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Christianity Today, May (Web-only), 2008 |

Aiding China's Shaken Church

Franklin Graham discusses outreach after the Sichuan earthquake.

Interview by Stan Guthrie | posted 5/23/2008 10:56AM

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What are the BGEA and Samaritan's Purse doing to help?

Samaritan's Purse committed $150,000; the BGEA also committed $150,000 to help with the churches in Sichuan Province. Samaritan's Purse is also sending a 747 with about $600,000 in supplies: plastic sheeting, water purification systems, mosquito nets, and hygiene kits. The Chinese government has asked for these items, and most of it we already had in our inventory.

How would you compare the Chinese government's response with Myanmar's?

We could all learn from China. After Hurricane Katrina it took almost a week for our government to ramp up and respond. Within hours after this earthquake, [China's government] mobilized 50,000 troops. Their civil defense people went into action. The next day, as they began to see how much devastation there was, they mobilized more troops. They just did a tremendous job. The government in Myanmar has absolutely done—I don't want to say nothing, but next to nothing, it seems. And they have hindered the recovery effort and the aid effort. Now I don't know why, but we have had favor with the government of Myanmar. They have given visas to our people. We have had three flights go in, with about 60 tons that we've been able to deliver. They've given us access now to the [Irawaddy] Delta area. There are other relief agencies that are much larger and better equipped than we are, and for some reason a lot of these groups have been denied.

(Note: United Nations officials announced Friday that Myanmar's junta has agreed to allow all aid workers into the Irawaddy Delta delta area.)

How are Chinese Christians able to help in China?

There are churches in Sichuan Province, and our financial gift is for them. Churches will have to be rebuilt. Christians lost their lives, their homes, and the church wanted to respond but didn't have the resources. We wanted to give them a little war chest, so to speak, something they could draw upon. They were also going to raise money from churches in China, but they're not in a position to give a lot. I saw this as a kind of seed gift to help them get started.

The devastation in Sichuan Province is massive. Not only are the buildings collapsed, the infrastructure is collapsed. The roads are gone, the water systems, the electrical systems, everything is disintegrated. It's going to be a lot of work.

How can Christianity Today readers help?

Pray for the Christians in China. Every pastor, every church member that I had a chance to speak with was optimistic about the future.

This was before the earthquake, or after the earthquake?

Before and after. The government of China seems to see the value that the church offers and sees a role that the church can play in society. And each year the church is gaining ground.

Related elsewhere:

"Managing a Crisis," which accompanies this article, discusses the long-term plans for aid in China and Burma.

Our recent coverage of China includes "China's Great Leap Forward," "Hungry for Jesus," "Audio Slideshow: Changing China," and more.

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May (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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Art Hill

Posted: May 27, 2008 11:35 AM

Franklin Graham is correct. God is able to turn the hearts of the king. Prayers of faith are the greatest offering we can make to help in the evangelization of China. Many will rush to the Olympics under their own fleshly zeal, never ever hearing a "Go ye" from the Holy Spirit. God is almost never into a one-shot "fix" but, rather, tells us to "Go make disciples," not just quick "pray this prayer" converts (which, at best, are questionable). When we go into an area like this we should come under the authority of the local and area church. They know what's going on and how we can help. But like so many of us Americans, we think we know everything and are free to act totally independent as individuals. The underground church in China has been given much wisdom about how to evangelize. My advice, if you are planning to go to the China Olympics to evangelize, please yield yourself to the leadership of the underground China church to be a yielded servant to help in how they want.

Steve

Posted: May 25, 2008 11:06 PM

Polycarp, with all do respect using the line "I found no scriptural basis for his advice," is just a cop out. To say I "believe we should preach the gospel in season and out of season" -- even if it gets our brothers and sisters in Christ killed or persecuted and sets back the work of the church 10 years is just the sort of self centered "Me and God and who cares about the rest of the world" theology that doesn't shed a tear at the deaths of thousands from the earthquake because "this could be a sign of the end times, and I might get to go to heaven sooner." For I was naked and you did not clothe me.

Douglas

Posted: May 25, 2008 10:57 PM

I am a supporter of VOM and think they do fabulous work. I also work in China, primarily with underground church leaders. The Underground church is persecuted, but it is not universal, sometimes it is severe, sometimes years can go by and local officials get along with the church. As for the TSPM churches, some are not much more than government pawns and others are allowed by the local leaders to be very evangelistic. Underground church members were recently called upon by the local officials to help in the earthquake rescue mission -- and they did so. My point, is there persecution, yes, is there change, yes, is it consistently bad for Christians, no, is it consistently good, no. I have met several government officials who are believers, two of which are part of the Chairmans inner circle and the others are not but are also members of the Communist party, though they don't believe in communism. Confusing? Yes. But God is doing amazing things -- 30,000 new Christians a day!

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