Updated: 6/18/2007
Project Amount: $10,000
Field Description: The purpose of this project is to help the local churches build training centers from which they can then train their own lay leaders. As many larger churches are often the site of training, they often lack the ability to house the large groups of leaders that come for extended periods of time. The centers are typically built in the county seat of a prefecture which supports the whole ministry of a prefecture.
Training centers typically have two types of training – students who come to the center for an extended period of time (anywhere from three months to two years), and those that come for intensive one to four week training in the summer. As these coworkers often have to leave behind their regular employment (typically farming) during this period, this project supports the cost of their travel, training, and living expenses while at the centers.
The principle partners involved are the local CCC congregations that operate the training centers as a regular part of their ministry. Feedback from provincial leadership will help to determine the areas of greatest need. Other Asian Lutheran partner churches (mainly Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan) are also involved in this project in terms of support and training.
China’s population, at about 1.3 billion, makes that country the most populous nation on earth—five times greater than the United States. In fact, one in every five people living in the world today is Chinese. Though the government vigorously promotes family planning (no more than two children per family), the population is expected to increase to 1.5 billion by 2025.
Nearly 67 percent of the population lives in rural areas and villages, and 60 percent depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Shifts in government policies are directing China to a position as one of the economic powers of the 21st century.
Before 1949, 80 percent of the Chinese practiced folk religion—a complicated religion of ancestor veneration, worship of local gods or heroes, and popular customs. They borrowed many elements from Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. In 1949, Roman Catholics in China numbered 3.3 million; Protestants, 1.8 million; and Eastern Orthodox 3 million. After the Cultural Revolution in 1949, atheism, agnosticism, and secularism made great advances. Communist Party membership rose to 35 million by 1977, and more than half the population had turned from all religion.
Since 1977, the growth of the Christian church in China has been truly miraculous, with no parallel in history. Although actual numbers are very hard to verify, taking into account the believers in both the China Christian Council network as well as the “underground church” network, some researchers estimate that there may well be more than 90 million Chinese who profess Christianity in China today—measuring an annual growth rate of 7.7 percent in recent years.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began work in China in 1913. The LCMS began working in China again in 1990. Today LCMS World Mission seeks to develop and to respond in a growing variety of ways to aid the people of China. This includes touching the future social and political leaders of China as they receive university training by sending LCMS English teachers to work on campuses otherwise closed to the Gospel, and by sending professors to teach at seminaries and various lay-training centers.
Recently, LCMS World Mission has been helping the Yunnan Provincial China Christian Church (CCC) to finish building and outfitting a lay-training center in western Yunnan. This center is key as it is training evangelists who will return to their churches throughout the province and lead the congregations.
The principle partners involved are the local CCC congregations that operate the training centers as a regular part of their ministry. Feedback from provincial leadership will help to determine the areas of greatest need. Other Asian Lutheran partner churches (mainly Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan) are also involved in this project in terms of support and training.
Training centers typically have two types of training—students who come to the center for an extended period of time (anywhere from three months to two years), and those that come for intensive one to four week training in the summer. As these co-workers often have to leave behind their regular employment (typically farming) during this period, this project supports the cost of their travel, training, and living expenses while at the centers. In addition to these scholarships, the project helps to supply the materials used and the travel expenses for the teachers. This accounts for approximately 55 percent of the total budget.
Specialized workshops are being held for local leaders that focus on teaching methodology, developing lesson plans, writing their own curriculum, and addressing common problems. These week-long events help to further identify and equip those who have an aptitude to teach. Expenses include materials, transportation, lodging, and speakers, and represent approximately 30 percent of the overall budget.
Approximately 10 percent of the total budget is used for follow-up and exploration. Visits are made to centers who have been actively involved in the program as well as to new centers that have shown an interest in beginning training.
Seed money is also needed for the translation of new materials and initial development costs (translation, small prints/copies, etc.). These expenses represent approximately 5 percent of the overall budget.
Contact person: Rev. Carl Hanson
