Search
To the co-workers in Chekiang:
Reading The Open Door has reminded me of your work in the Lord. May the Lord Himself lead you. What is the situation in my home county of Ching-Shih County, Tsen Hai? Is there an assembly there? Are there co-workers and brothers there? I hope I can receive your news. May the Lord be with you. Amen.
Your brother in the Lord,Lin Kwang-tsaoMay 1[Address omitted]
At the end of last month, more than ten brothers and sisters were baptized here. There has been a Bible study every morning except on the Lord's Day since the fourth of the month. We are studying the important points of the gospel. It is for the young people. We have had more than ten meetings. We probably need to continue. Brother Lee Bih passed through Chefoo on his way back to Tientsin on the tenth of the month. I met with him. At that time I told him that, if the Lord allowed, I would go to Tientsin at the beginning of May. I do not know how the Lord will arrange the environment. Please pray for me! I received a letter at the beginning of the month from the Baptist Church in Huang County asking me to hold a conference there. I was not able to go because I had already scheduled the Bible study meetings.
Your little brother,WitnessApril 21[Address omitted]
I have been out working for more than a month. I have been in five places and have stayed for at least four days in each place. Thank the Lord! There was no frustration in all the places we went. The messages which I preached were mostly about knowing God's truth. People have been edified indirectly through the tense environment. The brothers and sisters in Gao-Mi, Ching-Jou, Lin-Ti, Guang-Rao, and Tsinan are all safe. They have not backslidden. On the contrary, they are working more zealously and looking for the Lord to come quickly. Of the brothers in Tsingtao, only Brother Hsu Xiao-feng has gone to Shanghai, and Brother Wang Hung-kai has gone to Wen-Deng. The number in the meetings has not decreased. There are also a few newly saved ones. One is very stable. Perhaps God will want him to bear responsibility in the future. I might go to Chefoo. I hope to receive some help there. God has revealed Christ on the cross to me twice, so I wept twice. If the Lord wants me to go to Sikang, I can only submit to Him. According to the flesh, I hate to leave Shantung, especially Tsingtao. May the Lord give me the grace to completely obey and walk in His will.
Your brother in the Lord,Tze-jiehMay 5[Address omitted]
We trust by the Lord that you continually remember us and are concerned about our situation before God our Father. For this reason, we are writing this letter to tell you about the matters concerning us so that your hearts may receive comfort and joy. The God who bears our burdens has heard our prayers and answered the prayers of His children. Glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.
In the region north of the Yangtze River, the churches of God seem to be boats on the sea. In the past few years many storms have suddenly arisen, and the churches have almost been covered by the waves. We have had failures, weaknesses, foolishness, and unfaithfulness in these situations. However, God allows these things to happen for His purpose. "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God." If there were no storms, how could our weaknesses be exposed? How could the Lord's ability to rebuke the wind and the waves be manifested without a storm? Therefore, we praise the Lord for allowing these things to happen to us. We hoped that the co-workers could come together for fellowship. Thank the Lord! We did not plan for it, but He gathered us together in Yi-Lin on April 6. We met together that evening. The Lord was with us. He caused us to remember the truth we received in 1928. It was all the Lord's grace. At the same time, He showed us that we each come short of the glory of God. If we do not put ourselves aside, if we do not keep the flesh and the enemy from having an inch of room in us, it will be difficult for the Lord to accomplish His work in northern Kiangsu. Thank the Lord. He is victorious. He overcame not only the enemy but also us. On the next morning, we met again. The Lord told us to go out together in one accord to visit the churches in each locality. Thank God. He gave us a heart of oneness through the Holy Spirit. Please pray for us and ask the Lord to preserve us until He comes.
Your brothers,Ji Yung-tung, Chiu Ri-jien, Wu WeiApril 19[Address omitted]
God Himself is working among us as never before. (This is in reference to our locality.) Two weeks ago the women's gospel meeting was changed from Tuesday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. One reason for the change was that there were not enough sisters to care for the many sinners who came on an individual basis, and more sisters could get off work to help on Saturday. The other reason was that we had hoped to use this opportunity to revive the sisters and to bring out what they have so that they will not become stagnant in their growth. Thank the Lord. After making this change, we were blessed by the Lord in two aspects. The number of saved sinners increases daily. The sisters are also involved more with the individual work. There are about two hundred in every meeting. We hope that the gospel preaching will soon be taken care of completely by the local sisters so that they do not have to look to the workers for the work. (We feel that a local church which relies only on the workers, without the local saints rising up, is just an empty shell.) Presently, we ask the sisters who have made a breakthrough with God to do the preaching first. Although not everyone can preach the truth of the gospel, everyone should be able to tell about the effect of the gospel on them. Thank the Lord. He has done a deep work in people's hearts. The sisters realize that this is a business of God's house. Some volunteer to give themselves to the Lord. Others are spending their money for the souls of sinners. Some readily agree when they are asked to speak. This wonderful condition really causes us to say, "Hallelujah." The sisters' meeting has been changed to Wednesday afternoon at four-thirty. Because the work of those who pray privately has increased, God has manifested His marvelous grace among us all. Presently, we read the Bible and pray every Wednesday in the meeting. We are reading (not expounding) the Gospel of John. We are paying special attention to the matters concerning the Lord Jesus. Thank the Lord. He has given us much light. We speak to one another about what we have seen and gained. In this way we build up one another. About two hundred people come to that meeting. Every time we meet, more people come. Twenty-one sisters and seven brothers were baptized tonight. The Lord's Day morning message meeting is so crowded that all the seats are filled, and there is no room for standing. There are many who come in and then turn around and walk out. Last Lord's Day we changed the time of the Lord's table meeting to three o'clock in the afternoon. (It was inconvenient for the sisters to come to a meeting at night.) We might have three places with table meetings soon.
