ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

 

In the May 10th issue of Newsweek International, Sarah Schafer used the title "Onward, Christian Soldiers" to describe the movement of God throughout the land of China. Her subtitle was "Chinese missionaries are winning souls across the Middle Kingdom (the Chinese term for their country) with plans to spread even farther. Because of the length of the article, it has been condensed with actual statements of the journalist in quotes. Schafer states: "Even though there are many welcome signs of freedom developing, still it is not always easy to share one's faith. In a packed classroom in Heinan province, 35 young Christians stand behind their desks singing the Hallelujah prayer. These students have pledged the next three years of their lives to this illegal (that is unregistered) seminary, one of the many run across China by members of the Chinese Protestant underground." These students are secluded in a two-story apartment donated by a fellow believer with boys in one room and girls in another. But because it is unregistered, they sing softly behind closed windows. After the last Hallelujah, they open the windows. They rarely leave the building except at night lest they call attention to the seminary and be shut down.

 

MOMENTUM GROWING

 

According to the article, "All across China, more and more people are turning to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior." Chinese leaders down play the growing numbers and declare that the number is under 40 million, but Western researchers state that the number is 90 million or more. "And, whereas western missionaries once flocked to China to lead people to Christ, today Chinese missionaries (the journalist's term, but perhaps believers is better) have taken over with the intent to win as many as possible to Christ." The second goal is to seriously spread the Word of God beyond the borders of China westward to Jerusalem. This is a tremendous challenge to the Communist Party which still looks on Christianity as a potential source of dissent. Schafer continues: "The government forbids evangelicalism and requires Christians to worship in officially sanctioned churches, but is struggling to keep up with the skyrocketing numbers. Because of government limits, there's a severe shortage of clergy and churches.  In Beijing alone, people pack the 100 existing official churches, overflowing into basements to watch on closed-circuit television." 

 

GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON HOUSE CHURCHES

 

"Meanwhile, underground churches," (commonly known as house churches), Schafer explains, "are expanding with lightning speed. Faced with this accelerating growth, the government has cracked down hard-- bulldozing many of them and increasing the number of arrests."  Some of China's outstanding leaders referred to as "Uncles," an affectionate Chinese term of respect for senior leaders, are in prison again even though they have already served dozens of years in so-called re-education programs. (hard labor) Hundreds of pastors and leaders have been swept up in this frenzied attack on the house churches, and some leaders wait in prison for several years before their case is even considered. Most are accused of spreading "illegal literature," that is Bibles printed other than those by Amity Press in China, or spreading teachings of an "evil cult." Even some of the courts have ruled that there is insufficient evidence to convict these leaders making it impossible to bring them to trial. Nevertheless, they are still incarcerated in an effort to curb the growing strength of this strongly evangelical and missionary-minded church. 

 

THE MISSIONARY PASSION OF CHINA'S CHURCH       

 

Much has been made of the term "Back To Jerusalem," which is a decades old goal of house church leaders to carry the Gospel back along the old Silk Road opened by Marco Polo centuries ago. It was along that route that the Gospel made its way to China. Today China's Christians carry a tremendous burden to take the Gospel back through the lands on that road. Most of them lie within the 10/40 Window and are the least evangelized and poorest nations in the world. "Back To Jerusalem" has been popularized by a group known as Asia Harvest, but it is not confined to that group. The various major house church networks as well as conventional church agencies outside of China, are cooperating to train this new breed of candidates for one of the most arduous tasks ever presented to young people.

 

"Liu was one of China's first missionaries," according to the Newsweek article, "to strike out across the country after the end of Mao's destructive Cultural Revolution." Last year she trained more than 200 students in hidden seminaries in south China. She takes special precautions to evade the authorities by changing her cell phone number every three days. Schools like hers all across China are selecting the best and brightest students for their schools while less promising ones attend schools that combine work projects and study. In all cases, students are concentrating on Bible study, evangelizing, computer knowledge, some trades to help them support themselves, and the study of Arabic.  

 

Some leaders of the first wave of cross-cultural workers have made exploratory trips according to the Newsweek article, traveling to several Mid-East and 10/40 Window countries in search of suitable locations for the prepared workers to begin a ministry to people other than Chinese. This massive movement intends to spread the gospel in every country, to every ethnic group between China and Jerusalem. According to Newsweek, 36 Chinese missionaries have been working in a test situation in a predominantly Buddhist country since 2000. Another top house church leader says he has already sent out 100 of his followers to overseas training centers in preparation for work in Muslim and Middle East countries. 

 

Newsweek continues the story. "Many of these leaders face the threat of imprisonment and persecution." One of them said, "Now that I'm a Christian, I know my faith will enable me to overcome the torture I might face in prison." The courage and commitment of thousands of people like this man is what terrifies the Communist Party. "A flourishing Chinese church," the man continued, "could solve many problems for the government because even government leaders recognize that Christians make better citizens than other people. In many cases, officials either cooperate with Christians or look the other way as they open orphanages, elder-care homes, badly needed schools, provide help for the increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic, and engage in other urgently needed services."  The Newsweek article concluded with this unusual statement, "But even if Beijing doesn't allow real religious freedom, Chinese Christians will continue to spread the word, at home and abroad."

