Remarks of President Barack Obama: Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize

Remarks of President Barack Obama: Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citizens of America, and citizens of the world:

I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations — that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.(See photos of eight months of Obama's diplomacy.)

And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage. Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize — Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela — my accomplishments are slight. And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened of cynics. I cannot argue with those who find these men and women — some known, some obscure to all but those they help — to be far more deserving of this honor than I. He doesn't hide issues and really knows how to approach these issues very well. One of the best diplomats in my opinion.

But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of a nation in the midst of two wars. One of these wars is winding down. The other is a conflict that America did not seek; one in which we are joined by forty-three other countries — including Norway — in an effort to defend ourselves and all nations from further attacks.(See pictures from Obama's West Point speech.)

Still, we are at war, and I am responsible for the deployment of thousands of young Americans to battle in a distant land. Some will kill. Some will be killed. And so I come here with an acute sense of the cost of armed conflict — filled with difficult questions about the relationship between war and peace, and our effort to replace one with the other.

These questions are not new. War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man. At the dawn of history, its morality was not questioned; it was simply a fact, like drought or disease — the manner in which tribes and then civilizations sought power and settled their differences.(See video: "Obama's War.")

Over time, as codes of law sought to control violence within groups, so did philosophers, clerics, and statesmen seek to regulate the destructive power of war. The concept of a "just war" emerged, suggesting that war is justified only when it meets certain preconditions: if it is waged as a last resort or in self-defense; if the forced used is proportional, and if, whenever possible, civilians are spared from violence. Have you ever read the verses right after John 3:16? Jesus says to Nicodemus thereafter in John 3:19-21, "This is the verdict. Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light cause their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." There is no war just as there is no denying darkness. Chinese Philosophers argue on the human natures original state. Master Xun is the only Confucianist to admit that we are born sinners. It's true, we are all battling against evil - will we go on fighting for justice? God is light and therefore is the only just character to come in and justify this dark world. May our country fight in the name of God, our Supreme Judge, by loving our enemies in hopes of bringing them God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. I love the Mohists idea of war. They were non-aggressive and were the enemy of the Confucianists. They practiced 兼爱, which is agape love. They would use self-defense fighting techniques and would allow the enemy to kill them instead of killing them. All for the promotion of their belief in universal love. Now, why can't we be the same way about the Gospel? Let us put on the armor of God and yield the sword of truth found in God's Word as we shine the light of the world and bring sight to the blind.

For most of history, this concept of just war was rarely observed. The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God. Wars between armies gave way to wars between nations — total wars in which the distinction between combatant and civilian became blurred. In the span of thirty years, such carnage would twice engulf this continent. And while it is hard to conceive of a cause more just than the defeat of the Third Reich and the Axis powers, World War II was a conflict in which the total number of civilians who died exceeded the number of soldiers who perished. "Doing Good to all" Apostle Paul says in Galatians 6:7-10, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

In the wake of such destruction, and with the advent of the nuclear age, it became clear to victor and vanquished alike that the world needed institutions to prevent another World War. And so, a quarter century after the United States Senate rejected the League of Nations — an idea for which Woodrow Wilson received this Prize — America led the world in constructing an architecture to keep the peace: a Marshall Plan and a United Nations, mechanisms to govern the waging of war, treaties to protect human rights, prevent genocide, and restrict the most dangerous weapons.

In many ways, these efforts succeeded. Yes, terrible wars have been fought, and atrocities committed. But there has been no Third World War. The Cold War ended with jubilant crowds dismantling a wall. Commerce has stitched much of the world together. Billions have been lifted from poverty. The ideals of liberty, self-determination, equality and the rule of law have haltingly advanced. We are the heirs of the fortitude and foresight of generations past, and it is a legacy for which my own country is rightfully proud.

A decade into a new century, this old architecture is buckling under the weight of new threats. The world may no longer shudder at the prospect of war between two nuclear superpowers, but proliferation may increase the risk of catastrophe. Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale.

Moreover, wars between nations have increasingly given way to wars within nations. The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts; the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states; have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos. In today's wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sewn, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, and children scarred.(See pictures of people around the world watching Obama's Inauguration.)

I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war. What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago. And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace.

We must begin by acknowledging the hard truth that we will not eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes. There will be times when nations — acting individually or in concert — will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified.(See an interactive guide to the first 100 days of Obama's presidency.)

I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King said in this same ceremony years ago — "Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones." As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King's life's work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there is nothing weak —nothing passive — nothing naÏve — in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King. NOT PEACE BUT DIVISION. In Luke 12:49-51 Jesus says, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." This is controversial, but if you keep reading, Jesus goes on to say in verse 56, "Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?" Though this may come across surprisingly harsh, it's a reminder of the fact that earth is not heaven. Though we may promote peace, it will not be met. We must promote heaven - then with our personal relationship to God the Father of heaven and earth through his saving grace found in Jesus, we can achieve eternal peace.

But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism — it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.

I raise this point because in many countries there is a deep ambivalence about military action today, no matter the cause. At times, this is joined by a reflexive suspicion of America, the world's sole military superpower.

Yet the world must remember that it was not simply international institutions — not just treaties and declarations — that brought stability to a post-World War II world. Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: the United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms. The service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform has promoted peace and prosperity from Germany to Korea, and enabled democracy to take hold in places like the Balkans. We have borne this burden not because we seek to impose our will. We have done so out of enlightened self-interest — because we seek a better future for our children and grandchildren, and we believe that their lives will be better if other peoples' children and grandchildren can live in freedom and prosperity.(See pictures of Barack Obama's nation of hope.)

So yes, the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another — that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy. The soldier's courage and sacrifice is full of glory, expressing devotion to country, to cause and to comrades in arms. But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such.

So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly irreconcilable truths — that war is sometimes necessary, and war is at some level an expression of human feelings. Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago. "Let us focus," he said, "on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions."

What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be?

