Over the past few weeks we have posted the majority of an interview with Paul Hattaway on the present need for Bibles in the house churches of China. This post starts off where we left last time, and is the last in this series.
Q: [We saw in the last part of this interview that] the house churches in China need 34 million Bibles for their members. At [the present amount of] $1.80 each we would need $61.2 million! ....
A: Let me interrupt you there. Such numbers often discourage people from thinking they can make a difference. When a missionary arrived in India he was asked, ‘How do you reach a billion people?’ He replied, ‘One at a time!’
In the same way, every single Bible that is printed makes a huge difference in the lives of those who receive it. These are people just like you and me. They are young men and women whose lives have been transformed by the Gospel. They are families who desire more of Christ, and who want to raise their children in a godly home.
Everyone reading these words can make a huge difference in China, regardless of whatever resources they may or may not have at their disposal.
Firstly, please pray for this project. We don’t want to take on this need in our own strength, without God’s blessing, because our endeavors will fall flat.
Secondly, in this time of economic difficulty for many, let us remember the words of the hymn, ‘Little is much, when God is in it!’ You don’t need to be materially wealthy to make a great difference in people’s lives in China.
Recently we received a letter from a friend named Rich. He wrote, ‘How’s this for a clever way of sending Bibles… I called up my private garbage collector and requested a smaller can. Now I can save $5.40 every two months—just enough for three more Bibles!’
With that simple action, Rich is able to provide 18 more Bibles to the believers each year. These 18 Bibles will result in between 36 to 54 people coming to know Jesus for the first time. I realize that this sounds too good to be true, but except that all the evidence points towards it being true!
Therefore, please don’t think you are unable to make a difference in China. God always looks for an obedient heart, and is not impressed by the things that people are often impressed by.
Q: At the same time isn’t true that those who do have a lot of resources at their disposal should also be involved?
A: Yes, of course. It is a huge responsibility to be a Christian with the means to help God’s work. To those whom much is given, much will be required.
May I be blunt with you? The main reason 34 million Christians in China are without access to God’s Word is not because China is a Communist nation, but because the priorities of the Church around the world has become so skewed.
You mentioned early that if we had $61 million we would be able to provide God’s Word to every believer in China who is without a Bible.
When we think of such a large number we may feel helpless, but such an amount a lot of money for the worldwide Church to provide?
A few years ago my family and I were in the United States, where we visited some friends. They took us to see their church building where several thousand believers meet every week. As far as buildings go, the church was an impressive structure, but our friends explained the church was building another facility right next to the existing one.
The ‘old’ building (which was actually quite new) would then be used for Sunday school classes and other purposes The church had purchased a row of houses on an adjoining street, and demolished them to make room for more parking spaces. The total cost of this new church building was $40 million.
I wonder what the leaders and members of that one congregation would say if we met with them and asked them to abandon their plans? Instead, they could remain in their existing building and use the spare money to provide more than 22 million Bibles to Christians in China.
There are countless other examples of far more lavish expenditure on things God has little interest in. It is by not means just an American problem either. One church in Singapore has recently raised $400 million to construct their new church building!
So after sharing this perspective, let me ask this rhetorical question: is $61 million really a lot of money for the whole Body of Christ to provide so that all believers in China will have a Bible?
Could it be that the main reason the Gospel has yet to impact thousands of people groups in the world after 2,000 years is because Christians have their priorities all messed up?
I am reminded of a church in Australia who stopped supporting all of their missionaries, and instead used the money to pay for a 20-minute fireworks display. I’m sure it was an amazing show, but what does God think of such things?
Q: Thanks for sharing your heart on the need for Bibles in China today. Is there anything you would like to say in conclusion?
A: I am thankful for everyone who has taken the time to read this interview. If all you have learned is the size of the need in China, then we have failed. I hope you can clearly see the exciting opportunities that exist to help those in need.
Our behalf of our neglected spiritual family who meet in China’s house churches, I ask you to prayerfully consider how you can help provide Bibles, regardless of the amount. Every single Bible is important.
It is a great opportunity to be involved in transforming many lives from darkness to light through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our commitment to you is that we will continue to print and deliver as many Bibles to the Christians in China as we are able, as inexpensively as possible. By God’s grace we will not tire until the need is met, or the Lord Jesus returns for His bride!
If you would like to help provide Bibles for the believers in China, please click on the ‘About Us’ to see how.
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