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East Lisu New Testament
Mr Yang Hanquan reading the East Lisu NT. Photo:UBSCP/Yeo Tan Tan
This is a miracle! Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, for the first time in 60 years, an East Lisu New Testament (NT), translated by the local East Lisu people, has been published and distributed successfully in China this year.
The gospel first reached the East Lisu people in 1903. (This was 7 years earlier than the Lisu people, a different people group, who were reached by J. O. Fraser in 1910). Today, more than a hundred years later, the East Lisu people could finally read the NT in their own mother tongue. It is estimated that there are 50,000 East Lisu Christians today. Undoubtedly the East Lisu NT translation gave them a lot of pride as it was their own people who have translated it, with the support of China Christian Council/ Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM) and the United Bible Societies (UBS). [...] Continue Reading…
Sunday at a China Church
An eye-witness account of a China church service for poorer city folks
The makeshift church entrance. Photo:UBSCP/Jacqueline Ho
Weaving in and out of lanes, our guide hurried us through the narrow alleys of shop houses. We had already survived the crossing of somewhat harassed roads where pedestrian and motorists fight for right of way. Finally we stopped at what looked like a hole in the wall. It was the entrance to the church service hall. We have arrived at Nanjing’s San Cha He Church.
From what used to be an old warehouse it was now a temporary sanctuary for the gathering of God’s people. The hall looked even more dilapidated from the inside: the whitewashed walls had peeling paint and dirty marks plastered all over; the big rectangular gaps in the wall were windows once upon a time. [...] Continue Reading…
1 million Bibles and New Testament for Catholics in China
The SBV Bible cover
This is unprecedented in China: One million copies of Bible and NT to be printed and distributed free to Catholic believers in Mainland China. Never before has there been such a large volume of Bible and NT ever distributed free in China within a year.
The Catholic community is growing steadily in the Mainland. Official estimates reported 6 million Catholics, with unofficial estimates putting it at 12 million. Most of these believers residing in the rural areas rely on subsistence agriculture as a source of income. Many of them are not able to afford a Bible or the NT.
The Catholic Patriotic Association, supported by the United Bible Societies (UBS) and the Taize Community, is spearheading the project of printing and distributing 800,000 New Testaments (including Psalms and Ecclesiasticus) and 200,000 Bibles in China. This unparalleled move is in response to the crying needs of the Chinese Catholics for the Word of God.
[...] Continue Reading…
Suicide Plans Foiled by God’s hand
Qin clutching her precious Bible. Photo:UBSCP
It was meant to be her last day on earth. She was afraid of the pain and suffering her illness brought to her. Nothing can stop her from taking her own life. No one can stop her. At least that was what she thought… if not for God’s loving intervention.
Qin was a rich business woman. She led the high life: she dressed and traveled in style. She did not believe in God and had no need of Him. In 2005, her world collapsed when she lost her health. She was diagnosed with diabetes, renal illness and cirrhosis of the liver. Unable to accept the harsh reality of the prolonged suffering she would have to live through leading ultimately to death. Qin decided to end her life her way.
She set into motion her suicide plans. While determined to end it all, she was also afraid of the pain of dying. [...] Continue Reading…
Touched by God’s Love — Yang Chen’s Story
Yang Chen at APC
I will always be grateful to a female co-worker, Xie, for leading me to Christ. The first time I met Xie, I was put off by her brusqueness. However, some time later, I noticed an amazing change in her life. I was told she has embraced the Christian faith. It was during the time when there were some changes to my job scope. Some of my colleagues and I were assigned to work on the machines. As it was very tough work, many of us complained a great deal. Only Xie worked without grumbling. She was like a totally different person altogether: from a blunt and caustic person to one with a quiet and gentle spirit.
Turning Point
One time when everyone was idling around and complaining about work, they started to make fun of Xie, asking her to explain why God was not making their work life easier. [...] Continue Reading…
