Dear friends,

Sorry for the lack of management on this page in the past a few weeks. I am in Shanghai at the moment. And I will go to Beijign in a few days' time. As you could read between the lines from the following articles, last a few weeks have not been easy for me. And I really repent of my distrust in God when hard things happen. This appeal has been here for a long time, it has gone beyond what I expected, and it has taught me a lot. Now I will close it as I cannot access Justgiving in China easily at all. However, if you are interested in knowing how I am getting on in China, please do get in contact. This is my first time using Justgiving, and hope it works. I will make up the shortage toward the target, and thank you again for your generosity in the Lord!

 Grace and peace!

 Hongru Franz Hong

6 March 2011

I decided to leave Hongnan’s place myself. Mu’en Church was closed. When I tried to open the gates, two people came out and said indifferently that it would re-open at 1pm, then they closed the gates properly. I had to wait until it was open. There is a round of pictures hanging on the wall in the lobby hall. They are about crucifixion. It seems that the pictures integrate some Christian legendary. Mu’en Church seems to be an Anglican building. I tried to figure out the usual Anglican interior architecture by walking around. But apart from the side corridor, some memorial stones buried around it, and a small cloister where the toilet is located, I could not see the usual rooms. We could only get into the church hall through the side doors. The main gate is blocked by a big screen with service and fellowship notices on it. This might be a combination of Chinese furniture layout. But it also might be carelessness. Some people were praying under the alter. The hall was quite empty, decoration wise. The painted glasses have also been deprived of figures. I decided to help the sister standing at the entrance with giving bags to people with wet umbrellas. The lady was lovely. She tried to preach to me before knowing that I was also a believer. I would say that this kind of witness is too straightforward and forceful. If I was not a Christian, I would not understand what she said. The way is easy, but a dead format would not show it.

Later, a volunteer came to help with the umbrella, so I took a seat in the hall. Two thousand people walked in gradually. I talked a young man next to me, and it was encouraging to know that resources in China were becoming handy. I asked him to see if he knew a student called Liu Siyuan (whom I met during OIO 2010). But it was understandable to have not met him in such a big congregation. The sermon was on Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 19:1-10, about rich people’s faith. The priest approached from the last human commandment that was left out here “You should not covet your neighbours”. I am not sure about this interpretation, which is different from what I learned at iFocus -- the rich young man missed his relationship with God. However, this interpretation might be very applicable in China as it is becoming so materialistic, Chinese people are so competitive toward each other, and people are forfeiting their morality to earn money. The choir, the announcement, prayers and Holy Communion all went smoothly.

After the service, I went to fetch some water. As I turned around, Liu Siyuan was standing behind me!! He said that he was less surprised to see me here (population 15 million) than coming across me in Oxford (population less than 1 million). I was really excited to see him, and we spent the whole afternoon together. Siyuan has a pure and simple heart. I knew that this kind of people were more receptive to the gospel when I met him in Oxford. Yes, in a way, we were predestined. When we were having our late lunch in a noisy and crowded place, firstly, a hearing disabled person came to ask for some money; then a man with his grandson. The man did not explain clearly what he wanted for help. I decided to talk to him more to see if he was indeed in need. He even gave me some documents to proof that he was genuine. But if he was able to prepare some documents, how would he got trapped? I explained to him that I was able to help him with one meal or two, but I could not help him always, and for him, it is not a sustainable way to beg until he finds his daughter-in-law either. I asked him if he needed me to call the local authorities for help, he suddenly changed his temper and started telling me off, calling me “Black Society”! I was really upset by his reaction too, although I was more confused and saddened by this. He left soon. I am not sure if he was disappointed by my inability to help him in a way he wanted, or he was afraid that I realised he was faking. I told Siyuan that in this world, people could become beast easily. We live in a lying world, and we cannot distinguish who are right and who are wrong, or what is right and what is wrong. Yes, I am “Black Society”, but are we not all devils?

27 Feb 2011

I listened to my MP3 while walking to the church. I was a few minutes late but the sermon had started. It was a clear and soothing talk on evangelism. After the sermon, most people just went back, leaving a few old people waiting for the afternoon service to start. I stayed and talked to some of them. I struggled to call them for I did not know if I should name them auntie, grandma or sister. They are also very much focused on marriage. Due to the mere number of Christians here, they struggle to find a right one for their children. Most of their children are lukewarm toward God under the pressure of livelihood, marriage and children. I really wondered, if these things have not brought you closer to God, why do you want to indulge on them? I wrote down the name of these ladies, thought that I could pray for them.

