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We have received the fourth issue of The Open Door, and we have learned that many co-workers are pioneering in the interior under God's direction, particularly in Yunnan. I spontaneously sang hallelujah when I saw this situation. I went to Bao-Shiu to work for one week and have now returned to Shi-Ping. Had it not been for the Lord's intervention, it would have been impossible to preach the gospel there. I felt it was especially difficult for several reasons. First, the people reject outsiders no matter where they are from. They ignore you (which subsequently leaves you without a place to stay). If you want to rent a house, it is even more difficult. Second, strange rumors are spread, such as, "If you believe in Western religion, you will end up in such and such a way." Before I went to Bao-Shiu, I met the chief of the Bureau of Public Safety. He was happy to give me hospitality, so I worked there for a week. I could not rent a room, so I only preached salvation through the Lord's grace and returned to Shi-Ping.
Lin Kwang-tsaoMarch 22
I boarded a train in Shi-Ping on March 30 and went to Ku-Jiu. The population of Ku-Jiu has increased rapidly, and the cost of living has gone up tremendously. It seems like a good opportunity to preach the gospel. The first day I went out, it seemed that I did not have the assurance of anything. There seemed to be a great pressure to live in the inn. It was almost as if I could not move. I did not know how God wanted to start the work. The second day God marvelously arranged for me to meet some brothers. Although they do not have as much spiritual wisdom as the brothers from other provinces, they have an honest love and invited me into their homes. I met a good brother. He is a (Western) doctor and sympathizes with us much. Now I have a Bible study in these brothers' homes every evening. The topics are all on matters of life. May God hide me so that others may only see Him working.
Lin Kwang-tsaoApril 3
After we left K'un-ming on the seventh, we arrived at six o'clock in the evening in Ah-Mi-Jou. We left Ah-Mi-Jou at six o'clock in the morning on the eighth and arrived in Bi-Se-Zhai at eight o'clock and changed trains for Ku-Jiu. When we arrived in Mong-Tze, Sister Hsiao Ru-chuan welcomed us at the train station. We spoke joyfully with her and then boarded the bus for Ku-Jiu. We were preserved by the Lord along the way. He provided seats for us on even the most crowded trains. We really thank and praise Him! When we arrived in Ku-Jiu, Brother Lin Kwang-tsao and Mr. Gung En-lung (who was recently saved in a clear way) came together to receive us into Mr. Gung's house. It was the Lord's sovereign arrangement for Brother Lin to meet this brother here. They now have a Bible study every evening. There are a little more than ten people in attendance. We hope that a local church can be established by next Lord's Day so that we can start breaking bread to remember the Lord. This Lord's Day we began a traveling table meeting to remember the Lord. (The brothers and sisters who are clearly saved can attend this meeting to break bread and remember the Lord.) Brother Gung is a good brother arranged by the Lord to bear responsibility in Ku-Jiu. He is willing to donate a room for the use of the meetings. During the day three of us go out and preach the gospel outdoors, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. There are usually sixty to seventy people listening in the street. We take turns preaching. The audience pays close attention. May the Lord Himself save sinners. We do not know when we will leave this place, but we plan to work for at least another five or six days. After the work is finished, we plan to go to Shi-Ping to visit the brothers and sisters. If the Lord opens the door for us, we then plan to work in Lin-An, Mong-Tze, and the surrounding areas.
K. H. Weigh, Chen Hsi-wenApril 9
The three of us went out into the streets for seven afternoons passing out gospel tracts and preaching. We hung up pictures and sang short songs. The bustling crowds would gather to listen as we shouted out the gospel. We took turns speaking. When one was preaching, the others would stand by his side and pray quietly. The audience came in groups and took turns listening. Some went, but others stayed. Each time we preached, two to three hundred people stopped to listen. We have not seen an outward result yet; we do not know whether anyone has received the word at this time or whether they will receive it later. However, we thank and praise the Lord! This is probably the first time the gospel has been preached outdoors in Ku-Jiu. No matter what, Christ was proclaimed. We believe that His inward working is never in vain. The Lord also gave us an opportunity to testify to those in the government. On the evening of April 10, we had the first table meeting in Ku-Jiu with Brother and Sister Gung. It was sweet even though the number was small! On the fifteenth we had a special gospel meeting in Brother Gung's house for the neighboring women. Three or four people raised their hands to show that they wanted to receive salvation. We had a meeting for more than three hours on the afternoon of the seventeenth. The first half was for preaching the gospel, and the second half was for a message on the Lord's second coming. Many brothers and sisters received this kind of truth joyfully. There was a table meeting in the evening. There were five brothers and two sisters from that locality in addition to the three of us. Six or seven of the brothers and sisters in Ku-Jiu have seen the truth of the local church and want to walk in the truth. May the Lord lead them through His own leading. On the last Lord's Day evening, we prayed together in one accord and committed the newly established church in Ku-Jiu and the responsible brothers (Brother Gung and Brother Ruan) to God and His word of grace (Acts 20:32). We left Ku-Jiu by train on the eighteenth and went to Shi-Ping. (It is a day's train ride from Ku-Jiu to here.) We are looking for God's own leading concerning the work here. We need to rise up to pray more for this, and we need the brothers and sisters in all the localities to pray as well. We will tell you the rest later. May the Lord's love be with you. Amen!
Your brothers in the Lord,K. H. Weigh, Lin Kwang-tsao, Chen Hsi-wen
Brother Huang Jung sent a letter from K'un-ming on April 20, saying, "Brother Hsu (Jung-jieh) and Brother Hu (Yi-ming) will soon put their luggage on their backs and enter Sikang province to preach the gospel. We have heard that the roads are dangerous and that the bandits are very numerous. We need to pray earnestly for our brothers who are pressing on without caring for their health and safety."
My health has not been good lately, so I plan to rest a week. I have stopped the Bible study for beginners temporarily. I am not completely clear about the way I will take in the future. In the past few weeks, the brothers and sisters have become low in spirit, and I do not know why. It is as if they have fallen into mud and cannot pull their legs out. I feel much pressure inwardly. I can see that the flesh is totally useless. If God does not give grace, who can bring anyone into spiritual reality? After passing through this trial, I have really seen that if the apostles do not have the power, all their work will become an outward endeavor and will be dead and burdensome. I really ask for God's mercy. I do not know why God has chosen such a useless vessel as myself. If I were not clear about God's call, I would throw up my arms in resignation. Many people have repented during this time of preaching the gospel. Some are students. Others are businessmen. Some are even opium smokers. There are also some who were possessed by demons. The Living Water Teahouse is next to a theatrical troupe, and one of the troupers marvelously received the Lord. He came to me one evening and said that he had been praying for a long time, asking Jesus to open the way for him to make a living doing something else. He no longer felt right about singing in the troupe. I felt that his word was sincere. Unfortunately, he moved to another place today, so I did not have the opportunity to care for him!
Han Fu-shengApril 5[Address omitted]
At the end of last year, I went to Bai-Chien-Ji in Lien-Shui County to work. Brother Yin Ke-chu went with me. The Lord revived several of the people and saved several entire families together with some sinners. This spring I worked there again for a total of sixteen days. The number in the meetings every Lord's Day is approximately fifty or sixty. The Lord saves, the Spirit works, and we are just empty vessels. After working in Chien-Ji, I was led by the Lord to go to Hwi-Dun. This place is about fifty or sixty miles from the city. Three or four years ago, there was no one there to testify for the Lord. Then a sister in the Lord was persecuted for the Lord's sake, and His name was made manifest. The Lord continued by raising up two brothers and five sisters to testify for Him. When I arrived, I had the burden to preach the gospel. I did so every afternoon, conducting some edification and prayer meetings in the evenings. They were all under the Lord's blessing. Twenty to thirty people are clear about their salvation. There are more women than men. This is the first proper beginning of the work in Hwi-Dun. Thank and praise the Lord for this!
Your little brother in the Lord,Chiu Ri-jienApril 3
Please send all letters and books to my home in Soo-Jia-Tsui, Lien-Shui County, Kiangsu.
Pu Men is in the southernmost area of Ping-Yang. It is a small country village among the steep peaks of the high mountains. It is rarely visited by workers. (The workers only go to Fang-Yen-Hsia and Yi-Shan in Jiang-Nan. It is not that they are unfair, but the roads are difficult. However, there is a more convenient way of taking the steamer up Sha River and disembarking in Hsia-Guan.) There are four assemblies here. However, there is a lack of people doing the watering, so it is very difficult to go on. What a pity! During the past two years, the area has been directly and indirectly controlled by bandits, but we have all been safe under God's protection. Thank Him. God opened a new way for us during the Chinese New Year gospel conference. We went to preach the gospel to the Miao tribe. There are three areas where these people live: Niu-Pi-Ling, Fu-Jang, and Hua-Yang. (Of course, there are also others who are scattered elsewhere. Hua-Yang belongs to Fukien. It is in the northernmost part of the province.) The closest is about twenty miles from Ma-Tsan, and the farthest is thirty miles away. The mountain roads are steep and dangerous. The steep paths are difficult to travel, and this area is very backward. These tribesmen have never heard the gospel. (We really have sinned against the Lord and them as well.) For years this has been a stronghold of bandits. A few of us went with Brother Lin Sheng-wu. After praying, we went out first to Niu-Pi-Ling. They were like birds scared of a bow because they had been harassed and harmed by bandits the year before. They were suspicious of us and dared not receive us. We managed to rent a house from them. During the day we preached the gospel door to door and gave them our individual testimonies. They were afraid to even take gospel tracts. In the evening we held gospel meetings. At first fifty or sixty people came to listen to the word. Later, the numbers decreased. Most were merely curious. Although they did not seem to have a heart, we were not discouraged. We believe that the Lord will not make our work vain. Later, we went to Fu-Jang and Hua-Yang. The people in these two places live closer together, so it was easier to contact them. We worked in the same way. Thank the Lord that He Himself worked. They listened solemnly to Brother Lin's preaching (even a broken vessel helps) and were touched. More than ten desired to believe. Unfortunately, the road is far, so they cannot have frequent contact with us. In the last two weeks, five have come to Ma-Tsan to listen to the word. We pray and hope that a church can soon be established in that locality so that the hundreds of surrounding homes would not perish (3 John 2).
Your little brother,Fan Pei-jenApril 5[Address omitted]
I was with Brother Hwa Shi-bin in Huang-Yen for a twelve-day conference from February 27 to March 10. The main points of Brother Hwa's messages were on God's eternal, unchanging plan and how it is being carried out throughout the ages until it is realized. I spoke on Exodus and the believers' experience. Every morning during morning watch, I spoke of the things that happened before and after Moses was called. Thank and praise the Lord. He really loves us and wants to work with us. Hallelujah! Amen. Brother Huang Li-chuan and I held a ten-day conference from March 15 to 24 at the China Inland Mission in Rue-An. Brother Huang's messages explained John 4 in detail. We all received an abundance of new light. I preached on the two different principles in the Bible — the divine and the human. I still do not know of any results. We have no intention of thinking about it all the time. We have just put it into the Lord's hands. A few days after the work in Rue-An was over, Brother Hwa Shi-bin and Brother David Hsu were invited to work for five days in the independent church in that city. I heard that the results were good. When the conference was about to begin, there were some who vehemently opposed. Thank the Lord, they understood gradually and in the end completely welcomed them. There were also brothers from the Hsun-Dao Chapel in Tang-Kou who heard the brothers and were moved by what they heard. They have firmly invited them to work in their place. We are praying about this matter now to see what the Lord's mind is. Brother Hsu and Brother Hwa came to Fang-Yen-Hsia to rest after finishing the work in Rue-An. Yesterday (April 4) Brother Hwa left for Sha-Po to work there for three days. He will return to Fang-Yen-Hsia afterwards. Brother Hsu is now staying in Pei-Ling School. He will hold a five-day conference in Fang-Yen-Hsia starting tomorrow. Brother Hsu will be responsible for the preaching. Brother Hwa might go to Wenchow to stay for awhile. Brother Hsu plans to travel among the localities in Ping-Yang. He has not decided on how long he will stay. I hope you will pray for these matters.
Your weak brother in the Lord,Chen Chin-faApril 5[Address omitted]
Since leaving Ning-Po in September of last year, I have been traveling back and forth in the upper river region of eastern Chekiang for six months. It has not been convenient for me to communicate with you because I have been traveling mainly in the high mountains or deep valleys where news does not travel and communication is difficult. I left Li-Shui by grace on the eighteenth and came to Yung-Jia. Here things are slightly more restful. Thank and praise the Lord. I read The Open Door and was comforted to know about the brothers' and sisters' travels. Brother Pan Huo-ling of Yung-Jia and Brother Chai Chi of Ping-Yang are both physically weak and need our prayers. For the past six months, God has placed me alone away from home. The lessons I have learned from such sufferings are very precious. Sometimes I am very lonely in spirit. Sometimes I even suspect that I have fallen away and have been forsaken by the Lord. Thank and praise the Lord! His unchanging love always encourages me on! It is late at night now. May the Lord teach me to go on faithfully. Please pray for me.
Your brother in the Lord,Hsu Dah-weh
I left Yung-Jia on the twenty-fifth of last month and went with Brother Hwa Shi-bin and Brother Huang Li-chuan to Rue-An. I held a conference with Brother Hwa in the independent church in Rue-An. Then I went with Brothers Hwa and Huang to Ping-Yang to visit the brothers on the second of this month and held a conference for five days in Fang-Yen-Hsia. Today I came with Brother Hwa and Brother Chen Chin-fa to Hsiao-Nan County of Ping-Yang. We will work for two or three evenings in Mo-Cheng. The Lord willing, we will visit the brothers in Shan-Men of Bei-Jiang County. After returning from Shan-Men, Brother Hwa will probably return to Ning-Hai. I am still waiting for the Lord's leading. I have been traveling for a long time. I really need to be calm before God and give Him a chance to trim me.
Your brother in the Lord,Hsu Dah-wehApril 11
I received the fifth issue of The Open Door. Thank God! He shows us more about the work and the travels of His servants so that we now have fresh burdens in our prayer and are more in one accord with all the saints. There were four days of meetings in Shui-Ting that began on March 27. God used Brother Ma (Chuan-fu) to do some work in saving people. Praise the Lord for saving several people. From the thirty-first of last month to the fourth of this month, He arranged a conference of four days and five nights for the entire church of God in Lan-Si in which He spoke concerning the differences and relationships between the church, the work, and the workers through the mouth of His servant, Brother Ma. He also handed over the charge of God's commission to His children. Praise and thank God. In the past we knew only that the brothers bore the responsibility for the practical matters. We now see that God wants to call them to bear the spiritual yoke as well as to build up the Body of Christ. What is lacking now is the gifts in Ephesians 4. May God give more of these kinds of gifts to His church. May He raise up more elders and deacons like those in Titus 1 to govern His house. I have recently received a clear charge from God to do some pioneering work in Si-Bei County of Lan-Yi. The people there live very close together, but the gospel is seldom preached. Brother Hu (Bu-dao) and I will go to Tieh-Lu-Tou and Huang-Ni-Shan to work for a time during the middle of this month. (The first place is about thirty-five miles from the city and about fifteen miles from the assembly in Ju-Ge. The second place is more than twenty miles from the city.) Then we will pioneer in Hou-Ren, Gan-Shi, and Nu-Bu, the Lord willing. Please remember this in your prayer.
The southwestern portion of Chekiang, including the two counties of Chang-Shan and Sui-An, have cried for Brother Ma to go and work there. The brothers in Wu-Yi want Brother Ma to go and help with the work among the young people. Those are probably the two places he will go to in the next two months. There was a baptism in the church in Lan-Si on the thirty-first of last month. Fifteen brothers and eleven sisters were baptized. May they have a good testimony from now on. The brothers and sisters who came to Lan-Si to escape the war have gradually passed safely over the border. The family of Shen Guan-min from Soochow is the only one that is still staying in Shui-Ting Village in Lan-Si.
Your brother in the Lord,Chen Meng-tsaoApril 9[Address omitted]
Yesterday, I read the third issue of The Open Door and rejoiced to learn that the work in the remote areas is actively being pursued. Brother Hu Yi-min invited me to go with him last year, but my business and family entangled me, and I dared not agree rashly. However, I am very concerned about the work, and it seems as if I have already gone there. I am asking the Gospel Book Room to pass on X dollars for the gospel work in Yunnan. Please use it for the front lines. It is such a small amount that it can only show my support and oneness. (We have already sent it to K'un-ming to be forwarded to Yeh-Ji — Editor.) The region of Taichow in Chekiang is mountainous and close to the sea. Taichow, Ling-Hai, Huang-Yen, Hai-Men, Luh-Chiao, Hsien-Ju, and Tai-Ping all have many denominations. Tai-Ping has the most. The China Inland Mission constitutes eighty to ninety percent of the denominational churches. Each chapel has between one hundred and four hundred members. The work here has been mainly carried out by the local believers. Thank the Father for His grace. I came to Huang-Yen with Brother Shan Kai-fen on December 18. Brother Shan preached a few times in Shi-Ju-Dien Chapel and Jin Ching Harbor Chapel, but he did not speak the local dialect, so he went back to Shao-Shing before I did. I stayed and then went to Hai-Men. Brother Hwa Shi-bin and I held a five-day conference there. Brother Hwa Shi-bin then went to Shi-Tang-Tou in Tai-Ping to hold a conference there. I was invited to Yang-Fu-Miao to hold a conference for three days and then went to Pu-Jiao-Tou for five days. I arrived in Da-Fen today. I will hold a conference for five days and then another five-day conference in Lin-Hai. These dates are already set. I will let God Himself lead me as to the future. I have really seen God's own leading and blessing in the work in the past. May glory be to the Lord's holy name!
Your little brother,Hu Ji-tang
I received the fifth issue of The Open Door. The number of pages in this last issue has increased, and they all told of the Father's blessings upon the work in all the places. I give much praise and thanks to the Lord, but I was also warned very much. I have been working with two Western missionaries, Mr. Milton and Mr. Mullen, at Hai-Men and Da-Fen. We have become more intimate with each other in acquaintance and in fellowship. I believe that many misunderstandings were cleared up. The work in Da-Fen was blessed by God much more than I expected. From there I went on to work in Lin-Hai for five days. Thank the Lord, several intellectuals and Buddhists came and were happy to hear the word, receive the Bible, and diligently search everything. How can an ignorant one such as I handle such work? May the glory and blessing go to our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. The Anglican Church in Lin-Hai wanted me to hold a conference there for seven days. However, I feel that if I work without stopping, it will not be good for either my spirit or my body. I reluctantly agreed to speak for three days, two messages a day. During these three days, my spirit was bound and my prayer could not get through. On the evening before the first meeting, I had a dark vision in my dream and intended to cancel the meetings. But the announcements were made. If I did not go, it would be unfaithfulness on my part. But if I went, I would feel quite unable to fulfill my task. I was in quite a bind. As a result, I failed in my work. However, God is my joy. I gained a good brother through these meetings, Brother Hsie Xiao-you, the principal of the Jing-Ai Elementary School. He has been reading the publications from the Gospel Book Room for many years. He also has The Open Door. He said he has been helped by reading The Christian and other publications. I will return to Shao-Shing tomorrow and tell you about my future plans later.
