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The Adventure Priority: China

THE ADVENTURE

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7. Priority: Chinaby Frank Gray

www.francisgray.com/adventure


The1970sweredaysofturmoilandgreatchange.Ifwecastourmindsbacktotheglobalsituationthatprevailedatthattimewemightre-capturesomethingofthemotivationandchallengesthatgrippedFEBC.

Asafamilywehadalreadyexperiencedthis4irsthandandhadjoinedinthehumantragedyofthousandsofpeopleacrossSoutheastAsia4leeingfromtheircountries.Then,bywayoftherefugeecampsinThailand,MalaysiaandthePhilippines,theyfoundtheirwaytonewlivesinNorthAmerica,Franceandothercountriesaroundtheworld.

MeanwhileChinawitharound800millionpeoplewashiddenbehindatightlymanagedBambooCurtainandvirtuallyoutoftouch.IntheUSSR(Russiaandsatellites)around250millionpeoplelivingundertightcontrol;therewasNorthKorea,andnowthelatestadditionstotheCommunistfold–Vietnam,CambodiaandLaos,around80million,mostlyinVietnam.

Giventheabilityofshortwaveradiotocrosspolitical,socialandgeographicalboundariesFEBC’s4irstpriorityhadtobethisgroupingofclosedcountrieswhichwereallundermilitantandtotalitarianregimes.InthecontextofworldmissionwefeltverystronglythatthroughradioFEBChadsomethingtooffer.MeanwhileRadioMoscowwaspouringoutitsconstantpropaganda4loodingtheairwaveswithbroadcaststhatwere

instantlyrecognisablebytheirrhetoricandmilitarytone.

ChinahadalwaysbeenthetoppriorityforFEBCsinceitsinception.Infactthevery4irstFEBCbroadcastswerefromshortwavestationXGOAinShanghaiinFebruary1947-justafewdaysafterIwasborn.InthoseearlydaysmissionarieswiththeChinaInland

�2Response postcards for station XGOA


Mission(CIM)–nowOMFInternational–wereinstrumentalinFEBCgettingestablished.

PioneermissionaryHudsonTaylorhadbeenoneofBobBowman’sheroesinmissionandheadaptedTaylor’sphilosophyofministrytoprovideasolidfoundationforFEBC.Itwashisgreat-grandsonJamesHudson-TaylorIIIwhodidalotofthehardgroundworkingettingtheworkestablishedinChina.

ButtheventureinsideChinawasshort-lived,however,asverysoonmissionarieshadtoleavethatcountryunderthecommunistadvance.JohnBroger,FEBC'sco-founderwithBob,touredthesurroundingregionto4indapermanentlocation.HefoundManila,PhilippinesandaffordablelandthereinthenorthernsuburbofValenzuela.Thevery4irstbroadcastsfrommediumwavestationKZAS(laterDZAS)wentonaironJune41948providingcoverageintheManilametropolitanarea.

Soonmoretransmitterswereaddedforoverseasservices,MandarinChinesebeingoneofthe4irst.Withinafewshortyearsthenumberoflanguageservicesandtransmittershadmultiplieddramatically.

ThemajorityofservicesforChinawerecarriedonshortwaveuntilpowerfulmediumwavestationHLDA(latertobeHLAZ)cameonairinJune1973.LocatedonthesouthernislandofJeju(formerlyCheju)inSouthKoreaitstillcarriesbroadcasts

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Original studios in Shanghai 1947


inChinese,Japanese,RussianandKorean.ItbecamethebackboneofFEBC’sministrytoChinawhilegeneratinghalfthemailresponse.

InspiteofFEBCprioritisingChina,supportforFEBC’sChinaministryfromthehighgroundofacademia,hadnotbeenforthcomingformanyyears.CriticshadarguedthatFEBCwaswastingitstimeassofewpeopleappearedtobelistening.Themailresponsealsosupportedthatview–apitifulaverageofjustseventeenlettersperyearovertheten-yearperiodcoveredbytheCulturalRevolution(1966-1976).Thatwassoontochange.