On my way to visit a girl who could not come to church this morning due to work, I saw an old lady begging for money on the street. She sat on the curb, and was coughing very heavily. I approached her and asked if she wanted something to eat. She said she was coughing too much and she could not eat. So I offered to buy her some medicine. She wanted to give me some money, but I refused. I got a bottle of coughing syrup and a cup of warm water for her. She took some and wanted to give me money again. I did not accept. I asked her some personal information and knew that she had to leave her home in Anhui because her daughter-in-law was too nasty toward her, while she could not live if the governors took away her daughter-in-law and her son could not do anything about it. If people are hard in their hearts, it is very hard to change them. She wanted to call her son, but no one had helped her to make a call. She also said that people here were not nice, some people even did not bother to give her some water to drink. I asked if she would like to go to an elderly house, but she said she did not want to bring trouble to others. I persuaded her that she could stay there at night to keep away from evening’s coldness, and she might be able to cook for herself, then she could minimise her dependence on others. Then she said yes, she would like to find an elderly house. I told her that she could go to church that afternoon and ask people for help. She said that she also believed in Christ. But she dared not to go there because people might not welcome her. I reassured her that they would welcome her, then I said goodbye to her. Some people came close to us due to curiosity, some people just dropped some money and then went away. I enjoyed conversing with her and got to know her although her accent was a bit difficult. She always says to those who give her money “good fortune to you”. She also said this to me as a goodbye. Then I went to the girl’s shop.

Yanting was really bored of her job. She has to work everyday, 9am – 11pm. Her manager is also a Christian. I asked if she had ever suggested her manager to free her for some fellowship, but she said that they did not really support. And she complained that she did not know how they were believing and living for God. She wanted to serve in the church more, but she did not have any free time at all, while she did not have other skills to change a job. Livelihood is really a big pressure here.

As I went back to the market place to buy some oyster for my mom, the old lady had gone. Hope she went to church.

20 Feb 2011

I woke up early in the morning, had breakfast and prepared some documents for banking later, then I said to my mom that I was going to church. As I expected, my mom was not happy with that. I explained a bit, and went out on my own. The church was fuller than last time, about 50-60 people. There are three gates, wide open, and wind blew in, which made the back rows quite cold. The sermon was about giving tithe to the Lord. And it was faithful and encouraging. After the service, most people just went back home. I got to know some more people, and gradually felt the solidarity of Christian community. Marriage is again a focal topic of people’s conversation. I have thought of a way to reply to them. Paul says in the NT that it is better for a Christian to remain single in the Lord, and offer their time and energy to the Lord. It is not a difficult commandment for us to understand (although it is not necessary to keep this one). I suddenly feel that perhaps the major way to keep this church growing is by bringing up children in a Christian family as the world is so hostile and stubborn.

The weather became really bad, which made my plan to go to church more infeasible. However, I still decided to walk there. Coincidentally, my second brother-in-law was going to the town centre too. The roads were very dirty and filthy. There were two curious kids looking into the church when I arrived. They were singing. There were nine of us in total. One of the ladies sang very loudly. The sermon was nice, clear and specific to the common problems in my hometown. The passage was Matthew 10: 26-42. The sermon was in Mandarin, and a lady translated that into my dialect. After the sermon, I talked to some people. There is a guy from Anhui Province, who is living in and looking after the church buildings. I smelled some alcohol from him. I asked a little bit about his family, but I have not got enough time to know him more yet. The auntie I met two weeks ago was there too (and she might be the person who sang very loudly). She introduced me to the priest. Then I stayed for a bit longer and talked to the auntie and a younger lady. It seems that spiritual battle, marriage and religious customs are huge challenges to believers and to people coming to faith. It was great to walk outside for quite a while. I hope this rain will bring some water to the well. This weather reminds me of the changeable thing in the UK. Every time there is activity, it rains.