Miao Yun-chunMay 6[Address omitted]
The revival among the sisters is continuing. The condition is really good. Many people have been raised up to take responsibility for the work of prayer. There are many small prayer groups. Everyone brings more into the group, and the revival keeps spreading. The local sisters are responsible for the Saturday gospel meeting. Sometimes they ask us for help. God has raised up evangelists among them. It is marvelous the way sinners are saved. One very ordinary sentence causes people to repent and believe. God has used the sisters' daily conversation to bring others to Him and has worked through their testimonies. Sick people have been healed. Many sisters have seen their place of service in the house of God. They are all in one accord for the furtherance of the gospel. Some do individual work, while others do visitation work. Some spend more time in prayer. Some donate their money and their services for the Lord. Some invite friends for dinner. Some bring people to the gospel meetings. Viewing all of these, it really fills our hearts with praise to the Lord!
Everyone feels that the time is near. What we do today cannot make up for any loss in the past. This is why we must treasure the present all the more. It is as if God has placed the same heart in each one of us. Everyone is prepared to meet God. This condition could not have been brought about by anyone except God Himself. I really hope that I will not hinder His work of revival. We really need to continue to pray that He would work freely without human limitations. May all the glory be to Him!
Tso Fu-ruMay 10[Address omitted]
I have been through San-Tai-Chiao, San-Cha-Dai, Tou-Peng, and Kan-Shan in the Sha-Di region during the past month. Everywhere I witnessed the Lord's work. What I did was merely receive His grace. Praise the Lord! The local church in Wan-An-Chiao of the southern part of Sha-Di in Shao-Shin has really been blessed by the Lord. The numbers continue to increase. There is no room in the meeting place. They have rented two bungalows in the neighboring locality of Dang-Shan-Wan. They had a conference on April 3-4. They invited me to take care of the speaking. Brother Fei Chang-bao preached the gospel. There were almost seven hundred people listening to the gospel. The atmosphere was good. Their ordinary meetings are very much according to the principles outlined in The Normal Christian Church Life. This shows that the Lord's anointing has been teaching them in all things.
When there is not a conference, the number of people who come to hear the messages is more than one hundred. Most are received in Wan-An-Chiao. After the conference in Dang-Shan-Wan, there was a conference on the sixteenth and seventeenth in the locality of Twelfth Dai. Brother Kao Jing-fu, Brother Kao Chi-luh, Brother Fei Chang-bao, and I were responsible for the messages. Approximately six hundred people attended the conference. By the grace of the Lord the audience was edified, and the speakers were edified even more. I have been home recently. In the beginning of May there will be a conference for a few days in Si-Shing. I was invited to be one of the speakers. May the Lord have the authority in me that I would be more useful in His hand.
Your brother,Shan Kai-fenApril 20[Address omitted]
The entire county of Tai-Shun has about two hundred villages. It is divided into four regions. The whole area is remote and mountainous. Transportation is very inconvenient. The work is very difficult, so only a little more than forty localities have established churches. In the past few years no one has been raised up to preach the gospel; therefore, no new local churches have been established. Thank the Lord! On the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, there was a meeting in Hsia-Dong-Si to discuss the gospel work. Some brothers were raised up to accompany Brother Lee Shu-ren of Ping-Yang. They left from Shi-Si on January 30 and preached the gospel in Region Three for more than twenty days. They preached in twelve villages. During the day they preached the gospel door to door and passed out tracts. In the evening they borrowed a house, gathered an audience, and announced the gospel. Many received the truth. Every evening they spoke to audiences of one, two, and even three hundred people. They were very orderly and serious. Praise the Lord! Some brothers have decided to go to the area around San-Men-Yang in Region Four to begin preaching the gospel. We look to the Lord for His leading. Please pray for us much.
Your little, weak brother,Wang You-gaoTwenty-second day of the third month
There will be a few days of gospel meetings in the auditorium of the Ren-Ji Hospital starting May 19. There may be a few days of Bible study meetings afterwards. We work in the schools and in the homes during the day. In the future we will preach the gospel to the miners and in the markets. The door for the work is open wide. We deeply believe that God wants to work.
Chang Yu-zhiMay 18
To the brothers and sisters in the Lord who are co-workers:
We would like to tell the brothers and sisters all that God has done through us according to the pattern of the apostles (Acts 14:27; 21:19). We would also like to tell how God opened the door of the gospel for us. First, we give all the glory to God. Second, we hope the brothers and sisters would know how to pray for us. Third, we want to let the brothers and sisters who are concerned about the work in the remote areas know where we have been and the condition of the work. We left Ku-Jiu on the eighteenth of last month and were led by the Lord to arrive safely in Shi-Ping. We had an edification conference for the brothers and sisters from the evening of the twentieth to the evening of the twenty-seventh. The attendants in the meetings were mainly sisters. (This is because there are only four or five brothers here, with many times that number of sisters.) Most of the people in the meeting cannot read, except for the students. It was slightly difficult. However, the Lord brought us through. It seemed that most of the audience received the word. May God do a deeper work within them that they may gain the life of Christ more richly. We went to the streets beside all the city gates every afternoon from the twenty-first to the twenty-fourth to preach the gospel outdoors. The atmosphere was not very open. They have never welcomed Christianity. It was God's grace that we could openly bring the gospel to them. We borrowed the meeting hall for three gospel meetings on the afternoons of the twenty-fifth to the twenty-seventh. The brothers and sisters brought their friends and relatives to hear the gospel. We also saw God working. Some declared their faith in the Lord during the meeting. May the Lord gain them that they may not just be saved but may pay the price to walk in the way of victory to glorify the Lord's name. Amen!
