Faith has no language barrier: Chinese Bible study at Baptist Student Center

Kassi Jackson

Monday, March 25, 2019

Wandering into the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center on Friday evenings, there's a sense of family and camaraderie among individuals sharing a few important connections: Chinese culture and faith. Nearly three years ago, Ron Winstead and his wife, Ina, connected with Chen Wu to create a community-focused Bible study that would allow Chinese students to be exposed to both English and Christianity, through ministries beginning at First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Students enjoy a hotpot-style, traditional Chinese meal with vegetables and meat before their Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University's Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Dr. Chen Wu shares a traditional Chinese-style hotpot meal with students before the weekly Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Dr. Ron Winstead holds his Chinese English Bible Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. Winstead's Bible has traveled around with him for at least 40 years, from Taiwan to mainland China. "It's been around the world," Winstead said. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Bible study participants listen as Dr. Ron Winstead gives a lesson at the weekly Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Chaonan (Estelle) Teng listens to Dr. Winstead (not pictured) give a Bible lesson Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Dr. Ron Winstead leads a Bible study in Mandarin and English Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Pu (Paul) Xiao listens as Dr. Ron Winstead leads the weekly Bible study in Mandarin and English Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Pu (Paul) Xiao reads his Bible during the weekly Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Pu (Paul) Xiao shares his thoughts with the rest of the group during the weekly Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Chaonan (Estelle) Teng reacts to a conversation during the weekly Mandarin- and English-spoken Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Dr. Chen Wu leafs through her Bible during the weekly Mandarin- and English-spoken Bible study Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
The pages of a Chinese English Bible are seen Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Wuwei (Peter) Lan points to his favorite Bible verse, John 3:16, written in Mandarin Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Wuwei (Peter) Lan holds his Chinese English Bible, showing the tabs labeling each book in Mandarin Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Southeast Missouri State University Baptist Student Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)