Charlie's Sum-Up of His China Trip

I went for a mission trip to Beijing from 6-13 January 2012 to visit the university fellowships and church there. During that week, we managed to visit four university groups (Peking University, Tsinghua University, Minzu University of China, Renmin University), and one underground church.



Our group visited a Christian book shop and a bible-themed restaurant. These are some signs that there is more religious freedom in Beijing. The believers there received a vision of public worship of about 10,000 people worshipping God publicly in Tiananmen Square. I heard that some believers have the faith to start buying PA equipment for that purpose, trusting that God will open the door for them.



The brothers and sisters there told me that it is possible to share the gospel on campus in Beijing on a one-on-one basis. Lunchtime evangelism and surveys in halls of residence are sometimes used. I heard other encouraging stories such as Muslims becoming Christians in Minzu University of China. Regular prayer meetings on campus and at someone's place are one of the reasons of seeing these things happened.

God is working in the universities in Beijing and Chinese students coming from different provinces are being saved. Eventually these students will return to their home towns to spread the gospel. Some of them don't even have a church in their town so they will be the pioneers in church planting. Particularly, they will become the future leaders in society. As more Chinese Christians rise up to prominent positions in China, they can influence the society to follow God's standard. In addition, I met Christians coming from Hong Kong and USA to study in Beijing with the purpose of spreading the gospel in China. Indeed, Hong Kong is a strategic location in that it has resources to support missionary work in China. Eventually I believe China can send missionaries through the Middle East countries, all the way back to Jerusalem.



Back to Melbourne, God has put the Chinese, especially the students on my heart for some years. Therefore, my friend Andy from Monash Chinese Christian Fellowship and I decide to join the activities of Club of Chinese students at Monash (CCSM). Instead of waiting for Chinese students to attend life groups and church, we decide to do the other way round. We intend to build friendship with Chinese students and share the gospel. This is in accordance with Matthew 28:19 - Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations. When overseas Chinese students become Disciples of Christ, they can bring the gospel fire back to China when they graduate.

Therefore I encourage you, particularly if you are students, to go for mission trips and come out of you comfort zones to share the gospel.

Mother Teresa

The life of a missionary is not strewn with roses, in fact more with thorns; but with it all, it is a life full of happiness and joy when she thinks that she is doing the same work which Jesus was doing when He was on earth, and that she is fulfilling Jesus’ commandment: “Go and teach all nations!”
From the book, Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, edited by Brian Kolodiejchuk.

Book Review: Green Leaf in Drought

This is the story of the escape of two of the last of the China Inland Mission’s missionaries, Arthur and Wilda Mathews, from Communist China, along with their young daughter, Lilah. (All three were in the last 5 to leave,Wilda and Lilah were allowed to leave before Arthur was.)

This was a great book to read – Isobel Kuhn, the author, was also a missionary with CIM, so she was really involved with praying for their safe exit. She also had access to them, their papers, and a knowledge of the culture that they were reaching and some of the different effects that the communist government had on the missionaries.

I think that the best thing about this book was the fact that their struggles were not minimised. The Mathews had a lot of struggles, and the temptation with many modern Christian books is to minimise the difficulties and maximise the triumphs. This book doesn’t do that – it’s very honest, and I really liked that. It’s important to know that the Christian life is not an endless sea of triumphs and contentment and ease, even (indeed, especially) for missionaries.

So this was a great book on missionaries in China and the CIM.

Day 1 (8 Dec 2011) Part 2

...Fast forward to the time I woke from my slumber. 1pm. My team was supposed to be here at 10am. Not a good sign for your first mission trip. So, I decided to visit Hope Manila. Who knows? They might be hanging out there. Remembering the directions Henry gave me, I journeyed along the narrow alleys until I reached a green gate. Then, I saw the very familiar sign:

I found Hope Manila! It looked like a prison cell from the outside with all the barbed wire on top. Problem was: The gate was locked. Bummer. As I turned to head back, a lady came and asked me if I needed help. Turned out she was on her way into the church, so she let me in! Her name was Renee, but she told me to call her Ganda. Apparently it means 'pretty woman', but since that was the name she introduced me to, I called her that for the duration of my stay in Manila, despite her protests. Well, as it turned out, my team wasn't there.

So, how did I meet my team in the end? Renee brought me past the apartments to Mang Inasal, a barbequed chicken eating place. Remember Puregold? It was right next to it (refer to pic). After buying lunch, I popped back to the apartment and saw a note and a sim card on the floor. Apparently, my team arrived while I was gone. They told me to find them at Jollibee...which was opposite Puregold. Ha ha...and that was how I met my team for the very first time in person.

