January 2003

A NEW YEAR OPENS MANY NEW DOORS

Well, here it is! The year 2003! No one knows what the future will bring forth but we are confident that Jesus Christ, our Friend and Helper, will be in our future. When He puts forth His sheep He goes before and prepares the way. This new year offers those who are interested in China a great open door of opportunity. Not all of us can make a personal trip to China , but each of us can intercede at the Throne of God for this vast country and her billion people. I hope you will covenant to pray for China as it faces new challenges and enters into world opportunities. China needs prayer as never before as the end time approaches. While it is day, we need to be active and working at spreading the good news.

PRAY FOR CHRISTIAN RADIO REACHING CHINA

From the Alliance Radio and Family News Prayer Focus comes this condensed report. First of all, China ’s entry into the W.T.O. is beginning to open many new doors to the country and world that opens up a golden opportunity for more people to hear God’s word. We must pray that more listeners will be reached. This requires people to pray and people to give. China is a prime investment project for eternity.

Secondly, no one knows how long the door will be open in China or how much time we have before Jesus returns. People’s attitude toward Christianity is running exceptionally high these days, but no one knows when this will change. Let’s be wise stewards of the Lord and do what we can now.

Thirdly, radio broadcasting bears good fruit. A listener wrote that after the very first time of hearing one of the Alliance programs, he returned day after day to listen and learn. Eventually he received Christ as His Savior and entered seminary to prepare for ministry. He continued listening every day and now as a pastor, he still follows the programs daily and uses the material to help his people walk closer to God.

There are several Christian Radio stations broadcasting to China . Trans World Radio and the Far East Broadcasting Corporation are two of the larger Christian radio broadcasting agencies, along with Alliance Radio, that are worthy of your prayers and contributions.

TAIWAN MISSIONARY REPORTS OUTSTANDING RESULTS

A faithful missionary colleague serving in Taiwan is experiencing great blessing in the churches where he serves. Doors are wide open in many places. He reports a pastor’s wife being invited to tell the Christmas story in the public school to more than 500 children and teachers. Christmas is no longer a legal holiday in Taiwan , but the doors for telling the story continue to be open. This same Christian worker will be making four trips into mainland China within the next six months to work in seminaries and training schools for workers. The church is exploding all over the country and not enough pastors and Bible Women are available to serve the new congregations. This should be a matter of urgent prayer that God would raise up laborers for the harvest field.

PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

In spite of many open doors and great growth, there is intense persecution in China in many places. The persecution usually takes place among unregistered churches because the government looks on them as breaking the law. This sometimes is just a lightly veiled excuse for persecution. Many Christians languish in slave labor camps for the sake of the gospel. Many factories use slave labor to make cheap products that are flooding the American and world markets because most foreign companies are simply watching the bottom line. Pray that American companies will awaken to this tragedy and refuse business with factories employing slave labor, often imprisoned Christians. Continue to write to the Chinese Embassy in Washington and let the Chinese government know that we do not approve of such actions. Let our own government know that this is a false pot of gold and human lives are at stake.

A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE FIRST CHINESE ALLIANCE PASTOR IN CANADA

Sylvia Yu has just released a challenging new book on the life of Augustus Chao, the first Chinese pastor to come from Hong Kong to Canada to plant Alliance churches. The book is called Serving God with Heart and Soul. Pastor Chao set a goal of establishing 50 Chinese Alliance churches in Canada . The goal has been reached. This is the amazing story of the faith and vision of this man of God. He first came in contact with the C&MA in Hong Kong when he met Paul Bartel who also had the vision of planting churches in Canada . Escaping from Communist China in 1951, he reached Hong Kong and entered into business. As a believer, he soon became possessed with this great vision of planting churches. This is an inspirational testimony of what God will do through one person willing to be used. The book is available through Regent College Bookstore, 5800 University Boulevard , Vancouver , BC V6T 2E4 or by calling 1-800-334-3279 or by e-mail: bookstore@regent-college.edu   The cost is $15.00 paper back. 162 pages.

GIANTS WALKED AMONG US – The Story of Paul and Ina Bartel by Anthony Bollback includes some of the Augustus Chao story. This book is available from Christian Publications, Inc in paper back, 200 pages, or from A. Bollback for $9.50 plus $2.50 postage. See www.bollback.com for more information.

BEGIN A NEW OUTREACH TO CHINESE STUDENTS IN THE USA

Over 70,000 Chinese students are in American universities and colleges. God has brought these thousands to our door step so that they might be reached with the gospel outside of their own country. These are the future leaders of China . Reach them today, and we have made a tremendous impact on the country. These students are in almost every college or university and many of them are very close to your church. Have a heart for these bright, intelligent young people. Pray for China Outreach Ministries, Inter-Varsity, Campus Crusade, Ambassadors For Christ and other student groups reaching out to these students.

PRAY FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE WORKING IN CHINA

There are thousands of Americans living and working in China for hundreds of companies. Large populations of these expatriates, numbering into many thousands, reside in the large cities such as Hong Kong , Shanghai , Beijing and many others. Many of these people are believers and they meet together for fellowship and instruction in the Word. They also are seeking to reach other foreign nationals with the gospel. Pray for the workers who serve in these communities. Pray for school teachers all over the country that they will have liberty to share their faith with young people and faculty members. There are unprecedented opportunities open to Christians to work in China as tentmakers with the opportunity of sharing their faith. If God is speaking to you about such a ministry, do not hesitate to go and let God use you in astounding ways.

FROM A SCHOOL TEACHER IN CHINA

This report will reveal the opportunities open to teachers. A sophomore girl asked if she could attend church with the teacher. On Sunday at the appointed time, she showed up with three other girls and they all attended for the first time. As they walked home, the girl asked how to become a Christian, but the answer was postponed until they reached home and were quietly seated in the teacher’s home. After an hour of answering questions, the girl responded by saying, “Oh, I thought it was like applying for an ID card. But you're talking about a change inside of us!” These girls are trying to settle the issue of whether God exists. After 20 years of being told He does not exist, they need to settle this issue. Pray for these four girls and many more like them.

CHINA CLIPPINGS reaches more than 1,000 addresses each month and it continues to grow because so many are passing it on to praying friends. Please do so, and tell people to simply send an e-mail requesting to be added to the mailing list. Imagine the joy in heaven as we all pray for China ! Hallelujah!

Yours Because He IS Lord,

Anthony Bollback