(Scot and Sheryl are CCCC members, working with Chinese students and scholars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They evangelize and disciple, especially preparing them for their return to Mainland China.)
China, here we come!
Scot here. On my regular morning walk I met the Asian man Chuck and his son. After finding out he was a Chinese visiting scholar, I told him about the Happy English Corner (HEC) and its accompanying Kids’ Club. A few days later I emailed him to give him details, and he responded that he couldn’t come for a few weeks. Just a polite way to say he wasn’t coming, I thought; but sure enough, after a few weeks he came with his son… and King, another Chinese visiting scholar and his daughter. That weekend Chuck, King and ANOTHER Chinese scholar and her son all came to the Spring Gospel Concert, then to church on Sunday. All three families are now attending a Chinese cell group. Pray they will seek God and He will save them and they will get discipled through the Pittsburgh Chinese Church Oakland (PCCO). Thank God for the 20 or so Chinese who confessed Christ at the Spring Gospel Concert. Pray for their ongoing discipleship.
Praise God that not only did we get 100% pledged for our life and ministry fund by December 31, but through April we were 105% funded for our priority one budget, with February and March having many people giving yearly contributions. (If we finish the year over 100% of our priority one funds, the excess goes to our priority two funds — retirement, children’s education and life insurance.) Pray that God will keep moving people to contribute to this ministry.
Sheryl’s father had successful heart open heart surgery in March and recovered well. Unfortunately, he still has some of the non-heart related pain he has had for over a year. We waited to see how he recovered, and while a difficult decision, after cancelling our trip the last two years, we have decided to go to China for two months this summer. Our two goals are to 1) better understand what our friends who have returned have experienced in their return — specifically how it relates to continuing their growth in knowing God, and 2) better understand how Christian leaders in China deal with “seekers” who return so that we can better prepare our Chinese friends to return to China. Our objectives are to meet with at least 50% of our friends who have returned to specific cities and at least one Chinese and foreign Christian leader ministering to returnees in those cities. We’ll be visiting seven cities over eight weeks. Pray we’ll learn a lot and know how to implement changes once we return. We’re tentatively planning to have a few “Visit to China Open Houses” in southern California in mid-August and another in Pittsburgh in September.
Praise God for a good semester of the HEC. An average of 19 people attended each week, but most importantly, more and more getting connected to Chinese cell groups. Pray for the summer Learning English with the Bible (HEC) that will be led by our mission teammates.
The Bilingual Fellowship Group (BFG) restarted in our home. Pray for those from the BFG that they will start attending Chinese cell groups this summer when we’re gone.
Last fall friends moved overseas and sold us their 2004 van with 2/3 of the 188K miles on our 2002 van. Thank God for the $350 people have contributed toward the $5,455 we owed (monthly payments to our friends) on the van after we sold our old van. Pray for more to come in.
Finally, please pray for my feet, which have some numbness and tingling. My blood and blood sugar are fine so I’m going to a neurologist. I’ve also been having trouble sleeping. Who knows, maybe that’s the main problem. Please pray for better rest.
Women’s Ministry
(Their work with the Pittsburgh Chinese Church M Oakland includes Cheryl’s work with the women. Recently they hosted the spring meeting of the Allegheny Fellowship of the CCCC Ladies Fellowship.)
The host church provided breakfast treats (pastries, juice, coffee and tea) and a fun get-acquainted game followed by a time of praise and worship. Sheryl introduced Connie, fellow missionary. Connie committed her life to Christ at age 10, and vowed to be a missionary someday. Using a great sense of humor, Connie gave us an inspiring message on the many times she said no… no to back surgery, no to going to South Korea with missionary husband Ridge, no to Ridge pursuing his doctorate, no to moving to Singapore for Ridge to take a pastorate position, no, no, no! Yet she marveled how God turned every situation into a positive period for her to share the gospel. Connie learned to not let her fears rule. She encouraged us to face our fears and walk straight through them. She compared our struggles with the Pilgrim’s Progress. “Stay on the straight path like Christian,” she said. “Obedience is always best!”
Amy gave her fascinating testimony, having been raised in China in an environment of various gods and superstitions. She came to the United States to study at Pitt. She went through a depressing time after the breakup of a boyfriend. Invited to the Pittsburgh Chinese Church, she eventually gave her life to Christ and everything changed! She got a job, which kept her from having to return to China, and she met a wonderful young man. She was less than thrilled when he decided to become a missionary but God changed her heart and she is happy to follow God’s will, wherever that takes her.
The pastor’s wife at the church, introduced a game in which various people on each table answered questions according to the straws they drew. Laughter and insight were exchanged as we learned new things about each other! We feasted on a delicious catered Chinese lunch, served by Scot and Sheryl, their daughters and members of the church.
Sheryl spoke briefly about Jesus — our pilot, comforter, friend. She closed with a reflection time. We meditated and discussed in small groups the questions “how did God speak to you today?” and “what was meaningful that you will remember from today?” It was a beautiful day together with sisters-in Christ, knowing we all struggle at one time or another, and God makes all the difference in how and why we react as we do. He takes fragile lives and helps us fly free as the butterflies!
