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Barbara Penney
P.O. Box 906
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
(765) 361-1763
(864) 923-2111 (cell)
Barbara ended her term of service in August 2004. She is willing
to speak when her schedule permits. To invite her to speak in your
church, see her contact information on the Mission
Speakers page.
Barbara Penney serves in mission with the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) in Fuzhou, a city in southeastern China. She is a professor
of English at Minjiang College. Barbara says, "As a Christian
serving in China, my witness is very different from that of the
traditional 'missionary.' My charge is to be the best teacher
I can be and to live a life that reflects Christ's love. It is
illegal for foreigners to evangelize in China, and by coming to
China as a Presbyterian church worker, I have agreed to respect
that law. Consequently, my witness is one of presence, not of
proselytism."
Barbara's witness operates in two main areas, with students and
at the local church. For many of her students, she is the first
acknowledged Christian they have ever met. She understands that
what she does and says represents what Christians do and say.
Barbara knows this is a heavy responsibility. The second aspect
of her witness is her involvement with the local Chinese church.
As the only foreigner in a large congregation, her presence is
very obvious and affirms the shared faith that unites believers
all over the world. Even though they communicate mostly by smiles
and simple greetings, the congregation responds to her presence
and she, in turn, is blessed by the sense of peace and faith that
so many of the older believers radiate. Another blessing at the
Sunday service is the children's choir. With their smiles and
enthusiasm, the children seem to represent the future of the Chinese
church.
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