March 2025 RCMI Newsletter

Dear Friends of RCMI,

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matt 5:8

John Sung (1901-1944), known as "the John Wesley of China," was a renowned Chinese Christian evangelist. He was famous for his sincere and passionate preaching style, spreading the gospel across China and impacting countless believers. As Wang Mingdao evaluated: "The greatest thing about Mr. Sung is his sincerity. Because of his sincerity, he is able to be greatly used by the Lord."

Rev. Dennis Balcombe, as everyone knows him, is a humble and gentle pastor. Although he does not have any particularly great accolades, his sincerity toward the Chinese people is a well-known fact to all who know him. He has similarly impacted countless believers, including overseas Christians, Chinese believers, and the global Chinese community. As he approaches his 80th birthday, we have conducted a special interview with him to share his stories and testimony with everyone.

Bear the Cross For the Lord ---

Interview with Rev. Dennis Balcombe

This year marks the 80th birthday of Rev. Dennis Balcombe, and we are honored to interview this devoted pastor who deeply loves the Lord and China. Rev. Balcombe's enthusiasm is contagious as he warmly introduces us to his work and takes us on a tour of his cherished library. Among his collection, we are deeply impressed by the Bibles, worn from constant use and filled with notes, as well as numerous Chinese dictionaries.

Pastor Dennis explained that the most important aspect of missionary work is to immerse oneself in and understand the local culture and to learn the local language. When he arrived in Hong Kong, he made a concerted effort to integrate into local life. He used the Gospel of John as his starting point for learning Chinese and since then has made it a point to read through the Bible in Chinese once a year.

At first in his daily life, he would learn the names of bus stops while riding buses and diligently study street signs, shop menus, and any unfamiliar characters he encountered, using a dictionary whenever necessary. Within a year, he was able to read Chinese newspapers and novels. Additionally, he enrolled in Chinese conversation classes at the Chinese University, completing their basic Cantonese course in three months. After seven months, he began preaching in the local language.

During the interview, I asked Pastor Dennis about his most memorable experience in spreading the gospel in mainland China. He responded with a quote from the Analects (of Confucius): "When three people walk together, there is always one who can be my teacher." He continued, "In mainland China, I can impart much biblical knowledge and help people understand the Holy Spirit. However, the Chinese brothers and sisters have taught me how to bear the cross, humbly follow God, and fervently pray."

Pastor Dennis shared an incident that had left a lasting impression on him. Many years ago, during a gathering at a rural church, a brother who had been missing for three years suddenly appeared. It turned out that this brother had been arrested for his faith and had just been released. He recounted his experiences of freezing, starving, being beaten, and enduring inhumane treatment, suffering greatly. The brothers and sisters present were moved to tears by his story.

Pastor Dennis initially thought everyone was heartbroken by the brother's suffering. However, he later heard a sister's prayer and realized something profound. The sister had been praying for years, hoping to suffer for the Lord. She expressed that the love and blessing had fallen upon the brother who bore the cross for the Lord, and she felt envious, wondering why she had not yet been able to enjoy this blessing.

This perspective deeply impacted Pastor Dennis. As Christians, many of us naturally desire to draw close to the Lord and receive His grace and blessings. However, the believers in mainland China consider suffering for the Lord to be the greatest blessing. This realization made Pastor Dennis feel that in bringing the gospel to China, he was the one who learned so much from the local brothers and sisters.

Pastor Dennis believes that an evangelist serving in a foreign country has a significant advantage over one serving in his own because local people are particularly interested in a foreigner who can speak their language and understand their culture, and therefore they receive the Gospel more easily. However, pastoral work should be taken up by the local people. The missionary's role is to pioneer the work, establish the church, and then move on to other places to continue pioneering. This is the work of a true missionary.

When we are called by the Lord, are we truly willing to let go of everything and follow Him? Receiving grace and blessings is a gift, but what is the true blessing? Every one of Jesus' twelve disciples experienced God through suffering, and so we're able to bear witness to His reality and power. The hardships of today's world cannot be compared to those of biblical times. Are we willing to offer ourselves for the Lord and bear our cross?

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?'" Matthew 16:24-26

Pastor Dennis's story is one filled with resilience and faith. His experiences show us that no matter how great the challenges we face, if we persevere and believe, we can overcome difficulties and embrace a brighter future. This spirit not only inspires our current lives but also sets an example for the next generation, giving them the courage to face and conquer their own challenges.

Dennis Balcombe,

Founder and Lifetime Honorary Chairman of RCMI