We flew into Hong Kong and met with Goodnews Communication International a Christian organization producing multi-media (radio, TV, CD/DVD, internet and film) for outreach and equipping the Church. They plan to produce a film of our family's life story in Chinese. We met their board members and the producer and finalized our agreement to partner in this endeavor.
The rest of our time in China was spent in the mainland. We continued building relations with local, government-registered churches. It is exciting to see God working in these churches who have freedom to preach the WHOLE Gospel, evangelize everyone who comes through their doors and sell Bibles and Christian literature. The Bibles are so cheap that we brought some back from China to the U.S.!
Of the churches we've visited, the problem isn't filling the pews but rather having enough physical space for the ever expanding, standing-room-only congregations and having enough pastors for ministry (pastor to laity ratio is 1:1,000 on the low end and 1:10,000 on the high end!!).
Hardly anyone prays for the grass-roots movement of evangelicals among the local, registered churches. Please be on your knees for our brothers and sisters in China who recognize that "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matt 9:37).
We networked and consulted several churches and pastors as they are in the process of constructing a new church building. We also shared at several Bible studies (see picture below) and had the opportunity to present some Evangelism Explosion material. Through it, four ladies gave their life to Christ!
A highlight of the trip was sharing in an evangelical seminary to students who were so hungry to know more about how to better serve the Church. I spoke on the importance of Biblical languages and the phenomenon of American denominationalism.After meeting up with my dad in L.A., my parents and I spoke fourteen times in four days at eight different locations on parent-child issues and relationships in a Chinese-American context from a Biblical perspective. We also recorded a radio interview at Far East Broadcasting Company which broadcasts into mainland China.
Because Chinese live in a shame-based culture and fear "losing face", many parents believe there's no one to share their problems with. So it was a privilege to have some open up and share their secrets which held them hostage for years in a prison of pain and guilt. I also spoke with Chinese pastors in the L.A. area about the need to address the issue of homosexuality with compassion, grace and redemption.The trip culminated with the Exodus Freedom Conference in Irvine which is my favorite among all the Christian conferences I go to. The conference really isn't about homosexuality but rather a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. I led a morning devotional on our availability to God from Isaiah 6. I also gave a workshop on HIV/AIDS (AIDS 101 and how to minister to people with HIV/AIDS) and hosted a viewing of "HOPE Positive: Surviving the Sentence of HIV/AIDS."
The ultimate highlight was being able to develop and build relationships with all of you! I praise God for allowing me to cross paths with so many of you and I look forward to meeting again soon! It was a joy to talk and pray with you as we laughed and cried together! Please continue to lift me up in your prayers as I do the same for you!
God bless you all and have a great day in the Lord!
