The Story of a Chinese Convert by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 6, 1910

The Story of a Chinese Convert

By W. A. S.

At once, on the beginning of our mission work in the province of Honan, the people remarked the fact that our missionaries observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. Looking up the reason for this in the Christian Scriptures, even the heathen saw plainly that our workers were following the instruction of the Bible. They therefore began to call our mission the “Mission of the True Doctrine.” It is a name that has clung to us in Honan, apparently.

Writing not long since from his present station, Hsiao Iao, Elder J. J. Westrup told an interesting story of a Chinese brother who received the truth at Shangtsai, where Brother Westrup had his first station in Honan. Speaking of a recent general meeting attended by this brother, Elder Westrup wrote:—

The six brethren who came up to visit us from Shangtsai, had to wade through water reaching to their waists for several miles (it having rained hard), and as a result two of them became ill; but they are well again, and out on the roads carrying the message.

The old brother, Chao Ming, told us the other day how he was led to find the truth.

“I had a dream,” he said, “in which I saw a white bird fly to Shangtsai, where it had its nest and its home. That white bird, to me, was a symbol of the Holy Spirit; and I thought, If the Holy Spirit abides in Shangtsai, then they must have the gospel truth there too.”

He continued his story: “I had heard people say that there was a church in that city that was called the ‘True Doctrine Church’ [Chen Tao Huei—a short name by which we are commonly known among the Chinese], and I said to myself, They call that church the ‘true doctrine church,’ and in my dream I saw the Holy Spirit descending and abiding there; I must go and find out what they teach.”

Then this man, who is over sixty years old, in company with another brother, started for Shangtsai—a distance of one hundred twenty-five li (nearly forty-two miles). That was a year ago, during the latter part of the hot season, when the roads were flooded; but they waded through water and mud.

After their arrival they listened to the teaching, and rejoiced that they had not plodded the wearisome journey in vain. They rejoiced in the new light received. Thus the truth came to this vicinity.

After telling us this story of the manner in which he was led into the light, this old brother told us about a dream he had just had. He saw a great many people in a wagon driving in water. As they were nearing a deep and dangerous place where they all would drown (they not knowing that the place was dangerous), he called out, “Stop! stop! rescue! rescue!” but they paid no heed and went on and fell into the water. Then he wept aloud, and that awakened him.

“That means,” he said, “that I must be out warning the people of their danger; some in my vicinity will listen.”

And now he is out seeking to bring the truth to those who will listen. God is good to us here in Honan, opening up the work on every hand, and true souls are continually coming into the truth.

More and more frequently, as we press into the unworked fields, where many millions must hear within a short time, we are cheered by these little tokens of the presence of the Lord in the missionary forward movement. The Lord has set his hand to finish the work, and his world-moving providence knows no barriers. “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.” Isa. 42:16.

W. A. S.