English Radio Program

01 October 2008

INTERVIEW ON CHINA, part 3

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Harold Sala: Today's program is originating from the studio of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Hong Kong . I'm talking with Raymond Lo, who is the executive director of FEBC, and Florence Lin, who heads a ministry now known as Joy Partners. But you [ Florence ] and your husband were involved in ministry with FEBC for 41 years. That's a long time.

Florence Lin: Yes, that is a long time. Since1959.

HS: Okay, 1959…2009 coming up really soon! How are they different, Florence ? What's happened in your generation?

FL: 1949 the Communists took over China . And there was no way to preach the Gospel to China . But nowadays we can go to China as tourists or business people and there's a chance for us to witness to them.

HS: But the solution is not the outsider who comes in dragging a bag of Bibles or tracts or whatever, it is the church–I guess we could use the term indigenous . What's happening in the local church?

 

Raymond Lo: We do observe a phenomenon. There are many, many believers, but very, very few pastors and workers.

HS: So training pastors such as what we attempt to do at Guidelines International, also using DVDs and a variety of other sources, is tremendously important?

RL: Exactly! We can equip more capable leaders.

FL: Our radio is training them. We have a Bible school that will train them. Maybe Raymond can tell us a little bit.

RL: Yes, the idea might have originated from Pastor Lin and Mrs. Lin that we have our Bible seminary on the air. Now we have over 6000 students from various provinces.

FL: You have to study two years.

RL: Two years with over 36 subjects.

HS: I went into China for the first time in 1979. Only two churches were open in the entire country. And they were for the benefit of the foreigner. Today you find churches scattered all over China . And vast numbers of differences! But I see the Spirit of God working in the hearts of people. Of course, China is changed. It has become a tremendous economic power. But the Christians have also begun to influence and penetrate society. Take a minute and tell us how that has happened.

RL: I think the government is now more open to Christians' contributions because the government is now emphasizing harmonious society.

HS: Yes, and that was the theme of the Olympics: a harmonious society. Does that mean that Christians live in harmony with their culture, their neighbors, their fellows?

RL: If Christians have a clear mind and they have no hidden agenda contributing to their government's “harmonious society,” they will be somewhat accepted by the government.

HS: The growth of the church in China is absolutely phenomenal. I have asked pastors, “How do you account for the growth of your church?” They have said two things. Number one is through the personal lives of individuals who reflect the Gospel.

RL: They lift the Gospel.

HS: And then number two, the work of the Holy Spirit or even the miraculous, which is not the super sensational. It is boom! God answered prayers! And people say, “Wow! There must be a real God!”

FL: But I think radio plays a big part in it. I think they say that half of the Christians in China are due to radio. That's what James Taylor tells us about it.

Resource reading: 1 Peter 3:8-22