1 00:00:03,340 --> 00:00:05,860 Welcome to From the Pulpit and Classic Sermons. 2 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:07,880 Each week we bring you a different message 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:09,940 from some of history's greatest speakers in the 4 00:00:09,940 --> 00:00:12,580 Christian faith, and powerful sermons for modern preachers, 5 00:00:12,740 --> 00:00:12,860 too. 6 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:15,140 This week we have The Cross in China, 7 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:16,840 a Chinese revival story. 8 00:00:18,620 --> 00:00:21,780 In China, the story of the cross once 9 00:00:21,780 --> 00:00:24,440 seemed as strange and as far away as 10 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,100 the other side of the universe. 11 00:00:26,830 --> 00:00:30,160 But today, its message is here, right in 12 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:30,780 our midst. 13 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:40,280 During the Boxer Rebellion, 236 Western missionaries and 14 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,500 23,000 Chinese Christians were killed. 15 00:00:54,270 --> 00:00:57,850 In the following 50 years, more Western missionaries 16 00:00:57,850 --> 00:00:58,770 came to China. 17 00:00:58,770 --> 00:01:04,170 They established 19 universities, over 6,000 elementary 18 00:01:04,170 --> 00:01:07,290 schools and high schools, and more than 900 19 00:01:07,290 --> 00:01:08,070 hospitals. 20 00:01:08,650 --> 00:01:11,550 The number of Chinese Christians grew to 700 21 00:01:11,550 --> 00:01:12,010 ,000. 22 00:01:13,430 --> 00:01:17,070 The Chinese Communist Party believed this success was 23 00:01:17,070 --> 00:01:20,070 the result of imperialist cultural invasion. 24 00:01:20,570 --> 00:01:25,770 They expelled all Western missionaries, forced Chinese missionaries 25 00:01:25,770 --> 00:01:28,910 to renounce their religion, and mandated a secular 26 00:01:28,910 --> 00:01:30,870 education for all Chinese. 27 00:01:38,670 --> 00:01:41,630 Fifty more years have passed, and today there 28 00:01:41,630 --> 00:01:45,930 are approximately 70 million Christians in China, an 29 00:01:45,930 --> 00:01:48,010 increase of 100-fold. 30 00:02:08,820 --> 00:02:12,240 Three missionary leaders were born around the time 31 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,600 the blood of Christian martyrs was shed in 32 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:15,760 the Boxer Rebellion. 33 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,220 Mingdao Wang, Zhang Song, and Wajima Ami. 34 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,760 Mingdao Wang was born in Beijing in 1900. 35 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,180 At age 20 he began his work as 36 00:02:33,180 --> 00:02:33,760 an evangelist. 37 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:38,800 At 27 he established Spiritual Food Quarterly. 38 00:02:39,780 --> 00:02:43,880 In 1955, he was imprisoned for refusing to 39 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:44,900 renounce his faith. 40 00:02:45,460 --> 00:02:49,180 While in prison, weakened by intense interrogation and 41 00:02:49,180 --> 00:02:52,160 torture, he was forced to sign a statement 42 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:53,520 renouncing his faith. 43 00:02:58,530 --> 00:03:01,810 After his release, Mingdao Wang could not find 44 00:03:01,810 --> 00:03:02,570 inner peace. 45 00:03:03,690 --> 00:03:06,270 He gave himself up to the authorities and 46 00:03:06,270 --> 00:03:08,090 went back to jail with his wife. 47 00:03:08,870 --> 00:03:09,970 This time for life. 48 00:03:13,750 --> 00:03:19,030 Twenty years later, in 1977, Mrs. Wang was 49 00:03:19,030 --> 00:03:19,550 released. 50 00:03:20,130 --> 00:03:22,930 Mingdao Wang would rather die than accept his 51 00:03:22,930 --> 00:03:23,410 release. 52 00:03:23,410 --> 00:03:26,270 But two years later the government tricked him 53 00:03:26,270 --> 00:03:26,930 into leaving. 54 00:03:37,910 --> 00:03:41,070 Mingdao Wang and his wife passed away in 55 00:03:41,070 --> 00:03:43,430 1991 and 1992. 56 00:03:47,830 --> 00:03:50,550 Zhang Song was born in 1901. 57 00:03:51,340 --> 00:03:55,110 In 1926 he studied in America and received 58 00:03:55,110 --> 00:03:56,950 his Ph.D. in chemistry. 59 00:03:57,750 --> 00:03:59,950 And then went on to the Union Theological 60 00:03:59,950 --> 00:04:01,350 Seminary of New York. 61 00:04:01,730 --> 00:04:04,130 The president of the seminary thought Zhang Song 62 00:04:04,130 --> 00:04:04,790 was crazy. 63 00:04:05,810 --> 00:04:09,090 He was locked up for 193 days. 64 00:04:10,190 --> 00:04:12,530 In the asylum Zhang Song read the Bible 65 00:04:12,530 --> 00:04:13,730 40 times. 66 00:04:14,630 --> 00:04:17,490 Later on his way back to China, Zhang 67 00:04:17,490 --> 00:04:19,990 Song threw a golden key into the Pacific 68 00:04:19,990 --> 00:04:20,550 Ocean. 69 00:04:21,390 --> 00:04:23,530 It was the symbol of his Ph.D. 70 00:04:24,670 --> 00:04:28,230 In the following 17 years Zhang Song, known 71 00:04:28,230 --> 00:04:32,010 as Crazy Song, spread the gospel-like wildfire 72 00:04:32,010 --> 00:04:34,410 across China and Southeast Asia. 73 00:04:38,750 --> 00:04:42,370 In 1944, when he was 43 years old, 74 00:04:42,870 --> 00:04:44,010 Zhang Song passed away. 75 00:04:50,860 --> 00:04:53,380 Watchman Ni was born in 1902. 76 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,180 From the time he was 28 he wrote 77 00:04:57,180 --> 00:04:59,920 a great deal both in Chinese and English. 78 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:08,400 In Shanghai he established a church known as 79 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,400 the Local Small Group Church. 80 00:05:10,860 --> 00:05:13,460 And soon this form of church spread across 81 00:05:13,460 --> 00:05:14,060 the country. 82 00:05:14,060 --> 00:05:19,600 In 1952, he was convicted of counter-revolutionary 83 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,600 activities and was imprisoned in Baimaoling Jail. 84 00:05:24,100 --> 00:05:28,580 He died suddenly in 1972, just before the 85 00:05:28,580 --> 00:05:30,020 end of his prison term. 86 00:05:33,820 --> 00:05:36,780 All these men who were born during the 87 00:05:36,780 --> 00:05:41,340 Boxer Rebellion later became founders of Chinese Christian 88 00:05:41,340 --> 00:05:41,800 churches. 89 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,600 During the late 20th century, no matter how 90 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:51,460 fiercely the storms of persecution raged, Christianity could 91 00:05:51,460 --> 00:05:54,160 no longer be uprooted from China as it 92 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,060 was in the Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties. 93 00:05:57,820 --> 00:06:01,100 Instead the faith flourished and had grown too 94 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:02,480 strong to be suppressed. 95 00:06:03,660 --> 00:06:07,700 From Matteo Ricci, Robert Morrison and Hudson Taylor 96 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:11,460 to the Boxer Martyrs of 1900, the seeds 97 00:06:11,460 --> 00:06:14,000 planted by the life and blood of thousands 98 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,900 of Western missionaries finally had sent down deep 99 00:06:17,900 --> 00:06:20,600 roots into this harsh and ancient land. 100 00:06:39,380 --> 00:06:48,120 The People's Government of China The People's Government 101 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,260 of Xinjiang Today is the day of victory! 102 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,420 The Communist Party of China The Chinese Communist 103 00:07:03,420 --> 00:07:06,320 Party members who took control of mainland China 104 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,760 in 1949 were diehard atheists. 105 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,160 Although the constitution acknowledges freedom of religion, the 106 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:19,180 Communist Party's covert goal is to limit, transform 107 00:07:19,180 --> 00:07:22,140 and eventually eliminate religions. 108 00:07:23,180 --> 00:07:29,360 From 1949 to 1953, at least several thousand 109 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,160 Christians were killed, tens of thousands were imprisoned. 110 00:07:35,550 --> 00:07:39,050 While these horrors were happening, Premier Zhou Enlai 111 00:07:39,050 --> 00:07:42,030 invited Wu Yaozong to a number of meetings. 112 00:07:42,850 --> 00:07:45,810 They launched the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. 113 00:07:46,490 --> 00:07:49,370 It urged Christians to join the government-controlled 114 00:07:49,370 --> 00:07:53,570 Three-Self Church, which advocated self-governance, self 115 00:07:53,570 --> 00:07:55,530 -support and self-propagation. 116 00:07:56,430 --> 00:07:58,490 Its aim was to put Christians under the 117 00:07:58,490 --> 00:08:00,730 complete control of the Communist Party. 118 00:08:04,730 --> 00:08:07,550 I was imprisoned because I refused to join 119 00:08:07,550 --> 00:08:09,350 the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. 120 00:08:10,810 --> 00:08:13,090 I love my country very much. 121 00:08:13,410 --> 00:08:15,950 My students are the best pianists in China. 122 00:08:15,950 --> 00:08:18,930 Some even went aboard to perform, and they 123 00:08:18,930 --> 00:08:20,490 were well-received everywhere. 124 00:08:21,110 --> 00:08:22,490 I didn't break any laws. 125 00:08:23,110 --> 00:08:25,430 But the government wanted to denounce me anyway. 