Pastor Yuan Wenhuan, born in a small village in Longgu Town, Pei County, Jiangsu Province in 1900, was recognized as one of the pioneering pastors serving along the border between Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.
In the time he was born, a period of significant social upheaval and hardship in China, the gospel began to spread to his hometown.
Three missionaries came to Yuan's village and stayed in his home: two women and a German missionary. The German missionary taught the eight-year-old Yuan English. A few years later, he became proficient in reading the English Bible and conversing in English.
As he grew up, Yuan enrolled in the North China Theological Seminary, where he deepened his understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
During Yuan's time in the seminary, Dr. John Sung Shang Chieh briefly visited there. In one of his sermons, Dr. Sung noticed two lame people with great faith. He urged them to stand and walk in the name of Jesus Christ. One responded immediately, while the other hesitated to get his crutches, which Dr. Sung kicked away. Both of them were healed, and Yuan's faith was strengthened. Yuan also studied medical knowledge at the seminary, enabling him to provide free medical care to those in need.
After graduating in 1935, Yuan returned to his hometown to begin preaching. It took a long time for only five elderly people to accept the Lord, making the early years of his ministry quite difficult. These believers remained steadfast in faith despite their struggles. Every Sunday, they headed to Yuan's residence for worship before dawn. Even in heavy rain, when the roads were muddy and challenging, they made their way to the meetings wearing straw raincoats and hats. Among them, some even had to travel 15 kilometers to attend.
During that time, miracles often occurred. Various people possessed by demons were set free by their faith in the Lord, while numerous sick people experienced healing because of their belief. Gradually, the number of believers grew from five to over two thousand. As the congregation kept growing, Yuan relocated the gathering spot to the town center.
In his later years, Yuan became unable to stand, yet he continued to hold the pulpit and teach the Bible to his congregation. During this time, he frequently encouraged believers to live out the teachings of Scripture, stating, "The entire Bible encompasses the word of love. Or it will be of no benefit if you cannot exemplify this word."
Yuan was concerned that none of the congregants in his village could read, as he felt that his time to meet the Lord was approaching. To address the issue, he started preaching daily to his teacher neighbor, who initially rejected faith. During a serious illness that led to his hospitalization, Yuan tearfully urged the teacher, "If I leave, no one will be able to read and explain the Bible to the congregation. I sincerely hope you will believe in the Lord and teach the Bible to them." Moved by Yuan's dedication, the teacher eventually accepted faith and became a devoted Christian under God's guidance.
In 1987, Yuan passed away in the arms of the Lord.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Edited and Translated by Poppy Chan
