China (MNN) — Looking back at history can help believers celebrate God’s goodness and continual provision.
The 1920s and 30s were turbulent times in China, marked by power struggles between competing factions. Rising nationalism, anti-foreign sentiment, cultural barriers, health struggles, and changing ministry expectations challenged Christian missionaries. Despite this, many persevered, laying the groundwork for the growth of the indigenous Chinese Church.
“I remember my grandmother telling us that they were always on flight. They had to go from one location to another, trying to evade conflict and war,” China Partner’s Erik Burklin says, recalling his grandparents’ experiences as missionaries in China.
“My grandfather wrote in his memoirs, ‘During my 25 years of ministry in China, we had 10 converts.’ That’s less than one convert per year!”
Yet the Lord provided grace and humor amid hardship. Take a more detailed look at China Partner’s history here.
Burklin’s grandparents began their missionary journeys in China separately, but “Both of them served with Hudson Taylor’s mission, China Inland Mission, which is today, OMF,” Burklin says.
(Photo courtesy of China Partner)
“One day, my grandfather saw this mission magazine with a young, beautiful lady [on the cover] and some children around. This was my grandmother, Lena. He didn’t know her at the time, but he thought, ‘Well, she looks attractive! I think I’d better pursue her.’ So, he did, and went to several mission stations to look her up,” Burklin says.
“In the meantime, he had somehow got information about her because they were all registered as missionaries [and] contacted her father. [My grandfather] asked for her hand (in marriage) ahead of time, before he had even met her,” he continues.
Eventually, “he found her, and they met and talked. He proposed right away,” Burklin says. “They got married and had three children in China.”
Then came World War II. “Their time was very difficult; my father and his siblings were separated from their parents for five years because of the Japanese front,” Burklin says.
“Can you imagine being separated from your own children and [continuing] to do ministry? That was a huge, huge challenge.”
When communism forced out all foreign missionaries in 1950, believers weren’t sure if the fledgling indigenous Church would survive.
However, Burklin says, “The Church exploded, and today there are millions of believers.”
China Partner supports the indigenous Chinese Church by equipping its leaders. More about that here. “Our challenge right now is that things have become more restrictive, especially related to what American Christians can officially do,” Burklin says.
Pray for open doors. Due to government restrictions, China Partner had to cancel its most recent training session. Burklin says, “We’re hopeful that by next year, we will be able to take teams back over and continue our training ministry.”
Header and story images courtesy of China Partner.
