God loves the world. Each of us is chosen by God, and we all have different experiences and stories behind our faith in God. Here are 40 stories and experiences behind people's faiths that I have heard and seen. Maybe the story behind your faith might be here.
While part 1 contains the stories of six Christians, part 2 concerns five believers who encountered God in their hard times, part 3 tells four stories of people who believed in the Lord as a result of love and family influence, part 4 recounts five testimonies of ordinary people, part 5 shares five testimonies, part 6 depicts the life transformation of six Christians and their persistence on faith or ministry, the seventh episole unveils the stories of six pastors.
Some of them encouraged others to tithe, gave out Bibles, left the business world only to be a senior pastor at a church, and some were devoted to constructing the church, and also a woman, after being healed by the Lord, became a Christian and has persisted in attending Sunday services ever since.
34. The boss who chooses to be a pastor
He was an astute entrepreneur who achieved great success, owning a catering company, a foreign processing trade factory, a real estate company, and a garment factory. Being a devoted Christian, he attributed his accomplishments to the watchful eye of God over his business.
However, at the peak of his life and career, he made a resolute decision to relinquish his business ventures and dedicate himself as a full-time volunteer in the church. Subsequently, he pursued theological studies. During that period, his family and those in his circle struggled to comprehend his choice, but he placed his faith in God, entrusting his business affairs to his family.
Upon completing his seminary education, he returned to his hometown church as a volunteer pastoral staff member. Over the years, he ascended to the role of pastor and eventually became the senior pastor of that congregation.
Throughout his volunteer service as a pastor, he has received support from his family. Although he does not draw a salary from the church, he remains steadfast in his commitment to tithing. Whenever the church faces financial challenges, he does everything within his means to support it. During annual festivities, he graciously covers the costs of gifts and meals, and he extends his aid to other churches in need of financial assistance, particularly in building churches.
35. The pastor who chooses to forgive
This brother, who is advancing in years, has already served for more than 30 years as the head pastor of a rural church.
As the congregation continued to grow, their existing chapel proved insufficient to accommodate everyone, leading the church to embark on the construction of a larger chapel. Over several months, the pastor diligently coordinated and negotiated with various government departments. However, despite his earnest efforts, some church members disapproved and subjected him to various forms of criticism. Yet, the pastor chose not to defend himself and steadfastly guided the staff throughout the project. Once the three-level church building was completed, all criticisms and complaints vanished.
A problematic member once served on the church staff team. Despite the pastor's numerous attempts to provide guidance based on biblical teachings, she adamantly rejected his counsel. Eventually, matters escalated to the point where the woman's husband threatened the pastor's life and was subsequently apprehended by the police, brandishing a knife at the pastor's residence.
Nevertheless, the pastor decided to forgive them, appealing to the authorities for the couple's release. Consequently, the couple were exempted from all charges and penalties after submitting a repentance statement and a warranty. Following a period of deep introspection, the couple acknowledged their mistakes and repented before God. Since then, such incidents have ceased to occur.
36. Blessed are those who tithe
Although she had come to Christ and been baptized since she was in high school, she did not attend church regularly during her time at university. However, after graduating from university, she continued her studies in the seminary, and upon graduation, she began working as a full-time pastor in the church. Ever since she received her first paycheck, she has insisted on tithing.
She believes that her salary is a gift from God, and giving a tenth of it is not much. So, in the eight years she served in a church for the low-income community after graduating, her monthly tithe always exceeded ten percent of her salary. She even asks her husband, who is also a Christian, to give his tithe. At first, her husband felt that he did not earn much every day, let alone tithing, but she insisted on the issue. Miraculously, her husband got a pay raise the following month after he started tithing.
Therefore, she always encourages believers with her own story when she preaches about tithing, and she has already motivated the staff in her church to engage in tithing.
37. The generous Bible giver
More than 30 years ago, she accepted the Lord as her savior when she was 19. She volunteered at the church and served in two fellowship groups.
