NEWS FROM CHINA

CHINA. While in the countryside sharing about Jesus, the young overseas Christian worker was interrupted by an 18-year old who enthusiastically helped him finish the story that he was telling. Not only did the 18-year old prove to be a Christian, but he introduced his farmer parents and three younger siblings who were also believers. The 18-year old explained that before his grandfather was martyred more than 50 years ago, he had accepted Jesus as the result of the witness of some American Christians. The grandfather went to the grave telling his son to never forsake Jesus. During all these years, the farming family has never owned a Bible. But they still remember some of the precious stories that were passed down by one who paid dearly for his faith in Christ.

CHINA. He is a leader in a house church network. Although he was the primary church planter in 16 house churches, he saw the network quickly grow to more than 80 churches when he began to work closely with other church planters. Eleven of those churches suffered persecution. Some were even closed. But he continues to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, saying "When we lose one church, we start three."

CHINA. The highly educated young physician was led to Christ while in medical school by an illiterate woman who cleaned her dormitory. When she was invited to a house church, she accepted. At the first meeting, she was so moved by God's Spirit that she wept and wept. She continued her involvement with the house church for several years. As they began dividing into new groups for the sake of reaching more people for Christ, she accepted the leadership of one of the groups. Just as the cleaning lady had stepped out of her comfort zone to share Christ, so too is the doctor determined to step out to reach others for His Kingdom.

CHINA. The American lady had traveled in a smoke-filled bus for six hours to get to her target evangelism location. As she and her traveling companion checked into the hotel, she found herself getting irritated with the slowness of the young Chinese lady at the hotel reception desk. But as God reminded her of the need for patience, she and her friend made a point of reaching out to the receptionist, even inviting her to eat with them. Over a meal that night, they had opportunity to share the gospel with their new friend, as well as with some others who joined them. Even though it was the first time that the hotel worker had heard about Christ, she eagerly accepted Him into her heart.

Eye On China

Numbers are climbing in many societal realms of China's populace.

• Students: China now has 25 million university students, five times that of nine years ago.

• Singles: More than 45 percent of Chinese people aged 15 to 35 are single.

• TV viewers: With televisions in 99.89 percent of its homes, China now has more than 1.2 billion TV viewers.

• Wealthy: China had 108 billionaires last year, up from only 15 the year before, and now has more billionaires than any country but the U.S.

• Displaced: Four million more China residents will soon join the 1.4 million who have already been relocated from the Three Gorges Dam area in recent

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(from Preachables, East Asia Newsletter, published by IMB)