On August 1, Aubrey Johnson, GA author and minister of the Peachtree City Church of Christ, boarded a flight from Dulles Airport in Washington DC to Beijing, China. The purpose of the trip was to preach the opening services of the first legally recognized Church of Christ in the People’s Republic of China. In the following article, Aubrey addresses some of the most frequently asked questions regarding this historic work.

1.      Now that the Olympics are over, will the Beijing Church of Christ be closing its doors? Some have been under the impression that the church was a temporary measure for those attending the Games.

The Beijing Church of Christ has only just begun. David Langley, the congregation’s permanent minister began preaching full-time for the church on August 30^th. David grew up in the Graymere congregation in Columbia, Tennessee where his father is an elder. He received his BA and MNT from Freed-Hardeman University. David’s wife, YaNing, is a Chinese citizen and fluent in both Mandarin and English. They make an exceptional team.

2. How did the opportunity to start the new church arise?

We were pleasantly surprised when the Director of Religious Affairs gave us the go ahead for beginning the congregation. When the Olympics were scheduled for Beijing, it just made sense to inquire about the possibility of planting a church. Ephesians 3.20 says God can do more than we think or ask, so we decided it was time to dream big and make a bold request. I am convinced the approval was a direct result of the work of China Mission led by Ron Brown, one of our elders in Peachtree City. We support five orphan homes and hundreds of foster children in addition to conducting annual medical mission trips providing surgery to correct congenital heart defects, cleft palates, and club feet. China Mission also makes arrangements for burn victims to come to the U.S. to receive treatment. Readers can find out more about this work at ptccoc.com or china-mission.com.

3.      Tell us about the two services you preached on August 3 and 10.

As the first service began, David Langley led us in singing, “Victory in Jesus,” an appropriate selection for the opening of the Olympic Games. I preached a message on, “The Loving Church,” from chapter one of my new book, Love More, Sin Less. A Chinese philosopher once said that it takes sunshine to make a flower but love to make a garden. We are here to sow seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ to grow a garden of love that extends across the continent of Asia. The following week, my sermon was entitled, “The Faithful Church.” I cannot think of two more important foundations for building a healthy congregation than love and faithfulness.

Attendees included a 1951 graduate of Lipscomb who has taught English in Beijing for decades; a retired Abilene Math Professor and his wife, a Chinese business woman; a secret service agent for President Herbert Walker Bush; an NBC newsman; the parents of the U.S. Olympic Team’s women’s water polo coach; a sports equipment vendor from Dalton, Georgia; and a Korean language instructor. Bo Pugh, our Youth Minister in Peachtree City, preached the next two weeks, and now David Langley has taken over preaching responsibilities for the congregation.

4.      What were some other highlights of your trip?

I had a few days to see some amazing sights before returning home but the high point of the trip was not touring Tiananmen Square or the Temple of Heaven. One special joy was getting to sing “Jesus Loves Me” to a four year old boy named Ha Ha who was with us for a while in PTC. We brought him over to receive treatment for burns. His living conditions back home were pretty grim so members of our congregation collected funds to build his family a new house. I got to see the finished construction and the smiles on his mother and sister’s face.

I was also there to watch David and YaNing hand two teenage girls their first Bible. David explained that this book would tell them about God’s Son, Jesus, who loves them and died to save them. That message hit home because the girls’ mother passed away a year ago and their father visits them only once a year. China Mission sponsors make it possible for the girls to go to school, receive medical attention, and get the food they need to survive.

5.      The government excluded Chinese citizens from attending services of the new church. Why proceed with such restrictions in place?

People come to Beijing from all over the world. In addition to providing worship opportunities for members of Churches of Christ, we also knew that people from every church background would be looking for an English speaking worship service. Our challenge is to find ways to let them know we are here. A lot of people will be exposed to the Lord’s church through these encounters in addition to encouraging faithful brethren away from home.

We also believe the time is approaching when attendance restrictions will be lifted. No one could watch the Olympic coverage on TV without recognizing the rapid changes taking place in this once isolated country. The Beijing Church of Christ will be perfectly positioned to take advantage of the day when religious freedoms are expanded in China. We believe that day will come sooner than later.

In the meantime, I was thrilled to worship with Chinese Christians both in Beijing and Xi’an. They cannot attend the services of the Beijing Church, but we are providing alternate worship services weekly, and teaching and support at every opportunity. The Beijing Church of Christ will reach beyond the walls of the hotel where Lord’s Day assemblies take place. And through God’s grace, we look forward to the day when united services can be offered.

6.      What future plans are there for the church?

We believe four things are essential for the future of the new congregation. Number one is longevity. People need to know the church is here to stay. Second is good will. Through our work in China Mission, peaceful preaching and good behavior we believe we can show government officials that it is safe and wise to let Chinese citizens participate in our services. Third is publicity. We need to find as many ways as possible to let people know we are here. Our meeting location is very good—a stone's throw from the Wonshou subway station—and the hotel and meeting room are exceptional. And finally, we need partners to help us through their prayers and gifts.

7.      In view of differences among churches of Christ in the U.S., how would you describe the direction of the new church?

In Peachtree City, we are passionately committed to New Testament Christianity. As sponsors of the Beijing Church, we intend to pass on our commitment to honoring God by doing things in Bible ways. That includes a cappella congregation singing and male leadership in all services. We also preach the necessity of baptism for forgiveness and fellowship among God’s people. Our aim is to be a caring, devoted, and biblically sound church.

8.      What final message would you like to get out to the brotherhood?

I want to say thanks to all the Gospel Advocate readers who have been praying for this work and for me personally. It will be a joy to see how God uses our humble efforts. It will take time and a lot of trust building for this work to flourish, but God specializes in doing marvelous things with tiny seeds and faithful remnants. We will strive to make the most of this historic opportunity because we have unshakeable faith in the gospel's power and the Father's love. May we never underestimate God!