Over three decades ago, at the age of 19, she embraced the Lord as her savior. Devoting herself to volunteering at the church, she actively served in two fellowship groups.
Witnessing the scarcity of Bibles and the limited understanding of the Christian faith in remote mountainous churches, she embarked on a mission with her elderly father to distribute Bibles and spread the gospe. Using their bicycles as a means of transportation, they traversed a challenging 100-mile mountain trail. In certain sections where the terrain was rugged and rocky, they had to walk, pushing substantial stacks of Bibles on their bicycles to reach designated meeting points. During the winter months, snow and ice made the roads slippery, yet they persevered. Each time they stumbled and fell, they would promptly pick themselves up, gather the fallen Bibles, and continue their journey.
Today, she dispatches Bibles by mail to believers and seekers in other places who are in need, purchases large print Bibles for elderly believers, distributes Chinese-English bilingual Bibles to followers who will leave China for other countries, presents Christian couples with Bibles adorned in auspicious red covers, and provides pocket-size Bibles to young believers for convenient portability. She personally procures these Bibles at her own expense and stores them both at her residence and office, ensuring their availability for distribution at any given moment.
38. Escaping death by the grace of God
A senior sister shares a testimony about her husband, who has undergone multiple surgeries from the chest downwards, leaving behind scars that form a significant cross. She bears witness that were it not for God's healing touch, her husband would have faced death on multiple occasions.
Around two decades ago, her husband was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, heart disease, and cholecystitis in rapid succession, necessitating hospitalization. During his hospital stay, the doctor declared him to be in a critical condition on four separate occasions. At that critical juncture, the wife recollected her elder sister's persistent attempts to share the gospel with them and implored her sister to pray to her God for healing. Subsequently, her elder sister, accompanied by several other believers, visited the hospital ward and prayed for his healing. They also prayed earnestly at the church and various meeting places.
Miraculously, after undergoing surgeries and treatments, the brother was restored to life. This close brush with mortality compelled the sister to embrace Christ, undergo baptism, and join her elder sister in attending church. Although the brother suffered some cognitive impairment due to cerebral palsy, he retained the ability to care for himself.
Several years later, on a Sunday morning as the sister prepared to leave for church, her husband, despite his difficulty in speaking clearly, tearfully expressed his desire to accompany her. Since then, the couple has made it a weekly routine to travel to church by taxi. In due course, the brother also made the decision to embrace Christ and was baptized. Remarkably, he is much healthier than before.
39. The life-long offering of a hundred-year-old elder
This elder, born in 1921, studied at a Christian school when she was young and began working in education upon graduation.
Upon retiring at the age of 57, she received a divine calling to engage in evangelistic endeavors. Despite her fragile health and advanced age, she took charge of the renovation work in three church expansion projects, leading groups of church members in the necessary construction tasks. By the time the church was rebuilt for the third time, the elder had reached the remarkable age of 93. Throughout the building project, the elder persevered despite enduring excruciating pain, and her dedication garnered immense admiration from both the villagers and fellow believers.
Although she only received a modest portion of her pension and did not receive any remuneration or subsidies from the church, over the past four decades, she willingly offered her resources and frequently extended financial assistance to needy students and church staff. Even at the remarkable age of 98, she could still express herself clearly and share God's message on stage, supplemented with her own testimony stories.
40. The woman whose son led her to pastoral ministry
This elderly sister is now 80 years old. However, years ago, she was so ill that she was at death's door. However, years ago, her second son, a university student and a devoted Christian, endeavored to share the gospel with her. He conveyed that the elderly members of the church were not only healthy but also filled with unending joy. If she went to church, God might bring her comfort and healing. Intrigued by his words, she accompanied her son to the church. Eventually, she came to Christ and received baptism in 1991.
Upon embracing Christianity, this sister became fervent in sharing the gospel with others. Given the absence of a church in her own village at the time, she assumed the role of the bellwether and established a home-based gathering.
When the activity point was founded, not only believers from nearby villages but also those who lived further away came to join the church services. The congregation swiftly grew to encompass over 300 individuals, prompting the local CC&TSPM to assign pastors to deliver sermons. Later, to accommodate a growing congregation, a new chapel was needed; hence, the sister, alongside her fellow workers, devoted themselves to persistent prayer and engaged in extensive discussions with various government departments. Presently, their village boasts a church spanning approximately 2,000 square meters, with the primary structure encompassing over 300 square meters. Acknowledging her advanced age, the sister has entrusted the continuation of the church's work to younger pastors, passing on the baton to ensure its ongoing progress.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Joyce Leung
这儿有6个传道人的故事，他们投身建堂，带头做十一奉献，送圣经，从商界退出成为主任牧师。另外一个信徒是因病得到医治而信主坚持参加主日礼拜。
三十四、不当老板做传道人
他是一个比较成功的老板，有自己的餐饮公司、外贸加工工厂、房地产公司、服装厂。同时他作为基督徒，坚信自己生意做得这么好，也是神的看顾和保守。
在他人生和事业正在处于顶峰的时候，他选择了放弃自己的企业，去做教会的专职义工服侍。后面，他又选择了去读神学。当时家里人和身边的人都不理解，他却把一切都交托给神，把企业交给他们管理。
神学毕业以后，他又回到家乡的教会，还是做义工的传道人。多年后，他成为了教会的牧师，最后成为主任牧师。
这么多年来，在他家人的支持下，他继续做教会的义工专职牧师。他没有从教会拿工资，但是十一奉献一点不减少。教会如果需要钱了，他会给教会奉献。甚至是教会每年的重大节期的礼品、食品他都来出资奉献。对于其他教会在建堂等方面的困难，他也会出手相助。
三十五、宽容饶恕的传道人
老弟兄是一间乡镇教会的传道人和负责人，在教会服侍了30多年。
由于教会信徒的增加，原有的小教堂不适应了。于是就决定建筑新的教堂扩大面积。老弟兄几个月奔跑于政府各个部门，但是还有人反对、论断和指责他。他却不为自己辩解，继续带领同工建新堂。后面三层的新教堂建成后，那些论断和攻击的声音也没有了。
老弟兄曾经用圣经里的话多次规劝一位作风有问题的教会，却受到了对方的坚决反对和反抗，甚至男方还拿着刀到老弟兄家里，说要杀害老弟兄。于是警方把这两个人给拘留了。
但是，老弟兄选择饶恕他们，告诉警方释放他们。这两个人写了悔过书和保证书之后，免除了刑事和治安的处罚。过了一段，他们也深深的反省自己，在神的面前认罪悔改，再也没有出现类似的情况。
三十六、坚持十一奉献的传道人夫妻
她读高中的时候，就受洗归主了，中间因为读大学聚会的机会减少了。大学毕业以后她去读神学，毕业到教会做专职的传道人以后，她有了工资。从那时候起，就坚持十一奉献。
她认为自己的工价本来就是神给的，拿出十分之一并不多。所以从神学院毕业，在基层教会8年，她每个月的十一奉献往都超过工资的10%。不仅如此，她还让信主的丈夫也要十一奉献。开始丈夫认为自己每天赚的钱不多，但是她坚持让丈夫做十一奉献。竟然，她丈夫在十一奉献的第2个月工资居然涨了。
她在讲道的时候以自己的亲身见证劝勉信徒们要十一奉献，也带动了教会的同工们做十一奉献。
三十七、免费赠送圣经的传道人
三十多年前，她19岁的时候就信了主，在教会做义工，而且是在两个团契服侍。
那一年，她看到边远山区的教会和聚会点“缺教少经”的状况后，就发动老父亲和她一起骑着自行车去传道、送圣经。百余里的山路有的路段不好走，他们父女俩就推着自行车，后面驮着厚厚的一摞圣经步行到各个聚会点去。即便冬天是在冰雪路面上走，容易滑倒，但是他们不气馁。扶正自行车，绑好圣经继续前行。
她会通过邮寄的方式给外地有需要圣经的慕道友和信徒送去圣经。她给老年信徒买大字体圣经；给出国谋生的信徒送中英文对照的圣经；给结婚的信徒送那种红色封面、带有喜庆的圣经；给青年信徒送便于携带的64K小本圣经。她的家里、办公室常年备有一摞摞的圣经，都是她自费购买准备随时送出去的。
三十八、出死入生的老弟兄
一个老姐妹见证说，她老伴是一个死过几次的人，是主医治了他。他曾经从胸部以下多次手术，手术过的刀口甚至形成一个大大的十字形。
二十年前，老弟兄突然得了脑瘫、心脏病、胆囊炎等疾病住院。医生四次下了病危书。这时候，他的妻子想起来了姐姐曾多次给他们传福音，让她求她的上帝来医治他。姐姐带着信徒，来到病房为他祷告，在教会和聚会点里也恒切祷告。
经过手术和治疗，老弟兄从死亡中死而复生。通过这场生死劫以后，老姊妹跟着姐姐到教堂，受洗归主。老弟兄因为脑瘫智力不健全，但是依然还能生活自理。
若干年以后有一天主日，老姊妹背起包要去教堂，这时候说话口齿不清的老弟兄也喊着说也要跟她一起去教堂。从那以后每个主日，她都和老弟兄往返打车去教堂。后来老弟兄，也受洗归主，现在身体比以前更加健壮。
三十九、百岁长老奉献一生
长老出生于1921年，她自幼在教会学校学习，之后从事教育工作。
57岁退休以后，她开始传福音。当教堂需要翻修、扩建的时候，她不顾年迈体弱，率领弟兄姊妹们三次建教堂。尤其是第三次建堂的时候，长老已经93岁了。建堂期间，长老的一位孩子不幸因车祸遇难，她在极度悲痛中继续坚持做工，赢得信徒和乡亲们的赞扬。
四十多年来，她多次拿出自己有限的退休金资助困难的学子、教会的同工和奉献，但是她从未领过教会任何工资和补助。老人家98岁的时候还能上台为主证道，用神学与见证结合。语言流利。
四十、儿子传福音，老妈信主成为传道人
老姊妹今年80岁了。当年，她的身体因疾病折磨，几乎死去。在大学读书的二儿子已经信主，给她传福音，说教会年老的信徒都非常喜乐健康，去教堂的话神会安慰和医治她。于是，她就跟着儿子到了教堂，1991年就受洗归主了。
老姊妹信主以后，热心传福音。当时她所在的村里没有教堂，她就在家里组织起家庭活动点，成为“头羊”。
活动点建立起来后，前来聚会的信徒辐射到附近的几个村子，甚至是其他地区的信徒，人数迅速发展到了300多人。当地两会也派了传道人来讲道。后来为了满足信仰的需要，她和同工们开始恒切祷告，到政府各个部门，为建立教堂奔跑。现在，他们的乡村教堂占地约2,000平方米，主堂建筑面积300多平方米。老姊妹也因年事已高，把教堂的圣工交给了年轻的传道人。
（全文完）
（本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。）
信仰背后的40个故事（七）
God loves the world. Each of us is chosen by God, and we all have different experiences and stories behind our faith in God. Here are 40 stories and experiences behind people's faiths that I have heard and seen. Maybe the story behind your faith might be here.
While part 1 contains the stories of six Christians, part 2 concerns five believers who encountered God in their hard times, part 3 tells four stories of people who believed in the Lord as a result of love and family influence, part 4 recounts five testimonies of ordinary people, part 5 shares five testimonies, part 6 depicts the life transformation of six Christians and their persistence on faith or ministry, the seventh episole unveils the stories of six pastors.
Some of them encouraged others to tithe, gave out Bibles, left the business world only to be a senior pastor at a church, and some were devoted to constructing the church, and also a woman, after being healed by the Lord, became a Christian and has persisted in attending Sunday services ever since.
34. The boss who chooses to be a pastor
He was an astute entrepreneur who achieved great success, owning a catering company, a foreign processing trade factory, a real estate company, and a garment factory. Being a devoted Christian, he attributed his accomplishments to the watchful eye of God over his business.
However, at the peak of his life and career, he made a resolute decision to relinquish his business ventures and dedicate himself as a full-time volunteer in the church. Subsequently, he pursued theological studies. During that period, his family and those in his circle struggled to comprehend his choice, but he placed his faith in God, entrusting his business affairs to his family.
Upon completing his seminary education, he returned to his hometown church as a volunteer pastoral staff member. Over the years, he ascended to the role of pastor and eventually became the senior pastor of that congregation.
Throughout his volunteer service as a pastor, he has received support from his family. Although he does not draw a salary from the church, he remains steadfast in his commitment to tithing. Whenever the church faces financial challenges, he does everything within his means to support it. During annual festivities, he graciously covers the costs of gifts and meals, and he extends his aid to other churches in need of financial assistance, particularly in building churches.
35. The pastor who chooses to forgive
This brother, who is advancing in years, has already served for more than 30 years as the head pastor of a rural church.
As the congregation continued to grow, their existing chapel proved insufficient to accommodate everyone, leading the church to embark on the construction of a larger chapel. Over several months, the pastor diligently coordinated and negotiated with various government departments. However, despite his earnest efforts, some church members disapproved and subjected him to various forms of criticism. Yet, the pastor chose not to defend himself and steadfastly guided the staff throughout the project. Once the three-level church building was completed, all criticisms and complaints vanished.
A problematic member once served on the church staff team. Despite the pastor's numerous attempts to provide guidance based on biblical teachings, she adamantly rejected his counsel. Eventually, matters escalated to the point where the woman's husband threatened the pastor's life and was subsequently apprehended by the police, brandishing a knife at the pastor's residence.
Nevertheless, the pastor decided to forgive them, appealing to the authorities for the couple's release. Consequently, the couple were exempted from all charges and penalties after submitting a repentance statement and a warranty. Following a period of deep introspection, the couple acknowledged their mistakes and repented before God. Since then, such incidents have ceased to occur.
36. Blessed are those who tithe
Although she had come to Christ and been baptized since she was in high school, she did not attend church regularly during her time at university. However, after graduating from university, she continued her studies in the seminary, and upon graduation, she began working as a full-time pastor in the church. Ever since she received her first paycheck, she has insisted on tithing.
She believes that her salary is a gift from God, and giving a tenth of it is not much. So, in the eight years she served in a church for the low-income community after graduating, her monthly tithe always exceeded ten percent of her salary. She even asks her husband, who is also a Christian, to give his tithe. At first, her husband felt that he did not earn much every day, let alone tithing, but she insisted on the issue. Miraculously, her husband got a pay raise the following month after he started tithing.
Therefore, she always encourages believers with her own story when she preaches about tithing, and she has already motivated the staff in her church to engage in tithing.
37. The generous Bible giver
More than 30 years ago, she accepted the Lord as her savior when she was 19. She volunteered at the church and served in two fellowship groups.
Over three decades ago, at the age of 19, she embraced the Lord as her savior. Devoting herself to volunteering at the church, she actively served in two fellowship groups.
Witnessing the scarcity of Bibles and the limited understanding of the Christian faith in remote mountainous churches, she embarked on a mission with her elderly father to distribute Bibles and spread the gospe. Using their bicycles as a means of transportation, they traversed a challenging 100-mile mountain trail. In certain sections where the terrain was rugged and rocky, they had to walk, pushing substantial stacks of Bibles on their bicycles to reach designated meeting points. During the winter months, snow and ice made the roads slippery, yet they persevered. Each time they stumbled and fell, they would promptly pick themselves up, gather the fallen Bibles, and continue their journey.
Today, she dispatches Bibles by mail to believers and seekers in other places who are in need, purchases large print Bibles for elderly believers, distributes Chinese-English bilingual Bibles to followers who will leave China for other countries, presents Christian couples with Bibles adorned in auspicious red covers, and provides pocket-size Bibles to young believers for convenient portability. She personally procures these Bibles at her own expense and stores them both at her residence and office, ensuring their availability for distribution at any given moment.
38. Escaping death by the grace of God
A senior sister shares a testimony about her husband, who has undergone multiple surgeries from the chest downwards, leaving behind scars that form a significant cross. She bears witness that were it not for God's healing touch, her husband would have faced death on multiple occasions.
Around two decades ago, her husband was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, heart disease, and cholecystitis in rapid succession, necessitating hospitalization. During his hospital stay, the doctor declared him to be in a critical condition on four separate occasions. At that critical juncture, the wife recollected her elder sister's persistent attempts to share the gospel with them and implored her sister to pray to her God for healing. Subsequently, her elder sister, accompanied by several other believers, visited the hospital ward and prayed for his healing. They also prayed earnestly at the church and various meeting places.
Miraculously, after undergoing surgeries and treatments, the brother was restored to life. This close brush with mortality compelled the sister to embrace Christ, undergo baptism, and join her elder sister in attending church. Although the brother suffered some cognitive impairment due to cerebral palsy, he retained the ability to care for himself.
Several years later, on a Sunday morning as the sister prepared to leave for church, her husband, despite his difficulty in speaking clearly, tearfully expressed his desire to accompany her. Since then, the couple has made it a weekly routine to travel to church by taxi. In due course, the brother also made the decision to embrace Christ and was baptized. Remarkably, he is much healthier than before.
39. The life-long offering of a hundred-year-old elder
This elder, born in 1921, studied at a Christian school when she was young and began working in education upon graduation.
Upon retiring at the age of 57, she received a divine calling to engage in evangelistic endeavors. Despite her fragile health and advanced age, she took charge of the renovation work in three church expansion projects, leading groups of church members in the necessary construction tasks. By the time the church was rebuilt for the third time, the elder had reached the remarkable age of 93. Throughout the building project, the elder persevered despite enduring excruciating pain, and her dedication garnered immense admiration from both the villagers and fellow believers.
Although she only received a modest portion of her pension and did not receive any remuneration or subsidies from the church, over the past four decades, she willingly offered her resources and frequently extended financial assistance to needy students and church staff. Even at the remarkable age of 98, she could still express herself clearly and share God's message on stage, supplemented with her own testimony stories.
40. The woman whose son led her to pastoral ministry
This elderly sister is now 80 years old. However, years ago, she was so ill that she was at death's door. However, years ago, her second son, a university student and a devoted Christian, endeavored to share the gospel with her. He conveyed that the elderly members of the church were not only healthy but also filled with unending joy. If she went to church, God might bring her comfort and healing. Intrigued by his words, she accompanied her son to the church. Eventually, she came to Christ and received baptism in 1991.
Upon embracing Christianity, this sister became fervent in sharing the gospel with others. Given the absence of a church in her own village at the time, she assumed the role of the bellwether and established a home-based gathering.
When the activity point was founded, not only believers from nearby villages but also those who lived further away came to join the church services. The congregation swiftly grew to encompass over 300 individuals, prompting the local CC&TSPM to assign pastors to deliver sermons. Later, to accommodate a growing congregation, a new chapel was needed; hence, the sister, alongside her fellow workers, devoted themselves to persistent prayer and engaged in extensive discussions with various government departments. Presently, their village boasts a church spanning approximately 2,000 square meters, with the primary structure encompassing over 300 square meters. Acknowledging her advanced age, the sister has entrusted the continuation of the church's work to younger pastors, passing on the baton to ensure its ongoing progress.
(The article is originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Joyce Leung
40 Christian Faith Stories (Part 7)
