December 12, 2014

Holiday Report

Advent Greetings from Beijing!

Bright sun shines into our festive apartment on this cold winter day. Dayna has put up Christmas decorations we’ve collected over the years and miles. A couple weeks ago the “Winter” switch was turned on HIGH here. Thankfully, strong winds (which make the cold bite harder!) have kept our air clean on many days.

We’ve had a very busy “Fall push.” We are now doing life with dozens of new students, teachers, and families who have become part of our congregation at Beijing International Christian Fellowship Zhongguancun this autumn.

China International Fellowships

In October Mark was one of the speakers for the China International Fellowships conference in Guangzhou, China. CIF is an annual gathering of leaders of International Fellowships from around this country. Each one has a similar understanding of our unique challenges and opportunities in IF’s. Many of us came to China wondering if we’d even find a church. Whodathunk we’d find vibrant churches that can freely share the Good News of Jesus in the world’s most populous nation!

There were 3 tracks to CIF – pastoral, worship, and youth and children. Mark led a workshop on “Developing and Sending Out New Leaders” in the pastoral track.

Wedding Bells


Our whole church rallied to make a beautiful wedding ceremony and celebration for our church Administrator. He and his fiancée are locals and were struggling with both the ethics and costs of the ‘traditional’ ceremony. When we asked our members to help they stepped up in dozens to practical ways (Dayna did many things, including the flowers!). Here is the “wedding crew” with the happy couple after the ceremony.

Seminary Classes

Over 2 weekends in November we team-taught a BICF Seminary class on “Basic Teaching Skills.” We had the privilege of sharing with young leaders from eight nations. They were both full-time and volunteer church workers. As we crunched the numbers we realized we have 90 years of experience in teaching between us. That does not mean we have done anything well, but at least it means we know a lot of ways to fail!


Mark just finished an 8 week class on “The Trinity” held in the Coffee Bean Tree restaurant. Years ago when C.S. Lewis proposed giving a series of lectures on The Trinity over the BBC many of his friends tried to discourage him, saying that was too complicated for the average Christian! Lewis’ friends were partly right. We’ll never fully understand our great Triune God, but as you can see here, there are many faithful believers who yearn to know Him better!

Thanksgiving Feast

About 200 gathered for our church family Thanksgiving meal. More than half the group were not Americans – so they had little idea that spaghetti, Korean beef, and bratwurst are not our normal holiday cuisine! (We celebrated in “Café Heaven” a restaurant owned by members of our Korean congregation.) Dayna’s pumpkin pies – Made in China – were thankfully enjoyed…with thick whipping cream! Best of all it was a time for people far from home to gather with new friends. Many who do not know Jesus yet joined in as we sang, “Give Thanks with a grateful heart…!”


People you are Impacting

As we do each semester, we have membership / discipleship classes after our morning worship services. It is a special joy to lead these classes with my fellow Elders to hear wonderful testimonies. 

These are just a few of the people your prayers and support are helping us to serve. True stories, with pseudonyms:

Brian is a young Englishman who was raised Baha’i and sent on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land at 14! That trip convinced him Baha’i was not the right way but not sure if there was any right way. The rest of his teenage years he was addicted to pornography and rock music, composing almost 10,000 of his own tunes! Just over a year ago Brian was challenged to consider claims of Jesus and read the New Testament. At the same time his brother went to study in USA and became a Christian. When the brothers reunited, both believed in Jesus!

Jose is a Mexican whose father is a faithful evangelical pastor. He grew up in a loving home where they loyally went to church. But coming to Beijing 5 years ago was when Jose made his own decision to follow Jesus. Now he leads our Spanish ministry.

Andrew’s parents immigrated to London from Ghana. His Mom was Roman Catholic; Dad was Muslim who became a Methodist. Then Mom began attending a Pentecostal church in London and brought the whole family who heard and believed the Gospel.

