God loves the world. Each of us is chosen by God, and we all have different experiences and stories behind our faith in God. Here are 40 stories and experiences behind people's faiths that I have heard and seen. Maybe the story behind your faith might be here.
While part 1 contains the stories of six Christians, part 2 concerns five believers who encountered God in their hard times, and part 3 tells four stories of people who believed in the Lord as a result of love and family influence, and part 4 recounts five testimonies of ordinary people, the fifth episode tells the testimonies of a young pastor, three ordinary Christians, and an elderly couple.
23. Under the influence of his neighbor's aunt, he believed in the Lord and later became His faithful servant.
Pastor Ren was a young senior pastor of the church. In those days, his family lived in a large compound occupied by many families. There was an aunt in the neighborhood who was very kind. He would go to her house to listen to discussions about the Christian faith, and he also enjoyed reading the Bible.
So, at the age of 18, he went to church and listened to the preacher's sermons. When he graduated from high school, he did not take the general college entrance examination, but enrolled in the seminary despite all the obstacles he was faced with.
At the seminary, he studied hard and excelled. After graduation, he served in a rural church.
He preached sermons that were down-to-earth and relatable to the locals. He was able to integrate biblical truths and theology into the testimony of the believers, combining the sermon with their everyday affairs. After serving in the church for many years, the city council made him the senior pastor.
He made the church his home and worked there almost ten hours a day. What was once a church of strife and discord is now well-managed in an orderly manner.
24. Because of her critically ill daughter, she became a Christian and grew to become the "bellwether" of the church.
She was originally an unbeliever, from a family of three, and owned a small store in town. She did not seek to make huge profits in her business but sold affordable goods.
Suddenly, one day, her daughter, who was in high school, felt unwell and developed a fever. The hospital diagnosed her daughter with kidney disease, which was quite severe.
She was seeking medical help for her daughter when she suddenly remembered that there was a church in town and she wanted to ask the "foreign bodhisattva (god)" to heal her. She was led to the church by one of her female classmates who believed in Christ.
The preacher of the church comforted her. She felt that the church was different from those who worshipped Bodhisattva, as they did not ask for money and did not burn incense. So, on her first day in church, she bought a Bible and went home to read it.
Afterward, the preachers, believers from the church often visited and prayed for her daughter. She attended the church's weekly meetings on time.
After treatment, her daughter was almost healed and was able to return to school. She was baptized into the Lord as a result of this testimony. Not only that, but she also asked her husband, her mother-in-law, and her daughter to join the faith.
Eight years later, her daughter graduated from university and joined the workforce in a first-tier city. Her faith grew deeper and deeper, and she has received training at the two Christian associations and seminaries in the city and county many times. She has now become the leader of the church.
25. A believer who owns a beauty salon and tithes all year round.
In a church logistic group, there is a middle-aged sister who stands at the church door to welcome the congregation into the church no matter how cold it is during the winter, and during the summer, even if it is hot, she will come to the church early to serve the congregation.
She is a beauty salon owner, but she is not flamboyant and does not show off. Every day she drives to the church, parks her car far away, walks to the church, then puts on church clothes and serves the congregation.
Not only that, but she also gives a tenth of the profits she makes from her shop to the church every month, which is not a small amount, but she does so discreetly every time.
Her beauty salon is doing better and better, and when her daughter took the college entrance examination, she was admitted to a good university.
26. A sister who works in a famous Buddhist scenic spot but is a Christian.
She works at a national 5A-level Buddhist scenic spot and is one of the main people in charge of the scenic spot.
Due to her job and duties, she attends the evening service every Sunday, sitting in an inconspicuous place to read the Bible, pray, worship, and praise.
Not only that, she led her own son's family to conversion; she also exhorted those around her not to worship Buddhist idols and waste their money but to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. So some people followed her to church.
After retirement, she became more involved in church activities.
27. In a bid to "trail" his wife, he became a believer.
The elderly couple, both in their 70s, has spent decades in quarrels and bickering but live in harmony. However, there was a period of time when the elderly brother suddenly noticed that his partner was no longer so unhappy, nor did she stay at home silently facing the television, doing nothing all day long. Instead, she went out every day with a small backpack and returned in the afternoon, singing songs he did not understand and was very happy. He could not help but suspect something.
So one day, when his wife picked up the backpack and left, he quietly began to follow her. She took a bus, walked to a church, went in, and sat in the front row. He stalked her for weeks, sitting in the back of the church so he wouldn't be seen.
So one day, when his wife picked up her school bag and left again, he quietly began to follow behind. He saw her take the bus, walk to the door of a church, go in, and take a seat in the front row. He sat at the back of the church so as not to be noticed, and he followed her for several weeks.
After a while, he felt the church was good and actually began to read the Bible and pray along with the believers in praise. So one day, when the pastor made an altar call, he stood before the altar to accept Christ.
