Erik Bürklin, MDiv, is a third-generation missionary whose grandparents served with China Inland Mission (now OMF) taking the gospel to China before it closed to foreign missionaries in 1950. In 1989, his father, Dr. Werner Bürklin, founded China Partner , and in 1993, Erik joined his father and then took over as president in 2001. He regularly travels to China organizing and teaching pastoral training seminars. In addition to training church leaders, China Partner provides Christian literature, links ministries and individuals outside China with churches in China, and partners with churches in China to reach the next generation. Erik and his wife reside in Colorado and have two grown daughters.
Challenges notwithstanding, the resilience and unwavering faith of the Chinese church are awe-inspiring. God’s grip on his church remains unyielding, and amid adversity, a vibrant faith continues to thrive in the hearts of believers across China.
The author discusses five key ways in which TSPM churches are having a positive and eternal impact on Chinese society. Although controlled by the government, these churches continue to faithfully serve their Savior knowing that, ultimately, Jesus controls everything
Of the many adjectives that could be used to describe the church in China, “diverse” is one of the most appropriate. The Body of Christ in China is indeed multi-faceted, a microcosm of the diverse population of China itself. Here we present four views of the church in China, each reflecting a different aspect of God’s working among the peoples of China.