China Mission Trip Report - Rt. Col. Leif Wilson

My short-term mission trip to China with Build International Ministries (BIM) was certainly the most spiritually significant and meaningful experience I’ve enjoyed in a number of years. Let me convey briefly how subject trip impacted and impacts my walk with the Lord and how it has changed my life.

While I am a Spirit-filled Christian, unfortunately my background and culture (my flesh) has produced a suspicious, critical, and prideful spirit toward people (even Brothers and Sister’s in the Lord) and organizations; particularly some "Christian/Non-Profit" organizations. I lead off with this because my life has been truly changed by my witness that "Build International Ministries" is a genuine "love your neighbor as yourself" Christian organization; one that can be trusted to put whatever donations they receive into building the Glorious and Triumphant Church of our Lord Jesus Christ and ministering to members in particular within the Body of Christ. After this trip, the witness to my spirit by the Holy Spirit is that Sandy and Neil Anderson are truly men of integrity and honesty with a love for the lost and hurting that puts me to shame. My life has been changed by the affirmation that there are good men and women in the ministry, that BIM is wisely proclaiming the Gospel with it’s financial resources, and that the China Church, my Brothers and Sisters in China, are genuine Christians putting the love of Christ and Service to Him FIRST place in their lives. 　

The "underground and persecuted" Body of Christ in China is alive and vibrant with the Love of God and Christ AND the anointing and Power of the Holy Spirit! Unlike America with "envy and strife" caused by factions and wayward "Christian" denominations, the Body of Christ in China, with it’s hundreds of thousands of "underground" Churches, is 95% Spirit filled! And by that I mean most every Christian I met in China "had received power after that the Holy Spirit had come upon them" (Acts 1:8), was fervent in Worship, devoted and effectual in prayer (Wow; can those pastors and congregants pray), and constantly putting the love and service to others BEFORE themselves. How refreshing to see the members of the Body of Christ in China truly walking in Love and Service.　

Let me highlight several other more notable observations. 　

The food was outstanding. As one who likes "different tastes" the meals were outstanding in flavor, content, and variety.　

The Hotel accommodations were more than adequate. Bathroom facilities outside the hotels however are far from Western standards.　

It’s difficult to generalize, but to me, China is a very modern country with "bullet trains" traveling 180mph, subways, cars, trucks, and buses, vast "freeways" and boulevards in the cities, and enormous apartment complexes and skyscrapers. Rural areas host multitudinous single-family homes with electricity, internal water (wells), garden plots, and "outhouse" bathroom facilities. In my opinion, very different than "third world countries" where the rural areas lack electricity, water, and septic systems. 　

I never felt threatened or in physical danger in China. The "persecutions" to the China Church members, Pastors, and Support organizations is that of tight Governmental oversight and monitoring to keep Christian gatherings small (less than 50) and free from outside agitators. The Governmental oversight and monitoring is different in various parts of the country depending on local rules, leadership and personalities of pastors and officials. The primary threat to support organization members and visitors would be loss of the 10 year visa which would clearly negate outside organizations ability to support and serve the Chinese Churches. It was probably different years ago, but as a Christian visitor, I never felt or perceived any physical danger during the trip. Of course, Psalm 91 and 121 was my REAL shield and protection.　

My personal spiritual growth and recognition of the Holy Spirit’s guidance was greatly enhanced. We had the opportunity to personally minister the Word and encouragement at every one of the 12-13 Churches we visited. And, in every meeting, we had the opportunity to pray individually with any and all in attendance. The teaching opportunity required me to spend significant time early in the mornings with the Lord to get the lesson He wanted to give. And then, giving the message through an interpreter was another opportunity for growth. Sandy was of great help in evaluating our performance and the big-picture significance and value. I learned many personal lessons in the Spirit from this experience that will change my life for the better forever! 　

In conclusion, I really believe it was the Lord’s perfect will for me to go with Build International Ministries to China. And, that the express purpose of the Holy Spirit’s orchestration for my attendance was for me to give personal encouragement and teaching to the Church in China. What an awesome opportunity! But, as I’m sure anyone who would undertake a similar trip would attest, the trip and associations/relationships with the Chinese pastors, worship leaders, congregants, and BIM officials in China ministered in many, many life changing ways more to me, than I ever could to them. What a wonderful blessing the whole trip was and continues to be.

