Christian Affiliated Schools In China?

Christian affiliated schools in China? It may not be as far-fetched as you might think. A Christian educator from Colorado recently returned from the People’s Republic with an inspiring story of faith and courage.

Dr. Dan Egeler works with the international ministry division of the Association of Christian Schools International. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Association now represents 5000 member schools in 115 nations with an enrolment of more than a million students. In spite of their global reach, Egeler says the organization was surprised, recently, to receive a request from four schools in China to join the association.

"It’s a network of schools within the country of China. They’ve been invited in by the government because they will attract the children of expatriate businessmen," Dr. Egeler explains. "So, nearly every student in these schools is not a Chinese national, but they’re the son or daughter of international businessmen, or diplomats or others that are living in the country of China. They’re all staffed typically by North Americans. They’re all in English and they will be teaching a moral curriculum, as we would call it. So that’s also something interesting that the Chinese government has given their blessing too. "

While these four schools may have government approval to teach faith-based ethics, there are strict prohibitions against proselytizing in the PRC, especially where children are concerned. The Association struggled with how best to respond.

"It was a challenge," Egeler admits. "Quite frankly, our organization - we had to make a philosophical decision whether or not this was an opportunity or a threat. There was some discussion whether or not we were giving away some of our core values, because quite frankly you can’t be open about how you communicate some of those core values in that country. So, we decided that we need to support those on the front line that are involved in education, Christian education."

So Egeler traveled to the heart of China to help the schools begin the difficult and lengthy process of accreditation. He explains "It’s kind of quality control for schools that want to strive for excellence, that are really committed to school improvement and excellence. And so I go to determine whether or not they are mature enough to enter this process of accreditation. It’s usually a three-year candidacy process, and then they need to host a visiting team and complete a rigorous self study report for that visiting team. And if they can get over all the hurdles then they achieve the status as an accredited school with ACSI."

Trying to help four Chinese schools qualify to join a Christian association made the trip strange enough, but Dan Egeler’s journey was about to get stranger still.

"This wasn’t just a single accreditation trip. I was doing this jointly with a member of another association that is a secular association. And the fella on this trip with me was not a believer and so was doing this joint candidacy with me. One part of the trip we were visiting a city in the middle of China and actually doing some touristy things and our tour guide was a professor in the university there, a local professor. And she was fluent in English and of course knew the history of her city and was showing us around. And she realized that this gentleman I was working with, a retired school superintendent from California, was not a Christian."

But the Chinese professor and tour guide WAS a Christian, and that night she had a surprise in store for her American guests. Egeler recalls, "So we had dinner that night, and as we were sitting around the table, she turned and looked at him directly and shared her personal faith in Jesus Christ. And so that was quite a dynamic moment for me, because here we are in the middle of China, and here’s an American visiting the country of China, hearing the gospel message from a Chinese national. Just an amazing experience to see her faith and her fervor."

Dan Egeler came home much impressed with his Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ. He says, "I think the thing that struck me the most was that I believe that they’ve been tested by fire. There’s no hypocrisy, because you’re either an authentic Christian or you’re not. It was interesting though, too, that she was bold in sharing her faith and that was not even a point of concern for her. So, that was especially inspiring to me, the authenticity and the depth of their relationship to Jesus Christ."

Dan asks listeners to pray for the four schools, for additional Christian teachers from the west willing to work there, and for the words of hope delivered to his California colleague.

"I’d like to ask the Holy Spirit to take those and move in his life. He’s a wonderful man," he says. "I think for the schools in China, they are looking for teachers. So I’d like to pray for those, God’s anointed that would go to the front lines – educators – and serve in that capacity. There are also obviously bureaucratic and government issues that they need to deal with and they need wisdom and discernment and God to move the minds and hearts of Chinese officials there. And thirdly for ACSI as an organization that we would have the wisdom and the sensitivity on how to report, how to advise, and how to work with these schools to enable them to be effective in their purpose."

Our thanks to Mission Network News for sharing this story with us. If you’d like more information on the Association of Christian Schools International, we recommend you visit their website.

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