China is a vast country with 1.3 billion souls.  It has been thirty years since I was there as a student.  My grandfather immigrated from southern China (Zhongshan, Guangzhou) to Hawaii around 1900.  I realize how blessed I am to have been born in California, know Jesus, and what a responsibility I have to share what God has given me.

We were in China doing a leadership camp.  Our mission:  Build relationships with students to show the love of Jesus, but here are the restrictions:  Do not initiate conversations about God or Christ unless asked.  Don’t mention God or the Bible in your presentations.  Avoid religious language and praying or worshiping before the local people.  In the words of St. Francis of Assis, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words.

As a Christian that serves in a church I take for granted that we can pray, teach the Bible, and experience love and support of brothers and sisters.  What we did in those eight days with students from all over the country was to create a “Christian Family” atmosphere without mentioning God.

Many of the students were loved and cared for, built friendships, and learned to trust others and share dreams and hurts from their lives with strangers.  This is something that is rare in the culture.

Here are some snippets of conversations I had with students:  “ Sara” is studying international business and finance.  We were talking about how to define love.  I explained to her my definition of love from Jesus, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  I then wrote John 3:16 in her notebook.  She said at her school there are several ethnic minorities and that she respected religion.  I hope one day she can see God as the source of love, not just religion.

“Maxine,” a female student that was studying the philosophy of Marxism.  I told her that the basis of most of Western philosophy and culture was based on the Bible, and that she should read it.  I Pray she will start to read God’s truth.

“Joe”.  He is studying electrical engineering at the university where the camp was held. One of the speakers talked about loving others.  He finally realized that we were referring to Jesus as the source of love.  I ask God for an open heart as I still am in contact with him.

Compared to other places in the world I have complete freedom to share the Good News with people.  I was able to plant seeds on ground that is softening.  Now that I am back in sunny SoCal I want to make the most of every opportunity.  Preach the Gospel and use your freedom to explain the truth!

In January 2010 we started Kingdom Harvest Network to provide support for the ministry the Lord had called me into. Little did I know what the work and step of faith would produce. Now, 3 ½ years later our ministry has expanded.
In June we added two new staff in other ministries to whom we will be an umbrella organization for their support. Sue Reimer, a California native, will be serving at Cal State Fullerton. She had been working as a substitute teacher and volunteering to serve the Bridges ministry at CSUF, now she has the opportunity to spend more time with students. In addition Daniel Becerra from Peru has joined the team. He has been an intern with the Destino movement at CSULB. He is reaching and discipling Latino students (even some Brazilians) and helping to launch movements on other campuses in SoCal. We are partnering with him to give him more flexibility with his work and funding.
Wesley is part of the Christian club, “Kerygma” at Lakewood High school. In May he organized an outreach rally where we served free root beer floats to thirsty students. Andrew was the speaker, Jade and Aunty Nancy (my sister) helped to serve drinks. About 80 students attended and several were moved by the message Andrew gave. After 19 years of parenting we are seeing our kids reach their generation for Jesus!
In July Andrew and I will be part of a leadership camp in Asia. We will be interacting with students discussing topics of character like identity, integrity, and caring for others.
I am reminded of our Lord’s ministry, “Jesus went through Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Matt 4:23) I am so thankful that the Lord is giving me these opportunities to expand his Kingdom to the world and bring hope and healing to many. God is at work among High School students, Latinos at CSULB, international students at CSUF, and future leaders in Asia.

L-R. Daniel, Franklin, & Alice. Daniel has mentored Franklin who was the president of Destino. Alice is a volunteer staff and also serves as a youth advisor at my church, EFCI.

Soccer, not basketball or football is the world’s international sport.

I did not grow up playing the sport but my two boys played some when they were younger. This month I watched our Middle Eastern friends play an intramural final against a Mexican American team at CSULB. There were many Asian American friends of our friends cheering on the “Blue O” team. It exciting to me because I knew “Oscar” and his brother who were playing. The play was intense with the “O” team scoring first, but their opponents scored on a penalty kick. The call on the foul was controversial and the coach for the “O” team argued with the referee until he was ejected from the field!

It was enjoyable for me to be a part of how the students cheered for their countrymen. They would sing songs in Arabic and also give out this tounge warbling cry. But we all spoke the same language when we scored, “gooooooal!” The game went into overtime (1-1), and then was decided by a shootout. Unfortunately “Oscar” and other missed and the other team took the win. As a fan and supporter of the “O” team we consoled ourselves with the knowledge that we had scored the only legitimate goal, and that we had a bigger cheering section. I am reminded of the scripture which reminds us that living the Christian life likened to the Olympic games.“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus , the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scoring its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2).

It is a challenge to do this work with students from Asia and the Middle East. I find myself in a spiritual conflict with different world views religious systems, overcoming language barriers, and their personal issues and sin. Some are involved in bad relationships because of loneliness or suffer from depression. The ministry at CSULB is because of the team God has provided. I am thankful for the partnership with Jesse from ISI and Zach who is an intern. We pray, plan, and support each other in reaching out to students. Hosting parties, running our weekly meetings, and taking students to Yosemite requires a faithful team. My hope and dream is to one day be worshipping before the throne of the lamb with the members of “Blue O.” And that we together will be kneeling before Jesus and shouting in every tongue “Jesus, you are Lord and God!”

I cannot thank God enough for the cheering section of generous supporters. He has opened up relationships I would have never dreamed of since I started the international student work four years ago. Keeping my eyes on the prize and Jesus For the Kingdom to All Nations.

Arthur Lum