SPR ING 2016
The newsletter of Josh McDowell Ministry
INSIDE Page 2 The best graduation gift ever! Page 3 Three decades of sowing seeds in China Page 4 How YOU can equip China’s future Christian leaders
“And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13:23 (NASB)
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Seminary graduates receive personal library sets of Josh’s books YOU helped provide!
YOU can invest in China’s future Christian leaders Seminary students and new pastors need Christcentered resources as they begin their ministries
young men and women enroll in seminary each year, there still aren’t enough trained church leaders to keep up with the growing need.
What if you could reach millions in China with the gospel?
In China, pastors are few — but biblical resources are even fewer!
China is the world’s most populous country — 1.34 billion people. And the church there is growing at an unprecedented rate! Yet, 9 out of 10 people have never heard the gospel. And even though thousands of
Christ-centered books and resources just aren’t readily available. And when they are, seminary students and new pastors often can’t afford them — which means they don’t have the resources they need as they begin their ministries. KEEP READING . . . >>> Find out how you can help multiply believers in China
The best graduation gift ever! Continued from page 1
Every year at this time, we get the opportunity to celebrate the next generation’s great accomplishments — and rejoice with them as they step into the future.
YOU are investing in the next generation — and in eternity! Seminary students in China are eager to learn, and as they graduate and begin their life of ministry, they yearn for the tools they need to multiply disciples. Your gifts of Christ-centered books and resources are preparing them with the sound biblical knowledge they need to teach and defend their faith.
You are helping to reach THOUSANDS with the truth After graduation, these future pastors are going to step into churches with congregations of 1,000 to 10,000. What an influence these young men and women will have! God is using your generosity to do amazing things! Your gift of Christ-centered books TODAY will help even more people discover the truth of Jesus Christ.
Your notes will soon be delivered with sets of Josh’s books.
Your notes of encouragement are on their way!
Your gifts of Christ-centered books are helping prepare these future pastors for a life of ministry!
Recently, we wrote to you asking you to send notes of encouragement to soon-to-be graduating seminary students in China. The outpouring of love and encouragement was overwhelming! Thank you!
“Please help my future ministry!” Seminary students are eager for Josh’s books We recently heard from a seminary student in China. She wrote explaining the great need for Christ-centered resources . . . Dear Dr. McDowell, I am a seminary student who dedicate myself as a future pastor. My plan is: after graduate from seminary, I’ d like to accept some discipleship trainings. I was told that you will provide some of your books to China so more people can gain the spirit of Kingdom. However, those books are very difficult to be found in China, and they are very expensive to a seminary student. I’ d like to ask if you can provide some of your books, not only for myself, but will help my future ministry in church after my graduation. I think this is a very good opportunity which helps me spread the seed of gospel to China’s soil. Thank you for your help. Emmanuel, Diana
Here’s just one example of how eager students are to receive the resources you provide (translation at left).
h From Jos
Three decades of sowing seeds in China
Almost 30 years ago, we followed God’s leading and began planting seeds of faith in China. Many of you have joined us in this journey. We’re so thankful for you. These past three decades have been a lesson in patience, perseverance and most of all . . . faithfulness. In Galatians 6:9, God encourages us to “. . . not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Christianity in China is growing in an amazing way — from 2.7 million believers in the 1980s, when we first began ministry there, to over 100 million today. For nearly 30 years, God has used you and other faithful partners to help print and distribute THOUSANDS of copies of Christian books in China.
Please join us in prayer:
Oh, how God is faithful! The harvest is upon us! Thank you for your faithfulness, my dear friend.
• Pray for graduates in China, that the Lord will provide everything they need as they begin a life of ministry.
Until the whole world hears,
• Pray for graduates here in the U.S., especially in your own family. • Pray for the worldwide spread of the gospel — from generation to generation!
YOU can provide graduating seminary students with Christcentered books Every $54.50 you send will provide an 8-book set of Christian books for a future pastor in China Today, the church in China is growing at an unprecedented rate. They can’t train pastors fast enough. And new pastors don’t have the resources they need to begin their life of ministry.
“Many do not realize that upon graduation, we no longer have access to the seminary library,” shared a seminary student in China. “And on the meager income I will make as a pastor, if any at all, I will not have the money to buy resources. Neither my hometown nor my home church has a library, so without these books, I would have nothing.” Your help is so critical!
URGENT UPDATE: We’ve recently heard
from our partners that this may be one of the last years we’re allowed to provide seminary students with books! Persecution is on the rise in China, and the doors are closing. We need your help!
We need your help to provide personal libraries for 3,059 graduating students in China next month. Please send a generous gift TODAY!
Today, YOU can provide Christ-centered books for China’s future leaders. We’ve specifically selected titles for students to draw upon for teaching, to defend their faith and to disciple others, including:
• More Than a Carpenter
• New Evidence That Demands a Verdict
• Answers to Tough Questions
• and more
Please return the enclosed form with your most generous gift today . . .
3 EASY WAYS YOU CAN GIVE NOW! Give by mail: Return your gift with the enclosed reply form in the envelope provided.
Give by telephone: You can also give your gift by calling 1-855-833-6897.
Give online: Make an immediate impact by giving securely on our website at give.cru.org/ChinaSeminaryProject