Taking up most of the Asian continent, China, officially the People’s Republic of China, is 9.6 million km2 in area (land and water) and is inhabited by 1.34 billion people. It has only been the People’s Republic for just over sixty years, but the majority of the rest of her history has been marked by thousands of years of dynastic rule. This country’s economy has opened up considerably in the past few decades, enjoying an influx of foreign investment within the latter half of the past decade. Much of the rural, agrarian workforce has been decreasing as more people move to the urban centers to eke a living by more industrial/manufacturing lines of work.
The demographics are similar to the political landscape, with Han Chinese as the dominant people group and a smattering of minority groups. The geography also spans the gamut, as the literal landscape is populated with mountains and desert plains, the south enjoying warm, almost tropical climate and the north enduring quasi-arctic cold. The diet also seems to reflect the geography and climate as mostly noodles (made from wheat) are consumed in the north whereas rice is the preeminent staple in the south. Wherever you find yourself and whatever (and we mean, whatever) you eat, the utensil of choice will be a pair of chopsticks.
There’s as much spiritual variety in this great land as there is physically. The government has only been able to contain Christianity. In an article from The Economist (October 2, 2008), a former CCP member estimated that there are 130 million Christians in China, many of them members of small house churches.
Proselytizing is prohibited and government approved churches are very much controlled. CCP members are forbidden from holding religious beliefs, and party/government officials at best, harass the church and worse, persecute church leaders. The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun is one believer’s stunning account of endurance in the midst of severe trials.
In addition to the spiritual oppression – fear, despair, depression, criticism – there are also several political/economic/human rights issues that plague this nation. In an effort to stem population growth, China had implemented a one-child policy. The Confucian-based preference of sons to daughters not only caused an increase in abortion but eventually led, simply put, a shortage of women for men to marry. It also just so happens that China is a human-trafficking destination, many of the women brought in come from southeast Asia and North Korea.
Despite these struggles and problems, there’s much hope for and in China. Missionaries like Hudson Taylor and Betty Stam were integral in bringing the gospel to China during the first half of the twentieth century; missionaries today, like the WR, are continuing to help usher in His Kingdom. You may find that nationals are rather fascinated with foreigners; this curiosity often leads to hospitality and even openness to hearing the gospel. The church continues to grow so rapidly that the challenge she faces in China is raising up seasoned, mature leaders and pastors.
As of yet, simply being in China is half the work of bringing Kingdom. You’ll partner to varying degrees with “workers” already there. Much of the “work” will simply be being friends with the people you meet. China’s a garden and you’ll have different tasks – some of you will do the unglamorous but necessary work of tilling and plowing the soil. Some of you will sow seeds. Some of you will water. Some of you might get to reap the harvest that someone else planted.
Emails from China
program at a university in China. We email back and forth fairly
frequently and have managed to stay in contact. Several weeks ago, I
received an email from her telling me how unhappy she is because she
doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life.”
He Speaks Chinese?gawking, giggling Chinese students should have been overwhelming. But
Lily* walked right up to me, shyly staring at the ground getting up
the courage to speak. I gave her my best encouraging, friendly, ‘I’m
not scary, I promise’ smile and waited for her to find her words. Our
conversation started like just about every other one I would have
throughout the next two weeks. But it was not the same.” Read more…
