You’ll see the news reports of colorful lion dances, boisterous celebrations, fireworks, and lots of food! Whether you watch the festivities from a distance or are invited by Chinese friends or classmates to join in the fun, keep in mind…

The Unfinished Task

After the celebrations pass, China will still be home to the world’s largest unevangelized people, over 1.3 billion souls. Our family of churches has seen God work in amazing ways to establish growing, Chinese-led churches in many of the largest cities. But there are literally thousands of campuses on which we’ve yet to establish any kind of outreach, and over 100 major cities where we’ve yet to plant a church.

An Unprecedented Opportunity

China is at a critical turning point. Just 30-odd years ago all Christian churches were still shuttered and foreigners unwelcome. Today, millions are open to Christianity, with a strong interest among university students, many of whom speak English and are eager to learn more of the world outside China. In our lifetime, there has never been a greater opportunity for English-speaking disciples to come share their faith in China.

A New Campus Team

Just over two years ago, nine disciples from the U.S. arrived in China to plant a new campus ministry on a university complex that is home to 25,000 resident students. By God’s grace, students from six different universities have now become Christians! Though we cannot meet or evangelize openly, we share a dream for the day we can openly proclaim Christ. In the meantime, we reach out to students through sports, games and everyday life, sharing the gospel as we come to know them as friends. We work under the leadership of the Chinese evangelists in our area, and are grateful for their advice and encouragement.

Has God Opened a Door for You to China?

You don’t have to speak Chinese! Disciples with a love for the lost and a hunger to take the one-year challenge have three opportunities here:

1) Come study Chinese! Scholarships are available. Take a year off work or school to learn Chinese in a fulltime study program, live on campus, and reach out to your fellow Chinese students. More people speak Mandarin Chinese natively than any other language in the world. This opportunity is especially well-suited to campus disciples: you’ll spend an extra year on campus in China, then return home to finish your studies, better equipped both as a student and as a part of your local campus ministry.

2) Teach and Build the Church. There are many job opportunities for teachers of English and other subjects in China. Teach children or college students. Many teachers are given on-campus housing and a salary that is more than sufficient for daily needs. Our most influential and fruitful team members have chosen to support themselves in this way.

3) Intern as a Campus Minister Housing and a modest living stipend are available. If you want an opportunity to give your all to evangelizing, discipling young Christians and building a church, come live the (sparsely) furnished apartment we rent for our Sunday house church service, and spend your days in Bible study and prayer, playing sports with the students, organizing activities to build friendships with the students, and sharing the gospel with them!

Where Will You Celebrate the Next Chinese New Year?

Is God putting China on your heart? E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get more detailed information you can discuss with your home church leaders. It’s not too late for another New Year’s resolution: to pray for China to know the love of Jesus! And who knows? Your next Chinese New Year could be in China!

Posted by Jerry Maday Worcester, MA