Editor’s Note: A female believer surnamed Ye and her husband are deaf. Having been married for 7 years, they had always expected a child of their own but failed to get pregnant. Ye's parents sent their blood samples to top hospitals in Beijing and Wuhan for testing, but the reports showed that even if they were pregnant with a baby, the probability of the child having hearing loss would be more than 90%.
Ye's family wanted a healthy baby for the sake of future generations, so they suggested their daughter get an IVF treatment. But her husband didn't intend his wife to be impregnated with someone else's sperm. Just when the two families kept arguing about it, the wife was pregnant with a healthy baby of their own.
The following was told from the perspective of a female believer surnamed Dai:
Ye and her husband met online, who are deaf and mute. When Ye was little, her parents worked outside of their hometown all year round, which left her to her grandmother to look after. Once, she fell ill with a high fever. Not being treated in time, plus an overdose of medicine by the barefoot doctor later ("barefoot doctors" referring to healthcare workers trained to attend to the basic medical needs of China's vast rural population from the 1960s to 1980s), Ye lost her hearing at age 3, and subsequently couldn’t speak either. On the other hand, her husband's family is congenitally deaf. The two met online and then got married. Afterward, they had been living a happy and content life, with one pity that they had been childless for 7 years.
They had always expected their own child. At first, Ye had taken traditional Chinese medicine for four years for suffering from thyroid disease. Later, she recovered and stopped taking the medicine. But she still did not conceive. In addition, given that she was over 30 years old, the families of both parties were very anxious about it.
As a result, Ye's parents sent their blood samples to top hospitals in Beijing and Wuhan for testing, but the reports showed that even if they were pregnant, there was a 90% chance that the child being deaf. Therefore, her parents suggested Ye conceive with someone else's sperm through an IVF treatment. Her husband's family being congenitally deaf, they were also worried that the baby would inherit hearing impairment from the father. Ye didn't know whether IVF would be in line with the teaching of the Bible, so she came to me for help and asked if they could apply for an IVF treatment.
I immediately consulted the pastor of the church, who said that according to the principles of the Bible, it would be best for Ye to have a baby by herself. If the sperm donor was her husband, they could go for it. But with someone else's sperm, they absolutely shouldn’t carry on. (This statement is controversial in Christian ethics.)
Later, Ye's mother also asked me to convince her daughter and son-in-law to accept an IVF treatment. I tried to persuade her that they better get pregnant naturally. Her mother said， "Can you guarantee that their child won’t be born deaf as they are? Or, who will take care of them as three deaf and mute people when her father and I pass away? Can you take this responsibility?" I replied, "Ma’am, please calm down. I can't take this responsibility, but there is the One who can!" Then she asked, "Who is that?" I told her it was God our Father! She said with a cynical laugh, "God? Where is He? Why haven’t I seen Him?"
I told her that God was a spirit that was omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent! She listened but couldn’t fully understand it. Then, her mother waved her hand and said, "You say the God you believe in is all-powerful, fine. I'll give you a month to see if my daughter can get pregnant. She's already in her 30s, for which you shouldn’t waste her time. If it doesn't work after a month, we will go to Wuhan to do IVF!"
During this period, other church staff were also in touch with Ye and prayed for her and her family. At the same time, they also advised Ye to handle the relationship with her family wisely, and keep peaceful and friendly communications so that they wouldn’t hurt each other for this.
After a month, Ye sent me a message at night, saying that they had a fight at home. Not having come to faith yet, her parents couldn't understand their thoughts. The family fought endlessly over how to have a child. Her parents being so angry triggered high blood pressure.
"I pray with my husband every day, and we only ask God to give us a baby. Is it possible He hasn’t heard us?" Ye asked.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan in early 2020 forced the entire city to pause everything. The turmoil in Ye's family over pregnancy was also suspended. In April and May, when the epidemic was over, one after another, churches began to resume on-site gatherings. During this period, I had been leading Ye and her husband to participate in various ministries of the church.
One day in November, Ye texted me saying that she was pregnant. Knowing the news, her husband was the happiest of the whole family, adding "It would save a lot of pains without having to go through the IVF process."
In July 2021, Ye gave birth to a lovely baby girl. The companion, a female believer surnamed Wu, sat her throughout the whole process, saying, "Ye's parents were afraid of a possible bad test result of the child, for that reason, I too the baby for the check-up. The results came out showing that everything was normal."
After the baby’s 100 days celebration, the pastor of the church also went to visit Ye and see her daughter, which was an opportunity to spread the gospel to her parents.
The pastor personally prayed for the baby. Before leaving, we formed a circle holding hands, and the elder pastor offered a prayer for Ye's family. At the end of the prayer, I saw tears in her parents' eyes, for which I believed that we were all touched by the same Holy Spirit. Just as we were about to leave at the doorstep, Ye's father suddenly asked the pastor, "So many top hospitals have confirmed that 90% chance their child would suffer hearing loss with a scientific basis, but you see now... It's kind of magical. I can't figure it out, but I'm so grateful. I think we're very lucky."
The elder pastor replied, " God created our entire universe and everything, including us human beings in His own image. God is sovereign over all things, for He decides and puts it into effect."
After hearing this, Ye's father was stunned. He muttered, " He decides and puts it into effect." I believe that at this moment, the seeds of the gospel were planted in the hearts of Ye’s parents, and the rest was to wait patiently for God’s work.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
题记：叶姊妹和他的丈夫是一对聋人夫妻，他们结婚7年，一直想要一个属于自己的孩子。一直没有怀上。叶姊妹的父母把他们的血样送去北京、武汉等大医院化验检查，报告显示即使他们怀上了宝宝，90%以上几率也是小聋人。
叶姊妹家人出于为后代考虑想要一个健康的宝宝，因此想让女儿去做试管婴儿。但叶姊妹的丈夫不想让妻子受孕于别人的精子，就在双方争执不下的时候，他们怀孕有了自己的宝宝，还是一个健康的宝宝。
以下以戴姊妹角度讲述：
叶姊妹和她的丈夫是在网上结识，他们都是聋哑人。在叶姊妹小的时候，父母常年在外打工，一直以来是外婆照顾她。一次生病高烧，没来得及医治，后面又因赤脚医生用药过量导致叶姊妹3岁时就失去了听力，随即也丧失了语言功能。而叶姊妹的丈夫一家是先天性聋人。两人在网上结识进入婚姻。生活过得还算幸福美满，唯一不足的是结婚7年一直没有孩子。
他们一直想要一个属于自己的孩子，起初因为叶姊妹患有甲状腺疾病，有四年时间在吃中药，后面病好了，药停了，但还是没有怀上。加之姐妹的年龄也超过了30岁，这让双方的家人都很着急。
于是，叶姊妹的父母把她们的血样送去北京、武汉等大医院化验检查，报告显示即便她们怀上宝宝，90%以上几率是小聋人。因此她的父母就想让叶姊妹做试管婴儿，受孕于别人的精子。因为叶姊妹丈夫一家都是先天性聋人，所以他们也担心叶姊妹腹中的宝宝会不会遗传她的父亲因为叶姊妹丈夫一家都是先天性聋人，所以他们也担心叶姊妹腹中的宝宝会不会遗传她的父亲。叶姊妹不知道这样做是否符合圣经的教导，就来向我求助，问他们是否可以做试管婴儿？
我立刻去请教了教会的牧者。牧师说，按圣经的原则，最好姊妹自己生产，如果是姊妹丈夫的精子是可以做的，别人的坚决不行。（编者注：此说法在基督教伦理上有所争议）
后来，叶姊妹的母亲也找到我，去给她女儿和女婿做思想工作。我劝阿姨说还是让他们自然怀孕比较好。阿姨说：“你能保证他们生出来的不是和他们一样，那我们百年以后谁来管他们三个聋哑人，你负得了这个责任？”我说：“阿姨，您消消气，我是负不了这个责任，但是有一个人可以！”“那是谁啊？” 我告诉她是我们的上帝天父爸爸！她哈哈大笑起来说：“上帝？他在哪里啊？我怎么没看见啊？”
