Author: Simon Bartz, 21 October 2024
‘It’s unimaginable to have our own pastor,’ said Yu Mei Ping. ‘The idea is an inexpressible joy.’ In China it’s estimated there is only one ordained minister for every 6,700 Christians. That’s why Yu will wait weeks for Revd Liu Xiaofan to visit.
‘We see the pastor once a month. In between we have lay pastors who lead. It’s been difficult. But when he comes it nourishes us.’
Longtan in rural south-eastern Chongqing is a good example of one of the many small Christian communities in China that you’ve been supporting over the years. It’s not the richest town in China by any means, but these people are content. If you look at their Bibles you’ll get an indication of why. The books are battered as the pages have been turned so many times.
In Chinese, Longtan means ‘ponds in the shape of dragon’s eyes’ as the old town is located between two such bodies of water. The place is rich in history and diverse ethnic cultures, especially those of the Tujia and Miao minority groups. It’s famous for its mutton noodles washed down by hot, spicy tea, but it is also home to a community of steadfast Christians.
Our Chinese colleagues visited Longtan this year to see how they are coping and each photo reveals its own little story.
The Church in China is growing with an average of 500,000 baptisms and more than 1 million people joining local fellowships every year. That’s why your support is so crucial right now. You are creating opportunities for Chinese Christians to experience God’s word more deeply than ever. Your donations train leaders to open up the Bible for believers.
Over the years millions of Bibles have been distributed in this vast land of 1,416 million people. The 100 million or so Christians there (a conservative estimate) have Bibles but need leadership. There are many stories of cults taking advantage of the situation and leading believers astray. Longtan is an excellent example of how trained leaders can be a massive blessing to rural communities. And the training of energetic young ministers will also help Bible mission make greater inroads into Chinese cities to connect with young people who have left their rural hometowns and gone there to work.
Thank you for showing such a heart for China through your support this year. Every time you donate you are changing someone’s life by opening up the Bible.
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