The Gospel in China
A young American man travels to a Chinese college on amission to share Christ. A young Chinese woman travels to an American college,hears the gospel message and accepts Christ. Years later the two meet in China,where they are both serving Christ.
They marry, start a family, and dedicate their lives toserving God in China despite the constant hardships. “We are always facingstress and obstacles and attack. But God is faithful through it all. We turn toGod every day.”
Matt and Anna* are serving in a large city as part of ahouse church of around 200 members, most of whom heard and accepted the gospelas college students. As parents of young children, Matt and Anna have madenatural connections with these other young families who are seeking truth and meaningfor their life.
Being a Christian today in China can be challenging. But thebelievers who are faithful are fervent in their faith. Matt says, “There are no‘pew-warmers’ in China. If you are in church, you really want to be there.There is no one going to church for social reasons or status, because being aChristian does not improve your social status.”
In Chinese society, Christianity is looked down on. Theschools teach atheism, and the Chinese people in general are far moreinterested in self-advancement than in sacrificing self for the overwhelmingvalue of accepting Christ. Matt tells us, “Most men see their job as makingmoney. It’s the number one barrier to becoming a Christian. They say, ‘If I sayyes to Christ, will that inhibit my ability to make money, to support myfamily?’ Because it might. To get the best jobs, you need to be a communistparty member, and if you’re a party member, you shouldn’t believe in God.”
Christian persecution is on the rise in China as the churchgrows. House churches are facing increasing pressure – some have been raidedand their members imprisoned. Anna says, “Many people are awakened throughpersecution and come to love God more.” There is a government-sanctionedChristian church in China, but they are directly controlled by a department ofthe government. House churches resist government control as they recognize thatChrist is the head of the church.
While they are illegal, house churches in China aregenerally accepted. They preach the gospel, teach the children, worship regularly, and have small groups forpersonal growth. But they are careful. House churches don’t keep a membershiplist, don’t keep the church’s money on hand, and they do have back-up plans forcontinuing even if the government tries to shut them down. Most house churchesworship in homes or office buildings to stay off the radar of governmentofficials.
Many of the believers at Matt and Anna’s church have had tomake sacrifices for their faith. They have a full-time pastor, which is unusualin China. That man gave up a secure professorship to become a pastor. “When hemade a decision to quit his job, his co-workers and parents thought he wascrazy. Why would he quit a stable and prestigious job to serve as a pastor?Being a pastor is basically viewed as being unemployed in China – a veryshameful thing. But eventually he led his family to the Lord, and they understandhis passion.” His job as pastor is doubly challenging as churches generallydon’t plan to support a pastor. Matt says, “the concept of giving money isvirtually unknown in China. Pastors are challenged to teach the concept oftithing to people who have never considered giving financial support to anyoneoutside of their immediate family. It’s hard. Christians really have to grow tobe willing to give money away.”
Virtually everyone in a house church is new to the faith. Inthe cities, they are made up of young educated people who heard the gospel incollege. In rural areas, church members are older, often uneducated. Religionhas been suppressed for so long in China, that there is very little remaininghistory of the Christian faith, particularly in the urban areas. A friend ofMatt’s became pastor at a rural church at age 14. The congregation was largelyilliterate, but this young man could read and the people in the church wantedto hear the gospel. God used this pastor in mighty ways, and now, in additionto pastoring a house church in an urban area, he leads a network of ruralchurches.
“There is a great need for training of pastors in China,”Matt says. “While there are a few seminaries, they are operated by thegovernment, which makes their teaching suspect. A few underground seminarieshave been started, but they are quickly shut down.” In addition, there is verylittle access to quality biblical resources, and it can be difficult to find aBible in China.
In spite of the many years of persecution in China, God’sKingdom continues to grow as the Chinese people are presented with the gospelmessage. It is estimated that there will be more Christians in China than inany other country in the world by 2030. God’s power and presence is beingrevealed to millions of believers in that country as the gospel messagespreads.
LMW invites you to pray for the gospel in China. Matt andAnna ask that we pray specifically:
For their safety and health. China is verypolluted, and their family has struggled with respiratory issues.
For the Christian home school program they havestarted – that more parents will have the courage to send students to them, andfor the safety of the school, students, parents, teachers.
For a change in the mindset of the Chineseleaders, to see that Christians are good people who desire to influence Chinesesociety in positive ways.
* The missionaries’ names were changed to protect theiridentity.
NOTE: LMW has long been active in getting resources forteaching and preaching into China. Much of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible®has been translated into Chinese, and some of the volumes are available on thefree Chinese Bible app, WeDevote. We anticipate having the Chinese languagePreacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible available on the LMW App by 2020.