Seeing Beyond the Impossible

East Gates International is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Church in China as well as other entities that best serve China’s future growth and development.

We fulfill this by working at all levels in China from engagement in government diplomatic activities to assisting with grassroots rural projects.  In this decade, East-West relations will have a significant impact on the world and will impact China's geo-political, socio-economic and religious activities and their contribution to society.  East Gates is humbled to be a small part of what is happening in the Church in China.

East Gates News

January - February 2024 Newsletter

We are now fully into the New Year and we hope yours has gotten off to a good start. For most Chinese around the world, they’re in the midst of celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year which began on February 10 and continues until the Lantern Festival on February 24. This year happens to be the Year of the Dragon and for many Chinese Christians who know what the dragon symbolizes in the Bible (and it is not prosperity and good fortune!) they choose to wish their family and friends a Happy Chinese New Year with e-cards or greetings as seen on the right.

It’s interesting to see how long established cultural traditions influence what we celebrate. We see this clearly in the Bible through the example of the Israelites’ major enculturation while in Egypt. After God miraculously rescued them from Pharaoh’s tight grip, He had Moses lead them to the base of Mount Sinai to receive His Ten Commandments or wedding vows. Because of the Israelites’ great fear of God and assumption that Moses may have been consumed in His fire, they reverted to fashioning one of the most revered Egyptian gods, the bull, Apis. Soon after, Aaron establishes a festival in honor of God! The account is found in Exodus 32:24-25: “Then he took the gold from their hands, and fashioned it with an engraving tool and made it into a cast metal calf; and they said, ‘This is your god, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’ Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD.’”

Blessing Your Spirit

cd-2-minEver feel like a wilted flower that needs the refreshment that comes from just a few drops of morning dew? God's Word says that King David craved the Lord's presence like a parched deer pants for water (Psalms 42:1).

East Gates has just produced a CD, Blessing Your Spirit. It's composed of 21 blessings (in Mandarin Chinese) taken from Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burke's popular book, Blessing Your Spirit.

This project came about through the inspiration of Lotus Buds International. They work to encourage, support and educate families in China to adopt their own orphans. Having worked in the country for a number of years, they observed how nannies and caregivers in orphanages needed spiritual food to nourish their soul. After reading Blessing Your Spirit, they thought it would be a good idea for a CD to be produced with that very idea in mind. They approached East Gates on the project.

Some of the blessings cover topics such as: Knowing Your Purpose, Freedom from the Fear of Man, Sound of Heaven, Kingdom of Peace, Seeing God's Fingerprints and more...

INSIGHTS

Your Comfort God

Seven years ago, Mrs. Petty, an elderly Christian lady, approached me at a potluck holding a scrumptious piece of apple pie and asked, “Christina, if I ask God to bless this apple pie, will He?” I said, “Why not?” In a loud whisper, she said, “Because, I’m diabetic.” I thought to myself, “Hmm. I need to consult Yeshua (Jesus) on this one.”

I knew Mrs. Petty wanted me to say “yes” but instead, I gently responded, “Um. I don’t think God will bless it.” Before I could say another word, she stammered, “Well, why not!” I quietly replied, “If you eat that sugar-laced piece of apple pie and have an insulin reaction, I might have to call 911. In God’s dictionary, a blessing is anything that benefits your eternal welfare. Since you’re diabetic, I don’t think that piece of pie falls into that category.” Her response? “Well, I’m just going to share it with my husband then” and walked off. Today, she has Alzheimer’s Disease and many other ailments...