MINISTRY / New challenges and new opportunities: Building spiritually strong families
New challenges and new opportunities: Building spiritually strong families
"Our God is greater" has been 316NOW's byword, a continuing reminder that our power to proclaim grace across China has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God's mercy and strength.
This blog post and the four posts that are paired with it examine the ministry plans 316NOW has prayed over and committed to during its 2023-24 fiscal year.
The challenges are beyond our abilities. But not beyond our Father's ability. Not beyond the resources that he has already given us, you, and the rest of his family who partners with 316NOW to bring his grace to the people of China.
Plans for the 2023-24 fiscal year
"Many of the students in my classroom are spoiled only-children," says Jing, a Chinese English teacher who is a friend of 316NOW. "They feel they don't need to study. They come from homes where their parents and grandparents dote on them and require little from them. They are little emperors."
The troubled Chinese family
The health of the Chinese family is in decline. China's three decades of insisting most families have only one child has contributed to that ill health. A cultural mindset that emphasizes wealth over family is tearing away the foundation of Chinese homes. Of course, a lack of understanding of the Creator's plan for husbands and wives, parents and children make healthy families impossible.
Chinese Christian families are not immune to these influences. The Christians 316NOW works with identify marriage and family problems as a significant obstacle to their own spiritual growth and to the welfare of their communities. They have asked for help in addressing these issues.
Strengthening the Chinese family
316NOW has been developing materials to help parents and church leaders teach their children basic Bible accounts and Bible truths that American children learn at home and church. Teaching the Bible to Chinese children is complicated because Chinese law forbids exposing anyone under 18 to any religion.
316NOW has developed a strategy for equipping church leaders to teach their members Christian family and marriage skills. We are currently waiting for the Spirit to provide us with a person to transform that strategy into materials that are ready to be used in China. The goal is not only to help Christians experience grace-led marriages and families, but to invite people outside the church to learn how Jesus makes a difference in their homes.
The impact of strong, Christ-centered families in China will enrich Christian families and urge others to discover the source of wealth Christians are enjoying. 316NOW's family and marriage ministry continues to develop. The challenges seem beyond a volunteer organization like 316NOW. But the Lord of the Church has provided the necessary resources. He has given them to you and thousands of others like you.
What you can do
Ask our Savior to provide us with people he has prepared to write and produce Bible materials for Chinese children and teens. Ask him to open doors so Christian parents and church leaders can use their materials. Pray that God's grace comes to hundreds of millions of Chinese families so they enjoy healthy homes here along with eternal life in heaven.