Missionary activity dates back more than a hundred years to the end of the 19^th century. Stalwart and courageous pioneers of The China Inland Mission (OMF today), The Christian and Missionary Alliance and the Assemblies of God pressed  on through dangerous and forbidding country to the top of the world. Much activity was centered along the border of Tibet as valiant efforts were made to reach these forbidden areas.

The main church in Lanzhou is situated on the former property of the CIM church where mass baptisms are held twice annually. At each service 300-400 people are baptized! In 10 years, more than 10,000 people have followed the Lord in baptism, and this is just one of the five large churches in the city. Outside Lanzhou in the countryside, thousands of peasants have come to faith in Jesus Christ as the result of programs aired over FEBC and TWR radio. Amazingly, there are more than a dozen house churches with 1,500 Christians each, and many testify that they heard the gospel through Christian radio. In Lintan where the C&MA once worked, there are three churches and many preaching points with over 2,000 Christians. In Zhengning County at the north eastern tip of Gansu, the first home meeting was set up in a cave in 1984. Today there are 4-5,000 believers meeting in 10 large meeting points and 40 smaller ones.   

GANSU, INC OPENS EYES AND HEARTS

Gansu, Inc, founded by Dr. Bill Conrad, grandson of William Christie, one of the outstanding pioneers of Gansu, has been leading teams of ophthalmologists to Gansu where all types of eye surgery have been performed on thousands of people giving them physical sight while they also offer insights to the great story of salvation through Jesus Christ. Over the past 14 years, 4,500 cataract surgeries have been performed by 32 volunteers. This summer, an 82 year-old woman with tiny bound feet (a cruel and painful custom of the last century),  was led into the examination room by her sons. The day after surgery she walked into the room unaided with a full 3-tooth smile that brought tears to the eyes of the volunteers. Dr. Ronald R. Krueger is the new President of Gansu, Inc who will carry on this work to reach thousands more who need to regain their sight and find Jesus.

PUSHING ON TOWARD JERUSALEM

Each month, a report is made of the progress being made by Chinese Christians stepping up to carry the gospel back along the ancient Silk Road. Gansu is the gateway to Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west. The newly opened railroad from Lanzhou, crossing 16,000 foot high mountains, has opened up this rugged terrain and conquered some of the highest mountain peaks in the world. The modern pressurized railroad coaches have opened the door to a dream of the Chinese Church since the days of the 1940's of taking the gospel back toward Jerusalem. Most of the people of this region are Tibetan and Hui Chinese. The Hui are Chinese Muslims, descendants of Arab soldiers and the Silk Road traders who intermarried with Turks, Persians and Han Chinese (the main peoples group of China speaking Mandarin). Most have relinquished their ancestral languages for mandated Mandarin, but they have retained their ancient religious beliefs. The students preparing for cross-cultural work along the Silk Road and surrounding areas are already moving into place. Some gradates are currently living among the Hui, the people who strongly believe that to be Hui is to be Muslim. Another group of graduates is preparing to move into an Arab country to continue their second phase of training. These men and women need the prayer support of God’s people for the following:

ON THE WAY TOWARD JERUSALEM

One of the countries west of Xinjiang Province in China on the way to Jerusalem is the country of Kyrgzstan in Central Asia where radical Muslims attack and threaten Protestant pastors and demand that they shut down their churches. The authorities fail to intervene and instead ask the Christians to be “less active”. Parliament is examining a bill of law to limit missionary activity. In July, 80 Muslims attacked the home of a pastor and beat him severely. They burned his books and vandalized his home. Three policemen witnessed the incident but did not intervene. Many churches have been threatened with burning unless they close voluntarily. One Kyrgyz man who had converted to Christianity was killed last December. According to Islamic law, a Muslim who converts to Christianity is an apostate punishable by death. As workers move into Central Asian countries, surround them with prayer for protection and courage to face the inevitable persecution ahead of them. 

40 MILLIONTH BIBLE PRESENTED

Dr. John Erickson, General Secretary of the United Bible Society, was presented with the 40 millionth Bible in June that was printed by Amity Press in China. He was instrumental in the founding of Amity Press in 1987 when he was Secretary for the American Bible Society. With the exploding growth of the church all over China, Bibles are in greater demand than ever before as the Chinese thirst for God’s Word. Because the American Bible Society is in partnership with Amity Press to print Bibles, all they have to do is cover the cost of paper. Incredibly, that’s only one dollar per Bible! Just think, for less than the price of a cup of coffee, you can help change someone’s life forever! Bibles are still scarce in China as thousands come to Christ every day. You can have a part by sending your gift to American Bible Society, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023.  Check out their web site at www.AmericanBible.org/china 

Several other reputable organizations print Bibles for China and then seek to carry them in by various means. One group that I was made aware of is the New Life League Japan that was started by Norwegian missionaries. With their high speed presses they are printing huge amounts of Bibles for house churches in China. The individual who reported this information serves in Japan as a missionary leader. He reported that his daughter recently carried in 400 New Testaments for distribution to grateful house church leaders. However the Bible is getting to the Chinese, pray that the living Word will open hearts and bring many to maturity in Christ.

Overseas Missionary Fellowship – www.omf.org

The Christian and Missionary Alliance – www.cmalliance.org

Asia Harvest – www.asiaharvest.org 

Ambassadors for Christ, Inc - www.afcinc.org