BobBowmanwasamanoffaith;healwaysusedtorespondtothecriticsbysaying“Godtoldmetobroadcastandwebelievemillionsarelistening”.

Thedramaticturnaroundcameinlate1978whenthe4loodgatesbegantoopenandthetrickleofletterssoonbecameadelugethatalmostcaughtFEBCoffguard.Itcameaboutasanindirectresultofthe1972visitofPresidentRichardNixon,whichgavewaytoso-called'pingpongdiplomacy'andsignalledthestartoftheopeningupofChinatothewest.

In1979nearlyeleventhousandletterswerereceivedinHongKongfromeveryprovinceofChina.By1981thishadincreasedtooverthirteenthousandandthenbegantodropoffagainasregulationsweretightened.TheselettersprovideduswithextremelyvaluableinformationaboutthestateofChristiansandtheemergingChurchinthemainland.Throughthoseletters,whichweresafelyguardedforreasonsofsecurity,welearnedmoreofwhattheyhadbeenthrough,whattheyvaluedaboutthebroadcasts,thespeci4icprogramstheyenjoyed–and

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In 1979 nearly eleven thousand

letters were received in Hong Kong from every

province of China


lotsmore.Theletters,manyofwhichcamefrompastors,alsorevealedwheretheyneededhelp.

Thestatistics,whenanalysed,revealedwhichprovinceswerethemostresponsiveandwhichonesseemedtobere4lectinga

greatmovementoftheSpiritasresponsessurged.Thispromptedthequestion‘why?’WhywasitthatthethreeprovincesofAnhui,HenanandZhejiangsawsuchdramaticincreaseinmail,year-on-year,between1980and1981?WhydidNeiMongolprovinceinthenorthshowmoreresponsespercapitathananyoftheothers?WhywasGuangdongprovincesoresponsive?

SuddenlytherewashugeinterestinFEBCbroadcastsandthismassivein4luxofmailandwhatitwassaying.AmongthemostinterestedwerethoseacademicsinPasadena

whohadbeenthemostvocalcriticsofthepast.ThetideofinteresthadturnedandFEBCwasnowinthespotlight.Italsogaveaboosttofund-raisingefforts.WhenIputoutapressreleaseonbehalfofFEBCconcerningthein4luxofmailitdrewanimmediateresponsefromFullerSeminaryandotherswithadeepinterestinChina.FirstitwasJimMontgomeryofDAWNMinistrieswhocameforavisittoourFEBCof4ices.Heaskedanumberofkeyquestionsandthenconcludedbysayinghowinterestingthishadbeen,andwouldInowputitalldownoncassettetapebecausehewantedtoshareitaround.

Iwasveryhappytodothat,andmailedhimthecassette.ItwasjustamatterofdaysbeforeDrDonaldMcGavran,thedoyenofChurchGrowth,phonedmeandinvitedmeovertoPasadenatomeetwithhim.Hewantedtoknowmore.Thiswasmusictoourears.ApparentlyamemberoftheFullerfaculty,DrBarker,hadrecentlybeenonatriptoChinaand

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Suddenly there was huge

interest in FEBC broadcasts and

this massive influx of mail

and what it was saying.


returnedtotellofthegrowthofthechurchhehadobservedthere.NowwhatFEBCwasexperiencingandlearningthroughitsChinamailwasaddinganotherdimensionto,andcon4irming,thediscoveriesmadebyBarker.

DrMcGavranwasvisiblyexcitedandstartedbuildingmanyscenariosaroundthisconceptofradioplayingasigni4icantpartinthegrowthofchurches.GivenhisownbackgroundinmissionshewasespeciallyinterestedinIndiawherehesuggested‘buildingChrist-followers’wasahighpriority.ThisledtoJohnWheatleyandmetakingatriptoHyderabadwherespecialmeetingshadbeenconvenedtodiscussthepracticalitiesofradiointhatparticularcontext.WefoundthatHyderabadinAprilnearlydehydratedus!Itwasachallenge!