Thomas was raised in China and had never heard the Gospel or met a Christian. As a Uni student he went on a 2 week study trip to Hong Kong and met a girl from his village who was a new follower of Jesus. She took him to church, 4 times in 2 weeks. He returned home, a new believer with his Bible, but never found any fellowship. When he got a scholarship to do a Master’s degree in Amsterdam he knew he’d need Christian friends to keep him from moral failure! He found a good church and has become a disciple of the Master with a Master’s degree. Now, a husband and father of a baby girl, he works in a tech company near where our church meets.  
Robert is a Filipino in his 2nd year of Uni, now doing a semester of Mandarin in Beijing. Four years ago he became the first Christian in his Buddhist family. When he is in school he can attend student fellowship groups, but his parents will not allow him to attend church when he is home. His first Sunday in Beijing he found us, and has not missed yet. Now we are praying with Robert for his family to meet Jesus! And we have another two months to disciple him here.

Sally is a vibrant Christian from Brazil who is in Beijing to learn Mandarin. She just “happens” to be sitting next to a North Korean young man during her long days of classes. (China is one of NK’s few allies and there are many of their students here.) Usually NK students are in groups who “keep an eye” on each other. But this young man, without any of his country mates watching, finds himself next to a young lady whose mission is to tell him something new about Jesus every day! At first, he firmly but politely gave her the “party line” atheist responses. But now he initiates the conversations asking more and more questions!

It has been our observation, after living for 16 years in lands where atheist ideology has been imposed; this creates great Gospel-curiosity. Just like railing against exciting-sounding-sins can arouse sinful appetites, this “God who does not exist” just might be worth checking out!

“Joy to the World” Celebration

Last weekend was our 4th annual International Christmas concert in the venue of the Haidian Christian Church, a large Three Self church that seats over 1000 people. It was standing room only on both nights! Pacific Islanders, Koreans, Africans, Mandarin, Americans, Indonesians, and the Haidian Church choir shared songs and skits of the holiday. Mark was asked to present 2 short messages, “Who is Jesus?” and “What did Jesus do?” – 2 exceedingly important questions. Our people brought their classmates, students, neighbors, and friends. Many heard the Good News for the first time! You can see pictures and read an article (in Mandarin) on the church’s website: http://www.hdchurch.org/news/9990

We pray that you and your family will have a wonderful Christmas. We are going to miss our families this year, but we are thankful for the church family we have here in China.
In a recently letter we bragged on our son, Josiah, who was interviewed on the TV show “Connecting Cultures” in Kazakhstan, well now they’ve made him their host!  http://kazakh-tv.kz/en/programms/program/program_597_connecting-cultures

Please pray for the newest Blair. Our eldest son, Nathan, and his wife Heather, are expecting their first in late January!


We are very grateful for your faithful prayers for our whole family, support, and friendship!

In the Name of the Savior of the World, 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 Blog        www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

Our Ministry
Beijing International Christian Fellowship www.bicf.org/zgc
Hear Mark’s sermons at: http://bicf.org/english-service
NEW! BICF Sermon App for Apple or Android: www.bicf.org/app (ZGC sermon tab)



September 26, 2014

Singing in a Beijing Bar

Autumn Greetings from Beijing, China!                                       September 2014

We are busy with the beginning of our new year. Thousands of students from around the world have moved to our neighborhood and we have the privilege of sharing the Lord Jesus Christ with them – in English, Korean, Indonesian, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, and French…so far – in Beijing International Christian Fellowship ZhongGuanCun.


Last Sunday afternoon more than 70 “newbies” from around the world came to hear our panel of experts (church members who are thriving here) share on key aspects of life in Beijing – shopping, riding buses and bikes, fun places, internet sites, health care, visa and registration issues, etc. We sent them out with a little gift bag with a map, Beijing apps, and Mandarin / English key phrases, and info on house plants that help filter your air!



Sunday night, after a full day of worship services, we headed out to the bar, with about 20 people from our Evening Service! It wasn’t just any bar – and with all the students here there are far too many of them! We went to one where one of our members heads up Quality Control on their food menu, and another leads the “Open Mic” on Sunday nights. Mr. Inouye (a former Yakuza mobster, now Evangelist) barred his tattooed guns and belted out gospel songs in Japanese. He had shared his testimony in our Evening Service earlier. Our Japanese Pastor Kosei (white shirt) translated. Kid’s heads turned from their smokes and drinks and gave him a respectful listen. A group of Japanese Christians heard about it and showed up with great enthusiasm and support. The young man who is kneeling to hold the song lyric sheet started break-dancing on the small stage, including spinning on his head!! Yes, it was memorable.


