GUANGXI, China – Lan Rongfeng, 50, has been serving as a lay preacher at the Huanjiang Church in Hechi City for the past 15 years. Last year, he received a copy of the Chinese Study Bible (CSB) from the Guangxi Christian Council and Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CC&TSPM) with the support of the United Bible Societies (UBS).
CSB is a Precious Tool
"I remember flipping through the CSB for the first time," Lan recalled, his eyes lighting up. "The illustrations and maps are more than just visuals. They are gateways into the world of the Bible, making it easy to understand the biblical geography and background."
But it wasn't just these features of the CSB that captivated him. The contextual information and summaries provide an excellent framework which aids in his understanding of the Bible. “Without reference books, preaching can be very difficult. It's not easy to grasp the background and overall structure of the Bible for lay preachers like us.”
This gift gave Lan more than just understanding of the biblical texts – it introduced a disciplined and faithful approach to studying and preaching God’s Word.
This gift gave Lan more than just understanding of the biblical texts – it introduced a disciplined and faithful approach to studying and preaching God’s Word. “You can't just read the Bible and say whatever comes to mind!”
To meet the needs of lay preachers who often lack adequate biblical training and resources, and can ill afford them, UBS, together with Crossway, a ministry that publishes the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible and Gospel-centred books, has over the years been supporting the Churches in China to give out free copies of the CSB. The CSB, published in 2017, is a translation and adaptation of the study notes found in Crossway’s ESV Study Bible.
The CSB has enabled Lan to understand the Bible more systematically and deliver his sermons and teaching with greater clarity and confidence. This newfound confidence is precious to Lan when he looked back on his life and ministry journey.
The Ministry Calling
Lan had gone through a divorce when he was in his thirties. He was so devastated that he wanted to end his own life. “But I couldn’t because I have two daughters with me,” he recalled.
In desperation, he searched for comfort and answers from various philosophical and religious texts. Finally, it was a Bible that he had received from his younger brother that gave him what he was looking for.
When I came to the words of Jesus to Matthew, ‘Come and follow me,’ I was struck,” shared Lan.
“One day, I decided to pick up that Bible to read. When I came to the words of Jesus to Matthew, ‘Come and follow me,’ I was struck,” shared Lan.
He felt that the invitation was also for him. It echoed in his mind, causing him to be distracted at work during the day and sleepless during the night.
Previously resistant, he soon found himself at the doors of a church he once ridiculed. There, embraced by a community, Lan found unexpected acceptance and love. “I experienced comfort and love from God.”
Before long, he was even asked to share the Word in church because he “could read the Bible more than others.” Lan admitted he began serving without much understanding. “I was shaking and sweating when I spoke in church,” he recalled.
When he decided to quit after one month, an elder from the church encouraged him saying, “Young man, arise and serve. You see, we have needs in the church.” Looking back, Lan realised that was a calling from God.
Over the years, he sought to equip himself by reading books and attending training. The latter included a Bible training course organised by the Guangxi CC&TSPM but he had to quit midway due to financial difficulties at home. It had been a challenging journey.
New Fuel for the Ministry and Beyond
“Tumbling and fumbling along the way, I have come thus far with God’s help,” he shared. As a lay preacher, his burden to serve the body of Christ grows stronger by the day. His service now extends beyond his local church, reaching remote areas near the borders of Guangxi and Guizhou provinces, over a hundred kilometres away.
"Understanding the Bible better has helped me deepen my relationship with our Saviour – from a cognitive to a more experiential level.”
Lan’s experiences have made him appreciate the Word of God and biblical resources more. Although he has only begun using the CSB for a short period, Lan has already experienced multiple benefits. It’s more than just a tool for his ministry; it’s also a lens through which he has evaluated and deepened his life in Christ.
“Previously, my understanding of Christ was more at the head level. But understanding the Bible better has helped me deepen my relationship with our Saviour – from a cognitive to a more experiential level.”
An area the Lord has surfaced to him was to live with integrity and to speak the truth. “Since I am a new creation in Christ, I felt convicted by the Holy Spirit that I should speak and act with integrity and be truthful in my dealings with people.”
Lan is grateful to be given the CSB and hopes that more people will benefit from it. “I would highly recommend the Chinese Study Bible to all church workers and preachers!”
Photo: Provided by Lan Rongfeng
2024 © UBS China Partnership