John Bentley
In 2001, when God called me to China, I was a middle-aged attorney who had never been to Bible school, had no background in Chinese culture, didn’t speak a word of the language, and had no support in place whatsoever. I didn’t seem a very likely candidate to be one of His representatives to the people of China, but I came in faith, remembering that God called an old Bedouin to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and a shepherd boy to be King of Israel. He called a fisherman to be his apostle to the Jews and a Pharisee to go to the Gentiles. I was unqualified by every measurable standard. It didn’t matter – God had called me. “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant…” (2 Cor. 3:5-6)
The result of answering that call is that I became the founder and Executive Director of Harmony Outreach, a ministry to orphans, poor, and vulnerable people in China and Ethiopia. The cornerstone of our ministry is our work with vulnerable children. In China, Harmony has a home for orphans near Beijing called Harmony House. Additionally, we support two other orphanages, the Kaifeng Deaf School, and an underground seminary. Our children have been adopted all over the United States and the world. Harmony also provides surgeries for poor people in China. In Ethiopia, Harmony supports three orphan homes in the capital city of Addis Ababa. Harmony will soon be opening a new work rescuing girls and children from sex trafficking in Cambodia.
By my early thirties I had achieved the American dream but I realized I had been climbing a ladder leaning against the wrong house. When God called me to follow him by faith to China, it required that I walk away from the American Dream. But in doing so, I found abundant life in Christ.
John holds a BA in History from UCLA, an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Juris Doctor from Regent University. He is a former Army officer and Gulf War veteran. Media guest appearances include Focus on the Family, Prime Time America with Greg Wheatley, The Joni Show, ABC Connect with Peter Benson, Celebration with Marcus and Joni Lamb, Abilene Christian University Summit, and Moody Radio Network’s Morning Ride with Mark Elfstrand.
