Australia: Giant Koalas, Garibaldi, and “Drunk” John Paton (+ Trump in China)

Vanuatu: Chinese in the South Seas + Spurgeon's Support for "the King of the Cannibals"

On my final day in Vanuatu, as I continue my work on Part II of John G. Paton’s autobiography, I read a portion from the forthcoming book that includes both George Mueller and C.H. Spurgeon. Then I discuss the growth of the Chinese church in the capital city of Vanuatu, Port Vila, before looking at the Chinese cities to pray for this week (PrayforChina.us [http://prayforchina.us]).   I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures [http://x.com/chinaadventures]) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Feel free to email anytime: chinacompass @ privacyport.com. Check out PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us] for everything else, incl. Patreon, Substack & books…   The Autobiography of John G. Paton (JohnGPaton.com [http://johngpaton.com]) Pray for China (May 24-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-may-24-31-2026 [https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-may-24-31-2026]   Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us] for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Happy Birthday John G. Paton (May 24, 1824) + My Deportation Day (May 25, 2018)

As Americans celebrate Memorial Day, I'm busy traveling the South Seas (Vanuatu), so today's show (#200!) is a mashup of two shorter bonus episodes I recorded exactly two years ago, when the podcast was just getting started. The first discusses John G. Paton on his birthday (May 24, 1824), as well as a little bit about his contemporary Hudson Taylor. In the second, I spill the beans about the day I was deported from NW China in 2018.  Note, these have been lightly edited from the old originals, but some 2024 or otherwise time-bound references are sure to remain. My apologies in advance.   Part I: The Autobiography of John G. Paton - JohnGPaton.com [http://johngpaton.com] Part II: Deportation Day - Unbeaten.vip [http://unbeaten.vip] Here's the link to the full text version of Chapter Seven from my book, which I also mentioned: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/deportation-day-may-25-2018 [https://chinacall.substack.com/p/deportation-day-may-25-2018] Unbeaten: Confronting the Lies (and Laughter) of the Chinese Communist Police This is the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018: Unbeaten.vip [http://unbeaten.vip] Please follow/subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your favorite platform. Also check out my books and everything else we’re involved in @ PrayGiveGo.us [http://www.praygivego.us]. Luke 10, Verse 2!

The Word is Not Bound: Guarding the Church in China (w/ Brett from Sydney)│Prison Pulpit #83

My Australian friend Brett Lee-Price recently published a timely article about China’s need for solid theology, and what some Australians are doing about it. I’ve been meaning to share this for a few months now, and today felt like the time after meeting with Brett on Monday during a whirlwind week down under.  I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures [http://x.com/chinaadventures]) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Feel free to email anytime: chinacompass @ privacyport.com. Check out PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us] for everything else, incl. Patreon, Substack & books…   The Memoirs of William Milne (PrayGiveGo.us) The Autobiography of John G. Paton (JohnGPaton.com) Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary (BordenofYale.com) Unbeaten: My Arrest, Interrogation, and Deportation from China (Unbeaten.vip)   Tulip Publishing https://tulippublishing.com.au/ [https://tulippublishing.com.au/] The Word is Not Bound: Guarding the Church in China https://reformata.org.au/2026/02/12/the-word-is-not-bound-guarding-the-church-in-china/ [https://reformata.org.au/2026/02/12/the-word-is-not-bound-guarding-the-church-in-china/] Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us] for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Australia: Giant Koalas, Garibaldi, and “Drunk” John Paton (+ Trump in China)

Recorded in three parts, today’s podcast was recorded in Victoria and South Australia, as I attempted to follow John Paton’s footsteps from his “crowning adventure” Down Under in 1862. The bulk of the show was recorded in my car just below the “Giant Koala” on Australia’s “Great Western Highway.” Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast network! I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures [http://www.x.com/chinaadventures]) where I share a new Chinese city or county to pray for every single day.  Feel free to write anytime: chinacompass@privacyport.com [chinacompass@privacyport.com]. All my books, substack, patreon, and everything else can be easily found at PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us]!   On Today's Podcast:  The Autobiography of John G. Paton: Part I (JohnGPaton.com [http://johngpaton.com]) Part II will be out sometime in the next year, and is what I am working on now…   Classic Missionary Biographies that I have edited and helped to publish: Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary (BordenofYale.com [http://bordenofyale.com]) The Memoirs of William Milne: First Missionary to Malaysia (PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us]) Unbeaten: Arrested, Interrogated, and Deported from China (Unbeaten.vip [http://unbeaten.vip])   This coming week's Pray for China (PrayforChina.us) cities… https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-may-17-23-2026 [https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-may-17-23-2026]   Thank you for listening! Subscribe + leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! If you’d like to support our China ministry, that, and everything else can be found @ PrayGiveGo.us [http://praygivego.us]. Luke 10, vs 2: the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, so let's ask the Lord for more!

Kidnapped in Kuala Lumpur (One Year Ago Today)│Prison Pulpit #82

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, which was originally recorded on this day last year (2025) as #30 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series. I'm leaving Malaysia today for more than three months, so it seems fitting to post a final Malaysia-themed episode.  I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures [http://x.com/chinaadventures]) where I post daily reminders to pray for China. To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us [http://www.praygivego.us]!   For a few weeks now, I've been telling the story of my arrest and interrogation eight years ago…  Get my book and other special content @ UNBEATEN.VIP [http://unbeaten.vip]!   Today I want to discuss the unique and potentially dangerous situation for Christians in Malaysia:    Christian Pastors Abducted in Malaysia https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/raymond-koh [https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/raymond-koh] https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/joshua-hilmy [https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/joshua-hilmy] A Look at Malaysia’s Laws Against Sharing Christ With Muslims https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_Malaysia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_Malaysia] https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/index.php/s/151363 [https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/index.php/s/151363] https://www.dw.com/en/malaysia-to-deport-christian-finns-for-proselytizing/a-46464573 [https://www.dw.com/en/malaysia-to-deport-christian-finns-for-proselytizing/a-46464573]   Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures [http://x.com/chinaadventures]. Hebrews 13:3