The SARS epidemic that has struck China and many countries of the world is having a direct effect on tentmakers and travelers to China From a Taiwan worker who frequently travels into China, comes the report that SARS is having a direct effect on his work in China. Ministry trips to China by coworkers have been canceled or postponed. The pastors' retreat planned for May 4-9 in Central China has been postponed and the Taiwan national church's annual trip for leadership training, prayer, and encouragement in April has been postponed until the fall.

From another area in Central China comes the report that some tentmakers are suffering from asthma, heart problems and other factors that put them in the high risk category for contracting SARS. However, to leave for Hong Kong where the disease is also epidemic does not seem wise. Therefore, this team will remain unless SARS becomes epidemic in the cities where they live. They reached this conclusion because they believe that there is no easy answers except to trust in the Lord for every day's needs. "We have the vision of a great and mighty God that is NEVER out of control."

In Hong Kong after Easter, 1,500 people from many churches gathered to pray for a speedy end to the epidemic and for God to use this to bring glory to His name. Friends of China around the world need to pray to this end.

NEW HIGH SCHOOL OPENS NEAR SHANGHAI

Nanjing Theological Seminary has given approval for the Chinese International Baptist Press in Hong Kong to give their newly translated set of four Master Life books to the 2003 seminary graduates. Master Life is the recently updated discipleship training materials by Avery Willis and Kay Moo re. There are 56 students in the graduating class of the seminary in Nanjing. These students come from twenty-one of China's 31 provinces and autonomous regions. They represent the Han Chinese (Majority of China’s people) as well as four minority nationalities within China. Minority nationalities, as China refers to them, are often referred to as "unreached people groups" by church groups outside of China. These young men and women have been called of God to preach, teach and train believers in their home churches: urban and rural churches, mega churches, large churches of one to two thousand members, and even smaller churches with only several hundred in membership! They are returning to provinces, counties, cities and autonomous regions where there is a great awakening among all classes and groups of people. Many people are coming to faith and need to be equipped theologically and spiritually to live their faith in the workplace. Master Life is a valuable resource tool for these new church leaders.

Arrangements are underway with the leaders of two other seminaries for reference books to be given by C&MA personnel to each of the graduating students. Limited finances at this time means that only one or two books per student will be given this year, but even one or two books are a needed and appreciated addition to their meager personal libraries. Anyone interested in contributing to "Books for Seminary Students" may send me a check made out to First Alliance Church Orlando. One hundred percent of these funds will be transmitted to the Taiwan person responsible to get these valuable books into the hands of graduates. My mailing address will be at the end of this report.

CHINA RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

There are increasing opportunities for assistance to be given to China for relief and educational projects. A C&MA worker is partnering with a local Relief and Development agency in China to do some of the following projects over the next year and a half.

• Training of 15 of their local staff to do community health education (first training May 1-8).
• A well project – Providing clean water for drinking, and washing, along with education to try and minimize the spread of disease through shared and contaminated water (as well as poor hygiene practices).
• 20 Pig Pens/Latrines – Eliminating the pigs roaming wild through the village spreading their droppings (and possibly disease) and at the same time establishing a fertilizer source for their fields.
• Crisis Assistance – Helping about 10 families who because of an accident or medical crisis have expended all their resources and ended up in a viscous cycle of poverty, and who need brief assistance to get back on their feet.
• Child Education Assistance – Helping out the families of about 200 Children who are unable to pay the fees required to attend school.
• An educational outreach that will train the rural, mountainside teachers in English so that they can start the recent state mandate English training in Grade three. Without this, it will be even more difficult for these children to enter into senior high school and college.

Anyone wishing to assist in these projects may send contributions to me marked "China Relief." Follow the same procedure as above and send checks to me made out to First Alliance Church Orlando. This church is partnering with me in making certain that all contributions fulfill the intended purpose and guarantee that 100% reaches the project.

This excellent school in Hong Kong has recently started a new PhD program in its continuing effort to provide Hong Kong and China with well qualified graduates. Two researchers from mainland China are working at the school in Hong Kong and will be instrumental in providing education inside China at their schools of theology. The faculty also has many opportunities to work with universities and seminaries in mainland China, and is working on a plan to provide modular Master's degree courses designed for mainland China students and faculty.

Several Evangelism Explosion clinics are presently being held in churches in China. In three nights of on-the-job training at one clinic, 114 people heard the gospel and 106 responded positively and prayed to receive Christ. Pastors and leaders are being trained in these clinics so that they can implement EE in their churches. The enthusiasm for this type of evangelism is growing rapidly and deserves our earnest prayer support. Evangelism Explosion International is headed by Rev. Tom Stebbins, former C&MA missionary to Vietnam.

There are more than 50 ethnic groups of people living in the mountains and rural areas of China who are hearing the gospel proclaimed by faithful pastors and teachers. Below are pictures of some of the Achang ethnic minority group. There are approximately 27,000 of them living in the mountains of Yunnan Province in Southwestern China. Pray for those workers who travel great distances in rural areas to reach these people. Pray for their safety and for freedom to work. There are many difficulties to be faced, but they are brave and courageous people who dare to reach out and touch these people with relief, education programs and faith.