From: "Rev. Robert Rahn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: CLIMB: FW: Climb on China Date: Friday, November 02, 2001 12:54 PM Subject: CLIMB: FW: Climb on China Sent: 9/3/20 2:43 AM Received: 9/8/00 8:33 AM From: Rev. Robert Rahn, rrahn@lhfmissions.org To: Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness, CLiMB@CAT41.org You'll note that the time indicates I'm reverting to China time and up during the night. It was done on my home computer and sent to the office for final reviewing. So, here it is for you to copy, add, subtract, as you see fit. -----Original Message----- From: Rev. Robert L. Rahn [SMTP:rrahn@lhfmissions.org] Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 4:12 AM To: 'Rahn, Robert' Subject: Climb on China To Climb Members LHF ESTABLISHED IN MAINLAND CHINA The Lutheran Heritage Foundation has opened its office in mainland China. A Branch Director for China was appointed in June and strategy sessions were held on August 27 to 30 during a China exploratory trip taken by Rev. Robert L. Rahn, LHF Executive Director. It should be pointed out that this will be an unusual article in that the normal information on the who and where of a typical release will not be included in order to protect our worker. This is especially necessary in view of the fact that a Lutheran house church has been organized. It is possible that this is the first Lutheran group meeting officially in mainland China under a Pastor's leadership. Keep in mind the context in which this is happening. In China you have a communist government that insists on control of all religious activity. There is enough evidence that there is active persecution of Christians. Their policy is one in which all religious groups are lumped together. They would insist that if worship was permitted it would include Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jehovah Witness, Mormons, etc. This is the government sponsored church that we asked our Director to avoid. This is also the country that controls population by allowing only one family per child. The horror stories of late abortions, even up to seven months, are common. Lutheranism in China is not a new phenomena. In 1902 a Finnish Mission Society began work and in 1919 a Rev. Arndt came to the Hunan Province to begin work. He formed a Mission Society under the auspices of the old Synodical Conference and saw some good results in his work. In 1922 he reported 500 members in seven stations, a seminary, a boy's school, a girl's school, an orphanage and other entities. All this was eliminated by the late 40's. Our goal was to try and find any Lutheran vestiges in this general territory and to investigate possible connections with the underground church with the intent of providing Lutheran confessional writings through our translation/publishing efforts. It was not the goal or intention of the LHF to begin a house church. Our worker had come to this area after two years of training at the Fort Wayne Seminary. He discontinued studies for a year to become part of an English As A Second Language Institute and was sent to China. He was befriended by a Chinese couple who were attending the local church under a quasi Roman Catholic banner. He married the couples daughter whose husband had died seven years ago leaving her with two children. After completing his stint with the ESLI, he returned to the seminary for his final year. It was during this time that we interviewed him and posed the possibility of service to the LHF. Upon returning to China to be reunited with his family, he was conscience bound not to participate in the Roman Catholic services. It was the only viable church in the community. He decided to begin services for his family at home. Others became interested through careful invitations extended. A Lutheran house church of eight or nine members doesn't seem significant but you can contrast this to the six members that were part of the Finnish Mission effort after four years of work. In order for this Pastor to remain in China he has to remain anonymous in terms of his pastoral eligibility. He has secured a contract in a local school to teach English for five years. The police have informed him that he should not travel out of the area without their permission. You are getting the clearer picture about our concern over identifying the who and where. This, of course, has led to an examination of what our policy should be in regards to this door that the Lord has opened. The government policy is clear. Our church policy in 1998 stated that work would be done only with the government sponsored church. This work was centered more in the Hong Kong/Macau areas. Our position is that the Great Commission carries the greater weight and we should do whatever we can to re-establish the Lutheran faith. This, we believe, can be done without overtly antagonizing authorities and without diluting our confession. An interesting situation has developed in that a local Roman Catholic priest has abdicated his celibate role and married. He has been removed from the church and is currently in discussions with the LHF Director in regards to the Lutheran faith. Will he be willing to enter catechesis and could he receive tutoring and training from the Hong Kong Lutheran Synod? If so, he could be a national serving in the church with less suspicion than a foreigner. In conclusion but not as an afterthought, the need for prayer in this volatile situation is urgently needed and requested. When God unfolds a plan, we can only offer to be His instrument. Is this the rebirth of a confessional Lutheran voice in China. The China Lutheran church has no name, no constitution, no building, no equipment, no heat, no money, but it has the Word of God. If someone is looking for a mission project with anonymity, this is our budget for the work: $1,200.00 Critical need for computer for keeping in contact 300.00 Laser printer 1,200.00 Stipend for year 500.00 Phone hook up with E mail 600.00 Phone service and Email for year 500.00 Office equipment (desk,etc) 500.00 Office Supplies 500.00 Travel of missionary from Hong Kong to visit and encourage 3,000.00 Travel to China by LHF staff from America 750.00 Good News About Jesus Publishing 1,000.00 The Bible: God's Handbook for Living Publishing 1,500.00 Publishing Hymnal ================= $11,550.00 Total Other needs will obviously surface as we move forward in entering this open door. Rev. Robert L. 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