Mission Strategies for Foreign Missionaries in China
There are several different strategies foreign missionaries consider when doing missions work in China. I have seen, heard, and met people doing all of the ways mentioned in the excerpt below. Our desire and strategy best fits with the fourth way presented below. Continue to Pray as we endeavor to learn more of this language so that we can effectively evangelize, disciple, plant, and train!
“Mission strategies for foreign missionaries in China:
There are many. I will mention a few that I know of. One: work with and through the existing public and legal TSPM (Three Self Patriotic Movement) churches. Don’t choose this one unless you have no problem with women pastors, infant baptism, sprinkling instead of immersion and the knowledge that these practices will not change through your influence in the state-run public churches.
Two: evangelize and try to introduce your contacts to existing house groups. This sounds good, but as in choice number one you will have some inherent problems. It is not easy to find an organized house church that practices all of the things that you may consider essential to sound doctrine and practice. You will also need to know the language and culture before you can reasonably understand what the potential house group is all about.
Three: find some way to train existing house church leaders in sound doctrine. This has several aspects. Those who have money and the contacts to do so prefer occasional itinerant preaching. This method is very popular for overseas Chinese or others foreign missionaries who can speak Chinese. Another aspect of the third method is to set up short-term training centers and invite national pastors and evangelists to attend. This method is popular with those who have a wide perspective on “the church” in China. This is quite costly but is seen by some as the best method to do the most good in the shortest amount of time.
The fourth strategy I will mention is to go to an area, spread the Gospel, disciple your own converts, organize a local church under your own leadership and when the training and timing is right, allow the local church to govern itself in every area. Many call this church planting. This is the strategy that we have in China. Please keep in mind that real results cannot be measured in a short period of time.”
Source: Indigenous Principles Applied Today in China (2006)
{Emphasis Mine}
03.28.11
Notes from the Villages
This past Friday we went out surveying villages surrounding our city. During our time surveying we found out a lot of interesting information about the religious condition of the villages.
Firstly, let me tell you a little background about what we are doing. We had three teams go in three different directions with the task to survey villages looking for existing churches, Christians, and pastors. This was for a new ministry that we are preparing to start in partnership with our home church, Vision Baptist Church, to reach out into the villages. The villages have less appeal for full-time workers, less financial support for gaining valuable resources, and many times less educated and trained Christian leaders. We hope through this ministry we can have a part in changing that by providing valuable resources and training to those who are interested.
Secondly, on our first survey of the villages we found out a lot of information about the villages and surrounding townships. The findings seemed to be relatively the same for each team, which went in three opposite directions. Our team went about 70 kilometers (43.4 miles) outside of the city at our farthest point. We visited around 10 villages and here is what we found:
- Religion, Religion, Religion! RELIGION is here in China! Honestly, I was expecting for us to go into a village, ask about a church and there wouldn’t be any, but the opposite was true! There were people who said their village had several “churches.”
- More investigating into the several “churches” showed us there is major separation between these groups. “We believe this way and they believe that way,” type of attitude.
- The cults are there. The one main question that was asked to see if we should even continue with them was “Do you believe Jesus Christ is the only way of Salvation?” Some agreed, some wouldn’t answer, and others said they believed differently.
- Openness. Many people in the villages knew about these groups. We would just pull into a village and ask whoever was outside if they knew of a church that served the Lord. Usually we only had to ask two or three people before we found someone who knew about the “religious scene” of the village. They would then tell us what house to go to or take us there and introduce us to the people. No room for hiding.
- People we very hesitant about us (understandable). They seemed to be aware of cults and other false groups coming into their village and/or they were scared of the government.
- Even though we found some Christians, they still weren’t the majority of people. Our team would ask groups of people if they believed and they would kind of laugh and say no.
- Those who claimed to be Christian (believe in Jesus Christ only) and were willing to talk to us, generally had the following characteristics:
- They had no pastor!
- They would meet every once-and-awhile with other believers in the village.
- There was no organized local church for them to participate in.
Summary: We found several small pockets of Christians, who are without leadership and guidance. If we are able to build a relationship with them by giving them some valuable resources and training, we think we can make a difference and further the gospel in these villages (more details to come in the future about this project).