To begin with, I believe that all nations — strong and weak alike — must adhere to standards that govern the use of force. I — like any head of state — reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation. Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards strengthens those who do, and isolates — and weakens — those who don't.(See pictures of Barack Obama's nation of hope.)

The world rallied around America after the 9/11 attacks, and continues to support our efforts in Afghanistan, because of the horror of those senseless attacks and the recognized principle of self-defense. Likewise, the world recognized the need to confront Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait — a consensus that sent a clear message to all about the cost of aggression.

Furthermore, America cannot insist that others follow the rules of the road if we refuse to follow them ourselves. For when we don't, our action can appear arbitrary, and undercut the legitimacy of future intervention — no matter how justified.(See pictures of Barack Obama on Flickr.)

This becomes particularly important when the purpose of military action extends beyond self defense or the defense of one nation against an aggressor. More and more, we all confront difficult questions about how to prevent the slaughter of civilians by their own government, or to stop a civil war whose violence and suffering can engulf an entire region.

I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds, as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later. That is why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.

America's commitment to global security will never waiver. But in a world in which threats are more diffuse, and missions more complex, America cannot act alone. This is true in Afghanistan. This is true in failed states like Somalia, where terrorism and piracy is joined by famine and human suffering. And sadly, it will continue to be true in unstable regions for years to come.(See video: "Obama's War.")

The leaders and soldiers of NATO countries — and other friends and allies — demonstrate this truth through the capacity and courage they have shown in Afghanistan. But in many countries, there is a disconnect between the efforts of those who serve and the ambivalence of the broader public. I understand why war is not popular. But I also know this: the belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it. Peace requires responsibility. Peace entails sacrifice. That is why NATO continues to be indispensable. That is why we must strengthen UN and regional peacekeeping, and not leave the task to a few countries. That is why we honor those who return home from peacekeeping and training abroad to Oslo and Rome; to Ottawa and Sydney; to Dhaka and Kigali — we honor them not as makers of war, but as wagers of peace.

Let me make one final point about the use of force. Even as we make difficult decisions about going to war, we must also think clearly about how we fight it. The Nobel Committee recognized this truth in awarding its first prize for peace to Henry Dunant — the founder of the Red Cross, and a driving force behind the Geneva Conventions.

Where force is necessary, we have a moral and strategic interest in binding ourselves to certain rules of conduct. And even as we confront a vicious adversary that abides by no rules, I believe that the United States of America must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war. That is what makes us different from those whom we fight. That is a source of our strength. That is why I prohibited torture. That is why I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. And that is why I have reaffirmed America's commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions. We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals by upholding them not just when it is easy, but when it is hard.

I have spoken to the questions that must weigh on our minds and our hearts as we choose to wage war. But let me turn now to our effort to avoid such tragic choices, and speak of three ways that we can build a just and lasting peace.

First, in dealing with those nations that break rules and laws, I believe that we must develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to change behavior — for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something. Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price. Intransigence must be met with increased pressure — and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.(See pictures of Barack Obama's nation of hope.)

One urgent example is the effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and to seek a world without them. In the middle of the last century, nations agreed to be bound by a treaty whose bargain is clear: all will have access to peaceful nuclear power; those without nuclear weapons will forsake them; and those with nuclear weapons will work toward disarmament. I am committed to upholding this treaty. It is a centerpiece of my foreign policy. And I am working with President Medvedev to reduce America and Russia's nuclear stockpiles.

But it is also incumbent upon all of us to insist that nations like Iran and North Korea do not game the system. Those who claim to respect international law cannot avert their eyes when those laws are flouted. Those who care for their own security cannot ignore the danger of an arms race in the Middle East or East Asia. Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war.(See pictures from Obama's West Point speech.)

The same principle applies to those who violate international law by brutalizing their own people. When there is genocide in Darfur; systematic rape in Congo; or repression in Burma — there must be consequences. And the closer we stand together, the less likely we will be faced with the choice between armed intervention and complicity in oppression.

This brings me to a second point — the nature of the peace that we seek. For peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based upon the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting. Obama, is the peace you are talking about everlasting? Can the United States really dictate/orchestrate everlasting world peace? I see why we have to restrain ourselves in keeping God out of the picture, but how can we promote peace without bringing up the Author of Peace? Our founding fathers were not the authors of peace, but rather the transmitters. Confucius proclaims this as well in his Analects. He says that he is not the Creator of 仁 human cultivation and 义 righteousness, but rather transmitting in accordance to ancient traditions and rituals for promoting greater learnings. However, Confucius is unaware of the Creator. He knows 命 or fate, but his spectacular philosophies haven't come to grips with God's purpose for mankind - to share His love to all. I feel that Master Mozi, his first opponent, better understood this truth of a greater love that has authority over us. God wants us all to realize that he first loved us enough to create us, let us choose (and make the mistakes), and then epically send as a Savior through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. It's a beautiful story that all should come to grips with.

It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War. In the wake of devastation, they recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.

And yet all too often, these words are ignored. In some countries, the failure to uphold human rights is excused by the false suggestion that these are Western principles, foreign to local cultures or stages of a nation's development. And within America, there has long been a tension between those who describe themselves as realists or idealists — a tension that suggests a stark choice between the narrow pursuit of interests or an endless campaign to impose our values.

I reject this choice. I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please; choose their own leaders or assemble without fear. Pent up grievances fester, and the suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence. We also know that the opposite is true. Only when Europe became free did it finally find peace. America has never fought a war against a democracy, and our closest friends are governments that protect the rights of their citizens. No matter how callously defined, neither America's interests — nor the world's — are served by the denial of human aspirations.

So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal. We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran. It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation. And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear to these movements that hope and history are on their side.

Let me also say this: the promotion of human rights cannot be about exhortation alone. At times, it must be coupled with painstaking diplomacy. I know that engagement with repressive regimes lacks the satisfying purity of indignation. But I also know that sanctions without outreach — and condemnation without discussion — can carry forward a crippling status quo. No repressive regime can move down a new path unless it has the choice of an open door.