126 00:08:25,710 --> 00:08:27,530 The real reason was that I spread the 127 00:08:27,530 --> 00:08:30,050 gospel and refused to join the Three-Self 128 00:08:30,050 --> 00:08:30,530 Church. 129 00:08:35,289 --> 00:08:37,289 I was a good friend of Wu Yaozong, 130 00:08:37,429 --> 00:08:39,270 the leader of the Three-Self Movement. 131 00:08:39,590 --> 00:08:41,690 But I was surprised when he asked me 132 00:08:41,690 --> 00:08:43,630 to be part of the leadership. 133 00:08:44,410 --> 00:08:47,670 I refused, even though I knew my refusal 134 00:08:47,670 --> 00:08:50,170 would lead me to prison and labor camp. 135 00:08:52,810 --> 00:08:55,050 I considered all the consequences. 136 00:08:56,290 --> 00:08:58,990 Sure enough, on the evening of May 28, 137 00:08:59,350 --> 00:09:03,290 1956, people from the police and public security 138 00:09:03,290 --> 00:09:04,630 came to take me away. 139 00:09:08,790 --> 00:09:14,330 On September 14, 1955, I was sent to 140 00:09:14,330 --> 00:09:15,390 prison for the first time. 141 00:09:16,470 --> 00:09:18,010 Sixteen months I spent there. 142 00:09:18,370 --> 00:09:20,950 In 1958, I was sentenced to 20 years. 143 00:09:21,750 --> 00:09:23,710 I wasn't released until 1978. 144 00:09:24,750 --> 00:09:26,770 The first time I was sent to jail 145 00:09:26,770 --> 00:09:27,850 was in 1960. 146 00:09:28,150 --> 00:09:30,650 The main charge was my refusal to join 147 00:09:30,650 --> 00:09:31,850 the Three-Self Movement. 148 00:09:33,090 --> 00:09:36,790 Why would these evangelists rather be imprisoned than 149 00:09:36,790 --> 00:09:39,490 join the government-controlled Three-Self Church? 150 00:09:40,910 --> 00:09:44,410 We believe that Jesus is the head of 151 00:09:44,410 --> 00:09:46,790 the church, not any person or organization. 152 00:09:47,650 --> 00:09:49,450 Politics and religion should be separate. 153 00:09:50,130 --> 00:09:52,370 When you try to integrate them, the church 154 00:09:52,370 --> 00:09:55,310 deteriorates and can become a political tool. 155 00:09:55,830 --> 00:09:58,810 They also had serious questions about the faith 156 00:09:58,810 --> 00:10:01,630 of Wu Yaozong and other leaders of the 157 00:10:01,630 --> 00:10:02,870 Three-Self Churches. 158 00:10:05,710 --> 00:10:08,530 One day during a dinner conversation, I asked 159 00:10:08,530 --> 00:10:11,970 Wu Yaozong what he thought about the miracles 160 00:10:11,970 --> 00:10:13,190 performed by Jesus. 161 00:10:13,750 --> 00:10:16,510 He said he had rejected those long ago. 162 00:10:19,770 --> 00:10:22,970 Wu Yaozong and Ding Guangxun, they both belonged 163 00:10:22,970 --> 00:10:25,070 to a faction which we called the Non 164 00:10:25,070 --> 00:10:25,870 -Believers Group. 165 00:10:25,870 --> 00:10:28,530 We refused to join them because we felt 166 00:10:28,530 --> 00:10:29,850 they didn't have faith. 167 00:10:30,710 --> 00:10:34,170 Within 10 years, almost all the evangelists who 168 00:10:34,170 --> 00:10:36,710 refused to join the Three-Self Church were 169 00:10:36,710 --> 00:10:39,270 imprisoned or put into labor camps. 170 00:10:41,970 --> 00:10:44,330 Madam Yang Xinfei was one of them. 171 00:10:45,470 --> 00:10:48,950 She graduated from the Shanghai Music Academy in 172 00:10:48,950 --> 00:10:52,790 1957 and was 27 when arrested. 173 00:10:53,630 --> 00:10:56,010 She spent 20 years in jail. 174 00:10:56,010 --> 00:11:00,480 The night she was arrested, her father was 175 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:01,240 very ill. 176 00:11:04,140 --> 00:11:07,700 My dad was already in bed. 177 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:09,840 I went to say goodbye to him. 178 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:12,880 I also asked for my mother. 179 00:11:13,740 --> 00:11:15,700 We always prayed before leaving home. 180 00:11:17,460 --> 00:11:20,780 There was one policeman standing guard beside her 181 00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:22,860 and another one beside me. 182 00:11:23,620 --> 00:11:26,380 My mother prayed to the Lord, begging Him 183 00:11:26,380 --> 00:11:27,480 to take care of me. 184 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:29,680 Have mercy on my daughter. 185 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,720 Let her live peacefully and bring her back 186 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:34,040 safe and sound. 187 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,300 May the Lord be with her. 188 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,900 Then I left home and went to the 189 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:39,580 labor camp. 190 00:11:42,610 --> 00:11:45,550 During this harsh winter of faith, the land 191 00:11:45,550 --> 00:11:47,110 was frozen and bleak. 192 00:11:47,690 --> 00:11:49,350 But the wheat did not die. 193 00:11:51,230 --> 00:11:54,110 Underneath the ice and snow, seeds were struggling 194 00:11:54,110 --> 00:11:56,870 to take root, waiting for spring to come. 195 00:12:03,370 --> 00:12:05,730 I was in jail for 21 years and 196 00:12:05,730 --> 00:12:08,610 8 months in Heilongjiang Province, near the former 197 00:12:08,610 --> 00:12:09,430 Soviet Union. 198 00:12:10,310 --> 00:12:12,270 It was extremely cold there and a lot 199 00:12:12,270 --> 00:12:12,970 of people died. 200 00:12:13,730 --> 00:12:15,830 But you know, all those years, I never 201 00:12:15,830 --> 00:12:16,290 got sick. 202 00:12:16,290 --> 00:12:19,490 Not only did I survive, I wasn't sick 203 00:12:19,490 --> 00:12:20,430 a single day. 204 00:12:20,810 --> 00:12:23,290 So I know God still has work for 205 00:12:23,290 --> 00:12:23,830 me to do. 206 00:12:24,630 --> 00:12:27,170 The hardest part was that all the women 207 00:12:27,170 --> 00:12:29,430 criminals were locked up in one room. 208 00:12:30,410 --> 00:12:32,410 And it was too noisy to sleep. 209 00:12:33,030 --> 00:12:35,850 I also needed to pray every day or 210 00:12:35,850 --> 00:12:36,830 I can't sleep. 211 00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:40,510 So I waited until they all fell asleep 212 00:12:41,010 --> 00:12:43,030 and I crept up out of bed and 213 00:12:43,030 --> 00:12:44,630 knelt and prayed to God. 214 00:12:44,630 --> 00:12:48,050 Every night was like this until I left 215 00:12:48,050 --> 00:12:48,810 the labor camp. 216 00:12:52,310 --> 00:12:54,790 I had to pull the blankets over my 217 00:12:54,790 --> 00:12:55,390 head and pray. 218 00:12:56,210 --> 00:12:57,030 There was no Bible. 219 00:12:57,790 --> 00:12:59,030 But a hymn stayed with me. 220 00:12:59,950 --> 00:13:00,650 You know the one? 221 00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:02,650 The old rugged cross. 222 00:13:08,670 --> 00:13:12,330 So I'll cherish the old rugged cross till 223 00:13:12,330 --> 00:13:14,510 my trophies at last I lay down. 224 00:13:15,330 --> 00:13:17,570 I will cling to the old rugged cross 225 00:13:17,570 --> 00:13:20,330 and exchange it someday for a crown. 226 00:13:26,250 --> 00:13:28,370 I sang it over and over to keep 227 00:13:28,370 --> 00:13:29,290 my spirits up. 228 00:13:30,790 --> 00:13:33,250 The path of the cross was paved with 229 00:13:33,250 --> 00:13:34,970 humiliation and suffering. 230 00:13:35,990 --> 00:13:38,170 For those who chose to walk this path, 231 00:13:38,630 --> 00:13:41,350 every step was taken with blood and tears. 232 00:13:47,220 --> 00:13:49,660 I was in jail for 23 years. 233 00:13:50,220 --> 00:13:51,640 If they had told me that it would 234 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,180 last 23 years, I don't think I would 235 00:13:54,180 --> 00:13:54,780 have made it. 236 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,520 When they held a public meeting to criticize 237 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,720 and denounce me, they asked, Do you still 238 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:01,520 believe in God? 239 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:03,320 Do you still believe in Jesus? 240 00:14:04,020 --> 00:14:06,020 They pulled my hair and my ears. 241 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,800 They punched me, knocked me to the ground 242 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:09,720 and kicked me. 243 00:14:10,060 --> 00:14:13,380 And they jerked my handcuffs and asked, Do 244 00:14:13,380 --> 00:14:14,000 you believe? 245 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:15,240 Do you still believe? 246 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,420 The handcuffs had made deep gouges in my 247 00:14:18,420 --> 00:14:20,420 flesh, which had started to fester. 248 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,200 They hauled me away like this, back and 249 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,240 forth, back and forth. 250 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,020 But I prayed to the Lord, I have 251 00:14:27,020 --> 00:14:29,000 followed you as far as I can. 252 00:14:29,260 --> 00:14:32,200 Surely you're not glorified when they denounce and 253 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:33,420 torture me each day. 254 00:14:34,060 --> 00:14:35,880 I'm your servant and your child. 255 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,880 Are you glorified in heaven when I'm suffering 256 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:39,520 like this? 257 00:14:39,980 --> 00:14:42,540 In prayer, I entrusted my whole family to 258 00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:43,000 the Lord. 259 00:14:43,620 --> 00:14:45,680 Then I was ready to kill myself. 