UNCOVERING CHINA Traditional Chinese Umbrellas I was expecting China to be in the headlines in 2008 as we worked our way towards the Beijing Olympics. However, the Games seem to have been overshadowed by news about events in Tibet and then, the devastating earthquake in Sichuan. As we move through July, all other things remaining equal, I anticipate the Olympics taking centre stage once more. I wonder what will be reported? I don’t envy the journalist’s task of trying to convey the complexity of modern China to the reader! China is a very diverse country with layer upon layer of sensitivities and complexities. Just when you feel you are really beginning to understand it something new emerges to challenge your perceptions. There is a saying, “People visit China for 2 weeks and then come back and write a book. People visit China for a month and come back and write a leaflet. People visit China for 6 months and don’t write anything, as they realise how little they understand”! It takes time and commitment to get beneath the surface of ‘China’. Perhaps more importantly, it takes a willingness to set aside preconceived ideas and to be open to new understandings. For example, a great deal has been made in some quarters about the churches being more tightly regulated before, during and immediately after the Games. Certainly, there is great concern among a number of authorities in China, both religious and secular, that outside agencies will use the influx of tourists arriving for the Games to send in people to proselytise and this has led to calls for vigilance and a certain wariness of groups of foreign Christians. But the other side of the coin is the actions of the Shenyang local government. Shenyang, in northern Liaoning Province, is the venue for the Olympic Football competition and the local authorities have ‘decided’ that most of the foreigners visiting the city will be Christians (we wish!!) and that they will want to have somewhere ‘nice’ to worship. To ensure this they have given RMB4 million (approx £295,824) to Shenyang Diocese to refurbish and upgrade the Cathedral! Why has this not been reported? Is it because it would challenge our perceptions? On any level, we cannot escape the importance of China. It is home to a fifth of the world’s population. It is an “economic tiger” in Asia and has increasing influence on the world stage. It has one of the fastest growing Christian populations in the world. Why would we not want to engage with this nation? Why would we not want to be a trusted friend of the Chinese, able to speak sensitively on issues that concern us? The Scottish Government is engaging with China; the Scottish Churches should follow suit. There is much we can share with our Chinese friends; there is much we can learn from them but only if we are prepared to be in partnership and dialogue. Relationships are key in China and if we are to be a trusted ally with a voice in that country, we need to invest in developing and building up honest, open relationships. That will require that we look below the surface and begin to uncover the many layers that make up modern China and that we be willing to rethink our own perceptions. None of this will be easy but the rewards will more than outweigh the effort. Patricia A. Johnston China Field Officer, Scottish Churches’ China Group LEARNING FROM CHINA Peter Smart, Convener, Scottish Churches China Group Two handy facts for your next quiz night! China has one fifth of the world's population and one Chinese city makes over 90% of all the micro-wave ovens in the world! Perhaps less likely to come up in any quiz is the fact that 50 million Bibles have been printed legitimately in China since 1984 for China's own Christians to read. More surprising is the fact that China's Christian population is growing at a rate that churches in Scotland can only dream about. The Scottish Churches' China Group (SCCG) is the ecumenical body through which Scottish denominations support the work of Christians in China. In over 20 years of work, the SCCG has built up relationships with a number of Chinese institutions and agencies to become a trusted partner. As I start my first year as Convener of the SCCG I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that will arise, encouraged by the witness of our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ. Over the past 50 years they have faced many dark days but have emerged stronger, more numerous and are now recognised as a force for good by the Chinese Government. As we here in Scotland continue to struggle with church and population decline our work with Chinese partners is not only about giving, it is also about receiving. It provides a wonderful opportunity to receive new insights and share our concerns and encouragements, all of which could strengthen our understanding of our faith and the way we witness in our communities. Q&A Liu Ruhong is the Director of The Amity Foundation Education Division. One of the Programmes she is responsible for is the placement of, mainly, English language teachers in smaller Teacher Training Colleges in central and western China. The study of English is compulsory throughout the Chinese education system. What is the Amity Foundation? The Amity Foundation is an independent voluntary organisation in China. It was created in1985 on the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social