From IMB-East Asia website
Planting seeds, reaping the harvest
The timing was uncanny. The two believers were sitting in a traditional tea house as the guests of two Buddhist monks whom they had befriended for the sake of the gospel. One of the believers had witnessed to the monks several times. As the server began to pour tea, one of the monks introduced the foreign guests as "people who study the Bible." The waitress looked directly at them and said, "I want to become a Christian." The believers began immediately to pray silently for the waitress. After the visit was over and the monks had left, they remained behind to share the plan of salvation with her. She accepted Christ that night.
The power of prayer
As a student in China, the radiant Christian used every chance she had to share Christ with her language teacher. If the assignment was to begin a sentence with "I", for instance, she would say, "I love to read my Bible every day." One sentence led to another, and most of the class time was spent talking about Jesus. During her vacation, the student prayed daily for her lost Chinese teacher. When she returned to class, she was thrilled to hear the teacher say, "I had a dream last night. God told me that He was God and that I need to believe."
Sharing the same Father
CHINA. The American Christian understood all too well how her Chinese friend had suffered. Even though they were from different cultures, both had seen the marriage of their parents severed by divorce. Sitting by a pond one day, she told her Chinese friend about God's love. As the friend began to cry over the thought of a Heavenly Father who loved her, the American joined her in shedding tears over the sovereignty of God who would allow her to share out of her own pain of the past. Then she heard her Chinese friend say, "I believe in God. I just want to know more." The Christian was all too glad to share much more about His saving grace. Now the two ladies share the same Father.
'Why is this the first time I’ve heard this story?’
Soon after the Christian worker arrived in China, he found himself talking about God to a Chinese man who seemed to have countless questions. Then he gave his testimony, and the next thing he knew, he was using a tract to lead the man through the plan of salvation. The Chinese man accepted Christ and then he expressed disbelief that bordered on anger. "I'm thirty-something years old. Why is this the first time I've heard this story?" It was a great question -- one that cut to the heart of the Christian worker who has since led a team in distributing tens of thousands of pieces of evangelistic material in the China megacity where he serves.
Manicurist learns about Jesus' hands
Miss K, a Chinese manicurist, spent long days working on the hands of customers. So, when over a period of several visits a Christian friend explained to her how God had created her right down to her fingers and toes, Kelly was intrigued. Then when she heard how the hands of Jesus were pierced by nails so that He could purchase her salvation on a cross, she understood His love and asked Him to enter her heart. She will never see hands in quite the same light as before, nor will her life ever again be the same.
Family receives Christ
The Chinese believers were surprised when they shared the gospel with a hospitalized boy and his family, and the entire family immediately responded that they wanted to receive Christ. The evangelists asked the family why they were willing to accept Christ so readily. The family members replied that they had found a packet containing a JESUS film and some gospel tracts in front of their home several months earlier. They had long since viewed the film and read the tracts. They just hadn't been sure how to proceed from there. So when the offer was made, they were more than willing for someone to lead them in a prayer of salvation
Friday, March 23, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Good news about CPM
The following is taken from an M's blog. Name will be supplied upon request.
Why not CPM?
CPM: Babies Teaching Babies? is one of my first posts written over a year ago on the "M Blog". It also stands as probably my most read and commented post.Recently, a year after writing the post, I received yet another comment from "Uncle" an IMB missionary serving in East Asia. What was particularly interesting to me is that "Uncle" is personally involved in what has been classified as a "Church Planting Movement". CPM is what all of us M's out there are praying for and longing to see happen in our midst."Uncle's" comments about CPM brings the subject back to center stage and revisits some of the issues that have made CPM a highly debated subject in many quarters. I definitely think it is worthy of our attention (especially for M's and church planters) and so I am reprinting his comments with the hope of rekindling what I believe is one of the most relevant church planting subjects out there."Uncle" asks, "Why not CPM?"
Why not CPM?
CPM: Babies Teaching Babies? is one of my first posts written over a year ago on the "M Blog". It also stands as probably my most read and commented post.Recently, a year after writing the post, I received yet another comment from "Uncle" an IMB missionary serving in East Asia. What was particularly interesting to me is that "Uncle" is personally involved in what has been classified as a "Church Planting Movement". CPM is what all of us M's out there are praying for and longing to see happen in our midst."Uncle's" comments about CPM brings the subject back to center stage and revisits some of the issues that have made CPM a highly debated subject in many quarters. I definitely think it is worthy of our attention (especially for M's and church planters) and so I am reprinting his comments with the hope of rekindling what I believe is one of the most relevant church planting subjects out there."Uncle" asks, "Why not CPM?"
Press on,UncleHello, I must say that I just found your blog on CPM (is this thread really a
year old?) …read it from top to bottom and found it interesting. I am an IMB M
in EA with a city focus and we have been classified as a CPM by the current
standards.I must tell you that CPM is difficult to define outside of the
definition of “churches rapidly reproducing churches”. There are lots of
“handles” or “tools” that are taught at the Farm or Ranch …what ever they are
calling it now that are solid principles that can help you reach your goal of a
CPM.Maybe unlike some of you I believe that these handles/tools which are what I
would call “canned” do indeed provide building blocks by which you can indeed
plant churches. I am not negating the role of the HS in this for without the
stirring of the hearts of the lost by the HS we would not see salvation occur,
therefore no church planting and ultimately no CPM. For those of you who would
look at things like T4T, MAWL and others as a “model” and therefore dislike it I
am sorry that you feel that way. I also know that as you will as I did when you
attempt to use the material will look at it and wonder how will this simple
thing work. But, I can tell you that your being on your knees, your trust in God
and the HS as he does his thing will do wonders with your effort and this small
tool.Granted I know that it does not work for everyone that way and we are
experiencing mixed results here in different areas of our work as a team, but I
think that Clyde Meador, Executive Vice President with the IMB has a very good
take on the subject in his article “Left side of the graph”. I know that in our
area of work the HS used many years of folks on the “left side” to get us to a
point that we got to see huge numbers of people saved. Granted it is never going
to be easy and the groups and churches that are started are difficult to manage
and growth is messy, but it is worth the effort. The CPM model that we are
utilizing that includes T4T is showing huge results out to past the 5th
generation of churches.My word to you is don’t take away what the HS can do with
your effort, a small little tool and a willing heart. There is a lot that goes
into the effort part that I don’t have room for here, but would be more then
willing to go into some of it later if folks are interested? Peace and grace my
brothers and sisters.
Encouraging reports from East Asia
Testimonies of Faith
You Shall Be My Witnesses
We had taught Nick when he was a freshman but had not been able to keep closely in touch. Several of his classmates had become Christians, but we did not have much contact with Nick. Right before Christmas his senior year, his classmate Paul led him to the Lord. Nick is from a village of our people group near another town. The next weekend, Christmas weekend, very excited, he decided to go there to contact and teach some songs to a few believers there. Last summer he helped in leading his father to believe, and his zeal for the Lord has remained strong. This year Nick is teaching in junior high in another town not too far away and has already led three of his students to the Lord and started a small group with them. He has visited with them in their home villages and witnessed to their families! We are thankful for Nick's life and witness and pray for his continued dedication and also security because he could lose his job and even be jailed for spreading the Gospel!
From College to Village
Li's father, mother and little brother had just accepted the Lord through a team we had connected with them in their hometown. We wanted to follow up on them and went with Li to visit there. After we arrived, Li's grandfather, grandmother, and 14-year-old sister also came to eat lunch. After eating lunch together, M asked them if they also had an interest in Jesus. When M shared the Gospel with them and answered the questions they had, they all believed and accepted Jesus! M asked Li to share in the local language everything he had shared in the local language in order to make sure they really understood and also let her develop her skills in sharing the Gospel in her local dialect. Later the family was baptized and now worships and studies the Bible together as a small church. In addition, the grandparents have been sharing and have starte a new group at their own house!
Living the Book of Acts
Things continue to go well in the places we are working. It is in many ways like living out some of the book of Acts. Our work is a great example of how the Good News spreads among people who have never heard. It is through those natural relationships. The first to hear and believe start taking the message to family members. They then begin to tell friends and that usually includes other villages because their friendships like all people in the world are many and widespread. Recently we went to visit our friends and a coal supplier from another town and good friend of (our friend) Mr. Wang was there to meet us and talk about the Good News. It was clear to us that Wang had already been sharing with this friend of his and after about 30 minutes of going through the story this man, he followed Mr. Wang�s example and asked Him for salvation. While the conversation was going on, another family member was around, occasionally listening while seemingly keeping himself occupied. We ask him if he was also interested and to our delight the one just saved, shared the Good News with this other man and he too accepted. The new brother had already done something that most believers never take time to do; lead another person to the throne of grace.
Looking for a New Friend
As I stood in my garage trying to kick start my dryer last week a petite young woman I'd never met before pulled up on her scooter. Her first words to me were, "I want to study Bible." I shared my testimony, sent her home to invite her friends, and stood there speechless. Not ten minutes before she arrived I'd asked God for a new friend, someone who does not yet know him but is willing to gather friends to hear about Jesus. Last night this young woman and one of her friends lingered as everyone left after our first class. They had heard the first part of God's unfolding love story, testimonies of God's care and power and been given the opportunity to pray and ask God for help in any situation they were facing at the moment. On the verge of tears my new friend spoke, "I try to be strong, but I am not. I need God. I want to tell him, but I don't know how." We stood holding hands in a small circle as these two women sobbed their hearts out to God. Before they left that night, they gave themselves to Him.
You Shall Be My Witnesses
We had taught Nick when he was a freshman but had not been able to keep closely in touch. Several of his classmates had become Christians, but we did not have much contact with Nick. Right before Christmas his senior year, his classmate Paul led him to the Lord. Nick is from a village of our people group near another town. The next weekend, Christmas weekend, very excited, he decided to go there to contact and teach some songs to a few believers there. Last summer he helped in leading his father to believe, and his zeal for the Lord has remained strong. This year Nick is teaching in junior high in another town not too far away and has already led three of his students to the Lord and started a small group with them. He has visited with them in their home villages and witnessed to their families! We are thankful for Nick's life and witness and pray for his continued dedication and also security because he could lose his job and even be jailed for spreading the Gospel!
From College to Village
Li's father, mother and little brother had just accepted the Lord through a team we had connected with them in their hometown. We wanted to follow up on them and went with Li to visit there. After we arrived, Li's grandfather, grandmother, and 14-year-old sister also came to eat lunch. After eating lunch together, M asked them if they also had an interest in Jesus. When M shared the Gospel with them and answered the questions they had, they all believed and accepted Jesus! M asked Li to share in the local language everything he had shared in the local language in order to make sure they really understood and also let her develop her skills in sharing the Gospel in her local dialect. Later the family was baptized and now worships and studies the Bible together as a small church. In addition, the grandparents have been sharing and have starte a new group at their own house!
Living the Book of Acts
Things continue to go well in the places we are working. It is in many ways like living out some of the book of Acts. Our work is a great example of how the Good News spreads among people who have never heard. It is through those natural relationships. The first to hear and believe start taking the message to family members. They then begin to tell friends and that usually includes other villages because their friendships like all people in the world are many and widespread. Recently we went to visit our friends and a coal supplier from another town and good friend of (our friend) Mr. Wang was there to meet us and talk about the Good News. It was clear to us that Wang had already been sharing with this friend of his and after about 30 minutes of going through the story this man, he followed Mr. Wang�s example and asked Him for salvation. While the conversation was going on, another family member was around, occasionally listening while seemingly keeping himself occupied. We ask him if he was also interested and to our delight the one just saved, shared the Good News with this other man and he too accepted. The new brother had already done something that most believers never take time to do; lead another person to the throne of grace.
