Yabuki Breeze Blog

Chinese Students Choosing Christianity

Religious Conversion Expands As More Chinese Students Study In U.S.

By RESHMA KIRPALANI

March 10, 2011h 10, 2011
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV


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“Kitty” encountered Christianity at several junctures of her life in Eastern China — first through a wayward aunt, then through a reformed cousin, and finally via a high school classmate who was quiet about her faith.

But a lack of in-depth knowledge about the religion paired with an education based in Marxist principles, which shuns religion, led Kitty to discount Christianity while she lived in China.

“In school they would not say, ‘There is no God,’” said Kitty, a University of Texas graduate who asked that her Chinese name not be used. “They would just say, ‘You should believe in science. You should believe in anything you can see.’ So we only believed in something we could see or something we could hear. And surely we cannot see God.”

Cut to February 2011: Members of the Austin Chinese Campus Christian Fellowship sing an up-beat Christian hymn in a classroom on the University of Texas campus. Kitty is in the second row. Her body thrums with devotion as she sings, “You opened my eyes to your wonders anew. You captured my heart with this love. Because nothing on Earth is as beautiful as you, Jesus!”… (read the rest of this article)

Tags: Chinese, Texas

Last week marked one of the most special weeks for me as I had the opportunity to be part of a special leadership retreat in Colorado(see pictures and videos). At this retreat there were about 60 Chinese students from all over the country plus 20 volunteers and 10 American students. The conference was focused on leadership and light on evangelism from the front but the most amazing thing was I felt there were far more significantly spiritual conversations than any other retreat I was a part of. The second night, I found myself sharing about Jesus with my roommate and he choosing to follow Jesus. The next day, Ron was sharing how to do discovery Bible study with another student out of a conversation that came from the student seeing Ron doing his quiet time and culminating with the student sharing with the whole group the main points of the passage they studied. Honestly, it felt like a person of peace magnet of an event as it seemed like by the end of the retreat everyone was interested in learning about Spiritual things. It was just so natural because we were not purposely trying to convert people but when people see Jesus lived out in context, we an honestly share how God directs our lives. I believe that because we didn’t press them “officially,” while keeping the “Elephant in the Room” the student felt even more freedom to explore the things of God on their own. It was incredibly fun and incredibly rewarding!

Here are some praises from the week:

• I have heard that as many as 9 student made a decision to follow Jesus and from what I was hearing, most if not all made a significant movement closer to wanting to know Jesus and God. I know it all was happening because the Holy Spirit was involved and you all were praying. Many lives were significantly and deeply changed.
• One student shared that often when she had gone to retreats, she found people pushy and it turned her off to Jesus but this time, she enjoyed being with the Christians and she felt the freedom to ask more questions and learn even more.
• The weather parted for the retreat. The temperature before and after the retreat were terrible with many storms but our time up there was wonderful with temperatures in the 30′s and 40′s and sun.
• All the students got really close… Afterwards, on the facebook group page, the key word was “miss” as in “I miss you all” after only a week together.
• Skiing was perfect and many learned quickly and well from our staff/volunteer team and no one got hurt.

Tags: Chinese, Colorado, Leadership Conference, Skiing

One of the fun parts of our ministry is that we take students to do things that we already like to do. I love basketball. I grew up a Lakers fan (still am) and kind of like the Mavericks too. Basketball has become a huge phenomenon around the world and going to a game is a great way to get to know students and share something very special. Little did we know that it is also an opportunity to meet many new people from an important people group.

Every year Sain, one of the janitorial staff at our church from Mexico and I take parts of our family to a Dallas Mavericks game. It started off as a way to reach out to him. As God has brought him to Christ, it has become a way to better connect and something to share with each other. I usually bring one or two students to this and usually we get a game with a “lesser” team. This year was different. We planned well ahead and I saw that the Mavericks were playing the Houston Rockets for the last game of the season. I figured the Houston Rockets would be a great way to meet new Chinese students and get closer to them. The Chinese see Yao Ming, Center for the Rockets, as a national hero and so he and the team are very popular. So, I talked with TCU volunteer Bennie and together we bought 30 tickets to bring students to the game. We also decided to take the train to the stadium to make the experience even more fun. Also, for the first time Lisa wanted to come with the rest of our kids.

Lots of buildup there… we were able to sell all the tickets to students from three campuses: TCU, UTA & SMU, from China, India and Mexico. It was a lot of fun… BUT… the BIGGEST thing that hit me was this. When we got on the train at Centerpointe TRE train station near Arlington, we found there were many, many more Chinese students than just the ones we brought. In addition, once we got to the AAC (American Airlines Center), there were even more. From all walks of life from researchers to undergrads; from EMBA businessmen to future lawyers and doctors from all over China. It was truly incredible. If a person had a heart to touch the lives of Chinese and needed to make new contacts, all it would take would be taking the train to a Mavericks / Houston Rockets game, talking to groups of students along the way,  building relationship during the 30 minute ride and sharing contact information afterward. They could then hang out in AT&T Square in Victory Park before and after the game and talk to more. It would not be hard at all. I was amazed at the tremendous opportunity.

Oh.. Incidentally, the Mavericks won (it was a tremendously entertaining game) and were able to clinch sixth place (the Rockets fell from 2nd to 5th) in their conference as they got into the playoffs, thankfully for my sake, avoiding the Lakers for now. Yao played great. Dirk and Kidd played even better. C-6 left the game in tears because she so connected with her compatriot Yao.

Tags: Basketball, Chinese, Family, Mavericks, train

Back in the Spring, we helped one of our local ministry partners to reach out to some MBA students they were involved with by making our team in Houston available to help them plan a trip to NASA to meet an astronaut and stay with local host families. Here is a testimony from the team leader:

Roy I think it went great.  This group really enjoyed the trip and several told me that being in an American home was as exciting as the space tour.

I had a 30 min. conversation with “W” about “believers”, and etc.  I learned Wed night that he carries around with him a Gideon New Testament.  I will get him a Bi-Lingual Bible.  “C” picked up on the main teaching of the Tues Bible lunch and gave it back to the Pastor in a questions and answer exchange that he had with the students.  It shocked the pastor and thrilled him too in that he impulsively went over to “G” and kneeled in front of him.:) I got a posed picture of them before we left to board the bus.  I had a 5 x 7 made and will give it to “G.”  I had a disk made of my pictures.

Good questions were asked to the pastor and everyone was very attentive.  They loved the warmth and friendliness of their hosts.  Those in the “L” Church van had fun with “M.”  He was connecting with “F” and is inviting him out to his ranch in Johnson county. I will be interested to find out how many answer Jeff’s 5 questions.   I don’t expect many of them to write him because they are unsure about their written English.  They read it well but writing an opinion or thought will be hard for them.

God is working to reach international students in a big way through so many people.

Tags: Astronaut, Chinese, Host Families, Houston, MBA