Do You Play Bo?
More and more people in China are asking each other this question: “Do you Weibo?” or “Do you play bo?” One might think it’s a new video game, but what people are really asking is, “Do you participate in online blogs?”
Blogging, or online journaling, is growing in popularity throughout Mainland China as a way for people to share reflections, comments, and conversation with others online. And Back to God Ministries International Chinese media team is taking advantage of this communication tool to share the Gospel with bloggers in China.
“In January 2011 we initiated two blogs on the most popular blog site in China,” announced Rev. Jimmy Lin, Chinese ministry leader for Back to God Ministries International. “Within the first two weeks we received more than 1,000 visits, and by the end of the month more than 7,000 visits and many comments!”
According to CNNIC (the official network information center in China) the Internet population of China topped 457 million users in 2010. Of that number, nearly 200 million blog regularly and at least half of those have more than one blog. “This is not just a game that young people play,” adds Rev. Lin. “More than 40% of the Internet users in China are over 30 years old!”
In order to reach these bloggers, the producers of the Chinese audio programs Truth Q&A and Life Lessons created blogs for their ministries. The Life Lessons outreach offers spiritual encouragement for those dealing with emotional issues. Truth Q&A allows people to submit questions about faith and life, giving staff an opportunity to share biblical truths with people who for years have been denied access to God’s Word.
Bloggers’ responses are short and to the point. “Is God really only a prayer away?” asked one blogger. Staff was able to assure that person of the power of bringing our concerns to God in prayer.
In a later comment another blogger wrote, “Yes, I too need to follow what the previous blogger says about giving everything to God in prayer.” And one more blogger wrote, “Thank you for your comments on prayer. It is very helpful.”
“Our responses need to be timely and biblical,” Rev. Lin explains. “One goal of our ministry is to build up a community of believers, whether on the web or through other avenues. We thank God for giving us this venue of outreach on the web.”
In addition to the blog sites, the Chinese media team also produces six ministry websites and administrates two Facebook pages based in North America and one Chinese social networking site. Plans are to launch a blog for the Chinese Today devotional soon.
“Our prayer is that the viral effect will help spread the Good News much farther and beyond what we were able to cover through radio broadcasts, audio products and printed materials,” says Rev. Lin.
To help support this unprecedented and timely opportunity to reach people in China, visit Back to God Ministries International website and give generously. Thank you!