 

NOW IT'S OUR TURN    

 

With the Chinese church setting such an exemplary example to the rest of the world, will other believers respond to the challenge? Will the church in North America respond? Here are some things urgently needed:

• A deep sense of repentance. We urgently need to turn back to God in a new commitment of love and devotion to Jesus that will overcome the materialism and coldness of our lives.
• A new sense and commitment to prayer for the lost in our communities and the suffering church around the world.
• A willingness to once again live a simpler lifestyle that will enable us to support the work of extending the Kingdom of God around the world.
• A desire to be part of this advancing, dedicated group of people who live wholeheartedly for Christ regardless of personal cost or persecution

1. Praying earnestly for this movement of God to evangelize the 10/40 Window.
2. Regularly supporting your own church's missionary organization, and specifically their efforts to help in the training of cross-cultural missionaries for the 10/40 Window countries.
3. Supporting other reputable groups that give a good accounting of their resources who are engaged in printing Bibles, training people for cross-cultural ministries or church planting.
4. Contact the editor for information and specific prayer requests as well as information on how you can be involved financially. The editor has information that cannot be circulated on this web site for security reasons that will assist you in praying for this movement or giving to it specifically.
5. Contact Chinese churches in your area and ask for prayer requests about their activities to prepare people for overseas ministry. Many Chinese churches known to the editor are deeply committed to planting churches overseas that actually participate in this movement by sending their own people on short term mission trips to train Chinese young people

 

One of the exciting things happening today is the freedom of Christians to visit China as tourists or even to minister in churches. A Chinese colleague recently returned with the news that he was asked to preach three times in the church his grandfather gave his life savings to erect in 1900. Three men wearing neckties and smoking sat on the first row! He suspected they were government officials sent to check him out. While in a northern province, he spoke to a group consisting mostly of girls who live at a local communal building with minimal living conditions. They are in training to serve the Lord in their hometowns. During the Communion Service many of them wept openly as the Holy Spirit moved in the service.

 

The children of Paul and Ina Bartel made a family trip back to the area where their father and mother once lived and served. They were privileged to speak at the church started by the robber their father won to Christ after finding a Bible in the loot of one of his robberies. Now his daughter pastors the church and ministers to several thousand people. The amazing story of the lives and sacrifices of the Bartels can be read in my book "Giants Walked Among Us." Unfortunately, the book has been completely sold out and their are no immediate plans to reprint it. However, I have located a very few good used copies for anyone interested.   

 

Another friend visited the fabulous seven story Wuhan church built on the former property of the C&MA headquarters building. You may remember that after our visit five years ago to the building then under construction, many of you contributed over $4,000 to install a government-required elevator. This friend described the joy and excitement of worshipping in this church with over 1,000 people in attendance. A picture of the church is also found in "Giants Walked Among Us."  God is doing some very unusual things in spite of persecution, government restrictions and official opposition.

 

CHINA OUTREACH MINISTRIES REACHES OUT TO 21,000 CHINESE SCHOLARS

 

Imagine reaching out to 21,000 Chinese scholars in US universities! According to the China Outreach Ministries' report, during the year 2005, that's what happened on 35 campuses as 44 staff members reached out to China's best. Their statistics are cause for great rejoicing: 5330 heard the Gospel presented clearly; 1232 received practical help; and 189 made professions of faith. In addition, there are 617 in discipleship training! Pray for COM as they hope to add 10 additional staff members this year and 3 more universities. For more information, log on to www.chinaoutreach.org

 

MY BOOKS ON CHINA

 

Recommendations for these books reach me regularly. A pastor wrote: "I finished your powerful book, "Red Runs the River." I lost some sleep over it as I think about our brothers and sisters in Christ who are paying such a high price to follow the Lord. This book has changed my prayer life!"

 

From South Africa, a reader of both books wrote: "I have just finished reading your two books on China. After reading them, I understand the incredible faith and bravery of the Chinese Christians, their total dedication to the Lord, and their obedience to His Word. It has made me realize what a wishy-washy Christian I am compared to them!"

 

THE JACK AND JENNY MYSTERY SERIES

 

These books are growing in popularity and outreach. These books are either in 24 MK libraries around the world or on their way to them, and that number is growing. May I urge every parent and every church librarian to order these books now because they are changing lives through exciting stories with a purpose. There are 13,000 children's books in print touching families and children. "Capture of the Twin Dragon," Book #2, is out of print but should be back by summer's end. This was Book of the Year 2000 for Word of Life Bible Clubs and has been in great demand. It will soon return with an activity page following each chapter that will be suitable for family devotions and discussions, homeschoolers and teachers in Christian schools. Pray for all the technical aspects of publishing this enlarged revision.   

 

For a full description of all books, log on to www.bollback.com and make sure your church library has a set as well as your children and grandchildren. This is an investment in the lives of children that will have eternal results.

 

For up-to-the-minute news reports and prayer challenges on China, log on to my www.ChurchInChina.info web site and join in praying for one fourth of the world's population. 

 

Yours Because Jesus Is Lord,