RCMI Newsletter Jul 2019

The World Missions Movement

More than 800 people from 26 countries attended the (RCMI) Revival Chinese International Ministries Conference in Frankfurt, Germany in October 2018.

The world missions movement was led by the western church in the past, but in recent decades it has developed into many movements from different parts of the world. The “Back to Jerusalem” movement is a notable example. Another kind of Chinese missionary method has come into being which is different from traditional western mission models, organiza- tions, culture, churches, and sending agencies. When western churches hear about these non-western ways that the mission- aries are using, many of their people are joyful and encour- aged; while some show concern: Have they received suitable training? Are any of them doctors or health care profession- als? Do they have the professional knowledge they need? Do they know what they’re doing? These are all good, important questions! We, the Chinese church, must be wise! Let us, with our different culture and in the midst of new kinds of challenges, hold onto our God-given post, so that our service can glorify God and bless people!

Frankfurt, Germany RCMI Conference 2018: Lighting the Fire of the Holy Spirit among Chinese in Europe.

Pastor Isaac Liu is the son of “the Heavenly Man” (Brother Yun). He grew up in a traditional home church environment in Henan Province, China. Because his father and mother were both serving the Lord, the family was usually separated. Family get-togethers were very infrequent and the family went through extreme difficulty. However, difficulties could not stop God’s will from hap- pening in their lives. In the summer of 2016, Isaac Liu and his wife were called by God to establish a new church in Frankfurt, Germany. At the beginning they had no team to work with, and their first meeting was six people in a liv- ing room. Now their meetings have a congregation of about 120 people who come from 25 countries, including locals, immigrants, and refugees who have come together to form a multicultural local church. We felt proud of what they have done! Before it was always western missionar- ies who led Chinese to the Lord, but today we can also be missionaries to the western world. Western missionaries established churches in China in the past, but today Chi- nese have been called by the Lord to establish a multicul- tural local church in Germany—glory be to God!

Sharon Lau’s first time in Henan, she met Isaac Liu and his mother.

Isaac with parent Brother Yun and Deling Yang

Pastor Dennis with Deling Yang in 1989, revival meeting in the cave, in China.

Isaac Liu and his wife are residents of Frankfurt, Germany.

Below is Pastor Isaac Liu’s sharing about how he has known Pastor Balcombe and RCMI since he was young.

When I was just five years old (in the 80’s), Pastor Bal- combe and his daughter Sharon came to minister in our house church in Henan. My father quietly took me and my mother to take part in the discipleship training meetings— this was the first time I had seen white-skinned people. It was also the first time I had heard the news brought by Pastor Balcombe: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Until this day I have not forgotten, nor do I dare to forget, the importance of “evangelism by the great power of the Holy Spirit.” Nor have I forgotten Pastor Dennis’s ear- nest teaching and exhortation, time after time. Pastor Dennis is our main model of serving the Lord for a lifetime. For me as his spiritual son, I’m able to stand on his shoulders and imitate the way he serves the Lord—not ashamed of the gos- pel, boldly laying down his life for the Lord—his courage, his faithfulness, his focus—all these things are inspiring us as young disciples of Christ in this generation to continue writing the Book of Acts in our generation. We need to take the gospel of the salvation of Jesus Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit to unreached Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu lands, to bring the gospel back to Jerusalem as well as to the European and American continents—to the ends of the earth—to be witnesses for the Lord, so that all people may become disciples of the Lord!

Pastor Isaac Liu / Senior Pastor of All Nations Church in Frankfurt, Germany

Sunday, July 7, 2019: Ten people of Iranian, Afghani, Korean, and two of German nationality—a total of fourteen brothers and sisters were baptized into Christ at All Nations Church.

Brother Yun with Brothers and Sisters who Received Baptism

Pastor Dennis Balcombe Sharing a Message in All Nations Church, Frankfurt

Dear Pastor Dennis and RCMI colleagues: I recall that 45 years ago Pastor Balcombe was the chap- lain of my school (Hong Kong Christian College). Alt- hough I didn’t believe in the Lord at that time, Pastor Bal- combe sowed the seed of the gospel into my life, and not long afterwards I was following his path. After believing in the Lord as a young man, I had a vision of the crucified Lord Jesus and submitted to His grace and love and be- came willing to take the gospel to the whole world. During that time, I experienced serving in the church and in mission organizations; I experienced spiritual ups and downs. Several years ago while I was fasting and praying the Lord called me again to set out; and I went first to Kenya, Africa, to serve poor Somalis, and during the refu- gee crisis in South Sudan to help set up a Sudanese church.

