A former president of Youth for Christ says the Chinese church is making a significant impact.
Earlier this year, a delegation of some 40 non-Chinese Christians traveled to Nanjing to meet with leaders of the Chinese church. Sam Wolgemuth, president emeritus of Youth for Christ, was invited to speak at the symposium.
Wolgemuth returned from the five-day meeting convinced that God is doing great things in China. He said the Chinese participants told of evangelism, church growth, theological education, and leadership training. One Chinese participant represented a house church. The others represented the Three Self Patriotic Movement, China’s officially sanctioned Protestant body (CT, Sept. 6, 1985, p. 46).
CHRISTIANITY TODAY interviewed Wolgemuth about the symposium on the church in China. An abridged version of that interview follows.
Did the Chinese leaders indicate how much freedom their churches are allowed?
They said Christians are free to witness at home and at their place of work. They are free to meet in churches and homes. They are free to carry on theological education with no government control, to publish books and journals, and to print Bibles and other materials. Bishop K. H. Ting Guangxun, head of the Three Self Patriotic Movement, referred to it as “a reasonable amount of freedom.”
Does that freedom vary from one region to another?
Bishop Ting said die-hard Communist cadres are making it hard for Christians in some regions. He said, however, that when those ultra-leftists are identified and complaints are registered, the government removes them from positions of authority.
Several of the speakers said they can’t understand the recent willingness of the Communist leadership to accept the church’s existence. The government acknowledges that it cannot modernize China without involving the church.
There is excitement in China because of what God is doing. Earlier this year, Nanjing Seminary graduated 95 students. The seminary received 450 applications for this fall, but it can take only a class of 50 freshmen. That indicates that young people are making lifetime commitments to the service of the Lord.
Are other Protestant seminaries operating in China?
Plans are under way to open 12 additional seminaries, and numerous informal seminaries are operating. In Foochow, there are 50 classes of volunteers who are being trained to provide leadership for groups of Christians. These classes are open to the leaders of the house churches as well as leaders in the Three Self churches. They have graduated 800 in Fukien province alone.
Does the Three Self Patriotic Movement make an effort to include house church leaders in those classes?
Yes. It seems that the Three Self church leadership is seeking to help the house churches. One house church leader from Nanjing attended the symposium. Average attendance at his church runs between 250 and 300. At the time of the symposium, his congregation was building a church at a cost of about $ 15,000. The house church had saved half that amount. The Three Self churches of Nanjing had committed themselves to raising the balance through offerings.
In what ways is the church making an impact on Chinese society?
The pastor of Moore Memorial Church in Shanghai said his church members receive special honors at their places of employment. He said when warehouse workers are needed—especially where valuable materials are stored—those in charge ask for Christian employees. Chinese Christians are known for their honesty.
A pastor from Foochow said a local newspaper frequently makes positive references to church activities. Interestingly, his church’s choir and band are used in community activities.
Some of the pastors made references to Communist leaders being so moved by what they saw in Christians that they too became Christians.
How rapidly are the Three Self churches growing?
Bishop Ting said that in 1949 there were at most 700,000 Christians in China. Today, he said, there are three to four million people in the Three Self churches. He said he was unable to give a clear indication of the house church membership. But he indicated that there are tens of thousands of house churches, which he does not represent.
The pastor from Foochow said there have been 4,000 baptisms in his province within the last several years. One church in Shanghai has two services every Sunday morning, with more than 4,000 taking part in various meetings. That church has seen more than 3,000 baptisms in five years.
Although I saw only a small part of the church in China—and obviously don’t have all the answers—I am convinced that the phrase “closed doors” should not be in the Christian’s vocabulary.