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Taking Jesus to the World

 

One of the greatest pleasures of being a Christian is to win others for the Kingdom of God. The closest, and dearest thing, to the heart of God is lost souls. Every believer is commanded to win people to the Lord.

 

Bringing lost souls to Christ is one of the main spiritual responsibilities of a believer. For the most part, the Church in America has abandoned the call to world missions. We’re too busy beautifying our sanctuary and building our own kingdom. If America wants to regain her former glory, we must get involved in world missions. One of the best ways to combat international terrorism is to bring Jesus to the world. When the Gospel changes a man’s heart, it revolutionizes everything!

 

Recently, I was talking to a fellow minister and he was lamenting that churches have given him the cold shoulder regarding reaching the lost in foreign lands. He shared how pastors won’t allow him any pulpit time to share the vision of reaching the world. Once, he preached his heart out and many signed up to receive further information from his ministry. My friend was excited to see the response but the very next day he got a call from the pastor warning him not to contact the people who signed up. Not only that, he was told that should any money be given to his ministry, it would have to be done through the church. What a small mindset!

 

America is still the number one voice in world Christianity. However, we’re losing our place of authority simply because the church has become too commercialized. Our focus has been to pack the house so that we can pile up more money to provide a luxury lifestyle for the leaders. Worldly ways have consumed us. Church has become a business. While a workman is worthy of his hire, we’ve put Christian leaders on a pedestal. In many countries, a pastor has to be in prison defending his loyalty to his congregation before becoming their leader. Until we make Jesus the Savior of the world our first priority, we’re not going to have the influence we once had. Do you know what country has pledged to send 100,000 missionaries to the world? China!

 

God is doing mighty works in communist China. In spite of hardship, persecution, and even death, Christians there are taking Jesus to the world. They have very little and they know even less, but how refreshing it is to see that they have their priorities right. Jesus is the main attraction in China. The Holy Spirit is working to bring at least 25,000 people to Jesus every day. Chinese leaders and believers don’t spend their time, effort, and resources to buy acreage and build magnificent buildings. Rather, they invest everything into reaching lost souls. They realize that people are the only thing going to heaven. Everything else that we try to beautify and idolize here on earth will be burned with fire. Is it any wonder that China is becoming the largest Christian nation in the world! At the present rate of growth, will have more Christians than America by the year 2025.

 

We’re going back to China on August 3, 2014 to train pastors and leaders. We will work with orphans. We will deliver Bibles for the persecuted. It has been stated that every Christian in China is an evangelist. However, many believe that for every Chinese Bible, an average of five people experience salvation.

 

We’re all called to world missions. We’re all called to make a difference in reaching our world for Jesus. We’re all called to win souls for our Savior. When we partner with others who are bringing the lost world to Christ, we’re heaping up treasures for ourselves. The Great Commission has been the great omission in modern Christianity but every individual should be involved in taking Jesus to the world. Imagine your impact! If one Bible can bring five lost souls to Christ, what will be the impact of the 30, 50, 100, or 500 Bibles you can provide? A Bible only costs $3.00. Will you please help? Will you please share this with your friends and family? When we become engaged in God’s dream for this world, He will make sure to fulfill our dreams. Let’s take Jesus to the world!

 

“Proclaim his glory to the nations, his mighty deeds to all peoples” (Psalm 96:3 Good News).

 

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The China Report

 

We’ve just returned from another successful missions trip to China. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers, support and encouragement. Together, with Jesus and you, our team was able to reach thousands of lives.

 

First, we went to Hong Kong where I lived for thirteen years. We caught up with my home church there and were able to minister to the leaders of my growing church of over 1,000 people. We also visited a group of businessmen with FGBMF who were so discouraged that they’re running on fumes. God brought us there to breathe new life, direction and purpose into them. We left knowing that we lifted their spirits on high again. They are doing a phenomenal job to reach the bustling city of Hong Kong.

 

When we flew into Beijing, China, we met a taxi driver from hell. We had communication problem and he was in a grumpy mood. That night at eleven o’ clock, I lost my Christianity for about five minutes. Later, we realized that we’re fighting over $1.25 for lack of communication. Next morning I repented and the rest of the trip was amazing!

