In the Liaozhong District of Shenyang, there is a pastor who is well-known for his charitable work. Pastor Ren Chuanyu is the proud father of 87 children and is actively involved in charitable efforts throughout China. Despite his slender build, Ren is incredibly friendly and approachable. His face lit up with joy as he shared his story of becoming the father of so many children.
“I always make sure to hold an umbrella for others, because I know what it is like to get caught in the rain myself.” Following God’s calling and guidance, Ren dedicates himself to serving the community and helping those in need. With the love of God, he and his wife care for children who have lost their parents for various reasons and are dealing with different levels of trauma, giving them a safe and loving home.
1. The Heart that Longs for a Breakthrough
Ren was born in the 1960s in the mountainous area of Gaizhou City in Yingkou, Liaoning. He grew up in a large, impoverished family with many siblings. His parents struggled with poor health, and his father had to undergo three operations due to illness. Thanks to the support of kind-hearted individuals in the community, his father’s life was saved, and their family was able to overcome their hardships.
“I cannot even begin to describe the tough times my family went through back then. But I will never forget the words my parents told me when I was young: ‘Son, always remember the people who helped us. When you grow up, make sure to lend a hand to those in need. Do not let anyone leave empty-handed when they ask for food. Help out those who are struggling, because your mom and dad only made it through with the support of kind-hearted people in our community.’”
Life was tough, and he faced different challenges every single day. At the age of 15, he was introduced to the gospel by his uncle and aunt, and he accepted Jesus into his life. From then on, he would retreat to the mountains to pray. Sitting alone at the mountain’s peak, he would cry out, “Lord, when will I be able to leave this mountainous region? When will I be strong enough? I pray for Your blessings so that I can repay my parents and the community that helped my family."
One day, Ren finally heard God’s response to his prayer, “I will lead you out of there, I will grant you peace and joy from heaven.” Whenever Ren faced difficulties in life, he always turned to God in prayer. Over time, he felt a newfound strength within him, believing that he could overcome the challenges of poverty and escape the mountains.
While in school, Ren worked a job and served at the church with great enthusiasm. Throughout it all, he remained committed to doing good deeds and giving back to society. He also developed a strong foundation in his faith and in the truth.
2. Fulfilment of the First Heart
In 1995, the Liaozhong District was hit hard by a terrible flood. Ren stepped up to lend a helping hand by making donations and volunteering on behalf of a local company and the Shaling Church. It was during this time that he learned the Liaozhong Church did not have a permanent location and had to meet in a rented space. Touched by the spirit of God and the warm welcome from the church members, Ren made the decision to stay and serve at the Liaoyang Church with his co-workers to carry out the work of the Lord.
The first challenge they faced was building a church. After Ren submitted numerous applications, the relevant departments finally approved their request to construct a church. The construction began in 1996, and that same year, the Northeast Theological Seminary started recruiting students. When Ren sent his church colleague, Elder Liu, to the seminary, Pastor Lu Zhibin, who was the president at the time, suggested that Ren should also study theology. He said, “You are young, why don’t you join your colleague and come study with us?” Even though classes had already started in September, they were specially admitted and joined the Seminary in October.
While Ren was studying at the seminary, he continued to oversee the construction of the church, traveling back and forth between the two locations. Finally, in September 1997, the church building was completed, with the entire project costing 750,000 yuan.
Shortly after the completion of the church building, Ren graduated from the seminary in 2000. His parents’ words resonated in his mind, sparking a desire to make a positive impact and contribute to society. After Ren got off the bus on his way home from the seminary one day, he saw a scruffy little boy searching for food by a trash can. The boy was barefoot, and his hands were red from the cold. Ren found out later that the child was an orphan who had lost his parents and was now staying with his brother.
Ren, with the support of his wife, decided to adopt the little boy. The pastor took him to the bathhouse, got him new clothes and shoes, and gave him a fresh haircut, making him look like a whole new kid. At that moment, Ren realized that he wanted to do more to help the children in need. He thought to himself, “If I am going to put in the effort to help one child, why not help more? I might as well go all in and start an orphanage.”
After working closely with multiple organizations and submitting applications to different departments, Ren was finally granted permission to establish his own orphanage. As he took in more and more orphans, he ended up renting six flats and eventually purchasing a 700-square-meter house to serve as the orphanage. These adopted children came from various towns and villages, and some became orphans because their parents were sentenced or divorced.
3. Real Dependence on God
Ren moved his detergent factory to the Liaozhong District and used the profits to support the orphanage.
“We have never sought assistance from the public or requested funds from the Civil Affairs Bureau, the Finance Bureau, or the community. We rely on God’s blessings and our determination to keep this project going,” Ren said gratefully. Even though Ren does not actively seek donations, many kind-hearted individuals still offer help to these children.
Currently, Ren is the father of 87 children. A total of 27 of them are pursuing higher education at universities, nine have enlisted in the army, and a few have chosen to attend seminary school.
Throughout the journey of raising these children, Ren has encountered various challenges and learned valuable lessons along the way. One thing Ren is extremely thankful for is that none of the children have experienced any serious accidents, and all the orphans are supported by the country’s subsistence allowance program.
Throughout the years of running the orphanage, Ren has faced numerous misunderstandings. He expressed with emotion, “It is only with the support of our Lord Jesus Christ, our faith in the Holy Spirit, and the blessings from God that we have come this far. This is not just on me, Ren Chuanyu, it is a responsibility for the whole community as well as the Liaozhong District. I am willing to endure any amount of pressure, criticism, or sarcasm in order to glorify God and spread His message.”
4. Love Is Shown Through Action
It has been more than 20 years since Ren adopted his first orphan, and he is still actively involved in charitable work. He strongly believes that as Christians in today’s world, we should demonstrate our love for the Lord through our actions and good deeds. “Jesus Christ not only sacrificed himself for us but also showed compassion to those in need during His time on Earth. He healed the blind and the lame, cleansed the lepers, restored those who were demon-possessed, and showed kindness to orphans and widows. He fed the hungry by performing the miracle of the five loaves and two fish and even turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana when the wine ran out. Jesus was all about spreading love and kindness, and as followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to follow His teachings and spread love wherever we go. That is what our faith is all about.”
Ren emphasized that our faith is about growing our inner selves, which shows in our actions. One way to start building our Christian faith is by showing kindness to those around us and assisting those in need.
Ren not only takes care of orphans, but he also helps the elderly, supports people living in poverty, and assists individuals with disabilities. When asked about the numerous honors he has received, Ren humbly stated, “I am not the one raising these orphans; I am simply a vessel of God in this time. As Christians, we are here to show the love of Jesus Christ to those around us.”
- Translated by Joyce Leung
