It all started with a young "private taxi" driver we met some time ago who can speak some English. He asked us if we knew his uncle, who he said was a VERY famous man and is known as the "Bike Preacher." At that time we did not know him but we searched in Google "The Bike Preacher, China" and we found out that this random taxi driver's uncle was none other than Zhang Mingxuan, A very famous Christian leader here in China, who has been to prison almost 50 times and who has rode more than 13,000 KM on a bike preaching the Gospel! He's so famous there is a Wikipedia page on him! Also search for his name here and here for many more articles about him.
Needless to say that when our taxi driver friend called yesterday telling us his uncle had just arrived in Beijing, and asked us if he should bring him to our house for a visit, we were blown away. The following is what Orlena has to say about our visit:
It was as though we were reading an amazing book, yet the book was real, and live and sitting right in front of us! His amazing stories of victory, trials, experiences and his heart for the Chinese Church captivated us for hours! It literally felt like my soul could feel some of the agonizing pain he has suffered through, yet....I could not relate to or feel the joy that he had as he smiled and rejoiced! SUCH SUFFERING? And yet his eyes told of a great treasure! Every time he raised his hands up to heaven, and spoke of his "Baba" (papa in Chinese) , I could feel a love, a strong cord that could not be crushed...like his legs had been ruthlessly under heavy hands a number of years ago.
As he lifted his pant leg to show us his scars of what remained from a horrid attack to get him to stop his efforts to share the Great News with others, I felt something strike me within...piercing my innermost being! Could it be? This man really truly suffered so? Oh....and I can complain about such little things? I can feel discontent with ANYTHING? This man has seen prison floors and felt the cold lonliness of a dark cell.....yet he is filled with LOVE! His LOVE for us radiated outwardly as he blessed our family! When he Prayed his words were filled with confidence and a strong assurance in whom he was praying to! As he hugged David, who was crying because he fell and got hurt, his eyes also welled up and he held him and cheered him up!
Strong as nails is his devotion to his Heavenly Father and his ability to withstand all that comes his way....yet gentle as a shepherd to the flock!
This brother is always living for the Church here in China! Trying to encourage and help them as they come across winds of difficulty and testing! I consider our visit a true gift from our Father above. It has stirred up many thoughts in each one of us. Everything from how complacent the North American church is, to how self-centered we are, to the realization once again that many are suffering all around the world for their faith, and more! I hope that just our sharing of this will inspire you to take your faith, and grasp it in thankfullness, and choose to live everyday with purpose and meaning for Jesus!
Needless to say that when our taxi driver friend called yesterday telling us his uncle had just arrived in Beijing, and asked us if he should bring him to our house for a visit, we were blown away. The following is what Orlena has to say about our visit:
It was as though we were reading an amazing book, yet the book was real, and live and sitting right in front of us! His amazing stories of victory, trials, experiences and his heart for the Chinese Church captivated us for hours! It literally felt like my soul could feel some of the agonizing pain he has suffered through, yet....I could not relate to or feel the joy that he had as he smiled and rejoiced! SUCH SUFFERING? And yet his eyes told of a great treasure! Every time he raised his hands up to heaven, and spoke of his "Baba" (papa in Chinese) , I could feel a love, a strong cord that could not be crushed...like his legs had been ruthlessly under heavy hands a number of years ago.
As he lifted his pant leg to show us his scars of what remained from a horrid attack to get him to stop his efforts to share the Great News with others, I felt something strike me within...piercing my innermost being! Could it be? This man really truly suffered so? Oh....and I can complain about such little things? I can feel discontent with ANYTHING? This man has seen prison floors and felt the cold lonliness of a dark cell.....yet he is filled with LOVE! His LOVE for us radiated outwardly as he blessed our family! When he Prayed his words were filled with confidence and a strong assurance in whom he was praying to! As he hugged David, who was crying because he fell and got hurt, his eyes also welled up and he held him and cheered him up!
Strong as nails is his devotion to his Heavenly Father and his ability to withstand all that comes his way....yet gentle as a shepherd to the flock!
This brother is always living for the Church here in China! Trying to encourage and help them as they come across winds of difficulty and testing! I consider our visit a true gift from our Father above. It has stirred up many thoughts in each one of us. Everything from how complacent the North American church is, to how self-centered we are, to the realization once again that many are suffering all around the world for their faith, and more! I hope that just our sharing of this will inspire you to take your faith, and grasp it in thankfullness, and choose to live everyday with purpose and meaning for Jesus!