The hymn "China for Mission" is sung popularly among Chinese Christians, arising from the cause of Chinese world mission. However, compared to this popular poetry, the author is not so famous. He is a Taiwanese Lin Hecheng.
On January 10, Brother Lin witnessed to a fellowship in Shenzhen. On the day, Lin simply talked about his experience of being in a wheelchair. He experienced various ups and downs in life, and up to today Brother Lin is able to review God’s guiding, and shares it publicly.
While the poem started to be sung gradually in the universal Church, Lin was suffering from depression. When he was young he had been in the underworld killing, his belief in Jesus brought him a radical change, and God also gave him the gift and grace to write more than 30 hymns. But he was still depressed, with a lot of trauma and heartache in his life. He even refused to admit that he is the author of the song. With resentment that he is healthy, he was pushed down from a tall building and became a victim of lifelong paralysis. He also resented that his marriage was broken by his wife’s parents, so once again he ran away from the front of God.
Again while experiencing the depression, he continues to live like the prodigal son, then he did not rely on, often depressed to drink, eventually fell helpless to penniless, picking up food to eat. Thus, when there were priests from South America who came to Taiwan to look for the author of the hymn "China for Mission," he was ashamed to admit that it was him.
But the love of God called Lin to return to the church, his brothers and sisters’ love always accompanied him and relying on the love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, he came out from his heart knot.
When he met the murderer who caused his legs to be crippled, he could have gotten 2.4 million in compensation. But Lin said: "If there is no religion, it is likely that people will be cut to pieces, but because of the Lord's love, I can pray for the man." He said he can use 2.4 million to buy forgiveness, but then it was worth more than 2.4 million life to live a beautiful life.
Later, Lin find his wife sisters Jumei in the church and they live a life pleasing to God. Lin HeCheng said: "Every day, Ju Mei changed the urine bag for me, my wife sacrificed too much for me." Ju Mei sister said: "My sacrifice is not for others but I just want my husband love the Lord more."
Now he saw again the call of God, that he was assigned to the church around the world and had a calling of witnessing to people in the form of poetry and sermons.
Over the past few years, he worked in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan churches, in schools, prisons, hospitals, companies, nursing homes, orphanages, and became an evangelistic witness to encourage frustrated people.
Lin’s experience shows us that the poem "China for Mission" is not only the witness of the Holy Spirit but his entire life is also a poem made by the Holy Spirit.
Following is the lyrics with translation of CHINA FOR MISSION:
有一种爱 象那夏虫永长鸣
There is a love that is everlasting
春蚕吐丝吐不尽
and is forever giving
有一个声音 催促我要勇敢前行
There is a voice urging me press on boldly
圣灵在前引导我的心
The Holy Spirit leads my way
迈开步伐 向耶路撒冷
Let's go marching to Jerusalem
风霜雪雨 意志更坚定
Adversities never change my mind
我要传扬 传扬主的名
I will proclaim the name of Jesus
誓要得胜在神的国度里
I want to win the war for God's Kingdom
我带着使命向前走
With mission in mind I march on
要唤醒沉睡的中国
to wake up China from the sleep
纵然流血的时候
Though I have to shed my blood
我也永远不回头
I will never turn back
我带着异象向前走
With vision in mind I march on
要看到宣教的中国
to see my China for mission
将福音传遍世界每个角落
and Gospel be spread to the end of the world
