Editor’s note: Xuzhou is an ancient Chinese city located in northwestern Jiangsu Province. The city of 9 million has been a transportation hub for many centuries, and was often fought over by warring lords. The city is known for its history and culture, and has terra cotta warriors second only to those found in Xi’an.
Introductions
Lin Yukang: I was born here in Xuzhou, and am now in my late 50s. My wife and have two children, one of whom is studying overseas.
Brother Xu: I’m also from Xuzhou, and am in my late 40s. I serve at a small church here – we are very thankful, Pastor Fang used to help us a lot. Last year our church began a discipleship course, and we’ve also been learning about missions.
My wife and I have one child, who recently began university. Our whole family, including my wife’s extended family, believes in Jesus.
Xuzhou was known as “a place fought over by every military power.”” Xuzhou has been a major thoroughfare, a place that connect many different regions of China.
Wang Qingxi: I’m originally from northeast China, but my hometown church sent me to Xuzhou about 20 years ago. At the time I was young, and I came here to learn and receive training. I ended up staying and serving.
Right now, our church is in the early stages of transitioning from a traditional Chinese house church model to a more structured church. I am overseeing this process as we recognize and establish church offices.
My wife is also from northeast China; I brought my family with me when I came to Xuzhou. We have one child, who is studying at the local church school. The future is all in God’s hands.
I may have a slightly different perspective from the other two pastors because I represent Xuhzou’s newer immigrants. There are many new immigrants to Xuzhou now.
Deep Historical Roots
China Partnership: What is unique about Xuzhou among other Chinese cities? What is special about the city’s local culture?
Lin Yukang: Culturally, Xuzhou is in eastern China, in Jiangsu Province. When people think of Jiangsu, they often picture the south – but Xuzhou is in the northern part of Jiangsu Province, and our customs and culture are close to those in the north of China.
Never miss a story
Xuzhou borders Shandong, Henan, and Anhui provinces, and is at a junction of four provinces. Historically, Xuzhou was known as “a place fought over by every military power.” Xuzhou has been a major thoroughfare, a place that connect many different regions of China. Sometimes, people poetically call Xuzhou “the thoroughfare of provinces.”
Because the Xuzhou region has experienced many wars over the years, people here tend to be conservative and down-to-earth, with strong family values.
The cradle of Han culture is in Xuzhou. Emperor Liu Bang was born in this city, and you’ll find many Han Dynasty relics here, including imperial tombs and terracotta warriors. The scale of these things is second only to the terracotta warriors in Xi’an. Xuzhou is a city with deep historical roots.
Because the Xuzhou region has experienced many wars over the years, people here tend to be conservative and down-to-earth, with strong family values.
Brother Xu: Although I’m a native-born Xuzhou person, I don’t know Xuzhou’s history firsthand, in detail.
But as someone born and raised here, I’ll add this: the last decade or so has brought big changes to Xuzhou. The city has better transportation, parks, and amenities, and is very livable. Overall, public civility has improved, and Xuzhou has done very well in tourism.
Xuzhou has a rich cultural and historical heritage. Our food is also famous across the nation! We trace our food culture back to Pengzu, the legendary culinary ancestor. He is associated with Xuzhou.[1]
Gospel History
Lin Yukang: As for gospel history, the earliest record of the gospel coming to Xuzhou was in 1890. The first missionaries in Xuzhou were from the American Southern Presbyterian Church. One of them was named Absalom Sydenstricker.[2] You probably know his daughter: Nobel Prize winner Pearl Buck.
Western missionaries left churches, school, and hospitals behind in Xuzhou, and many of those institutions still exist today.
The Catholic Church has a church building with an even older history than the Protestants. Most of the Protestant church buildings have been renovated. Tombstones from a mission hospital are still there. Missionaries founded two middle schools, one Catholic and one Protestant. Sai Zhaoxiang and his Southern Presbyterian colleagues built a church, a hospital, and then a school. They left a great number of gospel-related institutions here. As of several years ago, the Protestant school reportedly still had a “pastor’s residence” on the grounds. At its height, that school had John Leighton Stuart,[3] [a missionary and the eventual] U.S. ambassador to China on its school board.
Thanks be to the Lord – there were seasons when the gospel began, revived, and had glorious chapters here in this city.
Brother Xu: From the standpoint of our own small house church, I feel Xuzhou’s house churches are very fragmented. All the churches are like “separate hilltops,”[4] each doing its own thing.
There were seasons when the gospel began, revived, and had glorious chapters here in this city.
Pastor Fang’s church has developed strong structure and systems. But many house churches still need to learn and transition to this model. We’re growing by feeling our way forward.
[1] Pengzu is a legendary Chinese figure who supposedly lived for 450 years during the Shang Dynasty. He is well-known for his longevity and nutrition regimen. Xuzhou claims him as part of its culinary heritage.
[2] Absalom Sydenstricker, whose Chinese name was Sai Zhaoxiang, served in China from 1880 to 1931. His daughter, Pearl S. Buck, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 for her novel The Good Earth, which depicted rural life in China.
[3] John Leighton Stuart was born in China to missionary parents, and grew up to become a missionary himself and eventually an influential educator. He served as ambassador to China from 1946 to 1949.
[4] “Separate hilltops” (shāntóu línlì) is a Chinese idiom describing fragmentation, with each group operating independently – for instance, warlords who control separate territories.
Lin Yukang, Brother Xu, and Wang Qingxi are pseudonyms for house church pastors in Xuzhou.
Pray for Xuzhou to have another beautiful season of gospel revival.
