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Answering God’s call in China
Imagine sitting with someone who has never heard of Jesus. Someone who is willing to drive an hour or more after work to meet for a Bible study. Someone who, after one study, is ready to invite you into her home, life and heart. Now multiply that receptive soul again and again until you have filled an entire country.
Welcome to Beijing, China.
In March, five of us boarded a plane bound for Beijing to spend two weeks sharing the gospel. We went as part of the Centurion project with Let’s Start Talking, whose goal is to send 10,000 Christians into the world within the next few years to share Christ with others.
Our sponsoring church was the Garden Ridge Church of Christ inLewisville, Texas — a congregation that already has sent out severalteams over the past few years and plans to send many more.
We were blessed to study with 84 people during our time in Beijing,many of whom had never had the chance to hear of God or Jesus beforeand knew nothing about the Bible.
Wow! What an incredible opportunity to sit down with someone who hasfresh eyes, clear ears and an open heart to the good news of Jesus.
We were amazed that in spite of how entirely prepared or completelyun-equipped we felt at any given moment, the Spirit really moved andworked through us to get his message across.
I can honestly say that I have never had that chance before — to sitwith someone, start from the beginning with the story of Jesus andshare my faith like that. This opportunity came in a country whereChristianity has not always been accepted. God’s awesome story becameeven more powerful and meaningful to us as we were able to share itover and over again with those who had never heard it.
We studied in a place called “Bread Talk,” which we found to be veryappropriate as Jesus refers to himself several times as the “bread oflife.” We really had the chance to have a living, breathing faith.
Our group was able to worship twice with fellow brothers and sisters inBeijing. During those times, as we all sang together, it struck me thatGod transcends all cultures and languages. He is bigger and moreamazing than we could ever imagine.
Our theme of “God can do anything” permeated our experience, as eachmorning and night our team shared the various conversations we werehaving with our readers and how we could see God planting seeds offaith.
Those seeds were planted within us, as well, in a way none of us couldhave predicted. While we were there, God began stirring in our hearts adesire to return for a more extended stay to help further his kingdomin Beijing.
This month, I’ll return with my teammates — the Cooper family: John,Susan and 1-year-old Nash — for at least a year to answer what we feelis God’s call for us to return. Please pray for those in China, andthroughout the world, who have not yet been introduced to Christ.Please pray for us as we return soon to Beijing.
Wherever you are, look for ways to share your faith daily in your ownbackyard. There are people all over this world who are desperately inneed of the hope that we have.
The harvest is ripe — may the workers be plentiful!
KATHERINE GOULD earned a master’s degree in Christian ministry fromAbilene Christian University in Texas. She has been involved with youthand campus ministries for 12 years. She is a member of the Garden Ridgechurch in Lewisville, Texas.
Welcome to Beijing, China.
In March, five of us boarded a plane bound for Beijing to spend two weeks sharing the gospel. We went as part of the Centurion project with Let’s Start Talking, whose goal is to send 10,000 Christians into the world within the next few years to share Christ with others.
Our sponsoring church was the Garden Ridge Church of Christ inLewisville, Texas — a congregation that already has sent out severalteams over the past few years and plans to send many more.
We were blessed to study with 84 people during our time in Beijing,many of whom had never had the chance to hear of God or Jesus beforeand knew nothing about the Bible.
Wow! What an incredible opportunity to sit down with someone who hasfresh eyes, clear ears and an open heart to the good news of Jesus.
We were amazed that in spite of how entirely prepared or completelyun-equipped we felt at any given moment, the Spirit really moved andworked through us to get his message across.
I can honestly say that I have never had that chance before — to sitwith someone, start from the beginning with the story of Jesus andshare my faith like that. This opportunity came in a country whereChristianity has not always been accepted. God’s awesome story becameeven more powerful and meaningful to us as we were able to share itover and over again with those who had never heard it.
We studied in a place called “Bread Talk,” which we found to be veryappropriate as Jesus refers to himself several times as the “bread oflife.” We really had the chance to have a living, breathing faith.
Our group was able to worship twice with fellow brothers and sisters inBeijing. During those times, as we all sang together, it struck me thatGod transcends all cultures and languages. He is bigger and moreamazing than we could ever imagine.
Our theme of “God can do anything” permeated our experience, as eachmorning and night our team shared the various conversations we werehaving with our readers and how we could see God planting seeds offaith.
Those seeds were planted within us, as well, in a way none of us couldhave predicted. While we were there, God began stirring in our hearts adesire to return for a more extended stay to help further his kingdomin Beijing.
This month, I’ll return with my teammates — the Cooper family: John,Susan and 1-year-old Nash — for at least a year to answer what we feelis God’s call for us to return. Please pray for those in China, andthroughout the world, who have not yet been introduced to Christ.Please pray for us as we return soon to Beijing.
Wherever you are, look for ways to share your faith daily in your ownbackyard. There are people all over this world who are desperately inneed of the hope that we have.
The harvest is ripe — may the workers be plentiful!
KATHERINE GOULD earned a master’s degree in Christian ministry fromAbilene Christian University in Texas. She has been involved with youthand campus ministries for 12 years. She is a member of the Garden Ridgechurch in Lewisville, Texas.
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