SOUTHERN CHINA – The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest denomination in the U.S., began their weeklong International Missions Emphasis on Sunday, Nov. 30. Throughout the week, themed, “That All Peoples May Know Him: Follow God’s Purpose,” the millions of Southern Baptist members and congregations will be encouraged to donate to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, which provides fifty percent of the income of the IMB.
One of the missions fields featured on the Southern Baptist news site was a small town in southern China, where 500,000 people await the words of Christ.
"People are believing the Gospel almost instantly -- as soon as they hear it!" said an IMB worker. For security purposes, the missionary, called himself “Barnabas,” rather than disclosing his real name,. "One lady, as soon as she watched the 'JESUS' film, believed in the Lord and started sharing with her family and friends.
"Another man believed and was delivered from alcoholism," he says. "It wasn't like in Western society where [many people] add religion as another component of life -- accepting Christ became a whole new life for him, his reason for being."
Barnabas explained that the city was similar to many other Chinese cities, in that "it has existed within a spiritual vacuum for so long.”
Barnabas hopes that through the funding received by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the ministry in the city can grow.
“I think if we can stir -- even within brand-new believers -- a deep burden for the lostness of this city," he says, "God will use that burden to motivate the [Chinese believers] to share the Gospel with everyone, and, ultimately, to other parts of this province, China, and even to other parts of the world."
