For centuries
China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the
world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th
centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines,
military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II,
the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic
socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty,
imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of
tens of millions of people.
After 1978, MAO's successor DENG
Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic
development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the
population, living standards have improved dramatically and the
room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls
remain tight. China since the early 1990s has increased its
global outreach and participation in international
organizations.
China's population at over 1.2
billion is the largest of any country in the world. Over one
fourth of the world's population lives in the People's Republic
of China. Around 80% of the population lives in the countryside.
People group:
a. Chinese (Han) 93% - 8 major
languages and 600 dialects but one written language to all.
b. Ethnic minority 7% - 55 minorities
groups officially recognized.
House church activities have become
the main stream of Christian growth in China. Because of current
revival approximately 27,000 people become Christians every day.
Today in practically every province
there are itinerant evangelists moving about quietly in the
villages and in the mountains preaching the Word, making
disciples and challenging local pastors and younger evangelists.
The church in China continues to grow
in spite of persecution and suffering. Please pray for China’s
revival to continue.
China’s finest hour has come
In recent year China has hosted it's
first “Beijing 2008 Olympic” Games in Beijing. China has become
the paradise for architects and engineers to race against time
to build thousands of skyscrapers and landmarks in the cities.
While most cities in China continue to grow with great economic
drive, social problems continue rise as well. In recent years
China has emerged as one of the largest developing nations in
the world. In contrast to such tremendous growth, issues such as
corruption, homelessness, poverty and lack of jobs have created
many social problems. Churches and Christians are actively
involved in doing their uttermost to tend to these needs and
turn their nation to God.
Esther is one such House church
pastors that continue to preach the gospel all across the
nation. She tells us how God spoke to her in a dream while she
was still a non believer. In her dream she recalls, there was an
earthquake. The 22 story building began to shake violently. She
jumped out of her bed and began to pray, “Oh God, if you are
real, please save me from this earthquake and for the rest of my
life. I will live for you and tell others of your work.” Moments
later, she woke up and her dream ended. Her frighten look scared
others around her. From that day forward, she began telling
others about Jesus and how He saved her life. Nine years from
the dream, she has raised five people from the dead and has
preached the gospel to over five million people. Today she
pastors fifteen churches and operates three training centers
where people are trained and sent to different parts of the
country to serve God.
Esther tells us of growing needs for
Bibles and training of young people for the work of God as the
Harvest of souls are flocking in to the churches. In cities like
Beijing and Shanghai, there are a handful of Government
churches. However tens of thousands of Christians go in to the
house churches where the government doesn’t control what is
taught. Groups like “China House Church Movement”, “Back to
Jerusalem” and thousands of other pastors and itinerant
preachers are making every effort to preach the gospel. They
share with us of similar needs. Over 40 millions Christians in
China do not own a Bible. That is why Harvest NOW is seeking
partnership from you to deliver 15,000 Chinese Bibles in the
hands of the believers. It costs $2.5 for a Bible including
delivery into the hands of the believers.
You can help the Chinese believers.
Churches in China continue to grow
stronger
Working in China for over 25 years,
we have seen the hunger and determination of believers to love
Jesus, to grow in His Word and to spread His message of
salvation. The number of believers continues to grow faster then
the rate of birth. In spite of persecution, difficulties and
harassments from the government officials, the church moves on
in victory. In our recent trip to China, we had the opportunity
to minister in different House Churches in two different cities.
Many pastors and leaders traveled a great distance, as far as
from the North Korean border and other regions to come for our
3- day teaching seminars.
China's women take the gospel
Years ago Sister Ding was in a
desperate situation. Her son was very sick and possessed by
demons. Someone told her to go to a certain house Church because
some one could help her there. At the time she was very poor and
the only way to get there was to walk. When this very tired and
hungry mother heard about Jesus she believed in Him right away.
In spite of the great distance, she kept going every week. One
year later, after much prayer her son was completely healed and
set free.
After being a Christian for 6 years,
Sister Ding received her first Bible. She began to read it and
study it diligently. At that time many people started coming to
her home in great need of help and she soon found herself
ministering, praying and casting out demons. The Lord led her
and her husband, who was a simple farmer to start their own home
Church.
Initially she had to share her own
Bible with the whole congregation. They would pass it from one
home to the other and Sister Ding would make sure she got it
back in time to prepare her Sunday sermons. The Brothers and
Sisters rapidly grew in the things of God and many leaders were
raised up. Today the Church is so large that for security
purposes it had to be divided in different cell groups.
At present the Lord has blessed
Sister Ding and her husband with a very big house in the
countryside. They have many spacious rooms so that Pastors and
Leaders can come for training. At times they have seminars that
last several days, during those periods no one is aloud to go
out or come in to the house, the doors get locked and they have
very thick curtains on all of the windows.
Harvest NOW is a USA registered non
profit organization under section 501 (c) (3).
How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him
of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as
it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10: 14 (KJV)
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