“It is always appropriate to pray for ‘let this cup pass’ while never forgetting to pray to the Father that ‘thy will be done.” (The Voice of the Martyrs)
The moment we accepted Christ into our heart both blessings and troubles came. We were freed from the power of the devil and fear, but now faced persecution, hatred from the world.
As a new believer, I started to read the Bible, God’s words in Mark 16:15 really hit my heart:
“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone.”
I decided to go out to preach, many people responded and received the good news, but this attracted the attention of the local government. They followed me, threatened, arrested and tortured me. One time, they hit me in the eyes, causing one of my eyeballs to come out. but God healed me right there, they beat my wife while she carried the baby till she miscarried, they also burned 7 of our houses. Many times, we were discouraged and did not want to share the gospel anymore, but God gave us strength to continue.
Thank God, when we went out to preach and laid hands on the sick, many were healed, so people came back to God. Despite such persecution, within 7 years God allowed us to start 16 house churches.
Currently, by God’s mercy I still go out every week on foot or on motorbike to preach the gospel to the K’dong and H’re people and I desperately want to see more to return to God. Through faith and patience, God has raised up my son, my daughter, and my grandchildren to serve God. My children are now leading the house churches and actively participating in missionary work.
Spiritual lessons:
• Look at Jesus, not at the circumstances. Circumstances are temporary, even persecution, but Jesus is eternal.
- To take the gospel to places where no one has heard it, to plant churches, to do kingdom business, we have to say yes to God, dare to step out, dare to pay the price, dare to sacrifice…
- Your actions of faith will inspire many people, especially your children.