We went to a shopping mall on tricycles and spent the rest of the afternoon there, shopping for breakfast and changing money. We were escorted by Hani (Henry's wife) and Ruffa (sister in Christ), who were with the team at Jolibee. Back at the apartment, they gave a crash course and orientation for us newbies in Manila. We also finalised our plans for tomorrow. Then, dinner at Mang Inasal and more shopping, particularly for marker pens and brown paper to write my lyrics for praise leading.

Tomorrow, we start our mission work. So, what are we doing, and what exactly is my role? Stay tuned to find out! (BTW, if anyone has any specific questions about Philippines and my mission trip, please do leave a comment and we'll try to get back to you soon)

Bonus pics:

Hey hey! Hope Manila's vision statement. Sounds very familiar...?

Hey hey! Hope Manila's vision statement...in Tagalog!

Paul on left and Allan on right. Thus begins an intimate love affair between Paul and Halo-halo, a local Filipino dessert made with ice-cream and tons of ingredients. Paul became addicted to Halo-halo and ordered it at every opportunity he got. And I thought I was a sweet tooth...

Review: Jesus: The Only Way to God.

(Reviewed by Sam)

This is another book by one of my favourite authors, John Piper. This is a very short book, and probably one of Piper’s easier books to read. The full title really explains the whole premise of the book – Jesus: The Only Way to God: Must You Hear the Gospel to Be Saved?

Piper thoroughly explores the different aspects of belief about salvation, including looking at the Biblical evidences for the different point of views, and how these beliefs impact missions. He comes to the seemingly obvious, but incredibly important conclusion that we must both hear and accept the gospel in order to be saved.

This is an incredibly important message for most of the modern Western church, which sees tolerance as the ultimate good, and the exclusiveness of Christ as being harsh and unloving. A GREAT book. I’ve recommended it to a few other people, some of whom will be reviewing it shortly.

Friday 25.11.11 19th full day in Uganda

I gave the children the bikes – they were very excited about them! Then the two classes performed for each other, and the waiting class all fought for the privilege of sitting next to me or playing with my watch or counting my fingers.


I at the teacher’s lunch again – I was hoping to try posho, which is apparently pretty bad – but it was rice and beans. Chantelle is making matoke for me for dinner as it is my last night.

After lunch I was to help Lisa with setting up for the LOT fashion shoe and end of year part. But by the time I got there (2PM) everything was set up, so I got to assist the models. Britt had a towel for them to wipe themselves when they got sweaty, but I thought that was gross, so I got out my face wipes. They thought they were awesome, and ended up wiping not only the sweat off their faces but their hands (grubby), arms (not too bad) and legs (more than just grubby). The ten (I think) models used over 35 face wipes, and only stopped because my second pack and all my individual ones had run out. I had more in my suitcase, but 3-4 wipes is enough for even the grubbiest teenager.

The fashion show went really well. I was filming it, so I couldn’t pay as much attention to the clothes as I otherwise would have. But they were pretty cool. Second charity fashion show I’ve been to (the first was Vigerella, for Short Statured People) and I’ll probably buy some of the clothes, which are currently being sold in Australia.

The one bad thing about the fashion show was my filming! I did such a good job, and was so proud of myself, and then found out that Lisa wanted it all in horizontal, and I’d filmed vertically! I was so apologetic – I felt terrible.

After dinner, I was planning on going to the prayer meeting, but ended up talking with Britt and Lisa.

Lisa’s “daughter” Speciosa has finished school for the year and is staying with Lisa for all of the holidays that Lisa is in Uganda, and the rest of the time with her Jaja (grandma). Chantelle’s niece, Victoria, is also staying with them as her father and Chantelle are going to the DRC. Vicky is about the same age as Amaya, so the 3 girls are having a play-date tomorrow at Garden City while Lisa and Britt have coffee.

My ride has been arranged, my bags are packed. I’m sad to be going home, but glad to have the opportunity to eat cookies again. I’ve missed things like cookies and cakes so much, and pasta. That’s the one thing I haven’t enjoyed about Uganda: lack of GF/CF food.

Britt gave Vicky a pack of undies, and I gave her one of the mosquito nets that Mum gave me (she got 6 at the Anaconda closing down sale, and I already had one – though I only took 3 with me). Some of her clothes we threw out because they were falling apart. Lisa is going to buy more clothes for her at Garden City.

Today was one of the 2 days (the other being yesterday) where I actually wore in Uganda the hiking boots Mum got me – and big Elijah tole Teacher Justine that I wore men’s shoes. I thought that was pretty funny, but I did clarify that my shoes are in fact girls shoes. Here the shoe of choice is thongs, but I mostly wear ballet flats.

Beijing exploration trip day 7

During the trip, I could see that international students are the catalyst for change in the local Christian community.

