Fear Not and Follow Christ
I did not own my own Bible even after I began to preach the Word. I copied the New Testament by hand from one my devout mother borrowed for me to study.
I was born into a Christian family during the post-Cultural Revolution era, when there was a severe shortage of Bibles. My copied version became the foundation for my Bible study and preaching.
As Chinese Christians face oppression and threats for following Jesus, they look to God's Word for comfort and strength. However, in many areas there is a severe shortage of Scriptures. You can strengthen a Chinese Christian by giving them their own Bible.
As I became more active in God's ministry, the Public Security Bureau (PBS) took note of me. One night, six officers surrounded my house to arrest me.
Aware of the danger, I was sleeping in the attic of a neighbour's home. My heart was filled with terror as I watched the officers close in.
I quietly got down to the ground and dashed towards the field. I thought that I had narrowly escaped, but somehow they heard me and began to come after me. I felt the light of their motor bikes and cars on my back.
With a pounding heart, I ran as fast as I could.
While rushing through the darkness, a thorny bush put multiple cuts on my arms, legs and face. I fell into several muddy ponds. I sprained my ankle trying to climb over a fence.
Finally, I lay wet, muddied and bleeding on the ground, unable to go further. I was ready to renounce my calling and quit the ministry because I did not know how I could go on.
My heart almost stopped beating when a tall dark figure suddenly came towards me. I braced myself for the worst, but to my amazement, the figure identified himself as a local believer.
He served the Lord by offering protection to persecuted pastors. He took me in and attended to my wounds.
After a simple meal, I laid down exhausted. Then I noticed some writing on the wall saying, "And fear not those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." [Matthew 10:28]
A pastor who travelled here before me must have written it down.
God touched my heart through this verse and took away all my confusion, fear, and self-pity. I rededicated myself to Him.
You can strengthen and equip Christians across China by:
- providing Bibles for them
- taking Bibles to them
- joining our 7-year China Prayer Campaign.
Back to China library