Truth Magazine

By John Smith

Nearly three generations in the former Soviet Union were subjected to intentional, aggressive, and institutional efforts to stifle religion and belief in God. The Communists’ antagonistic opposition to religion left a multitude of scars: alcoholism, abortion, prostitution, lying, racketeering, pornography, suspicion, and corruption on all levels of society. These are not so much the results of Communism, as it is the inevitable result of ignoring and opposing God. The former Soviet Union is full of people whose hearts and souls are empty, longing for something of substance to fill them. The Russian people desperately need the gospel. The nature of the work has changed over the past decade, but the need remains large and pressing.

Lots of thoughts run through my mind as I reflect upon the last ten years of involvement in evangelistic efforts in the former Soviet Union. The demands of the work have tested and exposed so much about what we are made of. I remember the early challenges to even getting involved: “Aren’t there lost people in Montana? Why spend all that money to go to Russia?” “Are your efforts just youthful exuberance? Will you stay with the work and the people whose lives you shake up with the gospel?” “Should you get involved if you can’t or won’t eventually move to live there?” Additionally, while in Russia we constantly faced questions we had never anticipated and situations that we felt uncertain about how to handle. It was all very humbling. Our failures and limitations often made us wish that people better suited for these situations would get involved. But at countless times we realized that prayerfully doing our stumbling-best had to continue if the alternative was to do nothing at all.

Even under the repressive regime of Communism in quiet and intrepid ways, the Lord’s work was being carried out. A Christian from Germany smuggled Bibles and teaching material into the country on a regular basis. In homes across the country, people read and studied the Bible in small, secretive groups. It is difficult to document these efforts and know the extent of their influence, but evidence of their existence is undeniable. At the risk of life itself, hungry souls were reaching out to know their God.

Moved and troubled by the writings of Jeff Kingry, in the summer of 1991, Greg Gwin and Phil Morgan traveled to Moscow as part of an international language program. Their primary focus during this daring trip was to “spy out the land.” They wanted to see if Russian language Bibles would pass the watchful eyes of the custom officials, if one could distribute Bible correspondence courses, and if there was an interest among the people in spiritual issues. Unlike “the faithless eight” who returned defeated and frightened, Greg and Phil returned convinced that good work could and should be done in the Soviet Union. 

With the collapse of Communism, God opened a door of opportunity to the largest country in the world. Through the efforts of a number of good men, the gospel began to be taught publicly in several former republics. Churches were planted in several Russian cities among which were Moscow, Podolsk, Tula, Kaluga, Nizny Novgorod, and Pavlova. In addition to these, churches have been planted in the former republics of Lithuania, Moldova, and Kazakhstan.

Moscow

The past ten years have not been easy ones for the church in Moscow. It in many ways it reflects the truth  taught by Jesus in the “Parable of the Sower.” Nearly all of those who so readily and eagerly embraced the gospel in the early years have grown weary or been seduced by materialism and have returned to the world. But, there remains a dedicated and resilient remnant much in need of encouragement and assistance. 

The congregation began with the conversion of two professors from what was then known as Moscow State University. A number of public lectureships were held in the early 1990s with several students from the university being converted. The congregation faced many difficulties. The members were spread over a vast region, and it was difficult to secure a suitable meeting place. They were a diverse group of people who had some difficulty integrating themselves into a cohesive unit. The pressure and temptations brought on by new found freedom were tremendous. Mistakes were made by some of the Americans who worked among them. They did not receive sufficient long-term, consistent support. Despite these and other obstacles, there remains a small faithful group who meets in a family’s apartment.

Tula and Kaluga

The church in Tula, Russia, had its beginning in the fall of 1994. A series of public lectures and public Bible studies were held in October. This work was followed up by two more groups of public studies and as a result souls were converted and a congregation born. In the early days of the church in Tula, Carl McMurray was influential in providing stability and consistent teaching for these young saints. Ron Roark and Larry Paden lived for varying lengths of time in Tula providing valuable teaching and leadership. From Tula, interest was directed to the near-by town of Kaluga where a second congregation was planted. 

Of particular note in these two cities is the presence of native Russian preachers. Alex Seryogin and Mike Lapenko have preached in these cities. Alex and his family have recently moved to Moscow to work with the church there. The impact and influence of these two good men cannot be overstated. The future of the churches in Tula and Kaluga is bright in large measure to their good work. 

