MINISTRY// I never heard that

“I’ve never heard that before,” she said with grateful surprise.

She was surprised

The surprised woman is a district leader in China’s official Three-Self Church. She is seminary trained. She has been a pastor for decades. She is responsible for the proper functioning of all the churches in her district.

What she had not understood before was the gospel’s simple message: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10 EHV).

The woman was meeting with an advisor to our 316NOW leaders. The advisor is also Chinese.

More are waiting to be surprised

It’s hard for Confessional Lutherans in the United States to imagine having a pastor – even less imaginable to have district church leaders -- who would be surprised to learn that the Bible teaches we have a right relationship with only because, in his love, God has fully forgiven us through his Son.

But in China, this is not unusual. Christianity in China shackles souls with the demands of the law and gives little emphasis to God’s grace. Christians there, who should rejoice in the forgiveness Jesus has won for them, struggle with guilt and shame over their sins.

Among the greatest joys that 316NOW’s professors experience is watching the change that happens to our students — Chinese church leaders — when the Spirit shows them, they have been saved by God’s grace alone.

We pray for the time when millions more in China will celebrate this gift of God and joyfully share it with others.

What you can do: Pray with us for the sweet message of the gospel to open the eyes of millions more in China — so they share that message with many millions more.