In light of the Cultural Revolution's horrors, Nixon's meeting with Mao appeared inexcusable — and yet it surely helped set China on a path where millions of its citizens have been lifted from poverty, and connected to open societies. Pope John Paul's engagement with Poland created space not just for the Catholic Church, but for labor leaders like Lech Walesa. Ronald Reagan's efforts on arms control and embrace of perestroika not only improved relations with the Soviet Union, but empowered dissidents throughout Eastern Europe. There is no simple formula here. But we must try as best we can to balance isolation and engagement; pressure and incentives, so that human rights and dignity are advanced over time.(See pictures "Fun with Photoshop: Obama's Other Awards.")

Third, a just peace includes not only civil and political rights — it must encompass economic security and opportunity. For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.

It is undoubtedly true that development rarely takes root without security; it is also true that security does not exist where human beings do not have access to enough food, or clean water, or the medicine they need to survive. It does not exist where children cannot aspire to a decent education or a job that supports a family. The absence of hope can rot a society from within.(See pictures from Obama's first state dinner.) Hmm...10% unemployed. Whatever decisions are going to be made better be allowing businesses to not feel reluctant to invest and hire people so that people will be getting jobs. Layoffs aren't a big enough part of that percentage to make us think that Obama's administration hasn't made any wrong moves with the repairing of our nation's economy. This distribution of wealth idea hasn't brought much peace. And I don't think China is going to comply with G2's proposals on leading the world in it's hopes of becoming more green when they are so focused on continuing their development process which includes huge urbanizations. A rather impossible feet to be wasting money on right now in my opinion.

And that is why helping farmers feed their own people — or nations educate their children and care for the sick — is not mere charity. It is also why the world must come together to confront climate change. There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, famine and mass displacement that will fuel more conflict for decades. For this reason, it is not merely scientists and activists who call for swift and forceful action — it is military leaders in my country and others who understand that our common security hangs in the balance.

Agreements among nations. Strong institutions. Support for human rights. Investments in development. All of these are vital ingredients in bringing about the evolution that President Kennedy spoke about. And yet, I do not believe that we will have the will, or the staying power, to complete this work without something more — and that is the continued expansion of our moral imagination; an insistence that there is something irreducible that we all share.

As the world grows smaller, you might think it would be easier for human beings to recognize how similar we are; to understand that we all basically want the same things; that we all hope for the chance to live out our lives with some measure of happiness and fulfillment for ourselves and our families. Nice! Clever comparison in finding a correlation between our now "flat world" and finding "common ground" on morality.

And yet, given the dizzying pace of globalization, and the cultural leveling of modernity, it should come as no surprise that people fear the loss of what they cherish about their particular identities — their race, their tribe, and perhaps most powerfully their religion. In some places, this fear has led to conflict. At times, it even feels like we are moving backwards. We see it in Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden. We see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines.

Most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan. These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded. But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint — no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or even a person of one's own faith. Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but the purpose of faith — for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem: Jesus says to the Pharisees in Luke 13:34-35, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate." If only people, even those proclaiming in the name of God, would all look into the mirror and submit to God and quit arguing. Jesus says in Luke 17:22, "The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the Kingdom of God is within you." God doesn't put us in groups - he looks at each one of us individually and therefore it is not a religion but a relationship. When you make it a religion you get caught up in dispute and miss out on the good stuff.

Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human nature. We are fallible. We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations of pride, and power, and sometimes evil. Even those of us with the best intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us.

But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place. The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached — their faith in human progress — must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey.

For if we lose that faith — if we dismiss it as silly or naÏve; if we divorce it from the decisions that we make on issues of war and peace — then we lose what is best about humanity. We lose our sense of possibility. We lose our moral compass.(See video: "Obama's War.")

Like generations have before us, we must reject that future. As Dr. King said at this occasion so many years ago, "I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the 'isness' of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him."

So let us reach for the world that ought to be — that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls. Somewhere today, in the here and now, a soldier sees he's outgunned but stands firm to keep the peace. Somewhere today, in this world, a young protestor awaits the brutality of her government, but has the courage to march on. Somewhere today, a mother facing punishing poverty still takes the time to teach her child, who believes that a cruel world still has a place for his dreams.(See pictures of people around the world watching Obama's Inauguration.)

Let us live by their example. We can acknowledge that oppression will always be with us, and still strive for justice. We can admit the intractability of depravation, and still strive for dignity. We can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace. We can do that — for that is the story of human progress; that is the hope of all the world; and at this moment of challenge, that must be our work here on Earth.

The Amity Foundation 爱德基金会

Wow! Why have I not come across this amazing organization sooner? After being heavily inspired by Britt E. Towery's book "The Churches of China", I frantically searched for a way to contact him online and tell him of my desire to "take root" in the Chinese Church through my spiritual gifts and calling to serve in hopes of "bearing fruit" for the advancement of the Gospel 福音 in God's beautiful country of China 神国。After coming across his blog (which you should follow here on blogger!!http://britt-towery.blogspot.com/), I noticed that he had made contributions to The Amity Foundation on the right panel of his web page. Then I remembered about reading an inspiring passage in his book on how Chinese Christians are making a huge difference on the image of Christianity in China through their passionate service towards improving society - which has earned the favor of even the Chinese Government --seeing as their goal is to "benefit society”through socialism 社会主义. Which reminds me of another fact. The character for society 社, includes the spirits. Hmm...why would the government profess Atheism and still include ghosts in society? I know this is an ancient Chinese character and I know that they profess Atheism so that they can be "common", but I am convinced that the Chinese Government is beginning to see the work of the Holy Spirit 生灵 through the lives of it's citizens who are becoming Christians and doing the Great Commission through acts of kindness and good deeds -- which is a symptom of Christ's contagious agape love. Furthermore, agape love is rooted in the Chinese history, although disregarded and almost forgotten completely, Master Mo 墨子 as I am learning in my Chinese Philosophy class, revealed the power of something that can be compared to that of Christ's "no greater love" or heavenly love. This love can be translated into Chinese, in accordance to the Mohists, as "all-embracing love" 兼爱。Unfortunately, Confucianists (not Confucius himself - he actually wasn't against agape love) have strayed the Chinese from accepting this teaching and thus likely explains their distaste for relational evangelism of Christians and it's missionaries.