Nizhny Novogorod

The church in Nizhny Novgorod was started in August 1993 when some Baptists there contacted some of the institutional brethren who had been broadcasting the World Christian Broadcasting programs into Russia. These brethren were invited to come and conduct classes in the city. Eventually the Gants were invited to move to Nizhny Novogorod to continue these preaching and teaching efforts. Today there are 30 members who worship together and the Russians do the majority of the teaching and preaching and baptizing.

The church in Pavlova, two hours from Nizhny Novogorod, was started in 1995 as a result of a woman, who was converted in St. Petersburg while visiting family in that city. Upon her return home, the Gants were contacted and they began traveling there for Bible studies and preaching. There have been seven baptisms in that city since that time. Unfortunately however, three of those baptized live in other cities where there are no churches and no other Christians. There are five wonderful souls trying to spread the gospel of Christ in Pavlova today.

Moldova

Serghei Corchmaru was converted while a doctoral student in Moscow. Steve Brewer worked patiently for well over a year sowing the seed of faith in his good heart. In 1995 he returned home and immediately began teaching all who would listen. Steve Brewer traveled to Chisinau in May 1996 to encourage Serghei and help establish a congregation. Among others, Steve studied with Ekaterina Emnova who later became the first convert in Chisinau. A number of other American preachers have joined in this work and assisted in establishing a vibrant congregation.

In May 1998 the Brewer family moved to Chisinau where they labored for over a year. In large measure, due to their good work, a number of women were converted to the Lord. Among them were Serghei’s mother and his future bride, Anna.

Contact was made in the spring of 2000 with a congregation in Benderi, Transneister (a breakaway Moldovan republic about one and one-half hours east of Chisinau). This small congregation was established through the work of an “institutional preacher.” They do not appear to have been infected by traditional American liberalism and have welcomed Serghei who preaches for them a couple of Sundays a month. Patiently and lovingly he is leading them closer to the truth.

Kazakhstan

Through an initial contact with a foreign exchange student from Kazakhstan, a door of opportunity was opened for work in this former Soviet republic. Since 1998, several evangelistic trips have been made to Almaty, the former capitol and largest city of the country. Most recently (October 2000) a team of preachers was able to conduct a publicly advertised series of Bible lectures drawing several dozen attendees. To date there have been nearly 20 baptisms. As with any new work there are some obstacles to overcome. Some of the early converts have fallen away. There is a great need for someone to live and work in Almaty on a long-term basis.

It is beyond the scope of this article to provide a list of all the people who have worked in the former Soviet Union and where they have worked. However, there are a few whose contribution must be discussed. 

Dan Tholen and Mike Garth, young men from Tampa, Florida, followed Greg Gwin and Phil Morgan to Moscow through the same language program. Rather than returning home at the end of their study program, they stayed. They worked tirelessly in Moscow and were of great assistance to others who worked in Moscow and surrounding cities. 

Steve and Joy Brewer have done exceptional work in Moscow and Chisinau, Moldova. The Brewer family was a great stabilizing force in both churches. Joy’s sacrifice and service is worthy of special mention. Unless one has lived, kept house, and raised children in either of these cities, you cannot appreciate the difficulties Joy faced. She did so bravely, faithfully, and cheerfully.

Charlie and Kay Gant are currently working with the churches in Nizny Novgorod and Pavlova, Russia. The contribution these two noble saints have made to the Lord’s work in Russia cannot be over estimated. Their courage, faithfulness, and sacrifice are inspiring. They have faced opposition and disappointment, health problems and shortages of needed goods, as well as the stress of being separated from children and grandchildren.

Ron Roark has made a number of trips to Tula, Kaluga, and Moscow, Russia. Ron has dedicated himself to helping the native preachers grow in their knowledge and faith. As a result of his work and influence there are three native Russian men preaching and teaching in this region. 

How have Christians in America benefitted from involvement in the Lord’s work in the former Soviet Union? This work has challenged many to exercise their faith in God and prayer. In doing only that which is comfortable and secure, what results is more a reflection of us than God. Through involvement in foreign evangelism and its attendant risks, many have become spiritually bolder to expect greater fruit and have greater trust in the Lord (see 2 Cor. 9:8-11). Courage comes not from realizing what we can do, but from realizing what God can do through us.

