China Prayer Letter September 2017 - UK version

CHINESE CHURCH
SUPPORT MINISTRIES
CHINA PRAYER LETTER
SEPTEMBER 2017
Eastern Lightning
Nearly three decades since its inception in 1990
the Eastern Lightning cult (‘Dongfang Shandian’),
also known as the Church of Almighty God, is
still alive and active in China. In 2012, sources
indicated that the cult’s members could number
a million (Shanghaiist 20 December 2012; The
New York Times 19 December 2012; Global Post
18 December 2012).
The cult’s founder, Zhao Weishan, proclaims
Mrs Yang Xiangbin to be the ‘Female Christ’,
and himself as the movement's High Priest. They
teach that there is only one God with multiple
names and three “Ages” in Christian history. The
first Age was the Age of the Law (during which
God was named Yahweh), the second was the Age
of Grace (God was named Jesus) and the third is
the final Judgement/Kingdom Age (God is the
female Christ). Currently we are now, according
to their false teachings, in this final Age. They
believe the Bible is outdated and no longer
relevant.
Eastern Lightning has a history
In
this
issue
Eastern Lightning
Life in China
China
Summer Camps 2017
Forgotten, Avoided & Neglected
News From CCSM UK
Seeking to serve, strengthen and support the church and the people of China

of using lies and deception, strongarm
methods and even brainwashing
and seduction tactics to coerce people
to accept its misinterpretation of
Christianity. In 2002, the world was
shocked to hear the cult had kidnapped
34 leaders of the China Gospel
Fellowship house church network in a
bizarre and elaborate plan to convert
them. After enduring 50 days of forced
indoctrination they were
finally released.
The
cult is also
hostile to the
Communist Party, labelling
it the ‘Great Red Dragon of
Revelation’ and an insider has revealed
that the cult’s goal is to overthrow the
government and establish ‘The Kingdom
of God’. This appeals to disgruntled
groups in China who are dissatisfied
with the government. Eastern Lightning
has been officially listed as a cult since
1995 and is one of China’s banned
religious groups.
Eastern Lightning capitalises on the
hurting, needy or ignorant in the
Christian church, often targeting new
Christian believers with little or no
knowledge of the Bible.
By initia l ly
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mimicking true Christianity and
gradually revealing their extra-biblical
teachings the cult’s recruiters are able
to deceive.
Eastern Lightning particularly likes to
infiltrate the Chinese house churches.
Cult numbers rise during periods
when church growth has been rapid
and the many new Christians have had
ineffective or insufficient discipling.
But amazingly God has used this evil
cult to actually strengthen His church.
To combat the cult’s heresies China’s
church leaders now place greater
importance on foundational teaching
and materials, sharing the love of Jesus
in the community, leadership training
and cult awareness.
Over the years, a number of brutal
slayings and violent assaults in China
have been attributed to Eastern
Lightning fanatics. After a particularly
savage murder at a MacDonald’s
restaurant in 2014 the Chinese police
cracked down on the cult, arresting
around 1000 members. The crackdown
has driven the cult further underground
and has even prompted some members
to migrate overseas where they can
practise and proselytise overtly under
the shelter of more open religious
freedom laws. Off shore, the cult seems
to operate mainly within Chinese
populations, and is known to infiltrate
Chinese churches and home groups.
Foreign churches could learn a lot from
the churches’ experiences in China
when preparing their congregations.

The Chinese government’s recent
religious law revisions will make it
more difficult for Eastern Lightning
evangelists to use online chat rooms and
social media platforms such as WeChat
to draw in recruits. This however seems
to be a common method of proselytising
in nations to which the cult has spread.
Life in China
What is life like for our co-workers who
live in China?
Western
churches are
perhaps less aware than
China of the potential danger of
this cult and are as a result potentially
very susceptible.
Front cover: Eastern Lightning book
Photo credit: Seth Drum (Flickr.com).
We have teachers at all levels from
kindergarten to primary, secondary
schools and universities. Between them
they cover all subjects at primary school,
teach English and teach specific subjects.
All have exam responsibilities.
International
Short-Term
Teams
*
We have some co-workers who home
school their own children, and some who
divide responsibilities with one spouse
out working, the other working at home
**
Mercy
**
Medical
* Intercession
**
Trekking
**
English Cultural Exchange
September 2017: Intercession Teams
October 2017: Mercy Team
November 2017: Cultural Exchange Team
March 2018: Cultural Exchange Team
April 2018: Cycle Team & Cultural Exchange Teams 3

