Recently, I came across the accounts of two sisters from the Generation X cohort. The elder sister, aged 71, and the younger (third) sister, aged 67, shared their testimonies of faith, which unfold as follows.
(I) The elder sister guided her younger sister in overcoming her gambling addiction.
The younger sister had previously struggled with a gambling addiction and frequently engaged in playing Mahjong. As the saying goes, "Nine out of ten bets result in loss." Every time she lost money, she would unleash her temper upon her husband. Due to her persistent gambling habits, their family never achieved financial prosperity.
However, since her conversion to Christianity, she has undergone a remarkable transformation. Initially, she was somewhat hesitant to attend church, questioning how the church and its members could accept her, given her status as a complete sinner.
One day, during a church visit, she heard a hymn that spoke of God's acceptance of sinners, and she couldn't help but shed tears. She thought, "Oh, it turns out that God would accept a sinner like me and love me." From that point forward, she began to believe in Jesus and gradually broke free from her gambling addiction.
(II) Her husband found solace in the Lord amidst the pain of the younger sister's mother's passing.
Over time, the younger sister recognized the value of her faith and began sharing the gospel with her husband. Initially, he showed no interest in Christianity and preferred studying the I Ching.
However, when her mother passed away, she experienced profound grief. In a compassionate gesture, her husband willingly accompanied her to church, seeking to provide comfort.
In this manner, her husband gradually encountered her faith and ultimately embraced Christianity. As a result, the younger sister gradually emerged from the anguish of losing her mother.
(III) The elder sister's husband unexpectedly found faith and peacefully passed away from terminal cancer.
The elder sister's husband was known for his filial piety towards his parents, his care for his siblings, and his exceptional work ethic. When the sisters shared the gospel with him, he consistently maintained that he did not require it, as he never felt remorse towards anyone.
Later, he fell gravely ill with terminal cancer. Nevertheless, he remained fearless and composed, meticulously organizing his funeral arrangements. Although the sisters fervently preached the gospel to him, he continued to resist it.
One day, as he lay in his room, bidding farewell to his wife and younger sister who stood outside, he suddenly glimpsed a figure clad in white standing by his bedside. Recognizing this figure as the Lord Jesus, he promptly arose from his bed and knelt down in reverence. When his wife and younger sister opened the door, they were astonished to find him in a kneeling position, unaware of what had transpired. However, upon hearing his account, they promptly inquired, "Would you like to be baptized?"
Consequently, he embraced Jesus, became a Christian, and before long, peacefully departed to join the Lord.
(IV) The elder sister experienced a miraculous improvement upon returning home after failed treatment for advanced cancer.
In March of this year, the elder sister fell seriously ill, diagnosed with terminal cancer. During her hospital stay, she frequently slipped into a state of unconsciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she tirelessly fulfilled her choir responsibilities or attended to funeral arrangements. During severe episodes of her illness, she would endure convulsions throughout her body, leading her younger sister to believe that her time was limited.
After enduring hospitalization for approximately one month, the elder sister persistently expressed her intent to return home, despite the medical practitioner's diminished optimism for her recovery. Consequently, the younger sister undertook the responsibility of bringing her sibling back home.
On the initial day following her homecoming, the elder sister remained bedridden, still comatose and reliant on supplemental oxygen. However, by the subsequent day, she exhibited the capability to assume a seated position, and on the third day, she regained the ability to partake in nourishment independently while seated in a wheelchair. On the fourth day, she was accompanied outdoors for a leisurely stroll by her younger sister. Over the ensuing days, her progress encompassed gradual unassisted mobility and the restoration of consciousness.
The younger sister bore witness to the palpable divine influence upon her elder sister's recovery, perceiving the omnipotent power of God at work.
As the elder sister experienced this illness and accepted the death that she might face, she shared with her fellow choir members that death should not be feared, as it is an inevitable facet of existence that all must confront. Moreover, she emphasized that for Christians, death does not signify an end; rather, it signifies the yearning to behold the countenance of the Lord and rest in his arms.