Involvement in foreign evangelism has allowed many to broaden and clarify their understanding of who needs to be converted. To people in my generation and older, the mention of the word “Russian” would most likely evoke feelings of despite, fear, uneasiness. After all, they were the enemy! But, for 74 years they suffered under an aggressive policy that denied the existence of God and opposed serving him in any way. Rather than despising them, we need to have compassion for them. The gospel is for all! The church of our Lord is not, as observation might lead one to believe, for white middle-class America. It is for the Russian, the Chinese, Mexican, and Black. It is for the poor and the unfortunate.

Teaching and preaching in the former Soviet Union has helped those involved to build a greater confidence in power of Word.  In 1992, I watched Tommy Poarch teach class after class without the aid of outlines or notes. He simply read from the Bible and asked simple questions. No gimmicks, material rewards or fancy presentations. Simply the power of the word of God.

What has been accomplished in the former Soviet Union could not have taken place without the involvement and commitment of a multitude of people, and certainly not without God’s care and answered prayers. Countless congregations and individuals have cooperated in this work. It has involved a myriad of prayers that toppled a government, opened doors of opportunity, emboldened workers, strengthened new Christians, spread the glorious name of Jesus, and gave courage to those who have decided to answer the call for help from a foreign land. It has involved the sacrifice of wives and children. It has involved men and women from many different congregations, most of whom had never met, who were willing to run off bulletins, type manuscripts, make arrangements for meetings, preach, teach classes, look after families, and do a host of other things in the absence of their local preacher.

I shall forever be thankful to have had the opportunity to teach the gospel in the former Soviet Union. It has been my privilege to work with some outstanding men in this important work. The work that has been accomplished since the fall of Communism is worth all the money, conquered fears, family sacrifice, and other hardships that had to be overcome.

John A. Smith with assistance from Phil Morgan, Greg Gwin, Charlie Gant and Serghei Corchmaru.

6215 Nolte St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46221 possum8@attglobal.net

By Kevin Maxey

The Lord has blessed my family since March of 1999 with the opportunity to worship and work with the church that assembles in Ramstein, Germany.

Geographic Information

Ramstein, a small city of 19,000 people, is located about 1½ hours southwest of Frankfurt. Germany is home to 82 million souls and is comparable to the size of Alabama and Georgia combined. Imagine if there were only four or five small struggling faithful congregations in all of Alabama and Georgia. This is the condition of the Lord’s body in Germany. There is a dire need for laborers to be sent forth because the fields are certainly white for harvest (John 4:35; Matt. 9:37-38).

History of the Church

Troubled by the liberal and institutional error being taught at the nearby Kaiserslautern congregation, a group of Christians began worshiping in the town of Sembach in 1980. A short time later the church moved her assembly location to Ramstein. In 1983 brother Steve Wallace came to work with this body and labored faithfully to spread the gospel to both Americans and Germans for 16 years.

German Work

While I continue to learn the German language, my wife has been a tremendous help with the work. Jennifer majored in German in college and speaks fluently. Though the congregation currently consists of all American brethren, we are making increased efforts to reach the German community with the gospel. We have put up new German street signs, placed various advertisements in German newspapers, printed German tracts and flyers, and invited German neighbors and friends to attend our services. We have been encouraged to see eleven German residents attend in the last 14 months. Four of these have attended more than once.

It is not against German law to put flyers into residential mailboxes. We have taken advantage of this free     avenue for distribution and began passing out lesson one of a German Bible correspondence course two Saturdays each month. We have, to this date, distributed over 2,000 courses in the cities of Ramstein, Jettenbach, and Neirsbach  Nine Germans have enrolled in this study thus far. We pray God will bless this effort and help us find souls searching for the truth (Col. 4:3).

American Work

Approximately 45 Americans who are stationed here, either with the military, civil service, or a contract company, work and worship with the congregation in Ramstein at this time. There are eleven American military bases within a 20-minute radius of our area. One hundred fifty thousand Americans live within a one-hour radius. We receive anywhere from 20 to 35 visitors each month, mostly consisting of Americans moving to the area, working on temporary duty, or traveling through.

One of the biggest challenges of this work is refuting the error of institutional and liberal doctrine. At least 80% of our visitors are from this background. Most find our ad in the local American paper, see that we are the closest church to the Ramstein base, and as a result visit us first. When they discover we do not teach what they are accustomed to hearing, they move on to the Kaiserslautern congregation. Some however, after attending the Kaiserslautern group find them to be too liberal and return to us. This has turned out to be an incredible teaching opportunity not often found at a typical stateside congregation. Over the years, of the brethren who worshiped with the Ramstein church for their entire tour, 90% of them learned the truth on these issues and went back to faithful congregations in the States. I pray this trend will continue.

