Elder Yu came to Christ by singing Christian songs at a time when there was no Bible available. Comforted by the Holy Spirit in tears and prayers, he has grown along the way to the Lord's servant.
Born in 1955, Yu lost his mother at the age of five. His brothers passed away in the later years. He lived with two sisters.
There were few Christians when he was young. A Christian woman shared the gospel with him when he was seven. The woman did not meet in a church or have no Bible, but she could sing Christian songs. He followed her to sing those songs even though he was unaware that the lyrics were adapted from the Bible. The lyrics went on like this: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son...” When he heard the name of God’s one and only son, he burst into tears because he remained the only son in his family...
As the seed of faith was planted in his heart, while he was working the day and night, he sang hymns. Some other believers heard his singing and gathered people together to sing together. When they sang “God Loved the World”, they all cried and then prayed together.
When Yu was a teenager, a village woman was suddenly caught in madness. Her family worshiped a variety of gods, Buddha, and other supernatural beings to bed for healing, but there was no effect. Her husband wanted Yu to have a try. Singing a Christian song, he prayed for her. She gradually recovered. Then the villagers began to spread the news that the god whom Yu believes in is capable.
Yu walked to different villagers to attend prayer meetings every Wednesday and Friday and he walked for several kilometers at times. He was warmly received by other congregations each time. He “sang Christian songs all day along” in spite of poverty.
In 1980, he moved to another province and lived in an apartment near a church. He eventually had the opportunity to read the Bible. He attended the church and often volunteered to help. He received baptism in 1989. Later the church needed to relocate and asked if they could meet in Yu’s apartment. He agreed and bought some facilities including a large loudspeaker. He began to lead the increasing congregation.
In early 2000, he led other members to preach the gospel to people in a garden, distributing gospel tracts to passersby with one hand and holding the Bible in the other. Evangelism groups were founded for each garden. There were around 15 or 16 meeting points at the peak time.
He encountered Brother Xie who was doing mission from northeastern China in a garden. He introduced Xie to local pastors and Xie was engaged in church planting.
Now Elder Yu is ministering to several online groups in addition to intercessory prayer for some onsite churches. He gets up for preparation around 3 am and sends Bible verses and intercessory prayers to each online group at 4 am.
- Translated by Karen Luo
没有圣经的年代里，他靠着唱灵歌信主，神爱世人的歌声打开他的心。让他在哭声和祷告中被圣灵安慰，一路成长为为主做工的仆人。（==当summary）
带着8个聚会点的于长老1955年出生，5岁左右丧母，哥哥弟弟相继离世，家里只剩下两个姐姐。在他小的时候，信主的人少得可怜，当地一个信主的大姐在他七岁的时候开始给他传福音。
这个大姐也没有教会，也没有圣经，只会唱灵歌，“圣灵降临在我们身上，我们就必得着能力”，于长老唱起来，还有另一首“神爱世人，甚至将他的独生爱子赐给我们···”。他当时不知道是圣经经文，就跟着唱。只是当听见，上帝的独生子时，小时候的他就受不了了，因为想到自己也是家里的独苗儿了，于是“我就开始哭，那个大姐也哭。”
信仰的种子种下，他就白天晚上边唱灵歌边干活，有其他弟兄姐妹听见有年轻孩子信主了，就聚在一起，大家一起唱灵歌，一到“神爱世人”就一起哭，哭完再一起祷告。
于长老十几岁的时候，村里一个嫂子忽然犯了疯病，家里人神佛小鬼大仙儿都求了，治不住，他丈夫想，不如让小于试一下。于长老哼着灵歌就去了，还没到这家人门口就听见有人在胡喊乱叫，等他走近门口，这人忽然停了，开始说话，“你来就来吧，咋带恁多人嘞。不管了，我走了走了。”于长老为这个嫂子祷告一下，后来她慢慢好了。村里人开始传，“小于信的神真可以。”
之后于长老还是每周三五去各村里参加祷告，有时也会走十几里地，每次都受到弟兄姊妹的热情招待。那时候“一天到晚都唱歌，虽然生活穷，但每天唱歌赞美。”
1980年他有机会搬家到另一个省份，租的房子附近就有一间教会，他终于有机会可以接触圣经，到教会参加聚会，平时也去帮忙，1989年正式接受了洗礼。后来教会需要换地方看能不能到于长老家里，他同意，还购置了各样东西包括一个大喇叭。就这样他开始带教会，这个教会人数不断加增。
2000年初，于长老开始带人到公园传福音，挎着一个包，手里捧着圣经，发福音单张。就这样最复兴的时候，他们在城市里各个公园成立宣教队伍，多达十五六个聚会点。
也是在公园传福音的时候，他认识了从东北来这里宣教的谢弟兄，于长老帮助他认识当地牧者，建立教会。
现在的于长老，除了为实地的几个教会代祷外，还在多个线上群中为主做工。每天早上3点多起床读经做准备，4点到各个微信群里发圣经经文和代祷，为信徒提供所需要的属灵粮食。
记灵歌信主的于长老
Elder Yu came to Christ by singing Christian songs at a time when there was no Bible available. Comforted by the Holy Spirit in tears and prayers, he has grown along the way to the Lord's servant.
Born in 1955, Yu lost his mother at the age of five. His brothers passed away in the later years. He lived with two sisters.
There were few Christians when he was young. A Christian woman shared the gospel with him when he was seven. The woman did not meet in a church or have no Bible, but she could sing Christian songs. He followed her to sing those songs even though he was unaware that the lyrics were adapted from the Bible. The lyrics went on like this: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son...” When he heard the name of God’s one and only son, he burst into tears because he remained the only son in his family...
As the seed of faith was planted in his heart, while he was working the day and night, he sang hymns. Some other believers heard his singing and gathered people together to sing together. When they sang “God Loved the World”, they all cried and then prayed together.
When Yu was a teenager, a village woman was suddenly caught in madness. Her family worshiped a variety of gods, Buddha, and other supernatural beings to bed for healing, but there was no effect. Her husband wanted Yu to have a try. Singing a Christian song, he prayed for her. She gradually recovered. Then the villagers began to spread the news that the god whom Yu believes in is capable.
Yu walked to different villagers to attend prayer meetings every Wednesday and Friday and he walked for several kilometers at times. He was warmly received by other congregations each time. He “sang Christian songs all day along” in spite of poverty.
In 1980, he moved to another province and lived in an apartment near a church. He eventually had the opportunity to read the Bible. He attended the church and often volunteered to help. He received baptism in 1989. Later the church needed to relocate and asked if they could meet in Yu’s apartment. He agreed and bought some facilities including a large loudspeaker. He began to lead the increasing congregation.
In early 2000, he led other members to preach the gospel to people in a garden, distributing gospel tracts to passersby with one hand and holding the Bible in the other. Evangelism groups were founded for each garden. There were around 15 or 16 meeting points at the peak time.
He encountered Brother Xie who was doing mission from northeastern China in a garden. He introduced Xie to local pastors and Xie was engaged in church planting.
Now Elder Yu is ministering to several online groups in addition to intercessory prayer for some onsite churches. He gets up for preparation around 3 am and sends Bible verses and intercessory prayers to each online group at 4 am.
- Translated by Karen Luo
Story of Elder Yu Who Met Jesus Through Songs
