Pastor Li, who pastors in North China, has had quite a legendary experience, serving the Lord for more than twenty years. He is grateful to God for pushing him into a desperate situation that made him heed the call.
During the lockdown period of the pandemic, many people could not do anything, but he seized the opportunity while queuing for nucleic acid tests to share the gospel with people. Also, he had a peculiar way of evangelizing that immediately got people hooked. However, as soon as they became curious to hear more, he would say nothing and refuse to preach until after three days of requesting.
At 30 years old, Rev. Li had a high-ranking official position and a successful career but did not believe in God. Because of a situation in which he wholeheartedly supported someone but ended up offending others, he had no choice but to retreat and return to his hometown. During this time, his wife, who had been a believer since she was a child, began to inspire him to read the Bible at home in his spare time.
During his first time in church, he sat among the congregation and flipped through the Bible faster than the preacher. The preacher felt the difference and thought there was an "old servant" sitting in the audience.
After attending church for a long time, Li occasionally sensed the call of God but was unwilling to obey.
Frustrated with his unsuccessful official experience, he decided to venture into business. "I used to reserve the best projects for myself and give the second best to others. It turned out that the projects I gave to others all came to fruition, and they became rich, but the ones I kept for myself all failed." He then thought to himself that he could farm, so he bought a very good piece of land. In the eyes of others, it would produce good crops as long as the winds and rains were favorable.
That year, he had his eye on another piece of land, but it was not as good as his own, so he recommended it to a friend to buy. However, the crops he grew on his land turned out to be crooked and unfruitful. Once again, his friend had a bountiful harvest while he suffered significant losses.
Then Rev. Li finally realized, "I was so intent on making money that I kept rejecting God's call, which made me unable to achieve anything."
Since he could not achieve anything,Li finally surrendered and started praying. As a result, his home became a gathering place for many believers to pray.
He admitted that in those days he used to feel that God was calling him to go to the mountains, but at the thought of hardship, he chose to run away whenever he encountered the calling. Nowadays, he spends a lot of time praying, praising, and studying God's word. Gradually, a change has occurred in his heart.
One day, the believers gathered at his home as usual, singing one of Xiaomin Canaan Hymns, "Why Not Leave That City?” He sensed that the Lord wanted him to leave the "city of sin and strife". He asked the Lord, "Lord, where are you taking me?" The Lord said, "I will lead you on a new path." He and his wife then prayed about it.
In 2000, Li and his wife were confident that the place God was calling them to was City A, a capital city in a particular province. However, previous church missions to City A had failed, so they only sent church workers to remote mountainous areas.
Some people judge behind their backs, saying, “They know how to look for a place; they must be going to the big city for the sake of luxury and to make merry." Pastors also thought they would not be gone long based on experience, with some saying they would see results in three months.
But Li was sure the call was from God. His wife set out with two outfits, and he with only one, a large pile of gospel tracts, and 500 yuan.
Both of them got in a car and went to the provincial capital, found a cheap place to stay, and started distributing gospel tracts on the streets every day. Due to their consistent efforts in spreading the tracts, by the third day, there were not many left.
On the third day, when the pastor saw that he had only 35 yuan left, he planned to give 30 yuan to his wife for her return trip home. He kept 5 yuan for himself to use to continue distributing the remaining tracts before meeting his fellow soldiers.
On that very day, while his wife was distributing the remaining gospel tracts, a female Christian approached her and asked, "What are you going to do?" His wife did not hide anything and said, "We are here to build a church to save souls." The female believer got very excited and said, "Finally, I have met you!” She explained that for three years she had been wanting to dedicate her home as a reception place and kept praying for this."
That day, the pastor and his wife went to her home and stayed there, and it became a meeting point. Within a month, one or two hundred people gathered there. The pastor's wife and the female Christian prayed while the pastor went out to distribute tracts and preach the gospel. Many people learned about this place and came to listen to the gospel. During this time, Li was ordained as a pastor.
In the eyes of men, it would have been impossible for them to persist for three months; even three days would have been difficult without the work of the Holy Spirit. But the pastor obeyed the Lord's leading to leave his hometown, and God made a way for them.
