Dear friends,

We were greatly encouraged to hear what God is doing through their Seeker studies and to learn that several people have already become Christians. Listening to their questions was a lesson in itself about cross-cultural ministry.

Remember that Malaysia is a Muslim country and is considered one of the most multi-racial, multi-ethic, multi-religious countries in the world. There are Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and some following Confucianism. So naturally those invited to these Seeker Groups often come from one of these religions. I’ll just share the first question:  “Becky, how do I respond to a man who is a Confucian scholar and who keeps quoting Confucius through out the Seeker Study?”  Just what I am always asked in America, right?! I shared some thoughts but said I’d like to think about it more.

Immediately after the webcast I prayed “Lord, help me to understand how to deal with a Chinese Confucius scholar.” Hearing a beep I looked up and saw that the Urbana website (which has downloadable talks from the Urbana convention) had popped up on my Inbox. Listed also was a “Classics” section with 2 articles about a British missionary, Gladys Aylward, who went to China in 1930. (Ingrid Bergman starred as Aylward in the moving, but somewhat “Hollywoodized” film, The Inn of the 6th Happiness). In the 1st paragraph of the article what do you think I read?

Gladys’ response to a Chinese Confucius scholar who was the Mandarin leader of the remote province where she lived! Can you believe it?!  I could have spent days researching this and there it was in the 1st paragraph! What I read has far greater implications than simple for sharing Christ with a Confucius scholar so I want to share it with you.  The article said Gladys came to appreciate the high ethical stands that Confucius taught but over time she saw what it lacked: The Mandarin liked to talk with her.  He spoke of his long years of education in the Confucian classics.  As Gladys listened, she came to appreciate the Confucian ethical content but noted the lack of a provision of spiritual power such as she knew through the Holy Spirit, the missing hope of forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ, and a total absence of expectation of life beyond the grave.

One day the Mandarin invited her to his palace to a special dinner (some 8 years after she’d first arrived).  The prison warden was there, as were other officials, and several wealthy merchants.  Then he stood and gave a speech:

“I saw that her faith was alive.  More than anyone I have ever met, Ai-Weh-Deh demonstrated the power of love.  She loved China so much she became a citizen.”

Then the Mandarin admitted he had debated with her the merits of her faith against the merits of his old Confucius ways, a hundred times.  “But Confucianism lives in my head, not in my heart, as Christ does in Ai-Weh-Deh and her converts.  (As a result) This day I wish to become a Christian!”

Isn’t that marvelous?! Upon reflection I realized that Gladys Aylward’s style of evangelism illustrates the holistic approach that is bedrock to what we teach in Salt Shaker Ministries:

First, we must: Get the Story Straight! We must understand what we believe because it is our message that impacts our methodology. We hear that all we need are “deeds not creeds.” But deeds aren’t enough! Further, it’s our creeds that inspire our deeds and protect us from heresy. Gladys was respectful of the Mandarin’s beliefs yet she wasn’t afraid to point out the profound differences between their faiths. In our current experiential age let’s not dismiss truth as dry and boring, for as Dorothy Sayers once wrote: “the dogma IS the drama!”

Second, we must: Get the Story Out! We must recognize that all mission is incarnational and relational. Gladys Aylward followed Jesus’ example and moved into the neighborhood! Her faith-sharing style involved careful listening; it was dialogical, interactive and process-oriented. She identified with the Chinese in all ways possible without compromising the truth of the gospel itself. That’s the tension: to be radically identified while maintaining our radical difference.

Third, we must: Live the Story Well! Aylward not only preached the gospel - she lived it. She sacrificially did something about every injustice she witnessed: prison reform, child abuse; misogyny and poverty. When the Japanese invaded China and she was forced to leave, she embarked on the seemingly impossible task of leading 100 orphans on a 26 day trek over the mountains to safety. For the Mandarin - as well as scores of other Chinese converts - it was both hearing the gospel proclaimed AND seeing it lived out that eventually won over their hearts. They needed both - not one at the expense of the other.

Fourth, we must: Pray God’s Story In! Aylward had a powerful prayer life. She knew how to walk in the Spirit. She understood that only through constant prayer and complete dependence upon God could the Kingdom be advanced.  

Gladys Aylward’s life reminds us that all true evangelism flows from faith - and faith comes, in part, from understanding what we believe. Our witness to Christ must be reflected in our being [character that matches our claims], our words [without a verbal witness how will they hear the gospel or know the source of our joy?], and our ways (when we address the wounds and injustices around us we are showing that God’s redemptive purpose stretches to every area of life).

We leave tomorrow for Austria where I will speak to 2,000 University students from all over Europe during Easter weekend. Please pray for God’s anointing on me as I give 6 talks. And pray that God will do a great work of revival in Europe. Europe is a tough nut to crack for the gospel but historically revival has often started at the grass roots University level. And prayer has always been the foundation for revival!