(Photo courtesy of Bibles for China)
China (MNN) — Sometimes the best way to make a difference is to just be an encouragement.
That’s one thing Bibles for China focused on this past year.
Bibles for China’s Wendell Rovenstine visited the country seven times in 2015 to encourage local church leaders and figure out how his organization can best help.
“Our desire this year was to really develop internal relationships with partners that had a need for Bibles, that we could sit down and listen to them, and be open to their needs and care for them,” Rovenstine says.
“Maybe one of the best things that happened to me was our last trip when we were in an area that I really affirmed the leadership and told them how much I appreciate them. I said, ‘You guys are really doing a great job. We want to be involved with you and team with you….’ The leader looked at me, and with tears in his eyes said, ‘I have never had a foreigner come and tell us we’re doing a good job and affirm [us].'”
Rovenstine says one thing the trip helped him realize was the need for leadership training for younger believers. And though working alongside the local church to distribute God’s Word is one of Bibles for China’s passions, they also wanted to make sure the Chinese believers were fully equipped to lead their churches.
“We spent a morning and an afternoon session, fed lunch for 200 leaders, just to be an encouragement to them, knowing that they are needing help, because of the wonderful way in which the Lord is blessing China,” Rovenstine says. “We still meet the needs of our passion for Bibles, but we just want to make sure that our passion for Bibles carries out the Great Commission, which is to go and make disciples, or go provide an opportunity for them to lead their communities.
(Photo courtesy of Bibles for China)
“I saw that really evident in one of the churches we went to on the trip I just got back from. There were 3,700 individuals in that church we were able to distribute Bibles to,” Rovenstine says. “There was a very strong leader in that church. And I’d contend where there are strong leaders, there are great followers. So in this church, there were a lot of young people, and a tremendous amount of men in that church, just because a person knew how to lead and accepted the opportunity to lead…. It really made for a healthy church.”
God is doing a powerful work in this country, especially through organizations like Bibles for China. But this ministry needs support from people like you in order to keep going. Click here to see how you can pray, take a trip with Bibles for China, or donate financially.
