Editor’s note: How can we pray for churches in Zhengzhou? Believers are weary and worn, exhausted by the challenges of everyday life and the additional difficulties of following Jesus in China’s restrictive environment. Pray for church leaders to experience God’s strength, for the Spirit to move, and for Christians to preach the gospel to themselves. Praise God that he rules and reigns, and ask him to move in Zhengzhou for the glory of his name.
China Partnership: How can we pray for your church and your families?
A Move of the Spirit
Pastor Cui: Pray for my spiritual state and for my wife and children. Even in this challenging environment, may we still rely on the Lord. May we have strength and a steady, settled resilience.
As for the church, I keep thinking: when God revived the rural church in Henan [in the 80s], that was the mighty work of his Spirit. So, pray for the churches. Pray that they will be led by the Spirit. Pray that once again, through the preaching of God’s word and through pastoral ministry, the spiritual lives of believers would be revived. Pray for believers to have spiritual hunger and a willingness to keep growing. Some of them really do want to grow, but in this fast-paced urban life, with work and family and children, time and energy are really limited.
Pray for the churches. Pray that they will be led by the Spirit. Pray that once again, through the preaching of God’s word and through pastoral ministry, the spiritual lives of believers would be revived.
Pray also for seekers in our church, that they would come to know God and turn to faith.
Serving in Peace and Joy
Pastor Wu: Pray for my family to be able to serve in an atmosphere of peace, steadiness, and joy.
I consciously try to shield my wife in church life, because I hope she can simply be an ordinary believer. May she offer what she is able and willing to give in caring for other believers, and not feel crushed by the expectations of others. When she is under pressure, that affects both of us, and then we end up raising our children under that same weight. I don’t want our children to grow up watching their father and mother constantly anxious and burdened because of the church. So, pray for our family to serve more freely, in the freedom of the truth, carrying the calling as we serve.
Pray that the Lord would help our church grow together in our hunger for the truth and our understanding of the gospel. May the gospel not only be preached to unbelievers, but to every one of us believers. When we meet challenges in life and work, may we respond to those challenges through the gospel, applying it with our eyes fixed on Christ rather than looking for solutions outside of him. More than anything, may we seek the help of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Giving Church
Pastor Lu: Over the past two years, I have often prayed together with these other laborers here that our church would be a more blessed church. As Paul says in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
When we meet challenges in life and work, may we respond to those challenges through the gospel, applying it with our eyes fixed on Christ.
Over the past years, God has led our church to focus on children’s education and on passing on our faith to the next generation. It has become clear that we can’t just fix our eyes on our own family or our own small flock.
Never miss a story
Our church’s ultimate vision is to become an Antioch-style church, an outward-facing church. We’ve been praying for that continually. When others ask how to pray for us, this calling is always what I tell them about. May we become a church that is able to give – not just a church that stays in this city, but a church that reaches beyond the city. True blessing is in giving; pray that we would become a church that can give.
As for my family – well, ministry is a lifelong calling. As Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That has always been our heart’s desire.
“Restore Us, O God”
China Partnership: Our final, bonus question: is there a passage of Scripture that represents Zhengzhou?
Pastor Cui: Psalm 80 comes to mind. In verse 3, then again in verses 7 and 19, there is this refrain, that is like a prayer and a cry: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”
As I get to know Zhengzhou and its churches, this is a very personal prayer before God.
Pastor Wu: I think about the development of the gospel in Henan over the years.
An article describes the Henan church by saying, “Henan is both for the true and for the false.” Over the decades, Henan has had many true believers, but it has also produced many cults and been deeply affected by heresies. Over the years, God has continued to work in this province, and has continually built up the churches.
John 15:2 says: “Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Heresies arise and challenge the faith, pressing gospel-rooted churches to dig deeper in theology and build on pure truth. There is also external persecution, and the cultural and economic challenges today’s urban church faces. I think that, when God allows these challenges, he is pruning and shaping us so we can bear more fruit.
Pastor Lu: When I was in student ministry, we often used to say that China is a populous nation, Henan is right at China’s center, and Zhengzhou is Henan’s central city. Zhengzhou is a city God pays attention to. In Paul’s missionary work, he also placed special emphasis on strategic center cities, because the gospel radiates outward from the center.
In light of what this city has gone through over the years, I think of Psalm 60:4: “You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be raised up for the truth.”[1]
There is external persecution, and the cultural and economic challenges today’s urban church faces. I think that, when God allows these challenges, he is pruning and shaping us so we can bear more fruit.
We have mentioned this: “Henan is both for the true and for the false.” There have been many failures, but God has also raised up many people. An army needs a banner to rally around after defeat, and they need it even more before going into battle.
CP: Thank you! Pastor Cui, would you close with a benediction?
Pastor Cui: Loving Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us this precious time to reflect on the city of Zhengzhou, the current state of churches in Zhengzhou, and to see your heart for this place. We remember the works you have been displaying here all along. Although there are many challenges – like serving in a modern city, or working within China’s religious environment – we believe you are still the God who reigns. Lord, you are able to renew your people and enable them to bear witness for you in this very environment.
So, we pray for you to have mercy and compassion on Zhengzhou. Please strengthen every church, every pastor, every laborer, and every believer. If it’s your will, we pray that you would once again revive your church in Zhengzhou, and use the churches here to become a greater blessing in your kingdom.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
[1] The translation of this verse varies from version to version. The ESV says: “You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow.” However, Pastor Lu is quoting the wording in the Chinese Union Version, which focuses on raising a banner for the truth.
Pastor Cui, Pastor Wu, and Pastor Lu are pseudonyms for house church leaders in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the church in Zhengzhou.
