Rev. Arnold Strange served with the China Inland Mission (CIM) in northwest China as a missionary for 16 years.
Born in England on June 13, 1897, Rev. Arnold Strange moved to Canada with his parents when he was young. After graduating from high school, he became a stenographer and served in World War I. He was trained as a radio operator and worked on a British fishing trawler.
After the war, he returned to Canada and entered McGill University for further study. After obtaining a bachelor of arts, he went to Moody Bible College to study theology and prepare for future service. There he met Dr. Robert H. Glover. Not only did the two of them forge a profound friendship, but Rev. Arnold Strange also read his book on missionary education. The book made a deep impression and helped him develop his ideas on how education should be carried out in mission settings abroad.
After graduating from Moody Bible College, he felt the need of the Chinese soul, so he joined CIM and prepared to go to China to preach.
In November 1925, Rev. Arnold Strange arrived in Shanghai. After studying Chinese in Anqing, he was sent to Taizhou, Gansu (Tianshui, today) to serve. During the Northern Expedition, he followed missionary Lloyd Robert Rist and took various means of transportation until he finally arrived in Qinzhou in July 1926. He started serving in the local Gospel Church.
Four months later, Rev. James O. Fraser, known as the "Apostle of the Lisu People" came to Qinzhou for a retreat, and Rev. Arnold Strange learned about the development of Chinese evangelism, especially the missionary work among ethnic minorities.
In the spring of 1927, due to the war, Rev. Arnold Strange had to evacuate Qinzhou with other foreign co-workers and he went to a meeting in Lanzhou. During the retreat, there was an accident on board a ship, and Dr. George Edwin King lost his life. Of course, for Rev. Arnold Strange, this retreat was not entirely about grief, he also enjoyed the sweetness of love. He met a Miss Winifred N. Vincent, a female missionary from Liangzhou. During the retreat the two learned to know each other, mutually supporting each other during that time, and their feelings became increasingly intimate. In April 1928, they were married in Yantai, Shandong.
At the end of 1928, the National Government succeeded in the Northern Expedition and nominally unified China. China entered a time of peace and missionaries returned to their mission areas. Strange and his wife were reassigned and began to serve in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province.
They set off in early 1929 and arrived at their destination after a four-month trek. However, the situation in the northwest was not positive at that time. Due to a sudden disaster, many people were died. According to statistics, up to three million people died of hunger and disease in three years. Even more terrifying is that many people were forced to fight against others for survival and they burned and looted throughout Northwest China.
Faced with such a difficult situation, Rev. Arnold Strange was tenacious in promoting the church’s ministry in Hanzhong. After a time of furlough, Strange and his wife returned to China for a brief time to work in Chenggu, Shaanxi. In addition to pastoring the local church, they insisted on preaching in the prison once a week, and sometimes even went to the surrounding villages and towns to preach and distribute literature. Mrs. Strange was responsible for women's work and leading women's Bible study classes.
In April 1934, they held a number of days of revival in Pantaosi to spread the gospel of Christ to the local people. They also helped the locals to do a lot of good things, such as changing their customs and no longer smoking opium.
Because of the fighting in 1934, Strange was forced to flee again. The family of four crossed Qinling and went to Fengxiang, Shaanxi, for half a month. Although the road was full of danger, the Lord cared for the family and they found their way to safety. On the way, he preached the gospel to the people who fled with them. Many people witnessed the shortness of life and the redemption of Christ during this trying time and were baptized. After the situation eased, the Strange family returned to the Chenggu Church again.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, a large number of refugees poured into Sichuan, Shaanxi and other places not occupied by the Japanese. Strange and his wife were involved in the refugee work, helping those displaced by the war, and helping those suffering from drug addiction. They also took care of the needs of Christians during the retreat.
In 1940 the War with Japan became a stalemate, at which time Rev. Strange was responsible for the work of China Inland Mission in Shaanxi province. Due to the remoteness of Chengdu, there were fewer Japanese planes bombing the area, and a large number of refugees flooded into this small place.
In September 1941, the number of refugees entering Chenggu increased sharply, and Strange's work became more and more difficult, causing him physical harm. Unfortunately, he contracted typhoid fever and died on September 28 at the relatively young age of only 44.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
内地会宣教士德仁基传丨在大西北事奉16年，并为此献上生命
德仁基（Rev. Arnold Strange）为内地会来华宣教士，他在中国的大西北侍奉十六年，并为此献出了生命。
1897年6月13日德仁基生于英国，年少时随父母移居加拿大。他在中学毕业后成为一名速记员，并奔赴第一次世界大战的战场，受训成为无线电接线生，在一艘英国捞网渔船上工作。
战后他回到加拿大，进入麦基大学深造，获得文学学士后到美国慕迪圣经学院进修神学，为将来侍奉做预备。在此他结识了高乐弼医生，两人不仅结下深厚友谊，德仁基还阅读了他所著的宣教学，深受影响，萌发了到海外宣教的想法。
从慕迪圣经学院毕业后，他感到中国人灵魂的需求，于是加入内地会准备前往中国宣教。
1925年11月，德仁基抵达上海。在安庆学习中文后，被派往甘肃泰州（今天水）侍奉。当时中国处在北伐战争期间，他跟着宣教士李春雷，乘坐各样的交通工具，多经辗转，直至1926年7月，才抵达秦州。他在当地的福音堂开始在华侍奉生涯。
4个月后，有“傈僳族使徒”之称的富能仁牧师来此开退修会，德仁基由此了解了中国福音事工的开展情况，尤其是少数民族的宣教事业。
1927年春，由于发生战乱，德仁基只好与外国同工撤离，前往到兰州集合。在撤退过程中发生了翻船事故，金品三医生因此殉难。当然对于德仁基来说，这次撤退不完全是悲痛，他还享受了爱情的甜蜜。他邂逅了一位从凉州来的女宣教士云锦福姑娘（Miss Winifred N. Vincent）。两人在撤退过程中彼此扶持交流，感情日益亲密。1928年4月，这对患难中的属灵伴侣在山东烟台结为夫妇。
1928年底，国民政府北伐胜利，名义上统一了中国，中华大地也暂时出现和平景象，于是内地会再次派宣教士进入内地。德仁基夫妇被改派往陜西省的汉中侍奉。
他们于1929年初启程，经过四个月的长途跋涉抵达目的地。但是当时西北的形势不容乐观，由于突遭大灾，不少地方人烟灭绝，据统计三年间，死于饥饿和疫病的高达三百万人。更为可怕的是，很多人为了生存被迫落草为寇，烧杀抢掠遍及三秦大地。
面对如此艰难的局面，德仁基还是顽强地留下来，并促进了汉中的福音事工。德仁基夫妇在短暂回国述职后，回到陕西城固一起同工，除牧养教会外还坚持每周一次到监狱布道，有时甚至深入周边村镇巡回布道，派发圣书和福音单张。德师母则负责妇女工作，带领妇女查经班。
1934年4月，他们在蟠桃肆举行一连数天的帐幕布道会，向当地人传扬基督的福音。他们还帮助当地人做了不少好事，如移风易俗、戒除鸦片等等。
1934年因为战乱波及，德仁基被迫再次逃亡，他们一家四口翻越秦岭前往陕西凤翔，历时半月。虽路上充满危险，但蒙主眷顾转危为安。途中他还向一同逃难的百姓传福音，不少人在患难中见证了生命的无常与基督的救赎，纷纷受洗归主。局势缓和后，德仁基夫妇再次回到城固教会。
抗战爆发后，大量难民涌入大后方的四川、陕西等地。德仁基夫妇投入到救助工作中，帮助战乱中流离失所的难民，还帮助那些烟民戒毒。他们还照顾逃难基督徒的需要。
1940年，抗战进入相持阶段，这时德仁基担负起陕西全省的内地会事工。由于城固较为偏僻，因而日机较少轰炸此地，大量难民遂涌入这个小地方。
1941年9月，进入城固的难民猛增，德仁基的工作愈加繁重，严重伤害了他的身体。在一次救助中，他不幸染上了伤寒，于9月28日安息主怀，年仅44岁。
Rev. Arnold Strange served with the China Inland Mission (CIM) in northwest China as a missionary for 16 years.
