by Dr Cameron Tallach
The Christian Clinic,
Taipei,
Taiwan.
22nd Sept. 1976
Dear Friends,
In August of this year the first “Chinese Congress on World Evangelism” was held in Hong Kong. Although I did not personally attend the conference, I was able to gather a few facts about it, which I hope will be of interest to some readers of the Free Presbyterian Magazine.
It is well known that, when a communist government gained control in mainland China in 1949, it became increasingly difficult for Christians in that country to continue to practise their religion. Forseeing this, many of these Christians fled their homeland and were scattered to many parts of the world. It is a witness to the effectiveness of earlier evangelism in China that, where these Chinese went, they set up independent Chinese churches — in America Europe, Australia, Africa as well as other parts of Asia. In this way they sought to have fellowship with one another, as well as join in efforts to evangelise fellow Chinese who had fled with them from the terror of communism, but who did not share their faith in Christ. But these efforts remained largely isolated from one another until, in recent years, the idea was conceived of bringing together Chinese Christians from all parts of the world in order, in a more united way, to stimulate and encourage one another in their Christian service. And so, in August of this year, for the first time, this idea was realised in the Chinese Congress on World Evangelism held in Hong Kong.
The theme of the Congress was “Vision and Mission”. Over 1,600 delegates came from all over the world, many sent by their local churches. The programme was intensive from early morning till late at night for 7 days. There were talks by 80 different speakers, discussion groups and prayer meetings. In the chairman’s opening remarks, he said, “May the Chinese Congress on World Evangelism ’76 in the mercy of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit and in the love of Jesus Christ, become an instrument of the Lord to encourage the world Chinese churches to become more diligent and committed to fulfil the greatest commission of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The same sentiment was carried in the first lecture entitled “We are saved to serve,” where delegates were called to consider the need for confession of lack of zeal among Chinese churches hitherto. The following night, a lecture on “Expansion” emphasised the need for the Holy Spirit’s work in this area.
Matters especially mentioned for prayer included work in Macau which provides relatively easy access to the mainland of China. But the Christian church there is weak, and is in need of pastors and teachers. Also mentioned was the recently produced new translation of the Chinese New Testament. This translation will be much more easily understood by modern day young Chinese than the presently used “Union Version” which is written in a very literary style. This work took five years and the Old Testament is expected to take another seven years to complete (Rev. Charles Chao of the Reformation Translation Fellowship was involved in the New Testament translation).
Hong Kong is, of course, geographically part of the mainland of China. The delicate political situation in this British colony was reflected in the Hong Kong government’s ban on any mention of the mainland of China during the Conference. This was distressing for many of the delegates, particularly those from Taiwan, who are burdened for their fellow-countrymen there. However, on the third night of the Conference, one pastor was constrained to pray publically for his brethren on the mainland and others followed his example, many weeping openly. It was this government ban that prevented a full statement of the aims of the Congress, but in the hearts of the delegates they were as follows:
- To consider how most effectively to work together to reach non-Christian Chinese with the gospel.
- To consider plans for evangelisation of the mainland.
- To consider how to reach out to non-Chinese in their home area.
It is not possible to assess how far the Congress went towards meeting these aims, but, no doubt, a start was made. Surely the important matter is the desire expressed in holding the Conference in the first place. “The Lord will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him” (Psalm 145:19).
There seem to be two significant points that arise from this Conference. It is, first of all, a witness to God’s power to uphold His own people. The Chinese church has suffered one of the most severe attacks of Satan in history. Yet here is a direct result of that attack — a spiritual counter attack. Jesus has promised “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).
The second significant point is that this Conference was Chinese. It was conceived, planned, managed and attended by Chinese (only 6% of those present were “foreign” missionaries). Here is a witness to the effectiveness of Christian evangelism amongst these people, whatever mistakes earlier missionaries may have made. And, as such, it must be a stimulus to every present-day missionary effort whose aim ought surely to be the formation of a strong indigenous church with a burden for the evangelisation of their own people.
May grace and peace be with you.
Yours sincerely,
Cameron Tallach.
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