Earlier this week, Christian Communications held a prayer meeting in Hong Kong for missions in three northeast provinces of China. During the meeting, the organization introduced its mission fields and requested prayer for their work.
Christian Communications have served the churches in Mainland China and also established a number of ministries in various provinces. From the missions conducted in the three northeast provinces, the organization retrieved a great detail on the situation of the local church and faith.
Missionary to the region indicates that there are around 1.7 billion people in the provinces of Hailongjiang, Liaoning, and Jiling. Many of the residents were exiled from southern provinces during Japan's colonization. Before 1949, the northeast sector was the center of mission; Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, 7th Adventists and other denominations have established churches throughout the region.
Currently, the northeast region is the region where the gospel is spread the fastest; the believers are increasing constantly. From the urban areas to the cities near the southern coastline, the hearts of people are pure and are readily to receive the gospel. Many of them have never heard of the gospel, yet once introduced they receive it immediately.
There are still many people suffering from the toils of sin and have not received the gospel there. Currently, there are approximately 1.5 million believers in the region, yet its only 1.5% of the total population.
A reoccurring problem in the region has been the lack of mission staffs to serve the vast mission field. Christian Communications calculated that the current ratio of ministers to believers is 1:20,000. Also, there are only three training centers opened there: the Northeast Theological Seminary in Shengyang, Liaoning, the Christian Bible School in Hailongjiang, and the Volunteer Training Center in Liaoning.
The lack of trained minister and missionaries has allowed cults like the East Lightning and other sects to overrun the region. The local churches have set up scheduled retreats and training as defense to teach believers how to protect themselves from the wrong faith.
Minority groups such as Chosun, Man, Xibuo, and other tribes reside in the region as well. Some staffs from Christian Communications have started spreading the gospel within these people groups. The work is a tremendous task and would require more staffs and missionaries.
Christian Communications asks for prayers for the missions in the region to tackle the numerous obstacles ahead and for the unsaved in the northeast region to receive the gospel.
Emily Wong
Christian Today Correspondent