"When I was a child, my mother told me that I could pray in any situation, and that was how the seed of faith was planted in my heart," shared Brother Pan, who continued to pray every night despite experiencing three romantic setbacks.
Born as a Miao ethnic, Pan graduated from a theological seminary in 2024 and loves playing the piano. Reflecting on his childhood, he admitted that he did not truly grasp the essence of faith, though he frequently attended church with his parents. It was only after moving into a school dormitory that he encountered God in an unfamiliar environment. Now, he still remembers his parents' words: "When you start at a new school, there will be nothing you can rely on—except God."
Pan began living in a school dormitory during his elementary school period. As an ethnic minority, he initially struggled with Mandarin and could not understand his teachers, which made him afraid of attending school. His mother encouraged him to pray at night, telling God about his needs. At the age of eight, after picking up bad habits from his older brother, he was troubled by guilt. Turning to prayer, he experienced transformation in his life.
During elementary school, Pan maintained a nightly prayer and singing hymns, often hiding under his blanket to pray. After completing junior high school, he desired to study theology, though his parents had no idea where he could receive religious education. Eventually, they learned about a training program offered by a church downtown, and with their accompaniment, Pan participated in the study.
Pan and his family live in a village in southwest China, where it is common for young people to marry early. During his training course, he developed an online relationship with a young woman and planned to return home to propose after completing the three-year program. However, she later accepted another man's proposal.
Heartbroken, Pan prayed to God every night, resolving not to pursue desires based on what he saw or felt but to trust in what God had prepared for him. After being admitted to seminary, his understanding of the Bible deepened, and his relationship with God grew stronger. He insisted on praying every day for his future marriage and the revival of his hometown church.
A year later, another potential relationship emerged, but it did not progress. "When I was about to graduate in the third year, God led me to a fellow student," Pan recalled. However, her parents opposed a long-distance marriage, and she ultimately accepted another proposal. "At that moment, I felt as if God had deceived me. I had entrusted her to Him..." he recalled in a depressed tone.
Despite these challenges, Pan's faith remained steadfast. "Whenever I felt like giving up, I realized that the seed of faith had already been planted. During my three years in the seminary, God protected me and blessed me with great learning. I even learned to play the piano, and now I can serve as an accompanist in the church," he shared.
Referring to his current situation, Pan, though still feeling a little depressed, said, "Following this path is very difficult, especially when my prayers seem unanswered. Satan's temptations feel even stronger at such times, but this is a path of blessing. I don't know what kind of partner God has prepared for me, but I firmly believe in His plan." To this day, Pan remains committed to praying every night.
In Pan's hometown, there is little awareness of financially supporting preachers. Most preachers work in the fields during the week and serve in the church on Sundays. After graduating from the seminary, Pan returned home to care for his ailing father and assist with farming. Following the Spring Festival this year, he secured a job in the county town but continues to return to his hometown church every weekend to serve.
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