Anyways, I can't wait to get in connection with this amazing organization and tell them of my call to service as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. It ends up from my research on their website, http://www.amityfoundation.org/wordpress/, that I am not the first student from Hong Kong Baptist University to come to their office and share a desire to get involved in the AMAZING work that the Lord is doing through The Amity Foundation. Check out their website, and if you don't have time -- at least check out this recently posted article on Jiangsu Christian Charity Foundation:

“The son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund was established as a joint initiative of the Amity Foundation and the Jiangsu Christian Council in March 2009 with the aim of developing social services offered by the Christian community in Jiangsu Province.

Background

Encouraging Government Policy

As civil society in China keeps developing, the values of social organizations have found greater recognition from the side of society and government. The Protestant church of China with its millions of members is increasingly recognised as a promoter of the development of Chinese civil society. The Chinese government has declared that a policy of encouraging “the Christian church to play a positive role in society” is part of the “construction of aHarmonious Society“. The National Human Rights Declaration issued by China’s State Council in 2009 defines “the positive function of religion” as “promoting social harmony and socioeconomic development” and states that the religious community should be encouraged “to develop public welfare and charity, and to explore ways and methods of social service.”**Praise God! This is, as you've seen my previous blog post, THE HOPE FOR CHINA. God will not stop his mission of bringing himself glory through the advancement of his good news of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The United Front and the Religious Affairs Bureau of Jiangsu Province have devised that the church should serve the people and promote social development through social service according to the development situation of the church in the province. The establishment of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund has received powerful support from the United Front and the Religious Affairs Bureau of Jiangsu Province.

Increasing Social Needs

In Christianity, social service is interpreted in terms of witnessing God on Earth. The church has a long tradition of providing social services. As the Chinese church has developed, more and more churches have become involved in social service. The church in Jiangsu has a strong foundation in this area, for example a home for the elderly and church-run clinics. There are currently over 4000 churches and meeting points for more than 1.6 million believers in Jiangsu, so there is a large potential for the development of social services in Jiangsu churches.***I want to get involved in the development! There truly is so much potential, and it's exciting to see the development of the Chinese Church alongside their "rapidly developing" economy. Socio-economics is beckoning for the work of Chinese Christians to balance out China for sustainable development needs it's people to find hope in a better China- what more hope than salvation through Jesus Christ and the radical changes he can do in a lost and dieing world? There is a reason why we proclaim Jesus as "Our Sustainer".

Social development has caused several new social problems in China, such as demographic problems (an ageing society) and problems of the community service systems. These have grown into important issues which need adequate solutions. The churches can use their own resources when taking part in social services and working towards a solution of these problems.

The Fruits of Theological Reconstruction

The process of “theological reconstruction” was adopted as an official church policy in 1998. The main problem that it seeks to address is the localization of Protestant Christianity in the historical and cultural context of China. According to “theological reconstruction”, China’s culture and history have instilled in its people a particular appreciation for the power of action. Chinese Christians being Chinese, they believe in a close connection between strong beliefs and honest practices. Christians making their faith visible through their behaviour is essential so Chinese people can better understand Christianity. The promotion of social service thus becomes an important part of theological reconstruction. Along with the deepening of “theological reconstruction”, more and more churches have become involved in social service in order to glorify God and provide benefits to the people. This is one of the fruits of “theological reconstruction” and will remarkably improve the mutual understanding and integration of the Chinese Protestant church and society.***Can you hear them calling out for help America? Let's support them!

The Relationship Between Amity and the Chinese Protestant Church

Amity was initiated in 1985 by Chinese Christians, so it was born with a strong connection to the Protestant church. In the 25 years of its history, Amity has gathered rich experiences in social service in various fields, including community development, medical care, rural education, and social welfare, but especially in the promotion of church involvement in social service. For over 20 years, Amity has supported churches in 13 provinces with social service related to health programs, education, agricultural development and drinking water projects, which have delivered many social benefits. To promote church involvement in social service has always been part of Amity’s mission, and Amity has been, and will keep on, trying to support such endeavors.***Praise God for the work they are doing - and pray for the continually improving connections build with the church and The Amity Foundation.

Mission

The mission of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is to promote the development of the church’s social service; to enhance the positive role of the Protestant church in the socioeconomic development of the country; and to achieve the harmonious development of the church in society.

Service Areas

The service of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund covers the following areas:

1. Helping Protestant churches in Jiangsu to provide and manage social services in compliance with Amity’s mission.

2. Supporting Protestant churches in Jiangsu with cooperative social services in compliance with Amity’s mission.

3. Supporting other work as devised by the management committee of the Fund and according to the mission of the Fund.

Challenges and Difficulties

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund has been established recently and is facing a lot of challenges and problems in the process of development

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is young and lacks project funding. Since the establishment of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, it has raised only CNY 50,000 from churches. Amity is going to contribute about CNY 1 million for capacity building. However, this is just a drop in the bucket compared with the huge demand for social service in Jiangsu churches. More churches are waiting for investments to develop their social service programs.

Social service in Jiangsu churches has just started and needs further promotion

Social service in Jiangsu churches has not flourished for various reasons. In many churches social service has only just started, while what exists is not of high quality. The capacity of social service workers needs improvement as well. Promoting projects in both quantity and quality is one of the most important issues in front of the Fund. All these need our commitment and devotion in the future so as to ensure the effective operation of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund.

Fundraising

In order to promote the project development and raise funds for social service in more churches, we have worked out a fundraising plan. In the coming months we will start public fundraising through multiple channels, both domestic and foreign:

1) printing brochures to distribute in churches and provide easy channels for donating, such as donation boxes

2) The CCC/TSMP of Jiangsu Province will draw up a plan for church donations, or choose one day for Fund contributions, or launch irregular donation collection activities.

3) The management office, supported by staff from Amity and the CCC/TSMP of Jiangsu Province, will present the Fund and ongoing projects in churches in the province.

4) Regarding church needs in the province and issues of high social concern, the workers will prepare proposals for fundraising from overseas donor organizations. **Churches in America seeking ways to give internationally should consider**

Putting emphasis on support for capacity building

In the present phase, the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, with the support of Amity, puts emphasis on helping churches with capacity building for their workers involved in social service. According to the different needs of social service in different churches, there will be more training focusing on particular professions to improve the capacity of church workers in social service, to improve the quality of church-run projects, and to improve the work of social service. There will be capacity building activities about social service in two or three more city churches in the coming year.***They need disciples who are well-trained in theology and Chinese to better lead these projects.

Making a systematic plan for existing social service projects in churches

Many churches have started social service projects; some have proposed their plans to the Fund. We are going to make project development plans according to the situation in the target places, in order to assist the projects in reaching sustainable outcomes.

Building a team of volunteers

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is set to promote and improve social service in churches of Jiangsu Province. This is why it needs the wide participation of local churches and congress. We plan to build a team of volunteers to motivate voluntary resources in churches, in order to promote the development of projects with joint associations. We are going to recruit volunteers in churches. One or two volunteers from each church will work to give information about the Fund to the congregation. The volunteers will be the liaison to the management office, and the office will provide necessary material and support. There will be an assembly at the end of each year with all the volunteers to summarize the work, strengthen the network, and improve the development of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund through networking.

The establishment of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is a fruit of the intention to enhance the cooperation and connection between Jiangsu churches and Amity, to promote social service in the Jiangsu Protestant community, to practice belief through the witness of Christ, and to encourage Christian churches to contribute to the development of civil society. We believe God loves people. Through the work on our hands, we are able to show God’s love on Earth.

We serve to express our love to God. This is the only way. For those who need our help, we have to pour out our love, because through them, we can express God’s love. (Mother Teresa)

My Library

So I'm starting to become quite the book worm these days. Now that my first semester is coming to an end...I can hardly wait to dive into something other than a textbook!


Apologia Pro Vita Sua
Cardinal John Henry Newman - Religion - 2007 - 292 pages
First published in the mid 19th century, this is a replica of the 1908 edition, and features the author's thoughts on his religions opinions throughout his life as well as sermons andother addresses and correspondence with other clergy and religious opinions throughout his life as well as sermons and other addresses and correspondence with other clergy and religious philosophers. British theologian JOHN HENRY CARDINAL NEWMAN (1801-1890)-a leading figure in both the Church of England and, after his conversion, the Roman Catholic Church-was known as "The Father of the Second Vatican Council." His Parochial and Plain Sermons (1834-42) is considered the best collection of sermons in the English language. He is also the author of A Grammar of Assent (1870)

Oracle Bones: A Journey Through Time in China‎
Peter Hessler - Travel - 2007 - 528 pages
In Oracle Bones, Peter Hessler explores the human side of China's transformation, viewing modern-day China and its growing links to the Western world through the lives of a handful ofordinary people.

Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul‎
J. P. Moreland - Religion - 1997 - 256 pages
Unfortunately, many of us leave our minds behind when it comes to our faith. In Love Your God with All Your Mind, J.P. Moreland presents a logical case for the role of the mind inspiritual transformation.

The Complete Bible Answer Book‎
Hank Hanegraaff - Religion - 2009 - 560 pages - No preview available
And he's done something about it-he's spelled out the answers. "The Complete Bible Answer Book" is a simple guide covering over 170 of the top questions that the BibleAnswer Man has dealt with in his ministry.
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Making Religion, Making the State: The Politics of Religion in Modern China‎
Yoshiko Ashiwa, David L. Wank - Religion - 2009 - 294 pages
With chapters written by experts on Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam, and more, this volume will appeal across the social sciences and humanities to those interested inpolitics, religion, and modernity in China.
Note: Modernity treats religion as a matter of "individual belief" in the context of secularism.

China: a global studies handbook‎
Robert André LaFleur - History - 2003 - 298 pages
Complete ready reference covering Chinese history, economics, politics, culture, and prevalent social problems ... a "must-have" addition to any global studies collection.

Missions, nationalism, and the end of empire‎
Brian Stanley, Alaine M. Low - Religion - 2003 - 313 pages
This work not only sheds light on the relation of religion and politics but also uncovers the sometimes paradoxical implications of the church's call to bring the gospel to all theworld.Contributors: Daniel H. BaysPhilip BoobbyerJudith M. ...
Note: pg. 160: Chen Chonggui's "Anti-Communist" speech in 1957.

Religion under socialism in China‎
Zhufeng Luo - Political Science - 1991 - 254 pages
Note: Ch. 3 pg. 54: Changes towards Religion after Founding of PRC
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Chinese Characteristics‎
Arthur H. Smith - History - 2001 - 342 pages
Written by a highly observant British missionary after living fifteen years in the country, and first published in 1890 in China, this book presents the social life and personal charactertraits of the typical Chinese.
Note: Classic - Must Read!

Although all of these are on my reading list, I am already very pleased to have found this unknown book written by a former missionary and lecturer at this university - Yes, Hong Kong Baptist University. Britt E. Towery, Jr., author of "The Churches in China: Taking Root Downward, Bearing Fruit Upward", is officially my new role model. He wrote this book in 1986 while living in Hong Kong after serving as a Southern Baptist Missionary in China for 25 years. Funny thing is, I wasn't even looking for this book - rather I just happened to come across this tiny book while looking through the "Religion" section of the library out of boredom. God has spoken to me tremendously through his writings about the churches in China and I have gained much from this less than 200 page book. Although this is not 1986, it still has much good to say about my approach to evangelism in Mainland China.

