China Partnership - June 2022 Update

We Are Marching On

Screenshot of Dr. Hollinger’s online presentation

The Situation

Since March 1, the government of China has been increasing pressure on Christians who were already facing many challenges in living out their faith. We hear from our friends that they are continuing on, and they ask for our prayers. We hear that seminaries are still meeting, though there is an alarming trend of government shutdowns in large cities. COVID is the official reason but these measures are contributing to increased pressure, especially against religious groups and minorities. Still, the church is finding ways to flourish even when it is in quiet ways. The Outreach Foundation is honored to stand with the church of China. Please read the following positive update from one of our friends who is located in the United States.

Online Conversations

Christians in China gather monthly through secure channels. These meetings focus on a variety of life challenges and sharing, much as we might do in a small group setting. It is refreshing to bring Christians from around the world together with those who are in China to share burdens and pray for one another. Additional gatherings focus on lectures and seminars around theological topics and practical ministry.

In our March and April meetings, the more informal gatherings centered on two issues: (1) the growing popularity of the liturgical Christian tradition among young Christians in China and (2) the prospect of parachurch ministry in China. The discussions were casual, anecdotal, and unstructured. During this same time period, more formal seminars presented four lecture series. Over 200 people attended from within China, but most do not share their true names.

One of the presenters was Dr. Dennis Hollinger, President Emeritus and Distinguished Senior Professor of Christian Ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His series was titled Genesis and Human Life. Dr. Hollinger spent eight hours in four sessions on the theological significance and ethical implications of the Christian doctrine of creation through a thematic study of Genesis 1-3.

Using the intriguing and relevant discussion questions that Dr. Hollinger had prepared on worldview, human dignity, gender issues, and vocation and ethics in the marketplace, the attendees gathered in breakout groups for discussion. In light of the recent revelations of human trafficking and sex slavery and the undergoing harsh and severe lockdown measures, discussions were extremely relevant and fruitful. Additionally, the seminar focused on Sabbath and healthy Christian worship-work-rest rhythms. People appreciated this topic especially as many Christian leaders in China are struggling with burnout. This is an important topic and we are glad it is being addressed.

The Outreach Foundation hears from Christians in China that it is common to connect greater piety and devotion with more work in ministry. Consequently, leaders are viewed as impious, lazy, and uncaring when they express reluctance to take on more tasks or duties. Working overtime is often accompanied by low monetary compensation. Unrealistic heavy workloads assigned from the church and high expectations from believers put the ministry leaders under great pressure, and the situation is now aggravated by the increased restrictions on religious activity, both in-person and online. They experience stress, anxiety, fatigue, helplessness, loneliness, bitterness, etc. Many of them are being pushed to the physical and mental brink.

Updates on our friends

·         Frida Li, who was the featured speaker in our second China forum sharing about her faith journey, life struggle, and ministry experiences, has started her new adventure of Christian counseling training. Her initial step is to undertake the preliminary practice of listening to 50 people and 100 hours of personal experience/storytelling.

·         Jinglan Huang, who works as an art curator, gave her first talk on our online ministry platform, titled “Artists in the Protestant Reformation.”

·         Andrew Qie and Hao Li, the two seminary students majoring in advanced biblical studies, were invited by another Christian ministry platform to respond to a presentation on the anthropological reading of Old Testament women.

·         Daisy Yang, a Christian news and magazine editor residing in Beijing, has been confined in her apartment since May 23 as her neighborhood is under compulsory preemptive quarantine. The 4,000 residents in her neighborhood have been receiving mandatory daily PCR testing for over a month.

·         Chris bin Wang, a Chinese pastor currently in the U.S. with his family, continues his studies at Gordon-Conwell full-time and they are settling in nicely at a local church.

Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Boone, Associate Director for Mission

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the China Partnership. All gifts of any size are welcomed. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.