Sign up for our free newsletter:

In China, one goes to a lot of trouble to be with other Christians.

RUTH SENTER has written ten books, has two grown kids, and travels with her husband, a seminary educator.

Sometimes we Christians don't go out of our way to be together. Rather, we take each other for granted.

In some parts of the world, things are different. I can sense it tonight, here in the lobby of our Beijing hotel.

The stranger walks through the revolving doors, stops and looks around. My husband and I say his name and he responds, reaching out for a warm and vigorous handshake. His smile is shy but full of pleasure.

We know nothing about him, except that he was once a student of a Korean friend of ours. We'd been handed his phone number before leaving for the airport. "Speaks English, a little," our Korean friend had said.

We called him as soon as we arrived in Beijing. When we mentioned his former professor, he said, "I will come to you."

And now, he is here. We go to a small cafe in the hotel, sit long into the evening. He does know English. A very little. We lean forward and try to piece his words together.

He is a student, working on a Ph.D. from a Beijing university. He is also a teacher, a husband, and a father. And he knows a lot about computers. He has ridden here—across the city—on his bicycle. He apologizes for not bringing his three children and wife.

We are just ending up with our green tea when he lowers his voice, leans even closer, and tells us of his faith. It is what he really wants to talk about.

After a while, it's time for him to go. He shakes our hands again, eyes still shining. Then he disappears down the dark street.

A lot of effort, I think, for people he didn't even know.

Suddenly it strikes me. Here in mainland China, one goes to a lot of trouble to be with other Christians. Later, drifting into sleep, I think about a stranger, pedaling across a darkened city all for the sake of Christian fellowship.

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
Click here for reprint information.

Home  |  People of Faith  |  Stories of Hope  |  Today's Culture
Build Your Faith  |  Laughing Matters  |  Archives  |  Contact Us

				Try Today's Christian Woman Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian Woman as a gift Order a gift subscription!

FREE Newsletter Subscribe to the Today's Christian Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help