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FORVJARDING AGENTS:
Lebanon, OR
Phone;
97355
258-2865
February, 1976
The validity of the Bible and Christian faith are my teaching and preaching themes right now. One of the great proofs of scripture is the living miracles that we can see everytime Christ fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy. There are hundreds of them. I started compiling a complete list of the prophecied
items and their fulfillments in Chinese. Also, each fulfillment is rated on a
Thank God for the substance
My BA degree was in pastoral care not carpentry, but I spent a week remaking a portable baptistry. It still leaks a lot, but I'm still trying and hoping.
house, entertaining guests, planning packing, making clothes, baptismal robes, choir capes and baptistry curtains. (I think her mother set a good example.)
Mong Kok church started a fellowship on February first. The Christians are fully in charge. They want to learn how to express themselves concerning Christ and
how to handle more responsibilities since we are leaving. But since it is shrouded in superstitions, it is also a big religious holiday? so on New Year's day, I visited the largest temple. I was the only nonChinese among thousands of people in the courtyard. What surprised me most was not the rituals, but the atmosphere: no joy, no adoration, no praise just suffocating tenseness.
Also, I recently bought a Chinese-English copy of "Quotations from Chairman
Chinese New Year is always exciting and fun with homemade goodies.
Mao." After reading this and visiting the temple, I more greatly admire Christ. I was raised in church, and I often took God's message for granted, but now I say
with real meaning, "No man ever spoke like Jesus! No man ever'lived like ChristI
A new Mandarin-speaking church will start soon, the Lord willing. Mr. Lau, a preacher and co'-worker^ feels a burden to more fully express himself in this way.
We desire your prayers on his behalf.
Don & Raquel Major stayed with us on their way to Indonesia as new missionaries. We enjoyed the rich spiritual sharing with close friends in Christ.
My parents, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Anderson, plan to be here for the first half of May
at the end of a 3-month mission trip, thanks to the kindness of Pantano Church of
Christ. We are looking forward to their visit!
TENTATIVE TRAVEL SCHEDULE
area)
28 - San Jose Bible College Graduation 31-Jaiie .10 - Oreg.pai. Mid-Willamette Vallev
June 14-July 23 - Attending Pacific Christian College Summer School We welcome your invitations to speak at the appropriate times.
In Christ,
'.S. from
"Baba" (Cantonese), but I don't know why Mommy is do insistent that I say
"Mama." I can't see why one word won't do for both of them!
FORWARDING AGENTS;
Lebanon, OR
Phone:
97355
503-258-2865
March, 1976
Dear Friends,
The enclosed brochure will give you all a general idea of what we're up to, I wish we had room to say a lot lot more; yet I hope what we did say won't bore you. When I looked over the brochure we used before we came to Hong Kong, I was amazed at how out-of-date the facts were, and how naive our viefWpoint was. These last three
years in Hong Kong should have cured that.
After thinking over our furlough plans, we've decided not to make speaking dates the major emphasis. Instead, we hope to focus on valuable study, learning experience and contact with Chinese in Los Angeles. But this doesn't mean we're not going to speak with anyone who's interested.
We've already written the churches who have shown interest in this work.
urge them to contact us.
with you.
If you want
us to share with your group, then give this brochure and letter to the leaders and
We'd be glad to speak to your group through one of these messages; 1. The Mission Scene. This sermon aims at helping Christians a) sympathetically understand the complexity of world evangelism, and b) become aware of the wide range
of opportunities available to them to get involved. 2. The Call of the Lost. This sermon aims at moving Christians to direct in volvement in world evangelism, (There may be potential missionaries in your congre gation.) 3. The Call of China. This sermon presses home the facts and needs of China, 4. Hong Kong slide show. 20-minutes long. 5. Hong Kong display, A table-top display.
I would enjoy sharing any of these with your group. I think these messages would
San Francisco Bay Area May 16-30 San Jose Bible College chapel Rinconada Hills Chr, Church Rinconada Hills Chr, Church San Jose Bible College- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
May 31-June 7
June 8-10
Central-Southern California
June 11-July 3
July
3-Aug, 1
Aug. 2 on
The Lord willing, this schedule will not suffer many major changes, but dates are filling up fast. If you want us to come, then suggest a time and the type of program that you need. Part of July will be our first, full vacation, but that doesn't mean we won't be speaking. I like talking almost as much as a vacation.
page 2
Recent Guests
We enjoyed a visit and gospel concert from the Rostvit twins this month. Yes
terday, we had a brief visit with my father, who stopped for 22 hours on his way to teach and preach in India. Joyce said, "It was too short. I felt like I didn't get to say everything I wanted to."