Your little brother,Hu Ji-tangApril 14, mailed from Pu-Ji Hospital, Lin-Hai
God led Brother Chen Bing-hsi to Chang-Pu to pioneer the work there. He met several times in Yeh Jeng-kuang's home in Pu-Yi. It was a very good opportunity. Later, a Presbyterian minister invited Brother Bing-hsi to pray for a sister and to cast out a demon in her. The Lord graced him, and the demon left her. Thank and praise the Lord. After this he had a conference in a Chinese Methodist Church in the city for four days. The brothers and sisters pursued the Lord with a pure heart and happily received the truth he preached. I hope they will run in the straight way under God's leading. On March 22 we went to the eastern section of Chang-Pu to work in Fuo-Yun Village. There has been prayer for this place for many years, and God has begun working here. (There are seven or eight localities around this area, all of which would like us to go to them and work among them.) We have already had eight days of meetings here. (About one hundred people come to hear the word each meeting.) Many families burned their idols and wooden gods. They have left the false for the true. The Spirit's operation in them is really marvelous. There were also many sick ones who were healed of their illnesses after being prayed over and anointed with oil. However, the work of Satan was also very strong. We overcame him in the end by relying on the authority of the cross. May God the Father have mercy on us and give grace to the people of this region so that they may have more opportunities to hear the gospel. May the devil's work be destroyed. We hope that the Lord will send His workers here soon to release all the truth so that these people may be edified. After the ten days of work, we will work in Hu-Si, Lung-Wen-Shi, Jiang-Kou, Chien-Ting, Chi-Hu, Ma-Ping, Jiu-Jen, and Liu-Ban. May the Lord raise up His work that the truth may be released. May He call out His faithful children in every place and establish a local church in every place. Glory to His name, amen. We hope the brothers and sisters will pray much for the work here. We ask for your instruction. Please send us two copies of The Open Door.
Your little brothers,Yeh Jeng-kuang, Lan Deng-hweiApril 1[Address omitted]
Last summer I received a letter of invitation from the Philippines asking me to go there for the work. I have been praying concerning this matter because I have not had the Lord's clear revelation. Brother Simon Meek recently sent me another letter mentioning the invitation. After a period of prayer, I understood that God wanted me to go. Thank the Lord, I am weak, corrupt, incapable, and unworthy, but I am now enjoying grace in Him. I only ask that the Lord strengthen me all the time so that I may work out my own salvation in fear and trembling. I also ask that I would become more conscious of my corruption, nothingness, and total inability. I want to know Him, the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, and to be conformed to His death. Indeed, this is the highest goal and the highest life. But should I not have this aspiration in the Lord? I am the last and the weakest of the co-workers. For this reason, I am asking X to bear some of the burden with me and to please pray for me before the Lord for grace. Please teach and encourage me so that I may be preserved all my life to stand firmly to glorify the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, who gave His life and shed His blood for me. Thank and praise Him. His great love has made me His slave forever. I am in the process of applying for entry to the Philippines. I hope to leave soon. There are at least one hundred fifty thousand Chinese in the Philippines. Most of them come from Changchow and Chuenchow. I hope that the churches in the Philippines can have the same testimony as the churches in China. I also hope that the work there can be completely mingled with the work in southern Fukien so that the brothers who return home from there can help the churches in every place.
Your little brother in the Lord,Wu Ren-jiehMarch 29[Address omitted]
There were not many people in the edification meetings for the sisters in Sien-You, but it was of the Lord. Thank Him for manifesting His presence and His co-laboring. In the morning we added a meeting for preaching the gospel and simple Bible study. Sister Wang (Yu-ju) was responsible for it. Thank and praise the Lord. He gave Sister Wang good health and a good voice; she was able to preach messages and do translation for several days without getting tired. There will be a meeting to preach salvation to women in the future. We are still before God about it. Please pray concerning this. Yesterday, I received The Normal Christian Church Life from Shanghai. I really thank God for His mercy in allowing His children to see His light more clearly. I am doing my best to read it through with prayer, and I also ask God to bless this book and give grace to all its readers. I hope that those who care for God's work and the church and who are willing to keep the truth will be able to obtain this book. May the Lord return soon!
Your little sister in the Lord,Hsu-minApril 2
I have read the fifth issue of The Open Door. I know that the Lord cares for each of His people and keeps them safe. He also opens the door for the gospel to us in every place. We really thank the Lord! May He greatly revive His work in these years! I left Ku-Tien last month and went north to Sha County to work for a few days. I returned to Yen-Ping on the third of the month. The evening I arrived I began a conference in Yen-Ping with three meetings a day. There is a good opportunity here. However, the northern part of Fukien is really pitiful. It is very desolate! Therefore, we who are in the valley must hope that the co-workers on the mountain would be faithful to raise your hands for us. Please ask God to raise up His work in every place and to send more workers to continue His work. May His eternal purpose be quickly accomplished. Sister Ong Yu-bing arrived yesterday from Jien-Ou. She will render some help to the women's work. After her work in Yen-Ping, she will go north. I will probably continue moving south.
Your brother,Chen Bi-yinApril 6[Address omitted]
On the twelfth of this month, two sisters, another brother, and I went to Yi-Hu to do some work. Thank the Lord. We witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit in this conference. Some people were saved and others were edified. Two marvelous things occurred during this time. A cloth merchant who was a nominal Christian came to listen to the word on the first day. He did not receive anything. The second day he went into the countryside to sell his cloth. He tried to sell for a long time but could not make any sales. While he was suffering, in his heart he prayed, "O God, if You want me to listen to the messages, let me sell ten dollars worth of cloth." After this prayer, he immediately sold ten dollars worth of cloth. He came back right away to listen to the messages. He was saved that evening. There was another person who had left the truth for more than ten years. He had even burned his Bible and hymnal. He returned to the Lord during this conference. His whole family now comes to hear the word. There were eight days of meetings in this conference. We returned safely home on the twenty-first. The brothers and sisters here are at peace. Brother Chen Wen-kwang's health is much better. Perhaps he can come to Swatow in a little more than a month.
Your little brother,James ChenMarch 30[Address omitted]
There are many new ones in our meetings now. The meeting hall cannot hold them all. Seven or eight have confessed the Lord since the Chinese New Year conference. We thank the Lord because almost every day people seek us out to ask questions about the truth! Praise the Lord! He gives us unexpected joy. Since Tsingtao passed through the war, I receive new light when I read the Bible. My prayer is also much sweeter. Every time I mention the name Jesus, I feel so sweet, and I feel that the Lord is so close to me. I thank the Lord not just for the new believers but also for new co-workers. Brother Ju Fu-sheng came here from An-Dong. He and his wife are both nurses. Sister Ju was saved less than two weeks after coming to Tsingtao. Brother Ju also received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We prayed to the Lord in one accord for a person who had been sick for eighteen years. He had wanted to come to Shantung to do other things, but now he has decided to serve the Lord. There is one other matter concerning myself. The Lord definitely wants me to work in the remote regions. When Brother Hsu Jung-jieh came to Tsingtao from Tsinan, his first words were, "Brother, I hope you will go, too." Later, I told Brother Hsu that I wanted to go to the northeastern border near Russia. When Brother Hsu left, his last words were, "Brother, I'll be waiting for you there." May the Lord lead my way. I really would like to fly there now.
Your little brother in the Lord,Chang Tze-jiehMarch 23[Address omitted]
Four sisters came from Sian to Kansu to preach the gospel recently. Several brothers came also. Several days ago, they had a meeting in a home in Huo-Shih-Chun with much blessing from the Lord. On March 10 they held a home meeting in Gan-Gu. Many brothers and sisters were touched and burdened for the outreach missionary work. May the Lord give us strength to do His work. I will not go west until this work is finished and will go to Tsinghai when I have the Lord's clear leading. I hope X will often send me letters of encouragement and instruction.
Your brother in the Lord,Duan Chai-juMarch 5[Address omitted]
(1) Brother Chen Ke-san will go to Feng-Ting, Pu-Tien, Sien-You, Foochow, and Yu-Si to work in the near future — Pu-Tien, Fukien.
(2) Brother Chai Tze-chung will continue to help the believers in Chuenchow — Pu-Tien, Fukien.
(3) Brother Deng Tze-cheng went to visit the brothers in southern Fukien for awhile and is now working in western Fukien — Lung-Yen, Fukien.
(4) Brother Lan Jin-yang is continuing to work in Dong-Yuan, Tseng-Mao — Fukien. (Brothers Keh Yu-tang and John Lo are helping him preach the gospel — Hwei-An, Fukien.)
