Like Hudson Taylor and other western missionaries to China, the man "born for China", learns Chinese, lives, and befriends the locals to win them for Christ. In an exclusive interview with China Christian Daily in August, Pastor Balcombe shared his recent insights about churches in China, Pentecostalism, overseas Chinese churches, and the global church.
Born in a small county in North China, a female pastor came to Pentecostalism after gathering in a traditional church for many years. Then she and her husband lead a Pentecostal church. She shared her arduous journey on the path of personal growth and ministry spanning over two decades.
Brother Xiaobei is currently a freelance preacher, serving with his wife in northern China. But before turning to Christ, he grew up in a single-parent family without maternal love and suffered from poverty. In despair, his life has changed since he encountered Jesus.
Rev. Huang Kechang in Fujian Province not only raised funds to establish a elementary school, but also led the demolition and reconstruction of Shima Church in Zhangzhou, which was in danger of collapse.
Enfeng, a career professional who was raised in an atheistic family, embraced Christianity due to the influence of his wife. Together, he and his spouse have accommodated a destitute mother and her paralyzed daughter for a decade.
A pastor argued that people couldn’t use the term "wrong" to describe a movement that was once used by God but ended up with unfavorable outcomes. Instead, they could say, "It reached its conclusion and made way for successors," much like someone retiring and being succeeded by another.
“The Holy Spirit himself performed double eyelid surgery on me." In those ten years, what took shape in Pastor Quan's heart through prayer was not just double eyelids but also a selfless will and the heart of a pastor.
Pastor Xu expounded on his strategies and principles for sermon preparation, addressing the influence of renowned pastors' resources, the vitality of local pastoral care, and the delicate balance between biblical interpretation and practical application.