China Compass

Religion EN ↓ 213 episodes

With more than two decades of experience in the Middle Kingdom, Ben tackles China’s toughest questions while telling captivating stories and challenging Christians to intercede for revival and reformation. Each weekend episode takes on Chinese current events with wisdom and a wealth of experience (ie, lots of stories), while the midweek podcast (aka, The Prison Pulpit) gives persecuted believers a voice, challenging Christians to pray for those in chains "as bound with them." (Heb. 13:3)Follow to stay informed on current events and evangelism efforts, missionary history, and the ongoing persec...

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China Compass

Episodes

C.S. Lewis on China (Incl. a Shocking 1927 Exchange Between Lewis and His Brother in Hong Kong) 09.08.2025 59:32

After a brief intro and the first Lewis letter (1:05), I share all ten C.S. Lewis letters that I found this week related to China (and prayer) (7:24). Then with the time I have left, I go through this week’s Pray for China cities, which include a few I want to talk a bit more about (50:55). Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben...

C.S. Lewis, Burnt Marshwiggle, and the Brainwashing of Richard Wurmbrand│The Prison Pulpit #42 06.08.2025 34:40

What Can Puddleglum Teach Us About Praying for the Brainwashed?   C.S. Lewis, Burnt Marshwiggle, and the Brainwashing of Richard Wurmbrand What Puddleglum Can Teach Us About Praying for the Brainwashed https://chinacall.substack.com/p/cs-lewis-burnt-marshwiggle-and-the Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for Chin...

MacArthur Didn’t Do His Homework (The True Story of the Millionaire Missionary) 02.08.2025 1:07:55

After a brief intro, I play a clip of John MacArthur accidentally sharing (10!) falsehoods about the millionaire missionary, William Borden, from a sermon back in 1988 (5:05). Next, I explain some of the details that MacArthur got wrong, and give my broader reflections on the topic (10:20). Last, I include a message about William Borden that I gave back in March of 2024 at the Collegiate Reformed...

Collateral Damage: Praying for the Children of the Persecuted│The Prison Pulpit #41 30.07.2025 37:43

For the written (w/ pics) version of this podcast, visit my substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/collateral-damage-the-children-of   Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for China. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com. Lastly, to learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionar...

Bold in Black Dragon River│More Missionary Musings on Immigration (No Beef in Cuba) 26.07.2025 59:26

Today’s podcast begins with a few personal updates (1:00), followed by a 22 year old newsletter of mine from Black Dragon River (5:11). Then, after talking about the waterspout I saw just after returning from my illegal voyage (12:52), I give more background info on my Cuban refugee friend, Mitchell, and Cuba's laws against beef(!) (14:39). Last, after a final follow-up conversation on illeg...

Syrian Pastor, Family Massacred ("They Shot Patients In Their Beds")│The Prison Pulpit #40 24.07.2025 33:24

Today we are going to take a few minutes to remember to pray for a small group of persecuted and/or suffering Christians that have been in the news this past week… A Christian pastor in Syria was massacred recently, along with others from the Druze community, including one from my home state of Oklahoma (and others with connections to friends in Venezuela).  Follow and/or message me on...

Missionary Musings on Immigration (Also: My 36 Hours As An Illegal) 19.07.2025 1:02:59

Today’s illegal immigration focuses podcast begins with a couple reminders and updates (0:18), followed by a lengthy conversation (me, myself, and I) about hoping to give more context to the overall immigration topic (4:18), including some interesting stories about my wife and I, and my 36 hours as an illegal migrant in the country that shall not be named (12:41), as well as the story of my...

MacArthur’s Shortest Exposition (Heb. 13:3)│My Uncle Jack Tackled Johnny Mac (Prison Pulpit #39) 16.07.2025 29:43

I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, recording today in the little Thai town of Betong, on the border with Malaysia. Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for China. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com. Lastly, to learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionary biographies, visi...

A Tale of Two Teenagers and Two Tibetan Towns│Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur 12.07.2025 59:24

Today’s podcast begins with some exciting and helpful updates (0:18), followed by a little bit of China/Asia/US news with Marco Rubio here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (10:43). Then, after a short word about how impressed I am with our missionary friends here in Bangkok (21:08), we have a lengthy testimony time as I share a series of updates and stories from 22 years ago this week (24:00), foll...

Is Brother Bai Still Alive? │The Prison Pulpit #38 09.07.2025 25:14

Welcome to another episode in the “Prison Pulpit” series on the Fight Laugh Feast network’s China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, still trying to get settled here in Malaysia. Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for China. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot co...

China’s “Roman Roads”, Trouble in Tibet, and the (Planned) Reincarnation of the Dalai Lama 05.07.2025 59:12

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, trying to get settled here in Malaysia!  Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for China. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com or find everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us !   World's...

Iranian Underground: Christian Dad Loses Handicapped Son While Serving Unjust Sentence │The Prison Pulpit #37 02.07.2025 29:26

A (China) Conversation with Ray Comfort │First Day in Malaysia 28.06.2025 1:00:30

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, trying to get settled here in Malaysia! Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for China. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com   The bulk of today’s episode is an interview I did with Ray Comfor...

From China's Southern Border: Letter to a Fellow Pastor in Prison │The Prison Pulpit #36 25.06.2025 20:27

Welcome to another episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, recording from an undisclosed location on the Chinese border. Follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionary biographies,...

The Missionary and the Podcast Ninja Discuss Golf, Chinese Dialects, and the NBA Finals (Gm 7!) Between the "Indiana Fast Horses" and the "OKC Thunderbolts" 22.06.2025 1:18:14

Welcome to another very special NBA Finals edition of the China Compass Podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! (Check out the first NBA Finals podcast we did a few weeks ago here: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/the-pub/podcasts/30293/episodes/95 )   Follow me on X for updates and reminders to Pray for China: @chinaadventures - Here is the link to the Pray for China cities of the week, w...

Missionary Ben’s Daughters Discuss Growing Up In China (And Dad’s Deportation) 21.06.2025 1:05:22

I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, flying to Malaysia (via Hong Kong) as this podcast drops! Follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China. X is also the best way to contact me. Just follow and send a DM. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com   Who is Missionary Ben? I haven’t done this in a long time, but every now and then I a...

Praying for Pastors Facing Gov't Surveillance and Harassment │The Prison Pulpit #35 18.06.2025 20:41

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, recording my final episode in Oklahoma this year. Follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionary biographies, vis...

Should We Want More (Or Less) Chinese Students in America? │Family Vacay in China? 14.06.2025 58:26

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back in OKC, but packing for our move to Malaysia this week! Follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China. X is also the best way to contact me. Just follow and send a DM. You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com After reintroducing myself and givin...

Bonhoeffer's Prison Poetry (and Prayers) │The Prison Pulpit #34 11.06.2025 19:23

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back in Oklahoma for one more week (this year). Follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionary biographies, visit...

Pastor Wang Yi to Dictator Xi: Repent or Perish! │Arrested on the North Korean Border 07.06.2025 59:51

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, coming to you from the Pacific Northwest! Follow me on Twitter/X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). X is also the best way to contact me. Just follow and either tag me in a message or send a DM.  After discussing Pastor Wang Yi’s b...

The Missionary and the Podcast Ninja Debate the NBA Finals Between Their Hometown Teams (Indiana vs OKC) 05.06.2025 59:40

Welcome to this very special NBA Finals edition of the China Compass Podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! If you are wondering what the NBA Finals has to do with China, keep listening or check out the recent piece I wrote for Crosspolitic News:    The Thunder Take The Basketball World By Storm  https://www.crosspoliticnews. com/news/the-thunder-take-the- basketball-world-by-sto...

Wang Yi's Pastoral Prayer on the Anniversary of Tiananmen │The Prison Pulpit #33 04.06.2025 20:24

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, currently in Moscow, Idaho. Follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionary biographies, visit www. PrayGiveGo.us...

Trump's China Trade Truce In Trouble │Hide ‘N Seek with the Chinese Police 31.05.2025 57:45

What Will You Do In the Time of Testing? │The Prison Pulpit #32 28.05.2025 21:59

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back from Asia. You can follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit w...

Overnight in Oman (Live from Muscat)│The Prison Pulpit #31 20.05.2025 25:21

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #31 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X ( @chinaadventures ) where I post daily reminders to pray for China ( PrayforChina.us ). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www. PrayGiveGo...