A Friend in Need Against the Tide
Many years ago, when we were serving in Hong Kong, our son Aaron played Little League baseball there. When he was eleven, he had the privilege of representing Hong Kong on the all-star team that played in the Asia Region Little League Baseball Championships on the island of Guam.
While Aaron was with his team, I was invited to stay with a good friend and his family at their residence on the US Naval Base. Mark was in the navy and in training to be a Navy SEAL. He invited me to go snorkeling with him one afternoon and I was excited to join him. We had been in the water for about half an hour when Mark noticed that the tide was starting to go out, causing a very strong current away from the shore; so, he motioned that we should make our way in.
As we headed in, I realized that, as much as I tried to swim to shore, I was making very little headway. So, I picked up the pace, but the current was getting stronger as well. After several minutes, I realized that even though I was doing my best to swim in, I was pretty much going nowhere fast. Besides that, I was running out of gas; my arms were getting tired, and I was weakening. At that point I let Mark know that I was having a hard time.
Mark swam back to me, and I’ll never forget what happened next. He simply said, “Let me take you in. Don’t fight it, just let me do the work.” Mark took hold of me with one arm and began swimming with the other, swiftly propelling us, picking up speed with every stroke. In no time we were smoothly knifing through the water, against the strong current of the outgoing tide! In only a few minutes we had made it to shore.
I was greatly relieved, and Mark was remarkably calm and unshaken. I think he could have gone back out and rescued someone else if needed. I’m sure during his training he had been stretched in far more taxing ways, but I was extremely thankful for Mark’s immediate attention and timely help that day.
A Telling Picture
For me, this experience has become a vivid picture of how the heavenly Father wraps us up in the Spirit of Jesus Christ and carries us through the deep waters of life, even when we’re moving against the tide. What seems so hard and exhausting to us, becomes freeing and peaceful when we allow ourselves to be wrapped and carried securely in the shepherd’s arms and close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11).
This also makes me think of how effective and powerful our call to Christian community can be. The timely love and help of a friend like Mark is invaluable, and we see this reality throughout the New Testament. In Romans 12 and 16 we witness this in Paul’s teaching and relationships. A little verse like Romans 12:10 is power-packed: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” These aren’t special marriage vows or “how-tos” for specialized treatment of our primary relationships—this is how we are to view and treat everyone!
In Romans 16 Paul demonstrates the life of it all by showing his love and devotion for 28 brothers and sisters—10 women and 18 men. For example, take a look at Romans 16:1-7. You’ll note that Paul doesn’t just list the names of four women and three men. He calls upon the Roman believers to “greet them”—to literally extend love, friendship, unity, and respect. Paul uniquely affirms and honors each person. He not only names names, but he also honors each one specifically and thoughtfully. He exemplifies who we are called to be in Christ, and what devotion and honoring looks like.
The Blessing of Team
I hope you have had the chance to read the June 8 announcement by Jane Ahn, co-chair of the ChinaSource Board of Directors, and chair of the Transition Committee, entitled ChinaSource Begins Presidential Transition and Search.
I am retiring from my role as President of ChinaSource and passing the baton to our next leader sometime before the end of this year. A transition plan has been well in place since last summer and the time is right for a new season of leadership to begin, as our staff and board are strong in their commitment to Christ, one another, and the vision and mission God has imparted to ChinaSource. As I mentioned in the announcement:
How thankful I am for the joy and privilege of serving God and his purposes for ChinaSource, walking alongside so many teammates, faithful partners, contributors, intercessors, and dear friends over the years. I am grateful for the ways God has deepened and expanded this ministry and am confident that he will continue to lead and empower ChinaSource for the advance of his kingdom in this next season.
I recently told our founder, Brent Fulton, that my time with ChinaSource has been a highlight of my life, and a major reason for that is the ChinaSource staff, board, and larger community of brothers and sisters who have extended friendship and camaraderie, and grace and peace to me, in the good and hard times. One of my greatest joys has been to serve on a team committed to being of one mind in Christ, devoted to and honoring one another, as we have sought to follow the Holy Spirit as he leads ChinaSource.