Here are a few pictures from our trip. Click here to watch the SLIDESHOW and see all the pictures.
| Posted in Amazing Journey, China, Chinese Christianity, Evangelism, Mobilization, Project China, Training, Voice in the Villages | 2 Comments »
“…so that we can witness to others…”
“The founder of the China Inland Mission, J. Hudson Taylor, once witnessed to a Chinese seeker. “How long have your people had this message?” the man asked, and Taylor told him, “Hundreds of years.” “Then why did you not come sooner?” the seeker cried. “My father sought the truth his whole life and died without finding it!”
We have the truth, not to embalm it, and “preserve” it, but to share it with a lost world. We have assurance, not so that we can become a religious elite, but so that we can witness to others who have no assurance. Truth and assurance are not ends in themselves; they are the means to the end of taking the gospel to the whole world. “As Thou didst send Me into the world,” said Jesus, “I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).
Jesus finished the work the Father gave Him to do, but His church has not yet finished the work that the Savior gave us to do. Our priorities are confused. We waste our financial and human resources on grandiose schemes that have little or no relationship to the commission God has given us. We are rearranging the furniture while the house is burning down. We are entertaining the saints when we ought to be evangelizing the sinners. To paraphrase Mark Twain, lies are running around while truth is still putting on her shoes.
True, we have sacrificed to build impressive buildings and outfit them, but “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). This does not mean that it is not God’s will for us to erect sanctuaries and offices; but it is a reminder that such programs, even in the will of God, are not a substitute for obedience. God wants our sons and daughters-and ourselves-as much as He wants our silver and gold, and perhaps more; for if He has us, He will have everything.”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1988). Prayer : Basic training (140). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.
| Posted in China, Chinese Christianity, Evangelism, Missions, Mobilization, Quotes | No Comments »
Sunday’s Report
“Ten new kids” is what the missionary and the church asked everyone to pray for. Would ten new kids come after the festival and the many hours of work and prayer? The right processes were put into play and all we could do is leave the product in the Lord’s hands.
As Sunday school started there were about 6 news kids that had come and even some of their parents too! Then as Sunday school was well under way a group of 4 more kids came in the church. The children’s classes are in another building, so I walked them over to the other building. As I was walking back, I saw a lady walking with 4 kids behind her. It seemed kind of weird to me so I kept glancing back and then they all started waving to me. (I guess it was obvious who I was since I was a white guy in a suite.) They were all wanting to come to church, as well, so I showed them to the children’s class.
All-in-all the Church’s attendance was up by about 30 compared to the past two weeks! The church had over 10 new kids and a lot of new moms, dads, and grandparents. The Gospel was preached! Amen!
Pray for our progress in the language so that we can be more of a help and be more involved in this exciting work. Watching all God is doing is exciting but I want to be in there fully sharing the Gospel as well (in Chinese)!
Another note is that over the past three weeks the offerings have been good! People are really giving and it is exciting to watch them take on this responsibly and give with a cheerful heart!
Thanks for praying!
| Posted in Amazing Journey, Boldness, Chinese Christianity, Church Planting, Evangelism | Comments Off
Kid’s Festival
We had another awesome weekend. With the help of a short term missions group that is here the church put on a Kid’s Festival. It was very similar to a “Fall Festival” in the states. I had little involvement, due to language studies, but I was able to help pass out flyers the night before and help the day of the festival. Here is what took place:
- Games & Activities: The group came up with several different games and activities that were inexpensive yet fun! This included face painting, a fishing game, nock-down-the-bottles game, jewelry making, and many more. They we super creative with the games and the children enjoyed all of them.
- Prizes: All of the kids were given a bag which included a flyer and business card with information about the church. They used this bag to collected the candy they received from each station for participating. They could even win a gold fish!
- Location: The festival was held in the middle of the plaza of the housing estate where the church is located. So when we told people about the church or they asked, we could simply point to our location.
- Invitations: They did a great job getting the flyers out before the event. The flyers included the information on one side and a paper-cut-out-craft-thingy on the other side. They passed them out in public, in front of the school as the kids were being released and in the housing estates. The night before we took the rest of the flyers and put them on the front of the main-entrance-doors of the apartment buildings.
