My dear readers,

1. Gospel Advance in China

A report from “Christian News” (16 July 07) reports the astonishing growth of the “underground or house church” in China. The CN article is reproduced for readers’ information and prayer.

“Over 100 Million Christians?

The number of Christians in the communist Republic of China is estimated to have reached the 100 million mark. The increase is mainly the result of the virtually mindboggling growth of local evangelical house churches.

These consist of smaller groups who meet in private apartments or houses. Some estimates state that over 70 million Chinese are members of such house churches. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung, house churches are conspicuously watched by government agents and sometimes persecution is evident. In Peking alone, there are between two and three thousand house churches.

In contrast, there are only eight official registered Protestant churches. Estimates about the number of Catholics in China run between 12 and 18 million, of which about 6 million, according to the report, are faithful to their government policy. Because the government can no longer control house churches, no serious attempt is made to enforce street control. One representative stated: “The police knows about our churches, but does not try to oppress us. We are advised not to admit foreigners in our groups and not to encourage the house church to become too large.” In other provinces, however, strict control of house churches is implemented. Between the months of May 2005 and May 2006, approximately 2,000 Christians have been arrested. – IdeaSpektrum 2 January 2007, pg 12.

Again we recognize the difficulties some believers experience in various instances. It is a proven fact, however, that the more the opposition it receives the more the Church will grow. Therefore, the Church in China is alive and well in spite of the degree of persecution it is currently receiving." (End of article).

2. My China Mission Trip with Rev Pang

We arrived at city P and took another plane to city Q. Due to the delay in the flight, we only got to check into the hotel in city Q at around 1.30am. We hastily settled down and went to bed at 2am as in a few hours’ time, there would be worship and baptism services at two house churches. Before baptizing the believers, Rev Pang confirmed their faith by asking them many pertinent questions. If there be anyone who was still not sure of his salvation, Rev Pang would advise him / her to postpone baptism. The worship service at church A lasted from 8am to 1pm. After lunch, there was a Q and A session (1.30-3.00pm). It was summer and temperatures could soar to 380C. But thank God that on the day of our arrival to city Q, rain came about and cooled down the temperature very much.

During the night time, Rev Pang had to preach and baptize at house church B. The moment we stepped into this house church, we could sense a strong spiritual atmosphere. Their hearts were prepared and ready to worship God. Their singing and prayer were so sincere that tears rolled down their cheeks. After the night service, we went for steamboat, costing us only S$13.

For the next five days, Rev Pang trained about fifty leaders in city Q. Some of these leaders came from places two or three hundred km away. All of them gathered and stayed in house church A. Their food was prepared by some God-loving brethren on the second storey. Rev Pang taught them the Inductive Bible Study Method and the training time was from 8am to 8.30pm. Other than lunch (12-2pm) and dinner (6-7pm) , the rest of the time was spent listening to sermons. Other than teaching them the Inductive Bible Study Method, Rev Pang also had devotional messages with them every morning. He did not only focus on head knowledge but he emphasized spiritual needs too. This dual strategy was very effective. Trainees not only had lectures, but they had practices as well. Every trainee was required to read a passage many times in order to look out for key words, and the author’s flow of thought so as to ascertain the theme of the passage. As usual, starting a new thing met with much inertia; the trainees could not understand what they were expected to do. But after two or three days of patient explanation and correction by Rev Pang, the trainees gradually got into the right track. In order to master this Bible study method, trainees needed to continue to practice. Rev Pang especially instructed trainees to complete the homework assigned to them. He even encouraged them to submit their completed homework through emails so that he could correct it.

The weather was very humid and warm. Along the way to a small town, we could see middle-aged men, with their singlets removed, exposing their potbellies. They enjoyed sitting outside their houses fanning themselves with fans. In the evening, swarms of mosquitoes attacked us mercilessly. After dinner, Rev Pang used God’s Word to counsel a prospective bride and bridegroom. The next day was the Lord’s day. We originally intended to attend worship in a local house church in the morning. However, one of the leaders in the house church suggested that for the sake of security, only another sister and I were allowed to attend their worship. The wedding was held in the afternoon and the ceremony proceeded smoothly. Before the wedding, all the guests gathered together for lunch. Similarly, after the wedding ceremony (about three hours after lunch), we were treated with another meal. How could our stomachs not be bloated up? We had three to four sessions of Chinese tea in between the two meals, creating opportunities for us to chit-chat. Rev Pang also seized the opportunity to video for the couple as well as the ceremony, adding much joy and fun to this happy occasion.

The next day, we took a coach to city P early in the morning, the journey was about four hours and along the way, there were plots and plots of green paddy fields as well as small rivers. The city P is densely populated, packed with many modern buildings and the air was rather polluted. The sky was always covered with haze. Rev Pang also conducted the Inductive Bible Study Method for about twenty brethren. They only could spend three days in training and hence had less time practicing. But no matter how, they mastered the basic Bible study skill. As for the sister who came to city Q to seek medical treatment, she was given a clean bill of health. Praise be to God! Rev Pang did a good job in arranging the different schedules. When I just left city P for home, his wife and children joined him for summer camp in another venue. (Report by Bro. Kelvin Wong, Tengah BPC, 27 July 2007)

Brethren, pray for the Christians in China. (Written just before leaving for Changi Airport).

Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor