Long-time readers of Madetomatter know evangelical Christians in China have grown to the second largest audience for the devotional and website, and it's expected Beijing will replace Los Angeles sometime this year as the city with the most regular visitors to Madetomatter's devotional pages.  Now Madetomatter's staff will be traveling to China as part of the Theology of Work Project.  Read more by clicking here.

     In 2007,  MTM President Cheryl Kilgore was asked by Dr. Haddon Robinson in 2007 to serve as the Project Manager for TOW, which was co-founded by a group that included MTM's Senior Writer and Workplace Chaplain,  Randy Kilgore. (William Messenger was tapped by Dr. Robinson to serve as Executive Editor of the Project.) Now both Kilgores are headed to Hong Kong along, with nearly 15 other TOW Project team members. 

     "China has always held a special place in my heart," writes Randy.  "My pastor and mentor, Francis Allen, gave me my first Christian book, Bill Wallace of China, in 1963 as a gift when he baptized me, and I've been collecting missionary biographies since that day.  There aren't likely many Americans who've read more missionary biographies of the work of Christ in China than me. I love China and the Chinese people, and the rich history of courage and faithfulness that is represented by Chinese Christians.  Their lives are remarkable evidences of the power of God in every culture.

     Both Kilgores are quick to point out this isn't a West-teaches-East meeting of the minds; but rather a meeting of peers eager to exchange best practices and to extend the collaborative networks already in place.  TOW's Steering Committee meets in early August with more than forty scholars, pastors, researchers and workplace Christians from the East, and then some members of TOW will attend the nearly 300-strong meeting of the East Asian Graduate Students Fellowship meeting.  The latter group represents some of the finest working minds in fields as diverse as finance and construction, Christians who work and apply the principals of their faith to their labors daily. 

     "While our trip to China is technically in service to another ministry-the Theology of Work Project," Randy notes, "it is entirely consistent with our mission at Madetomatter/Desired Haven. And while I'd love to say the growing reader base in China for Madetomatter is a reflection of the quality of our writing, in reality the numbers reflect the deep and abiding hunger working Christians everywhere share for any teaching that reinforces the idea God cares about every part of our lives, every person, every day."

     He continues, "Traveling to China is our opportunity to pay homage to the native Chinese Christians whose daily faithfulness makes that country one of the richest sources of Kingdom fruit on earth.  We journey there to soak up their energy and their commitment, and to carry that energy and commitment forward in the work we do here at Desired Haven."   

     Kilgore closes with an invitation to MTM's readers living and working in China and Asia: "We'd love to hear from our brothers and sisters in Christ in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia, both before we arrive and while we're there.  If you have questions or comments, or would be interested in hosting Madetomatter's staff at a meeting of Christians while we're in China, we'd be delighted to hear from you at Cheryl@madetomatter.org. 

     For more information on the Theology of Work Project itself, click here.