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
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ACADEMICS
CIU Today
Fall 2015