(5) Brother Han Jin-siu pioneered in the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth districts in Nan-An. The Lord willing, he plans to do more pioneering work in Juang-Shan and Chang-Pu — Amoy, Fukien.
(6) Brother Keh Lien-min first worked for a short time in An-Hai and then went to the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth districts. Next, he went to Pan-Ling, An-Hsi, for some pioneering work — Amoy, Fukien.
(7) Brother Chen Jai-seng is in Han-Jiang because of physical weakness — Han-Jiang, Fukien.
(8) Brother Chang Tung-yuan is in Juang-Shan and An-Hsi — Tung-An, Fukien.
(9) Brother Wang You-yi is in Pan-Ling, An-Hsi — Tung-An, Fukien.
(10) Brother Wang Deng-ming has been in Chuenchow for a time. The Lord willing, he will go to Amoy, Kulangsu, Ho-Shan, Tung-An, Wu-Lu, Chai-Lin, and Ding-Mei to visit the brothers — Tung-An, Fukien.
(11) Brother Wu Ren-jieh has been working in An-Hai for awhile. The Lord willing, he will go to Feng-Ting, Pu-Tien, Sien-You, Foochow, and Yu-Si, or he will go immediately to the Philippines — Chuenchow, Fukien.
(The preceding are excerpts from the March 24 issue of the Chuenchow Newsletter.)
(12) Two sisters, Yu Su-jen and Rachel Lee, have returned to K'un-ming — K'un-ming, Yunnan (The K'un-ming Newsletter, April 21).
(13) Sister Liu Hwei-fen is still in Tientsin — Tientsin.
(14) Brother Lou Chuan-en sent a letter on March 20 saying that he is meeting in the countryside around NingHai — Chekiang.
(15) Brother Watchman Nee sent a letter from Singapore on March 29, saying, "I have finished my conference here. I will go to Penang tomorrow. If there are any letters, they can be sent directly to England."
(16) Brother Chang Yu-zhi and Sister Peace Wang worked in Ch'eng-tu for almost two months. They preached in all the denominations except the Quaker denomination. They left Ch'eng-tu on April 28 and went to Ji-Jung, Szechuan. Then they went to Nei-Jiang and Tzi-Liu-Jing. Sisters Ruth Lee and Phoebe Chang arrived in Ch'eng-tu on April 10. They will return to Chungking in the middle of May. These four co-workers will go to the countryside around Wan County in Szechuan to rest after May 23. Perhaps they will leave Wan County in the middle of June and pass through Chungking on their way to Kweichow. They might stay in Wan County through the summer and then go on to Kuei-yang. They must still wait for the Lord's leading — Hankow (an excerpt from the Ch'eng-tu Newsletter of April 28).
(17) Brother Philip Luan is holding a conference in Hong Kong now. His health is not very good — Hong Kong (an excerpt from the Hong Kong Newsletter of April 25).
(The whereabouts of some co-workers have been reported in letters published in other parts of this magazine. We will not repeat them here.)
We hope the co-workers will tell us of their movements at all times. If you have any words of exhortation and encouragement or some experiences in your work, please be kind enough to send in your articles — Editor.
Greetings to X in the Lord:
My mother, sister, and I arrived safely in Shanghai from Mo-Gan-Shan on the tenth of this month. Brother Tang Shou-ling, Brother Sun Wen-yuan, Sister Yu Siao-ke, Sister Yeh Chui-chung, and their families are temporarily staying on the mountain. The situation on the mountain can still be called peaceful. There is still food; however, it is not a place where one can live permanently. Therefore, the Tang and Yeh families want to come back to Shanghai. The Sun and Yu families have not decided where to go. I was originally going to travel with the brothers and sisters, but God gave me a clear leading and miraculously opened a way for me to come, so I came before Brother Tang and the others. In this time of emergency, it is very difficult to get out of the war zone to a safe place. I thought that since God had opened a special way for me, I should go ahead and take it. If one family can leave, there is one less family to worry about. Brother Tang was hit by bandits in the chest with the handle of a rifle. The wound was very serious at the time, but thank God for His grace; it healed quickly. Although we have passed through many experiences in the past half year, including burning, robbery, plots, sickness, and dangers, we have clearly seen God's gracious doings in all these things. God's presence, protection, and faithful promises and the power of His will were more real to us. I rejoice the most in the fact that I had an opportunity to absolutely seek God and to touch Him in all these things. I was also able to quietly read His Word. In reality, this was God's answer to my prayer. I had been praying to God for some time for a rest of six months to a year. We never stopped meeting during our time of fleeing the war. Brother Tang conducted a Bible study on Revelation. He gave us much new light and showed us that the day of the Lord is pressing close. I deeply believe that we passed through everything so safely because of the brothers' and sisters' prayers. Therefore, please continue to pray for the brothers and sisters left on the mountain. It is almost impossible to send letters to Mo-Gan-Shan unless you find someone to take them for you. A few days after I came back to Shanghai, some people went there, so I gave them some money to take to the ones there. I will stay in Shanghai temporarily. I am considering where I will go next and will tell you when I am clear. My mother and sister send their greetings. They are very healthy now. Peace in the Lord. Greet Sister Chang, Sister Wang, and Brother Yu-zhi. Please greet all the brothers and sisters in Chungking.
Your brother,Hsing-yiApril 18[Address omitted]
Dear X in the Lord:
Sister Jin Bao-jieh from Ping-Hu has arrived safely in Shanghai. The Lord really cared for her and protected her along the way during her flight to safety. (Her own story is printed in the Shanghai Local Newsletter, Issue No. 100. We will not repeat it here — Editor.) We had a baptism meeting recently, and more than ten brothers and sisters were baptized. We are wiring X dollars for the work in Szechuan, Kweichow, and Yunnan. Please ask Brother X to distribute them. X dollars are from a brother in Chefoo, and the rest is from the church in Shanghai. (We have received the money and will give the full amount designated for Yunnan to Yunnan. We distributed some of the money for Szechuan and Kweichow to the work in western Hunan and Hankow. May the Lord bless these barley loaves and this new ear of grain so that other localities will also receive His blessing — Editor.) Peace in the Lord!
Your brothers,Tu Jung-chen, Wu You-an, Lin Kwang-biaoMarch 27[Address omitted]
Greetings to Sister X in the Lord:
I received your letter from Chungking and reckoned that it had taken more than a month and a half to get to me. It is really terrible that the communication is so poor. My company has temporarily stopped doing business because of the war. My health has been bad for more than a month. You can imagine the condition the church is in under such circumstances. Please do not forget to pray for us! I received the letter you sent through Ming-hwei. I sent a letter in reply, but I am concerned about whether it will get to you. (It has not arrived — Editor.) I hope to receive some instructions with regard to my present situation. Greet Sister Wang, Sister Chang, and all the brothers and sisters in Chungking. May you be blessed with health in the Lord.
Your brother in the Lord,Wu Wei[Address omitted]
Dear Brother X in the Lord:
All the churches in northern Kiangsu are still under the Lord's blessing. There are several more churches than there were two years ago. This is the Lord's special grace. Brother Ji is still in Soo-Jia-Tsui. I have been away from home for the most part since the fall of last year. Thank and praise the Lord. He constantly leads me. It is not beneficial for a worker or for a church to have the worker stay in one place for a long time because (1) the Lord's gifts are kept from spreading to other places, (2) it becomes difficult for gifted local ones to rise up to serve the local church, and (3) it becomes a sect subconsciously, with certain churches belonging to certain individuals. The article on the principle of the work in the second issue of The Open Door is very important. I have not decided where I will go next. I did not receive the second issue of The Open Door. I have already received the fourth issue. Peace in the Lord!
Your little brother in the Lord,Chiu Ri-jienMarch 30
Brother X in the Lord:
Last October, I fled from Hangchow to Chou-Jia-Pu in Shi-Siang. I stayed there for more than a month. My wife gave birth to a child one night. When I desperately needed help, a woman suddenly came from the mountain and helped me. This really was God's provision for me; glory be to Him. After nineteen days I took my family into the mountains. Unfortunately, it rained the whole time, the roads were winding and muddy, and my child kept slipping and falling. Thank God for His protection. We finally arrived at a place in the mountains. We stayed in a gospel chapel for three Lord's Days. Then my family and I walked to Yi-Chiao. It was about thirty miles over mountain roads. This was on the road back to Shao-Shing. It was not easy to travel with a little baby. It was especially difficult because the boats had all stopped running. I could only pray silently for God's leading. He indeed made marvelous provisions! I met someone from my home town. It was actually one of my neighbors. He was just hiring a boat to go back home. If we had arrived two hours later, he would have been gone. We were able to ride in the boat with him straight home. At this point my heart overflowed with praise: "Eye has not seen and ear has not heard...things which God has prepared for those who love Him." Where is Brother Luan? Please greet Miss Miao and Miss Tso. Please send me The Open Door beginning with the first issue so I can read them all. May you be blessed with the Lord's presence.
