《The Open Door(Vol.2)》
CONTENTS：
THE OPEN DOOR (2)
- Issue No. 9
- Issue No. 10
- Issue No. 11
- Issue No. 12
- Issue No. 13
- Issue No. 14
- Issue No. 15
- Issue No. 16
- Issue No. 17
- Issue No. 18
- Issue No. 19
ISSUE NO. 9
P. O. Box 84, Hankow, July 1938
NEWS CONCERNING THE WORK
From Tibet to Sikang,Yunnan Province
At present Brother Hsu and I are still conducting evangelistic work around Yeh-Ji. Since January of this year, both rain and snow have been heavy. Even birds have disappeared from the mountains. The route through which we will travel into Sikang and Tibet is blocked, and trade caravans have been halted due to the rebellion of the Yi tribesmen in Deh-Chin County. (Deh-Chin is also called Ah-Dun-Chi; it is a five-day journey from Yeh-Ji in the northernmost county of Yunnan province, with a population consisting entirely of Sikang natives.) We dare not advance now because preparations are not fully ready. The upper tributary of the Nu River goes through the west side of Yeh-Ji, climbing over the mountain to Gung-Shan County. This was an area where I did some evangelistic work last year, with over a thousand people saved. If one travels upstream along the Nu River for five or six days, he will come to Cha-Wa-Rung, which is under Tibetan jurisdiction. I estimate that we will not be able to cross the snowy mountain ranges until the fifth month of the Chinese calendar. Brother Hsu and I intend to take this route to enter Tibet first. From there, we will travel to Sikang. Our departure is getting nearer. Presently, my family is at peace through the Lord's grace. The construction of the house will soon be complete. If other brothers come and visit us, we will have a place to lodge them.
A brother in the Lord,
Hu Yi-min and wife, Yang Shu-jen
May 9 in Yeh-Ji
Letter from Brother Hsu Jung-jieh,Yunnan Province
It would be wonderful if Brother Chang Tze-jieh could come and work together with us here. I hope that he can come soon. I have written him a letter but have not received his reply. I am making some progress in learning the Tibetan language. By the time I go with Brother Hu to preach the gospel in Sikang, I believe this labor will reap a reward. My wife and two children are often sick because of maladjustment to the environment. They may have to go to K'un-ming, or they may go with me. I look to the Lord for His arrangement. If I go with Brother Hu on our evangelistic travel, it will take at least two or three months, or even half a year, before we can come back to see our family. Hence, it will be more or less the same for them if they stay here or move to K'un-ming.
Your brother in the Lord,
Hsu Jung-jieh and wife, Sien-yun
May 9
Some Experience of Pioneeringin the Border Regions, Yunnan Province
Brother Chen Hsi-wen and I left Shi-Ping on May 2, arriving in Mong-Tze on the third. We conducted outdoor evangelistic work for half a day on the fourth. A shopkeeper, coolie, and railway worker were particularly touched to receive the Lord. On the afternoon of the fourth, we traveled from Mong-Tze to Bi-Se-Zhai (north of Mong-Tze at the junction of the Yunnan-Vietnam Route and the Ku-Bi-Shi Road). We unexpectedly met Brother Yin and his family. Brother Chou Hung-bao and Brother Lin Yau-huei's mother also arrived from Ho-Kou. We took the train together and arrived in K'un-ming in the afternoon. In our travels, we found many difficulties in the pioneering work in the remote border regions. Except for the Lord's special grace, we would have had no way to start any work. Some of the difficulties included:
(1) Traveling: There is the danger of robbers and bandits. (The train along Ku-Bi-Shi Road was raided not long ago, and quite a number of people died or were wounded.) Entering into the inland regions is not only difficult but also time consuming. Most of the brothers and sisters living in the villages are poor, and it is advisable to bring more cash when traveling. There is a constant threat of robbers. Hence, there is the need for faith in the Lord.
(2) Preaching: Other than outdoor evangelistic preaching, it is difficult to gather a congregation because the folks here do not have the habit of meeting. Most of the audience are farmers and illiterate people. They do not understand Mandarin easily. As soon as we use more sophisticated terms, they become lost. The meetings of the local church are not conducted on a punctual basis because most of the believers do not have watches or clocks. There are delays from one to two hours. It is difficult to explain the deeper truths unless we find suitable, simple words or parables from the Lord. (Some think that it does not take any great gift to work in the villages or the inland regions. Actually, it takes as much gift and power to preach to illiterate sinners as it does to preach to believers.) According to my experience, working in the villages is more difficult than working in the cities. The co-workers who have been working in the cities should come to the rural areas to learn about rural life and to make friends with the rural folks. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to see any result. (This, of course, refers to the practical aspects of human affairs.)
(3) The church: Most people are illiterate, and it is difficult for them to read the Bible. Most of the residents in the inland regions are also prejudiced against outsiders. They often disrupt us using a variety of means.
