On November 1, 2023, approximately 362 devices of brothers and sisters were online participating in the “China’s Five O’clock in the Afternoon” Kingdom Prayer Meeting. Today, a special prayer is made for the Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church in Anhui and Pastor Wan Changchun’s mother.
Letter from Pastor Wan Changchun’s mother, “I Only Wish My Children Peace and Joy”
Hello everyone, my name is Li Xiuying, and I am the mother of Wan Changchun and Wan Chunqin. My son and daughter were detained by the Buma Branch of Bengbu Public Security Bureau on suspicion of “illegal business operations,” but arrested for “fraud,” and now the Buma District Procuratorate of Bengbu is reviewing and prosecuting them for “fraud.” I do not accept this and have something to say!
I have been a believer for 38 years, and I’m one of the older generation of preachers. Before believing, our family lived a life worse than death: the children were sickly, and their father was addicted to gambling. I not only had to take care of the children but also support the family, and life weighed on me like a mountain. When I had nowhere else to turn, God brought the gospel to me through my mother. Only after believing did my life see light, and our family had hope.
I prayed for my husband for five years before he was freed from the bondage of sin and turned to God. Since then, our family has been very joyful in Christ. From that time, our home gradually became a Christian gathering point, and my husband and I served the Lord together. This all happened naturally, without anyone’s approval or permission, and those who came to the house for meetings did so voluntarily, relying on the faith to serve the Lord. Both of my children, Wan Changchun and Wan Chunqin, grew up attending meetings and established their faith foundations. At the age of twelve, Changchun willingly went out to work with preachers. At that time, a servant of God was in poor health, and transportation was inconvenient, so Changchun voluntarily came out to carry luggage for the preacher and assist him. From a young age, he had a heart to serve the Lord.
Changchun was called to the Lord at the age of 18, and since then, he has been studying and serving. At that time, the church had no support, so Changchun sold edamame to earn a little living expenses. His hair grew long because he had no money for a haircut, and he had only one coat, which he washed at night and wore again in the morning. But I am very proud and thankful for Changchun; he has walked this path of service for 25 years, never giving up despite the hardships.
Now, my two children are accused of “fraud” for serving the Lord, which I cannot accept! I feel this is an insult to our family. Our family has been serving and hosting for so many years, how is it now that not being registered means we cannot gather, not being registered means we cannot preach, and accepting voluntary donations without registration is considered fraud? How has registration become the only way to qualify for Christ’s service? Those who attend meetings, how could they not know about the big churches? But they insist on meeting at my son’s place, isn’t it because my son’s service aligns more with their recognized faith? The Bible also says, if anyone serves the Lord for their own belly, that person is cursed. My children did not “defraud” a single penny. God oversees everything!
My daughter, Wan Chunqin, raising two children alone, is now in pain because of her arrest. Her husband passed away from a heart attack two years ago, and she had just emerged from the grief of losing her husband, only to be separated from her children now. The children have lost their father, and now they have lost their mother’s company. Every time I think of this, I am very distressed. This heart-wrenching experience, I can only silently pray before God, asking Him to comfort my child’s heart. If possible, I would gladly give up my own life for my children, but I know it’s impossible, and I can only look up to the Lord.
My husband’s health is also not good; last year, he was in a car accident and was in a coma in the intensive care unit for more than twenty days before waking up. Now he has a brain clot, causing memory decline and impaired coordination. He exercises every day, hoping that his children can come back soon. Every time I see my husband’s back, learning to walk again, my heart aches. It’s been half a year now, and it’s already getting cold in late autumn. I don’t know how my two children are doing inside? I can only entrust them to the Lord, asking God to protect my children.
O God who justifies me, when I call, answer me! In my distress, you have relieved me; now have mercy on me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1) October 31, 2023
Special Prayer for Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church and Pastor Wan Changchun’s Mother:
Pray that God protects this church, standing firm on the rock of Christ; Pray that God strengthens the four coworkers still in detention, standing by the grace of the Lord! Pray that God comforts Mother Wan, listening to her cry!
We hope more brothers and sisters will join in prayer, see you every day at five o’clock! Time: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Meeting ID: 886 3917 1573 Password: 20181209 [The room number remains the same every day, please save it] Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:3)
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