We went to meet the people from Renmin University. Besides, there were friends from other universities as well as two pre-believers. Most of them were from provinces other than Beijing. Some people were brought up in a Christian family, while others got saved in university. We had lunch at the canteen in university and talked for two hours. We heard how they have fellowship and church life, as well as some testimonies of how they come to Christ. It seems that they had got the problem of many nominal Christians not being on fire for God. Also, they were so busy studying that they didn't have time to interact with other churches and fellowships. Generally, we felt that the local students still lacked the revival spirit that the international students profess. Apart from that, we talked about the political environment and the differences between Western and Chinese churches, especially on the concept of house church.



After that, we went to the temple of heaven to pray for China and restore that place as the house of prayer for all nations. We believed that emperors worshipped God in the past. I was glad that we managed to pray at such a significant place - the temple for good harvest. May God send out more workers to the harvest field in China.


12/1/11 (Thursday)

In the evening, we had dinner with Jane and Isaiah, a brother from the U.S. We discussed our experience in Melbourne and Isaiah's experience to study in Beijing. One great insight was that the way people express worship and prayer is shaped by their culture. Churches from different culture can all learn from each other. In the past, it is always perceived that the Western church is superior. However, the Western church can also learn from the Chinese church.

Charlie Lam

Science/Arts life group, Hope Melbourne Waverley Centre

Thursday 24.11.11 18th full day in Uganda

I slept in today, because it was raining and so dark, so the rooster didn’t crow. So the morning was a bit of a rush. But I got to devotions only 5 minutes late – at the same time as Grace.

Nursery school was pretty much exactly as normal. I re-cleaned Elijah’s arm. He was really, really excited about being able to have the hand sanitizer again – so much so that he got it down from my shelf and poured about 5 times the about he needed the second I had finished putting on the bandage.

I ate the teacher’s lunch again – matoke! I’m going to have to hunt out matoke bananas in Australia. I asked for just the sauce and not the meat in the stew, which the cooks thought was crazy. I then mixed in some of the leftover vegies from last night. Yum! People also asked me grasshoppers, but I said no. They implied that I was chicken, so I told them I’ve eaten big, fat, LIVE caterpillars (witchedy grubs) before. They all shuddered, and they now have complete faith in my bravery concerning all things food.

After that I went on the internet for about an hour and caught up on emails and blogs. I am very thankful that I thought to pre-schedule posts for all 3 blogs before going to Uganda.

Primary school was again games, only this time, netball. I had brought a notebook that I am writing in, which made watching sports easier, but I went home at 3 again.

I went out on a boda to Garden City Mall, to buy an extra book, some drawing paper for Amaya, and some of the bike toys made by orphans for the Nursery school. I got 8 for 40,000 shillings, then hopped on a boda for home.

On the way it started spitting. My boda began by sheltering under an underpass, but realised that it wasn’t going to give any shelter, so he kept going. Let me tell you, rain on a boda STINGS. I was soaked like a drowned rat by the time I got home. The bikes were wet, but soon dried out, and my book and Amaya’s drawing paper remained dry, being wrapped in a plastic bag.

Lisa and Chantelle stayed for dinner. (Chantelle is our housekeeper.) Chantelle is leaving tomorrow to go to the DRC to vote.

Israel Prayer Points:

• There has been a lot of on-going conflict within Israel, most publicly between the Israeli’s and the Palestinians. Pray that there be on-going peace between these two ethnic groups, and that there be a build-up of trust and compassion between them
• Many countries internationally, especially Muslim countries, refuse to recognise Israel as a state. This means that not only are there conflicts within Israel, but that they face threats from outside, including from the vast majority of the neighbouring countries.
• There is opposition even in Australia, especially in regards to “the fence”, which separates Israeli and Palestinian areas. There has been protests, including against Max Brenner (chocolate store) and L’Oreal (skin care brand), including some violence against Max Brenner employees. Pray that those opposed to the state of Israel will seek peaceful ways of expressing their concerns.
• 75% of Israel is Jewish. Of this percentage, 25% is Orthodox, 20% is secular, and the rest mostly fall between.
• Messianic Jews are the one religious group that is most likely to have difficulties registering places of worship. There are attempts by ultra-Orthodox Jews to put in place anti-conversion laws, and there has been some persecution of Messianic Jews.
• There has however been a considerable interest in the gospel by Jews. The numbers of Messianic Jews are estimated to be 12,000 in Israel, and over 100,000 world-wide (of 4.5 million Jewish people). Some continue to be Jewish, while others become integrated within gentile Christian churches.
• Currently there are legal restrictions for Messianic Jews to immigrate to Israel, as the law states that the national identity and religious identity of Israelis is the same. Secular Jews are allowed to become citizens, but Messianic Jews cannot
• Pray for the spirit to breathe new life into the nation of Israel. Ezekiel 37.
• In order for this to happen, the Jews need to see that what was done in the name of Christianity has not been what God wants. Pray that this will be seen by the Jews of Israel and the world, and that the will have an accurate witness of the love of Christ.
• Pray for a spiritual unity for all Christians. Ethnic tension can be high, even within the church of Christ, with some Jewish believers having big issues with Arab Christians and vice-versa. Pray that the Lord will bestow the blessing of peace upon the believers of this nation. (Ps 133)
• Pray that there be a boldness of witness for all Christians, especially Messianic Jews. While there is (mostly) tolerance, there is occasional violence, especially from the ultra-Orthodox and the Haredi, and evangelising is increasingly opposed and difficult.
• Pray that there be a understanding that becoming Christian does not mean that you are turning your back on your people.
• Pray also for Arab believers, especially Muslim-Background believers. Many are coming to Christ, but there is also a high emigration rate to the West.
• Pray for the work of missionaries, both Messianic and Protestant Christianity. Many have entered as tent-makers, and when their religious work comes to light, it can be difficult to get their Visas renewed.
• Many groups, especially Holocaust survivors and the Haredi, are living significantly below the poverty line. There is outreach to bless them and to reach them with the news of the gospel. Pray that this be effective, and that those who have suffered much and those who are extremely zealous for the faith of their fathers, would have their hearts softened to the gospel
• Many Jewish people worldwide are walking away from the faith of their fathers, and either moving towards secularism or other religions. There is much spiritual seeking from the Jewish youth. Pray that in this searching, God would speak out to them and bring the lost sheep of Israel back to Him.
• Pray for the work of Messianic groups worldwide, such as Jews for Jesus and Celebrate Messiah
• Pray that in the celebration of Passover, there be an awareness that Jesus is their Passover Lamb, slain for them.

What can you do?
• Pray!
• Reach out to Jewish people around you. Celebrate Messiah have had success with workers of the Dead Sea skin care company at Chadestone. There are lots of Jews around, especially at unis, and in the Caulfield, Malvern, and Elsternwick areas.
• Learn about the Old Testament! If you are speaking to Jews, they need to know that Jesus is the continuation and fulfilment of the faith of Abraham. If you haven’t got a clue about the Old Testament, you won’t be prepared to speak to them about this. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are great places to start, and to refer any Jewish people to.
• Write to your politicians, here and in your home country, saying that you support Israel, and that you oppose attempts to force it to go back to its pre-1967 borders.

Beijing exploration trip day 5 & 6

10/1/12 (Tuesday)

We went to meet a full time Chinese CCC missionary at Minzu University of China. She shared about the struggle to go full time, and stories in sharing the gospel and seeing Muslims getting saved.

After that, we attended a prayer meeting for uni students (Peking University). Dr Valient Cheung has started leadership courses in 11 universities, and next semester he is evening planning the orientation for Peking University. This was the fruit of years of prayer and God opened doors for them. We shared and prayed for 3 hours in the room where Peking University fellowship met. We prayed for revival in universities and market place. The presence of God was really strong. Valient also shared that prayer meetings are starting in big corporations such as Siemens, Pepsi, the Big 4 in China. Clearly, there is an important link between the university and market place.

Then we had dinner with Isaiah and Peking University people. I heard that someone read Genesis and got saved - another incident of people accepted Christ after reading the bible. Peking University people hoped to find a flat to be the house of prayer for Beijing students. We decided to make an offering to the prayer room they are finding. May God helped them to find one soon.

Overall, it was a great day of meeting God and seeing what He can do.



11/1/12 (Wednesday)
We had a 40 minutes prayer time with Elka for Peking University. Peking University's current campus used to be an university opened by missionaries. We prayed that God will restore the spiritual heritage and help people to find their true identity and real meaning in Christ.

In the evening Jonno and me went to Tiananmen Square to witness the flag lowering ceremony. Not only that, we prayed for China. I heard that many people received a vision of ten thousand people worshipping at Tiananmen Square, and the picture of chairman Mao replaced by a cross. Some people actually had enough faith to start buying sound equipment for public worship at Tiananmen Square. To be able to pray in Tiananmen Square was truly a special moment for me.

God told me that one day I will share the gospel to Chinese people in Tiananmen Square. Eventually God will call me to China one day. It's the second time that God told me this. I was both exciting and uncertain to receive this from God, but I knew that God would guide me to where he wanted me to be.



Charlie Lam

Science/Arts life group, Hope Melbourne Waverley Centre