CHINESE STUDENTS FLOCKING TO THE UK PRESENTS GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY
A Signficant Change
For many, 1999 was a significant year. The Euro was launched as the new EU currency. Microsoft Chairman, Bill Gates, donated $26M to the UN Children's Fund. In Britain, there was the first total solar eclipse since 1927, and Northern Ireland took control of its own affairs for the first time in 25 years, when power was devolved from Westminster. However, something else also took place that year which had the potential for an even greater and eternal impact in relation to advancing the Kingdom of God amongst the Chinese from Communist China.
During a State visit to the UK, China's president, Jiang Zemin and Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair, reached an understanding which would open up the doors for thousands of young Chinese students to come to the UK for further education. Up until this time, only very mature scholars, steeped in China's communist party ideology, had been allowed to Britain's shores for post-doctorate studies. Now, all was to change, allowing very young people with open hearts and minds to also come from China to Britain for undergraduate studies, and even for 'A' levels.
Floodgates Opened
Those working among the Chinese in the UK were unprepared for this change. Ministry amongst the Cantonese and English speaking Chinese, such as those running Chinese restaurants and "take-aways" had been taking place for a long time. However, the Jiang-Blair pact was now opening the floodgates for an influx of Mandarin speaking Chinese into the UK. 1
YOU Can Make An Impact!
The number of Mandarin speaking Christians in the UK is still very small. They are in great demand amongst those who are seeking to reach the ever increasing number of mainland Chinese coming to this country. Whilst being able to speak Mandarin obviously has many advantages, it is not an essential requirement to reach out to the Chinese in the UK.
If you are a native English speaker, then YOU can also have a major role in helping to impact Chinese lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ. You do not need to speak Mandarin or be a China expert. You just need to be willing for God to use you, be friendly and hospitable, and invest some of your time.
Friendship & Hospitality
There is a huge demand for people who are willing to spend time with Chinese students in order to develop friendship, as well as offering to help them improve their conversational English. Most Chinese students will be attracted by the opportunity of friendship and improving their spoken English. Why not open your home to a couple of Chinese students in your locality, give them a meal (all students love the offer of some free food and this will be particularly attractive to the Chinese), and offer to help improve their English? You can include, quite naturally, the world's best selling book - the Bible - as a text for them to practice reading English. Choose stories from one of the gospels or a parable of Jesus to stimulate discussion and to introduce the life we have through Jesus Christ.
1 Since taking power in 2002, new Chinese president, Hu Jintao, has continued in similar vein, asking Tony Blair to grant thousands of student visas each year. China considers the UK to be its best friend in Europe.
80,000 CHINESE STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN THE UK!
A conservative estimate (excluding doctors on exchange programmes & asylum seekers) of the number of Chinese students currently in the UK is around 80,000. This is in addition to the 250,000 Chinese who have residency in the UK. (Source: Lord Chan of Oxton)
Number of Overseas Students in England - 2001/02 (universities & colleges of further education combined)
CHINA (including Hong Kong) 29,400 GREECE 22,100 FRANCE 12,900 GERMANY 12,800 USA 9,700 SPAIN 4,300 CZECH 2,200 ITALY 2,200 INDIA 2,100 JAPAN 1,800
CHINESE STUDENTS FLOCKING TO THE UK PRESENTS GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY