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Dr. Alex Luc Retires, But His

Influence in China Continues

By Bob Holmes

In retirement, Dr. Alex Luc plans on writing two books – in

Chinese.

Luc’s retirement was announced at the end of last spring

after 32 years at CIU. Sitting in his CIU office over the

summer, surrounded by shelves of books written in

English and Chinese, Luc hardly looked retired.

He noted that he will still be active, teaching a couple of

classes each year, but much of his emphasis will be on

ministry to China - a country he has never visited.

“The Chinese church is growing so rapidly, there is a

great need for (the books),” Luc said explaining his

reason for writing a book on Old Testament theology

another about biblical perspectives on suffering.

“A lot of people have asked me to write on (suffering),

the Chinese church has asked about that topic quite

often,” Luc said. “I’ve already written four books in

Chinese, that’s why the Chinese church knows my name.”

Luc grew up trained in Chinese by Chinese parents,

but they lived in South Vietnam. As an adult, Luc was

principal of a Christian school and later pastor of a church

in South Vietnam for two years before coming to the

United States on a full scholarship to Trinity Evangelical

Divinity School in Illinois. While he was there, South

Vietnam fell to communist North Vietnam and Luc was

given refugee status in the United States, becoming a

U.S. citizen in 1980.

So will Luc finally visit China now that is “retired?”

“I want to go with my wife, it’s in the plan, God willing,”

Luc said. Because of the popularity of his books he adds, “My

contact with the Chinese church has been very strong.”

He emphasizes, that Chinese interest for his work from this side

of the ocean is the grace of God.

“Nothing else can explain that,” Luc adds.

Over the last four years, Luc’s influence in China expanded

when, in addition to teaching Old Testament studies, he was

tapped by CIU to lead in the development of the CIU Chinese

Initiative that offers Bible and theology courses over the

Internet to pastors and church leaders in China.

Luc laughs as recalls his schedule at that time and then makes

the understatement: “It was a busy time for me.”

And even in “retirement,” Luc will likely stay busy. His name

is so well known in the Chinese church, that recently a

representative for a large group of Chinese pastors came to

CIU looking for a way to connect with the Chinese Initiative.

When asked why he sought out CIU in particular, he said he was

familiar with Luc’s book on hermeneutics in Chinese, and was

acquainted with one of Luc’s former students.

“That motivates me to write more,” Luc said with a smile.

ACADEMICS

20

ACADEMICS

CIU Today

Fall 2015