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INTRODUCING CHINA HORIZOZN –
TRUTHS AND LEADERS FOR THE 21st CENTURY
God calls us, as Christ’s representatives, to be accountable and responsible. The people on Jonah’s boat confronted him with three questions (Jonah 1:8): “What is your occupation? What is your country? From what people are you?”
From time to time, management consultants confront me with three questions: “What is the nature of your business? Who are your customers? How will you ensure long term viability in what you do?” Blessed is the ministry which can answer clearly!
Question 1. What is the nature of China Horizon’s “business”? What unique ministry do we perform? What is our niche in God’s kingdom?
Answer. We are in the King’s business. While we not a mission in direct evangelism; nor are we a seminary, we specialize in specific teaching and preaching ministries, and in producing books, CD’s, and course materials in systematic theology, apologetics, pastoral theology and nouthetic (biblical) counseling in Chinese. We do this largely through translating English books in the Puritan and Reformed tradition.
The authors have an unswerving confidence in the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God. They present the Cross of Jesus Christ as man’s only way to God, and urge people to repent and trust in Jesus Christ. They love the church and want to see the church minister God’s Word in a spirit of boldness and gentleness. They pierce into the conscience, convict hearts of sin, and offer God’s grace at the Cross. And they proclaim the Lordship of Christ in every area of life, whether in counseling or philosophy.
In 2001-2002, we plan to publish these theology books:
- John Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God: presents God as Lord, covent-making and covenant-keeping, who demands obedience and faith in all we think and do.
- Thomas Watson (a Puritan), The Doctrine of Repentance: teaches that there is no substitute for true repentance for peace and comfort in our souls.
- R. C. Sproul, Before the Face of God (Vol. 1): 230+devotionals on the book of Romans.
- Greg Bahnsen, ed., Van Til’s Apologetic: Readings and Analysis (part 1). Presents Cornelius Van Til, the most powerful apologetist in the 20th century. Van Til follows the tradition of Abraham Kuyper, who once said that there is no one square-inch of territory on earth, of which Jesus Christ does not say, “It’s mine.”
In 2001-2002, we also plan to publish four books for counseling and pastoral ministry:
- Jack Kinneer, How to Grow in Christ (cooperatively, in Canada): 12 practical lessons based on Bible doctrine, on assurance of salvation, prayer, sin and Christian living.
- Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel: challenges secular trends in Christian counseling, and presents the Bible as the only all-sufficient resource for counseling.
- Jay Adams, Helps for Counselors: A Mini-Manual for Christian Counseling: do’s and don’ts in counseling; lists of Scripture passages to be used; outlines for instruction in topics encountered in counseling; and other charts and tools for the counselor.
- George Scipione’s Introduction to Biblical Counseling (Chinese syllabus and VCD set of Mandarin lectures): 23 lessons on: the nature of biblical counseling; the process of counseling; and confronting problems such as fear, worry, depression, divorce and anger.
In addition, about 10 other books are being translated and edited for future publication.
Question 2. Who are China Horizon’s “customers”? Whom do we serve?
Answer. We serve present and future Chinese leaders. These include mainland Chinese intellectuals who are growing in ministry. Some are in theological studies. Urban intellectuals are the emerging leaders in China, growing in number and influence, searching for solid resources. Pastors, seminarians and lay leaders in Asia and North America whose primary reading language is Chinese need a broader range of biblically sound theological books beyond the shallow fare they often find.
In the past three years, we have given away at least ¼ of all our English books and videotapes to ministries among the Chinese. We plan to continue this with our Chinese books and CDs. We seek permission to translate and publish works in Chinese, and to produce CDs or post these books on the internet. There are regions in the world which we will not penetrate, unless Christian leaders can access solid books through the internet. We want to compensate copyright holders adequately, and put resources at the fingertips of Christians around the world, especially in the 10/40 window.
So our “customers” are serious, thinking Chinese Christian readers who need sound, biblical books in Chinese. The younger they are, the more likely they will expect our generation (I’m 50) to deliver. If we don’t, they’ll walk. Many are walking. Our task is urgent.
Question 3: How will we ensure long term viability and sustainability?
Answer. China Horizon does not publish for profit, but out of conviction that sound biblical teaching is needed in the Chinese church. Sadly, such books don’t always sell well.
How are we supported?
(i) Income through the sales of books, CDs and videos, which account for less than 25% of our income.
(ii) Honorarium income through teaching and speaking – less than 25% of our income.