welfare, health, community development, and disaster management from China's coastal provinces in the east to the minority areas of the west. What are the goals of the Education programme? To enable the children in the rural areas in the west parts of China to have a better education. Amity places teachers of English in small teacher training colleges in the west, to train English teachers for the rural areas, and to raise their educational level. We invite people to come to China to work as teachers of English for about two years or longer. Most of them teach English Conversation and English Writing to Chinese students. They also work beside their Chinese colleagues to improve professional skills. What are the key issues facing education in China? We have a big gap between urban areas and rural areas, and between the east part and the west part. Like other developing countries, China has more opportunities in big cities and in the east part, where people can live a better life and children can have a better education. In comparison, the education level in rural area and in the west part is lower. Many children are not able to receive a good education. How can people get involved? We hope that more people will come and join the Amity Teachers Programme. This will enable us to send more teachers to training colleges and to help train more English teachers in the rural areas and in the west part of China. [To find out more information contact Patricia Johnston from the Scottish Churches China Group on 0131 225 5722.] Kate Jarman is a British and Irish Amity Teachers’ Group (BIATG) sponsored teacher working in Hechi, Guangxi Province. She is in her 2nd year and will return home in the summer. BIATG is a sub-committee of the China Forum, which in turn is part of the Global Mission Network. What attracted you to working in China? For a number of years I have been fascinated with China. To begin with, I’m quite fond of Chinese food! My Chinese friends at home also introduced me to the culture. I was further inspired to discover more about the amazing history and intriguing current events in this gigantic Asian country. In 2004, I came to China to teach in a summer school in Chengdu. That’s when I fell in love with the country. I was enthralled by the culture, the lifestyle so vastly different from my own, and the numerous opportunities to broaden my horizons. What have you enjoyed most / found most difficult about working in Yizhou? I have loved my life in Yizhou; it has truly been wonderful. For me, the best part, the biggest privilege of being here, is working with my students. I love planning and delivering lessons that my students both learn from and enjoy. Their enthusiasm, openness, and honesty are what I will miss the most when I leave. On the other end of the spectrum, though, I shall not miss the endless paperwork! In China, there seems to be a form for just about everything you might want to do. I find it extraordinarily tiresome to have to fill out a form to tell the bank clerk how I plan to spend my money just to be able to get some local currency! Have you advice for people thinking about teaching in China? I would say that the most important thing is to have an idea of what you’re getting into. Do your homework! What I’d suggest is spending time with people you know who are from China, reading books, watching some TV programmes and films, and getting some practice with Chinese food and chopsticks. SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE On 12th May, Wenchuan county, about 90km west of Chengdu, was the epicentre of an earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. Up to 80 per cent of buildings were destroyed and a vast area affected by landslides, power failures and loss of communication. Many thousands of people were killed or injured, including very many children, as their schools collapsed on them. The mountainous terrain made it difficult to reach some areas and the priority in the initial aftermath of the earthquake was to clear roads to get food and shelter to families who had lost their homes. Further devastation was caused when the most powerful of dozens of aftershocks, registering 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the area on 25th May. Faith-based organisations were swift to respond. The Amity Foundation had a team in Chengdu within five hours to help with relief work. After initial relief work in larger towns, Amity has now moved to remote villages to distribute emergency supplies and assess future needs. Another organisation, Jinde Charities, mobilised a team of medically trained staff and joined volunteers of the Red Cross in the disaster area to provide medical treatment and counselling. Both Amity and Jinde are continuing to play an important role in the rescue work and expect to be there for a long time. Shengjing Hospital, the Scottish Churches’ China Group’s long-standing partner in Shenyang soon sent doctors, nurses, psychologists and epidemic prevention specialists. They were among the many volunteers from all over China that went to help the victims in Sichuan. Perhaps more than on any other occasion this disaster has struck the hearts and minds of the entire population. Alongside the great sense of sadness and loss is a determination to rally round and help people in the area rebuild their lives. Amity reports from Nanjing tell