 This month we have hosted several ministry events on our rooftop balcony. The first Sunday of the month we had a Ministry Leaders lunch to get ready for the wave of new opportunities the Lord was bringing. It was a time to encourage one another and lift up our ministry to Him in prayer. Last Saturday we gathered our Small Group leaders for a time of teaching and encouragement in their vital ministries. We believe they are the front line of our pastoral ministry. Pray with us as we hope to see the Lord birth small groups on dozens of the 82 Uni campuses around us.


 In August we had the joyous opportunity of seeing our son Josiah and granddaughter Maylee in Almaty, Kazakhstan. They greeted us on arrival with leis they made. Aloha
lives in Kazakhstan! We also enjoyed time with churches and friends we served with during the eleven years we lived there before moving here to Beijing five years ago.  Maylee is now ten years old. She is doing very well in school, fluent in Russian and English. She is developing into a good skier too. Her other grandpa has kindly introduced her to that sport which he loves and she won two medals in competition last season and looks forward to trying again when the snow begins to pack into the Tien Shan Mountains there.

We are proud of the great job Josiah is doing as a good father and with his work. He will be a speaker in the “Service Quality Institute Worldwide Customer Service Conference” in Minneapolis, MN in October.

He will share about his efforts to implement a customer service plan in Technodom. A few months ago Josiah was interviewed on a Kazakhstan TV show about foreigners who live there.


And, just recently, he was asked to be the host/producer of the show. So he has taken on that task for a while. Soon the programs he hosts will be on this web site.

And, since we are bragging on our boys…

The sports sensor product Nathan designed while working here in Beijing was featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal “Off Duty” section on August 11; “Get Back in the Swing.”
Aaron is part of a team that has launched a new Russian fine-dining restaurant in Portland, Oregon that has become quite popular: http://kachkapdx.com/

And, the BIG news is that Nathan and Heather are expecting a baby early in 2015! We are so grateful for your prayers and support for our family these many years.

In October we will spend a few days in south China where Mark will lead a workshop for the China International Fellowship, http://cifconference.org/

In November we will team-teach a class on “Basic Teaching Skills” for the BICF Seminary program.
Mark and our preaching team plan to go through 1 Corinthians on Sunday nights and Genesis 25-36 in the mornings for the next few months.

So many opportunities the Lord has opened up. Please stand with us in prayer! We are very grateful for your faithful support. Thank you so much!

Yours in our Faithful God, 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 Blog        www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

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

NEW! BICF Sermon App for Apple or Android: www.bicf.org/app (ZGC sermon tab)

July 1, 2014

Global Impact

Warm Summer Greetings from Beijing!

What a great season of celebration we have been enjoying! As our Beijing International Christian Fellowship Zhong Guan Cun is largely comprised of University students (we’re surrounded by 82 Universities!), many have just crossed the “finish line.” It is bitter-sweet. We rejoice that young adults we have come to love have attained great accomplishments, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.’s.  But now they must go back to their homes around the globe. The Elders who preceded us in this congregation wisely coined our church motto - “Gathering, Growing, and Going.” We are not just “loosing members and leaders” – we are impacting the world. The spiritual investment we have made in the lives of these young people that China has sent us to disciple J, will bear fruit a hundred-fold as they have many years of Gospel-ministry from influential positions before them.

Kids Chat

Dayna was one of the teachers for recent a BICF-wide Christian Education program. About 40 people who are leading children’s ministries throughout our fellowship
spent the day considering how to more effectively reach and teach children. Her subject was “Classroom Management” – something she has had many years of experience in! We are thankful to see the Lord raise up more and more to reach the coming generations.

Sent out to Serve

It will be especially hard to say good-bye to Mbazingwa and Lina. He is a dear brother from Tanzania who has been a key leader in our church for 8 years. During the years of his Bachelor’s studies he was a Deacon, as a Master’s student he has been a faithful Elder and Preacher. Now he plans to teach in a University in 


Tanzania. He has set the bar high for our young African leaders by his faithfulness, humility, and careful expositions of Scripture. He shares freely that no matter what door opens for him in teaching, his main goal is to preach and teach Jesus Christ to young adults in Africa.