"Maybe," I said, "But I thought it was great. Our conversation was the best compact seminar'in practical theology that I've had in ages."
Dad, Mom and Grandma Anderson will all be with us for two weeks before we leave Hong Kong.
Sn SMandarin
When he had lunch with Mr. Lau and his family, the last thing he said was,
this group's needs should be met, as Mr. Lau hopes to do. Please pray that God will give the Laus wisdom and character equal to the challenge they have accepted, and that God in His mercy will bless them as they plant
the Word.
Also pray for the Mong Kok fellowship group started the first of February. I believe God's hand is molding them, but it has meant some testing. Pray that they
might be kept from the evil one and that they might grow to full maturity in Christ.
In His Love,
to get Grandpa.
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FACTS ABOUT H
ncipai language
Mandarin
1974 Population
4,345,200
uantonese, Hingiisn,
Land area -
(about 20 X 20 miles)
is sponsored by
Rinconada Hills Christiai
1975 Pollard Roa
dia
special services.
Presently, Mongkok has a Chinese wor ship service, Bible study, evening youth fel
Oregon. She met Gary at Bible college and they were married Aug. 12, 1972. Sandra Jane came as their first child on Aug. 7, 1975. President Woodrow Phillips said of them,
"Both have been excellent students while
lowship and evangelistic bulletin, as well as the English service, Bible study and news letter. Average Sunday attenders are 35.
PLANS
here at school and have shown the qualities of leadership that are necessary for effec
tive ministry in our world."
EXPERIENCE
from May 16th, 1976 to June, 1977, living in the Los Angeles area. Joyce will be study ing at Pacific Christian College, and Gary will be studying at Fuller School of World
Missions.
Gary and Joyce arrived in Hong Kong, Sept. 5, 1973. For the first 18 months, they
devoted themselves to language studies, and While in language school, they assisted the English-speaking church of Christ founded by Bill and Melba
successfully graduated.
Upon returning to Hong Kong, they hope to devote themselves fully to planting new churches in the newly-developing industrial towns. Naturally, the ultimate goal includes
all of China.
children began an English work in Hong Kong in 1963. Since then, their children have all gone to Ozark Bible College. When
the Reeses return from their furlough in
June, 1976, their son and daughter. Dan and Phoebe, will be coming lo Hong Kong, too.
Shu Chen Li began a school for refugee children in the Fung Wong district in 1965
with about 700 students, A Mandarin-Cantonese church was established in the school.
3
lao
3
tiO
Since Mr. Li's passing away in 1971 his wife, Ruth, has been principal of the school, and Wing Wong pastors the church of about 70 regular attenders. Wing Wong and his wife plan to return to the States soon for three years of study at Lincoln Christian
Seminary.
PROJECTED GOALS
1. June, 1976 to June, 1977, college study. 2. 1977 to 1980, one church planted in Hong Kong each year.
3. 25%annual increase in attendance.
In
1974,
Wayfull
and
Helen
began
his wife, Karen, arrived and are now active in language school and the Mongkok church. At Wing and Conita Wong's wedding, 1. to r., back row: Gary and Joyce Ander son, Conita and Wing Wong, Janet and Danny Thurston; front row: Ruth Li, Mary Joy Li, Mrs. Chiang, Troy Thurston, Melba and William Rees.
In 1976, Mr. Lau, a local Chinese minister began a Mandarin-speaking church in his
home.
PROJECTED
1. Living salary 2. Church planting
BUDGET
$7,500 annually $12,000 annually
April, 1976
Joyce/ Sandy and I will be in the States before some of you read this. Fuller School of World Missions officially accepted me both for their correspondence course and as a "research associate"
(graduate student), Joyce has been accepted at Pacific Christian College cind will begin June 7th.
If you want to personally get in touch with us, please note on our "Tentative Travel Schedule" when we will be near you. If you'd like us to share with your Christian group, please note what dates are
already full and contact us quickly. If neither of the above inter est you, then don't waste your time reading the travel schedule.
Our newsletter will come out bi-monthly at least while we're away from Hong Kong; so the next letter you get should be dated June.
Interest in the church has jumped since the Christians started manag
ing their own fellowship in February. Worship and evening attendance is striking over 30 regularly. That's a first! Especially since
now is our traditional annual-slump time. The attendance growth is mainly among college-age and young-adult workers instead of high school students, thus indicating a more ma
turing group as well. However, this also means that their .questions are also more complexed and mature. Sometimes I'm really exhausted
after a serious discussion with them.
