Maverick
By Suzanne O'Keeffe, 700 Club Interactive
CBN.com –CHINA NEEDS A SAVIOR
Maverick has been bringing Bibles to the Chinese people under the watchful eye of the Communist Chinese police for 25 years. The people of China have been and still are crying, "We are ready to become a Christian nation if someone will just show us how!" He spent from 1986-1999 ministering to the "lost university students and business professionals." In his book, Maverick shares how much the Chinese are open to receiving the gospel into their seemingly meaningless lives. Maverick took a trip to Beijing by himself and spent four days in a rundown dormitory knocking on doors of the students and preaching the message of Jesus Christ. He describes his excitement and joy as he was warmly received and even more so as they received the gospel as truth. Maverick explains that the Chinese have seen and heard all about darkness and are now open for change into the light. As they hear the Gospel and a choice is offered, many open doors for ministry open.
TEMPLE STREET AND THE DRAGON'S LAIR
Satan, the Dragon is working hard in China, whose national symbol is the dragon, to keep a country away from its Creator. On one trip to Hong Kong Maverick found himself "on-the-job training with two Cantonese women who took him to Temple Street Park. It is a park where an enormous Chinese temple stands at the entrance and a vast amount of people come together to sell electronics, clothing, food, jewelry, music etc. As they walked among the people and handed out their tracts, much to their surprise, people accepted and read the tracts. As a crowd developed, Maverick was given instructions to start preaching. To their great delight and astonishment the crowd grew and by the end of the evening many had accepted Christ as their Savior. As they continued to go to Temple Street for a year, they soon found out that not everyone was always happy to see them. There were fortune tellers, snake handlers, prostitution, magicians. It was among these people that Maverick and his team set up their booth and as they might be preaching or worshipping, next to them might be a man who would drink the blood of snakes. They continued to preach and worship whether people listened or not; singing and praising God amongst the worst of hecklers. It soon became apparent that the Lord was moving among the people because one evening at a church baptism there was a man by the name of Mr.Ao. Maverick explained that he began to cry because this man had been one of the "strongest hecklers" and now, he had made the decision to accept Jesus as his Savior and be baptized.
WHY CHINA?
Under the reign of Mao Tse-tung (1949-1975) and his eradication of any religious truths, the youth in China had grown up without a "moral compass" and having no knowledge of God. Today however, they are more developed and eager for change. Maverick believes that if we can feed the newer generation with the power of God, they will be able to evangelize to the entire world, accomplishing the ultimate purpose in life. It is his conviction that they will become a more self-less nation and begin to assist in the needs of those around them as they become Christian.
China has gone through much persecution for accepting Jesus. This has not brought their faith down but has motivated them to be more zealous for the Lord. The churches in China have become stronger and have taken a stand to spread the word of God all around the world. They are now ready to set out and preach the gospel to the entire world, as they believe that Jesus will not come back until every soul has heard about Him.
AMERCIANS ADJUST THINKING
The truth that Maverick really desires to get across is, "helping Americans adjust their thinking about evangelism." This book is to show that the Bible's way to evangelize was to strangers, which he says is different from what we know in the States today. Seeking the Kingdom of God above all else, receiving revelation that mankind was created to "bless God and His kingdom advancement." is the way to an exciting and effective way to reach the world. It is all for His Namesake.