The director of a certain newspaper was touched by the gospel he heard on the street. He made a special trip to visit us, and we had a long conversation with him. We also gave him some books on salvation. He later expressed that he had completely received the Lord. He is now reading the Bible and is coming to hear the messages. On the morning of the twenty-ninth, Brother K. H. Weigh and Brother Lin Kuang-tsao went to Lin-An and preached the gospel outdoors at the city gates and at every busy place in the city. Thank the Lord. Some people received the gospel on the spot. Some people were coming to the city from the countryside and had an excellent opportunity to hear the gospel. During the last gospel gathering, the Lord made a marvelous arrangement, and we met a brother in the Lord. When he saw us, he was happy to invite us into his home to stay there temporarily. Because the next day was the Lord's Day and we had a burden to hurry back to Shi-Ping, we did not accept his invitation. The Lord has begun a work in Lin-An. If He allows, Brother Lin will soon go there to continue preaching the gospel. Brother Weigh and Brother Chen Hsi-wen will leave tomorrow and go first to Mong-Tze and then to Kai-Yuan. Finally, they will go into K'un-ming. Brother Lin Kuang-tsao will continue to work in this region. He feels that the harvest is great and the workers few. He is often conscious of his inability and loneliness. May the Lord send one from among the co-workers with a burden for the gospel to the remote regions who will come to Shi-Ping and work with Brother Lin Kuang-tsao in all the localities in southern Yunnan. Brother Kuang-tsao feels that there is a desperate cry from this region and hopes that all the brothers and sisters will bear the responsibility to pray. In the church in Shi-Ping the majority of the brothers and sisters know that they must learn to follow the Lord and not look to man. The work that we have just finished needs your prayer as a follow-up. May the Lord's rich grace and great love be with you. Amen.
Your brothers,K. H. Weigh, Lin Kuang-tsao, Chen Hsi-wenMay 1, in Shi-Ping[Address omitted]
Greetings to Sister Lee in the Lord:
Indeed the Lord has saved many people through sufferings. I went south to Yen-Ping on the fifth of this month. I stayed for a week and fellowshipped with the sisters. On the twelfth I took a steamboat for nine and a half hours to Hung-Shan near Foochow. Thank the Lord for giving me a good opportunity to testify for Him to my family, relatives, and neighbors. We had a total of five days of meetings. I spoke nine times and finished only this afternoon. May the Lord cause these word-seeds to fall into the soil of good hearts that they may grow and bear fruit to the glory of the Lord's name. Amen. I have been away from Fukien for four years. On the trip home I have done my best to visit the brothers and sisters in the Lord. My heart is very happy. Tomorrow I will go to Yung T'ai. I plan to go to Min-Ching at the end of the month. If the Lord is willing, I will then go north to Xia-Yang, Yang-Kou, Shun-Chang, and Shao-Wu. Please help me with your prayers. Thank the Lord. I am well and am very interested in the work. I am always learning some lessons. These experiences will teach me more about how I must serve the Lord in eternity. Shao-yun and Chia-en continue their studies as usual. Although I travel from place to place, they are all safe under the Father's care, so I do not have any distractions. Praise the Lord! Peace in the Lord.
Your sister,Liao Ong Yu-bingApril 22[Address omitted]
On March 24 God the Father led senior Mrs. Nee, Mrs. Tseng Wen Feng-chi, Sister Lei Wei-rong, and me to leave Hong Kong. We traveled safely the entire way to Taishan. The day after we arrived, we prayed, and God gave us the word in Joshua 5:14: "As the Captain of Jehovah's army...I now come." Thank the Lord! He was the captain of the ten-day conference. There was a prayer meeting and edification meeting every morning from March 17 to April 5. Senior Mrs. Nee was the main speaker. The Holy Spirit worked every day. Mrs. Nee worked in Taishan for seventeen days. She and Sister Wei-rong then went to Hong Kong on the eleventh. Mrs. Tseng and I are staying temporarily for the work. We do not know when we will go. May you remember us often before the throne.
Your sister in the Lord, Lin Wei-shi[Address omitted]
Last month the Lord led Mrs. Nee Wen-shiu (senior Mrs. Nee) to Taishan. The Lord used her greatly to work in Taishan. Spiritual truths were released through her. Every day cold sisters were revived. The Holy Spirit was poured out every day. One elderly sister, Mrs. Chen, had a hunchback and walked with difficulty. Mrs. Nee prayed for her, and she became straight immediately. This was really a great miracle. We should give glory to God. Mrs. Tan, who did not know how to read, can now read some characters and has learned to sing some hymns. Mrs. Lin, who had tuberculosis, is now completely healed. Several others were healed as well. God used miracles and wonders in Taishan to prove His power and strength. The name of the Lord Jesus was exalted and sinners repented during this time of gospel preaching. The Lord Himself did everything. Glory be to Him!
Your sister, Lei Wei-rongApril 19[Address omitted]
Brother Nee has left. The X dollars that Brother X offered for the brothers and sisters in Hankow who are escaping the war were sent the day before yesterday to Brother Lan in Hankow. After returning from Malaga, I had three small Bible studies with the brothers. I combined the X dollars and X cents that I received there with another X dollars and sent it to Hankow. Although it is not very much and cannot solve the problem, I ask my Lord to bless these five loaves and two fishes. I hope you can go to Hong Kong to wait for a boat to Southeast Asia after you finish your work in Chungking, Ch'eng-tu, Kuei-yang, and K'un-ming. You can go to Manila and then come to Singapore. I sent a letter inviting Brother Meek to place this matter in prayer. The Normal Christian Church Life gave me much light. Although the work is of the apostles, we must exhort the brothers and sisters in each locality to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord." Do you agree? (Indeed.) Brother and Sister Leland Wang will go to Surabaya soon for one month. The church there was started through a few brothers from Shing-Hwa and Brother Lin Wei-zhe. They rented a hall and began meeting. Brother Wei-zhe has since returned to China on business. They hope that Brother Leland and I can continue the work there. One of the toes on my right foot has been in pain for years. I went into the national hospital yesterday because they had to pull the toenail off. I will be in the hospital for approximately two weeks. After I get out, I plan to go to Penang to do some work.
