An Eye-Opening Experience!

'D', ASM 2010-11. Posted on 1 March 2011.

Coming on the Antioch School of Missions (ASM) has truly been a real eye-opening experience, something I won't forget and have plenty to say about! Though I've only just finished part one of the course, I've been taught much but more importantly learnt much.

Through speakers with field experience, proven mission courses, in-country mission trips and numerous serving opportunities in the ASM city, the Antioch School of Missions has provided a solid foundation to launch into what I hope will be a long-term stay in China. This training, along with a loving and supportive community of AM-CCSM workers, has made the transition from my home country to China much easier than I first thought it would be.

Before the August 2010 start date I was full of mixed emotions. On the plus side I had a feeling of excitement at coming to China for a year and experiencing a new country, culture and way of life, alongside seeking God to see where He was taking me in regard to missions. On the other hand, I was leaving family and friends, a stable job and the comfort of a country where I had spent the first 30 years of my life. In terms of life decisions this was a big one for me, but one I made easily because I knew that God had called me to it.

The ASM team here in China have set up a great program. AM-CCSM co-workers in this city do an awesome job to support and make you feel comfortable. With limited Chinese language I was close to useless in getting things done, so it was good to know there were a number of people to call upon if needed.

The first week we were here we had orientation, which not only helped us to get around the city but also to build relationships with all the other ASM students. This was a great launching pad as all the students would be spending a big part of each day together for the next four months with mission training as well as language school.

Every guest speaker that has come through has spent time here in China serving, so they know exactly what we are going through at this early stage. Their testimonies and experiences serve as encouragement and words of wisdom to us newcomers who may have come with a mindset of thinking things would be relatively easy but then find out it's not. Loving God and loving China and its people are key aspects that can be seen and heard in each speaker. These are things that I need to keep pressing into as I look towards long-term service.

We have gone through the popular ‘Kairos' missions course, which breaks down everything that mission embodies. We have also been through parts of the ‘Perspectives' book on the world Christian movement and the ‘Masterbuilders' book on leadership. Church history, Chinese culture and the Church in China have also been taught, so we've been through quite a lot of valuable material. It may seem like a lot of studying needs to be done and I had the impression before coming that it was going to be an intense four months, but it hasn't turned out that way. The course runs at a nice pace and there have been two mission trips to break up the study periods with some field experience.

As I enter part two of my ASM year, I'm full of excitement, as I'll be serving the local Chinese by teaching English as well as building friendships with the locals. With four months of language studies under my belt I should be able to have short conversations and at the same time improve my Mandarin Chinese. It's also going to be a time for me to evaluate where I'm heading after ASM finishes in July. Will it be back home or a longer stay in China? Either way being here on ASM has changed the way I think about missions, so wherever I am, I can still do something to reach the unreached of China and help those on the field here.

What other Antioch School of Missions' students have to say:

"I have loved my time here. The course content has been excellent, a great variety of teaching but all intrinsically linked to missions and cross-cultural work."

"ASM has impacted me deeply. I've enjoyed it and learnt valuable lessons. It's been practical and theoretical. Having the opportunity to join mission teams, visit co-workers in other cities and visit rural areas has opened my eyes to some of the needs of China. It's given me a clearer picture of the church in China. It's shown what has been done and what still needs to be done. It's provided a good foundation for me if I decide to go long-term."

"The course has met my expectations of bringing new insight into the Word and the application of it both personally and in China. The high calibre of teaching that I've been exposed to over the last few months has exceeded my expectations. The exposure to so many mission-minded people and teachings in such a short space of time is such a rare blessing."

"I'm most thankful to God for putting me in a place that facilitates personal growth. The main area the Lord has been teaching me on is in terms of prayer and intercession. To always be never ceasing in prayer and to change my focus and perspective on it from being a preliminary and necessary step for the work to actually being the work."

"I wanted to be prepared for the field, to understand more about China, its history and its culture, to know more about real life experiences from co-workers in China and to be exposed to some of the ministries I can get involved in. ASM has met my expectations!"

"We've learned a lot! The teachers have all been wonderful and we've been taught some very helpful things on spiritual growth, as well as practical lessons on serving China. It's been great to be part of a team that shares the same passion for the Chinese people. I love that what we've learned and experienced is applicable to serving in China and beyond."

"The course has given us a holistic understanding of what mission is about. In addition, we've got to know a bit more about China, the history, the culture, the people, the people groups, the Chinese church, etc. Hearing from different people from different ministries has broadened our view of what God is doing in China. God, in His sovereignty and wisdom has placed different people from different backgrounds with different passions to work with different groups of people with different needs. God is actively moving in China."

"I have learnt a lot from different speakers and also from one another in the team. It has been a wonderful experience for me personally!"

Want to find out more about the Antioch School of Missions? Then check out www.asmchina.org or contact your local AM-CCSM base.