Shortly after 1900 a book was published entitled, China in Convulsion, a very appropriate title indeed, as the book described the stirring events in connection with the Boxer Uprising, which threw the country into violent agitation, and brought consequences for good or ill that have affected China to the present day.

In 1928 Dr. Paul Monroe of Teachers' College, New York City, published a book entitled, China in Evolution. I recall suggesting, while the manuscript of the book was still in preparation, that the author should put an R before the E of the last word in the title, since China was then passing through a mighty upheaval, which culminated in the triumph of the nationalistic cause in the events of the never to beforgotten year 1927.

The present volume has grown out of circumstances and events which we believe to be very auspicious and to hold out great promises for the future of China. May the hope and promise ex-pressed in the title, "China in Revival," come to a complete fulfillment, so that China will truly experience a rebirth on the basis of her ancient virtues, so long held in esteem, but so seldom practiced, but more especially on the basis of a revitalized and reenergized Christianity, effecting a transformation of the social structure of this great nation from core to circumference!

Someone may interpose that the present is not the proper time to write up a movement that is barely begun. This may be true from one point of view, and if one were attempting to write a history of the movement. From another point of view, it is always in order to record the things which God is doing in our midst. One of the major books of the New Testament was written while the stirring events which it records were still in the making. The closing sentence of that book reminds one of the familiar phrase, "Continued in our next issue." The Acts of the Holy Spirit were not completed when the Book of Acts was written, nor are they completed today, but are still going forward. We have tried to catch a few fleeting glimpses of what is going on, and have recorded them as a testimony to what God is doing in our day in China, and as a stimulus for us to lay hold on God for even greater things to be done through His Spirit in the future.

The present account does not lay claim to being a history of the revival movement in China. Rather is it in the order of a composite testimony to what has taken place, by those who have stood by and observed or participated in the events. It is in the nature of a mosaic, with an ever recurring pattern, seen under different lighting effects, with different colorings. In the end we hope the figure of Christ may be discerned in the midst of the "golden candlesticks." Our God is indeed "marching on" in China today, and we have but endeavored to trace the marks of His footsteps.

No claim to completeness in the record is made. Only a fraction of the wealth of material at hand has been used. Not every area where the revival has taken hold has been covered, nor have all been covered to the same degree of thoroughness. Re-quests for material and for information have not in every case been heeded, doubtless for reasons that seemed valid to each one concerned. In such cases no disappointment will be experienced if this account fails to cover happenings or record results that have not been brought to our notice.

Early in the spring of last year a circular letter was sent out to about two hundred missionary workers in areas affected by the revival. In a Chinese translation the letter was sent to more than three hundred Chinese workers and also published in the Lutheran weekly, Sin I Bao. Students of the Lutheran Theological Seminary were enlisted to help gather material and to record their own experiences and impressions. Material came in from many sources. This was supplemented by reports, and by magazine and newspaper articles bearing on the revival. A complete list of references will be found at the end of the volume, and also a copy of the circular letter sent out. My sincere thanks are due to the friends who have generously assisted in the gathering of material. Mr. Yang Ging Siao, a divinity student, has been of much assistance in gathering material in the Chinese language and in assisting in its preparation for translation.

Material has come to hand in Chinese, English, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. The translations from the Scandinavian languages follow closely the original. Translations from the Chinese have naturally been more free. With the exception of a few translations from the Chinese, I am responsible for all the work of translation. Acknowledgment has been made in every case where material has been borrowed from other sources than my own.

It has been a genuine pleasure for me to work over this material. I have been benefited and stimulated in my spiritual life from reading the accounts of God's working, and the glowing testimonies to His grace in the hearts of men. I hope I have been able to carry over into the account some measure of the spirit and the purpose of the testimonies given. It is also my hope and prayer that this report may prove a blessing in the lives of those who read it, and bring glory to the Name of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Kikungshan, Honan, China, August 8, 1935.

GUSTAV CARLBERG.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I. PREPARATION:

How God Prepared the Way for the Revival through Circumstances and Events 15

The decade preceding the revival-Harbingers of a better day-Events preceding 1927-Banditry and warfare-The year 1927-Effects on the churches-Aftermath of the Revolution-Natural calamities-Famines-Earthquakes-Floods-Five-Year Movement-Individual reactions and impressions-Summary of causes-God's ways not our ways.

II. EVANGELISM:

How God Raised Up Leaders to Carry Forward the Work of Broadcast Evangelism...: 35

Pastor Hsieh and his Revival Society-His zeal and power-The story of his life.

Marcus Cheng-His record-His own testimony. Gia YU, Ming-A fruitful ministry-His spiritual experiences.

Leland Wang-How a naval cadet became an ardent evangelist.

Wang Ming Dao-A man of worldly ambitions becomes a flaming gospel herald.

Gih Djih Wen-An indifferent Buddhist becomes a warm-hearted preacher of the gospel and fares forth to "save his country"-His work with the Bethel Bands.

Djao Shih Guang-Who found Christ during the time of student agitations and became a preacher of conviction and power.

Sung Shang Dzieh-The scholar who gave up a teaching career to preach Christ to his country-men.

III. REVIVAL:

How God Prepared Special Instruments for Use in Beginning and Carrying Forward the Work of the Revival 65

Marie Monsen-Her life and work-Experiences on bandit-ridden ship.

Liu Dao Sheng-Preacher of repentance-His spiritual experiences and growth.

Si Shih Deh-A product of the revival-His work in reviving others.

Gao Shu Liang-A youth from the ranks-God's wonder-working power in his life.

Wu Djen Ming-One who found grace to repent and to lend a helping hand to others.

IV. PROGRESS:

Showing the Spread of the Revival from Province to Province, and from Place to Place... 105

Revival spreads by contagion of sanctified personality-General course from north to south-Man-churia Field of Danish Missionary Society The plowman overtakes the reaper-Revival movements in other parts of Manchuria-Revival in Shantung Work of the Spirit in the field of the Southern Baptist Convention-God visits the Presbyterian churches in Shantung-Revival fires started on field of American Lutheran Mission in Eastern Shantung. The Revival comes to Honan-Quickening of churches on the field of the Augustana Synod Mission-The Spirit's power in Miyang Hsien Awake, Awake, Put on Thy Strength! A challenge to the Lutheran United churches in China and U. S. A.

V. PROGRESS: (Continued) 147

Life and renewal in the Norwegian Lutheran Mission How the Revival came to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Shekow, Hupeh Missionary Covenant experiences revival-God's work of grace in North and South Covenant fields in Honan and Hupeh Spiritual springtime in Hunan on the field of the Norwegian Missionary Society God visits the Western Hunan Lutheran Mission, the field of the Finnish Missionary Society Spiritual stirrings in South Fukien Spiritual awakening in the American School, Kikungshan-Widespread movements Shansi, Kansu, Yunnan, Kweichow-The Oxford Group in China Indigenous groups-New Life Movement.

VI. TESTIMONY:

Individual Testimonies to God's Renewing Grace and Power 193

Testimonies, impressions, reactions, of individual missionaries-"Called," Alice C. Anderson-Wang Chong Sheng, A brand plucked out of the burning-My Impressions of the Revival: Wang Yong Sheng, of Yenshih, Honan-The Life of the Born-again, before and after: Tsi Shui Lu, of Tengfeng, Honan-How I Received Grace and Salvation: Tsai Shen Tsuen, of Western Hunan-One Who found Peace with God: Li Chin Tsai, of Central Hunan-How God Performed a Miracle in Me: A Bible Woman, from Central Hunan-How I Received God's Grace and Forgiveness: Ding Hsiao Ming, of Tenghsien, Honan-Christ and I: Wang Djen Wu, of Paofeng, Honan-How God Saved Me: Wang Tien Siu, of Kaifeng, Honan-How I Came to Believe in the Lord: Yin Ren Sien, Provincial Treasurer of Honan.

VII. MANIFESTATIONS:

Excrescences and Aberrations Following in the Wake of the Revival 229

Every revival tends to extremes-Evil influences at work to destroy the good-History repeats it-self-Need for careful investigation and cautious judgment-The history of the Yesu Giating (Jesus Household) movement-The Ling En Huei (Spiritual Gifts Society)-Aberrations and excesses-Zeal and devotion of their adherents-Doctrinal peculiarities.

VIII. RESULTS: Impressions 239

Time not come for thorough appraisal-Results: Workers transformed into zealous soulwinners Members quickened to new life-A new burst of song-Large accessions to membership-Impetus towards self-support and self-propagation-Present movement largely indigenous-Vital preaching-Law and Gospel each emphasized-New consciousness of sin-Confession and restitution-A Bible-reading church-New powers and gifts-Physical healing-Summary of impressions: Danger of schismatic tendencies-Revival a judgment from God on lukewarm church-A work of God, not of man-God no respecter of persons or denominations-A revival individualizes people-Repentance and new-birth-Man-made methods of no avail-Wisdom and tact needed in guiding the movement Opposition, its source and how dealt with-Prayer and the means of grace effective in promoting revival.

References 255

Appendix 257

Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us.

On the third clay he will raise us up, And we shall live before him.

And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: His going forth is sure as the morning;

And he will come unto us as the rain,

As the latter rain that watereth the earth.

Hosea 6. 1-3.

CHAPTER ONE

Preparation

How God Prepared the Way for the Revival through Circumstances and Events.

PREPARATION

The decade preceding the coming of the Revival in power were years of unprecedented upheaval in China. Yet, through these tremendous events in the political, social, economic, cultural, and religious spheres, shaking the country and its institutions to their very foundations, God Himself was at work preparing the soil for the spiritual movement which is now growing in various parts of China.

Those of us who have passed through the stirring events of the decade beginning with 1922 will never forget the seven years of travail and anguish. Nevertheless, during the years when chaos and danger and anxiety were at their height, there were not lacking encouraging signs and harbingers of a better day coming.

I will never forget the summer of 1926 on Kikungshan. All of central China was then in upheaval. North of the Yangtse River the war lords were holding sway; banditry wag rife in many sections. Many missionary workers saw no prospects of returning to their fields of labor. War clouds were looming up on the southern horizon. Already the national armies under General Dziang Kai Shek had advanced into Hunan and such strategic centers as Changsha and Yochow had fallen into their hands. They were just then preparing to march on the Wuhan center.

It was near the end of the summer. Some of us had already made preparations to go north to such stations on the Peking Hankow railroad as could be reached with reasonable safety.

The sky became suddenly overcast with ominous clouds. Claps of thunder reverberated from crag to crag. A terrific storm swept over the mountain tops, drenching everything in a mighty downpour of rain. But before long the dark clouds dispersed and in the light of the setting sun we beheld a magnificent rainbow to the east, glorious in its splendor and tantalizingly near. We instinctively felt that here was a token of God's goodness and a promise of His protecting care. We returned to our work with a new hope and a resolve to face the future with new courage, come whatever may.

Events followed in swift succession. The Nationalist armies advanced on Wuhan and laid siege to Wuchang on September 1. After about six weeks, of bitter opposition the city fell into their hands. During the progress of the siege missionaries and their Christian friends shared with the residents of the city the dangers of the situation, bullets and shells frequently coming near to causing them loss of life.

Wu Pei Fu with his army was forced out of Hankow and went north, taking up his position at Chengchow. During the summer Feng Yu Hsiang had been forced out of Peking and had made his way by forced marches westward into Kansu. From there he was advancing into Shensi with an army 130,000 strong.

