MINISTRY / To share the gospel, build trust

“Getting the Chinese to build trusting relationships is very difficult.”

Trust is difficult

That was a major point a Chinese Christian leader made with Mark Wagner, 316NOW's new executive director, and me last week.

We asked him what he's learned Westerners find hard to understand about doing ministry in China. His answer was the difficulty of building trust.

A culture of distrust

“China's tradition is a culture of authority," he said. "Why should a person listen to your gospel? It depends on how trustworthy the person preaching the gospel is.”

“In China, because of decades of totalitarian rule, all sorts of snitching and spying happen all the time. You can't talk freely. You probably can't imagine that. So the Chinese people have now fallen into a society of severe distrust. There is a lack of trust between people, especially with strangers. Chinese trust is limited to family and good friends. Getting the Chinese to build trusting relationships is very difficult.”

The blessings of trusted ministry partners

Our friend and mentor confirmed for us a ministry principle that we are aware of but are regularly challenged by. It was good to learn we are on the right track: patiently showing our Chinese students we are trustworthy and so is God's message of grace.

316NOW has gained immense benefits from Christian experts in ministry to the Chinese. God has enriched our ministry through their willingness to instruct us.  

Jim Aderman

316NOW's outgoing Executive Director