During visits to farming villages in the Provinces of Zhejian, Anhui, and Jiangsu, the writer met many Christians. The devotion and simplicity in faith of these Christian villagers left a fresh and deep impression of him. He recorded the following three examples:

D.E.

She was the grand-daughter of the peasant family with whom I stayed. At the time she was only 14, but was already working in the fields. She was basically illiterate, having had only intermittent primary school education. Later during the "Youth Education" movement, she had to carry her own sitting stool to attend night school sessions, where she worked very hard to shed the label of illiteracy.

Twenty-five years later, she is now around forty years old, and is the mother of a son and daughter. As with most of the farming families, she had used most of her savings and managed to build a 3-bedroom tiled house. However, other than some farming tools at one corner, the house looks quite empty except that there is a big poster on the wall with the letter 'Love', made up of numerous heart-shaped designs, obviously a local piece of advertisement.

She told me that she'd been a believer for four years, and that quite a few others had also become Christians over the past years. Every other week, a group of them would go to worship at a place some ten miles away, which served as a meeting place for about a hundred people. In spite of the fact that D.E. had forgotten most of the characters she'd learnted many years ago, and that she never owned a Bible, she could sing quite a few hymns. One of these was "Obeying and Teaching". Some of the verses go like this: "Not hitting back when hit; not scolding back when scolded; no anger, no fretting -- I smile when others verbally abuse me." All the songs were to the tunes of some local folk songs. Her basic understanding of Christian teachings involves being loving to others, and living a life of patient endurance and obedience. In addition, she has set several standards of behavior for herself: i.e. 'no taking, no stealing; no abusing of others; no taking advantage or doing harm others in any way; respecting the old; loving the young; and helping the weak. She said, "These may seem easy to follow; but if one could truly keep all these, one is already worthy to be called a good person." In fact, D.E. is already considered by the other villagers as a virtuous woman. When a couple would quarrel, the man would often say to his wife, "You should learn from that D.E! Now that she has become a believer, she is never stormy like you are!" Sometimes when troubles would break out between mother and daughter-in-law, she'd go and try to make peace between them.

In the village there is a traditional folk song pertaining specifically to filial piety, which begins with "Honoring your parents should be practiced by all people: benevolence of parents is really hard to repay." Through D.E.'s influence, a young daughter-in-law who had been mean to her mother-in-law became a Christian and had a real change of attitude.

D.E. testified that becoming a believer has really given meaning to her life. She enjoys going to meetings at the 'church'. She considers it her favorite activity, always putting on her "Sunday best," and tries never to miss a service.

From this writer's point of view, the increasing attraction of church gatherings may have become a substitute for the former village 'Commune system'.

Y. G. S.

Among the villagers, there is a 73/27% ratio between female and male belivers. YGS is one of the male Christians the writer met. He was then fifty-eight, and had been secretary of a branch of the communist party. He had become a Christian about three years before, when he was found to have stomach cancer which left him with financial debts as well. And it was during this difficult period that he began his journey as a Christian.

His testimony is that he has found great enlightenment since he has become a believer. All the former depression and burden has left him and he feels free from the fear of death. About the time when he adopted the faith, his illness also miraculously found relief. Since then he has held firm to his faith in God. Taking traditional herbal medicine, and praying steadfastly, he has become a fervent Christian.

Y's home has also become a meeting place for worship. Christians from the surrounding villages come to meet at his place. And because of his testimony, many have found faith in God. I have heard many testify to me what a changed person Y is since he's become a Christian. Once during a worship service, Y openly confessed his many crimes (committed before he became a believer) in front of the congregation. After that, it became well known that Y was a changed man, and all marveled at the life-changing power of his God.

After Y had openly confessed to Christian faith, the Party member of the village came to speak with him, since according to party policy, one cannot remain a member and be a Christian. He must choose one or the other. Consequently, Y left the Party. However, an interesting incident happened one year involving the sale of crops to the government. The leaders of the village had so many problems with the farmers that they sought Y's help. Y made a remark to them, something like, "So even the Party members have to ask the help of Christians!" In the end the solution was arrived at during a Sunday service, and the problem was solved with the help of the Christians.

Y looked very thin, but appeared to be in good spirits. He told me that he probably didn't have long to live, and thus he must seize the opportunity to do more good. He would thus find favor with God and be at peace at his departure from this world.

From this writer's observation, there are quite a few Christians like Y who have chosen Christian faith when things got hopeless; and having found blessings from God, they have become especially fervent believers. In their new-found faith, they find much comfort in their hearts, which in turn brings benefit to their health. And considering that to be a miracle, they are witnessing everywhere and thus attracting even more believers to the faith.

Mrs. Wang

Having been a Christian for some fifty years, Mrs. W has probably has some influence over every single believer in her village. She told me about being forced to attend "Training (brainwashing?) Classes" during the cultural revolution. It was required of her to pay her own expenses, as well as those of the members who kept watch over her to the amount of 1.00 yuan a day. Considering that average daily earnings bring about twenty cents per head, this process caused her to lose her house and home. Despite that, she continued to say her prayers in her heart, which no one could stop. Turning her thoughts to the sufferings of her Savior on the cross, she considered her own suffering nothing in comparison.

After the 1980's she openly professed her faith and started a house meeting at her own home. People, especially older ladies around her come to meet there. She would prepare her house enthusiastically and would send her children to fetch by cart the ones too weak to walk. They would sing a lot, and though formerly they would not speak a word, they now sang with gusto. Mrs. Wang is quite a good speaker, telling interesting and moving stories. In general she encourages people to do good and to be helpful, so as to have peace in their hearts and eternal life for their souls.

The writer feels that in a society where most people have their eyes only on money, and where morality is fast deteriorating, Mrs.Wang's steadfastness, high morality, and spreading of her faith is truly a breath of fresh air.

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This article was written from a non-Christian point of view regarding his contacts with village Christians. Gou Ping is now an editor of "Service News" in China.