Approximately 50 women gathered in the president’s dining room June 27 at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., for a meeting of the Women’s Synodical Missionary Fellowship. An international group gathered for the meeting, with visitors from Northern Ireland and New Zealand, as well as ladies from congregations in Canada, New York, Indiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Washington, and California.

The afternoon was planned by Kim Backensto and Debbie Black and the ladies of the Geneva (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC. The ladies attending the meeting were greeted by tables adorned with fine china teacups filled with flowers. These were a reminder of what our day would be about—China.

Faith Martin spoke on: “China – Then and Now.” Faith had traveled to China with her son, Will, and his family. They went to get their newest family member, whom they were adopting—a little girl named Fivie. But that was only part of their adventure.

Faith and her family set out to find the area of China where Rose Huston, Faith’s aunt, and other RP missionaries had served from 1895–1949. Fifty missionaries, along with their families, served on the field during those years. They were difficult years with many deaths. These teams persevered and built a large mission compound and served an even wider area as they went out to minister in outlying villages. They also built an orphanage. Orlena Boyle, who was present at the meeting, went to the China Mission in 1949 and then went to Japan when the missionaries were forced to leave China, serving several more years.

When Faith and family found the city in which the mission had been located, they were in for a big surprise. Not only did they find remnants of the compound and orphanage, but they also found an active church. The people encouraged them to stay for the worship service the next day. They stayed and worshiped and fellowshiped with them. It was a time of great encouragement.

Faith showed many pictures from her Aunt Rose’s collection, so the Synodical was able to see the missionaries who served in China, the compound they built, and the area where they served. An old tree seen standing in the old pictures is still standing today. There were also pictures of the members of the current church. The Lord promises that planted seeds will grow. We may not see it in our lifetime; but He is faithful, and the next generation will be blessed as Faith and her family were.

Following a break, Pastor Bill Roberts, treasurer of the Reformation Translation Fellowship (RTF), spoke briefly about the work of RTF in China. The purpose of RTF is to translate Christian theological literature into the Chinese language and get it into the hands of the Chinese people. With the use of underground presses, they print and distribute copies of their books.

Twenty thousand copies of R. C. Sproul’s Reason to Believe were printed and distributed. They were well received among young people at universities. Other titles approved for printing last winter were: Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack; Withhold Not Correction by Bruce Ray; and Family Worship by Kerry Ptacek. Ten thousand copies of these books were published as a trilogy on the family. Books on the family are very important to the Chinese people.

Pastor Roberts talked about three Chinese Christians who were put in jail for printing Bibles, even though no one would testify that they had earned anything from the sale of the books. He asked for continued prayers for the safety of those working on these projects and also for the success of their ministry.

Pastor David Reese of the Springs (Colorado Springs, Colo.) RPC spoke to the Synodical about a family from his congregation who are also serving in China. They have been in China working since the early 1990s. The Springs RPC is their main source of support, so when they come home on furloughs they can get much-needed rest and fellowship and don’t have to go out to gather their support. Members of the congregation visit to support and encourage the missionaries each summer between their furloughs.

Following the update by Pastor Reese, Floy Smith was in charge of a time of prayer for missions. She distributed a handout prepared by Synodical Mission Coordinator Mary Jane Ward, which included information about the mission works around the globe and prayer requests to help people know how to be praying for these various works. Floy encouraged each person to be a faithful, strategic and personal prayer warrior, and she led a time of prayer.