260 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:48,520 But how could I do it with handcuffs 261 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:48,820 on? 262 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,740 When the two guards went for lunch, I 263 00:14:51,740 --> 00:14:54,720 jumped onto the bed and unscrewed the light 264 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:54,920 bulb. 265 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,340 I planned to kill myself with an electric 266 00:14:58,340 --> 00:14:58,780 shock. 267 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,260 But the electricity wasn't strong enough. 268 00:15:02,820 --> 00:15:05,020 Later people told me it was because I 269 00:15:05,020 --> 00:15:06,220 had handcuffs on. 270 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:10,120 The handcuffs diverted the electricity and saved me. 271 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,040 While I was in the middle of doing 272 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:16,900 this, people from outside noticed and shouted, Moses 273 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:18,540 Shea wants to kill himself. 274 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:21,720 The government officials called me out and lectured 275 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:22,020 me. 276 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:23,760 You want to threaten the government? 277 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,940 You want to make the government look bad 278 00:15:25,940 --> 00:15:26,960 by killing yourself? 279 00:15:28,020 --> 00:15:29,800 At night, I confessed to God. 280 00:15:30,300 --> 00:15:33,640 I said, Heavenly Father, I have fallen short 281 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:34,440 of your glory. 282 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,060 I have made it through 12 years of 283 00:15:37,060 --> 00:15:40,060 labor camp and endured a lot of suffering. 284 00:15:40,820 --> 00:15:43,180 Why couldn't I rely on you till the 285 00:15:43,180 --> 00:15:43,840 very end? 286 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,260 I'm not worthy of your glory. 287 00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:48,360 Please forgive me, O Lord. 288 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:51,940 Then I heard the Lord speak to me. 289 00:15:51,940 --> 00:15:55,520 Dear child, my grace is sufficient for you. 290 00:15:56,260 --> 00:15:59,840 Dear child, my grace is sufficient for you. 291 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:01,840 And the third time he spoke so very 292 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:02,360 gently. 293 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,340 My grace is sufficient for you. 294 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,700 The Lord comforted me and by his grace 295 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:10,840 I survived. 296 00:16:18,140 --> 00:16:21,320 While thousands of Christians severed in prison for 297 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,000 the sake of the cross, the storm outside 298 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,740 the jails grew even stronger. 299 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,280 After 1958, the government closed down many churches 300 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,280 in the name of unifying them. 301 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:38,220 Of the 66 churches in Beijing, only 4 302 00:16:38,220 --> 00:16:39,180 remained open. 303 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,660 In Shanghai, 8 of 204 were left open. 304 00:16:45,620 --> 00:16:48,980 And in Guangzhou, only one of the original 305 00:16:48,980 --> 00:16:50,440 52 was left. 306 00:16:51,340 --> 00:16:53,720 All of a sudden it seems that the 307 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:55,820 Chinese church was weathering. 308 00:17:09,220 --> 00:17:13,640 In 1966, when the Cultural Revolution started, the 309 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,300 Chinese Christian church faced extermination. 310 00:17:21,420 --> 00:17:23,020 Priests were denounced. 311 00:17:24,140 --> 00:17:25,400 Churches were destroyed. 312 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,700 Believers' homes were confiscated. 313 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:32,900 And Bibles were burned. 314 00:17:34,220 --> 00:17:36,980 Even the three self-churches did not escape. 315 00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:41,960 Chairman Mao's wife claimed that Chinese Christianity was 316 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,440 finished and belonged in the History Museum. 317 00:17:50,820 --> 00:17:53,460 Everywhere you went, there were Red Guards. 318 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,160 Everywhere you went, there were armed radicals. 319 00:17:56,380 --> 00:17:57,960 Everywhere they interrogated you. 320 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,900 Many faithful believers shed tears in secret while 321 00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:04,600 they waited and waited for light to come. 322 00:18:07,140 --> 00:18:11,480 I remember clearly on June 16, 1966, the 323 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,480 largest poster they put out read, Down with 324 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,160 the imperialist running dog. 325 00:18:16,460 --> 00:18:17,840 Missionary Zhang Yupei. 326 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,020 I said, I cannot change my belief in 327 00:18:21,020 --> 00:18:21,360 Jesus. 328 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,100 They replied, you stubborn idiot. 329 00:18:24,580 --> 00:18:25,820 Go see your God. 330 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,400 All the students came to the meeting, criticized 331 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:29,480 and denounced me. 332 00:18:30,020 --> 00:18:31,620 From then on, they locked me in a 333 00:18:31,620 --> 00:18:32,160 cow shed. 334 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,540 I remember watching a Christian standing on a 335 00:18:36,540 --> 00:18:36,960 platform. 336 00:18:37,780 --> 00:18:40,420 They denounced him and called him a ringleader 337 00:18:40,420 --> 00:18:41,680 of superstitious people. 338 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,760 There was an elderly sister in our area. 339 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,120 And when she got on the platform, she 340 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:49,280 called out, Believe in Jesus. 341 00:18:49,700 --> 00:18:50,980 Do not fear death. 342 00:18:51,900 --> 00:18:55,360 I was convicted of counter-revolutionary activities because 343 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:56,680 of my faith in Jesus. 344 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,260 I was forced to parade through the streets. 345 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,140 They often held public meetings to denounce me. 346 00:19:02,540 --> 00:19:05,280 My whole family suffered the same thing, just 347 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:06,840 because they were related to me. 348 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,040 Many churches were shut down. 349 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,320 Missionaries were arrested or forced to wear tall 350 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:13,000 dunce caps. 351 00:19:13,660 --> 00:19:15,000 Their hands were painted black. 352 00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:16,920 And they were forced to parade through the 353 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:17,240 streets. 354 00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:19,840 Church life was completely destroyed. 355 00:19:24,810 --> 00:19:27,430 At the same time, an idol landed on 356 00:19:27,430 --> 00:19:28,190 God's altar. 357 00:19:29,850 --> 00:19:33,230 When Mao Zedong stood overlooking Tiananmen Square and 358 00:19:33,230 --> 00:19:36,930 waved to the fanatic masses below, it seems 359 00:19:36,930 --> 00:19:39,030 that he had captured the heart and soul 360 00:19:39,030 --> 00:19:40,450 of everyone in China. 361 00:19:43,190 --> 00:19:44,470 Mao Zedong! 362 00:19:44,470 --> 00:19:44,570 Mao Zedong! 363 00:19:44,590 --> 00:19:45,070 Mao Zedong! 364 00:19:50,430 --> 00:19:53,870 Dear Chairman Mao, We promise you we will 365 00:19:53,870 --> 00:19:56,510 be the successors of the working class revolutionary 366 00:19:56,510 --> 00:19:57,090 mission. 367 00:19:57,410 --> 00:20:00,210 We will follow you and carry out revolution 368 00:20:00,210 --> 00:20:01,190 all our lives. 369 00:20:01,890 --> 00:20:04,030 We will smash the old world and build 370 00:20:04,030 --> 00:20:05,850 a new world for the working class. 371 00:20:06,430 --> 00:20:09,690 The imperialists and revisionists hoped in vain to 372 00:20:09,690 --> 00:20:12,590 transform us and future generations peacefully. 373 00:20:13,190 --> 00:20:14,670 But that will never happen. 374 00:20:15,330 --> 00:20:17,210 We will take the great thoughts of Mao 375 00:20:17,210 --> 00:20:19,690 Zedong and carry them to the next generation 376 00:20:19,690 --> 00:20:22,190 and spread them all over China and the 377 00:20:22,190 --> 00:20:22,530 world. 378 00:20:28,830 --> 00:20:32,470 But underneath the overpowering waves stirred up by 379 00:20:32,470 --> 00:20:36,730 this mighty hurricane, real Christians remained clear-minded 380 00:20:36,730 --> 00:20:38,610 and held on to their faith. 