我对她说，上帝是个灵，祂无所不在，无所不知，无所不能！阿姨听得似懂非懂，然后挥了挥手说，“你说你们的上帝能，那好，给你一个月的时间，看我女儿能不能怀上，她都已经30多岁了，你不要耽误了我的女儿，一个月以后还不行的话，我们就去武汉做试管婴儿！”
这个期间教会的其他同工也联系叶姊妹，为她和她的家人祷告的同时，也劝勉叶姊妹有智慧处理和家人之间的关系，切不可因为此事伤害了彼此之间的关系。和平友好的与家人沟通。
过了一个月。一天晚上叶姊妹发信息说，她们家里吵架了。叶姊妹父母因为不信主，不能理解她们的想法，家里为了孩子的事情争战不休，她父母气得高血压也犯了。
“我每天和丈夫祷告，只求一件事，就是想让上帝赐给我们一个宝宝。是不是上帝不垂听我们的祷告呀？”叶姊妹的询问
2020年初武汉疫情爆发，整个城市被迫按下暂停键。叶姊妹一家因求子之事情闹的风波也随之暂停了。到四五月份，疫情过去，教会也开始陆续恢复实地聚会了。这期间我一直带领叶姊妹夫妻二人参与教会各项事工的服侍。
直到11月份的一天，叶姊妹给我发信息说她怀孕了。她们家得知这一情况，最开心的就是她的丈夫，“不用做试管婴儿免去了很多痛苦。”
2021年7月叶姊妹顺产生下了一个可爱的女儿。听全程陪护的吴姊妹讲：“叶姊妹的父母迟迟不敢带着孩子去做检查。最后还是我抱着孩子去做了检查，结果出来，一切正常。”
叶姊妹的女儿百天后，教会牧者说也想去看看宝宝，借此机会也向她的父母传福音。
牧师亲自为宝宝祷告祝福。临走前我们手拉手围成一圈，老牧师又为叶姊妹全家献上祷告。祷告结束，我看到叶姊妹的父母眼里含着泪水，想是我们都被同一位圣灵所感。就在我们即将离开，走到门口时，叶姊妹的父亲突然问老牧师：“为什么那么多大医院检查确诊她们生出来的孩子90%是聋人，但是您看现在……那可是科学的依据啊！有点神奇，我想不通，但还是蛮感恩的，觉得我们很幸运。”
老牧师回答说：“我们整个宇宙万物都是上帝所造，包括我们人，也是按着他的形象受造。他才是万物的主宰，因为他说有就有，命立就立。”
叶姊妹的父亲听后，愣在那里，口里念叨着：“他说有就有，命立就立”。相信此时此刻，福音的种子已经种在了叶姊妹父母的心里，剩下的就是耐心等候神工作的时候。
见证故事：上帝赐给这对聋人夫妻一个健全的宝宝
Editor’s Note: A female believer surnamed Ye and her husband are deaf. Having been married for 7 years, they had always expected a child of their own but failed to get pregnant. Ye's parents sent their blood samples to top hospitals in Beijing and Wuhan for testing, but the reports showed that even if they were pregnant with a baby, the probability of the child having hearing loss would be more than 90%.
Ye's family wanted a healthy baby for the sake of future generations, so they suggested their daughter get an IVF treatment. But her husband didn't intend his wife to be impregnated with someone else's sperm. Just when the two families kept arguing about it, the wife was pregnant with a healthy baby of their own.
The following was told from the perspective of a female believer surnamed Dai:
Ye and her husband met online, who are deaf and mute. When Ye was little, her parents worked outside of their hometown all year round, which left her to her grandmother to look after. Once, she fell ill with a high fever. Not being treated in time, plus an overdose of medicine by the barefoot doctor later ("barefoot doctors" referring to healthcare workers trained to attend to the basic medical needs of China's vast rural population from the 1960s to 1980s), Ye lost her hearing at age 3, and subsequently couldn’t speak either. On the other hand, her husband's family is congenitally deaf. The two met online and then got married. Afterward, they had been living a happy and content life, with one pity that they had been childless for 7 years.
They had always expected their own child. At first, Ye had taken traditional Chinese medicine for four years for suffering from thyroid disease. Later, she recovered and stopped taking the medicine. But she still did not conceive. In addition, given that she was over 30 years old, the families of both parties were very anxious about it.
As a result, Ye's parents sent their blood samples to top hospitals in Beijing and Wuhan for testing, but the reports showed that even if they were pregnant, there was a 90% chance that the child being deaf. Therefore, her parents suggested Ye conceive with someone else's sperm through an IVF treatment. Her husband's family being congenitally deaf, they were also worried that the baby would inherit hearing impairment from the father. Ye didn't know whether IVF would be in line with the teaching of the Bible, so she came to me for help and asked if they could apply for an IVF treatment.
I immediately consulted the pastor of the church, who said that according to the principles of the Bible, it would be best for Ye to have a baby by herself. If the sperm donor was her husband, they could go for it. But with someone else's sperm, they absolutely shouldn’t carry on. (This statement is controversial in Christian ethics.)
Later, Ye's mother also asked me to convince her daughter and son-in-law to accept an IVF treatment. I tried to persuade her that they better get pregnant naturally. Her mother said， "Can you guarantee that their child won’t be born deaf as they are? Or, who will take care of them as three deaf and mute people when her father and I pass away? Can you take this responsibility?" I replied, "Ma’am, please calm down. I can't take this responsibility, but there is the One who can!" Then she asked, "Who is that?" I told her it was God our Father! She said with a cynical laugh, "God? Where is He? Why haven’t I seen Him?"
I told her that God was a spirit that was omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent! She listened but couldn’t fully understand it. Then, her mother waved her hand and said, "You say the God you believe in is all-powerful, fine. I'll give you a month to see if my daughter can get pregnant. She's already in her 30s, for which you shouldn’t waste her time. If it doesn't work after a month, we will go to Wuhan to do IVF!"
During this period, other church staff were also in touch with Ye and prayed for her and her family. At the same time, they also advised Ye to handle the relationship with her family wisely, and keep peaceful and friendly communications so that they wouldn’t hurt each other for this.
After a month, Ye sent me a message at night, saying that they had a fight at home. Not having come to faith yet, her parents couldn't understand their thoughts. The family fought endlessly over how to have a child. Her parents being so angry triggered high blood pressure.
"I pray with my husband every day, and we only ask God to give us a baby. Is it possible He hasn’t heard us?" Ye asked.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan in early 2020 forced the entire city to pause everything. The turmoil in Ye's family over pregnancy was also suspended. In April and May, when the epidemic was over, one after another, churches began to resume on-site gatherings. During this period, I had been leading Ye and her husband to participate in various ministries of the church.
One day in November, Ye texted me saying that she was pregnant. Knowing the news, her husband was the happiest of the whole family, adding "It would save a lot of pains without having to go through the IVF process."
In July 2021, Ye gave birth to a lovely baby girl. The companion, a female believer surnamed Wu, sat her throughout the whole process, saying, "Ye's parents were afraid of a possible bad test result of the child, for that reason, I too the baby for the check-up. The results came out showing that everything was normal."
After the baby’s 100 days celebration, the pastor of the church also went to visit Ye and see her daughter, which was an opportunity to spread the gospel to her parents.
The pastor personally prayed for the baby. Before leaving, we formed a circle holding hands, and the elder pastor offered a prayer for Ye's family. At the end of the prayer, I saw tears in her parents' eyes, for which I believed that we were all touched by the same Holy Spirit. Just as we were about to leave at the doorstep, Ye's father suddenly asked the pastor, "So many top hospitals have confirmed that 90% chance their child would suffer hearing loss with a scientific basis, but you see now... It's kind of magical. I can't figure it out, but I'm so grateful. I think we're very lucky."
The elder pastor replied, " God created our entire universe and everything, including us human beings in His own image. God is sovereign over all things, for He decides and puts it into effect."
After hearing this, Ye's father was stunned. He muttered, " He decides and puts it into effect." I believe that at this moment, the seeds of the gospel were planted in the hearts of Ye’s parents, and the rest was to wait patiently for God’s work.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
Testimony: God Gives Deaf Couple a Healthy Baby
