Editor’s note: A seminary teacher told the then Pastor Sun, who had not yet believed in the Lord before ministering in Shaanxi Province, that only those who had attended the “University of Suffering” could serve God. The words became a prophecy, and marked the beginning of the man's 15-year journey of suffering until his complete dedication to the Lord.
The life of Mrs. Tan, Pastor Sun's wife, hit a low point in 1997 when she got kidney necrosis. Her husband later cured her, believing that his medical skills, rather than those of God, were the key to Tan's survival. Throughout this period, the wife constantly asked that others pray for Sun's conversion to the Lord. They met a seminary teacher once who prophesized about his his future suffering, and their lives changed soon after that.
Because their original business failed unexpectedly, they left their homeland of Jiangsu Province and relocated to Shandong, Dalian, Henan, and other provinces and cities over several years. The money they earned at each location was either stolen or lost in business.
Their final stop was in Shaanxi, where they knew no one and had no money, only to settle in a slum. Even in such a situation, Pastor Sun soon started a business and gained wealth. Tan continued to pray for him, reminding him that so much of his suffering stemmed from his unbelief in the Lord! On the other hand, Sun's attitude toward his wife's persistence was that your heart was in your God, and my heart would stay with my business.
Alas, where can one go to hide from God’s presence? The money the family had accumulated in Shaanxi was all stolen again by thieves. On another occasion, several gang members held Mr. Sun at knifepoint before one of his business partners scared them away. Even after all of these, he remained stiff-necked and resisted the Lord. Mrs. Tan decided to return to their hometown, disheartened.
On the couple's first day back in their hometown, the wife quickly found the church and continued praying for her husband. At a gathering, Mrs. Tan even applied for Sun's baptism without telling him. So, in 2003, Pastor Sun was "cheated" into baptism. Following that, the church staff consistently invited him to take part in visitations since his hardships might comfort the weak. During this period, he even revealed his gift of healing for the first time. Sun prayed multiple times for a sister with breast cancer, and she miraculously recovered.
After half a year, the family returned to Shaanxi. Despite being baptized and witnessing God's marvels and wonders, Mr. Sun remained indifferent and preferred to run his business and occasionally play mahjong. Later, his company faced further losses. At that time, Mrs. Tan's heart was burdened heavily. She often had the suffocating feeling of being submerged in water while sleeping at night, and Sun had the same dream for half a year as well.
Pastor Sun remarked: "At first, God’s disciplines were only limited to hardships, but later they escalated to life matters." He developed severe gastritis, resulting in numerous serious bleedings a year and even a medical crisis notice. Later, God directed Mrs. Tan to a skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who cured her husband. After healing, Sun finally changed his look to the Bible from his business, which was exactly Mrs. Tan’s wish. Afterward, Pastor Sun enrolled in a short-term theology class and a training course about healing.
(To be continued...)
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Shaanxi.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
序言：一个神学院的老师告诉那时还未信主的孙传道，上过苦难大学的人才能为神做工。一语成谶，这段对话开启了孙传道长达15年的苦难，直到他全然为主摆上。
1997年，谈师母因患上双肾坏死走入了生命低谷，后被孙老师治愈， 他觉得妻子能活下来是因自己的医术，跟神无关。在这期间，师母常找人祷告，想让丈夫信主。一次，他们就遇见了这位老师。不久后，他们的人生发生了变化。
因为原本的生意突然做不下去了，他们离开了江苏老家，几年先后辗转到山东、大连、河南等省市，而他们在每个地方赚的钱不是被偷了，就是做生意赔光了。
最后一站到了陕西，俩人已经没什么钱了，又因人生地不熟，落脚到贫民窟。即便在这种环境里，孙老师也很快做起了生意，赚了不少钱。师母常为丈夫祷告，也劝诫说我们吃这么多苦，就因为你不信！丈夫态度就是，你信你的神，我做我的生意。
只是，人能往哪里躲避神的面呢？一家人刚在陕西积攒起来的钱又被小偷偷光。还有一次，孙老师被几个流民用刀挟持，结果巧遇一个生意伙伴救了他。然而经历这些，他依旧硬着颈项不信。对此，师母心灰意冷，要回老家。
