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ICM Donor Profile: Toby Mueller
The following article was written by an ICM donor, Toby Mueller, for his church newsletter. Toby attends Grace Church in Racine, Wisconsin. This piece provides a brief history of Christianity in China and details how Toby became interested in China and why he plans to build a church there.
On September 13, 2009, at 7 a.m., my wife, Wendy, and I know where we will be. Not only that, we know exactly what we will be doing, how we will be feeling, and the reason for doing what we will be doing. That is a strange statement, isn’t it? We pretty much know what to expect that day, all fifteen plus hours, except for one thing. That is if we will meet the goals that we have set for that day. You can help us. Let me tell you how.
The Greek word huiothesia is translated “adoption.” It is mentioned in the New Testament fi ve times by Paul in the Church Epistles (Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). It literally means “to place as a son.” According to Roman law, the adoptee would have to agree to the adoption. The adoptive couple may be childless or have sons whom they feel are unfit to carry on the family name in politics. We see this in the Roman-ruling families who used adoptions to build family alliances for power. Some famous Roman adoptees were Augustus Caesar, Nero, and Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus. Once the adoption took place, the adopted son could never be abandoned, even though the biological son could be under certain circumstances.
Slaves also could be adopted. So, it makes sense that Paul would use the concept of adoption to describe the Gentiles’ place in the family of God. The Jews are God’s chosen people, while we have been adopted into the body of Christ through the cross. In accordance to Roman law, we have agreed to our adoption by our acceptance of Christ as our Savior.
The believers in China are part of Christ’s family. The World Christian Database estimates that there are 70 million evangelical Christians in China. That is about fi ve percent of the population and is second to Buddhism. It is also estimated that the number of people in the Christian Church in China outnumbers the membership in the Chinese Communist Party.
The rise of the Christian Church in China seems to have had its genesis at Tiananmen Square in 1989. Students wanted open and free government rule. While that did not occur, what did was that some of those students became teachers and business leaders who were touched by the Holy Spirit. They were adopted out of slavery into the family of God. They began home churches that meet in homes, deserted factories, and even in forests away from police.
Today, the culture is slightly better toward churches. One of the thriving home churches is the Xujiaqiao Church in Wushan, located in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in south central China. Pastor Guhui and the 250 worshipers meet in a space that they have now outgrown. They hold services in a small room with the overfl ow sitting outdoors. Some church members have a difficult time hearing the service. These are our brothers and sisters adopted by faith to bring their fellow countrymen out of slavery.
So, what does all this have to do with September 13? At 7 a.m., Wendy and I will start the Ironman Wisconsin with the goal of completing the 140.6 miles of swimming, biking, and running, all before midnight. But, more importantly, we feel led to adopt the Xujiaqiao Church in hopes of raising the $25,000 they need for building a church.
We also have a personal reason for this fundraising project. In 2006, Wendy and I adopted our daughter, Katie, from China. The country left a lasting impression on our hearts, and we wanted to give something back. In assisting this church, our hope is that somehow Katie’s biological parents would come to know Christ. So, we are trying to do our part in providing for the Xujiaqiao Church. Ultimately, our hope is that more of the lost in China would be adopted in the family of God through this church.
One of the things that you can do for us is to pray. Pray for endurance as we train and race. Also, pray for wisdom as we raise funds. If you would like to learn more about the church in Wushan or to donate, contact us at . Like any adoption, it takes a loving heart, hard work, and to be honest, money. We know that in this economy, raising $25,000 will be a big task. But, we are focusing on the mountain Mover and not the mountain.
To read more about the Muellers in the online newspaper, SE Wisconsin, follow this link: To China, With Love
To watch ICM's overview video of China, follow this link: China Overview Video