Everything you knew about China is wrong (1)

A few days ago I saw the cover-page of Newsweek magazine with an upside down picture of Chairman Mao and the caption “Everything that you knew about China is wrong.” As someone of Chinese ethnic origin and as one who dreams to see to see the world’s largest nation glorifying its Creator, I had to buy a copy of that magazine.

As usual with most well-marketed magazines, the attraction-grabbing cover-page was much more interesting than the article. If you must really read the article, I suggest that you save your money and just read it at the newsstand – after all, the contents of this article is only 4 pages long.

However, that caption set me thinking about my missions’ strategy in China. Could it be that everything that I’d dreamed, planned and done in China be wrong? Let me share some thoughts

I’ve been in and out of China since my first visit almost 20 years ago, when China was still trying to shed itself of the effects of the Cultural Revolution. I remember those days when all foreigners had to convert their cash into “foreign currency certificates” (not sure if this is the right term for those pieces of paper) to shop at the Friendship Stores (those huge boring department stores where only foreigners could purchase luxury goods like breakfast cereals!) where bored sales-staff in Mao suits served behind old glass-top cabinets (where the boxes of cereals were carefully locked)!

Every trip into China since then has been a “cultural revolution” for me because each time I went, I saw a different China. China has not changed but she continues to revolutionize herself. And unless we learn this truth about China, “everything that we know about China will be wrong” and our plans will be outdated by the time we implement them.

For those of us who live in quiet, lovely tranquil places it will be extremely difficult to grasp this. For those who dislike change or have difficulty changing, China will be a very “irritating” place to serve in. For those who are older and more set in our ways, China will leave us breathless and frustrated. But for the young and those who love the excitement of seeing change (hopefully, for the better) there is no better place to be in. In other words, this group of people is particularly suitable for ministry in China. (Mission recruiters please take note of this!)

For the Chinese diaspora who now live outside of China (eg. USA, Canada, South-east Asia) a visit to China is a must to correct the wrong ideas that we heard from our parents and grandparents, who fled China’s wars and famines. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a visit to China is priceless. Every overseas Chinese Christian who has never been to China should seriously pray about visiting China – even if it’s just a touristy trip to see the Forbidden City and grab some cheap bargains.

I believe that God can work in your heart as you see the teeming millions who need the Gospel.

I believe that the best time to share the Gospel, is when a culture is changing.

And no country is changing as rapidly as China!

So let’s redeem the time!