A mighty movement of God is surging through China, bringing historically unprecedented growth in Christianity. When the Communists took over in 1949, there were fewer than one million Protestants in China. Today the number is estimated to be 200 million.

Freddie sharing at Antioch Mission Seminary.

Since "the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few" (Matt. 9:37), Christian Aid's ministry in China has focused on training "good and faithful servants" (Matt. 25:21) to "go and teach all nations, teaching them to observe all things" (Matt. 28:19) according to the Lord’s instructions. His command to teach and make disciples has been the impetus for Christian Aid helping to establish 139 Bible schools since 1990. Five of them were started in 2009. The first ones were concentrated in east and central China, but attention is now being directed to northwest and southwest China where Muslims, Tibetans and other unreached people need to hear the gospel.

Love gifts sent to Christian Aid's China division recently made possible the following projects designed to equip Christians to make disciples:

One special Bible School trains 120 students in a two-year course with a strict discipleship regimen including 5:00 a.m. prayers and devotions, Sunday witnessing in the community, and concentrated Bible study.

Dorothy teaches a class at Mount of Olives Chinese Gospel Seminary.

Funds sent from Christian Aid helped with the addition of a fifth floor to expand the Bible school building, also to purchase pianos, and to construct music rooms. The school can now train worship leaders in voice and piano.

Freddie gives a Kazak language Bible to a Kazak man.

Dorothy and Freddie visit the children at Ark Tibetan Handicapped Orphanage.

Antioch Mission Seminary is the first school of its kind in China, named for the city where the early church sent Paul and Barnabas, the first indigenous missionaries, back to their homelands to preach. Students study Biblical theology for four years, receive practical experience, then return to their home communities to reach Muslims and Tibetans.

Southwestern Ethnic Mission Seminary is in a strategic location in the north of Yunnan province among tribal groups such as the Miao, Yi and Lisu. Each student completes a two or four year program before returning to his home area to reach a tribe in its own language.

An exciting breakthrough in the last two years in Xinjiang province has been the development of Discipleship Training Centers for Kazak Christians in their own language. A two-year program of Bible and evangelism equips them to reach Kazak Muslims for Christ.

A Bible School in Fujian province is an effective Bible school of advanced studies for college students, intellectuals and business professionals in the capital city of Fuzhou and its suburbs. Discipleship training centers have been established all over the province. Christian Aid is providing funds for operations, a vehicle and new Bible school construction.

Canaan Music Bible School in Beijing offers one, two and four-year programs for 80 students. After graduation the students serve as worship leaders in community house churches and provide sacred music for their hometown churches. Music is an effective, powerful tool for opening hearts to the gospel. Christian Aid has helped to provide expenses for the costs of construction of new school buildings and travel expenses for mission trips.

Mount of Olives Chinese Gospel Seminary is training 20 students in a four-year program that includes classroom studies, field work and pastoral training. Forty coworkers serve with this ministry as teachers and missionaries in many western Chinese provinces.

The destructive 8.2 earthquake on May 12, 2008 provided Chinese Christians in Sichuan and Gansu provinces opportun-ity for a powerful witness. Many students and teachers from Bible schools in the area worked to help the victims. Gospel workers wore red T-shirts emblazoned with "Jesus Loves You." The gospel was shared in tents where buildings had recently stood, and relief supplies purchased with funds sent by Christian Aid were distributed in emergency vehicles. Thousands of Buddhist earthquake victims professed faith in Christ because of this outpouring of love. Three of the new Bible schools started in 2009 are located in this area.

Contributions to Christian Aid have also helped the Ark Tibetan Handicapped Orphanage in Sichuan province. They provide safety and security for disabled, forsaken and poor orphans. Of the 7,000 children who suddenly lost their parents in the earthquake, the government assigned 34 children to the security of the Ark. These children are not only being cared for, but are coming to Christ. Gifts from Christian Aid have provided food and medicine for 68 orphans and insulated the Ark’s walls to provide protection from bitter winter weather.