Born in England on June 13, 1897, Rev. Arnold Strange moved to Canada with his parents when he was young. After graduating from high school, he became a stenographer and served in World War I. He was trained as a radio operator and worked on a British fishing trawler.
After the war, he returned to Canada and entered McGill University for further study. After obtaining a bachelor of arts, he went to Moody Bible College to study theology and prepare for future service. There he met Dr. Robert H. Glover. Not only did the two of them forge a profound friendship, but Rev. Arnold Strange also read his book on missionary education. The book made a deep impression and helped him develop his ideas on how education should be carried out in mission settings abroad.
After graduating from Moody Bible College, he felt the need of the Chinese soul, so he joined CIM and prepared to go to China to preach.
In November 1925, Rev. Arnold Strange arrived in Shanghai. After studying Chinese in Anqing, he was sent to Taizhou, Gansu (Tianshui, today) to serve. During the Northern Expedition, he followed missionary Lloyd Robert Rist and took various means of transportation until he finally arrived in Qinzhou in July 1926. He started serving in the local Gospel Church.
Four months later, Rev. James O. Fraser, known as the "Apostle of the Lisu People" came to Qinzhou for a retreat, and Rev. Arnold Strange learned about the development of Chinese evangelism, especially the missionary work among ethnic minorities.
In the spring of 1927, due to the war, Rev. Arnold Strange had to evacuate Qinzhou with other foreign co-workers and he went to a meeting in Lanzhou. During the retreat, there was an accident on board a ship, and Dr. George Edwin King lost his life. Of course, for Rev. Arnold Strange, this retreat was not entirely about grief, he also enjoyed the sweetness of love. He met a Miss Winifred N. Vincent, a female missionary from Liangzhou. During the retreat the two learned to know each other, mutually supporting each other during that time, and their feelings became increasingly intimate. In April 1928, they were married in Yantai, Shandong.
At the end of 1928, the National Government succeeded in the Northern Expedition and nominally unified China. China entered a time of peace and missionaries returned to their mission areas. Strange and his wife were reassigned and began to serve in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province.
They set off in early 1929 and arrived at their destination after a four-month trek. However, the situation in the northwest was not positive at that time. Due to a sudden disaster, many people were died. According to statistics, up to three million people died of hunger and disease in three years. Even more terrifying is that many people were forced to fight against others for survival and they burned and looted throughout Northwest China.
Faced with such a difficult situation, Rev. Arnold Strange was tenacious in promoting the church’s ministry in Hanzhong. After a time of furlough, Strange and his wife returned to China for a brief time to work in Chenggu, Shaanxi. In addition to pastoring the local church, they insisted on preaching in the prison once a week, and sometimes even went to the surrounding villages and towns to preach and distribute literature. Mrs. Strange was responsible for women's work and leading women's Bible study classes.
In April 1934, they held a number of days of revival in Pantaosi to spread the gospel of Christ to the local people. They also helped the locals to do a lot of good things, such as changing their customs and no longer smoking opium.
Because of the fighting in 1934, Strange was forced to flee again. The family of four crossed Qinling and went to Fengxiang, Shaanxi, for half a month. Although the road was full of danger, the Lord cared for the family and they found their way to safety. On the way, he preached the gospel to the people who fled with them. Many people witnessed the shortness of life and the redemption of Christ during this trying time and were baptized. After the situation eased, the Strange family returned to the Chenggu Church again.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, a large number of refugees poured into Sichuan, Shaanxi and other places not occupied by the Japanese. Strange and his wife were involved in the refugee work, helping those displaced by the war, and helping those suffering from drug addiction. They also took care of the needs of Christians during the retreat.
In 1940 the War with Japan became a stalemate, at which time Rev. Strange was responsible for the work of China Inland Mission in Shaanxi province. Due to the remoteness of Chengdu, there were fewer Japanese planes bombing the area, and a large number of refugees flooded into this small place.
In September 1941, the number of refugees entering Chenggu increased sharply, and Strange's work became more and more difficult, causing him physical harm. Unfortunately, he contracted typhoid fever and died on September 28 at the relatively young age of only 44.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
Biograpgy of CIM Missionary: Rev. Arnold Strange Served in NW China for 16 years
