Fear Not but Follow Christ

I did not own my own Bible even after I began to preach the Word. I copied the New Testament by hand from one my devout mother borrowed for me to study.

I was born into a Christian family during the post-Cultural Revolution era, when there was a severe shortage of Bibles. My copied version became the foundation for my Bible study and preaching.

As I became more active in God's ministry, the Public Security Bureau (PBS) took note of me. One night, six officers surrounded my house to arrest me.

Aware of the danger, I was sleeping in the attic of a neighbour's home. My heart was filled with terror as I watched the officers close in.

I quietly got down to the ground and dashed towards the field. I thought that I had narrowly escaped, but somehow they heard me and began to come after me. I felt the light of their motor bikes and cars on my back.

With a pounding heart, I ran as fast as I could.

While rushing through the darkness, a thorny bush put multiple cuts on my arms, legs and face. I fell into several muddy ponds. I sprained my ankle trying to climb over a fence.

Finally, I lay wet, muddied and bleeding on the ground, unable to go further. I was ready to renounce my calling and quit the ministry because I did not know how I could go on.

My heart almost stopped beating when a tall dark figure suddenly came towards me. I braced myself for the worst, but to my amazement, the figure identified himself as a local believer.

He served the Lord by offering protection to persecuted pastors. He took me in and attended to my wounds.

After a simple meal, I laid down exhausted. Then I noticed some writing on the wall saying, "And fear not those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." [Matthew 10:28]

A pastor who travelled here before me must have written it down.

God touched my heart through this verse and took away all my confusion, fear, and self-pity. I rededicated myself to Him.