Hu's child did not have shoes to wear from 6 months to over one year old. When a believer visited her sister in City A, she bought a pair of shoes for her sister’s child, but they were a bit big. When she saw Hu’s child, she wondered if the shoes would fit.
“Whatever size the shoes are, that will be the size of our child's feet,” Hu replied. "My wife and I had been praying for shoes for our child, and I was certain they would fit."
When the child tried them on, and they fit just right. The child finally had his first pair of shoes. This is one of the many stories that have happened to Pastor Hu.
The Decade in the World
In 1993, Hu finished junior high school. His father died early, and his mother remarried, leaving him to fend for himself. After junior high, Hu started navigating life on his own.
For that decade, Hu had been in business, often staying up late and indulging in smoking and drinking. Despite his efforts, he struggled to make a profit. Hu also got married. But after a few years, both he and his wife realized that their lifestyle was unsustainable.
For a while, Hu tried to make a living as a sublandlord by renting out a house and then subletting it to someone else. One of his tenants happened to be a Christian who attended church regularly.
Why Study Theology?
Through this tenant, Hu, who was struggling to make ends meet, was able to connect with the church. During his first visit, the pastor asked Hu if he had sinned, and Hu admitted to having sinned. “What kind of sins?” “Every kind.”
The pastor then told Hu, “You are not sinful because you have sinned; you have sinned because you are sinful.”
To address his sin problem, Hu decided to study theology at the suggestion of the church. And the seminary he attended was unlike any other.
A Special Seminary with Special Admission Standards
The seminary Hu applied to had strict entrance requirements. Students had to affirm that they were saved and born again; that they had a calling and gift from God; that they could resist the temptations of money, sex, and other worldly desires; and that they were always prepared to preach, move to a different location, and even face martyrdom.
Hu said, “I wasn’t influenced by the church to study in that seminary. I just knew it was my only chance to survive. Nothing else could help me.”
Relying on God in the Midst of Lack
Hu believes that his time in seminary, which he once found unbearable to think about, has actually laid a strong foundation for his career as a pastor and helped shape his pastoral character and qualities.
Hu and his wife attended the seminary together. Unfortunately, the seminary did not offer any financial help for rent, living expenses, or meals. This meant that all students had to fend for themselves. It was springtime, and the nearby hills were filled with elm trees. So, Hu and his wife ate elm seeds for food. When the elm seed season was over, they started eating the flowers from black locust trees. Without those seeds and flowers, they would not have made it through.
The seminary had extremely strict dress and appearance requirements. When Hu and his wife ran out of shampoo, they had to use laundry detergent to wash their hair; lacked toothbrushes and toothpaste, they had to clean their teeth with salt. There were many times when the couple had to rely on God for help and support.
The “Volunteering Mission Trips” Twice a Year
Hu recalls the seminary would organize two “Volunteering Mission Trips” each year. Participants would be sent in pairs – either husbands and wives, two brothers, or two sisters – to preach in a city. The trips would last about a week, and the seminary would not cover any living expenses. This is to help students learn to rely on God completely.
On his first trip, Hu traveled with a brother to City B, which was about two to three hundred kilometers away. Before they left, the seminary gave them six yuan, but that was only enough for them to catch a bus out of City A where the seminary was located. Fortunately, they were able to hitch a ride on a truck that was returning to City B after unloading in City A. Upon reaching City B, they had to make do with sleeping at the train station, on the roadside, in the hospital, or in the park.
Throughout the week, they shared the gospel with people everyday. When they spoke to the tofu seller, they received a piece of tofu, and the steamed bun seller would give them a few buns after hearing their message. This helped them with their meals for the week.
Experiencing God’s Faithful Provision in Times of Scarcity
The seminary expected both teachers and students to look presentable, but for Hu, keeping up with grooming expenses like shampoo, shaving, and formal attire was expensive.
During this particular time, several churches in City A collaborated to host a Christian sports event. One of the participants was a fellow brother who came to Christ with Hu. He told Hu that he came in second place in the 400-meter race and wanted to give his prize to Hu. When Hu opened the box, he found two bottles of shampoo, some toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap – all the things he and his wife really needed. On top of that, the brother also gave Hu 50 yuan to buy milk powder for his child, who had not had any since he was born.
When Hu’s family first arrived at the seminary, they could not afford to buy food. Once they ran out of elm seeds and black locust flowers, they had nothing else to eat.
Hu’s family rented an apartment in a courtyard, where one of the tenants worked at a club. Hu could tell from the girl’s accent that she was from his hometown. One day, she mentioned that she lived alone and did not know how to cook. She asked Hu if they could cook her meals together – she would pay for them, and they would handle the shopping and cooking. Hu and his wife immediately agreed.
“God provided for us through a young woman from my hometown for a period of time. Without such life training from God, pastors may struggle with financial challenges. When faced with a lack of provision, they may feel unable to continue serving. It is crucial for pastors to overcome these obstacles in order to fulfill their calling.”
- Translated by Joyce Leung
