To mark the Chinese New Year, Disciples Today is publishing a series of articles written by our correspondent in China. For the previous articles in this series, see Part 1: Good News from China and Part 2: Are Christians In China Persecuted? Part 3: The Amazing Story of Christianity’s Arrival, Near-Death, and Revival in China, and Part 4: The Story of the International Churches of Christ in China.
Did you know that animal sounds expressed in Chinese are often different from their English equivalents? Bees go “weng weng” not “buzz,” dogs bark “wang wang” instead of “woof woof” and so on. With enthusiasm and warmth, we usher in the Year of the Rooster in China. In Chinese, the rooster crows, “Ō ō ō! 喔喔喔!”
Next to Christmas, the most celebrated holiday in the world is Chinese New Year. Chinese — not only in China but by the millions throughout Southeast Asia and the world — will mark this week as the start of the Year of the Rooster. Will this rooster's crowing be your wake up call to take the One Year Challenge this year?
Here are seven great reasons to take the OYC in China this year:
1. An unprecedented opportunity
China is at a turning point. Just 50-odd years ago all Christian churches were still shuttered and foreigners unwelcome. Today, millions are open to Christianity, with an especially 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.
2. An unfinished task
China is home to the world’s largest group of unevangelized people, over 1.3 billion souls. There are still over 100 cities with half a million or more people where we haven’t planted churches!
3. A vibrant cultural heritage
With over 5,000 years of history, Chinese civilization is enough to satisfy even the biggest history nerd. Aside from the Han ethnicity, China is the home of 55 different minority ethnic groups, each with unique and rich cultural backgrounds and traditions. Furthermore, there are countless Chinese dialects, from Cantonese to smaller hometown dialects only spoken in local areas. Praying in these different languages with new Christians brings a whole new meaning to “every nation, tribe, people and language,” (Revelations 7:9)!
4. A chance to learn Chinese
Scholarships are available. Take a year off work to learn Chinese in a full-time 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.
However, you don’t have to speak Chinese! Single, campus and married disciples with a love for the lost and a hunger to take the one-year challenge also have other opportunities to serve.
5. An impact on campus
Nine disciples from the U.S. took the One Year Challenge and planted a church on a university complex that is home to over 25,000 resident students. Come reach out to students through sports, games and everyday life, sharing the gospel as you come to know these university students as friends.
6. A chance to be self-supporting
There are many job opportunities for teachers of English and other subjects in China. You can teach children or college students. Many teachers receive an apartment on-campus and a salary that is more than sufficient for daily needs. Some of our most influential and fruitful team members have chosen to support themselves in this way.
7. An opportunity to intern as a campus minister
Housing and a living stipend are available. If you want an opportunity to give your all to evangelizing, discipling young Christians and building a church, you can spend full days here in Bible study and prayer, playing sports with university students, organizing activities to build friendships, and sharing the gospel with your new friends!
God has opened a door for you to China. Will the Year of the Rooster be the year you step out on faith?
Pray, then go to the One Year Challenge website to get more information. It’s not too late for another New Year’s resolution: to be used by God so more people in China will know the love of Jesus!