Understanding Returnees

Each year thousands of Chinese students go overseas to study. Some of them will respond to the gospel. Two out of three will return home to China within five years. Sadly 50-80% of those who become Christians will studying overseas will abandon their faith within a year of returning. This course will examine the issues that cause returnees to believe that Jesus has no place in their lives in China. We will look at some strategies to change this as well as some practical things that can be done.

The Understanding Returnees course is a 6–8-hour interactive, online course that is run over a two-week period. Within the two-week period you are able to participate at times that best suit you. There are interactive resources for you to work through on your own as well as “real-life” case studies and forums for discussion with the other participants and the facilitator.

Course Outline

Introduction
Meeting the other participants and the facilitators

Opportunities and problems
In this section we will explore the problems that Chinese returnees face when they return home to China.
• Returnee stories
• Returnee issues

Following in the steps of Jesus
What does it mean to be a Christian and follow Jesus? We may have people attending our churches or fellowships here, but they may not be coming for the reasons we believe (or hope) for. We hope they are responding to the gospel, but in reality, there are other reasons they could be coming along. It’s important that we are sure of their real interests so we know how to help them. In this section will consider some of the reasons Chinese people may show interest. We will also consider what it means to follow Jesus. Jesus does not promise his followers a life of ease, on the contrary he says that to follow him is to “take up your cross.” How should this impact the way we prepare returnees?
• What did they respond to?
• Christians and suffering
• Preparing to face difficulties

Key issues reported by returnees
There are three main areas that returnees struggle with after returning home. Issues to do with their families, issues to do with work and the problem of finding and settling in a church. This section examines these areas and gives some suggestions for helping your friend.
• Issues returnees face with family
• Issues returnees face with work
• Issues returnees face with church