In may, the Australian Bible Mission held its second fraternal gathering of the brethren and sisters in China, the first being held six months earlier. A recreation village in a country area was hired for a week and this time not only the four Chinese brethren and sisters were invited, but also a number of serious interested friends from different parts of China. The gathering resulted in 20 interested friends and 14 brethren and sisters spending a week together around the word of God. Brethren and sisters on this ACBM visit remained for a further three weeks and conducted the baptisms of five new sisters who had been studying the truth for many months prior to the visit.
At present there are many others throughout China who are working through Bible correspondence courses or attending Bible classes on a regular basis. We appreciate that many may be unaware of the work of the ACBM in China. We therefore felt it timely to give a little of the background of work that has been taking place there for many years, often under very trying circumstances. We would also like the brotherhood to know that there is an ongoing coordinated plan for further visits and we welcome any who wish to be involved to contact us to find out more.
The history of the truth in China
It may come as a surprise to many to realise that there was an ecclesia in China back in the days of Bro. Robert Roberts. A copy of Twelve Lectures (the forerunner of Christendom Astray) by Bro. Roberts found its way to Hong Kong. The man who found it mentally assimilated its contents, and soon he had convinced others of the Truth of the Gospel through its help. A small ecclesia was established there and reports of its activities appeared in The Ambassador for that period.
With the establishment of the ACBM, regular visits and support to the area of Hong Kong and contact with interested people in China became part of the Mission East Asian focus. In 1964, four lectures were given which attracted some 125 visitors. On mainland China, however, following the establishment of Communism, Christianity was suppressed and access to the country was very limited and difficult. Contacts were gained and followed up by post. In 1986, the Universal Congress for Esperanto was held in Beijing and the ACBM was permitted to have a Bible Exhibition there which created quite some interest in the Bible. In 1988, two brethren from the ACBM visited China to follow up contacts. One contact was so enthusiastic in his discussions with work mates, the police were alerted and the brethren were taken to the police station for questioning.
Again, in 1992, the ACBM supported a stand at the Pacific Congress of Esperanto in Qingdao and contacts were made at that gathering to follow up.
Events of the last five years
The Father works His will in the most remarkable ways. In 1999, a Chinese student doing her Ph.D. at a university in London took lodgings with a Christadelphian. To assist her comprehension of spoken English she saw that there was a lecture to be given in the local hall and decided to attend. It was a Christadelphian lecture. She soon realised that her host family were members of this community, and in due time she obeyed the Gospel and was baptised before returning to China. The ACBM, on hearing of our sister in China, organised for a pastoral visit and from that visit a group of interested people has grown in the area where our sister lives in Southern China. Added to this Bro. Jack Fallon of the UK, through the internet and personal visits to China, contacted students who were interested in discussion on the Bible. His discussions developed so that one of these students was asked to translate some of the Exploring the Bible notes into Chinese. Of course in doing so she became familiar with the doctrines of the truth and was baptized in 2001.
The third baptism occurred when Bro. Zhang found the Bible Basics site on the Internet and eventually was baptized in 2001. Another brother and sister from the UK, on visiting China to adopt their second little daughter, introduced a doctor to the Exploring the Bible course, and became his tutor. Jack completed the course and the ACBM arranged a visit for his examination, which was followed by his baptism. The UK brother had the great joy of baptizing him.
On this visit in November, 2001, a Fraternal Gathering was arranged so that the four Chinese brethren and sisters could be brought together to meet each other and spend time studying the word together with those from Australia and UK. The joy of these four brethren and sisters meeting together was wonderful to behold. On this visit, many gatherings for interested friends were held, and people were instructed in the fundamentals of the Gospel as they progressed in their search for the truth.
The May Bible week — 5 baptisms
There have been three visits to China this year. In January two brethren spent several weeks in China. There were many interested friends seen and visits to a country village conducted. Again, in February, a brother and sister from Canada spent some weeks in China, tutoring a group of interested people. All this work was building toward the Bible Week and Fraternal to be held in May. Obviously the necessary precautions were taken in arrangements, and we were greatly blessed in being able to hold the week together without any problems or disturbance.
Toward the end of the week, some indicated that they seriously desired baptism and in the following three weeks five ladies were interviewed, and after giving good confessions of their faith, were baptized. Many classes and discussions were also held with our friends and others who had not attended the Bible week. Also two brethren of the ACBM team and their sister-wives went to other areas to continue discussion with interested people in these areas.
Future work
The ACBM appreciate that there is much work that can be followed up in this Communist country. The Victorian Committee of the Australian Christadelphian Bible Mission through its East Asia Committee coordinates work in China. As Secretary of the Committee questions about the work in China, and how you may support it or be involved, should be directed to me. My email address is pearsonk@ primus.com.au, phone +61 3 9808 2060 or postal address ACBM, PO Box 237, Glen Waverley, Victoria, 3150, Australia.
Note: May we emphasise that China is a communist country — the religion of communism is atheism. It is true that there is the “state” church. Their doctrine is a blending of the Bible teaching to comply with communist ideology as some of our new brethren can testify. There are also “house churches” which are illegal. Although there may be a freeing of the “rules” in some areas, the penalty for breaking the law can be severe for the Chinese people, and therefore must be our primary concern. It is therefore not prudent to expose them to risk through ease of identification. However if any brethren and sisters are genuinely interested in assisting with this work, then the ACBM is happy to discuss matters with you in a more open manner.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One