Ithadonlybeenafewyearsearlier,in1976,thatIhadattendedsummerschoolatWheatonwhereDrPeterWagnerwasteachingChurchGrowth.Halfwaythroughthe2-weekcourseIwasitchingtoaskhimaquestionthatwasbuggingme:“Excuseme,DrWagner,butIwonderhowyoumightapplyChurchGrowthprinciplestoChina?”Hisresponseseemedalongtimecoming.HetoldofagroupofTanzanianengineerswhowereholdingaregularBiblestudyinShanghai.Thatwasit!

Surelythereisaroleforradiohere,Ithought.MaybeitwastimetostartthinkingaboutpracticalwaysinwhichCommunicationtheorycouldengagewithChurchGrowththeoryandtogetherproducesomethingverypowerfulfortheKingdomofGodinChina.Thatthoughtstayedwithmebutitwasnotyettimeforitto

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Recording broadcasts in Hong Kong


bearfruit.

In1981aChineseProgramConsultant'sreportshowedthatFEBCwasnowbeamingtwenty-ninefrequencyhoursofbroadcastingeachdayintomainlandChina.Sevenofthesewereonmediumwave(MW)stationswhiletheremainderwereonshortwave–mostlyfromthePhilippines.

IntheSpringof1982across-missionChinaConsultationwasheldinthenewBillyGrahamCenteratWheatonCollege.IwasinvitedtoattendalongwithothersfromFEBC.OneofthemainpointsofinterestwasareportofaninterviewwithBishopTing,thegovernment-appointedchairmanoftheChineseChristianCouncil.HehadspokenregardinghisfourteenPrinciplesoftheChristianChurchinChina–theThree-Selfchurchasitwasknown,andtheonlyoneof4iciallyrecognisedbythegovernment.

AchallengewasissuedtoChristiangroupsontheoutsideonhowtobestrelatetochurchesandindividualsontheinside.Thereweremassesofagencieswantingtogetonthebandwagon.

ClearlywewereenteringanewandexcitingagewithregardstochurchandmissionactivityinChina.Itgavecauseforgreatcaution,however,asthereweremanyopportunistelementswhowerereadytojumponopportunitieswithoutmuchappreciationofthemanysensitivities.ThismadeFEBC'sChinesestaffinHongKongverynervous.

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God in his wisdom had closed the doors for missions to enter China over the thirty-year period to spare it from denominational

rivalry and competition that

could inflict untold damage on the

fledgling church.


MyowntakeonChinaisthis:GodinhiswisdomhadclosedthedoorsformissionstoenterChinaoverthethirty-yearperiodtospareitfromdenominationalrivalryandcompetitionthatcouldin4lictuntolddamageonthe4ledglingchurch.NostrongecclesiasticalorculturaltraditionswereallowedtoshapetheChinesechurch.ButGodhadprovidedradiobroadcaststhroughwhichtheessentialelementsoftheGospelcouldbesharedwiththeChinesepeople.

Programswerecontributedforbroadcastbyawiderangeofagenciesincludingdenominationalones,butwithinFEBCthesewereallselectedtoconformtoapolicyoffairnessandbalance.

Bythismeanslistenerswereabletolisteninthesecrecyandrelativesafetyoftheirownhomesandbedrooms–oftenunseenandunknowntootherfamilymembers.Thereareanumberofstoriesonthis.Oneofthemconcernsayoungmanwhohadbeenlisteningsecretlytothebroadcasts.Overtimehecametosuspectthathismotherwasalsolistening,soonedayhiscuriositygotthebetterofhim."Doeswaterinadryplacemeananythingtoyou?"heaskedher.HewasreferringtothepopulardevotionalprogramsbasedonthebookStreamsintheDesert.Whenshegaveasuitableanswer

theydiscoveredtheywerebothfollowersofJesusandwereregularlisteners!