Looking for a New Friend
As I stood in my garage trying to kick start my dryer last week a petite young woman I'd never met before pulled up on her scooter. Her first words to me were, "I want to study Bible." I shared my testimony, sent her home to invite her friends, and stood there speechless. Not ten minutes before she arrived I'd asked God for a new friend, someone who does not yet know him but is willing to gather friends to hear about Jesus. Last night this young woman and one of her friends lingered as everyone left after our first class. They had heard the first part of God's unfolding love story, testimonies of God's care and power and been given the opportunity to pray and ask God for help in any situation they were facing at the moment. On the verge of tears my new friend spoke, "I try to be strong, but I am not. I need God. I want to tell him, but I don't know how." We stood holding hands in a small circle as these two women sobbed their hearts out to God. Before they left that night, they gave themselves to Him.
Friday, March 09, 2007
PREACHABLES FROM CHINA
Good reports from China (from the IMB 'East Asia Report')
CHINA. In a remote area of China, a Christian worker encountered a 47-year old Chinese man who asked him why he had come. When the worker replied that he was just hiking in the area, the man replied with certainty, "No, you came to see me." They went inside one of the homes and the Christian shared the story of salvation. The Chinese man accepted Christ immediately. He said that he had prayed several years earlier that God would send someone to tell him how to relate to the True God and when he saw the hiker, he knew that his prayer had been answered. Since then, the new believer has shared the gospel with scores of others who were also waiting to hear, and now believe in the Son.
EAST ASIA. Having been ousted from a spiritually receptive area of China because of his fervency in witness, the Christian worker was finding it hard to share Christ. Although he was now in a location where he could share freely, he assumed that the hearts of the people were closed to the gospel. As he prayed, he heard God say, "I haven't changed. You have." Just then, he heard the sounds of the community garbage truck and headed out to meet it. Out on the street, he ran into a large group of neighbors who were also tossing their garbage into the passing truck. He invited them into his home. Quite a few accepted his invitation, and in his home that night, a family of four accepted Christ.
CHINA. They were expecting 100 persons at the Christmas party, but 200 showed up. The guests listened intently as the gospel was shared. Then an invitation was given. As the speaker asked if any of them wanted to receive Christ into their hearts, they replied almost en masse, "We are willing!"
CHINA. They call him a super spreader because of his effectiveness in reaching others for Christ. He accepted Christ in late 2005 and one year later had already trained 25 others to start churches. By early 2007, he had more than 50 trainers under his tutelage. All of them were committed to starting churches that would catalyze other church starts. He knew the risks, but for the sake of the Kingdom, he continued to share boldly. When he was incarcerated for a season, the gospel seeds that he had sown continued to take root and flourish.
CHINA. In a remote area of China, a Christian worker encountered a 47-year old Chinese man who asked him why he had come. When the worker replied that he was just hiking in the area, the man replied with certainty, "No, you came to see me." They went inside one of the homes and the Christian shared the story of salvation. The Chinese man accepted Christ immediately. He said that he had prayed several years earlier that God would send someone to tell him how to relate to the True God and when he saw the hiker, he knew that his prayer had been answered. Since then, the new believer has shared the gospel with scores of others who were also waiting to hear, and now believe in the Son.
EAST ASIA. Having been ousted from a spiritually receptive area of China because of his fervency in witness, the Christian worker was finding it hard to share Christ. Although he was now in a location where he could share freely, he assumed that the hearts of the people were closed to the gospel. As he prayed, he heard God say, "I haven't changed. You have." Just then, he heard the sounds of the community garbage truck and headed out to meet it. Out on the street, he ran into a large group of neighbors who were also tossing their garbage into the passing truck. He invited them into his home. Quite a few accepted his invitation, and in his home that night, a family of four accepted Christ.
CHINA. They were expecting 100 persons at the Christmas party, but 200 showed up. The guests listened intently as the gospel was shared. Then an invitation was given. As the speaker asked if any of them wanted to receive Christ into their hearts, they replied almost en masse, "We are willing!"