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caring for
children.
We have some coworkers
who run a business
with Chinese and foreign
customers, and some involved in IT
work.
We have some who provide full-time
foster care in their own home for
children from an orphanage and some
who train and help older orphans living
in a government institution.
Some are working in very impoverished
areas, building long-term relationships
while leading medical teams and
facilitating summer camps when team
members come in to China to enrich
children’s lives.
What unites them in their work? Jesus
Christ does – He is the reason they are
living in China and their lives are there
to be seen, to be shared, to witness to
Him.
Several of our co-workers are studying
to increase their qualifications. For some
this is a natural progression of their
work; for some it is essential so that they
have sufficiently high qualifications to
stay in China. Over a number of years,
the requirements for those who teach
and lecture have risen. A TEFL/TESOL
(Teaching English as Foreign/Second
Language) qualification used to get
you a place teaching English. In some
places it still does, but many schools and
colleges want at least a Bachelor’s degree
or even a Master’s degree now.
What are the challenges?
Language! Although all our workers in
China have spent time leaning Mandarin
Chinese, some have a basic knowledge,
some are good, and some are proficient
in most situations. Just living life is a
challenge if you can’t communicate, but
if you have a busy schedule of work, it
can be difficult fitting in extra lessons
and continuing to improve.
Fatigue! Living in a different culture,
not knowing what is expected of you,
not understanding changes that happen
in your job, in your accommodation, in
your neighbourhood, all make life more
tiring. Then trying to fit in more study,
run a business, bring up a family adds to
the pressure. If you find noise stressful
– well, there is often noise in China.
Depending where you live, summer
temperatures could be 40 degrees C and
winters well below zero.
Being a foreigner! You are not Chinese,
which may seem obvious, but as a
foreigner you are watched, you are
different, people stare, and want to see
what you do and how you do it. You
may soon stop noticing this, but it may
remain as a pressure – you are always
on view.

Friendships! There are less people
around who share your ‘mother tongue’,
and you have left friends back in your
country of origin, so who are your new
friends? All of our co-workers in China
have friendships there, some spanning
many years, but for some building
new friendships is not easy. If you are
single or at home looking after children,
loneliness can be a problem.
The rewards - If you are where you know
God wants you, that is incomparable.
Experiencing new friendships,
fellowship across national boundaries,
and enjoying all that a new culture
brings are greatly fulfilling. Sharing
the Good News with someone who
might otherwise never hear is fantastic.
Overcoming challenges, proving God
is faithful and being the ‘you’ that God
wants you to be is beyond words.
Ordinary people doing ordinary things
but sometimes being extraordinary and
achieving the extraordinary. In many
ways just like you and me, but placed
by God in China and being obedient to
God where He has placed them.
Keep praying for these brothers and
sisters in China and maybe you, your
family or friends could join them soon.
China Summer Camps 2017
Our memory verse was Jeremiah 29:11
- “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’
says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good
and not for disaster. To give you a future
and a hope.’”
God truly knew His plans for these
camps run in July. When asked to lead,
I had many questions but He answered
them clearly
and said, “Go with
the strength you have…
And I will be with you” (Judges
6:14,16). Then He gave me a co-leader
and an amazing team.
The theme for both camps was ‘Our
Awesome World’. As we opened this
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count eternally. As one team member
said: one Spirit, one mind, one Lord. This
was the secret. It wasn’t easy as each day
we had to adapt and change the plans. It
was so hot, the toilets were a challenge,
but the students were so responsive and
loved being a part of this programme.
What a ‘wow’ moment seeing the whole
school on the final day doing a Maori
culture performance, a fun action song
and a praise exercise they had learnt
through the team members. We were
full of thanks and praise to God.
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up to the students and encouraged them
to discover their place in the world, God
gave us what we needed through each
member of the team, the supportive staff
at the school and the local co-workers.
What a privilege to be able to encourage
these local workers who have such love
and compassion for the people they are
serving, and to be able to open more
doors for them through the English
camp and through visiting elder care
facilities.
Each day of this ‘adventure’, God gave
us what we needed. He used the team
to make beautiful connections that will
We visited four homes for the elderly,
and we encouraged them and their
carers with fun activities and a drama.
We showed them God’s love through
touch and prayer. It was a very emotional
experience. Then we were challenged
by the faith and perseverance of a lone
Christian teacher in the school. What a
privilege to sit and hear the story that he
and his wife told while they shared what
they had with us.
For the second camp our team was
reduced to four plus a local student who
has now helped with camps for three
years. It was a much smaller camp of
9 to 14 year-olds and we had to adapt
again! God seemed to remind us clearly,
through our daily devotions together, of
the importance of each of these lives and
the links we were providing in drawing
them to follow Him.
Again the team used their gifts to make
the programme about our awesome

