December 2019 Prayer Letter

Special Announcement | From the USA to China to Taiwan On November 11, we left Atlanta, Georgia to return to Dalian, China. A few days after our return, the Chinese pastor that we trained up was taken in by the Chinese Nation Security Bureau. Once the Chinese pastor returned, he informed us that they knew I was back in the city and they were seeking information about me to deport me from the country. We got council and prayed for guidance. We concluded that the Lord was leading us away from living in the mainland to living on the island of Taiwan. Choosing to stay would have put our ability to work in the mainland at high risk (since they were actively seeking to deport me already) and continued to put more pressure on the locals to turn over information on me.

On November 17, we left the mainland and relocated to the city of Taipei, Taiwan. There is religious freedom here similar to the USA and a wide open door for us to do ministry. This will allow us as a family to have a home base and to start a new church, but also, serve as a launching pad for us to continue making trips into the cities of Northeastern China that we were ministering in previously. God is at work in our midst, and even though I don’t understand all of it, I know that the missionary life, and even more so, the Christian life, is a series of small steps of obedience following God’s leading.

Stories of God at Work | No Turning Back, No Turning Back On November 24, the church of one of the men we are training was raided by the police. The members and pastor were taken into the police station and then later released. As I was trying to encourage this Chinese pastor, he sent this simple text which translates into: "The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back.” Amen!

Special Needs | New and Unexpected Needs: Please Give and Pray Our move to Taiwan was unexpected. Thus, we need to raise at least $30,000 above what we were originally were raising for our Church Planting and Reentry Funds for the mainland. These additional funds will help cover the cost of resetting up life here in Taipei and, Lord willing, be debt free at the end of it. Thus after merging our previous funds with our additional needed funds, we are at 62% of our target goal. A one-time love offering will help us continue the work the Lord has given us to do. We are thankful for our partners who support us on a monthly basis, those who have recently given to help us with our other recent funds and our praying friends, but now we are asking for you to consider again a one-time love offering of any amount to help us reach these needs.

Prayer Requests and Praises | Transition, Persecution, Church Plant

• Praise for a safe transition during our relocation and pray for our readjustment here! • Pray the three Chinese pastors we are training in the mainland as they lead their ministries in the

midst of persecution. Pray for them to be encouraged and emboldened in the Lord. • Pray for our new ministry in Taipei. We are praying to get setup ASAP and be launching a church

plant shortly after. Also, pray about coming over on a short-term trip to help us.

We know that we couldn’t do anything without the help of God’s people. Thank you for giving, praying, serving, and being a part of our “China Ministry” team. We are especially fond of you! Let us continue pressing forward and keep fighting the good fight. May we strive every day to know Jesus, to be happy in the Him, and to make Him known! In His Joyful Service,

Mark Tolson

The Tolson Family

Bible Study In China

Church Service In China

Mark Preaching In China

Leaving China For Taiwan