December 2005 Archives

AnShan, China, 2005

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Published on December 13, 2005 by Jim Serna

The City of AnShan is in Liaoning Province, along the NE border with North Korea. It is a city of approximately 4.1 million people, who are predominately Muslim. AnShan has 20,000 deaf and 113,000 physically disabled registered with the AnShan Disabled Persons Federation. It is a mountainous region and suffers from poverty and unemployment. Coupled with the lack of adequate medical care, the deaf and disabled poor of AnShan suffer greatly. I am joining other believers to demonstrate God's love for the Deaf and Disabled Poor of AnShan, believing that blessing them is blessing the Lord.



When God called me to China in 2004, I had no idea He would call me to join Believers in AnShan to develop a ministry to AnShan's deaf and disabled. In 2005, God used two trips to China as a way to meet and forge a great friendship and partnership with Dr. Zhang Xu. Dr. Zhang is a wonderful Chinese Believer, who was paralyzed in a swimming accident and subsequently came to Christ through one of Joni Erikson Tada's books. God has given us a clear and powerful vision to develop a ministry to the Deaf and Disabled in AnShan and has miraculously provided the people to bring it about.



Currently, we have developed a high quality and low cost digital hearing aid for the deaf and have developed plans for establishing and operating a Christian Center for the Deaf and Disabled. The Center will have a state-of-the-art Hearing Clinic, a full Medical Clinic for the Disabled Poor, and a full service Occupational/Physical Therapy Clinic. We have already completed the design and are ready to produce a Mobile Hearing Clinic that will allow us to reach and service the deaf poor who live in the mountain villages that surround AnShan.



Words fail to adequately express my need and appreciation for the encouragement and prayers I've received from the Neighborhood Family. On December 15, 2005, we have been officially approved by the AnShan government agencies to operate the ministries under the "Bethesda" NGO. God is so good! Please keep me and the AnShan Family in your prayers.

-Jim Serna



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