Your brother,Faithful LukApril 26[Address omitted]
There was a baptism here yesterday. It was held in Dong-Hu, Luo-Jia-Shan. Eight brothers and seven sisters were baptized. The work in the Hanyang Refugee Center has ended. Praise the Lord, He saved some. Brother Kuo and Brother Shang conducted a Bible study and a beginners' edification work there. There will be a week or ten days of edification meetings at the Gospel Court starting May 2.
Lan Tsi-yiMay 2
The Lord Himself led the conference through the first nine days. Today is the last day. Praise the Lord! He is Lord! He is responsible for His own work. He will gain the glory.
Lan Tsi-yiMay 11[Address omitted]
Sister Bao Hsu-min sent a letter from Sien-You saying that Brother Chen Ke-san was led by God to come to Sien-You. Presently, there is a meeting to edify the brothers and the sisters every afternoon.
[Address omitted]
(1) Brother Watchman Nee's mailing address in England: Mr. W. Nee, c/o 13 Honor Oak Road, London S. E. 23, England.
(2) Brother Philip Luan has moved from Shek-Kip-Mei Street to 101 Tai-Po Road, Floor 2. Letters can be sent directly to P. O. Box 1664, Hong Kong.
(3) Brother Stephen Kaung and Brother Chen Ju-yen are still in Hong Kong. Their address: P. O. Box 1664, Hong Kong.
(4) When Brother Chang Yu-zhi finishes the work in Si-Liu- Jing, he might go to Kuan County. Mailing address: c/o Yuan, 3-4 Shang-Chang-Jia Garden, Chungking, Szechuan.
(5) Sisters Ruth Lee, Peace Wang, and Phoebe Chang left Chungking on May 21. They arrived in Yi-Wan-Shui, Wan County, on May 22. It is mountainous countryside. Situation permitting, they plan to spend the summer there before going to Chungking to meet Brother Yu-zhi. Then they will travel together to Kuei-yang. If the Lord has a special leading, they might leave Wan County earlier. Mailing Address: c/o Gospel Book Room, P. O. Box 84, Hankow, or c/o Yuan, 3-4 Shang- Chang-Jia Garden, Chungking, Szechuan.
(6) Brother Chang Kwang-rong is still in Shanghai. Mailing address: 30 Lane 240 Hardoon Road, Shanghai.
(7) Letters to Brother Tang Shou-ling and Brother Chou Hsing-yi can be sent c/o Gospel Book Room, 18 Lane, 240 Hardoon Road, Shanghai.
(8) Senior Mrs. Nee's mailing address: 39 Shek-Kip-Mei Street, Floor 3, Shen-Shui-Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
(9) Brother Yu Cheng-hwa has arrived in Shanghai. Mailing address: 34 Lane 240 Hardoon Road, Shanghai.
(10) Brother Han Fu-sheng has left the Siang-Ya Hospital in Ch'ang-sha. He is still recovering in Ch'ang-Teh. Mailing Address: 13 Xiao-Shu-Tze Alley, Ch'ang-Teh, Hunan.
Thank God for His grace in enabling me to write this letter. It seemed that all hope had been lost a few times when I met with dangers, but the almighty God led me through the valley of death. I am also very thankful for the desperate concern that the brothers and sisters had for me. Thank you for praying for me. You can now change your prayers into praises. God opened the way for me to come down from the mountain on April 19 and arrive in Hangchow on the same day. I stayed there for nine days before there was an opportunity to safely come to Shanghai by car (the twenty-eighth). Hallelujah! It really is God's marvelous miracle! I am temporarily staying above the meeting hall. My wife and children are staying at my parents-in-law's house. My mother is staying with her sister-in-law. It is difficult to narrate what we went through. The house and furniture which I had rented in San-Chiao-Bu were burned and destroyed. Long before this happened, I had taken my family to Yah-Dan-Ou for refuge, so we were not killed. We later moved to Mo-Gan-Shan because there was a wave of banditry in Yah-Dan-Ou. I was held up by bandits on February 25. They robbed me of money and clothes (a limited amount), and then hit me with a rifle and wounded me. It really was the grace of God that the wound was in the exact center of my chest above the sternum. The doctors said that if the blow had hit me slightly to the left or right or up or down, it would have been fatal. At the time, the wound was very bad. My entire chest swelled up and got red. God did a marvelous miracle and did not allow it to worsen. It got better in a few days. My health is the same as before, except that I tire more easily. The nine days in Hangchow were worse than the time on the mountain. We slept on hard concrete. There was nothing to eat but very coarse food. We were all sick by the fourth day. When we came to Shanghai, we carried our luggage ourselves. We carried it on to the car, off the car, over the pedestrian overpass, and put it into the bus ourselves. I am afraid that we really did not have any extra strength. Unfortunately, these sufferings cannot be counted as suffering for the Lord's sake. I went to see the meeting place in Hangchow once. The walls were broken down, and the building was in complete ruin. Brother Ruan Chi-yu is still in Hangchow. His faith remains strong. I was strengthened much in my half-hour conversation with him. Mr. Sun Wen-yuan's family, Brother Chou Hsing-yi's family, Miss Yeh Chui-chung's family, Mrs. Yu Siao-ke's family, and my family were all on the mountain. We had the Lord's Day meetings and often had prayer meetings. We only had "a little strength." I personally did nothing more than sow a few seeds of the gospel into some sinners and contact some Gentiles and seekers. Mrs. Sun was very diligent in the gospel. She took Miss Yeh to many people's homes. I was overjoyed after I read The Open Door and learned that the co-workers were all under God's protection. Once the burden that had been weighing on my heart for six months fell away, I became very released. I hope that the Lord will bring us face to face with one another. Please pray for Brother Chou Hsing-yi. He was robbed just as I was. He is very weak physically. As I write, his fever is rising. It seems that he has contracted malaria. I think it is the cumulative effect of all that we have gone through. Please pray for him.
