Missionaries FROM China

China was only 6 years removed from the cultural revolution in 1982 when Dayna and I ended a mission trip with a one week visit.   There weren’t many cars, but thousands of bicycles.  We were restricted on where we could go, who we could talk to, were warned to be careful about what we said, and were isolated in a tourist hotel.  That trip was at the beginning what God was doing in China.  I found some pictures Dayna took of our time in Guangzhou and Beijing.

A children's choir in Guangzhou

Tiananmen Square

Tour guides who were always with us.

A guard on the Great Wall

Over our years with Cru, we have seen the ministry across East Asia grow.  In fact, one of the best things we’ve had a part of was sending thousands of students and staff to serve in East Asia in the late 90’s.  We helped open campus ministries in about 50 new locations by sending summer projects, one year stints, and long term staff. The church in China has grown exponentially during the last 35 years. 

It all came full circle here in Orlando this summer.

During June and July we had two Chinese students serve as accounting interns in Cru’s finance office.  When they arrived, they shared their testimonies of how they came to Christ in China, and how they got involved with Cru as they studied at U.S. universities.

I was honestly amazed that we had two Chinese missionaries serving at Cru’s World Headquarters!  From our experience 34 years ago to now, it is just awesome to see God raising up laborers to send into the harvest from all countries!

Isn’t that cool?  Thanks for being a part of reaching the whole world with the gospel of Jesus.

Mourning the loss

Our fellow Cru staff and good friend Matt Guilford is an artist.  He was processing his response to the shooting and created this piece, and allowed me to share it with you.

The orange O represents Orlando, the ribbon represents the LGBT community that was targeted, and the drop of blood represents the graphic violence experienced.  

The names are those that were killed in the attack are listed with their ages.

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May God’s love, grace and truth bring healing to our city.

Thoughts on the Orlando Shootings

The day we wrote our last update, Christina Grimmie was killed in a theater 5 miles from our home.  The next day 49 people were killed and 53 injured at the Pulse Nightclub shooting, also 5 miles from our home. 

In October we will have lived in Orlando 25 years.  We love this city.  Our hearts are broken over the terrorist attack/hate crimes that happened here last week.

What most people know about Orlando is Disney World.  Orlando has a relatively small downtown and we live in a close suburb.   We drive past Pulse several times a week.  It is a very popular club.  We consider the area part of our “neighborhood.”

Last week in our Target store an announcement came over the loudspeaker asking for a moment of silence honoring the lives lost.  Two of their employees had been killed in the mass shooting at Pulse.

The victims of this crime are people we shop with, walk past, etc.  Downtown Orlando has a relatively large LGBT community that is very much a part of the everyday life of the city and our lives.  Friends of our kids’ friends died in the attack.  It is horribly sad.

We also are extremely proud of the way the city has responded.  We have friends who are first responders who were involved.  They have done an incredible job, especially considering the size of our city!  Orlando churches have responded with kindness, offering free funerals, counseling, and other resources.  The city of Orlando created a fund to provide for those impacted by the shooting.

When we heard about the attack I was surprised by the feelings I had.  I had a huge sense of sadness, but also a resolve.  We were going to do what we could to help, but part of that was going where we normally go and doing what we normally do.  Some of us tried to get tickets to the Orlando City soccer game (which was sold out). We went to Disney.  We shopped our regular stores in the area.

Please join us in praying for Orlando, especially the victims and their families.  This really is a great place to live.

With love,