More about emails

Not to beat a dead horse, but there is still lots of great stuff going on via email with my students. So much so, in fact, that I've decided to write about it again. The last round of emails were focused on my story that I shared with my students. Then two weeks ago I gave them all the "Love your enemies..." quote from Jesus and asked them to email me their ideas, which has led to even more good conversations.

I found one girl who has been reading the Bible by herself for the last several months after a foreigner she met in Macao gave it to her. She had already read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and part of John. She was happy to find somebody else who reads it, she came to a meeting already, and has questions that she hopes somebody can help her with. I might try to hang out with her sometime :-) It can be tough to get people in the habit of reading their Bible, so to find a student who's already read through all 4 gospels on her own is pretty amazing.

Another student talked a lot about love, the problems of the world, and even included a prayer to Jesus in his email.

One girl told me that her best friend from high school was a Christian, she believed in God, and thought that she would become a "religious" Christian in the near future. She's also eager to read and study with somebody.

(Edit and add ...) There was one other girl who told me about a dream that she had after she heard the quote. In the dream, all of her family rejected her, but Jesus came to her and told her these words about loving her enemies. Turns out her aunt is a Christian.

There are several other people who have said interesting things about the quote and talked back and forth with me about spiritual things. I think 2 or 3 of them came to the meeting in our house this last week. But these 4 were the ones that really stuck out. It's simply amazing that in a classroom of random faces, there are people like this sitting silently. Without the right opportunity or probing question, one might never find these people. It's great to know that God is working is so many ways!

Wang Hao

I've been meaning to post something about Wang Hao, and since he just left our house I guess this is a better-than-average time to do so.
If you've read the monthly reports (and if you're reading this, I imagine you've also read the reports) you'll know that Wang Hao is this amazing guy that God has sent our way. He's a really swell guy, as far as just being nice and stuff; but the amazing thing is his genuine yearning for God and his still-immature but heart-felt faith in Jesus. He's one of those disciples who, like Peter at the lakeside, is brimming with enthusiasm to drop everything and follow God wherever He leads.
Just for the record, although he certainly believes and wants to be a Christian, he has not yet been baptized. We will probably bring that up really soon, but for the time being we have tried to be content with moving a little more slowly and deliberately than we might have done in the past. We want him to mature at God's pace -- since it is obviously God who has called him, and God who will keep him -- rather than there being even the merest suggestion of us pushing him into it. God brought Wang Hao to us; we did not seek him out. Therefore, we really want to be careful to honor the pace that God seems to be setting.
Anyway, he has started to attend a local student-led congregation on Sundays, and he comes here each week, Friday or Saturday, for further study and discussion. Each time he tries to apologize for "disturbing" us, and each time we insist that we're delighted to have him. And it's true: it's been really good, for me (Jason) especially, to spend this time in the Word, discipling a young man, and being motivated to speak more Chinese. Wang Hao's presence and friendship are a big blessing to me.
We thank God for him, and ask you to say a prayer, too, for Wang Hao -- that his faith and knowledge and obedience will continue to increase, and that we will, at the right time, be able to oversee his baptism into Christ.
So, not my most eloquent blog post, but at least I've gotten around to saying something.
Stay tuned... Maybe I'll actually think to take his picture one of these days, and then you can see his sweet, sincere face for yourself. You'll need to be able to recognize him in heaven, because I've no doubt we'll all be there together!

Preacher Shane

Jon Hardin does a great job of delegating and challenging people to take leadership. Shane has taught Bible lessons before at their Tuesday night group. This week will be Shane’s first opportunity to preach in Sunday worship.


Hi Shane. I’ve been praying for your Bible teaching in two Sundays. What topic has God put on your heart? My first ever Bible lesson was Philippians 4 joy. My lesson was so simple and silly. But teaching that Bible lesson gave me a greater love for God’s Word and a stronger love for God’s church around me, my friends in college. I’m happy to help you prepare your lesson. I’m so thankful to God to see Him working in your life.


Shane: Hi Josh. I’ve been thinking about the topic thing. I don’t know what topic I should choose. Do you think “God’s miracles and faithfulness” is a good one? Seems like the Bible is full of God’s miracles, so I’d have things to talk about it. I need your help. And we should eat together next week.


This sounds like a great topic. Which two or three miracles do you think really display God’s faithfulness? We can talk tomorrow and my wonderful wife encourages you and me Tuesday lunch.


Shane: Just came back from Clint and Taffy’s Bible study. I was thinking about “people’s conversion”. Find some examples in the Bible, Paul and others, and some famous person we know; then lead to the question “Why would they convert or believe?” List some reasons, truth Jesus is the truth. Then lead to another question “What can we do to help people convert?”


