Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest

This "blog digest" is brought to you by the ELCA Global Mission Support team. Here you will find posts and re-posts by ELCA missionaries, ELCA Global Mission churchwide staff, and other friends.

A Faith borne out of persecution

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Franklin Ishida
Zhao Qin-

Pastor Zhao Qin-lin

When Zhao Qin-lin was young, he remembers his grandfather singing a song. The lullaby-like song that Zhao remembers, “Jesus protects us … ,” had to be sung late in the evening, after his grandfather had spent many hours in the fields during the day, because of fear of persecution. This was during the Cultural Revolution in China, the period between 1966 and 1976 during which there as widespread social and political upheaval in China; a time when, in addition to the persecution of anyone suspected of harboring anti-socialist ideas, religions were persecuted, churches closed and Bibles destroyed.

“My grandfather would take the Bible and put it in a clay jar and bury it,” recalls Zhao. That was the only way to hold on to this treasure of their faith in a time of great upheaval.

Now, years later, Zhao serves as one of the pastors of Luzhou City Church in southeastern Sichuan province. As a Miao ethnic minority, he often heads into the mountains to trek among the Miao congregations that are a part of the Luzhou parish. This is all possible because of the flourishing ministry of this parish that counts somewhere between 28,000 and 30,000 members in four congregations, 15 preaching points, and 53 home gatherings.

The ELCA works closely with Luzhou church, assisting with social ministry projects, health care ministries, grassroots leadership training, and rural development. Among the Miao, in particular, irrigation ditches have been built to allow crops to be grown higher up on the slopes of valleys; library books  provided to isolated schools; and one new church built.

Y. Franklin Ishida
Director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission

One new life is God’s grace

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Franklin Ishida
Baby Chen En, held by Pr. Liao, her mother standing behind, and surrounded by hospital staff

Baby Chen En, held by Pr. Liao, her mother standing behind, and surrounded by hospital staff

Luzhou City Parish in southeastern Sichuan Province, China, has been at the forefront of holistic care for the community. One way in which it does this is through health care. In addition to its own community health clinic, located next to the main church, and outreach health functions, it cooperates with Luzhou Hospital. ELCA funds have assisted Luzhou Church in providing care for those living in poverty as well as directly funding neonatal care instruments at the hospital. 

Recently, a couple gave birth to a child with special medical needs. But they used up all their money for the early medical expenses and decided to take the baby home. But everyone knew the baby could not survive once back at the village. 

Luzhou Church staff made it possible for the baby to remain in the hospital and her life was saved. Pastor Liao named the child Chen En (En means grace in Chinese) to express thanks to God. Now, Chen En has been discharged, a more healthy child.

Y. Franklin Ishida
Director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission

These books are treasures to us

Posted on June 13, 2009 by Franklin Ishida

img_1879-793494“On behalf of all the teachers and students, I thank you for bringing new hope and reading opportunities with these many great books. We have learned and gained new knowledge: how to be a person, how to study, how we can be kind and have a good heart for all people and things.

“The stories I read are all very fascinating, moving and real. Some make me think, often rousing up my imagination, and I wish I could write as well. For many years, we have not had books like this. We did not write well. However, now that we can read so many books, we have much higher standards in writing skills.

“I remember a quote from one of the books: Reading is the best knowledge. I also learned from my teachers that we must study each story carefully to sense the emotions of the authors. After I understood this, I have done just that – to read with care.

“These books are treasures to us, for the contents are precious and there is much to learn. It is an ocean of knowledge. We must read more so as to know that they contain true wealth and beauty.

“Thank you, for you have brought hope and happiness to us. Every time we see these books, we not only see them as books, but your lasting care and support.”

img_1927-700413“–Speech given by Zhao-Ling, 6th grader at Ju-Xian Elementary School in the mountains above Gulin, southeastern Sichuan Province. With the assistance of the ELCA, Luzhou Christian Church (Sichuan) purchased library books for this village school. Most of the students are of the Miao ethnic group, and many are Christian.

–As heard by and submitted by Y. Franklin Ishida, Director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission