Revival Chinese Ministry International (RCMI), previously the China Ministry division of RCC, was set up in 1997 as an independent legal entity for the purpose of serving China in a more effective way. RCMI belongs to the spiritual body of RCC but it is run as an independent ministry, administration- and financial-wise, under the general guidance and supervision of the top leadership in RCC.
In 1961, Pastor Dennis Balcombe, founder of RCMI (The Revival Chinese Ministries International), received his calling to go to China. In 1969 Pastor Dennis Balcombe left the United States and planted Revival Christian Church (RCC) in Hong Kong. Since the first tour group for westerners into China in 1979, RCMI has been working hard to put Bibles and books into the hands of the Chinese people.
The call has rung out internationally and answered by the ones that have moved to Hong Kong for short and long terms to carry Bibles. Many of them have now settled permanently in China for mission work. RCMI is now working very closely with mission-minded house churches by frequent visits of encouragement and in leadership training.
MINISTRY MILESTONES
IT ALL STARTED with a Singapore Chinese who was deported to China because of his involvement in the labour movement. He had a hard time in China where the local community rejected him. Subsequently, his son sneaked into Hong Kong where he met Pastor Dennis Balcombe who was doing his round of street evangelism. The encounter unveiled the curtain of China ministry under Pastor Dennis.
1978 China ascertains the Open Door policy. The door of China is opened to the Gospel.
1979 Pastor Dennis joins the historic “first tour” to China. Chinese Christian’s express a great need for Bibles, so the Courier Ministry is founded.
1980-81 Hong Kong Christians deliver Bibles into China and encouraged overseas Christians to join.
1983-85 English classes are used to reach hundreds with the gospel, many are saved.
1988 Village churches are taught the truth of infilling by the Holy Spirit, Worship and Praise.
1990-95 Pastor Dennis continues visiting house churches, strengthen their spiritual lives.
1995 Pastor Dennis is denied entry to China and turns his attention to overseas Chinese communities and encouraging more international participation in the ministry.
1997 Revival Chinese Ministries International is founded by Pastor Dennis Balcombe to better serve the Chinese churches.
1998 Severe flooding of the Yangtze River destroys Christian’s homes. $60,000usd is raised to aid in reconstruction.
2003 Bible School in China is founded to train teachers for the house churches. Pastor Dennis regains entry to China.
2003-6 We joins hands with other local churches/organizations to visit House Churches in China.
2005-6 Hong Kong’s first “All Chinese Prayer Conference” is held at Revival Christian Church.
FIRST ERA 1979 -1987
1979 – Through the Guangzhou father of this young man, Pastor Dennis became aware of the demand for bibles in the Guangxi province and that an American pastor had donated US$700 for buying them. At that time, one could only buy from the HongKong Bible Society bibles using the original complex form of Chinese characters. The simplified Chinese bibles only started to appear in Hong Kong several years later. In Guangzhou the same year, Pastor Dennis met with some Wenzhou brethren associated mainly with the Little Flock Church.
1980 –In Guangzhou Pastor Dennis met believers from Henan province for the first time. They included Zhang Rongliang and Liu Zhenxian, both with connection with China Inland Missions. During the last two to three years, many believers from other provinces came to Guangzhou for spiritual books to be taken back, by various means, to the northern region.
From 1978 to 1981, the Chinese government allowed much religious freedom. In Guangzhou, street evangelism proceeded quite smoothly without too much official interference.
1981 –Towards the end of the year, a certain agency shipped a large quantity of bibles from the Philippines to the coastal provinces in southern China. The shipment was intercepted by the customs authorities and among those detained was a retired American army official. As a result, the Chinese authorities kept a close watch over the flow of bibles into China. Since then, travelers landed in China were given stringent customs checking. Meanwhile, Christians from the West began to bring bibles into China.
1982 to 1983 – During the two years, Pastor Dennis started teaching the Chinese believers in hotels about the Holy Spirit. At the same time, he went to Guangzhou to teach among the house churches. At times, he also taught English in a private language school in Guangzhou.
1983 to 1987 – Pastor Dennis led more than 500 people to the Lord in Guangzhou, among them some 300 were baptised.
1987 –That year, Pastor Dennis was arrested and spent a night in a Chinese prison.
1979 to 1987 –During the decade, Pastor Dennis and co-workers succeeded in bringing three million copies of bibles into China.
SECOND ERA 1987 – 1997
1987 – On a winter morning, Pastor Dennis set foot for the first time at a house church meeting in rural Henan province. Because of the poor road condition and transport system, he arrived during the wee hours at 4.00am, only to find more than 800 church leaders waiting to receive him. These people, some sitting some standing, represented four hundred churches in the country.
1987 to 1989 – Pastor Dennis made monthly visits to house churches in Henan, Anhui and Sichuan provinces where he prayed with church leaders and helping them to receive the baptism of Holy Spirit.
1988 to 1989 –During the years, Pastor Dennis started bringing in overseas pastors and teachers to teach in rural churches in Henan and Shaanxi provinces. Travelling was usually done at night, each journey lasting several hours.
1989 –The eruption of Tiananmen Square incident did not seriously affect the flows of bibles and teachings in China. That year, Pastor Dennis introduced “Praise and Worship” through the teachings of “Tambourine Dance” and “Inner Healing” by brethren from Southeast Asia. The sessions brought new perspectives to churches on worship; and healing to Chinese believers who have undergone much sufferings.
1992 –At a meeting in Wuyang of Henan, the PSB raided the scene but Pastor Dennis managed to escape. He was to preach on “Praise and Worship” but the Holy Spirit prompted him to speak on suffering and persecution. Some believers received revelation through dreams of having been bitten by snakes or been assaulted. At the raid, some 120 people were arrested including brothers and sisters from Malaysia and Singapore. Among those arrested, 20 boldly preached the gospel in prisons. Also jailed was songwriter Xiao Min who during her three-month imprisonment, was moved to write songs including those collected in “The Canaan Songs”.
1993 –Significant growth was recorded that year which, during the Gospel Month, brought in some 46,000 souls into the Kingdom.
1994 – During the Spring Festival, Pastor Dennis and a number of Henan believers were again arrested. A tremendous harvest was reaped during the Gospel Month estimated at 1.2 million (?) people.
THIRD ERA 1997 –
1997 – That year Hong Kong reverted to China, an event that sent hazy and threatening signals to many including gospel agencies based in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Viewing the hand-over in negative light, some began to divert their financial support to places elsewhere. Pastor Dennis, however, was deeply convinced of God’s protection over Hong Kong and hence his letters to overseas supporters urging them to stand firm.
1997 –“Revival Chinese Ministries International” (RCMI) was established to serve the house churches in China more effectively.
1998 – Beginning this year, God has been guiding RCMI to expand its scope of ministry. RCMI has linked up with some recently-established agencies and is prepared to use its resources to help develop their ministries.
1999 to 2000 – God continued to draw new co-workers to RCMI which is expanding in scope of ministries. Apart from distributing bibles and spiritual books, for example, RCMI is moving towards “supporting house churches to set up bible schools”. This is a more comprehensive and integrated way to train church leaders.
