Sowing Spiritual Seeds in China

For Christians in China, church life and spirituality are not safe topics to be open about as religious activities are monitored by the government. Despite this, SOTA continues to connect believers as they learn God's Word through fellowship and education. Read more to hear about the growth and impact that SOTA has in China.

COVID-19’s strictness and aftermath have caused many economic and political stirrings in China, where health, education and spirituality have been affected and hope for the future feels unobtainable for many. Sometimes hardships serve to reinforce our relationship with God so we can more authentically reflect this hope to those around us. Hardships can show us that God is calling us to redirect our focus from our temporary, earthly experiences to the One who gives us everlasting hope. As our China ministry remains steadfast in serving God and accomplishing his work, we can see the power of perseverance demonstrated in action through his body of believers who are transformed by the Holy Spirit!

2023 was the first year the Chinese government lifted tight controls on the COVID-19 pandemic. And while pandemic control has stopped, government control of churches in China has become increasingly strict. Faced with the persecution of the external environment and a need for spiritual growth and development within the Chinese Church, our China ministry team puts effort into equipping pastors, church leaders and students with biblical truth and church leadership skills through the three- to four-year program SOTA. It’s encouraging that over the last year, the number of SOTA students enrolling has increased and the number of students under 40 has also increased.

Our missionary in China recently shared, “Thank God! Over the past 12 years, SOTA’s team in China has been unwavering in its walk with the Lord, equipping pastors in house churches with SOTA courses and achieving fruitful results. More than 2,700 current students and graduates have blessed the Church, not only by learning to stand more firmly on the side of truth, but also by making great progress in spiritual life and church governance.”

In a world often characterized by isolation and disconnection, SOTA fellowships breathe life into the Chinese community – a powerful reminder of how God is always at work through believers as they learn his Word and grow in faith together. From theological courses to training fellowships, the landscape of education and ministry is flourishing in China!

Through our China ministry’s fervency and continued devotion to equipping and encouraging SOTA students, we see Isaiah 55:10-11 fulfilled: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (ESV).

Join us in praising God for blessing SOTA and sowing seeds of hope through our China ministry! To help us continue to accomplish God’s purposes, consider donating to strengthen the ministry and change lives. Please pray for the Lord to take care of and protect SOTA students and our China ministry team, as well as the networks used to keep our SOTA team in safe connection and effective communication without obstruction. Pray for the distribution of course materials and continued fruitful fellowship without disturbances.