Cut out this note and slip it into your Bible to help you remember the September prayer topics for China
Eastern Lightning
The Chinese Church has ultimately been strengthened by the lessons
learnt from the Eastern Lightning cult. Thank God that he can turn
what Satan meant for harm into good.
Pray that China’s Church can in turn impart to its Western brothers the
lessons it has learnt from attacks by the cult.
Pray for more training, leaders, disciplers and foundational materials
to be provided so that new Christians will receive the nurturing they
require to keep them safe from deception.
Life in China
Pray for all the CCSM co-workers who live and serve in China. Pray
particularly for those who have gone out to China from your country. If
you know some by name, lift up those individuals to the Lord with their
specific needs and plans.
Read through the list of challenges that those living in China can face.
Pray into each of those areas, asking for the Lord’s encouragement,
strengthening, protection and provision.
Give thanks that in the midst of the challenges, God is at work and these
co-workers are being used by Him to build His Kingdom. Pray for everincreasing
fruit from their faithful service.
China Summer Camps 2017
PRAYER POINTERS
Give thanks that God has provided open doors to these remote areas in
China. Pray for continued favour with Chinese authorities and for His
guidance, provision and direction in future summer camps.
Thank God for bringing together such a fine group of summer camp
leaders. Pray that their actions and the words they have spoken will not
return void. Lift up the summer camp participants, their parents and
care givers and the residents at the home for the elderly.
Lift up the local workers in prayer and ask that they will continue to be
encouraged and richly blessed in their daily witness.
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PRAYER POINTERS
Forgotten, Avoided & Neglected
Thank God that there is one missionary who has answered the call to work
to live and work with the Bonan people. Pray for the protection of this
dedicated worker and for the three Christian Bonan.
Pray that God will open the hearts of the Bonan to receive the gospel and
that He will provide opportunities to share with them.
Ask God to raise up many more missionaries, prayer warriors and
intercessors for the Bonan.
News from CCSM UK
Pray for more supporters to serve the church in China.
Pray for the teams going out this autumn to bless those they meet and to be
a blessing to those who go. May their friends and family also gain a vision of
what God is doing in China and want to be part of that vision.
Continue to pray for our workers in China, for protection, strength, good
health and wisdom.
Continue to pray for the Christians in China, that they will know God’s
presence, power and protection throughout any increase in pressure on
them and their congregations.
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Chinese Church Support Ministries
Seeking to serve, strengthen
and support the church and
the people of China

world work. The serial story of Joseph,
the boy from Canaan, proved very
popular. Games together with English
songs and activities involved everyone
and it was special to see the connections
made as leaders could relate with the
young people through their heart
language. The importance of having a
man to relate to the ‘stroppy’ boys was
very evident and their growth and selfdiscipline
was clearly seen in a short
time. They knew that this guy genuinely
cared for them and wanted them to be
the best they could be.
Some team members shared their
testimonies with the local believers and
it was a privilege to encourage them in
their walk and witness where they are.
Personally my mind is still full of images
from these amazing experiences, and
with praise and thanks to God for the
team I was privileged to work with. He
still uses all sorts of people, old and
young, to fulfil His purposes. He knows
the plans He has for us and I’ve proved
that His presence goes with us and gives
us peace when we are doing His will.
One team member wrote of her
highlights and they seem to echo the
thoughts of many others too:
“Thank God for granting me a golden
experience in this summer camp and
working with such a wonderful team.
Although it was our first time to meet
each other when we arrived in China,
our team just worked perfectly well.
I can see God was with us, guiding
us through this entire journey. It was
amazing! I am so impressed by each
team member’s willingness to serve.
We encouraged and helped each other
unconditionally. I will miss our daily
devotional time very much. Without
God’s Word, I really would not have
known how to start my day and carry
through each day’s task. It was a priceless
personal experience to walk with God in
this summer camp. As well as knowing
and depending on God more, it also let
me know myself more. I was grateful to
see my weaknesses in some challenging
moments. I thank God that He helped
me to overcome them one by one. It was
a really big challenge to me to live out
my faith and bless those people I met,
especially when we faced restrictions in
freely sharing our beliefs. Thank you for
this opportunity. May the people we met
in China smell the fragrance of Christ.”
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Forgotten, Avoided Neglected
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As Christianity is growing exponentially
throughout China, it seems there is a
portion of the populace in the heart
of the country that has been forgotten,
avoided and neglected. These overlooked
people are the Bonan minority who
live in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces.
For close to 270 years they have been
followers of ‘Old Teaching’ (Sufi)
Chinese Islam. They are an agricultural
people and are famed as skilled knife
makers.
The Bonan minority group is thought to
have a meagre total of only 3 Christian
believers amongst its population of
20,000.
The Bonan, like their Dongxiang
neighbours, are said to be descended
from garrisoned outposts of Mongolian
soldiers. The name Bonan means “I
protect you”. The soldiers settled in the
Tongren region and intermarried with
local Hui, Han Chinese and Tibetans
forming a distinct group and
language. This Mongolic-Altaic
language is also named Bonan.
In 1862, friction rose between the Bonan
who followed Islam and those that
followed Tibetan Buddhism. This along
with a water rights dispute caused the
Muslim Bonan to migrate east to Gansu.
Just 3 believers - one might ask how
such a poor statistic exists amongst
the Bonan when the Chinese church
has experienced such a strong revival.
It would be easy to think they are
simply ‘hard ground’, and that they
have rejected the gospel message. But
the truth is they have not heard it.
Missionaries have not gone to work with
the Bonan. Christian resources for the
Bonan do not exist.
That is not to say there are not valid
challenges in presenting the gospel
message to the Bonan. Their Muslim
culture restricts how they
can mix with Han
Chinese or

foreign ‘infidels’. And of course, a Bonan
contemplating following Christ would
have a justified fear of the consequences
of conversion. Then there is also the
false teaching they have heard about
Christianity and the Bible, which has
hardened their hearts.
The other great challenge is finding
someone that is willing to go.
Missionary work in this remote area
requires more than a little commitment.
To reach Bonan you really need to speak
their language and understand their
culture. You have to live with them, get
to know them and represent Christ to
them. This requires passion, courage
and a long-term dedication. Only the
most wholehearted of missionaries
could survive the loneliness of being
stationed in this remote area.
Today, we know of only one Christian
missionary working among these
people. He is a shining light in a very
dark place. Through his work we can
see that reaching out to the Bonan is
possible. They are hospitable and are
open to talk about their beliefs.
Undoubtedly, the greatest reason for the
small number of Christians amongst
the Bonan is the need for more prayer.
Christian battles are fought in the
heavenlies.
This month CCSM is sending an
intercession team to pray for the Bonan
people and for other people groups in
China’s heartland. We invite you to join
us in prayer.
News from CCSM UK
We thank God for new contacts made
at the two Christian events I have been
able to attend this year, and by the time
this reaches you, I will be returning
from a third event.
These events are a good time to let
more people know what CCSM does
and encourage more prayer, more
understanding and involvement in
supporting God’s work in China.
The China Prayer Letters are great to
give out and help potential supporters
get a better understanding of China and
prayer
needs.
Do give yours
away or encourage
friends to sign-up to
receive the prayer letter by
email. I can always send out extra
printed copies.
I’m pleased that I’ve had two offers of
help at future events. With more help
we can contact more new supporters.
Please let me know if you think you
could help.
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I’m also encouraged that we have one
person from the UK and one person
from Germany going on the Intercession
Team this September, one person going
on the Mercy Team in October, one
person considering going on the Cultural
Exchange Team in December, and one
person already booked for the Mercy
Team next July.
We will be publishing dates for 2018
soon. Please pray about going and let
others know they can serve in China for
two weeks and gain a fantastic experience
of China for themselves.
Why not consider going on a team with
some friends? Go as a group and you
can encourage one another,
pray together and serve
together.
As you pray for our workers who live
in China full-time, remember that new
academic terms are now underway, new
classes are being taught, and so new
opportunities arise for conversations
and friendships. Those who are not
teachers will also be busy after some
form of summer break and much work
needs to be fitted in before the October
national holidays start. Pray for a fresh
enthusiasm and enjoyment of life and
service in China.
From individuals we know and
published information it seems
that there is increasing pressure on
Christians in China. There seem to be
more investigations by the authorities,
more visits to warn churches and closer
scrutiny of church practice. Continue to
pray for God’s Kingdom to continue to
grow and mature throughout China.
Martyn Wells
CCSM UK
PO Box 5857
Sheffield, S10 9GG
T: 0114 229 5796
National Director: Martyn Wells
uk@amccsm.org
www.amccsm.org
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