Listener Responses from China

Topic of the Month - Church Planting

The nearest chapel was far away

Shortly after we were married, my wife had problem with her eyes. The doctor said her optic nerves were degenerating and the prognosis was total blindness. He sent us home and advised us to take food with rich vitamins and minerals good for eye. Since we were very poor, we could not afford the expensive food. We just left our lives to fate. My wife's sister was a Christian. She preached the Gospel to my wife. My wife converted and n3draculously her eye-sight began to improve. I really saw the mighty power of God. At the same time, some women also accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior.

The nearest chapel was in a town more than ten miles away. My wife and these sisters always returned home late at night after attending gatherings. Their faith in God touched the preachers. They sent two sisters to our @e. We took them in and our home became a gathering place. On every Thursday, these sisters preached the Scripture and testified for God. On Tuesday, all members worshipped, prayed and studied the Bible. Impressed by their strong testimony, I also felt the e2dstence of this true God. Yet it's uncommon for man to become Christians. I was too shy to accept Lord Jesus. Yet God didn't abandon me. He gave me the courage to quit smoking and drinking. I began studying the Bible and praying with the sisters. At last I converted to Him and was baptized.

When our group matured in faith, these two sisters left us to continue their work in other villages. Our church has grown to forty. Now it's me and another sister caring for the flock. As I do not know much about God and the Bible, I am afraid that I cannot satisfy the spiritual needs of the sheep. Please send me necessary materials.

(#2934 Heilonjiang, response to programs on C100)

Every Day I Prayed for the Church

I was baptized in early 1994. In December I visited my parents' place and preached the Gospel there. Before I left, I started a church for the believers. Thank God that church work has been prospering steadily.' We once faced persecution because false Christians deceived people for money and even hurt their lives. For a period of time, the Government thus stopped all Christian gatherings and stressed that there should be only one church in each province. If we met, we would be fined.

In 1995 Christmas, I returned there to revive the church. Praise the Lord that everything went well. We were particularly grateful for a leading Buddhist's conversion. Within a few days, more than ten believers joint the church. God also worked miracle among us. A few sisters had their illnesses cured after praying to God. Yet in two months' time, the officials banned all meetings again because of heresy problem in the nearby province. Everyday I prayed for the church. Then one day, I received a call from my parents saying that the church had resumed meeting with a congregation of about thirty people. Thank God for answering my prayer.

(#2653 Guangdong, response to "Beside Still Waters', 'In Touch' and "Voice of Friendship Seminary")

We gather in a Brother's House

Our church in this town was formed 1994 with about ten believers at first. With God's guidance and blessings, it has expanded into a church with over thousand attendance. The congregation is mostly made up of town workers, party members, and village farmers. All preaching and pastoral duties are shared by two brothers and five sisters. In 1995, we sent two members to the seminary. We also get help from other churches' pastors who come to visit and train us sometimes.

Our church is equipped with an organ and synthesizer. Thank God that we have organized a choir. Our only limitation is space. At present, we still gather in a brother's house. Every time when we gather, his small house of two floors are crowded with people. In 1996, we planned to build our own church building with capacity of more than thousand people. The project was carried out in slow pace and hopefully will be completed this year. Although we are crowded in a small place, all of us are dedicated. We love each other and are willing to shine for God.

(#2700 Hubei, response to "Voice of Friendship Seminary' and "The New Generation")

She evangelized fervently for the Lord

Our church was planted by Sister Chung. Before she got to know Jesus Christ, she got serious illness for several years. Later her family advised her to accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior. She then attended church meetings and prayed unceasingly for her health. God did answer her prayer. She recovered gradually and was able to leave bed finally. When she regained her health, she evangelized fervently for the Lord and planted a small church at her own place. At first, it was a small congregation of four believers. We prayed and evangelized diligently. Later the congregation increased to about thirty people and we raised funds to build our own church. Soon the congregation increased to several hundred people and we need a larger church. With the help from provincial church, we made it. When the construction work was nearly completed, a rich brother donated for the chairs and podium. We thank God we resolved our difficulties.

(#2799 Guangdong, response to programs on DWRF, medium-wave station in the Philippines)

I have assumed the responsibility of preaching

I am nineteen years old. My mother went to church first. I came to know Christ when she asked me to copy hymns and accompany her to church. At that time, the congregation was made up of about ten Christians. A brother was responsible for pastoral work. Some members got up very early in the morning and prayed together before leaving for work. My mother and I always pray for church revival too. God has listened to our prayers because very soon the congregation increased to about thirty people. Yet the leading brother suddenly adopted the practice of exclaiming the Lord aloud. The Holy Spirit inspired us that this practice was wrong. At present, some of us gather at my home. I have assumed the responsibility of preaching God's Word. Please help us because I don't know how to lead them and have difficulty in explaining the Bible to them. Our spiritual lives are very weak.

(# 1 579 Heilonjiang, response to program on C-100, short-wave station in the Philippines)

Only a few of us are literate.

In the spring of 1996, a sister from Shenyang brought the gospel to our village. Consequently my whole family became Christians and my home became a meeting point. At first, there were only three sisters. Every day we prayed to God to consolidate the foundation and growth of our church. Thanks for God's grace. In a year, the congregation increased to about thirty people. Our present problem is that only a few of us are literate and we have only two copies of the Bible. We need spiritual literature and reference books to help interpret the Bible. Responding to God's calling, I take up the duty of preaching. Please pray that God will bestow us the necessary gifts to run the church.

(#3151 Hebei response to "Dawn China")

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