July 6, 2013

New Doors Opening in Beijing

Warm Greetings from Beijing, China!

We have good news to share about new locations – both a new apartment and a new venue for our Beijing International Christian Fellowship Zhong Guan Cun. We are rejoicing in this double blessing.

Our new church home will be in a hotel conference center right next door to a University with the largest number of foreign students in China - 10,000 foreign students a year from 120 nations. We’ll be just blocks away from several dozen other universities too. 100,000 International students are in our neighborhood! One million Chinese University students! Just typing these stats gives me ‘chicken skin!’ My, we have a BIG responsibility. Pray earnestly that we will be faithful!  Some come to Beijing as committed Christians, very glad to find a church home. Thousands more have every intention of ‘sinning to their fill.’ May we faithfully shine His light of grace and truth.
As 80% of our church is students from more than 70 nations, Dayna spends lots of time making graduation leis! Here we are saying farewell to one of our high school seniors. It was a privilege to baptize her several years ago and now to see her heading off to a fine Christian college.



There are also many University graduations; Frederick from Rwanda earned a Master’s degree in Engineering. He is with (left to right): Philip our Church Administrator (from 
  


the Philippines), Terry our Assistant Admin (China), Mbazingwa one of our Elders (Tanzania) and Dayna. What a privilege to have a small part in equipping these fine Kingdom servants who have many years and opportunities before them!  

Timely Word

In over 20 years of preaching systematically through books of the Bible there have been many Sunday’s where the chosen text speaks right to a situation in the congregation or community. Brothers who do not preach through books of the Bible sometimes ask how this method could possibly be “relevant”?!? Well, our present series through Genesis landed on chapter 19 the Sunday after the U.S. Supreme Court’s sad decisions. I sensed the Lord’s blessing to speak with boldness. But I also felt an incredible sadness that this chosen misbehavior celebrated by some is condemned by the living God. The Church in the 21st Century must strive to maintain the Biblical balance of God’s mercy and justice. Some are very good on mercy and bless others. Others are very good on justice and blame others! The perfect balance is seen in Jesus. Nobody was more intolerant of sin than Him. He spoke more about hell than heaven. Yet, nobody was more welcoming and forgiving of sinners than Jesus. He died for us! If someone chooses to go to hell they’ll have to step over His body to get in.     

Movin’ Higher Up!

Our BICF Seminary program is adding a Doctor of Ministry track. We already offer accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Christian Studies and Missiology. Now we have been granted permission to offer a D.Min through Global University. This allows our students, mission workers, and pastors from throughout China to enhance their academic qualifications right here in Beijing. Mark will be teaching the first course for this new program this fall, “Leading the International Church.” And he will be teaching a course on the Pentateuch for the Master’s Program in October. The work of mission is now truly “from everywhere to everywhere” as workers are sent from China to the ends of the earth.

Our new apartment is within the same complex where we have lived for the last four years. We are moving from building 6 to 16, from the 6th floor to the 22nd for an additional $ 100 a month. Our present landlord wanted to make it $ 500! We’re thankful to remain near our new church site and many of the campuses we are reaching.

Speaking of dollars, we are very thankful to report that we have been fully supported the last two months. Praise to God and thanks to you!  

Yours in our Faithful Lord, Mark and Dayna Blair

Our Mission
Pioneers - 10123 William Carey Drive - Orlando, FL 32832 – USA www.pioneers.org
(Checks should be made out to ‘Pioneers’ – with a separate note attached saying: ‘Mark and Dayna Blair, Beijing.’ Electronic transfers can be sent to: http://www.pioneers.org/Give/AutomatedGiving.aspx )

Our Email  blairstan2@gmail.com or  blairstan@psmail.net (secure)


Skype  blairstan

Our Ministry
Beijing International Christian Fellowship - www.bicf.org
Hear Mark’s sermons at: http://bicf.org/english-service