Pastor Yuan Wenhuan, born in a small village in Longgu Town, Pei County, Jiangsu Province in 1900, was recognized as one of the pioneering pastors serving along the border between Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.
In the time he was born, a period of significant social upheaval and hardship in China, the gospel began to spread to his hometown.
Three missionaries came to Yuan's village and stayed in his home: two women and a German missionary. The German missionary taught the eight-year-old Yuan English. A few years later, he became proficient in reading the English Bible and conversing in English.
As he grew up, Yuan enrolled in the North China Theological Seminary, where he deepened his understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
During Yuan's time in the seminary, Dr. John Sung Shang Chieh briefly visited there. In one of his sermons, Dr. Sung noticed two lame people with great faith. He urged them to stand and walk in the name of Jesus Christ. One responded immediately, while the other hesitated to get his crutches, which Dr. Sung kicked away. Both of them were healed, and Yuan's faith was strengthened. Yuan also studied medical knowledge at the seminary, enabling him to provide free medical care to those in need.
After graduating in 1935, Yuan returned to his hometown to begin preaching. It took a long time for only five elderly people to accept the Lord, making the early years of his ministry quite difficult. These believers remained steadfast in faith despite their struggles. Every Sunday, they headed to Yuan's residence for worship before dawn. Even in heavy rain, when the roads were muddy and challenging, they made their way to the meetings wearing straw raincoats and hats. Among them, some even had to travel 15 kilometers to attend.
During that time, miracles often occurred. Various people possessed by demons were set free by their faith in the Lord, while numerous sick people experienced healing because of their belief. Gradually, the number of believers grew from five to over two thousand. As the congregation kept growing, Yuan relocated the gathering spot to the town center.
In his later years, Yuan became unable to stand, yet he continued to hold the pulpit and teach the Bible to his congregation. During this time, he frequently encouraged believers to live out the teachings of Scripture, stating, "The entire Bible encompasses the word of love. Or it will be of no benefit if you cannot exemplify this word."
Yuan was concerned that none of the congregants in his village could read, as he felt that his time to meet the Lord was approaching. To address the issue, he started preaching daily to his teacher neighbor, who initially rejected faith. During a serious illness that led to his hospitalization, Yuan tearfully urged the teacher, "If I leave, no one will be able to read and explain the Bible to the congregation. I sincerely hope you will believe in the Lord and teach the Bible to them." Moved by Yuan's dedication, the teacher eventually accepted faith and became a devoted Christian under God's guidance.
In 1987, Yuan passed away in the arms of the Lord.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Edited and Translated by Poppy Chan
20世纪初 ，在江苏徐州沛县的龙固镇，有一位德高望重的老牧师苑文焕。他乃是苏鲁交界处早期的牧师之一。
1900 年，苑文焕牧师出生于江苏沛县龙固镇的一个小村庄。那个时期的中国正处于剧烈的社会变革，人民生活艰难。此时，福音传到了这里。
小村庄来了三位传道者，其中两位是姊妹，还有一位是德国传教士。他们住在苑牧师家里。当时苑牧师年仅8岁，那位德国传教士教苑牧师学习英语。几年后，苑牧师就可以熟读英文圣经，并且能够用英语自由对话。
长大后，苑牧师进入当时的华北神学院学习。在校期间，他对主耶稣基督有了更深刻的认识。
在校时，宋尚节博士曾在华北神学院有过短暂停留。有一次，宋博士讲道时看到两个跛脚的人。他见这两人很有信心，便奉耶稣基督之名让他们起来行走。其中一人立即站立起来，而另一人由于信心不足，要去拿自己的拐杖，被宋尚节博士一脚踢开。于是，另外一个跛脚的人也得了痊愈。这件事情坚定了苑牧师的信心。在校期间，苑牧师还学习了医学知识。后来，在疫情时期，苑牧师还免费为人们治病。
1935 年，苑牧师毕业回到家乡传道。在家乡传道的初始阶段异常艰难，许久之后也仅有五名老年人信主。虽生活困苦，但这些信徒却满怀信心。每逢主日，天未亮他们便前往苑牧师住处礼拜。即便大雨倾盆，道路泥泞难行，他们依然身披蓑笠赶赴聚会。甚至有的信徒距聚会处足有三十华里之遥。
在那个时期，常常有神迹伴随左右。许多被鬼附身之人因着信主，鬼便离去；众多病者也因着信主而得以医治。信徒从最初的五人，逐步发展至两千多人。随着信众人数的不断增加，苑牧师将聚会处迁至小镇的中心位置。
苑牧师年老之际，双腿无法站立，却仍手扶讲桌为信徒解析圣经。那时的他常常叮嘱信徒，要践行神的话语：“整本圣经包括一个爱字，你若行不出来爱字，与你无益。”
后来，苑牧师深感自己即将见主，心中忧虑，因自己村庄聚会处的信徒中无人识字。于是，他每日向做老师的邻居传道。起初并不愿意信主，后来苑牧师病重住院，他含泪对前来探望的邻居说：“我若离去，便无人识字为大家讲解圣经，真心希望你能信主，为他们讲授圣经。”这位老师被苑牧师的执着深深感动，最终答应信主，并在神的引领下成为了虔诚的基督徒。
1987年，苑牧师安息主怀。
为主奉献一生的苑文焕牧师
Pastor Yuan Wenhuan, born in a small village in Longgu Town, Pei County, Jiangsu Province in 1900, was recognized as one of the pioneering pastors serving along the border between Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.
In the time he was born, a period of significant social upheaval and hardship in China, the gospel began to spread to his hometown.
Three missionaries came to Yuan's village and stayed in his home: two women and a German missionary. The German missionary taught the eight-year-old Yuan English. A few years later, he became proficient in reading the English Bible and conversing in English.
As he grew up, Yuan enrolled in the North China Theological Seminary, where he deepened his understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
During Yuan's time in the seminary, Dr. John Sung Shang Chieh briefly visited there. In one of his sermons, Dr. Sung noticed two lame people with great faith. He urged them to stand and walk in the name of Jesus Christ. One responded immediately, while the other hesitated to get his crutches, which Dr. Sung kicked away. Both of them were healed, and Yuan's faith was strengthened. Yuan also studied medical knowledge at the seminary, enabling him to provide free medical care to those in need.
After graduating in 1935, Yuan returned to his hometown to begin preaching. It took a long time for only five elderly people to accept the Lord, making the early years of his ministry quite difficult. These believers remained steadfast in faith despite their struggles. Every Sunday, they headed to Yuan's residence for worship before dawn. Even in heavy rain, when the roads were muddy and challenging, they made their way to the meetings wearing straw raincoats and hats. Among them, some even had to travel 15 kilometers to attend.
During that time, miracles often occurred. Various people possessed by demons were set free by their faith in the Lord, while numerous sick people experienced healing because of their belief. Gradually, the number of believers grew from five to over two thousand. As the congregation kept growing, Yuan relocated the gathering spot to the town center.
In his later years, Yuan became unable to stand, yet he continued to hold the pulpit and teach the Bible to his congregation. During this time, he frequently encouraged believers to live out the teachings of Scripture, stating, "The entire Bible encompasses the word of love. Or it will be of no benefit if you cannot exemplify this word."
Yuan was concerned that none of the congregants in his village could read, as he felt that his time to meet the Lord was approaching. To address the issue, he started preaching daily to his teacher neighbor, who initially rejected faith. During a serious illness that led to his hospitalization, Yuan tearfully urged the teacher, "If I leave, no one will be able to read and explain the Bible to the congregation. I sincerely hope you will believe in the Lord and teach the Bible to them." Moved by Yuan's dedication, the teacher eventually accepted faith and became a devoted Christian under God's guidance.
In 1987, Yuan passed away in the arms of the Lord.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Edited and Translated by Poppy Chan
Pastor Yuan Wenhuan: Life Devoted to the Lord
