Lausanne World Pulse – China Sending: A Mission Force on the Rise

By J. Smith
September 2011

Chinese Missionaries
Today Chinese missionaries serving in Muslim countries have much more freedom to witness because they are not from the West. In 2005, teams of Chinese missionaries went into Pakistan after the December 2004 massive earthquake. They took blankets, tents, food, Bibles and Christian literature in Urdu. The Pakistani people were very open to the gospel during this time. When the Chinese NGOs would approach in their Jeeps (which had Chinese flags on them) the locals would yell, “The Christians are coming!” They would run toward the Jeeps, eager to receive the help that was offered in the name of Jesus.

Today Chinese missionaries serving in Muslim countries have much more freedom to witness because they are not from the West.   

Church leaders in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are asking for Chinese pastors and missionaries to come and teach on suffering. The years of suffering under the hand of the Communist government have placed Chinese church leaders in a unique place to help these young pastors who are facing arrest, imprisonment and harassment in Central Asia.

Few joys have surpassed that of participating in two days of teaching in an underground training center in west China. I translated for one instructor as he taught a group of Chinese missionary candidates how to reach out to Muslims. At the end of our time together our Chinese hosts took us to a feast of roasted lamb in the heart of the downtown bazaar. After sharing a meal and laughter, they eagerly asked if the instructor would come to the Middle East to help train their workers. They invited him to return to west China to train more Chinese missionaries on how to reach out to Muslims in the name of Jesus. We thanked God for one more glimpse of the work he is doing through Chinese believers.

On 22 June 2006 we hosted another partnership gathering of foreigners and Chinese church leaders in our home. These believers were Chinese, Korean and Korean American. They all shared a deep passion for the mobilization of the Church in China. During the meeting those in attendance shared resources, discussed difficult issues, gave updates concerning new developments and made new connections for future ministry. Although we do not know what the road ahead will look like, we know that God has placed us on this path and he will show us the way.

For information on this vision of the Chinese Church and sending missionaries, send an email to [email protected].

Endnotes1. http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/06/business/tourism.php
2. Fishman, Ted. 2005. China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World. New York.

J. Smith (a pseudonym) has lived among the Chinese for more than forty years and serves in leadership with Pioneers.