May the Lord give us all the strength, love, and wisdom necessary to boldly spread his glorious gospel throughout this sin-filled world (Mark 16:15; Acts 4:29; Eph. 4:15).

Eichenring 4a, 66877 Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany

By Steve Wallace

Christ’s giving the Great Commission is a natural consequence of his mission while on earth. He gave it after he had conquered man’s two greatest enemies, sin and death (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:20). The commission commands the spreading of this wonderful news to the lost of this world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). In light of the theme of this special issue of Truth Magazine, what is involved in carrying out the Great Commission? 

Overcoming Contrary Emotions

In reading the accounts of the giving of the commission, the transformation that took place in Jesus’ disciples is sometimes overlooked (cf. Mark 16:14; John 20:19). They went from being full of doubt, unbelief, and fear to bold  pro-claimers of Jesus’ words (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:10-12; Acts 2-3). Everyone who endeavors to teach others will undergo a similar change. This is so in a special sense for those who would preach in another country. At least, I found it so.

My first exposure to oversees work came when I took some trips to Europe at my own expense I can still remember my thoughts when brethren in Germany wrote me, asking me to consider working with them. While I was careful not to say as much to them, my thoughts were something like, “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to move over there!” However, they insisted that I come and I reluctantly gave in. (I will always be thankful to Danny and Mary Huber and Karen [Thompson] Dargon for prodding me to do this.) Others have grappled with similar feelings. My work in Germany was, with a few exceptions, among the American community there. However, I had unwittingly placed myself on what would become the front lines when the Berlin Wall fell. This event not only transformed my life, it influenced my thinking with regards to subjects on which I had preached for years. 

Take the Gospel Into All the World

Jesus taught his disciples for the three years of his ministry. After this, he saw that they, under the guidance of the Spirit, were up to the task of carrying out the Great Commission. “Go” is before “gospel” in Mark 16:15. However, it is the gospel that is of primary import in Jesus’ commission. It will both cause one to “go” and equip him for his work  (2 Cor. 5:10-15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). In light of this, those who have made it their practice to regularly preach on such things as first principles, the church, and denominational errors with regards to the two aforementioned subjects are naturals for carrying out Jesus’ commission. A major part of my work has been encouraging workers to come to Lithuania. Over and over I have assured prospective workers who are faithful men that they can do the work there. It goes without saying that my fellow contributors to this special issue have long since learned this truth as well. By contrast, one can read, in papers circulated by our institutional brethren, of intentional neglect in preaching the gospel. For example, in the April 1993 issue of The Christian Chronicle we read of an effort in an East German city where a preacher dealt “with the hurts and anxieties of the populace, rather than presenting doctrinal themes” (20). To be sure, there is a lot of both physical and emotional suffering here and abroad, and one might incidentally have an opportunity to help those so afflicted. However, the Great Commission involves preaching the gospel and those who would take part in its execution must prepare themselves accordingly.

Churches Should Facilitate Preachers in “Going”

The New Testament reveals that churches of that day actively supported preachers in fulfilling the Great Commission (Phil. 4:15-16; 2 Cor. 11:8-9; 1 Thess. 1:8). The church in Ramstein, Germany, was exemplary in their dedication to this principle. Brethren allowed me to be away in mission work for as much eleven weeks and a number of men were happy to fill in during my absences, preaching and teaching. They also were generous in their support, not only of me in my own efforts in Eastern Europe but also of other men as well. At one point in 1998 our treasurer told me that we had sent out over $10,000 in outside support in the past six months. For a church whose attendance was usually in the low 40s this alone says a lot. By contrast, I have known men who have preached in difficult places while being inadequately supported. If the Great Commission is going to be fulfilled in our day, churches must commit themselves to the support of those carrying it out.

