In China, it is illegal as a Christian to proselytize: attempt to convert someone from one religion, belief, or opinion to another. Unlike Buddhists and Muslims, if you’re a Christian, you must practice your faith privately.
This meant that our ministry had to be slightly subtler than the door-to-door evangelism we had been doing for the previous three months in Africa.
It also happened to be one of my favorite months on the Race.
It gave more urgency and potency to sharing the Gospel with even just one person.
We were given a wide berth as to how this would take form. Our contact (with the alias Eugene) picked us up from the train station and drove us to our apartment, encouraging us to focus on the minority university that was about a half-mile from where we lived. Then after some dinner, a quick tour, and taking care of some paperwork, he left.
The first day we weren’t exactly sure how to approach ministry… We wandered to the center of the university where a large rock sits facing the buildings that surround it. There we sat and prayed, asking the Spirit to move in this place. And as we sat, a man and a small group of students approached two different sides of the rock. We hadn’t been praying but five minutes before the Lord sent people our way. And this is how the entire month went…
Each day we went out into the city, and each day the Lord was faithful to make connections. One of the days that followed our experience at the rock, Emily S and I decided to walk around campus as some of our teammates kicked a ball around at the soccer field. After a bit of walking, we discovered an area of benches where some older men were playing cards. We sat down and again, not five minutes later, the VP of the English Lovers’ Association approached us and asked us to attend their English corner the following Friday. Rain* became one of our closer friends this month, along with an adorable couple we met at that English corner, Sean and Lydia*.
As the month went on, we met countless people through an array of ministry opportunities and English corners. However, Rain, Sean, and Lydia always stayed on our minds and in our prayers.
The final Saturday we were in China, Emily S and myself met Sean and Lydia at the university. We waited for a few minutes with Lydia and Todd*, the incredibly shy middle school student that Lydia tutors in English, while Sean ran a few quick errands for the organization he volunteers for that helps the elderly… like I said, they are an adorable couple! Once we were ready we took them to our favorite coffee shop in the area, owned by a wonderful Christian family.
After sipping down some delicious cocoas and sharing gigantic cinnamon rolls, Emily and I presented Sean and Lydia with two copies of the New Testament. I explained to them that we wanted them to have a copy of the book that has become such a significant part of our lives, and encouraged them to read the book of John first.
Their reactions were so precious. As he gripped the book tightly to his chest Sean replied, “What is important to you is important to me!”. And when we decided to take some photos before leaving, Sean insisted on holding his Bible in almost every one.
Outside coffee shop (From left to right) Sean, Rain, me, Lydia, Todd
When we left China, we had only given away three Bibles.
But I pray and believe those three Bibles are going to change lives.
Later that day, Sean and Lydia sent a text to our team phone, asking all of us to meet them the following afternoon at the entrance of the university because they had something for us. When we arrived, they gave each one of us gifts. They were so thankful for the Bibles we gave them; they wanted to give us something in return.
Todd, Rain, me, Emily S, Lydia, and Sean
*English names
