Shao Chenhuanzhi, residing in North America, passed away just five days before she would have turned 100 years and six months on August 6, local time.
Madam Shao had served overseas Chinese churches for decades, preaching topics such as inner life with Chinese believers and pastors in diverse locations. For example, in 2006, she was invited to Hong Kong to share the practice of self-denial and obedience based on Madame Guyon's Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ. In 2015, she was invited by Home of Christians in Los Angeles to share on Living for Christ, among other topics. It can be said that over the years, Madam Shao helped countless believers and pastors learn to draw closer to the Lord, and Dr. Bob Kaiser, president of Jubilee Ministries in Hong Kong, was one of them.
At nearly seventy years old, Madam Shao wrote an article titled "The Attitude of Serving the Lord." In it, she wrote, "Serving the Lord is not a burden, but truly an honor. If I had a second or third life, I would still devote them to serving the Lord, for it is indeed indescribably good."
On August 27, from 6 to 8 a.m. Beijing time, an online memorial service titled "Madam Shao's Memorial Service: Passing the Torch" was held. Her son and several sisters in Christ who had served with her over the years joined together online to reminisce about her, especially reflecting on the faith, obedience, and love they witnessed in her life.
Unlike a typical memorial service, this one did not include sermons, wreaths, eulogies, or personal testimonies. Instead, it focused on guest sharing and interaction. The service began with an introduction by her son, Shao Enqi, founder of God's Tabernacle Ministries. He mentioned that his mother was very low-key, rarely speaking about her past life and stories. He learned most about her through relatives or staff workers.
Following this, a female staff worker named Jan Chang shared that although traditional elements like sermons were omitted from the ceremony, two things were retained. One was a photo recollection, where a staff worker displayed photos collected of Madam Shao, starting from her younger years as the "campus beauty" at Fudan University to her later years of serving online. Friends and family members testified that in her youth, Madam Shao was the lead singer in a choir and loved music, initially planning to study at a music conservatory. However, out of obedience to the Lord, she did not pursue a music career. She had said that in her later years, besides the companionship of close staff workers and friends, it was truly hymns that kept her company. She advised young workers to memorize hymns, which would naturally come to mind when needed.
Sister Jan expressed her admiration, noting that despite being born with a congenital heart condition, Madam Shao lived for 100 and a half years, loving the Lord for 80 of those years. During this time, she loved and blessed many people. "We are so blessed to have her," she said. Sister Jan testified that Madam Shao's life and service were driven by a desire to be closer to the Lord and love Him more deeply, not by a desire to achieve great things. Madam Shao often said, "The Lord paid such a great price to save us; we can’t just... for our own good."
Pastor Grace shared that she had many stories from serving with Madam Shao over the years, but she wanted to highlight three things regarding the memorial service’s theme of "Passing the Torch." First, she observed that in her daily life, Madam Shao saw God in everything—a leaf, a flower, a cloud. Second, though her teachings and sermons were few, her prayers touched many, transforming their lives. She prayed in praise and worship to mediate God’s salvation and grace, offering gratitude and faith to God like incense. Third, a phrase Madam Shao once said became Pastor Grace's motto: "God’s will is always best."
Recalling their ministry together after 2010, Pastor Grace testified that Madam Shao genuinely loved every student with God's love, bearing with them. This love was evident in her daily actions: she silently tolerated disobedient students, discreetly put money into the folds of those facing financial difficulties, and lit lantern for each college. Even after 2020, when she was weakened by cancer, Madam Shao continued to counsel students, often lying down while doing so.
A Christian woman surnamed Xu said that Madam Shao described herself as "the footstool," seeking no recognition for herself, only that God's work be done well. Reverend Min stated, "The best way I can repay her is by living out the life I saw in her."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
