China is a vast country with 1.3 billion souls.\u00a0 It has been thirty years since I was there as a student.\u00a0 My grandfather immigrated from southern China (Zhongshan, Guangzhou) to Hawaii around 1900.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
We were in China doing a leadership camp.\u00a0 Our mission:\u00a0 Build relationships with students to show the love of Jesus, but here are the restrictions:\u00a0 Do not initiate conversations about God or Christ unless asked.\u00a0 Don\u2019t mention God or the Bible in your presentations.\u00a0 Avoid religious language and praying or worshiping before the local people.\u00a0 In the words of St. Francis of Assis, \u201cPreach the Gospel, and if necessary use words.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 What we did in those eight days with students from all over the country was to create a \u201cChristian Family\u201d atmosphere without mentioning God.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 This is something that is rare in the culture.<\/p>\n
Here are some snippets of conversations I had with students:\u00a0 \u201c Sara\u201d is studying international business and finance.\u00a0 We were talking about how to define love.\u00a0 I explained to her my definition of love from Jesus, \u201cGreater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.\u201d\u00a0 I then wrote John 3:16 in her notebook.\u00a0 She said at her school there are several ethnic minorities and that she respected religion.\u00a0 I hope one day she can see God as the source of love, not just religion.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaxine,\u201d a female student that was studying the philosophy of Marxism.\u00a0 I told her that the basis of most of Western philosophy and culture was based on the Bible, and that she should read it.\u00a0 I Pray she will start to read God\u2019s truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe\u201d.\u00a0 He is studying electrical engineering at the university where the camp was held. One of the speakers talked about loving others.\u00a0 He finally realized that we were referring to Jesus as the source of love.\u00a0 I ask God for an open heart as I still am in contact with him.<\/p>\n
Compared to other places in the world I have complete freedom to share the Good News with people.\u00a0 I was able to plant seeds on ground that is softening.\u00a0 Now that I am back in sunny SoCal I want to make the most of every opportunity.\u00a0 Preach the Gospel and use your freedom to explain the truth!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
China is a vast country with 1.3 billion souls.\u00a0 It has been thirty years since I was there as a student.\u00a0 My grandfather immigrated from southern China (Zhongshan, Guangzhou) to Hawaii around 1900.\u00a0 I realize how blessed I am to…<\/span><\/p>\n