Lina is from Burundi. Two years ago she battled Guillain–Barré syndrome. She was hospitalized for three months, two weeks in a coma. Our church rallied behind her in prayer and God was very gracious to heal her completely. She worked hard to catch up with her classmates and received her degree with them. She is seeking the Lord’s will for the next step of her life. Please pray for Mbazingwa, Lina, and the dozens of other students we are sending to their homes around the world.

Spanish Fellowship

Last Fall we hosted a dinner of our Spanish speaking students and challenged them to begin their own Spanish language small group in our church. They did! And they have had a wonderful year of growing in the Lord together. As several of them are graduating and heading back to their homelands, we gathered for another meal in our apartment to celebrate all the Lord has done in and through them this year! The majority will stay and continue their ministry in the coming academic year.



One young Cantonese lady (near my right shoulder, wearing glasses) was born and raised in Panama. Her parents moved there from China in search of a better life. She has been accepted into a demanding program in Peking University, China’s finest. In 1990 a Cantonese evangelist from Canada went to Panama to share the Good News with the many immigrants there and led her family to Jesus. Today their Cantonese language congregation in Panama (there’s a picture to contemplate) numbers over 500. Now the church has begun a Spanish language ministry with over 100 people so far! In Christ there is no East or West….

Kid’s Camp

We were both invigorated as we served as Counselors for our recent BICF Kid’s Camp (ages 7-11). We had a busy three days just one hour outside of the city, boating, games, go-karts, good food, and Bible programs. It was a joy to see the Lord work in the lives of 96 kids, and us leaders, from all around the 


world. We were able to be with kids who are from our BICF ZGC congregation and get to know them better. Their desire to worship and follow Jesus was inspiring. Pray for them to press on faithfully in the years ahead!

Summer Plans

In ZGC we have finished our preaching series through Revelation (morning) and Mark (evening) and will be looking at 1 Timothy and Daniel this summer. Many of our “regulars” are away for part of the summer but we often have a good number of summer teams. We are also launching a Mandarin language ministry in our church for foreign I.D. holders. Many thousands of Chinese have returned from work/studies abroad and are in spiritual search. Pray for our team as it forms and reaches out. At the end of July we plan to visit our family in Almaty! We will also have a chance to share with the ICF we served there for a number of years, as well as a local church led by a dear brother. We are eager to see Josiah and Maylee again.
During our warm summer nights the ministry will be coming to us as we host gatherings on our roof-top patio of our apartment. What fun!

It is through your prayers and support that we are able to share the Lord with many here in the capital city of the world’s largest nation. Thank you! Glory to God!

Yours in our Eternal God, 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 Blog        www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

Our Ministry
Beijing International Christian Fellowship www.bicf.org/zgc

Hear Mark’s sermons at: http://bicf.org/english-service

May 28, 2014

It's Hot in Beijing!

Very warm greetings from Beijing, China!

Our short, pleasant, Spring quickly melted into sizzling heat; every day  will reach 100 F (37 C) this week. But we did not move from Hawaii for the weather. Shorts, slippers, and A/C work here too! Even in the heat, we are thankful for the season of fruitful ministry the Lord has placed before us.

Easter Celebration

We joined the Church around the world to remember our Crucified and Risen Lord during Holy Week last month. Once again seven members spoke briefly Jesus’ seven words from the cross during our Good Friday service. Great News was shared by brothers and sisters from Nigeria, New Zealand, China, Samoa, and the USA. While I met with the young man from Samoa to review his message, I was touched to hear what God was doing in his life. He said, “I have recently come to understand there is nothing I can do to save myself…not my religion… my baptism…not being good…I believe salvation is completely a gift of God who loves us!” Now he helps me craft my sermons J!

From that reflective night we moved to rejoicing on Resurrection morning. It was especially fun to be led in praise by our Youth Band with a 12 year old not much taller than the keyboard who effortlessly cranked out joyful tunes with a contagious smile as he “rocked the house.”


Dayna joined our other Polynesians with worship in dance. Easter morning we doubled our attendance – over 800 packed into our hall.    

Heddy’s Dilemma

After Easter we offered a follow-up program to explain more about the Christian faith to seekers. We used a simple, biblical, teaching program called 3-2-1 (www.321.revivalmedia.org). Their simple, direct, explanation of the Trinity right up front is very helpful and honest.

