On August 18, YEF China officially began its New Semester Outreach at Peking University with a full day of campus evangelism. Eleven YEF coworkers, together with a local YEF pastor from the OFC Mission Department, devoted themselves from morning until evening to share the gospel with incoming freshmen. By God’s grace, the team was able to make 16 new contacts on the first day.
This outreach was not a sudden effort but the fruit of a month of prayer and preparation. Coworkers gathered regularly to intercede for the campus, brainstorm strategies, and prepare materials. After much discussion, they decided to design customized greeting cards for freshmen, using them as a bridge to open warm conversations and invite students to fellowship. On the afternoon before the outreach, the team prayerfully walked the campus, studied the registration process, and carefully mapped out where coworkers should be stationed in order to meet as many students as possible.
By 7:00 a.m. on the outreach day, crowds of students and parents were already gathering near the subway station and school gates. Brothers arrived early to take their positions by 8:00 a.m., with sisters joining shortly after. Although heavy security presence initially limited large-scale engagement, God provided a way forward. Pastor Yaling coordinated movements across the South and Southwest Gates, where the team found greater freedom to interact.
In the midst of these efforts, the Lord gave moments of divine appointment. While another evangelizing pastor stepped into a nearby KFC to phone coworkers, a parent noticed the words “Love Never Fails” on her T-shirt and asked if she was part of a Christian fellowship. The family turned out to be believers, and their son—a freshman physics major—was joyfully introduced to the YEF team. They exchanged contact information and scheduled future fellowship meetings. This encounter deeply encouraged the coworkers and strengthened their faith to evangelize with even greater boldness. Similarly, Sister Zhuxi connected with a Christian mother who promised to introduce her relatives to the fellowship.
Throughout the day, the team learned that when they stepped forward in faith, God truly gave them the ground beneath their feet. Though some areas felt difficult to approach at first, as coworkers overcame fear and hesitation, they began speaking more freely, distributing cards, and engaging both Christian families and students curious to know more about God.
At day’s end, the outcome did not fully meet their initial prayer target, but the coworkers returned with hearts full of gratitude. What began with fear and uncertainty transformed into peace and release through obedience. On Pastor reflected:
“Even though we are weak and limited, as we walk and pray around this campus, the spiritual atmosphere of Peking University is being transformed. Even for the sake of one soul, this is why we are here.”
The YEF China team gives thanks for the Lord’s protection and guidance throughout the first day of the New Semester Outreach. They ask for continued prayers—that more spiritually hungry souls may be found on campuses across China, and that each coworker will keep experiencing God’s leading and the mighty work of the Holy Spirit.
The outreach concluded with a group photo in front of Peking University’s iconic main gate, as coworkers gave thanks for a day filled with grace and God’s presence.