Introduction to Means and Methods

Formidable Obstacles

The crackdown continues, with great ferocity. House church Christians all over China suffer the worst repression in decades. Hundreds of leaders have been rounded up, some to be detained indefinitely, many to be beaten and tortured.

Meanwhile, foreign Christians in China face closer scrutiny from a government fearful of their influence. A few have been sent home for open religious activity. All feel the pressure.

As China’s millions continue to evince enthusiasm for the Gospel, their leaders wrongly see the growth in the number of believers as a threat. The government harbors a particular loathing for Americans who seek to “infect” their people with Christian doctrine.

They simply do not believe that neither Chinese nor overseas Christians have any intention to challenge their authority. Their ignorance and prejudice have blinded their eyes to the many benefits of the Christian religion, and made them paranoid.

Surmounting Obstacles

Should we give up our efforts to bring the life, love, and light of Christ to the world’s largest population? Of course not! But we must be careful not to cause unnecessary offense and especially not to compromise the safety of our brothers and sisters in China.

It’s time to re-evaluate our methods, and perhaps adjust our plans, for reaching the Chinese with the Gospel. Here is a brief outline of a number of possible steps we can take, in approximate order of value:

Prayer

Only God can change men, including leaders, but He surely can! Prayer knows no boundaries, waits for no visa, costs no money, and fears no police.

As we intercede for the government and people of China, God will work in their hearts. Our intercessions for Christians there, and particularly for preachers of the Gospel, will be used by God to build His church in truth and in love (Eph 6:18-20).

Radio and Internet

These media also leap over walls, despite government attempts to block them. From far away, words of truth and life bring hope and change to desperate folk deep within China. Solid Bible teaching builds lives and equips leaders in the church (Eph. 2:20; 4:15-16).

Literature

Like radio and the Internet, Christian literature can expose error and explain the truth without the need for any personal presence. Bibles, books, and other materials, now increasingly available around the world, have a powerful impact upon Chinese, who highly value the printed word (2 Timothy 4:13).

When rightly used, they also transcend the language limitations of foreigners seeking to communicate the Gospel to their Chinese friends. Like broadcast media, literature also allows time to reflect and removes the pressure to respond immediately.

Witness by Chinese Christians from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas

Speaking the language and looking “normal,” these believers exert a huge influence by their personal example and verbal testimony (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Those from Taiwan can communicate in Mandarin, the official language of Mainland China. Since hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese live and travel in China, the evangelization and equipping of Taiwan constitutes a very high priority for the church (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Befriending Chinese living overseas

Several million immigrants, many of them students, live in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Though most of them do not return to live in China, they all maintain close contact with friends and relatives back home.

Living outside China, they are free to explore the claims of Christ, and a high proportion of them come to faith. Their potential for reaching China is vast, and they deserve our best attention and prayers. Instructing them in the faith pays rich dividends.

Non-threatening activity by foreigners living in China

Serious (as distinct from desultory) study of Chinese language and culture wins respect and deepens our understanding of the people we seek to serve (James 1:19).

If foreigners truly seek to learn, they can build relationships that allow Chinese to see their transformed lives and ask questions.

Teaching (especially English), medical work, care for orphans, and honest business can also foster relationships that lead to effective witness (without proselytizing).

Short-term visits

Short-term visits to China by tourists, business people, scholars, and those simply wanting to know more about China, can initiate long-term friendships and inform our prayers.

“Quickie” “mission trips,” however, are exorbitantly expensive, and may not lead to lasting results. Unless they are carefully coordinated by local believers, and strictly monitored to prevent hasty and ill-informed evangelism, they run the risk of producing only donor-pleasing statistics that reflect little actual reality.

In coming months, we hope to explore each of these methods in more detail, as we seek with others to develop an overall strategy for sharing with Chinese around the world the healing blessings of Christ.

We are involved in almost all of the forms of ministry mentioned above, and earnestly covet your prayers.