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July 2003 |
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GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS
There's lots of good news and some bad news this
month. I am always amazed at the marvelous things
God is doing in the land where atheism ruled
for so many years. It is still the official
policy of the Chinese government to propagate the
idea that there is no God and in many places to
restrict freedom of religion. However, we can
rejoice that there are so many open doors and
opportunities available to the people of China
today, and we can rejoice that thousands are finding
Him as the Lord of their lives.
BLESS THE LAND OF
CHINA
Many groups working inside China have an important
goal; bless China! The church in China is using
every means possible to bless the people of their
community. Pastors and workers have one major goal
in serving the Lord; bless China! Outside workers
who are privileged to enter the country through
various legitimate means have one goal; bless China! My
purpose in preparing this newsletter each month has
one goal; bless China! As you pray for this land of
over one billion three hundred thousand people, one
fourth of the world's population, have only one
goal; bless China! That is what God has called us to
do by whatever means possible. Any group that has
any other purpose than blessing China is not of God
and will not succeed.
EVANGELISM THROUGH
CHURCH CONSTRUCTION
Missionary personnel in Hong Kong are actively
working with many struggling churches in China to
assist them in rebuilding their churches so that
they can become lighthouses for evangelism. It
is still the policy of the government to encourage evangelism
to take place inside churches rather than in
other public places or among children. The
freedom enjoyed by these registered or authorized
churches is quite astounding as permission is
officially granted for building permits. The
visible presence of the church in community after
community, both large cities and rural communities,
is giving the church a very strong visible witness.
One rural church has been requesting registration
for many years in order to become a legal meeting
place according to Chinese law. Finally, after
years of praying and frustration, the little church
was granted permission last fall to register
and build a new structure. The new building is
already completed and is attractive and inviting,
and a much better witness than the old, ramshackle
structure that served them so long. Anyone
interested in assisting in church building for
evangelism may participate by earnestly praying
for these groups and by giving for such
construction. This team in Hong Kong would be
delighted to receive your gifts for this enlarging ministry.
THIRTEEN GROUPS
RECEIVE PERMISSION TO REGISTER
Although registration of churches continues to be a
matter of division within the church of China, more
and more churches are seeking registration in order
to make them legal entities recognized by the
government. In Guangxi Province, 13 groups have
been granted permission to register and three have
been granted building permits. It is cause for
praise that one group completed their building in 40
days! However, there are many groups still waiting
for registration and permission to build. In the
past, such registration was vehemently
opposed by thousands of groups throughout the land,
and still is. It is encouraging to know that reliable,
non-Chinese eyewitnesses are reporting that the
former controls do not apply any longer. Let
us pray that this relaxation of control will
continue and the clear presentation of the gospel
will go forth without hindrance.
PASTORS GATHER FOR
ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION
From several sources this month, I have gathered the
encouraging news that groups of pastors are meeting
together in conferences where the Word of God is
preached without restriction or dilution. At the
present time, a group of 50 pastors in one region
are meeting together for encouragement in the Word,
for prayer which is vital for the ongoing ministry
in their churches, and for planning outreach
ministries. The SARS outbreak caused many of these
gatherings to be cancelled and outside guests were
restricted from entering the country, but now with
the outbreak over, and all cities open once
again, gatherings are once again being planned. Pray
that these pastors will be strengthened in the Word
to make good use of the opportunity SARS brought to
the nation as people were frightened by their
confrontation with death.
IMPRISONMENT OF PASTOR
GONG SHENGLIANG
Some very bad news comes through Voice of the
Martyrs about the continued imprisonment of Pastor
Gong, founder of the South China Church, a large
house church ministry. He has been severely beaten
and has suffered internal injuries that is producing
blood in his urine and stool. Since last April,
the SARS epidemic was used as an excuse to restrict
his family from visiting him. In response to a
call by VOM to Christians all over the world to
contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington with an
e-mail, thousands responded in such
numbers that the Embassy had to close down its e-mail
service because of overload. There are several ways
to pray about this matter. Pray for the release of
the pastor and strength to endure this
terrible trial and suffering. Pray also that those
in the Embassy in Washington will read the
e-mails and be moved by the Holy Spirit to turn to
Christ themselves. This has happened in the past. It
can happen again. Pray that the sheer volume of
calls and e-mails will let the Chinese government
know that the world is concerned about these human
rights violations. If you contact the Embassy,
be polite and request to speak with a Press Office
representative. The telephone number is 202-328-2500
and the fax number is 202-588-0032.
AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
ORGANIZATION ACHIEVEMENTS
The May 2003 newsletter lists some of the
outstanding achievements of AFC as they endeavor to
work with Chinese students in US universities
and colleges. Rev. Moses Chow, the founder, reports
the following:
Anyone interested in more information may contact
them by e-mail at
mclit@afcinc.org
or by telephone at 717-687-0506.
CHINESE WORKERS IN
ISRAEL HEAR THE GOSPEL
Virginia Jacober, retired missionary to Israel, reports
that Chinese workers brought into Israel for
construction purposes are being reached with the
gospel by Jonathan and Ruth Teo, in four
congregations. With nothing to do in the evenings
after work, hundreds of workers are watching
Christian films, listening to preaching and reading
Christian books. Many are finding the Lord and are
being baptized. Pray that on their return to China
after completing their two year contracts, they
will become strong workers in the churches in their
communities. Wherever opportunities arise, enter the
open door whether it is with students, workers,
embassy employees, or neighbors who have migrated to
the USA.
FIFTY-SIX ETHNIC
GROUPS IN CHINA
Many people are unaware that there are 56 official
ethnic groups in China with many subgroups, and all
have their own language and customs. The largest
part of the population, 91.96%, are Han people
who primarily speak Mandarin Chinese. A very large
percentage of the people of south China, including
Hong Kong, speak Cantonese. While national
minorities constitute 8.04% of the
population and are scattered over the vast area
of the border regions of China, Yunan
Province is home to 20% of them. Most large
cities have several ethnic groups dwelling
within their boundaries. Much attention is being
given to the groups living in remote areas where the
response to the gospel has been very
encouraging. House churches and Bible training
schools flourish in these remote areas, but
when discovered, they generally suffer harsh persecution.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Great opportunities exist today in China for the
spread of the gospel in spite of persecution in some
places and among some groups. You can help by making prayer
for China an important part of your life and your
church. You can also help financially by designating
gifts to 'Chinese church construction,' 'books
for seminary students,' 'funds for seminaries and
training programs,' and 'missionary support' Checks
may be sent to me made out to First Alliance Church
Orlando, (for tax-deductible purposes), with the
assurance that every penny is sent directly to the
project indicated.
You can also help by passing this report on to
others and encouraging them to send me their e-mail
address. Also if you have access to the Internet,
log on to
http://www.bollback.com
and read WINDOW ON CHINA. This is found under CHINA
CLIPPINGS and includes articles and reports not used
in these general reports. My web site also includes
a section for Seniors as well as all my books
that are available for children and adults. Do me a
favor and please put a dot on the map in the
guest book section while you're there and see how
far around the world these letters go.
Anthony Bollback |