Hong Kong City Church

This past Sunday, I went with my friend Jonathan from Arizona to this church located on the 75F of the Central Plaza skyscraper along the harbor coast of Hong Kong. It was the most unbelievable worship experience. All around you is windows and you can see all of the the city's structures with a downward angle. Like nothing I could ever have imagined.

Here are some pictures of my amazing experience:

Make a Smilebox photobook

Hope for China

As a Westerner, I am expressing my opinion from a far different perspective than my classmates. I have done much research to make sure that I am learning first before expressing my thoughts. If I were to blindly express my opinions on the way that China's government makes decisions then I would probably have nothing good to say about Communism, seeing as I am an American who believes strongly in freedoms of speech and the press. However, from my research I have gained a much better understanding for why China is the way it is today.

In my country we take pride in our freedoms. Personally, I come from a Christian family and our lives reflect the way that God discerns us through his word written in the Holy Bible. This means we live unashamedly, passionately pursuing his command to share the Gospel (福音) to others. Given my personal background, I may have an ethnocentric opinion. At the same time, I admire China very much. Their deep history shows how deserving they are to show their own patriotism. This patriotism was proven to me not only in the Beijing Olympics, but also in the recent 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

I would like to focus on state governance and how it relates to society today. Since Chairman Mao caught China's vision of becoming a utopia, the Chinese Communist Party has striven to bring the nation together in hopes of becoming modernized. It may be more than hope, but rather intent because China's sheer determination has proven to let there be no distractions or choice for ignoring its progressivism. A good example of this would be through the development of communes. Before the development of the communes, the state had much more social control. This, in my opinion, is because China was and still is extremely economically driven. They soon realized that embedding the work unit into the social body was not an effective tool for social control. This social control seems to be a strategy to get focused on Mao's vision of becoming modernized.

Reforming the danwei system by giving the people more autonomy was good for the people, but still not what they really needed in my opinion. This is just one of the many examples of how China has rapidly advanced it's society in the past 60 years. Although they started in coastal areas, the inland area is now already catching up. It's very impressive to see China, as Mao hoped, regain their wealth and power, dignity, international respect, and territorial integrity. Don't get me wrong - the CCP is legit and the majority of the Chinese have proven their loyalty to the party. Their massively industrialized cities such as Shenzhen are evidence of these strategies working quite well. According to TIME magazine's article "China at 60: The Road to Prosperity, China is the world's most populous and industrious nation, is the world's third largest economy and trading nation, has become a global innovator in science and technology, and is building a world-class university system. It has an increasingly modern military and commands diplomatic respect. It is at peace with its neighbors and all major powers."

I think China's government needs to cool down a little bit. Being mostly capitalist, their world view is continually progressing and beginning to reason. However, technological advancement is their main reasoning for how to make China a better place. When this becomes your main focus, people begin to face an identity crisis. Living for the market and not considering human rights denotes the value of human life. People living in China can't express their own individual opinions on how to make China a better place because they have to stay focused on the task at hand: "become modernized". China has yet to recognize the problems of market economy and capitalism and the importance of governing the people in respect to their freedoms of the press and speech. I really dislike the Chinese government censoring.

Living in Hong Kong for the past few months and visiting Tokyo a couple years ago has revealed to me how materialism can impact a society's livelihood. Chinese author K.K. Yeo in his recently published Chairman Mao meets the Apostle Paul states, "University students, Christian and non-Christian alike, have repeatedly told me of their fear that the pragmatism of capitalism, technological advancement, and economic modernization will lead to the neglect and robbing of China's ethical, spiritual, and relational wholeness." With the lack of nostalgia coming from Mao's visionary leadership, Chinese people can begin to question their purpose in life in regards to the fact that they seem to have already achieved modernization. Of course, I am mainly referring to those living in developed areas. The result can be depression or even suicide. Without a sense of meaning or an end goal, how can China have a healthy society?

I know that the CCP professes Atheism. They have tried and failed to abolish religion, and have now decided to protect the individual’s right to believe in Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Taoism, and Protestantism. Article 251 of the Criminal Law states: "State personnel, who unlawfully deprive citizens of their freedom of religious belief and infringe upon the customs and habits of minority ethnic groups, when the circumstances are serious, are to be sentenced to not more than two years of fixed-term imprisonment or criminal detention." Many westerners are unaware of the truth of religious freedom. Some still think that treatment is at the same level as it was during the Cultural Revolution. I, too, before researching thought this way. I am seeing signs of hope in China they are realizing how crucial it is to have religion in order to have a healthy society. However, in my opinion China is still struggling to find how they want to be seen by others. The state and its loyal citizens seem to be very patriotic, but also trying too hard to uphold secularism.

Secularism is not the answer. In my opinion, God is the answer. China can still keep its patriotism, but it needs to realize the imminence of something greater than technological advancement. What is best for the people is personal faith in the One who has all of the answers to life, not personal wealth which infects us with greed and temporarily pleases us inside. Personal faith gives people a sense of purpose. Love is a powerful thing. When someone experiences the love from God, human nature gives them the will power and internal desire to change lives. This love that I am talking about is contagious. If this love would transcend into the hearts of the government leaders, then they too could find individual purpose. Being convinced of eternal hope found in God's gift to the world of salvation through Jesus Christ will truly allow humanity to shine like the Sun. Money and assets, skyscrapers, a strong military, or even a strong leader as Mao cannot bring redemption to this lost world.

Although I try to focus on the big picture, I realize how difficult it would be for this politically run world to have a nation that solely relies on God. Even America, with "In God We Trust" on its dollar bill struggles to let God govern it's people. Because of this, I am reminded how faith in God must be personal. God speaks to us personally and desires to use his people to speak to the world. He doesn't choose to speak to all of China through the Chinese Communist Party. Before I get too off topic, I want to get to the point. China's government may be struggling with an identity crisis, but so is every other government. For that, I come to the conclusion that China is doing a wonderful job in governing its people. I just hope that they can become more receptive to the Gospel as it, too, does a wonderful job in bringing goodwill toward man and assisting us in our pursuit for happiness.

