Although the number of Christians in Xinjiang was relatively low at the time of the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, the believers suffered terribly for their faith, and many went to an early grave as martyrs for God. One testimony of victory through adversity told of God's sustaining hand during those dark years.

In 1955 a baby girl was born in a remote part of Xinjiang, right as the political situation was changing for the worse. Her mother, who had gone to the region as a missionary after graduating from seminary, died when her daughter was just two.

The girl was raised by her father, a poor camel herdsman, and only when she was 14 did she discover that her father was actually highly educated, could speak several languages fluently, and that he had been exiled to Xinjiang because of his Christian faith. He deeply loved his precious daughter, and taught her mathematics, music, English, and the Bible.

When the fanatical Red Guards swept through their area, they destroyed all the camel herder's books except a copy of the English Bible, because they didn't know what it was. He was arrested and sent to a prison labor camp, and the young girl was forced to struggle on alone, with her father's final exhortation to endure suffering like a good soldier of Christ ringing in her ears.

With only the English Bible to keep her company for the next three years, the teenage girl learned to trust God, and she entered into her own rich relationship with Jesus Christ. Only then did she understand that her parents had carried their crosses as faithful servants of God, which made her heart swell in love and respect for them.

Later she entered university, where despite the risks she witnessed to her classmates, telling them that atheism was a bankrupt philosophy, and that God was real and could be personally known. Most of the students treated her with contempt, but some visited her discreetly to ask further questions. One girl became her close friend and sister in Christ.

In the early 1970s, with the Cultural Revolution still raging, the camel herder's daughter was publicly invited to join the Communist Youth League—a rare opportunity for someone from a "counter-revolutionary" family. She knew there was no way she could reconcile her faith with the atheistic organization, however, so she declined the invitation, simply stating: "I am a Christian." The meeting was thrown into chaos by her confession, and the leader was enraged with fury. She recalled the events of that day:

"In the din of the meeting I closed my eyes to pray: 'Heavenly Father, from the time I was small you have protected me. If this is ordained by You to test my heart, give me grace, and allow me to stand up in my weakness.'

When I opened my tear-filled eyes, the entire hall was as still as a mouse. Facing the whole school of more than 200 students and teachers, I poured out my sin and told of my insignificance before the cross. I told them of Christ's suffering for the world and that Christians don't harm society―they only do good to others and help them to know eternal life....

When I finished what I had to say, the leader of the Workers' Propaganda team looked as if he had suddenly awakened from a dream. He immediately upbraided me for using the university as a platform from which to spread my 'poison.' He wanted everyone to criticize me, but they had already felt the goodness of God...

At once I became the school's 'person in the news.' Wherever I went people pointed at me behind my back. Nevertheless, many students were sympathetic and...came to me privately to ask questions about salvation....

Quickly I gathered around me a small group of seekers, which soon grew to include more than 30 people. We divided into two groups and assembled on Sundays and holidays. Right up to our graduation we were never discovered by the school authorities. The brothers and sisters grew in spiritual discipline, and by the time they graduated their faith was mature and they were able to stand as Christians.

At graduation we were all assigned to different places. From Altai to Karakoram, every city received the souls of our feet. I was sent to a country school to teach English, but I often requested leave to go and visit my friends who were scattered in every place."[1]

1. Jonathan Chao, Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves (Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1988), pp. 229-231.