of the kindness of people there; school and university students help with fundraising, companies donate clothing and others help with free shipment of donated goods to Sichuan. An international appeal has gone out for 6 million tents. The Scottish Churches’ China Group is contributing to Amity’s relief work and we expect this to be on-going for a considerable time. Ann Bagnall Roman Catholic Representative, Scottish Churches’ China Group CHINA EDUCATION RESOURCE UPDATE What does China mean to you? Do you immediately think of rice, chop sticks and lanterns, or do you think of more complex matters such as communism, trade and population growth? Although an ancient civilisation responsible for countless achievements throughout history, the rate of growth and development in China today is unprecedented. In 2008, all eyes will be on the Beijing Olympics, a huge step forward in terms of accessibility to a country which has often avoided world attention. This accessibility can only increase, and therefore children in primary schools today – the traders, tourists and business people of tomorrow – must be equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding which will allow entry into China with ease. The emphasis the Scottish Government is placing on developing links with the country confirms its importance. September 2007 saw the launch of an exciting new educational resource designed to encourage schools to include learning about China in the 5-14 curriculum. The Olympic Games is a major focus for children this year and it is important that what they learn is factual and up-to-date and not based on out-dated stereotypes The China Education Project is a user-friendly resource pack designed mainly for use with 11-14 year olds. It is based on the real lives of six Chinese children with whom the Scottish Churches’ China Group (SCCG) has contact through our Chinese partners. By using the pack, children in Scotland will learn about the families, homes and schools of the children, who come from different parts of China and widely varying social and economic circumstances. The resource, developed by experienced Primary teachers, meets the criteria for the Curriculum for Excellence and is great fun to use, with a range of exciting activities to capture children's imagination and stimulate their interest. Many schools have ordered the pack and we are encouraged by the enthusiasm with which it has been received. At a time when competition between commercial producers is fierce the SCCG is very proud to have been able to publish such a first-class resource and to see it being widely used. If you would like to see something of what it contains log on to www.sccg.org.uk/china-education-project/ Copies can be ordered from the Scottish Churches’ China Group. Margaret Macintosh, Vice-Convener, Scottish Churches’ China Group CHILDRENSPAGE Learn to write ‘Beijing’ in Chinese Start here! People in China use a different alphabet to us. For them the city of Beijing is written: ???? Learn how to write this word in the following steps – the red strokes are added in each new step FFIINNDD TTHHEE BBAAMMBBOOO Help the Panda find the Bamboo in the middle of the maze. PRAYER FOCUS FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS Gavin McEwan, Scottish Churches’ China Group “Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s a disaster and you’ve survived.” These were the words which Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was reported to have spoken to orphans in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in China’s Sichuan region. Some journalists reported this as an “awkward” response at a time when people faced the most desperate loss. It is often difficult to find the right words to say to someone in troubled times. We have all encountered situations like this with our friends, our families, our neighbours. Many of us utter words of comfort as a part of our daily working lives. Some of us, on the other hand, seek comfort in the midst of various problems which we face each day. Where do we look for inspiration at times like these? The truth is that, somehow, we do find the right things to say and familiar words in particular can be especially consoling. Passages from the Gospels or the Psalms, amongst other writings, can bring a special kind of comfort to people of faith, even if to others those words might seem too empty to provide real comfort. We should never underestimate the power of familiar words to console: and we should never be afraid of uttering them to those who seek comfort and support. SUGGESTED READINGS: Proverbs 8: 1-6 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right.” Luke 7: 11-15 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. PLEASE PRAY... When we find a friend in need, help us to find the words to use to offer them help. When we find a neighbour in distress, help us to find the words to use to give them comfort. When we find a stranger who is lost, help us to find the words to use to put them back on the right road. When we are in need or distressed or lost, help us to open our ears to the words offered by those around us, which help us on our way again. And when we cannot find words at all, may the very silence itself bring its own special comfort and peace. In the Name of Christ, Amen