Last Sunday, Liushi Church, located in Wenzhou City—referred to as China’s Jerusalem—presented a reenactment of William Edward Soothill’s missionary work in the city during its Christmas celebration. The performance was delivered in the local dialect.
During the service on December 22, Rev. Zheng guided the congregation in reflecting on John 1:14, which reveals the significance of Jesus Christ's incarnation. Jesus lived the life of a true human, embodying God's love for humanity. His ultimate expression of love was the journey to the cross—not as a consequence of sin or punishment but as a redemption for sinners.
Through this, Zheng shared the story of a devout Christian who exemplified the true meaning of faith, leading up to the event’s highlight—a stage play titled “A Brief History of William Edward Soothill's Journey in Wenzhou.”
Delivered in the Wenzhou dialect, the plot was composed of five acts: "Going to Wenzhou to Preach," "Preaching Journey," "The First Fruit of the Gospel," "The Anti-Foreign Riot in 1884," and "The Day of Revival."
During the performance, a dance titled "My Heart's Steadfast on You" was presented midway, symbolizing the believers' unwavering faith in the Lord during the "Anti-Foreign Riot" in the fourth act.
In the final act, "The Day of Revival," as the gospel continued to spread, performers welcomed Christmas and celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ through songs and dances.
William Edward Soothill, a missionary of the United Methodist Free Church, was a prominent British sinologist and renowned educator. In 1883, in his early 20s, he arrived in China and settled in Wenzhou, where he lived for over 20 years. During his time in China, he implemented a smoking ban, established hospitals and schools, and was later appointed president of the Imperial University at Shanxi due to his educational expertise. In 1920, he was appointed Shaw Professor of Chinese at Oxford University.
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