To this day, they have stayed there for 23 years. The church has grown healthily, and their children and grandchildren all devoutly adore the Lord devoutly.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
在北方牧会的李牧师的经历很传奇，侍奉主二十多年。他感恩上帝把自己逼入绝境，让他领受呼召。
在疫情封城期间很多人什么都做不了，但是他却利用核酸检测排队的机会跟人分享福音。另外他传福音的方式也是很奇特，曾经把一个人的兴趣勾起。但是当那人好奇要听的时候，他却说什么都不肯讲了。直到三天之后，那人求他，他才把福音介绍给对方。
牧师当年30岁官到正处级，仕途得意，但还不信主。因为两肋插刀的事情而得罪了人，不得不告“老”还乡。在这期间，因为妻子是从小信主，他闲来无事开始在家读圣经。
李弟兄第一次去教会，坐在台下的翻圣经比讲道人还快。讲道人感到差异，以为底下坐个“老仆人”。
在教会聚会久了，李弟兄偶尔也能感受到呼召，但是他不愿意服事。
由于仕途失意，他决定转战商场。“我是把最好的留给自己，次好的项目给别人。结果给别人的都成了，发财了，但是留给自己的项目都失败了。”
李弟兄后来心想，种地总可以吧，于是他买到了一块特别好的地。在别人看来，只要风调雨顺，绝对能有好收成。
那一年，他还看好了另外一块地，但是没有自己的好，就推荐给朋友买。但是自己的庄稼长得歪歪扭扭、果实也不饱满。再一次，朋友大丰收，自己又赔了个底朝天。
后来李弟兄终于想明白了，“我一门心思想要赚钱，所以一直拒绝上帝的呼召，上帝就让我什么都干不成。”
既然什么都干不成，李弟兄也屈服了，那就祷告吧。结果李的家成为了让很多信徒聚集祷告的基地。
李弟兄承认，以前那时候呼召都是去山区，一想到要受苦，遇到呼召就选择逃跑。如今，自己也花很多时间祷告、赞美、研读上帝的话。慢慢自己的心里有了变化。
有一天，信徒如往常一样聚集在自己家里一起唱小敏的迦南诗歌“为什么不走出那城”。他感受到，主想要让自己离开“罪恶、纷争的城”。他求问主：“主啊，你要带我上哪去？”上帝说：“我要带你走新路。”他和妻子就为此祷告。
2000年，李弟兄和妻子确定上帝呼召的地方是某省的省城A市。但是以往教会差派到A市的人都失败了，所以只差派同工到偏远的山区。
也有些人在背后论断：“他俩可真会找地方，他们要到大城市奢华宴乐去了。”牧者根据以往经验也认为他们走不长，有人说3个月见分晓。
但李确定这份呼召是来自上帝的，妻子带着两身衣服，他只带一身衣服、一大墩子福音单张和500元钱，出发了。
两个人坐上车到了省城，找个便宜的地方住下，每天开始在街上发福音单张。因为一直发，福音单张发到第三天，剩的就不多了。
第三天，牧师看看还剩35元，就计划着30元给师母做回家的路费。牧师手里留5块钱，准备发完单张就去找战友。
就是这一天，师母正在发剩余的福音单张的时候，一个姐妹迎面走来，问：“你们要干啥？”师母并不隐瞒，说：“我们要建教会拯救灵魂。”姐妹听后非常激动，“终于等到你们了！”她说，自己3年前就想把家里奉献出来做接待家庭，并一直为此祷告。
当天，牧师和师母来到那个女信徒家，住在那里，她家就成了聚会点。到了一个多月，聚集有一二百人。师母和姐妹祷告，牧师出去发单张传福音。很多人知道了这个地方，自己找上门。李在这个期间被按立为牧师。
在人看来坚持不了三个月，如果没有圣灵的工作，三天也是很难的。但是牧师顺从主的引领，从家乡走出来，上帝就为他们开路。
就这样到今天，他们已经坚持了23年。如今教会健康成长，儿孙也都敬虔爱主。
故事 ：仕途、商场、种地均无果 服事路上有成果
Pastor Li, who pastors in North China, has had quite a legendary experience, serving the Lord for more than twenty years. He is grateful to God for pushing him into a desperate situation that made him heed the call.
