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 11^th 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.

http://content.blubrry.com/thegoodlifehawaii/Mark_Dana_Blair_2-18-14.mp3

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

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

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 29^th 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 )

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

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

Back Home and Homeless

Aloha from the Capital City of the World’s Largest Nation!

While breathing the pristine air of Hawaii, friends asked how we endured the smog of Beijing? Here we are on the subway trying to cope… sort of like a Sci-Fi movie…but real life…

We’ve been back for over a week and jumped right in to life and ministry; preaching, teaching, small groups, prayer meetings, and planning meetings. We praise the Lord for putting us in Beijing International Christian Fellowship, Zhong Guan Cun. As expected, we are meeting several dozen new people – mostly students who have come here to study this new semester. We smile as we hear them say, as we did a couple years ago, “We never expected to find a vibrant Christian church in Beijing!” Their smile will only broaden when they find that there are hundreds of them here!

Ohana in Hawaii

Here we were in Hilo at the Lee family reunion…got the T-shirts…Josiah, Dayna, Nathan, Mark, Heather, and Aaron. It was wonderful to be all together for the first time in six years! This was a very wonderful Christmas gift for us! Now Nathan and Heather have joined Aaron as Oregonians, while Josiah and Maylee still live in Almaty,

Kazakhstan. Maylee, now 10, recently entered her first ski competition and took Bronze!

While in Hawaii we were in 20 church services, 2 Training Seminars, 21 small group meetings, and the Mission’s Conference shown here. Mahalo for hosting us, encouraging us, supporting us, and keeping us in your prayers! You have shown us the faithful God we love and serve.

Back Home and Homeless…

Well, not quite yet. But we have returned to find the owner of our apartment is selling it. Our rental contract is until June 2015, but as they say here T.I.C. ‘this is China.’ So we’re in search mode – again. Your prayers are appreciated because as much as we enjoyed each of the 14 beds of our Home Assignment, we were looking forward to keeping our pillow in one place for a season. While you pray about this, we’ve been waiting for our Rental Deposit from our previous landlord since last June. It is over $1300! Our prayers about this are starting to get imprecatory… better pray about that too…!

“The Life and Work of the Pastor”

For several days in April, Mark will teach this course for the BICF Seminary. It’s odd that a class on this subject would take days as he only works one morning a week….? (That’s a joke!...Hopefully you knew that!!). Several BICF pastors will share the teaching as we seek to encourage and equip young leaders that He has gathered here. Pray for the Lord to teach us all.

Many, many, thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement that keep us pressing on for another season of ministry here. We are humbled and eager to see what He has in store.

Yours in our Gracious 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 Email blairstan2@gmail.com or  blairstan@psmail.net (secure)

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

BICF Christmas Letter

Home for the Holidays

Thanksgiving Greetings from Beijing,

Last Tuesday we said good-bye to our eldest son Nathan and his wife Heather who moved back to Portland, Oregon. In their two and a half years here Heather taught Biology and English in a large Chinese high school. Here she shares with a blind Chinese boy who is a part of the Bethel Home that is often served by the members of our church.

Nathan began his career as a product designer working in two companies here. You can see some of his accomplishments, and some his great photos of life in Beijing, on this web site: http://nathanklblair.com

We, and their many friends from our church and work, miss them already! But we will see them soon as all three of our sons will gather with family for a Christmas reunion in Hilo. It will be the first time we have been all together with Nathan and Heather, Josiah, and Aaron - in six years. We are excited and grateful.

The Beijing International Christian Fellowship continues to thrive. We are seeing the Lord work throughout our 21 congregations, including the five that we serve in Zhong Guan Cun. Last night we had a full and dynamic “Unity” service with our English, Korean, Indonesian, and African congregations! This fall we have seen Small Groups really grow. Young people far from home are finding Christian community and solid Christian friendships. Of the 82 Universities that surround our church venue, we have groups on about 20. Pray with us as we try to reach even more. We are planning an all church Thanksgiving Dinner, which has been much appreciated by students, both Christians and not yet, who are far from home.

Dayna enjoys teaching baking, and we all enjoy eating the fruits of their labors! Here are students from China, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Ghana getting some tips from the Chef. We are thankful we can open our apartment for fellowship and ministry.

We our planning our third annual “Christmas around the World” program held at a large Chinese church again this year. We again have a great team of performers, stage crew, and coordinators who are already working hard. The pastor of the church, which now has 10,000 members, has asked us to do the performance for two nights (December 13 & 14) to allow more people to attend. Their venue seats over 2000 people and we expect to fill the house twice. Many of those who come will not know the Christ of Christmas. May He who became man long ago give them a new birth this year!