Dr. Alfred Trued, as president of the Augustana Synod Mission in central Honan, reporting for the year 1926, has this to say about general conditions: "China is like one turbulent sea, with one wave of lawlessness and danger after the other. The conditions about us are much like those in the time of Israel. There is a grave danger of forgetting the glory of the goal we are striving for by fixing our eyes on the awful horrors and tragedies around us. `China does not have a single clean, peaceful spot where its people can rest.' This statement was made by a Chinese brother while preaching the other day. Much robbing, killing, and kidnaping by soldiers and bandits has taken place on our field this year."

The years immediately preceding this had been characterized by warfare, banditry, famine, turmoil, and political agitation. To those of us who lived through those hectic years, it seemed at times as if society had indeed come to the point of utter dissolution. I was then located at Hsuchang, in Honan.

The traffic on the Peking Hankow Railroad was completely disorganized. One war lord succeeded another, only to be again ousted by some new combination, which, directly it came to power, would disintegrate because of internal dissensions and maneuvering for power on the part of the various factions. Taxes were collected at exorbitant rates, sometimes as many as six years in advance.

The year 1927 will long be remembered as the year of evacuation by a large number of foreign missionaries. The Chinese churches being deprived of many of their leaders, and at the same time being subjected to tremendous pressure by political agitators, were put to a severe strain on their loyalty.

The national armies were preceded on their march northward by the Propaganda Bureau. Students from disbanded mission schools were enlisted in the propaganda corps and in the army. There were numerous defections among the rank and file of the church members. Some pastors and leaders went in to government service.

Some of the depressing effects of 1927 on the churches are listed by Bishop L. H. Roots in the China Christian Year Book for 1928. He estimates that about half of the missionary forces left their stations during the year. There were losses in the missionary force due to failing health and lowering of morale. There was much destruction of property and curtailment of the work due to closing of churches, schools, and hospitals. He concludes the tale of depressing features by mentioning the "sad fact that in some crucial cases trusted Chinese Christians went back on their faith, while a considerable number of church members proved to have no root, and so, in the time of persecution, stumbled." However, stimulating effects of the revolution were not wanting, and the bishop mentions among such the cheerfulness and fortitude displayed on the part of many of the Christians, as well as the many examples of marked faithfulness of Chinese leaders during a time of stress and danger.

The aftermath of the revolution proved a more difficult time for the churches than the years of excitement and danger preceding and during the height of the nationalistic movement. The editor of the Chinese Recorder, Dr. Frank Rawlinson, commenting on the Aftermath of the Revolution, says:

"Many of the lingering shadows of a passing night hung over 1928, some see and feel the shadows alone. Their presence and chill are, of course, evident enough. General conditions have been bad. Banditry is still rife. Economic destitution is appallingly widespread. Famine stalks in at least ten provinces. All this is in part the inevitable result of revolutionary disruption and in part the outcome of unavoidable natural calamities¡­ In short, unsolved political, social, and religious issues clutter the roadways in every direction. 1928 brought to light the debris left in the wake of the revolution.

The spirit of the Chinese church exhibits both the weeds and the fruits of the revolutionary after math. On the one hand there is evident in some places spiritual lethargy! ?thus some churches, once more alive than their environment, are now almost moribund compared therewith."

Writing on the State of the Church, in the 1929 China Christian Year Book, Dr. C. Y. Cheng has this to say in regard to the spiritual depression in the churches: "Not a few of our Christian people feel utterly depressed and exhausted; a kind of flatness seems to reign in the hearts of many-a lack of spirit and energy to make any forward move. The bitter experiences of the past and the uncertainty of the future have made many shy of attempting great things for God and expecting great things from God! ?this has been made very clear to the writer in his travels in different parts of China."

The decade in question was not only a difficult one from the point of view of political movements and propaganda; it was also a time when China was visited by tremendous natural calamities. In 1921 a very severe famine was experienced by the central and northern provinces, and in 1928 and 1929 another of still greater proportions and severity ravaged the country. According to the report of the International Famine Relief Commission of Peiping, practically all the provinces of China were affected by some sort of calamity during 1928, and during 1929 there were at least 50,620,000 people awaiting relief; a multitude nearly equal to half the population of the United States in need of food in varying degrees. The causes of all this misery were given as economic depression, banditry, militarism, and especially calamities. Kansu suffered from depredations of Moslem brigands 20,000 strong, and was still suffering from the effects of the earthquake two years before.

The year 1931 will go down in the annals of China as the year of the Great Flood. According to Mr. H. S. Liang, writing in the Chinese Recorder: "In extent and effect the flood that is today menacing the country is undoubtedly the greatest and the worst that China has ever experienced. It is generally estimated that 16 provinces are affected by this catastrophe, and that more than sixty millions, or about one-sixth of the population of China are directly involved. Of this number at least 30,000,000 are rendered homeless and destitute. The total number drowned in the different stricken districts, according to various official estimates, easily reaches the figure of half a million."

That these natural calamities and the difficulties in the political sphere and especially the deplorable state of the churches, should create in the hearts of many a longing for higher and better things is only natural. That these untoward circumstances were a means in God's hands to prepare the way for a revival in the church and an awakening among the people at large can scarcely be denied. In fact, during the height of these calamities and difficulties we find the leaders of the churches girding themselves for a more intensive effort towards the arousing and reviving of the churches. It was during the depth of the spiritual depression described above that the Five Year Forward Movement for the reviving of the churches was conceived and launched.

This movement had its inception in an interchurch conference in Canton where the following resolution was adopted: "In order to hasten the fulfillment of Christ's last commission, to meet the deep religious needs of our people, and to vitalize the spiritual life of our fellow-Christians, we, after fervent prayer and careful consideration, earnestly request the church in South China and in the whole nation to consolidate all their Christian forces, and by individual and united effort to carry out a vigorous evangelistic movement, in the hope that within the next five years the number of Christians will at least be doubled." (Quoted by Dr. C. Y. Cheng, in the China Christian Year Book for 1929, page 152.) At its meeting in Hangchow in May, 1929, the National Christian Council voted to sponsor this movement, and it was officially launched on January 1, 1930. As the movement had for its chief aim the enrichment of the spiritual life of the individual through a deeper knowledge of Christ and a more intimate fellowship with Him, the prayer-slogan adopted for the movement was singularly appropriate: "Lord, revive Thy Church, beginning with me."

I mention the Five-year Movement in this connection merely to show that the leaders of the church at this time had come to realize the desperate lack of the churches and the need for concerted and vigorous action to get things back on a better basis.

A letter was sent out in February, 1934, to various leaders in the parts of China where the revival had then taken hold. A request was made for material regarding the revival in the form of personal testimonies, records of progress or personal impressions. I suggested that it would be desirable among other things to know what were the underlying and contributing causes of this revival. Numerous replies were received from which I quote representative portions.

The Rev. Wm. H. Nowack of Miyang, Honan, writes in his Missionary Letter, Echoes from In-land China, for January, 1934, in a five-year retrospect as follows: "As we look back over these five fast-fleeting years, filled with glad service for Him, they almost seem like so many days... We praise Him anew for all the goodness and mercy which have again followed us throughout this brief span, and feel confident that nothing but His own all sufficient grace could ever have taken us through. When we think of the chaos into which we were obliged to come back, the awful famine which had to be faced immediately upon our arrival, and the two succeeding that, the awful years of wholesale banditry throughout the entire district, the frequent occupation of our city and mission buildings by the unscrupulous military, and the many trials which these involved, the fiery Bolshevistic persecution of 1930, and the physical testing and family sorrow added to all the rest, we realize that it was only through the faithfulness of our Almighty God, `El Shaddai,' that we have been brought hitherto, and in His dear Name we would raise another Ebenezer to the praise of the glory of His grace.

"We praise Him too, for all the blessings which He sent to counteract the trials, for the successful reorganization of our Ebenezer work in 1929, and the steady progress it has experienced ever since; for the many precious souls that have been saved, and added to our ranks; for our dear Pastor Liu and his faithful evangelistic band, as well as for all that the Lord has done for them and through them.... The last year has been without exception the best of them all. The precious revival already recorded in our last Echoes, the Spirit's gracious working which has been following in its train ever since, and the material prosperity and peace of our community throughout the year, have indeed been causes for gratitude and thanksgiving."

Rev. I. W. Jacobson of the Covenant Missionary Society writes from Nanchang, Hupeh, in a letter dated February, 1934: "As to underlying and contributing causes of the movement, I can distinctly see three very outstanding. In the first place, the faithful preaching and teaching of a clear gospel message during a longer or shorter period of time, diffusing sound Christian instruction and doctrines, until a certain component part of the community has become more or less enlightened regarding Biblical truths. This I can see constitutes a very favorable and necessary setting, an indispensable environment, for revivals such as I have been privileged to see and take part in. Secondly, the fact that God had prepared certain workers-especially Chinese-in a very special way, having anointed them in large measure with spiritual insight, power, and love for the salvation of souls, constitutes one of the great forces in maintaining and spreading the present revival movement. Thirdly, I firmly believe that the many national calamities with accompanying intense suffering of the common people have had very much to do with the preparation of the hearts and minds for the gospel message, and the working of the Holy Spirit upon their deeper nature. In fact, I have been told time and again that the many movements, and calamities, and innovations of recent years have so influenced the usual mode of thinking and inherited conceptions that the common people find themselves without guiding and directing principles, without comfort in their sorrows, and without vision and hope for the future, and that at a time when these values are needed above everything else. To hearts and minds in such a state the revival comes as a refreshing rain on dry ground, and spring after a long and cold winter."

Rev. J. L. Benson, President of the Augustana Synod Mission in Central Honan, sums up the under lying and contributing causes as follows: "United and continuous prayer. The noon-day prayer meeting at the stations. The faithful and constant sowing of the seed by preaching and teaching of the Word, spreading of tracts and portions of Scripture and other books. The sacrificial lives of such men as Dr. Friberg, Rev. Lindell, Doctor Lindorff, Mr. Li Meng Beh, and others. The hospital work and famine relief. The trials of the church in recent years, wars and national discouragements and disillusionings. The New Life and allied reform movements."

Dr. John Darroch, of the Religious Tract Society, says in his circular letter of April, 1934: "I have been truly astonished when reading some of the accounts of work in the interior which we have printed in this office. These tell of revival meetings with numbers weeping and confessing their sins. These things were impossible in the days when I was in charge of an inland station. They are possible now because the knowledge of the gospel is widespread. The conception of the God whom we preach has become clearer in the minds both of Christians and of the unconverted. Both now realize that God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. They believe in their hearts that He searches the hearts and is not mocked, and they are humbled before Him."

Rev. Einar Smebye, President of the Norwegian Missionary Society of Hunan, reports the work of his mission for 1933 in part as follows: "The revival is an answer to prayer. We have often carried the precious seed under weeping. We have often traveled with a heavy heart among the churches, because we saw so little of real fruitage and so little of real Christian life. We saw some fruit, and we saw what we thought was true spiritual life in some individuals. But we often said with the hymnist: `The baptized crowd upon land and shore, But faith's pure fire we find no more.' (Av dopte vrimler land og strand, men vhor er troens brand?) What was the trouble? Why was it thus? We sought comfort in many things. One of our co-workers writes in his annual report: `Since during the course of a number of years we have seen so little of a new, rich life in Christ within our churches, it has almost come to this, when facing these many disappointments, that we have said to ourselves, We possibly can not expect anything better in China for the present.'

