What A Pastor In Inland China Asks For……

What would you ask a pastor in inland China?

Well, we had the chance.  Three plane flights in.

Taxi ride winding around. Obstacles of people.  Crunched in seat.  Feeling every windy, sharp turn.  Smelling fumes rising…..like the breakfast in my stomach…..from that morning.

Wondering…Are we ever going to get to that church?  The one we felt called to…in China?

But then, we see them. God encounter.  Our sisters of another color. Gentle. Sweet.  Peaceful ones. Hearts connect.

And oh, what strangers we have become. The church. In America.

When in China. A new face seems familiar.  And a believer….becomes a sister.  Or a brother.  In an instant.

Without any words.  Together. In common.

And as we sit along the long table pondering the happenings….

Of  how we got to China.  I heard the stories of how they’d been praying….for God to send someone. Here.

….And we were the answer to their prayer.

So, we ask what we can do?  What can we do for the church?

And why.  A world away.  Is it easier to ask this question that releases action? 
What is keeping us back? From giving….

Of ourselves.  Here. In America.

But, it is just somehow easier.  Here.  In China.  There is not only a want to give, but a well up within desire and passion to give….

To those unsuspecting.

Wise one.  Old one.  Sitting with wisdom at the end of long, well thought out table.

And we ask.  Again. What can we do?

My thoughts overwhelmed me with all we might do for the church.  Ways we could give.  Serve. Love.  Share.

But, as Humble One looks quietly around the table.  His words melt my prideful. American thinking….

What he wants.  This Asian Saint.  Head of a surviving ministry.  In a world of communism.

He said what I think all great men.  And surviving warriors.  And heaven sent preachers speaking for God….might say….

“Prayer”.

“Prayer for our church.”

And how those words seem to slay all my grandiose notions of what we offer or could give after traveling three airplanes and a taxi ride in.  To China.

See….I was ready.  Ready for him to ask for money.  (Sadly, again….my American type thinking.) Or ask for teaching tools.  Or resources that might make their Christ fight…for souls…easier.

But, He was Chinese.  He was old.  He was wise.  He didn’t want easier. He wanted Jesus.

And it seemed that he knew…..the trails and pain of faith in a faithless society are what season a true Christian.  What grow them in strength.  Yes, the difficulties they face, and the trials of hard days, are the seeds to growing faith.

And it seems, he knew.  Faith. Faith and fellowship.  And the body of Christ rising up like saints and bombarding the heavens in hopes to change, a struggling place….

Is the answer. 

More powerful than…

• Millions of dollars.  
• Or rallies of human praise.
• Or resources & any man-made tools.  
• Or anything else that might help them move from the world that’s dying…..to faith.

And ultimately.  They knew.  Salvation doesn’t come through good works. Or material things….

But through grace. Grace alone, and a faith that sustains them…long after others have gone.

So, we prayed.  White ones who traveled a world away.  And The Chosen Ones…..sitting around the table…..become more than friends that day.

But family.

True family.

The kind that submits to a Father on knees and prayers.

At home.

In China.

Thousands of miles away.

Where prayers are heard.  And God’s people are persecuted….

Yet, the gospel is far from chained.
_____________

While on our faces one afternoon in our hotel room, God showed us this exact picture. And as the Lord led, He brought us to this church (One of three we visited while in China)  The Lord did marvelous things & His people are ever so hungry, in China!

The man in the top photo to my left is a youth pastor at the church I write about.  His son is to the left of him. He fights fervently to spread the gospel in this “hard” region.  And his cry…is not for power, or comfort, or ease, or money….but our prayers.  My prayers.  Our prayers.  Will you join me in praying for Him, please?

Also, please pray for this church. It is filled with so many beautiful people. Lindsey (the girl to my right) is one of the sweetest spirits I have ever met. She needs our prayers to walk out her faith in boldness and fearlessness, despite the real threat that awaits her every day.

Lastly (yes, this seems to be becoming more of a prayer post than anything. Isn’t it? Lol)….Please pray for my sweet friend who I went with to China. She leaves again Friday & God is opening doors for her and her family in a new and powerful way.  Pray He reveals His good and perfect plan & that God gives us the territory for His glory in these regions!

Thank you friends.  And bless each one of your!  Your words of encouragement brighten my day!

(Linking with Barbie)