Brother Dai has lived and worked for 19 years in a metropolis over 600 kilometers from his hometown. Here, his conversion journey began, giving him a new direction in life. From then on, his full focus is firmly fixed on Christ, and his attention no longer wanders. He relies on Him to overcome the ups and downs of life.
The Chatty and Hospitable Teacher
Brother Dai left his rural hometown at 17 to study at his university in a city.
As a freshman, everything seemed unfamiliar and exciting to him. There were so many new things to see, hear, and explore, and these experiences captivated this rural young man who was filled with curiosity.
However, before long, his daily routines fell into a simple pattern, the classes, the eating, and the lodging. Life in the city did not seem so different from his elementary and high school experiences in his hometown — only the campus was bigger and the people more numerous.
Then, in a new semester, he unexpectedly encountered an accounting professor, who brought changes to his life. “This teacher was different,” Brother Dai recalls.
It wasn’t that the professor was particularly charismatic in lectures or that his subject matter was especially engaging. Other professors would call roll and ask a few questions in class. They had no interactions with students and left the classroom immediately after lectures. However, this professor would stay after class to chat with students.
As they became more familiar, the professor even enthusiastically invited students to his home for meals. “It was rare to see a teacher who would chat with students and invite them over for dinner,” Brother Dai says. “Sometimes, when there were too many people, he would take us all out to eat at a restaurant. I remember once we booked four or five tables in a restaurant.” Smiling, Brother Dai adds, “His enthusiasm was contagious and made me curious. Why was he different from other teachers? Later, I found out that he was a Christian.”
That was the first time the word “Christian” truly reached Brother Dai’s heart.
The Extraordinary Faith
Since he could enjoy free meals, listen to stories, and engage in conversations, Brother Dai frequently joined his classmates in visiting the professor’s home. “At that time, his father was seriously ill,” Brother Dai says. “His home was near a hospital so every day he took his father for treatment and brought him back. I think it was stomach cancer, and by then, his condition had worsened. Think about it: he was living in an old seven-story apartment. Though his apartment was only on the third floor, his father couldn’t use the stairs and had to be carried up.”
Brother Dai personally witnessed how the professor’s father, once gravely ill, was healed and eventually fully recovered. What amazed him most was that this transformation came through prayer, something he could neither comprehend nor explain. “His father’s condition was already very serious, but every night, a group of people would come to his home and pray for his father. In the end, he was healed,” Brother Dai shares.
Having personally witnessed the miracle, Brother Dai began to pay closer attention to the concept of “Christian,” realizing that this faith was truly extraordinary.
A “Normal” Faith
After that, Brother Dai’s perspective on Christian gatherings changed. It was no longer just about eating and having fun. He started to observe the people who called themselves Christians.
He used to think of religion as something only elderly women followed. It was something irrelevant to him. He explains, “The religious people I saw, whether they were monks or Taoists, either shaved their heads, wore their hair in a bun, or dressed in robes that made them stand out. It always seemed strange to believe in religions. However, as I observed Christians, I saw that they wore suits and ties just like anyone else. They didn’t dress differently to make themselves look unusual, and they weren’t disconnected from society.”
Gradually, he let down his guard and thought to himself, “If I were to have faith, I would choose one that allows me to live a normal life.”
Through Highs and Lows, Never Leaving Faith
Although Brother Dai’s faith journey initially began with meals and observations, as he grew spiritually, he came to a firm conclusion: “For a person to have faith in God, it is truly God’s choice. Otherwise, it is very difficult for people to come to know Him.”
Since becoming a believer, Brother Dai has actively participated in fellowships and grown in his spiritual life. However, after graduating from his university, his fellowship disbanded due to unexpected circumstances, forcing him to seek out new churches.
Over the next decade, Brother Dai experienced many ups and downs in his personal life. There were changes in churches, fluctuations in his career, and even moments of personal breakdown. Yet, he testifies, “No matter how my circumstances change, one thing remains constant — I will never leave this faith.”
Through all the challenges, he remains optimistic and certain, saying, “There is indeed God in this world. Otherwise, many things would simply be impossible. People are fragile, and human nature is selfish. Wherever there are people, there will be conflicts. However, God is above all things, and He will take care of everything.”
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Charlie Li