俩人回老家的头一天，师母很快找到教会，又恢复了对丈夫的代祷。聚会期间，师母还瞒着丈夫给他报了受洗的名额。于是在2003年，孙老师被“骗”受了洗。此后，教会的同工总是拉着他去做探访，原因是他的苦难能安慰那些软弱的人。期间，他也第一次显出医治恩赐。孙老师为一个患乳腺癌的姐妹祷告了几次，那个姐妹竟痊愈了。
半年后，一家人再次回到陕西。此时的孙老师虽受了洗，也体会了神迹奇事，但还是毫无敬畏，一心就想做生意，有时还打麻将。后来，他生意又亏损。那时，谈师母的心承受了许多重担。她夜里睡觉总有被淹在水中的窒息感，丈夫也有半年时间做同样的梦。
孙老师说：“神一开始只用苦难管教我，后来就是要我命了。”他患上了严重胃炎，一年几次大出血，又被下达病危书。 后来，神引导师母找到了一个好中医，治好了丈夫的病。 病愈后的孙老师，终于放下生意经，拿起了《圣经》。谈师母的心愿也终于达成。此后，孙老师报名参加了短期神学班和一个医治培训课。
待续…
（本文作者为陕西一基督徒。）
孙传道的传奇见证（2）苦难大学
Editor’s note: A seminary teacher told the then Pastor Sun, who had not yet believed in the Lord before ministering in Shaanxi Province, that only those who had attended the “University of Suffering” could serve God. The words became a prophecy, and marked the beginning of the man's 15-year journey of suffering until his complete dedication to the Lord.
The life of Mrs. Tan, Pastor Sun's wife, hit a low point in 1997 when she got kidney necrosis. Her husband later cured her, believing that his medical skills, rather than those of God, were the key to Tan's survival. Throughout this period, the wife constantly asked that others pray for Sun's conversion to the Lord. They met a seminary teacher once who prophesized about his his future suffering, and their lives changed soon after that.
Because their original business failed unexpectedly, they left their homeland of Jiangsu Province and relocated to Shandong, Dalian, Henan, and other provinces and cities over several years. The money they earned at each location was either stolen or lost in business.
Their final stop was in Shaanxi, where they knew no one and had no money, only to settle in a slum. Even in such a situation, Pastor Sun soon started a business and gained wealth. Tan continued to pray for him, reminding him that so much of his suffering stemmed from his unbelief in the Lord! On the other hand, Sun's attitude toward his wife's persistence was that your heart was in your God, and my heart would stay with my business.
Alas, where can one go to hide from God’s presence? The money the family had accumulated in Shaanxi was all stolen again by thieves. On another occasion, several gang members held Mr. Sun at knifepoint before one of his business partners scared them away. Even after all of these, he remained stiff-necked and resisted the Lord. Mrs. Tan decided to return to their hometown, disheartened.
On the couple's first day back in their hometown, the wife quickly found the church and continued praying for her husband. At a gathering, Mrs. Tan even applied for Sun's baptism without telling him. So, in 2003, Pastor Sun was "cheated" into baptism. Following that, the church staff consistently invited him to take part in visitations since his hardships might comfort the weak. During this period, he even revealed his gift of healing for the first time. Sun prayed multiple times for a sister with breast cancer, and she miraculously recovered.
After half a year, the family returned to Shaanxi. Despite being baptized and witnessing God's marvels and wonders, Mr. Sun remained indifferent and preferred to run his business and occasionally play mahjong. Later, his company faced further losses. At that time, Mrs. Tan's heart was burdened heavily. She often had the suffocating feeling of being submerged in water while sleeping at night, and Sun had the same dream for half a year as well.
Pastor Sun remarked: "At first, God’s disciplines were only limited to hardships, but later they escalated to life matters." He developed severe gastritis, resulting in numerous serious bleedings a year and even a medical crisis notice. Later, God directed Mrs. Tan to a skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who cured her husband. After healing, Sun finally changed his look to the Bible from his business, which was exactly Mrs. Tan’s wish. Afterward, Pastor Sun enrolled in a short-term theology class and a training course about healing.
(To be continued...)
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Shaanxi.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Pastor Sun's Legendary Faith Journey: 'University of Suffering'
