Hu's child did not have shoes to wear from 6 months to over one year old. When a believer visited her sister in City A, she bought a pair of shoes for her sister’s child, but they were a bit big. When she saw Hu’s child, she wondered if the shoes would fit.
“Whatever size the shoes are, that will be the size of our child's feet,” Hu replied. "My wife and I had been praying for shoes for our child, and I was certain they would fit."
When the child tried them on, and they fit just right. The child finally had his first pair of shoes. This is one of the many stories that have happened to Pastor Hu.
The Decade in the World
In 1993, Hu finished junior high school. His father died early, and his mother remarried, leaving him to fend for himself. After junior high, Hu started navigating life on his own.
For that decade, Hu had been in business, often staying up late and indulging in smoking and drinking. Despite his efforts, he struggled to make a profit. Hu also got married. But after a few years, both he and his wife realized that their lifestyle was unsustainable.
For a while, Hu tried to make a living as a sublandlord by renting out a house and then subletting it to someone else. One of his tenants happened to be a Christian who attended church regularly.
Why Study Theology?
Through this tenant, Hu, who was struggling to make ends meet, was able to connect with the church. During his first visit, the pastor asked Hu if he had sinned, and Hu admitted to having sinned. “What kind of sins?” “Every kind.”
The pastor then told Hu, “You are not sinful because you have sinned; you have sinned because you are sinful.”
To address his sin problem, Hu decided to study theology at the suggestion of the church. And the seminary he attended was unlike any other.
A Special Seminary with Special Admission Standards
The seminary Hu applied to had strict entrance requirements. Students had to affirm that they were saved and born again; that they had a calling and gift from God; that they could resist the temptations of money, sex, and other worldly desires; and that they were always prepared to preach, move to a different location, and even face martyrdom.
Hu said, “I wasn’t influenced by the church to study in that seminary. I just knew it was my only chance to survive. Nothing else could help me.”
Relying on God in the Midst of Lack
Hu believes that his time in seminary, which he once found unbearable to think about, has actually laid a strong foundation for his career as a pastor and helped shape his pastoral character and qualities.
Hu and his wife attended the seminary together. Unfortunately, the seminary did not offer any financial help for rent, living expenses, or meals. This meant that all students had to fend for themselves. It was springtime, and the nearby hills were filled with elm trees. So, Hu and his wife ate elm seeds for food. When the elm seed season was over, they started eating the flowers from black locust trees. Without those seeds and flowers, they would not have made it through.
The seminary had extremely strict dress and appearance requirements. When Hu and his wife ran out of shampoo, they had to use laundry detergent to wash their hair; lacked toothbrushes and toothpaste, they had to clean their teeth with salt. There were many times when the couple had to rely on God for help and support.
The “Volunteering Mission Trips” Twice a Year
Hu recalls the seminary would organize two “Volunteering Mission Trips” each year. Participants would be sent in pairs – either husbands and wives, two brothers, or two sisters – to preach in a city. The trips would last about a week, and the seminary would not cover any living expenses. This is to help students learn to rely on God completely.
On his first trip, Hu traveled with a brother to City B, which was about two to three hundred kilometers away. Before they left, the seminary gave them six yuan, but that was only enough for them to catch a bus out of City A where the seminary was located. Fortunately, they were able to hitch a ride on a truck that was returning to City B after unloading in City A. Upon reaching City B, they had to make do with sleeping at the train station, on the roadside, in the hospital, or in the park.
Throughout the week, they shared the gospel with people everyday. When they spoke to the tofu seller, they received a piece of tofu, and the steamed bun seller would give them a few buns after hearing their message. This helped them with their meals for the week.
Experiencing God’s Faithful Provision in Times of Scarcity
The seminary expected both teachers and students to look presentable, but for Hu, keeping up with grooming expenses like shampoo, shaving, and formal attire was expensive.
During this particular time, several churches in City A collaborated to host a Christian sports event. One of the participants was a fellow brother who came to Christ with Hu. He told Hu that he came in second place in the 400-meter race and wanted to give his prize to Hu. When Hu opened the box, he found two bottles of shampoo, some toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap – all the things he and his wife really needed. On top of that, the brother also gave Hu 50 yuan to buy milk powder for his child, who had not had any since he was born.
When Hu’s family first arrived at the seminary, they could not afford to buy food. Once they ran out of elm seeds and black locust flowers, they had nothing else to eat.
Hu’s family rented an apartment in a courtyard, where one of the tenants worked at a club. Hu could tell from the girl’s accent that she was from his hometown. One day, she mentioned that she lived alone and did not know how to cook. She asked Hu if they could cook her meals together – she would pay for them, and they would handle the shopping and cooking. Hu and his wife immediately agreed.
“God provided for us through a young woman from my hometown for a period of time. Without such life training from God, pastors may struggle with financial challenges. When faced with a lack of provision, they may feel unable to continue serving. It is crucial for pastors to overcome these obstacles in order to fulfill their calling.”