Your weak brother in the Lord,Tang Shou-lingMay 2[Address omitted]
(Parts omitted.) Brother Tseng Da-guang's wife contracted encephalitis after giving birth to twins on the twenty-second of this month. She passed away on the twenty-sixth. Sister Lie Shi Sai-ho was knocked over by a boy riding a bicycle on the sidewalk last Wednesday. At the time it was very serious, but after a few days of treatment, she recovered completely and has already returned home safely. God saved the boy through her.
Lin Kwang-biao, Tu Tsoung-chen, Wu Si-youApril 30[Address omitted]
Dear Sisters Wang, Lee, and Chang in the Lord:
Praise and thank God our heavenly Father for separating us from the worldly people through His rich love and mercy. Through The Open Door we have read how all the brothers and sisters have richly received God's grace. Our hearts are full of praise to the Lord. Since our hospital moved to Feng-Lin-Chiao, we have not had many patients because we are too remote, and transportation is inconvenient. We have moved our outpatient clinic to Fu-Hsuin Road and Ch'eng-tu Road. Many people lost their jobs, but the sisters are still here. Sister Lin Meng-bin returned to Foochow, and Sister Zhang Ju-sian went to the Red Cross Hospital. We still do not know where Sister Di Teh-jia is. Sister Wang Mei-lin's elderly mother came to Shanghai from the countryside of Tai-Chang. Her elderly father is more than eighty. His arthritis is so bad that he cannot move, so he is still in the country. May the Lord who bears our burdens enable us to sing new songs to Jehovah in difficult environments. Shi-kwai's mother was released from the hospital on March 20. This was a miracle! He heard our prayers. Thank Him! She is well now, and she is the same as a normal person. Glory to God! Shi-kwai's father met God this time. Sister Chen Shiu-yu and Sister Yeh are both well. The Lord has increased the number of saved ones with Sister Tseng Ji-ai and Sister Chang Ju-hua. There is also a Miss Chu. They all have a heart to pursue the Lord. Please pray for us. We do not hope to do a great work for the Lord, but we do hope that we do not shame the Lord's name. Peace in the Lord.
All the sistersin the Shanghai Women's and Children's HospitalApril 11[Address omitted]
Thank God for His grace in enabling me to write this letter. Thank you for praying for my illness. When my illness was at its worst, people did not believe that there was any hope. Even I had lost hope in myself. However, God gave me a word through Sister Tso — Psalm 118:17. This word caught hold of me. I am physically stronger than I was before. I have been back at work at the hospital for almost two months. God showed me that I should live completely for Him when I got encephalitis in Hangchow. This time God gave me the word in Psalm 118:17. Although I have already placed my all into God's hands, my flesh is lazy, so I often live in a state of confusion. May God edify me more.
The smallest in the Lord,Li Li-yingApril 11[Address omitted]
Greetings to the brothers and sisters who inherit grace with us:
Every time we receive The Open Door, we praise God unceasingly. The Lord began to work in San-Ban-Gang three years ago. Brother Hu Siao-lan from the church in Dong-Gou came to visit us occasionally. Last winter there were more than one hundred twenty believers. Forty-six of them had been baptized into the Lord's name. We still must ask the Lord to work and lead us all forward until He comes. Peace.
Your smallest brother,Huang Wan-jinMarch 16[Address omitted]
Thank God for constantly gracing us during the six months we lived as refugees. He always covers us. I think that Brothers Chou Hsing-yi, Tang Shou-ling, and Chou Fu-en and their wives have already told you about our condition in detail, so I will not say too much. We especially thank God that we suffered no loss through hardships, even though our houses in San-Chiao-Bu were burned and we were robbed twice. We can even say that we did not feel frightened by all these things. Praise the Lord! The meetings of the brothers and sisters have never stopped. I believe that God's grace will never change. I really am thankful for the prayers of the brothers and sisters in Shanghai and every other place. Before the Lord we often remember the brothers and sisters that have met with similar hardships. We can only feel for them and respond to their needs in prayer. I have written these few lines hastily because someone is going to Shanghai, and I wanted to greet you. I really think of Brother Stephen Kaung. Please greet him for me. May God keep you safe.
Your weak sister,Sun Chen Yao-jenApril 30, 1938[Address omitted]
Greetings to all the brothers and sisters in the Lord:
I received Issue Nos. 1—5 of The Open Door. The Lord's light really shined into my heart. Because the Lord is working in every place to save souls, our hearts are filled with thanks and praise. We thank the Lord even more that through this printed communication, the brothers and sisters are able to fellowship with each other during this time. We truly admire the saints' heart for the Lord and feel ashamed for ourselves at the same time. There is not a meeting in Gao-Mi that is truly according to the Scriptures. On March 2 Brother Chang Tze-jieh was led by the Lord to meet in Gao-Mi for seven days. He preached the gospel in the morning, and some were saved. He did some building work in the afternoon. It seems that the Lord has begun to work. We meet every morning at ten o'clock for prayer. We preach the gospel on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at eleven o'clock. There are not many people in one accord with us. We really need to wait before the Lord to deal with everything. We must know His heart's desire, seek His will, and wait for His arrangement. Please pray for us and ask God to establish our faith. May God gain us more. Peace in the Lord.
Your little brothers in the Lord,Wang Shu-ge, Ju Sung-shan, Hu Shen-fuApril 26[Address omitted]
After receiving and reading Issue Nos. 3 and 4 of The Open Door, we learned about the condition of the work in all the places in China and about the travels of the brothers and sisters. We really thank and praise our God! The brothers and sisters here were scattered into the countryside three months ago. We have passed through all kinds of dangers in the past one hundred days, but we thank our God for leading us through safely. No one was lost. We are unable to meet publicly now. We preach the gospel individually and meet in homes. Please pray for us. Although we are living in the country, we can still go into the city to pick up letters at the post office.
Your little brothers in the Lord,Liu Tien-min, Chen Bo-hengApril 11[Address omitted]
Peace to the dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:
Thank the Lord! He has really led me beside the still waters and made me to fear no evil, though I have passed through the valley of death. Although I lost my job in the past six months, I do not have any material shortage. Once some bandits tried to take my life when I was out in the countryside, but God protected me. They could not find me. Praise the Lord! God has led me to work in the Buo-Ji Hospital in Tai-An. There are brothers and sisters here in one accord with us. However, we still do not have a suitable place to meet. I believe that God will arrange it. Please pray for us. May Christ's name be exalted here soon. Blessing, glory, and riches to Him. Amen.
Your weak brother in the Lord,Wang Yong-haiApril 20[Address omitted]
To Brother You-sheng, my co-inheritor of grace:
It has been almost a year since we said good-by to each other. Although I have passed through many dangers and travels, I have gained peace and protection in the Lord. May glory and praise be to our Father forever and ever. When I first came to work in this hospital, no one who worked here believed in the Lord. There are nine believers now. Some had heard the gospel before. Some have just been saved recently. They all desire the Lord's truth. We have a prayer meeting every night to learn how to love the Lord. Some have gained much benefit and strength from this meeting. We have a Bible study every Lord's Day evening. We also allow unbelievers to attend that meeting. We still do not have a meeting to break bread and remember the Lord. Although we feel that we need to establish the table, there is a great Power that has been saying to us, "Wait awhile, it is not time yet." This matter really needs the Lord's light. (If you want to establish the Lord's table, you must first understand the nature and realm of a local church. Please read The Normal Christian Church Life concerning this point — Editor.) We will soon have a baptism meeting. We are looking for a place to baptize people and are waiting for the Lord's arrangement in everything. There is a denomination here that has been established for almost forty years. There is only one lukewarm believer in it. The churches in the countryside are very good. In one locality a believer, who only had twenty plots of land and had six or seven members in his family, gave an offering of six hundred dollars to build a meeting hall. We should admire such lovers of the Lord. If the Lord allows, I hope to travel to Hankow soon. I am still waiting for the Lord's leading. I have received every issue of The Open Door and was comforted much by it. Please greet all the brothers and sisters in Hankow for me. Peace in the Lord.
Your weak brother in the Lord,Li Ching-huaMay 12[Address omitted]
The church in Ch'ang-sha has not had a local person raised up to be an elder. I cannot release my burden for the meetings, so I feel that I should remain in Ch'ang-sha temporarily. Brother Lan Tsi-yi wanted me to completely drop everything regarding the meetings in Ch'ang-sha when I was in Hankow. He asked me whether I could go to Hankow to help with the Gospel Book Room and to rest. However, I do not have any inward leading to take his suggestion. The ministry which I have received from the Lord is to serve the orphans. The Lord has not yet given me a vision concerning this work, yet I have had the faith to do it all along. Many times the brothers have seen that the burden of caring for my family is heavy and have exhorted me to do some other work. Now some brothers exhort me that it would be better for me to get a job. Yet I was not touched. Glory be to our rich Father. Since He led me to leave the orphanage, the flour in my jar and the oil in my pitcher have never run short. With regard to my health, I had a relapse of my illness in July of last year. I spent more than a month recovering and have not had a relapse since. My condition seems to be much improved from last year. A brother from Chi-Loo University (an internist) gave me a physical examination. He could not see any sign of tuberculosis during his careful examination. In my working and moving about, I have found my physical strength much weaker than before. I used to walk nineteen to twenty-two miles a day and work the entire day without feeling tired. Now I find it difficult to walk for three miles, and I must rest after working for an hour. I do not know what attitude I should have toward my health, the church, and my future. I am telling you these things with the hope that you will render me help with your direct words.
Your little brother in the Lord,Liu Ai-wuMay 12[Address omitted]
I was transferred from Ren-Shu Hospital to Siang-Ya Hospital five days ago. Everything is progressing well. Because my illness is so peculiar, I had to go through many tests. This has been a real suffering to me. At first the doctors said that I had a tumor in my lungs. Then they thought that water in my lungs had made my chest swell. They have attempted to draw off fluid many times, but with no result. Last night they discovered a pocket of pus under my ribs when they poked me with a needle. Surgery is a necessity now. Please pray for me. Ask the Lord to give me grace to get through this. My heart is still peaceful and secure. I am resting in the Lord's bosom. I have given everything to the Lord, so I have nothing to be anxious about. I deeply believe that whatever happens to me is the Lord's will. He would not allow me to suffer unnecessarily! My mouth praises the Lord unceasingly for giving me an opportunity to enjoy His grace and love more! Hallelujah!