In the Language of Every Man

While one can find English speakers in many places it should be obvious to all that nothing will reach the population of any given country like words in their own tongue. Paul knew Greek and Hebrew (Acts 21:40; Rom. 1:16) and, perhaps, Aramaic. However, even he had problems on occasion with an unknown language (Acts 14:11-14). Learning the language of a given country is the first option open to a person. Working through interpreters, while not acceptable or financially feasible in all countries, has worked very well in Eastern Europe. Producing literature in a given language, while being a tedious, demanding process, is a big help. In some instances, people have been converted by means of a tract; in others, they have learned the truth on a topic wherein they had been in error. If the Lord lets time go on, literature we translate will still be doing its work long after we have left this earth. We must recognize that all of the world does not speak English and adjust our efforts accordingly.
 
Establishing Churches in the Faith

Jesus’ commission also included, “Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20). The immorality and excess of the city of Corinth mirror many cities today. Coming out of such a background and living in such an environment will take its toll on even the most dedicated Christians (1 Pet. 2:12; 4:4). Attrition has been high in churches in many parts of the mission field. Preachers and churches must make long term commitments if the churches they establish are to stand the test of time. 

Conclusion

Many brethren today are involved in carrying out the Great Commission. Men with experience in given countries around the world have contributed to this special issue. Their articles reflect their simple faith in the commission our Savior gave so long ago. The common goodwill reflected by brethren involved in different fields and efforts joining their voices together in these pages is reminiscent of that seen among our first century brethren (Gal. 2:7-9). We hope you will be informed and encouraged by their words.

2103 Rexford Rd., Montgomery, Alabama 36116:

By John Maddocks

One of the most frightening experiences of my life was standing in line in the Shanghai airport, waiting to pass through customs. It was March 1997, and I can still remember the feeling of panic that swept over me as I made my way to the uniformed soldier in the little glass cubicle. He sat there in his little booth, with the power to deny entrance to the People’s Republic of China to any he deemed a security risk. This was my first time entering China, and I had absolutely no idea what would happen when it was my turn to face him. I just stood there, silently praying that God would help me.

It’s not that I haven’t crossed a few borders in my life. I am presently preaching in St. Cloud, Florida, and have been for over six years. But my nationality is Canadian, and I grew up in Jordan Station, Ontario, just a few miles from the New York State line. I have crossed the US/Canada border hundreds of times. I have had a few bad experiences with border guards who were a little power crazy; once I was even turned back from the border in Detroit, Michigan, and denied entrance to the USA. But all that meant was trying another crossing area where entrance was allowed. 

But now I was in Shanghai. If I was turned back here, that was it; there would be no second chance, no other border to try! To make matters worse, my bags and the bags of my traveling companion, David Spiece, were loaded with Bibles and an abundance of printed religious material, forbidden in this Communist country.

The People’s Republic of China is an incredible country. It covers an area of 3.7 million square miles, and is populated by approximately 1.3 billion people. Its neighbors are Russia and Mongolia to the north; North Korea in the northeast; the former Soviet republics of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan in the northwest; Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan to the west and southwest; and Burma, Laos, and Vietnam to the south. Having read that list of neighbors, can’t you just feel the tension that must reign on China’s borders? There are nearly 400 ethnic groups in China, with the majority, approximately 92%, being the Han people. There are numerous dialects spoken. In fact many cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, have their own peculiar dialect, but most Chinese also speak Mandarin, the national language of the People’s Republic. 

China is a country on the move. Gone are the closed doors to the Western world. Foreign investment and tourism are now not only allowed, but encouraged. In cities like Shanghai and Beijing there is a continual state of rapid growth. The skylines show evidence of new structures being erected everywhere you look. Many of the brethren in China work for what are called joint-ventures companies. These are partnerships between Chinese and foreign companies. I have friends in China who work for joint ventures between China and Finland, China and France, and China and Australia, just to name a few. Though there is still a huge part of the population that live as peasants, there is also a growth in what we would call the middle class. Televisions, video players, stereos, cellular phones, and computers are now in the hands of many Chinese. China is rapidly becoming a very affluent and materialistic society. On a darker note, abortion is the number one form of birth control, and premarital sex is common. Because of the “one child” policy in place since the late seventies, most young families have only one child, and that has led to a generation of spoiled children. Since it is generally true that both husband and wife work, it is often the case that grandparents take on the role of parent as they are left to raise the children. I know of a situation in Shanghai where the father and mother only see their child on the weekend. This is a case, not of choice, but rather of necessity.

My desire to travel to China was flamed into existence in my high school years. My school had many students from Hong Kong, and I befriended many of them. As they told me about their home, a great desire filled my heart to see it with my own eyes one day. Years later, hearing about the work in China from men like David Spiece and Mike Rosser, an even greater desire filled my heart to be among those who take the Word of God to the people there.

