Today we visited two churches, both within the city limits of Shangqiu. Im not sure I have the words to describe the experience. But I will try. The words extraordinary, moving, eye-opening, humbling, inspiring and life-changing all come to mind, but those are still inadequate to describe our day. There is no way one can truly be prepared for our experience today. Architecturally, these churches in Shangqiu were nothing like a typical American church. Each one was what we would call a hole in the wall. Crumbling brick and mortar located down an alley just off of an unpaved road, amidst stray dogs, with piles of rubble, empty oil drums, old bicycles and scooters, scattered debris, and a thick coating of dust and dirt everywhere. Into this setting, we are greeted by a dozen or so Chinese dressed in brightly colored robes who are banging on drums and tambourines and lining each side of the alley. We briefly meet the church leadership, then are ushered into a small waiting room, in the most modest of conditions. We are offered seats on an old couch next to a fold out card table. Plastic bowls filled with strawberries, nuts, and hard candy are brought out, along with bottled water. Given the larger setting, one quickly realizes we are being treated like kings, and this is a special feast. From there we head through an open doorway covered in heavy plastic, walk down a stone alley, and then through another doorway into the sanctuary. The scene is transformed once we cross the threshold. Before us is a congregation of over 1000 Chinese, already seated in pews that face a stage. The stage has a simple pulpit and a choral area. There is a large red cross painted on the wall. Except for the Chinese faces, this could be any church in America. Most of the congregation are dressed in simple work clothes. Every single face is focused on us, wide-eyed, as if we have landed from outer space. We are the first Westerners most of these people have ever seen in person. The pastor greets the congregation and introduces us, one by one. After a few words from their pastor, a short prayer and a hymn, Rob Ketterer is asked to come forward to speak, with Jenny translating. Clearly Rob missed his calling back home because, in no time, he has the crowd enthusiastically cheering and laughing and applauding. John-Marvin follows with a story about his great-great-grandfather, who served as a missionary in China just over 100 hundred years ago, which happens to be the same age as the church. The service eventually ends and we begin distributing bibles, and this is the part that is so hard to explain. To look into the face of a Chinese person, weeping and speechless as he receives his first bible... To shake hands, or give a hug, and feel a trembling body in your arms... To hold onto the moment, look deep in their eyes, and see such gratitude... The feeling is indescribable. We each walked up and down the aisles handing out the bibles, one by one, moving slowly through the tight, crowded spaces. I came across one man, easily over 90 years old, dressed in workers clothes that appeared to be left over from the 1949 revolution. He stood up to receive his bible and I instinctively gave him a hug and patted his back lightly, stirring up a cloud of decades-old dust and dirt. Another older man, weighing less than 100 lbs., with a dark weathered face, was crying so hard I fumbled for my handkerchief and gave it to him. To me it was a small thing, but for him, and for those seated next to him, I cannot describe the impact of this simple gesture. After the distribution was over and the congregation was excused, everyone swarmed our group for photographs. Despite the poor conditions, everyone seems to have a smart phone! I have included some of those photos here. Unfortunately, I dont have time right now to describe all of the other events from today. So far, we have distributed 2890 bibles, and our supply is not near enough to meet the demand. Tomorrow, we head out of the city of Shangqiu and into rural China. Based on the experience so far, its almost impossible to imagine what these churches will be like. Rest assured that God is at work here in China, that He is accomplishing much on our visit, and that your support has made all of the difference. The people here are eternally grateful, as am I. I will provide another update when I can. Yours in Christ, Marcus
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:08:27 +0000
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