China (The Opportunity)

I was a bit overwhelmed by my experience in China. The purpose of my trip was to see the process of ELIC(English Language Institute of China), an organization that sends teachers to the country for the purpose of loving students. Honestly, if we didn’t have a child with special needs then we would consider moving to there. For people who love God, China provides an opportunity to make love known.

ELIC is masterful at creating opportunities for people to teach and build relationships with Chinese students. They have built solid relationships with the government and have been asked to increase the number of teachers. It’s hard to get into China for purposes other than tourism, so education is the key to unlock the door.

The Chinese are interested in all things western. The problem is that they are ill equipped to handle the ramifications of a more open society. I say that because the country is largely Atheist. People of any faith are the minority. Atheism is the driver of a Marxist government. As a westerner it’s hard to imagine a culture that doesn’t understand the concept of sin. The thing that has held their society together was a strong family tie, a shame based morality, and state pressure. Now that pieces of that are eroding there is a need for a spiritual awakening for the people to make it. So, there is a great need to take the message of hope to China.

The reality is that I am the College Impact guy. I have literally written the book on touching the college campuses (College Impact: Empowering Collegiate Christians for Campus Influence). China provides great opportunities for people who love college students. In China it’s illegal for anyone to teach religion to a person under 18 years old so the collegiate generation is even more strategic in China than here in the states. If you want to make a positive change in the country you need only love the college students. Then as the students go into industry and government they go as change agents. I teach in my book, College Impact, reach the campus reach the world and China is primed to make that a reality.

My heart wants to jump in this opportunity with both feet. But, the goal should be to inspire the Chinese and allow them to love their own people. What foreigners can do is become the first contact for some and inspire others. It’s very easy for a teacher to enter this amazing country. To add to that the people highly revere the teaching profession so it places us as a city on a hill.

As an African American the opportunities are even greater. We are cool, different, and intriguing to the Chinese people. Everywhere I went people stared, took pictures, and wanted to speak with the black guy. It has no racist connection for the people, its just that many have never seen a black person. So, they are interested in what we have to say. I mentioned to students that I was a bible teacher and their interest was peaked immediately. The problem is, too few of us go to China and are not taking advantage of the door that is open.

I have decided to be a sender of people to China. The first group to go is students that desire to see the country and are willing to spend 5 weeks of their summer there. The second opportunity is for teachers who want to go to China on teaching trips for 5 weeks in the summer. Lastly, anyone who has a bachelor’s degree and desires to spend 2 years teaching in China, there is room for you. I know it may seem scary to uproot oneself and family and move them to a foreign country, but there is a great need. I now feel so confident in the ELIC team, as I have seen how much they care for their people. You will undoubtedly be in good hands with them. China is open, any takers?

http://www.elic.org/