- Play: In the middle of the event the group put on a play as it was narrated in Chinese. Everyone crowded around and seemed to enjoy it.
We had no idea what was going to happen. Would anyone come? Would we get in trouble? As we had these thoughts in the back of our mind we moved forward and the Lord gave us a beautiful day on Saturday. The sun was shining bright the weather though chilly was starting to warm. The team met early at the church to start preparations and setting everything up. The people started coming, and more came, and before we knew it, we had a huge crowd being involved and interacting with the group and church members. Over 150 came out that day! Wow! Many asked about the church and all the children received invitations in their bag.
At the end of the event, everyone had a great spirit and started to clean up. But it wasn’t over. We moved the games inside the daycare where we have the church. After lunch, we put on a smaller version of the festival for the children who attend there. Many of them have some sort of disability.
This was a great day and outreach for the church, it seemed, but would anyone come to church the next day because of it? The neighborhood definitely knows we are here!
Find out what happened in the Next Post: Sunday’s Report.
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Slums – Jesus – Church
This past week we visited the slums. It is located right in the middle of the city. It looks out of place since everything around it is fairly nice. The church has gone there a few times before and have built relationships with some of the people. They planned a small outreach and we took clothes, notebooks, candy, and tracts to give out to different people, kids, and families.
It is always hard to visit a place like this. Their physical conditions are so poor that it is hard to focus on other things. You wonder how it is possible to stay warm in the harsh cold winters here. You wonder how often they are able to eat and what life is like digging through the trash. We saw kids, who know no other way of life, happily playing outside jumping on an old used dirty mattress sitting on top of garbage and mud. Another house had buckets sitting on the ground collecting water running off of the roof from the melting snow. The houses were pieced together with different kinds of materials (bricks, mud, metal) and the inside living conditions weren’t great either.
As hard as it is to go visit a place like this, we need to keep in focus what they need the most is Jesus. Yes, we desire to help them in their physical condition and surround them with good works, yet without Jesus, all of our efforts towards them will be in vain. Many of them may never leave the slums their whole life, but if they have Jesus, they have everything. If they receive Christ, He doesn’t promise them an easier life, a one way ticket out of the slums, or prosperity in this life, but He does promise to make them family, forgive their sins, and make Heaven their home. What could be greater!
Good works and evangelism is great, but how much greater would it be to see our good works connected with a local church in that area! Pray that we would be able to start churches. Pray that more men would surrender to start more churches!
| Posted in Amazing Journey, China Life, Chinese Culture, Church Planting, Evangelism, Missions, Mobilization, Prayer Request | 2 Comments »
“Open Church” This Weekend at 10!
We had another great Sunday! There were a few new visitors and it is exciting to see the Lord work. One of the best way to describe the changes over the past couple weeks is comparing it to an “open house” but for the church, and having it every week. An open house “is an event held at an institution where its doors are open to the general public to allow people to have a look around it in order to gain information on it (wikipedia).” We desire to invite and open our doors to the general public that they may gain information about the glorious Lord Jesus Christ and know of His redemptive work on the Cross.
Here are some quick thoughts from this past week:
- We continued going door-to-door putting out information from the church.
- This week we included a sermon series flyer!
- We staple all the information together and then hang it on the door or doorway with a piece of tape.
- The packet usually includes a flyer about the church or sermon series, a business card with a map of the church location, email address, phone number, and basic info. Also, we include a gospel tract of of some sort.
- Our rented building has a couple windows and glass doors that you can easily see through and see what is going on.
- People walking by the building can hear the church singing loud and clearly so many of them look inside the windows or door to see what is going on. They just kind of stare as they walk by.
- The stage is setup right in front of one of the blocked off doors, so you can see the preacher preaching from the street as well.
- We have a sign, that we haven’t been able to put up yet, but it will allow people who get our information to be able to recognize where our exact location is.
We may not always do things just like this, or even think of something better in the future. But we want to always be bold and open concerning the Gospel. Families are having the gospel delivered to their doorstep and those who are interested have a place where they can “gain information.”
Read Related Articles: Sunday’s Service and Prayer Request for Today.
