China Partners News

This past school term one of the things that we've been looking at for our whole team is taking risks. Our leader was thinking about the past few years and had commented "We haven't really failed much these past few years, which probably means we haven't been taking enough risks." So, starting in small ways, we've been trying to take more risks.

We've been putting aside "the way we've always done it" to try and figure out just what exactly will reach college students now. We've been trying out a few different things to see what kinds of things will peak students interests. A couple of times I've invited students to have coffee with me and just chat, and through that I've discovered that sometimes you can have deeper conversations when it isn't a planned "bible study" time but simply a safe place and time to share about their lives. We've had times of "free talk" where students can come and hear us talk about a topic and then practice their English. We had one night that was about love and relationships; we shared biblical and personal thoughts on true love, dating relationships, marriage and family, and found that the students were eating it up.

We still don't know if this will lead more students to being interested in the gospel or to following the Lord, but it's been exciting to start taking chances in small ways and to see how they've worked out. We don't want to just keep having normal bible studies with the students if it's not going to work, and we certainly don't want to keep doing it simply because it's the way we've always done it. We want to be willing to take risks, to be willing to fail even, for the glory of the Lord.

This is Dave, the Vice President of China Partners. I have been fortunate to have enough time to co-lead an evangelistic bible study this semester with one of my teammates. Our topic this semester has been What happened after Jesus was crucified, studying the end of the gospels and the first two chapters of Acts.

Eight students, six of them male, have joined this group. They are one of the most talkative and open groups I have ever been involved with when it comes to investigating the faith! The number of men involved is exciting, as it is generally harder to get their minds off of the pursuit of success, and honestly engage their souls in tough questions about existence and morality. Four of these men have shown noticeable changes as they respond to the Living God, and took an active role in presenting the Christmas story to their schoolmates.

The semester ends mid-January, with a six-week break for Chinese New Year (Feb 7). Please pray for these eight and the additional students we hope to reach next semester. Our longing is for an outpouring of the Spirit upon many, starting with those who believe (or are close!) and producing a ridiculously large bumper crop of
spiritual fruit in Northwest China… and beyond. On behalf of the whole team, thanks for your investment in our work and this vision!

Supporting the Chinese church is something all of us in China Partners are passionate about. Part of our mission statement reads, "to serve the Chinese church through evangelism and discipleship." We are thankful that we have good relationships with house churches and house church networks. We are able to encourage them and help train them and they are an invaluable source of wisdom to us.

Our house church friends are such an inspiration! Getting kicked out of the country is the worst thing that can happen to missionaries. But Chinese face loosing their jobs, never getting promoted at work, the rejection of friends and family, and
occasionally even jail.

The fact that the Chinese church even exists is sign of God’s great power. In 1949 when the country closed to the outside world, many people wondered what would become of the fledgling church. Despite intense persecution through many decades, the church steadily continued to grow.

And more and more people are making the decision to take follow Christ. Why? Because the things of this world are nothing compared to the riches of knowing Christ Jesus. As one new believer here said, when asked about his reaction to persecution he was facing, "I feel happy because I know the truth".

The Chinese church is a testimony to us that God’s Holy Spirit can do the impossible in individual lives and in countries and that it is good to lay down one’s life for Christ.

Welcome to all those viewing this website for the first time!

The fact that I have not added to this blog for several months is an excellent reflection of our lives this fall. One day I hope this blog will be a more reliable source of timely information, but for now it will have to serve only to trace the broad changes going on.

This fall we are experiencing HUGE CHANGES - the most change since the year 2000. Let this inspire you how to intercede on our behalf!
1. We have successfully completed a first-time summer cultural exchange program with a new school, greatly benefiting our relationships there.
2. We have welcomed 5 new members to our team, including one family with 2 kids.
3. We have bid farewell to our flagship campus and moved most returning members to two new schools for the purpose of long-term investment in student work. Both have their undergraduate campuses in the countryside an hour outside the city. A big lifestyle change for 3 members living there and 4 other members waiting for housing to be arranged (who are meanwhile commuting from the city).

These adjustments have been exciting but tiring, and we find our lives extremely full.

Please think of us during the present holiday season, such a rich time to share our lives. Also as we work to negotiate with schools over next summer's cultural exchange programs.

Thank you, friends! Have a great Christmas and New Year.
From all of us.

Well I am so sorry it has been so long since the last post! It has been a very busy spring - we have survived dust storms, sicknesses and the winding down of our commitments and activities at one of our campuses, where we have been for 10 years. We are moving on to all-new adventures!

1. Another university has agreed to host a summer lingua-cultural exchange between its Chinese students and American university students. We have been working hard for the past 2 months to set up this new program, running from July 10 to August 5. Please join us in asking for deep friendship, fun, and foundations of faith to be built.

2. We are also working hard to set up our two new work sites this fall. There are many challenges, from the new remote location to visa difficulties.

3. We will also welcome a South African family of four to our team this fall, growing our in-country group size to 15, including four children. Families are also great witnesses to the culture in China.

Thank you!

Today is March 21 - spring on the western calendar, but in the Chinese lunar calendar spring has been under way since Jan 29. We've seen signs of spring elbowing its way through the curtain of winter - a warm 60 degree day here and there, a tree or two sporting buds of green, and the Chinese test-flying their spring kites.

Give praise for a good winter retreat in near-tropical southern China last month. We had a great time of ocean swimming and building relationship with a regional leader of student fellowship groups.

We were hit with a round of sickness in early March - including our director being diagnosed with Typhoid. Please remember him and his family, not only now, but as they prepare to leave the country in May to have their second child.

Also give praise for the arrangement of a summer outreach camp between American and Chinese students at one of our targeted campuses for this fall. Continue thinking of us as we set up two new new ministry sites for the fall - ask for good relationships, favor from officials, and an opening up in the spiritual realms for our work.

We love you!

Dear praying friends,
This Christmas, please pray for...
... the many opportunities we have to share our faith with our curious Chinese friends.
As 2006 kicks off, please pray for CP...
... as we continue to build partnerships this winter with churches and organizations God has brought our way.
... in January and February as we speak to student fellowship groups in the US and recruit new staff.
... in February as we have a conference and learn from the leader of a Chinese student movement.