Barnabas Goes to China!

Announcing the Beijing Church of Christ

hat will you be doing on August 3, 2008? My hope is that you and your entire congregation will be joining Christians around the world in a prayer of thanksgiving for the first meeting of the Beijing Church of Christ. Christians have been gathering underground in house churches in China for many years, but for the first time ever, a legally sanctioned congregation will be established in the capital city of The People’s Republic.

          The spark behind this epic undertaking was the announcement that Beijing would host the 2008 Summer Olympics August 8-24. The question arose, “Where will Christian athletes and attendees worship during the games?” As consideration was given to arranging temporary worship facilities for visitors, a bold new vision emerged. Could this be the time for Churches of Christ to rise from the shadows and seek recognition by the nation’s government? The world was coming to China. Might Christ be welcome too?

          An elder from Georgia’s Peachtree City Church of Christ traveled to China to meet with provincial leaders in September this year. The timing was perfect as prayer and providence united to bring indescribable blessings to citizens of the world’s most populous country. Approval was granted for establishing a permanent congregation and preparations are now underway to make that dream a reality. The inaugural assembly will take place on the Sunday preceding the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

Imagine the Possibilities

          The name “Beijing” (formerly Peking) means “northern capital.” The city is located 100 miles from the coast in northeast China just west of North Korea. Beijing has been the country’s capital on and off for 2000 years. According to 2005 statistics, the metropolitan area is home to over 15,000,000 people, three times the population of Atlanta, Georgia! And from there, the gospel will radiate to a nation of more than one billion lost souls. Who could have imagined that every hotel room in Beijing would soon be displaying a copy of the Bible both in English and Chinese (Ephesians 3.20)? And a few months ago, who would have dreamed that a congregation of the Lord’s Church would be approved by the Communist government? Yet both are true!

          Emails are currently being sent to every known congregation in the world to inform those attending the Olympics of the location and meeting times of the new church in Beijing. The rented facilities will hold 500 worshipers, and the services will be translated into ten languages to be determined by responses from brethren who confirm they will be present for the games. Though space is limited in the government designated facility, four classes will be able to meet during the Bible School hour to accommodate the needs of children. With so many languages and nationalities represented, assembly times will be a bit confusing but gloriously uplifting and eternally unforgettable.

Consider the Opportunities

            In a short while, the most amazing attraction in Beijing will no longer be Terra Cotta Soldiers, the Forbidden City, or the Great Wall. The most inspiring sight in China will be the smiling faces of worshipers praising Jesus without fear of reprisal. Let us thank God for touching the hearts of Chinese leaders so the gospel may win the hearts of the Chinese people. To Him be the glory!

            Pivotal moments in history like this one call for cooperation among Christians who are passionate about taking the gospel into all the world. Barnabas and Paul worked closely with the church in Antioch as they undertook the first great mission journey recorded in Acts? Imagine if Mr. Encouragement himself approached you requesting help for his groundbreaking journey. Not one of us would miss the chance to make such a monumental difference in the world. Like the Macedonians who pleaded with Paul to be part of the Jerusalem relief-effort—we simply would refuse to take “No,” for an answer.

            Such an unprecedented opportunity is yours today. You can be a son of encouragement and help to carry the gospel to China. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will be a memory to cherish as long as you live and a moment to celebrate throughout eternity. Don’t let this rare and precious opportunity pass you by!

Two Things YOU Can Do:

• Pray for God to raise up supporters equal to this matchless moment in history
• Pass the word to as many friends and churches as you can*

And on August 3, don’t forget to join kingdom encouragers from throughout the world in an international prayer of thanksgiving for the first worship service of the Beijing Church of Christ!

*For more information, contact The Peachtree City Church of Christ, 201 South Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree City, GA 30269, 770-487-9246, ptccoc@bellsouth.net, ptccoc.com, and visit www.beijingchurchofchrist.com