- Translated by Oliver Zuo
最近,一个偶然的机会,笔者听到了70岁左右的的老姊妹先后的信仰故事。她们是亲姊妹。一位是大姐,71岁,一位是三妹,67岁,她们两位分享自己的信仰见证。
(一)大姐带嗜赌的三妹摆脱赌瘾
大姐是家族里面第一个接触信仰的。她首先加入了一个教堂的合唱团,在里面开始接触信仰。随后,她也把福音带给了她的三妹。
三妹原本是一个非常好赌的人,经常聚众打麻将。有一句话说的好“十赌九输”。每次她输钱了,都会和自己的丈夫发脾气。因为总是赌钱,因此家里也不富裕。
但是自从成了基督徒以后,她就改变了很多。起初,她也并不是很想去教会。她觉得自己是一个彻头彻尾的罪人,如何能得到教会和信徒的接纳呢?
有一次去教堂,她听到了一首诗歌,唱的就是神接纳罪人。当时,三妹就哭得不能自已。她想:“哦,原来我这样的罪人,神是接纳的,神也是爱我的。”从那以后,邓三妹就开始信耶稣。慢慢戒掉了赌博的习惯。
(二)三妹夫信主安慰妻子从母亲去世的痛苦走出来
三妹逐渐地体会到了信仰的美好,就开始给自己的丈夫分享福音。起初,丈夫不仅没有信仰,反而很喜欢研究易经八卦。
后来,三妹的母亲去世了,她非常痛苦。丈夫为了帮助邓三妹,主动陪她去教会。
这样,三妹的丈夫就开始接触信仰,并最终成为了一名基督徒。邓三妹逐渐地从失去母亲的痛苦中走了出来。
(三)大姐夫癌症晚期离世前奇妙信主并平安离世
大姐的丈夫孝顺父母、关爱弟妹,工作中也非常优秀。当妻子和三妹给他分享福音的时候,他总是说自己不需要信仰,因为觉得自己从来没有对不起任何一个人。
后来,大姐夫生病了,是癌症晚期。不过他自己并没有很害怕和不安,而是有条不紊地安排自己的后事。三妹他们也更加积极地向他见证福音,但是他仍然不愿意接受。
有一次,他自己在房间里面躺着,就看到妻子和三妹两个人向她挥手,并离开他,渐渐远走,直到他看不见为止。突然,他看到旁边有一个穿着洁白衣裳的男子站立在床头。他认出这应该是主耶稣,于是他就赶忙从床上爬起来并跪在床上跪拜。妻子和三妹开门看到他跪下,都很吃惊,因为不知道发生了什么事情。但是当听说他看到了这样神奇的异象,就立马问他说:“你要受洗吗?”
就这样,邓姊妹的丈夫也接受了耶稣,成为了基督徒,不久便离世归主。
(四)大姐癌症晚期医治无效回家后奇迹般好转
大姐今年3月份开始发病了,她也是癌症晚期。在医院,她常常是昏迷的状态,清醒了要不就是在交接诗班的工作,要不就是在交代后事。发病严重的时候,她还会浑身抽搐。三妹一度以为她是挺不过来了。
住院了一个月左右,大姐一直说要回家,医生也觉得没有什么好的希望。于是,三妹就把大姐接回了家。
刚回家的第一天,大姐还是卧床昏迷的状态,还需要吸氧。可是到第二天的时候,她就可以坐起来了。第三天她就能坐着轮椅自己吃饭了,第四天三妹就推着她出去遛弯了。到后面几天她逐渐可以自己走路,也恢复了意识。
三妹见证说,她在大姐身体的恢复中感受到神的大能。
而大姐经历了这次的病痛,接受了可能会面对的死亡。她向诗班的弟兄姐妹们分享,死亡没有什么可怕的,是每个人都要面对的。更何况基督徒的死亡并不是结束,而是去见主,在他的怀抱里安息。
两位七旬亲姊妹:逃脱毒瘾和癌症的辖制
Recently, I came across the accounts of two sisters from the Generation X cohort. The elder sister, aged 71, and the younger (third) sister, aged 67, shared their testimonies of faith, which unfold as follows.