There4iningoftheChineseChurchthroughtheexperienceoftheCulturalRevolutionisnotedbyOMF’sDavidAdeney.Hedescribesin1980theChurchasbeing‘strippedoftheWesterntrappingsofthepastand…nolongerboundbydenominationalorganisations.’Whileithadmanyfailuresandweaknesses,heobserves,‘ChineseChristiansknowmuch

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Chinese Christians know much more about identifying

with the poor, suffering for the

sake of Christ, and sharing with one another, than we

do.’


moreaboutidentifyingwiththepoor,sufferingforthesakeofChrist,andsharingwithoneanother,thanwedo.’

ItissadthatsomanyreferencestothegrowthoftheChinesechurchmakenomentionofthesigni4icantroleplayedbytheradiobroadcasts.Isitbecauseitwas‘unseen’?Isitbecauseradiodidnotqualifyasarecognisedchannelformissions?Thissuspicionwasborne

outbythepublicationofacolouredmapoftheworldshowingthe‘least-evangelised’countries.Chinawasincludedinspiteofhavingachurchof50millionpeople!Needlesstosay,FEBCleadershipfeltsomewhatindignantanditpromptedsomegooddiscussion.

YetinspiteofthisitwasmissionarystatesmenclosesttoChinawhocameupwithsomestrongassertionstotheimpactofthebroadcasts.OnesuchpersonwasDrJamesHudsonTaylorIII,bynowahighlyrespectedsinologist,whoassertedthatatleasthalfthepeoplecomingtofaithinChinaduringthoseyearshadtheir4irstintroductiontotheGospelthroughradio.

TimefortheThoughtsofGodwasoneprogramthatstretchedradiobeyonditsnormallimits.ItwasdesignedtogivetheBibletotheChinesepeople-throughdictation.For4ifteenminuteseverydaytheBibletextwasread,bookbybook,versebyverse,atdictationspeed.In1980Iwasinameetingwhere

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Dr James Hudson Taylor III in 2008

…we heard that many believers had

also dedicated themselves to

memorising the Bible – so that it

could never be taken away from them


DrJonathanChao,aChinaresearcher,reportedthatmorethanhalftheBiblesinChinawerehand-written.Morethanthat,weheardthatmanybelievershadalsodedicatedthemselvestomemorisingtheBible–sothatitcouldneverbetakenawayfromthem.ThisprogramwassponsoredbytheBibleSocietyandproducedinFEBC’sManilastudios.

VillageBibleSchoolwasawholesuiteofprogramsdevelopedforthespeci4icpurposeofprovidingaBibleSchoolcurriculumforlaymenandpastorsalikeinthemainland.Manyagenciesparticipatedinthisinnovativeapproachtotrainingandtookresponsibilityforpreparingvarioussubjects.Theselectionofcontentwaslargelyinformedbytheextensiveresearchdonebywayofpreparation.Whiletherewasanecdotalevidenceoftheneedfortraining,therewerealsomanythousandsoflettersfromlistenersincludingmanyfromchurchleaders.Theseweredulyanalysedandaresearchreportcompiledfromthe4indings.

DesignedbyFEBCstaffinHongKong,inpartnershipwithotherinterestedmissionpartners,theseriesconsistedoffourcoursesbeingtaughtinatwo-hourblockeacheveningforthreenightsperweek.Eachblockwasrepeatedthefollowingnight.Sundayswereusedtoreviewthepreviousweek’slessonsandlookaheadtothecomingweek.Thecurriculumwascarefullyplannedtoprovideabalancedstudy.Itincludedbookstudies,churchhistory,theology,justasonewould4indinaBibleSchool.Thestudieswerespreadoverthreeyears.Listenerscouldrequeststudymaterialsbywritingtothestation.

