What do relay runners and English teachers in China have in common? Both contribute to a team and a task larger than themselves. Let me explain.

My wife and I recently visited various friends in China who teach English at universities. In one province, the universities were holding their "Annual Foreign Teachers and Students Sports Day." It turned out to be a mini-Olympics—they're already getting in the mood for Beijing 2008!

My wife and I went along to support our friend and her colleagues who formed a small team - just nine participants, compared with the more than 100-member teams from some of the larger universities in the province. In the opening ceremony, we paraded behind our flag, just like in the real Olympics. (We felt a bit like the Togo team must feel alongside the huge American or Chinese teams.) Well, events got under way: 100m, 400m, long jump, skipping(!), shot put, etc. Soon it was time for lunch.

Off we went in the minibus for a lovely meal. The dishes kept coming, and we kept eating. Eventually we headed back to the stadium. On the way, the team asked me to be one of their 4x100m relay runners. I didn't mind - I love running, and the thought of winning a medal spurred me on! Even though I hadn't come prepared, I could run in what I was wearing.

So, we arrived at the stadium and took our seats in the stands—only to discover that the 4x100m final was starting! It had been scheduled for 3 pm, with 12 teams slated to compete in heats, and then a final. But without warning, the organisers had moved the race up to 1:30 pm. The four teams that were available got to run.....in the final. The heats were cancelled!

My disappointment was accentuated when I saw how hopeless two of the teams were, yet one was guaranteed to win the bronze medals. If only we'd returned earlier, we could have run and at least attained the bronze. Oh well!

A few days later we were enjoying pizza in another city with our hosts and a Chinese Christian friend named Anna. Anna told us how desperately her university needed foreign English teachers. During our entire trip, we visited 10 universities in 5 cities, each with between 20,000 and 30,000 students. This was a common plea at every university, "we need more English teachers!"

But Anna said more, "we need Christians to teach English. Peace Corps volunteers come, but they drink, smoke, and are not a good example to the students. They can't begin to fill the void in the hearts of many Chinese young people." Suicide levels are high amongst university students in China. Pressure to succeed is intense, especially in a country where couples are allowed only one child, so they invest all their hopes in their one son or daughter. Many students are searching for something more in life - and a Christian English teacher can offer them so much. Anna's plea for Christians to teach English held all the more weight because she herself first heard about Christ through her foreign English teacher.

Anna likened it to a relay race—Christians English teachers may not lead many students to Christ directly, but they'll definitely plant hundreds of seeds in fertile soil. They are like the first runner in the relay race. The second, third and fourth runners can be Chinese Christians and the Chinese Church who can water the seeds and nurture them to fruit. But without the first runner, none of the others can run either. And no medals will be won.

How many Christians are able to be relay runners, but are distracted or "out to lunch." How sad to discover they're too late - the race has started without them!

English-speaking Christians are desperately needed to teach English in China - to run relay races in hundreds of universities, where hundreds of thousands of students attend. "The relay races are plentiful, but the runners are few." (Matthew 9:37)

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Will you consider teaching English in China for a year? Two years? More? People with a TEFL qualification (and experience, but not essential) are given furnished housing and a monthly salary, plus contributions towards airfares. Is God prompting you to come to China and teach English for a time? If so, please contact your nearest SIM office for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!