Reflections on Travel to : Opportunities for an Underground Mission Field By Therese I. Poirie

BACKGROUND many stories about China and the Far over 22 million (third largest city). We Why China? East. One of our own was took the bullet train (which travels at In early May 2019, I traveled to China a Pittsburgh-trained physician, Dr. 217 mph) to Xian, the ancient capital on a guided tour for a travel learning David Thompson, whose city for 11 dynasties, for a 2-night stay. experience. This was the first time that parents were killed by communist Xian has 8.6 million people in an I was traveling overseas without any soldiers in Vietnam during the Tet urban area and is in the province of work connections. You may ask, Why (Vietnamese New Year) Offensive in Shaanxi (9th largest city). There we go to China? My love for the Chinese 1968.4-5 This was a major turning point visited the Shaanxi History Museum people and my interest in this country in the Vietnam War when South which houses many Chinese treasures. was nurtured while I lived in Vietnam fell to communism. Many of We also visited the Terra-cotta warriors Pittsburgh, PA and attended the my friends and peers participated in and horses at the Qinshihuang Allegheny Center Christian and overseas missions including trips to Mausoleum, one of the most Missionary Alliance church (ACCMA). China to teach English as a second significant archeological excavations I always described the of the 20th century. We ACCMA as “The Harvard of viewed the Terra-cotta figure churches” because of the workshop and the Big Wild quality of its preaching and Goose Pagoda which is a ministries, and it was one of holy place for Buddhists. I the reasons I stayed in also enjoyed a dumpling Pittsburgh for 24 years banquet and the Tang despite opportunities for Dynasty Dancing Show. We career advancement. The then flew to on CMA is an evangelical China Eastern Airlines. From church founded by A.B. there we took a bus to Simpson, a Canadian Suzhou, the “Venice of the Presbyterian minister in the East”, for one day. Suzhou late 1880’s.1 It became an has an urban population of official denomination in 4.3 million and is in 1974. The focus of this province of Jiangsu (16th church was on the Great largest city). We took the Commission and historical cruise on the . was first language since missionaries are . We visited the Couple’s affiliated with the CMA in 1933-37. outlawed in China. I also have many Garden in Suzhou and a silk My early Christian growth was a result friends who adopted babies from embroidery factory. We then took a of my involvement in the ACCMA China. Over many years, I heard much bus to Wuxi for one night to visit the Li church. Many of our pastoral staff had about the billions of unsaved people in Garden and the Tea Pot Center and the family members (the Taylors and China. As a result of all of the above pearl breeding center. Wuxi is in the Thompsons) who were early pioneer influences, I have wanted to travel to province of Jiangsu and is becoming leaders in service to China and the Far China for many years. In May 2019, part of Shanghai-Suzhou- Wuxi area. It East including Vietnam. Hudson Taylor God finally gave me the desire of my has a population of 3.5 million (30th was the first Protestant missionary to heart. largest city) and most of the residents China in 1807.2 An ACCMA’s pastor’s live in the countryside. is the wife was a great-granddaughter of Where did I Go and What Did I Do? largest city in Jiangsu province. From Hudson Taylor. Hudson Taylor was the I joined a tour group from Toronto in there we traveled by bus to , son of a pharmacist. My friend’s Beijing for 10 nights in China6-7 (see the fog capital of China, for an parents had served as missionaries to Figure 1). The tour consisted of 3 overnight stay. Hangzhou has an urban China prior to the 1996 Cultural nights in Beijing where we visited population of 10 million and is in the Revolution. Today, the CMA has Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Zhejiang province (5th largest city). missionaries in nine countries The Tongrentang Chinese Medicine We spent time at West Lake which is a including Cambodia, Indonesia, Institute, The Great Wall of China, botanical garden and a honeymooners Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Olympic Village, Jade Workshop, and retreat. We heard the Butterfly Lovers Thailand.3 During my early formative a Kungfu show. Beijing is the capital of story, which is the “Chinese Romeo Christian life in Pittsburgh I heard China with an urban population of and Juliet”. We experienced the

Volume 23, Issue 1 13 Impression West Lake Show called the “G20 China 2016” that was choreographed by the same person who choreographed the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics. We also visited the famous Dragon Well Tea Plantation. Our final bus ride was to Shanghai for two nights. Shanghai is the financial capital of China and the largest city with an urban population of 24.5 million. There we visited the Bund, the famous waterfront area connecting the old and the new and stretching to the ocean; the Chinese market for bartering (knock-offs such as Nolex vs Rolex) and Nanjing Road which is the number one commercial center in China (lots of famous brands). We saw the bottle opener skyscraper and the Shanghai Tower which is currently the religious practices since the 1980s, but However, as previously stated, the second tallest building in the world. religion is still highly regulated. government highly regulates religious We also visited a Jade Buddha Temple Religious organizations that lack state activities in China. Religious activities and a government operated jewelry approval are subject to persecution. must be registered and permission store. We experienced the MAGLEV Even though there is some freedom of granted by the government. No train with speed up to 267 mph, the religion, they cannot practice their activities involving a large number of Jinmao Tower to the observation deck beliefs openly, since it would interfere people are allowed to be conducted and a cruise on the Huangpu river to with others who do not have religion. outside of an approved religious site. It view the city lights at night. In 2014, 74% were atheists or is still quite difficult and dangerous to practicing Chinese Folk believers, 16% practice in China.9 China INSIGHTS INTO CHALLENGES AND Buddhists, 1% Muslims, 8% Taoists is ranked tenth as a country in terms of OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHRISTIANS and Folk Salvationism.6 The practice of persecution of Christians.9 Faith-based China is a country of 1.4 billion Buddhism includes worship of organizations are considered a serious people (the world’s most populous Buddhas with offerings of incense threat to the Communist party. In 2018 country) encompassing 3.7 million flowers and food; practicing there were increased bans on religious square miles (third or fourth largest meditation, and mantra recitation. gatherings that were unregistered,10 country by area and second in land Buddhists believe in the existence of We are reminded in 2 Timothy 1:7 area).6 With the tremendous growth in gods and ghosts as well as (KJV) that “God hath not given us the population, decreasing lack of land reincarnation or rebirth according to spirit of fear; but of power and of love, space, and declining food supplies one’s karma. They pay respect to dead and of a sound mind.” How do you and water shortage, there are ancestors, and they perform religious witness and serve in a country like significant concerns for the future of ceremonies to help souls of the China? Thus, there are many this country. Sanitation infrastructure deceased find peace. There are also a challenges – yet numerous and the high pollution pose lot of superstitions – the visit to the opportunities – for sharing one’s challenges. Terra-cotta warriors and the Buddhist Christian faith. temples were strong evidence of this. The formation of the People’s Republic Only about 2 to 5% of the population I realize that serving openly in a of China (PRC) in 1949 resulted in are Christians. mission role in China is unlikely, but I religious persecutions.8 The Cultural will provide insights on how serving Revolution brought forth the closing Thus, with a large, unreached and witnessing in a more underground of places of worship and banning population that faces numerous role could be feasible. One common of religious practices. The People’s challenges, there are tremendous way is by teaching English as a second Republic of China is a socialist opportunities for Christians. As we are language. As you establish personal state under people’s democratic reminded in Matthew 9:37 (NIV), “the relationships and build trust with the dictatorship led by the working class. It harvest is plentiful but the workers are students, there are opportunities for openly endorses communism, and the few.” We are also admonished in Mark studying the Word through house communist government espouses 16:15 (NIV) to “go into all the world churches which are allowed by the atheism. There is more tolerance of and preach the gospel to all creation.” government. It is also vital to fervently

