BTJ Leader is with the Lord

The Back To Jerusalem ministry is thanking God for the memory of a dear brother and long-time vision leader. Pastor Mark Ma, founder of the Back to Jerusalem Band passed away September 16, 2008 at his home in Chongqing, China. He died at the age of 98, a long life devoted to the Lord. A farewell service was conducted September 20, 2008 and a memorial service was held September 27, 2008.

In 1943 Pastor Ma led fellow Chinese believers in founding the Back to Jerusalem Band, an indigenous missionary organization with a vision to carry the gospel to China's northwestern provinces through central Asia and back to Jerusalem. Early workers reached Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. Though the turn in political events after 1949 temporarily affected continuing outreach, members of the Band remained faithful to the vision. It is amazing to see how the vision of Pastor Ma and his colleagues has impacted Chinese Christians in China and around the world today, as their faithful work laid the foundation for the current Back To Jerusalem movement and wide spread evangelism out of China.

Born in Henan, January 29, 1910, Mark Ma came to faith in Christ after college. Following graduation from the Kaifeng Bible School, he remained on as a member of the teaching staff until 1941, when war conditions made it impossible for the school to continue. Pastor Ma moved to Fengxiang in Shaanxi province, where he served as Vice-Principal of the newly established Northwest Bible Institute. It was there in 1943 that Pastor Ma received the call, along with other co-workers that the Lord was already preparing, to a remarkable evangelism effort to Xinjiang.

Pastor Ma was faithful to the call of the Lord and he expressed his heart with these words: “ My hope is that our Chinese church will with determination and courage hold fast this great responsibility and, depending upon our all victorious Saviour, complete this mighty task, and taking possession of our glorious inheritance, take the gospel back to Jerusalem.”

How to reach us... Back To Jerusalem, Inc. PO Box 7129, Naples, FL 34101 info@backtojerusalem.com

Available Now: "Living Water"

Brother Yun, author of the international best-selling book, “Heavenly Man” has published a collection of his teachings in a new book called, “Living Water.” The sermons gathered in this remarkable work are true lessons from Scripture, made all the more powerful by seeing them reflected in the experiences Brother Yun faced as a pastor persecuted in China. These two books reveal a true servant of the Lord and illustrate the beauty of a fire-tested faith. The following is an excerpt from, “Living Water.”

"...After my first arrest, I was thrown in prison and treated very cruelly by the guards and my cellmates. At the beginning, I didn't understand what was going on. I was confused and cried out to God, as though there had been some kind of mistake. 'Oh, Lord,' I cried, 'do You realize I am in sitting here in prison? Have You forsaken me?' Soon the Lord showed me that He had certainly not forsaken me, but that my arrest and imprisonment were His will for my life and His calling for me at that time. The Bible declares that God loves the entire world, and Jesus commanded His followers to take the good news into the entire world. The world includes Chinese prisons, where there are thousands of desperate men who need to know Jesus. That is where the Lord chose to send me so that I could be a witness to His truth and grace.

When this understanding became a reality in my life, my whole attitude and perspective was completely transformed. Now, instead of feeling resentment for my situation, I was joyful and thankful! Instead of being depressed and confused, I was full of praise to the Lord....

...When the Lord showed me all these things, I made a steadfast commitment that I would always praise Jesus, regardless of my cirucmstances or situation...King David also learned the power of praise during his darkest moments. The Psalms record how David worshipped the Lord even though people were plotting to murder him. David understood the power of praising God, even while under tremendous pressure and danger. He was able to declare, 'I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth' (Ps 34:1). Later in the same psalm, he dips into his personal experience and shares, 'A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken' (Ps. 34:19-20)...

... The challenges in your life are real, but Jesus is the truth! If you will learn to praise Jesus Christ regardless of your circumstances, you will find inner freedom and joy, and you will have the strength to overcome whatever you are faced with...."

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