Seeking for Eternal Life, Part 4: “I Think You Should Do Full-Time Ministry”

Seeking-for-Eternal-Life-Part-4-I-Think-You-Should-Do-Full-Time-Ministry

Editor’s note: Grace transforms. In recent decades, millions of Chinese people have met Jesus and had their lives turned inside out. Their hopes, dreams, families, leisure, and (in some cases) occupations have changed because of Christ. 

This is the fourth installment in a five-part interview series with a Chinese woman who came to Christ in the late 1980s as an international student studying in the United States. She later returned to China to do full-time ministry with university students. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity, and some identifying features have been altered to protect her identity. 

Read earlier installments here:

Our hope is that these interviews challenge and encourage Western believers to examine their own faith and remind them to pray for their brothers and sisters in China.


God brought a seventy-year-old Chinese lady, from China, to the Christian college. I had by then finished grad school and gone back to that small college to teach. I became friends with this lady; she had been a Christian for many decades. She came to the Christian college because she wanted a bachelor’s in theology. She was a sweet, gentle soul. 

One Christmas she invited me to go to a Christian student conference. I went, and at first, I was disappointed because it was in Chinese. I couldn’t find the books in the Bible in Chinese, I didn’t know how to pray in Chinese. I was uncomfortable. There were about 12 people there. We learned how to share the gospel in Chinese from a booklet, and I thought, “This is so dumb. I’m teaching in the university, and here I am, following this. This is not the way to do it, it’s too mechanical.” I was really resistant. 

But at the end of the conference, we went to somebody’s home. They had Chinese students from a nearby university there. I shared with a girl from Sichuan who was a doctoral student. I just read the booklet, and at the end, she said yes! She wanted to do the prayer! And I was going, “Really?!” It was amazing! 

How did that experience affect you?

I realized it is all the Spirit’s work, it has nothing to do with me. But how exciting to be the person, to be the tool, in the middle of this process. I thought, “I can share the gospel with people. God can use me, and it doesn’t have to be too complicated.”

There was another student conference nearby, and we [Chinese students] joined them. In front of a thousand people, I raised my hand to share, and the mic came to me. I was so excited to let everybody know about the girl I had shared with, what had happened the night before. A woman who worked in full-time ministry came and talked to me. She said, “I think God has his hand on you. I think you should do full-time ministry.” I was like: “What?”

It’s crazy.

Crazy. But I said, “This is my heart right now. I would love to spend my life sharing the good news, but this was really not my original path.” 

She said, “Why don’t you interview right now?” So, I interviewed. Now, thinking back, it’s crazy. At the interview someone asked me, “Are you sure God has called you to this?” I said, “No, I’m not sure at all!!”

Besides the shock, the biggest thing I was concerned with was the financial side of things. But I started praying about it. At that time, I was thinking of applying for a job with Microsoft, or going back to get my Ph.D. I was thinking of changing directions. I asked my department chair what he thought about my future. He said, “I don’t know what God’s plan for you is. But I see that your heart is not into computers anymore.” I spoke with the theology professor whose wife had studied with me; they were my mentors. They said, “We see that God has given you a gift for evangelism.” They asked me what my motivation for going to Microsoft would be. Did I feel like God was calling me there? In my heart I knew I wanted to go to Microsoft because that was my major, and also that was the way to get rich, to have financial security—not because God had called me to it. I was really conflicted.

I read a book called Hind’s Feet on High Places. There’s a girl in the book named Much Afraid. I felt like that little girl. Seeing all the obstacles, all the mountains I needed to climb, I was so afraid. But as I read about her journey, how Christ led her and she became stronger and became a blessing to other people, I finally decided, “Okay. I’m telling people God loves them and has good plans for them: do I really believe it?

After a whole year—I’m a slow decision-maker—I said, “I’m going to be like Abraham, and sacrifice the most precious thing in my life, which is my aspiration for a career and for financial security. If God doesn’t take it, great! But if he takes it, I’ll go with it.” In my mind I was committing for just a few years. I thought if I couldn’t raise the support I needed, then that meant I could come back; God didn’t want to take my sacrifice, he didn’t want me.

You saw a possible exit ramp.

I was not committed for life! I called my parents and told them my decision. Of course, they were totally shocked, although they knew I was a Christian.

When was this?

In the early 90s. A few years before my mom had come to visit me for half a year, and she became a Christian at that time. She went back and led her mother to Christ, so they supported me being a Christian. But this was different. My dad said, “You are going to become a beggar! You have a master’s in computer science, and now you are going to beg money from people.” My dad told me later on that my mom actually went to the hospital for a week. She couldn’t breathe, her heart pumped irregularly, she felt faint.

I started to feel guilty, like I couldn’t put this on my parents. They had sacrificed so much for me. I told God, “I don’t expect them to support me, but make them okay. Don’t let them suffer because of me.” I prayed for about half a year, and after that they came around. 

They said, “Whatever makes you happy. If you really, really want to do this, we can’t stop you.” My dad told me, “We don’t need your support; we don’t need you to care for us.” That meant they didn’t think they could depend on me in their old age anymore. That hurt.

All this time I was thinking I wasn’t sure if I would raise the support I needed, because I just had one church, one community that knew me. But it was miraculous; total strangers supported me, Chinese churches I didn’t even know before. God raised up all my support in just five weeks.

There were times throughout the years we have been financially tight. I have become discouraged, but I always think back to the miraculous way God brought me to do full-time work, the process of raising support, and how all these people believed God had called me. That has kept me going when I’m doubting.  

So, you were working with Chinese students at this time, and you came on a trip to China?

Yes. I met Tim and the next year came back on a summer trip and got engaged. The next year I came back and got married and then we lived in China, working with students.

I imagine moving back to China was a turn you never thought your life would take.

To this day, I still say that if God had not called me, I would not have come back to China. It would have been easier to go to Africa than to come back to China. I hated China, I just did not like China.

Why did you hate China?

I’m still figuring that out. I think it’s all stuff that happened in my early childhood. I don’t know the exact reason, but I’ve always felt a kind of oppression. I think maybe some of it comes from fear of how much control the government has, how powerful they are. There is always fear they could do anything to you. Which is true, people disappear all the time. When Tiananmen Square happened, I wasn’t surprised, it was just expected. I wasn’t shocked, because I was never optimistic. Even now, I am kind of bothered by my deep resentment toward China.

In daily life, in ministry, there is no problem, because I deal with individuals. But with China, it’s different. My husband has an emotional bond with China, while I identify with the U.S. I know there are bad things there, but I think maybe it’s because the U.S. is the first country in which I experienced love. I am not sure.

FOR REFLECTION

1) God called this woman to make a radical shift to her life plan in order to work in full-time ministry. Do you think God often calls his followers to make these types of revolutionary shifts in their way of life?

2) Her career change to full-time ministry impacted not just this woman, but her entire family, as her parents had sacrificed so much for her career. How might this sort of communal mindset make it difficult to find people willing to serve the church in China?

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Further Reading

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When Will the Soldiers Return?
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Xiamen: Beautiful, Coastal... and Expensive
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Guangzhou: Raising Gospel Soldiers
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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

About Shenyang

Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

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About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 21 million people. The city has a rich history that spans over 3,000 years, and it has served as the capital of various dynasties throughout China’s history. Beijing is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The city is also a hub for political, cultural, and educational activities, with numerous universities and research institutions located within its boundaries. Beijing is renowned for its traditional architecture, rich cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a must-visit destination for travelers to China.

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About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

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