381 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,300 Chairman Mao's portrait was larger than life. 382 00:20:46,860 --> 00:20:49,300 We were forced to kneel and confess before 383 00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:49,540 it. 384 00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:52,740 I refused to kneel and stood there, wobbling 385 00:20:52,740 --> 00:20:54,580 from one side to the other one. 386 00:20:55,020 --> 00:20:58,420 People shouted and the dog kept barking and 387 00:20:58,420 --> 00:20:59,280 biting us. 388 00:20:59,780 --> 00:21:02,500 Officials brought out scissors and cut off my 389 00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:02,880 hair. 390 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,980 I lay on the ground but did not 391 00:21:05,980 --> 00:21:06,920 kneel before them. 392 00:21:09,300 --> 00:21:12,760 Whether we studied current affairs or the quotations 393 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,720 of Chairman Mao, I kept silent. 394 00:21:15,220 --> 00:21:18,120 I refused to sing revolutionary songs, not a 395 00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:18,760 single line. 396 00:21:18,980 --> 00:21:22,200 I refused to salute long-lived Chairman Mao. 397 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,500 I refused to raise my fist to show 398 00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:25,140 my loyalty. 399 00:21:25,580 --> 00:21:28,120 I refused to write statements that promised obedience. 400 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,900 They interrogated me, most ashamed. 401 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:34,460 Answer this question. 402 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,560 Can Chairman Mao go to heaven? 403 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,160 This was a tough question. 404 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:39,840 If I said Chairman Mao couldn't go to 405 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,860 heaven, they would beat me to death on 406 00:21:41,860 --> 00:21:42,360 the spot. 407 00:21:42,900 --> 00:21:44,980 It was a life or death moment. 408 00:21:45,860 --> 00:21:48,120 During that time, I had been praying day 409 00:21:48,120 --> 00:21:48,640 and night. 410 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,180 I spent all my time in prayer and 411 00:21:51,180 --> 00:21:52,400 got very little sleep. 412 00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:55,840 So I stood up, handcuffed, and said, The 413 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:57,640 door to heaven is wide open. 414 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:01,480 Everyone can enter as long as he acknowledges 415 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,540 that Jesus is the Son of God, was 416 00:22:04,540 --> 00:22:07,720 crucified on the cross, that his blood can 417 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,820 cleanse all our sins, and admits he is 418 00:22:10,820 --> 00:22:13,760 a sinner and is willing to receive Jesus 419 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:14,740 as Savior. 420 00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:17,300 Then he can enter the gates of heaven. 421 00:22:17,900 --> 00:22:19,700 The gate of grace is wide open. 422 00:22:20,120 --> 00:22:21,960 Now is the time for salvation. 423 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,520 I am only too anxious to see you 424 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:28,520 all repent and receive Jesus and his grace. 425 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:32,160 The government commissar stepped down from the platform 426 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:33,680 and hit me angrily. 427 00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:36,460 Moses Hsieh, you are preaching again. 428 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,260 I said, you all asked me to speak. 429 00:22:39,620 --> 00:22:41,700 Could I have refused to answer your question? 430 00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:46,420 This elderly man, Mr. Tsai, was put in 431 00:22:46,420 --> 00:22:48,240 jail during the Cultural Revolution. 432 00:22:49,060 --> 00:22:51,460 He was accused of opposing Chairman Mao. 433 00:22:54,940 --> 00:22:58,180 I didn't put up Chairman Mao posters because 434 00:22:58,180 --> 00:23:01,040 at the time, Chinese people worshipped Mao as 435 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,900 their God, and I believed Jesus is the 436 00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:04,860 only true God. 437 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:07,260 The government held a public meeting. 438 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,580 About 10,000 people were gathered to denounce 439 00:23:10,580 --> 00:23:10,800 me. 440 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:14,120 When they asked me to confess, the first 441 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:16,740 words out of my mouth were, For God 442 00:23:16,740 --> 00:23:17,920 so loved the world. 443 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:20,960 The first words were, For God so loved 444 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:21,280 the world. 445 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:37,500 With the death of Chairman Mao in 1976, 446 00:23:38,460 --> 00:23:41,640 the nationwide movement to deify him, which had 447 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,480 been disastrous for the Chinese nation, finally came 448 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:46,080 to an end. 449 00:24:06,100 --> 00:24:10,620 In 1977, house church services conducted in the 450 00:24:10,620 --> 00:24:13,440 homes of the faithful started to spring up 451 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,400 in cities and throughout the countryside. 452 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,460 The mute is no longer listening to the 453 00:24:28,460 --> 00:24:28,700 call. 454 00:24:29,300 --> 00:24:38,210 Let's get up and start walking. 455 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:45,100 Every day, people used to gather in this 456 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:48,580 empty square in Shanghai People's Park to pray 457 00:24:48,580 --> 00:24:49,120 together. 458 00:24:50,940 --> 00:24:54,260 Soon, a number of three self-churches also 459 00:24:54,260 --> 00:24:54,900 opened up. 460 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,340 People quickly discovered that Christianity had not died 461 00:25:02,340 --> 00:25:02,900 in China. 462 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:11,140 In fact, even during those traumatic times, faith 463 00:25:11,140 --> 00:25:14,180 in Christ had been spreading in miraculous ways. 464 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,180 Liu Yuan Po was a village teacher from 465 00:25:22,180 --> 00:25:24,980 Hunan province, and as a young man traveled 466 00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:27,720 to Beijing to attend Chairman Mao's review of 467 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:28,400 Red Guards. 468 00:25:30,020 --> 00:25:31,760 Those of us who went to Beijing were 469 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:32,900 excellent students. 470 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,420 After returning home from Beijing, I was appointed 471 00:25:36,420 --> 00:25:37,440 Red Guard commander. 472 00:25:38,060 --> 00:25:40,160 During that time, we were so ignorant. 473 00:25:40,780 --> 00:25:42,620 All we wanted was to live and die 474 00:25:42,620 --> 00:25:43,500 for Chairman Mao. 475 00:25:44,060 --> 00:25:46,940 Until the day I die, I'll never forget 476 00:25:46,940 --> 00:25:50,160 what happened when an old missionary was denounced. 477 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,080 In fact, I was directly involved in organizing 478 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,780 the public meeting and scheming how to accuse 479 00:25:55,780 --> 00:25:56,660 and punish her. 480 00:25:57,540 --> 00:25:59,320 But when the Red Guards beat her up, 481 00:25:59,540 --> 00:26:02,960 she responded kindly, Oh God, forgive these children, 482 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:04,660 for they don't know what they're doing. 483 00:26:06,180 --> 00:26:09,840 In 1978, I repented, and my wife and 484 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,960 I started a house church in our home. 485 00:26:12,540 --> 00:26:15,200 At first, only a few old ladies attended. 486 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:18,280 Now we have over 3,000 believers. 487 00:26:19,140 --> 00:26:22,120 The first training school began at my house. 488 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,740 Today, there are between 40 and 50 training 489 00:26:25,740 --> 00:26:26,920 schools like this. 490 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:37,580 We are the children of God, but they 491 00:26:37,580 --> 00:26:39,460 say we are the descendants of dragon. 492 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,720 Wang Xinsai, who is now a house church 493 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,520 leader, was once a Red Guard commander. 494 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,400 In order to show his loyalty to Chairman 495 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,880 Mao, he persecuted his own mother because of 496 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:53,940 her belief in Jesus. 