Power of Prayer
The story of the two newly saved Chinese young women is one of the most
dramatic we have ever printed in our quarterly DAWN REPORT Magazine.
It is so improbable, in fact, that we went to considerable lengths to verify
it. Now we know from several eyewitnesses and independent sources that
what you are about to read actually happened as reported.
These young ladies in Mainland China had became Christians as
teenagers while listening to radio broadcasts and both felt an immediate call to
be missionaries. They met with their pastor who wanted to teach them how
to witness right where they were.
"No", they insisted, "the Bible you gave us says Jesus said to go to
all the world. We want to go". "But", he argued, "you have only been
Christians six months, and you are so young".
"Pastor", they replied, "we have read everything Jesus said and
nowhere does
he ask people how old they are. We want to go." "Very well. We need
some workers on Hainan Island. It is very rough. There are no Christians
there. For young ladies it might be very dangerous."
They looked at each other, "Hainan, yes, Hainan. That is where the
Lord wants us to go. Two years later, they were in Hong Kong for a short
Period to get more Bibles and other literature. Several high-ranking church
Leaders from Europe happened to be in the area and wanted to meet a "real"
Church planter in China.
The pastor of the young missionaries, who had not seen them since
Their return, arranged a visit in the hotel where he was staying. He went to
The lobby at the appointed time and waited for the ladies to arrive. He
Watched the bellboys in their crisp, tailored uniforms, and the tourists who
attempted to be casual in their designer clothes. Then he spotted the
two women. "Oh no", he thought as they walked in. Their black pajamas and
broad-brimmed fisherman hats stood in stark contrast to the appearance
of the sophisticated hotel receptionist making her way towards them.
The pastor moved quickly to intercede. "It's alright, they are here to
See me." He took them to his room where the visitors from Europe were
waiting. They began asking questions as the pastor interpreted.
"Pastor, ask them how many churches they have established in Hainan".
The women put their heads down and answered, "Oh Pastor, we have only
Been there 2 years, yes, two years. Not many. Not very many". Their voices
were apologetic.
"How Many?"
"Oh, not many. The people were not very friendly. Sometimes they
became very vicious. They told us they were going to drown us in the ocean.
Several men threatened us. Even some of the ladies did not like us. They called us
terrible names. So not many churches .. no, not many".
The pastor interrupted and slowly repeated the words, "How many? How many?"
There was a moment of silence, then one of the women looked up with
embarrassment and anguish, as though confessing a crime.
"Only ... thirteen".
The pastor looked astonished and interpreted for the guests,
"Thirteen". One of the guests repeated the number, "Only thirteen, only... my
goodness. Ihaven't planted that many churches in my lifetime".
One the pastor's assistants interrupted, "No, Pastor, she did not say
thirteen. She said thirty". The pastor looked at the two young women and asked, "Thirty?"
"Oh, yes, not many, we have done very poorly. Only thirty."
"The two guests could only mutter, "Thirty churches in 2 years. My word".
"How many people are in the churches?" the Pastor asked.
"Oh, not many. Not many".
The process repeated itself until the Pastor looked like he was ready
to
shake them and practically yelled, "How many?"
"Only 220. Not many, no, not many".
"220 in 30 churches?" the Pastor asked.
"Oh, no, in only one, but that one was a very small church, very
small. There are bigger ones".
As the pastor interrupted, he heard the numbers repeated by his
guests."220 is small? Dear Lord, I wish I had some that large".
"And how many in the big churches? You know, the biggest one?"
"Oh, not many..."
"I know, 'not many'. But please, ladies, how many?"
"Oh less than 5,000. Only 4,900. We have just started".
From behind the pastor the sound of weeping: "Dear Lord, forgive us".
"What did they do? How did they do it? Ask them what they did?"
"Why nothing", they said with astonishment. "Yes, we did nothing,
nothing". "You did nothing? You have 30 churches... the smallest with 220
people, the largest with almost 5,000 new Christians! And you did nothing".
"No, nothing. We just prayed. After we prayed, the Holy Spirit would
tell us exactly what to do. We would keep praying and He would tell us what to
do and we would do it".
"Dear Lord, they JUST prayed -- and the Holy Spirit told them exactly
what to do and they did it".
The Pastor laid his hands on the shoulders of the two sisters. Behind
him his 2 guests, on their knees weeping, joined as they "just prayed".
Jim and Lyn Montgomery
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I guess we have not understood the power of prayer... and have been
relying
more on our own strength than in God. May u be encouraged to bring all
your
plans to the Lord in prayer!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own
understanding;
In ALL your ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him.... and He will make your paths
STRAIGHT!"
Pro 3:5-6