George represents many Chinese students who become Christians while studying in a Western country. He believed in Jesus after spending time in a vibrant campus ministry and attending church and a Bible study in English. A few years later, George returned to China and found it was harder than he ever imagined to keep his faith. His job requires long hours and involves corrupt practices that seem impossible to avoid. His parents are pushing him into marriage with a non-Christian woman, and even if he had any time on Sunday he can’t find a church where he feels comfortable. George is seriously thinking of giving up on the faith he found in the West.
Students who have become Christians while overseas face challenges when they return to China in the areas of family relationships, employment, and church. These challenges are so severe that it is estimated up to 80% of them will abandon their faith within a year of returning to China.
I believe that the key cultural value impacting discipleship of Chinese students is the difference between individual and group orientation, also called individualism and collectivism. Chinese students who have grown up in China have spent their formative years in a group-oriented culture.
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乔治代表了许多在西方国家留学期间成为基督徒的中国学生。他通过参与一个充满活力的校园事工的活动，并参加英语教会和查经班而信靠了耶稣。几年后，乔治回到中国，却发现坚持信仰远比他想象的困难。他的工作需要长时间加班，而且涉及一些似乎无法避免的腐败行为。父母不断催促他与一位非基督徒女性结婚；即使周日有时间，他也找不到一间自己觉得合适的教会。乔治正认真考虑放弃他在海外留学时接受的信仰。
那些在海外成为基督徒的学生，回国后会在家庭关系、职业发展以及教会生活等方面面临严峻挑战。这些挑战如此严重，以至于据估计，多达80%的归国信徒会在回国一年内放弃他们的信仰。
我认为影响中国学生门徒训练的关键文化价值观，是个人导向与群体导向之间的差异，也就是所谓的个人主义与集体主义之间的差异。对成长于中国的学生来说，他们在形成世界观的关键时期基本都处于群体导向的文化之中。
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