During our time away from BICF ZGC these five young preachers will serve our church here in Beijing. It has been a joy to spend time studying with them as they prepare to preach, “King Jesus: Adored and Obeyed” from Matthew 1 & 2, and 5-7. It has been one of our goals to encourage and equip expository preachers. And these guys come with knowledge and skills from Hong Kong, Tanzania, USA, and UK. Please remember Hin Tai, Mbazingwa, Adam, Peter, and Josh in your prayers.

We leave for Hawaii tomorrow and are eager to be with our ohana, churches, and friends. Here is our Sunday schedule:

December 1 Kalihi Union Church, Honolulu

December 8 Living Waters Assembly of God, Hilo

December 15 Hilo Missionary Church

December 22 Puna Covenant Church, Keaau, Hawaii

December 29 Mokuaikaua Congregational Church, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

January 5    Kalahikiola Congregational Church, Hawi, Hawaii

January 12  City Church of Honolulu (PCA)

January 19 First Chinese Church of Christ, Honolulu

January 24 Kauai Island Missions Banquet

January 26 North Shore Christian Church, Kilauea, Kauai

February 2 

February 9 Kawaiaha’o Congregational Church, Honolulu

February 16         Hawaii Kai UCC, Hawaii Kai, Oahu

February 23 AM - Waipuna Chapel, Kula, Maui

                    PM – Wailuku Door of Faith, Maui

February 26 – Fly back to Beijing….

If you are in Hawaii, we really hope to see you!

Yours in Him who came to Save Us, 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)

Our Blog         www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

Our Ministry

Beijing International Christian Fellowship - www.bicf.org

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

The Language Most Spoken by Global Christians...

Aloha from chilly Beijing!

We left summer behind, packed up the Hawaiian shirt and flip flops, busting out the scarves and hats! Tomorrow Nathan and Heather will run in the Beijing Marathon. And we’re going full speed with lots of exciting ministry here.

Never Poorer, Never Richer!       

The message of a fellow pastor recently brought us strange consolation. He, like us here in Beijing, made great efforts for their church to reach University students near their venue. It worked! Hundreds came, and stayed, and enjoyed, but their fancy church building got tattered and shabby. Yet many lives were touched and transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ. And, their weekly collection increased by an average of $13 a week. One Sunday an Egg McMuffin was placed in the offering plate with a note, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give…”!  We at BICF ZGC have been in our pricey hotel venue, next to the University with the largest number of International students in China (10,000 from 120 nations), for four months. Our collections just about cover the rent, but God is bringing and blessing many….!

And Now Spanish…

For some time it has concerned us that the most widely spoken language in Christendom is not among the ten languages used by congregations within our Beijing International Christian Fellowship – Spanish. So it was a great joy to announce to our congregation that a Spanish service began at one of our locations on the other side of city. But then a number of Spanish speaking students who worship with us asked why we could not get something started. (The other site is an hour away.) So we hosted a dinner (picture above) for Spanish speakers at our apartment and 23 people from 13 different nations came! Pray for them as they plan how to launch a Spanish ministry connected to our church.

Studying Old Testament

For three weekends in October Mark is teaching an “Old Testament Survey” class for our BICF seminary program. Students who have another “job” squeeze out enough time for lectures, reading, and writing papers. We had our first graduation this year; four students earned an accredited Master’s degree. Here are some of those in this month’s class; they’re from Singapore, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Germany, Cuba, Tanzania, England, Kenya, and USA.

Happy Harvesters

Even though our church budget is tight, we are not trying to save money by not helping the poor. 20% of our total income goes to “Impact” – BICF’s Outreach, which has a big focus on mercy ministry. Our primary focus is on the preaching of the Word, but we think it is vital the world can “see” the living Good News of Jesus. It is a joy to serve a congregation with such a biblical balance of word and deed ministry. Here are our “barley harvesters” as we recently spent a day serving a local orphanage for blind children.

China International Fellowships

          This weekend we host the China International Fellowship with leaders from I.F.’s from throughout this nation. (www.cifconference.org) Mark will lead a workshop on “Preaching in the International Church.” We hope this will be a refreshing time as we seek to encourage the work of the Gospel in churches throughout this most populous nation of the world. 

          We are so thankful for your prayers and support which allow us to serve the Lord here in China. Our hearts leap thinking about the wide open door God has placed before BICF ZGC! This is our 30^th year of missionary service and we stand before the widest door of opportunity in our lives. For those who have asked, our support seems to be slightly below our requirements.

