…I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:4,5).
The letter of Paul to the Philippians is often called the “Epistle of Joy,” and for good reason. Paul wrote it during his first imprisonment in Rome around AD 60-61. It is a profoundly personal letter addressed to the people he had ministered to during his second missionary journey over about a three-month stay.
The word “joy,” or related words like “rejoice” and “glad” appear at least sixteen times in the book of Philippians, which is counterintuitive in light of the challenges Paul and the church were facing. He made it clear that joy in our hearts is not dependent on our circumstances.
The first time Paul uses the word joy is in Philippians 1:4-5: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…”
Paul knew the joy of partnering together in the gospel with the Christ followers in Philippi, from the very first day he met Lydia while speaking with the women who had gathered at the river there (Acts 16:13-15). He also knew the blessed joy of partnership in the gospel in the present, even though there was some division among those who had previously “contended at my side in the cause of the gospel”(Philippians 4:3).
A Joy and Privilege
During the twenty years our family served in local church youth ministry, we were privileged to call hundreds of young people to the kingdom adventure of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations; one neighbor, classmate, and family member at a time. It has been our great joy to watch many of those young people grow, raise their families in him, and offer the gospel in word and deed to people all over the world. In my experience, there is no service more enjoyable, fulfilling and enduring than partnering together to introduce Jesus Christ to those who don’t know him, and then nurture them in the Messiah and his word.
Last month, on February 24, my father-in-law, Ed Breazeale, ended his earthly journey of 94.5 years and passed into our Lord’s presence. Just a few hours before Dad went Home, a staff worker at the skilled nursing facility where Dad received care, came into his room and, with tears in her eyes, said the following to my wife Debra: “I want to bless your father, because every day he has been here these past three years, he has asked everyone he encounters if they know Jesus, or encouraged them to follow Christ, or told them Jesus loved them. We have all been humbled by Ed’s dedication to Jesus and to helping people find him.”
It was a joy and privilege to partner in the gospel with Dad. He was wholly invested in the Great Commission mandate throughout his life, until he finished his race. His love, influence, and example in our lives will continue to bear lasting fruit.
Paul’s Joyful Example
Writing to the Philippians, Paul stressed humility, unity, and maturity, all in the joy of Jesus Christ. In this season when the church is often divided, we are honored to partner as one in Christ for the sake of the gospel, regardless of the many obstacles. Paul taught and exemplified how this should be lived out.
The following quote by Joann Pittman, ChinaSource Vice-President of Partnerships and China Engagement, is a constant reminder of the opportunity and responsibility before us to joyfully partner in the gospel for Christ’s glory:
Despite what is going on between our nations, we in the church must not allow those issues and concerns to override our commitment to reach out to Chinese (whether in their country or ours) with Christian love. We cannot let political ideas and debates become a barrier to the gospel. We will, in humility, serve alongside our Chinese brothers and sisters and be willing to learn from them. In fact, it is part of our mission to facilitate this learning by providing a platform for our brothers and sisters to speak to us.
Kerry Schottelkorb
President
Ways to Pray
Praise
- The 2024 ChinaSource Annual Report in Chinese is now located on the ChinaSource website. Rejoice with us and pass it on!
- Praise the Lord for the unique and interactive prayer initiative entitled Pray for China! See Pray for China: A Guided Prayer Resource by Joann Pittman, February 28, 2025. You can also find it on the Prayer Resources page of the ChinaSource website.
Prayer
- Please pray that the creative arts will be a means to “carry kingdom culture in a way that touches hearts beyond direct evangelism.” See Human Tapestry: Weaving Kingdom Identity Through Art in China by Z. S. Wu, March 17, 2025.
- Please ask the Holy Spirit to bring renewal, revival, and reform to the traditions and denominations where new wineskins are needed. Pray also for courageous leaders to hear his voice and follow Christ’s calling. See Breaking the Cycle: Can Our Denominations be Revitalized? By Yew Kuan Yee, March 10, 2025
News and Notes
ChinaSource Opportunity: Vice President of Operations
ChinaSource is growing! We are looking for a Vice President of Operations. Please visit our Opportunities page to get more details about the position and see how to apply.
In-Person Lecture
China’s Earliest Christians: Who Were They and What Can We Learn from Them?
We are excited to announce that we have invited Dr. Thompson to the Twin Cities on March 20, 2025 to deliver a public lecture, titled “China’s Earliest Christians: Who Were They and What Can We Learn from Them? ”
According to Dr. Thompson, the Jingjiao story is one of faithful mission presence and preaching, of outreach while under government supervision, of attempts to enculturate the gospel into Chinese culture and society while maintaining biblical truth—a story that can inform and inspire the work of the modern Chinese church.
This event is a collaborative lecture hosted by ChinaSource, USAAC, and CAC. We are deeply grateful to the University of Northwestern–St. Paul for providing the venue and to Anselm House (MN) for their generous co-sponsorship.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Time: Refreshments at 6:15 PM | Lecture at 7:00 PM
Venue: Nazareth Chapel, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Address: 3003 North Snelling Avenue, Roseville, MN 55113
This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP is NOT required, but we would be grateful if you do as it will help us plan for refreshments. Feel free to bring others as well, and to share this link with anyone who might be interested.
ChinaSource Connect | Boston, MA
We’re thrilled to announce a special ChinaSource Connect gathering in Boston! Whether you’re already familiar with ChinaSource or just curious about Chinese Christianity, we’d love to see you there. Join us for an evening of connecting, sharing stories, catching up on the latest from China, and learning from each other.
We sincerely appreciate our friends at the Chinese congregation of City Life Presbyterian Church for their invaluable support in hosting this event.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm EDT
Venue: St. Clement Eucharist Shrine
Address: 1105 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 03325
ChinaSource Team News
- Joann Pittman spoke at Lake Phalen Community Church in St. Paul, MN on March 16, 2025.
- Kerry Schottelkorb preached at the True Light Presbyterian Church on February 23, 2025.
In Case You Missed It
A selection of recently published items:
- A Call for Global Prayer, ChinaSource Blog, March 18.
- Human Tapestry: Weaving Kingdom Identity Through Art in China, ChinaSource Blog, March 17.
- A Journey of Faith, ChinaSource Blog, March 14.
- ZGBriefs, March 13, 2025.
- Unpacking the Shifting Narrative of Christianity in China, ChinaSource Blog, March 11.
- Breaking the Cycle: Can Our Denomination Be Revitalized, ChinaSource Blog, March 10.
- Nestorian? Or Not?, ChinaSource Blog, March 7.
- ZGBriefs, March 6.
- Reaching out to the Disabled and Handicapped, ChinaSource Blog, March 4.
- Returnee Ministry in the Era of Migration—Local Church as a Community to Receive, ChinaSource Blog, March 3.
- Pray for China: A Guided Prayer Resource, ChinaSource Blog, February 28.
- ZGBriefs, February 27.
- How Not to End Persecution, ChinaSource Blog, February 25.
- “Shrewd as Snakes”?, ChinaSource Blog, February 24.
- A Testament of Faith: The Bürklin Family’s Century-Long Partnership with the Chinese Church, ChinaSource Blog, February 21.
- ZGBriefs, February 20.
Image credit: HAN Mengqi via Unsplash
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