497 00:26:57,620 --> 00:26:59,860 Because I was an activist in the Cultural 498 00:26:59,860 --> 00:27:02,680 Revolution, I put up a big poster to 499 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:04,140 criticize my mother publicly. 500 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:06,440 I didn't want to have anything to do 501 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:08,240 with her, especially politically. 502 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,660 It didn't matter that she was my mother. 503 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,060 In spite of what I did, she prayed 504 00:27:21,060 --> 00:27:23,620 for me and fasted for 20 days. 505 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,260 This made me think, if something were definitely 506 00:27:27,260 --> 00:27:29,820 bad for them, a mother would not want 507 00:27:29,820 --> 00:27:31,480 her children to have anything to do with 508 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:31,600 it. 509 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:34,640 Why did she pray and fast for 20 510 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:35,880 days for my salvation? 511 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:38,460 I had to think about that. 512 00:27:45,660 --> 00:27:48,100 She would risk her own life so that 513 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:50,240 her child might come to believe in Jesus, 514 00:27:50,860 --> 00:27:54,660 while the same Jesus was denounced, convicted, and 515 00:27:54,660 --> 00:27:56,560 labeled as evil by our country. 516 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,520 I was wondering, but couldn't figure out why. 517 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,820 One day, my second sister came home and 518 00:28:12,820 --> 00:28:14,320 asked me if I'd like to read a 519 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:14,420 book. 520 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:16,180 Yes, I said. 521 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:18,520 In those days, I welcomed any books. 522 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:21,580 Later, she gave me a book that had 523 00:28:21,580 --> 00:28:23,000 no cover and no back. 524 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:25,780 It was worn out all the way to 525 00:28:25,780 --> 00:28:27,300 the 7th chapter of Matthew. 526 00:28:28,380 --> 00:28:30,500 The moment I started reading it, I felt 527 00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:30,600 a great sense of relief. 528 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:31,280 I was moved. 529 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:35,040 In chapter 7, it said, Do not judge, 530 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:36,320 or you will be judged. 531 00:28:37,300 --> 00:28:40,140 Whatever measure you use to give to others, 532 00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:42,960 the same measure will be given to you. 533 00:28:43,860 --> 00:28:45,460 This is so true, I thought. 534 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,280 When I asked my sister who wrote it 535 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:49,900 and told her it was so well written, 536 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,680 she thought I had already accepted Jesus. 537 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,420 She said they were Jesus's words. 538 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:57,220 I was furious. 539 00:28:57,220 --> 00:28:59,360 I threw the book out into the yard. 540 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:02,920 That hurt my sister so much, worse than 541 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:03,360 a wound. 542 00:29:04,140 --> 00:29:05,980 She rushed outside and picked up the Bible. 543 00:29:06,820 --> 00:29:08,500 Then she told me that a sister in 544 00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:11,740 Christ had died during the Cultural Revolution in 545 00:29:11,740 --> 00:29:13,520 order to save this Bible. 546 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,860 Wang Xinsai's sister brought a Christian to see 547 00:29:18,860 --> 00:29:19,100 him. 548 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:21,940 Later, this brother died in jail. 549 00:29:25,020 --> 00:29:26,340 I invited him into my room. 550 00:29:26,340 --> 00:29:28,380 When he saw all the books on my 551 00:29:28,380 --> 00:29:30,040 desk, he asked me if I had read 552 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:30,560 them all. 553 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:32,220 I said that I had. 554 00:29:32,780 --> 00:29:34,780 Then he said, You must be a seeker 555 00:29:34,780 --> 00:29:35,240 of truth. 556 00:29:36,060 --> 00:29:36,760 I said yes. 557 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:38,960 He told me that I wouldn't be able 558 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:40,200 to find truth on earth. 559 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:42,540 Real truth comes from above. 560 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:44,380 He gave me an example. 561 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,400 There was an apricot tree laden with ripe 562 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:49,260 yellow fruit that fell to the ground. 563 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:52,080 A pig came by and ate the apricot. 564 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,000 Afterwards, the pig dug at the earth with 565 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:56,500 his snout to try to find more. 566 00:29:57,460 --> 00:29:58,980 He didn't know to look up and see 567 00:29:58,980 --> 00:30:00,800 that the apricot had come from above. 568 00:30:01,820 --> 00:30:03,900 I thought the story was very philosophical. 569 00:30:04,780 --> 00:30:07,340 He didn't mention Jesus at all or anything 570 00:30:07,340 --> 00:30:08,100 about the Bible. 571 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,440 Later on, I felt an explosive force within 572 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,120 me and said, I believe. 573 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:21,220 After I said that, I felt my face 574 00:30:21,220 --> 00:30:21,760 turn red. 575 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,820 The blush was hotter than being caught stealing. 576 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:29,340 After becoming a believer, Wang Xinsai was eager 577 00:30:29,340 --> 00:30:31,320 to find the Bible he had thrown away, 578 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:33,680 and he did manage to track down the 579 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:34,300 Bible's owner. 580 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,060 I said I'd like to trade my bicycle 581 00:30:38,060 --> 00:30:39,040 for your old Bible. 582 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,880 I offered my new pigeon brand bicycle, but 583 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:43,600 he said no. 584 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:48,580 In those years, a brand new bicycle cost 585 00:30:48,580 --> 00:30:50,640 as much as a car does today. 586 00:30:52,820 --> 00:30:56,940 However, a Bible was an invaluable treasure for 587 00:30:56,940 --> 00:30:57,520 a Christian. 588 00:31:00,940 --> 00:31:03,740 The church was shut down, and from 1958 589 00:31:03,740 --> 00:31:05,700 on, there were no gatherings. 590 00:31:06,580 --> 00:31:10,040 But an elderly sister fasted, prayed, and cried 591 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:11,520 out to the Lord every day. 592 00:31:12,220 --> 00:31:14,160 She cried for the future of the Chinese 593 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:14,620 church. 594 00:31:15,140 --> 00:31:17,780 During the Cultural Revolution, they found the Bible 595 00:31:17,780 --> 00:31:19,460 in her house and took her away. 596 00:31:20,060 --> 00:31:21,820 They beat her and broke one of her 597 00:31:21,820 --> 00:31:22,200 feet. 598 00:31:23,940 --> 00:31:26,380 There was only one torn apart Bible that 599 00:31:26,380 --> 00:31:29,180 survived the Cultural Revolution within 50 miles of 600 00:31:29,180 --> 00:31:29,560 our home. 601 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,740 It had the New Testament, but only from 602 00:31:32,740 --> 00:31:35,540 Romans chapter 12 to Revelation chapter 11. 603 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,740 We wanted to study it, but the owners 604 00:31:38,740 --> 00:31:39,680 wouldn't lend it out. 605 00:31:40,180 --> 00:31:41,140 It was their treasure. 606 00:31:41,860 --> 00:31:43,480 So we had to go over there to 607 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:44,000 copy it. 608 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:47,100 Every week, we had to make two or 609 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:47,680 three trips. 610 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:55,440 The first Bible I received was from a 611 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:55,740 sister. 612 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:59,280 Someone from Hong Kong had given it to 613 00:31:59,280 --> 00:31:59,440 her. 614 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:03,400 During our meeting, we passed it around so 615 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:05,260 that everyone could touch and feel it for 616 00:32:05,260 --> 00:32:05,640 a while. 617 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,760 Everybody held it to their cheeks and kissed 618 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:09,980 it. 619 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,320 After being kissed by 30 people, the Bible 620 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,760 was soaked with tears, and the red color 621 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:17,860 became faded. 622 00:32:23,380 --> 00:32:27,980 During the Cultural Revolution, Chinese Christians risked their 623 00:32:27,980 --> 00:32:29,940 lives to preserve a few Bibles. 624 00:32:32,340 --> 00:32:34,820 But toward the end, a lot of hand 625 00:32:34,820 --> 00:32:42,600 -copied Bibles became available, and overseas believers began 626 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,380 to smuggle Bibles to house churches across the 627 00:32:45,380 --> 00:32:45,800 country. 628 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,600 It was not until 1985, sponsored by a 629 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:55,120 Western foundation, that Bibles were printed in China 630 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:56,520 in large quantities. 631 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:01,820 But even today, public distribution is not permitted. 632 00:33:02,940 --> 00:33:05,240 People who want to own a Bible must 633 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,180 buy one at a three-self church. 634 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,400 Mountains cannot stop rivers that flow to the 635 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:14,780 ocean. 636 00:33:16,380 --> 00:33:19,760 Today, the Bible has entered millions of Chinese 637 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:20,360 families. 638 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,560 It is a stream in the desert moistening 639 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,100 every thirsty soul. 640 00:33:57,500 --> 00:34:01,140 By the end of the 1970s, Christians began 641 00:34:01,140 --> 00:34:02,500 to be released from jail. 642 00:34:05,820 --> 00:34:08,040 I was so anxious to go home. 643 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,659 I wasted no time and took the express 644 00:34:10,659 --> 00:34:11,000 train. 645 00:34:12,380 --> 00:34:14,520 It was after 11 o'clock at night 646 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,219 when the train arrived in Beijing. 647 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,840 Our eldest daughter and her husband, our third 648 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:22,780 son and I, the four of us, quickly 649 00:34:22,780 --> 00:34:25,360 ate some porridge, then hurried to the train 650 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:25,860 station. 651 00:34:26,620 --> 00:34:28,300 The light was red and dim. 652 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:30,380 You could hardly see anything. 653 00:34:30,739 --> 00:34:32,600 Our eyes got very tired. 654 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:35,739 The four of us were spread out along 655 00:34:35,739 --> 00:34:36,500 the platform. 656 00:34:36,860 --> 00:34:38,320 We couldn't see each other. 657 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:41,659 We kept looking around the train station until 658 00:34:41,659 --> 00:34:43,060 no one was left. 659 00:34:43,420 --> 00:34:44,760 We didn't find him. 660 00:34:48,159 --> 00:34:50,219 I'd been gone over 20 years and I 661 00:34:50,219 --> 00:34:52,460 was wearing a black cotton padded jacket and 662 00:34:52,460 --> 00:34:55,219 pants and a big fur hat and a 663 00:34:55,219 --> 00:34:55,860 pair of boots. 664 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:57,880 They couldn't see me. 665 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,800 Alan Yuan took the bus to Baitasa, to 666 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:05,940 the home he had left, but he couldn't 667 00:35:05,940 --> 00:35:06,800 find his home. 668 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:09,980 I looked here and there. 669 00:35:09,980 --> 00:35:11,140 Where should I go? 670 00:35:11,220 --> 00:35:13,660 I started to call my wife's name, Lily 671 00:35:13,660 --> 00:35:14,020 Liang. 672 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:16,000 I didn't know where she had moved. 673 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:20,020 In 1958, we were at Huiancheng, their new 674 00:35:20,020 --> 00:35:20,340 address. 675 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:21,440 I had no idea. 676 00:35:21,740 --> 00:35:23,720 My third daughter-in-law answered my call. 677 00:35:23,940 --> 00:35:26,100 Lily Liang went to the train station to 678 00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:26,900 pick someone up. 679 00:35:27,300 --> 00:35:28,680 I replied that it was me. 680 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:31,420 Remember, I had never met any of these 681 00:35:31,420 --> 00:35:32,020 daughters-in-law. 682 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:34,640 My oldest son was only 17 when I 683 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:34,900 left. 684 00:35:35,140 --> 00:35:38,160 Mrs. Yuan, along with her children, came back 685 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,380 from the train station and was very disappointed. 686 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:44,460 I saw a light in my room. 687 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:45,860 Was it possible? 688 00:35:46,420 --> 00:35:49,380 I hurried up the steps and opened the 689 00:35:49,380 --> 00:35:49,720 door. 690 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:52,180 There he was washing his feet. 691 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,980 His head was shaven and he was quite 692 00:35:55,980 --> 00:35:56,400 happy. 693 00:35:57,640 --> 00:35:58,920 I was speechless. 694 00:35:59,980 --> 00:36:03,060 He told me they gave him 60 yuan 695 00:36:03,060 --> 00:36:03,980 for traveling. 696 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:06,340 I still couldn't say a word. 697 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:08,600 He was so thin. 698 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:10,660 I didn't know what to say. 699 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,660 Yet I was full of joy and gratitude. 700 00:36:15,220 --> 00:36:17,560 Usually, if it was a life sentence, you 701 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:18,480 could never go home. 702 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:20,860 People who don't believe in Jesus said a 703 00:36:20,860 --> 00:36:23,160 strong fate must have helped me return home. 704 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:24,320 It wasn't my fate. 705 00:36:24,860 --> 00:36:26,440 I am God's child. 706 00:36:28,100 --> 00:36:29,860 The first thing we did was to thank 707 00:36:29,860 --> 00:36:30,240 God. 708 00:36:30,620 --> 00:36:32,840 It was beyond every hope I ever had 709 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:34,100 that he might come home. 710 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:36,780 It turned out that prison was a safe 711 00:36:36,780 --> 00:36:39,300 place to be during the Cultural Revolution. 712 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:42,040 Otherwise, he would have been beaten to death. 713 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:44,760 I was so full of gratitude when I 714 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:45,420 thought of this. 715 00:36:46,240 --> 00:36:49,120 After he washed his feet, he didn't eat. 716 00:36:49,420 --> 00:36:50,680 He went right to sleep. 717 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,000 I cleaned up and got ready to go 718 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:54,280 to work the next day. 719 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,420 Twenty years of imprisonment were over, but Alan 720 00:36:59,420 --> 00:37:01,180 Yuan knew that his wife had had a 721 00:37:01,180 --> 00:37:04,280 harder life outside prison during those long years. 722 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:09,260 All those twenty years, when I was gone, 723 00:37:10,060 --> 00:37:12,080 my wife suffered a lot while she raised 724 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:12,640 our children. 725 00:37:14,700 --> 00:37:17,480 After he left, we had eight people in 726 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:19,780 the family, my mother-in-law and six 727 00:37:19,780 --> 00:37:20,140 children. 728 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:21,660 I had no job. 729 00:37:22,140 --> 00:37:24,240 Later, when I got a job, I made 730 00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:27,980 80 cents a day, which is 24 yuan, 731 00:37:28,260 --> 00:37:30,060 U.S. $3 a month. 732 00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:34,280 After the three yuan tied, I had 21 733 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:35,040 yuan left. 734 00:37:35,380 --> 00:37:37,580 How could the eight of us live on 735 00:37:37,580 --> 00:37:38,520 so little money? 736 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:41,560 All I could do was pray, Lord, yes, 737 00:37:41,700 --> 00:37:43,940 this is from you, so I won't say 738 00:37:43,940 --> 00:37:44,920 anything about it. 739 00:37:45,460 --> 00:37:47,460 I just want to ask you to protect 740 00:37:47,460 --> 00:37:50,580 my children and me from dishonoring you. 741 00:37:51,300 --> 00:37:53,180 None of my six children complained. 