November 11th

Jim and I left for the English-speaking Fellowship Church in Shekou (an area of the city of Shenzhen), about an hours ride from Jim and Ardith’s apartment. Arrived 10 minutes before the service and there was little room to sit. They were already singing praise songs led by a female with a pleasant voice. Some songs were familiar. Then a prayer, and the introduction of Enoch, an Asian-Indian Christian, who would be sharing the message (1 hour). It proved to be mostly a conversation on doing good without talking about why we should be doing good (law without Gospel).

Following the service, Jim and I looked for a place to eat. Asking where he wanted to go, he chose Subway. Interesting menu in Chinese and English (so I brought one home). We split a footlong teriyaki chicken with drinks. My first western meal in China this time around. Was disappointed to break my chain of “all Chinese.” 

Just like America except that the restaurant is much smaller.

We hopped the subway and went to a station called “Window to the World.” Along the way in the morning, we discovered that there was a special entrance called “free passage,” for people over 65. All I had to do was show my passport with my age. Only one person ever checked the date. So subway travel was free all day. Window to the World is a shopping area, but more than that, it is a showcase area. There’s an area built like a German city. As you leave the subway entrance, you stand in a pyramid. On a hill is the Eiffel Tower. There’s a huge globe in the center. A most interesting tourist attraction.

The pyramid at the entrance to the subway station.

Part of the European area adjacent to Window to the World.

We arrived at the Shenzhen Christian Church in time for the 2:30 Bible study led by a physics prof who originated in Singapore. Nice group of 30-40 mostly young people. His theology was quite “Lutheran.”

For dinner at 5, we found a little restaurant. Saw dumplings in the menu and tried to order them; Jim wanted the fried and I wanted the boiled. But the waitress pointed to the lines below: we didn’t know how to order the contents of the dumplings, so we just pointed. They were good. Joining us was Timothy whom we had met in the morning. He attended the Bible study and was going to come to the English worship in the evening.

Jesus has not forgotten China, and neither should we. I believe that within the next 10 years, we will see missionaries from China coming to the United States.

Evening service began at 7. I spoke the invocation, the absolution, did the message, led the Lord’s Prayer, and spoke the benediction. Jim did the rest. About 400 in attendance, a mixture of some foreigners, but mostly Chinese. Joel has received permission from the pastor of the church (he was asked) and the local religious bureau to lead English worship here. I believe that the provincial government would like the convenience of an English worship service at this big church.

Prayed for several women following the service, talked to some of the Americans from BCIS (Buena Vista Concordia International School) and returned home by 9 pm.

This is one way to bring a bike on the subway. Have you ever seen a folding bike?