6th February 2011

Right after the Chinese New Year, I did not want to upset my families too much, so I did not go to church this day. Instead, I went to a friend's, whom I had not seen for more than three years. And she was getting married. On the way back, I talked to the motorbike driver, and concerned about his wellbeing in my hometown (he was from another province). He seemed to be quite moved by my efforts. Without living abroad, I would not have known how indifferent people in my hometown could be sometimes.

30th January 2011

Second Sunday after I came back home. I thought of walking to the church in my town, then my mom said that she would go shopping later, so I waited for her. I did not know how to say that I was going to the church directly, so I said that I was going to a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Temple (which is close to the church). My mom sensed something strange, she said that I was too concerned about this kind of stuff. I said that many people here did not know what they were worshiping, and I tried to persuade my mom not to carry on any religious ceremonies any more. She did not say anything. 

The environment near the marketplace, the temple and the church is very filthy. The morning service had finished. There was an old auntie arranging leaflets outside the hall. I expressed my intention. She said that they were actually some Christians in my village, and there were several fellowships of all sorts throughout the week. But the number of Christians in my town was very low, and my town was a deprived place where people did not think too much. I wondered was this a place that has a top-ten town competency in my province?

The old auntie said that this state church was also quite free to do anything. And then she started summarising the line of the Bible to me, and suggested me that I should pray more for my families. There was an old man from my village there too. He seemed to be burdened by the pressure from work and life. He said that I should find a Christian wife soon, otherwise my parents would not be converted (I could not see the strong connection...).

They are having a break for the Chinese Spring Festival. I look forward to meeting up with the fellowships, and having a clearer picture of believers in my area.

Franz

Since I came back to China, it has not been so easy for me to find a church/house church to go to, partly because cities in China are much bigger, I do not know any house church nearby yet, and I do not want to push my families.

I went to the first church I have ever been to in my life, Anhai Church, the first one ever in my city (however, this might not be true as hundreds of years ago, my city was the biggest port in the East, therefore, there might have been some church established, but they were gone in history). It was established by a Scottish missionary Cartairs Douglas (1830-77) in 1856. This church went through many difficulties as many other churches in China had.

The current vicar is Mr. Hou. I asked him for information of church in my town, and also some questioned commonly asked by people outside China. Anhai Church is a state church, therefore, a three-self church. However, rather differently from what many people normally perceive, it is quite an independent church, being able to preach, organise fellowships, exchanging with believers elsewhere, flyering etc. freely. One threatening difficult is the misunderstanding and bias between the three-self and house churches and outsiders. The only difference from churches in the UK might be that they cannot preach "out of no reason" in public (apart from funerals or weddings). And the real potential difficulty is if the "committee" could unite well. Thank God, this "committee" has been one in their partnership.

They are going to demolish the old church building later this year, and build a modern style church (to accommodate the congregation and to appear in a more updated layout). They are also hoping to settle down a dispute over the ownership of a piece of land with my mother secondary school...

Drawing from the experience of my time in the UK, I do feel that misunderstanding and bias is a great challenge and danger for all of us. We claim to have the truth within in us, and I do hope that we will all strive to know the truth more.

This is a short update from me.

Blessings,

Franz 

Dear friends,

Thank you for at least clicking into this appeal. I did not think of setting up a birthday wish or appeal at first, but was intrigued by the work some church organisations have been doing in China socially, environmentally and spiritually. This season also reminds me of a photo I saw quite a long time ago, in which a poor family put up Chinese red couplet on their doorpost to celebrate the Spring Festival and to praise the Lord (see the profile photo)!

Amity (http://www.amityfoundation.org.cn/) is among those organisations who care for China deeply. I have been asked by many people what the church of China is like, what charity is like in China, what the environment of China is like. I cannot summarise within a few sentences. But Amity is great in providing a fuller picture of what church of China is doing in many aspects of the society in China. And as I approach my 24th birthday under God's provision and love, I appeal to you to help me realise this birthday wish by contributing every little bit to this target. 

As Amity is a charity in China, it is very difficult for us to donate to it directly. Therefore, we would donate to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, who has a desk for and deep connection with Amity  (http://www.ctbi.org.uk/500). I thank God for your support and generosity in advance.

I plan to go back to China in January for the Spring Festival, and I hope to get a glimpse of the work the church in my hometown has been doing. And I welcome any information, recommendation and questions you might have. The donation will NOT contribute to my airfare, so do not worry!

God's blessings be with you!

Hongru Hong (Franz)