THE DOOR PERIOD IV

With Bethel to North China
1932-1933

Of all the doors God had opened to the young evangelists, no doubt there was none that commanded their attention as Peking. Peking, the ancient capital of China and cultural centre, so rich with history! Here was the fabulous Temple of Heaven where ancient kings worshipped Shang Ti (Chinese term for God the High Emperor) by killing sheep. Here was the Forbidden City. Beyond was the 1,500-mile Great Wall built by Shih Hwang-ti, China's first emperor, at the cost of ten-thousands of lives. But here were buried the remains of others, western missionaries and Chinese Christ­ians who died for a better Cause, who were martyred in the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Here was the Peking National University that had offered Dr Sung the Chair of Chemistry in his heyday before he diverted to theology.

With the fall of the Manchus, the nation's capital was shifted to Nanking by Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek. Now Peking had become Peiping, which means "Northern Peace." Would these young men bring Peace to the restless hearts of cultured men and women equally ensnared by sin as the common masses? In the Name of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace the Bethel Worldwide Evangelistic Band launched out once more against SIN the Disturber of Peace, full of courage and confidence, like Joab and his men taking the citadel of Jerusalem for David their king (I Chron. 11: 6).

The strategy for this northern expedition was by a two­prong, attack. John Sung would advance by way of Hankow while the other four members should go by the Pukow­Tientsin Express, taking on Kaifeng, Loyang and Tsinan en route. They should rendezvous in Peking by end of October, 1932.

With Japan now become China's open enemy, the anti­Christian movement that the Band had personally encountered in Shantung, by being quartered in one of the looted houses, had now spent its force. But more subtle was the Enemy of souls who had infiltrated into some indigenous Christian movements with their successes. Though these movements were started by sincere men, as time went on, they went off on a tangent. Some of these movements that had to be corrected by the Bethel preachers were the Yesu Chiating (Jesus Family), the Chen Yesu Chiau (True Jesus Church) and last but not least the charismatics known as "Spiritual Gifts Society." As for the doctrine and practice of the Bethel Band, Dr. Paul Abbott, Chairman of the Shan­tung Mission of the American Presbyterian Mission had this to say in the 1932 China Christian Year Book: "Their work impresses one as sane and constructive with emotion re­leased in laughter and song under control, and with no excesses or results to undo or live down. Their follow-up work with correspondence, prayer list and printed material is skillfully carried on as part of their services to the churches."

Taking the young men lightly at first, the Presbyterian Church Committee did not expect many, especially for the prayer meeting at 7 am. In the advancing autumn the days would not only grow colder but shorter. Seven o'clock in the morning would still be dark. Nevertheless when the cam­paign opened with the first prayer meeting there was almost a full house. From then on it was packing them in to "watertight density." The Lord was especially with his servant John Sung so that the same phenomenon as in South China was repeated here in the North, with wholesale conversions in tears and repentance.

One outstanding conversion was that of the "Bureau Chief of Public Peace" the Chinese euphemism for Chief Police Officer. He was saved with his whole family. As for himself, he confessed to the crime of murder and the usurpation of property. In penitence he made restitution the best he could. When that was done, he was filled with joy and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Another outstanding case of restitution concerned a pas­tor who had misappropriated or stolen (in John Sung's plainer speech) a sum of $20,000 from the Church funds he had handled.

Yes, John Sung said in New York after his conversion that the Lord had changed his old name Shang Chieh to John because he was to be a John the Baptist. One of the requirements from John the Baptist's preaching was that the repentant should bring forth fruits, and is not restitution a glorious fruit of repentance? "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Matt 3:8).

Seeing these wonderful results, Rev James P. Leynse of the American Presbyterian Mission wrote to the Bethel Mission in Shanghai in glowing terms of what they saw as being plainly the work of the Lord which was marvelous to their eyes. He confessed that though he was brought up in the formal, reserve Presbyterian tradition, he must now accept the way these young evangelists led the whole congregation in loud public corporate prayer and praise. One thing the missionary had learnt was the need of "continuance in prayer, in fellowship and in the truth of Christ's indwelling and a manifested longing to abandon ourselves to the will of our Lord ... "

Another missionary acknowledged that while he had come to China to lead the Chinese to Christ, he discovered rather it was the Chinese who had led him to the higher step of fullness in Christ. If the Bethel Band had qualms when they started out the first day at the early morning prayer meeting, they had no more now, being doubly approved by the missionaries. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Prov. 25:11).