(I) The elder sister guided her younger sister in overcoming her gambling addiction.
The younger sister had previously struggled with a gambling addiction and frequently engaged in playing Mahjong. As the saying goes, "Nine out of ten bets result in loss." Every time she lost money, she would unleash her temper upon her husband. Due to her persistent gambling habits, their family never achieved financial prosperity.
However, since her conversion to Christianity, she has undergone a remarkable transformation. Initially, she was somewhat hesitant to attend church, questioning how the church and its members could accept her, given her status as a complete sinner.
One day, during a church visit, she heard a hymn that spoke of God's acceptance of sinners, and she couldn't help but shed tears. She thought, "Oh, it turns out that God would accept a sinner like me and love me." From that point forward, she began to believe in Jesus and gradually broke free from her gambling addiction.
(II) Her husband found solace in the Lord amidst the pain of the younger sister's mother's passing.
Over time, the younger sister recognized the value of her faith and began sharing the gospel with her husband. Initially, he showed no interest in Christianity and preferred studying the I Ching.
However, when her mother passed away, she experienced profound grief. In a compassionate gesture, her husband willingly accompanied her to church, seeking to provide comfort.
In this manner, her husband gradually encountered her faith and ultimately embraced Christianity. As a result, the younger sister gradually emerged from the anguish of losing her mother.
(III) The elder sister's husband unexpectedly found faith and peacefully passed away from terminal cancer.
The elder sister's husband was known for his filial piety towards his parents, his care for his siblings, and his exceptional work ethic. When the sisters shared the gospel with him, he consistently maintained that he did not require it, as he never felt remorse towards anyone.
Later, he fell gravely ill with terminal cancer. Nevertheless, he remained fearless and composed, meticulously organizing his funeral arrangements. Although the sisters fervently preached the gospel to him, he continued to resist it.
One day, as he lay in his room, bidding farewell to his wife and younger sister who stood outside, he suddenly glimpsed a figure clad in white standing by his bedside. Recognizing this figure as the Lord Jesus, he promptly arose from his bed and knelt down in reverence. When his wife and younger sister opened the door, they were astonished to find him in a kneeling position, unaware of what had transpired. However, upon hearing his account, they promptly inquired, "Would you like to be baptized?"
Consequently, he embraced Jesus, became a Christian, and before long, peacefully departed to join the Lord.
(IV) The elder sister experienced a miraculous improvement upon returning home after failed treatment for advanced cancer.
In March of this year, the elder sister fell seriously ill, diagnosed with terminal cancer. During her hospital stay, she frequently slipped into a state of unconsciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she tirelessly fulfilled her choir responsibilities or attended to funeral arrangements. During severe episodes of her illness, she would endure convulsions throughout her body, leading her younger sister to believe that her time was limited.
After enduring hospitalization for approximately one month, the elder sister persistently expressed her intent to return home, despite the medical practitioner's diminished optimism for her recovery. Consequently, the younger sister undertook the responsibility of bringing her sibling back home.
On the initial day following her homecoming, the elder sister remained bedridden, still comatose and reliant on supplemental oxygen. However, by the subsequent day, she exhibited the capability to assume a seated position, and on the third day, she regained the ability to partake in nourishment independently while seated in a wheelchair. On the fourth day, she was accompanied outdoors for a leisurely stroll by her younger sister. Over the ensuing days, her progress encompassed gradual unassisted mobility and the restoration of consciousness.
The younger sister bore witness to the palpable divine influence upon her elder sister's recovery, perceiving the omnipotent power of God at work.
As the elder sister experienced this illness and accepted the death that she might face, she shared with her fellow choir members that death should not be feared, as it is an inevitable facet of existence that all must confront. Moreover, she emphasized that for Christians, death does not signify an end; rather, it signifies the yearning to behold the countenance of the Lord and rest in his arms.
- Translated by Oliver Zuo
Two Gen X Sisters Escape From Gambling Addiction, Cancer