Your brother,Hsu Tseng-rongMarch 28[Address omitted]
Greetings to X in the Lord:
On February 24 I received a letter from Ning-Hai. I was very happy. The brothers are scattered because of the war, and it is difficult to get messages to one another. When I received your letter, it was as if I were seeing your face. I was so comforted! Your remembrance of our brothers and sisters in Shao-Shing is with the same burden as our remembrance of the brothers and sisters in other localities. Although the brothers and sisters in Shao-Shing were all forced to scatter to other places, they are all safe and well. Please do not worry. The only problem is that Miss Chang Shi-jeng was in Li-Zhu originally. A few months ago I hired a boat to go and visit her, but I discovered that she had moved to Hsie-Jia-Chun in the area of Lou-Gung because Li-Zhu was too dangerous. It is difficult to get messages to her, and there is no way to communicate with her. We are not lonely in Jou-Shan. Every Lord's Day there is a meeting in Brother Ma Ting-chi's home. Mrs. Lau from Hsiang-Li comes every Lord's Day. The number of believers from Jou-Shan itself has increased quite a bit. God Himself did the work. Oh, praise the Lord! We need to pray much for one another. May God always give grace and protect us and all the other brothers and sisters. Peace.
Your brother in the Lord,Hsie Tze-yuen[Address omitted]
Greetings to Brother X in the Lord:
Although the Lord's people were scattered in every place as the war spread, the Lord's gospel followed them into the mountains, bays, and coastal regions. Praise the Lord! I used to live in Shao-Shing, but I fled to my ancestral home (Dan-Ju-Wu) because of the war. In these few months several people have been saved through God's grace. There is now a home meeting every Lord's Day in Dan-Ju-Wu. There is also a prayer meeting every night. May God be with our work and may He also send more workers to reap His harvest. Please send six copies of The Open Door to this address. Peace on your way.
The least on the way,Han Xiang-fuApril 8[Address omitted]
Greetings in the Lord to Brother Jing-yuan:
The Lord has protected me with His grace since we parted. Although we have passed through many difficulties and hardships, we have seen God's saving power in delivering us from danger. Thank and praise the Lord! The brothers and sisters returned from Hsiao-Shu to Hsie-Chun in three groups. All were safe. Eighty percent of the houses in the village were completely destroyed by fire. The houses of the believers, however, were mostly preserved by the Lord. Brother Zhang Lin-yu's house and store were burned. The whole town of Ma-Yao was destroyed. The only buildings left standing were the Presbyterian Church and the Apostolic Faith Church. Although Hsie-Chun is no longer in danger, it is not yet stable. We ask the brothers and sisters to please pray for us. Peace in the Lord.
Your brother,Huang Bao-kuang
Greetings to the brothers and sisters meeting in the Lord's name in X:
Although I have never met you, we are connected because of the Lord Jesus' precious blood, so I dare to write this letter and tell you of my news to comfort the hearts of the brothers and sisters who are concerned. I left Nanking with my mother and brother last August 25. We have been taking refuge in Jin-Hwa, Chekiang, for seven months now. We were blessed by God's great grace and are very safe. In the past few months, I have deeply felt the pain of severed fellowship with the brothers and sisters. Praise and thank our dear Father. He is with us always and everywhere. He has not left us orphans but leads us in His love. A month ago my mother and I went to stay with my aunt and uncle in Tang-Si. My uncle is a pastor in the Baptist Church there. He is a brother who loves the Lord and is regenerated with His life. We gain something every Lord's Day in the services. I received two copies of the fourth issue of The Open Door. I was very comforted to read the news of the work and the brothers and sisters in all the localities. Please continue to send two copies of every issue. I am sending X dollars for the cost of printing The Christian in the future. I am also sending X dollars in postage stamps for use in sending out The Open Door. Peace and joy in the Lord.
Your sister in the Lord,Yang Wen-jengMarch 25[Address omitted]
Greetings in the Lord to Brother Chou:
My mother and I have not tasted the Lord's table in the eight months since we have been here. Our hearts are really panting like deer thirsting for water. We have been earnestly asking the Father to give us a taste of His table so that we may worship God in one accord with the brothers and sisters. It seems as if the Lord has answered our cries. My brother sent a letter from Shanghai recently, saying that he wanted us to come to Shanghai. However, the road is very dangerous, and he is afraid that it will not be convenient for two women to travel without accompaniment. If this is the Lord's answer to our prayer, He will protect us for His name's sake. We have nothing to fear. We have not decided when we will leave for Shanghai. We are still praying. Thank God. My younger brother has finished college and is now working in the accounting office of Guang-Hua University in Szechuan. I have not heard any news concerning Brother Tang, and I am very worried about him. I ask the God who does not fail and loves to give grace to bless his whole family as well as the brothers and sisters in San-Chiao-Bu. May the Lord send His angels to encamp around them. How is Sister Chou Ming-hsien? Do you have any news of the Yuan sisters, An-hsi, Ruth, and Shun-ying? If you know anything about them, please tell me. May you have peace and joy. My mother greets you.
Your sister in the Lord,Yang Wen-jengApril 13
Greetings to X:
Thank the Lord. Through The Open Door I have learned about the situation of the brothers and sisters and the condition of the churches, and feel very comforted! The region of Ping-Yang, Tai-Sun, and Fu-Ding is still very peaceful. All the works of the church continue toward the brothers and sisters and toward the Gentiles. Wenchow experienced terrible bombings. The brothers and sisters all fled to the countryside, so the church in the city became very empty. It is now gradually being recovered. Please do not worry. There are many poor brothers and sisters who experience much lack in their living. Some of the brothers in the region of Muo-Cheng, Ping-Yang, and Nan-Gang used to work in the pottery factories. The pottery industry has completely shut down because there is a blockade on shipping. As a result, these brothers have suffered the loss of their jobs. Thank the Lord. Although they are suffering, they are still relying on the Lord wholeheartedly, and they are living from day to day. This was how they lived in the past, and it is how they will live in the future. The Lord is the Alpha and the Omega. He is our only eternal trust. He is to be praised!
Your brother,Chen Chin-faApril 4
Greetings to X:
We feel so privileged to receive The Open Door, Issue Nos. 1-5. Please do not worry. The truth that Brother Nee presented in the second issue is very precious. We read it several times. We also see that the brothers are not afraid to suffer for the sake of the gospel. They dare to go into the remote regions, and we should remember them in prayer. We are sending X dollars for the printing of this publication. We hope you can send us an extra copy of future issues. May you be blessed with peace.
Your unworthy brothers,Fan Yun-shan, Wen Jing-yi, Fan Pei-jen,and all the brothersApril 6[Address omitted]
Dear brothers in the Lord:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! We were led by the Lord to hold a conference in Chuenchow on March 16. We thank and praise Him for the grace and leading He gave through it, and we trust Him for our future in the course we must run and the work we must accomplish. Dear brothers, we are deeply conscious of our many shortages and failures in the past and of our weak and pitiful condition in the present. Thank the Lord! His grace is sufficient for us. We can please Him through His grace. Dear brothers, please pray much for us. The work in all places in Fukien has been cared for by the Lord since the beginning of the war. The churches in Lung-Yen, Changchow, Kulangsu, Ho-Shan, Tung-An, Din-Mei, Wu-Lu, Chai-Lin, Shui-Tou, An-Hai, Ban-Ling (An-Hsi), Shi-Shee, Chuenchow, Tseng-Mao (Hwei-An), Feng-Ting, Sien-You, Pu-Tien, Han-Jiang, Yu-Si, and Fu-Ching have all been preserved. The number of saved ones has increased. The regions of Dong-Jang of Fu-Ching, Dong-Yuan of Hwei-An, Juang-Shan of An-Hsi, Ying-Du of Nan-An, and Gu-Jai of Tung-An are new fields for the gospel. We hope that the Lord will revive His work in An-Hsi, Yung-Chun, Deh-Hua, Chang-Pu, and many places in western Fukien. Our conference ended on the evening of the twenty-third. We had three mornings of fasting and prayer with the brothers and sisters of Chuenchow. We deeply believe that the Lord heard all our prayers. Glory be to Him. Peace in the Lord.
Your brothers,Wang Deng-ming, Chen Ke-san, Chai Tze-chung,Deng Tze-cheng, Han Jin-siu, Lan Jin-yang,Wu Den-jieh, Keh Lien-minMarch 24
All things really work together for good to those who love God. He is the Savior and the Creator. He opened a way for us to pioneer the gospel into the interior regions. He has begun a good work, and He will finish this work until His day. May the kingdom, authority, and glory be to God. The assembly here received X dollars of the Lord's money. We want to designate it for the use of the work in Szechuan. Please distribute it according to the Lord's leading.
Your little brothers in the assembly in Chuenchow,Yang Shi-chao, Wu Ren-jiehMarch 25[Address omitted]
Greetings to X in the Lord:
Although southern Fukien experiences tension at times, we are still at peace. The meeting in Amoy has stopped for a long time now. It has not been recovered. The meeting in Kulangsu has been preserved and continues as usual. Sister Yien-tze hurriedly returned to Pu-Tien two weeks ago because her nephew was dangerously ill and had not yet believed in the Lord. Sister Yuan-yi is still physically weak. We really need to pray for her. Peace in the Lord.
Your weak sister,Chen Wan-chingMarch 21[Address omitted]
Brothers and sisters in the Lord:
We have received every copy of The Open Door. Thank you and praise the Lord. We have been edified by it very much. Missionary Rong and Sister Kao Chui-lan returned to Hou-Ma, Shansi, on February 14. They only sent one letter from Hou-Ma to us before the roads were closed. We do not know how they are doing now. We ask the brothers and sisters in the Lord to pray earnestly for them and for the Spiritual Band. May the Lord stretch out His almighty hand to cover His children and all the co-workers who love the Lord from China and from the West. Peace.