742 00:37:53,620 --> 00:37:55,860 I often told them that their father went 743 00:37:55,860 --> 00:37:59,000 to jail not because of any crime, but 744 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:00,820 my children did suffer a lot. 745 00:38:01,220 --> 00:38:04,000 One of my sons, he was nicknamed Cornbread 746 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:06,620 Head because that was the lunch he brought 747 00:38:06,620 --> 00:38:07,940 to school every day. 748 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,140 He said, Mother, could you buy me a 749 00:38:11,140 --> 00:38:13,560 wheat roll just once to shut it up? 750 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:15,100 I said I couldn't. 751 00:38:15,380 --> 00:38:18,020 If I just bought one roll, it was 752 00:38:18,020 --> 00:38:20,840 not fair for the other kids, and I 753 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:22,400 couldn't afford to buy six. 754 00:38:23,240 --> 00:38:25,880 One day, this family of eight hit rock 755 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:26,260 bottom. 756 00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:29,540 There was absolutely nothing left to eat. 757 00:38:29,540 --> 00:38:34,940 It was late, about 11 o'clock, and 758 00:38:34,940 --> 00:38:38,760 I prayed, O Lord, we have nothing for 759 00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:42,380 tomorrow, no rice, no flour, no money. 760 00:38:42,940 --> 00:38:46,100 Lord, if you don't provide, all we have 761 00:38:46,100 --> 00:38:46,880 is water. 762 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,560 But early the next morning, someone knocked on 763 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:51,000 the door. 764 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,980 I had just finished my prayers, so I 765 00:38:53,980 --> 00:38:55,480 opened the door right away. 766 00:38:55,820 --> 00:38:58,740 It was an elderly woman in her sixties. 767 00:38:58,740 --> 00:39:01,440 I didn't know her, so I asked her 768 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:01,840 name. 769 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,520 She said, Please don't ask my name. 770 00:39:04,700 --> 00:39:06,640 The Holy Spirit brought me here. 771 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:09,460 She said, Here is something for you. 772 00:39:09,780 --> 00:39:10,740 It was a package. 773 00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:12,320 I opened it. 774 00:39:12,540 --> 00:39:15,860 After she left, it was 50 yuan, which 775 00:39:15,860 --> 00:39:17,380 was a lot of money then. 776 00:39:17,720 --> 00:39:21,240 So I was able to buy flour, coal, 777 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:22,200 and food. 778 00:39:22,460 --> 00:39:24,820 One day, a girl came to the Yuan 779 00:39:24,820 --> 00:39:26,700 family with three packages. 780 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:32,060 She said, The big bag you can send 781 00:39:32,060 --> 00:39:34,460 to Uncle Yuan, the middle-sized bag is 782 00:39:34,460 --> 00:39:36,520 for you to give to others in need, 783 00:39:36,860 --> 00:39:38,500 and the little bag is to be used 784 00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:39,440 for your expenses. 785 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:42,440 My child, what is your name? 786 00:39:42,740 --> 00:39:43,340 I asked. 787 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:45,060 She said, Please don't ask. 788 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:46,920 Mother didn't want me to tell you. 789 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:52,120 During those difficult 20 years, it was this 790 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:54,900 great love that came from above and from 791 00:39:54,900 --> 00:39:58,800 those around her that sustains this gentle woman 792 00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:01,640 and her family in body and heart. 793 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,180 It was amazing. 794 00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:09,780 Each time the money came in the mail 795 00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:14,700 with a code name, 1078 or 1056. 796 00:40:16,100 --> 00:40:17,100 I will write back. 797 00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:19,540 I have received the money and hope to 798 00:40:19,540 --> 00:40:20,240 meet you soon. 799 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:22,940 I don't know you, but thank you for 800 00:40:22,940 --> 00:40:23,940 your gift of love. 801 00:40:24,460 --> 00:40:26,660 Two days later, my letter was returned. 802 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,800 The post office noted that there was no 803 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:30,640 such person. 804 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,420 Money was sent every month for over 20 805 00:40:34,420 --> 00:40:34,920 years. 806 00:40:35,740 --> 00:40:39,060 Some people, like my neighbors, said, How come 807 00:40:39,060 --> 00:40:41,960 you are still joyful after going through so 808 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:42,560 much suffering? 809 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:46,080 They don't understand, but I do. 810 00:43:15,580 --> 00:43:19,820 In 1978, Pastor Samuel Lam was released from 811 00:43:19,820 --> 00:43:20,260 prison. 812 00:43:24,220 --> 00:43:26,820 When I got out of jail, I found 813 00:43:26,820 --> 00:43:28,780 out that my wife had died two years 814 00:43:28,780 --> 00:43:29,240 earlier. 815 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:31,960 My father died seven years earlier. 816 00:43:34,780 --> 00:43:36,540 When I returned from labor camp, I had 817 00:43:36,540 --> 00:43:37,100 nothing left. 818 00:43:37,420 --> 00:43:39,400 They didn't return any of my assets or 819 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:39,920 my house. 820 00:43:40,440 --> 00:43:42,320 They came to our home three times to 821 00:43:42,320 --> 00:43:43,500 confiscate things. 822 00:43:43,940 --> 00:43:45,340 Finally, they kicked us out. 823 00:43:45,640 --> 00:43:47,220 We had to live in a little dark 824 00:43:47,220 --> 00:43:49,120 room, about seven square meters. 825 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:52,160 There was no daylight, no fresh air. 826 00:43:52,580 --> 00:43:55,620 Perhaps they didn't anticipate that the pressures that 827 00:43:55,620 --> 00:43:58,240 they had to face after leaving jail hadn't 828 00:43:58,240 --> 00:43:58,760 changed. 829 00:43:59,300 --> 00:44:01,660 They still had to register to join the 830 00:44:01,660 --> 00:44:02,700 Three-Self Church. 831 00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:08,180 But the government also had an unanticipated situation 832 00:44:08,180 --> 00:44:08,980 to deal with. 833 00:44:09,740 --> 00:44:12,780 The answers from all these Christians remained the 834 00:44:12,780 --> 00:44:13,840 same as before. 835 00:44:15,580 --> 00:44:17,300 I refused to register. 836 00:44:18,060 --> 00:44:18,820 That's what I said. 837 00:44:19,240 --> 00:44:20,540 Go ahead and arrest me again. 838 00:44:21,180 --> 00:44:23,140 I was 75 in 1999. 839 00:44:23,840 --> 00:44:24,740 I am an old man. 840 00:44:25,100 --> 00:44:26,220 I'm used to jail. 841 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:27,780 The first time I was in prison for 842 00:44:27,780 --> 00:44:28,420 16 months. 843 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:30,720 The second time, 20 years. 844 00:44:31,240 --> 00:44:32,100 I'm used to it. 845 00:44:32,980 --> 00:44:36,540 When I returned home in October 1979, people 846 00:44:36,540 --> 00:44:37,900 came to my house every day. 847 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:39,940 Some came to read the Bible. 848 00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:41,220 Some came to pray. 849 00:44:42,080 --> 00:44:44,680 Later we started the house church service and 850 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:45,960 we continue to this day. 851 00:44:46,820 --> 00:44:49,220 My faith is more important than everything else. 852 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,200 If the laws of the government are against 853 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:53,720 my faith, I will never submit to man. 854 00:44:53,780 --> 00:44:55,080 I submit to God. 855 00:44:57,560 --> 00:44:58,820 I was not against the government. 856 00:44:59,220 --> 00:45:01,060 The government misunderstood me. 857 00:45:01,940 --> 00:45:04,220 According to the Bible, we submit to the 858 00:45:04,220 --> 00:45:04,940 authorities. 859 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:07,640 But in terms of faith, I submit to 860 00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:08,980 God, not man. 861 00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:10,380 That's all. 862 00:45:12,080 --> 00:45:15,120 They continue holding on to their faith and 863 00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:17,460 continue to carry their own cross. 864 00:45:20,320 --> 00:45:24,840 Between October 10, 1985 to January 10, 1986, 865 00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:27,100 they locked me up for three months. 866 00:45:27,580 --> 00:45:30,520 And again between April 24 and July 23, 867 00:45:30,700 --> 00:45:33,860 1992, they put me behind bars for three 868 00:45:33,860 --> 00:45:37,200 months, accusing me of spreading the gospel outside 869 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:38,820 of pre-assigned area. 870 00:45:41,080 --> 00:45:44,020 The plainclothes policeman came on Sunday and declared 871 00:45:44,020 --> 00:45:45,640 there was no service on that day. 872 00:45:46,500 --> 00:45:48,100 They claimed Yuan was sick. 873 00:45:50,580 --> 00:45:53,040 In the middle of the gathering, seven public 874 00:45:53,040 --> 00:45:54,980 security personnel entered in uniform. 