(4) Outdoor evangelistic meetings: When we pioneered in different places, the Lord gave us the strength to have the boldness to engage ourselves in outdoor evangelistic preaching in the markets and populous places. According to our natural constitution, we are shy. Many people thought that we were native medicine men or street magicians. Whenever we went out, we prayed for the Lord to give us the strength to speak His gospel boldly. We saw evidence of the Lord's grace every time, proving that the gospel has the power to save all those who believe. We witnessed some immediately receiving the Lord every time.
The following are the advantages of outdoor preaching: (1) It enables sinners to hear the gospel who otherwise could not come or would not have the opportunity to come to the meeting place. It affords them a chance to hear and receive the gospel. (2) Those who are moved can be quickly introduced to the meetings of the local church. (3) It is economical. Any vacant land under the sky can serve as our preaching ground. There is no need for rent or seating. According to our experience, most people can stand for an hour without walking away. We can conduct these meetings any time and in any place; there is no limitation of time and space. This time we prepared many gospel charts and short choruses. As soon as we hung up the charts and sang the choruses, many sinners were attracted to us and listened to us. (Trumpets, accordions, or bells are also good for attracting the crowds.) Usually two or three of us take turns speaking, and the audience also rotates. We have started this kind of work in K'un-ming already. The co-workers here had the first co-workers' meeting in my house on the eleventh of last month. We encouraged and edified each other in the Lord, discussed matters related to the work, considered the problems, and gave ourselves to prayer. We have set aside every Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock for this kind of meeting.
K. H. Weigh
June 6 in K'un-ming
Ku-Jiu and Mong-Tze, Yunnan Province
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:
Since Brother Weigh and Brother Chen returned to K'un-ming, I have conducted a few Bible studies with the brothers and sisters in Shi-Ping concerning the subject "Standing Fast in the Lord." The church in Shi-Ping has been suffering some disturbance lately. Thank the Lord that the disturbance taught His children some lessons. On May 13 I went to Ku-Jiu for the second time and conducted a seven-day Bible study. Because of the rain, we could not engage in any outdoor evangelistic work. During the day, we did some personal visitations. The railway company here has a Mr. Wong and Mr. Fung, who have become desirous of the truth as a result of Brother Kung's testimony. A group of brothers who are materially poor have been dealt with in the matter of life. Now they are reading the Bible and praying in the house of Brother Ruan. On the twenty-third of this month, I went by train to Mong-Tze, and I will spend a week for the work here. In the daytime I preach outdoors, and in the evening I have Bible study meetings in a Gospel Chapel. (This chapel was rented by a few believers who have invited me to use their place.) Greetings in the Lord.
A weak brother in the Lord,
Lin Kwang-tsao
May 25 at 28 Da-Jing Street, Mong-Tze
Returning from Jien-Shui to Shi-Ping,Yunnan Province
On May 30, after returning from Mong-Tze to Shi-Ping, I conducted a few more days of Bible studies. Later, because of my burden for Jien-Shui, I left Shi-Ping and went there. Prior to my arrival, Brother Kung in Ku-Jiu asked the midwife of the Jien-Shui Health Clinic, Miss Kuo Chia-ai, to recommend a place for me to stay. After my arrival, it was recommended that I stay in the guard house of a mansion. I felt an unspeakable pressure upon me as if I were sick. The guards were talking about bandits who had raided the city the previous day at a location not far from where I lodged. I wanted to go home. Suddenly, I felt that I should pray, and I rejected all these thoughts in the name of the Lord. Thank the Lord that He released me. Later, I visited Miss Kuo (a member of a Methodist church) and met with the director of the clinic, Mr. Chou Je-min (a native of Anhwei province and an Episcopalian). He was willing to give me an opportunity to conduct a Bible study in his clinic. The first night I preached the gospel at the guard house. The second night we moved to the department building. We had a Bible study every evening until the thirteenth. As soon as we awakened some to seek after the Lord, people came from Mong-Tze and spoke to Director Chou for the purpose of chasing us away. Thank the Lord that Chou was not affected, and we conducted another Bible study on the fifteenth. On the sixteenth we returned to Shi-Ping. I really hope that the Lord will send you to work together with me in Yi-Nan. Please pray for us.
Brother in the Lord,
Lin Kwang-tsao
May 17 in Shi-Ping
In Luh-Liang, About to Go to Chu-Jing,Yunnan Province
Brother Chou Hung-bao was led by God last month to work in a place in Yi-Dung called Luh-Liang (bringing along his family). Sister Chen Hwei-sien went along also. While they were on their way late one night, God miraculously led them through the dark night by the illumination of lightning. Brother Chou said that he had never in his life felt the lightning to be as precious as on that night. They arrived at a little inn a little past nine, and rain began to pour down heavily after supper. In Luh-Liang God prepared a nice house for them with eight rooms upstairs and downstairs. The monthly rent was only three dollars. We are told that the people here are very desirous of the Lord's Word. Recently the postmaster and his wife received the Lord. Thank the Lord that He has opened the door for preaching.
Brother Chou Kang-yao and his wife will soon work in Chu-Jing. Recently there was a Mr. Chou in K'un-ming who was an instructor in the Air Force. He hurt his leg and was hospitalized in Hwi-Dian Hospital. Through Brother Chou Kang-yao's preaching, God saved him during his three months of suffering. On September 16 he was baptized into Christ. His testimony moved many. He said that if God wanted him to be a preacher, he was willing to do so. May the Lord personally lead him on in the way ahead.
Hwang Tsung
June 18, Customs Department, K'un-ming, Yunnan
Letter from Sister Rachel Lee, Yunnan Province
Sister Yu and I went to Tang-Chi and preached the gospel for three days (twice a day). This town is ninety Chinese miles from K'un-ming. Most of the people are Buddhists. Previously, they were very antagonistic towards Christianity. One preacher was driven out of the town by them. At the beginning of March, while we were preaching the gospel in K'un-ming, an older lady received the Lord. She had been a Buddhist for over thirty years. After she received the Lord, she dropped her vegetarian diet as well as her opium. She begged Sister Yu and I to visit her hometown of Tang-Chi to preach the gospel there. We knew that God wanted us to go, and we went. Originally, we intended to go only for a day. But after we arrived, the Lord had sovereignly arranged everything. Her oldest son was the district chief of the town, and her third son was the principal of the elementary school. They prepared a classroom in the school (which could hold over three hundred people) for us to preach the gospel. Thank the Lord, most of the people in the town eventually heard the gospel. (The whole town has about five hundred households.) Many received the Lord. Sister Yu and I are very busy, and the work is hectic. We have gospel meetings in the sisters' homes. Every Monday we have a Bible study and prayer meeting in one sister's house, and every Saturday we preach to some young believers in another sister's house to help them know the Lord more and to pray. Thank and praise the Lord, He has granted us an open door even in this place. The Lord willing, Sister Yu and I will go to Tang-Chi again soon. Perhaps we will also go to Luh-Liang. After we become clear in our prayer, we will proceed. (We heard that Brother Chou Hung-bao has arrived in Luh-Liang and has started open air evangelistic meetings.)
A sister in the Lord,
Rachel Lee
June 4, in K'un-ming, Yunnan
Letter from Sister Liu Hwei-fen, Tientsin
As to my future, I realize before the Lord that I have to stay in Tientsin for a longer period of time. I do not know whether I have understood God's will correctly. The Lord has been leading me to see that His humility and submission are beyond understanding. If there is anything wrong, I pray that God would be merciful and correct me, and I ask also that you instruct me. As for the sisters, I have concentrated on their spiritual condition and have not stopped them from their former activities. I do this so that they may develop something by themselves. Once a week I pray with a few sisters. During the week I also study the Bible with some sisters and unbelievers. In addition, I have been making some personal contacts. Brother Lee Bih has returned to Tientsin. I heard that Brother Witness Lee will come to Tientsin soon. We are waiting for him to come and help us. A few sisters from the Evangelistic Band have come to join us in the Lord's table at No. 82.
Sister Liu Hwei-fen
May 10, in Tientsin
Northern Kiangsu
Before the turmoil, my father, Brothers Chi and Chiu, and I went to Dah-Chiao, Ma-Bao, Chu-Jia-Kou, Ke-Jia-Juang, Ma-Chang, Lian-Shui, Chang-Jia-Wah, etc., to visit the churches and to relate to them the principles of the work and also some of the news concerning the churches in northern Kiangsu. In particular we thank the Lord that the church in Dah-Chiao was revived and that the men He uses were also revived. That meeting is held in a remote village with over thirty people meeting. The Lord is the Savior and worthy to be exalted. Presently, seven people have been baptized. The meeting in Chien-Ji in north Lian-Shui has also seen the Lord's blessings. There are over twenty new believers at present.
Wu Ming-hui
Letter from Brother Tang Shou-ling, Shanghai
After I arrived in Shanghai, I intended to rest, but the work before me forced me to put myself to work. Thank the Lord that He has given me the necessary strength. The meeting here is under God's grace. The sisters are living and fresh, and the brothers are improving. A few brothers who were cold are now warmed up, and a few who were hardened are now softened by the Lord's love. We are waiting for a great revival. Brother Yu Cheng-hwa is burdened to finish the translation of the autobiography of Madam Guyon so that it can be printed. Brother Chang Kwang-rong is in Shanghai. He loves the Lord very much. The Lord willing, he and I will leave Shanghai in the near future to visit brothers and sisters elsewhere.