CHINASNIPPETSSTAFFUPDATESupportedbytheScottishChurches’ChinaGroup,MrGeorgeStevenwillleaveforNanjingonJuly4thtoassistinstaffdevelopmentattheAmityHomeofBlessingsandTheAmityChildren'sDevelopmentCetre.GeorgeisahighlyexperiencedSpecialNeedsTeacherandwillbeworkingwithstaff,parents, clientsandpupilsduringhis3weekvisit. BIBLESFORTHEOLYMPICSSpeakingatthecelebrationoftheprintingofthe50millionthBiblebytheAmityPrintingCompany,Mr.YeXiaowen,DirectorofStateAdministrationforReligiousAffairsannouncedthatBiblesprintedatAPCwillbemadeavailableatthe2008OlympicGamesinBeijin. HeunderscoredwhatRev.CaoShengjie,FormerPresidentofChinaChristianCouncil,saidinherspeech,thattheOlympicsisagreatopportunityforsharingbetweenChineseChristiansandChristiansaroundtheworld.TheThreeSelfPatrioticMovementandChinaChristianCouncilispreparingtoprovidefreeBiblesandchurchservicesduringthegamestobothathleteandvisitors. SICHUANEARTHQUAKERESPONSEIfyouwouldliketoofferyoursupportthiscanbedoneinanumberofways: •youmaywanttoconsiderwritingaletterofcondolencetoTheConsulateGeneralinEdinburgh,MadameTanXiutang. • financial support can be offered to trusted partners like The Amity Foundation. For further information on how to do this please contact Patricia Johnston. • prayer support would be very much appreciated, especially for the following areas: • pray that the aftershocks will cease so that people will feel safe and able to return to homes, villages, towns and start the rebuilding process. • for the army as they now try and prevent dams and lakes from bursting and causing further destruction. • for the children who have lost their family members and don’t know what the future holds for them. • for parents and all who have lost loved ones as they look towards a totally different future. • pray that the police and other officials will handle compassionately the protest from parents who have lost children in collapsed schools. • for all the staff of The Amity Foundation as they seek to respond to the needs of the survivors. • for the medical teams sent from Shengjing Hospital, Shenyang, that their skills may be wisely used. • for the staff in Shengjing Hospital who are treating survivors sent there. • for the Christian churches throughout China as they minister to communities who feel overwhelmed by the scale of the tragedy. Thank you for your prayerful support. Please pray for the protection and good health of all the staff and family members serving overseas with World Mission AFRICA Zambia: Jenny Featherstone [EA], Colin Johnston [EA], Ida and Keith Waddell AMERICAS Bahamas: Scott and Anita Kirkland Bermuda: Alan and Elizabeth Garrity Trinidad: Garwell and Claudette Bacchas ASIA Bangladesh: Helen Brannam [EA], David and Sarah Hall [EA] Sri Lanka: John and Patricia Purves MIDDLE EAST Israel and Palestine: Anthony and Darya Short, Colin Anderson On Leave Jeneffer Zielinski, Helen Scott, Andy and Felicity Gaston, James and Linda Pender [EA], Ministers and family members in Mainland and Continental Europe Belgium: Andrew and Julie Gardner France: Alan and Lucie Miller Hungary: Aaron and Edit Stevens Italy: William McCulloch The Netherlands: Robert and Lesley Ann Calvert, John and Gillian Cowie Portugal: William and Maureen Ross Switzerland: Ian and Roberta Manson, Melvyn and Doreen Wood [EA] = Ecumenical Appointments An up-to-date list of Church of Scotland members serving with other agencies overseas is available on our website and by request at the address below. KEEP IN TOUCH! If you would like to find out more about the issues raised here, please visit our website at www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worldmission or contact us at the address detailed below. We would be delighted to hear from you. 121 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 4YN email: wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk tel: +44 (0)131 225 5722 fax: +44 (0)131 226 6121 WANT THE LATEST NEWS? Would you like to receive weekly our email bulletin “Update”, featuring current news and events within the World Church? Subscribe to our free service by sending your contact details to wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THIS NEWSPAPER ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST AND VIA OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.CHURCHOFSCOTLAND.ORG.UK/WORLDMISSION Issue WM21 Editorial Team: Patricia Johnston, Gillian McKinnon and Carol Finlay. Design and Production: Design Services, Church of Scotland. World Mission is not responsible for the content of external websites. Copyright © World Mission Council, Church of Scotland. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for the reproduction of texts from this publication for Church of Scotland use only. For all other uses, please contact World Mission for written permission on wmeditor@cofscotland.org.uk Church of Scotland Scottish Charity Number: SC011353 Connect ing wi th the Wor ld Church July 2008 The World Mission Council is the channel through which the Church of Scotland responds to the command of Jesus "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark16:15). The Council works in many countries worldwide, usually on the basis of partnership with national churches and institutions and always with a view to involving church members in Scotland in the development of the work. Our mission is to empower everyone to discover, experience and share the challenges and opportunities gained by connecting with the World Church.