During the lockdown period of the pandemic, many people could not do anything, but he seized the opportunity while queuing for nucleic acid tests to share the gospel with people. Also, he had a peculiar way of evangelizing that immediately got people hooked. However, as soon as they became curious to hear more, he would say nothing and refuse to preach until after three days of requesting.
At 30 years old, Rev. Li had a high-ranking official position and a successful career but did not believe in God. Because of a situation in which he wholeheartedly supported someone but ended up offending others, he had no choice but to retreat and return to his hometown. During this time, his wife, who had been a believer since she was a child, began to inspire him to read the Bible at home in his spare time.
During his first time in church, he sat among the congregation and flipped through the Bible faster than the preacher. The preacher felt the difference and thought there was an "old servant" sitting in the audience.
After attending church for a long time, Li occasionally sensed the call of God but was unwilling to obey.
Frustrated with his unsuccessful official experience, he decided to venture into business. "I used to reserve the best projects for myself and give the second best to others. It turned out that the projects I gave to others all came to fruition, and they became rich, but the ones I kept for myself all failed." He then thought to himself that he could farm, so he bought a very good piece of land. In the eyes of others, it would produce good crops as long as the winds and rains were favorable.
That year, he had his eye on another piece of land, but it was not as good as his own, so he recommended it to a friend to buy. However, the crops he grew on his land turned out to be crooked and unfruitful. Once again, his friend had a bountiful harvest while he suffered significant losses.
Then Rev. Li finally realized, "I was so intent on making money that I kept rejecting God's call, which made me unable to achieve anything."
Since he could not achieve anything,Li finally surrendered and started praying. As a result, his home became a gathering place for many believers to pray.
He admitted that in those days he used to feel that God was calling him to go to the mountains, but at the thought of hardship, he chose to run away whenever he encountered the calling. Nowadays, he spends a lot of time praying, praising, and studying God's word. Gradually, a change has occurred in his heart.
One day, the believers gathered at his home as usual, singing one of Xiaomin Canaan Hymns, "Why Not Leave That City?” He sensed that the Lord wanted him to leave the "city of sin and strife". He asked the Lord, "Lord, where are you taking me?" The Lord said, "I will lead you on a new path." He and his wife then prayed about it.
In 2000, Li and his wife were confident that the place God was calling them to was City A, a capital city in a particular province. However, previous church missions to City A had failed, so they only sent church workers to remote mountainous areas.
Some people judge behind their backs, saying, “They know how to look for a place; they must be going to the big city for the sake of luxury and to make merry." Pastors also thought they would not be gone long based on experience, with some saying they would see results in three months.
But Li was sure the call was from God. His wife set out with two outfits, and he with only one, a large pile of gospel tracts, and 500 yuan.
Both of them got in a car and went to the provincial capital, found a cheap place to stay, and started distributing gospel tracts on the streets every day. Due to their consistent efforts in spreading the tracts, by the third day, there were not many left.
On the third day, when the pastor saw that he had only 35 yuan left, he planned to give 30 yuan to his wife for her return trip home. He kept 5 yuan for himself to use to continue distributing the remaining tracts before meeting his fellow soldiers.
On that very day, while his wife was distributing the remaining gospel tracts, a female Christian approached her and asked, "What are you going to do?" His wife did not hide anything and said, "We are here to build a church to save souls." The female believer got very excited and said, "Finally, I have met you!” She explained that for three years she had been wanting to dedicate her home as a reception place and kept praying for this."
That day, the pastor and his wife went to her home and stayed there, and it became a meeting point. Within a month, one or two hundred people gathered there. The pastor's wife and the female Christian prayed while the pastor went out to distribute tracts and preach the gospel. Many people learned about this place and came to listen to the gospel. During this time, Li was ordained as a pastor.
In the eyes of men, it would have been impossible for them to persist for three months; even three days would have been difficult without the work of the Holy Spirit. But the pastor obeyed the Lord's leading to leave his hometown, and God made a way for them.
To this day, they have stayed there for 23 years. The church has grown healthily, and their children and grandchildren all devoutly adore the Lord devoutly.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Pastor's Story: Unsuccessful as Official, Businessman, Farmer, but Fruitful in Ministry
