My heart is mourning an unfortunate event recently having taken place in Harbin, China.
But first I will briefly reiterate my experiences for when I was in China.
My squad and I spent month 1 of The World Race in Harbin, China (northern part of the country, very close to Russia). Our ministry contact was an American missionary named Jake who had been living and serving in Harbin for a few years already and had hosted several WR squads in the past. Jake was a really awesome guy with a huge and fearless heart for boldly sharing the gospel among the Chinese people through relationship building.
I remembered entering China thinking that we all had to be these “007 missionaries” speaking in code about Jesus and having to watch our back with caution thinking that we’d get arrested if we weren’t careful. After a couple days with Jake and him briefing us on the reality of “caution” we should practice (which was basically a 2 on a 1-10 scale), we eagerly took to the university campuses and just started making friends! We’d meet up for coffee, have lunch together, they’d show us around their school, and we’d just hang out! I will never forget the students I met and the incredible and life-changing conversations I had. Even to this day, I look back on month 1 and say it was one of my favorite ministry months so far.
It was so easy to make friends and even easier to talk about God openly with them! Chinese students, especially, are overly curious about American life, family, and education. They want to know everything. And since our relationship with the Lord is the most important and driving force in our lives, there was way we could hold back talking about Him! All our new friends were very interested in hearing about Jesus, what we were doing, and our religious back rounds. So yeah, talking about God was neither a shameful nor cautious topic of conversation.
Fast forward to today. My squadmate, Jen, informed us that police stormed into some Harbin churches Easter Sunday, confiscated cell phones, iPads, and money from the offering plate, and took pastors and members in for interrogating. Jake, along with several others, were deported from the country immediately after this incident.
The news of my Brother, whom I know personally, being deported from the place that’s been his home and where God called him, makes me sad. As an outsider looking in, this seems like an unfortunate event. But it’s things like this that God says will happen-
“Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.” 1 John 3:13
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
And always my favorite-
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exhaled in my body whether by life or by death. For to me, to live in Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21
I know it might sound crazy to live a life and follow a God that says, “Hey, because of me people will hate you. And you will be persecuted. But don’t give up. Don’t give in. Consider yourself BLESSED. I AM WORTH IT”. Wherever you stand, I’m here to say that yeah sometimes it sucks to be hated by people because of what you believe. It may not be popular. But this life is short. I know the Truth. I hold the Truth. And I live a life that is FULL of joy and life and I know the secret to being content in all circumstances. I don’t cling the things of this world that will all pass away when I die. I know my greatest rewards are in Heaven that await me for eternity… I roll with the punches and look to the Lord in the hard times.
Even as I enter Ukraine today, the promise I cling to in God’s Word is this, “For me to live is Christ and die is gain.” Whether I live or die, it’s to God’s glory and I couldn’t be any happier!
Jake has fought the good fight. And yeah this is just a little bump in the road of life. But he is blessed. And this does not mean he’s failed. I know he still only has love and compassion for the Chinese people.
Please follow the link below to read more on Jake’s situation. You can also purchase a t-shirt to show your support and help the churches in Harbin during this time!!
