SUFFERING FOR CHRIST...
 

After Ming and Yun left Heping, they went to county 'A' in Henan Province. As they went they wept and sang Acts 20:22-24: 'And see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me - nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.'
The situation in 'A' county was also very tense. Along the roads, in the villages, everywhere one could see posters against God, signs attacking the Church and 'wanted' posters naming the brethren the government wanted to arrest. The brothers and sisters here were different from those in Heping. They truly loved the Lord and God's servants and were willing to risk death by receiving those brothers and sisters who were wanted by the police.
The co-workers in 'A' county convened a meeting on 15 December to encourage one another to stand steadfast and be victorious in these adverse circumstances. Ming and Yun, together with Brother Jian, took turns to preach at this meeting. Brother Yun stood up. He was about 25 years old, of medium frame and for the sake of the Lord travelled and laboured all the year long. He was skinny as a rod. His face, usually bright with a smile, was un-usually sombre. Under his bushy eyebrows were a pair of large eyes that conveyed warmth and intense strength. The brothers and sisters began the meeting with a song:

TO BE A MARTYR FOR THE LORD
'From the time the early Church appeared on the day of Pentecost, followers of the Lord all willingly sacrificed themselves. Tens of thousands have sacrificed their lives that the Gospel might prosper.
As such they have obtained the crown of life. Those apostles who loved the Lord to the end, willingly followed the Lord down the path of suffering. John was exiled to the lonely Isle of Patmos. Stephen was crushed to death with stones by the crowd. Matthew was cut to death in Persia by the people. Doctor Luke was cruelly hanged. Peter, Philip and Simon were crucified on a cross. Bartholomew was skinned alive by the heathen. Thomas died in India as five horses pulled apart his body, the apostle James was beheaded by King Herod, Little James was cut up by a sharp saw. James the brother of the Lord was stoned to death, Judas was bound to a pillar and died by arrows, Matthias had his head cut off in Jerusalem. Paul was a martyr under Emperor Nero. l am willing to take up the cross and go forward, to follow the apostles down the road of sacrifice so that tens of thousands of precious souls may be saved, l am willing to leave all and be a martyr for the Lord. Chorus: To be a martyr for the Lord, to be a martyr for the Lord, l am willing to die gloriously for the Lord! They sang with all their might and the whole place was shaken. One could only hear the sound of weeping. Yun was full of the power of the Holy Spirit and preached with great authority. That evening it began to snow heavily. Soon a thick blanket of white covered the mountain. Outside, it was unbearably cold and drops of water quickly turned to ice. Inside the meeting place, a fervent fire was burning in the hearts of the brothers and sisters as the sound of intercession and praise ascended to heaven. The meeting did not end until midnight and everyone left, going to the homes of different believers to rest. Yun and several other brethren had not gone very far, when a group of people approached them. There were more than ten men with torches in their hands. As they rushed toward Yun they cried with a loud voice, 'What are you all doing?' The brethren immediately sensed something was wrong, so they turned and ran. But one of them caught hold of Yun and used the electric rod on him. His whole body was being electrocuted and he felt as if he had been stung by a scorpion or as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart. He fell over, unable to move in the snow. These people were from the rural Public Security. Without a word, they tied Yun very tightly. Suddenly, an intimate Voice from above said to Yun, 'I know' (Rev. 2:9). Immediately all the pain and fear left him. Yun was taken to the police station. Brother Jian and three other brethren were also arrested and taken there. Several old mothers who were believers came, some on crutches, despite the weather to bring blankets, rice and vegetables. When the police asked them for whom these items were, they replied, 'For the heavenly people.' Yun heard this from inside his cell and tears welled up in his eyes. The love of the brothers and sisters gave him such warmth. Yun's feet were numb with cold and his whole body shook all over. Yun likened himself to an eagle that stretched out its wings but was suddenly put in an iron cage. He continually called, 'Jesus' and sang choruses. The next morning, Yun, Jian and three other brethren were taken to the courtyard of the police station. The snow was piled high on the ground. The man ordered Yun to kneel. But Yun said, 'I will not kneel before you, I will only kneel before my Lord, my God.' Then the man said mockingly, 'I am your Lord. Only kneel before me and I will immediately release you.' Yun said angrily, 'In the Name of the Lord I say, you are not my Lord. My Lord is in heaven and I am a heavenly man.' The man then switched on the electric rod and, with a sneer said, 'If you are a heavenly man, you will not fear the electric rod. Come, put your hands on the electric rod.' He was forced by several other police to stretch out his hands towards the electric rod. As the power flowed through his body he immediately called out, 'Lord, save me!' The electric rod stopped working and he was able to hold on tightly to it with his hands, staring at the one who declared he was the 'Lord.' The man was so dumbfounded that he broke into a cold sweat and, throwing down the electric rod, ran away! Life in prison was very difficult. The prisoners ate smelly, mouldy sweet potato paste mixed with some roots. They received one small 'mantou' (steamed bread) weekly. The guards daily incited the prisoners to beat Yun. His body was already very weak. Yun began to spit out blood. He was barely alive. Brother Jian held Yun, sobbing uncontrollably. Among them was a young prisoner whose mother was a Christian, but he had not yet believed in the Lord. He saw the manner in which Yun was beaten up. Yun's feet were bare and had turned purple with cold. Blood constantly flowed from his mouth and his body frequently con-vulsed. He could not help but weep tears of compassion for Yun. He was so moved by Yun's plight he even used his own ragged overcoat to cover Yun. The Bible says, 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' (Matthew 5:7). The next day, they brought this young man out of the cell and allowed him to cook in the kitchen. Not long after, they released him from prison and he eventually became a Christian.
"Lilies Among Thorns" - Dennis Balcombe.
www.christian-faith.com

Indeks     Index