I have now made two trips to China. In 1997, as stated earlier, I made my first trip in with brother David Spiece. We spent the entire trip teaching in Shanghai. In the Spring of 2000, along with Bob Buchanon of Bowling Green, Kentucky, I visited Beijing, Dalian, and Shanghai. Both trips have been life changing experiences. Above all other things, what stands out in my mind is the desire of the people there to hear God’s Word. Whether receptive or skeptical, there has always been demonstrated respect on the part of the hearer. The Chinese are a very warm and caring people. On a number of occasions they demonstrated great generosity. There have been studies where there was no way that anything but the evolutionary theory would be accepted. Two girls David and I studied with in Shanghai illustrate this point. They based their belief on a picture they had seen of a person with a small tail. They were convinced that evolution was verified by this one snap shot of a person with an odd deformity. Nothing we said would convince them otherwise. They are the exception, not the rule, however. It is hard to put into words the look of amazement that comes into the eyes of a Chinese student as they come to see the logic of a heavenly creator. The Chinese with whom we study are often students and very well educated. They are not simple minded people. They have simply been denied access to the truth of God’s word, and have been force-fed a diet of evolutionary theories since early childhood. When they are shown a logical proof of our intelligent design they are quick to realize and accept that there must be an intelligent designer, and that he is God.

Having come to this understanding, the question often asked is, “Why did God forget about us in China?” It is then that a study of their own written language, Kanji, is so very helpful. There is no time in this short article to go into detail about this. (I would encourage you to get and read, The Discovery of Genesis, by C. H. Kang and Ethel R. Nelson. It is a fascinating read.) From their own pictographic written language the story of Genesis is taught. For example, their kanji for “west” is represented by one man in a garden. Eden, of course, would have been west of China. Their kanji for “flood” is represented by the symbols for eight people in a boat. These are just a few of many such examples that when shared with the Chinese student, as often as not, causes his eyes to open wide, and them to respond, “We did know God!” That revelation opens the door to a study of his word.

It is not unusual to have a hotel room filled with eager students. Those who have been taught bring more friends, family, or classmates for us to study with. It has been my observation that very little need be done to be constantly busy teaching in China. In Dalian, where Bob and I spent about ten days, we literally had people in our rooms from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. every single day! What was most impressive about this was it was a national holiday, and many spent most of their days off with us. One young man, Erik, came everyday we were there, and spent the entire day with us. He became a Christian that week, and he and I are in continual touch with each other. If you want to get your batteries charged as a Christian, China is a great place to do it. The only down side is you won’t want to come home. How often do you have people here beating down your door to study God’s will with them!

One thing to keep in mind if you travel to China is that it is still a Communist country! That means that what we do in China is illegal, and there is always the chance that you might be discovered by the authorities. It has happened in the past. The greatest risk is taken by the Chinese. Penalties can be severe for ones involved in what is viewed by the government as a subversive religion. I have a friend in Dalian who has had his home invaded, all his Bibles and religious books seized, and his job taken away. Fortunately he was not arrested, but his life will never be the same, and suspicion will follow him in the future. We must take great care to do our best and ensure that such incidents are not due to our negligence. The brethren there are courageous though, and look with longing to the time, Lord willing, when China will open its doors to God’s word.

In my heart there is a fervent love for my Chinese brethren. Leaving Dalian, I saw tears freely flowing from eyes that I had first looked into only ten days earlier. I had made friends that mean the world to me, and who I hope to see again in this life, but if not, I long to be with in the great eternal home our Father has prepared for us. I regularly receive e-mail asking when I am coming back. The truth is the Chinese brethren are hungering and thirsting for God’s word. All efforts to share that word with them, by any who come, are so deeply appreciated by these noble people.

When it was finally my turn to face the glass booth on my first trip to Shanghai, the soldier just said, “Passport!” He looked at it, stamped it, handed it back to me, and that was it! I walked to the conveyor, grabbed my bags, and along with my good friend, David, was whisked off into a cold Shanghai night, to one of the greatest adventures of my life — preaching the Word in the People’s Republic of China. Want to go? Drop me a line!

3320 Cypress Point Cr., St. Cloud, Florida 34772-8882 jmaddocks1@msn.com