to listen, but not see what
is going on. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing for about one hour, the congregation
participates in singing, mostly from memory. Usually, the songs are Scripture set to music
on the Chinese scale which sounds a bit
strange to western ears. At 9:30 a.m. there is a period of group prayer. All are standing
and all are praying out loud at the same time. Instead of confusion, there is the sweet
presence of the Lord as people cry out to God in real earnestness. After a few minutes, a
leader begins praying in a loud voice and the others cease. Again this will be strange to
westerners, but considered very normal for Chinese churches through the country. The
sermon now follows for at least 45 minutes to an hour! “When you leave church, you
know you have been in the presence of the Lord,” reports the doctor.
If there is any doubt as to the earnestness of Chinese believers, be assured that these
are just examples of what is happening all over the country. It is high time for the
American church to awaken out of the present stupor abounding as the result of crass
materialism which has invaded the church and robbed her of the power of the Holy Spirit.
KOWLOON TONG INTERNATIONAL CHURCH IN HONG KONG
Our son, Jim, writes from Hong Kong that since January they have had two baptismal
services with 13 following the Lord in the most recent service. Attendance is growing week
by week with well over 300 meeting regularly. Although this is an English speaking
congregation mostly for Chinese
people, they also have started a Mandarin Sunday School class to assist research students
from China proper who are working in Hong Kong for a year. Although they are not yet
believers, they are vitally interested in Christianity, and as we pray, they may become
believers during this year. The church also sponsors a Filipino service mostly for women
servants who work for wealthy Chinese. Since the first of the year, 27 have become
believers and 12 more are seeking to understand the gospel message. Alice is preparing to
lead some Bible studies for women in the city. It is good
to know that everything continues normally in Hong Kong with absolute freedom for the
church. Jim's web site is: www.bollback.freeservers.com
ALLIANCE MISSIONARY IN HONG KONG VISITS CHINA
On a visit to Wuhan in Hubei Province, Central China, a missionary friend reported that a
Rev. Min, pastor of the Jing Mei Church in Taiwan preached for one hour in one of the
country churches. When he finished, he was asked if he had another sermon.
“Yes,” he replied. “Preach it,” they demanded. This happened over and
over again. Pastor Min did not sit down until he had preached SEVEN sermons!
“Finally, they were filled,” reported the missionary visitor. One could
not find such hunger and such a demand anywhere in America! Praise God for the openness
and hunger in
China. Pray that the Word will bear much fruit. And pray that the American church will
begin to cry out after God in this same manner.
CHRISTIAN RADIO IN CHINA
Listeners write to the radio studio in Hong Kong as follows: From Heilungjiang comes this
letter: “I live a long way from the church, so I depend on listening to gospel radio.
These programs bring me much spiritual food.” Another listener writes, “Your
program helps us to understand God’s precious Word and strengthens our faith in Jesus
Christ, bringing us closer to God.” A young pastor writes, “I am a young pastor
in a church that is seven years old. We have 10 coworkers serving 13 preaching points. Our
church is quite poor. I thought when I heard your message on love that it was a message
our church needed so much. Please send us some literature to help us serve the Lord
better.” Pray earnestly for the many programs beamed into all parts of China by
several Christian
Radio organizations that God’s Word will touch thousands of lives and feed the young
believers who are beginning to walk with Jesus.
PASS THIS REPORT ALONG
You are encouraged to pass this report on China along to your friends so that they might
also join a growing number of Christians around the world who are interceding for China.
This report may be reproduced and circulated in any fashion. The purpose of this monthly
letter is to
encourage prayer interest and support for Chinese ministries both within China and outside
of China.
TRIP PLANNED TO HONG KONG
My wife and I will return to Hong Kong this October for about three weeks which will
include visiting with our son Jim and his wife, Alice, as well as preaching ministries.
Your prayer support will be greatly appreciated that every need will be met and God will
be glorified.
Yours on behalf of the millions of Chinese in the world,
ANTHONY BOLLBACK