Returning to his home church last Sunday, Reverend Jianzhong Yu shared with the brothers and sisters at Sydney Central Baptist Church Mandarin service regarding the situation of churches in China today through introducing its past, present, and future.

Reviewing 170 years of China’s church history, Rev. Yu expressed that although it was a period filled with sufferings, but God allowed the Churches in China to develop under this kind of circumstance. Although Christianity was brought to China along with wars and attacks, looking from the historical perspective, he said that we should be grateful because the gospel transformed the Chinese.

“We must commemorate the servants of God who first brought the gospel into China, because without them churches in China will not have today’s revival.” Rev. Yu stated.

Rev. Yu, then, reviewed the development of Churches in China after the new China was established. Referring to the Bible verse “For you, O God, tested us; your refined us like silver”, he described the years of suffering of churches in China from 1966 to 1979 and said that although at that time services and gatherings were prohibited, but God’s work continue to bless at places that were unseen.

Speaking about the problems of China’s Christianity, Rev. Yu said that the work and goals of training is a bit more important than spreading the gospel.

“Church must have deep roots and bear fruits. If training is done well, then the number of believer will increase naturally.” Yu exhorted the attendants at his home church.

Rev. Yu also commented on the misunderstandings that overseas Chinese churches have towards the churches in China. An example is the buying and selling of Bible. He said that Bible and other related books are sold at around 300 government-registered churches and ministries throughout China; In addition, Chinese government now allows the erecting and hanging of signs of cross on buildings and in public places.

Speaking about the problems in missions, Yu said that although public proselytizing is not allowed, but can still be achieved through other methods. He gave an example of what he saw at an evangelism conference in China: the use of projection screen to display typed messages, showing “Dear friend, are you willing to accept Christ?”

Rev. Yu saw an old lady raising her hand upon the altar calling and went forth to the stage where the pastor was praying. Other methods of spreading the gospel are through holding prayer meetings, praise gatherings, and other forms. He said that it is necessary to proclaim the gospel through the form of “Salt and Light”.

Addressing the churches in the villages, Rev. Yu stated that although their conditions are not comparable to the churches in the cities, but many believers, longing for the truth, participates in the activities held by the village churches. To contain more number of people, they would use small stools to hold more people. Some village churches even gather everyday.

Rev. Yu saw an old lady raising her hand upon the altar calling and went forth to the stage where the pastor was praying. Other methods of spreading the gospel are through holding prayer meetings, praise gatherings, and other forms. He said that it is necessary to proclaim the gospel through the form of “Salt and Light”.

Addressing the churches in the villages, Rev. Yu stated that although their conditions are not comparable to the churches in the cities, but many believers, longing for the truth, participates in the activities held by the village churches. To contain more number of people, they would use small stools to hold more people. Some village churches even gather everyday.

**Reverend Jianzhong Yu served as the pastor of Sydney Central Baptist Church in 1966, senior pastor of the church from 1977 to 1995. Afterwards, he served at Singapore Haggard Seminary and in China.

Central Baptist church is the first Baptist Church in Australia. In 1999, it became the mother church of around 900 churches throughout Australia.

[Editor's note: Reporter Wei Wang contributed to this report.]