Reports: China February 2013

Chris Montgomery
 

 

As I’ve run into various people they all ask the same question; “What was the highlight of your trip?”  The answer is both very easy and very challenging: it’s the people.

 
It’s easy because the Chinese were incredibly warm and welcoming.  Their joyful attitude made it easy to love them. 
 

But the Chinese people were also challenging, because they exhibited qualities that I only wish I possessed.  They were so hungry to hear God’s word, and eager to learn. We taught at one place for five hours, and when we finished they clamored for more.  They love passionately because they have sacrificed to know Him.  Because they take risks to be together there is uncommon unity among the believers.

I think everyone on our team would agree:  we learned far more than we taught.  We received much more than we gave.  And none of us will forget them, nor will we be the same.  Because our hearts were united not only by a common love for Jesus, but also an anticipation of the day we will see “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.   And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  Revelation 7:9b-10.

I saw Jesus in them.  And I was humbled by it.

Bunmi Peters

 

I had heard from Mary about the passion of the believers there for GOD, but I was not ready to see how much the believers wanted to learn and learn for hours. They soaked in as much knowledge as they could without looking at their watches nor were they distracted by a busy child. They were so loving and genuine in their zeal for GOD. Like us "westerners" they had serious heart issues, but it seemed to me that they wanted GOD solutions. No bandaids like prozac or whatever people use these days to deal with their problems.

I was so blessed to see how the believers put "their safety" out there so that they could learn more about JESUS and I saw how GOD loves the Chinese people and one day we will all worship the King of all Kings together at the throne in heaven.

Rev.5:13
Psalm 46:10

Mary Waring


This was my fifth opportunity to lead a team with EFCC’s Connecting with China.  One of my greatest blessings of these trips is reconnecting with people I have met during past trips.  A young woman approached me at the meeting at a major cosmetic company.  You may remember that during a past stay, 11 women accepted the Lord after our team taught at this same company.  With tears in her eyes, this woman, who was one of the 11, came to thank me for praying for her when she became a believer.  We laughed, cried, and praised our Lord together.  At another meeting, a woman introduced me to her precious adopted daughter that we had discussed during the last trip.  The continuation and continuity of these special relationships are very precious to me and, I believe, very helpful to the people we work with in China.  

God teaches me many things during each mission and this one was no different.  Everything I discover about the Chinese culture, and every challenge learned from leadership under pressure, God uses to refine me to better serve Him and our Chinese sisters and brothers.  May God be glorified by all we do!