1900 - Jin Shaojian

June 1900

Gucheng, Hebei

Jin Shaojian was a student at the Theological Seminary in Tianjin. He was engaged to a young lady from the girls’ school in Beijing. The two were married once Jin’s course was finished, and the new couple were appointed to work in Cangzhou County of Hebei Province. Jin found this ministry difficult, and was often seen with a sad demeanour. The Christians asked him why he looked depressed and he replied, “The world is so full of sorrow and misery and sin, it is not easy to be happy. Christ was well named the ‘man of sorrows’ for He knew so well the measure of the world’s sin.”[1]

When the Boxers attacked Cangzhou, Jin wanted to remain at his post, but he was ordered to flee south by his father. He did so unwillingly, but they made their way to the city of Gucheng on the Grand Canal. Their money was soon exhausted, so Jin decided to pawn some of his clothes at a local shop. When he was doing so,

“seeing the crowds of people outside the pawn-shop door, the idea occurred to him that it was a good opportunity for preaching the Gospel. All thought of the need of caution was forgotten in the desire to proclaim the message of salvation. The listeners marvelled at the courage of the young preacher, and one man was so touched that he asked Shaojian to come to his home, giving him food and supplying his needs.”[2]

Jin and his father travelled onwards. When they received news that the Boxers were on their trail they hid in a brick kiln. The once depressed Jin was now so full of joy that he couldn’t restrain himself from worshipping God. The Boxers heard his singing and dragged him out of the kiln. He was taken to a local chapel and tied to the doorposts. Even then he sang hymns to his heart’s content, showing no fear.

At last one of the Boxers said, “You are a stranger and we do not wish to kill you. If you promise to no longer follow the foreign doctrines we will let you go!” Jin Shaojian replied, “You talk about foreign doctrines and ask me not to follow them. That would be easy! What you really mean is that I am to give up Christ, my Lord. You have no right to try to control my heart or to ask such a thing of me. I shall never give up my belief in Jesus!”[3] This confession infuriated the Boxers, who cut off one of his ears, and asked, “‘Are you a preacher now?’ ‘Yes, now and until death,’ he answered…. He kept calm and serene, with a triumphant smile upon his face to the very end, when they furiously fell upon him and pierced him with many swords.”[4]