14 Christianity & Pharmacy pray for the Holy Spirit to provide for my freedom to worship Christ here 11e2-b875-001a4bcf6878.html wisdom and opportunities for in the US and my inner peace as a 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China witnessing and sharing the Good child of God. After visiting China, I am 7.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of News. As we are reminded in the much more appreciative of that _cities_in_China_by_population_and_ Psalms, “I sought the Lord, and he freedom and my access to Bibles, built-up_area heard me, and delivered me from all Christian books, and Christian music. 8.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ my fears” (Psalm 34:4, KJV). Cultural_ Revolution When crossing the Mississippi River 9. Ma Li. Surviving the State, Remaking Although language can be a barrier, I on my way home, I was blessed by the the Church: A Sociological Portrait of found that the common language is Christian song, Hills and Valleys by Christians in Mainland China. Pickwick kindness, a smile, and a thank you. A Tauren Wells, which was playing on Publications 2017, Yang Fenggang. friendly attitude and optimism when my car radio. Here are a few of the Purdue University’s Center on Religion engaging with the people is critical. lyrics that touched my heart: and Chinese Society.https://www. Opportunities may arise if someone purdue.edu/crcs/ questions the reason for your hope. I‘ve walked among the shadows, 10. Yang Fenggang. Purdue “Be ready always to give an answer to You wiped my tears away University’s Center on Religion and every man that asketh you a reason of And I found the pain of heartbreak, Chinese Society. https://www.purdue. the hope that is in you with meekness and I’ve seen the brighter days edu/crcs/ and fear” (1 Peter 3:15, KJV). The On the mountains I will bow my life 11.https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ Chinese also highly value their family to the one who set me there taurenwells/hillsandvalleys.html and children. I was able to develop a In the valley, I will lift my eyes to respectful relationship with our tour the One who sees me there. bus driver, and he shared with me You’re God of the hills and valleys… videos of his newborn son, just as a and I am not alone.” 11 proud father would do. Chinese babies are adorable as they reflect their Please continue to pray for China, its innocence and lack of awareness of future, and its people. Even if you do the government oppression… it is not not serve in a mission role to China, hard to love these babies. Thus, we there are other ways to help reach the must follow Jesus’ commandment in people, such as donating to a church the Gospel of John to “love one or organization that sponsors Chinese another; as I have loved you, that ye missionaries. But the greatest – and also love one another. By this shall all easiest – thing we can all do men know that ye are my disciples, if collectively is pray! So please lift up ye have love one to another“ (John our Chinese brothers and sisters who 13:34-35, KJV). are being persecuted for their faith. Lift up the unbelieving population, that While visiting China, I could subtly God will open their eyes to the truth of reveal my Christian walk even though the Gospel. And lift up the Chinese I could not share the Gospel directly government, that religious freedom Therese I. Poirier, PharmD, MPH, and openly. When one of our fellow will one day be a reality. After all, FASHP, FCCP is Senior Scholar and tourists, a disoriented elderly woman, Matthew 19:26 (NIV) reminds us that Professor of Pharmacy at Southern got lost in the crowded business “with man, this is impossible. But with University Edwardsville district of Nanjing Road in Shanghai, I God all things are possible.” (SIUe). She is also an AACP Distinguished Teaching Scholar. She was able to pray out loud for her. She has been involved with the was not carrying her passport, nor REFERENCES pharmacy academic community phone, nor tour guide business card, 1.http://www.cmalliance.org/about/ since l979. She teaches and nor any money. We finally found her history/simpson coordinates an education after more than two hours. I thanked 2.https://www.christianitytoday.com/ specialization at SIUe. She also God publicly that she was found history/issues/issue-52/hudson-taylor- teaches a health humanities course safely. This could have been a disaster, and-missions-to-china-christian-history in the university honors program. a disoriented woman lost in Shanghai, .html Her area of research is in the a city of 28 million people. 3.http://www.cmalliance.org/region/ scholarship of teaching and learning. asia She is a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Edwardsville, IL. My heart weeps for China, as there is 4.https://www.paacs.net/about_paac She is also the faculty advisor to such an air of oppression throughout s/administration/dr-david-thompson/ SIUe’s student CPFI chapter. the country. Most people in China live 5.http://www.southeastoutlook.org/ with superstition and fear. I thank God news/features/article_f5c75f08-5a9c-

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