I have just returned from our mission trip to communist China where social media is forbidden and freedom is restricted. Persecution is rampant and the Word of God is in short supply. But our God is alive in China!
My first stop was in Hong Kong (a special administrative region of China). There I reconnected with my pastor friends (I was based there for 13 years) who are still faithfully serving the Lord. Sunday services were packed with hundreds of worshippers – mostly young people. After the message, people flocked to the altar to be saved and ministered to. As I prayed for them, I saw many respond with tears and humble hearts. I heard of another church with over 10,000 people! God is working.
In my previous letter, I shared about Pastor Joanna who has a network of 6,000 believers. Along with a team of three others, she came to spend time with us in Shanghai. They are on fire, but they have no one to mentor them. We had the opportunity to love on them, encourage them, guide them, and pray over them; this was one of the highlights of our trip. They went back to their community committed to love God more, and serve His people better.
Our next stop was Wenzhou where Christianity is growing at an astounding rate! It is a prosperous region of China. We met one pastor who told us his network of churches has over 600,000 believers! He took us to visit some of those "churches." One was located in an electrical switch manufacturing company. The owner is a Christian. He told us, "At first I had to hire anyone I could find. But now more than 80% of my employees are Christians." In the darkness of night, we sneaked into his factory. All 120 of his employees plus more were worshipping the Lord at the top of their lungs! What a great time we had ministering to them.
We also were able to minister at a drug rehabilitation/Bible School/Church facility. In China, both the possession of drugs and drug use are punishable by death. This was a secret location where drug addicts come for help. Teachers are former drug addicts, set free by our Lord. There were over 100 people – mostly young – eager to hear from us. When we gave an altar call, half of the congregation came forward.
Another highlight of our trip was distributing the Bibles you helped to provided. Every time we distributed a Bible, we saw, smiles, tears, joy, and gratitude. It was a great consolation to leave our persecuted brothers and sisters in China with the most powerful gift in the world, - the Word of God. It is not only changing their lives, but their culture and nation, as well!
We cannot thank you enough for going with us to China through your prayers, encouragement, and support. You have an inheritance through everything that was achieved on this trip. Please pray and help with the remainder of the budget for this trip. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Let me end with a reminder of God's promise to you, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them (Hebrews 6:10)."
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