Your little brothers,Yang Sin-sheng, Chu Huai-an, Wang Hua-min[Address omitted]
Thank the Lord! He really loves us and keeps us safe. God's grace has led us to remain in Tsingtao all the time. Three families left because the brothers lost their jobs. More than ten of the rest have also left. Brother Lee Shi-sin (Tze-jung) has not left. Brother Kao Guei-shu's family and Sister Tan's family have not left either. There are still a few brothers who cannot leave, so there are more than ten people. God protects us every night. Although we have heard people speaking negative things, we still sleep peacefully. I really worry about the brothers in northern Kiangsu. I have not heard news of them for a long time. How is southern Fukien? How is the region of Ping-Yang? We do pray for them, but we would also like to know their real condition.
Chang Tze-jiehMarch 23
Peace to my dear Brother X in the Lord:
The brothers in Chefoo have all been kept safe by the Lord's grace. The meetings continue as usual. We have moved the evening meetings to five o'clock, so they have not been hindered. Brother Witness is still working in Chefoo. The meetings have been really blessed recently. There are many people in every meeting. There was a baptism meeting last Lord's Day. Sixteen people were baptized, five of whom were brothers; the rest were sisters. There are still many who want to be baptized, but we feel that they are still not clear and have asked them to wait awhile. May the Lord be with us always so that we may live for Him. May the Lord protect you in peace! Greet all the brothers and sisters in Hankow.
Your brother,Chao Jing-hwaiApril 1[Address omitted]
X in the Lord:
Brother Wang (Jian-tang) has not found a job yet. Sister Feng Chang Xiu-feng entered the Hsieh-Ho Hospital in Peking a few days ago. Her illness will probably require surgery. We still must pray for her. Brother Liu Heng-teh is still in Tientsin with his original job. He comes to the meetings often. Mrs. Tang has moved to Yao-Hua-Li. The house number is 416. Mrs. Po has returned to Tientsin. Sister Dong is in Chefoo. She is engaged to Brother Chiao Fu-ya. Brother Chui Tze-fang has not recovered from his illness. Sometimes he is well, and sometimes it flares up. We still do not know what kind of sickness it is. Every week there is a fellowship meeting for the brothers and sisters. We hope to have a baptism meeting soon and hope Brother Witness Lee can come. We have invited him several times, but he does not have a clear leading before the Lord, so he has not agreed to come yet. Please remember the brothers and sisters here in your prayer. May God cause us to pick up the responsibility for the assembly before Him in a good way. May we further the gospel in one accord. May we stand in the position that the overcomers should stand in on the earth today. Thank God for showing us that everything of ourselves is foolish and unclean. If it were not for the Lord's love, when could we ever be counted worthy to come before God? May the Lord have pity on us and grace us to learn the proper lessons. We do not want to remain in the same "grade" again and again. Please greet all the brothers and sisters that I know. Peace in the Lord.
Lin Chang Pin-jengApril 4[Address omitted]
Brother You-sheng:
Thank God for always leading me. Although I have passed through dangers, I have not been harmed. Since God cares for me every minute, I am always at peace, and my affairs prosper. I am very concerned about the news concerning Brother Tang and the other brothers and sisters. I really hope to learn about their news and situation! I have been in Shensi for almost three months. I was not busy for the first two months. There is a denomination here. Its beliefs are very pure, so I go there often to meet and talk with the people. When I first came to this hospital, I was the only believer. God gave me the boldness several times to testify among the people. There are now more than ten believers. There is a meeting every Lord's Day in my office. There is also a gospel meeting every Thursday for the patients. God has blessed His work in this hospital. I really thank Him! I only have the first issue of The Open Door. I did not receive any of the rest. May we remember each other in prayer. I hope we can see one another soon. May God lead us. Please greet the brothers and sisters in Hankow for me.
Your brother in the Lord,Ching-huaFebruary 8[Address omitted]
Greetings to my brother in the Lord, X:
I received The Open Door and was happy to see some news of brothers that I know, as well as the condition of the work. I was called by the Lord two years ago, but because of my personal situation, I was slow to submit. I did not feel peaceful to remain in my work, but whenever I preached the gospel, my heart was filled with joy. I came to Pinchow to work in the government's Highway Engineering Office. I wanted to quit twice to go preach the gospel, but I was not bold enough to quit and work for the Lord. I often prayed to the Lord and debated with Him, saying, "If You do not want me to work, take away my job. I am not praying to submit to You. If You want me to do something, You do it. If You do not want me to do something, hinder me. Lead me according to Your will." To my surprise the construction project was changed a few days later. They stopped paving the road, so my job was terminated. At the time I planned to go to Hankow via Ch'eng-tu. When I got to Brother Tze-sien's place, I intended to spend some time with the brothers in the Lord and be edified, as well as to learn some hymns and to understand more of the Bible, after which I would begin my work for the Lord. Otherwise, I felt that I would not be worthy to work for the Lord. Later I felt in my heart that I should stay in Bin-Jou for two weeks because some at the Gospel Chapel wanted me to stay. (Last year when I arrived in Bin-Jou, the American, Pastor Nieh, returned to his country, and I was called upon to help them in their meetings many times.) I temporarily moved into the Gospel Chapel. A few days later the order came to prepare for the resumption of the construction project, and I had to stay for awhile. Less than two weeks later, another order came to stop the work again. They wanted to transfer me to Bao-Ji to work on a bridge. The people at the Gospel Chapel cried aloud and tried to keep me there, so I prayed all night with four believers. At three in the morning, the Lord told me, "If you are clear about giving up your work, tell them that you are quitting and come out quickly." I then decided to not work any longer, and the next day I quit my job. On the third day after I came to the Gospel Chapel, Sister Chang Sin-deh and Sister Tsou Hwei-deh received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Chu Cheng-deh and Kuo Ming-deh received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit next. The tongues, prophecies, and spiritual songs which they uttered all had clear translations.
With regard to the few people in the Gospel Chapel in Bin-Jou, other places had given them the name of Ice-Jou [homonyms in Chinese]. This was an exaggerated way of saying that they were cold to the point of being below zero degrees. The condition of the last few days and the Lord's blessing have proven that through one as humble, useless, foolish, and immature as I, the Lord's church has been helped. Brothers and sisters, please pray for me and the church in Bin-Jou. I know that my condition and my work in the Lord are something that Brother Jung-jieh, Brother Tze-sien, and Brother Shou-ling would want to know about. I have just started walking in the Lord's way and am very immature, so I ask the brothers and sisters for advice to prevent me from taking the wrong way. I would like you to write to me. With respect to the work of the Holy Spirit, I believe that tongue-speaking is something outward. It is more important to be filled inwardly in the aspect of life. The filling of the Holy Spirit includes speaking in tongues, but those who speak in tongues do not always have the inward filling of the Holy Spirit. If I am wrong, please instruct me. Peace in the Lord and greetings to all the brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Your little brother in the Lord,Chang Kuang-taiApril 10[Address omitted]
Dear Brother X in the Lord:
We have not seen each other since we parted in Nanking. I really miss you in my heart. Thank the Lord. Although we are physically separated, the fellowship of God cannot be broken. We have been in Nan-ch'ang for four months. Our work is not busy, and we sometimes preach the gospel to the wounded soldiers. Although there is not much fruit, the Lord's word is never in vain. Some have already believed seriously. I know that I am not faithful enough to the Lord. I have let many good opportunities slip away. May God have mercy on me that I would be diligent and zealous for Him. We did not have any meetings until January 16 when the brothers and sisters here met together. We have continued meeting since that date. We have been very encouraged because God has so richly graced us. We sing hymns, pray, exhort, testify and study the Bible together. Thank God for His leading and blessing; we can receive His grace and care at any time and at any place. Sister Chou Yi-mei, Sister Pan Hsueh-mei, and Brother Yu Wei-liang of Chi-Loo University, Shantung, attend the meetings. Brother Chang Jao-tung, Brother Ma Lung-rue, and Brother Hsiao Wen-bing of the Shanghai Medical School also come. Brother Yu Mong-ling, Brother Lin Sung-nien, and Sister Min Guo-jun are in the meetings also. Our unsaved friends sometimes attend too.
There is one recent occurrence that is worthy of report. Sister Chou's elder brother was a zealous believer at one time, but he drifted away from God because of his environment and situation in recent years. In the beginning he never came to the meetings, but a month ago, Brother Chang prayed for him for quite awhile. We also remembered him in our prayers. He has returned to the Father through God's power and love. Praise God! When a prodigal son returns, even the angels rejoice. We really need the prayers of the brothers and sisters to strengthen us to stand firm before God until the Prince of Peace returns. We mention you constantly in our prayers and ask God to grant you special care. We received news from Shanghai that the meeting was continuing as usual in the hospital. May God bless them there. Dr. Stearn has resigned from the Red Cross Hospital and has taken another job. Do you have any news from Brother Tang Shou-ling? Please greet Brother Liu Kwo-jieh. Greet all the other brothers and sisters in the Lord. Peace in the Lord.
Your little brother in the Lord,Yu Nan-gengMarch 27[Address omitted]
In these days, so much has happened, but our God is faithful. What God Himself has ordained, no one can change. Therefore, even though we passed through the darkest, stormiest days, the victorious Lord still led us to this place. (We arrived in the afternoon of March 28.) The situation here is that the region from Nan-ning to Tsen-Nan-Guan belongs to us. Within this area there are three or four clinics. Sisters Chou and Lee went to work in Yi-Kou on the thirtieth. I will probably stay in the main clinic in Nan-ning. In the future it is possible that I will go away briefly for short periods. These two sisters will be mobile. I will still go to Siang-Tan tomorrow to return some articles. Then I will return to Nan-ning after a few days. I will report to you after I return.