          We are looking forward to coming to share with our ohana, churches, and friends in just over a month. We have fixed dates with some churches and look forward to hearing from more. Here is what we know so far:

December 1 Kalihi Union Church, Honolulu

December 8 Living Waters Assembly of God, Hilo

December 15 Hilo Missionary Church

December 22 Puna Covenant Church, Keaau, Hawaii

December 29 Mokuaikaua Congregational Church, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

January 5    Kalahikiola Congregational Church, Hawi, Hawaii

January 12

January 19 First Chinese Church of Christ, Honolulu

January 24 Kauai Island Missions Banquet

January 26           North Shore Christian Church, Kauai

February 2           Kauai

February 9           Kawaiaha’o Congregational Church

February 16                   Hawaii Kai UCC, Hawaii Kai, Oahu

February 23 AM - Waipuna Chapel, Kula, Maui

                    PM – Door of Faith, Kahului, Maui

February 26 – Fly Honolulu to Beijing….

If you are in Hawaii, we really hope to see you!

Yours in Him who rules the Nations, 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)

Our Blog         www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

Our Ministry

Beijing International Christian Fellowship - www.bicf.org

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

Open Secret

Warm Greetings from sunny Beijing in Jesus Name!

In June Mark snuck over to Seoul, Korea. We hoped he could slip out, AND back into, China. More importantly we prayed that 100 Chinese pastors would do the same. You might remember that in October 2010 Mark, and 4000 other church leaders from 98 countries, got to Cape Town for Lausanne 3. But 250 Chinese leaders, with tickets in hand, did not.

So it was a great joy to gather the last week of June with 100 Chinese leaders; and to know that we’re all safely home and resuming our ministries. We were asked to ‘go dark’ on sharing about this dodgy endeavor but now the Lausanne movement has sent out the press release and the photos: http://www.lausanne.org/en/about/news-releases/2148-symbolic-moment-as-chinese-gather-in-seoul.html

It was a great honor to be one of the small number of “Westerners” to hear – and I hope encourage – these Asian church leaders. Take a look at the “Related Links” at the bottom of the web page to see what happened.

Not the Fastest Way to Fill a Glass with Water….

But Dayna and her team had plenty of “bonding time” using this method at our recent BICF Staff Retreat. We are thankful for the great team the Lord has assembled here and the privilege of belonging.

 Fall Push

We have been in our new church location for over a month now. It works very well. And now students from around the world are pouring into our neighborhood. Also, many of our members are back from their summer travels. Pray that we can “strike while the iron is hot.” One study of high school seniors transitioning into college found that if they did not find and get plugged into a church within a month of their arrival they never do! Of course God is bigger than our percentages, but it is all too easy for people to establish habits – good and bad. The bars and clubs around us are allowed to have neon signs and hand out flyers. We, like the first Christians, grow when friends bring friends to a rather out of the way meeting place! And they do.

Sunday we had a “Welcome to Beijing” program led by a panel of our members from Singapore, Samoa, Gabon, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and USA with more than 40 years of living experience here. Lots of “newbies” came and really appreciated this free program. Did you know there are more than 20 “apps” to help folks live in Beijing? I didn’t! Today Dayna took a group of ladies to the ‘plant market’ to buy houseplants to improve the air quality in your home. Great for Beijing!

This Fall Mark will begin a preaching series through the book of Revelation. This is in conjunction with a Small Group study of the Letters to the Seven Churches (chapters 2 and 3) he wrote for the whole BICF to study this year. You can download a copy, in English or Mandarin, at: http://bicf.org/resources

Thanks for Standing with Us!

In the last couple months our support has been more stable! Thanks so much for your generosity and most of all your prayers. Been reading a very helpful book on ministry that offers this timely encouragement as we have been studying the life of Abraham on Sunday mornings…

“I would argue that there is nothing more critical for the evangelical church today than to emphasize the support of urban ministry. The need is great, as is the cost – ministry in city centers is considerably more expensive…If Christians want to reach the unreached, we must go to the cities. To reach the rising generations, we must go to the cities. To have any impact for Christ on the creation of culture, we must go to the cities. To serve the poor we must go to the cities. Many people who are not naturally comfortable in the city will have to follow the example of Abraham. Abraham was called to leave his familiar culture and become a pilgrim, seeking the city of God.”                   Tim Keller, “Center Church,” p. 162.

Pressing Toward that City with You, 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)

Our Blog    www.blairstan.blogspot.com

Skype  blairstan

Our Ministry

Beijing International Christian Fellowship - www.bicf.org

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