The Christians must soon rise to the task of managing all of their own chxirch life. So, some of the yoimg men are planning to preach;
some of the ladies are planning to be translators for the Mandarinspeaking preacher; and we're simplifying several hymns for our ama teur pianists. Please pray also for these as they rise to sufficiency
in Christ.
gation. .. And pray for the safety of my father, mother and grandmother
as they travel here, and;for us as we return to the States.
Thanks so much for all of your constant prayers and support thus far.
In His love.
At this time:
We will be here:
May 16-30
May May Sat. May Sun. May Tue. May Fri. May Sun. May
Thu.
Fri.
20, e v e . 21, m o m . 22, aft.fi eve 23, morn. 25, e v e . 28, e v e . 30, all day
May 31-Je. 6
Je. 7-Jl. 2
South-Central Calif,
(weekends)
(Joyce)
Conv.
June
7-July 2
July 6-9
Sun.
July 18 ( ,
8-14
mom.
Aug.
FORWARDING AGENTS:
ptottt
Si p^e4fce
Dear Christian Family,
Mr.
400
& Mrs.
Eldon Wymore
97355
Hillview Drive
Lebanon,
Phone:
OR
258-2865
June, 1976
It could only happen in America. In nearly three years in Hong Kong, we never contracted any of the diseases associated with foreign countries, but after only a few days back in the States, I had all the symptoms of dysentery; vomiting
and diarrhea. Fortunately, it was short-lived.
Our last few weeks in Hong Kong were pretty hectic with packing, finishing up our part in the church work and doing final sight-seeing with our family. I'm afraid some things that should have been done didn't get done. I almost believe
that moving one's home across international lines is the supreme test of Christ
ian patience and character. There were government release and entry papers, I.R.S. clearance papers, shipping company deadlines and contracts, itemized custom tax lists, plane tickets, and figuring out what to do with the thousands of things we couldn't take with us. In contrast, crossing the international barrier of death should be a
from my Savior, saying, "Oh, Gary of little faith, why did you doubt My power in
Even at the airport, nearly 30 Christians came to say "Good-bye" the Sunday that
we left. Finally, we had to urge them to go back to church. We had a comfort
friends and family, and then attended the evening service at Rinconada Hills Christian Church (RHCC). Finally, we got to bed (36 hours after we got up) at my sister's home. Rod and Linda Peterson.
I renewed my driver's license without a mishap. I haven't even forgotten to drive on the right side of the road. But I'll admit that culture shock caught
us off guard. Everything about America shocked us at first, but now it has all fallen into place as if we never left.
We attended 18 meetings, speaking at 13 of them and traveled over 500 miles
during our two weeks in California. Between meetings, we visited with our family and several other families at mealtimes. Now, we're spending a week with
'Grandpa and Grandma* Wymore in Oregon, organizing the mission office work. We'll be speaking at Southside Church of Christ in Lebanon, Oregon this weekend. The Wymore's gave us their second car to use for the whole year that we are
in the States. But just after we brought it up here, it got bent up in an
skelter that the rediscovery of old friends happens all too seldom. Change is constantly tearing people from familiar moorings. The old paths are gone. The
there. Joyce and I are particularly sensitive to this after just leaving our hearts in Hong Kong, and because our schedule forces us to leave reunions
are the crosses on church buildings, the Bible and familiar hymns, and the spirit of hospitality in the family of God, and I especially enjoy those quiet times each day with my dearest Friend of all. Today, spend some time with old friends,
reading the Bible and praying.
we need your prayers.
First, this year we want to gain knowledge and skills essential for later use
on the field.
Pray that God will lead us to the right sources and help
Second, we want to recruit at least three couples for the field and three others for world-wide evangelism in general. Pray that God will move their hearts.
Third, pray that we can start a healthy, Chinese Christian fellowship in Los
Angeles metropolitan.
Fourth, upon returning to Hong Kong, we plan to start one new group of believers
each year in a new urban district.
Pray that God will prepare peoples' hearts to hear the gospel.
Pray that technical problems will be resolved.
Pray that Chinese leaders will be cultivated.
Above all, pray for God's mercy on the Chinese who've not yet heard.
In His love.
SPONSORED BY:
RINCONADA HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1975 POLLARD ROAD
July-August, 1976
Dear Christian Friends,
PHONE: 503-258-2865
ed.
(June 25th) I'd better start this letter now or I'll forget all that's happen Remember, this letter is bi-monthly while we're on furlough.
