THE FUTURE OF CHINA IS IN AMERICA TODAY!

 

“Over 100,000 of the brightest and best from China are currently studying and doing research at U.S. Universities,” says Dr. David Aikman, former TIME Magazine Beijing Bureau Chief, and member of the Board of China Outreach Ministries (COM). “I think that reaching out to students from the People’s Republic of China in the U/ S. is simply the most strategically important Christian missionary endeavor anywhere in the world.”

 

"The potential is mind-boggling," states a brochure of COM, "when we realize that key thinkers are coming to faith in Christ in America university Bible study groups, and then are returning to responsible positions in the Chinese government."  A key cancer researcher is sharing his faith in his home with his students at a research institute. Another middle school teacher led eight students to faith in Christ last year. Another Communist worker found Christ through a COM contact and today leads the influential China Aid Association with direct connections with the United Nations and the U. S. Government. Last year, COM staff had significant Christian contact with over 5,000 Chinese scholars in 35 universities. This organization, led by Glen Osborn, concentrates on Chinese scholars on U. S. campuses and is making a significant impact on China and the future. For more information, log on to their web site www.chinaoutreach.org.

    

CROSS-CULTURAL CHINESE MISSIONARIES MAKING PROGRESS

 

A new day has dawned for China as a growing number of Chinese young people prepare themselves for cross-cultural missionary work. Concentrated biblical studies occupy the first two years of training followed by practical studies in Arabic and learning a trade to support themselves. One such group that is preparing students is identified simply as TC1 or Training Center #1. This training center has graduated its first class from the biblical studies section and those students are now engaged in the intensive language study section. They urgently need our prayer support at this time to faithfully maintain a close walk with God, and to keep their vision clearly focused on entering a limited access country in the near future. Pray earnestly for faculty members to be used of God to prepare these students. E-mail prayer@lfdusa.org if you want more specific prayer requests, and send any contributions to LFD, Box 541328, New York, NY 11354.

 

THE HIGH COST OF SERVING CHRIST IN CHINA 

 

Pastor Zhang Rongliang, key leader of the China for Christ network of house churches was sentenced to 7 ½ more years of imprisonment last fall. He was sentenced for having a large supply of Bibles, CDs and Christian literature not printed in China- a crime according to the government which seeks to control everything. Pastor Zhang is praying that his prison cell will become his pulpit to encourage workers and that his chains will embolden them to go forth boldly in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Pray also for his wife, Chen Hongxian, to be strengthened and kept through this ordeal. They believe Philippians 1:12 applies to their situation today. “Now I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

 

10/40 WINDOW COUNTRIES

 

Sixty countries, predominantly Muslim, fill the 10/40 Window from west China to Jerusalem and North Africa. These are all classified as limited access countries where preaching the gospel is forbidden.  These are the lands that will be penetrated by committed believers who will seek with God’s help to win people to Christ. Frontiers Mission is presently working with two Muslim leaders who will help them prepare audio cassettes in their language for which there are no gospel resources. Pray for these individuals who now have fears that their voices will be recognized and cause them great trouble. Pray that the recordings will be made and that these two individuals will come to a knowledge of Isa (Jesus Christ). Pray also for a national television station that is airing videos produced by local churches and home groups, showing Muslim-born believers worshipping the Lord. These broadcasts may create intense persecution for the believers, as the media in this Muslim-controlled country labels them as a cult. Pray that God will overrule any evil designed to harm the believers, and give them all courage to face whatever difficulties lie ahead.

 

WITH GREAT BLESSING COMES GREAT DIFFICULTIES

 

Although there is an increasing measure of liberty in China today, the government is fearful with the spectacular growth of Christianity throughout the country. With the Olympics 2008 games drawing nearer every day, the Chinese government is most anxious to portray a nation enjoying religious liberty and they are determined to prevent demonstrations that would mar this image. In Beijing, the government is building a huge church for foreigners which will probably require a passport for entrance. Local Chinese will be barred from entrance as they are now from entering a large existing church for the international population. A foreign passport is required to enter the gathering of upwards of 2,000 internationals. There are even some reports that the government will crackdown on dissidents during the next months which will include house church people so that demonstrations can be avoided. There is potential for protests among visitors sympathetic to religious groups whose leaders have been imprisoned, tortured or killed. Professor Richard Madsen, a sociology professor of UC San Diego, who studies Chinese culture, predicts that there probably will be a heavy hand and strict repression of dissidents, the kinds of people likely to embarrass the government.”

 

A CLAMP DOWN ON INTERNET CAFES

 

There are 113,000 Internet cafes throughout China, serving over 123 million Internet users. Of this number an estimated 18 million are under the age of 18. According to the new regulations, those under 18 will not be permitted to use the Internet. The government complains that many youths become “Internet addicts” which is not difficult to believe judging from the actions of American youth, but the real purpose is to prevent young people from accessing the outside world and glimpsing the freedoms of those outside. Cafes are popular for people who do not own a computer. From all observations, these cafes are a permanent fixture in Chinese society for many years to come.

 

CHRISTIAN RADIO CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE NATION

 

With increasing restrictions within the country, radio becomes an even more attractive means of gaining information from the outside world. Alliance Radio in Hong Kong continues to prepare and broadcast programs over Christian radio stations outside of China. Popular programs are being prepared for the thousands of workers who live in crowded dormitories and who work at difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs in the Pearl River Delta. These programs are being aired in the factories by the Chinese businessmen who operate them. A project that was inaugurated last year is the “Food for Life” nurturing program. 2,000 sets of 2 CDs each were sent to rural workers in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Dongquan industrial centers so that the people could listen to heaven’s message in their dormitories. To carry out this ministry, approximately US $82,000.00 is needed. Anyone interested in assisting this important outreach may log on to www.cmaradiohk.org or e-mail the office at info@cmaradiohk.org Prayers and gifts are urgently needed.

 

A NEW E-MAIL SERVER FOR CHINA CLIPPINGS

 

After sending out China Clippings for 7-8 years, the mailing list has become very extensive and a new e-mail server has been enlisted to help distribute these reports to every continent in the world. Please make the change in your address books from Kahu@juno.com to AGBollback@cfl.rr.com  The old address will only be available for a few more weeks.

 

The web site www.ChurchInChina.com will continue to be the major source of information about China and my books. Log on to this important resource at least two or three times a month for the latest updates.  Material is changed weekly and some times  daily depending on the news reports. Use this resource for up-to-date prayer requests for a church that resembles the Book of Acts more than any other church in the world today.