Conference Voices: A Tale of Two Rivers

Editor’s note: The China Partnership recently held its annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s topic was “The Church in a Global-Local World” and we were greatly blessed and challenged by many excellent speakers. We are excited to make their ideas available through our blog to those unable to attend in person. Check back throughout the coming weeks for more posts from our conference speakers on topics including the house church in China, the China Partnership’s ministry strategies, the meaning of global-local missions, and what ministering to the international world present in America might look like for you and your church.

When translated into English, the name of the Chinese province in which I live is “Four Rivers.” My thoughts here are about two rivers in China, two metaphorical rivers.

The first river is a river of change. In the 5th century BC, a Greek philosopher named Heraclitus said, “You can never step into the same river twice.” China feels a lot like what Heraclitus was talking about. Socially, politically, economically, and environmentally, things feel like they are constantly in flux. And of course, the church feels this same way.

The second river is the river of language and culture. Historically, this river has been notoriously difficult for Westerners to navigate. Presbyterian missionary William Milne once said, “Learning the Chinese language requires bodies of iron (铁身体), lungs of brass (黄铜的肺), heads of oak (橡木头的头), hands of spring steel (钢铁的手), eyes of eagles (老鹰的眼睛), hearts of apostles (使徒的心), memories of angels (天使的记忆力), and the lives of Methuselah (和瑪土撒拉的岁数).”

Now imagine that these two rivers each have two banks. On the one side of the river is America and on the other is China. We need bridges to connect these two sides.

There are many Christians, including individuals, churches, and missions agencies, that want to get involved or have been involved in reaching out to China. The natural result of such a burden to reach China with the gospel is a plan, a strategy. But often these plans and strategies have huge flaws. Sometimes they are working from misinformation or lack of information and this leads to the implementation of plans that fail to really address the needs of the church in China.

What we do depends on the voices we listen to. I’ve been involved in ministry to China for nearly thirty years and the overwhelming majority of strategies and plans to reach China have little or no input from the voices of the Chinese indigenous church leaders. Both Western and Eastern missions agencies strategize, plan, fund, and implement without Chinese church leaders having any real ownership of what is going on. The result is that true partnership and facilitation does not happen.

The China Partnership has been structured with this problem in mind and we intentionally address these issues by connecting Chinese house churches with churches on the other side of the river. This is the bridge model strategy – people on the ground, in the city, helping navigate connections between both sides and making sure the voice of the Chinese house church is heard and understood by the church in the United States.

This kind of thinking has helped give birth, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to a church planting network that started in 2012 with roughly twenty different churches. Now, at the end of 2014, this network includes over five hundred churches in over one hundred and fifty different Chinese cities, including China’s largest urban centers. Even though it is an urban strategy, this network reaches beyond the city into China’s smaller areas and is touching thousands of lives.

It is foolish to try to navigate these two rivers without people on the ground and in the field who not only know the cultures, languages, and changing currents involved, but also have a certain depth of relationship with the voices of the Chinese church. If we truly desire to make the gospel known and have it take root in the lives of individuals and churches, we must have access to those voices.


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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

About Shenyang

Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

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About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 21 million people. The city has a rich history that spans over 3,000 years, and it has served as the capital of various dynasties throughout China’s history. Beijing is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The city is also a hub for political, cultural, and educational activities, with numerous universities and research institutions located within its boundaries. Beijing is renowned for its traditional architecture, rich cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a must-visit destination for travelers to China.

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About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

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