"However, even if the Chinese are not just like we are in matters of religion, should not the Spirit of God be able to bring also the Chinese to the same experience of sin and grace as the Christians in other lands go through.

"We heard about the revival in Madagascar. We had read about the revival in Korea, and we heard similar news from Manchuria, and finally news came to us of revivals in the northern synods of the Lutheran church in China. Would not God also visit us in the same manner? The prayer for revival became a cry to God, lest His servants should lose heart. Then the revival came to Shekow. Some of the students who had been most thoroughly gripped by the Spirit of God, together with one of the professors, requested to be allowed to come to our field. In connection with this visit we were permitted to see the answer to our prayer."

Rev. Marcus Chang of Changsha, Hunan, professor in the Hunan Bible Institute, writes about 'harbingers of the coming revival in "Missionsforbundet." He mentions in particular the great spread of Christian literature during recent years due to the change from the Wenli to the Guoh Yu style of writing, making the literature comprehensible to the masses. The great increase in Christian publications shows that there is a hunger and a thirst after literature for the deepening of the spiritual life. He makes a special point of the many leaders especially among the Chinese that God has raised up, who have prepared the way for the revival. Many of these have not been trained in theological institutions, but have been raised up and taught by God and prepared for a special work in connection with the revival.

Rev. Hans M. Nesse, of the Lutheran United Mission in Honan and Hupeh, writes in the Lutheran Herald under date of September 19, 1933: "We are at the present time experiencing a spiritual movement on our mission field in China, which fills us with hope. Truly the saying of Jesus, "I am come to send fire on earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled," is fulfilled in our midst.

"Ever since the inception of Christian work in our midst, this holy fire from God has been burning. At times it has been burning low; at other times it has blazed up and become an ardent flame. In this connection we can not but think of the many faithful witnesses, both Chinese and missionaries, some of whom have already gone to receive their reward. Courageously these witnesses have blazed the way, faithfully they have sowed the seed, often in pain and tears they have toiled on, holding firmly to the promise of God for a glorious harvest.

"A renewal of the Chinese church has especially of late been made the object of united prayer both by missionaries and the Chinese Christians. And then the present time is opportune for spiritual awakenings. The Chinese people stand more disillusioned today than at any time earlier. To their suffering there seems to be no end. They have no way of escape. The proverb, `Man's extremity is God's opportunity,' is holding true also in this case."

In summing up the underlying causes of the revival as depicted in this chapter, I shall follow an outline prepared by Mr. Yang Ging Siao, graduate from our Lutheran Theological Seminary of this year, who himself is a native of central Honan and has passed through the testing years we have been reviewing. He has been tried in the furnace of affliction and has allowed God's judgments to go over his soul. He has come forth purified and strengthened and equipped for service in God's kingdom. His summary is in effect as follows:

Of fundamental causes he lists: God's fulfilling of His promises, and manifesting His power. His love has prompted Him to send this revival which is the work of the Holy Spirit, giving testimony to the truth, thus glorifying the name of the Triune God.

As to contributory causes he lists first the more remote: The weakness of China due to internal causes and to aggression on the part of foreign powers; the international divisions and discord and oppression of the people by the militarists and unjust government officials. Civil wars, with soldiers everywhere, killing the people and burning their homes and occupying church property. Robbers and communists swarming over the country, despoiling the fields and the homes, burning, killing, raping, stealing, kidnaping. Natural calamities, droughts, and floods. Moral depression, the old religions and sanctions removed and the new sanctions not established; all go their own way, all sense of sin and humanity gone. From this state of affairs many have revolted; they realize their sin, and welcome revival.

As direct contributory causes he lists: Opposition to the church on the part of the Boxers in 1900, the student agitations beginning with 1922, and the nationalistic uprising in 1927, with its anti-foreign and antichristian propaganda. In the name of advancing the national cause, destructive doctrines were preached against the church, which harassed the church, but at the same time helped' it to deeper humiliation and greater dependence on God. Difficulties because of evacuation by the missionaries, and later the lack of funds to carry on the work. The tremendous problems before the church in connection with self-support and self propagation have caused it to look to God as never before. The low status of the church, with many backslidden members, making it as decrepit as some of the old heathen temples of China. The prevalence of gross sins among members and leaders. All this caused a longing for a change and for better things. Lastly are mentioned the prayers of the saints, the preachers of repentance raised up by God, the earnest and living witness of those who have been revived, bringing the Spirit's fire from place to place.

As we ponder these underlying causes of the revival we marvel at the wonderful counsels and methods of God for furthering His plans. Truly His ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts as our thoughts. When man sets about to rehabilitate the church, he is prone to begin with the outward things. He sets up a program and institutes a campaign for man's social betterment, and the improvement of his physical environment, thereby thinking to make man himself good.

God begins at the opposite pole. Instead of making the environment good, He makes it intolerable. Instead of making man satisfied with his own achievements towards the bettering of his own condition, He takes away from man every prop and stay on which he has relied, and brings him to a state of utter despair and disillusionment as regards his own power to help himself. At this point God is ready to step in and do for man what he is not able to do for himself. He causes man to lose confidence in his own methods and devices, so that he may turn to the living God for help in his extremity. When man comes to the point where he is willing to "let go, and let God," then God can begin to undertake for him. God well knows that as long as there is any outlook possible to man, he will not try the up look. It is only when man has come to the end of his own resources, and when he turns to God in abject poverty and bankruptcy, that God can step in and release for him His own unbounded resources of grace and power.

A little chorus has been ringing in my ears that contains in compact form this very idea of total reliance on God for help. It has been used much by Rev. Gia Yu Ming in the meetings conducted by him, and is attributed to him as author. I give it in free rendering:

Do not fear; Just believe;

Look not 'round you, nor within you, nor to man. Look to God; Much in prayer;

See by faith His glory now.

CHAPTER TWO

EVANGELISM

PASTOR HSIEH AND HIS REVIVAL SOCIETY

How God Raised Up Leaders to Carry Forward the Work of Broadcast Evangelism.

One of the most picturesque and interesting characters it has been my privilege to meet is Pastor Hsieh Meng Dzeh of Anhwei province. To meet him is as refreshing as a spring tonic, and to sit down and listen to his Scripture messages is a unique privilege.

Pastor Hsieh may be definitely put down as one of the most important precursors of the present widespread revival movement in China. Since 1916 he has been on the road almost continually, going from place to place, holding meetings, usually of about ten days' duration, preaching from two to three times each day. His sermons are seldom less than one and one-half hours in length, and oftentimes they are extended to two hours with a short intermission about halfway through.

He spends several hours each day in meditation and prayer and intensive study of the Word of God. His method of Bible study is as unique as his messages are original and gripping. He makes no use of commentaries, but believes in direct contact with the Word of God, with reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance in its interpretation. Consequently he is a man of one book, and he has become so steeped in the Word of God that his messages are vital, powerful, and convincing, as well as practical, fit-ting the needs of his hearers.

Many of his themes are chosen from the Old Testament. By means of constant meditation his material has grown to almost inexhaustible proportions. Thus he will preach a whole series of sermons on the Deluge, drawing many warnings for the ungodly, as well as lessons for the lives of believers from this gripping story. He has a reportoire of at least ten sermons on the story of the little Jewish girl who, as the slave of Naaman's household, influenced her master to seek cure for his leprosy at the hands of the prophet of Israel. His interpretations of Scripture may seem to be somewhat far-fetched to western minds, but they come home with peculiar force and appropriateness to the oriental mind.

Pastor Hsieh gives the impression of being a man wholly devoted to God and imbued with one consuming purpose, that of bringing the gospel to his fellow men, leading them into a vital, saving relationship with God. One of the favorite songs he uses at his meetings is an urgent call to sinners, "Dzui ren men, lai ting fu yin." In a free translation it runs as follows:

"Sinners all, come hear the Gospel call;

Right and wrong discern.

Profound the Word that saves the world; God makes His grace abound;

Saves the souls of men;

Rescues them from death and' sin.

Come, then, scholar, peasant, workman, merchant, Man, woman, grown or child, come, heed the gospel call."

On arriving at a place Mr. Hsieh never cares to know what he is to receive for his services, or if he is to receive anything at all. He thankfully receives what is offered and directs that it be sent directly to his headquarters in Anhwei. The money is credited to the account of the Revival Society, from the funds of which Mr. Hsieh and his family receive a modest allowance, the rest being used to promote the work of evangelism in various parts of China.

How explain this man, how account for his zeal, his power, his influence, his ability to endure hard-ship and the rigors of travel for his master's sake? The story of his life and conversion and empowering for service is of absorbing interest.

On more than one occasion have I heard Mr. Hsieh recount his experiences. When during the course of some of his meetings it is announced that on a certain occasion he is to tell the story of his life, there is an accession of an unusually large group of eager listeners who hang on his words fearing to miss a single sentence.

One such occasion stands out distinctly in my memory. It was an evening meeting in the assembly room of our Hasselquist Middle School at Hsii-chang, in Honan, a winter evening in 1925. The room was filled with eager listeners, mostly young people from our schools, who followed the narra-tive from beginning to end with intensest interest. At that time a faithful record of the main events in Mr. Hsieh's life was made by Rev. Anton Lundeen, and later reported in the Honan Glimpses. We also draw from the absorbing account of Mr. Hsieh's life written by his life long friend Mr. Alexander Mair, for twenty-six years a worker in the China Inland Mission. This account, entitled, "Pastor Hsieh, a Wayfarer for Christ," was published in 1933.

Being a native of Ho Yiieh Chow, a small town on the banks of the mighty Yangtse River, in the province of Anhwei, Mr. Hsieh was thirty years old before he heard the message of salvation through faith in Christ. He was at that time employed in a pawnshop connected with a gambling den.

Through the persuasion of a friend, Mr. Hsieh came into contact with the preachers of the gos-pel. What he had heard of the strange doctrines preached by the foreigners had only served to arouse his suspicions and prejudices against these strange teachings. When he learned that a Chinese was to speak at the newly opened preaching place of the China Inland Mission in his town, he consented to attend, but he took his place by the door as far away from the speaker as possible, not wishing to compromise himself by entering the room and sit-ting down.

The text of the evangelist was, God is love. His heart was gripped. He was familiar with the term for God, "Shangdi," from his readings in the Chinese classics, but that he should be a God of love and that he should care for each individual, was something entirely new to him. He had heard enough to make him desire to hear more, and he returned from time to time to talk with the evangelist and inquire further into the way of salvation.

The preaching about the cross seemed to be his chief stumbling block. He did not see that there was need for any one to die for his sins, or why he could not by his own efforts make himself into a better man.

He resolved to put away every known sin. To aid him in this work he hit upon a novel plan. He drew the picture of a heart, his own heart, on a piece of paper. He then determined that if he ever caught himself saying something or doing something wrong he would mark a black dot in the heart as a re-minder to leave off doing such things. It was not Tong before his poor heart was full of black dots, and he began to realize that he was not getting any-where with the work of cleansing his own black heart.