875 00:45:55,740 --> 00:45:57,620 Three of them went upstairs and stood at 876 00:45:57,620 --> 00:45:58,240 the stairway. 877 00:45:59,020 --> 00:46:01,040 One of them interrupted our preaching and asked, 878 00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:03,040 who reported to the police that there had 879 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:03,640 been a suicide? 880 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:06,460 One of the brothers said, no one had 881 00:46:06,460 --> 00:46:07,740 reported any suicides. 882 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:10,020 We didn't have any suicides here. 883 00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:11,980 Then we started to sing. 884 00:46:12,820 --> 00:46:14,500 The cross, the cross. 885 00:46:15,240 --> 00:46:16,620 We were singing as they left. 886 00:46:19,720 --> 00:46:20,840 Shizhijia, Shizhijia. 887 00:46:21,120 --> 00:46:22,080 I sang this song. 888 00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:24,260 They left. 889 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:32,640 Shizhijia, Shizhijia. 890 00:46:33,600 --> 00:46:35,920 I sang this song. 891 00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:44,240 These elderly men who had been deprived of 892 00:46:44,240 --> 00:46:47,680 their youth, who were even considered strange in 893 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:51,480 the modern world, showed neither bitterness nor regret. 894 00:46:54,240 --> 00:46:56,280 The first time they asked me if I 895 00:46:56,280 --> 00:46:58,820 was going to appeal, I said no. 896 00:46:59,400 --> 00:47:02,420 I thought to myself, why appeal to men? 897 00:47:02,660 --> 00:47:04,160 All I need is to pray to God. 898 00:47:06,220 --> 00:47:09,020 We shouldn't resent anybody because nothing happened that 899 00:47:09,020 --> 00:47:09,680 came from man. 900 00:47:10,080 --> 00:47:11,720 God allowed us to suffer this way. 901 00:47:12,440 --> 00:47:14,800 Jesus suffered as well, but was not resentful. 902 00:47:15,180 --> 00:47:16,700 He prayed for his persecutors. 903 00:47:19,400 --> 00:47:22,060 After I was released, I didn't appeal. 904 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:25,540 The policeman said, we're not going to redress 905 00:47:25,540 --> 00:47:28,080 your case because you will keep doing the 906 00:47:28,080 --> 00:47:28,600 same thing. 907 00:47:29,540 --> 00:47:31,060 Of course I will keep doing the same 908 00:47:31,060 --> 00:47:31,400 thing. 909 00:47:32,100 --> 00:47:34,060 I've been put on this earth to witness 910 00:47:34,060 --> 00:47:34,740 for the Lord. 911 00:47:35,120 --> 00:47:36,420 What else is important? 912 00:47:40,860 --> 00:47:43,160 Didn't the Lord tell me from the beginning 913 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:45,420 to give up everything and carry the cross 914 00:47:45,420 --> 00:47:46,180 to follow Him? 915 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:48,340 This is the Lord's way. 916 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:50,560 I'm following Him on the same path. 917 00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:52,480 Why should I be upset? 918 00:47:53,060 --> 00:47:54,080 Why should I complain? 919 00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:56,400 This is my biggest blessing. 920 00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:08,560 The court 921 00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:19,960 cheated 922 00:48:19,960 --> 00:48:22,920 me and changed my situation from non-repentant 923 00:48:22,920 --> 00:48:23,820 to repentant. 924 00:48:23,820 --> 00:48:25,440 In order to release me. 925 00:48:26,820 --> 00:48:28,600 I protested in two ways. 926 00:48:28,940 --> 00:48:30,900 First, I refused to leave the jail. 927 00:48:31,380 --> 00:48:34,040 Then after I was released, I chose to 928 00:48:34,040 --> 00:48:36,280 live as a life sentence prisoner in a 929 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:38,380 place just outside of the gates. 930 00:48:42,640 --> 00:48:44,760 Not only did he live next to the 931 00:48:44,760 --> 00:48:49,460 jail, Epiphras insisted on fasting five days a 932 00:48:49,460 --> 00:48:49,740 week. 933 00:48:53,820 --> 00:48:55,940 If I keep on fasting like this, they 934 00:48:55,940 --> 00:48:58,220 will know I have not repented, that I 935 00:48:58,220 --> 00:49:00,880 don't accept their accusations in the first place. 936 00:49:01,220 --> 00:49:03,380 If I continue to fast like this until 937 00:49:03,380 --> 00:49:05,320 I die, it will mean that I refuse 938 00:49:05,320 --> 00:49:07,440 repentance even until death. 939 00:49:12,960 --> 00:49:17,100 After 15 years of fasting, Epiphras came to 940 00:49:17,100 --> 00:49:19,540 the end of his 78 years on this 941 00:49:19,540 --> 00:49:21,500 earth and rested in the Lord. 942 00:49:22,840 --> 00:49:25,500 Some churches in Yinchuan wanted to have some 943 00:49:25,500 --> 00:49:28,380 of his ashes, but they were quietly spread 944 00:49:28,380 --> 00:49:29,260 on the Yellow River. 945 00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:35,200 In his last letter to his relatives, Epiphras 946 00:49:35,200 --> 00:49:39,700 wrote, I died as an unrepentant criminal, just 947 00:49:39,700 --> 00:49:41,100 like my Lord Jesus. 948 00:49:46,100 --> 00:49:49,860 For many years, I have believed in Jesus 949 00:49:49,860 --> 00:49:50,900 and followed him. 950 00:49:51,340 --> 00:49:53,720 The Lord Jesus has always listened to my 951 00:49:53,720 --> 00:49:54,160 prayers. 952 00:49:54,740 --> 00:49:56,840 He has been with me wherever I go. 953 00:49:57,100 --> 00:49:58,480 I will never deny him. 954 00:50:17,240 --> 00:50:34,840 I will never 955 00:50:34,840 --> 00:50:34,940 deny him. 956 00:50:34,940 --> 00:50:37,700 The way of the cross surpasses all human 957 00:50:37,700 --> 00:50:38,420 understanding. 958 00:50:39,620 --> 00:50:41,900 The way of the cross is the way 959 00:50:41,900 --> 00:50:46,380 of humiliation and glory, the way of suffering 960 00:50:46,380 --> 00:50:47,120 and joy. 961 00:50:48,500 --> 00:50:51,020 It is the way of sacrifice and victory. 962 00:51:17,680 --> 00:51:23,180 In Xiamen, Madam Yan Xingfei leads a house 963 00:51:23,180 --> 00:51:26,080 church that consists mainly of college students. 964 00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:30,480 She also preaches in the nearby cities and 965 00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:30,940 villages. 966 00:51:34,980 --> 00:51:39,420 In Shanghai and Beijing, Pastor Moses Shi devotes 967 00:51:39,420 --> 00:51:41,700 his advanced years to reaching out to the 968 00:51:41,700 --> 00:51:44,820 increasing number of younger people who have thirsty 969 00:51:44,820 --> 00:51:45,380 souls. 970 00:51:52,700 --> 00:51:57,440 In Guangzhou, Pastor Samuel Lam and his Damajian 971 00:51:57,440 --> 00:52:00,840 House Church stand firm and with grace in 972 00:52:00,840 --> 00:52:02,680 all their trials and hardships. 973 00:52:03,940 --> 00:52:06,220 Before I went to jail, we had 400 974 00:52:06,220 --> 00:52:06,620 people. 975 00:52:07,180 --> 00:52:09,060 After I came back, we had 900. 976 00:52:09,700 --> 00:52:11,600 They confiscated the house in 1990. 977 00:52:12,440 --> 00:52:14,300 After that, we grew to 2,000. 978 00:52:14,880 --> 00:52:16,960 The third floor was not big enough, so 979 00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:18,960 we had to use closed-circuit TV on 980 00:52:18,960 --> 00:52:19,580 the second floor. 981 00:52:20,180 --> 00:52:22,260 Finally, we had to use the basement as 982 00:52:22,260 --> 00:52:22,480 well. 983 00:52:22,980 --> 00:52:25,620 The more they persecuted, the more blessed we 984 00:52:25,620 --> 00:52:26,160 became. 985 00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:40,340 Today, the church has moved to Wengui, where 986 00:52:40,340 --> 00:52:42,780 every day is like a holiday and groups 987 00:52:42,780 --> 00:52:44,980 of Christians gather together in joy. 988 00:53:01,290 --> 00:53:05,470 In Beijing, Pastor Alan Yuan's house church is 989 00:53:05,470 --> 00:53:07,850 like a lighthouse beaming out the hope of 990 00:53:07,850 --> 00:53:11,210 Chinese Christians into the dark night. 991 00:53:27,020 --> 00:53:30,730 Every summer, Alan Yuan, who is now 90, 992 00:53:31,150 --> 00:53:32,870 baptizes hundreds of people. 993 00:53:56,330 --> 00:53:58,870 God called me to spread the gospel and 994 00:53:58,870 --> 00:53:59,490 serve the Lord. 995 00:53:59,930 --> 00:54:01,850 In my heart, I accept the vision from 996 00:54:01,850 --> 00:54:02,230 above. 997 00:54:02,230 --> 00:54:04,710 Even though we are limited in many ways, 998 00:54:05,290 --> 00:54:07,290 the devil will never conquer the church. 999 00:54:08,030 --> 00:54:09,970 Battles like this raged in the past. 1000 00:54:10,390 --> 00:54:13,510 Today, the Lord's work marches forward in China, 1001 00:54:13,910 --> 00:54:15,830 just like the time of Acts. 1002 00:54:24,130 --> 00:54:26,110 You've been listening to the From the Pulpit 1003 00:54:26,110 --> 00:54:27,350 in Classic Sermon series. 1004 00:54:27,830 --> 00:54:29,590 This week, you heard the cross in China, 1005 00:54:30,010 --> 00:54:31,150 a Chinese revival story. 1006 00:54:31,150 --> 00:54:33,370 Tune in next week to hear another fantastic 1007 00:54:33,370 --> 00:54:36,290 message on From the Pulpit in Classic Sermon. 1008 00:55:04,390 --> 00:55:05,870 From the Pulpit in Classic Sermon.