We planned to spend the first week in June with Dad and Mom Wymore in Oregon. They had given us their second car to use this year, but it was hit the day after we got there. So it spent eight days and $390.00 in the repair shop.
Joyce, however had to start summer school in Los Angeles before the car could
be fixed! It seemed best to let Joyce fly down and stay at my Uncle Jim's home until I drove down. Joyce, being a faithful student, called the school as soon
as she arrived.
cancelled.
possibilities, she flew right back so that we could be with Dad Wymore through his hernia surgery (all's well). Unfortunately, Oregon's rye grass kept me sneez
ing most of the time.
(July 27th) Since I would be going to school in Pasadena, we thought it best for Joyce to attend some college in Pasadena rather than commuting 35 miles to Pacific Christian College, but five days of house-hunting in summer's heat made
me wonder if this was the Lord's will. Then, we found a nice apartment close to Pasadena City College and Fuller Theological Seminary.
our car was hit again from the rear. So back to the shop just 20 days after the last accident. I'm glad we're not commuting! Insurance covered both accidents.
July 5th we went to Denver for the North American Christian Convention and then on to Minneapolis and a few,days with my grandparents in Wisconsin where we
spoke.
From there, we went to speak in Amherst and Bartley, Nebraska, where Joyce's
We picked our car up from the shop and spent Some time with Chinese
relatives were having their annual reunion, and we were back home via Denver on
July 20th.
Most recently, we spoke at Westminister Christian Church in L.A. Before we start school in September, we'll be in Arizona for a week of camp and two churches,
and then sharing in El Rio, California for a weekend.
We saw that
those which were founded on Christian principles half a century ago have reproduced
that light many times over through their descendants in many areas of society and
the world.
1.
2.
3.
That God would raise up three more couples or individuals to work with
the Chinese.
That God would bring into being a Chinese church in the L.A. area.
May God Bless,
91106
SPONSORED BY:
RINCONADA HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1975 POLLARD ROAD
Septejnber-Octooer, 197o
Dear Daddies and I-^oniBiies,
FORWARDING AGENTS:
eldon wymore
I Can walk novr, and it sure is fun I*m too sopliisticated to crawl. It*s. uncouth especially at the park. I just hate to get that sand all over n^r hands.
After all, I'm a lady no\f.
V/iv lots o' luv.
Sandy
P. S. from Gar;)- and Joyce,
We noticed that some people read the "P. S. from 3an(^" first, and that some
don't even read th^ rest. So we thought it v/as time the tables were turned.
been praying that that change would coine f/iithin three to five years. i).llions of other believers have been praying also that China's doors would open to "tiie gospel. I'fore than ever before, I be3j.eve that opening is close at hand. Here's why.
1)1 don't belisve that our Heavenly Father in His mercy will neglect this genera
tion of mainland Chinese who have never heard the gospel.
2) God iS/by His promises, not slow to ansiier the persistent, urgent prayers of his
people.
world. Just today, a missionaiy from the Philippines told me that Chinese and Koreans are the only two Asian groups that are really turning to the Lord right now. It is hard to doLument, but I believe that there may be more Chinese-speaking be lievers throughout thn world today than ever before in human history. From them
must rise the laborers to work in China-
U) cSince the early 1960s, l-lao's regime has been fallinr from favor with the masses of mainland Chinese. The re:;ime wants perpetual revolution, but the people want
a quiet productive life where they can raise thfir faniilies. I'lao's id-fe tried to
use the Cultural Revolution to break this resistance.
tensions amazing^ly rose to the surface agciinst i^iao.
who was sensitive to the people' s needs kept friction do>ni, but i^hen he died
died needlessly. They becajiie martyrs for a just cause. Through it all. Chow En Lai
^) Ilao's government has never been financially strong. These last great earthouakes may have put a great strain on the strength of his government. Will they
be ^le to feed and' clothe those that were -made homeless? li* not, vjill they be able
to resist the impatient demands of hungry people who are now better educated? Chinese can see that throughout the free world peoples rush to the needs of other oeoples caught in disasters. VJhat i-Jill they thmlc of their own government that re
fused such aid?
page 2
To the old Chinese mind, great earthquakes foretell
govermnental collapse because the heavens are not pleased vri.th the rulers and is at war against them. At least one and maybe several of China's great dynasties
collapsed following earthquakes. Do old Chinese today remember and believe these signs? Is God using their, for his ov/n purposes? If so, then the people are not anxious to support a government that even heaven opposes.
Today's China needs and irdght accept a Christian leader like its founding father.
