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TRANSCRIPT
The Adventure Priority: China
THE ADVENTURE
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7. Priority: Chinaby Frank Gray
www.francisgray.com/adventure
The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: 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.
The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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.
The Adventure Priority: China
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.’
The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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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The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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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The Adventure Priority: China
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
The Adventure Priority: China
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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The Adventure Priority: China
impactingourworld.Onlytimewilltelltheextenttowhichradioplayedarole.
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NOTE:Thisisthe7thinaseriesofdraftchaptersforabooktobepublishedinduecourse.Tostayincontactyoucanvisitthededicatedwebsitewww.francisgray.com/adventureorlookfortheAdventurebookonFrankGray’sFacebookpage.
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Entrance to FEBC-Hong Kong