Author: Simon Bartz, 21 September 2023
Ding Yunying felt called to the ministry after her father and father-in-law, both loving people whom she respected, died within a month of one another.
Ding was inconsolable until a friend invited her to a local church where she found peace and joy through Jesus. She was baptised that same year and felt called to ministry. But there was a hurdle to overcome, something that required much prayer.
‘I was not confident in preaching the gospel and shepherding the believers in my church because I was not equipped. There were hardly any resources to help me fully understand the Scriptures,’ she says.
Ding felt led to a place on a lay preaching course at Shaanxi Bible School in northwest China. Here her prayers were answered. The library was brimming with Bible reference books that Bible Society supporters helped provide.
‘The materials in the library are very valuable to us. We are seeing them for the first time in our life!’ she says.
Ding is now building up her knowledge of the Bible, and her confidence in sharing it with others.
‘Your loving contribution of the Bible resources has given us an opportunity to learn much. I am better equipped not only for ministry but for personal growth too,’ she says.
‘The best way to thank you is to share the gospel and spread the Christian love to more people in China and understand more deeply that we have a true God whom we will serve with full commitment and dedication.’
Thanks to the regular giving of Bible Society supporters we are able to partner with theological seminaries and Bible Schools in China on a long-term basis. This means their libraries are stocked with the Bible reference books they need to equip pastors, lay preachers and teachers.
Lay preachers are crucial in China as there is only one ordained minister on average for every 6,700 Christians. Pray that more Christians in China will feel confident to enter the mission field, knowing they have the full prayerful backing of Bible Society supporters.
Thank God for the success of Bible Society’s partnerships with Bible colleges in China. Pray for the many projects we are currently engaged in to supply even more resources.
Pray for a stable relationship between Bible mission in China and the authorities. Pray that any obstacles to our work will be overcome.
To share or read more prayers for China please visit our China Prayer Tree.
Ding’s story first appeared in our Bible a Month prayer letter and was taken from content provided by United Bible Societies-China Partnership. If you want to support lay preachers and other Christians in China on a regular basis please join Bible a Month.
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