Lin Wenfeng was my grandfather who was born in Libidou Village, Banzai Town, Pinghe County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. When he was young, he worked as a bearer in Banzai Town and didn't get married until he was in his thirties. Soon after he got married, his first wife got sick and died. When my grandfather was 33 years old, he was introduced to his second wife. Unfortunately, his second wife also passed away within a year of their marriage.
My grandfather Lin Wenfeng experienced a great deal of pain after the loss of his two wives. He spent much money inviting some monks to chant scripture in his home. After his second wife died, my grandfather suffered a relapse of a stomach illness. When he was suffering the extreme pain of his life, Pastor Lin Zhicheng, the father of Lin Yutang (a famous Chinese writer), came to his house and spread the gospel to him. Later, my grandfather was baptized in the Banzai Church.
In 1903, my grandfather married Laichun, a maidservant, thanks to the introduction of Pastor Lin Zhicheng. In 1906, Lin Qinmin, the first son of my grandfather, was born in Wumei House (also known as Oxtail House) in Banzai. My grandparents carried him to the Banzai Church to baptize him because they wanted to devote their first son to the Lord and decided to work for the Lord for a lifetime.
My grandpa was sent to study at Shengdao School in Quanzhou thanks to the recommendation of the Pinghe Church. After graduation, he successively preached in Banzai, Xiazhai, and Daxi. Later, recommended by Pastor Lin Zhicheng, my grandpa became a chaplain at Neerbosch Hospital, built by the local church. At that time, my grandfather lived a poor life. All six of his family members lived in the Caoping House (the site of the present Pinghe Hotel), which was 50 meters away from the hospital.
In November 1949, my grandpa rested in the arms of the Lord in Neerbosch Hospital, aged 84. The pageant of Lin's funeral was reported in the 118th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions of the Reformed Church in America published in 1950. "In November, the faithful preacher of the Sio-khe Hospital died at the age of eighty-four and his funeral was attended by a thousand people."
Grandpa once told all his descendants: "Whoever does not believe in Jesus is not a descendant of the Lin family." He asked us to follow the example of Abraham and trust God with our lives!
My uncle Lin Qinmin (who used to be the director of Dongbanhou Church of Zhangzhou City) inscribed "Pastor Abraham Lin Wenfeng" on the original tombstone of my grandfather in the Zhangzhou Christian Cemetery, in memory of him.
(The author is a guest/freelance writer and a member of a church in Fuzhou, Fujian Province.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
爷爷林文枫，福建漳州平和县坂仔犁壁斗村人。年轻时出于生计，他前往坂仔圩从事挑夫行当，在30多岁时结婚。婚后不久，妻子就不幸病逝。33岁时，经人介绍，爷爷认识了第二任妻子，但结婚还不到一年，第二任妻子也离世。
经历过两次亡妻之痛后，爷爷整天无所事从，烧香拜佛，并请和尚到家读经，前后也花费了不少钱。妻亡无后，加之胃病复发，在最为软弱之时，林语堂之父林至诚牧师到家为爷爷送上传福音，之后，爷爷在坂仔礼拜堂接受洗礼入教。
1903年，经林至诚牧师介绍，爷爷与婢女赖春结婚。1906年，长子林钦敏在坂仔五美楼（又称“牛尾楼”）诞生，夫妻将儿子抱到坂仔礼拜堂进行洗礼，並决意将“头生囡”献于上帝，决志终生为主做工。
爷爷后被平和县教会推荐到泉州圣道学校学习，毕业后，其先后在坂仔、霞寨、大溪任传道。随后，经林至诚牧师推荐，爷爷到教会办的小溪救世医院担任传道。当时的爷爷生活清贫简朴，三代家无片瓦，全家六口租在离医院不到50米的草苹屋（即现平和宾馆所在地）。
1949年11月，爷爷林文枫在小溪救世医院安息主怀，享年84岁。在当年出版的《美国归正教年报》中报道了林文枫葬礼的盛况。
爷爷曾告诫林家后代——“谁不信耶稣，就不是林家的子孙。”他希望大家要以亚伯拉罕为榜样，一生一世跟随主耶稣，信靠神！（==当summary）
我的大伯林钦敏（曾任漳州东坂后礼拜堂主任牧师）在漳州基督教陵园里原来的祖墓碑上，题下了“祖父林亚伯拉罕文枫传道”几个字，以资纪念爷爷林文枫传道。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系福建福州一教会信徒。
记“亚伯拉罕”林文枫传道
Lin Wenfeng was my grandfather who was born in Libidou Village, Banzai Town, Pinghe County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. When he was young, he worked as a bearer in Banzai Town and didn't get married until he was in his thirties. Soon after he got married, his first wife got sick and died. When my grandfather was 33 years old, he was introduced to his second wife. Unfortunately, his second wife also passed away within a year of their marriage.
My grandfather Lin Wenfeng experienced a great deal of pain after the loss of his two wives. He spent much money inviting some monks to chant scripture in his home. After his second wife died, my grandfather suffered a relapse of a stomach illness. When he was suffering the extreme pain of his life, Pastor Lin Zhicheng, the father of Lin Yutang (a famous Chinese writer), came to his house and spread the gospel to him. Later, my grandfather was baptized in the Banzai Church.
In 1903, my grandfather married Laichun, a maidservant, thanks to the introduction of Pastor Lin Zhicheng. In 1906, Lin Qinmin, the first son of my grandfather, was born in Wumei House (also known as Oxtail House) in Banzai. My grandparents carried him to the Banzai Church to baptize him because they wanted to devote their first son to the Lord and decided to work for the Lord for a lifetime.
My grandpa was sent to study at Shengdao School in Quanzhou thanks to the recommendation of the Pinghe Church. After graduation, he successively preached in Banzai, Xiazhai, and Daxi. Later, recommended by Pastor Lin Zhicheng, my grandpa became a chaplain at Neerbosch Hospital, built by the local church. At that time, my grandfather lived a poor life. All six of his family members lived in the Caoping House (the site of the present Pinghe Hotel), which was 50 meters away from the hospital.
In November 1949, my grandpa rested in the arms of the Lord in Neerbosch Hospital, aged 84. The pageant of Lin's funeral was reported in the 118th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions of the Reformed Church in America published in 1950. "In November, the faithful preacher of the Sio-khe Hospital died at the age of eighty-four and his funeral was attended by a thousand people."
Grandpa once told all his descendants: "Whoever does not believe in Jesus is not a descendant of the Lin family." He asked us to follow the example of Abraham and trust God with our lives!
My uncle Lin Qinmin (who used to be the director of Dongbanhou Church of Zhangzhou City) inscribed "Pastor Abraham Lin Wenfeng" on the original tombstone of my grandfather in the Zhangzhou Christian Cemetery, in memory of him.
(The author is a guest/freelance writer and a member of a church in Fuzhou, Fujian Province.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Remembering Preacher Abraham Lin Wenfeng
