Editor’s note: This January and February, we are spending a few months praying for the persecuted church in China. Today, a Chinese pastor talks about why he went to jail, what he learned, and how he was able to share the gospel behind bars.
Battleground: Education
China Partnership: You were indicted because of your work in Christian education. Will this continue to be a reason authorities harass the church?
How is Christian education going now, both in your own church and in the area?
Preacher Du: After persecution, we paused, and people went back to educating in their own homes. But later, little by little, we resumed.
Most children were forced into public schools – after the crackdown we have less than half the number of children. But we’re still holding on. We’ve already sat in prison; we’ve already suffered. There’s no reason to give up now.
The risk of persecution definitely still exists. They care about this, and we care about it, too – because it’s about the next generation. We’re all “competing for souls.” They want to train successors for communism; we want to train successors for Christ and for the church. There is a battle, a spiritual war. It’s like house churches in China: as long as the current environment stays the same, if you exist, you will face persecution.
It’s about the next generation. We’re all “competing for souls.” They want to train successors for communism; we want to train successors for Christ and for the church.
Education is inseparable from our church, because it’s part of our ministry. I don’t think persecution will stop, but we’re willing to keep holding on as far as we can. We won’t give up.
God’s Grace in Hardship
CP: How have you seen God’s presence and faithfulness in these hardships? In difficult days, was there a Scripture passage or promise that was especially precious?
Preacher Du: These years have made me see even more clearly how important it is to know Scripture, to meditate on Scripture, and to memorize Scripture. In China, if you go to prison, the vast majority of people have no Bible. Once you’re inside, they won’t give you a Bible. We tried every possible angle to apply for a Bible, but we couldn’t get one. This made me treasure God’s word even more.
Worship and prayer didn’t stop while I was inside. Almost every morning I had personal devotions. My spiritual life didn’t stop; I never stopped worshiping the Lord inside jail.
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Worshiping in suffering – and guarding that worship – helped me experience God’s presence and faithfulness more deeply. I believe I was able to continue a life of faith for two years without giving up because of God’s protection.
They watch you closely. If you kneel to pray, it draws attention. But, if I needed to kneel, I knelt; when it was time to worship, I worshiped; when it was time to fast, I fasted. Thanks be to the Lord, I wasn’t obviously persecuted for my faith life inside. But, when the director of the detention center learned I was a believer and was serving as “cell manager,” he personally removed me. He scolded the guards: “Have you lost your minds? He’s a Christian, how could you let him be a manager?”
God carried me through those years. I had weakness, discouragement, disappointment. But, because I prayed daily and kept worshiping, God guarded and cared for me. Even when I dipped low, I recovered quickly. That was God’s presence and faithfulness.
Even in that environment, I experienced God’s faithfulness and the wonder of his grace. The suffering is real – but God’s grace and blessing outweigh the suffering and hardship.
Many different passages comforted and strengthened me. When I learned I might be sentenced to five to seven years, 1 Cor. 10:13 was crucial. When my wife wrote and told me how so many brothers and sisters were helping our larger church family and our own small family, I thought of 1 Cor. 12:26: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
Rom. 8:28 was also very important: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” If I had to summarize my whole experience in a single verse, it would be this: “All things work together for good.”
God used that environment to train me. From a human, bodily perspective, it is harsh: lights are on 24 hours a day, sleep is terrible, and many people become irritable then depressed because they can’t sleep. The food isn’t ideal. Often “cell managers” dominate and take most of the shared resources.
Yes, the environment is bad – but God used all of it. I’ve “leveled up” in my ability to endure suffering. Through facing setbacks and weakness, God gave me deeper understanding and more compassion.
In the past, I was pretty “law-oriented.” People respected and usually obeyed me. But after two years of being broken and rebuilt, I’m not as “law-oriented” as before. Just yesterday, a brother said my biggest change is I’m no longer as strict. This was a good breaking.
Even in that environment, I experienced God’s faithfulness and the wonder of his grace. The suffering is real – but God’s grace and blessing outweigh the suffering and hardship.
Sharing the Gospel in Jail
I also want to talk about evangelism inside prison. It isn’t easy. People can’t run from you, so there are opportunities to share, but hearts are often hard. Most people inside prison did evil and committed crimes. Their hearts are hard, and it isn’t easy for them to receive the gospel. Still, there were again and again opportunities to sow seeds.
Even in such a hard environment, God is still saving the people he intends to save. He gave us opportunities to sow the gospel.
For example, at Christmas I organized a small evangelistic “party” and shared the true meaning of Christmas. Normally you can’t publicly share the gospel – but at a holiday, you can.
I was able to lead a couple of people in a sinner’s prayer. After he got out, one of them truly believed and wanted to repent. When he got out of prison, I picked him up. Afterward, he came to our church. Another is still inside, and I can only encourage him through letters. But, he says he prays.
When I hear this, I’m comforted: even in such a hard environment, God is still saving the people he intends to save. He gave us opportunities to sow the gospel. After people are released, we can continue to follow up and keep sharing.
Du Liang is a pseudonym for a house church pastor in southern China.
Pray for Preacher Du, his family, and his church’s involvement in Christian education.
