Imagine sitting with someone who has never heard of Jesus. Someone who is willing to drive an hour or more after work to meet for a Bible study. Someone who, after one study, is ready to invite you into her home, life and heart. Now multiply that receptive soul again and again until you have filled an entire country.  

Welcome to Beijing, China.

In March, five of us boarded a plane bound for Beijing to spend two weeks sharing the gospel. We went as part of the Centurion project with Let’s Start Talking, whose goal is to send 10,000 Christians into the world within the next few years to share Christ with others.


Our sponsoring church was the Garden Ridge Church of Christ in Lewisville, Texas — a congregation that already has sent out several teams over the past few years and plans to send many more.

We were blessed to study with 84 people during our time in Beijing, many of whom had never had the chance to hear of God or Jesus before and knew nothing about the Bible.

Wow! What an incredible opportunity to sit down with someone who has fresh eyes, clear ears and an open heart to the good news of Jesus.

We were amazed that in spite of how entirely prepared or completely un-equipped we felt at any given moment, the Spirit really moved and worked through us to get his message across.

I can honestly say that I have never had that chance before — to sit with someone, start from the beginning with the story of Jesus and share my faith like that. This opportunity came in a country where Christianity has not always been accepted. God’s awesome story became even more powerful and meaningful to us as we were able to share it over and over again with those who had never heard it.

We studied in a place called “Bread Talk,” which we found to be very appropriate as Jesus refers to himself several times as the “bread of life.” We really had the chance to have a living, breathing faith.

Our group was able to worship twice with fellow brothers and sisters in Beijing. During those times, as we all sang together, it struck me that God transcends all cultures and languages. He is bigger and more amazing than we could ever imagine.

Our theme of “God can do anything” permeated our experience, as each morning and night our team shared the various conversations we were having with our readers and how we could see God planting seeds of faith.

Those seeds were planted within us, as well, in a way none of us could have predicted. While we were there, God began stirring in our hearts a desire to return for a more extended stay to help further his kingdom in Beijing.   

This month, I’ll return with my teammates — the Cooper family: John, Susan and 1-year-old Nash — for at least a year to answer what we feel is God’s call for us to return. Please pray for those in China, and throughout the world, who have not yet been introduced to Christ. Please pray for us as we return soon to Beijing.

Wherever you are, look for ways to share your faith daily in your own backyard. There are people all over this world who are desperately in need of the hope that we have.

The harvest is ripe — may the workers be plentiful!

KATHERINE GOULD earned a master’s degree in Christian ministry from Abilene Christian University in Texas. She has been involved with youth and campus ministries for 12 years. She is a member of the Garden Ridge church in Lewisville, Texas.


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