Themainproblemwasthatahighpercentageofpackagesofmaterialsmailedtolistenerswereinterceptedandneverarrived.ThiswaslaterremediedbyestablishingdistributionnetworksinsideChina.InduetimetheInternetandon-linesitesprovidedopportunityforstudentstodownloadalltheirmaterialsdirectly.

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TheVBSserieswasruntwicebeforeitwasgivenamassiveupgradeandbecameafour-yearcurriculumunderthenameVoiceofFriendshipSeminary.SincethenithasgonethroughanumberofmakeoversandrevisionsandastechnologyhasdevelopedmuchdistributionofmaterialsisdonethroughahighlyorganisednetworkinsideChina.

Sinceitsinceptionin1980thousandsofChristianshavebeentrainedbythismeans.YearslaterIwasinHongKongforspecialanniversarycelebrationswhenagroupofVoFSgraduatesperformedasachoirandgavetestimony.ItwasquitemovingtowitnessthistangibleevidenceofprogrammingstrategicallypreparedundertheguidanceoftheHolySpirit.

PersecutionofChristianswasstillrunninghighandmanyChinesewerelookingforwaysofgettingoutofChinabecauseofthepressuretheyfaced.Oneofthem,YiLin,afreedomswimmer,contactedFEBCHongKongassoonashearrivedinHongKong.Itwasmyprivilegetogettoknowhimandtoworkwithhimin

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FEBC-HK 50th Anniversary invitation 2008

Lithographed cover print by author


LaMiradainwritinguphisstoryinSomeThroughtheWaters,abookpublishedbyFEBCin1979.Hehadcometofaithasaresultofthebroadcasts.IevensentacopyofthistoBritishPrimeMinisterMargaretThatcheratatimewhenthefutureofHongKongwasbeingdebatedintheearly1980s.

Thepossibilityofusingradiotostimulatechurchgrowthbyremotehadfascinatedme.Wemaynotbeabletodochurchgrowthdirectly,ontheground,but,throughcarefullyplannedandpreparedbroadcasts,wemightstimulatebelieversinmanychurchestomobilisethemtoplantotherchurches–atwo-stepapproach.

ThusitwasthatFEBCHongKongteamedupwithDAWNMinistriestoimplementDAWNChina.DisciplingAWholeNation(DAWN)wasthebrainchildofJimMontgomeryandoperatedinmanycountriesaroundtheworld.ButforChinaitwouldneedtobedifferent–sotheywerehappytopartnerwithFEBCtodoitbyradio.

Theintendedgoalwastoencourageeachchurchcongregationtoplanttwomorecongregationsbytheendofthetwentiethcentury.Iftherewere4iftymillionChristiansinchurchesandeachcongregationwasonaveragecomprisedofaroundonehundredpeoplethatmeanttherewereapproximatelyhalfamillioncongregations.

Weshallneverknowthefullimpactofthisinitiativebutwedidhearsomeremarkablestories.Atthe2008RadioFestin

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We may not be able to do church growth

directly, on the ground, but, through

carefully planned and prepared

broadcasts, we might stimulate

believers in many churches to mobilise them to plant other

churches


HongKongRevLo,aformerdirectorofFEBC-HK,toldofaninterviewwithapastor,himselfaconvertfromlisteningtotheradiobroadcasts,whonowledagroupofchurchesinsouthernChina.HeattributedtherapidgrowthtotheDAWNChinainitiative.Accordingtohisestimatetherewerenowbetween5and10millionpeopleinthechurcheshehadstarted.

ThejewelofFEBC’sbroadcaststoChinahadbeenthemediumwavebroadcastsinMandarinfromstationHLAZinJeju,Korea(on1566kHz).ResearchconductedforBBCWorldServicein1995showedthatFEBC’sLiangyouRadioaudienceintenmajorcitiesalone,representing2.4%ofthetotalChinesepopulation,comprised200,500.WhenextrapolatedtocovertherestofChinaitcouldbeestimatedtototalaroundfourto4ivemillionorclosertotenmillion,ifthelargerruralaudienceswereincluded.