For an entire year he pondered the problem of the cross and redemption. He was in great agony of mind. Then one evening God revealed His Son to him. "It was in the gloaming," says he, "as I sat in my own room at home. I have no explanation as to what happened; I simply state the facts. In a flash, as it seemed to me, the room was flooded with light and before me a cross was upraised, and upon that cross was the Son of God. With eyes of love He looked at me and said, `I suffered this for you.' When I came to myself I found my face wet with tears; and from that hour I have never had the shadow of a doubt as to the necessity of Christ's atoning death on Calvary for my redemption and the redemption of every sinner."

It seemed that the vision of the crucified Saviour followed him for days and nights until at last he prayed God to take it away as now Jesus had come to be his Saviour and Redeemer.

He immediately began testifying before his family and friends, with the result that soon both his mother and his wife became believers. He moved to the city of Anking and there began taking part in street chapel preaching.

According to Mr. Mair, "here his genius in attracting and influencing individuals was early perceived. He was genuinely interested in people, and those with whom he spoke were immediately aware that here was a man with a truly vital message to impart. Not only had he rare understanding of their ordinary everyday needs and problems, but also a peculiar insight into the feeling, desire, and condition of their hearts. Sin was ruthlessly exposed and condemned and the sovereign remedy invariably presented: `Behold the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world.' There was no faltering in his proclamation of the truth; he himself had received the revelation, and his supreme passion was to lead others to the crucified Saviour."

Later, he accompanied the missionaries in arduous tours in the district around Anking. In after years he often spoke of the "priceless benefits received in this wonderful school of faith and service."

Soon Mr. Hsieh, who so ardently had begun to witness to the new life and blessing found in the Saviour, was to be led into wider fields of service for his Lord and Master. The human instrument in God's hand to lead him into a place of greater vision and usefulness was none other than the well-known Dr. Jonathan Goforth, who was at that time holding special evangelistic meetings in northern Honan.

Mr. Hsieh heard of the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit in connection with some of these meetings, and this created in him a desire to see this work spread to other parts of China. Accompanied by Mr. Westwood, of the China Inland Mission, he attended the meetings of Dr. Goforth. "From that time," according to Mr. Mair, "there came to him a new accession of power, and his message was charged with fresh unction and urgency. The awfulness of sin was revealed to him in a new way. He saw men and women stricken down by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and crying to God for pardon. And he witnessed those same people, changed by the transforming touch of God's Spirit, testifying to the possession of a priceless peace, which the world could not give. Hsieh yielded himself to the Lord, body, soul, and spirit, for anything, and thus there commenced for him a new spiritual epoch."

He returned to Anking to announce his newborn conviction that God was calling him into a larger service. He made arrangements for his family. He himself would set out to go where God might lead him. He organized a Revival Society which really turned out to be Mr. Hsieh himself, as he was its chief agent and promoter. Pastor Hu at Anking was to be the custodian of the funds, but Hsieh himself set forth on what was to become a nation wide ministry.

A scheme to start a Bible Training School for the promotion of evangelism in connection with General Feng Yii Hsiang's army, then in Hunan, was providentially side-tracked, and Mr. Hsieh was again free to set forth on his journeys with all China as his parish.

Soon invitations began to come from various parts of north China. He spent upwards of ten years in the northern part of China from 1916 on. By the year 1925 he had visited our Central Honan field no less than three different times. He was then about fifty years of age. He is still engaged in the same work. Since 1931 he has been in the western provinces, Szechuan, Kweichow, and parts of Hunan.

Who can estimate the value, for the cause of Christ in China, of the work of this devoted servant of His who in his simple, direct, and uncompromising way has preached God's truth and his way of salvation to countless multitudes of his own countrymen.

His life and example, his zeal and fervor, his willingness to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, has had its silent influence on many a life. Among outstanding men who have been personally helped by Pastor Hsieh's ministry can be mentioned Rev. C. K. Cheng, and Mr. Li Yoh Han. Doubtless there are others.

His love of the Word of God, and his faithful use of it for the nurture of his own soul and the souls of others, His untiring zeal and devotion to the Lord's cause, have prepared the soil for, and helped to bring about, the present great outpouring of God's power in many parts of China.

MARCUS CHENG

During the past two decades Rev. Marcus Cheng has taken prominent part in the work of broadcast evangelism. His name has become a household word in Christian circles throughout China.

During the past six years he has served as professor in the Hunan Bible Institute at Changsha, but his work there has not hindered him from devoting a large part of his time to traveling among the churches. He has had an outstanding experience of God's grace in his own heart and has therefore been able to help many others to a vital experience of Christ.

Marcus Cheng was for some years teacher in the Theological Training School of the Covenant Missions at Kingchow, in Hupeh. Later he was released for broadcast evangelistic work among the churches. For about two years he served as chaplain in the armies of Feng Yu Hsiang, then known as the Christian General, during their marches in northern China. In 1928 he attended the International Missionary Conference at Jerusalem as one of the representatives of the Chinese churches. Later he visited the Scandinavian countries and the U. S. A. He has a good command of both the Swedish and the English languages, and is therefore a welcome guest as speaker in the various churches in the homelands, having made in all three trips abroad.

Besides his work of preaching and teaching, he has done much work as a writer. He is editor in chief of the bimonthly magazine Evangelism, now in its eighth year. It is the most widely distributed and read church magazine in China. He has given us the story of his conversion in "Preachers' Experiences," published in 1925, from which we cull the following testimony:

"Having been baptized at the age of sixteen, I graduated from Boone College, Wuchang, at the age of twenty. I planned on serving the church in the educational sphere, not caring to take up the study of theology or to engage in evangelistic work.

"In the fall of 1906 I experienced a spiritual renewal. At that time I met a genuine preacher, one who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Being originally a doctor of medicine, he had been called by God to preach the gospel. His name is Li Shu Tsing, and I look upon him as my spiritual father.

"He preached at Wuchang during several days. When I saw him and listened to him I realized that he had something which I did not have. He preached the gospel in its truth and purity. I understood his words, but not the spirit that was in him.

"Then one evening I went to visit him to have a talk with him about spiritual things. I asked him: `How can Jesus live in my heart?' He replied: `Jesus lives in one's heart by faith. "How can I know that He is in my heart?' I asked. `When your conscience is ill at ease it is Jesus knocking at the door of the heart,' he replied. `Jesus is not like a mischievous boy who knocks at your door and runs away when you open and then comes and knocks again when the door is closed. Jesus does not play with you in this fashion. Therefore, when you feel this disquietude in your conscience, open your heart, and Jesus will come in immediately.' `How shall I go about it ?' I asked. He looked at me and said: `Return to your home, go into your room and close the door. Open your Bible at Ephesians 3. 14-19. When you have read this through, kneel down before the Lord. Then receive Jesus by faith into your heart. Obedience is of the utmost importance; whatever the Lord Jesus wants you to do, do it.'

"I then went home and did as Dr. Li had suggested. I received Christ into my heart. The light of His Holy Spirit penetrated my sin darkened heart and I realized my own sinfulness and impurity. I confessed my sins and pleaded for forgiveness. Whatever I had sinned against others I confessed before them and asked them to forgive me. From this time on I knew the joy of the forgiveness of sins and the meaning of repentance and rebirth.

"From this time on my Bible had a new flavor and my preaching had a new power. In fact, I didn't merely lecture about certain doctrines, but gave a testimony about Jesus. In bringing Christ to people I have been despised and laughed at and even cursed, but praise and thanks be to God, I have also seen people moved to repent and turn to the Lord. Many a time there have been those who have been pricked in their conscience and have come to me to inquire about the way of salvation. We have prayed together, and I have led them to the Lord to be saved. In my work in churches and schools, before congregations and individuals, I have seen evidence of the Holy Spirit's power through me in the lives of others. To Christ my Lord who loves me, gave Himself for me, and chose me, be all the glory and power. Amen.

GIA YU MING

Rev. Gia YU Ming is a native of Shantung. In "Preachers' Experiences," he tells us some facts from his spiritual experience.

He says that his last two years in college and the three years in the theological seminary were his happiest period, as then he lived in close communion with his Lord. He then gave himself unconditionally to the Lord to serve Him, allowing God to mold him as the potter does his clay.

When twenty-four years of age he was ordained to the regular ministry in the Presbyterian church, and served in a pastorate for twelve years. His wife was heart and soul with him in the work. They agreed together to read at least twenty chapters of the Bible each day, and in one year they covered the entire Bible seven times.

He enjoyed a fruitful ministry, having baptized no less than one thousand people, young and old. He finds great satisfaction in not having asked the church for any salary, but depending on individual contributions, and going forward in faith, he has never experienced any lack. His rule has been: "Never borrow a cent; and never owe anyone a cent." He says these years of utter dependence on God were his golden age.

Later he accepted a position as professor in the Ginling Theological Seminary for Women in Nan-king, where he is now serving as principal. He says he desires nothing so much as to go forth in the Spirit's fullness and power to preach the gospel to his countrymen, sowing the precious seed of truth, witnessing for his Saviour in word and in life. This he feels to be his God given duty.

LELAND WANG

Some are called to the work of preaching from following the plow; some are called out of the deep, dark mines; others are called out of the shops and busy marts of trade to carry the banner of the cross forward to victory. Leland Wang has the distinction of receiving the call to be a preacher from the deck of a naval vessel, after having been in the service of the Chinese navy for nine years.

We have the story of his life and experiences from his own pen as recorded in a book of collected sermons (published in 1927, by the Christian Missionary Alliance Press). He relates: "I am from Foochow. From youth I was an idolater. As a young man I heard someone say Jesus was crucified. I asked, `Why? "For His friends,' I was told. At that time I realized Jesus was a good man. While I was going to primary school, someone gave my father a gilt edged Bible, but he did not read it. I went and read it, but could make nothing of it and thought it was worthless. At the age of thirteen I was longing for spiritual consolation."

In 1912 he enrolled in the Naval Academy at Yen-tai, in Shantung. At that time he was asking himself: "Whence am I? Whither do I go? How shall a man live this life?" The emptiness and transitoriness of life seemed to bear heavily upon him.

After completing his course of study at the naval school, he was married. His wife had previously at tended a mission school and had there definitely given her heart to the Lord. One evening he saw his wife kneeling and praying, and he thought her foolish, as he did not know the meaning of prayer.

Since all nations had believers, he thought the Christian religion must be a good one, so he got his wife's Bible and began to read. He read Mat-thew 5. 8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." He thought, "My heart is not pure, how can I see God?" In the sixth chapter he saw the admonition, "Do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them." He then knew this was the pure doctrine and conceived a love for it and became an inquirer, asking God to help and en-lighten him.

He was now transferred to Nanking to attend the military academy there. He was the only believer in the entire school. He began to neglect his Bible reading. Someone asked him if he read his Bible every day. He was pricked in his heart and made a resolve to get up at 5:30 each day to read his Bible and pray. This practice he has kept up ever since.

"From this constant reading of the Scriptures," he says, "I came to see that Jesus was nailed to the cross for me; He arose and sits on the right hand of God as my high priest and will come again to receive me. One is saved through Christ's merits alone and not by one's own righteousness. From this time on I was full of peace, I preached the truth, and first helped my mother to believe."

