1999 - Steven

May 1999

Xinjiang

Many Christians around the world have heard that the house churches in China have experienced powerful revival. They hear of multitudes being saved, the sick healed, and the demon-possessed set free. Some not familiar with the house churches might assume that God has raised up many well-educated, trained preachers to bring this revival about, but this is far from the truth. As in the Book of Acts, God has raised up weak vessels to do his work, so that they will not boast of their achievements. By placing His Spirit on these jars of clay, God has done mighty things throughout China, and revival has spread from place to place accompanied by intense suffering and persecution.

Steven was a poor, illiterate farmer who only came to faith in Jesus Christ when he was 46-years-old. At that time he was diagnosed with an incurable disease and the doctors told him to go home and prepare for death. At this time the distraught Steven heard the gospel from a house church evangelist and he believed in Christ. The evangelist laid his hands on him and prayed for healing, and he soon recovered. Some months later he returned to the confused doctor who diagnosed him free of the disease.

Steven realized he had met the true and Living God, and he was eager that as many people as possible would hear the gospel. During the summer months he worked on the farm with his son, while in the winter Steven travelled extensively around his region, sharing his powerful testimony. God confirmed the preaching of His Word with signs and wonders, and many people experienced a miraculous healing. In the winter of 1995 Steven established two house churches, and two more were established the following winter. Each of the four churches contained about 20 families. This development caught the attention of the authorities and Steven was arrested in 1996. He refused to promise to stop preaching and was consequently sent to prison.

In the dingy prison cell Steven continued to preach the gospel at every opportunity. Threats and beatings could not stop him. Two Muslim prisoners had been sick for a long time, but after Steven prayed for them they were miraculously healed. This opened many doors of opportunity and the gospel spread. Soon ten Muslim men had placed their faith in Christ’s salvation. The prison authorities realized nothing they could do would stop Steven, so they decided to release him before he converted the entire prison! One night in January 1997 he was ordered to leave. It was eleven o’clock at night and the temperature outside was —20°C (—5°F). Without a good winter coat, Steven walked through the bitter cold for nine miles (15 km) until he reached the home of a Christian. When he knocked on the door the believers gathered inside were praying for Steven’s release.

In 1997 Steven planted two more house churches. This was more provocation that the police could bear. They arrested both Steven and his son, and held them for 45 days. They were beaten severely and tortured mercilessly until they were more dead than alive. Steven was bashed and kicked around the head so frequently that after he was released he experienced severe headaches and blurred vision. His son was rearrested later in the year. The authorities offered to release him if his family paid a fine, but Steven refused to do so, telling his son he would have to bear the cross of the Lord and that if they paid the fine the police would keep arresting them in order to extract more money. Steven’s son was arrested on four different occasions over the next 18 months.

Back home, Steven’s injuries did not heal and great fears were held for his health. He was unable to work because of the pain in his head, and could not preach the gospel. He encouraged his wife and son to take his place, and they continued to travel widely, preaching to unbelievers and teaching Christians from the Word of God.

In May 1999 Steven’s health worsened and he died from the injuries sustained in prison two years earlier. Steven died having been a Christian just five years, during which time he established six new churches with more than 150 believers. He had never learned to read or write, and had never attended a seminary, yet Steven gave what he had to Jesus, and God blessed him mightily. When the local believers heard that Steven had died as a martyr many dedicated themselves to take his place as an evangelist.