 

Did you know there are more than 10,000 house churches in the capital city of Beijing alone? We visited a few in the darkness of the night. People there were extremely open and hungry to receive from us. My team members (11-14 people) shared life’s struggles and victories to encourage the church. We laughed, cried and worshiped the Lord together. The Chinese Church prayed for YOU our partners and for revival in America. We laid hands on the sick and those who needed our ministry (which was often the whole church). After the meetings, we ate a lot of watermelons and fellowshipped together.

 

From Beijing, we took a train to a north-eastern city. It was a remote place, three-hour drive into the mountains. We’re only seventy kilometers away from the North Korean border. Some of my friends mistakenly thought it was a resort place. When we got to our destination, we checked into “the Hilton.” My friend David immediately earned a new merit batch “The Fly Terrorist.” He killed at least fifty flies in less than half an hour. We slept in dormitories and there was hardly any running water. We had outdoor latrines and shower was out of the question. When we tried to move, we’re told it was the safest place for us to hide! We adjusted our attitude quickly and that night the owner gave us a fireworks display we could watch laying in our beds.

 

The ministry time in the “resort” was the best of all. Around 300-400 believers had gathered from different parts of China. We learned that almost 40%-50% of the villagers were Christians. One of the leaders has planted over 30 churches already. We preached and taught and even sang some songs in English. Christopher, a sixteen year-old team member played the piano to amuse the congregation and worship the Lord. Marty and Carolyn taught on family using a skit and it was an instant hit! We also taught on overcoming discouragement, trusting God, Having big dreams and several other topics. Our fellowship with them was like pouring water to a thirsty soul. Most of them had never met a foreigner so we became instant celebrities. Everyone wanted to take pictures with us. We played with the children and tickled them. When we left, people were in tears, weeping, crying and hugging us. We didn’t get the best facilities but we’re able to deposit God’s love, hope and encouragement into hundreds of leaders and believers there.

 

Everywhere we went, we supplied Bibles for the believers. There’s still a huge shortage of the Word of God in China. Many of you supported the Bible project and we’re able to buy over 3,000 Bibles! Your sacrificial gifts are now making an eternal impact in China.

 

Thank you again and again for going with us to China with your prayers and support. We felt your prayers every day. God protected us and our Chinese brothers and sisters. We were honored to represent you. The Bible teaches that nothing we do in the name of our Lord will remain unpaid. God sees your heart to help those in need. God will reward you a hundred fold. Together, we’ve just impacted a whole nation! Please continue to pray and engage with us in world missions. We love you. We need you.

 

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD--and he will repay you” (Proverbs 19:17 NLT)!

 

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Develop a Spiritual Growth Plan

Most of us have plans or desires for our lives. We plan for better health, finances and vacations every year. Some of us even plan for our passing and thereafter. How about our spiritual growth plan?

One of the greatest examples in the Bible is King David. He was never tired of growing in God. He said, “Early will I see you.” He also wrote, “Like a thirsty soul looking for water, I’ll seek God.” David spent a great amount of his time reflecting on God’s goodness. He wrote 150 songs asserting God’s goodness to Him. As a King, David did not have time but he made time for Him. God was his priority. Is there any wonder that David was one of the greatest kings of Israel!

Plans are good to have. Without a vision we perish. Even God has plans for us. “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT). When we plan, not only we know what to do but others can be part of fulfilling our plans. If we don’t have a plan, we will drift through life never accomplishing anything significant for God. So how do we develop a spiritual growth plan?

One of the best ways to grow spiritually is to be conscious of God at all times. Whatever you focus on will grow. If we make God the center of our lives, we will find ourselves growing spiritually. I’ve never met a cook who doesn’t enjoy eating. If you hang around the workout room or the gym, you will start to exercise. Being around God is not just for the weekend - it’s a lifestyle. Jesus said, “I will never leave your or forsake you.” Can we do the same for Him?

A genuine way to show how much we love God is to grow in the areas that displease God. Our spiritual growth is like a love affair. When we love someone, they don’t have to twist our arms to please them. We aim to please the person we’re in love with. We all have areas we can improve. Worry, anger, unforgiveness, impatience, negativity, self-ambition, bad habits and addictions will weigh us down. When we make plans to grow out of these low life habits, we’re growing spiritually. If we’re carrying the same baggage we had ten years ago, we’re hindering our own spiritual growth. We may make it to heaven but we’ll live a beaten down life on earth. Let’s grow and be free in the areas God is dealing with us now.

