“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, . . . [including] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:12-13a, 17b, 18a).
On March 1st, the struggle to share the love of God in Christ with Chinese entered a new phase. Increasingly strict controls on the public expression of faith, with growing numbers of pastors being arrested, had already put Christians in China under pressure.
Using COVID as a reason, China has basically closed its borders to foreigners.
Now, new regulations forbid Christians from posting or accessing any teaching content on the Internet that has not been authorized.
Thousands of websites and chat groups are now illegal, as is receiving any Christian material from abroad over the Internet. Violators face very stiff penalties. Like countless other ministries, we have had to limit what we send to China via the Internet.
“But the word of God is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:9)
Under these conditions, how can Christians outside of China encourage and support our brothers and sisters there? How can we continue to share the gospel with the hundreds of millions who have not yet heard?
Prayer
First and foremost, we can pray for Christians and others in China, that God’s word would come to them and bring them hope. We should also pray for their rulers, that the Lord would open their eyes and change their minds.
Radio broadcasting
To my knowledge, the most effective way to spread the truth in China and other restricted nations from outside is through the work of Far East Broadcasting Company (China | FEBC – Far East Broadcasting Company) and Trans World Radio (Northeast Asia - TWR Website).
Using a variety of media, they build the Chinese church through programs of evangelism, teaching, and leadership training
Chinese in other countries: The “Diaspora”
Since 1989, Dori and I have focused most of our energy on reaching Chinese living in North America. A majority of our China Institute Partners and Global China Center Associates, likewise, try to find ways to befriend, evangelize, teach, and encourage the Chinese in Canada, the United States, and England.
For the twenty-six years that we lived in Charlottesville, we enjoyed frequent access to Chinese scholars and their families and then also with undergraduates at the University of Virginia. The Chinese Bible Study, Chinese Christian Fellowship (CCF), International Christian Fellowship, and Mandarin Sunday School at our church all saw people come to faith in Christ, receive baptism, and grow in grace.
Since our move to Texas, we have tried to stay in contact with some of these friends through email and telephone conversations. We returned to Virginia to participate in several weddings of CCFers. CCF alums organized a very encouraging series of Zoom reunions during 2020-2021.
For a while, I led a Bible study in the local Chinese restaurant here, until key people moved away and the meetings ceased.
Many of you, however, live in places where there are significant numbers of Chinese. Opportunities for extending hospitality and friendship to them abound. For a number of suggestions about how best to share the gospel with them, see my book, Reaching Chinese Worldwide.
We don’t know how long we will have these openings. Sino-American relations seem to be worsening, and some recent undergraduates are less open to Christianity than before.
Please do all you can to communicate God’s love to them while it is still possible!
Taiwan
As I have repeatedly said, Taiwan still enjoys religious freedom. Though only a tiny minority (2%-5%), Christians are often actively communicating Christ with their friends and neighbors. Some churches are growing, too.
I am trying to find contact information for our friends there and call as many of them as I can.
All my Chinese-language books are published in Taiwan. This month, the last two volumes of my abridgment of the Chinese edition of Carl Henry’s God, Revelation, and Authority are scheduled to come out.
Please pray for us and others as we explore every avenue to reach Chinese worldwide with the saving truth of God’s grace toward us in Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.