Guilin Adventure 桂林，很多的山！

Yet another amazing adventure! This past Thursday I completed two of my mid-term exams for Cantonese and Mandarin. Feeling rather free from all prior anxieties, I and my friend Jonathan Pager from Arizona decided to plan a weekend trip to Guilin (桂林）. This was a rather ambitious decision that was made rather abruptly, but we were so excited about traveling to Mainland China. We both have great interest in living in China, and so we set off with little hesitation.


Guilin is a 12 hour bus ride away from Shenzhen, which is the first city across the border from Hong Kong into the Mainland China. It was only 130RMB (~20USD) to take our bus. This isn't an ordinary bus because it actually only travels overnight and all passengers have their own bed. They are surprisingly comfortable, however not completely horizontal and the foot space was very cramped. Other than that, not too shabby for 20 bucks!

Allow me to explain what happened first. We didn't actually know that the bus was going to be this cheap. We were intending on taking the train via China's Railway System. However, the desk didn't speak English. I was able to speak in Chinese well enough to explain where we were going and when we would need to return in Chinese, but wow was it difficult! Especially when tons of Chinese speaking only people are looking at you amazed with the fact that I am a foreigner speaking an ounce of Chinese. It was a cool feeling, however you must know that I am far away from fluency. But at least I was able to say "liang ge pian dao guili. women xingqitian hui lai zhe'r ,hao ma?" This meaning we want two tickets to Guilin and would like to return Sunday. She understood me! I looked up to the heavens and thanked God for the fact that she understood me, then was disappointed when she said, "meiyou". This meaning they didn't have any tickets left. Lesson learned: their are many people in China. Always book in advance. Especially on weekends.


At that moment, we had to decide on whether we should just go next weekend, or take a bus. Realizing that next week I would have to study for another exam, we decided to take the bus. On our way to look for the bus, this man with one arm comes up to us asking for money. This is common in Mainland, so we have learned to just walk away and smile because if not you may get swarmed. Especially in Guilin. This guy was really bugging us though. A younger Chinese man comes up and tells the man to leave us alone and then starts speaking in English with us. We told him we were looking for the bus station to go to Guilin, and then he asked if we needed a translator. Barely knowing the guy, I questioned whether or not this was a good idea. But he came across to be very helpful and because I was with Jonathan we both agreed it would be good to have him with us.

Next thing you know, he has taken us to this local travel agency and we end up getting tickets for 20 bucks each. We told him in return for his help we would pay for his ticket. This was the least we could do for him being so helpful. There were a lot of good reasons for us to take the bus. Not only was it cheaper, but it was just as comfortable (besides the bumps) and we got a chance to better understand the road systems in China. Not only were we able to gain this new perspective, but we were able to see what China looks like from the window quite clearly. I can now answer the question, "Is everything made in China?" Almost! It seemed an endless amount of factories where we could see people working inside making various things.

Well, I could write pages about other cultural differences such as how crazy they are at driving! But, let's fast forward 12 hours to where you can find out about Guilin. Guilin is in Guangxi (广西）Province, northwest of Guangzhou (广州）the capital of Guangdong（广东）province. Guangdong is the province just north of Hong Kong. We arrived in this largely populated town/city - hard to say - at around 8am. We had booked a nice hotel online for free, and it was only going to cost us 30USD at the counter (15 a piece!). However, upon arrival we realized that maybe it would be better to do what we came to do - which was to see Li River (漓江）and then take an overnight bus back that same day. This would save us money and still allow us to experience this beautiful place. Wow, the whole city is surrounded by these oddly shaped mountains. They endlessly stretch so it seems. The downtown is in a flat region in between this stretch of mountains, and the river is flowing alongside the eastern part of the city on down south towards the smaller city of Yangshuo (阳朔).


My roommate is the one who recommended us to go here. He even gave informed of us a small village worth visiting and where we could also get on the Li River by boat. The small town to which we were heading to was known as Yangdi (杨堤). So, after practicing my Chinese by ordering fruit in the local market for just nickels and dimes (2元~.20cents), we hopped on the bus that would take us to this village. It was about an hour drive it seemed. Once we hopped off the bus in this remote area, I felt like I had just entered another world! I had never seen such an environment as this. The city had countless people, but here you could count the number of people. Not only that, but there were no tall buildings. The mountains were surrounding the villagers' homes, and everyone seemed to be working strenuously on various projects that obviously needed to be done to upkeep their shelters and crops.

Many of the villagers were older than 40 it seemed. Our guide, who by the way is from Fujian (福建) and named "Mr. Lu" (卢先生), informed us that most people his age leave there homes to find jobs in the city. He explained how he also did this and went to find work in Shenzhen. However, it is hard to find work if you don't have a good education. It is hard to get into good schools in China because it is very competitive. Anyways, you could see that many of these hard-working villagers made no money whatsoever. Instead, they grow their food and tend to their shelters on their own. It was difficult for me to get a picture of the villagers. In fact, I didn't even get one picture in the small village unfortunately. This is because we were swarmed by older ladies holding bags of oranges chanting "2 kuai, 2 kuai". As they continued to pursue us, they would look us in the eye and smile, knowing that we had more than enough money to buy. I was overwhelmed at first, but then I finally bought a bag from one of the ladies. She was the oldest of the group, and would not leave me alone. I ended up giving her 5 kuai and told her "meiguanxi" when she asked me if I needed change. I was glad to let her keep the rest. She looked at me and gave me a sweet, wrinkled smile that I will not soon forget.

