November - December 2008

Editorial: Ralph D. Winter

China is, for the first time, experiencing the problems of truly massive industrialization. download pdf of this story

In 1981, movie audiences in the USA and abroad were introduced to 1924 Olympic champion Eric Liddell through the film “Chariots of Fire,” which went on to win four Academy Awards, including the award for best picture. The focus of this film was on the events preceding and including those Olympic games in Paris....What we are not told in that movie is that the second half of Eric Liddell’s life was every bit as inspiring as the first half – although in a different way. Now that inspiring story is to be portrayed in a major motion picture to be called “The Flying Man.” download pdf of this story

They came with a passion for God and a love for the Chinese people that transformed a nation. They gave up all the wealth and power that the Western world could offer and chose to sacrifice their lives for the cause of the Chinese people. They were the Evangelical missionaries of the 19th and 20th centuries that came to China largely from Britain and America. They did not come just to proclaim the Word of God like good Evangelicals but to live out the Gospel by meeting the needs of the hurting people of China. Like Eric Liddell who came to China to teach science and math, many came to set up hospitals, clinics and universities. These efforts, often misunderstood and sometimes opposed by the very people they came to help, laid the foundation for the medical care and educational system that China enjoys today. The incredible growth of the church in China is also a testimony to the faithfulness and effectiveness of these pioneers of the faith. download pdf of this story

In this issue of Mission Frontiers Bulletin we are highlighting China. The purpose of this short article is to make sure our readers realize that the thousands of missionaries who went to China to love the people nevertheless used widely different approaches and did strikingly different things. The work of two missionaries, Hudson Taylor and Timothy Richard, describe the amazing differences. Both of them were fervent Evangelicals. Both believed the Bible, and believed in personal salvation and heart transformation. Both of them wore Chinese dress. Both of them endured enormous obstacles to their purposes but neither budged an inch from their calling. Hudson Taylor is very well known to our readers, while Timothy Richard is little heard of—thus we devote more space to Richard. download pdf of this story

When the Perspectives course was first developed, half of the world’s population was “hidden” in cultures without a church movement in their midst. Over the last 30 years God has used many factors, including the Perspectives course and this Mission Frontiers bulletin to awaken His Church to the urgent priority of the darkest and hardest places on earth. As a result, among an additional sixth of the world’s population the church is now accessible within their own culture, proclaiming God’s Word in terms they can understand and accept, and capable of demonstrating that the kingdom of God is at hand. download pdf of this story

“…In the West there is a ‘missing Father.’ When I go to the U.S. and I am around Christians…it bothers me because [they are] always talking about ‘Jesus,’ often with no reference to God—only Jesus. Even when quoting the Scriptures, there is no reference to the Father.” So observes Mazhar Mallouhi, a follower of Christ from a Muslim heritage, in the recently-released book about his life, Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road (p.183). Mazhar further notes, “…the Heavenly Father is not there in our conversation. When our Lord taught us how to pray, He said, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.’…. We too often are not seeing the Father through Christ. We stop with Christ….Often it seems when Christians talk with Muslims they put Jesus in the place of God the Father. Yet, we read that Jesus continually focuses us on God and gives glory to Him…. I find Christians even praying to Jesus in the name of Jesus.” (ibid) download pdf of this story

On September 25th the two major North American mission agency associations, CrossGlobal Link and Th e Mission Exchange presented Dr. Ralph Winter, renowned missiologist and founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission, with the 2008 Lifetime of Service Award at their joint meeting in Denver, Colorado. Th e award ceremony was part of the North American Mission Leaders Conference, co-sponsored by the two organizations. download pdf of this story

Since 1961 I have been traveling in Africa, primarily East, Central and Southern Africa. In the past fi ve decades I have heard hundreds of stories refl ecting the creativity with which God has blessed the church in Africa. When people fi nd out what I am concerned about, they love to tell stories illustrating what can be done when people begin to look for and discover local resources. download pdf of this story

Just the other day I had lunch with a good friend from church. “Joe” is one of those guys you really like to be with. He engages into my world, seeks my input into his and challenges me in areas of faith and action. It is refreshing, challenging and encouraging. When we last met, about a month before, I had mentioned a friend of mine, Carl, who works with Muslims. When Carl meets a Muslim, he often asks them if he can pray for them. He has never had any Muslim refuse prayer. In fact, the vast majority of the time, they say something like, “I would be honored.” Often, they are touched in the process. Joe hadn’t thought of that before. Joe has a coworker we’ll call “Farid.” Th ey work at a large company here in Southern California. Farid is from a country in the Middle East but has been here in the U.S. since he was a teenager. He is from a Muslim background and is now in his 50s. He is very successful by the world’s standards—greatly respected for his work at the offi ce. But, his personal life is a wreck. He was recently divorced and his children won’t talk with him (something that would be almost unimaginable in the Middle East). As Farid told Joe what was happening in his life, Joe asked if he could pray for him. He was touched and welcomed the suggestion. download pdf of this story