Advancing God’s Work Together

Posted on 28 March 2012.

"I heard for the first time, from the China-based co-workers, how just the arrival of a team was a great encouragement to them to know that they are not alone in the field."

"Our presence encouraged the co-workers and also assisted them in advancing God's work."

"Another thing I came to realize is that mission is a dynamic mix of people doing different things. The short-termers are no less important than the long-termers because we play a distinctly different role in the work that is to be done."

These were three comments from three different people who joined one of our short-term teams last December and each one emphasises what an important role short-term team members have to play.

This month we have a short-term team visiting China from New Zealand. They will be staying on a university campus and working alongside some of our long-termers teaching English. Please pray that, just like the team members quoted above, this team too might be that "dynamic mix of people doing different things", that they might be "a great encouragement" to the long-termers, and that they might "assist them in advancing God's work".

Our next international teams will take place in July. Will you please prayerfully consider coming to play your part? You can choose to sign up for mercy work, intercession, an impact cycling team or our new ‘come & see' team (which will give you an overview and allow you to participate in a whole variety of different ministry alongside our China-based co-workers). Those of you who look and speak Chinese can also choose to sign up for a variety of mercy, intercession and medical teams heading to North, Northwest and Southwest China between the months of June and October. Contact your local AM-CCSM base to find out more.

Give thanks for the team last December who were such an encouragement to the long-term co-workers that they went to support. Pray that many more people will come to China with a heart to encourage those who serve long-term there.

Pray for the English teaching team serving in China this month. Pray that they might work together effectively with the Holy Spirit's anointing to serve His purposes on that university campus.

More recently, probably mainly due to the economic situation worldwide, the number of people joining our short-term teams has declined. These teams have a powerful impact in China, so we long to see numbers increase once again. Please pray that more people would be willing to sacrificially give of themselves and of their finances for the purpose of advancing God's Kingdom in China.