China (MNN) — Christmas is an afterthought in most parts of the world today. Decorations are stored, and shiny new toys have become routine. For Christians in China, however, Christmas marks the start of a busy season.
Erik Burklin with China Partner Ministries says, “In countries like China, that are considered more restrictive towards the Gospel, Christians use that event to share the Gospel with those who don’t know Christ.”
This year, outreach activities ranged from large Christmas events in Beijing to home visits and the provision of care items for elderly people. More about that here.
“One church used that Christmas season to go door to door visiting old folks in the poor parts of the interior of China, to make sure that the elderly were taken care of,” Burklin says.
“People would ask questions like, ‘Why would you take care of me?’ And they probably answered, ‘We do this because we love Christ.’”
Sharing Christ often leads to persecution in China, but Christmas provides a Gospel opportunity. One church in Beijing’s university district used Christ’s birth as a springboard.
“This church is using Christmas to share the Gospel with many people that otherwise would never hear it,” Burklin says.
“They preach Jesus Christ coming to earth so that He could die on the cross, so that we could have salvation and eternal life through Him.”
Belief is only the starting point in the Chinese Church. “They have a very strict way of how they call somebody a Christian,” Burklin says. “They believe that you are not born again until you’re baptized.”
(Photo courtesy of China Partner)
Now, months of discipleship are underway. Pray for new believers as they grow and mature.
“A lot of these churches are very well-equipped to follow up with these individuals. Many of them have baptism classes or discipleship classes,” Burklin says.
“Somebody believes in Christ. They say, ‘Okay, that’s a good first step. Now we need to disciple you, teach you what it means to be a Christian, and then that leads to baptism. Once you’re baptized, that’s when we call you a Christian.”
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Robert Thiemann/Unsplash.
