Why do so many Asians receive Christ?
In many countries in Asia the Gospel is progressing. We can speculate why, and probably find many different explanations. Obvious miracles are very common. Sister Ester told us for example about a young church leader that died last April. His family and some church-members brought him to the hospital, but when they asked for help, the doctor just said that the man was already dead.
While they were there in that hospital, the man suddenly opened his eyes and he asked: “Where am I?” He had never been in a room with that much light before, because he grew up in the mountain area where they had no electricity. His friends told him that they had brought him there because he died.
It dawned for the young man, and he said “That’s right! I died, and I came to heaven. But when I came there I was met by two angels which told me it was too early for me to come to heaven. I had to go back to my church and help the people there, because their worship is so week”.* He told his friends that one of the angels had put something that looked like a leaf in his mouth, and he then woke up in the hospital. Today he is in full activity in church again. Events like these surely makes impression on you, but there also are more recognizable consequences of the fact that the gospel is progressing. The economy is getting better, simply because people starts to do like Christians does. They start working instead of stealing, and they learn to take responsibility. They don’t waste their money on alcohol and nonsense.
Instead the people are learning to care for one another. Cynicism is exchanged with mercy. Orphanages are being built, and children are being helped to go to school. The people gets to see how good it is to help the widows and the orphans, just as the bible teaches us.
There are probably more reasons for the growth in the churches in China, Cambodia, Vietnam and many other places. More than anything it is what we call Gods timing. This is something that we will never fully understand.
One of the main reasons why the gospel is received with such enthusiasm, is because of the dramatic change in the people’s life. The word becomes flesh. New attitudes, new behaviour, a new way of talking, new radiance. Why, and how? Because the Christians in Asia is feeding on the word of God, they indulge to it, submit to it, and prioritise it. They make a good decision, every day. That is our potential, as well.
