One Tea pastor took God’s word international when he traveled overseas to complete a life-long goal of mission work.
Pastor Chris Boehnke of the Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Tea traveled to Jiangmen, China teaching the stories of the Bible and the English language Oct. 16-Nov. 2.
Boehnke traveled with District Executive of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, David Schwan.
Spiritual Hunger
Boehnke has completed mission trips in the United States before, but the trip to China marked his first overseas experience.
While in Jiangmen, Boehnke and Schwan trained church leaders, shared the gospel and taught English to all ages.
“The spiritual hunger over there is just incredible,” Boeknke said. “The church is growing faster in China than any other country in the world right now. There are easily more than 100 million Christians.”
However, spirituality can come at a high cost in Jiangmen.
“You have government persecution,” Boehnke said. “They don’t want you talking about it in the streets, but its growing so fast.”
Boehnke said Chinese were taught evolution and atheism, mostly likely the reason for such a strong desire to hear God’s word. There are traditional religions like Buhdism in Jiangmen, however. Boehnke said shrines and statues are erected throughout Jiangmen to honor God’s. At each statue base, an offering of food is given for peace in life.
Boehnke said he met many individuals in Jiangmen who have sacrificed much to worship God and study Christianity.
One individual, Boehnke said, was told to make a choice between the man she loved and God. When she chose to follow Christ, Boehnke said she lost her boyfriend and her mother disowned her.
Another man wrestled the decision of baptism. If he were to be baptized, his family would disown him, too, and he may lose his job.
Bible studies are held during work breaks, too – anywhere a group can get together to listen to God’s word.
It’s these stories that prove to Boehnke that a strong hunger for God’s word is taken for granted in America, he said.
“You see a greater committment level in China,” he said. “It’s more black and white. In the United States, it’s more grey. There’s no dividing line where you’re going to be called upon whether commintie to it or not.”
And in China for example,
“You can’t buy Bibles in a bookstore,” he said. “Bibles for distribution are illegal.”
And Boehnke learned that first-hand.
“I had a scare moment,” he said.
When Boehnke and Schwan arrived at the Jiangmen station, they had to show their passport and visa and have their luggage searched.
“I was told I could bring three Bibles in at most, otherwise the rest would be confiscated,” he said. “I had three Bibles and study materials all in one bag.”
A mistake, Boehnke said, was putting all the materials in one bag. When searching through the luggage, soldiers found the Bibles.
“All the blood drained from my head. I prayed, ‘Oh Lord let there be nothing there.’ I’ve heard of American businessmen thrown into jail for breaking the law,” he said.
In the end, the three Bibles and materials were passed, and Boehnke was free to continue.
“It just seemed like an eternity until they said I could go,” he said.

Culture Shock
Boehnke traveled to China on a 17-hour flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo, then to Hong Kong. After arriving in Jiangmen, Boehnke said it was complete culture shock.
“The traffic, sights and sounds, food and language barriers are hard,” he said. “Emotionally, I just about shut down.”
The traffic, Boehnke said was chaotic. But with a population of four million in Jiangmen, he said it was expected.
The food was another story.
“They eat a lot of rice, noodles and vegetables,” Boehnke said.
And of course, they use chopsticks.
“I had never used them,” he said. “My first night we were 45 minutes into Jiangmen and we went to a restaurant. I was dropping everything. But I refused to use a fork and spoon.”
After about a week of using the chopsticks, Boehnke was able to eat without dropping each bite.
After landing in Minneapolis on the way home, Boehnke’s first stop was Chili’s - to order a burger and fries.
Jiangmen is also a 13-hour time difference from Tea.
“It took about a week to really adjust,” Boehnke said. “It’s 3 a.m. there and I’m wide awake – and knowing I need to sleep.”
But even with a vast culture difference, Boehnke said he looks forward to taking more international mission trips in the future – but maybe, with his family.