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 Xing* Sharing in Prison(names have been changed for the individual's protection) "Thank you so much for taking care of my family these past 18 months while I was in prison. Thank you for caring for all the pastors who were arrested and the 10 of us who were in prison long-term. As soon as I was arrested, I was put on a labor team making cigarette lighters. Within in a few days, my fingers were damaged and very painful, yet we were forced to work from 5:00 am to midnight every day. We had impossible daily quotas we could never meet, so they would beat us and then make us go back and work more. Some nights, we got no sleep at all. I was beaten with a steel and wooden rod, about 3-4" thick. Every day, at about 9:30 pm they would line us up against the wall and beat us with this. Our quarters were cramped with up to 40 people in a single cell. In my last cell, there were 17 people, and some of my fellow prisoners beat me, but later I led every single one to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! When I was released, about 80 prisoners came to see me leave, many now new believers and most with tears in their eyes. In prison, I worried a lot about my wife, my family and my fellow believers, but I knew you were taking care of them. Thank you so much." Tian* Suffering Like Christ I am a former communist. I used to secretly inform the police of the meeting places of believers. I persecuted them from 1971-77. My life changed direction in 1977. I became a believer, and was trained as a pastor and soon after became a church planter. We are very poor, my wife works to support our ministry and her parents help us, too. When I was arrested, it was like the sky collapsed. I had to do hard labor 16 hours a day, and there was no way to meet the work quotas. I was beaten every day, usually in the evening and then sent back to work until midnight. Two prisoners committed suicide while I was in prison because they couldn't take the torture and conditions. Two others went insane. They would interrogate me all night and not let me sleep. Some guards told me that because Jesus hung on a cross, they were going to hang me up as well. They hung me on a wall and beat me. When my wife came after about 1 month to see me, the first thing she told me was that believers from outside were praying and helping support the family. I cried at this news. I don't know how my wife, two kids and parents would have survived without the support you gave us. Thank you and please thank all those who helped. Jin* Forgiving Those Who Persecute When I was arrested, they handcuffed me and put me in a police car. I had no shoes on and they hit me on my face, back and legs. When they learned I couldn't walk well, they beat me more and especially my feet and legs. Prison was very difficult. At times, they made me march in place for at least an hour. They would often take off their boots to hit me on my face, ears and nose. Blood was everywhere. I would faint, but they would throw water on my face to wake me up to beat me more. I was questioned 3-4 hours per day and worked hard labor the entire time. Whenever I was beaten, I thought of Jesus. He was mocked, beaten, and lonely, Jesus said "forgive them" when He was on the cross. I too forgave the government officials. I can say I never really understood the way of the cross until I suffered for Him. Suffering helps me understand the grace of God and the benefits of the way of the cross. Even though I am someone so weak, the Lord used me to lead many to Christ. One day, some sisters came to prison to tell me my precious mother died. She was my only living relative on earth. Now I could not even see her, let alone go to her funeral, and I had no money to bury her. |
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I was heartbroken...until I learned from my sisters that you were going to bury my mother. Thank you so much for paying for her burial! That so encouraged me and made me so happy. Thank you so much. I was released Dec. 30, 2005. Now that I am out of prison, I am back serving the Lord." With tears in his eyes, Jin said, "Thank you for burying my mother!" Pei* Enduring Extreme Torture Pei was first arrested in 2004, was held for a year and half. One of his primary prison jobs was feeding the pigs in a farming unit maintained on the site. During the first portion of his prison term, the pastor was abused and treated with contempt. His suffering escalated, becoming much more intense. Why? Midway through his sentence, authorities conducted a search of his home, and there they found a small stash of Bibles. These guards returned to the prison and beat this pastor so badly that he lost use of both legs. However, he was still required to complete his job. He was forced to crawl on his hands, dragging his body through pig manure, to complete his work for the prison guards. The authorities eventually decided to relieve themselves of the burden of caring for this man since he had become such a useless prisoner. WorldServe is currently supporting him by paying for surgeries to help him regain the use of his legs. Living with the Threat of Arrest WorldServe enables the families of those arrested for their faith to survive. One wife of an arrested man was in hiding with her 18 month old son. She could not even keep her eight-year old daughter with her because of the danger of arrest. For months, this dear woman had to move every two or three days to avoid arrest and protect her relatives. WorldServe met another family that hosts a training center. Authorities have confiscated all their possessions on ten different occasions. Incredulously, we commented that surely they have nothing left. The young lady responded with laughter, saying, "No problem, my father is a carpenter and when they take our things, he just makes more. Confiscation of our property will not stop us." The family continues hosting a training center today. WorldServe assures the pastors and leaders in the house church of China, "As long as you are being arrested for the Gospel, we will help you and your families survive!" We aren't just caring for these people as if we are "doing so unto the Lord." We are helping some of the most fruitful of all the church planters in China. When the ministers are beaten and we help with medical expenses, they always tell us, "As soon as I can walk again, I will preach the Gospel." Donate $50 (USD)/$75 (CDN) to support one pastor's family for one month. |
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