Widow Liu and the Wenzhou Church
Mrs. Liu with her Christian children and grandchildren.
In the twenty-first century Wenzhou is famous for being the 'Jerusalem of China' and thousands of churches dominate the skyline, but in the 1880s the Wenzhou Church was still taking its first tiny steps of faith. One woman named Liu was widowed at the age of 29, and was left to fend for herself and her baby son, with no family to help take care of them. She struggled terribly, and was barely able to produce enough food to stay alive. In her desperation, Liu sought spiritual help from all the idols she could find. However, the more lifeless forms she prostrated herself before, the emptier she felt inside.
One day a Christian firewood seller visited Liu's village, and told her and a neighbor about the Living God who could forgive her sins and make her life worth living. Each time the Christian visited he seemed full of life and joy, and both Liu and her neighbor opened their hearts and believed in Jesus.
As she surrendered herself to the mercies of God, Liu found that her skill as an embroiderer became sought after, and she was now better able to make ends meet. Moreover, a great spiritual hunger arose in the hearts of the two new believers, and they longed to learn all they could from the Bible. Missionary Grace Stott regularly visited and held Bible classes in their homes.
After a time, the Holy Spirit seized control of Liu's heart in such a powerful way that the formerly shy single mother began to boldly proclaim the gospel throughout the city. Stott wrote about Li's unquenchable zeal, saying:
"She went about the city, entering every open door to tell of Christ. She voluntarily gave up her work one day a week to accompany me in visiting the women. Often have tears of joy come to my eyes when I have heard her declare to 30 or 40 women gathered around us in some courtyard that this Jesus, of whom they had just heard, had put away her sin, and could therefore put away theirs. She never wearies in telling them of Christ and His love for lost sinners. This she does solely out of love for Him, for she has never received from us the slightest remuneration....
We had long prayed for the conversion of one who could work among the women, and now felt sure our prayers had been answered. Indeed, we could hardly have hoped for one so suitable in every way. Besides being an earnest Christian, she was able to read, was comparatively young, and free.
I asked if she would give up her needlework and devote her whole time to gospel work, and come to live with us that she might help me to train up the girls in our boarding school. She answered, 'I shall be so glad. I have often wished I could do enough work that I might be your servant, and so hear God's Word every day.' She refused the offer of money, saying that, if boarded with the girls, she would have enough for all her needs." 1
A short time later, Mrs. Liu's mother-in-law died and left a considerable property to her. Taking possession of the property, however, required that Liu perform a complex array of ancestral rites and ceremonies. Knowing that such things were an abomination to God, Liu declined the inheritance. Her relatives were amazed, and many who heard about Liu's stance pondered what kind of transformation had taken place in her heart that allowed her to spurn worldly wealth for even greater spiritual riches.
Liu went on to become a 'Bible-woman,' and a key pillar of the Church in Wenzhou. She led many women to Jesus Christ and was a tireless evangelist, never missing an opportunity to share God's Word with everyone she met.
Liu later moved to Taizhou, where she brought God's light to the inhabitants. Her son grew into a wholehearted disciple of Christ. He married a dedicated believer, and their children also loved Jesus. Liu lived a long and productive life for the kingdom of God. Many people today marvel at the size and influence of Christianity in Wenzhou, but few know that God chose a broken-hearted single mother to be one of His foundation stones of the Church in the city which today boasts the largest concentration of Christians in China.
Footnotes:
1. Mrs. George Stott, "Story of a Bible-Woman," China's Millions (March 1881), p. 26.
© This article is an extract from Paul Hattaway's book 'Zhejiang: The Jerusalem of China'. You can order this or any of The China Chronicles books and e-books from our online bookstore.