I’m looking forward to serving with the team for several months yet and would be grateful for your prayers that the Lord would be preparing our new president now—that God would bless and give wisdom to Jane and the Transition Committee—that the handoff would be pleasing to God in every way and a great encouragement to the ChinaSource community.
There are times when we feel like we are swimming against the tide in dark and deep waters. As we traverse the seasons God has given us, it is a freeing and powerful thing to be wrapped in the Shepherd’s arms and carried close to his heart through the Holy Spirit and by means of scores—even hundreds—of brothers and sisters like my friend Mark.
Kerry Schottelkorb
President
Ways to Pray
Praise
- Praise the Lord that “the boy once lowered down a cliff by his brother to retrieve a lost lamb has now become a shepherd.” Please see From Tending Sheep to Shepherding Souls: The Wilderness Road of a Beijing Artist by Andrea Lee, June 3, 2026.
- Praise the Lord for calling his people to bring the Good News to the regions beyond! Please see How God Called Me to Mongolia by Justin Wu, June 2, 2026, and continue to pray for Justin and the people of Mongolia.
- Thank the Lord that the church is prayerfully reflecting on questions about using a different set of metrics for evaluating our Great Commission plans and efforts. Please see Reframing the Mission Part One: What is Missing? by Brent Fulton, May 29, 2026.
Prayer
- Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the ChinaSource Transition Committee and Board, and God’s clear leading as we seek the right next leader for ChinaSource. Please see ChinaSource Begins Presidential Transition and Search: A Message from Jane Ahn, Chair of the Transition Committee and Co-Chair of the ChinaSource Board by Jane Ahn, June 8, 2026.
- Please pray that the Lord will use ChinaSource to help facilitate multiple global networks of intercessory prayer for the advance of the gospel and his kingdom in China and the diaspora.
- Please pray for “theologians from the Majority World as they wrestle with the basic tenets of the Christian faith within their specific cultures, tradition, and contexts.” See Voices of Majority World Theology by James H. Taylor IV, June 9, 2026.
- Please ask the Lord for his provision for ChinaSource throughout the summer months.
News and Notes
Online Event
On August 5, Joann will be facilitating an online book club discussion for ERRChina. We will be discussing Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future, by Dan Wang. You can register here. Please get the book early so can spend the summer reading it.
ChinaSource Opportunity: President
ChinaSource is entering a new season of leadership transition. After prayerful reflection and conversation with the Board, Rev. Kerry Schottelkorb has shared his intention to retire from his role as President of ChinaSource.
In response, the ChinaSource Board has begun a thoughtful process to identify the next leader who will help guide the organization into its next chapter of ministry.
We invite readers to review the President Profile and prayerfully consider whether you know individuals who may be a strong fit for this role.
Download the President Profile
ChinaSource Team News
- On June 8, China Christian Daily republished Brent Fulton’s ChinaSource article, Reframing the Mission. Please see What reframing missions looks like from a Chinese perspective.
- On March 26, Joann Pittman gave a public lecture titled, “Christianity in China Beyond the Headlines.” The recording is now available to watch here.
In Case You Missed It
A selection of recently published items:
- The Displaced Minority, ChinaSource Ideas, June 16.
- How Tang Christians Translated the Trinity, ChinaSource Scholarship, June 15.
- Watchman Nee, Chinese Christianity, and the Life of the Spirit, ChinaSource Ideas, June 13.
- ZGBriefs, June 11.
- Listening to the Voices of Majority World Theology, ChinaSource Ideas, June 9.
- ChinaSource Begins Presidential Transition and Search, ChinaSource Resources, June 8.
- ZGBriefs, June 4.
- From Tending Sheep to Shepherding Souls, ChinaSource Stories, June 3.
- How God Called Me to Mongolia, ChinaSource Stories, June 2.
- The Problem of Language Teaching in World Christianity, ChinaSource Ideas, June 1.
- Reframing the Mission, ChinaSource Ideas, May 29.
- ZGBriefs, May 28.
- No Longer Alone, ChinaSource Ideas, May 26.
- Providence and Vision, ChinaSource Stories, May 25.
- If Revival Comes III, ChinaSource Ideas, May 22.
- ZGBriefs, May 21.