Now the elderly couple comes to church together, holding hands, every Sunday or when there are meetings or events.
To be continued...
(The author of this article is a staff writer at the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
二十三、在邻居大姨的影响下，他信了主，后来还做了主的忠仆。
任牧师是一位年轻的教会主任牧师。当年，他的家住在大杂院。这里一位邻居大姨非常和善，他愿意到她的家里去听信仰基督的事情，也喜欢读圣经。
这样，他在18岁的时候就去了教堂，听传道人讲道。当他高中毕业的时候，不顾阻挠，没有去参加一般社会的高考，而是报考了神学院。
在神学院，他刻苦学习，成绩优异。毕业后，来到了一间乡镇教会服侍。
他讲道接地气，能把圣经真理、神学融合到信徒的见证里面，讲道与信徒自己身边的事结合。在这个教会服侍多年，后来市两会让他担任了主任牧师。
他以教会为家，每天几乎十多个小时在教会服侍。原本有纷争和不睦的教会被管理得井井有条。
二十四、因为病危的女儿，她信主得救，还成长为教会的“头羊”。
她原本是不信主的，一家三口人，是镇里一家小卖店的店主。她做生意不求暴利，卖的都是平价商品。
突然有一天她读高中的女儿感觉到身上不舒服、而且发烧，医院检查出来，她的女儿得的是肾病，而且比较严重。
她在边为女儿求医，突然她想到了，镇里有一个基督教，想去求“洋菩萨”医治女儿。她在自己一个信基督的女同学带领下，来到了教会。
教会的传道人给了她安慰。她感觉到，这教会和那些拜菩萨的不一样啊，不要钱、不烧香。所以，到教会的第一天，她就买了一本圣经回家去读。
之后，教会的传道人和弟兄姊妹常来探视、为她女儿祷告。她在教会里每个礼拜都按时参加聚会。
女儿经过治疗，病已经基本痊愈，可以复学了。她因此受洗归主了。不仅这样，她还要求自己的丈夫和她的婆婆，女儿都一起信主。
过了八年，她的女儿早已大学毕业，在一线城市参加了工作。她的信仰越来越进深，还多次到市县的基督教两会和神学院接受培训，而且成了这个教会的负责人。
二十五、一位美容院老板的信徒，常年坚持十一奉献。
在一间教会的服务组里，有一位中年的姊妹。冬天再冷，她也要侍立在教堂的门前，迎接会众进入教堂；夏天再热，她也早早的来到教堂，为会众服务。
她是一位美容院的老板，但是不张扬、也不炫耀。每天开车到教堂，都放在离教堂远远的地方，步行到教堂，然后穿上教会的服装，为信徒服务。
不仅如此，她还每个月都把自己店里所收入的利润按照十分之一奉献给教会，这不是一个小的数目，但她每次都是很低调地奉献。
她的美容院做得越来越好，而且她的女儿高考的时候，考上了一个好的大学。
二十六、一位在佛教名胜区工作的姊妹，却是基督徒。
她在国家级五A级佛教风景区工作，也是这个风景区的主要负责人之一。
因为工作和职务的缘故，她每个主日都是参加晚场礼拜，坐在不显眼的地方读经、祷告、敬拜、赞美。
不仅如此，她带领自己的儿子一家也信主了；还劝告自己身边的人不要去拜佛教偶像，耗费钱财，要信主耶稣基督，才能得救。所以，也有的人跟随她到教会来了。
退休以后，她更加积极地参加教会的各项活动。
二十七、为了“跟踪”老伴儿，他信主了。
老弟兄和老姊妹都70多岁了，夫妻俩是在吵吵闹闹中度过了几十年，却也相安无事。可是有一段时间，老弟兄突然发现老伴儿再也不那么精神不愉快、也不默默的在家面对电视发呆，一天到晚无所事事。而是她每天都背着一个小包出去，然后下午回来，唱着他听不懂的歌，非常喜乐。老弟兄不禁心生疑窦。
于是有一天，当老伴又背起书包走的时候，他在后面悄悄地开始了跟踪。只见她坐了公交车后，步行到在一所教堂门前，然后进去了，前排就坐。他为了不被发现就坐在教堂的后面，就这样跟踪了她几个礼拜。
一段时间后，他感觉教会挺好，居然也开始读经、也开始跟着信徒们一起赞美祷告。于是他在有一天牧师呼召的时候，站到了圣台前领受。
现在他们老夫妻俩每到主日或者有聚会、有活动的时候，都携手来到教会。
未完待续……
（本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。）
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/56653
信仰背后的40个故事（五）
God loves the world. Each of us is chosen by God, and we all have different experiences and stories behind our faith in God. Here are 40 stories and experiences behind people's faiths that I have heard and seen. Maybe the story behind your faith might be here.
