Gym Outreach, 2010-Present

One day I asked God, “Where can I reach more multi-ethnic people in the community?”  God asked me, “Where do you go after work?” and I said, “To the gym.”  God asked me again, “Are they all saved?”  I replied, “I don’t know.”  God said, “You go and find out.”  I said, “OK, but please bring them to talk to me because I am an introvert.”  I went to the gym as usual for several days, but did not get to meet anyone from my group exercise classes.  A few days later, I asked God, “Why didn’t you bring people to talk to me?”  God said, “You need to take the initiative for the sake of the Gospel.”  I overcame my fear and shyness and started to talk with people who exercised around me on a regular basis. 

To attend these classes regularly is to let classmates identify me as part of their groups, and to be open for friendships.  Since most people who attend the gym do not linger after classes, I grasp opportunities for conversation whenever they arise and focus on talking with one or two people every time I go.  I usually begin the conversation with the class, by introducing myself, the country I am from, and then to talk about family, work and other aspects of life they are interested in. Since then, I have met over 300 people from 42 countries at the gym. 

I love every person God brings to my path, and every friend is on a prayer list with his or her individual name, nationality, religion, and gym schedule.  Personal relationships and conversations with these people open avenues for sharing the Gospel.  I will usually pray with those who have personal needs but are not ready for the Gospel.  These multi-ethnic exercise buddies are my best teachers, and several spoke openly about their worldview, including their perceptions of Christians and the church, during our conversations.

Multi-ethnic Diasporas Perceptions of Christianity

Muslim Perceptions of Christianity  

When asked about her perception of Christians and the church, Sharon, a Shi’ite Muslim woman, said, “Christians have faith and beliefs that make them better people and care about others.  They know someday they need to answer to someone, so they are better members of the society.  When you respect God and have faith in something, you will help others because there is a higher and upper power and you have to answer that power one day.” 

Christians know someday they need to answer to someone, so they are better members of the society.

Jay is a devoted single Chinese Muslim man (Hui) from the Shangdong province and has no relatives living in the U.S.  There are constant ethnic conflicts between Shangdong Hui and Han Chinese because the Huis live among the Hans.  The conflicts are mostly about the land, resources, and businesses, and often the Chinese government will protect the Hans to avoid ethnic conflicts. 

Jay goes to a local mosque every Friday, and says that Islam gives him peace and fits his lifestyle.  Because the sermons are in English, he does not always understand the sermons.  He said that he has no interest in learning about Christianity, and particularly he does not appreciate people trying to evangelize him.  When asked for his perception towards church goers, he replied, “It is negative.”  Jay further explained, “Since there are not many Chinese overseas Muslims, I told myself it is a must for me to get along with the Hans before I came over to the U.S.  After all, we speak the same language and are from the same country.”

If people are nice to me with a purpose, I feel I am being used.

After completing his master’s study, Jay found a job in the Silicon Valley. He met two Chinese colleagues who are Christians and have a strong desire to convert him.  “I was genuine in my desire to befriend them(掏心掏肺), but they had a hidden agenda.  A few months after I rejected the Gospel they shared with me, these two friends did not even keep up the friendship with me anymore.”  Then Jay looked straight into my eyes and said, “I hope you do not have the same intention.  I am good to people.  If people are nice to me with a purpose, I feel I am being used.  I have no interest in any church activities.  One reason is my limited time, and another is my two former colleagues who make me defensive towards Christianity.  I do not want to visit a church, and have no time even to hang out with Christian friends.”  I was embarrassed and in shock. After our conversation, I did not give Jay the simplified Chinese Bible I bought for him as a gift.  We continued our friendship until his relocation back to China.

Indian Perceptions of Christianity

A Single Indian Engineer

Al is a Brahmin, the highest of the caste system.  Since he grew up in Mumbai, a metropolitan area, he does not care much about the caste system.  He came to the U.S. for a master’s degree and relocated to the Silicon Valley after graduation.  He has visited Catholic churches in India and the USA because he studied in a Catholic high school in India. 

Al’s perception of Christians is mostly based on his experiences with Catholicism.  He said, “Many of my friends go to Catholic churches.  I believe it is necessary to have some inspirations in your life.  If they can find it in church, why not go for it. They are normal people.  It is those people who want to convert others who are extremely wrong.”  As for him attending church activities, Al said, “I am not against going to church.  If it calms me, why not, as long as you do not force me to change or convert me.  I would like to learn and understand more about Christianity.  I like to learn new things, just like the way I have learned about Sikh and Islam.  I am not offended to go to church services. I am a curious person, and I would like to know what they do to their God.

If going to church calms me, why not, as long as you do not force me to change or convert me. 

An Indian Bride Married to the U.S.

Bianca came to the U.S. right after her 10-day wedding ceremony in India.  She has been married for three years without any children, and relocated from New York to the Silicon Valley with her husband a year ago.  Bianca was stressed by her new life upon arriving in the USA, which triggered an overactive thyroid disorder leading to weight gain.  Though she wants to have children, her doctor has said she must lose weight before conceiving because of pregnancy health concerns.  Being a childless Indian wife has added more stress for her, especially because her husband is the only child in his family.

Bianca was a devoted Hindu before she was married.  After marriage, she was influenced by her husband to see that Hinduism is all man-made rules.  Though her worldview changed, she still has a puja ghar in her home, and she fears to speak of Hindu gods.  When we talked about Jesus, she would only whisper to me, and when I gave her a Bible she said she could not take it home.

Throughout our friendship, I have shared Jesus with Bianca through various ways and prayed with her often.  I gave her and her husband a book on the Four Spiritual Laws (translated into Hindi), the NIV translation of John’s gospel, and the Josh McDowell book More Than a Carpenter.  She had heard several Bible stories through the Henna designs on my hands, and even volunteered to draw Henna for me so I can share the Gospel at the gym.  I have also interviewed her about her worldview, and taken that time to share my worldview with her as an evangelistic opportunity.  She was surprised when she heard me talking about the judgment after death as she had never heard about it before.  She told me that she believes in Jesus, we have sinned against God, and there is only one God.  But when I asked her why, she said God exists in different forms, and it does not mean only Jesus is God. 

Why are you so happy?  You do not have anything I have, such as a husband or a house.

Her husband works long hours during the week.  As Bianca is very shy and has no relatives in this country, she told me several times that she is very lonely.  I intentionally spent a lot of time with her when we first became friends, and we met five days a week at the gym.  Her husband even suggested that she talk with me for at least an hour every day to practice her English.  I have offered to accompany Bianca to several women’s groups at my church for friendship and English conversation opportunities, but she has always hesitated and declined.

One day, Bianca asked, “Why are you so happy?  You do not have anything I have, such as a husband or a house.”  After seeing me bring her needs to Jesus in prayer from time to time, Bianca observed, “Jesus always answers your prayers.”

Reflection

It is very hard for Bianca to adjust from a tightly knit group culture to the individualistic culture of the United States.  Her outward loneliness speaks louder than her inner emptiness. 

Her mind is set on finding a friend who can solve her problems, which keeps her from thinking deeper about her need for Jesus. She is a young adult with an immediate need.  If that need is not met, she is not interested or eager to know about her need for eternity.  The fear of being punished by Hindu gods has greatly driven her away from surrendering to Jesus.  She has heard of the power of Jesus through my testimonies and Bible stories, but she has not yet experienced that power for herself.  We have done a lot of talking that reaches her head, but not her heart.  To talk to her heart, she has to experience Jesus for herself.  The love of Jesus is what she needs the most, and only that love can expel the fear she has of the Hindu gods.