After graduating from Nanking he was transferred to a naval vessel. While he was walking the deck of the ship one day, the question came to him:

"Shall I become a preacher for life or shall I remain on ship?" He prayed earnestly. Isaiah 52: 11, 12 helped him to a decision: "Depart ye, depart ye, go out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of Jehovah. For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight; for Jehovah will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your reward."

He left the navy in April of 1921 and first went to Anhwei and then returned to Foochow. He received a call to a church, but refused, preferring to leave himself in God's hands for any work He would have for him to do. "I walked the path of faith?" says he, "from the very start. I had many a test, sometimes in my home there was not a cent of money, but this circumstance only made me the more happy. When I went out to preach I had along a basket, a bell, and some tracts and booklets. At places where many people gathered I took a position a little higher than the rest and rang the bell and sang and preached. From that time on the Lord has never failed me. Discouraged, He has comforted me; sick, He has healed me; in want, He has sup-plied me; weak, He has given me strength. God's grace has been sufficient for me."

Since giving his heart to the Lord and yielding his life to God's service, Mr. Wang has traveled extensively throughout China. God has owned his work and blessed his ministry to the saving of many souls. His itinerary for the months of April, May, and June, 1935, included places in twelve or more provinces from Hangchow and Shanghai on the east coast of China, through Hankow and Wuchang in the Yangtse valley, then to Kaifeng and Loyang in Honan, and from there westward through Sianfu and Lanchowfu, the capitals of Shensi and Kansu respectively, traveling by rail and airplane, spending two weeks in a tour of inspection of the work in the Northwest, and on the borders of Tibet, then northward over Suiyuan to Peiping, and from there southward through Tientsin and Tsinan in Shantung, and then back to Shanghai and on to Hong Kong in south China. Surely this is an ambitious and formidable itinerary and all the more remarkable as a venture of faith and reliance on God for the supplying of the necessary means for the carrying out of the project.

WANG MING DAO

Wang Ming Dao is another of the better known men who are engaging in broadcast evangelism. He is a native of Peiping. His father was a doctor of medicine and was killed during the Boxer uprising in 1900. Mr. Wang relates regarding his early youth, in "Preachers' Experiences," 1931:

"I am a man who has had great worldly ambitions. From my fifteenth year I desired to go into government service and become a great official. When the Lord first sought me I opposed the Spirit's call for the space of three or four years."

At the age of twenty he gave his heart to the Lord. He was then teaching in a Presbyterian school. He relates: "That year in the fall, as I was teaching, I was suddenly aware in my heart of a great longing and spiritual lack-a great, inexplicable pain that could not be eradicated. Day and night I prayed earnestly, hoping that God would give me what I was longing for. One evening I received His answer: `Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear; but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He will not hear."

Mr. Wang fell at the foot of the cross and confessed his sins and received remission. That day became a memorable day in his life.

Immediately he was filled with zeal, and began to lead the pupils of the school to his new-found Lord and Saviour. Through inner conviction and independent study of the Scriptures he had come to the conclusion that he should be baptized by immersion. According to Marcus Cheng, Mr. Wang's newly awakened zeal not only led him to bring the pupils to Christ, but also to persuade them to accept baptism by immersion. This being unacceptable to the authorities of the school, he was obliged to leave his position.

The next three years were spent in his home. This became a time of special testing for him. He relates: "Persecution in the home, misunderstanding on the part of friends, all came upon me at once like a storm. I did not know how to meet all this. When I looked around, there was no help. I could only pray and read the Bible in a small room by myself. Praise the Lord, at this time He opened my eyes to behold the mystery of His salvation. God gave also joy, hope, and glory. The Bible became my precious treasury and daily food. All my former ambition, great name, education, all became like a vanishing cloud."

Mr. Wang, like several others, was led to go forth and preach the gospel in faith, looking to God for support. His messages are quiet, but powerful, appealing to the will rather than to the emotions.

GIH DJIH WEN

Pastor Gih Djih Wen is one, of the several young men who were converted at a time of great crisis in the political life in China. This was the time of the great student agitations and demonstrations following the unfortunate so called Shanghai incident, the killing of some student demonstrators by the Shanghai municipal police, which took place May 30, 1925. Even during those days of riot and anti-foreign agitation, God was quietly at work raising up His own instruments for a forward campaign, which in His providence may transform all of China.

Pastor Gih is known in wide circles in China through his work with the Bethel Bands. He, with Dr. John Sung and others, making up these bands, has traveled extensively in northern and central China with pronounced results in renewed lives and revived churches. He relates about his early life in "A Short History of the Bethel Bands":

"I was born in a home where religion was not much thought of. From of old we had followed Buddhist doctrines, but without much zeal. Although we worshiped and burned incense, we did so more according to custom than anything else. As we went into the temples and I saw the evil-looking idols, I used to fear in my heart, and I ran as quickly as possible to my mother's side. I knew that the idols were to be feared."

Desiring to learn English so as to enter one of the foreign business firms, he applied for admission to the Bethel Middle School at Shanghai, and was accepted into the second class. In the winter of 1923 a lady missionary came to the school to hold special evangelistic meetings. Mr. Gih attended, but he remained unmoved until one afternoon when she spoke on the text, "All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God," he felt that he was before the judgment seat of the Holy Spirit. But he saw also "the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." "Suddenly I saw Jesus on the cross suffering for me," he relates. "I cried out, `Lord, save me!' I asked a pastor to help me and pray for me. Thank and praise the Lord, who said, `He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' He saved me, a sinner."

In July of 1925 there was a big meeting in Shanghai. The Holy Spirit worked mightily. Many were deeply moved, among them Mr. Gih. The speaker invited all who had made up their mind to preach the gospel and "save the country," (a phrase current at the time among the student agitators), to come forward. After an inward struggle Mr. Gih stepped forward, and from that time onward he has given his all to the Lord to serve Him.

DJAO SHIH GUANG

Pastor Djao is another outstanding example of God's providence in raising up spiritual leaders for a forward movement in the church at a time when the spiritual outlook was utterly dark and discouraging. He was converted at Shanghai in July of 1926, at a time when all China was in turmoil and uproar, due to the unfortunate incident of May 30th the previous year.

Due to the widespread political unrest, the usual Kuling conference and spiritual retreat was arranged to be held at Shanghai. The meetings were scheduled to continue ten days, and were held in the large new Church of the Heavenly Rest. A British missionary was in charge of the meetings, which were extended to forty days. Many remark-able conversions resulted, among them that of Pastor Djao. After his conversion he suffered intense persecution in his own home. His mother, who was an ardent Buddhist, refused to eat until he should recant his new religion. He remained steadfast and was finally driven from his home.

He was befriended by some Christian families, and after a few years of private meditation and ardent personal testimony to his new-found faith, he was called to be pastor of a vacant church in Shanghai. He is a preacher of deep conviction and power, and fills his church each Sunday to overflowing. We note some highlights from his personal experiences, as related by himself in "Preachers' Experiences":

"I was born and grew up in a non-Christian home with a mother who burned incense every night and prayed toward high heaven. It might be said we lived under the power of the devil and we had never heard the good news of salvation in Christ, though grown a little older I heard people mention that Jesus had died on the cross. At that time it meant nothing to me."

In July of 1921 he was persuaded by his cousin to attend Sunday school, which he did for the space of four years, taking enthusiastic part, especially in the singing, and was eager to learn the lessons well so as to gain the rewards. He was especially impressed by the lesson about Paul persecuting the church, and his subsequent conversion. How truly this experience of Paul was to reflect his own experience only a few years later!

In July of 1925 he attended a spiritual retreat and heard a message on the theme of the second coming of the Lord and other spiritual teachings. He hardened his heart and did not repent, but before the month was over, he had received grace to believe and accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. This experience was to be deepened and intensified during the meetings in July of the following year, of which we have already made mention. He arrived at the meetings in time to attend the ninth session. He was deeply moved on entering the meeting hall by the singing of the hymn: "I give my all to Jesus."

In the course of the meetings he was given grace to confess and make right certain things that were wrong in his life, among other things he was convicted of having taken forty-five cents from someone six years previously. He struggled for peace for some time, but could get no relief until one day he enclosed one dollar in stamps in a letter and sent to the man in question, when peace came at once into his heart. He also confessed before members of his family and his neighbors. After a period of deep contrition, often weeping bitter tears of repentance, he was given grace to trust in the blood and merits of Christ, and was given the assurance and joy of salvation. Besides his work as pastor of the Shanghai church, he is often called upon to lead special meetings elsewhere. He is an excellent singer and often opens his meetings with a solo. God has blessed and prospered his work in a remarkable way.

SUNG SHANG DZIEH

(John Sung)

The personal testimony of Dr. Sung is intensely interesting, showing God's guidance and provision in a remarkable degree. He is very dramatic in his gospel presentation and has been characterized as the "John the Baptist" among the evangelists of China. Everywhere he attracts large audiences and many are led to the Lord through his ministry. For some years he was with the Bethel Bands, but now he is working independently. The following story of his life and experiences is taken from a pamphlet, "My Own Testimony," by Dr. Sung himself, and from, "A Brief History of the Bethel Bands."

Dr. Sung is a native of Fukien Province. His father was a warm-hearted preacher of the gospel, intensely interested in rural evangelism. There was family worship every day, even the very small children being taught to pray, As he grew up he loved to study. While in school he did not join the various patriotic movements and was accused of lack of love for his country by his schoolmates. He paid no attention to their jibes and maintained he was a child of God. He thanks God for a Christian environment and influences during early youth and for the Father of Lights to guide him on his pathway.

When eighteen years of age, he went to the United States of America to study. He finished his college course in three years and was one of the four of his class to finish with the highest grades. Due to overwork, he was taken ill and had to undergo an operation. He prayed God to forgive his sins, and wrote to his parents saying he did not fear to die. During these years his Christian faith suffered a serious setback, due to neglect of prayer and Bible reading, and the too assiduous pursuit of scientific studies, putting his faith in science rather than in God.

He received a scholarship of three hundred dollars per year to Study at the Ohio Wesleyan University. After nine months of study he was granted the Master's Degree, and after another year and a half he secured the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. While at the university, he took a prominent part in the work of the International Students' Association and the International League for Peace. He contracted tuberculosis, but recovered shortly. Concerning his spiritual condition he says: "I believed in God, but not in Jesus as God. I looked on Him as the best man in the world who lived an exemplary moral and religious life." In spite of the honors heaped upon him by his associates, his conscience began to trouble him and he was ill at ease.

In 1925 he was offered a position and took up the work, but he heard a voice within him saying: "What shall a man be profited if he gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?" He remembered his father's prayers and heard him saying, "When I wanted you to go to America, was it not for the purpose of studying theology?" He also seemed to see a cross and to hear a voice: "Aside from the way of the cross there is no personal or national salvation."

He made up his mind to study theology and to dedicate his life to Jesus. With this in view he en-rolled as a student in the Union Theological Seminary of New York City.

"I was surprised," he says, "when I found out that the great professors questioned the virgin birth of Jesus and the resurrection as well as other fundamental doctrines. In their opinion, things not in accordance with science were not worthy of belief; prayer was in the nature of self hypnotism. As I had been immersed in the study of science for three or four years, my true Christian faith had melted away in the furnace of the social gospel. I made myself at home and began to persecute the fervent Christians and ridiculed them as insane and superstitious. I questioned the authority of the Bible. I thought the teachings of Confucius, and Buddha were far superior to the doctrines of the Bible.. I made a thorough study of several religions and was especially interested in Buddhism. I translated the Dao Deh Ging of Laotze. However, at the end, I was more despondent and was sorely disappointed in the study of other religions. My soul was wandering in the wilderness and I did not know what to do. I could neither eat nor sleep. At times I locked myself in a room to meditate on the teachings of Buddha for the purpose of getting at eternal truth.

"My religious faith at that time was so confused that I was like a small boat floating in a great ocean. But God, who does not will that anyone should perish, delivered me from the road of perdition."

At this time he chanced to attend a meeting where he heard a Spirit filled message by a young woman. Hiss withered soul began to revive. He felt that the Christian preachers of today had no life, and he determined to ask God to give him new life.

One evening, the last evening of the year 1926, while praying, he heard God's voice in his heart saying, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." "It made me tremble and quiver," he says. "My spiritual burden became heavier and heavier. On the tenth of February my burden was so heavy I could not bear it. I had no peace. My heart was filled with darkness and conflict. I prayed earnestly. Tears of repentance ran down my cheeks. I asked the Lord to cover me with His blood and to make me live not for myself, nor for the vain glory of this world. I opened my heart, asking God to take pity on me and deliver me from the iron heel of the devil and set me free."

While struggling with the problem of his own sin, he thought of his Bible. He found it under a pile of books in his trunk. He read about Jesus suffering for his sins. He followed the Saviour to Golgotha, carrying a heavy cross. His burden of sin became unbearable and he fell at the foot of the cross, imploring forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Christ. His prayer was heard. "My Son, thy sins are forgiven thee." With these words of the Saviour his sins were taken away. "It was the night of my spiritual birth," he says. "I also received a call to go out and preach the gospel to all people, bearing witness in these last days. I gave myself a new name, John."

He began to read his Bible and went out to preach. He left off reading what he called, "devil-inspired theological books." People thought him insane and locked him up in an insane asylum. Of this experience he says: "I was kept in the asylum for 193 days. While there, I read the Bible through forty times. I was led by the Holy Spirit and I could understand the mystery of truth. The asylum was my theological seminary. The day of leaving the `seminary' was the day of receiving my `diploma.' "

He returned to China, willing to take up tasks which other people were not willing to do. His father and mother doubted at first, but after a week's examination and observation they perceived he had received a new life and new power. His father encouraged him to bear testimony telling what God had done in his life.

He was called to a school to teach chemistry. "I accepted," he says, "and the first lecture I gave I taught them a great lesson on chemistry, how five loaves and two fishes provided food for five thousand people. Boys and girls were brought to repentance." Here he spent half of his time teaching and half, preaching. Every day he took students out to preach in the villages. He spoke up to eight times per day. He was taken ill and was near to death. People prayed for him and he was restored. He secured a job yielding six or seven dollars a month, but he had ten months of the year in which to preach and he was happy.

Later the door was opened for him to preach to all of China. With the Bethel Bands he traveled in Manchuria, in the southeast, and in many places in northern China. After three years he left the Bethel Bands and has since been holding meetings alone in many places, in many churches. He ends his testimony: "The rest of my years I ask the Lord to preserve me in His holiness, and to help me walk in His paths, until the day when He call me to meet Him face to face."

CHAPTER THREE

Revival

REVIVAL

MARIE MONSEN

One of the outstanding instruments God has used for the reviving of the churches in northern China is Miss Marie Monsen. One of her own coworkers describes her coming to Chenping, one of the stations of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission in Honan, in effect as follows:

How God Prepared Special Instruments for Use in "The second of November of 1931 we were in Beginning and Carrying Forward the Work of the pressibly gladdened by the news that Miss Marie Revival. Monsen had returned to our field and was then at Nanyang. The early summer of 1927 God had sent her from Shanghai to Manchuria and later to Chili, Shantung, and Shansi. In these various places God had used her in a marvelous way for the reviving of the churches. "It seemed strange that she should thus be taken away from us to be used in the reviving of the churches elsewhere while we were longing and praying for a revival on our own field.

"Our older missionaries had quietly but tearfullly striven with God in view of the deadness of the churches. But with the news of God's visitation of the other churches our prayers took on new life. With every letter from Miss Monsen our prayers received a new impetus and became more intense as the time went on, until finally they were in the nature of distress calls. God, who is no respecter of persons, can not but send Miss Monsen back to us and make use of her among us as He has used her in the northern provinces.

"Then the news reached us that she would be with us at our annual conference at Chenping from November 13 to 15. There was a general feeling of expectancy as we journeyed to this meeting, and we were not disappointed in our expectations. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience to have her again in our midst.

"Already at this meeting it became clear to us that God had fashioned Miss Monsen into a seasoned soul winner through the experiences she had gone through in the north, and that she was in possession of a power from God that was well nigh irresistible.

"The first text she used was from the third chapter of the Gospel of John, `Ye must be born anew.' The greater part of this address consisted in short questions, cast forth with holy, penetrating seriousness: `Why are you a Christian? Is it not that you wish to enter heaven? What does Jesus say here? "Except ye be born anew, ye can not enter the kingdom of God." Ye can not, ye can not.' These words sank like lead into the hearts of the listeners.

"The next text was from Rev. 20. 12, about the sins that were written in the books with such clear ness. `Also in Jer. 17. 1 we see that your sins are written "with a pen of iron" on the tablets of flesh in your hearts so that no one can erase them.'

"Other texts were, Mark 14. 3-11, about Judas. `He was a preacher of the gospel; he was a member of the church; he was a disciple. But he was false; he was a thief. Are you a preacher of the gospel, or are you a thief T

"She aimed in the first place at our leaders and the workers in our congregations. She spoke from Prov. 28. 13, about covering one's transgressions. All are born with an inclination to cover their sins. Other texts used were, Is. 59. 1-4, `Your iniquities have separated between you and your God': Is. 64. 6, `Our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment'; 1 Cor. 6. 9, with the question, `Is this a catalog of your sins? Read and find out if your sins are there.' Also Mark 7. 21-23, with the same question and the same admonition.

"Then came John 1. 14, `He is "full of grace and truth," He will not permit you to remain full of falsehood and deceit.' And Is. 1. 18, `If you will only acknowledge your sins before God they "shall be white as snow."' Finally there was an address to believers about being in the will of God. `The unsaved have God's will behind them. The saved have God's will before them. Some are in God's will; others are outside of it. They try to stretch God's will so as to make it conform to theirs.'

"At the end of each service she took her place near the door, and few were those who managed to get by without having the question asked them, `Are you saved? 'It felt like the thrust of a sword,' they explained afterwards. After the next meeting they received another sword-thrust, `Are you still on the road to destruction.

"Many came to see her and to confess their sins, but she sent them away, some as often as three to four times. They were not in a condition of real need. `Pray that God's Spirit may enlighten you concerning your sins,' was the admonition they received to take away with them. She never tired of admonishing us, `Do not gather unripe fruit.'

"After the annual meeting there was a special meeting for workers and leaders. Those who were present told of the powerful working of the Holy Spirit manifest at these meetings. During the course of the meetings Miss Monsen spent one night in prayer before she could find courage to step up to Pastor Han Liu Ging and tell him she was afraid he did not have life in God. He came under deep conviction and after two days found release.

"He said afterwards that there was something that melted within him when she took him aside. He felt the love of God was impelling her and that he must give in. Later on he became Miss Monsen's helper during a series of meetings, and is one among those God has used to further the revival.

"Pastor Liu Dao Sheng was another leader who had been used of God with much blessing. At these meetings he also experienced a renewal and em-powering. His eyes were opened to the need of bringing people to the point of being saved and re-leased from the power of sin. Together with others who had experienced renewal, he began immediately to enter the work as a definite soul-winner. Liu Dao Sheng became Miss Monsen's chief helper as long as she remained on the field of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, and he is perhaps the one God has used the most since her departure.

"Miss Monsen's plan was first to destroy the false security of the church members. She spoke of the various kinds of patches the unsaved used to hide behind when they tried to persuade themselves they were saved. Then she spoke of sin, one sin at a time. It had cost her several days of prayerful struggle before she became willing, as she expressed it, to `descend into the miry cesspool of sin' in connection with the sixth commandment, against adultery. But it turned out that one of Satan's well-nigh impregnable strongholds was at last broken into when this particular sin was brought out into the open.

"Another text that was laid heavily on her consciousness was, `It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' People by means of this text were placed face to face with God.

"Finally, the words of gracious promise from the Scriptures came as balm on open sores. `Unless He, who was without sin, had been made sin for us, God could never have said to the sinner, Come, when you are in earnest about your sins, God, who can not away with sin, will speak words of comfort to your heart.

"At each series of meetings there was no pronounced movement or great visible result. She was ever alert to hinder strong emotional outbursts, or public confession. Everything was done quietly. After she was gone it became evident that God's Spirit had plowed deep furrows. We could begin to gather in the harvest of souls."

As we ponder this gripping narrative by one of Miss Monsen's co-workers we are bound to ask ourselves, what is the secret of the power this worker of God possesses? Is there anything in her nature or bringing up that would give a clue to the effectiveness of her service? What means did God use to bring about such marvelous results in her own life, and through her in the lives of others?

We are indebted to another of Miss Monsen's coworkers, Mrs. Karoline Samset, of Laohokow, for some intimate touches regarding her youth and early training and first impressions on meeting her before she was sent out to China as a missionary under the N. L. K. Board.

"Miss Monsen was confirmed in the church of Sandviken in the outskirts of Bergen, Norway, under the charge of Rev. Grimnes, the pastor of the church, who was of great spiritual help to her during these formative years. Elder Tormod Retterdal of the China Society was of especially great help to her in a spiritual way. According to her own testimony she never tired of listening to him as he always had so much to offer."

It appears that from early childhood Miss Monsen loved to wander about among the mountains and hills of her native land, and when school vacation arrived she always set her gaze towards the high mountains. The majestic Jotunheimen and other tall peaks were familiar places loved by her.

The year she was to take her examination for teacher's certificate she was too young by one year, and it was just at this time that she came to clarity regarding her call to the mission field.

It was in 1898 in the Laksevag church in Bergen that Mrs. Samset first learned to know of Miss Mon-sen, who was later destined to become her close friend and co-worker. The Rev. Prydz was occupying the pulpit and the text was, "Thy kingdom come." During the course of the sermon the preacher mentioned the name of a young woman who had sought for acceptance by the China Society to be sent to China. The Board had asked her to testify as to her spiritual life and outlook. During their conversation, the Rev. Prydz and Miss Monsen had both agreed that it was impossible to explain just how they had become heirs of the kingdom. The main emphasis in his sermon at this time was on the kingdom of God within us.

The following year we find Miss Monsen at Lovisenberg Hospital and Training School in Oslo as the choice of the China Society's Board for work in China. Through a friend whom Miss Monsen had nursed, Mrs. Samset came for the first time into direct contact with her. She relates:

"It was evident from the first moment of contact with her that Miss Monsen was an unusually gifted woman. She possessed considerable originality of mind, and, as a rule, was never found treading the beaten paths. In contact with the deaconesses at Lovisenberg she was never afraid of expressing her opinion freely. In those days such behavior was not always well received, so she had many heavy burdens to carry at that time, but she was always ready to take the part of those who were weak.

