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.
Yours on behalf of the millions of Chinese in the world,

 ANTHONY BOLLBACK