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April 2000
CHINA AT THE CROSSROADS
The church in China has multiplied 18 fold over the past 30 years.
Without a doubt, no other country has experienced such growth since
Pentecost! With the Christian population now numbering as many as 80
million people by some estimates, we must never forget that there are
still over 1 billion non-believers in the country!
Although political change has been stubbornly resisted, yet new policies
have opened up unprecedented opportunities for believers to share their
faith. There is no doubt that persecution exists in many parts of China
but it is also true that unparalleled open doors allows the church to
grow unhindered in most of the country. Give thanks to God for this fact,
and pray earnestly for those incarcerated for the gospel’s sake.
CHINA’S INTELLECTUALS
China has taken some major steps to bring her millions of people into the
21st century. There are presently tens of thousands of her top
intellectuals in American universities. Many are professors, doctors,
engineers, nuclear scientists, economists and government officials. They
have one common goal. They desire the best education possible to help
their country move forward as rapidly as possible. Give praise to God for
the fact that never before in history has one nation entrusted her top
minds to another nation to be trained as China has today! Pray that
American believers will reach out to these students whose hearts are open
and hungry for truth. One scholar stated recently, "The people of China
today are looking for something to believe in."
CHINA WRESTLES WITH CHANGE
From Far East Broadcasting magazine "Voice of Friendship" an article
stating that people are looking for direction and a moral anchor; they
cannot find hope in their present circumstances, so they must look beyond
themselves. FEBC radio programs are assisting people in their search for
truth and hope. One man wrote that during the threat of severe flooding
he was suddenly reminded of God. "I thought I should pray but there are
no Christians in my village. I knew there were many in a neighboring
village who usually gathered in the evening, so I went there. I heard
singing from a distance. Only God can lift the spirits of people who are
so exhausted from disaster! I joined them and converted to Christianity."
FEBC production centers in Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, Singapore and
Hong Kong produce over 100 radio programs in 10 Chinese languages and
dialects. They are on the air more than 30 hours a day covering every
province of China. Pray for these programs and every Christian radio
station sending out the precious word in Chinese.
TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE TEAM TO CHINA
A team of four people will be traveling to China this summer to be
involved in teaching English at Chinese universities in Central China.
Three students majoring in Cross-Cultural Studies and their professor,
Jarvis Crosby, will be engaged in teaching adult Chinese to develop oral
proficiency in English. Each team member must raise $2,600 to cover
transportation and expenses in China. For more information, contact
jarvis@toccoafalls.edu/ Pray that this
team will be prepared physically
and spiritually to minister effectively at the universities assigned.
These students and their professor will go out under the auspices of the
Alliance Youth Corp. They are most desirous of prayer support for this
exciting opportunity.
UIGHUR PEOPLE OF XINJIANG PROVINCE
It is reported that there are approximately 300 believers in the Uighur
Autonomous Region of northwest China. Uighurs are Muslims, and Islam has
become a bulwark against assimilation into the political state of modern
China. The Scriptures are being translated into the two scripts Uighurs
use. It is urgently requested that we pray for the translators and that
as the Scriptures become available, that the people will be strengthened
and encouraged in their faith. Uighurs also reside in Kazakstan,
Kyrgyztan and Uzbekistan. Pray for this unreached people group that the
glorious light of the Gospel will shine in their hearts and transform
their lives.
CHINESE CHURCHES GROW IN FLORIDA
The Chinese Church of Fort Myers celebrated their 5th anniversary
recently with an enthusiastic group of approximately 80 people. Started
by Rev. David King formerly of Hong Kong, the group has grown steadily.
Today they have two fine young Chinese pastors working to enlarge the
church. Praise the Lord that their missionary faith promise increased
from $4,000 last year to $11,000 this year! A new Chinese church has
begun meeting in Melbourne, Florida and needs earnest prayer support to
reach the intellectuals and students of the area.
NANJING MEDICAL CLINIC AND CHURCH PROSPER
From two correspondents in Nanjing comes the report that the new three
story medical clinic will have a fourth floor added for a 30 bed hospice.
Plans are underway to develop a relationship with a sister facility in
Taiwan well known for it’s hospice work and with the seminary in Nanjing
which will provide counseling and spiritual assistance. In February two
government officials of the Nanjing district attended the church in China
for the first time in their lives. A service in the church in connection
with the expansion of the clinic was the occasion for the visit by these
officials. They heard a clear, pointed message on the Ten Commandments
and also received Bibles as gifts. One of the officials commented that
the Bible was "a good book." They also liked the size of the characters
and commented on the fact that simplified Chinese characters and not the
traditional ones had been used. The report also states that Bibles can
usually be purchased on the spot in the Nanjing churches where Amity
Press publishes the Bible, but in villages, it usually takes about two
weeks to get one delivered. Praise God that the Bible continues to be
printed without difficulty in China and that it is being widely
distributed.
DALAT SCHOOL FOR MK’S
Evangelism Explosion is a course taught at the MK School by Tom Mangham,
EE Representative living in Penang, Malaysia. Excellent reports have been
received of the reception by students and their enthusiasm in sharing
their faith on and off campus. Praise God for an excellent Missions
Emphasis week reported by our son, Jonathan who is chaplain at the
school. Check out http://www.dalatchapel.faithweb.com/first.htm
for more
details of the great work God did in the lives of the students as they
were challenged to live for God.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CHURCH
Exciting reports of new growth and higher attendance come from our son,
Jim in Hong Kong who pastors the International Church there. Keep abreast
of happenings there by checking out http://www.bollback.freeservers.com
PRAY
1. For the 20 seminaries in China and the 1200 students preparing
for
ministry. The ratio is 1 pastor for every 60,000 people.
2. For Christian radio stations and producers to be anointed for the
ministry of preaching and teaching over the airwaves of China.
3. For preparations for summer ministries in China by people teaching
English and by medical teams.
4. For the new generation of believers. Half of many congregations are
now composed of young people eager to learn the Word of God.
5. For the circulation of my children’s books, "The Jack and Jenny
Mystery Series," on Hong Kong both in the States and in the Philippines.
Prayer is the key which unlocks closed doors. You can have a vital part
in the harvest as you pray for these urgent requests.