The weak one in the Lord,Chien Sin-sienApril 2[Address omitted]
Dear Brother X in the Lord:
My uncle (Liu Jing-si) has already arrived in Kuei-yang. (He arrived on March 31.) Thank the Lord! The Kuei-yang Hospital Admissions Department gave my uncle a job. My aunt and uncle left for Ch'ang-Teh on March 12. They waited two weeks in Ch'ang-Teh for a bus. On the twenty-sixth, they were able to buy direct tickets to Kuei-yang. God's arrangements are too marvelous! Thank Him! The bus from Ch'ang-sha to Ch'ang-Teh on the twenty-fifth (which was scheduled to go directly to Kuei-yang) had only four passengers. It stopped for the night in Ch'ang-Teh because the bus broke down, so my uncle and aunt were able to get tickets the next day. They had too much luggage, and the Highway Department was not going to allow them to take it all, but the four passengers had so little luggage that my aunt and uncle were allowed to take all of theirs. We really praise the Lord because He constantly graces His children. Kuo-Siang, Mei-jen, and Yu-jen are all safe. Please do not worry. Peace in the Lord.
Your brother in the Lord,Chu-feiApril 7[Address omitted]
Dear X in the Lord:
We have received every issue of The Open Door. We thank the Lord that He has established you in this work. This type of publication is necessary now. Thank the Lord for giving it to us. We are sending X dollars, X dimes, and X cents for use toward the cost of printing. It is a small amount, but it represents our oneness with you. May the Lord bless your work more deeply. May the Lord be with you always. Amen. Peace in the Lord!
Representing all the brothers and sisters in the church in Chungking,
Your brothers,Lee Yun-sien, Tien Bi-sin, Liu Kuo-hwaApril 25[Address omitted]
Greetings to X in the Lord:
I received The Open Door twice and read both issues. Thank and praise the Lord. He really showed me that He is calling His children to do His holy work. This calling is one throughout the entire country. It is progressing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it is real. In addition to praying for the work, may the brothers and sisters in each locality be like the ones on whose behalf Paul gave thanks and whom Paul exhorted and comforted (see 1 Cor. 15:57-58). Amen!
The Lord's little worker,Lo Jen-shuanApril 20[Address omitted]
Brother in the Lord, Yu-zhi:
There are too few people in Kweichow for the Lord's work. Kuei-yang only has one China Inland Mission. The pastor is more than seventy years old. Truthfully, Kuei-yang does not have one worker who really preaches the gospel. The Lord has prepared the meeting place for you to preach the gospel. May the Lord's Spirit lead you to come to Kweichow.
Your brother in the Lord,Chen Heng-chiuApril 1[Address omitted]
If your work is not finished, you must, of course, continue until you arrive at a goal. If you could come in May, that would be good. Pastor Zhia Yu-ming will come to preach the gospel in Kuei-yang. It will probably be in April or May. The general situation in Kuei-yang is as follows: It has the highest standard of living in China, especially in the daily necessities. Food and lodging cost about as much as in Nanking and Shanghai. The people are all filled with the sins of a big city, but there are not as many places for them to go to sin. The city is too small for it. (The population is a little more than one hundred thousand.) The weather is mild but very rainy. There can also be great changes in temperature. There is only a Gospel Chapel from the China Inland Mission in the city. (There are also two Catholic churches.) Its worship service has forty-five people at the most. Ordinary meetings have anywhere from a few to twenty in attendance. These are all the Christians in Kuei-yang. However, they all love the Lord. Therefore, the offering every week is more than X dollars. In comparison with some localities in other provinces, where the number of people is in the hundreds but the collection is only a few dollars, this is really much better, isn't it? There are two families where the entire household has believed in the Lord. They are the Yeh family and the Cheng family. Our church recently rented a large building with three floors on a major street. It is very suitable for conferences. I think that the Lord has prepared a place for you to work. The building we rented is like the one in Kuling. It can be used for preaching the gospel and as a bookstore. Unfortunately, we do not have any books to put out. If you have books, please bring them or send them. Please write to the Shanghai Gospel Book Room and ask them to send a large quantity to sell. What do you think about this? I am now working in the Department of Agricultural Reform in Kweichow. May the grace of the Lord be with you always.
Your brother in the Lord,Heng-chiuApril 6
Beloved sisters in the Lord, Miss Lee, Mrs. Yuan, and Miss Chang:
Thank the Father that I arrived safely. Please do not worry. We left on the thirtieth and spent three days on the road. Although we passed through danger several times, I did not feel at all afraid, because God was with me. The road we took was in the steep, high mountains. On the second day, we were winding around the highest, biggest mountain. We made twenty-four turns. We traveled for two hours before we got around this mountain. There were small villages along the way where we could eat and sleep. The first night we slept in the County Girls' School in Chi-Jiang County. The principal welcomed us. The hospitality was good. However, the second night was very different. There were no houses to take lodging in, and the bus got stuck in a hole, so we were in danger. Fortunately, there were small rocks in the mud that held the wheels, or many people on the bus would have been killed or injured. Thank and praise God. How great is the length, breadth, height, and depth of God's love! We are weak and very immature children in the Lord. There is not much spiritual growth in me. I desire and pursue all wisdom and knowledge in the spirit. I deeply hope that the sisters in the Lord will help me that I may be perfected. When I think of the testimonies that I heard in Chungking and the two times I dined together with you at the Lord's table, my heart is extremely happy. When will Sister Lee and Sister Chang come to Kweichow? May God lead you. If you can come soon, we will be happier. Peace in the Lord.
Your weak sister in the Lord,Chang Chiung-sienApril 2, in Kuei-yang
Brother Lin Yau-huei has been transferred to Wu-Chow. He left K'un-ming on the tenth of this month. We had hoped that Brother Lin would not be transferred, because there are not many responsible brothers in K'un-ming. However, God's will is higher than man's will. We deeply believe that God wants to raise up His testimony in Wu-Chow through Brother Lin and Brother Muo Hue-chen. Therefore, we happily said, "Amen!" Brother Hu Shuan-ming (from Lung-Si, Fukien, who works in Parliament) arrived in Chungking on the sixteenth of this month. He is a good brother. We hope that he can be edified much with the brothers and sisters in Chungking. Brother Lee Shiang-chen and Sister Hsiao Ai-kuang arrived in K'un-ming recently from Ch'ang-sha. They are both students at National Southwest University. Brother Chen Ho-seng in Ho-Kou married Miss Liang in March. They are serving the believers who travel through Ho-Kou. They are exceptionally diligent. May God Himself repay the love they have shown for His name's sake. I heard that Brother Yin Tzu-lan and his family and Brother Chou Hung-bao left Hong Kong on the nineteenth for K'un-ming. I have already rented a very spacious house for Brother Yin. (The rent is a little high.) I deeply believe that God prepared this house for our brother. Thank the Father for manifesting evidence that He graces His children. The S. W. University's Engineering College was originally going to be in Mong-Tze but has suddenly been changed to K'un-ming. Therefore, Brother Yin was able to come. I believe that God has His good will in causing Brother Yin to come to K'un-ming.
The assembly here has been blessed by God very much. Seventeen brothers and sisters were baptized into the Lord's name in March. Not long afterwards, more brothers and sisters wanted to be baptized. The meetings have been preserved by God since Brother Wei and Brother Chen went to Ku-Jiu. They are progressing day by day. I hope that God will give a great revival to the church in K'un-ming so that more saved ones will be added to His church. The fourth prayer request published in the fifth issue of The Open Door concerning Sister Wang Juh-ching has been answered. God has opened a way for her to be the head nurse in the K'un-ming Tung-Ren Hospital. Sister Chang Jing-shia can also work permanently at the Hwei-Dian Hospital. Brother Chang Jing-yuen follows the Lord's leading and sometimes goes into the neighboring villages to preach the gospel.
Your little brother in the Lord,Huang TsungApril 20[Address omitted]
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:
May the grace and peace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The Lord's coming is near. The churches in all the localities are being revived. The Lord has also begun a good work in all the localities of Southeast Asia. The church in Surabaya was very desolate, but thank the Lord for His marvelous grace; He is not a respecter of persons. He gathered His children here like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. The Lord has given us a place to remember Him here. However, most of the brothers and sisters are very immature. They really need to be fed with spiritual milk. We are newborn children and, of course, we love and desire milk. May the Lord give us the pure spiritual milk that our spiritual life may grow. We have four brothers and three sisters here. There is a prayer meeting every Saturday evening. Every Lord's Day morning we have a meeting to remember the Lord. We have not started to break the bread. We meet freely with the brothers and sisters together because our number is so small. If there were more people, we could not meet like this because we do not have a name or an organization. We would be unable to continue. (Please read chapters five and ten of The Normal Christian Church Life carefully. You will not have any problems — Editor.) Brothers and sisters, we would like you to pray much for the work which has been newly raised up. Please pray also for the immature believers here. We bless you with peace.
