The words sounded different, but the melody and the meaning were the same. Needing to overcome the language barrier with the Chinese Christians she was staying with for two weeks, Carrie Sanders began singing “Silent Night.”
Recognizing the familiar tune, her hosts began to sing in Chinese and a bond was formed.
Sanders, a master of communications student from Mississippi, is a member of The Company, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s drama ministry group. Twelve members of the group out of the Fort Worth, Texas, seminary spent two weeks of their Christmas vacation performing in China.
“We felt kind of Lottie Moonish,” said student Eric Mann, referencing Southern Baptist missionary to China from 1873-1912, Lottie Moon. “Drama really makes a big impact here.”
The group was split into two teams of six, with one team going to the city of Xiamen and the other going to Meizhou.
Although the two cities are only eight hours apart, they are vastly different, said Mann.
Mann and Sanders were part of the Xiamen team, a city in a special economic zone on the coast of China. The city is very westernized, and the team was able to perform openly in the city.
The Meizhou team, in contrast, did not have the same freedom. Team members were told specifically not to present the gospel or the plan of salvation unless directly asked. The team did perform a sign-language drama set to an English soundtrack that presented the gospel, however. Although fearful, they experienced God’s protection because the members of the Communist Party did not understand the words.
Part of the trip involved helping Christians in China continue using drama in ministry. (BP)
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