In one of our discussion groups I met a 30 year old Chinese woman named Heddy. Following Jesus was interesting to her, but the cost was great. Chinese describe a woman of her age with the cruel phrase, “past her expiration date.” So she faces strong parental pressure to marry the boyfriend she moved in with five years ago. Back then he made big promises of taking her to the States for her pursue her dream of a Ph.d. Now, he gives many reasons why they should postpone both travels and marriage – and he is out most nights chasing other women. But Heddy does not feel strong enough to walk away from him. Her parents have told her that if she walks away from him, they will walk away from her – sacrificing their daughter for a scoundrel because of their social honor. Lots of complex relationship pain in this nation! And if she follows Jesus she will have to quit her membership in the Communist Party which is a necessary part of retaining her well-paying government-linked job. Jesus call to “deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Him” is more than abstract theory for Heddy. Pray for her.

MICN in Beijing

After Easter the BICF hosted the 11th Missional International Church Network (www.micn.org). Over 70 leaders from International churches around the world gathered for five days of study, fellowship, and sharing. Dr. Hwa Yung, a Methodist Bishop from Malaysia, challenged us with his Plenary Sessions on Contextualization of the Gospel. Here is Mark leading a workshop on “Preaching in the International Church.”  




The Good Life Hawaii Radio Show

Before leaving Hawaii we recorded an interview about our life and ministry with Pastor Danny Yamashiro for his radio program “The Good Life Hawaii.” You can listen as we go “down memory lane” with him.

China Travelers

We have enjoyed a number of visitors in the last several weeks. We hosted pastors from Kauai, Abu Dhabi, and Los Angeles who shared with our church. We also hosted a brother who has worked among International Students for many years. He was really encouraged to see the unique opportunities the Lord has given us here to reach them.

A Hui Hou!

Soon we face the sad prospect of saying ‘good-bye’ to dozens of our members who’ll graduate from their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.d programs. It does help as Christians to say “see you later” (Hawaiian: A Hui Hou!) because by the grace of God that is true. But it also helps to remember the motto of our BICF ZGC, “Gathering, Growing, Going.” Almost 100 nations will be changed by these dynamic Gospel-servants who have become more mature leaders here in China. We trust they will have many years of Kingdom-service ahead. Pray they will find great spouses, raise great kids, and make a great impact in their families, communities, workplaces, and nations. The Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, and lived out by the people of God is the greatest hope for this lost and dying world.


June marks five years of our pastoral ministry here in this capital city of the world’s most populated nation. It still seems hard to believe we are here. He continues to open wonderful doors of opportunity! From our long morning study of Revelation, Mark plans to preach through 1 Timothy – “God’s Church: Leading, Loving, and Living.” On Sunday nights he will work with our team of young preachers as we go through the Book of Daniel. This Saturday Dayna will be one of the Teachers for a BICF wide workshop on Children’s Ministries.

Thanks very much for your faithful prayers and support. Let us know how we can pray for you too!

Yours in our Mighty Savior,
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 Blog        www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

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



April 7, 2014

Blairstan Upgrade

Aloha from the NEW Blairstan in Beijing!

Many thanks for your prayers and encouragement amidst our apartment upheaval. God has mercifully given us an Upgrade! First, our landlord acted with great consideration. He actually lives in another part of China where he runs a business that urgently needed some capital. So he was forced to sell the apartment. Yet as he was admittedly breaking our contract he gave us 2 weeks rent free and 2 months cash penalty AND our one month rent cleaning deposit. So, we were able to pay advance rent and fees of our new place which is in another building of the same complex. Our new rent is about $250 less per month. It is a bit smaller, but it has a roof top patio which we will especially enjoy this summer. We have a great view from the 29th floor, especially when the skies are clear here in Beijing, like today….



Of course, like any move, there was lots of cleaning, painting, organizing, packing, and unpacking – which we are still doing – but we wanted to give praise to God and thanks to you for all that has happened. Now we can focus more fully on all the ministry opportunities of this upcoming Easter and beyond.

We are very grateful for your prayers and support as we serve the Lord here in this capital city of the world’s most populated nation. We are still amazed at all the wonderful doors of opportunity He continues to open!

Yours in our Risen Savior,
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 )



Skype  blairstan

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