- Translated by Joyce Leung
从十年混社会的生涯说起
大约是1993年的时候，胡弟兄初中毕业了。胡的父亲去世得很早，母亲后面也改嫁了，从此胡弟兄开始孤身一人。初中毕业以后，胡开始了“混社会”的日子。
熬夜、抽烟、喝酒……这十年中胡弟兄一直在做生意，可是就是赚不了钱。在这十年当中，胡也结婚了。但几年以后，他和妻子发现继续这么下去不是办法。
胡弟兄当过一段时间的“二房东”。就是租下房子后转租给别人，赚这中间的差价。其中一个基督徒租客经常去教会聚会。
为什么要去上神学？
因着这租客，日子越发过不下去的胡弟兄得以接触到教会。刚刚去教会的时候，牧者问胡弟兄有没有罪？胡说有罪。——“有什么罪？”——“什么罪我都犯过。”
牧者对胡弟兄说，“不是你犯罪才有罪，而是因为你有罪才犯罪”。
为了解决自己罪的问题，在教会推荐下，胡弟兄决定去读神学。而胡弟兄去读的神学院也和绝大多数神学院几乎截然不同。
特别的神学院与特别的招生标准
胡弟兄报考的神学院设立了9条苛刻的条件。包括确认自己已经重生得救；要有上帝给的呼召、恩赐；要得胜金钱、性、世界的诱惑；随时要准备讲道、搬家、殉道。
胡弟兄说：“不是说我怎么有感动想要放下自己跟着教会走，我只是觉得这真是能救我一条路。除了这个路之外实在没有别的路能够救我。”
在一无所有中坚心依赖上帝
胡牧师认为，他看起来曾经“不堪回首”的神学院生活，为他日后的牧者生涯打下了坚实的基础，并塑造了他牧者的品格和素质。
胡牧师带着妻子去了这所神学院。在读书的时候，神学院不提供房租、生活费和饭，需要每个人自己解决吃饭的问题。当时刚好春天，附近的山上有很多的榆树。他们就吃榆钱。后来榆钱过去了，就继续吃槐花。没有那些榆钱和槐花的话，他们真得活不下去。
神学院有着非常严格的着装和仪容要求。胡牧师和妻子的洗头膏用完了，然后天天用洗衣粉洗头。牙刷没有、牙膏也没有，只能每天用手蘸点盐在嘴巴里面搓。因此，很多时候他们只能仰望上帝的帮助和供应。
每年两次的“无钱传道”活动
胡牧师说神学院每年会组织两次“无钱传道”活动，两个人一组。夫妻、两个弟兄或者两个姊妹一组，被打发去一个城市传道。为期一周左右，神学院不给任何生活费。让他们会全心全意地依靠上帝。
胡牧师参加的第一次“无钱传道”是和一个弟兄去一个两三百公里之外的B城市。出发之前神学院给了他们6块钱，他们拿着这6块钱乘坐公交车出了神学院所在的A城市，但是也仅仅只够他们走出A城市。后来路上截了一辆车，刚好是专门跑B市到A市的货运专线的，随后两个人到了B市。他们只能住火车站，路边，或者医院、公园。
那一周的时间他们俩每天给人传福音。传福音给卖豆腐的的时候，对方会给胡弟兄他们一块豆腐，卖馒头听了福音会给他们几个馒头。就这样吃饭的问题解决了。
缺乏当中经历上帝信实的供应
神学院要求所有师生都需要注意仪容。洗头、刮胡子、穿正装都是要花钱的。虽然钱不多，可是胡弟兄却连这些钱也没有。
恰好这个时候A市几所教会联合办了一次基督徒运动会。其中一个参加运动会的弟兄，正好认识胡，因为当年他们一起信的耶稣。他说他刚才400米比赛跑了第二名，拿的奖品就送给胡弟兄吧。后来打开，发现箱子里边有两瓶洗发水，然后还有几个牙膏、几个牙刷和几个香皂。而这些正是胡弟兄和妻子急需。除了奖品以外，这个弟兄还给了胡弟兄的孩子留了50块钱，留作给孩子买奶粉用。他的孩子出生后一直没有喝过奶粉。
而且，胡弟兄的孩子从6个月大一直到1岁多都是不穿鞋子的，传福音的时候也是抱着孩子。
但是有一次一个姊妹来A市看他妹妹。她给她妹妹的孩子买了一双鞋，可是买的鞋子有点大。看见胡弟兄的孩子，不知道胡弟兄家孩子能不能穿。上脚一试，果然合适。孩子终于穿上了鞋子。
胡一家三口刚到神学院的时候，没有钱吃饭。榆钱和槐花吃完了，就没有东西可以吃了。
胡家租的小单间是在一个四合院里面，其中一个女租客是在一个俱乐部工作。胡弟兄根据女生的口音判断应该是老乡。有一次这个女生就说她是自己一个人，又不会做饭。问胡“咱能不能一起合锅，就是我来出钱，然后你们买菜做饭？”胡弟兄夫妻俩马上就同意了。
“上帝就这样通过这个老乡养活了我们一段时间。不经过这样的训练的话，他就过不去物质和金钱这一关。一旦没有供应的话，他就会觉得没法服事了，就不行了。所以作为牧者必须要越过去这一关。”
北方一牧者的神学院生涯的故事
Hu's child did not have shoes to wear from 6 months to over one year old. When a believer visited her sister in City A, she bought a pair of shoes for her sister’s child, but they were a bit big. When she saw Hu’s child, she wondered if the shoes would fit.