(iii) In 2000, we sent out year-end receipts to 31 donors, who gave a total of about US $70,000. We are grateful to God for this wonderful supply. We need many more who will support us like they do: faithfully, substantially, sacrificially.
(iv) Special gifts and grants.
In the next two years, we estimate a total publishing budget of US $200,000. (Budgets for specific book budgets are available upon request.) We need faithful partners in addition to the 31 we’ve had. Will you join their ranks?
We ask that you pray for our publishing ministry as well as our teaching ministry. I have a heavy schedule each year, having just returned from 101 sessions of teaching in a month. Next year, I’ll be teaching at the Reformed Institute (Asia and USA), Covenant Seminary (February) and Singapore Bible College. I need spiritual protection and support through your prayer.
We ask that you make a sacrificial gift, or make a pledge to regularly support us. Publishing is not like emergency relief; it is also not like supporting orphaned children. We cannot offer you an urgent crisis to do something about. Rather, we present to you a vital, long term need. The need is: to build the Chinese church to maturity and strength, so that “we all attain to the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:13-14).
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor.10:4, 5).
China Horizon
16334 Fieldcrest Ct., La Mirada, CA 90638
Fax: 1 562 947 9674
E-mail:
English/Chinese website:
Chinese website: samling.ccim.org
PRAY FOR THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF SAMUEL LING
2001-2002
June – July Reformed Institute (New York); Singapore; Malaysia
August 17-19Vancouver, Canada – Mainland Chinese discipleship camp: “The Cross”
August International Theological Seminary (Los Angeles)
September 21-23 New York – Covenant Church PCA, and Chinese Community Church
February 22-23Covenant Theological Seminary, elective course: “China”
May 13-17 Singapore Bible College: “Theological Issues in the Asian Church”
Memorial Day weekendChinese Evangelical Church of San Diego
June-July Singapore Bible College: “Apologetics,” and “Protestant Spirituality”
June 30-July 2 Johore Bahru, Malaysia: “Intermediate Biblical Counseling”
TBA Reformed Institute
TBA Penang, Malaysia
BOOKS, CD’s, VCD’s PUBLISHED BY CHINA HORIZON
Soul Searching. 10 essays by mainland Chinese Christian intellectuals on their newfound faith and its relationship to China’s society, philosophy, family, art and politics.
Chinese Intellectuals and the Gospel. 8 China ministry leaders write on the historical and cultural background of Chinese intellectuals, and effective strategies to reach and disciple them.
Asia’s Religions. Lit-Sen Chang turned to Christ after a career in promoting Confucianism and Buddhism. He summarizes and responds to the major tenets of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Zen, Hinduism and Islam in this shattering Biblical critique.
Chinese Way of Doing Things. Sam Ling traces the historical and cultural dynamics of the North American Chinese church, and pleads for understanding and partnership in ministry to American born Chinese.
Christianity and Western Culture. Sam Ling plays the piano to illustrate this lecture on the rise and fall of Christian influence in the west. What lessons can the Chinese learn? (English VHS; Mandarin VCD.)
Sinclair Ferguson, The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction. What the Holy Spirit does in convicting a sinner of sin, and regenerates him through faith and repentance. How a Christian can confront and defeat sin in his life. The “Reformed theology of a riper, more mature sort” ( J. I. Packer). ( simplified script)
BOARD OF REFERENCE
Jay E. Adams, Ph.D., founder of nouthetic (biblical) counseling movement
David Aikman, Ph.D., Center for Ethics and Public Policy; former Beijing bureau chief, Time
Rev. Hay-Him Chan, director, Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism (1986-96)
James Mo-oi Cheung, Th.D., senior pastor, Kowloon City (Hong Kong) Baptist Church
Dr. Edmund P. Clowney, former president, Westminster Theological Seminary
Rev. Stephen Chung-tao Chen, senior Chinese Bible commentator
Christopher Lee, Ph.D., dean, Chinese School of Theology, Singapore Bible College
Rev. Jonathan Liu, senior pastor, Chinese Bible Church of Maryland
John Orme, Th.D., Interdenominational Foreign Mission Association, Wheaton, Illinois
J.I. Packer, D. Phil., Regent College; author, Knowing God; Truth and Power; Concise Theology
Rev. Daniel Rao, Campus Evangelical Fellowship, Taipei
Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, III, president, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois
Che Bin Tan, Ph.D., president, China Evangelical Seminary, Taipei
Dr. Stephen Tong, founder, Reformed Evangelical Church and Seminary (Indonesia); evangelist
Dr. Luder Whitlock, Jr., president, Reformed Theological Seminary