Gifted in worship and praise, a Christian man named John was once a TV host, often interacting with celebrities. Despite his sunny and cheerful demeanor, he experienced triple blows to his body, career, and service.
From a Buddhist to a Christian
Before becoming a Christian, John was a devout Buddhist. His mother was diagnosed with menopause syndrome and had severe suicidal tendencies, ending her life by jumping into a river.
Later, John moved to another city to pursue his career. In each new city, he would seek out a powerful fortune-teller to predict his future, and these fortune-tellers could even describe what his mother was wearing when she died. Over time, he gradually began to believe in Buddhism. As a Buddhist, John developed the ability to foresee others' futures. However, he later confessed, "I never found peace during my time as a Buddhist."
After moving to another city for work, he met another male believer named Han, who shared the gospel with him. Initially, the two young men debated for a day and a night, with neither convincing the other. John believed that, having already embraced Buddhism, he could not betray his faith by converting to Christianity.
Not long after, John represented his school in an important competition and won the championship, but was subsequently dismissed by the school. Han took him to a square and sang "The Sun Above the Clouds" to him. He then brought John to a church, where John, listening to "Amazing Grace," couldn't help but shed tears.
One day, John had a rare opportunity to meet a prominent businessman. He and Han agreed that if John's meeting with the businessman exceeded his expectations, he would believe in Jesus. The meeting went exceptionally well, and John later removed all the Buddhist statues from his home.
The "Undying Cancer" - Ankylosing Spondylitis
John once suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, known as the "undying cancer." Fearing that medication would affect his reproductive system, he refused to take drugs. Ultimately, his illness was healed through fasting and prayer with fellow believers.
During the first relapse, the church asked him to play the role of Jesus. On the day of the performance, he felt no pain and performed like a normal person; however, the pain returned after the performance. Later, he went to Jerusalem with faith, and his ankylosing spondylitis indeed returned to normal.
Double Blows to Career and Service
While sick, he also faced double blows in his career and service. "All my sources of income were cut off." During his illness, the company he was contracted with suddenly terminated the contract. Additionally, his investment in stocks also went down the drain.
John was also involved in worship ministry. Once, he found the on-site worship and praise were not going well, so he asked for a microphone. However, just a few sentences into leading, he found that his microphone had no sound. Later, he realized that someone had turned off his microphone.
Healing - A Key Relationship with God
Amid all the adversities John experienced, God gave him a new calling – healing. He emphasized that a healer needs not only prophetic gifts but also wisdom, empathy, and life experience. He mentioned that immediate healing at the site of healing sessions is rare; healing often occurs a few days later through faith. Secondly, healing is not about changing a person but restoring and helping them find their true self, as initially created by God. He honestly said that he once could not understand God at all, because not only did God take away his finances and health, but he was also ostracized in his service at the church.
"The Best Way to Deal with Sin – Fall in Love with Jesus"
He also shared the story of a lesbian girl who was freed from sin. One day, after her girlfriend left, she turned and began to feel deeply guilty. She saw Jesus standing behind her, embracing her, and saying, "Child, I love you. Can you promise me not to do this again? My love can fully satisfy you." Since then, she never sinned again.
"All changes from sin within us don't depend on how much Bible you read or how much you pray. These are certainly necessary, but the most important thing is to fall in love with Jesus. Only by falling in love with Jesus can we completely break free from sin." This was what Han told John during his struggles.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