CHINA. They call him a super spreader because of his effectiveness in reaching others for Christ. He accepted Christ in late 2005 and one year later had already trained 25 others to start churches. By early 2007, he had more than 50 trainers under his tutelage. All of them were committed to starting churches that would catalyze other church starts. He knew the risks, but for the sake of the Kingdom, he continued to share boldly. When he was incarcerated for a season, the gospel seeds that he had sown continued to take root and flourish.
Friday, March 02, 2007
REPORT ON CHURCHES IN CHINA
For those who may think that there is no religious persecution in China. Here is a report on some recent actions by the Chinese government towards churches, from a friend who works in China
House Church Worship Service Raided in Anhui (January 26, 2007, China Aid Association)
House Church Worship Service Raided in Anhui Province; Inner Mongolia Christians Take Legal Measures to Protect Freedom; 9 Arrested Church Leaders in Henan Released after 15 Days of Detention. CAA has learned local police raided a house church worship service in Zhangchong Township, Jinzhai County, Anhui province on January 24, 2007. Three Christians were taken to the police station and released after interrogation. According to eyewitnesses, the raid happened around 10:00 AM when some Christians were having their worship service. Policemen from the County Public Security Bureau (PSB), local police station, county criminal police squad, and officers from the county Religious Affair Administrative Bureau broke into the house. They took pictures of every Christian in the room and asked for their names and identities. The police then released most of the Christians and took three church leaders to the police station for interrogation. The police confiscated Bibles, hymn books, acoustic equipment, a blackboard, and the tither box without any legal procedure. The police warned the three church leaders that they are not allowed to gather without the registration to the government.
9 Arrested House Church Leaders in Henan Released after 15 Days of Detention. (January 26, 2007, China Aid Association)
China Aid Association has also learned that nine house church leaders arrested on January 6, 2007 in a raid by police in Yongfeng Township, Xiuwu County, Henan province were released on January 20, 2007, after 15 days of detention. The detained Christians were not given any legal certificate of their arrest, detention, or release.
Vice Premier Calls for Approved Religious Administration (July 16, 2007, People’s Daily)
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu called for improved administration of religious work in order to achieve harmony among people of different religious beliefs. Religious work was facing new challenges as the country stepped into a crucial stage of reform and development, Hui said at a national conference on religious work held in southwest China's Kunming City, Yunnan Province, from Monday to Tuesday. The administration of religious work must be based on stable social and economic development, and correct understanding of world religions and their influence on Chinese religions, he said. "We must properly deal with religious affairs and let religions play a positive role in building a harmonious society," said Hui. The Party's policy on the freedom of religious beliefs must be implemented correctly, ensuring political cooperation with religious groups and promoting the Party among religious adherents.
Christian Service Raided in Henan Province (January 15, 2007, christiannewswire.com)
China Aid Association has learned that on January 6, 2007 the local police from Yongfeng township police station in Xiuwu county, Henan province, raided a Christian gathering held in Chencun village. 11 Christians were taken to the police station; only 2 of them were released the next day. According to the eyewitness, the event happened at 4 PM January 6, 2007, when 14 Christians gathered in a house in Chencun village. The police broke into and proclaimed the gathering a cultic activity and illegal gathering. 11 Christians were brought to Huifeng township police station for interrogation. The police released 2 Christians the next day, the rest are still in detention.
Three Church Leaders Arrested in China, Montoring Group Says (January 3, 2007, AP)
The police arrested three Christian church leaders in a raid on a gathering at a private home in northeastern China, a U.S.-based monitoring group reported Wednesday. About 30 police officers and officials from the local government's Religious Affairs Bureau took part in the raid Dec. 29 on the home in Duolun, in Inner Mongolia, 250 kilometers, or 155 miles, north of Beijing, the China Aid Association reported. The officials declared the service an "illegal gathering," the association said, a reflection of China's policy of permitting worship only in official churches whose clergy and activities are tightly controlled by the Communist government. Detained were Liu Guanghua, 42, Zhi Huiping, 41, and Zhi Ruiping, 35, the association said. It said the three women were being held at the Duolun County Detention Center. The association said the three women were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention, a measure used against people deemed to have committed offenses but who are not legally recognized as criminals. he association said the service had been part of post-Christmas celebrations, but didn't say how many people were in attendance.
