Missionary in China delivers gospel with song
ZELIENOPLE — Dean Baktay uses music to penetrate hearts and borders in countries otherwise closed to the gospel.
Baktay, a Zelienople resident and fulltime missionary with New York-based Elim Fellowship, has made 15 trips to the People's Republic of China, delivering the gospel message through song. In some cases, the message is delivered covertly due to Communist government controls.
"Many Chinese have read about Christianity in textbooks," said Baktay, "but I feel the best way to make the Christian message accessible is through a live person, witness or ambassador who can demonstrate the love of Christ so much better than written words."
Baktay believes the key to accessing the Chinese people can often be achieved by building relationships with government officials who sponsor entertainment events.
"Our tour in 2002 was sponsored by the Department of Foreign Cultural Affairs of Hunan Province, a government agency as a cultural exchange between the United States and China," he said.
On other visits, Baktay's forays into the country were far from a concert tour.
"In 2004, while spending a month in China, I was escorted by missionary friends on a long bus ride," said Baktay. "I was being taken to an undisclosed location in the northern part of the country.
"For security reasons, I wasn't permitted to know exactly where I was going."
While there for a week at an underground Christian discipleship school, Baktay spent six to eight hours per day doing classroom training on biblical concepts of worship, As part of his visit, Baktay also hosted guitar workshops and taught songs.
"Much of my solo work in China has been with the 'illegal' underground church in secret meetings behind closed doors," he said.
"Normally I travel undercover, slipping quickly and quietly down inconspicuous alleys into obscure storefront facades virtually unnoticed."
While the Chinese constitution theoretically guarantees religious freedom to its citizens, all religious activity is regulated and overseen by the Religious Affairs Bureau of China, which has national, provincial and local offices throughout the country.
"They work with the pastors and leaders of local churches to make sure all church activity is carried out under the guidelines of the Chinese government," said Baktay.
Churches registered with the RAB that follow its guidelines are called Three Self churches, he said.
"Many Christians in China do not agree with the government control of the church and have gone underground, meeting and operating privately," he said.
These groups are considered illegal in China. If members are caught, they are subject to criminal prosecution, imprisonment, torture and even death, Baktay said.This type of persecution has existed since the Communist takeover in 1949.Baktay said the RAB resents when Chinese Christians interact with foreigners."Registered churches permit it and tolerate it to save face with the West," Baktay said, "but all plans are approved in advance and closely scrutinized by the RAB."In the underground church, all such interaction is prohibited."The fact that they are meeting as an unregistered body brings certain penalties," he said. "The leaders of the group are often arrested, the group is dispersed and their property is often confiscated."He said the penalties are more severe if foreigners are involved."Foreigners may be detained, questioned, their passports held for a time and in rare cases deported," he said. "This may result in being black-listed and denied a visa to enter China in the future."Last year, a new version of Baktay's musical group, Re:Generation, emerged with bassist Greg Spack of Lyndora and drummer Mark Tincha of Butler.They are currently preparing for a short tour of China with some performances in the Northeastern United States.Spack is looking forward to the trip and thinks the risk is worth it."I'll just say that all of the things we endure and risk are a small price to pay, compared to the chance some are taking to have the Gospel in freedom," Spack said. "My sacrifice is well worth the cost."Baktay agrees."As a Christian, I feel compelled from within to share my faith through the gifts God has given me, much in the same way anyone who has something good would want to share it with those around them," said Baktay."However, my goal is not to force Christianity on anyone. I only want to make the Gospel available and accessible."The group will leave for China April 19.
<B>WHAT: </B>Re:Generation fundraising concert<B>WHEN: </B>10 a.m. service and 6 p.m. concert April 1<B>WHERE: </B>Bethel Assembly of God, 2501 Stayton St., Pittsburgh<B>INFORMATION: C</B>all 412-352-9147, write to deanrb@verizon.net or log on to http://www.re-generation.us/<B>WHAT: </B>Re:Generation fundraising concert<B>WHEN: </B>6 p.m. April 15<B>WHERE: </B>Zion United Methodist Church, 438 Bear Creek Road, Sarver<B>INFORMATION: </B>Call 412-352-9147, write to deanrb@verizon.net or log on to http://www.re-generation.us/