Han Fu-shengMay 16
We received all twenty copies of The Open Door which you sent and have distributed them to the brothers and sisters. Thank the Lord that we can still receive the news concerning the travels of the brothers and sisters and the work, even though we are in an unstable environment. We really gain great comfort from it. By the Lord's grace, the church here has been under His leading. However, the brothers need more growth in spiritual life to stand firm for the Lord. Please pray for this. The locality of Dong-Jang is eleven miles from here. The Lord's servants, Chen Jai-seng, Chai Tze-chung, and Chen Ke-san, have gone there to work, as have other brothers who love the Lord. A meeting has been raised up there. They preach the gospel every Lord's Day afternoon. God has really blessed the work, and the number of saved ones has been increasing. There are many sisters who are especially diligent in serving the Lord. We are sending an offering of X dollars from the brothers and sisters in our locality by postal wire. Please distribute it to the brothers and sisters in need. May the Lord give us more love in our hearts to the glory of His name. Brother Lin Wei-zhe returned from Singapore in February.
The brothers who meet in the Lord's name in Yu-Si,Lin Wei-zhe, Lin Shao-liang, Tseng Geng-seng, Chai Yi-sung[Address omitted]
We have received every issue of The Open Door which you sent. After returning to Foochow from Amoy, we remained idle at home for six months because of the environment. This year Shao-geng and Shao-fang took up some odd jobs in the provincial capital. The Lord is still giving us peace. We thank Him unceasingly. We are sending X dollars for printing costs and X dollars for the work in the inland regions. Sister Ma Chu-feng sent a letter from Southeast Asia asking us to send another X dollars. X dollars of the amount are for the brothers and sisters in need, and X dollars are to defray the costs of the Gospel Book Room. Please greet the church in Hankow.
The weak ones in the Lord,Hsu Shao-geng, Shao-hwa, and Shao-fangApril 28[Address omitted]
I am enclosing a bank draft from the Bank of China for distribution to the brothers and sisters in need because of the war. Although the amount is very small, it expresses my love in the Lord.
Your sister in the Lord,Nee Chen Huei-yiApril 13[Address omitted]
Greetings:
Enclosed please find X dollars collected from the offering box for the work in the remote regions and X dollars for the brothers and sisters in need. We are sending both amounts through postal wire. Please accept them and use them according to the Lord's will.
Your little brothers in the Lord,Chai Gi-chen, Hsie Tse-shun, Chen Fang-chingMay 3[Address omitted]
Brother Wu Ren-jieh is still in the region of Chuenchow. Sister Chen Wuan-ching is still in Kulangsu. The meeting hall in Kulangsu has been declared a refugee center. Dr. Chai Ming-ju's family has long moved to Kulangsu. Some believers in Swatow have already moved inland. I received a letter from Brother Chen Wen-kwang. He has recovered seventy to eighty percent from his illness. He will continue to take a vacation for two months so that he may fully recover. Sister Lin Lee Tsuo-yu will go to Singapore on the thirty-first of this month. Sister Huang Hwei-min and Sister Chai Lan-jen will go to Siam soon.
Your brother,James ChenMay 22[Address omitted]
Dear Brother Witness:
Although we do not often write, I remember you often in my prayers. I hope the God of grace and peace will keep us on the way, amen. My spirit is very peaceful and happy here. The strongest word that I have read recently is, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow the Lord." This word has been operating in me. Brother! It is so easy to say these words, but it is very difficult to practice them! May the Lord give me revelation that I may overcome my self and everything else by relying on Him. My time is not on a definite schedule (because of my job), so I can only pray and read the Bible with my wife and children. Wei-Hai-Wei is sometimes not peaceful. It is very difficult to travel. How is it in Chefoo? I hope you remember me, your weak brother, in your prayers. I also hope you can find some time to write a letter and help me. This is my hope, but I know that you are busy. Please forgive me. Peace in the Lord. Greet all the brothers and sisters who meet at Shuang-He-Li.
Your weak brother in the Lord,Lin Shien-huei
Brother Tsi-yi:
I have received each issue of The Open Door. Thank and praise the Lord. Everything is according to His good pleasure. His gospel has been preached to places never reached before because of the present environment. I am still working in Liu-Gong-Dao, Wei-Hai-Wei. There is not much turmoil in the environment because the British are here. Thank God. Although the times are hard, I do not have any difficulties (materially speaking). I must think of my fellow members who are being affected both directly and indirectly by the war. I am sending a postal wire with X dollars for meeting the needs of the brothers and sisters who are depleted through the war and X dollars to help with the cost of printing. The amount is small, but I trust the Lord does not despise it. I hope God gives more grace in leading us on the way ahead. Amen. Peace in the Lord. Greet the brothers and sisters in Hankow.
Your weak brother,Lin Shien-hueiApril 4[Address omitted]
My poor health has completely recovered through the Lord's mercy and grace. I dare not say when I will go to Szechuan. Because I deeply feel there are many important lessons that I must learn, I want to spend some time to specifically wait on the Father. I want to spend more time to consider the glorified Christ. In the past the only thing I knew was to work for the Lord; I did not desire the Lord Himself. The work is important, but the Lord Himself is more important than the work. Therefore, I really pray to pay more attention to Him than to His work. If the Lord does not gain the person in the work, the work is nothing more than outward activity. The work and the church in Hong Kong are already separate according to the new principles. Thank the Lord, the brothers and sisters are led by the same Spirit to have the same view in this matter and are very much in one accord. We really give glory to God for this. Brother Chou Hung-bao came to Hong Kong on March 5. Yesterday, he and Brother Yin Tzu-lan's entire family went to K'un-ming. Brother Chen Ju-yen, Brother Stephen Kaung, senior Mrs. Nee, Mrs. Nee, Miss Lei, and the brothers and sisters have been preserved in peace by the Lord. They are well. Miss Mei Guang-yao returned to Hankow with Mrs. Luk and Brother Yang Tsun-sin in a group of six people.