From the Presbyterian enclave the evangelists went over to the Methodists inside the Hata Men in the South City. This 1,200-seat Church was filled to the last with people from all walks of life. The Lord did a mighty work with the young people especially. Ten seminary students who were now converted from a modernistic theology had a personal interview with the doctor. This led to a "cross" interview by their principal, but Dr. Sung gave him no face. Having tasted the poison of liberal teachings under Dr. Fosdick at Union Seminary, New York he knew what he was talking about. His denunciation of modernism and the social gospel from the pulpit now and again was a reflection of his stand for Truth at all times.

After bringing revival to the Methodists Dr. Sung went over to the Salvation Army, whose Auditorium was the biggest in the city. On November 6th the Band held their last campaign in the church of the American Board Mission which could seat 1,500. Hundreds of Preaching Bands were formed in all these Peking meetings, amidst great fervor and singing of praises to God.

John Sung's crusade against sin almost brought him to a close shave with violence, but God again protected him. An elder of the Church having embezzled $50,000 from a flood relief fund was deeply convicted when John Sung preached an "open the coffin" sermon. Thinking it was a planned attack on his character the elder marshaled two hundred students to assault the preacher on an appointed night. Like the mina going to catch a grasshopper, oblivious of a sky hawk about to swoop down on him, neither did the elder who had come to beat up John Sung know the Police was after him. Before he could hurt God's servant he himself was nabbed by the Police the same night and charged for that very crime John Sung had unwittingly hinted at. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." (Ps 76: 10).

After Peking the Band divided up again. While Andrew and the three younger men headed for the mountainous Province of Shansi, John was specially invited to Tientsin. A ten-day meeting was called at the largest Methodist Church. As the Spirit further magnified Christ, John had the bold­ness to command every one to bow the knee to Him when prayer was announced. Some resisted, but when "arrested" by the Spirit, they personally called on the evangelist in his YMCA room to seek spiritual help.

An outstanding conversion recorded from the Tientsin campaign was one by the name of Meng Chao-ran. A prodigal son reveling in the four Chinese vices of womaniz­ing, gambling, drinking and smoking, he became a thor­oughly new creature in Christ. He dedicated himself to be traveling secretary of the Northwest Church Association. For the Gospel's sake he banished himself to the distant provinces of Chinghai and Kansu, a desert country that stretches from Tibet to Mongolia, like Cain going to the land of Nod (Gen 4:16).

Confucius says, "The young are to be respected," which is better stated by the Apostle Paul to Timothy: "Let no man despise thy youth - but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim 4:12).

When young people are touched by the Spirit, with their youthful vigor, they can do great things for God! A group of these whom the Lord had blessed in the Tientsin Cam­paign sought to have the evangelist come to the Methodist Church in the south suburb. But their pastor vetoed. Never­theless the meetings were held and after eight days all oppositions from high or low were swept away. A goodly number of the rich, yea even powerful officials, were won to Christ (the rich also need the Gospel) and these were new lifeblood added to the Church.

In Tientsin the strongest Preaching Bands were organized. Fifty of these were formed in the second campaign. When the time for John Sung to say good-bye came, several hundred thronged the railway station, who put him into the First Class compartment. Said John Sung in his memoirs, "This was the first time I had experienced such luxury, but I did not really enjoy it or feel comfortable." But Paul, if traveling together, would have answered, "I know how to be abased and how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Phil 4:12).

On his way back to Shanghai John Sung must needs pass through the railway junction town of Chengchow. Here he could pay the Gospel debt with little expense of time and energy since he was en route. He would capitalize on every opportunity to do good. As there was no large building for a union meeting, the churches combined to erect a tent. This attracted many outsiders and passers-by, but most of them who entered the tent were the poor and uneducated, street urchins and simple country folk. As it was a cold winter and the winds blew hard on the tent it aroused deep feelings in the preacher. What a contrast this tabernacle was with the big city churches and cathedrals. But there was this differ­ence too. These who came from a humble background were more easily led to the Savior. He made a note in his mind to send Preaching Bands to evangelize such underprivileged ones who lived in the slums. The Gospel is specially for the poor (Lk. 7:22).

John Sung returned to Shanghai with quickened steps this time because his home was now shifted from Hinghwa to Shanghai. As he entered his quarters, was not his wife happy to see him her long lost husband? According to John he averaged one month in the year to spend time with Mrs. Sung. Before the husband could speak a word, however, Mrs. Sung said, "As you have returned ahead of Rev Gih and company, who are still in the backwoods of Shansi, some leaders here are criticizing you! They say you love the limelight of big cities and let your co-workers take on the more difficult jobs in the backwoods." The intrepid evangel­ist had a ready answer to give his critics. Nevertheless when Andrew and company finally made it to Shanghai, they came to an understanding to work together more closely. But the seeds of a coming parting of ways were already sown.

For the sake of the Gospel, however, the five young men set out together early 1933. Like Paul revisiting his first contacts in his second missionary journey, the Bethel Band set out for Shantung again. As Dr. Sung was now speaking less by the recent understanding, he could feel the estrange­ment rising again.

Insofar as John Sung was concerned, he worked the hardest for his Lord. On this his third visit to Tientsin he concentrated on Cheloo University where the future leaders of the nation were. At Tsining he preached to the prisoners. As for Andrew Gih he had opportunity to minister to the school for CIM missionary children at Chefoo. From these children Andrew later received letters of appreciation telling the evangelist how they had received the Lord through his messages.

March saw the Band crossing into the province of Honan, to Kaifeng the provincial capital. At the Baptist High School the results obtained were a mere fifty young people coming to Christ. What a contrast with other places! At Kihsien where the audience consisted mostly of illiterate old women the evangelists had a hard time because whenever an invitation was given at the end of a meeting the same old women would come forward to confess their sins. This they would do over and over again!

When the Band returned to Kaifeng a second time minus Andrew Gih they found the fullest cooperation from the missionaries. One of them was CIM founder Hudson Taylor's grandson, Rev James Taylor. At the Free Method­ist the glory of the Lord shone again when seven hundred people were cleansed of their sins and many songs of praise and thanksgiving were sung to the Lord.

Changteh was their next stop. Here they were on stony ground for the missionaries belonged to the liberal school, who despised John's preaching as that "out-of-date-stuff." This made John to preach with greater unction so that the congregation came under greater conviction and began to cry to the Lord. The star witness to God's special grace upon this campaign was the pastor himself. He was the first to stand up and testify how he was not born again until now, and would henceforth preach no other message than Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (I Cor. 2: 1).

At Shihkiachwang in Hopeh the Band stepped on char­ismatic territory again, for the meetings were held at the AOG Church (Assemblies of God). John pointed out to them an anomaly. These who stressed on tongue-speaking as a sign of the Holy Spirit nevertheless had never repented of their sins. These so-called Holy Spirit filled ones were exhorted to come forward to confess their sins. Therefore Dr. Sung stressed again, "What a sinner needs is not the gift of tongues but the gift of salvation. Too many who claimed to have the Holy Spirit ended up having an unholy spirit! Instead of being filled by the Spirit, they were felled by the Spirit." Some twenty missionaries who came from the surrounding cities were greatly blessed.

The Band pressed on resolutely from Hopeh into mount­ainous Shansi. They came to Taiyuan the provincial capital where the English Baptist Mission had their schools, chur­ches, hospital and orphanage. Then they came to Pingtin where the liberal influence was overpowering. Nevertheless when the Holy Spirit's irresistible grace came into operation, every stronghold of opposition and pride broke down. A pastor dismissed by the missionaries for bad conduct and had brought much contentions in the church solved the problem himself by publicly confessing his covetousness and professionalism. With this sin in the pastor put away the storm in the church immediately subsided. He did not know he was the Jonah until then!

From Pingting they made it to Pinyao, a China Inland Mission field. Here labored in past days Pastor Hsi Sheng­mo. The final campaign was held at Hungtung, the head­quarters of the CIM in Shansi. This area extended to thirty-eight counties. Here was the biennial conference scheduled for their coming, and they were to preach the first three days. Though a welcome party for Dr. Sung and his team was prepared he flatly refused it as at any other place. For he said this was no time for such function. They were together a needy people gathered to seek the Lord. A great outpouring of the Spirit came upon both missionaries and Chinese pastors, evangelists and lay people. "Those stirring days are a vivid memory for all those who were present, Chinese and missionaries alike."

When the Band of tired preachers returned to Shanghai they came right into the midst of a Bethel Conference in session. Without let up Dr Sung joined in with Rev Marcus Cheng and Dr French Oliver, guest speakers. The subject under consideration was the Great Tribulation. In this subject various viewpoints were held as to the timing of the Rapture. Dr. Sung who believed in the^-Pre-Millennial Re­turn of Christ nevertheless took his stand against Dr. Oliver as to whether Christians would go through the Great Tri­bulation. With this participation in a seminar on eschatology the North China campaigns with Bethel came to an end.