Your little brothers in the Lord,Chen En-shen, Tai Hsi-shung,Wang Fen-hsing, Wang Kuang-zeMarch 17[Address omitted]
Sister Tang Mei-lih sent a letter from Shanghai on April 11 saying that Sister Lee Shi Sai-ho fell out of a car and was injured. She is in the hospital.
Brother Ho Yueh-chiao sent a letter from Shanghai on April 14 saying that The Christian cannot be sent to any locality in Shantung province except for Chefoo and Tsingtao. It cannot be sent to most of the localities in Kiangsu and Chekiang. Many readers have moved but have not notified us. Of course, we must bear some responsibility in this respect because The Christian is not published on schedule many times, and it is easy for the readers to forget. For now, we can only place the mailings into the Lord's hands.
Sister Shen Shi-kwei sent a letter from Shanghai on April 13 saying that her mother is recovering at home. Her father has believed in the Lord. Her younger sister, Shi-shuan, sent a letter home. She is safe. Her brother, Shi-jia, went to Ch'ang-sha and has entered school. His school is moving to Shensi province. May the Lord protect him. The sisters in the hospital are all safe and well. Please do not worry. [Address omitted]
Brother Chao Yung-chuen came from Nanking to Hankow. He is now in Hanyang. He came to the meeting last Lord's Day, and he came to buy books today. He talked with the brothers and has an inward burden to go to Sinkiang to begin the gospel work there (April 4).
Telegrams cannot reach Chefoo. We can only pray for them (April 12).
Beginning on April 16, there will be two weeks of gospel meetings at the Hanyang Refugee Center. There will be two meetings a day. Please pray for this (April 15).
Not many churches in Southeast Asia have sent in their subscriptions for The Open Door. Would any brother who is familiar with the churches there send a list to Hankow of the addresses of the churches in Southeast Asia and the responsible brothers in each place, along with the number of copies of The Open Door that each locality needs? We will send their subscriptions directly to them in the future. My wife returned safely to Hankow on the eighteenth. Brother Liu Ai-wu accompanied her (April 22).
The China Airlines flight between Chungking and Hong Kong passes through Kuei-yang, but it no longer stops there. Mail will go to Chungking by air and then return to Kuei-yang by car. The airline says that it will probably restore service to Kuei-yang in one month (April 23).
Brother Liu Ai-wu has resigned from the orphanage because there was persecution. Brother Zhang Gun-jih has already found a suitable, cheap house for Brother Liu and his family in Yi-Yang. Brother Liu needs to rest for at least six months. We commit the burden of his entire family to God (April 26).
Three of the eight brothers in the orphanage have found jobs. Brother Tsung Kung has finished his job and is waiting for further notification (April 27).
(The preceding are excerpts from Brother Lan Tsi-yi's letters from Hankow.)
Thank the Lord. The meeting last Lord's Day was very living. Indeed, unless one's water bottle is empty, he will not cry to God (April 19).
At one o'clock in the morning on April 21, the city was suddenly hit by a great thunderstorm. The winds were strong, and it rained heavily. The rain was so heavy that it engulfed the entire city. Thank the Lord. Not one of the brothers and sisters was injured....The entire region did not have electricity last night, but there were still seven brothers and sisters in one accord who met to pray as usual (April 22).
(The preceding are excerpts from Mrs. Yuan How-tsai's letter from Chungking.)
Sister Yuan Jing-hwa went from Nanking to Su County on August 21 of last year. She came from Su County to Hankow on March 18 of this year. She is now waiting for a job (Hankow Newsletter).
Sister Ji Hwei-jen is still living in the China Inland Mission in Yin-Shang County, Anhui.
Sister Huang Jen-zhi sent a letter asking us to send ten or twelve copies of The Open Door to 45 Tang-Tze Alley, Cheng-Dong, Peking, or to the meeting hall at 5 Foreign Ministry Street, Peking. She is doing the work of visiting homes, and many people want The Open Door. (We received this letter on April 14.)
Sister Sun Zhu Ming-seng has returned to Canton. Her mailing address is [omitted].
The church in Ku-Tien has moved its meeting place to [omitted]. Letters concerning the church there can now be sent directly to that address.
The name list of the responsible ones in each church in Wu-Yi contained both elders and deacons and deaconesses. Wu Jou-shiang, Gu Zhang-feng, Hsu Chi, Chui-feng, and Chu Hwei-ai are all deaconesses. I am sending this as a correction — Ding Keh-chang.
(1) All letters concerning the work, whether from the disciples or the apostles, are published in the column "News of the Work." All letters concerning the churches are published in the column "News of the Churches."
(2) Beginning with this issue, we are publishing a translation concerning the principles of service. We are in a time of emergency, and the mail is often blocked. We are doing our best to put all the news into the publication, because many news items need to get to the readers in a timely manner. The editor is aware of the increase in the number of pages, but we feel that it is best if the brothers and sisters can learn all the news from every locality as early as possible.
(3) Some of the letters are very ordinary. The reason we did not delete them is that we can see how God graces our brothers and sisters. They also bring in a kind of closeness. In one letter there was a request to bring an iron. The editor was planning to delete the sentence, when she suddenly thought about the word in 2 Timothy 4:13: "The cloak which I left in Troas with Carpus, bring when you come." We decided to keep the sentence about the iron. Practical daily events are not altogether unspiritual. If it is a spontaneous, honest letter, does it not add a little of the flavor of the house of God?
(4) One brother may be concerned about something that another brother is not interested in at all. Another brother's concern may mean nothing to a third brother. Therefore, the editor can only objectively think about all sides and do her best to enable the brothers and sisters to communicate their news with each other. Our past experience shows that the brothers and sisters have been comforted by this publication. Even the editor has learned about many brothers and sisters whom she has never seen before and has begun to care for them, too. Even some brothers who had questions about us because of rumors that they had heard have had their misunderstandings resolved through this publication. Therefore, the editor dares not restrict the news of the churches with boundaries of locality or truth. We only hope that through the letters from every place, love and oneness in Christ can be expressed.
(5) In the news of the work, there are naturally many paragraphs which are in the nature of reports. The editors would like to quote a few sentences from The Normal Christian Church Life:
The Bible shows us that it is not only permissible, but necessary, to give reports of the work to those who pray for us and are in one accord with us. However, reports are not advertisements, so they should not be in the nature of advertisements. It is precious to give the children of God reports of messages and other news. However, if the nature of the report has been corrupted with a motive, it is not acceptable to God. On the other hand, there is no example among the apostles of unnatural reticence or soulish seclusiveness of a better-than-you-are sort among God's children. It is all a matter of motive. All things are pure to the pure. Nothing is pure to the impure. [Translator's Note: The preceding paragraph is based on the Chinese edition of The Normal Christian Church Life.]
Therefore, we hope that the motive of those who send in reports and the attitude of those who receive them are both pleasing to God.
(6) The many difficulties, needs, and requests for prayer are not intended to be given to every reader as a burden. A heart of love feels no burden. "For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Cor. 8:12). Therefore, it is not a question of doing or not doing something. It is a matter of having the heart. If one does not have the heart, it will not be beneficial even if one does it. If one has the heart, one prayer, one small offering, or one drop of sympathy can strengthen, comfort, and encourage others.
(7) The editors would like to speak a word of mutual exhortation to the co-workers. Our basis for our dealings with any person or matter should be love. We should reject our own "self." We should break our own "heart." We often shout the slogan of the cross, but it is better to bear the mark of the cross in our body. Not all the co-workers used by God are our co-workers by the narrowest definition. However, when we contact them, if we do not have the heart to receive instructions from them, we should at least have a heart of blessing toward them and ask God to bless them. We are merely using the light of the truth to serve the churches. We do not want to overstep the boundary which God has given us and trample on another's work. If one is humble and considers others stronger than himself, it will be easy for him to receive benefit from others.
(8) Finally, this issue was prepared and edited during travels. The final copy is then sent to Hankow for printing. The punctuation marks are often misread by the print shop, but we cannot correct every error. We ask all the writers to forgive us.
Ruth LeeApril 30, 1938, in Ch'eng-tu, Szechuan
(1) This publication is still being published in Hankow. We ask that all news of the work, news of the churches, subscription orders, and questions be sent directly to Gospel Book Room, P. O. Box 84, Hankow.
(2) Please put the date on your letters. (If there is no date, we do not know when your letter was written.) Write your address clearly and in detail. If anyone removes the envelope from a letter which was sent to them and then delivers the letter to us, please write the address of the writer on the letter.
(3) Whenever a subscriber changes his address, he should send us a letter immediately, if possible.
(4) Issue No. 13 of The Christian is being printed in Shanghai. It will still be sent from Shanghai. Any letters concerning subscribing to or wanting information about The Christian will be forwarded to the Shanghai Gospel Book Room. They will be recorded, sent, and answered in Shanghai.
(5) Because the post office in Shanghai does not accept large amounts of printed material, it is best for each locality to print their own gospel tracts. It will be more convenient that way.
(6) The Gospel Book Room has established a branch store in Hankow. Anyone in the region of Hankow can buy books from Hankow. If you live in Hankow, please come to buy your books at Gospel Court, 1 Hsiao-Dong-Jia Alley. When Hankow lacks books, Shanghai will send what is needed, but please forgive us for adding a charge for the postage.
March 30, 1938, in Hankow
The Open Door emphasizes the gospel work in each locality. In this publication we will publish:
(1) Articles concerning the principles of the work
(2) News of the work
(3) News of the churches
This publication is not for sale. We look to God to supply our need.
