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| Tuesday, November 30, 2004 RED RUNS THE RIVER By Jeremy Reynalds Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ANS) -- “Red Runs the River” is a page turner. It’s also a book that once you finish reading you’ll be glad you spent the time it took to do so. Authored by retired veteran missionary Anthony Bollback, the book combines personal experience with a gripping writing style that will keep your heart pumping vigorously throughout. As Bollback’s web site (www.bollback.com/redrunsriver.htm) says, “the author weaves an intriguing story of two committed young people who will not give up their faith in Christ even though it cost them dearly. Imprisoned, tortured, cruelly beaten for their faith, they cling to the promises of God during some of the darkest hours in China's history. (Pictured: Cover for Red River). “At the time they are torn apart by the war, Anching makes a promise that he will find Meiling again even if it takes the rest of his life. Follow both of them through years of struggle, unbelievable suffering for the cause of Christ, and an intense determination against all odds to find each other again.” In a recent e-mail interview, I asked Bollback what inspired him to write the book. “For many years, the story of China's persecuted church has been ringing in my heart and waiting to be told in order to stir up the western church to understand the cost of being a Christian,” he said. “I am afraid that most Christians in the western church know little of persecution and that has resulted in a lethargy that stifles devotion and evangelism. My constant prayer is that God will use this authentic story to rekindle the flame of devotion for Christ and cause us to be ready should we be called upon to suffer persecution for Christ.” Bollback said the book was fairly easy to write “because of the burning message in my heart. I have been consumed with writing it to the neglect of other matters.” It took him about a year to write because while doing so he was also the interim pastor in two churches which understandably took up a lot of his free time. However, he still kept a vigorous writing schedule. “I find that it is always best to write every day if possible in order to keep my thoughts actively engaged in the story,” Bollback said. I asked Bollback why people should buy “Red Runs the River.” He said it will help open their eyes to the terrors that millions of believers are enduring for the sake of their faith both in China and around the world. “Reading this book with an open heart that is seeking to be totally committed to Jesus will bless the individual and bring revival blessing to the church,” Bollback said. “Young people especially should read the book as they consider the cost of serving Christ. Suffering is not reserved for Chinese Christians. Suffering is part of the Christian life, and only those who understand it and know how to live victoriously in times of suffering will be used of God in a mighty way. I also believe that this book will prepare people to face persecution as they join the missionary force and world missions.” Bollback said he has received a very good response to the book in the few months it has been available. One person wrote and said she had prayed to receive Christ as her Savior after reading the book. “Having been raised in a home that ignored Christianity completely, she was hungry to know how to reach God,” Bollback said. “The stories in this book revealed to her that Jesus is present in all of our circumstances and He is ready to hear us and help us.” In addition, Bollback added, he has heard from a number of people who said they have recommitted themselves afresh to the Lord in the areas of prayer and Bible memorization. While not a lot of missionaries have read the book yet, he said that those who have are recommending it to their colleagues on the field. Bollback said “Red Runs the River” is the first volume of a series which will continue with the upcoming “Exiles of Hope,” which he said should be published before Easter 2005. “I consider this series the culmination of my life’s work among the Chinese people as it lifts them up as examples of God’s special grace while it challenges the (American) church to commit itself to serving Jesus without reservation,” Bollback said. THE CURRENT SITUATION IN CHINA I asked Bollback for his thoughts about the current situation in China. He called it a “vast and complex country that cannot be understood very easily by the west.” Referring specifically to religious freedom, Bollback said there is a battle between the government recognized registered church and the house church movement which refuses government registration lest it be perceived as compromising with a godless government leadership. The house church movement numbers millions of people within its ranks, who are for the most part strongly evangelical. “House church leaders and people in the ranks suffer severe persecution today, and some outside watch groups claim that thousands of believers languish in slave labor camps,” Bollback said. “The government is actually afraid of Christians although more and more (officials) recognize the benefits and blessings they bring to the country.” However, it is important to remember, Bollback said, that there are millions of dedicated believers within the government church, also known as the Three Self Patriotic Movement. Bollback said that China is without doubt experiencing huge political change and has opened the door to Christianity, with the result that many churches are growing rapidly and numbering as many as 5,000 in attendance on a Sunday. But religious liberty, he said, is still controlled by the government. China is gradually breaking away from the “rigid Communism” of Chairman Mao, Bollback said, and there are many ongoing reforms taking place. Some are even calling this the century of China, he said. “By that they mean, in this century China is rapidly becoming a powerful world power that must be reckoned with. It is a sleeping giant waking up to the world around it,” Bollback said. “China has always envisioned itself as the center of the universe or the Central Kingdom. Rising nationalism and new world recognition is bringing that idea back into play. One sees this in its policy of developing one of the world's greatest armies, as well as in areas of finances.” Bollback said the relaxation of former Communist policies has opened the door for a huge increase in manufacturing at low labor costs because of the large amount of available manpower. “This is a very serious threat to the west that is all too eager to make use of cheap labor, and in many cases, slave labor, to make a huge profit,” Bollback said. “The country is ruled at present by brilliant younger leaders who are very pragmatic. They want socialism to be strong, but at the same time, they understand the world of free enterprise and how highly Chinese people respond to it.” WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR CHINA? I asked Bollback what he thinks lies ahead for China. He said with its continued arms build up, China poses a “great threat” to the United States. “That thought is down played in most places, but the Taiwan issue is still the highest priority of China that could bring us into serious conflict,” Bollback said. “The fact that the country is seeking to bring the military into the 21st century in armaments is something the United States is watching very carefully. China will increase in power and world recognition in the next decades. Holding the Olympics of 2008 in China is a very special prize the Chinese government recognizes. They will endeavor to outdo any previous Olympic games and bring millions of people to the country as tourists. I believe this will temper rash actions by hardliners, but it will not cause all problems to disappear.” However, this could be positive for Christianity in the short term, Bollback said. “It probably means in the short run a whole new open door for witnessing,” he said. “In order to obtain what the country wants in the way of world recognition and power, it will probably be tolerant of controlled Christianity, but it will be merciless on those they feel they cannot control. They will justify their actions in the light of world terrorism.” Bollback said the Biblical Book of Revelation seems to indicate that China plays a part in end time events. “Prophetically, we need to remember that Revelation seems to indicate that the kings of the east, which I take to mean China and that region, will march on Jerusalem with a 200,000,000 man army,” he said. “China is not only capable of such an army but is fast moving in that direction.” AMERICANS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD I asked Bollback if he thought that Americans tend to be out of tune with what’s going on in the rest of the world. He said we are. “(Americans) tend to be ignorant of the countries of the world that are in the throes of revolution and upheaval,” Bollback said. “Many know the names of countries of the world, but would be hard pressed to locate them on a map. Even the huge country of China is a mysterious country to many Americans, and except for war news about areas of the world, they seem oblivious to what’s happening. The fact that most of us only speak English is another reason we have so little concern for other countries.” Bollback said there’s also another issue. “We may ... take America for granted believing that it will always be here because we are so rich and powerful. 9/11 made a change in that sort of thinking.” I asked Bollback if he thought we are looking at an upcoming clash of cultures between Islam and western civilization. He said he believes the two are on a “collision course” that will “explode into greater conflict perhaps even within our own shores. As one observes the present conflict between the two regions, one is impressed at the determination Islam has to overcome Christianity.” Bollback said he sees a familiar story embodied in that conflict. “The age old conflict of Satan opposed to Christ. As we draw nearer to the end of the age, Satan is becoming more determined to wipe out Christianity and his enemy, Jesus Christ, just as he sought to do when he killed the baby boys in Egypt and in Herod’s time. It is not surprising to me that this is another powerful attempt to overcome Christ's kingdom and his doom in the Lake of Fire.” Bollback said he sees persecution on the horizon for believers both in the United States and the west. “Already we see the raging conflict brought on by the ACLU factions at work all over America to remove every vestige of Christianity from the land,” Bollback said. “We see it in the liberal press and political parties that characterize evangelicals as dangerous and stupid, needing to be eliminated. As we draw nearer to the end times, we know that Christians will suffer more and more persecution, but in the midst of it there is victory and deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “That's what (‘Red Runs the River’) proclaims loud and clear- persecution is coming, but Jesus is always Victor,” Bollback said. |
| Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico and is a candidate for the Ph.D. in intercultural education at Biola University in Los Angeles. He is married with five children and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at reynalds@joyjunction.org. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145. Note: A black and white JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at assistcomm@cs.com. |
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