Day 5 greeted us with brand new mercies and a brand new assignment. Sleep was scarce—again—but when you’re operating twelve hours ahead of your internal clock, you learn to adapt quickly. The time difference is no small matter—it affects your body, your focus, and your emotions. But the team continues to rise above the challenge with resilience and purpose.
This morning, we visited Minjiang University in Fuzhou—a school with deep roots and a growing global vision. It was officially established in 2002 through the merger of several institutions, including the historic Fuzhou Teachers’ College and Minjiang Vocational College. In the 1990s, Xi Jinping served as president of the vocational college, helping shape its emphasis on excellence and local impact. That legacy is still felt today.
When we arrived on campus, we were welcomed with jasmine flower bracelets and warm, genuine smiles. It was clear they had prepared for our visit with care. There were stations for cultural exchange, including a space to create hand-painted Chinese fans and another featuring traditional Chinese instruments. One of the featured instruments was the guzheng—a beautiful, long, flat string instrument that produces a graceful, harp-like sound. I had the chance to learn from a gifted student performer whose command of the guzheng was as breathtaking as her performance later in the day.
Inside the auditorium, the attention to detail continued—water bottles on every seat, elegant signage with “Pure-N-Heart Foundation” on display. Even though Pure N Heart is 20+ years old, as the founder of a still-young Non Profit organization, seeing that name recognized on an international stage brought tears to my eyes. It was a quiet but powerful affirmation that what we’re building matters.
After several outstanding performances—including a masterful guzheng solo and a refined classical piece by an American ensemble—our Pure-N-Heart Foundation cohort was invited to present. We chose “Count on Me” by Whitney Houston, a song that reflects friendship, trust, and unity. It wasn’t a gospel selection, but we carried it with the heart of worship and the conviction of our mission. Joshua McDowell accompanied on keys, while Jordan Thurman and Keyurshia Johnson brought the vocals to life with sincerity and skill.
As they sang, something memorable happened.
Phones lit up the room. People cried. It felt less like a concert and more like a shared moment of worship, hope, and cultural harmony.
At the end of the program, one of our students Najah Byrd gladly accepted a gift from the University on our behalf that was symbolic of peace and excellence in education. It was a gesture that said to me, we all want what's best for the next generation.
I sat back and let it sink in. These students didn’t just represent their schools or cities today—they represented a generation capable of rising, reaching, and ministering across borders.
I'm proud of you guys. Professor Anderson .
Later that evening, we performed again—this time at a stunning theater in downtown Fuzhou as part of the 2025 China–U.S. Youth Choir Festival Special Concert. Our selection was “What a Wonderful World,” but we added our own gospel-flavored twist. With just a two-piece band—Joshua McDowell on piano and Josh Edwards on drums—we created a gospel soundscape that resonated deeply with the audience. It was powerful, spirit-filled, and soulful. Gospel Music Is Not Dead.
If what you’ve read today inspired you, I want to invite you to do something meaningful.
The Pure-N-Heart Foundation is on a mission to equip the next generation for local and global impact through the arts and technology. And what you just read? That’s the fruit of the investment—your investment.
Every gift is tax deductible. And every dollar goes directly to moments like the ones you read about today—training, travel, cultural exchange, and empowering the next generation.
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Your support helps make moments like this possible. And together, we’ll continue to build something that lasts—one heart, one song, one life at a time.