Looking Back with Gratitude, Looking Forward with Faith

January 2024

“In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

As we review the past year, we must acknowledge the many “hard things” that God showed us. In addition to those I mentioned in my last letter, my brother Peter died from Covid on December 2nd. Once again, Dori and I made the tiring trip to Auburn, Alabama, for his memorial service, and once again, God blessed us with wonderful fellowship with family members from several states. And once again, I preached the sermon at the memorial service. Sarah went with us this time, for which we are grateful. And we are very thankful to God for blessing us with Peter and Sally Ann for so many years; they were always a great encouragement to us.

Peter’s death is a huge loss for me, and grief has overwhelmed me at times, but I have also sensed God’s presence and his promise that he would be even more of a spiritual father to me, and even more of an older brother, mentor, guide, counselor, friend, and intercessor, than Peter was. So, this sad event has cast me even more upon our loving Lord, which is good.

Looking Forward with Faith

Informed people are making dire predictions about this coming year. They make a strong case for the likelihood of a severe financial and economic downturn; potential wars with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran; and political and social turmoil in the United States. Though we must be mentally and otherwise prepared for such things, we must also arm ourselves with a strong faith in the presence, power, provision, and protection of the God who has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). So, with David and others, we affirm: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5; quoting Psalm 27:1; 118:16). And we remember Jesus’ words: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Please pray for us: “[Pray] at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplications for all the saints, and also for me” (Ephesians 6:18-19a). Acutely aware that at least one billion ethnic Chinese in China, Taiwan, and elsewhere have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am trusting God to expand and deepen the ministries of China Institute and Global China Center.

I am asking him to enable me to:

Strengthen and grow our team, and increase our affiliations.
Write monthly prayer letters; weekly prayer updates; at least eight major stories for the Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity; ten reviews of books about Chinese Christianity; and as many doctrinal articles and ethical notes on the Bible as I can for the Truth and Life New Testament pages and Old Testament pages of our China Institute website.
Translate at least twenty stories from the Chinese page of the BDCC.
Connect at least one hundred times with Chinese friends, those who minister to them, and those who support us in prayer and giving.
Prepare two academic lectures on theology for delivery in Mandarin by Zoom to Chinese university professors and seminary teachers.

My prayer for you is that you “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love

of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19).

In his boundless love,

Wright and Dori