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Sunday’s Service
We had a great day Sunday! As many of you who have been following our updates, you know that Sunday was a big day for the ministry here. We had a great service, everything went smooth and we were excited to have a few visitors.
What is so different? Here are some of the bold steps the church has been making:
- On Monday and Tuesday the church passed out about 1,000 invitations & tracts to the neighborhood. We tried to hit every door in the neighborhood.
- Renting a daycare on Sunday morning because we need more space. The church rented one big room and openly had service.
- This Sunday was the first week for Sunday school. The church is excited about reaching all age groups!
- As people walked by the church many looked in to see what was going on. There were greeters at the door inviting them to come in. After the service, and throughout the week, the church members gave out business cards with the churches information, inviting people in person to come visit the church.
Continue to pray in the weeks ahead as the church seeks to evangelize the following neighborhoods and communities.
Click Hear to for a list of Prayer Request.
| Posted in Amazing Journey, Boldness, Chinese Christianity, Church Planting, Evangelism, Praises, Prayer Request | 2 Comments »
China Doesn’t Need More Missionaries
China doesn’t need more missionaries but it does need more church planting missionaries.
I will be the first to say that there are TONS of “missionaries” in China. If you are a Christian college in america, you probably have some outreach program in China. If you are in a T.E.S.L. program, you are probably doing some outreach in China. If you are in a Study abroad program, you are probably in some outreach in China. If you are part of a College Ministry or Christian Organization, you probably have something going on in China. That fact is everyone is in China.
So what’s the problem?
The problem is not the amount of laborers but the type of laborers. China has an over abundance of nominal evangelist and a lack of bold local-church-planters. That may seem too harsh and maybe I am over exaggerating but we have to answer the question, “Why is China still unevangelized with an abundance of Christian workers living in the country?”
Most people the come to China for the purpose of seeing the lost reach with the Gospel, come with the right heart and motives. But China needs more than a good hearted Christian. China needs willing, trained, bold men of the Book! Men that have a high view of God and a high view of His Church.
China needs missionaries that…
- meet the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
- refuse to get lost or side tracked in being “under cover.”
- teach more Bible than they teach English.
- will plant churches instead of just being a helps ministry.
- are in for the long haul instead of few year investment with little fruit.
- fight fear and boldly live out their faith.
- have real practical training.
- willing to train the nationals in more than a 10 step discipleship class.
- are focused on reaching all peoples not just select groups.
- are willing to have strong accountability vs. no accountability.
- came to China with more than the ”getting there” syndrome.
Maybe you are considering China. And believe me China needs you! But it needs more than your presence. It doesn’t need another foreigner, tourist, or traveler. It needs someone more consumed with God than having an interest in eating weird foods and experiencing a different culture. May you and I both work at being that person so that China may be reached with the Gospel.
I pray that God will send forth more laborers!
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An Interesting List of Questions…
There is a wide range of opinions on the government churches. There are those that completely reject the churches and others that completely accept it. I am not attempting to address all the problems but did think of some questions as I have been observing these churches:
- Can the Gospel be openly preached without restriction?
- Can we support a church that is under the control of a communist government?
- Does the church allow or encourage children in the services? If not, can we support that?
- Can the church openly preach the entire Word of God without restriction? If not, what parts are restricted and can we support that?
- Are the churches giving in on their Christian beliefs so the government will provide them with nice and new buildings, in which they couldn’t afford otherwise?
- If the government has allowed these churches and given them approval, then why? What is their ulterior motive? Control the Christians? Signs of Religious Freedom? Good Luck Charm?
I think these questions and many more need to be answered when dealing with the government churches. Despite how you answer those questions, I have one final thought that we can’t ignore: if the government has a controlling hand over these churches then we can not leave the responsibility to evangelize China in the hands of the government. You can’t expect the world to do the job of the church. The carnal to do the work of the spiritual. Just because these “churches” are Chinese doesn’t mean that we leave the decision in their hands to what, when, where, and how the rest of the 1 billion people in China get to hear the gospel. We in spite of our nationality have a responsibility because we are in the Body of Christ, to reach all peoples, in all places, all the time. The commission wasn’t reach your own, it was reach everyone.
Read the last post in the “An Interesting Series…” by clicking here.
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