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Zhu family Newsletter for December 2025

Author：Yanjie Zhu
Date: 01/28/2026
Category：Missions Beyond Borders

Dear friends and families,

Peace be with you in the Lord! As the year draws to a close, we’re greeting you from Dresden. Looking back on the past year, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. In this season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we invite you to join us in giving thanks and praise to God.

In early October, two sisters from Atlanta Chinese Christian Church North visited Dresden for a short-term mission trip to provide Evangelism Explosion (EE) training. We are grateful for the four brothers and sisters who participated in this intensive course, studying diligently to learn how to share the core components of the Gospel. God’s hand was clearly at work during our visitations. He prepared the hearts of a woman new to the Gospel and a man who, upon hearing the message, humbly received Jesus as his Savior. After coming to faith, this brother even invited a friend to church, who also ended up placing his trust in the Lord. We marvel at God’s unfathomable wisdom and His perfect timing! Even though we did not hold a large-scale outreach event this year, the Lord brought those He had prepared directly to us. This has encouraged us to “put on the shoes of the Gospel” at all times, knowing we may be a blessing to those God is already drawing to Himself. We are also thankful that these three new believers have prioritized the Lord’s Day from the very beginning, faithfully attending worship every week. Two of them have begun life-to-life discipleship training. Yanjie and Xiaoxiao have paired them with a mature Christian to walk alongside them, helping them establish daily devotions and prayer. The third new believer is eager to join the next round of discipleship training.

Before both sisters departed, Elder Ding and his wife also visited us. They continued the deacon training sessions, focusing on establishing a biblical perspective on ministry. Most of our deacons attended the entire training and gained a deeper understanding of the biblical qualifications for deacons and their vital role within the church. During our final session, we discussed the importance of a church constitution and bylaws, something our church has lacked since its founding in late 2021. Since we do not yet have ordained elders, we hope to begin discussing our own bylaws in the coming year to ensure the Dresden Chinese Church grows healthily under a clear governance model. We are so grateful for these preparations.

On October 31, a public holiday in Germany for Reformation Day, our church called a gathering to watch a documentary on the Reformation. This led to a lively discussion regarding the history and theology of the movement. It was a wonderful opportunity for our seekers to understand the Christian roots of German holidays, as well as for our members to reflect on the significance of the Reformation. Over a dumpling dinner afterward, everyone excitedly discussed the possibility of a “Reformation Heritage Tour” next year to visit the places where the Reformers lived and worked. We thank the Lord for stirring a desire in our congregation to grow deeper in doctrine and to cherish the grace of the Gospel.

Having recognized the need for family, we launched a course in late September based on Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. Each week, we watch the teaching videos together and discuss the joys and struggles of parenting, bringing our weaknesses before the Lord in prayer. This course has been a profound reminder not just for the parents and expectant parents, but for Yanjie and Xiaoxiao as well. One sister shared, “I thought this was a course on parenting techniques, but I realized it’s actually a call for us parents to repent. The focus is on shepherding the child’s heart, not just managing their behavior. But before we can shepherd their hearts, our own hearts must first be shepherded by the Gospel.” This is the transformative power of the Gospel! It helps us see the destructive nature of sin and how the Gospel overcomes it to change entire families. We thank the Holy Spirit for leading our families to embrace a life of repentance and reliance on Jesus within the home—the smallest unit of worship.

Looking back, we see that God has not only blessed the church but has also allowed us personally to experience His abundant grace and guidance. He has opened our eyes to His love, goodness, power, faithfulness, mercy, and holiness. Our hearts are filled with a deeper trust in the God who saves, sustains, and provides. He is our satisfaction and our joy, and it is our greatest honor to serve His church. Through every mountain and valley, He is our closest friend, our daily Savior, and the Lord of every experience. Thanks be to God!

We are grateful for sharing our experiences with you. It is your prayers God uses to sustain us, without which we cannot walk alone on our journey to the celestial city. We sincerely ask that you continue to pray with us:

1. For our unbelieving family members (Yanjie’s parents; Xiaoxiao’s father and brother)—that the Spirit would grant repentance. For our believing family members (Xiaoxiao’s mother and sister-in-law)—that they would continue to grow spiritually.
2. Pray for the three new believers to grow in maturity and for the rest of the congregation to be encouraged to seek a deeper knowledge of Christ.
3. Pray for a revival of evangelism in our church this year. May we be passionate about caring for and praying for new friends, co-laboring with the Lord to bring His people home.
4. Pray for wisdom as the Deacon Board discusses and drafts the church constitution next year. Pray that the Lord would lead us in establishing a biblical governance model that allows the Dresden Chinese Church to be a strong witness for the Gospel.
5. Due to job changes, some brothers and sisters will be leaving Dresden at the end of this year and early next year. Consequently, we must adjust our budget to cover only essential ministry expenses. Please pray for the church’s finances and that the Lord would strengthen our faith to look to Him for every provision.

Once again, thank you so much for walking with us in prayer and support all the way. If you are willing to continue to support us, please contact us or refer to the instructions on the ECM website: https://www.ecministry.net/25903253452510520204.html (Our reference ID is BTDT-010 Yanjie Zhu). May the Lord remember the prayers and gifts offered for His name!

Warmly,
Yanjie, Xiaoxiao, Samuel, Lydia, and Josiah

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