As China slowly reopened from the pandemic, an overseas Christian organization took the opportunity to return with a message of “how God deals with impossible situations.” Almost a year after becoming the first American Christian organization to officially visit CCC&TSPM since the country closed its borders, Word4Asia Consulting International President and Founder Dr. Gene Wood and his team visited churches in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing in March again.
Dr. Wood delivered a half-hour Palm Sunday sermon to the congregation at Nanjing St. Paul’s Church on March 24. The last time he’d visited the church was 10 years ago for its 100-year anniversary.
A senior pastor for 30 years, Dr. Wood left the ministry to join Word4Asia Consulting International in 2011. Dedicated to helping non-profits “achieve their purposes in China and Southeast Asia,” the firm looks to grow understanding between East and West believers.
Reading from the 12th chapter of the book of Acts, he highlighted the importance of prayer, saying that the prayers of God’s people should fit three criteria – It should be urgent, unceasing, and united.
The text focused on when Peter was about to be executed by King Herrod. Twenty-four soldiers were assigned to guard him, with two guards chained to him and two more outside of his prison cell door. The guards were rotated every six hours.
It certainly seemed like an impossible situation.
“When you have an impossible situation, make sure somebody is praying,” said Dr. Wood.
Dr. Wood went on to explain how Rhoda and the fellow believers at the time were in disbelief when Peter escaped prison and knocked on the door where they were staying.
“Isn’t it interesting that Christians can pray, but they don’t believe God can answer their prayers?” Dr. Wood said.
He challenged the audience to pray for 15 seconds about the impossible situations in their lives before closing, pointing back to Jesus, who did the impossible by conquering death and sin. The saving work of the cross was Jesus doing for us what we could not do for ourselves, he pointed out.
Dr. Wood said he was unsure if he would ever see the congregation again at St. Paul’s, but that he would not be sad because he hopes to see them all again in the next life, and he jokes that he won’t need his translator anymore.
The miracle of Easter is for all believers, as we live unified as one body. No matter what language or nationality, we all share the same faith and “our Jesus, who loves the Chinese people and even Americans.”
“God’s message of power doesn’t come from the preacher, it comes from His word,” Dr. Wood said. “And if I bring you God’s word, it doesn’t matter if I have a long nose or if I have a short nose. We have exactly the same Bible.”