Another way we can grow spiritually is to know and obey His Word. A relationship is as good as you know the other person. The more we know about the other person the better we can please and serve him/her. If you want to know God, you have to study God’s Word. The Bible contains the thoughts of God. It tells us what God likes and dislikes. The Bible is God’s love letters to us. We shouldn’t just have head-knowledge of God but also keep His commands. Not out of necessity but because of our love for Him. We can do that through our prayers, sacrifice and commitment to please Him more every day.

A true measure of spiritual growth is reproduction. When we go past our “I, me, my” Christianity, we will engage in reproduction. Every Christian ought to be a witness and be involved in making disciples. When we lead others in the path of righteousness, we’re becoming spiritual fathers in the faith. A mature Christian exerts his time, effort and energy to grow God’s Kingdom – both at home and abroad. When we seek first the Kingdom of God, He will make sure to give us everything we need. Friend, don’t just set goals for your finances, family or retirement but also develop a spiritual growth plan. God wants a better relationship with us. Let’s grow in our love, devotion and commitment to Him. When we please God with our thoughts, words and actions, we will draw in God’s favor like nothing else.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

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Explosive Church Growth in China

China is the world's most populous country, with a continuous culture stretching back nearly 4,000 years. Many of the elements that make up the foundation of the modern world originated in China, including paper, gunpowder, credit banking, the compass and paper money.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded in 1949 after the Communist Party defeated the previously dominant nationalist Kuomintang in a civil war. The leadership of Mao Tse-Tung oversaw the often brutal implementation of a Communist vision of society. Millions died in the Great Leap Forward - a program of state control over agriculture and rapid industrialization - and the Cultural Revolution, a chaotic attempt to root out elements seen as hostile to Communist rule.

Christianity was first introduced to China 600 years after the time of Christ by Nestorians from Persia and Syria, but the modern missions movement began with the arrival of Robert Morrison of the London Missionary Society in 1807. Before his death in 1834, he produced a Chinese dictionary and a full translation of the Bible.

James Hudson Taylor established the China Inland Mission in 1865 and appealed for 1,000 missionaries to enter the Chinese interior. For the next 30 years, China witnessed the first wave of frontier missionary work while missions based on the coast spread into major cities throughout China. A three-fold approach to mission work was adopted: medicine, education and discipleship. Nearly every mission established clinics that grew into hospitals. Primary schools opened for children and some of these later developed into high schools and 13 Christian universities. Bible teaching and discipleship also resulted in new churches. By 1927 there were more than 8,000 Protestant missionaries in China and half a million baptized believers.

Under Communist rule since 1949, China has moved away from the Maoist radicalism that led to millions of deaths in the 1950s and 1960s, but the party has kept a tight grip on state and society. However, Mao's death in 1976 ushered in a new leadership and economic reform. In the early 1980s the government dismantled collective farming and again allowed private enterprise.

God is working mightily in China. Every day 25,000 people are coming to the Lord. The Chinese Communist Party officially recognizes Christianity. Now there are over 130 million born again believers in China. That's more than any other countries in the world. Signs, wonders and miracles are the primary reasons for China's explosive church growth.

The Xinhua Bookstore is the only bookstore chain in China. It is owned and "managed" by the Communist Party (controlling what people read). There are 15,000 Xinhua retails outlets in China carrying tens of thousands of topics and subjects. However, you cannot find a single Bible in these state run book stores. You can find Chinese Bibles in its three Xinhua Bookstores in the United States but not in China. Bible in China is regarded same as pornography thus banned from public use.

The unavailability and shortage of Bibles in China has invited all sorts of cult groups in the underground churches. Eastern Lightning is one of the largest false groups creating havoc in China.

This Wednesday, we're returning to China. We will train pastors and leaders and deliver thousands of Bibles to the house church leaders. It costs only $3 per Bible. Will you please pray? If you can help financially, please click on the link below. We appreciate your love and compassion for the persecuted believers in China. We're honored to represent you there. God will bless you richly as you bless those who are oppressed. Thank you for your help!

"Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble" (Psalm 41:1 NIV).

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Book Sandy Anderson as Speaker: Call 972 800 4346, Email: buildinternational@sbcglobal.net 

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