Your brother,Philip LuanApril 29
I moved from Shek-Kip-Mei Street to 101 Tai-Po Road, Floor 2, on the twenty-fifth of last month. Thank the Lord, this place is better for my health. Sister Huang Ro-chen and Sister Kuo Hai-jen are still working in Chungshan. Chungshan and Macao need brothers and sisters to live there for awhile.
Your brother,Philip LuanMay 16[Address omitted]
Dear Sister Ruth and the sisters in the Lord:
It took a long time for your letters to reach me. I was very happy to hear that you had gone to Szechuan. I used to live in Feng-Jieh and Wan County, which are far away from Chungking. If you follow the Yangtze River upstream, you will pass through them. I asked the Lord to send some of you there to bring them the message of the full gospel of Christ, the perfect position that God has given Him, the revelation of the cross, and the revelation concerning the Body of Christ (the church). I want God's saved children in Szechuan to know about these things. I really would like to go with you. I will continue to pray for the places you will visit and the messages you will give. May God cause rich life to flow into His church through the messages you will preach. I will never forget you and the sisters and will pray for you diligently. I will lift my heart and seek after His will and the path He has chosen for me. As soon as I am clear, I hope I will obey. I am now living in a believer-friend's house in Vancouver. There are many brothers and sisters here. There is a doctor who believes in the Lord who read Mr. Nee's letter and felt that it was so full of light and life that he had to pass it on to other brothers and sisters. They are amazed that the Lord has done such a marvelous work among the believers in China and that He is using them. I am so happy! Greet the sisters that I know. We have the same life and the same hope. May the Lord bless you!
Your sister,Lena ClarkeApril 14[Address omitted]
(1) Sister Sung Tien-le's illness has improved. Brother Chao Bi-chen is still in his country home. He has written a letter to the brothers saying that he can ride a bike for forty miles. Thank the Lord! Chefoo cannot communicate with him at present. May the Lord remember him! (from Brother Witness Lee's letter of April 21).
(2) Sister Chen Bi-kun went to K'un-ming on March 30.
(3) Brother Zhang Ji-wu's mailing address in Kuei-yang is: 39 Yuan Nei Fu, 157 Chunghua North Road, Kuei-yang, Kweichow.
(4) Sister Sun Zhu Ming-seng's mailing address is: 13 Pei-Jeng-Dong Street, Floor 2, Dong-Shan, Canton City.
(5) Sister Yeh Chui-chung and her family have returned from Mo-Gan-Shan to Shanghai. The Sun and Yu families are still there.
(6) Brother Guan En-chiu's mailing address is: Jesus Chapel, Jin-Ching-Gang, Hai-Men, Chekiang.
(7) Brother Dai En-tsao has gone to Jiu-Jiang. He still plans to go to Nan-ch'ang.
(8) Brother Wang Ching-shan has become the director of the Pu-Ai Hospital Pharmacy in Hankow.
(1) Some brothers have written saying that using an X in place of the name of the receiver of a letter can cause misunderstanding in some instances. Therefore, we have stopped using an X in place of a recipient's name beginning with this issue, with the exception of some official letters for which we have deleted the addresses altogether. Our purpose was to cause our readers to pay attention to the news itself.
(2) The Sun family and the Yu family in Mo-Gan-Shan and Brother Ruan Chi-yu's family in Hangchow are all safe. We thank God for this! Communication with the churches in northern Kiangsu, Chou County, and Tsingtao is still possible, but money cannot be wired to them. We have not had any letters for a long time from the brothers in Su County. Brother James Chen's letter in this issue tells us the general condition of the region near Amoy. We still need to pray for these places.
(3) With regard to the offerings for the brothers and sisters in need through the war, Brother Tsi-yi and the editor can only send money to the localities that can receive wires. We will do our best to distribute the offerings. May God lead us to be faithful in all things and accomplish them without making errors. Thank God! Many brothers and sisters are able to care for others because of the grace of God, not because they have an excess. Many of the localities that cared for others have become war zones themselves. Some are in great turmoil. We can only ask God to protect and remember them. We ask the brothers and sisters who are in safe places to open up and remember those brothers and sisters in distress. We must say that in all aspects the grace of God is sufficient for us in these days. Our hearts are full of praise to Him!
(4) The editor cannot answer many letters individually or quickly. Although we remember many brothers and sisters, we are unable to send each one a letter asking how they are. Our hearts are very sorry about this. Please forgive us.
Ruth LeeMay 29
In the mountainous countryside of Wan County, Szechuan
(1) Brother Tsan Rong-en of the Christian Hospital in Ho-fei arrived in Hankow on May 20. He left on the twenty-second for his home town of Yu-Shan. His mailing address is: c/o China Inland Mission, Yu-Shan, Kiangsi.
(2) Sister Ji Hwei-jen has already arrived safely in Hankow from Anhui. Sister Faith Wang will come to Hankow with many people from Xin-Yang soon.
(3) Sister Liu Shu-fang is now in Nan-ch'ang. If there are no distractions, she will still return to Hankow.
(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 the Gospel Book Room, P. O. Box 84, Hankow.
(2) Please put the date on your letters. Write your address clearly and in detail. If anyone removes the envelope to forward a 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 was published in Shanghai. Copies were sent to anyone who could receive mail. In order to save time and effort, any letters concerning subscriptions or information about The Christian should be directed to the Shanghai Gospel Book Room at P. O. Box 323, Shanghai. They will be recorded, sent, and answered in Shanghai. If anyone wants to subscribe to both The Christian and The Open Door, he should send two separate subscription forms because we are afraid we will not be able to forward mail.
(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 this 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. Whatever Hankow lacks, Shanghai will supply, but please forgive us for adding a charge for the postage in such case.
May 29, 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.
