Power of Prayer
The story of the two newly saved Chinese young women is one of the most dramatic we have ever printed in our quarterly DAWN REPORT Magazine. It is so improbable, in fact, that we went to considerable lengths to verify it. Now we know from several eyewitnesses and independent sources that what you are about to read actually happened as reported.
These young ladies in Mainland China had became Christians as teenagers while listening to radio broadcasts and both felt an immediate call to be missionaries. They met with their pastor who wanted to teach them how to witness right where they were.
"No", they insisted, "the Bible you gave us says Jesus said to go to all the world. We want to go". "But", he argued, "you have only been Christians six months, and you are so young".
"Pastor", they replied, "we have read everything Jesus said and nowhere does he ask people how old they are. We want to go." "Very well. We need some workers on Hainan Island. It is very rough. There are no Christians there. For young ladies it might be very dangerous."
They looked at each other, "Hainan, yes, Hainan. That is where the Lord wants us to go. Two years later, they were in Hong Kong for a short period to get more Bibles and other literature. Several high-ranking church leaders from Europe happened to be in the area and wanted to meet a "real" church planter in China.
The pastor of the young missionaries, who had not seen them since their return, arranged a visit in the hotel where he was staying. He went to the lobby at the appointed time and waited for the ladies to arrive. He watched the bellboys in their crisp, tailored uniforms, and the tourists who attempted to be casual in their designer clothes. Then he spotted the two women. "Oh no", he thought as they walked in. Their black pajamas and broad-brimmed fisherman hats stood in stark contrast to the appearance of the sophisticated hotel receptionist making her way towards them.
The pastor moved quickly to intercede. "It's alright, they are here to see me." He took them to his room where the visitors from Europe were waiting. They began asking questions as the pastor interpreted.
"Pastor, ask them how many churches they have established in Hainan".
The women put their heads down and answered, "Oh Pastor, we have only been there 2 years, yes, two years. Not many. Not very many". Their voices were apologetic.
"How Many?"
"Oh, not many. The people were not very friendly. Sometimes they became very vicious. They told us they were going to drown us in the ocean. Several men threatened us. Even some of the ladies did not like us. They called us terrible names. So not many churches .. no, not many".
The pastor interrupted and slowly repeated the words, "How many? How many?"
There was a moment of silence, then one of the women looked up with embarrassment and anguish, as though confessing a crime.
"Only ... thirteen".
The pastor looked astonished and interpreted for the guests, "Thirteen". One of the guests repeated the number, "Only thirteen, only... my goodness. I haven't planted that many churches in my lifetime".
One the pastor's assistants interrupted, "No, Pastor, she did not say thirteen. She said thirty".
The pastor looked at the two young women and asked, "Thirty?"
"Oh, yes, not many, we have done very poorly. Only thirty."
"The two guests could only mutter, "Thirty churches in 2 years. My word".
"How many people are in the churches?" the Pastor asked.
"Oh, not many. Not many".
The process repeated itself until the Pastor looked like he was ready to shake them and practically yelled, "How many?"
"Only 220. Not many, no, not many".
"220 in 30 churches?" the Pastor asked.
"Oh, no, in only one, but that one was a very small church, very small. There are bigger ones".
As the pastor interrupted, he heard the numbers repeated by his guests."220 is small? Dear Lord, I wish I had some that large".
"And how many in the big churches? You know, the biggest one?"
"Oh, not many..."
"I know, 'not many'. But please, ladies, how many?"
"Oh less than 5,000. Only 4,900. We have just started".
From behind the pastor the sound of weeping: "Dear Lord, forgive us". "What did they do? How did they do it? Ask them what they did?"
"Why nothing", they said with astonishment. "Yes, we did nothing, nothing".
"You did nothing? You have 30 churches... the smallest with 220 people, the largest with almost 5,000 new Christians! And you did nothing".
"No, nothing. We just prayed. After we prayed, the Holy Spirit would tell us exactly what to do. We would keep praying and He would tell us what to do and we would do it".
"Dear Lord, they JUST prayed — and the Holy Spirit told them exactly what to do and they did it".
The Pastor laid his hands on the shoulders of the two sisters. Behind him his 2 guests, on their knees weeping, joined as they "just prayed".
Jim and Lyn Montgomery
I guess we have not understood the power of prayer... and have been relying more on our own strength than in God. May u be encouraged to bring all your plans to the Lord in prayer!
"In ALL your ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him.... and He will make your paths STRAIGHT!" Pro 3:6
