China: The Reluctant Exodus

by Phyllis Thompson

In the 1950's China came under communist domination and closed its doors to missions. This is the inspiring story of the reluctant withdrawal of the China Inland Mission from that country.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Phyllis Thompson has a background in development education and Pastoral ministry in the UK. She is currently a member of the Church of God International General Board of Education, an Executive Council Member of the European Pentecostal Theological Association and a member of the leadership team of her local Church in Northampton, England. She has written on topics to do with Black Majority Churches, and women in Christian leadership. Recent publications include her contribution to Faith of our Fathers (Pathway Press 2009),Challenges of Black Pentecostal Leadership in the 21st Century (SPCK 2013) and Challenges of Pentecostal Theology in the 21st Century (SPCK 2020) the latter two for which she is the editor.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book complements other books about the China Inland Mission I've read. There is a consistency of testimony about the utter dependency of the missionaries on God and His loving and amazingly specific responses. This is a terrifyingly graphic exodus; much the same as that of the children of Israel from Egypt.

[Laura Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encoursging testimony to God's help in troubled times

I was reminded of God's faithfulness in keeping His promises. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing more about how God provides.

[Rebecca van den Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceptively boring cover and title. This is an amazing story about how the China Inland Mission had to safely remove hundreds of missionaries and their children after the Communists took over. If you want to see God show up, read missionary stories!

[Stephen Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! China is close to my heart so the stories here resonate with me. The work is not done.

[Ian Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of the complete withdrawal of the China Inland Mission from the People's Republic in the early 1950s. The resolute decision and implementation was remarkable. The headquarters at Shanghai became a Communist Party centre. It does however indicate that the Protestant missionaries were seen as a social reform group by the Chinese people, and that the even bigger reforms offered, in early days, by the Communist Party quite easily eclipsed them. The author, and the missionaries, seemed a bit perplexed by developments.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the China Inland Mission's difficult decision in early 1951 to being pulling their 627 missionaries out of China and the story of the actual withdrawal of those 627. By May 1952 only eight remained, but it wasn't until July 1953 that those eight were free. Amazing stories of God's just-in-time provision.