Soon after, Mr. Lu was helping us bargain for the cheapest boat. The first guy offered us a very cheap deal, but he was older and Mr. Lu thought we should have someone younger lead us. Just in case you are unaware, everything is in Chinese - there is no English at all. I can read some characters, but not enough to get around. So, it was a blessing to have met Mr. Lu. He was no doubt a Godsend. Finally, we decided to let the older man take us because he was offering us a much cheaper price than the others. Now here is where I let my pictures do the talking:






Yea, so that was what we came to see. Although it would be nice to have more days to hike to even more spectacular views, we knew we wouldn't have the time or energy to do more than the boat ride. Still, this was a great experience. However, I am extremely adventurous and was craving to explore more. Especially into the caves. Supposedly, the mountains have a number of caves - two of which I was able to get pictures of from the boat.

We got back on to land and the older man kindly asked us if we were hungry. He wanted to take us to eat some food in a nearby village, which he said would also be where we could take a bus back out of the mountains to Guilin. Such a nice gesture! I told him "fei chang gan xie ni" meaning thank you so much. He said "bu ke qi". The villagers are very down-to-earth and friendly. Their kind nature and hard work ethic makes me want to consider living as a villager!

This took up most of our day, but we did have time for a late supper before our bus would leave for Shenzhen at 7pm. So, we being typical Americans, went to Pizza Hut. I know, I was upset to give in to the western food, but you wouldn't believe how nice Pizza Hut's are in China and Hong Kong! Luxurious, but still rather cheap as well (cheap for foreigners). Plus I just wanted some pizza! It had been a long day of crackers and bananas and oranges - now it was time for a meal.

Now, I will Fast forward again to the end of the trip when we arrived back in Shenzhen. Mr. Lu asked the question that Jonathan and I knew was coming, "how much money will you give me?". Knowing he was going to expect us to pay him, I offered him 120RMB, which is about ~20USD. He said he wanted 300RMB, but we came to an agreement. Jonathan really needed help with Mandarin, and Mr. Lu really needed to make some money. So Jonathan and him made a deal to meet once a week for Mandarin lessons. We couldn't have done the trip without his help, so I was more than willing to give him the money - even though it was a bit out of my budget!


Overall, I am glad to have experienced this diverse area in China, and hope it has better prepared me for my time in Yunnan. I say this because Yunnan will be even more ethnic than Guilin I am sure. As I continue to learn more and more each day, I am continuing to be thankful for the opportunity I have had to be here. Next stop: ? We will see...

道风山 "Life After College" Retreat

This past weekend, I went with Kowloon International Baptist Church (KIBC) on their university and 20-somethings first retreat. This has been a great church for me. I have really come to know a lot of solid Christians and am always meeting new people. Our weekly fellowship time after church is the best. We gather together for lunch and a bible study, which really starts my week off right.

The past two weeks I have been unable to attend church, which made me really look forward to this retreat. I really didn't know what to expect. I knew the plan for this retreat was to stay the night somewhere and just have guest speakers come and help us better understand the idea of life after college.

As all of the group of around 30 hopped on the bus, we headed to Sha Tin. This is my favorite place in all of Hong Kong. It's not super busy because it's in the New Territories north of Kowloon. At the same time, there is beautiful mountain views, tall buildings, and a river flowing through. Simply perfect environment. Even better, the retreat was going to be held in a Lutheran Seminary up on the mountainside. Gorgeous, with every building being traditional Chinese style roofs. All overlooking Sha Tin.


The theme verse was Matthew 14:24 where Jesus says to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Michael W. Smith's song "Oh God, you are my God" was our theme song.

"Oh God, You are my God,
And I will ever praise You,
Oh God, You are my God,
And I will ever praise You,
I will seek you in the morning,
And I will learn to walk in Your ways,
And step by step You'll lead me,
And I will follow You all of my days."

Our guest speakers consisted of three Christians who are working in secular fields in Hong Kong. The first, was the one whom I connected with the most. He was a father of two sons, who grew up poorer than most. He worked hard in school so that he could climb up the status ladder. He ended up making a lot of money as a real estate agent. He was very successful, until one day he lost 5 million dollars due to the economy. Everything gone, and on top of that, his mother died. His mother had good morals, and raised him well. Now that he was gone, he began to seek out God's will for his life. He realized that he needed to do something different with his life because he wasn't using God's gifts and living a passionate lifestyle.

This is what I really connected with him in relation to how I want to decide on my career. I, like him, clearly see how important it is to make sure you are using your gifts to serve God - no matter what your career is. To make sure you are where you are supposed to be, then you must have a passion. After starting over from losing everything, he chose to pursue his passion for teaching by starting a learning center. With his gift of teaching and administrating, he has changed the lives of many students and parents through this learning center. He has written a book that consists of all of the letters that he has written to parents over the past 5 years. He really seems to enjoy being a light to the student's parents as a school administrator. I really could see in his eyes how much he loved what he was doing now. He is an active member in the church and said his challenge now is trying to raise his two sons so that they can pursue their passions in life and not get off track.


As for me, I am constantly thinking about the future. Although I know I must, according to God's word, live for today and not worry about tomorrow. At the same time, I feel that God is presently equipping for that which he has planned for me in the future. Knowing this, I can't help but be curious to know what exactly he has planned for me. As far as my passions, I love stepping into the unknown and making a difference in the lives of those around me. I think this passion has been formed because of the number of times that I have moved in my life. Starting over is something I am accustomed to. When I was younger it was tough, but now I am glad for this because I know it has given me the strength to overcome the adversity of adapting to a new environment.

I see all of this as God's way of using me to bring Him glory to people in China. I really have a gift to connect with the Chinese, even though I can't yet speak their language. Many Chinese students know English, but not well enough to communicate as we do with each other in the States. Our social environment here is limited, due to this language barrier. This barrier seems to be something that I feel gifted in breaking. By my great desire to learn Chinese and their extraordinary history and culture, I am able to listen and comfortably have a conversation with them. Even better, some of them have offered to have conversations where I speak Chinese and they speak English so that we can both practice!

My ultimate desire is to be like Christ. If that means I live in China and being a light to them by just showing them kindness and God's love each day, then so be it. Is there life after college? Yes, without a doubt - and with the immense joy that comes in glorifying God, I look forward to what he has in store for me.