January 20, 2013

Still Breathing in Beijing



Happy 2013 from Beijing!
We made history here last week that we’d rather not have made. The worst smog! It was the ‘perfect storm’ or really ‘perfect soup’ – a mix of exhaust from Beijing’s 5 million cars, coal burning for heat during this coldest Beijing winter in 30 years, factory emissions, dust from constant construction (Beijing city limits exceed the size of Connecticut), and a thick blanket of fog. Perfecto!  So on the chart where 500 is  ‘death by breathing’ we reached 800! Right now it’s down to 166, just ‘Unhealthy’! That’s a good day here. Is there anything good about this recent catastrophe? Yes!
When the U.S. Embassy here in Beijing began issuing daily air quality reports in 2007 the insulted Chinese government cried “Foul” at this embarrassing meddling in their affairs. The Americans countered that since they were assigned to live here it was their business too and offered the information on the web for their citizens. As Chinese netizens found this shocking site diplomatic hostility grew. But now, China is leading the way in issuing the bad air news. Monitors are in every major city. Health warnings are sounded on bad days. And factories are closed in times of crisis. This recent ‘soup’ choked many millions in dozens of China’s eastern cities. It could be seen from space! As people who live here and love the people, we’re glad their government has set their sights on the massive task of cleaning their air.
The leaders here are finding it ever harder to be God. Since they say there is no God, someone has to make the world spin here. And it is a big job! Sometimes they ‘make it rain’ and then ask citizens to hail them for the clean air. So who can we send this soup back to? Bottom line, as in all things in life, this is a chance to advance the Gospel. As millions are afraid of even breathing, zealous Chinese Christian seize the chance to tell what happens when we stop breathing. Even better, to declare Him who gives us breath – now, abundant, and eternal – Jesus Christ.
It was a Merry Christmas here….
Thanks for praying for the International Christmas concert the various congregations of our Beijing International Christian Fellowship presented. More than 1200 people heard the gospel in songs, skits, and preached in English, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, and Hawaiian!

Dayna joined in song and dance with our Pacific Fellowship.  And I was able to preach the Gospel and have it translated into Mandarin.

It is thrilling to see the child-like wonder so many have here have about the message of Christmas. God came into the world as a helpless babe --- really!!?? Decades of schooling in atheism makes many scoff at such an absurd notion. But the evident emptiness of that atheism has made many hopefully wonder if it just might be true.
We also had the joy of having our son Josiah (on right) here with us from Kazakhstan for Christmas.

Our son Nathan and Heather (on left) are expecting their first child in the late summer! Unfortunately our youngest son, Aaron, was not with us.
Nathan and Heather have now lived in Beijing for over one year. Both of them have good jobs in their field of interest. Heather teaches Biology in a Chinese High School (in English) and Nathan does product design in a Chinese firm. They’re learning Mandarin as they share with their Chinese colleagues. They have been stretched through their adventures here. It has been great to have them in our church and enjoying their new Christian community here.
Looking to Spring
February 10 is Lunar New Year, the beginning of “Spring Festival” here. Kind of a strange name considering it is still freezing cold! During this holiday hundreds of millions of people in this most populous nation will travel to their home town. We will stay right here. As millions in Beijing are not from here, the city becomes significantly less busy. Hundreds of millions trek to their homelands.  This is also a wonderful “Gospel Migration” too. Trains cars are squeezed beyond capacity. “Standing” tickets are even sold! There are many “bullet trains” where people ride in speedy comfort. But most ride standard trains that can take more than 24 hours to reach their distant homeland (China is roughly the size of the USA). Millions of faith-sharing Chinese Christians pepper the trains. We hear wonderful stories about how the Good News goes out – in Word and deeds of kindness – during those long rides with not much to do. Pray for God’s Kingdom to advance here. 
During three weekends in March Mark will teach a New Testament Survey course for our BICF Seminary program. We have a growing number of people joining this program and receiving graduate-level accredited ministry training. We will have our first graduation this spring.
Mark has been asked to write the Small-Group study guide for the BICF in 2013. Each of our 19 congregations will go through the curriculum this fall, Lord willing. We will be looking at Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. You can use the materials we have already produced in Philippians, Galatians, and the “I AM’s” of Jesus in John in both English and Mandarin: http://bicf.org/downloads-and-resources/viewcategory/6
As we begin 2013, our 4th year in China, our 31st year of marriage, we see no end of Gospel opportunities for us here in Beijing. We are here because you are praying and giving and we thank God for you! Please let us know how we can pray for you too.
Yours in our Faithful Lord, Mark and Dayna Blair
Our Mission
Pioneers - 10123 William Carey Drive - Orlando, FL 32832 – USA www.pioneers.org
(Support checks should be made out to ‘Pioneers’ – with a separate note on the check saying: ‘Mark and Dayna Blair, Beijing.’ Some have asked, and you can send funds through electronic transfers too: http://www.pioneers.org/Give/AutomatedGiving.aspx  )
Our Email     blairstan2@gmail.com   or  blairstan@psmail.net  (secure)
Our Blog       www.blairstan.blogspot.com
Skype             blairstan
Our Mailing Address
Beijing International Christian Fellowship / Zhong Guan Cun                                                  Raycom Infotech Park, Tower C, Room B115,                                                                              2 Kexueyuan Nanlu, Haidian District, Beijing, China 100190
Our Ministry
Beijing International Christian Fellowship - www.bicf.org
Hear Mark’s sermons at: http://bicf.org/english-service

No comments: