Listener Responses from China

Topic of the Month - Voice of Pastor

They simply ignore the eternal salvation

I went to church to share the wonderful love of God with some students last Saturday evening. The headache was that these students have not determined to put their faith on our Lord. Every time I talk to them, they listen but gave no response. Sometimes I felt as if I were talking to myself. I have already walked to a dead end. They do not like to read the Bible although I am eager to study the Bible with them. They simply are not interested in the Bible.

There are not many students convert to Jesus in the mainland. They don't know what emptiness is. Every day they go shopping. When nights come, they go to bars. My heart aches when I see these students ignorantly entering those places. Their parents provide them with much money and their life is too easy. I have tried to discuss the questions of life and death, and of reality with them. However they always say these things are too far away from them. Everybody is tasting the sweetness of materials when China is getting rich. They simply ignore the eternal salvation.

(#4487 Guangdong, response to "Voice of Friendship Seminary")

I forced myself to learn to read characters

I am 47 and live in rural area. I was converted to Jesus 10 years ago when I was illiterate. In 1991, I was called by the Lord when I was in my sickness. After I got well, I brought 3 others to Christ. Since then, I set up a church. I forced myself to learn to read characters, to read the Bible in order to cope with the need in church.

In 1992, I began listening to gospel broadcast. Your nurturing and training programs helped fostering my spiritual life and improving my skill of reading the Bible. One year later, the church consisted of 3 believers expanded to one that had over 100 believers. I actively participated in various training programs held by our parish. I also led Bible study, Sunday service etc. With God's love and care, our church expanded quickly. At present, we have 17 churches and more than 500 believers.

There are few brothers, youngsters, literate and members who can give exegesis to the Bible in church. Most members are old sisters. Some young workers and believers are contaminated by money, secular world, Falun Gong and Buddhism. Our church is facing many attacks. Our evangelical ministry stagnates in the recent 2 years. On top of that, young workers are leaving God to look for a job elsewhere. I myself am bearing a very heavy burden. I am not very literate. I even had someone written this letter for me. If I don't persist in listening to gospel broadcast, I don't think I can still stand on the faith.

(#4691 Hubei, response to "Streams in the Desert")

Most ministries of our church stagnated

The members of our church come from 5 different villages. Usually we meet at one family. We have more than 10 members whose spiritual lives are still weak. Last summer, some workers initiated a church revival program. Visiting ministry, children ministry, workers' fellowship and witnessing programs were gradually formed. Early this year, we formulated the goals and plans for various ministries for our church in 2000. However, most ministries of our church stagnated after a month when significant disagreement existed regarding the accommodation of the preachers.

(#4914 Hebei, response to "DAWN China")

We are very limited physically and spiritually

At first, we belonged to a large church. Members of that church came from different counties, towns and villages. The three of us kept on studying the truth and gradually found that we had different view on some issues and practices from the leaders. We felt ambivalent and didn't know whether we were right or not.

At present, we are leading a congregation of more than 20 believers. They don't have any zeal in preaching the gospel. Besides, these families are not wealthy, they seldom join our meeting because of busy family life. They lack commitment to the church and their spiritual life is weak. We three are also very limited physically and spiritually. My husband was not yet converted. My sister is under heavy burden too. She has to take care of 3 children. We too lack love and zeal. We have tried to spread the good news to non-believers. But the large church tells them not to join our family meeting. They are influenced by extremist, cults and misunderstandings. Some people do not believe that there are God and spirit. Some said they don't have time but they will convert when they are old. I feel anxious seeing the church is in stagnation.

(#4968 Anhui, response to "Streams in the Desert" and "DAWN China")

It is difficult to serve in rural area

We were sent by our church to take care of a rural family church in Jiangxi. We have been here for more than a month. We walked from one village to another. The meeting points in this rural area are scattered and we encounter great difficulties.

The first problem is that the meeting points scatter too far away from each other. Second, some meeting points have only 5-6 members. Usually they have 10 or so and some with 20-30. Third, the believers are too busy with their rural works. They don't have time for meeting during daytime. Sermons can only be given in the evening. Fourth, rural area is usually poor. We can't stay at a place for too long for they may not be able to afford our accommodation. We did not demand them providing us with food. We will not stay for over 3 days. Sometimes, we stay for 1 day only. Believers in some places do not thirst for the truth. Though there are some local workers arise in churches that have been established for 2-3 years, their spiritual lives are not as good as laymen who go to church for a long time. It is not easy to gather them to give them training because rural life is busy. Moreover, the region is surrounded by the common practice of gambling. Many believers are having difficulties in coping with it.

(#5004 Zhejiang, response to "Voice of Friendship Seminary", "Good Shepherd" and "DAWN China")

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