Bythetime1997cameFEBCwaswell-prepared.ThefutureofFEBC-HongKonghadbeenanunknownformanyyearsbutitsoontranspiredthatitwouldbeabletocontinueunderagreementsmadetograntspecialstatustotheformerBritishcolony.

VerysoonplanningwasunderwaytocautiouslyextendFEBC'sministryintothemainland.FEBCChinesestafffrequentlytravelledinandoutofChinasowereabletodevelopanetworkofcontacts.AseriesoffamilycounsellingworkshopswereorganisedinpartnershipwithChristianbookstoresthatwerespringingup.Theseworkshopsprovedtobeagreatsuccessandwereover-subscribed.Itwasacautiousstrategytotestthewatersandassessiftherewereanyoppositionfromthegovernment.Nonecame.Itwasagoodsign.Outofthisexperienceplanswerelaidtocultivateprogramproductionunitsonthemainland.

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My4irstviewofChinahadbeeninHongKongin1974shortlyafterHennieandIweremarried.JimEngel,whowaslatertobemyprofessoratWheaton,withafewothersofusfromtheCommunicationsWorkshopbeingheldinHongKong,stoodtogetheronahilltopinNewTerritoriesgazingacrossthe

paddy4ieldstowardChinainthedistance.Thatwasveryspecial.

TenyearslaterImadeashortdaytripwithmyparentsintoShenzenfromHongKongcomingbackviaMacau.

Butitwasnottill1991,onourwaybacktotheUnitedKingdomfromManila,that

HennieandI,togetherwithourchildren,travelledacrossChinabytrain.Althoughwehadplannedondoingthisfor

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Looking into China in 1974

Children in Shenzhen 1984

Looking into China 1974


manymonthsourplanswereseverelytestedbytheeruptionofMtPinatubointhePhilippinesjustoneweekearlier.

WhenwegottoBeijingitwasnotthedrab,colourlessplacethatIhadexpected.InmymindIhadpicturedChinaasaratherdismalplace,withoutcolourandwithoutmuchbeauty–butthatwasnotthecase.TheBeijingstreetsbustledwithtraf4icandmassesofpeopleonbicycles.Thestreetswerelinedwithtreesthatwereallinbloom.Thepeopleappearedenergeticandhardworking.Thiswasthecurrentrealitythatweneededtocatchupwith.Iwasalsoawarethatthingsarenotalwayshowtheyappearonthesurface.Theoutwardappearancecouldbemaskingthehiddenworldofpersecutionwellhiddenfromview.

Thetwenty-4irstcenturyhasseentheemergenceofanewChinathatnowcompeteswiththeworldonmanylevelsofsportandathletics.Itisalsoamassinggreatwealthasthemanufacturingcentreforcomputers,smartphonesandmanyelectronicdevices.Chinese-builtcarsare4illingthestreets,whileunhealthypollutionaboundsinthecities.

Meanwhilethechurch,thoughfacingmanychallenges,isstrongandprogressive.Itisalsomission-mindedandwantstoreachouttotherestoftheworld."BacktoJerusalem"wasonemovementthatlaunchedseveralyearsagotoaccomplishthisendeavour.FaithfulChineseChristianstravelfromChinatoBarnsley,Yorkshire,intheUnitedKingdomtovisitthebirthplaceofHudsonTaylorandpayhomagetoamanwhohadsuchvisionandcommitmenttotheChinesepeoplesomanyyearsago.

ItisgratifyingtoknowthatthroughFEBCwehavehadsomesmallpartinencouragingthismovementthatisnow

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impactingourworld.Onlytimewilltelltheextenttowhichradioplayedarole.

————

NOTE:Thisisthe7thinaseriesofdraftchaptersforabooktobepublishedinduecourse.Tostayincontactyoucanvisitthededicatedwebsitewww.francisgray.com/adventureorlookfortheAdventurebookonFrankGray’sFacebookpage.

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Entrance to FEBC-Hong Kong

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