CHINA’S FUTURE LEADERS OVERSEAS

An amazing thing is happening among Chinese students studying overseas. Unprecedented numbers are crowding the halls of universities in America, England and Europe. “China is an emerging superpower desperately needing the positive influence of Christian values,” writes David T. Chow, Director of Ambassadors for Christ.  AFC has been reaching students and intellectuals on US campuses for more than 40 years and now is extending its outreach to Europe. “This is a strategic time,” continues David Chow. “We must intensify our efforts to reach Chinese intellectuals in this generation.”

IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING ON EUROPE

In 2007, AFC sent a team to England and Europe to seek out opportunities to work among Chinese students to equip them to live out their new found faith when they return to China.  They discovered that there are 100,000 Chinese students in the UK desperately needing to be reached and discipled for Christ. Across the channel in France, another 20,000 are enrolled in universities. AFC has sent Shumei Huang, its first missionary to Europe to begin ministry at the University of Lille (France.) This is the first step in the huge challenge to reach Chinese students at other European universities. AFC’s extensive publishing ministry for mainland Chinese is reaching many thousands of people. David Chow rejoices that God has provided funds to print and circulate more than 260,000 pieces of literature in 2007 that are designed to open hearts to the gospel and disciple new converts. For more information, go to www.afcinc.org

CHINA OUTREACH MINISTRIES

As many as 100,000 Chinese students and intellectuals are enrolled in U.S. universities and colleges across the nation, and according to Glen Osborn, Director of COM, that number will soon grow to 150,000 in the very near future! “These students,” writes Osborn, "are China’s future. If they have the opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ while in the U.S., they may receive Him and take Him back to China.” China Outreach Ministries is one of the major organizations reaching Chinese students in the USA with staff on more than 50 major campuses where they are experiencing phenomenal responses. In order to disciple these intellectuals and prepare them to influence the nation upon their return to China, COM will soon begin a new $700,000 building project at their headquarters to provide a place for encouraging and building up the faith of converts returning to their homeland. The good news is that over $500,000 has already been received for this project. For more information, log on to www.Chinaoutreach.org

CHINA SOURCE IMPACTS MAINLAND CHINESE 

Recently, China Source brought together 80 church leaders in Hong Kong from a dozen provinces in China to provide valuable preparation for cross-cultural ministry. With hundreds of students returning to China as believers who will take up influential positions in government and business, the explosion of Christianity is expected to continue unabated. That will mean thousands and thousands of new believers in China will become available for outreach ministries and missionary endeavor. Brent Fulton, President of China Source wrote in his recent news letter, “Preparing Chinese Christians for fruitful leadership in several strategic segments of Chinese society is a priority of China Source. We are committed to ensuring they have the knowledge, partnerships, and training materials they need to reach their cities for Christ.”  The Hong Kong conference opened the eyes of these delegates to the tremendous possibilities of working together in keeping with the Chinese “Back To Jerusalem” vision of training and sending out their own missionaries. On the first evening of the conference, a brother from Tibet asked who else felt called to work among Tibetans. A dozen responded and began working together. On the second day, participants asked for help so that they could sponsor a similar conference in China. And when the conference ended, everyone was exchanging contact information with each other and making plans to connect again. For more information, check out www.chsource.org

GO BACK TO CHINA

From the Overseas Missionary Fellowship East Asia Insight comes the report of Samuel, the Vice-president of a large computer company. Although he became a Christian as a young man, he was caught up in making money in his successful computer company and he got side-tracked until two years ago. Both he and his wife became convinced that God wanted them to go back to China to help change the corporate culture of the country. He has been able to influence some of the richest and most influential business and corporate leaders of China, and he is helping to eliminate corruption, embezzlement and extortion practices so prevalent in making business deals. His strong testimony and life goes all the way back to his student days when he found Christ in this country- a glowing example of the incredible opportunity we have to influence the leadership of China. For more information about OMF, go to www.omf.org

THE ULTIMATE GOAL

All of these organizations have only one major goal: reach Chinese people- intellectuals, business people, men and women from all walks of life, and children- for Jesus Christ. In China today, the Church has a great vision of reaching cross-culturally into other lands. The general term being used by many different groups is “Back To Jerusalem” that longs to send out workers from China toward Jerusalem in church planting endeavors. Dozens and dozens of workers are already in place, learning the language of their new country and earnestly praying that they will be able to reach many for the Kingdom. Last month it was reported that from one group diligently training many workers, visas had been approved to enter limited access lands. Those people are now on the field, rejoicing that they have found accommodations close to one another, and they have already begun language study! It is a lonely and difficult time in a strange land and therefore urgently need our prayer support. Two trainees have been accepted by a sending missions organization which meets their financial needs and gives them some much needed ministry resources. Another class will graduate in March and soon will enter their new field of ministry. The vision is burning evermore brightly, and the numbers of trained workers is growing month by month. For more information contact  prayer@lfdusa.org

A new worker has been in Cairo for six months studying Arabic. Her teacher has shown some interest in the Bible and is beginning to ask many questions. She has read the four Gospels and has an open attitude toward the Gospel. The advance will be on a one-to-one basis.

Another worker is in contact with an Egyptian believer who is actively working in the Sunday School department of her church. This woman is an encouragement to the new missionary, and in turn is encouraged that foreigners are interested in her and her people. There is quite a strong reaction from Muslims in Egypt and all workers, both national and foreign, need the protection of the Lord on their lives.

From JL, from the Prayer Network staff of the training center where these workers were trained says, “I am constantly touched by the stories of our missionary trainees. Their submissiveness and commitment to God encourages me.”  Pray for teachers, staff and students at these training centers to be fully equipped and prepared for the difficult task of penetrating dangerous outposts of the gospel in Muslim lands.

HI TECH IN GOSPEL BROADCASTING

2007 witnessed a great advance for Alliance Radio broadcasting from Hong Kong. They report that on the Mainland of China, more and more people are watching television and they are also carrying gadgets that transmit broadcasts. Alliance Radio has revamped their web site to include web casts in addition to the regular shortwave transmissions. Responses have been very encouraging and much faster. The staff is committed to upgrading their broadcasting facilities and equipment as rapidly as possible to keep pace with the latest technology available in China. To learn more or contribute, log on to www.cmaradiohk.org

SOMETHING INTERESTING 

If you would like to see a very interesting thing, log on to www.ChurchInChina.com and go to the lower left corner and click on the ClustRMap for visitor locations. You will see an amazing sight! All the locations in the world where people have logged on to this web site are indicated with red dots- almost 1,000 since November 4, 2007. Please notice how many show up in China, Asia, the South Pacific including Indonesia, Australia and Europe. Please pray that hundreds of people will read this web site and find hope in Jesus Christ.

Anthony Bollback