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China is an amazing place
China is fascinating. It has the old and the new. It is opened yet closed. It has a huge culture of its own yet the Christian influence is undeniable. I always enjoyed seeing the Christianity in the Chinese people; hence this was my fifth trip to the great nation.
God is doing something in this country and it is a good thing.
My last 2 weeks had been wonderful - a time of renewing, refreshing and seeing the hand of God. People were hungry for the Gospel. People were responsive to the Gospel. People queue to be prayed for, whether it was in the open-church or independent or the house churches. People received the Lord as Saviour. Such was my experience.
The work I am currently involved in this city is doing handsomely well - PTL. Four growing works in one year!
Da Feng Shan
An open-church in the heart of a great city. This was my first ministry on this trip. Hungry hearts all over - people queue up in the prayer line at the altar.
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Praying for the needy
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The altar response was simply awesome - people are the same all over the world in that God touches their needs |
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Prayer is powerful; According to a French philosopher, it breeds optimism. I say it brings healing!
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Da Feng Shan church; an open-church in a big coastal city |
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Ps Steven with members of the church's leadership team
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Entrance to the open-church which is housed in an apartment at a residential area. |
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Two apartments were turned into one - and officially approved
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Sitting capacity is easily 150 people |
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Small group meeting - the genesis of another house church?
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The group comprised of very capable people including two teaching professors. The city has a few Universities |
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Again praying for those with needs
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Among members and leaders of the group |
House Church @ Jin Shan
This is the second group established last year. It was very well-attended and the home (place) was completely packed up. Young and old were hungry for the Word of Life.
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House church members - notice the black heading covering? Legacy of Watchman Nee's teaching which is strong in this city
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Another section of the house group |
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People, everywhere really are in need of God's healing touch. When we offer to pray, it was always well-received.
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More praying |
House Church - University Community Group
This is perhaps the most exciting of the house churches - because it had a large group of college students. They are young, smart and highly connected to the world. They represent the future of Chinese society. I was there on Sunday morning and we had around 50 people. They also meet on Friday night (as those living on the outskirt of the city return home on weekend) and last Friday they had 80 people!
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Section of the Sunday congregation. Many are majoring in English and they were delighted to engage me in speaking English!
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Another section of younger people |
Jin Shan Training Centre
Once again I was privileged to teach in the Bible School. I did that last year as well. They even combined two classes for me to minister - and I used a session to pray for students. More than half the class came for prayer. What a wonderful time of ministering not only to knowledge but to the inner soul.
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The combined class
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Back view of the chapel |
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Jin Shan TC; the bible training centre of an open "Watchman Nee" church - the church has 2,000 people and the student population was 50
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Worship time |
Visiting & Touring the City
The city is beautiful even though like many cities in China, it is heavily polluted because of the pace of rapid development. I was given a guided tour to two famous spots; the museum of Chinese officer Lin (famous during the Opium War) and the old city.
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Ps Steven with an official of the Bible School; he was driving us around
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Ps Steven with Timothy |
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At the museum - beautiful replica
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Historical records of the proud Chinese! |
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Historical old town; many still live in this place although it is more for tourism
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Having fun with Timothy |
Fourth House Group
This house church is probably the best I have seen in that you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. They are an older group but their faith is strong. You constantly hear individuals say, "Praise the Lord!" Yet, they are really villagers.....
They were enthusiastic and vibrant. Many rushed for prayers and 3 people stood up to proclaimed that the Lord has healed them - of their back, neck and other aches. Astounding time really!
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Timothy with the eldest of the group; 83 years old but a firebrant for Jesus! When her husband died, she said, she saw angels carrying him home!!
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The leader with her members |
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Service time - singing and worship was traditional but sincere
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The Village; took me about an hour to get there via taxi & three-wheeler |
Discipleship Training
It was a wonderful opportunity and pleasure to be training a group of young people in yet another city, an hour and half hour flight away. The city was very cold but the hearts of the students and staff were warm.
We had a great time - learning and encouraging each other. The timing could not have been better. I also caught up with a couple of contacts from friends in Australia.
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Friends at the dinning table - the guys were great; Brent rreally took care of me!
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The girls are equally awesome. One of them is the leader of a sizeable fellowship group (house church) where I ministered on Saturday night. It was awesome. |
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Ps Steven with friends - the meals were simple but taste good; maybe because of the cold. There was hardly any meat, so I gave some money to buy lots of meat
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In a class room setting - the fellowship and learning was good, notwithstanding some language shortfall. One thing I know, my oral Chinese improved heaps |
Beijing Trip
My last spot was the capital city of China, Beijing. It was cold, very cold. I came to meet a good friend (American Chinese from Illinois) who is managing a business here. We had a good breakfast and fellowship.
I had a good meeting with Eric Jan and hopefully we laid the groundwork for a return next year to bring all his franchisees and operators together for a strategy session, the Lord willing.
Then I took off via the subway to Tian An Men Square and the Forbbiden City; my first visit even though this is not my first trip the to capital.
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The Forbidden City; grand entrance, great history. The sad thing about Beijing and indeed wherever I go, is that the sky is heavily polluated.
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Ps Steven in the Forbidden City; a huge place with many gates. Once the residence of past Chinese Emperors |
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One courtyard leads to another! It is never ending....
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All the entrances are grand and they have huge hard-timber doors |
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Tian An Men Square - the centre of the Chinese flag. This place was made famous during the students revolt where Army tanks were rolled out to crush the "rebellion"
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Tian An Men is a huge square indeed but visiblity was very poor.... |
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As far as the eye can see....in the midst..
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Security is tight; uniformed and plain clothes police officers and military personnel are never far away... |
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