By Gordon D. Venturella
Lincoln, Illinois, is both culturally and geographically distant from China”s megacities. But Lincoln Christian University”s historic commitment to global mission connects these disparate parts of the world. LCU currently has alumni in more than 160 countries, so it came naturally for LCU President Keith H. Ray to think missionally about the world”s largest country.
The Introduction
The China Institute story began when LCU alumnus (and former U.S. Representative from New Mexico) Bill Redmond introduced Ray to Jian Zhu, executive director of the American China Civic Exchange (ACCE). The three began to dream about how to take LCU to China and bring the Chinese to Lincoln.
Six Chinese nationals have joined the student community at Lincoln Christian University as part of the English Language Academy college-prep program.
The friendship and shared vision that emerged between Ray and Zhu subsequently led to five trips to China, allowing Ray an opportunity to conceptualize what was to become the LCU China Institute.
In China, Ray visited eight major cities with Chinese colleagues from ACCE. He met with numerous churches, Christian preschools, publishing companies, and a newly developing seminary. He was introduced to professionals in education, government, private business, and manufacturing. He interacted with personnel from Beijing University, the People”s University, and two nursing schools.
Ray also discussed grief-counseling strategies with key government officials and Christian ministry partners in the wake of a devastating earthquake in central China that had claimed 100,000 victims.
The trips convinced Ray of the growing receptivity to the gospel and biblical authority among the Chinese. He was already aware two out of three international students in the U.S. are Asian””with Chinese being the largest demographic. He concluded God was providing LCU with an extraordinary opportunity in a country where one-fifth of the earth”s population lives.
The Institute
With Zhu and ACCE handling the promotion and recruitment in China, a search was conducted to find an associate director of the China Institute on LCU”s main campus. In March 2012, Weilun Lee was appointed to the newly created position. Lee holds the MBA from Suffolk University, Boston, and brings a servant”s heart to LCU. LCU Seminary alumna Renee Zhu became his administrative assistant. All three China Institute leaders are native Mandarin speakers.
The Initiatives
The China Institute has implemented a number of initiatives:
“¢ Host summer camps on LCU”s main campus.
LCU has hosted three camps over two summers with a total of 89 Chinese guests on the main campus in Lincoln.
The first group was comprised of 45 young people and 10 adult sponsors. This two-week camp focused on English language classes, music lessons, and local field trips to experience Midwest American culture (who knew a hog farm was a tourist destination?).
The second group included 21 principals and teachers who attended a weeklong seminar taught by Karen Estep, LCU associate professor of teacher education. Attendees also took field trips in and around central Illinois.
The third group was 13 high school principals and lead teachers from Beijing, who visited local schools, observed classes, took field trips, and enjoyed a day of shopping.
All three groups interacted with various LCU personnel and with Lincoln Christian Church members.
“¢ Provide one-year language acquisition through the LCU English Language Academy.
Six Chinese students are currently enrolled in the academy. Its goals include preparing students to pass the English language proficiency test and enroll in an American university. Some have already expressed interest in enrolling in various academic programs at LCU, including undergraduate and seminary studies.
“¢ Involve LCU personnel and students in a variety of missional projects in China.
The vision is for the China Institute to be involved in China. In addition to Ray”s trips, LCU faculty have taken two recent trips.
Eric Teoro, chair of the business administration program, traveled to China and presented a theology of work and business practices at a Christian business association retreat. There were approximately 100 participants from all over China.
Teoro writes of his experience:
Witnessing their love for Christ, each other, and the world was humbling, challenging, and deeply encouraging. I came away convinced that the U.S. church””including LCU””needs to pour resources into China. They are approaching a tipping point in which the gospel and a Christian worldview could dramatically influence the Chinese culture.
Estep and Mariana Hwang, LCU assistant professor of Christian education, led a small group of undergraduate students on a trip to Mainland China for 23 days.
The trip served many purposes, the first of which was being able to fellowship and share in multiple settings with brothers and sisters. Professionally, the trip allowed faculty and students to work on education partnerships with three very large early childhood centers and one after-school English training center. It allowed them to evaluate the centers, train teachers, provide demonstrations of classroom instruction, work with children, and lead parent and community meetings.
The trip also allowed access to two large publishing companies and to Nanjing University.
Future initiatives of the China Institute include:
“¢ Enroll degree-seeking and continuing education students in one of LCU”s three schools.
“¢ Explore partnership with Lincoln Community High School to provide dormitory housing for high school-level students.
“¢ Explore other opportunities to educate Chinese Christian leaders.
“¢ Explore partnerships with other Chinese organizations and institutions in support of LCU”s China Institute.
The Implications
With a population approaching 1.5 billion, China is urbanizing at a phenomenal pace. Since 2008, there have been more Asian newcomers to the U.S. than Hispanic newcomers.
The question is not whether China will be a significant part of America”s future, but whether Christians will be prepared to take advantage of unprecedented missional opportunities among the Chinese in the 21st century.
LCU is living its mission and seizing the opportunity with the China Institute.
Gordon D. Venturella is vice president of university advancement at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian University.
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