While part 1 contains the stories of six Christians, part 2 concerns five believers who encountered God in their hard times, and part 3 tells four stories of people who believed in the Lord as a result of love and family influence, and part 4 recounts five testimonies of ordinary people, the fifth episode tells the testimonies of a young pastor, three ordinary Christians, and an elderly couple.
23. Under the influence of his neighbor's aunt, he believed in the Lord and later became His faithful servant.
Pastor Ren was a young senior pastor of the church. In those days, his family lived in a large compound occupied by many families. There was an aunt in the neighborhood who was very kind. He would go to her house to listen to discussions about the Christian faith, and he also enjoyed reading the Bible.
So, at the age of 18, he went to church and listened to the preacher's sermons. When he graduated from high school, he did not take the general college entrance examination, but enrolled in the seminary despite all the obstacles he was faced with.
At the seminary, he studied hard and excelled. After graduation, he served in a rural church.
He preached sermons that were down-to-earth and relatable to the locals. He was able to integrate biblical truths and theology into the testimony of the believers, combining the sermon with their everyday affairs. After serving in the church for many years, the city council made him the senior pastor.
He made the church his home and worked there almost ten hours a day. What was once a church of strife and discord is now well-managed in an orderly manner.
24. Because of her critically ill daughter, she became a Christian and grew to become the "bellwether" of the church.
She was originally an unbeliever, from a family of three, and owned a small store in town. She did not seek to make huge profits in her business but sold affordable goods.
Suddenly, one day, her daughter, who was in high school, felt unwell and developed a fever. The hospital diagnosed her daughter with kidney disease, which was quite severe.
She was seeking medical help for her daughter when she suddenly remembered that there was a church in town and she wanted to ask the "foreign bodhisattva (god)" to heal her. She was led to the church by one of her female classmates who believed in Christ.
The preacher of the church comforted her. She felt that the church was different from those who worshipped Bodhisattva, as they did not ask for money and did not burn incense. So, on her first day in church, she bought a Bible and went home to read it.
Afterward, the preachers, believers from the church often visited and prayed for her daughter. She attended the church's weekly meetings on time.
After treatment, her daughter was almost healed and was able to return to school. She was baptized into the Lord as a result of this testimony. Not only that, but she also asked her husband, her mother-in-law, and her daughter to join the faith.
Eight years later, her daughter graduated from university and joined the workforce in a first-tier city. Her faith grew deeper and deeper, and she has received training at the two Christian associations and seminaries in the city and county many times. She has now become the leader of the church.
25. A believer who owns a beauty salon and tithes all year round.
In a church logistic group, there is a middle-aged sister who stands at the church door to welcome the congregation into the church no matter how cold it is during the winter, and during the summer, even if it is hot, she will come to the church early to serve the congregation.
She is a beauty salon owner, but she is not flamboyant and does not show off. Every day she drives to the church, parks her car far away, walks to the church, then puts on church clothes and serves the congregation.
Not only that, but she also gives a tenth of the profits she makes from her shop to the church every month, which is not a small amount, but she does so discreetly every time.
Her beauty salon is doing better and better, and when her daughter took the college entrance examination, she was admitted to a good university.
26. A sister who works in a famous Buddhist scenic spot but is a Christian.
She works at a national 5A-level Buddhist scenic spot and is one of the main people in charge of the scenic spot.
Due to her job and duties, she attends the evening service every Sunday, sitting in an inconspicuous place to read the Bible, pray, worship, and praise.
Not only that, she led her own son's family to conversion; she also exhorted those around her not to worship Buddhist idols and waste their money but to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. So some people followed her to church.
After retirement, she became more involved in church activities.
27. In a bid to "trail" his wife, he became a believer.
The elderly couple, both in their 70s, has spent decades in quarrels and bickering but live in harmony. However, there was a period of time when the elderly brother suddenly noticed that his partner was no longer so unhappy, nor did she stay at home silently facing the television, doing nothing all day long. Instead, she went out every day with a small backpack and returned in the afternoon, singing songs he did not understand and was very happy. He could not help but suspect something.
So one day, when his wife picked up the backpack and left, he quietly began to follow her. She took a bus, walked to a church, went in, and sat in the front row. He stalked her for weeks, sitting in the back of the church so he wouldn't be seen.
So one day, when his wife picked up her school bag and left again, he quietly began to follow behind. He saw her take the bus, walk to the door of a church, go in, and take a seat in the front row. He sat at the back of the church so as not to be noticed, and he followed her for several weeks.
After a while, he felt the church was good and actually began to read the Bible and pray along with the believers in praise. So one day, when the pastor made an altar call, he stood before the altar to accept Christ.
Now the elderly couple comes to church together, holding hands, every Sunday or when there are meetings or events.
To be continued...
(The author of this article is a staff writer at the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
40 Christian Faith Stories (Part 5)