Narobi, the Kenyan capital, is “Little Paris of East Africa”but also one of the ten largest city slums in the world.

God’s call to E City (in ancient times called Persia) – God’s will!

Three years ago, after fasting and prayer, I went to Iran to preach the gospel, in obedience to God’s call. At that time both the country and its people were unknown to me. I only knew from Old Testament history that the Persian Empire had played a very important role in the Jews’ return from exile to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (Isaiah 44:28-45:3). I heard God say, “I will have mercy on the descendants of Cyrus because he obeyed my will: he let my people return home and rebuild the temple and the desolate city of Jerusa- lem!” This was my confirmation, and so I responded to what I heard in my heart and went. Now, my being in this country is like Caleb when he spied out Canaan. I believe with all my heart that God will revive this place, so that in every place the church of Christ will be established! Just as prophesied in Jeremiah 49:38-39, “‘I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes,’says the Lord. ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.”(NOTE: Elam “was an ancient Pre-Iranian civiliza- tion centered in the far west and southwest of what is now modern-day Iran.”—Wikipedia)

Iran’s ancient history and more-than-two-millennia-old cul- ture have come down to us today with a deep and lasting impact on the Middle East. Also, China used to trade with Persia along the Silk Road; and as a result, China and Iran have many similarities in culture and music! As in Chinese culture, filial piety is key to Iranians; they have great respect for the elderly, and families are close-knit units. On holi- days, families bring their elderly and their children for pic- nics in parks. The young listen to their elders’ teaching or their reading of the famous poet Hafiz. They feel proud of their ancient, enduring culture, and often talk about the hey- day of the Persian Empire, its vast territory and the remnants of its ancient culture that can be found everywhere in the world! They often say that although they were subject to Arabs for more than a thousand years, their Persian culture stood firmly and never succumbed to foreign domination.

After the war during the 80’s, Iran had a ‘population break- through,’ and its people soon doubled in number. Now, the young people of Iran make up 60% of the population. The level of knowledge possessed by these young people is sub- stantial, and they are very hospitable to outsiders. Although government rhetoric is extremely anti-Israel, many tens of thousands of Jews live there along with many other ethnic groups such as Turks, Azerbaijanis, Afghanis, Kurds, Paki- stanis—it’s very similar to what Persia was like in ancient times—a melting pot of peoples!

Compared with a year ago, since sanctions were reimposed, the currency has depreciated to a third of its former value, but wages have not increased. People can’t afford to buy things. The poor are getting poorer, but the rich are getting richer. Poor people have even sold their kidneys to save their families! The number of children on the street has in- creased greatly, some only a few years old, and in freezing weather they stand at intersections and wipe down car win- dows trying to make a little money! Also, drugs are flowing in from Afghanistan and poisoning the young generation! And there are a few young people who are still studying diligently to obtain their doctor’s degree, but they worry that after they graduate they will be unemployed!

A friend’s father had a foot injury which became infected, but locally they lacked the equipment to perform needed surgery. The friend decided to make a 10-hour journey to the south to pray for healing for his father, and he met a taxi driver who introduced him to the Lord. After that, due to the religious laws they could not believe openly, but only had meetings at home! There are always lots of opportuni- ties to give testimonies and share the joy of salvation with people. I am always praying, fasting, and waiting on the Lord for this country! May He send more workers to ac- complish His work here, because the harvest is ripe! It’s just as Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the har- vest to send out laborers into His harvest.”(NKJV)

Sincerely, Brother Paul Missionary to E City

E City Market; Local Mosque

The Core Ministries of RCMI

Revival Chinese Ministries International is made up of four core ministries. RCMI forms strategic partnerships with Christian churches and organizations around the globe for the purpose of partnership, joining our abilities together to promote “Mission to China & Chinese Mission”, to raise up God’s Last-Day army of evangelists. We need your continued support in order together to complete the task of Christ’s Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations...”

Sincerely yours, Pastor Samuel Lau Revival Chinese Ministries International