"She wrote to Brandtzeg, then General Secretary of the Board from Lovisenberg, `Verily, you have sent me to the North Pole.' He replied, `Yes, but I know that you have both pick and axe so you can dig yourself out again.' She made it, and when she was the hardest pressed, the head physician came to her assistance.

"From that time on her life was unusually rich in experiences. She grew up in a home where she was supplied with only the necessaries of life. Money has never appealed to her as of any worth. She has always been willing to extend help to such as were in need. `Prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven.' She has done this and the Lord has never permitted her to come to grief.

"She has gone to the steamships without money to buy a ticket; she has traveled by rail across the United States without provisions; she has made a journey to the Northland without a steamer berth. `Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of.' This verse came to her at one time when she was suffering from hunger. She was led to a loaded table without the payment of money, and afterwards was in a position to help a fellow traveler who was on his way to tell his mother that there is no God. She has stuck to the promises, and God has never failed her. But to surrender everything unconditionally into the hand of God is not a lesson that is learned in one day. She has had to go through the deep waters to come to the place of utter dependence on God.

"When she came to China in the fall of 1901, her health failed her. She fell down a stairway in Shanghai and sustained a concussion of the brain, and when she arrived on the field she was taken down with a bad attack of malaria, so that even her life was despaired of.

"She was very much handicapped in her language studies the first few years. She struggled against the malaria, and her head gave her constant pain. During the summer of 1906 she was healed through prayer. Since that time the Lord has been her Great Physician, and she has needed His help on more than one occasion.

"Something that has always stood out before me as remarkable is her prayer life. She has always been an early riser, and the first two or three hours of the day have been holy to the Lord. The precious dewdrops from the Lord's altar have sustained her step by step on the way of sanctification.

"As a co-worker she was always sympathetic and considerate, and, on the whole, easy to get along with. Her aim was to go the way of the Lord and do His errands, so that also out here it was never a question with her of following the beaten paths. Consequently there were times when some stood wondering and questioning. But that it has paid her to follow the way of the Lord and to be in His will, that has been amply shown by her life during recent years."

This sketch of the life and work of Miss Monsen would be entirely inadequate if we left out all reference to an experience she had in the spring of 1929 when she was marvelously kept during twenty-three days of captivity at the hands of a band of sea rovers who had captured the ship she was traveling on from Tientsin, to meet an appointment to hold meetings at Hwanghsien in Shantung.

The story of this adventure in faith and dependence upon the Lord was told by Miss Monsen in her own characteristic way in an address before the Peitaiho Conference in North China, July 29, 1929, and recorded in a booklet, "We Are Escaped," published by the China Inland Mission in 1931.

In reading this wonderful testimony to God's faithfulness and power to help those who trust fully in Him, we are impressed by the place and value of prayer in the scheme of God's government of the world, as well as by the wonderful provision of God for our every need, if we are only willing to trust Him to undertake for us.

There is no doubt but that Miss Monsen's experiences during those twenty-three days on that bandit-ridden ship were a means in God's hand to prepare her for greater work for Him during the years that followed. The narrative is full of interest from be-ginning to end.

In the providence of God she was led to take a boat that sailed one day earlier than she had planned. She was also led apparently without any reason to purchase several pounds of apples to take along on the journey. Likewise she was led to keep four boxes of chocolate that had been sent her by friends. "Never before in my life," she relates, "had I carried about with me four boxes of chocolate. From the last part of February I began to get those packages of chocolate, and every time I got one, I heard the words, `Keep it for an emergency.' I had a few biscuits, dry biscuits, fourteen or fifteen of them. Many, many times I had been wanting to leave them behind and not carry them along, but I always heard, `Keep them for an emergency.'

For nine days she had those apples, that chocolate, and those biscuits, and during those nine days she could not get any one of the crew near enough to tell them she wanted anything.

The ship left Tientsin on the 19th about noon. The next morning, as they were nearing the Shantung coast, she heard shots all over the ship. About twenty robbers had come along with the ship as ordinary passengers and now they took possession of the ship. The words came to her, "This is the trial of your faith," and a thrill of joy went through her at the thought of it.

"I was immediately reminded," she says, "of the word that I had been using much in years gone by, in Isaiah 41. 10, and I will read it to you as I had been reading it on the Honan plains, `Fear not, Marie, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, Marie, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, Marie, with the right hand of my righteousness. Fear not, Marie.'

Suddenly the doors were opened and the passengers were commanded to go outside on deck. Miss Monsen did not move. She knew she was on that ship that left Tientsin on the 19th because the Lord wanted her to be there, and that she had that cabin as an answer to prayer, so she did not leave it. A line from a Danish hymn came to her: "My door-posts have been marked by the blood of the Lamb."

She kept singing this over and over, and firmly believed it was so.

A young robber came into her cabin and demanded to see her watch. He told her to put it away, thinking that later he would come and get it. In the meantime another robber came and asked that she make him a present of her watch. This she refused, whereupon he threatened to shoot her. She replied: "Oh, no, you can not shoot me. You can not shoot me whenever you like." She quoted the promise and told him what it meant. "My God says that no weapon that has been formed against me shall prosper. You can not use your pistol whenever you like on me and shoot me. You must have special permission from the Living God to do that." He jumped up again and pointed the pistol at her. "You can not," she said, "you can not. It has been promised to me, no weapon that has been formed against me shall prosper." She repeated that to him four or five times. Later during the twenty three days they were. together on that ship, she heard that young man repeating those words to himself almost every day. They just stuck.

Another promise that she claimed was from the third chapter of Malachi: "And I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not." She asked God that there might be such a difference between her, a child of God, and the others, that those two hundred passengers on that ship might see that she had a living God, that her God was God, and was to be praised. In this respect also her prayers were answered.

Miss Monsen tells about the advent of another visitor: "I saw two robbers standing outside, looking into my cabin. I have seen quite a few robbers down in Honan, but I have never seen more vile looking men than those two. One pushed the other into my cabin and shut the door and tried to lock it, but the key had been broken. There was that man in that little cabin, I felt the devil himself was there. His face and neck and hands were all covered with hideous sores, open sores. He sat down on my suitcase, almost breathing in my face. I repeated the promise that had been very precious to me many times down in our robber province: `The angel of the Lord encampeth around them that fear Him and delivereth them.' And there was another promise I went over that moment, `The Lord is like a wall of fire round about His people.' Round about me. Once when I had to travel through a robber district, the night before, the Lord allowed me to see it. I suddenly awoke and it seemed to me the roof was lifted off the house and I saw a wall of fire higher than the house, round about me, and I heard a voice saying, `The Lord is like a wall of fire round about His people.' I could see the arrows coming from the out-side, arrows without number, and I could see the flames consuming them and not a single one of them passed that wall of fire round about me. I had known those words for years and years, but I had not known what they meant before that time. So I claimed the promise that He would be like a wall of fire round about me then, and that vile man sitting there was up against the wall before he could touch me.

"I started the conversation. Is your mother still living? `Yes,' he said. How old is she? He told me. Well, she is about my age. I asked him about his father and the rest of the family, and we had a good long talk together. I had asked him to open the door and he obeyed me. It could not be locked. I found out that he knew a missionary, and he said about him, `Truly he is a good man, there is no better man in this world.' He knew some real Christians too. I believe we talked together for an hour, and when he went he had tears in his eyes, and he went out very quietly indeed. I never saw him again near my door."

For five days and nights the robbers looted every junk they came across and sent the loot ashore. On the second day a junk had arrived with guns and ammunition and the number of bandits had been increased to fifty or sixty men. The passengers were fed, but Miss Monsen consistently refused to eat any of the stolen food. The apples and chocolate and biscuits lasted her nine days. On the tenth day the second officer came to her door. Up to that time not one of the crew had dared to come near her cabin. He asked if she had anything to eat, and on learning she had nothing, said, "Well, I have a box of eggs in this cabin, which I bought in Tientsin with my own money, clean money; you needn't fear. I have a box of Chinese cakes too. You can have it all."

"From the tenth day till the end of the twenty-three days," she says, "I had for breakfast one egg, for the noon meal, one egg, sometimes two; and for the evening meal, one egg. I prayed that the Lord would make that egg into a real meal and that He would make it good for vegetables and fruit and all that I needed; and He did. I had no trouble what-ever on account of the food, and when I had eaten one egg I seemed so satisfied I don't think I could have eaten more if I had had it."

Every day as they were having their meals, Miss Monsen handed out tracts to them. One would read aloud, and the others would explain the meaning. She relates: "Many and many a time I saw tears in the eyes of those men. They said, `We can not but be bad,' and the one they wanted me to look upon as chief and to deal with came every night as I was standing outside the cabin door to get fresh air.

"We talked for hours together. Even that last night before we left the ship-I didn't know it was the last night-we talked together for two hours on what I wanted to talk about. I told him what was coming, the Lord's return and the Lord taking His own people unto Himself, and the tribulation that was to come upon the earth. I must confess it, the day I saw those robbers leave the ship, I sighed be-cause my work among them had come to an end. By that time I had been made perfectly willing to go with them, to be carried off, with them, although I could not see how they could carry me off as long as r had this Book and all the promises in it."

During all this time she was perfectly delivered from impatience. Some of them remarked: "Can you understand the peace she has got? You can see it on her face. Look at the passengers; they look yellow and worn and impatient every day." She knew it was so and thanked God that they could see the difference.

The last five days the one question was how to carry her off the ship. At three different times they had planned everything to carry her off, but each time something turned up to frustrate their plans. They had commandeered forty or fifty junks which they carried alongside. They pointed out to her the junk she was to be in; bedding had been taken into the junks. They were just on the point of leaving and taking her with them when a sudden storm arose, so the junks had to go near the shore for cover. So they didn't leave the ship that time.

The twenty third day was Sunday. At three in the afternoon suddenly a shot was heard. A gunboat was in pursuit. Most of the robbers immediately left the ship. Ten were left behind. The captain was ordered out of his cabin, and there was a lively race for the space of two hours. The pirates planned to leave the ship and take Miss Monsen with them. "We must have the foreigner with us;" they said, "we can not go without that foreign face; they won't shoot us if we have that foreign face with us." At last they had to go into the junks, and she heard one voice saying, "What is the use of carrying the foreigner with us? She has not been eating anything for twenty-three days; she won't be able to run; she won't be able to walk. You see the circumstances we are in; leave her behind!" And I was left behind: of course I was. `Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered.' "

Miss Monsen says the only difficulty she had on board ship was about how her old parents would take the news of her captivity. She was given grace not to be anxious for her parents, and God under took for her also in this respect. Seven days before her deliverance, word came to Norway that she had been released, so that during the last and most difficult days on board ship they were having praise meetings in the home land. She testifies as to what prayer did for her during the days of her captivity.

"The first four or five days, people did not know we were missing, so no one prayed for the missing ones, of course. Those five days I felt like one swimming against the current, but I felt that strength was given to me and that I would be able to make it. After people got to know we were missing and started praying for me, there was a marked difference. I felt like one floating on the waters, just floating, resting on the promises. And those seven days that they were having praise meetings at home, the hardest part of the time really, because there was this terrible struggle between the powers of darkness and the powers of light, during those days I was so filled with joy that I felt like bursting out with joy more than once."

After the pirates had left the ship, the passengers swarmed around her asking for tracts. They said: "We have seen that your God is God, and we want to believe Him too." She concludes: "Friends, I thank God for the Book of promises, and I do thank Him that He is faithful to His promise, and that I was allowed to see His faithfulness."

LIU DAO SHENG

Pastor Liu Dao Sheng of Nanyang, Honan, has been used of God to kindle revival fires in many churches in Honan, Hupeh, and Hunan. He is a humble, unassuming man, who lives close to his Lord. His messages, couched in simple, everyday language, are Scriptural and Spirit filled and come home to the hearers with singular power and effectiveness. Pastor Liu deals unsparingly with sin in all its forms, usually taking up one sin at each meeting and in this way producing conviction and contrition. When the hammer of the law has done its work of breaking to pieces the stony hearts, he allows the balm of the gospel to do its appointed work of healing and bringing peace to sin-burdened souls.

Through a mutual friend the story of Pastor Liu's life has been obtained, through which we can learn of God's wonderful ways of dealing with a human soul, as well as see how God goes; about it to perfect an instrument for His use. Pastor Liu relates:

"I was born in a heathen home fifty years ago, in the city of Lushan in Honan. My father, a scholar and a merchant, died when I was only fourteen years of age. I knew nothing whatever about Christianity in my early youth, though news did reach us about some missionaries who had been captured by bandits in a nearby city.

"My mother was a devout Buddhist and an ardent worshiper of idols and also read the sacred books of Buddhism. In my early childhood she taught me from these books, and later, when her eyes became dim, she had me read to her from these books and to offer prayers on her behalf to the Buddha. In this way I acquired a good understanding of Buddhism and accepted many of the good ideas and teachings of that system. Such teaching as on the law of reward for good and punishment for evil became clear to me, and I desired to attain to the perfect ideal of becoming a Buddha, although I did not formally enter Buddhism. One of my cousins embraced Confucianism, and through him I received a strong impetus for good from this system of ethics. At this time I also wrote poems for a living.

"When nearing twenty, I became seriously ill with stomach trouble. As a result I became very weak and downcast. I embraced asceticism as an outlook on life. My conscience being awakened, I saw nothing but evil around me and I wanted to die. I continued to lead an empty life of despair, always hoping I could soon leave this world. On account of my mother, whom I loved, I did not commit suicide, but planned to wait until after her death to do this awful deed. This condition of despair continued for two full years. I avoided people as much as possible and desired to be alone.

"One day while walking about the streets of Lushan aimlessly, I suddenly came to the door of a mission station.. I stopped and listened to an old man who was preaching and selling books. What he said was something extraordinary and it sounded very interesting to me. I wanted to hear more. After going home to get something to eat, I came again, and that day I heard the gospel preached three times. I said to myself, `This is a better place than any in the world. This message can not be heard in any other place.' From that time on, I went to hear the gospel preached every day. Later on I heard a man praying, and this was wonderful to me, as we were brought into the very presence of God. I went back home and prayed to God alone in much fear and trembling. Every day after the meetings I went back home and prayed. This state of affairs continued for about three months.

"I decided to study Christianity, bought books, and was received as a catechumen. Our pastor, Mr. Samset, became my instructor and taught me every day. Later I attended a conference and found some peace while there. I became convinced I had found the true way of life. I realized there was something to live for and my desire to die passed away. I knew I should get busy and make a living, so went into business. My heart was centered in the Word of God. Often I knelt in the open and prayed.

"About this time I began to testify to others about the new light I had found. Though my preaching was convincing and powerful, I was not yet a saved man. I continued to study and inquire into the truths of Christianity, and began to feel convicted of my sins. Because of my sins I became downcast again. However, I did not understand my sorrow, and no one else could explain my condition. I confessed my sins, but could not get release. My burden became unbearable. I continued studying the gospel doctrine for a year and half, but was not yet baptized.

"One night while I was attending a series of meetings at the mission station, the burden of sin was heavy on my heart and I could not sleep. I prayed, but got no relief. This condition continued for some months longer. Then after I had prayed time and again in church, the Lord finally appeared to me Himself. The experience I had is not easy to speak about. The glory of the Lord made me tremble, and as I saw Him on the cross, the burden of my sin became heavier. I fell to the floor and could not even pray. I could only say, `Lord, save me; Lord, save me!' As I beheld this vision, faith was given me and praise flowed into my heart. The following day I went home full of joy. Everything was new., "I did not know I was saved, but salvation had come to me without my knowing what it was. Whoever I met I could not help but tell of my new found joy. Now I wanted to see people and tell them about my joy. In the spring, some months later, I was baptized. I was then a little over twenty years of age.

"In 1909 I was employed for the first time as an evangelist. Through my work I received much new light and power. I loved to pray. I gathered the people together by beating on a brass gong, walking through the streets praying earnestly in my heart for them. At this time I did intensive Bible study and committed much to memory. In 1910 I was appointed as a regular evangelist, and enrolled for the prescribed course of study. In the autumn of that year I attended Bible school for two months. I continued to study and to preach for some years, but my spiritual life was unsatisfactory, and I did not have the success I wished for in my work.

"In 1915 I came into contact with the evangelist Hsieh Meng Dzeh, and later I received much help from Rev. England of the Swedish Mission in Shensi.

When Rev. Englund preached, the whole atmosphere seemed charged. I had never heard or seen such things before. There were confessions of sin, and the power of God was present. In these meetings I received a great blessing and began to think more seriously about spiritual things. Before these meetings commenced, my eyes were very bad, but during the meetings they were instantly healed.

"About the year 1917, while returning from the Bible School at Nanyang, I met with a serious ac-cident. It was summer, and I was traveling by cart. I tried to jump into the cart, but fell and was run over by the cart, sustaining a broken rib and an injury of the spine. I was brought to Lushan, where I remained ill for about a month. Miss Monsen and Mr. Hsieh Meng Dzeh came to pray with me. During my illness I studied the Acts of the Apostles. A short time after that, my wife died.

"In 1919 I followed General Feng Yu Hsiang's troops into Hunan to the city of Changteh and preached the gospel to them there. My spiritual life was not as steady as it should be; there were many ups and downs. In 1924 Miss Monsen experienced a quickening, and became a powerful instrument in God's hand, and had a great influence over me.

"In 1925 and 1926 I studied at the Laohokow Theological Seminary, and was ordained to the ministry in 1927. In 1929 at a meeting at Chenping I received a special blessing and the following year, at a special meeting at the same place, I was used of the Lord in the lives of many of the young people who came to the meeting. In 1931 I spent the summer in Kuling and received much spiritual guidance and help. The Holy Spirit corrected me again in regard to many sins. At the same time I received release and new power. In my work after that year, there has been more of the power of God. The Holy Spirit began to make use of my testimony in a new way. Since then I have received very special help from above.

"That same year Miss Monsen came back from her tour in North China. We met in Nanyang and asked her to give her testimony there. She spoke twice, and we felt the power of God. I especially received a strong impetus from the Holy Spirit. I saw myself in a new light and realized how sinful I was, and at the same time God's abounding grace was revealed to me all the more. Later we had a meeting at Chenping, and she spoke on faith. I was especially convicted of my shortcomings. I felt as if I had no ground under my feet. The Holy Spirit convicted me and rebuked me, and I learned to know myself better. I wept much. When walking outside, I often wept alone. I especially felt sorry over my work for the Lord. There had been so much beating of the air. I had zeal but not true courage. I could not approach people about their spiritual condition. From that time to the present the Holy Spirit has brought me through the fire. My work during these years has been the conducting of revival meetings, of which I have held about sixty.

"In 1932, in the spring, while conducting a meeting in one of the China Inland mission stations in Honan, I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit and freedom and joy. I have prayed much that the spiritual revival might continue in the churches. God showed me definitely through Ezekiel 37 that He wanted me to continue conducting revival meetings. Since then I have walked with great assurance and courage, relying upon the grace of God for the reviving of the churches.

"I have definitely continued to pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit, for the deepening of my spiritual life, that I might be an empty vessel for the use of the Spirit of the Lord. Often I have though that everything was right with me, but the Holy Spirit has again enlightened me, and I have again felt my miserable condition, like the man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. Then again I have gotten new and definite power and grace and light.

"Although I have received many and great manifestations of God's grace, I feel entirely unworthy of them. The Lord has manifested His love to me. But before the Lord I am the greatest of sinners; I am but dust and ashes in His sight. I have often recounted my sins before His eyes, and have hum-bled myself before men. I have confessed my pride, and I have had to make good some material losses to my fellow men. In my home, before my wife and children, I have felt constrained to confess my sins and shortcomings. My list of sins is not easily writ-ten, but each man has his own burden.

"During these years the grace of God has been great towards me. As to the future I have but to rely on the grace and love of God and to press on. I also hope that my friends and the readers of this testimony will pray for me, that I might be saved from backsliding and causing disgrace to His name.

At the same time I pray that the Lord may protect me and keep me, so that my completed life story may redound to the glory of the Lord."

SI SHIH DEH

Mr. Si is a native of Yuhsien, Honan. His mother sent him to the mission school when he was fifteen, his father having died when he was nine. He received and early impression from hearing a sermon on the text John 3. 16, from which he knew God was a God of love and loved also him. He attended Sun-day school and Bible class and in due time was baptized by Rev. V. E. Swenson.

Later he was received into the Hasselquist Middle School at Hsuchang, where he studied for some years. Later he completed the two year course at the Hunan Bible Institute in Changsha. In the fall of 1929 he was enrolled in the regular four year course of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Shekow. While in his last year there, he underwent an experience which proved to be the turning-point in his life. He relates concerning this experience:

"The great spiritual turning-point in my life took place Jan. 14, 1933, when the revival came to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Shekow. Suddenly God's hand gripped me, and I was made to sigh and lament because of my sins. I found no way of escape from God's wrath. The more the Holy Spirit enlightened me, the more I felt I was at the very door of Hades. I felt as it were a knife in my heart, and my bones were sore. I knelt before God and tremblingly pleaded: `God have mercy on me a sinner, forgive, forgive!' During three days and three nights I was before the judgment seat of a fearful and angry God without eating or drinking. I confessed, was restored, and was reconciled to my fellow man, but I could only see death staring me in the face. That morning, as we were in the chapel praying, the whole room was filled with sorrowful confessions and prayers. I could only see myself as a sinner worthy of death. From head to foot, all was sin, and inside there was nothing good. I confessed until I could think of nothing more to confess.

"Suddenly there came to my mind they words: `Christ was nailed to the cross for me.' I seemed to see the Saviour in living form nailed to the cross before me. The blood which flowed from His hands, His feet, His side, dropped like balm into my anguished heart. My body felt light as if a heavy burden had been removed.

"The words of Paul, `If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new,' could be applied to me. Thank God, even my former enemies became my warmest friends. I was in close communion with God and loved to pray and did not grow tired when praying. God heard my prayers, and made my wife well from a serious illness, and brought my brother back from the army, and saved him to a new life. Before I graduated from the seminary, God used me in the lives of my fellow students and others to the glory of His name."

Mr. Si was one of the band of students who with Prof. Korhonen went to Hunan in the summer of 1933. Later, with Mr. Gao and Mrs. Swenson, he spent four months in the N. M. S. field of central

Hunan. Returning from Hunan in the late summer, he and three other members of the band, and others who had experienced renewal at the seminary and in Honan, led a meeting at Kikun