Sun Yat Sen who will speak for the deep spiritual needs of the people. More than ever before our eyes should be focused on God's action in China, Itore than ever
"
not heard of one single Chinese-American Christian despite the fact that nearly 100,000 Chinese live in the L,A. area. Are we really concerned about reaching
the unreached?
About Ourselves
Before we left Hong Kong, we sorted out our belongings and decided to ship only those things we essentially needed. They were to arrive June 7th, in Los Angeles. After several letters, extra money and the help of friends, they finally arrived in late August in Seattle! The V^ymores arran,.;ed to get them as far as San Jose,
where we picked them up. V7e sure were glad for that.
Recent and Tentative spealcing dates are as follows:
10
7
Nov.
Dec.
28 19 -
This letter is already long, so we'll save other things for another time.
In Christ,
91106
SPONSORED BY:
RINCONADA HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1975 POLLARD ROAD
FORWARDING AGENTS:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son."
Oh, what love. Half of the world lived under the shadow of Greek culture and Roman troops when Jesus came. He couldn't have come at a better time for them.
got Qod loved the whole world, and the other half lived under the shadow of the
great Han Dynasty of China. Jesus couldn't have come at a better time for them, either. It was
indeed "the fulness of time". Yet, you haven't heard this Christmas story before.
Jewish traders had established communities in China at least 700 years before Christ.
Since these communities had copies of the Old Testament, they managed to keep up their hope
in the coming King.
jhen "After his birth, astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusa:lem, asking, 'Where is the child who is born to be king of the Jews? We observed the rising of his star, and we have
come to pay him homage.'" (N.E.B.)
Near that time, an astrologer reportedly disappeared from China and was gone for a long time. Was he one of the astrologers who came to pay homage to the newborn king? Had he heard the Jews tell of their hope and seen the prophecies of his star? God apparently didn't forget the
Chinese and that half of the world. He sent them a star. And, these astrologers at least didn't
While Paul went west to the Greeks and the Ethiopian eunuch went south to the blacks,
the apostle Thomas went east. He planted churches in Syria, Persia, India and .... did he reach China: History doesn't say, but from earliest times, crosses appeared on a few Chinese tombs.
Throughout the centuries, the church in China lived. Sometimes it grew to hundreds of thousands. At other times it disappeared from view. Those oriental Christians were persecuted
by national Chinese pride, even as the Western Christians were persecuted by Catholic Rome's
spiritual pride. But they survived even to this day.
"For God so loved the world . . .," the whole world. Let's remember that the whole Christmas story was for the whole world,
WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MISSIONS TODAY?
"Facing^the Divine Command" is a sermon that helps answer that question. It is the serhion that I've preached more than any other. If you care about the world, take time to read it. It's free to anyone who writes and asks for it.
A traveler went to a well to draw water, but the builders of the well warned him, "Draw as much water as
you can, but remember that you are expected to also draw water for those who sent you, and to help deepen the well
so that more water will flow in."
This parable tells something about the School of World Missions, where I'm studying here in Pasadena. Students come not only to get for themselves, but to give and share; so they are called "research associates" instead of students.
Really, though, I'm learning a lot more from them than they are learning from me. At 25 years of age, I am the second youngest of the nearly 100 research associates here. The average age is 41. These career missionaries
- 'f" .
such OS Iceland, Sweden, France, Greece, Uganda, Nigeria, India, China, Viet Nam, Cuba, Ecuador and Sri
Lanka.
They have averaged sixteen years experience. They are radio broadcasters, TV producers, college presidents. Notional evangelists, Bible translators and preachers.
They have faced witch doctors, head-hunters, kings, wars and church problems. Idi Amin tried to assassinate one associate before he left Africa, but killed a guest at his home instead. Another as
sociate was the third most wanted Christian by South African rebels, but ^1 was recently assassinated,
It's very practical. Every "associate" is expected to ably reproduce his Christian faith in other
parts of the world. I believe that this School of World Missions is doing one of the best jobs at helping
people learn how to do that.
MORE THAN TRIPLED it's size in five years! That's the story of the Mong Kok Church of Christ, I've
just finished a fl5 page analysis of the church as well as faith-promise projections for the future. It's available to anyone who will send me $1 to cover copy costs. Just ask for, "An Accurate Picture of
the Mong Kok Church of Christ."
We need your prayers. 1) That we will use wisely the funds that God has entrusted to us. 2) That this school year will be as profitable for the Kingdom as possible. 3) Above all, China needs the Gospel. Dr. McGavron said that he regularly prays that 1,000 Christian workers, no matter what country they are now in, would take the time to learn Chinese, so that they will be ready when the
door opens.
Best Wishes,