This sounds really great especially your question “What can we do to help people convert?” We can look at some Bible verses tomorrow.


Shane and I enjoyed a lunch of roasted lamb ribs and tofu soup. I tried for some small talk, but Shane quickly brought us right back to the business of preparing the Bible lesson. The conversion of the Ethiopian is right before Paul’s conversion in Acts. Shane had written out step by step stages of his feelings during his conversion process. Finally, welcome discussion and commit to action “What we can do to help people convert?”


Actually Shane had three different Bible lessons in mind, so Shane will have more chances to preach in the future.
We are so blessed to see Shane’s life converted by God’s power.

Student Ministry

Shhh….Keep it a secret. God is really working again in our student ministry. The entire A2 fourth floor is empty at 3:05 Thursday afternoons. We study about the people who saw Jesus resurrected and how it changed their lives. We have learned about Thomas, Peter, Paul, and next week Philip. When the rain stops we will move outside, sit on the green grass in the sunshine, and learn about Jesus.


I encouraged the students to bring a friend. Shaq and Bill Gates invited their friend Mark Twain. I have had Mark Twain in class before, so I am responsible for his English name. (I can’t take credit for English names Shaq and Bill Gates.) I always thought Mark would be a good friend to study the Bible. I asked, “Paul was God’s chosen tool. How can God use our lives like a tool?” Mark replied, “Once we learn more about Jesus, we can teach other people.”


We were happy to welcome Superman King, Arily’s boyfriend, visiting two Sundays at the Hardin’s worship and one Thursday student study. A few months ago Arily sent me this text message: “Sorry I cannot come today. I just quarreled with my boyfriend. He thinks I’m too fanatic about religion. So I want to stop for a while.” He is a big guy, as the English name Superman King indicates. But after a handshake and a pat on the back, Superman King has a beautiful friendly smile. I can’t even imagine him quarreling over fanatic religion.
Arily also invited her friend JiNan. JiNan is busy a lot with studies, but he comes from a Christian family and he has a wonderful humble heart.


Each Sunday three or four or more students come to the worship in the Hardin’s home. Shaquille O’Neal bought himself a Bible. It was a great picture. Before the worship he tore off the plastic and opened to a new page in his life.


Dan will return soon from Hunan province and continue with Thursday studies and Sunday worship. Dan wants to bring his friend Patrick, who gave him a King James Bible starting Dan’s search for God.


Pray for protection in our student ministry. Pray for Jesus to change the lives of Arily, Superman King, JiNan, Shaq, Bill, Mark, Dan, and Patrick.

Answered prayers

Last semester, Margaret was too busy most Sundays to join us to worship.  This semester has been much better.  Margaret is still very busy though.  She has asked for prayers that she would have more time to Study the Bible.

This past Sunday she shared a cool story with us.  She said that she was working on a PowerPoint presentation (something for her daughter) and she wanted some music to go with it.  She was looking for some music on the Internet and a website popped up:  www.ysong.org .  It has lots of praise songs and more importantly Bible readings in Chinese.  So now, she can play the Bible readings while she washes dishes or does things around the house.  Her husband and daughter can hear it too.  She says that they like it too.  She is thrilled.  She says it is an answered prayer.

She shared this website with us and others copied it down.

I love how God finds unexpected ways to answer our prayers! He is so good!

Another Jane

Every week, when we take prayer requests, Hallie always mentions the Zhengs.  This is Bliss's family.  Hallie and Bliss are best friends.  Bliss's sister is good friends with Liam and Eryn. Hallie has studied the Bible with Bliss.  She has invited them to church.  A few months ago, Bliss's family joined us for lunch after church.  Peter, the dad said that he did not believe but he thought that Christianity is very good for China.

About a month ago, Bliss started coming to church.  Hallie has been very happy.

A few weeks ago,  Bliss saw Margaret in a restaurant.  Margaret talked with Jane  (Bliss's mom) and invited her to our worship service.  That week, Carissa (Bliss's little sister) also joined us.  This past Sunday, Jane (the mom) joined us.  We are so excited about it.

Jane was nervous at first, but I do believe that she enjoyed the service.  I think she will return.

This coming Sunday, Shane will give the lesson.  He told Jon he is not really nervous. We are excited about it.

Finally! The commercial

  

I received this file today! This is a 60 second director's cut of the commercial.  It does not have the graphics on it.  A shorter version of this will air on CNN.  Actually, it has already aired.  My sister-in-law saw it today.   Jon thinks that the shorter version actually shows Hallie more.  

Why don't you come to Hangzhou and have your own Hangzhou story?