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September 2004 |
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TO ALL PRAYING FRIENDS OF CHINA,
Events of the past month have prevented me
from sending out this issue of CHINA CLIPPINGS on
time. We have evacuated our home three times in
one month since Hurricanes Charley and Frances
struck our Village and destroyed many homes and
uprooted many trees. Although we suffered some
damage as a large double tree fell on our home, we
thank God that in some mysterious way, He laid it
down gently so that there was only some limited
roof damage, but none inside. With the torrential
rains that accompanied these two hurricanes, we
have not had one drop inside! Surely the Lord has
been good to us. Some of our near neighbors,
however, suffered the total loss of their
homes and that is very sad. Although none of us
can explain these things, I remember reading
recently that God never wastes a hurt, but He uses
it to draw us closer to Himself so that we can be
more effective in our service to Him. We want to
learn.
REJOICE OVER THIS EE REPORT
The GuangZe China Evangelism Explosion
Clinic held recently inside China reported that 22
clinicians (students taking the course) were
instrumental in leading 73 people to Christ on 3
On-the-job training sessions! At the university in
the city, a Rev. Chen was used by God to lead 158
students to faith in Jesus Christ, and 78 of them
want to attend an EE training session. God is at
work moving hearts of young and old alike and
bringing them to a true understanding of His plan
for the world. Pray for the safety of the leaders
who plan and lead these sessions as one never
knows when the authorities will refuse permits or
close services.
GANSU EYE CLINIC REPORTS GREAT BLESSING
In the 18th weekly report of Gansu, Inc.
Paul and Ling Ping, medical doctors, performed 30
eye surgeries on people living in the northwest
region of China bringing them new sight and new
hope. The government has been very accommodating
to the teams serving at the hospital and clinics
all summer, and they are very grateful for the
work of the doctors and nurses who travel from the
USA to serve without remuneration for several
weeks at a time. On Sunday, team members attended
the local Chinese church for a three hour service
that is not unusual. The spiritual hunger of the
people and the difficulties in even reaching a
church or place where a service is held, causes
the people to spend as long as possible together
around the Word. Soon the clinic trailer will be
closed down until next year when more teams assist
Dr. Conrad in this great work of aiding Chinese
and Tibetans in the region where his grand father,
William Christie, pioneered the opening of
Christian minisrtry on this Gansu-Tibetan
border. These doctors also have many opportunities
to build relationships with university students
who are hungry to learn about the Bible. Pray that
the seed planted this summer will bear much fruit.
REMEMBER THE GOAT PROJECT?
If you can, you may open the attachment
and see a picture of a Yao Minority couple who
have received a pair of goats from the "mother"
church pictured. This church was recently built
and dedicated to the glory of God. One of their
goals is to continue reaching out to the tribal
peoples of the region where they are seeking to
plant churches. Farmers are given a pair of goats
in order to assist them to get started raising
goats that they can sell. By this means they have
improved the lot of the people, but more
importantly, they have made it possible for these
farmers to support a church in their area.
Hundreds of pairs of goats have been shipped into
this region as many people here in the USA
have each contributed $60.00 per pair. Already
several churches have been started in
this mountainous region. Pray for these young
churches, the Chinese pastor and people as they
reach out to the unreached, and pray that the word
will go forth with great power. Anyone interested
in contributing to this project may do so by
sending me a check made out to First Alliance
Church Orlando. These are then processed and sent
to a C&MA Team worker who is able to make frequent
trips into this region. We reach our arms around
the world in this way and as we pray, God works in
mighty ways. This worker is visiting nine
churches during September that are in the process
of building! Praise God, and lift them all up in
prayer.
PERSECUTION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Stephen J. Bos, a Dutch award-winning
correspondent, filed a report on July 5th with
ASSIST News Service, stating that a 34 year old
woman was beaten to death by police for
distributing Bibles in southwest Guizhow province.
The French News Agency (AFP) quoted China's state
run Legal Daily newspaper as saying that police
arrested Jiang Zongxiu, a farmer, on June 18 on
suspicion of "spreading rumors and inciting to
disturb the social order." They planned to detain
her for 15 days, the report said, alleging that
Jiang died in police custody the afternoon she was
arrested. Her mother-in-law, who was arrested at
the same time, reported that Jiang was repeatedly
kicked during the interrogation. AFP reported that
the police informed the family that Jiang died of
a sudden illness, but when her body was turned
over to them, it was covered with bruises and
blood stains.
ASSIST News Service also reported that Gu
Xianggao, 28, was falsely accused of murder and
had been tortured to death after police raided his
500-thousand strong house church known as Three
Grades Servants in Heilongjiang Province in North
China. In recent weeks, more than 100 evangelical
leaders of house churches have been detained. The
Vatican has expressed concern over the
disappearance of several bishops of Catholic house
churches. It has also been reported that people
owning Bibles have been sentenced to labor camps
for "re-education." In some places, Bibles have
been banned from bookstores. According to the AFP
Agency, police have been given a directive to
crack down on the house church movement. Pray for
the steady growth of the church in China in spite
of severe persecution in some places. China is
presently experiencing the largest church growth
in the world!
HURRICANES HAVE HINDERED CIRCULATION
OF "RED RUNS THE RIVER"
Because of the recent hurricanes that hit
Florida with a one-two punch and our three
mandatory evacuations in one month, the processing
of book orders for RED RUNS THE RIVER have been
delayed. If you have ordered a book recently and
have not yet received it, please look for it to
reach you shortly as I am back home and able to
handle the orders once again. Some orders are
several weeks behind, but they are being filled
now. The Lord is using this book to stir many
lives to prayer and recommitment to Christ. If
you haven't sent in your order as yet, please do
so and experience the unusual touch of God in your
life as you read true experiences of courageous
Christians who suffer for the cause of Jesus
Christ.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR BULK SALES TO SAME
ADDRESS
Many churches are placing orders for this
book and some are making multiple orders
for congregation members. Through the generosity
of a friend, this story can be offered at a
reduced price in bulk form as follows:
The publisher's list price for a book is
$16.99 plus postage. I am delighted to offer these
reduced bulk prices to churches or groups and
allow them to sell at whatever prices they
choose. Bookstores may place orders with the
distributor, Ingram Book Distributors and receive
the regular bookstore discounts.
Simply send your order and check to 1622
Calvin Circle, Kissimmee, FL 34746 and begin to
reap the spiritual blessing this book will bring
to your children, grandchildren and church.
THANKS FOR PASSING THIS ON
Every month we add new friends to the
mailing list because people keep forwarding this
news letter to praying friends. The Chinese people
will rejoice for all eternity because of such
commitment, so please keep up the forwarding. At
the same time, I always repeat the statement that
should anyone wish to be deleted for any reason,
just send me an "unsubscribe" note and it will be
done. God bless you all for your interest in this
nation with 1/4 of the world's population.
Anthony Bollback, Editor (Former Missionary to China) |