“I have been born and raised in a Christian family…”
“You could say that I took the road less traveled by…”
Growing up in rural Frostproof, Florida, an hour south of Orlando, Dan Danielson (pseudonym) never expected to tread a different path throughout his childhood. He was Christian, admittedly, from a very young age.
Sporadic memories emerge as Dan reminisces countless Sundays when he would attend weekly service with his family, memorize scriptures to win a prize at Sunday school and enjoy Awana – a Bible discussion group for students of all ages. “The local church is the key to the spiritual life, being connected to the bride of Christ,” he was grateful for his upbringing, “that's how God has intended to grow his people.”
Dan’s eyes lit up when he introduced Brother Henry, a local pastor and one of his first mentors in the Christian faith. Brother Henry taught the Bible uniquely; he rewarded kids with silver dollars if they could memorize all the book titles by heart. Gradually, by engraving the phrases into his memory, Dan became well-versed in scripture and kindled an interest in teaching, which would bring him, many years later, to a distant land through a journey he had never anticipated.
Athlete-Orthopedist: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?
Dan’s faith became integral to his identity as he grew physically and spiritually; it’s much more than the “family ritual.”Interestingly, it led Dan to the first significant transformation in his straightforward, well-planned life course.
“I dreamt of becoming a doctor, to travel around the globe and bless people with the gospel.” Such ambitions stemmed from the nine-year-old Dan recuperating from a hip infection. With their only MRI machine broken, doctors in the nearby hospital had to turn to antibiotics instead of surgery. Yet, as he eventually recovered, Dan found himself fascinated by the vast array of equipment (and knowledge, of course) that physicians wielded.
As a sports enthusiast, Dan excelled in Athletics, spending much of his college days in diligent training and striving to top the regional Decathlon. His ambitions grew concurrently as the sea of knowledge unraveled before him, alluring him to bio-med and orthopedics, both tightly connected with his passion for competitive sports. “I spent a lot of time watching surgeries…fascinating. It’s amazing what can happen to one’s body”, Dan remarked. The childhood dream seemed so close in reach.
However, an internship in Dan’s senior year made a nuanced turn to the career trajectory he had long yearned for. After following two doctors at a local hospital and observing their daily routines, Dan realized that his dream profession involves inundating paperwork and periodic check-ins with patients devoid of personal connections. It was amidst this bewilderment that Dan found recourse in his church. In particular, an older acquaintance in his congregation who has lived in China offered him an internship as a mountain bike tour guide. Looking for adventure and a brief respite from schoolwork, Dan accepted the opportunity with another friend—a frenetic outdoorsman—and ended up in several provinces in Southern China. “It’s not a mission or anything,” Dan laughed wholeheartedly. Like all unexpected journeys, Dan’s nine-year devotion to a distant land started inadvertently. Meeting their manager, a Christian brother, they abruptly ended their internship early due to changes in the local rules. Traveling solo to Shanghai to seek another friend, Dan fortuitously found a teaching job “like the very next day,” embarking on yet another adventure – a permanent stay – due to the “sense of stability” that it offers.
How Personal Passion Interweaved with Culture
Culture shock is inevitable at first, of course. Having witnessed the fear and intercultural tension “under the shadows of the mushroom cloud” in the Cold War 1960s, Dan’s parents inevitably viewed China—on a distant continent—with filters. Nevertheless, Dan, who constantly interacted with many international friends, had fewer doubts as he valiantly marched into this supposed “black hole of communism” that is “centuries behind” modern America.
Born and raised in a town less than 2000 residents and minuscule even on Google Maps, Dan was mesmerized by the “crazy modern” texture of Shanghai—not only was it different from the close-knit communities of Florida with but also from the rural Chinese cities that he has dwelled in as he traveled in the South. Blending into a foreign world was not without its challenges. The language barriers, cultural differences, and being thousands of miles away from home were daunting. Yet, he was undeterred. "Moving to China was one of the most challenging things I've ever done," he admitted. "But my faith kept me going. It gave me the strength to push through the difficulties."
“Growing up, my life was pretty standard. Small town, close-knit community, church every Sunday," Dan poured from his heart. "But I always felt like there was something more out there for me, something different.” Unexpected camaraderie formed as he confidently explored outside his comfort zone, embracing the local community with curiosity. Managing a youth basketball association that hosts training on the weekends, back in 2016, Dan continued his unwavering passion for sports despite his compact schedule. “Basketball is not my favorite sport,” Dan smirked, “I just want to be together with kids outside and enjoy things.”
Dan coaching a basketball training session in China
He felt empowered by the newfound solidarity, too, as most coaches in the program are Christians, and they often shared the gospel with players, ranging from six-year-olds to high schoolers in the region. Renting venues and recruiting coaches could be exhausting, yet Dan felt great accomplishment as the program grew year by year before COVID hit. Meeting his future wife added to his fulfillment; they married in 2019 and had two kids.
The Fate of Chinese Christian Communities
Shanghai is known to be cosmopolitan, and Dan is always keen on tracking the rich histories of Christianity that it contains. Churches and other historic buildings have undergone numerous renovations and witnessed drastic changes in the socio-political environment since the missionaries of the last century. As an expatriate, however, Dan felt both obvious and subtle differences between the Christian communities of Shanghai and his hometown, which lie on the “Bible Belt” of the U.S, where Christian identity is ubiquitous—many non-churchgoers still identify themselves as believers—and Christian ideals underpin the Constitution. Different sects flourished in harmony, and even small towns could have three or four churches of Baptist, Presbyterian, or Lutheran origins. Though not officially encouraged, spreading the Christian faith lies entirely on legal grounds.
On the other hand, the metropolis of 27 million people limits worship sites to a few designated buildings, and believers are inevitably fewer. Dan clarified, “The diversity of the Christian community in China stood out to me.”
Reflecting on his teaching experiences, Dan recounted stories of the teenage student community he knows well. Heartfelt connections forged his perspectives, Dan admitted, as he remembered various brief discussions with students regarding his faith – evidently, they are aware of the religion due to its widespread influence, which, in many cases, integrated into their families via their parents or grandparents. “It’s definitely not a black hole with no gospel here,” Dan smirked, “but the spiritual side still lies mostly in adults.”
Having personally been involved in a couple of discussion groups, Dan genuinely cherished the emotional bonds that underlie such small communities, “[believers] eating together, talking together, encouraging and guiding each other along…it’s like the time of the apostles when they communed in the same way with Christ, as they share the same table.”Some of his confidants have high-paying jobs and education overseas, while others strive for their families after moving to Shanghai from rural towns. Still, they bond in the same way intended by scripture, which Dan found to be an enriching experience, “without a pastor there… discussing things makes you view things from a different light”. The camaraderie solidifying the entire community showered Dan with a sense of sheer joy that consistently fuels his passionate heart, which echoes with the beats of Shanghai, a heartland of faith amidst China.
The unexpectedness that plagued Shanghai during the COVID years is dissipating – or is it? New challenges have emerged, Dan added subtly, especially for Christian communities. “The gospel needs to go forward, and Christians here are faithful in sharing the gospel, but there are certain legal boundaries to who you can share within China…” he sighs and shakes his head. Planning to return to the States and embrace his long-parted family members, Dan told us firmly, “We are not going to leave forever. We have plans to come back.” He is determined to follow his calling like he first came.