The pressures and privileges of working with Christian brothers and sisters in
China are many. Sometimes, things go smoothly and somtimes the situation
makes things a bit more "challenging." I send the following tidbits of
information to allow you to pray with focus. Acts 1:8 continues to
establish and retain a burden for the Lost! God Bless you as you
serve. A China worker
House Church Worship Service Raided in Anhui (January 26, 2007, China Aid Association)
House Church Worship Service Raided in Anhui Province; Inner Mongolia Christians Take Legal Measures to Protect Freedom; 9 Arrested Church Leaders in Henan Released after 15 Days of Detention. CAA has learned local police raided a house church worship service in Zhangchong Township, Jinzhai County, Anhui province on January 24, 2007. Three Christians were taken to the police station and released after interrogation. According to eyewitnesses, the raid happened around 10:00 AM when some Christians were having their worship service. Policemen from the County Public Security Bureau (PSB), local police station, county criminal police squad, and officers from the county Religious Affair Administrative Bureau broke into the house. They took pictures of every Christian in the room and asked for their names and identities. The police then released most of the Christians and took three church leaders to the police station for interrogation. The police confiscated Bibles, hymn books, acoustic equipment, a blackboard, and the tither box without any legal procedure. The police warned the three church leaders that they are not allowed to gather without the registration to the government.
9 Arrested House Church Leaders in Henan Released after 15 Days of Detention. (January 26, 2007, China Aid Association)
China Aid Association has also learned that nine house church leaders arrested on January 6, 2007 in a raid by police in Yongfeng Township, Xiuwu County, Henan province were released on January 20, 2007, after 15 days of detention. The detained Christians were not given any legal certificate of their arrest, detention, or release.
Vice Premier Calls for Approved Religious Administration (July 16, 2007, People’s Daily)
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu called for improved administration of religious work in order to achieve harmony among people of different religious beliefs. Religious work was facing new challenges as the country stepped into a crucial stage of reform and development, Hui said at a national conference on religious work held in southwest China's Kunming City, Yunnan Province, from Monday to Tuesday. The administration of religious work must be based on stable social and economic development, and correct understanding of world religions and their influence on Chinese religions, he said. "We must properly deal with religious affairs and let religions play a positive role in building a harmonious society," said Hui. The Party's policy on the freedom of religious beliefs must be implemented correctly, ensuring political cooperation with religious groups and promoting the Party among religious adherents.
Christian Service Raided in Henan Province (January 15, 2007, christiannewswire.com)
China Aid Association has learned that on January 6, 2007 the local police from Yongfeng township police station in Xiuwu county, Henan province, raided a Christian gathering held in Chencun village. 11 Christians were taken to the police station; only 2 of them were released the next day. According to the eyewitness, the event happened at 4 PM January 6, 2007, when 14 Christians gathered in a house in Chencun village. The police broke into and proclaimed the gathering a cultic activity and illegal gathering. 11 Christians were brought to Huifeng township police station for interrogation. The police released 2 Christians the next day, the rest are still in detention.
Three Church Leaders Arrested in China, Montoring Group Says (January 3, 2007, AP)
The police arrested three Christian church leaders in a raid on a gathering at a private home in northeastern China, a U.S.-based monitoring group reported Wednesday. About 30 police officers and officials from the local government's Religious Affairs Bureau took part in the raid Dec. 29 on the home in Duolun, in Inner Mongolia, 250 kilometers, or 155 miles, north of Beijing, the China Aid Association reported. The officials declared the service an "illegal gathering," the association said, a reflection of China's policy of permitting worship only in official churches whose clergy and activities are tightly controlled by the Communist government. Detained were Liu Guanghua, 42, Zhi Huiping, 41, and Zhi Ruiping, 35, the association said. It said the three women were being held at the Duolun County Detention Center. The association said the three women were sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention, a measure used against people deemed to have committed offenses but who are not legally recognized as criminals. he association said the service had been part of post-Christmas celebrations, but didn't say how many people were in attendance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)