Heartbeat for China

Heartbeat for China

SIB/Pastor Dennis Balcombe/15-10-11

Pastor Dennis grew up in a religious family, praying the Lord’s prayer and Psalm 23 from a young age. However, at the age of 15, he began to doubt his faith. His church was a liberal church which did not believe in signs and wonders. Then he visited a Spirit-filled church, witnessed healing and realized that the Bible is true. From the time he was saved in 1961, Pastor Dennis already felt God had called him to be a preacher. In 1967, he went to the Vietnam war but never fired a gun. His role was to reach out to fellow soldiers. Though the war was likened to hell on earth, to Pastor Dennis, it was heaven on earth, for he led many to Christ. Now Pastor Dennis always felt a strong calling to China, and in 1969, his small church managed to raise enough money for a one-way ticket to Hong Kong. In only 8 months, he amazingly learnt how to speak Cantonese and even started his church. In his home, the family only speaks Cantonese. English isn’t allowed.

During the cultural revolution in China, people were escaping to Hong Kong, Bibles were burned and all churches were closed. In those days, Pastor Dennis would take his church to the border to fast and pray for China that she would open her doors. This happened in 1978, when God opened China, and the first missionary was allowed in. Quite soon, he found a place where there were 40,000 Christians. He sold everything and bought bibles for China, bringing millions over the years. In China, bibles are so scarce but there are 6 million converts every year. In the China house churches, Pastor Dennis was called to preach the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He prays in tongues everyday. From 1985-1986, Pastor Dennis preached the Word of God everyday to the Christian leaders. Then for 7 years, Pastor Dennis was blacklisted and not allowed in. He realized that they wanted him to pay a bribe. However, he realized that to do so would not work as they would want another one in a few months, and also hinder other missionaries from coming in.

Today, there is a great harvest, and he speaks to hundreds of thousands of people. As soon as he preaches the gospel, people believe in China. Each message is at least 2-3 hours, and they expect even more. John 4:35 says Lift up your eyes and look on the fields. It is ripe for harvest! The field is the world.

Christianity is not so much about me, my blessing, my prophecy, my anointing. It is about them. Go means go.

Isaiah 52:7 says “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” We are to proclaim good things. Evangelism is the key to unity. Whatever our theology, the priority is bringing in the harvest. Malaysia is a great mission field. Many village people in Malaysia have not been reached.

Genesis 12:2-3 says “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,   and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” The bottom lime of the Abrahamic blessing is that we are to be a blessing to all other nations. Unfortunately, there are very few people in history involved in the bottom line. We are called to get out of our comfort zone. We should be sharing Christ many times a week. The Chinese church prays and shares the gospel everyday. There are 30,000 new converts every day.

Galatians 16:29 says “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Genesis 22:17-18 says “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 15:5-6 says ^“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”” We are the spiritual descendants of Abraham.

Pastor Dennis wants to be where there is darkness, the lost. There are 1.34 billion people in China and 6%, 80.4 million are the non-Han minority. Most of them have not heard the gospel. We need to lift up our eyes and look. The back to Jerusalem vision is so real in China, with China even sending missionaries to evangelize the lost all the way back to Jerusalem. Matthew 24:14 tells us that Christ will only come back once the gospel is preached to all nations.

There are a few Chinese idioms Pastor Dennis likes. You are learner all your life. Throw out a brick to get jade. Study the old to learn new things. When three of us walk together, one is my teacher. These idioms teach us to be humble and willing to learn new things.

Now is a new generation. Yet, we must receive the anointing and vision of servants of God who established the church in previous generations. In China, there are no professional clergy. Very few people are even called Pastor. Mainly, they introduce themselves as a servant of God. Every Christian preaches the gospel. They have their daily jobs, but they preach the gospel. From 5 years old, Pastor Dennis already had a love for the Chinese people.

In 1963, Pastor Dennis received a prophecy from one of the most accurate prophets of the 20^th century that he would spend his life evangelizing in China. At that time, China was completely closed and the prophet did not know him at all. In history, there have been more missionaries going to China than any other nation. Since Hudson Taylor first went, there have been so many heroes of faith who have followed in his footsteps. Today’s emphasis is so much about church buildings. Luke 18:29-30 reads “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Some may have to leave their families. Some may say they are too young or have other excuses but Jeremiah 1:4-7 says “ ⁴ The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you” Whatever happens, we must be faithful to the call on our lives.

In the 1900 Boxer rebellion, 45,000 Christians were beheaded. Since, 250,000 missionaries and Chinese Christians have been martyred for their Christian faith. The blood of martyrs are the seed of the church. Thousands of messengers came and endured great humiliation, even death. Why did they do this? Because Jesus came and died in this way.

In China, people pray in the morning from 4am for 2 hours, 1 hour in tongues and 1 hour in short sentences, with the mind. They dance for 2 hours to praise the Lord. There is healing and people are raised from the dead. The most copied book from the Bible is Acts. Why? They know the gospels well, but in Acts, it documents what happened to the apostles when in prison, and also how they preached the gospel.

May God bless abundantly the work and ministry of Pastor Dennis Balcombe, a true legend for the Lord in China.