Through their blows, the persecutors and the persecuted came to know one another. This is an important gain for both of us, as we continue to walk through persecution. This is what it means when we Chinese say: “Out of blows, knowledge grows!”
There will always be conflicts for people who grow up in a traditional Chinese education, because a Chinese education is an atheistic education. But I never doubted the existence of God. The existence of God was as natural to me as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. It was as natural to me as getting up in the morning.
I am a subversive patriot because, despite the progress we have made as a nation, America is not my best hope for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." My ultimate allegiance is to a King who gave up his own life, liberty, and happiness to redeem us from the tyranny of sin.
I have rediscovered the importance of the gospel through my personal journey. I have come to realize that it is not just brothers and sisters in the church, nor is it the brothers and sisters whom I serve who need the renewal of the gospel, but I myself.
Read MoreIn the third church plant, there has been a very deep sense of understanding that church planting is not a technical thing, but rather it involves many concepts that encourage us to return back to the gospel. If a person’s life is transformed, he cannot hide it and he cannot help but to preach the gospel. It is impossible for him not to preach because when he is captured by the gospel, it is not a burden that is placed on him.
Read MoreDespite increasing pressure from the government, house church leaders continue to plant churches and gather for worship because they see the church as the scaffolding of the kingdom of God. One pastor even said to the police officers, "The church belongs to God, I don't have the courage to shut it down. If you have the guts, you can do it yourself."
Read MoreI know there is nothing God cannot do. But my [lack of] confidence has affected my service. It’s one of the most dangerous things, to be a preacher in China. If you live in China for a long time, you’ll discover that the Communist Party, they don’t give you warning, they don’t go through procedures. They just come and take you.
Read MoreThere was an old pastor from Hong Kong who told me I needed to go to seminary. He shared his story with me, of how he was willing to give up his salary to go to seminary and become a preacher. He encouraged me as well. I was still fearful, I thought I needed to raise my family and make money. If I went to seminary, who’s going to give me money?
Read MorePeople would talk about, “Oh, humans are sinners.” But they never talked about what a sinner actually is. Before, I thought, “I’m a pretty good person.” And then all of a sudden, I knew I was no good. I had a bad habit, and I knew that was no good. All of a sudden I thought, “Oh! I understand!” At the same time I thought, “This is what I need.”
Read More“When we are renewed by the gospel, then the whole church — from our ministry culture to our ministry direction — will become united, and things will be easier. I cannot do it all by myself. I believe this is no longer a generation in which it is possible for one person to lead or influence the church of an entire region. We need to move forward as a community.”
Read MoreMy wife and I were on our guard against anything to do with faith. We didn’t want to accept anything like that. But this neighbor, this sister, she was really wise. She loved our daughter. My wife and I would fight and quarrel, and my daughter was hurt by it all. This neighbor was really great to my daughter. She would buy her small gifts, snacks and things to eat, toys. This sister would also take our daughter to church.
Read MoreAt that time, if we knew that this family went to burn incense or that family went to worship, we would stop and tell them, “This is no good.” It’s not just that we ourselves didn’t believe in anything, we would also try to make others disbelieve. I had an atheistic worldview.
Read MoreBefore I knew Jesus, I was a prodigal son. My mother is a Christian. She used to pray for me day and night, for about ten years. During those ten years, I had fallen into being a part of society’s debauchery, just like the prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke. In that almost decade-long period, I could not find my life’s purpose or direction. In the months before I put my trust in the Lord, I felt the significant emptiness of my heart. I had sought my own happiness by living the way I lived, but I was not happy, and I had no peace.
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