I want to tell you about a man that I met with in China. I
can’t tell you his real name. In fact, I don’t even know his real name, only
his initials. That is the level of
precaution that must be taken by Christians in China.
But his story is a revealing look at the faith and
dedication of those under persecution.
I will refer to him as Pastor K.
Pastor K was fortunate enough to be born into a Christian
home. His father was a pastor and
their family’s home served as a house church. As a boy, Pastor K would listen
to his father’s sermons and read the Bible for the elderly ladies who could no
longer read for themselves.
When he was 12 years old he became a believer and felt the
call to full time ministry even at his young age. His mother could see this call and knew that he needed to go
to a full time Bible school.
But these were secret Bible schools far from his home.
So at 12 years old Pastor K’s mother put him on a
train. She couldn’t even tell him
where the school actually was. She
only gave him instructions. At the
designated stop he then rode a bus with 16 other boys and girls. After a long bus ride they got out and
proceeded to walk for 2 days.
Finally they arrived at a large cave where 60 other students
were living. This would be their
home for 
the next 6 months. They
had to cook for themselves and collect rain for water. They were led in memorizing entire books of the New Testament because at some point they would
be arrested for preaching and would need to remember the Scriptures in their
cells.
He would wake up at 5 in the morning and work on his sermons
until night.
After he finished all of his training in 1992 he began to
preach 10 to 15 times a day.
Eventually his preaching and pastoring resulted in the planting of
thousands of house churches across the region.
Now, this boy who went to Bible school in a cave is the
leader of over 1 million believers in China.
He has been arrested 6 times. His crime was being a
pastor. He is young and will most
likely be arrested many more times.
You could never pick him out of a crowd. He wears simple clothes and looks like
just another ordinary person from the street. But he is one of many fearless Christian leaders in China
that are changing his country for Christ.
We are also partnering with Pastor K to help
ensure that house church Christians have the Bibles and training that they
need. That is my passion and why
World Help exists.