“Whatever size the shoes are, that will be the size of our child's feet,” Hu replied. "My wife and I had been praying for shoes for our child, and I was certain they would fit."
When the child tried them on, and they fit just right. The child finally had his first pair of shoes. This is one of the many stories that have happened to Pastor Hu.
The Decade in the World
In 1993, Hu finished junior high school. His father died early, and his mother remarried, leaving him to fend for himself. After junior high, Hu started navigating life on his own.
For that decade, Hu had been in business, often staying up late and indulging in smoking and drinking. Despite his efforts, he struggled to make a profit. Hu also got married. But after a few years, both he and his wife realized that their lifestyle was unsustainable.
For a while, Hu tried to make a living as a sublandlord by renting out a house and then subletting it to someone else. One of his tenants happened to be a Christian who attended church regularly.
Why Study Theology?
Through this tenant, Hu, who was struggling to make ends meet, was able to connect with the church. During his first visit, the pastor asked Hu if he had sinned, and Hu admitted to having sinned. “What kind of sins?” “Every kind.”
The pastor then told Hu, “You are not sinful because you have sinned; you have sinned because you are sinful.”
To address his sin problem, Hu decided to study theology at the suggestion of the church. And the seminary he attended was unlike any other.
A Special Seminary with Special Admission Standards
The seminary Hu applied to had strict entrance requirements. Students had to affirm that they were saved and born again; that they had a calling and gift from God; that they could resist the temptations of money, sex, and other worldly desires; and that they were always prepared to preach, move to a different location, and even face martyrdom.
Hu said, “I wasn’t influenced by the church to study in that seminary. I just knew it was my only chance to survive. Nothing else could help me.”
Relying on God in the Midst of Lack
Hu believes that his time in seminary, which he once found unbearable to think about, has actually laid a strong foundation for his career as a pastor and helped shape his pastoral character and qualities.
Hu and his wife attended the seminary together. Unfortunately, the seminary did not offer any financial help for rent, living expenses, or meals. This meant that all students had to fend for themselves. It was springtime, and the nearby hills were filled with elm trees. So, Hu and his wife ate elm seeds for food. When the elm seed season was over, they started eating the flowers from black locust trees. Without those seeds and flowers, they would not have made it through.
The seminary had extremely strict dress and appearance requirements. When Hu and his wife ran out of shampoo, they had to use laundry detergent to wash their hair; lacked toothbrushes and toothpaste, they had to clean their teeth with salt. There were many times when the couple had to rely on God for help and support.
The “Volunteering Mission Trips” Twice a Year
Hu recalls the seminary would organize two “Volunteering Mission Trips” each year. Participants would be sent in pairs – either husbands and wives, two brothers, or two sisters – to preach in a city. The trips would last about a week, and the seminary would not cover any living expenses. This is to help students learn to rely on God completely.
On his first trip, Hu traveled with a brother to City B, which was about two to three hundred kilometers away. Before they left, the seminary gave them six yuan, but that was only enough for them to catch a bus out of City A where the seminary was located. Fortunately, they were able to hitch a ride on a truck that was returning to City B after unloading in City A. Upon reaching City B, they had to make do with sleeping at the train station, on the roadside, in the hospital, or in the park.
Throughout the week, they shared the gospel with people everyday. When they spoke to the tofu seller, they received a piece of tofu, and the steamed bun seller would give them a few buns after hearing their message. This helped them with their meals for the week.
Experiencing God’s Faithful Provision in Times of Scarcity
The seminary expected both teachers and students to look presentable, but for Hu, keeping up with grooming expenses like shampoo, shaving, and formal attire was expensive.
During this particular time, several churches in City A collaborated to host a Christian sports event. One of the participants was a fellow brother who came to Christ with Hu. He told Hu that he came in second place in the 400-meter race and wanted to give his prize to Hu. When Hu opened the box, he found two bottles of shampoo, some toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap – all the things he and his wife really needed. On top of that, the brother also gave Hu 50 yuan to buy milk powder for his child, who had not had any since he was born.
When Hu’s family first arrived at the seminary, they could not afford to buy food. Once they ran out of elm seeds and black locust flowers, they had nothing else to eat.
Hu’s family rented an apartment in a courtyard, where one of the tenants worked at a club. Hu could tell from the girl’s accent that she was from his hometown. One day, she mentioned that she lived alone and did not know how to cook. She asked Hu if they could cook her meals together – she would pay for them, and they would handle the shopping and cooking. Hu and his wife immediately agreed.
“God provided for us through a young woman from my hometown for a period of time. Without such life training from God, pastors may struggle with financial challenges. When faced with a lack of provision, they may feel unable to continue serving. It is crucial for pastors to overcome these obstacles in order to fulfill their calling.”
- Translated by Joyce Leung
My Time in the Seminary: Testimony of God's Miraculous Provision in Times of Need
